To our knowledge there has been only one report of
algae capable of degrading azo dyes through an
induced form of an azoreductase (Jinqi & Houtian,
1992). Several species of Chlorella and Oscillatoria
were capable of degrading azo dyes to their aromatic
amines and to further metabolize the aromatic
amines to simpler organic compounds or CO2. Some
were even capable of utilizing a few azo dyes as their
sole source of carbon and nitrogen. Using such algae
was proposed by the authors for use in stabilization
ponds, as they can play a role in aromatic amine
removal.