Effect of a water extract of Moringa oleifera seeds on the hydrolytic microbial species diversity of a UASB reactor treating domestic wastewater

The effect of a continuous supply of a water extract of Moringa oleifera se eds (WEMOS) on the hydrolytic microbial population of biomass grown in meso philic upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors treating domestic wastewate r was investigated. The WEMOS-treated sludge had seemingly a wider diversit y, with enterobacter and klebsiella as dominant hydrolytic bacteria, compar ed with the control sludge. Additional tests indicated that various hydroly tic bacteria could degrade WEMOS. It appeared that a continuous supply of W EMOS to an anaerobic digester, treating domestic wastewater, increased the diversity of hydrolytic bacteria and therefore enhanced the biological star t-up of the reactor.