BACKGROUND: Dyeing effluents are the main source of water pollution from textile industries. Consequently, the treatment of such effluents is of environmental concern. RESULTS: Decolorization of a textile industry effluent was investigated using, for the first time, the trimeric Scytalidium thermophilum laccase without mediator addition. The maximum effluent decolorization (50%) was achieved after 8 h using a diluted effluent (5 fold) and 4 units of crude enzyme, operating at 50 degrees C and pH 4. Characterization of raw effluent presents two peaks as demonstrated by the UV-visible spectrum, showing an intensive peak around 670 nm and a smaller one at 290 nm. At the end of the enzymatic treatment, these two peaks disappeared and a new peak emerged at 280 nm. Because laccase catalyzed effluent decolorization percentage did not exceed 50%, an alkaline adapted consortium treatment assay of this effluent was carried out. An alkaline adapted consortium was used at bench scale in order to decolorize the raw effluent. After 24 h of exposure, color and COD (chemical oxygen demand) removal rates reached 73% and 71%, respectively, at pH 11. CONCLUSION: The adapted consortium treatment of the industrial effluent is economically very interesting since the treatment is costless and can be applied at pilot or industrial scales. (c) 2012 Society of Chemical Industry