Sains Malaysiana 47(5)(2018): 1051–1060

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4705-23

Characterization and Utilization of Pulp and Paper Mill Sludge Digesting Thermophilic Bacteria in Composting Process

(Pencirian dan Penggunaan Enapcemar Kisar Pulpa dan Kertas Menghadamkan Bakteria Termofili dalam Proses Pengkomposan)

NGO THI TUONG CHAU^1*, LE VAN THIEN¹, PHAM THI NGOC LAN² & HIROYUKI FUTAMATA³

¹University of Science, Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam, 334 Nguyen Trai, Thanh Xuan, Hanoi, Vietnam

²Hue University of Sciences, Hue University, Vietnam, 77 Nguyen Hue, Hue, Vietnam

³Research Institute of Green Science and Technology, Shizuoka University, Suruga-ku, Shizuoka, Shizuoka 422-8529, Japan

Received: 11 May 2017/Accepted: 16 November 2017

ABSTRACT

Pulp and paper mill sludge (PPMS) was found to be poorly colonised with thermophilic microorganisms. However, evidence to support the need for inoculation to facilitate PPMS composting has only been demonstrated in one instance. In this study, we aimed to: screen and identify PPMS digesting thermophilic bacterial strains; investigate effects of the mixture of selected thermophilic bacterial strains on PPMS digestion; and utilize this mixture as start inoculum in PPMS composting and assess the quality of compost product. The results showed that eleven thermophilic bacterial strains were isolated from Bai Bang PPMS by the enrichment culture method. Among these, three strains which reflected high growth rates on the plates of Minimal Media Agar supplemented with Bai Bang PPMS and showed hydrolytic and ligninolytic activities on the agar plates containing appropriate inductive substrates were selected. Based on the morphological, biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequencing, they were identified as Bacillus subtilis. The inoculation with the mixture of selected strains enhanced remarkably Bai Bang PPMS digestion. The dry weight decrease, volatile suspended solids removal, dehydrogenase and protease activities in the inoculated sludge were 2.1-, 1.5-, 1.3- and 1.2- fold higher, respectively, compared to the non-inoculated sludge. The assessment of compost quality based on stability using the alkaline trap method and maturity using the germination and root elongation test showed that the inoculated compost was stable and mature while the non-inoculated compost was unstable and immature. These thermophilic bacterial strains therefore have great potential for Bai Bang PPMS composting.

Keywords: Bacillus subtilis; composting; pulp and paper mill sludge; thermophilic bacteria

ABSTRAK

Enapcemar kisar pulpa dan kertas (PPMS) didapati kurang dipengaruhi oleh mikroorganisma termofili. Walau bagaimanapun, bukti untuk menyokong keperluan inokulasi bagi memudahkan pengambilan PPMS hanya ditunjukkan dalam satu keadaan. Objektif kajian ini adalah untuk: menilai dan mengenal pasti strain bakteria termofili mencerna PPMS; mengkaji kesan campuran strain bakteria termofili yang dipilih pada pencernaan PPMS; dan menggunakan campuran ini sebagai inokulum permulaan dalam pengkomposan PPMS dan menilai kualiti produk kompos. Keputusan kajian menunjukkan bahawa sebelas strain bakteria termofili telah diasingkan daripada Bai Bang PPMS dengan kaedah budaya pengayaan. Antaranya, tiga strain yang mencerminkan kadar pertumbuhan tinggi pada plat Minimal Media Agar ditambah dengan Bai Bang PPMS dan menunjukkan aktiviti hidrolitik dan ligninolitik pada plat agar yang mengandungi substrat yang sesuai bagi induktif dipilih. Berdasarkan ciri morfologi, biokimia dan urutan gen rRNA 16S, ia dikenali sebagaiBacillus subtilis. Inokulasi dengan campuran strain terpilih telah meningkatkan penguraian Bai Bang PPMS. Penurunan berat badan kering, aktiviti penyingkiran pepejal terampai, dehidrogenase dan protease dalam enapcemar yang disuntikkan masing-masing adalah 2.1-, 1.5-, 1.3- dan 1.2 kali lebih tinggi berbanding dengan bukan berasaskan enapcemar. Penilaian kualiti kompos berdasarkan kestabilan menggunakan kaedah perangkap alkali dan kematangan menggunakan percambahan dan pemanjangan akar ujian menunjukkan bahawa kompos yang diinokulasi adalah stabil dan matang manakala kompos yang tidak disuntik adalah tidak stabil dan tidak matang. Oleh itu strain bakteria termofili mempunyai potensi besar untuk pengomposan Bai Bang PPMS.

Kata kunci: Bacillus subtilis; bakteria termofili; enapcemar kisar pulpa dan kertas; pengkomposan

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*Corresponding author; email: ngotuongchau@hus.edu.vn