Ecotoxicity of synthetic dyes and their degradation via Microbial Strategies: A Comprehensive Review

IJEP 46(4): 381-392 : Vol. 46 Issue. 4 (April 2026)

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Divyanshi Sharma1, Twinkle Razdan1, Atul Srivastava2 and Anushree Srivastava1*

1. ABES Engineering College, Department of applied sciences and Humanities, Ghaziabad – 201 009, Uttar Pradesh, India
2. University of Allahabad, Centre of Environmental Sciences, faculty of Sciences, Prayagraj – 211 002, Uttar Pradesh, India

Abstract

The escalating release of synthetic dyes from industrial effluents poses severe environmental and health challenges, necessitating sustainable remediation strategies. Microbial degradation has emerged as an environmentally sustainable and cost-effective approach to dye detoxification, leveraging microbes’ metabolic capabilities to breakdown complex dye structures into less hazardous byproducts. Recent advances have focused on genetic engineering to enhance microbial efficiency, with modified strains of Pseudomonas and Bacillus demonstrating higher dye-degradation capacity. The use of microbial consortia has also gained attention for their synergistic effects, enabling the degradation of diverse dye classes under varied environmental conditions. Innovative bioreactors coupled with immobilized microbial cells have improved the efficiency of dye removal in wastewater treatment systems. Furthermore, omics technologies, including genomics and proteomics, provide insights into enzymatic pathways and regulatory networks underlying microbial degradation. These advancements highlight the potential of microbial bioremediation to replace conventional chemical and physical methods, which are often costly and generate secondary pollutants. This review underscores the need to integrate microbial degradation with advanced treatment technologies to achieve sustainable dye remediation and protect aquatic ecosystems. Future research should focus on scaling up processes and addressing challenges, such as microbial adaptability and efficiency under real-world conditions.

Keywords

Micro-organism, Bioremediation, Dye degradation, Wastewater treatment, Genetic engineering

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