The
aim of the present study is focused on the decolorization and
degradation of azo dyes Ponceau S Red and Methyl Orange by a bacterial
strain isolated from the gold mining district of San Martin de Loba,
South of Bolivar (Colombia) sediment samples and identified as Franconibacter sp. 1MS (GenBank: MT568543) based on phenotypic
and genotypic methods. A higher percentage of decolorization at 100
mg/L concentration, 37 °C, and pH 7 was recorded at 120 h of
incubation period for both dyes. The UV–vis, Fourier transform
infrared spectroscopy, and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry
analysis of the original dyes and their degraded metabolites confirmed
that the decolorization was due to degradation. The proposed metabolic
pathways for biodegradation of both dyes have been elucidated, which
showed the formation of five intermediate metabolites, namely, N,N-dimethylbenzyl-1,4-diamine, sulfonamide,
1,4-diaminobenzene, 2,5-diaminobenzenesulfonic acid, and 1-amino-2-naphthol,
which are not only highly toxic but also be able to be converted through
metabolic activation into mutagenic, carcinogenic, and/or teratogenic
species. The phytotoxicity studies of the original dye and degraded
metabolites were tested on Phaseolus vulgaris and divulged that the degraded metabolites have toxic effects. An
effective phytostimulation was observed in Ponceau S Red, which could
be attributed to its capacity for enrichment of the culture medium
with essential nutrients, a favorable environment for the growth of
the plant.