Improving wastewater treatment using dried banana leaves and bacteriophage cocktail

Abstract

WATER pollution is a serious problem resulting from introduction of hazardous biological waste, organic materials and heavy metals into the natural environment. This study aimed for improving the quality of wastewater as measured by the physicochemical parameters and controlling microbial pollution using dried banana leaves with phage cocktail. Different wastewater samples were collected from New Cairo, Gabal El-Asfar and Helwan, Egypt, and were used for isolation of Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Salmonella Typhi and their specific phages. Fine dried powder of banana leaves was prepared to improve the physicochemical characteristics and reduce microbial populations; the treatment of wastewater was performed using fine powder of banana leaves, phage cocktail individually and in combination. Before treatment, the physical and chemical parameters showed higher levels, dissolved oxygen was depleted and the counts of total coliforms, fecal coliforms and fecal streptococci exceeded the permissible limits. However, using banana leaves, there was an improvement in physicochemical parameters and slight reduction of bacterial populations. Individual application of phage cocktail resulted in a significant reduction of bacterial growth as well as adsorption of wastewater pollutants. Furthermore, using combination of phage cocktail specific to E. coli, P. aeruginosa and S. Typhi and fine powder of banana leaves enhanced the microbial inactivation and removal of water pollutants. Thus, this study indicated the capability of using ecofriendly approach comprising of fine dried powder banana leaves and phage cocktail for wastewater treatment and paves the way for further research to enable reusing wastewater.