Holistic bioremediation of pulp mill effluents using autochthonous bacteria

The Pulp and paper industry is typically associated with pollutional problems related to high Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD), Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), toxicity, AOX (adsorbable organically-bound halogens), color, suspended solids, lignin and its derivatives and chlorinated compounds. Although numerous studies have looked at ways to remove COD, BOD, color etc. of pulp and paper effluents, the problem still persists. Present study exploits the capability of three bacteria, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (DSMZ 03504), P. aeruginosa (DSMZ 03505) and Bacillus megaterium (MTCC 6544) to reduce the BOD and COD level of pulp and paper mill effluents up to permissible level i.e. 30 mg/l and 250 mg/l respectively within a retention time of 24 h in batch cultures. Continuous mode of treatment may further decrease the retention time. A concomitant reduction in TDS (total dissolve solid), AOX and color (76%) was also observed. This is the first report on the use of bacterial cultures for the holistic bioremediation of pulp mill effluent.