Journal
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
Volume 10, Issue 10, Pages 5097-5110Publisher
MDPI
DOI: 10.3390/ijerph10105097
Keywords
bioflocculant; flocculating activity; consortium; Halomonas sp Okoh; Micrococcus sp Leo
Funding
- University of Fort Hare, Alice, South Africa
- Goven Mbeki Research Development Group
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The physicochemical and flocculating properties of a bioflocculant produced by a bacterial consortium composed of Halomonas sp. Okoh and Micrococcus sp. Leo were investigated. The purified bioflocculant was cation and pH dependent, and optimally flocculated kaolin clay suspension at a dosage of 0.1 mg/mL. The flocculating activity of the bioflocculant was stimulated in the presence of Ca2+, Mn2+, Al3+ and had a wide pH range of 2-10, with the highest flocculating activity of 86% at pH 8. The bioflocculant was thermostable and retained more than 70% of its flocculating activity after being heated at 80 degrees C for 30 min. Thermogravimetric analyses revealed a partial thermal decomposition of the biofloculant at 400 degrees C. The infrared spectrum showed the presence of hydroxyl, carboxyl and amino moieties as functional groups. The bioflocculant produced by the bacterial consortium appears to hold promising alternative to inorganic and synthetic organic flocculants that are widely used in wastewater treatment.
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