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Water Quality Assessment and Decolourisation of Contaminated Ex-Mining Lake Water Using Bioreactor Dye-Eating Fungus (BioDeF) System: A Real Case Study

Summary

This research examined how mushroom-based technology could help clean contaminated water from an old mining lake in Malaysia. The scientists used a special fungus called Ganoderma lucidum to remove the dark brown color from the lake water, achieving over 90% color removal in just 48 hours. This natural and environmentally-friendly approach could provide a sustainable solution for water treatment. Impacts on everyday life: – Provides a natural way to clean contaminated water sources – Offers an eco-friendly alternative to chemical water treatments – Could help make former mining sites usable for recreation and water supply – Demonstrates sustainable approaches to environmental cleanup – Shows potential for reducing water treatment costs using natural materials

Background

Lakes are essential water resources that can be affected by mining activities and environmental forces. Former mining lakes in Malaysia are being converted for recreational, agricultural and livestock uses due to development needs and population growth. The fungus Ganoderma lucidum shows potential for treating contaminated lake water either alone or in combination with bacteria.

Objective

To evaluate the water quality and water quality index (WQI) of Main Lake in Paya Indah Wetland, Selangor, and investigate the use of Malaysian Ganoderma lucidum fungus in a BioDeF system for decolorizing the contaminated ex-mining lake water.

Results

The lake water had low pH (5.49), intense dark brown color (874.67 TCU), and high iron content (3.24 mg/L). The water quality index averaged 56.45, categorizing it as Class III (under-polluted water). The BioDeF system achieved over 90% reduction in water color after 48 hours of treatment. Iron and magnesium were the most abundant heavy metals present. Most microbiological parameters were within acceptable limits except for slightly elevated algae content.

Conclusion

The ex-mining lake water showed contamination primarily in color properties due to post-mining activity and peat swamp conditions. The Ganoderma lucidum-based BioDeF system demonstrated high potential as an environmentally friendly biosorbent, achieving over 90% color removal. However, optimizing the system for complete pollutant removal and scaling up to industrial applications requires further research.
  • Published in:Toxics,
  • Study Type:Case Study,
  • Source: 10.3390/toxics12010060
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