Journal of Environmental Biology

Characterization and optimization of conditions

for biodegradation of sella-rice mill effluent

Author Details

Kamla Malik

(Corresponding author)

Centre for Plant Biotechnology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CSHAU)

New Campus, Hisar - 125 004, India

e-mail: kamlamalik@rediffmail.com

Faquir Chand Garg

Department of Microbiology, Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (CCSHAU),?

Hisar - 125 004, India

Kiran Nehra

Department of Biotechnology, Chaudhary Devi Lal University, Sirsa - 125 055, India

Publication Data

Paper received:

05 July 2010

Revised received:

18 November 2010

Accepted:

20 December 2010

Abstract

The sella-rice mill effluent is a major environmental pollutant requiring proper treatment before disposal. The present study has been conducted to isolate and characterize micro-organisms capable of growing on sella-rice effluent and to optimize conditions for its rapid bioremediation. Using three different types of media (LB, YEPDA and PDA), a total of 139 isolates were isolated from effluent samples collected from three different locations. Out of these, 45 isolates were found to utilize starch on starch medium, eight isolates showing high efficiency.? For the optimization of conditions for maximum utilization of starch by selected isolates, parameters such as effect of addition of carbon and nitrogen sources, effect of growth factors, temperature and pH were studied. Maximum growth (absorbance of 2.10) and starch-utilization (varying in the range of 2.33 to 3.62) was observed on starch medium supplemented with peptone and yeast extract at 30^oC with a pH of 6.0. These bacterial isolates also reduced the amount of starch (80.10%), BOD (64.24%) and COD (75.0%) of sella-rice mill effluent after 15 days of incubation. On the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics, the selected isolates were found to belong to the genera Lactobacillus and Micrococcus.

Key words

Biodegradation, Sella?rice mill effluent; Starch-utilizing bacteria, Microorganism isolates

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