Biodegradation of palmarosa oil [green oil] by Serratia marcescens

Biodegradation of oil depends on the nature of the oil, the type of microbial community and a variety of environmental factors. Green oils are being used as consumer goods and as raw materials in industries such as food processing, pharmaceutical and cosmetic. Microbial contaminations of green oils have been the cause of degradation problems. Serratia Marcessens produced cytochrome oxidase, catalase, Dextrose, Lactose, Manose and sorbitol enzymes were the main reason for the degradation af palmarosa oil. Changes of colour and turbidity was also the evidence for green oil degradation by bacteria. More oxygen included protons [O-CH2] group was produced in the presence of bacterial species and the addition of oxygen took place during bacterial degradation of palmarosa oil. The biodegradation of palmarosa oil by Serratia marcescens have been carried out using High Performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC], Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy [FTIR] and Nuclear Magnetic spectroscopy [NMR] analysis. Carboxyl group present in the palmorasa oil is utilised as a sole carbon sources for the Serratia marcescens

Microbiologically influenced corrosion in dairy effluent

In the dairy industry mild steel is used as the construction material for the effluent treatment plants, pipelines, reinforcement in concrete structures etc. The steel exposed to the dairy effluent faces corrosion due to the microbes. In the present study the role of microbes in dairy effluent on the corrosion of mild steel has been investigated. Pseudomonas sp., Streptococcus sp., Micrococcus sp., Bacillus sp., Neisseria sp. and Lactobacillus sp. were identified in dairy effluent. Corrosion rate has been estimated by weight loss measurements and polarization technique. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy [FTIR] and X-ray diffractometer [XRD] studies were found helpful in investigating the chemical pathway leading to the formation of corrosion products on the mild steel during fermentation. Initiation of pitting corrosion was noticed on steel specimens by scanning electron microscope [SEM]. A mechanism has been proposed for microbiologically influenced corrosion in dairy effluent