2008). Vermicomposting is a reliable method for converting biodegradable sludge
into value-added products. Reports exist to prove that the earthworm could facilitate
this conversion and also get the heavy metals accumulated in their tissues
(Shahmansouri et al. 2005). Suthar and Singh (2008) have suggested the efficiency
of earthworm to convert distillery sludge into fertilizer. In this context, Ponmani
et al. (2014) have studied the possibility of vermicomposting paper mill sludge using
Eudrilus eugeniae. Similarly, Biradar and Biradar (2015) have checked the possibility of vermicomposting different organic wastes, including jowar husk, rice straw,
parthenium waste and red gram pod husk with cattle dung. From the earlier reports, it
is clear that the pesticides and heavy metals are the major toxicants added to the soil
ecosystem. But the treatment of such polluted sites for the reduction of heavy metals
by conventional procedures is expensive and time-consuming.
However, one of the cost-effective biotechnological method for the degradation
of solid wastes is the composting–vermicomposting strategy (Yadav et al. 2012;
Rorat et al. 2016). During such process, the accumulation of toxic contaminants by
the earthworm species and their transfer to higher trophic levels is also reported
(Morgan et al. 1989). However, Rorat et al. (2017) have reported the
bioaccumulation potential of Eisena andrei accumulating the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and metal trace elements during the vermicomposting of sewage
sludge. Suthar et al. (2014) attempted removing the heavy metals such as from the
paper mill wastewater sludge along with cow dung using Eisenia fetida. Studies also
report the efficiency of Eudrillus eugeniae to detoxify the soil collected from three
abattoir sites along with a control site in Abeokuta located in Ogun state of Nigeria
(Dedeke et al. 2016) by bio accumulating the heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd
and Mn. Although several studies have been done on composting of distillery and
winery wastes (Inbar et al. 1992; Bertran et al. 2004), less work has been done on
vermicomposting of distillery sludge (Nogales et al. 2005). Hence, this study was
framed to check the vermicomposting potential of Eudrillus eugeniae and to bio
accumulate the heavy metals from the distillery sludge after the addition of
amendments.
16.2 Materials and Methods
16.2.1 Vermicompost Preparation
Experiments were carried out in the Department of Environmental Biotechnology,
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Distillery sludge was collected from Sri Ambiga Sugar Mills (Pvt. lit), Distillery Unit, Kanadhukandon,
Virudachalam (Tk), Cuddalore (Dt), Tamil Nadu, India. Distillery sludge, was
mixed with cow dung, vegetable waste and saw dust in different proportions as
shown in Table 16.1. Distillery sludge with different proportion of waste and carbon,
nitrogen source is termed as control (DSC1 and DSC2) and the same components
with the added earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) were termed as DSV1 and DSV2.
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S. Sugumar et al.
into value-added products. Reports exist to prove that the earthworm could facilitate
this conversion and also get the heavy metals accumulated in their tissues
(Shahmansouri et al. 2005). Suthar and Singh (2008) have suggested the efficiency
of earthworm to convert distillery sludge into fertilizer. In this context, Ponmani
et al. (2014) have studied the possibility of vermicomposting paper mill sludge using
Eudrilus eugeniae. Similarly, Biradar and Biradar (2015) have checked the possibility of vermicomposting different organic wastes, including jowar husk, rice straw,
parthenium waste and red gram pod husk with cattle dung. From the earlier reports, it
is clear that the pesticides and heavy metals are the major toxicants added to the soil
ecosystem. But the treatment of such polluted sites for the reduction of heavy metals
by conventional procedures is expensive and time-consuming.
However, one of the cost-effective biotechnological method for the degradation
of solid wastes is the composting–vermicomposting strategy (Yadav et al. 2012;
Rorat et al. 2016). During such process, the accumulation of toxic contaminants by
the earthworm species and their transfer to higher trophic levels is also reported
(Morgan et al. 1989). However, Rorat et al. (2017) have reported the
bioaccumulation potential of Eisena andrei accumulating the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and metal trace elements during the vermicomposting of sewage
sludge. Suthar et al. (2014) attempted removing the heavy metals such as from the
paper mill wastewater sludge along with cow dung using Eisenia fetida. Studies also
report the efficiency of Eudrillus eugeniae to detoxify the soil collected from three
abattoir sites along with a control site in Abeokuta located in Ogun state of Nigeria
(Dedeke et al. 2016) by bio accumulating the heavy metals such as Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd
and Mn. Although several studies have been done on composting of distillery and
winery wastes (Inbar et al. 1992; Bertran et al. 2004), less work has been done on
vermicomposting of distillery sludge (Nogales et al. 2005). Hence, this study was
framed to check the vermicomposting potential of Eudrillus eugeniae and to bio
accumulate the heavy metals from the distillery sludge after the addition of
amendments.
16.2 Materials and Methods
16.2.1 Vermicompost Preparation
Experiments were carried out in the Department of Environmental Biotechnology,
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu. Distillery sludge was collected from Sri Ambiga Sugar Mills (Pvt. lit), Distillery Unit, Kanadhukandon,
Virudachalam (Tk), Cuddalore (Dt), Tamil Nadu, India. Distillery sludge, was
mixed with cow dung, vegetable waste and saw dust in different proportions as
shown in Table 16.1. Distillery sludge with different proportion of waste and carbon,
nitrogen source is termed as control (DSC1 and DSC2) and the same components
with the added earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae) were termed as DSV1 and DSV2.
270
S. Sugumar et al.