Reduction of Organic Load and Biodegradation of Palm Oil Mill Effluent by Aerobic Indigenous Mixed Microbial Consortium Isolated from Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME)

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the potential of indigenous mixed microbial consortium isolated from palm oil mill effluent (POME) in reducing organic load and biodegradation of POME. Isolation and identification of indigenous microorganisms was subjected to standard microbiological methods and sequencing of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA and 18S rRNA genes of the microbial strains suggests that they were identified as Micrococcus luteus101PB, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia102PB, Bacillus cereus103PB, Providencia vermicola104PB, Klebsiella pneumoniae105PB, Bacillus subtilis106PB, Aspergillus fumigatus107PF, Aspergillus nomius108PF, Aspergillus niger109PF, and Meyerozyma guilliermondii110PF. Results revealed that total percent reduction efficiency by the aerobic mixed microbial consortium for all bacteria–fungi combination (ABFC) gave a biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) reduction efficiency of about 90.23%, chemical oxygen demand (COD) 91.06%, and total suspended solids (TSS) 92.23% and bacteria–fungi stepwise (BFSW) recorded BOD reduction efficiency of 85.28%, COD 84.45%, and TSS 86.18% in 1000 mL of POME. The HPLC chromatogram results revealed increase in glucose level due to breakdown of cellulose which represents the cellulosic materials in POME by mixed microbial consortium signifying biodegradation of cellulose as a clean-up process for the tested POME sample. Therefore, the indigenous microbial strains are promising organisms for industrial applications. These microbes have direct applications in industrial process such as bioremediation and biodegradation of wastewaters.