Efficiency of Indigenous Microorganisms in Bioremediation of Tannery Effluent

The physicochemical parameters of most of the tannery industry effluents are not under the CPCB disposal limits. Several techniques are being employed to reduce the level of organic and inorganic pollutants present in this effluent but they are not environment-friendly, low cost, and they produce secondary pollutants like solid waste. Bioremediation has become a more popular methodology for the treatment of environmental pollution nowadays. Six bacterial strains were isolated from a vegetable tannery effluent and were identified as Bacillus, Pseudomonas aeroginosa, Alkaligenes aquatilis, Klebsiella pneumonia, Staphylococcus aereus, and E. coli were employed for the bioremediation process of tannery effluent. The tannery effluent was treated with individual as well as the consortium of these microorganisms. The maximum pollution degradation and higher removal of TDS (64%), COD (76%), and chloride (54%) contents were noticed by the consortium treatment. Out of the pure indigenous strains, Bacillus acted as a more promising bacteria followed by Staphylococcus and Alkaligenes. The consortia of indigenous strains could be used as a suitable working strategy for tannery effluent treatment and disposal.