Investigating the Effectiveness of Mycofiltration in Treating Greywater Generated at Uva Wellassa University for Recycling Purposes
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Date
2021
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Uva Wellassa University of Sri Lanka
Abstract
Greywater is the waste-water from domestic activities. It is used water of kitchen, bathroom and
laundry activities which represents least polluted contaminants as it consists of organic and inorganic
contaminants, nitrogen and phosphorus derivatives, oil, food particles and fats. Mycofiltration is one
of the bioremediation techniques in which fungus is used for treatment of greywater. Daily 720 000 L
of greywater is generated at Uva Wellassa University (UWU). However, this wastewater is
discharged into drainage without any proper treatment. This study was therefore taken to treat
greywater generated at UWU using myco filters and to investigate their effectiveness for recycling
purposes. Greywater samples were collected in sterilized plastic containers and initial physico-
chemical parameters such as pH, BOD, COD, nitrogen, total suspended solids (TSS), alkalinity,
turbidity, conductivity, total dissolved solids (TDS) and colour were analyzed using the standard
methods. Mycofiltration was performed using two different fungi namely Aspergillus niger and
Pleurotus ostreatus in two different permeated substrates namely rice and saw dust. Greywater
samples was allowed to pass through four different types of myco filters. Physico-chemical
parameters of filtered water were analyzed again. pH, BOD, COD, nitrogen, TSS, and alkalinity
parameter values have been reduced from the initial value and turbidity, conductivity, TDS and
colour parameter value have been increased from the initial value. Removal efficiency from
Aspergillus niger for both permeated substrates rice and sawdust were 43.76% & 35.92%. Removal
efficiency from Pleurotus ostreatus for both permeated substrates rice and sawdust was 34.52% &
26.80%. Therefore, Aspergillus niger in rice media was chosen as the effective fungi in reducing
contaminants present in greywater. Furthermore, the quality of Aspergillus niger in rice media
filtrated water sample was compared with the standard permissible level for outdoor gardening given
by Central Environmental Authority standards. Major parameters of Aspergillus niger in rice media
filtrated water were below the permissible level. Hence, it was concluded that the greywater filtered
through Aspergillus niger in rice media can be reused for outdoor gardening. However, this removal
efficiency could be further increased by the use of bio coagulants along with myco filters in future.
Keywords: Greywater; Mycofiltration; Aspergillus niger; Pleurotus ostreatus; Reuse
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Keywords
Environment Science, Waste Water Management, Waste Water Treatment, Greywater