Application of bioflocculants produced by Prestia megaterium for drinking water purification

Abstract

Quality water is a scarce commodity in the developing countries. This paper aims to evaluate the application of bioflocculants produced by Priestia megaterium (accession number: ON184360) for drinking water purification. A total of twenty-four water samples from stream, ponds and wells were collected in sterile containers from four different Local Government Areas of Niger State, Nigeria. Each sample was treated with varying concentrations of bioflocculant and chemical flocculant (0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2 and 0.5 mg L⁻¹). The microbiological and physicochemical characteristics of the treated and untreated water were determined using standard methods. The results show that water samples from stream, ponds and wells treated with the bioflocculant significantly reduced the microbial load and the physicochemical properties of the water reduced to an acceptable limit, which has practical significance for the safety of drinking water in developing countries. The bioflocculant was effective in aggregating suspended particles and thus, proved its potential to be used as alternative flocculant in the drinking water treatment process.