In order to improve the efficient decolorization of dye-containing water by biosorbent and understand the biosorption mechanism, the self-immobilization mycelial pellets were prepared using a marine-derived fungus Aspergillus niger ZJUBE-1, and an azo dye, Congo red was chosen as a model dye to investigate batch decolorization efficiency by pellets. The pellets as biosorbent showed strong salt and acid tolerance in biosorption process. The results for dye adsorption showed that the biosorption process fitted well with models of pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 263.2 mg . g(-1) mycelium. During 6 batches of continuous decolorization operation, the mycelial pellets could possess efficient decolorization abilities (> 98.5%). The appearance of new peak in the UV-Vis spectral result indicated that the decolorization process may also contain biodegradation. The mechanism studies showed that efficient biosorption ability of pellets only relies on the active zone on the surface of the pellet, which can be enhanced by nutrition supplement or be shifted outward by a reculture process. (C) 2016 The Chemical Industry and Engineering Society of China, and Chemical Industry Press. All rights reserved.