An insight into the influence of low dose irradiation pretreatment on the microbial decolouration and degradation of Reactive Red-120 dye

► Novel mechanistic study on combined radiation-microbial treatment of RR-120 dye effluent. ► Exploratory work by using radiation technology (as one of AOPs) to improve the process efficiency of biodegradation. ► The % decolouration and % mineralization improved significantly in the combined treatment process. ► The mechanism of degradation of RR-120 dye in this combined treatment process is proposed. ► The combined treatment explores a reliable and efficient way for permissible safe disposal of dye effluents.