Isolation and identification of microbes to convert lignocellulose wastes to reducing sugars

• Main Author: Tan, Michelle Wei Qi.
• Other Authors: Wang Jing-Yuan
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Engineering::Environmental engineering::Waste management
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/16317
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

The aim of this project was to isolate and identify high-efficiency lignocellulose degrading microorganisms that would be able to break down lignocellulose wastes to reducing sugar by enzymatic hydrolysis. These microorganisms and enzymes could be found in insects. Due to easy availability, termites and mealworms were chosen for experimental purposed as the insects possessed certain flagellate protozoa in their microflora, which could produced the desired enzymes in their hindguts or midgut to break down the cellulose directly to sugars. This report served to explain the microbial growth and degradation by the cultivation of microbes, using two different mediums that contained three different substrates (lignocellulose, filter paper strips and carboxymethylcellulose). The processes included conducting experiments such as deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extraction, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), optical density (turbidity) and reducing and total sugars. These parameters were carried out to isolate the bacteria, where DGGE profiles and SEM images were performed to identify the different bacterial population presented. A comparison of the different substrates was done to identify the favorable cellulosic substrate that supported enzymatic hydrolysis and degradation of microbes. The anticipation of this project was to convey the interest on microbiology within the insects by the discussion of research and experimental results with the usage of the different cellulosic substrates. This project was implemented to enrich and widen the knowledge relation of microbiology, where useful exploitation of natural resources could lead to processes of great discovery that might be economically feasible and sustainable in the environment.