Biodegradation of Toxic Compounds in Olive Mill Wastewater by a Newly Isolated Potent Strain: Aspergillus niger van Tieghem

Fatiha Hanafi, Mohammed Mountadar, Samira Etahiri, Mohamed Fekhaoui, Omar Assobhei

Département de Zoologie et Ecologie Animale, Institut Scientifique, Université Mohammed V-Agdal, Rabat, Morocco.
Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Marine et de l’Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
Laboratoire de Biotechnologies Marine et de l’Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.
Unité de Chimie Analytique et Sciences de l’Environnement, Faculté des Sciences, Université Chouaib Doukkali, El Jadida, Morocco.

DOI: 10.4236/jwarp.2013.58078                

Abstract

Thirty-two strains isolated from olive oil production plants were screened for their tolerance to the polyphenols and their ability to grow in olive oil mill wastewaters (OMW). An Ascomycete isolate that grew best on OMW was selected for further study to evaluate its effect on removal of organic pollutants, phenolic compounds and OMW toxicity. This strain was identified by DSMZ as Aspergillus niger van Tieghem. The growth of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem on stored OMW decreased pH and led to the reduction of phenolic compounds with a resultant discoloration of OMW and significant reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD), in proportion to the dilution of OMW. The reduction of the COD, phenolics and color exceeded 50%. Tannase, the enzyme detected in the growth medium of Aspergillus niger van Tieghem was produced during primary metabolic growth. The maximal enzyme activity attaining 0.68 EU/ml was achieved in 3rd days of cultivation. The phytotoxicity of the stored OMW was reduced to about 40% after 4 days’ incubation with Aspergillus niger van Tieghem.

Keywords

Aspergillus niger van Tieghem; Olive Oil Mill Wastewaters; Phenolic Compounds; Tannase; Toxicity

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

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