Prospecting for sludge bacteria from a poultry slaughterhouse, with potential for degrading organic substances

The sludge produced in wastewater treatment plants of slaughterhouses is a rich source of chemical, organic, and microbiological constituents that can be biotechnologically exploited. The purpose of this study was to (i) conduct a chemical analysis of the sludge, and (ii) isolate, quantify, and describe the amylolytic, cellulolytic, ligninolytic, proteolytic, and keratinolytic bacteria in the sludge. Sludge samples were collected at the wastewater treatment plant of the Francap SA poultry company. The nutrient contents, C/N ratio, and pH were determined. For the bacterial count, 10 g sludge was diluted in 90 mL saline solution, which was serially diluted to 10(-12). Aliquots of 100 mu L of each dilution were transferred to selective media for isolation of bacteria that degrade organic substances. The colony-forming units were determined for each culture medium. Individual colonies were purified and characterized morphologically. The sludge contained 9.5, 1.21, and 0.45 dag kg(-1) of N, P, and K, respectively. Fiftytwo isolates were purified and characterized, with 2.11 x 10(12) to 9.55 x10(15) colony-forming units per g sludge. In conclusion, the sludge generated in poultry slaughterhouse wastewater treatment plants is a rich source of organo-mineral constituents and bacteria with biotechnological potential for degrading organic substances.