Evaluation of fungal permeated lignocellulosic filter for remediation of water pollutants

Abstract

The use of biological techniques to remove pollutants from the environment has been long advocated. In this study, we assessed the efficacy of a fungal permeated lignocellulosic filter (mycofilter) in the removal of water pollutants using surface water as the test sample. A wild macrofungus was collected from a field within Osun State University, Oke-Baale, Osogbo, and cultured on potato dextrose agar. Identification was achieved using morphological and PCR techniques. Mycofilters (FCCs) were developed from pure macrofungus mycelium and diced pasteurized corncob (CC). Collected surface water (RW) was passed
through three mycofilters, each with flow rates of 0.2, 0.5, and 1.0 ml/min. Diced pasteurized corncob (CC) was used as the negative control. Physicochemical parameters including pH, temperature, turbidity, cadmium, copper, iron, zinc, and lead, and microbial parameters i.e. total bacterial count (TBC) and Escherichia coli counts (ECC) of RW, CC, and FCC treated waters were determined. Phenotypically, the fungus was identified as Macrolepiota procera and yielded 650 bp by PCR product assessment on gel electrophoresis. Remarkably, FCC reduced the levels of turbidity, chemical, and microbial contaminants significantly at p = 0.001, < 0.05, and ≤ 0.002 respectively compared to CC. The flow rate of 0.2 ml/min was the most efficient in reducing contaminants in the RW. This study reveals the potential of the Macrolepiota procera permeated filter in reducing water contaminants.