Optimizatiaon of MRS (De Man, Rogosa and Sharpe) Media with an organic waste substitute to assess the potential of Lactobacillus in Ink degradation

Abstract

Lactobacillus species are normally found in human digestive and urinary tracts. In this study, the capability of probiotic strains to grow in media using banana peel waste as an alternative carbohydrate source was investigated. Lactic acid bacteria were isolated using homemade curd, banana peel powder was made using an alternate drum drier technique and used as a fermentation media on which strain of probiotic, Lactobacillus sp. were grown. The result showed that bacterial growth using banana peel powder obtained at 370C under anaerobic condition (2- 3 days), was comparable to growth seen in MRS medium. It can be concluded that the banana peel powder can be utilized to produce culture medium for cultivation of probiotic bacteria as a substitute to MRS medium which is expensive for cultivating probiotics. This will not only result in cost reduction of probiotic from cheap, inexpensive Agro-waste material, but also helps in solving the environmental pollution problem caused by their extensive disposal. The capability of Lactobacillus sp. to degrade dye was also investigated. Lactobacilli was incorporated under anaerobic condition in the M9 media containing the dye. The dye degrading capability of Lactobacillus sp was estimated colorimetrically at 520nm. The result showed a decrease in the dye concentration obtained at 37oC under anaerobic condition. So, it can be concluded that the Lactobacillus strain can be used for the bioremediation of dyes.