Extraction of consortium of hydrolytic enzymes from waste activated sludge using ultrasonication and stirring with surfactants

In the present study, the consortium of hydrolytic enzymes namely protease, α-amylase, lipase, cellulase and α-glucosidase were extracted from sludge flocs of municipal returned waste activated sludge (MRWAS) and different proportion of mixed sludge namely (MRWAS) and pulp and paper sludge using ultrasonication and stirring with TX100 (Triton X100) and AOT (Dioctyl sodium sulphosuccinate). Ultrasonication with specific energy of 27,027 kJ/kg TS with duration 10 min was optimized to get maximum activity of enzymes. Mixed sludge with ratio (55:75) had yielded more enzymes activity than the municipal returned waste activated sludge. Further, enzymes extraction efficiency by stirring using TX100, AOT and ultrasonication combined with TX00 and AOT methods were investigated in an optimized mixed sludge ratio (55:75) with varying dosage and stirring or sonication time. In stirring method, the optimum dosage and time of (1% v/v, 60 min) and (2% v/v, 180 min) respectively were obtained for TX100 and AOT. In ultrasonication method, the optimum dosage of TX100 (1% v/v) and AOT (2% v/v) were obtained at an optimized specific energy of 27,027 kJ/kg for 10 min. Among the extraction methods, ultrasonication combined with TX100 method exhibited maximum activity of protease, α-amylase, cellulase, lipase and α-glucosidase and these were predicted to be respectively 43.6, 54.4, 34.7, 23, 12.5 Units/g VSS. It was concluded that ultrasonication combined with TX100 method is more suitable as it requires a short time and minimum dosage adequate to extract maximum activity of consortium enzymes from sludge flocs, which is essential for the enzymes to be recovered.