ABSTRACT

The isolation, identification and characterization of bacteria from organic waste were carried out. Sawdust waste (plant organic waste source) and abattoir waste water (animal organic waste source) samples were collected. The media used were nutrient agar for total aerobic plate count, McConkey agar for coliform count and cellulolytic media for cellulolytic count. The pour plate method was employed. Colonial morphology, gram staining and biochemical tests were used for the identification of the bacteria. The total aerobic plate for the sawdust waste ranged from 2.33 x 107 to 8.2 x 106, coliform count ranged from 7.6 x 106to 1.7 x 106Cfu/g and cellulolytic count ranged from 4.7 x 106 to 2.6 x 106Cfu/g while for abattoir waste water, total aerobic plate count, coliform count and cellulolytic count ranged from 1.03 x 107 to 7.1 x 106Cfu/ml, 5.8 x 106 to 1.2 x 106Cfu/ml and 3.7 x 106 to 1.3 x 106Cfu/ml respectively. The bacteria isolated from the sawdust waste sample were Pseudomonas spp., Bacillus spp., Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus spp., klebsiella spp., Micrococcus spp., and Cellulomonas spp. While for the abattoir waste water, samples were Streptococcus spp., Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus spp., Micrococcus spp.,Vibrio cholera, klebsiella spp., and Escherichia coli. The study concludes that microorganisms occur in a large number and variety in organic wastes.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Certification       i

Dedication           ii

Acknowledgement              iii

Table of Contents              iv

List of Tables             vi

Abstract             vii

CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction     1   

1.1 Justification of study                 2

1.2 General objective of the study     3

1.3 Specific objectives of the study     3

CHAPTER TWO

2.0 Literature review     5

2.1 Organic wastes        5

2.2 Sources of organic waste            5 

2.2.1 Plant source     5

2.2.2 Animal source     5

2.3 Forms of organic waste     5 

2.3.1 Wet organic waste material     6

2.3.2     Dry organic waste material      6

2.4 Categories of organic waste     6

2.4.1 Urban generated wastes     6

2.4.2 Animal wastes     7

2.5 Abattoir      8

2.5.1    Activities that occur in abattoirs     9

2.5.2   Abattoir waste    10 

2.6 Saw dust   10

2.6.1     Practical uses   11 

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods   13

3.1    Study area    13

3.2    Collection of samples   13

3.3    Media used and preparation   14

3.4    Enumeration of total heterotrophic bacteria from saw dust   14

3.5    Enumeration of total heterotrophic bacteria from abattoir waste water   15

3.6    Enumeration of cellulolytic bacteria from saw dust   15

3.7    Enumeration of cellulolytic bacteria from abattoir waste water   16

3.8    Identification and characterization of bacteria isolates   16

3.8.1  Microscopic examination   17

3.8.2  Gram staining    17

3.8.3  Biochemical reaction tests   17

CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 Results   20

CHAPTER FIVE 

5. 0   Discussion and Conclusion   26  

5.1    Discussion    26

5.2    Conclusion   28

References