Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Characterization and application of bioflocculant prepared by Rhodococcus erythropolis using sludge and livestock wastewater as cheap culture media

  • Environmental biotechnology
  • Published:
Applied Microbiology and Biotechnology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

A new bioflocculant was produced by culturing Rhodococcus erythropolis in a cheap medium. When culture pH was 7.0, inoculum size was 2 % (v/v), Na2HPO4 concentration was 0.5 g L−1, and the ratio of sludge/livestock wastewater was 7:1 (v/v), a maximum flocculating rate of 87.6 % could be achieved. Among 13 different kinds of pretreatments for sludge, the optimal one was the thermal-alkaline pretreatment. Different from a bioflocculant produced in a standard medium, this bioflocculant was effective over a wide pH range from 2 to 12 with flocculating rates higher than 98 %. Approximately, 1.6 g L−1 of crude bioflocculant could be harvested using cold ethanol for extraction. This bioflocculant showed color removal rates up to 80 % when applied to direct and disperse dye solutions, but only 23.0 % for reactive dye solutions. Infrared spectrum showed that the bioflocculant contained functional groups such as –OH, –NH2, and –CONH2. Components in the bioflocculant consisted of 91.2 % of polysaccharides, 7.6 % of proteins, and 1.2 % of DNA. When the bioflocculant and copper sulfate (CuSO4) were used together for decolorization in actual dye wastewater, the optimum decolorization conditions were specified by the response surface methodology as pH 11, bioflocculant dosage of 40 mg/L, and CuSO4 80 mg/L, under which a decolorization rate of 93.9 % could be reached.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ahamad AL, Ismail S, Bhatia S (2005) Optimization of coagulation–flocculation process for palm oil mill effluent using response surface methodology. Environ Sci Technol 39:2828–2834

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Buthelezi SP, Olaniran AO, Pillay B (2012) Textile dye removal from wastewater effluents using bioflocculants produced by indigenous bacterial isolates. Mol 17:14260–14274

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cai ZS, Yang CS, Zhu XM (2010) Preparation of quaternized carboxymethyl chitosan and its capacity to flocculate COD from printing wastewater. J Appl Polym Sci 118:299–305

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Chaudhari PK, Majumdar B, Choudhary R, Yadav DK, Chand S (2010) Treatment of paper and pulp mill effluent by coagulation. Environ Technol 31:357–363

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Chen Y, Jiang S, Yuan H, Zhou Q, Gu G (2007) Hydrolysis and acidification of waste activated sludge at different pHs. Water Res 41:683–689

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Daolun LF, Shinhong HX (2008) Characterization of bioflocculant MBF3-3 produced by an isolated Bacillus sp. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24:1627–1632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • De Carvalho CCC, Da Fonseca MMR (2005) The remarkable Rhodococcus erythropolis. Appl Mirob Biotechnol 67:715–726

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fujita M, Michihiko I, Tachibana S, Kitada G, Kim SM, Inoue Z (2000) Characterization of a bioflocculant produced by Citrobacter sp: TKF04 from acetic and propionic acids. J Biosci Bioeng 89:40–46

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gao Q, Zhu XH, Mu J, Zhang Y, Dong XW (2009) Using Ruditapes philippinarum conglutination mud to produce bioflocculant and its applications in wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 100:4996–5001

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gong W, Wang S, Sun X, Liu X, Yue Q, Gao B (2008) Bioflocculant production by culture of Serratia ficaria and its application in wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 99:4668–414674

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Haruhiko Y, Takashi Y, Shingo M, Jun H, Sachio H, Yoshiyuki T (1997) Biopolymer flocculant produced by an Enterobacter sp. Biotechnol Lett 19:569–573

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jin H, Juan Z, Zongze S, Jibin Z, Ziduo L, Ziniu Y (2010) Characteristics and flocculating mechanism of a novel bioflocculant HBF-3 produced by deep-sea bacterium mutant Halomonas sp. V3a. World J Microb Biotechnol 26:1135–1141

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jun M, Wei L (2001) Effectiveness and mechanism of potassium ferrate (VI) preoxidation for algae removal by coagulation. Water Res 36:871–878

    Google Scholar 

  • Junyuan G, Chunping Y, Qingru Z (2013) Treatment of swine wastewater using chemically modified zeolite and bioflocculant from activated sludge. Bioresour Technol 143:289–297

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kurane R, Takeda K, Suzuki T (1986a) Screening for and characteristics of microbial flocculants. Agric Biol Chem 50:2301–2307

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurane R, Toeda K, Takeda K, Suzuki T (1986b) Culture condition for production of microbial flocculant by Rhodococcus erythropolis. Agric Biol Chem 50:2309–2313

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kurane R, Hatamochi K, Kakuno T, Kiyohara M, Hirano M, Taniguchi Y (1994) Production of a bioflocculant by Rhodococcus erythropolis S-1 grown on alcohols. Biosci Biotech Biochem 58:428–429

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lachhwani P (2009) Studies on polymeric bioflocculant producing microorganisms. D Deemed Univ 1:1–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Maria P (2004) Fungal morphology and metabolite production in submerged mycelial processes. Biotechnol Adv 22:189–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Moletta R (2005) Winery and distillery wastewater treatment by anaerobic digestion. Water Sci & Tech 51:137–144

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • More TT, Yan S, Hoang NV, Tyagi RD, Surampalli RY (2012) Bacterial polymer production using pre-treated sludge as raw material and its flocculation and dewatering potential. Bioresour Technol 121:425–431

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Neyens E, Baeyens J (2003) A review of thermal sludge pre-treatment processes to improve dewaterability. J Hazard Mater 98:51–67

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Obaja DS, Mace E, Costa JC, Sans C (2003) Nitrification, denitrification and biological phosphorus removal in piggery wastewater using a sequencing batch reactor. Bioresour Technol 87:103–111

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pant D, Adholeya A (2007) Biological approaches for treatment of distillery wastewater: a review. Bioresour Technol 98:2321–2334

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Pant D, Adholeya A (2009) Nitrogen removal from biomethanated spentwash using hydroponic treatment followed by fungal decolorization. Environ Eng Sci 26:559–565

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pant D, Adholeya A (2010) Development of a novel fungal consortium for the treatment of molasses distillery wastewater. The Environmentalist 30:178–182

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Penaud V, Delgenes JP, Moletta R (1999) Thermo-chemical pretreatment of a microbial biomass: influence of sodium hydroxide addition on solubilization and anaerobic biodegradability. Enzyme Microb Technol 25:258–263

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Salehizadeh H, Shojaosadati S (2001) Extracellular biopolymeric flocculants: recent trends and biotechnological importance. J Biotechnol Adv 19:371–385

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sekelwa C, Leonard VM, Ademola OO, Omobola OO, Kim B, Shaun D, Anthony IO (2011) Bioflocculant production by Virgibacillus sp. Rob isolated from the bottom sediment of Algoa Bay in the Eastern Cape, South Africa. Mol 16:2431–2442

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sevda S, Dominguez-Benetton X, Vanbroekhoven K, De-Wever H, Sreekrishnan TR, Pant D (2013) High strength wastewater treatment accompanied by power generation using air cathode microbial fuel cell. Appl Energ 105:194–206

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simphiwe PB, Ademola OO, Balakrishna P (2010) Production and characterization of bioflocculants from bacteria isolated from wastewater treatment plant in South Africa. Biotechnol Bioprocess Eng 15:874–881

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Skiadas IV, Gavala HN, Lu H, Ahring BK (2005) Thermal pre-treatment of primary and secondary sludge at 70 °C prior to anaerobic digestion. Water Sci Technol 152:161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Suresh KM, Mudliar SN, Reddy KM, Chakrabarti T (2004) Production of biodegradable plastics from activated sludge generated from a food processing industrial wastewater treatment plant. Bioresour Technol 95:327–330

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sun J, Zhang XH, Miao XJ, Zhou JT (2012) Preparation and characteristics of bioflocculants from excess biological sludge. Bioresour Technol 126:362–366

  • Tanaka S, Kobayashi T, Kamiyama K, Bildan ML (1997) Effects of thermochemical pre-treatment on the anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. Water Sci Technol 8:209–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tang B, Yu LF, Huang SS, Luo JZ, Zhuo Y (2010) Energy efficiency of pre-treating excess sewage sludge with microwave irradiation. Biochem Eng 101:5092–5097

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SG, Gong WX, Liu XW, Lin T, Yue QY, Gao BY (2007) Production of a novel bioflocculant by culture of Klebsiella mobilis using dairy wastewater. Biochem Eng 36:81–86

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Weijie L, Hongli Y, Jishui Y, Baozhen L (2009) Characterization of bioflocculants from biologically aerated filter backwashed sludge and its application in dying wastewater treatment. Bioresour Technol 100:2629–2632

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang CF (2011) Research progress on resource utilization of new surplus sludge biotechnology. Urb Roads Bridges Fld Ctrl 9:042–045

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang H, Xiao J, Wang F, Zhang L (2013) Adsorption-flocculation of Rhodococcus erythropolis on micro-fine hematite. J Central South Univ (Science and Technology) 44:874–879 (in Chinese)

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang J, Liu Z, Wang S, Jiang P (2002) Characterization of a bioflocculant produced by the marine myxobacterium Nannocystis sp. NU2. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 59:517–522

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Zhiqiang Z, Xiaoqing D, Chunhui W, Wanqi Q, Xiangrong L, Jiao Z, Siqing X (2013) Ultrasound-promoted extraction of cheap microbial flocculant from waste activated sludge. Environ Tech 34:1219–1224

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhou D, Hou W (1990) Treatment of phenol-containing wastewater by immobilized microorganism. Environ Sci 01:1–8

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Financial support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51278464) and the Hunan Haishang Environmental Biotechnology Co, Ltd. is highly appreciated.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China

    Lanyan Peng, Chunping Yang, Guangming Zeng, Lu Wang, Chuanhua Dai, Zhiyong Long, Hongyu Liu & Yuanyuan Zhong

  2. Zhejiang Provincial Key Laboratory of Solid Waste Treatment and Recycling, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Zhejiang Gongshang University, Hangzhou, 310012, Zhejiang, China

    Chunping Yang

  3. Key Laboratory of Environmental Biology and Pollution Control (Hunan University), Ministry of Education, Changsha, 410082, Hunan, China

    Lanyan Peng, Chunping Yang, Guangming Zeng, Lu Wang, Chuanhua Dai, Zhiyong Long, Hongyu Liu & Yuanyuan Zhong

Authors
  1. Lanyan Peng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Chunping Yang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Guangming Zeng
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Lu Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Chuanhua Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zhiyong Long
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Hongyu Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Yuanyuan Zhong
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Chunping Yang.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 163 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Peng, L., Yang, C., Zeng, G. et al. Characterization and application of bioflocculant prepared by Rhodococcus erythropolis using sludge and livestock wastewater as cheap culture media. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol 98, 6847–6858 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5725-4

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00253-014-5725-4

Keywords

Search

Navigation