Mycoremediation Potential of Edible Mushroom (Lentinus squarrosulus Mont) for Reduction of Physicochemical Properties and Microbial Load of Landfill Leachate obtained from Choba Dumpsite, Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Dumpsite leachate samples are characterized by high concentration of pollutants that pose several environmental health risks in both short and long term. This study was therefore undertaken to investigate the efficacy of mycoremediation capacity of edible mushroom (Lentinus squarrosulus Mont.) for reduction of physicochemical properties and microbial load of landfill leachate obtained from Choba dumpsite, Rivers State, Nigeria using mycofiltration technique and standard methods. Data obtained after a 24-48 hours mycofiltration treatment, revealed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in the concentration of pH from 7.4 to 7.7, Colour 227 to 108, Turbidity 152 to 50 (NTU), Electrical conductivity 415 to 201(µS/cm), Total Dissolved Solid 560 to 218 (mg L^-1), Total Suspended Solid 22 to 20 (mg L^-1), Nitrite 0.124 to 0.120, Nitrate 0.130 to 0.125, Phosphate 1.4 to 1.1, Dissolved Oxygen 8.64to 1.52 (mg/L^-1), Biological Oxygen Demand 7.2 to 1.52 (mg/L^-1), Chemical Oxygen Demand 4.96 to 1.32 (mg/L^-1) and microbes at the end of the filtration process.  The findings from this study showed that mycofiltration technique could be a useful, efficient and affordable technology for toxicity reduction in dumpsite leachate.