Pooja Singh1,2, Vaibhav Kadam2, Yogesh Patil3. 1. Symbiosis Center for Waste Resource Management, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India. 2. Symbiosis School of Biological Sciences, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India. 3. Symbiosis Centre for Research and Innovation, Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India.
Abstract
AIM: This work aims to investigate the nature of waste being generated by automobile service stations (ASS) and to devise a microbial-based formulation for the treatment of ASS wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analysis of soil and water samples from the vicinity of different ASS in and around the Pune city region (India) revealed the presence of significant amounts of many heavy metals including zinc (Zn) 13.8-175.44 mg kg-1 , nickel (Ni) 0.6-5.5 mg kg-1 and copper (Cu) 8.07-179.2 mg kg-1 as well as oil and grease (O&G). A consortium, consisting of selected members from the ASS soil bacterial isolates, was formulated. The selection of consortium members was based on their ability to degrade hydrocarbons, tolerate heavy metals, and produce biosurfactant and lipase. The developed microbial consortium was capable of reducing the concentration of Ni, manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) by 69.25%, 14.63% and 84.93%, respectively, and O&G by 71.8% in the aqueous medium under laboratory conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater and soil analysis confirmed the presence of a high amount of O&G and metals in and around ASS. The developed microbial consortium holds potential for the treatment of wastewater rich in O&G and heavy metals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: There is a dearth of scientific studies in India on the wastewater and polluted soils associated with ASS. This work reveals and confirms the hazardous nature of ASS and the need for the development and feasibility of microbial-based technology for the sustainable bioremediation of such sites.
AIM: This work aims to investigate the nature of waste being generated by automobile service stations (ASS) and to devise a microbial-based formulation for the treatment of ASS wastewater. METHODS AND RESULTS: Analysis of soil and water samples from the vicinity of different ASS in and around the Pune city region (India) revealed the presence of significant amounts of many heavy metals including zinc (Zn) 13.8-175.44 mg kg-1 , nickel (Ni) 0.6-5.5 mg kg-1 and copper (Cu) 8.07-179.2 mg kg-1 as well as oil and grease (O&G). A consortium, consisting of selected members from the ASS soil bacterial isolates, was formulated. The selection of consortium members was based on their ability to degrade hydrocarbons, tolerate heavy metals, and produce biosurfactant and lipase. The developed microbial consortium was capable of reducing the concentration of Ni, manganese (Mn) and chromium (Cr) by 69.25%, 14.63% and 84.93%, respectively, and O&G by 71.8% in the aqueous medium under laboratory conditions. CONCLUSIONS: Wastewater and soil analysis confirmed the presence of a high amount of O&G and metals in and around ASS. The developed microbial consortium holds potential for the treatment of wastewater rich in O&G and heavy metals. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: There is a dearth of scientific studies in India on the wastewater and polluted soils associated with ASS. This work reveals and confirms the hazardous nature of ASS and the need for the development and feasibility of microbial-based technology for the sustainable bioremediation of such sites.