Abstract

Bioremediation of sago industry waste

Author(s): V.Gunasekar, K.Madhuri, N.Apoorva, G.Sailaja, V.Ponnusami

Bioremediation of cassava bagasse was investigated using individual and co-cultures. Two individual strains Bacillus pumilus and Cellulomonas cellulans with cellulolytic activity were examined. Concentration of reducing sugar and carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase) activity by these microbes were determined regularly.MaximumCMCase activities achieved were 0.51 and 0.55 U/mL with B. pumilus and C. cellulans, respectively. Four different combinations, namely B. pumilus + S. cerevisiae, B. pumilus+ Z. mobilis, C. cellulans + S.cerevisiae and C. cellulans+ Z. mobilis were investigated for ethanol production by simultaneous saccharification and co-fermentation of cassava bagasse. The end product ethanol was found to be in the following order C. cellulans+ Z. mobilis > B. pumilus+ Z. mobilis > C. cellulans + S. cerevisiae > B. pumilus + S. cerevisiae. In the case of solid state fermentation with 80 % moisture, Z. mobilis showed better fermentation and ethanol yield of 4.3 g/g ethanol and 4.7 g/g ethanol in combination with B. pumilus and C. cellulans respectively.