Use of immobilized whole cells of Haloferax ATCC BAA 645 for treatment of dairy and fish waste effluents

Abstract

Dairy and fish waste-water effluents are an inseparable part of upcoming modern Cities and villages of every developing Nation. These effluents have high concentration of soluble proteins and lipids which are below the threshold levels of chemical and physical methods used for recovery. In view of this, the present study aims to evaluate the use of immobilized-whole-cells of Haloferax ATCC BAA 645 producing protease and lipase for treatment of non-saline dairy and saline fish waste effluents. The immobilized cells were placed in saline and nonsaline medium. Immobilized cells placed in the saline medium, simultaneously produce protease and lipase in 12 h reaching a maximum at 72 h whereas, in non-saline medium production starts at 42 h and is optimum at 90 h. The immobilized cells were also used for successful treatment of dairy and fish waste-water containing proteins and lipids in the aerobic batch system for 7 cycles. The efficiency of reduction in electrical conductivity, total dissolved solids, chemical oxygen demand and biological oxygen demand are48.63 percent and 31.66 percent; 41.4 percent and 40.86 percent; 31.87 percent and 23 percent; 48.17 percent and 30 percent, in case of dairy and fish waste-water, respectively. Results showed that protease and lipase producing immobilized cells of Haloferax could be efficiently used for treatment of nonsaline dairy and saline fish waste-water rich in proteins and lipids. Thus, it can be concluded from our present study that the findings are of biotechnological significance in clarification of protein and lipid-containing waste-waters.