title: Characterization and flocculation mechanism of a bioflocculant from potato starch wastewater.
abstract: This study investigated the characterization and flocculation mechanism of a bioflocculant prepared using potato starch wastewater. The optimal culture conditions of this strain were determined as 4 g K2HPO4, 2 g KH2PO4, 0.2 g MgSO4, 0.1 g NaCl, and 2.0 g urea dissolved in 1.0 L potato starch wastewater with no need of adding carbon sources or adjusting pH value. Production of this bioflocculant was positively associated with cell growth, and a highest value of 0.81 g/L was obtained. During the kaolin suspension flocculation, charge neutralization and interparticle bridging were proposed as the main reasons for enhanced performance. Further, with potato starch wastewater, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and turbidity removal rates reached 52.4 and 81.7 %, respectively, at pH 7.5 when the bioflocculant dose was adjusted to 30 mg/L.
authors.affiliation: College of Resources and Environment, Chengdu University of Information Technology, Chengdu, 610225, Sichuan, China, gjy@cuit.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Junyuan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.forename: Anthony K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Yuzhe
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zhao
mesh_terms: D003470:Culture Media / Q000737:chemistry; D005427:Flocculation; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007220:Industrial Waste; D011198:Solanum tuberosum / Q000737:chemistry*; D013213:Starch / Q000737:chemistry*; D062065:Wastewater / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000382:microbiology*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D007220:Industrial Waste; D013213:Starch; D062065:Wastewater