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28 August 2024 | Story André Damons | Photo Supplied
Prof Patricks Voua Otomo
Prof Patricks Voua Otomo, Associate Professor and subject head of Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free State (UFS).

In an effort to alleviate the burden of water contamination, Prof Patricks Voua Otomo, Associate Professor in the Department of Zoology and Entomology at the University of the Free (UFS) is researching how mushrooms can be used to significantly reduce the toxicity of water.

The degradation of river systems in South Africa has been linked primarily to the inability of municipalities to properly treat wastewater. According to the 2022 Green Drop Report, out of the existing 850 wastewater systems across 90 municipalities, only 23 (or less than 3%) qualified for the Green Drop Certification. This underscores the depth and breadth of the wastewater treatment crisis in South Africa and its potential implications for human and environmental health.

In 2030, billions of people will still lack access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene services – the most basic human need for health and well-being. Target 6.1 of the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – SDG 6 – aims to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all, while target 6.3 is also looking to improve water quality by reducing pollution, eliminating dumping and minimising release of hazardous chemicals and materials, halving the proportion of untreated wastewater and substantially increasing recycling and safe re-use globally by 2030.

These challenges inform Prof Voua Otomo’s research, which focuses on the drivers of river pollution in the Qwaqwa region, ways to mitigate/remediate their effects, and the development of simple and quick methods to assess water quality. His research, which is part of the UFS 2023 Impact Report, has drawn attention to localised incidences of terrestrial and aquatic contamination linked to sewage sludge management by local wastewater treatment plants.

Using mycofiltration to reclaim the quality of contaminated water

In Qwaqwa, wastewater treatment plants, however, are not the only source of river pollution, as a significant amount of river pollutants emanates directly from the communities that often dispose of their household waste directly into the waterways. This has led to unacceptable levels of pharmaceuticals such as biphenyl-4-ylacetic acid (an anti-inflammatory), efavirenz (an HIV medicine), and carbamazepine (an epilepsy medicine) ending up in rivers.

To attempt to reclaim the quality of contaminated water, ongoing research in Prof Voua Otomo’s laboratory involves the use of ‘mycofiltration’, i.e., the use of fungal mycelia for the purpose of water filtration. This relatively untapped eco-friendly technology is attracting more attention, yet its real merits are only now being established and documented scientifically.

“Various species of fungi have been explored in bioremediation studies, and those belonging to the Pleurotus genus (edible mushrooms) have demonstrated an exceptional ability in the biosorption of contaminants,” says Prof Voua Otomo.

In his field of research, Prof Voua Otomo says snails can be used as bioindicators (i.e., organisms used to assess the health of an environment or ecosystem, particularly by indicating the presence and impact of pollutants or other environmental stressors) or biomonitors (i.e., organisms or a biological systems used to assess the health of an environment, particularly by detecting changes in the levels of pollutants or other harmful substances).

“We designed a mycofilter made of mycelia from the mushroom species Pleurotus ostreatus and filtrated water contaminated with the organic insecticide imidacloprid and the inorganic chemical iron (III). The results showed that mycofiltration could remove up to 94% of iron (III) and 31% of imidacloprid.

“Mycofiltration works through a process called adsorption, which is the process where molecules, ions, or particles from a gas, liquid, or dissolved solid, stick to a surface. This happens when the adsorbate (the substance being adsorbed) attaches to the adsorbent (the surface it adheres to),” Prof Voua Otomo explains.

Mycofiltration viable and affordable for water remediation

This research is the brainchild of Sanele Mnkandla, a final-year PhD student in Prof Voua Otomo’s laboratory. “A few years ago, she suggested looking at mycofiltration as a means to improve the quality of contaminated water. Freshwater snails were the most suitable organisms to help assess the improvement of the water quality after mycofiltration,” explains Prof Voua Otomo.

According to him, they are currently exploring ways to upscale the mycofilter to improve the quality of larger bodies of water, including rivers. The duration of the process depends on the size of the filter, the amount of water to be filtered and the targeted chemicals. Bigger filters, explains Prof Voua Otomo, will filter larger amounts of water over a relatively longer time whereas smaller ones will be saturated quickly. The process could last from minutes to days.

“We have published a technical note on the topic and a proof of concept. We are currently testing this technology using wastewater effluent in the Qwaqwa region. We are also exploring local applications in rainwater harvesting.

“Mycofiltration is certainly a viable and affordable option for water remediation, which can find a wide range of applications in South Africa,” he says. 

Watch the video below

News Archive

SASOL TRAC laboratory launched at UFS Qwaqwa Campus
2006-05-08

Some of the guests attending the launch of the Sasol TRAC Laboratory at the University of the Free State's (UFS) Qwaqwa Campus were from the left Prof Peter Mbati (Principal of the Qwaqwa Campus), Mrs Zimbini Zwane ( Communications Manager of Sasol Infrachem), Prof Gerhardt  de Klerk (Dean : UFS Faculty of the Humanities), Prof Fred Hugo
 Director of TRAC SA) and Prof Jack van der Linde (Director of RIEP at the UFS).

SASOL TRAC laboratory launched at UFS Qwaqwa Campus

The Research Institute for Education Planning (RIEP) of the University of the Free State (UFS) today unveiled the Sasol TRAC Laboratory at its Qwaqwa campus.

The laboratory will be used to help grade 10, 11 and 12 learners and educators from the Qwaqwa region to conduct the experiments from the physical sciences outcome-based curriculum.

“The Sasol TRAC Laboratory introduces learners not only to the latest technology used by engineers and other scientists in practice but also to stimulate the learner’s interest in the field of science in such a way that more of them will enter into science related careers,” says Mr Cobus van Breda, Co-ordinator of the TRAC Free State Regional Centre.

According to Mr van Breda the newly established Sasol TRAC Laboratory will enable RIEP to train learners and their educators in Physical Sciences.  The laboratory will consist of six work stations equipped with computers and electronic sensors.

“Learners from the Qwaqwa region will visit the Sasol TRAC Laboratory on regular basis to conduct experiments based on the curriculum.  Data will be collected with electronic apparatus and presented as graphs on the computer so that results can be analysed and interpreted,” says Mr van Breda.

“There is a serious shortage of suitable qualified teachers in maths and science in the Qwaqwa region.  Many schools in the region are not yet part of the RIEP project and are in dire need of assistance.  A large number of these schools are in remote areas not reached regularly by intervention programmes,” says Prof Peter Mbati, Principal of the UFS Qwaqwa Campus.

“The establishment of the Sasol TRAC Laboratory at the Qwaqwa Campus provides us the opportunity to engage with our community and assist in the development and training of these vital education subjects.  We are pleased that Sasol agreed to fund the project,” says Prof Mbati.

Students from the Qwaqwa Campus will also benefit from the TRAC programme.   “Some promising students will also undergo further training and become assistants for the TRAC programme,” says Prof Mbati. 

“Nurturing science and mathematical skills is of great importance in growing our national economy. Annually, Sasol invests more than R50 million in supporting mathematical and science education in South Africa. Our primary aim is to increase the number of learners gaining access to tertiary education in the science fields. Therefore, our Corporate Social Investment (CSI) education interventions at secondary school level focus on educator development and direct learner interventions such as the Sasol TRAC Laboratory,” explains Ms Pamilla Mudhray, CSI and SHARP manager at Sasol.

According to Ms Mudhray the implementation of the National Curriculum Statement for physical sciences in the further education and training (FET) phase from 2006, under resourced schools will need greater access to the tools and equipment necessary to teach the syllabus and fulfil the ideals of the curriculum.

TRAC South Africa is a national non-profit programme focused on supporting and expanding science, mathematics and technology education in secondary schools. The programme was first introduced to South Africa in 1994. In 2005, RIEP established the TRAC Free State regional centre on the UFS Main Campus in Bloemfontein.

Media release
Issued by: Lacea Loader
Media Representative
Tel:   (051) 401-2584
Cell:  083 645 2454
E-mail:  loaderl.stg@mail.uovs.ac.za
5 May 2006

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