Potential of Gonium spp. in Synthetic Reactive Dye Removal, Possible Role of Laccases and Stimulation by Triacontanol Hormone

In this study, Gonium sp. was investigated for possible usage in dye-containing wastewater treatment. Trials were performed in media including triacontanol hormone, Reactive Orange 14, Reactive Red 120, Reactive Black 5, Remazol Brilliant Blue R (RBBR), and also hormone against the controls. Algae could remove RBBR with the highest dye removal percentage (56%) among the tested dyes. The optimum pH was 9 in removing 50 mg L^?1 RBBR at a dye removal percentage of 47.1%. The role of laccase activity of Gonium sp. was also investigated. This first attempt in the literature showed the involvement of the enzyme in the algal growth and bioremoval process. In the presence of the plant growth hormone in the culture, the activity showed a steady and significant increase up to nearly sixfold between 5th and 14th days of incubation.