ABSTRACT

This study was carried out to evaluate the potential of Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp in removing Zinc, Mercury and Chromium from raw refinery effluents. Physicochemical, heavy metal content and heavy metal removal capacity were determined, from the raw refinery effluents from the Kaduna Refinery and Petrochemical Company (KRPC) using standard procedures. Most of the physicochemical and heavy metal content were within the permissible limits set by the Federal Ministry of Environment Nigeria (FEMNV) except temperature (42.70C), Conductivity (48.10µS/cm), Chloride (835.5mg/l) and Mercury (0.0024mg/l). Two fungal species; Aspergillus flavus and Penicillium sp originally isolated from the KRPC were obtained from the Department of Microbiology, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria and re-authenticated by characterization on the basis of their macroscopic and microscopic morphologies using standard taxonomic guides. The isolates were inoculated into 100ml flask containing 50ml of the Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) supplemented with 5, 10 and 15 µg/ml of Zn, Hg and Cr analytical grade salts, to test for the heavy metal tolerance using dry weight mycelial mat. It was observed that the two fungal species were tolerant and grew in the medium containing 5, 10 and 15ppm of the test heavy metals. The isolates removed substantial amount of Zn, Hg and Cr from the raw refinery effluent. Aspergillus flavus was able to remove 74% of Zinc, 85%of Mercuryand 81%of Chromium which translated to adsorption of 0.800mg/gof Zinc, 0.530mg/g of Mercury and 0.133mg/g of chromium, after 7days Penicillum sp was able to remove 84% of Zinc, 56% of Mercury and 84% of chromium translating to the adsorption of 0.323mg/g of Zinc, 0.413mg/g of Mercury and 0.72mg/g of Chromium, over same period. It was therefore concluded that Aspergillus flavus and Penicillum sp obtained from effluent polluted environments were tolerant to the heavy metals and are good agents in treatment of refinery effluents and remediation of sites polluted with Zinc, Mercury and Chromium.

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