Abstract
The study was undertaken to assess the decolourisation potential of selected bacterial species on two synthetic dyes and an actual textile dyeing industry effluent. All the four bacterial species tested namely Kluyvera ascorbata, Bacillus sp., Pseudomonas sp. and Pasteurella sp. showed greater potential in decolourising the synthetic dyes Orange G and Direct Blue 71. The bacterial isolates were comparatively less efficient in degrading the complex effluent medium that contained the dye Reactive Black 5. Factors affecting the efficacy of bacterial degradation of textile effluents were critically analysed and discussed. The outcome of the study contributes in taking bacterial dye remediation from laboratory to field conditions.