Asian Journal of Microbiology, Biotechnology & Environmental Sciences Paper

EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES ON VERMICOMPOSTING OF ORGANIC FRACTION OF MUNICIPAL SOLID WASTE WITH DAIRY WASTE WATER

S.P. RAVIKANNAN, G. MANJULA AND T. MEENAMBAL

Abstract

The dairy industry involves processing raw milk into products such as consumer milk, butter, cheese, yogurt, condensed milk, dried milk (milk powder), and ice cream, using processes such as chilling, pasteurization, and homogenization. Typical by-products include buttermilk, whey, and their derivatives. Since the pollutants generated by the industry are largely lost in production, improvements in production efficiency are recommended to reduce pollutants loads. In this study, a series of experimental studies were conducted with regard to bioconversion of organic fraction of municipal solid waste along with dairy waste water at different C/N ratios using combined composting and vermicomposting technology. The variations in physical and chemical parameters were monitored throughout the process. The results indicate that combined composting and vermicomposting of dairy waste water with municipal solid waste produces high quality compost.