Vol. 3, Issue 6, Part O (2017)

Abstract
Several dyes are employed in construction industry for providing aesthetic appearance. Among the many dyes that find application in the civil constructions belong to the class of azo-dyes. The quantity of azo-dyes employed is at an enormous extent and may pose a public health concern if disposed in large quantities. The azo-dyes are reported to initiate several health issues which may include allergic reactions and carcinogenesis. The azo-dye, Pigment Yellow-73 (PY-73) finds extensive application in construction of buildings for painting surfaces. Therefore its usage poses an environmental hazard to construction workers and the general public. A fungal strain was isolated from PY-73 painted surface and was identified as Rhizopus stolonifer (Ehrenb: Link) Lind. R. stolonifer decolorized PY-73 and it was degraded through the involvement of chlorophenol and aniline as the metabolic intermediates. The biodegradation of PY-73 by R. stolonifer was enhanced by increased agitation and in the presence of glucose (80%), starch (85%), and sucrose (60%) as the co-metabolic carbon sources for the decolorization. The biodegradation of PY-73 by R. stolonifer was assessed by spectral, TLC and enzyme analysis.