Evaluation of B. cereus MTCC 25641 for the Treatment of Dairy Waste Effluent.

  Dairy is one of the industries producing wastewater rich in organic matter and thus leading to creation of odorous and high COD containing effluent. Biotreatment leading to bioconversion of the waste materials is probably the most cost-effective technique for managing and utilizing waste. A pilot-scale aerobic treatment plant showing air pressure of 6 kg/cm3 was designed keeping all the conditions similar to the main aerobic plant of any dairy plant. The COD (Chemical Oxygen Demand) of the control effluent i.e., without aeration, decreased from 588.5 mg/L on the first day to 147.75 mg/L on the seventh day while the effluent inoculated with B. cereus MTCC 25641 decreased the COD load from 588.5 mg/L on the first day to 38.75 mg/L on the seventh day, which shows that a pilot plant B. cereus MTCC 25641 showed excellent results as 50.68% COD and 44.07% BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand) reduction, while pH increased from 6.7 to 8.54 along with 44.06% increase in TDS (Total Dissolved solids) was seen after 24h of aeration.