Bioaugmentation process of secondary effluents for reduction of pathogens, heavy metals and antibiotics

The study probed into reducing faecal indicators and pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals and β-lactam antibiotics, from four types of secondary effluents by bioaugmentation process, which was conducted with Bacillus subtilis strain at 45 Celsius. As a result, faecal indicators and pathogenic bacteria...

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Main Authors: Algheethi, Adel Ali Saeed Abduh, Mohamed, R. M. S. R., Efaq, A. N., I. , Norli, Abdullah, Abd Halid, Mohd Kassim, Amir Hashim, Ab Kadir, M. O.
Format: Article
Published: IWA Publishing 2016
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Online Access:http://eprints.uthm.edu.my/8478/
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Summary:The study probed into reducing faecal indicators and pathogenic bacteria, heavy metals and β-lactam antibiotics, from four types of secondary effluents by bioaugmentation process, which was conducted with Bacillus subtilis strain at 45 Celsius. As a result, faecal indicators and pathogenic bacteria were reduced due to the effect of thermal treatment process (45 Celsius), while the removal of heavy metals and β-lactam antibiotics was performed through the functions of bioaccumulation and biodegradation processes of B. subtilis. Faecal coliform met the guidelines outlined by WHO and U. S. EPA standards after 4 and 16 days, respectively. Salmonella spp. and Staphylococcus aureus were reduced to below the detection limits without renewed growth in the final effluents determined by using a culture-based method. Furthermore, 13.5% and 56.1% of cephalexin had been removed, respectively, from secondary effluents containing 1 g of cephalexin L^(-1) (secondary effluent 3), as well as 1 g of cephalexin L^(-1) and 10 mg of Ni2þ L^(-1) (secondary effluent 4) after 16 days. The treatment process, eventually, successfully removed 96.6% and 66.3% of Ni^(2+) ions from the secondary effluents containing 10 mg of Ni^(2+) L^(-1) (secondary effluent 2) and E4, respectively. The bioaugmentation process improved the quality of secondary effluents.