Removal of Pollutants in Mine Wastewater by a Non-Cytotoxic Polymeric Bioflocculant from Alcaligenes faecalis HCB2

Tsolanku Sidney Maliehe, Albertus Kotze Basson and Nkosinathi Goodman Dlamini
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Tsolanku Sidney Maliehe: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
Albertus Kotze Basson: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa
Nkosinathi Goodman Dlamini: Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, University of Zululand, KwaDlangezwa 3886, South Africa

IJERPH, 2019, vol. 16, issue 20, 1-17

Abstract: Bioflocculation is a physicochemical technique often employed to efficiently remove colloidal water pollutants. Consequently, in this study, a bioflocculant was produced, characterised and applied to remove pollutants in mine wastewater. The maximum flocculation activity of 92% was recorded at 30 °C, pH 9.0 when maltose and urea were used as energy sources and 72 h of fermentation at the inoculum size of 1% ( v / v ). K + proved to be a favourable cation. The bioflocculant yield of 4 g/L was obtained. Scanning electron microscopy illustrated a hexagonal-like structure of the bioflocculant. It is composed of carbohydrates and proteins in mass proportion of 88.6 and 9.5%, respectively. The Fourier transform infrared spectrum revealed the presence of hydroxyl, amide and amino functional groups. More than 73% of the bioflocculant was obtained after exposure to 600 °C using the thermogravimetric analyser. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells exhibited 95% viability after being treated with 200 µg/µL of the bioflocculant. The flocculation mechanisms were proposed to be as a result of a double layer compression by K + , chemical reactions and bridging mechanism. The removal efficiencies of 59, 72, and 75% on biological oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand and sulphur, were obtained respectively. Thus, the bioflocculant have potential use in wastewater treatment.

Keywords: bioflocculant; flocculating activity; cytotoxicity; removal efficiency (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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