Enhanced Bioaugmentation of Oily Sludge by Locally Isolated Beneficial Microorganisms (LIBeM) Consortia Using Different Delivery Techniques

The use of selective oil degrading strains in remediating oil sludge has become a promising technique that could generate economy and it is a green technology to clean the environment. The main aim of this study is to determine and compare the best LIBeM consortia formulation in liquid (LIBeMLIQ), powder (LIBeM-POW) and capsule form (LIBeM-CAP) for bioaugmentation of oil sludge contaminated soil at 20% (v/v) concentration levels. This consortia consists of Candida tropicalisRETL-Cr1+ Chromobacterium violaceum-MAB-Cr1 + Pseudomonas aeruginosa- BAS-Cr1 was selected as proven to be best consortia in degrading oil sludge contaminated soil based on previous study. A laboratory scale-up experiment was conducted using Aerated Static Pile (ASP)-bioreactor system made up of acrylic materials as a treatment plot. The laboratory scale-up experiments were incubated for 56 days with standard Technical Procedures Protocol (TPP) and the TPH reduction was observed along with physiochemical parameters such as pH, soil moisture content, temperature and microbial population (CFU/mL) and biodegradation kinetic evaluation. The results showed that bioaugmentation of LIBeM-POW at 20% v/v oil sludge show great improvement in TPH degradation with 92% within a shorter period of 56 days as compared to LIBeM-CAP with (86%) LIBeM-LIQ (81%) and NA (26%) degradation. LIBeM either in liquid, powder and capsule had also shown their capabilities in degrading aliphatic and PAH. The findings justified that LIBeM-POW was proven to be the most efficient delivery technique as compared to LIBeM-CAP, LIBeM-LIQ and NA. The excellent control of bioprocess parameters along with Technical Procedures Protocol (TPP) were also discussed in this paper

Investigation of macro, meso and microplastics in fish gut from Coastal West Coast of Sabah, Malaysia

Over the last decade, the production of plastics has increased with their increasing usage. Plastics have been seen as the most widely encountered waste in the environment. However, little is known regarding the accumulation of MPs in different tissues of fishes, especially in seawater in natural environments. In this study, the abundance of macro, meso and microplastics in guts from pelagic, demersal, and benthic groups were examined. A total of 70 individual fish guts from seven species (fish per species n = 10) were examined. These groups were chosen based on their distinct habitat features which lie in their preferred depth and location within the water column. Samples were taken from fish markets in Tuaran, Menggatal, Lido, and Kota Kinabalu, Sabah Malaysia. Remarkably, this study found meso and microplastic from the 2 pelagic species which are Seriola rivoliana and Scomberomorus commerson. In terms of characteristics, the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) particle was found in the form of fragment, fiber, and sphere while the polystyrene was in the form of fragment. Our results provided useful information for the assessment of the environmental threats posed by microplastics in Sabah, with a focus on the perspective of marine organisms

Phytoremediation of mixed metals (cadmium and lead) from wastewater by Eichhornia crassipes

The present study demonstrated the phytoremediation potential of E. crassipes for removal of mixed metals cadmium (Cd) and lead (Pb) within 14 days period. E. crassipes were grown in FSSA’s lake water and added with 1 mg/L and 3 mg/L of mixed metals (Cd+ Pb). The tolerance of E. crassipes in removing mixed metals at different concentration were photo recorded and the toxicity evidence was observed along the experiment. The results showed that removal of mixed metals at 1 mg/L was highest in Pb with 20.3% followed by Cd 4.0%. E. crassipes exposed to higher concentration at 3 mg/L showed removal efficiency of Pb with 10.7% while Cd with 2.6% respectively. It was noted that the accumulation of heavy metal in plant parts were ranged from 17.1 mg/kg- 83.17 mg/kg for Cd while for Pb the accumulation was observed with 75.7 mg/kg to 1090.1 mg/kg. The distribution pattern of heavy metals was found in order of roots>leaves>stems. E. crassipes significantly experienced some toxicity effects as the concentration increased along 14 days of the treatment

Hydrogeochemical and water quality status of main rivers in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah

The hydrogeochemical and water quality of three main rivers in Kota Kinabalu, was studied based on its physico-chemical characteristic. Nine sampling locations from three main rivers namely Menggatal River, Inanam River and Likas River that run through the urban area of Kota Kinabalu, Sabah has been selected for this study. Water and sediment samples were collected from the sampling location for the physico-chemical analysis. Soil samples showed a decreasing pattern of pH value for each river going from upper stream to downstream ranging from 5.50 to 4.49. Moisture content and organic content ranged from 30.38 to 15.47 % and 0.35 and 4.40 % respectively. Range of data obtained on water samples are as followed pH (7.89 – 6.20), conductivity (408.2 – 47.9 mS/cm), dissolved oxygen (8.37 – 2.07 mg/l), temperature (33.7 – 23.8 °C), salinity (1.10 – 0.02 ppt), turbidity (435.30 – 22.37 NTU). NO3 are below detection level at two sampling locations whilst the highest is 16.3 mg/l. Highest PO3 - is 1.04 mg/l and lowest is 0.24 mg/l. Maximum SO4 reading is at 28 mg/l whereas the lowest is none. Biochemical oxygen demand ranged from 4.10 to 0.66 mg/l while chemical oxygen demand ranged from 21.7 to less than 0.7 mg/l. Total suspended solid at highest is 230 mg/l while lowest at 0 mg/l. Biological analysis ranged from 20,925 to 117 and 20,475 to 44 count per 100 ml for total coliform and fecal coliform respectively. Based on the obtained data, one sampling location classified into Class 1 whilst three sampling locations classified into Class IV based on National Water Quality Standards for Malaysia (NWSQM)

Distribution and Abundance of Marine Debris on Intertidal Zone at Three Selected Small Islands, Sabah

The issue of marine debris has become worldwide attention since it occurs almost everywhere globally Thus, it is crucial to focus on this area to sustain the life below the water as stated by United Nations (SDG 14). This study evaluated the distribution, abundance, and composition of marine debris in three selected islands at Sabah namely Manukan, Mamutik and Sapi Islands. Marine debris was identified according to its categories as stated by the Department of Environment (DOE). The study was carried out to compare the waste abundance of three islands since the different beach types represent various activities that produce debris. The sampling design was conducted with two plot areas plotted and observed on each island for three consecutive weeks. Based on the assessment done, Mamutik Island recorded the most abundance of marine debris with 12.185 kg (66.2%) of debris found followed by Manukan Island with 5.487 kg (29.8%) of debris and Sapi Island with 0.746 kg (4.1%). It was observed that plastic debris especially plastic bags, plastic bottles, plastic straws, general plastics, polystyrene, and plastic cups were the main contributors to marine debris pollution. While among all the three islands studied, Sapi Island is considered the cleanest and smallest Island compared to others since the location of this island is quite far from the mainland. The solid and waste management on each island has been identified in order to formulate a new strategy to reduce the impact of marine debris on the intertidal zone especially on human health and the environment. These studies have provided a clear understanding of the distribution of marine debris in these islands. Several recommendations and suggestions have been listed to reduce and prevent marine debris pollution

Identification, Abundance, and Chemical Characterization of Macro-, Meso-, and Microplastics in the Intertidal Zone Sediments of Two Selected Beaches in Sabah, Malaysia

This study aims to present the identification, abundance, and chemical characterization of plastics in the intertidal zone sediment of two selected beaches in Kota Kinabalu city, Sabah, Malaysia. Plastic debris was classified according to weight and size and was identified for its heavy metal concentrations and polymer types. Results showed that a higher abundance, by more than 2-fold of plastic debris was found in Kebagu beach (28.7 g) compared to ODEC, UMS (13.4 g). FTIR analysis showed that polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene (PE) were the dominant plastic polymers on both beaches, followed by polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Five heavy metals (arsenic, chromium, copper, zinc, and nickel) were detected from four types of plastics. The results showed that the concentration of Zn was higher in all four types of plastics on both beaches, with a range of 41 mg/kg–135.3 mg/kg, followed by Cr and As, while Ni was the lowest concentration detected in PE on both beaches: 5.6 mg/kg (ODEC) and 5.1 mg/kg (Kebagu stations). This study confirmed the presence of macro-, meso- and microplastics in both stations. Further studies remain necessary for a better understanding of the sources and fates of the pollutant in the marine environment. Findings from the studies of the Kota Kinabalu beaches have provided baseline data and a clearer understanding of the distribution of plastic debris. This demonstrates that commitments and actions are required to mitigate the potential risk to the ecological system and human health

Effects of Single and Consortia Inoculants on the Biodegradation Efficiency of Crude Oil in Seawater

A bioremediation study was undertaken to assess the biodegradation efficiency of crude oil in seawater using two locally isolated strains namely Candida tropicalis RETL-Cr1 and Pseudomonas aeruginosa BAS-Cr1. The inoculation was carried out using single strains labelled as T1; Candida tropicalis RETL-Cr1, T2; single strain Pseudomonas aeruginosa BAS-Cr1 and T3; mixture of both cultures respectively. The biodegradation capability of each strain was examined in a shakeflask culture at 30˚C, agitated at 200 rpm for 28 days. The growth profile was monitored by measuring the optical density (OD600) using spectrophotometry. The biodegradation efficiency of crude oil was quantified by comparing the initial and final crude oil concentrations, whereas the degradation of selected aliphatic hydrocarbons was quantified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) by comparing the initial and final area in chromatograms. The present finding showed that in 5% (v/v) of crude oil, consortia cultures had the highest degradation, with 50%, while single cultures of C. tropicalis RETL-Cr1 and P. aeruginosa BAS-Cr1 achieved 39% and 27%, respectively. The results of biodegradation showed that consortia cultures experienced 1.3- fold higher compared to a single culture of C. tropicalis RETL-Cr1 and 2-fold higher compared to a single culture of P. aeruginosa BAS-Cr1. Based on GC-MS analysis, the aliphatic hydrocarbons were found degraded through the treatment with the highest degradation recorded in consortia cultures: octadecane (73.93%) > eicosane (73.23%) > nonadecane (70.43) > docosane (67.64%) > heptadecane (66.36%) > heneicosane (65.94%) > tricosane (62.28%). From the results obtained, it can be concluded that the potency of microbes as excellent hydrocarbon degraders is as follows: consortia (mixed of two species) > C. tropicalis RETL-Cr1> P. aeruginosa BAS-Cr1. This supports the idea that microbial communities, especially in mixtures, have the ability to degrade hydrocarbon contaminants more effectively and can be environmentally friendly due to their specific ability to metabolize hydrocarbons

Growth and utilization of oil sludge as a source of carbon by locally isolated beneficial microorganisms

Recent advance technologies have showed that microorganisms plays an important role in the natural ecosystem and act as bio-control of the environment. As microorganisms have become more concern in environment technology, the understanding of microorganism’s life cycle and its factor influencing its life span must fully understand. Therefore, in this study, three isolated beneficial microorganisms identified as Chromobacterium violeceum- MAB-Cr1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa- BAS-Cr1 and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia-RAS-Cr1 was used to identify the growth phase in utilization of oil sludge at different concentration levels. These microorganisms were isolated from Titan Petrochemical, Pasir Gudang Johor and have been proven to degrade phenol based on the previous study done. The experiment was conducted in a conical flasks with addition of different concentrations of oil sludge at 5%, 10%, 15% v/v as a sole carbon. After 24 hours of incubation, the growth of microorganisms were assessed using spectrophotometer at 600nm and the standard growth profile were plotted according to the concentrations studied. The results showed that all strains exhibited lag, exponential, stationary and death phase in oil sludge utilization. The maximum optical density (OD) was observed in C. violaceum-MAB-Cr1 (0.85; 10% v/v), P. aeruginosa-BAS-Cr1 (0.82; 10% v/v) and S. maltophilia-RAS-Cr1 (0.91; 15% v/v). It can be concludes that as the highest concentration of oil sludge present in the medium, the longest survival rate recorded for all strains studied. This findings proved that all strains have capability and potential to tolerate in high concentration of oil sludge

Microbial growth rate and distribution of doubling time at different concentration of oil sludge medium

Microorganisms play a critical part in the development of a sustainable ecosystem and biosphere. The generation time, which differs among bacteria is influenced by many environmental factors as well as the nature of the bacteria species. In this present work, the growth curves of five consortia locally isolated beneficial microorganisms (LIBeM) in mixtures of (LIBeM) Candida tropicalis-RETL-Cr1, Chromobacterium violaceum-MAB-Cr1, Pseudomonas aeruginosa-BAS-Cr1, Sphingomonas paucimobilis-RETOS-Cr1, and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia-RAS-Cr1 were reported. A laboratory scale was conducted to observe the doubling time (dt) observed for each consortium LIBeM at varied concentration levels of oil sludge (2%, 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%) v/v. After 24 hours of incubation, the growth of microorganisms was determined using spectrophotometer at 600nm and the standard growth profile were plotted according to the concentrations studied. The results showed that consortia LIBeM at 2% and 5% v/v oil sludge showed the similar growth pattern in the sigmoid curve over a 24-hour period. However, at 10%, 15%, and 20% (v/v) concentrations, the growth tendency is increased and remains consistent during the incubation period. Study on growth rate and doubling time (dt) had showed that Consortia 3 consists of C. tropicalis –RETL-Cr1+ S. maltophilia-RAS-Cr1+ P. aeruginosa-BAS-Cr1 performed the highest growth rate with 0.16 hour-1 and lowest doubling time (dt) of 4.41. This result is critical for determining the efficiency and tolerance of LIBeM for petroleum degradation at various concentration levels of oil sludge in real-world applications

The potential of pistia stratiotes in the phytoremediation of selected heavy metals from simulated wastewater

The pollution of heavy metals in aquatic environments is a major concern for human beings. The present study demonstrates the phytoremediation potential of the aquatic macrophyte Pistia stratiotes for removal of Cr, Pb and Ni from simulated wastewater. Pistia stratiotes was grown in Faculty of Science & Natural Resources (FSNR) lake water and spiked with different concentrations of heavy metals at 1 mg/L, 2 mg/L and 3 mg/L of Cr, Pb and Ni, respectively. The experiment was conducted within a 14-day period in laboratory conditions. The study investigated the percentage of removal of heavy metals by P. stratiotes as well as determining the distribution of heavy metal patterns in plant tissues, the bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF) and relative treatment efficiency index (RTEI). The results showed that P. stratiotes is efficient in removing single Pb at 1 mg/L and 3 mg/L and single Cr at 1 mg/L, with a removal efficiency of 99.31%, 79.86% and 76.25%, respectively. It was found that P. stratiotes managed to concentrate Pb in its roots up to 15,000 mg/kg in plant tissue. Data on bioconcentration factor (BCF) showed that P. stratiotes managed to reach BCF values over 6,000 each for single chromium at 2 mg/L and lead at both 2 mg/L and 3 mg/L. It was found that the plant can consistently translocate nickel from the roots to the shoots, while chromium and lead tend to concentrate in the root tissues. The results revealed that P. stratiotes uses rhizofiltration as its phytoremediation uptake mechanism. This study helps significantly to increase knowledge regarding the potential of P. stratiotes in the phytoremediation of heavy metal-polluted wastewater