Pollution Research Paper

EVALUATION OF NITRATE REMOVAL POTENTIAL FROM WASTEWATER USING CHICKEN FEATHER FIBRE AND SELECTED BACTERIAL SPECIES

OGHENEROBOR B. AKPOR, MIRACLE E. FAVOURITE, OLAYINKA O. ALABI AND OLAREWAJU M. OLUBA

Abstract

This study was aimed at assessing the nitrate removal potential of raw and carbonated chicken feather in comparison with removal in presence of bacterial species. To sterile 250 mL conical flask, 200 mL of wastewater was dispensed and a known volume of the inoculums of the respective test isolates were added aseptically using sterile micropipette from a 24 h broth culture. For studies involving feathers, known quantities of the carbonated and raw chicken feather fiber were added in the respective flasks and incubated in a shaking incubator at a shaking speed of 100 rpm. Immediately after inoculation with the isolates or the addition of the feather fibre and every 24 h, aliquot wastewater samples were removed each flask for the estimation of nitrate concentrations, using standard procedures. Results obtained showed that the nitrate removal potential for both bacterial cells and chicken feather fibre was more pronounced at the highest inoculum size and feather fibre quantity (6 g and 8 g) evaluated. Significant nitrate removal was observed at pH 6, 9 and 12 in presence of the raw feather fibre while for the carbonated feather fibre, significant removal was o served at the different pH investigated. In presence of the bacterial species, significant nitrate removal was observed only at pH 6 and 9. The extent of nitrate removal was observed to be dependent on the initial level concentration in the water. The study was able to reveal the effectiveness of chicken feather fibre (raw or carbonated) in the removal of nitrate from wastewater. Also revealed was the optimum conditions for nitrate removal by the test bacterial species. This could be applied in the treatment of wastewater effluents.