Degradation studies for textile reactive dye by combined electrochemical, microbial and photocatalytic methods

The main objective is to reduce the chemical oxygen demand of the effluent containing Procion blue by combined electrochemical, microbial and photocatalytic methods and testing the degradation capability of different microorganisms. First, pretreatment was performed for 4 h prior to microbial oxidation using batch electrochemical reactor. Microbial degradation was carried out for the treated effluent in sequence in aerobic batch reactor for 5 days using bacterial (Pseudomonas putida and Bacillus cereus) and fungal strains (Pleurotus ostreatus, Fusarium oxysporum and Trichodertna viridae). Post electrolysis was done for 5 h on the treated effluent to meet the required standards as well as colour developed during microbial oxidation. Finally, Photocatalysis process was carried out for 5 h to remove the microbes present in it. The results indicate the overall performance in these schemes of operation is successful. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.