Enhanced immobilization efficiency of Enterobacter sp. TS3 on sugarcane bagasse and its application for dye removal

Basic Red9 (BR9) is one of the most common synthetic reactive dyes and requires treatment due to its effects on the environment and human health. BR9 requires treatment before release into the environment. This study aimed to decolorize BR9 dye using Enterobacter sp. TS3 immobilized on sugarcane bagasse. First, the characteristics of the bagasse were determined. The results indicated that bagasse was suitable for use as a carrier. The immobilization efficiency increased according to optimization studies. The highest immobilization efficiency (78.6 ± 0.2%) was recorded under optimal conditions involving 3 g/L inoculum, 150 rpm agitation, and 72 h of incubation. Thereafter, immobilized Enterobacter sp. TS3 was applied for BR9 removal. The best BR9 decolorization (81.3 ± 1.5%) was obtained with the use of immobilized cells, followed by nonimmobilized bagasse (73.9 ± 1.9%). The maximum adsorption capacity (40.7 ± 8.0 mg/g) was also detected for the immobilized Enterobacter sp. TS3. The decolorization kinetics of BR9 were also described. The higher specific growth rate of the immobilized cells was one of the reasons for the enhanced decolorization. Enterobacter-immobilized bagasse was successful at decolorizing textile wastewater. Due to the good performance of the immobilized cells, they offer potential application value for BR9 bioremediation. Graphic abstract: (Figure presented.).