Immobilization of fungal biomass with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as biosorbent

An efficient and effective biosorbent with high performance is needed to remove impurities in solution and the conventional method of adsorption of fungal biomass alone not showing a promising removal of impurities. The immobilization of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) with fungal biomass (A. niger) was good combination since both has potential functional group to bind to each other. This research was basically focused on combination of fungal biomass with MWCNTs to enhance the positive integration of impurities removal in solution. The immobilization of both elements was done in a batch liquid medium with several parameters like pH, agitation speed, dose of MWCNTs and inoculum dosage that were conducted with one factor at one time (OFAT) method. In order to verify the functional group of MWCNTs, A. niger biomass and immobilized A. niger biomass, the FTIR was applied and FESEM was done to demonstrate and compare the image of the immobilized A. niger biomass with MWCNTs and fungal biomass alone. The finding illustrated the best pH, agitation speed, dose of MWCNTs and inoculum dosage were 5-6, 150 rpm, 0.5 grams and 2% respectively. FTIR indicates the presents of the functional groups in before and after immobilization while FESEM showed the images of the wrapped MWCNTs on A.niger biomass

Immobilization of fungal biomass with multi-walled carbon nanotubes as biosorbent

Aim: This study was mainly highlighted on a combination of fungal biomass onto MWCNTs in order to enhance the positive integration of impurities removal in aqueous solution. Methodology and results: The immobilization of fungal biomass and MWCNTs was done in a batch liquid medium with several factors such as agitation speed, dose of MWCNTs, pH and inoculum dosage that were conducted with one factor at one time (OFAT) method. Basically, to verify the functional group of MWCNTs, Aspergillus niger biomass and immobilized A. niger biomass, the FTIR was applied and FESEM was done to demonstrate and compare the image of the immobilized A. niger biomass with MWCNTs and fungal biomass alone. The finding showed the best agitation speed, dose of MWCNTs, pH and inoculum dosage were 150 rpm, 0.5 g, 5-6 and 2% respectively. FTIR indicates the presents of the functional groups like –OH (3270 cm -1 ), C-O (1619 cm -1 ) and –CH (2915 cm -1 ) while FESEM illustrates the images of the wrapped MWCNTs on A. niger biomass. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The conventional technique of adsorption of fungal biomass alone not showing a favorable removal of impurities. Thus, the immobilization of fungal biomass (A. niger) with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was a good combination since both have potential functional group to accumulate to each other and has a tendency to remove effectively and efficiently the impurities in aqueous solution

Factors affecting the immobilization of fungal biomass on CNT as a biosorbent for textile dyes removal

Effluents from dye and textile industries are highly contaminated and toxic to the environment. High concentration of non-biodegradable compounds contributes to increased biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater bodies. Dyes found in wastewater from textile industries are carcinogenic, mutagenic or teratogenic. Biological processes involving certain bacteria, fungi and activated carbon have been employed in treating wastewater. These methods are either inefficient or ineffective. These complexities necessitates search for new approaches that will offset all the shortcomings of the present solutions to the challenges faced with textile wastewater management. This study produced a new biosorbent by the immobilization of fungal biomass on carbon nanotubes. The new biosorbent is called “carbon nanotubes immobilized biomass (CNTIB)” which was produced by immobilization technique. A potential fungal strain, Aspergillus niger was selected on the basis of biomass production. It was found out in this studies that fungal biomass were better produced in acidic medium. Aspergillus niger was immobilized on carbon nanotubes. One-factor-at-a time (OFAT) was employed to determine the effect of different factors on the immobilization of fungal biomass on carbon nanotubes and optimum levels at which the three selected parameters (pH, culture time and agitation rate) would perform. Findings from OFAT showed that the optimum conditions for immobilization are a pH of 5, agitation rate of 150rpm and a culture time of 5 days

Challenges in textile wastewater and current palliative methods: An overview

Effluents from dye and textile industries are highly contaminated and toxic to the environment. High concentrations of non-biodegradable compounds contribute to increases in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) of the wastewater bodies. Dyes found in wastewater from textile industries are carcinogenic, mutagenic, or teratogenic. Biological processes involving certain bacteria, fungi, activated carbon, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are promising methods for treating the wastewater. These methods are either inefficient or ineffective. These complexities necessitate a search for new approaches that will offset all the shortcomings of the present solutions to the challenges faced by textile wastewater management. This article reviews the past and recent methods used in the treatment of textile dye wastewater and future opportunities for efficient treatment of textile wastewater. Sisa daripada pewarna dan industri tekstil telah mengakibatkan pencemaran yang teruk dan pembuangan toksid kepada alam sekitar. Kepekatan tinggi pada kompaun bukan bio-kitar semula menyumbang kepada peningkatan permintaan bio-kimia oksigen (BOD) dan permintaan kimia oksigen (COD) pada sisa air buangan. Pewarna yang dijumpai daripada industri kain adalah karsinogenik, mutagenik atau teratogenik. Proses biologi melibatkan sesetengah bakteria, kulat, karbon diaktifkan dan karbon nanotiub (CNTs) merupakan kaedah-kaedah yang dijanjikan untuk merawat sisa air. Kaedahkaedah ini samada tidak efisien ataupun tidak efektif. Ia memerlukan pencarian kepada pendekatan baru yang akan menghilangkan semua kekurangan pada solusi terkini kepada cabaran-cabaran yang dihadapi dalam pengurusan air sisa buangan kain. Artikel ini akan mengulas kaedah-kaedah terdahulu dan terkini yang telah digunakan dalam pengurusan air sisa buangan pewarna kain dan peluang akan datang bagi mendapatkan pengurusan yang cekap pada air buangan sisa tekstil

OPTIMIZATION OF FLOCCULATION PROCESS BY MICROBIAL COAGULANT IN RIVER WATER

The existing process of coagulation and flocculation are using chemicals that known as cationic coagulant such as alum, ferric sulfate, calcium oxide, and organic polymers.  Thus, this study concentrates on optimizing of flocculation process by microbial coagulant in river water. Turbidity and suspended solids are the main constraints of river water quality in Malaysia. Hence, a study is proposed to produce microbial coagulants isolated locally for river water treatment. The chosen microbe used as the bioflocculant producer is Aspergillus niger. The parameters to optimization in the flocculation process were pH, bioflocculant dosage and effluent concentration. The research was done in the jar test process and the process parameters for maximum turbidity removal was validated. The highest flocculating activity was obtained on day seven of cultivation in the supernatant. The optimum pH and bioflocculant dosage for an optimize sedimentation process were between 4-5 and 2-3 mL for 0.3 g/L of effluent concentration respectively. The model was validated by using a river water sample from Sg. Pusu and the result showed that the model was acceptable to evaluate the bioflocculation process

Optimization of flocculation process by microbial coagulant in river water

The existing process of coagulation and flocculation are using chemicals that known as cationic coagulant such as alum, ferric sulfate, calcium oxide, and organic polymers. Thus, this study concentrates on optimizing of flocculation process by microbial coagulant in river water. Turbidity and suspended solids are the main constraints of river water quality in Malaysia. Hence, a study is proposed to produce microbial coagulants using wastewater as nutrients source for river water treatment. The parameters that have been highlighted to optimize the flocculation activity are pH, bioflocculant dosage and effluent concentration. The research was done in the jar test process and after that the process parameters for maximum turbidity removal was validated. The chosen microbial that was used as the bioflocculant producer is Aspergillus niger. The highest flocculating activity is on day seven of cultivation and bioflocculant was obtained from the supernatant. The optimum pH and bioflocculant dosage for an optimize sedimentation process are between 4-5 and less than 3 mL respectively. The model was validated by using a river water sample from Sg. Pusu and the result shows that the model was acceptable

Transformation of carbon dioxide into methanol

Due to high potential of pollution risk of the untreated palm oil mill effluent (POME), it can be treated and converted into methane gas and with a further conversion that can produce into methanol. Previously, methanol is widely used in domestic and industrial applications as a solvent. It has a unique characteristic, which are colourless, flammable, volatile, odourless liquid that is readily miscible in water and has boiling point approximately 64.5˚C. Nowadays, the methanol has more been used in transportation and energy production. In future, it is predicted that the use of methanol in fuel applications will generate a huge demand. This study targets to design the process of transforming carbon dioxide, captured from the biogas through anaerobic digestion into synthesizing the methanol with the aim to produce 200 tonnes of methanol per year. This expectation is due to several advantages offered by the use of methanol, which less polluted to the environment, economically attractive, less flammable, high performance with high calorific value and thus become the focus of research nowadays