Objective:
Parameters affecting dye decolorization process by Trametes versicolor, namely dye concentration, pellet mass, and pellet age have been investigated. The decolorization process was ascertained whether it is biological or physical. A second part of this project is to scale up the process into a column operation.

Method:
The fungi were grown in 100 ml of culture medium in a 250 ml Erlenmeyer flask, and then incubated in an orbital shaker (160 rpm) at 280C for a specified period. Decolorization of Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR) was carried out for 48 hours at a visible spectrum of 590 nm. The dye decolorization was measured spectrophotometrically at the corresponding λmax.

Results and Conclusion:
Decolorization percentage increased with the decrease in initial concentration of RBBR while the pellet mass was kept constant. No significant effects of pH and pellet mass were observed in the range of experiments studied. Maximum decolorization of 64.36% was obtained at the optimum initial dye concentration of 50 ppm, 4 gram of pellets and pH 5. Control experiments using heat-killed pellets of Trametes versicolor to decolorize 100 ppm RBBR dye solution indicated that the decolorization process with live pellets was via a biological route rather than simple adsorption. Decolorization percentage was also found to be highest with the youngest pellets i.e. 73.53% ± 5%, 66.96% ± 7%, and 46.85% ±5% at pellet’s age of 6 days, 8 days, and 10 days, respectively.

Keywords: Trametes versicolor, Remazol Brilliant Blue R, decolorization, dye concentration, pellet age, pellet mass