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ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF MOLDS CAPABLE OF DEGRADING VARYING CONCENTRATIONS OF PHENOL RED DYE


Author: Okeke C. B.,* Oghonim, P. AN., Awari V.G., Ojeah I. K., Eleanya, L. C., Ogbunude A.P., Okonkwo N. N., Ikegwuonu E. A., and Agu K.C.
Department of Applied Microbiology, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, PMB 5025, Awka, Nigeria
Published Date: 2026-06-08
Keywords: Isolation, Characterization, Molds, Degradation, Phenol red and Dyes.
Abstract:

This aim of this research was to isolate and characterize mold species capable of degrading Phenol Red. The soil sample was collected from an abbatoir site in Amansea Awka and the fungal isolates were characterized by examining their colony morphology and the isolates were identified to be Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum. These isolates were further examined on their ability to degrade phenol red at different concentrations by the isolates. It showed that the three isolates are potential decolorizers of phenol red and are good biosorbents. Aspergillus niger showed higher degradability than Aspergillus flavus and Fusarium oxysporum in the degradation of phenol red. The fungi were isolated from soil samples and cultured on Sabouraud Dextrose Agar (SDA). Their ability to degrade the dye was assessed at different concentrations (0.1 %, 0.01%, and 0.001 %) by measuring the zone of clearance over a period of 10 days. The results indicated that Fusarium oxysporum demonstrated a high degradation efficiency across concentrations 0.01 % and 0.001% with an average degradation of 12 % and 15 % respectively by day ten whereas Aspergillus flavus showed effective degradation at 0.001 % concentration with an average of 22 % degradation by day ten but was less efficient at higher concentrations. These findings suggest that Aspergillus flavus is a promising candidate for the biodegradation of low-concentration dye effluents, while Fusarium oxysporum may be more suitable for environments with higher dye concentrations.