Decolorization of synthetic dyes by a new manganese peroxidase-producing white rot fungus

The decolorization of 12 different azo, diazo and anthraquinone dyes was carried out using a new isolated white rot fungus, strain L-25. A decolorization efficiency of 84.9–99.6% was achieved by cultivation in 14 days using an initial dye concentration of 40 mg L−1. The strain L-25 produces manganese peroxidase (MnP) as its major ligninolytic enzyme. The adsorption of dye by cells was observed during the decolorization at the beginning of the process. However, this color disappeared when MnP was released by the strain L-25. The activity of MnP in the cultures was over 1.0 U mL−1 at the end of cultivation. Meanwhile, MnP produced by strain L-25 was used for the enzymatic decolorization of the dyes thus confirming the capability of the enzyme for this purpose.