Isolation and Identification of Cassava Mill Effluents Utilizing Microorganisms from Five Cassava Processing Plants in Anambra State

Liquid waste from cassava has continued to cause nuisance to the receiving environment due to its indiscriminate disposal thereby causing environmental health challenge. This study was carried out to ascertain microbial composition of cassava mill effluents from five plants in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. Cassava mill effluents CME were collected from five different cassava processing plants located in Anambra State and analyzed. The different samples were analyzed for heterotrophic bacteria and fungal count using the pour plate method. Discreet colonies of bacteria and fungi were picked with wire loop and streaked on the nutrient agar and sabouraud dextrose agar plates for identification. Microbiological and Biochemical tests were done for characterization of bacteria and microscopic examination for characterization and identification of fungi. The isolates that were identified were evaluated for the ability to utilize cassava effluents. The results of the heterotrophic bacterial and fungal counts showed that CME 1 had the highest heterotrophic bacterial and fungal count with the values of 11.05 x 102cfu ml and 5.10 x 102 cfu ml respectively while CME 5 had the lowest bacterial count with the value 8.05x102cfu mland CME 2 had the lowest fungal count of 3.50 x 102cfu ml. A total number of fifteen microorganisms were isolated from the five samples of cassava mill effluents eight bacterial isolates, four fungal isolates and three yeasts, namely, Corynebacteriummannihot, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, Penicilliumsp, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus sp, Geotrichumcandidum, Lactobacillus sp, Proteus sp, Aspergillusfumigatus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Aerococcussp. Thirteen microorganisms were isolated as cassava utilizers of which seven were bacteria, three were fungi and three were yeasts, namely, Corynebacteriummannihot, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans, Pseudomonas sp, Penicilliumsp, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Bacillus sp, Aspergillusfumigatus, Lactobacillus sp, Proteus sp, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This study showed the presence of pathogens in CME and the ability of CME to harbour and grow microbes makes it a suitable prospective substrate for bioenergy production. Instead of indiscriminate disposal of the effluents, it should be channeled to proper use for economic growth. Chidubem-Nwachinemere, Ncheta Obianuju | Orji, Michael U. | Achugbu, Adaeze Nnedinma | Okoli, Uzoma O "Isolation and Identification of Cassava Mill Effluents Utilizing Microorganisms from Five Cassava Processing Plants in Anambra State" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-7 | Issue-3 , June 2023, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/papers/ijtsrd56282.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com.com/biological-science/microbiology/56282/isolation-and-identification-of-cassava-mill-effluents-utilizing-microorganisms-from-five-cassava-processing-plants-in-anambra-state/chidubemnwachinemere-ncheta-obianuju