EVALUATION OF BIOLOGICAL ANTIMICROBIAL EFFECT OF ALOE VERA ON COLIFORM ISOLATES IN LEACHATE FROM A DUMPSITE

Abstract

This study is to evaluate the biological disinfectant ability of Aloe vera (under different conditions and parameters) on coliform isolates from leachate that emanate from a dumpsite.Leachate samplewas subjected to a presumptive test to evaluate the presence of coliforms in them; the positive samples were further subjected to a confirmatory test to identify the thermo-tolerant nature of the coliform. The coliforms were thermo-tolerant Escherichia coli (FTE) and Thermo-tolerant coliform (non E. coli) (FTC) Disinfectant efficacies of Aloe vera (with various condition and parameters) were evaluated on the isolated microorganisms from the leachate samples, using the disc diffusion method. The Aloe vera showed that concentration of the disinfectant matters in its efficacy with 5% storage concentration showing high level of zone of inhibition with the isolated microorganisms. Also the Aloe vera was more effective at a lower pH and storage temperatures of 0, 25 and 35oC.