V. S. PATIL AND H.V. DESHMUKH
Abstract
Vegetable waste is produced in large quantities during poor and inadequate transportation and storage of vegetables. They are perishable and current disposal methods results in environmental pollution. Biomethanation is an attractive ecofriendly treatment option for vegetable wastes. Biomethanation is a microbial process that transforms organic matter into biogas and manure in absence of oxygen. Different aerobic and anaerobic microorganisms degrade complex organic polymers into simpler soluble monomers. The present paper deals with the study of hydrolytic bacteria from biogas digester effluent. The biomethanation experiments were carried out in 5 L level. The isolation of bacteria was carried on standard plate count agar plates. The bacterial isolates were further tested to determine their potential to produce hydrolytic enzymes. The bacterial isolates exhibiting highest hydrolytic activity were subjected for preliminary identification using Bergeys Manual of Systematic Bacteriology. The selected bacteria were confirmed by molecular characterization using 16 S rRNA gene analysis.