ABSTRACT

The isolation and identification of cellulose degrading microorganism from sawdust in Umuahia Abia State was carried out. The media  used in were nutrient agar, for total aerobic plate count, Sabouraud dextrose agar for fungal count, MacConkey agar for coliform count and cellulolytic medium for cellulolytic count. The pour plate technique was employed. Colonial Morphology, Gram staining and biochemical tests were used for the identification of the microorganisms.The microbial count ranged as follows, Total aerobic plate count,4.8x106cfu/g - 2.31x107cfu/g; Coliform count,1.9x106cfu/g - 7.8x106cfu/g; Fungal count, 2.7x106cfu/g -4.5x106 and cellulolytic count, 2.5x106cfu/g4.5x106cfu/g. The bacteria isolated were Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Bacillus  species, Klebsiella species, Escherichia coli, Micrococcus species, Staphylococcus aureus and Cellulomonas species while the fungi isolated were Penicillium species, Aspergillus species, Mucor species, Fusarium species and Rhizopus species. It shows that sawdust is contaminated.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page - - - - - - - - - - i

Certification - - - - - - - - - - ii

Dedication - - - - - - - - - - iii

Acknowledgements - - - - - - - - - iv

Table of Contents - - - - - - - - - v

List of tables - - - - - - - - - - vi

Abstract - - - - - - - - - - vii

CHAPTER ONE:  INTRODUCTION

1.0 Introduction - - - - - - - - 1-3

1.1       Aims and Objective. - - - - - - - - 3

CHAPTER TWO:   LITERATURE  REVIEW

2.1 Cellulose. - - - - - - - - - 4-6

2.2 Degradation of Cellulose By Fungi - - - - 6-8

2.3        Degradation of Cellulose By Bacteria - - - - - 8

2.4   Sources of SawDust - - - - - - - - 9-10

CHAPTER THREE: MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1  Study Area. - - - - - - - - - 11

3.2 Collection of Samples - - - - - - - 11

3.3 Media Used And Preparation - - - - - - - 11

3.4      Enumeration of Total Heterotrophic Bacteria and Fungi - - - 12

3.5     Enumeration of Cellulolytic Bacteria - - - - - 12

3.6 Identification of Bacteria Isolates - - - - - - 13

3.7    Identification of Fungal Isolates - - - - - - 13

3.7.1   Macroscopic examination - - - - - - - 13

3.7.2   Microscopic examination - - - - - - - 14

3.7.3    Gram staining - - - - - - - -         - 14

3.7.4    Biochemical Reaction Tests - - - - - -        - 14 

3.7.4.1  Catalase test - - - - - - - - - 15

3.7.4.2   Coagulase test - - - - - - - - 15

3.7.4.3  Citrate test - - - - - - - - - 15

CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS

4.0 RESULTS - - - - - - - - - 16

CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

5.1 DISCUSSION - - - - - - - - 20-21

5.2 CONCLUSION - - - - - - - - 21

REFERENCES - - - -