Microorganism to Fight Textile Dyes Pollution
Jonathan Suciono, Hans Victor, Dikson, Melanie Cornelia, Reinhard Pinontoan, a team of researchers from Universitas Pelita Harapan has identified a microorganism with the ability to decolorize the harmful synthetic dye, Malachite Green, commonly used in the textile industry. Its improper disposal leads to water pollution and poses a serious threat to aquatic ecosystems and public health.
To combat this environmental problem, the team which is led by Dr. Reinhard Pinontoan, study the potential of Ralstonia mannitolilytica, a bacterium found in Indonesian cassava-based fermented food known as ‘tapai.’ Ralstonia mannitolilytica isolate JSP1 exhibited remarkable efficiency in decolorizing Malachite Green, with up to 75% removal achieved at 100 ppm. Thus this microorganism could have important implications for wastewater treatment and environmental conservation. This discovery is published in ‘Archives of microbiology’ journal and titled “Decolorization potential of malachite green by Ralstonia mannitolilytica isolated from Indonesian cassava-based fermented food tapai”.
