ABSTRACT

This study evaluated the isolation and characterization of indigenous microorganisms from waste dump sites in Umuahia metropolis. Ten (10) waste samples were collected from five (5) different dumpsites located within Umudike area of Umuahia, out of which a total of 28 bacteria and fungi were obtained and were identified as six (6) different bacteria genera which includes; Staphylococcus aureus, E. coli, Bacillus spp, Klebsiella spp, Micrococcus spp and Serretia spp, and three (3) different fungi species., which includes; Rhizopus stolonifer, Aspergillus niger, and Rhodotorula spp, using a pour plate technique. The total bacterial mean count was found to be higher in dump site located at Government College (1) 13.6 x105 cfu/g followed by Umudike Junction 11.1 x105cfu/g while the least bacterial count was recorded at Government College (2) 4.5 x105 cfu/g. The high level of bacteria growth recorded at Government College (1) could be as a result of higher waste generation from the increased population and residential areas in the urban areas. From the findings in this study, it was observed that Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus are the most frequently occurring isolates with a percentage occurrence of 25.0% each, while among the fungi species isolated, Rhizopus stolonifer had the highest occurrence at 14.3%, indicating that human and animal faecal wastes were dispersed with the refuse. The degree of acidity (pH), reported in this study for all the waste dump sites ranged from pH 4.5 to 5.7. In the waste dump sample collected from Government College (2), the total nitrogen present was 0.11% indicating that it is low while values recorded for available Phosphorus under Government College were higher than the initial value observed. From this study, it can be concluded that the open dump system of waste disposal is indeed a potential environmental quality problem which takes the form of unsightliness, land and water pollution, it reduces the quality of air by the emission of foul odours and different gases derived from the anaerobic decomposition as well as occasional burning.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title Page   i

Certification iii

Dedication iv

Acknowledgements v

Table of Contents vi

List of Tables ix

List of Figures x

Abstract xi

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction 1

1.1 Aim and Objectives 4

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature Review 6

2.1 Municipal Solid Waste 6

2.2 Municipal Solid Waste Management 7

2.3 Reduce, Reuse and Recycle of Solid Wastes 8

2.3.1 Waste Reduction and Reuse 8

2.3.2 Recycling 9

2.4 Treatment and Disposal of Solid Wastes 9

2.4.1 Thermal Treatment 10

2.4.2 Biological Waste Treatment 12

2.5 Health Hazard Associated With Solid Waste Dump Sites 13

2.5.1 Occupational Health Hazards 13

2.5.2 Hazards to the General Public 13

2.6 Micro Organisms in Waste Dump Sites 14

2.7 Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria from Solid Waste 15

2.8 Isolation and Characterization of Bacteria Isolated from Municipal Solid 

Waste for Production of Industrial Enzymes and Waste Degradation 16

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 18

3.1 Sample Collection 18

3.2 Initial Soil Sampling 18

3.3 Physiochemical Analyses of Waste Sample 18

3.3.1 Determination of Physiochemical Parameters of the Waste Sample 18

3.3.1.2 Determination of Available Phosphorus (Bray Ii Method) 18

3.3.1.3 pH Determination Using pH Meter (Electrode Method) 19

3.3.1.4 Determination of Total Nitrogen by Modified Kjeldahl Method 19

3.3.1.5 Determination of exchangeable potassium Capacity of the Waste Sample (Ammonium Acetate Method)

3.4 Microbial Analysis 20

3.5 Sterilization Method 20

3.6 Sample Preparation and Isolation of Micro Organisms 20

3.6.1 Sample Inoculation 20

3.6.1.1 Isolation of Fungi 20

3.7.2 Quantitative Estimation of Bacteria and Fungi Isolates 21

3.8 Microbial Characterization and Identification 21

3.8.1 Identification of Bacterial Isolates 21

3.8.1.1 Gram Staining 21

3.8.2 Biochemical Tests 22

3.8.2.1 Indole Test 22

3.8.2.2 Carbohydrate Utilization Analysis 22

3.8.2.3 Catalase Test 22

3.8.2.4 Coagulase Test 22

3.8.2.5 Citrate Utilization Test 23

3.8.2.6 Motility Test 23

3.8.2.7 Voges-Proskauer Test 23

3.8.3 Identification of Fungal Isolates 24

3.8.3.1 Wet Preparation 24

3.8.3.2 Colonial Morphology 24

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results 25

CHAPTER FIVE

5.0 Discussion and Conclusion 35

5.1 Discussion 35

5.2 Conclusion 37

References