Author/Authors :
Hanif, Samiya University of the Punjab - College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pakistan , Shaikh, Irfan A. University of the Punjab - College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pakistan , Zameer, Maryam University of the Punjab - College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Pakistan , Akram, Waheed University of the Punjab - Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Pakistan , Anjum, Tehmina University of the Punjab - Institute of Agricultural Sciences, Pakistan
Abstract :
Present study was conducted to investigate the presence of mycoflora in drinking water and use of ozone to disinfect water from fungal propagules. Water sampling was performed from different locations of Lahore, Pakistan. All the samples were found contaminated with fungal propagules. A total of nine fungal species belonging to four genera were isolated by plating method. Maximum fungal contamination was observed in Wapda Town water. Penicillium (52%), Cladosporium (24.7%) and Aspergillus (22.3%) were found to be the most frequently isolated fungal genera. Potential of ozone to kill spores of these isolated fungal strains was checked by varying time at a constant ozone concentration (10g/m). Ozone was generated by corona discharge and the discharge chamber was composed of de-hydroxyl tube-form generators. 3In this ozone generator Insulated Gate Bipolar Transistor (IGBT) technique was adopted. Cladosporium species were the most liable to ozone and treatment of 6 min killed all viable spores, whereas Penicillium species were found to be resistant even when exposed to ozone for 8 min.
Keywords :
Disinfection , Drinking water , Fungi , Ozone , Plating method.
