Decolorization of azo dye reactive black B by Bacillus cereus strain HJ-1

Reactive black B (RBB) is a group of azo dyes that are widely used in the textile industry. In this study, a new microbial strain was isolated from azo dye contaminated river sediment which is capable of degrading RBB. The strain was identified as Bacillus cereus strain HJ-1 by 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis. The optimal conditions for RBB decolorization by B. cereus strain HJ-1 are: 25 °C, pH 8, 1 CMC of triton X-100, 0.15 g L−1 of added yeast extract, 0.125 g L−1 of added glucose and static culture. Then the toxicity of RBB on the green algae Chlorella vulgaris was determined. The results showed that the median effective concentration (EC50) of RBB for C. vulgaris is 48 mg L−1 and toxicity will really decrease after decolorization. In the end, B. cereus strain HJ-1 was amended into the origin river sediment and analyzed the whole microbial community structure of river sediment samples by PCR-DGGE technique. The result showed that B. cereus strain HJ-1 could survive in the river sediment after 12 d of incubation. Based on this work, we hope that these findings could provide some useful information for applying the decolorization of RBB in our environment.

► Bacillus cereus strain HJ-1 could decolor the reactive black B (RBB).
► The optimal conditions for RBB decolorization were measured.
► The median effective concentration (EC50) and toxicity of RBB were measured.
► B. cereus strain HJ-1 could survive in the original river sediment.