The effluent industries is a major source of water pollution. So their treatment before discharge is very crucial and biodegradation where microorganisms break down the azo bonds to form its nontoxic basic element is the most effective way. Toxic effluent present in the industrial effluent has highly carcinogenic substances like aromatic amines. The study involved isolation of Rhizobium, molecular and biochemical characterization, immobilization of Rhizobium in sodium alginate capsules and the examination of biodegradation of toxic chemicals present in the industrial effluent using the encapsulated Rhizobium, decolourization of methylene dye using immobilized beads. The spectrophotometric assessment of dye degradation was by measuring at optical density 530nm. Biodegradation of toxic effluent by immobilized Rhizobium is the novel technology that may be applied for the treatment of waste water containing a mixture of different dyes.

Keywords : Rhizobium; Immobilization; Biodegradation; Decolourization.