Production of Bioflocculant by Staphylococcus cohnii ssp. from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Staphylococcus cohnii ssp. was found to produce a bioflocculant with high flocculating activity for kaolin suspension. Using optimized culture conditions, a flocculating activity of 70.3?% at a bioflocculation concentration of 0.3?mg/L at pH 7 with Ca²⁺ as the cation and 88.9?% in 1.2?mg/L of bioflocculant concentration for Al³⁺ as the cation was obtained for bacteria that were incubated at temperature of 40?°C for 2-day incubation period. It was found to be effective for flocculation of a kaolin suspension over weakly acidic pH (6?C8); divalent and trivalent (Ca²⁺ and Al³⁺) enhanced the flocculating activity. This bioflocculant possesses a good flocculating activity, which can be promoted by the addition of trivalent and bivalent cations in kaolin suspension.