Immobilization of microbial cells: A promising tool for wastewater treatment
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Date
2020-12
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G.B. Pant University of Agriculture and Technology, Pantnagar - 263145 (Uttarakhand)
Abstract
The present study was done in order to evaluate the potential of suspended and immobilized bacterial cells of Bacillus cereus for the removal of water pollutants from domestic wastewater. Initial parameters of domestic wastewater were analysed to determine the pollutants level in wastewater. Immobilization of above bacteria was carried out with the help of sodium alginate beads. The prepared cell beads and suspended cell culture were used to remove water pollutants present in the wastewater sample, that include BOD, COD, sodium, potassium, nitrite, fluoride, sulphate, phosphate, TDS and arsenic. All treatments were performed in flasks with 150 ml of wastewater at three different retention times (2 hours, 4 hours and 6 hours). Maximum removal efficiency was recorded using immobilized Bacillus cereus beads at 6 hours retention time. By various treatments given, the pollutant concentration of domestic wastewater was reduced and brought it under to meet the permissible limits for discharge. Based on the results obtained it was found that the use of immobilized microbial cells is a cost effective and efficient method for the removal of water pollutants from domestic wastewater.