Biodegradation of metal complex Naphthol Green B and formation of iron-sulfur nanoparticles by marine bacterium Pseudoalteromonas sp CF10-13

Treatment of metal complex dye wastewater has attracted growing attention due to the degradation-resistant, high cost and potential hazards of current techniques. This study reported a marine bacterium (Pseudoalteromonas sp CF10-13) with potential performance in decolorization and degradation of a metal complex dye-Naphthol Green B (NGB) at wide ranges of salinity, dye concentration and alkalinity under anaerobic conditions. It was inferred that the secretion of electron mediators in soluble extracellular metabolites by P. sp CF10-13 played important roles in NGB decolorization and degradation through extracellular electron transfer. Naphthalenesulfonate, the major structure in NGB molecule, was further degraded into low-toxic benzamide. Black stable iron-sulfur nanoparticles were formed endogenously avoiding H2S releasing, exogenous sulfur addition and metal sludge in accumulation. Accordingly, this study provided a cost-effective and eco-friendly biodegradation method to refractory NGB, further promoting the understanding of dye resources recovery.