Potential of chromolaena odorata and indigenous bacterial consortium for oily wastewater treatment

This study was carried out to investigate the possibility of using Chromolaena odorata as absorbent and to
ascertain as to whether indigenous bacteria has the potential to degrade hydrocarbon from oily wastewater and thereby
reducing its toxicity and other negative impacts to the environment particularly on aquatic life. The potential of
Chromolaena odorata and indigenous bacteria to remove oil from wastewater was evaluated by measuring total
suspended solid (TSS) concentration. The result shows that, about 55% of oil substances were absorbed or removed
after 4 hours of Chromolaena odorata application with the optimum dosage of 4mg/L. Growth percentage of bacterial
consortium and single pure strain on medium containing oily wastewater was studied. It was found that bacterial
consortium, the mixture of Bacillus cereus (KA) and Acinetobacter (TB) shows higher growth among other bacterial
consortium and single pure cultures and this consortium was used for further analysis. In addition, the results have
shown that, bacterial consortium (KA+TB) exhibited high efficiency to remove TSS at the optimum dosage of 1 mg/L.
Absorption and biodegradation rate was increased after being treated with Chromolaena odorata and bacterial
consortium mixture. The mixture of Chromolaena odorata powder and bacterial consortium in 4:1 ratio was obtained to
significantly removed TSS by 75% in 24 hours.