MYCOFILTRATION OF INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATER USING INDIGENOUS MUSHROOM Pleurotus tuberregium WHITE ROT FUNGI

ABSTRACT

This study was conducted to in order to assess the efficacy of Peurotus tuberregium, white-rot fungi in the reduction of pollutants in industrial wastewater. This was done by filtering the wastewater through a biofilter; a sawdust-based substrate permeated with the mycelium of the fungus. Analysis for physicochemical parameters before filtration and after showed reduction in all parameters after treatment except for pH which was initially 3.56. It increased to 6.50 and 6.29 after filtration, indicating reduction in acidity. The highest value before filtration was observed in conductivity with a value of 632.0µS/cm which decreased to 529.7µS/cm and 517.0µS/cm respectively and was followed by Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) with a value of 318mg/l which also reduced to 266.7mg/l and 284.0mg/l. After mycofiltration, Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Dissolved Oxygen (DO), TDS, TSS were reduced significantly. Microbial analysis with the highest change observed for total coliform count at 2x 10⁴ and the highest for fungal count was at the biofilter media of 5 cm depth. Average values for heavy metal Cadmium (Cd)   Nikel (Ni) and Lead (Pb) before and after mycofiltration showed a significant reduction in the concentration of heavy metals and data was also calculated using one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) to show there was a significant difference before and after filtration. In all, the fungi Pleurotus tuberregium was effective to an extent in reducing several contaminants of industrial wastewater and so mycofiltration has an important role to play in ensuring water quality for a sustainable ecosystem.