Decolorization-related enzymatic activity of extra- and intracellular extracts from yeast isolated from textile wastewater

Textile industry generates a large amount of effluents, mostly composed by synthetic dyes, that are discharged in the environment [1]. Although wastewaters are usually treated before discharge some dyes are not properly degraded and can cause serious problems in aquatic ecosystems [2]. The existent chemical treatments are very costly and generate large quantities of sludge [3]. Thus it is important to find alternatives such as biological treatments to aid the decolorization of dyes in textile wastewaters. This work aims to detect the activity of specific enzymes from a Candida spp yeast previously isolated from a textile wastewater that is capable of decolorization of dyes.