BIODEGRADATION OF P-AMINOAZOBENZENE BY BACILLUS-SUBTILIS UNDER AEROBIC CONDITIONS

Biological oxidation of organic dyes is important for textile industry wastewater treatment, The aim of this work was to assess the biodegra dation kinetics of a specific ate-dye, p-aminoazobenzene, The degradat ion of p-aminoazobenzene by Bacillus subtilis was examined through bat ch experiments in order to investigate the effect of p-aminoazobenzene on the bacterial growth rate and elucidate the mechanism of dye degra dation. The results proved that B. subtilis cometabolizes p-aminoazobe nzene in the presence of glucose as carbon source, producing aniline e nd p-phenylenediamine as the nitrogen-nitrogen double bond is broken. The ate-dye was found to act as an inhibitor to microbial growth. A ma thematical model was developed that describes cellular growth, glucose utilization, p aminoazobenzene degradation and product formation.