Isolation and Characterization of Bioflocculant-Producing Bacteria from Wastewater at Jimeta, Adamawa State

Aim: The aim of this study is to isolate, identify and screen for bacteria capable of producing bioflocculant from three wastewater disposal sites; Jimeta Abattoir, Jimeta Modern Market and the Gwari Market waste disposal site located within the Jimeta metropolis, Adamawa State. Nigeria.

Study Design: The samples were prepared by diluting 200 ml of distilled water in 50 ml of the wastewater samples for each.

Place and Duration of Study: The research was carried out at the Chevron Biotechnology Centre Modibbo Adamawa University of Yola, Nigeria which lasted for about two months.

Sample Collection: The wastewater samples were collected in sterile containers and were taken to Chevron Biotechnology Centre, Modibbo Adamawa University of Yola for further analysis.

Methodology: Screening of bioflocculant-producing bacteria was carried out using the three wastewater samples collected from Jimeta metropolis. Growth media for bioflocculant production was prepared and identification of the isolate was done using techniques such as gram staining, biochemical tests like detection of urease and catalase production, IMViC tests etc. Each of the bacterial isolates were tested for its ability to ferment carbohydrate, screened for bioflocculant production using bioflocculant production broth medium and lastly the flocculating activity of the isolates was determined.

Results: By the examination of physical parameters of waste water samples had revealed that, all the samples were turbid with distinction in colour, pH and temperature change. Six bacteria were isolated and identified based on their morphological, cultural and biochemical characteristics. From the biochemical characteristics, the organisms were confirmed as Escherichia coli (ISO1), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ISO2), Staphylococcus aureus (ISO3), Klebsiella spp. (ISO4), Salmonella spp. (ISO5) and Bacillus spp. (ISO6) in the wastewater samples. P. aeruginosa has the highest flocculation activity with 87.32%, while Salmonella spp. has the least flocculating activity with 13.5%, while the flocculating activity of E. coli, S. aureus, Klebsiella spp and Bacillus spp are 35.76%, 47.87%, 56.6% and 69.54% respectively

Conclusion: This study has shown that bacterial bioflocculants are capable of removing/flocculating suspension particle such as kaolin clay simultaneously and effectively. P. aeruginosa and Bacillus spp can be explored for bioflocculant-production.