Perkembangan industri pertambangan di Indonesia semakin pesat, seperti pertambangan batu bara yang ada di Lamuru Kabupaten Bone, Sulawesi Selatan. Tentu hal ini menimbulkan masalah pencemaran lingkungan oleh adanya limbah pertambangan, salah satunya adalah limbah air asam tambang (AAT). Tujuan penelitian adalah deteksi kandungan logam berat dan analisis mikrobiologi pada air asam tambang. Deteksi kandungan logam berat menggunakan X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), anlisis sulfat dengan metode spektrofotometer 430 nm, pH dengan pH meter  dan analisis mikrobiologi menggunakan metode plate count. Hasilnya, terdeteksi adanya logam berat, yang paling dominan adalah Fe 56,29 %, diikuti Mn 1,36%, Ti 0,47%, dan Nb 0,50%. Kandungan sulfat 6,2 ppm dan pH 3.7. Pada pengamatan mikrobiologis diperoleh bakteri peredusi sulfat18,7 x 104/ml  dan jumlah total mikroba adalah  67,5 x 104/ml.

Plastic is the most widely used polymers in all aspects of human life, including food packaging and pharmaco-cosmetics. The complex structures with long and repetitive chains make plastic difficult to be degraded naturally. Consequently, it will accumulate in landfills and the soil. One solution that can be done to overcome this problem is by biodegradation using microorganisms. This study aims to select bacterial isolates that are able to degrade plastics which are isolated from soil samples at Tamangapa landfill in Makassar City. Sampling of soil containing plastic waste used purposive sampling method at 5 different points at Tamangapa Landfill. Isolation of bacteria was conducted using Nutrient Agar (NA) which added 2% Polyethylene Glycol (PEG) and selection of degradation ability was carried out with liquid Mineral Salt media containing HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) media. The degradation ability was observed based on the optical density value (OD) at a wavelength of 600 nm and loss of plastic dry weight for 14 days of incubation. The results of isolation and selection obtained 6 bacterial isolates that were able to degrade HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) and LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) plastics. T7 isolates showed the highest degradation ability of 6% for 8% HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) plastic and LDPE (Low Density Polyethylene) compared to the other five bacteria isolates.

This study aims to determine the effect of probiotic administration encapsulated on the cholesterol content of egg laying eggs. Probiotics are given to laying hens (phase layer), once a day for 4 weeks orally. In this study a completely randomized design (CRD) was used with three treatments, namely, probiotic encapsulated lactic acid bacteria (BAL) (E1), commercial probiotics (E2), and without probiotics (E0) with 4 replications. The variables observed in this study were encapsulated probiotic viability, egg weight (g), egg index (%), and total egg cholesterol content (mg / g). The results showed that the viability of probiotic bacteria decreased by 3.34 cfu / g after 4 weeks of storage at 4OC. Average egg weight at E0; E1; and E2 are 62.63 g, 62.67 g, and 64.15 g. Average egg index at E0; E1; and E2 are 71.13%, 75.54%, and 77.2%. The average cholesterol content at E0; E1; and E2 is 3.75 mg / g, 3.25 mg / g and 3.25 mg / g. The administration of encapsulated probiotics did not affect the quality of egg weight but it affected the egg index and total cholesterol content of egg laying eggs.

Lactobacillus plantarum Dad 13 is a group of Lactic Acid Bacteria, which was isolated from “Dadih” (traditional fermented buffalo milk) has known as indigenous probiotic from Indonesia. Probiotics are defined as living microorganisms and have health benefits with consumption for use as a supplement of food with the amount of cell viability at least 108 cells. L. plantarum frequently used as a starter in probiotic drink, especially in fermented milk. Milk is a valuable source of nutritional substances with the composition of water, protein, fat, sugars, mineral salts, vitamins, and enzymes for the living of microorganisms. To study the potential of L. plantarum Dad 13 in milk, we present an updated inventory of L. plantarum Dad 13 used in milk to making cheese. These we are applied L. plantarum Dad 13 to produce lactic acid for making curds. Combination treatment of biomass production used for cheese making that was biomass production using coconut water and MRS medium. The different combinations of a medium can influence the biomass viability of L. plantarum Dad 13 in cheese. The result showed that the viability of L. plantarum Dad 13 in cheese using two kinds of media during the production of biomass (i.e., coconut water and MRS) were almost similar during two months of storage, that was 103 cfu/g. They decreased on viability after two-month storage was about 3 log cycles. The result showed that viable the cell of L. plantarum Dad 13 in this cheese did not agree with the criterion of a minimum of 106 – 108 cfu/g viable cells as a probiotic product. Overall, local isolates of L. plantarum Dad 13 can be applied in the process of cheese making.

Overcoming microbial contaminants in fresh fruits is not merely by recognizing the level of contamination. Still, it requires another effort, such as applying a compound of natural and effective ingredients proven effective in reducing microbial contaminants and safe for health. The hexadecanoic acid used in this study was isolated from the tropical marine hydroids Aglaophenia cupressina Lamoureux. This study aimed to analyze the ability of bioactive compounds acid from the hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina Lamoureoux to inhibit the growth of fungi that cause rotten strawberry Fragaria x ananassa Dutch and mango Mangifera indica. Hexadecanoic acid was obtained by isolating it from the hydroid Aglaophenia cupressina Lamoureoux through the maceration, fractionation, and purification stages. Isolating fungi was done by using the PDA (Potato Dextrose Agar) medium to characterize macroscopically and microscopically and to test the inhibition using the diffusion method, which was incubated for 48 hours and 72 hours at the hexadecanoic acid concentrations of 15 ppm, 30 ppm, and 45 ppm. The results showed the hexadecanoic acid concentration of 45 ppm in the 72-hour incubation could inhibit the growth of two fungal isolates on strawberries, Fragaria x ananassa Dutch, i.e., Botrytis cinerea and Rhizopus stolonifer, for successive concentration, 24.00 mm and 22.75 mm. Meanwhile, the growth of Aspergillus niger, fungi from mangoes, could be inhibited by the hexadecanoic acid by 14.75 mm, 18.25 mm, and 23.50 mm, respectively, for the concentration of 15 ppm, 30 ppm, and 45 ppm with the 72-hour incubation.