Bioremediation of sewage effluent for irrigation using prickly pear cactus
2012
Hassan, S.
The practice of environmentally benign agents in the treatment of water is rapidly gaining interest due to their naturally renewable and available character and low harmfulness. Common Mexican cactus produces a gum-like substance, cactus mucilage, which shows excellent flocculating abilities and is an economically viable alternative for low-income communities. Mucilage of Opuntia ficus indica was used as a flocculating agent for heavy metals like Cadmium (Cd), Lead (Pb), Zinc (Zn), Manganese (Mn), Nickel (Ni), Copper (Cu), Chromium (Cr) and Iron (Fe) and formicrobial loadinvolving Total coliforms, Fecal coliforms and Feed coliforms. Biosorption experiment was conducted using two types of treatments i.e. Dice-Cut-Pressed (DCP) cactus treatment and Extracted Mucilage Treatment (EMT). Results showed the mucilage efficiency for adsorbing heavy metals like Pb, Fe, Cd, Cu and Ni from wastewater as determined by light scattering, Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy. Nickel and Zn concentration was reduced by 72 - 77% with both DCP and EMT treatments. The Reduction (%) in Pb was higher than Ni and Zn, i.e., 90% with both extractants. Cd and Cu sorption was almost 100% by both the treatments. Effective sorption was observed for fecal coliforms and total coliforms, i.e., fecal coliforms showed complete biosorption by Day2 of treatment. Total coliforms count reduced from 1600 MPN/100ml to 500MPN/100ml and 800 MPN/100ml for both DCP and EMT treatments respectively by Day9. When quality of treated and untreated waste water effluent was compared with WHO (World Health Organization) standards for irrigation, treated waste water was found to be nearly fit for the irrigation. Results indicate that both the materials can potentially be used as sorbent for chemical and biological pollutants.
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