Azo dye decolorization by Shewanella algae (SAL) in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl and different quinones or humic acids was investigated to reveal the effects of redox mediator under saline conditions. Growth of SAL and the other two marine Shewanella strains coupled to anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) reduction was observed in a wide range of NaCl concentrations (0-7%). AQDS showed the best enhancing effects, whereas some other quinones demonstrated poorer stimulating or even inhibiting effects on acid red 27 (AR27) decolorization. Different humic acids could also enhance the decolorization. The correlation between specific AQDS-mediated reduction rate and initial AR27 concentration could be described with Michaelis-Menten kinetics (K-m = 0.2 mM and V-max = 9.3 mu mol mg cell(-1) h(-1)): AQDS reduction by SAL was determined to be the rate-limiting step of mediated reduction. Mediated decolorization products of AR27 were determined to be less phytotoxic aromatic amines. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.