First report on implementation of response surface methodology for the biodegradation of textile industrial effluents by Coniophora puteana IEBL-1

: The current study was aimed to evaluate the industrial ef fl uents biodegradation potential of an indigenous microorganism which reduced water pollution caused by these ef fl uents. In the present study biodegradation of three textile industrial ef fl uents was performed with locally isolated brown rot fungi named Coniophora puteana IEBL-1. Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was employed under Box Bhenken Design (BBD) for the optimization of physical and nutritional parameters for maximum biodegradation. Quality of treated ef fl uents was checked by study of BOD, COD and analysis through HPLC. Three ligninolytic enzymes named lignin peroxidase, manganese peroxidase and laccase were also studied during the biodegradation process. The results showed that there was more than 85% biodegradation achieved for all three ef fl uents with decrease in Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) below the recommended values for industrial ef fl uent i.e. 80 mg/L for BOD and 220 mg/L for COD after optimization of nutritional parameters in the second stage. Analysis of samples through HPLC revealed the formation of less toxic diphenylamine, 3-methyldiphenylamine and N-methylaniline after treatment. The ligninolytic enzymes assays con fi rmed the role of lignin peroxidase (LiP), manganese peroxidase