ISOLATION AND IDENTIFICATION OF MICROORAGNISMS IN CASSAVA MILL EFFLUENT IN THE SOIL

Thesis Abstract

The Isolation and identification of microorganisms in cassava mill effluent in the soil  in Orji, Imo State, Nigeria were carried out, soil samples were collected from site polluted with cassava mill effluent and also from adjacent site not polluted with cassava effluent to serve as control. The overall population of microorganisms in cassava mill effluent was determined. Isolation and characterization of succession of microorganism in cassava mill effluent was studied microbial count, Bacterial counts and fungal counts were also determined using a pour plate method. The microbial count ranges from 2.2 X 105 – 2.0 X 105 for THBC, 1.1 X 105 – 1.2 X 105 for TCC and the TFC ranges from 1.2 X 105-1.5 X 105. The bacteria isolated wereKlebsiella spp., Escherichia coli , Pseudomonas spp., Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus spp. while the fugal isolates include Penicillium spp., Aspergillus spp., mucor spp., and yeast cells Candida spp. the cassava mill effluent should be treated before discharge into the environment to prevent pollution.