Bioremediation—a ecosafe approach for dairy effluent treatment

Abstract

The dairy industry involves processing of raw milk into products like consumer milk, butter, cheese etc. The quantity of water required in a milk processing plant depends upon the size of the plant, generally expressed in terms of the maximum weight of milk handled in a single day, and the processes involved. The daily volume of water required may vary widely, depending mainly on the availability of water and the control of all water using operation in the amount of water needed for the operations which involves continuous flow, for rinsing and washing and is not necessarily proportional to the amount of product processed. Most of the waste water discharged into water bodies, disturbs the ecological balance and deteriorates the water quality. The casein precipitation from waste decomposes further into highly odorous black sludge. Effluent from milk processing unit contains soluble organics, suspended solids, trace organics which releases gases, causes bad taste and odour, impart colour and turbidity, and promote eutrophication. Bioremediation is a ecosafe approach for treating the dairy effluent without disturbing the environment. This review deals about characteristic of dairy effluent and Microorganisms used in the bioremediation of the dairy industry wastes.