DECOLOURIZATION OF RHODAMINE CONTAINING PAPER MILL WASTE BY FUNGAL CULTURES ISOLATED FROM SOILS.C. KALE AND A.J. GAVHANEAbstract In search for the fungi capable of decolourizing Rhodamine containing Paper Mill waste, soil samples from the vicinity and nearby places of ETP plant of Paper Mill were collected and subjected for isolation of fungi by using Sabouraud Glucose Agar plates. In all 9 isolates were obtained. All nine fungal isolates were subjected to primary screening for their decolourizing activity for âRhodamine dye containing Paper Mill wasteâ by spot inoculation method using modified Sabouraud Glucose Agar plates (supplemented with paper mill waste). The four fungal isolates, F - II, F - III, F - IV and D - 1, which showed growth and decolourization were selected and subjected to secondary screening using liquid culture method. Secondary screening revealed that the fungal isolate F â II and D-1were the best strains amongst the four cultures as both showed maximum decolourization at 37 oC. They showed almost 40% decolourization of Rhodamine containing Paper Mill waste. The F - II and D-1 isolates were further studied for their morphological and cultural characteristics and were identified as a strain of Aspergillus niger and Rhizopus oryzae. The identity of the culture was confirmed by referring to the Fungus Identification Service Center. |