Biomanagement of paper mill sludge using an indegenous (Lampito mauritii) and two exotic (Eudrilus eugineae and Eisenia foetida) earthworms.

ABSTRACT

Paper mills have severe problem in disposing effluent or semisolid sludge despite repeated recycling. It requires treatment prior to disposal of sludge. In recent years biological treatment methods received much attention and considered as efficient low-cost treatment. One such method is vermiculture treatment. The present study was carried out to dispose the paper mill sludge biologically using 2 exotic species (Eudrilus eugineae and Eiseniafoetida) and an indigenous species (Lampito mauritii) of earthworm. The paper mill sludge in various concentration 25%,50% and 75% were subjected to vermitub treatment for a period of 60 days. During the period of study data were collected on reproductive strategies of earthworm and chemical analysis of wastes before and after treatment. Results obtained indicate that 25% concentration of sludge was ideal and of the three worms used Eiseniafoetida proved to be the best worm for biomanagement.