Research Article
Vaithiyalingam SU, Gnanasekara
Abstract
Biocalcification of excess calcium catalyzed by the growth of the selected filamentous marine cyanobacteria exemplifies potential mechanism towards bioremediation of ossein effluent released during acidification of cattle bones in a gelatin production system. Two filamentous marine cyanobacteria Oscillatoria willei BDU130791 and Phormidium valderianum BDU20041 were tested for their ability to grow and aid in bio-calcite formation under laboratory conditions. Calcite formation, has been demonstrated in three types of effluent collected at different stages namely, di-calcium phosphate (DCP), high total dissolved solids (HTDS) and low total dissolved solids (LTDS). Biomass induction and calcite formation, were observed in effluents with seawater dilution in the ratio 1:1 amended with fertilizer grade urea and superphosphate. Biomass productivity of 0.15 g L-1 d-1 and 0.06 g L-1 d-1 were obtained in LTDS and HTDS effluent by O. willei BDU130791 and P. valderianum BDU20041 respectively with concomitant nutrient removal rates at the end of seventh day coupled with simultaneous increase in dissolved oxygen (DO) and calcite formation. Biocalcite formed by both the marine cyanobacteria was further characterized by scanning electron microscopy coupled fourier transform IR and electron dispersive spectral (EDS) analysis. The study for the first time has unraveled the potentials of O. willei BDU130791 and P. valderianum BDU20041 to remediate the ossein effluent by calcite formation.