Management of Sugar Industrial Wastes through Vermitechnology

Abstract

Abstract. The present paper discusses the role of earthworms in recycling of sugar industrial wastes. The wastes generated from sugar industry are pressmud, bagasse, bagasse fly ash, sugar cane trash, sugar beet mud, sugar beet pulp, molasses etc. These wastes when mixed with other organic substrates become ideal mixtures for growth of earthworms. These wastes if stored in open field's causes contamination in the environment and may cause several diseases in public health. But the governments have been unable to tackle the menace of solid waste pollution due to dearth of appropriate technologies, finance and space. Therefore, environment friendly and cost effective technologies for nutrient recycling or remediation of wastes are being advocated as an alternative means for conserving and replenishing natural resources of the ecosystems. Vermicomposting is one such technology that synergises microbial degradation with earthworm's activity for reducing, reusing and recycling waste materials in a shorter span of time. Earthworm technology can convert sugar industrial wastes into valuable fertilizing material. The final product (vermicompost) produced during the process of vermicomposting is nutrient rich organic fertilizer with plant available nutrients such as nitrogen, potassium, calcium and phosphorus. In the present study an attempt has been made to document the role of earthworms in reuse of sugar industry waste.

Earthworms Converting Milk Processing Industry Sludge into Biomanure

“…Suthar [1] also observed a significant decrease in TOC due to combined action of earthworms and microorganisms. Similar observations have been reported by Bhat et al [7,10] during vermicomposting of sugar mill waste. Khwairakpam and Bhargava [28] observed that the cattle dung contains various fungal stains and other microbes like bacteria, protozoa, nematodes, fungi, actinomycetes, which play an important role in organic matter decomposition by providing extra-cellular enzymes in vermireactors.…”

“…It is clear from the present study that cocoon formation in different waste proportions was directly related to the feedstock quality. The results of cocoon formation are corroborated by the findings of other researchers who have analyzed waste quality dependent cocoon formation patterns in earthworms during the process of vermicomposting [7,20].…”

“…Maximum percentage decrease in TK content was in MW (28.82%) and minimum in MW 100 (10.95%). Many researchers have also observed a decrease in TK after vermicomposting [7,35,36]. TK concentration in the feed mixtures of MPIS with earthworms had decreased significantly as compared to without earthworm mixtures by the end of the vermicomposting, and this decrease may be due to the use of potassium by worms during their metabolic activity.…”

“…The biodegradation of industrial waste prior to its use could reduce the pollution associated with its management [1,4,5]. Vermicomposting by earthworms is a bio oxidative process which is considered as one of the alternative options for converting wastes into nutrient rich vermicompost useful for plants and the soil [6,7]. Vermicompost is also considered in agricultural practices as an alternative to chemical fertilizers [8].…”

Optimisation of Water Absorption Parameters of Bagasse, Cocoa Pod Husk and Guinea Fowl Feather Reinforced Hybrid Epoxy Composites using Taguchi Method

“…Unfortunately, most research has excluded the combination of these reinforcements while the optimisation behaviour of the reinforced composites at room temperature in the water absorption process is not known. The composite industry is one of the most dynamic sectors in the economy in the past few years and an anticipated all-time high is expected in the demand for agro-based composites in the next years [13][14][15]. Consequently, there is a need to have a clearly defined optimisation goal for the reinforcements to be used by combining cocoa pod husk, bagasse and guinea fowl feather with epoxy resin for composite fabrication.…”