A chemometric approach to understanding the bioelimination of anionic, water-soluble dyes by a biomass using empirical and semi-empirical molecular descriptors

Single correlation and multiple linear regression analyses have been applie d to understand the bioelimination of 103 anionic, water-soluble dyes by a biomass at a wastewater treatment works. The chemometric approach highlight ed that anionic, water-soluble dyes with larger molecular size/ionic charge ratios and containing more primary aromatic amines and unsulphonated napht halene nuclei and fewer aliphatic alcohol groups had superior levels of bio elimination. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.