Evaluation of entrapment potentiality and turbidity removal efficiency of fungi

• Main Authors: Jebun, N., Al-Mamun, Abdullah, Alam, Md Zahangir, Abdul Karim, Mohamed Ismail, Ahmad Raus, Raha
• Format: Article
• Language: English; English
• Published: Universiti Teknologi Malaysia 2015
• Subjects: TD172 Environmental pollution
• Online Access: http://irep.iium.edu.my/46523/1/6697-18418-1-SM.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/46523/4/46523_evaluation_of_entrapment_Scopus.pdf; http://irep.iium.edu.my/46523/; http://www.jurnalteknologi.utm.my/index.php/jurnalteknologi/article/view/6697
• Institution: Universiti Islam Antarabangsa Malaysia

Turbidity and suspended solids concentration promotes a number of negative effects on freshwater ecosystems. Conventionally suspended solids and turbidity are removed from raw water by various chemical coagulants but most of them are costly and non-ecofriendly. Whereas, the bioflocculants are environment-friendly and could be used as coagulants. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) produced by microorganisms play a definite role to reduce the turbidity of river water which can enhance the aesthetics of river water and other water uses. In this study, pellets /flocs have been observed of five filamentous fungi isolated from Pusu river water. The strains RWF-01, RWF-02, RWF-03, RWF-04 and RWF-05 showed a good entrapment capability and flocculating rate of 97.56%, 99.42%, 99.18%, 59.34% and 85.21% to kaolin suspension and 44.54%, 99.27%, 98.59%, 28.57% & 68.43% to river water respectively at 48h of culture time. The result showed the clay particles of river water and kaolin has entrapped by the microbial growth and, as a result, they reduced the turbidity of river water.