Application of defined co-immobilized microbial consortium as a ready-to-use seed inoculum in bod analysis

A number of microorganisms were isolated from sewage. Biochemical Oxygen De mand (BOD-5 day) analysis was carried out by individual pure cultures. The cultures giving higher or equal BOD values as compared to reference GGA sol ution were selected for the formulation of a defined mixed microbial consor tium. This microbial consortium was co-immobilized on calcium-alginate bead s. Four synthetic and six industrial samples were tested for BOD by using i mmobilized beads as well as sewage as source of seeding materials. BOD valu es obtained with beads for all the synthetic as well as industrial samples were fairly comparable with those obtained with sewage. Reusability of prep ared microbial beads was also checked with different synthetic and industri al samples and was compared with reference GGA solution. The same microbial beads can be reused three times for different BOD-5 day estimations. It is recommended that immobilized microbial beads can be used as a ready-to-use seeding material for BOD analysis.