Original Article | 2002, Vol.24, No.3, pp. 413-420
Screening and application of thermotolerant microorganisms and their flocculant for treatment of palm oil mill effluent
Poonsuk Prasertsan and Saithong Kaewchai
pp. 413 - 420
Abstract
Among fifteen thermotolerant polymer-producing isolates, three strains SM 29, WD 90, and SM 38 produced polymer posessing very high flocculating activities (24.81, 14.63 and 10.84, respectively) and flocculation rates (94.29, 90.69 and 87.84, respectively). These three strains were identified to be Bacillus subtilis WD90, Bacillus subtilis SM 29, and Enterobacter agglomerans SM 38. Treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) by these three selected strains under aerobic condition at 45ºC for 48 h revealed that neither oil separation nor flocculation of solids was observed. However, all three strains were able to decolorize the POME from dark brown to very light yellow. Flocculant produced from the three selected isolates could not separate the suspended solids and oil from the POME.
