Ugbenyen Anthony Moses, Vine Niall, Simonis Jean Jacques, BassonAlbertusKotzeand Okoh Anthony Ifeanyi.(2014).Extraction,characterization and application of a Bioflocculant produced from a mixedculture of two bacteria strains isolated from Algoa Bay, South Africa.StudiaUniversitatis “VasileGoldis” 24(1): 11-17.

Abstract:

 Two bioflocculant-producing marine bacteria isolated from the sediment samples of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape Province of South Africa identified as Cobetiasp. OAUIFE and Bacillus sp. Gilbert (accession number JF799092, and HQ537128 respectively) were used in a mixed culture to produce a bioflocculant of high yield and enhanced flocculating activity. The characteristics of the bioflocculant produced by the consortium of the two strains showed an optimum flocculation (89.8 %) of kaolin suspension when the dosage concentration was 0.2 mg/ml, under neutral ph, and Ca2+ as a coagulant aid. The FTIR analysis of the bioflocculant indicated the presence of hydroxyl and carbonyl functional groups. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) image of the bioflocculant revealed crystal linear spongy-like structure. The produced bioflocculant was highly efficient in removing turbidity and reducing chemical oxygen demand (COD) from brewery wastewater, diary wastewater and river water. The bioflocculant from the consortium showed a relatively higher flocculating activity compared with traditional flocculants such as alum and polyacrylamide. This boflocculant is relatively inert, eco-friendly and save for use and could serve as an important alternative to the hazardous inorganic and synthetic organic flocculants that are currently popularly used in water/ wastewater treatment and other downstream processes.

Keywords: bioflocculant, consortium, characteristic, efficient, wastewater.