Journal of Biotechnology & Biomaterials
Open Access

Abstract

The study aimed to investigate the ability of indigenous and/or exogenous bacteria as free living (batch mode) either individual or as mixed culture to decontaminate raw domestic wastewater. Two indigenous and two exogenous bacteria were selected, identified using traditional as well as molecular characterization and used in the remediation process for seven days. Wastewater quality parameters {pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), total suspended solids (TSS), biochemical BOD, COD, FOG, total coliform (TC) and fecal coliform (FC)} were determined. Results indicated strong quality of the raw domestic wastewater according to the levels of all the tested parameters. Treatment efficiency was time and bacterial species dependent. In general, the mixture of the tested bacteria considered the most efficient for the removal of all the tested parameters. Pseudomonas stutzeri (PS) considered perfect for removing the organic matter (BOD & COD) minimizing them to safe discharge limits. Although significantly high removals of TSS, FOG TC and FC were achieved by S1, Rz6, Rz7, and the mixed culture respectively, their residuals still higher (23.3, 20 and 200 fold respectively) than their maximum permissible limits (MPLs) for the safe discharge. Therefore, either longer treatment time or heavier bacterial biomass is needed to bring the contaminated domestic effluent to the safe limits for the environment.

Biography

Ebtesam El-Bestawy is a Professor of Environmental Microbiology & Biotechnology, Institute of Graduate Studies & research, Alexandria University-Egypt. She is currently working for King Abdul-Aziz University, Saudi Arabia. She completed her PhD in Environmental Biology 1993 from Manchester University, Manchester, UK and her postdoctoral research in Biotechnology from the same University as well as Denmark Technical University (DTU), Denmark. She contributed in 13 Training Courses (1993-2010) on environmental wastes: Basic Science and Practical Solutions and participated in 16 national and international conferences and symposia (1988-2010). Her research interests include first study and monitoring of environmental pollutants either organic(pesticides; crude oil etc.) or inorganic (e.g. heavy metals etc.) in aquatic environments and contaminated soils. Second, removal of such pollutants using indigenous and/or exogenous microorganisms in free-living or fixed treatment systems.