Innovative approach for decolorizing textile effluents using yeast-alginate capsules

Textile industry is an economic activity that produces high volumes of effluents used in fabric processing that are discharged in the environment [1]. These discharged effluents loaded with synthetic dyes and other chemicals, are resistant to biodegradation and persistent in water, and are responsible for toxicity and mutagenic effects on the aquatic life, causing a potential risk to the aquatic ecosystems [2]. Traditionally, industry uses classic chemical methods to treat these effluents that are expensive and potentially harmful, since it could further generate large quantities of toxic by-products that are also difficult to eliminate [3]. In order to aid and complement the traditional wastewater treatment, a yeast-based solution for decolorization of textile industrial wastewater is under evaluation. This research aims to develop a new and innovative biological solution for the effective decolorization of the textile effluents using
alginate-calcium capsules filled with a proven decolorizing yeast.