Faculty of Applied Sciences
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Item Physiological responses of carbon-sequestering microalgae to elevated carbon regimes(Taylor and Fancis Online, 2016) Bhola, Virthie Kemraj; Swalaha, Feroz Mahomed; Nasr, Mahmoud; Kumari, Sheena K.; Bux, FaizalIn order to identify a high carbon-sequestering microalgal strain, the physiological effect of different concentrations of carbon sources on microalgae growth was investigated. Five indigenous strains (I-1, I-2, I-3, I-4 and I-5) and a reference strain (I-0: Coccolithus pelagicus 913/3) were subjected to CO2 concentrations of 0.03–15% and NaHCO3 of 0.05–2 g CO2 l–1. The logistic model was applied for data fitting, as well as for estimation of the maximum growth rate (μmax) and the biomass carrying capacity (Bmax). Amongst the five indigenous strains, I-3 was similar to the reference strain with regards to biomass production values. The Bmax of I-3 significantly increased from 214 to 828 mg l–1 when CO2 concentration was increased from 0.03 to 15% (r = 0.955, P = 0.012). Additionally, the Bmax of I-3 increased with increasing NaHCO3 (r = 0.885, P = 0.046) and was recorded at 153 mg l–1 (at 0.05 g CO2 l–1) and 774 mg l–1 at (2 g CO2 l–1). Relative electron transport rate (rETR) and maximum quantum yield (Fv/Fm) were also applied to assess the impact of elevated carbon sources on the microalgal cells at the physiological level. Isolate I-3 displayed the highest rETR confirming its tolerance to higher quantities of carbon. Additionally, the decline in Fv/Fm with increasing carbon was similar for strains I-3 and the reference strain. Based on partial 28s ribosomal RNA gene sequencing, strain I-3 was homologous to the ribosomal genes of Chlorella sp.Item A logistic model for the remediation of filamentous bulking in a biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plant(IWA Publishing, 2015-08) Deepnarain, Nashia; Kumari, Sheena K.; Swalaha, Feroz Mahomed; Ramjith, J.; Tandoi, V.; Pillay, K.; Bux, FaizalBiological nutrient removal (BNR) systems across the globe frequently experience bulking and foaming episodes, which present operational challenges such as poor sludge settling due to excessive filamentous bacteria. A full-scale BNR plant treating primarily domestic wastewater was monitored over a period of 1 year to investigate filamentous bacterial growth response under various plant operating parameters. Identification of filamentous bacteria by conventional microscopy and fluorescent in situ hybridisation indicated the dominance of Eikelboom Type021N, Thiothrix spp., Eikelboom Type 1851 and Eikelboom Type 0092. A cumulative logit model (CLM) was applied to elucidate significant relationships between the filamentous bacteria and plant operational parameters. The model could predict the potential abundance of dominant filamentous bacteria in relation to wastewater treatment plant operational parameters. Data obtained from the model corroborated with previous findings on the dominance of most filaments identified, except for Type 0092, which exhibited some unique traits. With further validation, the model could be successfully applied for identifying specific parameters which could contribute towards filamentous bulking, thus, providing a useful tool for regulating specific filamentous growth in full-scale wastewater treatment plants.Item Optimization of riboflavin production by fungi on edible oil effluent(2010) Swalaha, Feroz Mahomed; Odhav, BhartiSouth African edible oil processing plants produce approximately 3 x 105 tonnes of oil annually with up to 3 tonnes of water for every tonne of oil produced. Wastewater that contains oil extracts varies in organic loading from 30,000 to 60,000 mg.l-1 COD. This wastewater can be used to grow oleophilic fungi to produce valuable industrial products. The global vitamin B market is approximately R25.5 billion with 4500 metric tonnes being produced. A large proportion of this is produced using the fungus Eremothecium gossypii using oil substrates. The aim of this study was to to develop a novel method to produce riboflavin with the aid of fungi, using edible oil effluent (EOE) as substrate, and to optimize the production thereof by statistical experimental design. Four fungi were surveyed for their growth potential on EOE and two, E. gossypii (CBS109.51) and C. famata (ATCC 208.50) were found to produce sufficient riboflavin for further study. Mutation of these organisms using ethylmethane sulphonate (EMS) increased riboflavin production from 3.52 mg.l-1 to 38.98 mg.l-1, an 11-fold increase. An enzyme pathway responsible for this was found to involve isocitrate lyase and comparison of this enzyme’s activity in the mutant against the wild-type using Michaelis-Menten kinetics showed a higher reaction velocity (Vmax) with a reduced substrate affinity (Km) indicating that the mutation was associated with this enzyme. Biomass comparisons were fitted to the sigmoid Gompertz model which was used to compare the wild-type to the mutant and increased specific growth rates and doubling times were observed in mutated cultures of E. gossypi. A strategy of statistical experimental design was pursued to optimize media components and iterative fractional factorial experiments culminating in a central composite optimization experiment were conducted. Statistically verified mathematical models were developed at each stage to identify important media components, predict media interactions, show directions for improvement and finally, predict maximum riboflavin production. An eight-factor resolution IV fractional factorial increased riboflavin production to 112 mg.l-1 followed by a four-factor resolution V experimental design which increased riboflavin production to 123 mg.l-1. A two-factor (yeast extract and NaCl) central composite experimental design predicted a maximum riboflavin production of 136 mg.l-1 which was a 3.5-fold increase from the mutant, and 38.6-fold higher than the E. gossypii wild-type. The optimized value was achieved within predicted confidence intervals in confirmatory experiments. Cost implications for production of riboflavin on EOE were calculated and a 10% technology uptake by the edible oil industry could yield a riboflavin industry with a 63.65 million rand turnover and a potential 24.96 million rand gross profit margin.