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Decolorization of palm oil mill effluent using growing cultures of Curvularia clavata

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Abstract

Agricultural wastewater that produces color are of environmental and health concern as colored effluent can produce toxic and carcinogenic by-products. From this study, batch culture optimization using response surface methods indicated that the fungus isolated from the pineapple solid waste, Curvularia clavata was able to decolorize sterile palm oil mill effluent (POME) which is mainly associated with polyphenol and lignin. Results showed successful decolorization of POME up to 80 % (initial ADMI [American Dye Manufacturing Index] of 3,793) with 54 % contributed by biosorption and 46 % by biodegradation after 5 days of treatment. Analysis using HPLC and GC-MS showed the degradation of color causing compound such as 3-methoxyphenyl isothiocynate and the production of new metabolites. Ecotoxicity test indicated that the decolorized effluent is safe for discharge. To determine the longevity of the fungus for a prolonged decolorization period, sequential batch decolorization studies were carried out. The results showed that lignin peroxidase and laccase were the main ligninolytic enzymes involved in the degradation of color. Carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) and xylanase activities were also detected suggesting possible roles of the enzymes in promoting growth of the fungus which consequently contributed to improved decolorization of POME. In conclusion, the ability of C. clavata in treating color of POME indicated that C. clavata is of potential use for decolorization and degradation of agricultural wastewater containing polyphenolic compounds.

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Acknowledgements

The authors express their appreciation to the Ministry of Sciences and Innovation Malaysia (National Science Fellowship) and Universiti Teknologi Malaysia for providing financial support to conduct the studies reported in this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biosciences and Health Sciences, Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Chin Hong Neoh, Chi Yong Lam, Chi Kim Lim & Zaharah Ibrahim

  2. Department of Biotechnology and Medical Engineering, Faculty of Biosciences and Medical Engineering, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, 81310, Skudai, Johor, Malaysia

    Adibah Yahya

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  1. Chin Hong Neoh
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  2. Chi Yong Lam
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  3. Chi Kim Lim
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  4. Adibah Yahya
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  5. Zaharah Ibrahim
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Correspondence to Zaharah Ibrahim.

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Responsible editor: Gerald Thouand

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Neoh, C.H., Lam, C.Y., Lim, C.K. et al. Decolorization of palm oil mill effluent using growing cultures of Curvularia clavata . Environ Sci Pollut Res 21, 4397–4408 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-013-2350-1

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