ROLE OF ASPERGILLUS NIGER AND ASPERGILLUS FLAVUS IN THE MINERALIZATION OF SULPHATE IN WASTEWATER

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the role of temperature, pH, carbon and nitrogen sources in the mineralization of sulphate in wastewater by Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus flavus. The study was carried out under shake flask conditions. Before inoculation with the respective isolates, the wastewater was filtered in 200 mL quantity into 250 mL capacity conical flasks before sterilization in an autoclave. After inoculation with the respective isolates, aliquot wastewater samples were removed from each flask, prior inoculation and every 24 h, for 96 h, for the estimation of sulphate concentrations, using standard methods. The study revealed remarkable sulphate removal at 25 °C and 35 °C in presence of the test isolates. A pH of 6, 5 g/L and 10 g/L of peptone and sodium acetate were observed to enhance sulphate removal by the isolates. Glucose, sucrose, lactose and methanol were observed to enhance sulphate removal in presence of the Aspergillus niger while in the presence of the Aspergillus flavus, lactose was not observed to enhance sulphate removal. The study was able to give an insight to the optimum conditions for sulphate removal from wastewater by the test fungal isolates under the experimental conditions investigated

The Midwives Service Scheme in Nigeria

Seye Abimbola and colleagues describe and evaluate their programme in Nigeria of recruiting midwives to rural areas to provide skilled attendance at birth, which is much poorer than in urban areas