Using microorganisms to clean up water pollution in SA

12th July 2019

By: Natasha Odendaal

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

     

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Using microorganisms within tailored bioprocesses is an essential part of the solution to optimise the processes involved in cleaning up industrial effluent waters.

University of Cape Town Centre for Bioprocess Engineering Research molecular biologist Dr Robert Huddy says improving bioprocesses is critically important to the state of water in South Africa.

Pollution from industries such as mining and agriculture, as well as human settlements, besides others, remained an area of concern in view of the significant drought and water shortages experienced, he said at a recent Café Scientifique event, a public science initiative sponsored by Spoor & Fisher.

“It is therefore critical that pollutants such as acid mine drainage are effectively addressed,” he asserted.

“As a result of various industrial processes, water gets contaminated with undesirable compounds. For example, in gold mining, processed water is polluted with cyanide and thiocyanate,” he told delegates during his presentation, titled ‘Waste Water Bioremediation: Turning Pollutants into Resources’.

“These toxic compounds are harmful to people, animals and the environment,” he said.

While there were various physical and chemical processes involved in cleaning this water, microorganisms, such as bacteria or fungi, could use their metabolism to remove dangerous compounds present in industrial effluents.

Edited by Martin Zhuwakinyu
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor

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