BIODEGRADATION OF PALM OIL MILL EFFLUENT BY INDIGENOUS IMMOBILIZED BACTERIAL ISOLATES

Abstract

the production of palm oil resulted in the formation of vast amounts of polluting wastewater known as palm oil mill effluent (POME).). This study was designed to determine the biodegradation potential of indigenous immobilized bacteria isolated from palm oil mill effluent. Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus megaterium, and Bacillus cereus were isolated from the POME. The immobilized bacteria in form of bead were taken with the use of sterile spatula for biodegradation of the effluent. The experimental set-up was for four (4) days interval. Day zero, day four (4), day eight (8), day twelve (12), day sixteen (16), day twenty (20) and day twenty-four (24). Results revealed that percentage degradation for Bacillus subtilis recorded the highest percentage of degradation of 43.85% followed by Bacillus megaterium with 42.02%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa recorded 22.94% while Bacillus cereusrecorded the lowest degradation of 16.88%. This study suggests that the degrading ability of the indigenous immobilized bacteria isolated from POME is a clear indication that these bacteria could be used for POME biodegradation.