Anaemene, I. A
The ability of Candida spp to bisorp heavy metals contained in industrial effluent was studied with atomic absorbance spectrophotometer (AAS) and the conventional cultural method. AAS of the effluent revealed the presence of Mercury, Zinc, Cadmium, Lead, Iron, Copper, and Chromium, in the proportions, per 100ml of effluent, 0.008, 0091, 0.006, 0.003, 0.075, 0.82 and 0.027 ppm respectively. Enumeration of the organisms in the effluent by Millipore filter technique using Sabouraud dextrose agar medium showed counts of 2.50, 2.80 and 4.20 CFU/ml. Microscopic identification of the isolates by wet mount using lacto phenol cotton blue stain showed the presence of both branched septate hyphae and septate hyphae. Characterization of the isolates by citrate test, oxidase activity, catalase activity, starch hydrolysis, Voges Proskauer and alcohol tolerance 10% and 20%, respectively revealed that the isolates belong to the genera Candida, Fusarium and Rhizopus. Percentage disappearance of the metals according to the various treatments given to the Candida biomass with respect to time was found to be on the increase. The results revealed that, the use of Candida spp is very effective for the treatment of heavy metal polluted waste water.
