Evaluation of the Degradation of Textile Dyes by Bacterial Strains Isolated from Mangroves in Cartagena, Colombia

Abstract

Dyes are widely used in various industries, but they represent significant pollutants due to their harmful effects on the environment. Their high solubility facilitates their dispersion and complicates their removal in aqueous media. In addition, intermediate compounds such as naphthalene and benzene, present in some dyes, are highly toxic to various biological systems. Bioremediation with microorganisms is an effective, simple and sustainable alternative to address this problem. This study evaluated the ability of bacterial strains isolated from Cartagena mangroves (UTB 24, UTB 35, UTB 44, UTB 63, UTB 67 y UTB 85), related to the Bacillus genus, to degrade textile dyes. The strains were grown in MBS medium with 1000 mg/L of dye, incubated at 30 °C for 48 hours, and the percentage of degradation was determined. Most strains showed a degradation greater than 60%, with strains UTB 24, UTB 35, UTB 63 and UTB 67 standing out, which exceeded 80%. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of bacteria from mangals to be used in remediation strategies for bodies of water contaminated by dyes.