Abstract

DETECTION OF MICROBIAL CELLULASES FROM PULP AND PAPER MILL POLLUTED SOIL SAMPLES BY USING CONGO RED METHOD

Kondakindi Venkateswar Reddy*, Afreen Fathima, Pillalamarri Ramu and Pabbati Ranjit

ABSTRACT

An assessment on the impact of pulp and paper mill effluents on soil physico-chemical and biological properties. In the present study, paper mill effluent polluted soil (Test) and non-polluted soil (Control) samples were collected from the surrounding areas of paper industry. The experimental results stipulate that, most of the physico-chemical properties such as soil texture, Electrical conductivity, water holding capacity, organic matter, total nitrogen, potassium, phosphorous and microbial population were notably greater in the test sample than in the control. Furthermore, the Test soil sample used as inoculum for the isolation of efficient cellulolytic bacteria by using serial dilution and agar plating method. Isolation and screening for cellulase producing microorganisms is routinely done on CMC Plates. The culture plates are flooded with 0.1 % Congo red dye followed by 1M NaCl. All the isolated strains were analysed morphological and biochemical characteristics based on analysis the isolates were resembled to Bacillus cereus and Bacillus mojavensis.

Keywords: Soil samples, Physico-Chemical & Biological Properties, Congo red agar, Cellulolytic Bacteria.