Biodegradation of polymer effluent and its reutilization for growth of ornamental plant
 

One of the most challenging current problems arising with rapid industrialization, is the proper disposal of waste products. Polymer effluent released from polymer industry is one of the major sources of environment pollutants as the concentration of harmful materials in the waste water was extremely high. Bioremediation offers a simpler, cheaper and more environment friendly option to traditional methods of remediation. Bioremediation is the microbial clean-up approach. Hence the present study was carried out to analyse Physico-chemical parameters like colour, odour, pH, EC, TSS, TDS, BOD and COD of untreated polymer effluent and was degraded using bacteria. The results of the analysis of the physico chemical parameters revealed that untreated polymer effluent was yellow in colour with pungent odour. pH was alkaline with high organic load such as EC, TSS, TDS, BOD and COD which were higher than the permissible limits of CPCB (1995) for its disposal indicating high pollution potential of the waste. Since the untreated polymer effluent has high organic load, disposal of such waste water into the environment without proper treatment pose hazards to environment. Hence Escherichia coli was used to degrade the untreated polymer effluent for a period of 96 hrs in a laboratory scale study. Results of analysis of degradation of the effluent revealed that colour and odour of 100% untreated sample has changed to almost colourless and odourless nature. pH has changed from alkaline to neutral and also showed marked reduction (12.35% - 99.5%) of parameters in biotreated sample using Escherichia coli. The biotreated sample was reused for the growth of ornamental plant, Impatiens balsamina. The results of the growth study revealed that growth rate of the plant was increased in biotreated sample than in untreated sample.