DEVELOPMENT OF MICROBIAL INOCULA FOR ORGANIC MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE TREATMENT – A TETFUND RESEARCH.

Abstract: The objective of this work is to develop a microbial consortium for the bioconversion of organic municipal waste (OMSW) to ethanol from different environments where lignocellulosic degradation is likely to occur naturally. The research revealed that enzymes such as amylase, protease, pectinase and lipase. This research involves sampling of compositing piles where OMSW is already being aerobically degraded. It is expected that from the findings of this research that there will be a waste to wealth creation with the production of useful and utility products. Preliminary results also showed considerable weight loss of solid waste after days of treatment. the following micro-organisms were isolated: Bacillus popillae , Bacillus thuringensis, Bacillus cereus, Pseudomonas fragilis, Proteus mirabilis, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella species, Mycobacterium cloacae, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans, Pseudomonas marginalis, Erwinia arodeae and Clostridium multifermentans. The bacterial group with the highest load was the Total Heterotrophic Bacteria (THB) 4.5 X 104 and the least was Nitrifying bacteria (NB) 1.2 X 104.