Species Of Microorganisms Associated With The Degradation Of Solid Wastes In Umudike And Umuahia Metropolis

ABSTRACT

A total of 10 wastes samples were collected from different waste dump sites and analyzed for microbial contamination also checking their extracelluar enzymatic activities. 0.1ml volumes of each samples were homogenate separately, 10 fold serial dilution was made and was cultured on MacConkey agar, Nutrient agar, Saboraud Dextrose agar and Blood agar respectively and incubated at 370C  for 24hours. The isolated bacteria species after microbial analysis were Escherichia coli, Klebsiella sp, Bacillus sp Staphylococcus aureus,  Micrococcus sp, Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus flavus, Rhizopus stolonifer, and Rhodotorula spp. the Total Viable Counts (TVC) of Isolate from Waste Dump Samples, Total Viable Counts (TVC) of Isolate from Waste Dump Samples, The Total heterotrophic plate count range from 3.9 x 10-9 to 6.2 x 10-9 and The Total coliform plate count were range from 2.0 x 10-9 to 5.1 x 10-9 while Total staphylococcus plate count range from 3.2 x 10-9 to 7.1 x 10-9 TFPC and Total fungal plate count range from 2.2 x 10-9to 5.0 x 10-9 respectively. The percentage occurrence of the study showed that the bacterial isolates, Staphylococcus species and Escherichia coli were found to have highest percentage of occurrence with 5(27.78%) each, follow by Bacillus and Klebsiella spp with 3(16.66%) and the least was found in Micrococcus spp with 2(11.11%) respectively while the fungal species Aspergillus Flavus and Rhizopus Stolonizer has the highest of percentage with 4(33.33%) each, follow by Aspergillus Niger with 3(25.01%) and Rhodotorula spp the least with 1(8.33%) respectively. The extracellular enzymatic activities showed that Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp and Micrococus sspp found to be highest enzymes production follow by Escherichia coli, Rhizopus stolonizer, Aspergillus niger and  Aspergillus flavus and Klebsilla spp has the list enzymatic production respectively. In conclusion, the microbial qualities of the evaluated samples from different waste dump sites were averagely poor, and are certainly not fit for human consumption if by chance any crop grows around it as they are of low quality threshold. This may be due to direct contamination by animal and human excreta and other anthropogenic activities such as swimming, washing of clothes, farming etc., and thus, require further purification to ensure their suitability for human utility therefore they are considered highly valuable as they are used in fermentation processes, much as brewing, baking, cheese and butter manufacturing, chemical manufacturing such as ethanol, acetone, organic acid, enzymes, perfumes etc., microbial mining and they produce various antibiotics, vaccines, steroids as well as other therapeutically useful compounds with diverse biological activities.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page ﾿ i

Certification ﾿ ii

Dedication ﾿ iii

Acknowledgements ﾿ iv

Table of Contents ﾿ v

Lists of Tables ﾿ viii

Abstract ﾿ ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 ﾿ Introduction  ﾿ 1

1.1 Aims and Objectives ﾿ 3

1.2 Objectives ﾿ 3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 ﾿ Literature Review ﾿ 4

2.1 Municipal Solid Waste ﾿ 4

2.2 Municipal Solid Waste Management ﾿ 5

2.3 Composting Process ﾿ 6

2.4 Composting Microorganisms ﾿ 8

2.5 Factors Affecting Composting ﾿ 10

2.6 Municipal Solid Waste for Production of Industrial Enzymes ﾿ 11

     and Waste Degradation

CHAPTER THREE 

3.0 Materials and Method  ﾿ 13

3.1 Collection of Sample ﾿ 13

3.3 Sterilization ﾿ 14

3.4 Isolation of Microorganisms ﾿ 14

3.5 Characterization and Identification of The Bacterial isolates ﾿ 14

3.5.1 Grams Staining ﾿ 14

3.5.2 Motility Test by Hanging Drop Method ﾿ 15

3.6 Biochemical Characteristics of the Isolates ﾿ 15

3.6.1  Catalase Test  ﾿ 15

3.6.2 Coagulase Test ﾿ 16

3.6.3 Citrate Test  ﾿ 16

3.6.4 Oxidase Test ﾿ 16

3.6.5 Indole Test ﾿ 17

3.6.6 Urease Test ﾿ 17

3.6.7 Methyl Red Test ﾿ 18

3.6.8 Voges-proskaeur Test ﾿ 18

3.6.9 Sugar Fermentation Test ﾿ 18

3.8 Qualitative Screening for Extracellular Enzyme Producing Isolate by Plate Assay ﾿

3.8.1 Purification of isolate ﾿ 19

3.8.2 Production of protease enzyme ﾿ 19

3.8.3 Production of Amylases enzyme ﾿ 19

3.8.4 Production of Cellulases enzyme ﾿ 20

3.9 Characterization and Identification of the Fungal Isolates ﾿ 20

3.9.2 Lactophenol Cotton Blue Staining ﾿ 20

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1  ﾿ Results ﾿ 21 ﾿

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0       Discussion, Conclusion and Recommendation ﾿ 30

5.1 ﾿ Discussion ﾿ 31

5.2 ﾿ Conclusion ﾿ 31

5.3 ﾿ Recommendation ﾿ 32 ﾿

References ﾿ 33 ﾿