Assessment of extracellular activities of novel microorganisms for biodegradation of palm oil mill effluent (POME)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) constitutes 60% of the wastes generated in typical palm oil mill and its environmental impact has been identified to be harmful to aquatic lives. This project examined the potential of degrading POME with microorganisms that are indigenous to POME. Thus, two microorganisms were isolated from POME using serial dilution (10−1 to 10−10) procedure on solid plates containing Potato Dextrose Agar (PDA), Sabouround Dextrose Agar (SDA) and Malt Extract Agar (MEA), respectively. The two microorganisms (TRQ1 and TRQ2) that consistently appeared on the three media plates were quantified and subjected to extracellular enzymatic activities such as amylolytic, gelatinolytic, cellulolytic and lipolytic. The two isolates, TRQ1 and TRQ2, showed negative response to amylolytic test and this confirmed that they are not fungi; however they are Gelatinolytic and Cellulolytic. TRQ1 showed low lipolytic activity while TRQ2 did not show any. The diameter covered by TRQ1 and TRQ2 on gelatin media were 8.5 and 8.0cm respectively, while the spread on cellulose media were 3.5 and 3.25 cm, respectively, on the seventh day. Furthermore, TRQ1 covered a diameter of 1.65cm while TRQ2 retained its initial diameter. These results show that TRQ1 and TRQ2 contain gelatinolytic and cellulolytic enzymes and can be utilized for the degradation of cellulosic substrates present in POME, in particular. The cheap and wide availability of the material (POME) used as source for the production of these microorganisms indicates their economic importance for industrial applications and environmental sustainability, particularly in converting waste to wealth. Keywords: Biodegradation; Cellulolytic; Gelatinolytic; Lipolytic; Microorganisms; POM

Effect of biodegradation on the physical properties of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using mixed culture of fungi

This study investigated the effects of biodegradation by the mixed culture of fungi (Pithomyces sacchari and Pestalotiopsis maculans) on selected physical properties of palm oil mill effluent (POME). Mixed culture innoculum (4% v/v) was added to autoclaved and raw POME samples, which were subjected to biodegradation at 120rpm and 35 ?C for six days. The pH, electrical conductivity, total dissolve solids and biosolids of the digested samples were quantified at 24 h intervals. These parameters for the autoclaved sample, at the end of the digestion period, were 6.88, 4.38mS/cm, 2.28 g/L and 25.6 g/L, respectively. These values were higher than 6.34, 4.24mS/cm, 2.22 g/L and 22.87g/L obtained for the raw POME sample, respectively. The kinetic studies of the degradation of POME, based on the concentration of the biosolids, were also investigated. The kinetic studies show that the degradation of the raw POME sample best fits the zero order kinetic model (R2 = 0.96), while the degradation of the autoclaved POME sample best fits the first order kinetic model (R2 = 0.83). However, the digested POME may require further treatment in order to meet standard suitable for discharge into the water body

Development of semi-fluidized bed bioreactor as novel bioreactor system for the treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a high strength organic wastewater, which adversely affects the aquatic life as well as the human life directly or indirectly. This has attracted concern due to the rapid expansion of the oil palm industries in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which currently contribute about 80% of the world palm oil. The conventional treatment techniques used over the past decades includes various bioreactors such as Pond digester, Anaerobic filtration, Up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), Up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed-film (UASFF) , Continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), Anaerobic contact digestion and Fluidized bed. These bioreactors are largely operated anaerobically and have been reported to be less effective for the treatment of the increasing volume of POME as well as meeting the new stringent wastewater standards. Therefore, treatment method such as aerobic under a continuous system is anticipated to be effective alternative to the defects observed in the previously employed bioreactors. The use of semifluidized bed bioreactor containing immobilized cells for the biodegradation of various high strength organic wastewater have been reported as highly efficient treatment method. Thus, in order to address the increasing environmental impact of POME in the palm oil producing nations, the application of semifluidized bed bioreactor as a novel technology in the palm oil industry will be of immense benefit, economically and environmentally

Application of semifluidized bed bioreactor as novel bioreactor system for the treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME)

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is a high strength organic wastewater, which adversely affects aquatic life as well as human life directly or indirectly. This has attracted concern due to the rapid expansion of the oil palm industries in countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia, which currently contribute about 80% of the world palm oil. The conventional bioreactors such as pond digester, anaerobic filtration, up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), up-flow anaerobic sludge fixed-film (UASFF), continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR), anaerobic contact digestion and fluidized bed, used over the past decades are largely operated anaerobically. They have been reported to be less effective for the treatment of the increasing volume of POME as well as meeting the new stringent wastewater treatment standards. Therefore, treatment method such as aerobic under a continuous system is anticipated to be effective alternative to the defects observed in the previously employed bioreactors. The use of semifluidized bed bioreactor containing immobilized cells for the biodegradation of various high strength organic wastewater have been reported as highly efficient treatment method. Thus, to address the increasing environmental impact of POME in the producing nations, the application of semifluidized bed bioreactor as a novel technology in the palm oil industry will be of immense benefit, economically and environmentally

Effect of biodegradation on the physical properties of palm oil mill effluent (POME) using mixed culture of fungi

This study investigated the effects of biodegradation by the mixed culture of fungi (Pithomyces sacchari and Pestalotiopsis maculans) on selected physical properties of palm oil mill effluent (POME). Mixed culture innoculum (4% v/v) was added to autoclaved and raw POME samples, which were subjected to biodegradation at 120rpm and 350 C for six days. The pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids and biosolids of the digested samples were quantified at 24h intervals. The values of pH, electrical conductivity, salinity, total dissolved solids and biosolids for the autoclaved POME sample, at the end of the digestion period, were 6.88, 4.38mS/cm, 2.33‰, 2.28 g/l and 25.6g/l, respectively, and these were higher than 6.34, 4.24mS/cm, 2.23‰, 2.22 g/l and 22.87g/l obtained for the raw POME sample, respectively. The kinetic studies, based on the degradation of the biosolids, shows that the rate constants (K0= 0.7mgl-1min-1 and K1= 0.4 min-1) of the zero and first order models, respectively, of the autoclaved POME sample were higher than the rate constant (K0= 0.03 mgl-1min-1 and K1= 0.02 min-1) obtained for raw POME sample. This indicates that the mixed culture experienced inhibition in the raw POME sample

Removal of Oil and Grease as Emerging Pollutants of Concern (EPC) in Wastewater Stream

Wastewater characteristics, which depend on wastewater source, are increasingly becoming more toxic in recent times. The concentrations of oil and grease in wastewater streams have been observed to increase in wastewater stream with increasing adverse effects on the ecology. This results from the increasing use of oil and grease in high-demanded oil-processed foods, establishment and expansion of oil mills and refineries worldwide, as well as indiscriminate discharge of oil and grease into the water drains, domestically and industrially. This study reports the applications, efficiencies and challenges of the wastewater treatment techniques currently employed in the removal of oil and grease from the industrial wastewater and municipal water stream. The results shows that the concentrations of oil and grease injected into the ecosystem are of higher environmental impact and this needs to be given the desired attention. The desired development for effective removal of oil and grease as emerging pollutants of concern (EPC) in wastewater stream are thus proposed. ABSTRAK: Ciri-ciri air sisa, bergantung kepada punca air sisa tersebut, menjadi semakin toksik akhir-akhir ini. Kepekatan minyak dan gris dalam air sisa anak sungai dilihat makin bertambah dalam air sisa anak sungai dengan bertambahnya kesan negatif ke atas ekologi. Ini disebabkan oleh peningkatan penggunaan minyak dan gris dalam makanan berproses yang tinggi permintaannya, penubuhan dan perkembangan kilang pertroleum dan loji penapisan di seluruh dunia. Minyak dan gris juga dibuang sewenang-wenangnya ke dalam parit air, dari kalangan domestik dan industry. Kajian ini membentangkan tentang aplikasi, keberkesanan dan teknik cabaran rawatan air buangan yang kini digunakan dalam pembuangan minyak dan gris dari air sisa industry dan air sungai perbandaran. Keputusan menunjukkan kepekatan minyak dan gris yang wujud dibuang ke dalam ekosistem mempunyai impak yang lebih tinggi terhadap persekitaran dan hal ini perlu diambil berat. Keinginan untuk kemajuan penyingkiran minyak dan gris sebagai keprihatinan terhadap pencemaran (emerging pollutants of concern (EPC))ke atas air sisa sungai dicadangkan. Key words: wastewater, oil and grease, emerging pollutant of concer

Impact of malaria and hepatitis B co-infection on clinical and cytokine profiles among pregnant women.

BackgroundThe overlap of malaria and chronic hepatitis B (CHB) is common in endemic regions, however, it is not known if this co-infection could adversely influence clinical and immunological responses. This study investigated these interactions in pregnant women reporting to antenatal clinics in Ghana.MethodsClinical parameters (hemoglobin, liver function biomarker, peripheral malaria parasitemia, and hepatitis B viremia) and cytokine profiles were assayed and compared across four categories of pregnant women: un-infected, mono-infected with Plasmodium falciparum (Malaria group), mono-infected with chronic hepatitis B virus (CHB group) and co-infected (Malaria+CHB group).ResultsWomen with Malaria+CHB maintained appreciably normal hemoglobin levels (mean±SEM = 10.3±0.3 g/dL). That notwithstanding, Liver function test showed significantly elevated levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase and total bilirubin [PConclusionPut together the findings suggests that Malaria+CHB could exacerbate inflammatory cytokine responses and increase susceptibility to liver injury among pregnant women in endemic settings

Investigation of the viability of selected microorganisms on the biodegradation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent(POME)

Biodegradation of palm oil mill effluents (POME) by three microorganisms namely Trichoderma viride, (Tv), Candida cylindricea (Cd) and Phaneaochaete chrysospium (Pc), were conducted in batch aerobic reactors. The autoclaved and un-autoclaved raw POME samples were agitated at 150rpm, incubated for 5days and the activities of the microorganisms were terminated at -200C. The supernatant of the digested POME were investigated for the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), total dissolved solids (TDS), conductivity and biosolids at the end of each digestion cycle. The results showed that the un-autoclaved raw POME sample degraded better than the inoculated POME sample and this suggests that the microorganisms that are indigenous to the POME are more effective than the introduced microorganisms. This result, however, indicates the prospect of isolating indigenous microorganisms in the POME for effective biodegradation of POME