The Use of Biotechnology for Biodegradation of Paper Manufacturing Wastes (Kraft Lignin) Via Egyptian Bacterial Isolates

Ashgan, Abuo Gabal A.; Hassan, Abd Elsalam E.; Samia, Abd  Al-Aziz A.; Amr, El-Hanafy A.; Abdallah, Mohamed E.

doi:10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2011.2643

The Use of Biotechnology for Biodegradation of Paper Manufacturing Wastes (Kraft Lignin) Via Egyptian Bacterial Isolates

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Faculty of Agriculture – Saba Basha, Genetic Department, Alexandria University, Egypt.

² 2Arid lands Cultivation and Development Research Institute, Soil and water Technologies Department, City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Egypt.

³ Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Research Institute, Nucleic Acids Research Department, City for Scientific Research and Technology Applications, Egypt.

10.21608/asejaiqjsae.2011.2643

Abstract

Lignin contained in pulping liquor that is generated during the pulping process for papermaking is a disposal
problem for the pulp and paper industry because it causes a serious pollution and toxicity problem in aquatic
ecosystems, owing to its low biodegradability and high range of color. Four bacterial strains were isolated from soil, water and activated sludge samples which were collected from the effluent treatment plant of Rakta Pulp and Paper Company, Eltabia, Alexandria, Egypt in sterile test tubes. After isolation and purification of the bacterial isolates, they were tested for the degradation of kraft lignin (KL) using sterile mineral salt medium (MSM) containing KL 1000 mg l–1 (designated hereafter L-MSM) and
supplemented with 1.0% glucose and 0.5% peptone (w/v) added in L-MSM-broth and L-MSM-agar as growth
supportive substrates and incubated for seven days under aerobic conditions at 30 °C and 120 rpm. Samples were withdrawn periodically at 1-day intervals for seven days and analysed for bacterium growth, reduction of color and residual KL content. The isolates were subjected to 16S rDNA sequence for identification. Partial sequence of 16S rDNA revealed that these isolates were Bacillus subtilis subsp. Subtilis, Citrobacter farmeri, Escherichia fergusonii and Stenotrophomonas rhizophila. The average reduction of color was 85.4, 70.1, 61.7 and 74.5 % and lignin degradation 71.4, 62.2, 54.5 and 57.1%, respectively.

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