title: Production and characterization of a bioflocculant produced by Aspergillus flavus.
abstract: The production and characterization of a bioflocculant, IH-7, by Aspergillus flavus was investigated. About 0.4 g of purified bioflocculant with an average molecular weight of 2.574 × 10(4)Da could be obtained from 1L of fermentation medium. The bioflocculant mainly consisted of protein (28.5%) and sugar (69.7%), including 40% of neutral sugar, 2.48% of uronic acid and 1.8% amino sugar. The neutral sugar components are sucrose, lactose, glucose, xylose, galactose, mannose and fructose at a molar ratio of 2.4:4.4:4.1:5.8:9.9:0.8:3.1. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy analysis revealed that purified IH-7 contained hydroxyl, amide, carboxyl and methoxyl groups. The elemental analysis of purified IH-7 showed that the weight fractions of the elements C, H, O, N and S were 29.9%, 4.8%, 34.7%, 3.3%, and 2.0%, respectively. IH-7 had good flocculating rate in kaolin suspension without cation addition and stable over wide range of pH and temperature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering, University Putra Malaysia, Sri Serdang 43400, Selangor, Malaysia. ahmaddjla2001@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Ahmad H Rajab
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Aljuboori
authors.forename: Azni
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Idris
authors.forename: Norhafizah
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abdullah
authors.forename: Rosfarizan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mohamad
mesh_terms: D001231:Aspergillus flavus / Q000378:metabolism*; D005427:Flocculation; D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides / Q000378:metabolism*; D005656:Fungal Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007616:Kaolin; D010461:Peptones / Q000378:metabolism; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D013395:Sucrose / Q000378:metabolism; D013696:Temperature; D018508:Water Purification / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D062610:Fungal Polysaccharides; D005656:Fungal Proteins; D010461:Peptones; D007616:Kaolin; D013395:Sucrose