ASSESSMENT OF BIODEGRADATION POTENTIALS OF FUSARIUM OXYSPORUM AND ASPERGILLUS NIGER ON BIOMEDICAL WASTE AND WASTE MANAGEMENT IN URBAN KANO, NIGERIA

Abstract

The aim of this study is to assess the potentials of fungi in biodegrading biomedical waste. In this study,
biodegradation of blood-stained cotton wool wastes by two species of fungi, Fusarium oxysporum and Aspergillus
niger was assessed under ranges of temperature conditions. Pure cultures of the test fungi were inoculated on 25
g of test material and maintained under temperature ranges of 15-25°C, 25-35°C and 35-45°C for 60 days
respectively. Degradation process of test material was represented by the weight loss and transformation of
materials. A weight loss of 89.74 %, 52.08 % and 35.92 % were recorded under temperature ranges of 25-35°C,
15-25°C and 35-45°C by Fusarium oxysporum respectively. However, the loss of weight from Aspergillus niger
under the same temperature ranges were 64.00 %, 13.40 % and 21.36 % respectively. Fusarium oxysporum was
more effective at temperatures of 25-35°C, which is similar to the environmental temperature condition of the
study area. There is significant difference in the weight loss of biomedical waste treated with the fungal species
(p< 0.05), however no significant difference was observed on the effect of temperature condition in the
biodegradation process (p=0.44). The products of the biodegraded test material included water, alcohols, alkyls,
cellulose biomass among others, as confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR). These
findings suggest that, fungal organisms employed in the study can be utilized as excellent biodegraders of
healthcare wastes which are cost effective and environmentally safe.