EFFECT OF COMPOST DERIVED LYTIC AGENTS AGAINST ENTERIC PATHOGENS IN WASTEWATERAMRUTHA VIJAYAKUMAR, MEGHA PRASAD, ALEENA S, ANJANA R, LEKSHMIJA A, BIPIN NAIR, AJITH MADHAVAN AND SANJAY PALAbstract Composting is considered as a sustainable and environmentally viable method for reducing pathogen load in the waste treatment process. Against this backdrop, we hypothesize that kitchen waste composting can be potentially augmented by appropriate non-pathogenic microbes for treating domestic wastewater in order to reduce infection and biogenic malodor. Microbial augmentation was done by the addition of different combinations of pure fungal and bacterial cultures. Substrate augmentation was done by supplementing with cow dung and rice water. Time point study spanning over 21 days showed that the enzymatic activity peaked after 14 days of composting. The compost leachates were characterized based on pH, smell assessment, and soluble content. On application of sewage samples, a 5-log reduction in pathogenic load was observed for 24h duration. The best result was obtained from vegetable waste augmented with rice water and un-augmented vegetable waste compost leachate. The current study establishes the use of compost leachate as a viable option in wastewater treatment in the reduction of pathogens and biogenic malodor.
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