Nature Environment and Pollution Technology

C. Thamaraiselvi ¹, M. Vasanthy ²

Affiliations
1 Department of Biotechnology, Mother Teresa Women University, Kodaikanal, T.N., IN
2 Department of Environmental Biotechnology, Bharathidasan University, Trichy, T.N., IN

Abstract

Sugar industries play a pivotal role to improve the economy of our country. For the management of sugar industry solid waste (press mud and bagasse) an effort was taken. The press mud and bagasse mixed with garden waste and cow dung were subjected to the process of a composting (anaerobic decomposition) in 1:1:2 ratio. One set of component was moistened with water (A) and another one was moistened with spent wash (B). As spent wash is characterized with high BOD and COD along with high nitrate, phosphate, potassium and other minerals, it was selected for moistening the organic waste. After the experimental period (95 days) the reduction of organic matter and C:N ratio was considerable. The amount of N,P,K in compost A was found to be 2.4%, 0.71% and 2.14% respectively. The N.P.K value of compost B was found to be 2.8%, 0.85% and 3.59% respectively. All these nutrients have considerably increased in compost B than compost A. The C:N ratio of both the composts was around 11:1, which has been reduced from the initial of 25:1 ratio. The identified organisms Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp., Bacillus sp. and Klebsiella sp. were involved in the composting process of A. Besides these organisms, compost B also has Seratia sp. Hence, from these observations, it is clear that the press mud and bagasse in combination with garden waste and cow dung may be utilized for the production of compost successfully. This technique further minimizes the environmental hazards that could have been caused by press mud and spent wash if they were disposed off as such in the environment.

Keywords

Sugar Industry, Solid Waste, Composting, Manurial Value.

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M. Vasanthy ¹, C. Thamaraiselvi ¹

Affiliations
1 Department of Environmental Sciences, Govt. Arts College, Ariyalur-621 713, Tamilnadu, IN

Abstract

Aqueous nitrate solutions containing 10,20,30,40 and 50 ppm of nitrate were prepared. These solutions were subjected to batch type experiments to find out the effect of agitation time on the removal of nitrate using powdered peel of Citrus reticulate. The results were haphazard. Further, the effect of time on the removal of nitrate was found out by more addition of 200 mg of powdered peel of Citrus reticulate to 10, 20, 30, 40 and 50 ppm of aqueous nitrate solution. The studies predicted the absence of adsorption mechanism and the removal have not obeyed Freundlich adsorption isotherm. The removal mechanism may be the reduction process and the Citrus reticulate powder is expected to possess antioxidant property.

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