Characterization of selected microbial species for bioflocculant producing potential and comparison with traditional flocculants in industrial waste water treatment
type: CreativeWork
description: Flocculation is an effective method used to separate the suspended colloids in both domestic and industrial wastewater treatments. The process is achieved with the help of various flocculants such as natural and synthetic inorganic or organic flocculants. Synthetic flocculants are conventionally used due to their high flocculating efficiency and availability. However, their applications result in serious health problems such as cancerogenicity and neurotoxiciy. Consequently, bioflocculants appear to be an attractive alternative to synthetic flocculants because they are non toxic, eco-friendly and able to flocculate at a low concentration dosage. In this study, the production of a bioflocculants from Ochrobactrum oryzae (AB841138), Providencia rettgeri (KF534469), Bacillus megaterium were assessed and the bioflocculant yield quantified. The bacteria O. oryzae (AB841138) and P. rettgeri (KF534469) were previously isolated from sediments located at Mthunzini, north of KZN, Republic of South Africa. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify the organisms. While B. megaterium was sampled from the marine deepsea at Sodwana Bay, northern KZN, (RSA) and was identified using morphological and physiological characteristics which was eazy to performed as compared to the other two isolates. The nutritional reguirements and growth conditions such as inoculum size, energy sources, cations, pH, temperature, shaking speed and time course of bioflocculant producing microorganisms were investigated and their flocculating activities (FA) determined by spectrophotometry. Furthermore, the bioflocculants were extracted using ethanol and purified with (5:7 v/v) chloroform and butanol mixture. Physiochemical properties were assessed through elemental detection and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The functional groups were evaluated using FTIR while chemical composition were analysed using phenol-sulphuric method (sugar content), carbazole method (uronic acid) and Folin-Lowry me…
abstract: Flocculation is an effective method used to separate the suspended colloids in both domestic and industrial wastewater treatments. The process is achieved with the help of various flocculants such as natural and synthetic inorganic or organic flocculants. Synthetic flocculants are conventionally used due to their high flocculating efficiency and availability. However, their applications result in serious health problems such as cancerogenicity and neurotoxiciy. Consequently, bioflocculants appear to be an attractive alternative to synthetic flocculants because they are non toxic, eco-friendly and able to flocculate at a low concentration dosage. In this study, the production of a bioflocculants from Ochrobactrum oryzae (AB841138), Providencia rettgeri (KF534469), Bacillus megaterium were assessed and the bioflocculant yield quantified. The bacteria O. oryzae (AB841138) and P. rettgeri (KF534469) were previously isolated from sediments located at Mthunzini, north of KZN, Republic of South Africa. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to identify the organisms. While B. megaterium was sampled from the marine deepsea at Sodwana Bay, northern KZN, (RSA) and was identified using morphological and physiological characteristics which was eazy to performed as compared to the other two isolates. The nutritional reguirements and growth conditions such as inoculum size, energy sources, cations, pH, temperature, shaking speed and time course of bioflocculant producing microorganisms were investigated and their flocculating activities (FA) determined by spectrophotometry. Furthermore, the bioflocculants were extracted using ethanol and purified with (5:7 v/v) chloroform and butanol mixture. Physiochemical properties were assessed through elemental detection and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The functional groups were evaluated using FTIR while chemical composition were analysed using phenol-sulphuric method (sugar content), carbazole method (uronic acid) and Folin-Lowry me…
author: Tlou, Nelson Selepe
keywords: ochrobactrum oryzae --Providencia rettgeri --Bacillus megaterium --bioflocculants --flocculating activity --chemical oxygen demand --biochemical oxygen demand
license: https://devspace.unizulu.ac.za/bitstreams/a0b1aa0f-99bb-4422-adf3-a7f27a3c89da/download
date published: 2017
date modified: 2026-07-24T06:17:11Z
provider: University of Zululand
publisher: Networked Digital Library of Theses and Dissertations
type: WebPage
source organization: University of Zululand