Screening and identification of bacterial strains for removal of COD from pulp and paper mill effluent

Abstract

Present study was conducted to characterize the physico-chemical parameters of pulp and paper mill effluent. Out of these 15 bacterial isolates 2 were selected (1 each from treated; Alcaligenes faecalis (strain-1) and untreated effluent; Bacillus cereus (strain-2)) on the basis for their COD removal capacity of their respective effluent. Physico-chemical analysis confirmed the levels of various pollutants in pulp and paper mill effluent and further shown that treatment of effluent using Alcaligenes faecalis (strain-1) and Bacillus cereus (strain-2). This study revealed that the highest COD reduction (63.2%) was obtained with bacterial strain -2 (Bacillus cereus) at 35 C after 10 days of incubation period day at pH 6. At various optimized conditions such as pH, temperature, nutrient sources etc., bacterial strain Bacillus cereus (strain-2) was found to be more efficient than the other studied bacterial strain Alcaligenes faecalis (strain-1) in terms of COD removal from pulp and paper mill effluent.