Brevibacillus parabrevis MTCC 12105: a potential bacterium for pulp and paper effluent degradation

A gram positive, rod shaped, bacterium was isolated from pulp and paper mill sludge and characterized as Brevibacillus parabrevis (MTCC 12105) by biochemical tests and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. C_D and E_OP stage wastewater, collected from a leading pulp and paper mill situated in North India, was used for degradation study. Wastewater degradation efficiency of the bacterial isolate was evaluated by Flask study in batch mode and Reactor study in semi continuous mode. The isolated bacterium showed a considerable reduction of the colour (59%), chemical oxygen demand (62%) and lignin (53.8%) content of Kraft paper mill effluent at 37 °C after 5 days. During reactor study it reduced 42.6% Lignin, 51.6% Colour and 60.3% COD (chemical oxygen demand) of the wastewater at 48 h RT (retention time). The isolate was deposited at MTCC Chandigarh, India with an accession no. MTCC 12105.