Journal of Bioremediation & Biodegradation
Open Access

Abstract

Dye effluents and metal effluents pose severe environmental hazards because of their high COD, heavy metal content, color and toxicity. Bioremediation of these effluents have been widely attempted. The objective of the study is, to decolorize the dye effluents and to degrade the contaminants present in the effluent and to minimize the COD, BOD, TSS below standard limits, by using fungal biomass isolated from the contaminating samples. The dye effluent samples collected characterizes a high COD of 900 mg/L, high TDS of 1340 mg/L, hardness as CaCO3 240 mg/L, highly alkaline pH 8.6 and highly objectionable color and toxicity. The predominant indigenous organism present in the samples was isolated and identified as Aspergilus niger. It used to conduct treatability studies. The characteristics of the effective trial were utilized in bioreactor studies. Three types of lab scale reactors were designed 1) Slurry phase bioreactor 2) Anoxic up-flow immobilized fungal column reactor. 3) Immobilized Trickled bed reactor. These reactors were recently used and found efficient in the reduction of COD, BOD, TSS, color, heavy metal content and toxicity of dye and metal effluents. The treatment efficiency of the reactors in minimizing the COD, BOD, TSS, color, heavy metal content and toxicity was validated under optimized conditions. All the three reactors proved efficient in achieving 85(+ or -)5 % efficiency. Thus the present study can evolve as an efficient strategy to replace the less eco-friendly physicochemical approaches and also provides a better insight into the field of bioremediation.

Biography

1. M.TECH ENVIRONMENTAL ENGG. STUDENT, IInd YEAR, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DEPARTMENT. 2. LECTURER, THIAGARAJAR COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING, CIVIL DEPARTMENT