Abstract
The effect of Aspergillus niger bioaugmentation on COD and protein removal in domestic wastewater under sewage conditions was assessed. The sewer simulating bioreactor was running at a hydraulic retention time of 17 h, 20°C and pH 7.8 under aerobic condition. When A. niger was bioaugmented, 45 % to 72 % of COD was removed compared to 28 % to 48 % removal of COD in the control at the same period. An overall protein removal of 66 % resulted when A. niger was bioaugmented compared to 29.7 % in the control. Regarding enzymatic activities, we observed that as long as the bioaugmented system biomass concentration was higher than the control, the enzymatic activities were also higher.
This research is an initial investigation on wastewater transformation under transitory conditions by A. niger and demonstrated the capacity of A. niger to remove both COD and protein under actual conditions. A. niger bioaugmentation under sewer conditions could be an alternative for wastewater treatment with a valorisation of fungal waste biomass.
