INORGANIC ION REMOVAL FROM SYNTHETIC WASTEWATER BY S. CEREVISIAE UNDER ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Ong, Ghim Hock; Tan, Yuan Tao; Wong, Kok Kee; Wong, Rui Rui; Loh, Khye Er; Tanee, Tawatchai; Si, Wuyang

doi:10.21608/jesj.2025.415513.1149

INORGANIC ION REMOVAL FROM SYNTHETIC WASTEWATER BY S. CEREVISIAE UNDER ANAEROBIC CONDITIONS

Document Type : High quality original papers

Authors

¹ Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, INTI International University

² Department of Bioscience, Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology

³ Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies Mahasarakham University

⁴ Anhui Vocational College of Grain Engineering

10.21608/jesj.2025.415513.1149

Abstract

Agricultural activities in Malaysia contribute significantly to wastewater pollution, leading to problems such as eutrophication, economic loss, and health risks. Saccharomyces cerevisiae (yeast) is a promising biological treatment option, but limited research exists on the use of baker’s and brewer’s yeast in tropical regions like Malaysia. This study evaluates the effectiveness of locally sourced baker’s and brewer’s yeast in removing nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, and sulfate from synthetic agricultural wastewater, as well as their biomass production. Yeast cultures were incubated for 120 hours at 28 °C, and viable cell counts were measured before and after incubation using microscopy. Pollutant concentrations were analysed via spectrophotometry following standardized protocols. Both yeast types showed significant removal of phosphate, ammonium, and sulfate, but had limited effectiveness against nitrate and nitrite. Yeast cell counts increased significantly, with microscopic evidence of budding, indicating both strains could survive, grow, and reproduce under anaerobic conditions. Both baker’s and brewer’s yeast show potential for ion removal, though real-world application may be limited by environmental factors and wastewater variability.

Keywords