The Optimization of Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) for Water Quality Improvement

Abstract

UTHM lakes has being surrounded by an open environment exposed to passing vehicles, oil palm plantation effluent and precipitation of rainwater and the lakes may be vulnerable to the emission of various pollutants that will degrade the water quality. Photosynthetic Bacteria (PSB) give benefits to aquaculture which can affects aquatic life like fish and it also keeps the pond bottom clean and aids in the degradation of organic trash. This study aims to determine the optimum value of PSB needed to improve water quality of the lake and the limitation of this study only related to groundwater and surface water contamination that get into the lake only. Laboratory experiment was conducted to record the water quality such as pH, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), Biological Oxygen Demand (BOD) and Ammonia Nitrogen. The standard method and instrumentation based on National Water Quality Standard (NWQS) used to measure the parameters. As a results, Sample B can get the optimum value of reduction for COD and Ammonia Nitrogen within seventh day and Sample D got the optimum value of reduction for BOD experiment in the seventh day. PSB helps to decompose many toxic matters such as ammonia and helps reduce the chemical and antibiotic usage as it could prevent aquatic life from diseases. Photosynthetic Bacteria's biomass can be explored more in future study as mentioned by various researchers as PSB succeed in dark-fermentation process to boost their capacity to produce hydrogen.