Decolorisation by Bacillus flexus of exhausted dyebaths containing CI Acid Red 249 and their reuse for wool dyeing

A dyebath containing left-over CI Acid Red 249 after dyeing of wool was completely decolorised using an isolated bacteria Bacillus flexus. Optimisation was carried out by varying the pH, temperature, dye concentration, and microbial loading. Complete decolorisation of a 50 mg l⁻¹ dye solution was achieved in 8 h at pH 7 and 37 °C with 10% v/v loading of the bacteria. The decolorised bath was utilised for dyeing of wool fabric with the same dye at 5% shade. This cycle of dyeing–decolorising–dyeing was repeated 5 times. The evaluation of dyed fabric was done using K/S, colour values, and fastness to light and washing. Comparison of a sample dyed with the conventional exhaust process showed that the dyeing quality is not affected for all five successive reuse cycles. The results are important from the viewpoint of reducing water consumption and chemicals.