SCREENING OF ENVIRONMENTAL MICROFLORA FOR IDENTIFICATION OF POTENTIAL PHORBOL ESTER BIODEGRADATOR AND ANALYSIS OF THE DEGRADATION PRODUCT

Abstract

Increased global industrialization and urbanization has led the world to threats of scarce energy resources and thus need for the search of sustainable eco-friendly alternates have emerged in last two decades. Biofuels are partly considered a solution to these issues such as sustainable development, energy security and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. Jatropha curcas has been recognized as a new energy crop for the countries to grow their own renewable energy source with many promising benefits. Large amount of seed cake is generated as by-product during biodiesel production from Jatropha seeds. Seed cake from biodiesel industries contain toxic factors that may be an environmental concern. Further presence of toxic phorbol esters restrict its utilization to be used as a feed in livestock. Safe disposal or meaningful utilization of this major by-product necessitates the degradation of these phorbol esters. Jatropha seed cake is the potential and preferred choice for protein and other nutrients for livestock, provided these could be made free of toxic and anti nutritional factors. So, toxic factor degradation in seed cake could serve the dual purpose. The protein content of seed cake came out to be 33%; ash content 4.5%; fat content 7.15% and moisture content 5%. Biodetoxification is a better approach over physical and chemical treatments with several advantages such as reduction of phorbol esters to non-toxic levels, higher protein content in the residue and environmental friendly with safety and energy concerns. The present study describes the complete degradation of phorbol esters by isolated, screened, most potential phorbol ester biodegradator which has been identified and characterized to be from Pseudomonas genera. Degradation was achieved in 12 hr by the treatment of seed cake with cell free fermented broth.