Periphyton dominated Proteobacteria and Cyanobacteria was able to decolorize amaranth. The azo bonds in the amaranth were successfully broken by the periphyton. Periphyton degraded amaranth at a wide range of pH, temperature and initial concentrations. These periphyton did not produce secondary amines or toxic metabolites. Periphyton is firstly reported to be implemented in large scale for amaranth removal.