During the experiments, elimination of volatile substances was ensured by turning
over the substrates manually once in 15 days. Initial decomposition was allowed for
15 days after which 50 non-ciliated earthworms were introduced into the vermi
reactors. The reactors were maintained at 25 Æ 3
C in dark and the moisture content
was about 60–80%. The quantity of waste was maintained constant throughout the
study.
16.2.2 Metal Detection in Compost and Vermicompost
About 10 g of compost and vermicompost sample was taken from each treatment
container for analysing the heavy metal as per Pedersen and Van Gestel (2001) and
Kamitani and Kaneko (2007) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (PerkinElmer model 3110).
16.2.3 Heavy Metals Analysis of Tissue Samples
The tissues of earthworm samples were digested in 2.5 conc. HNO 3 and heated to
dryness in a hotplate. The dried earthworms were crushed, redissolved in 1.5 conc.
HNO 3 and the solution was filtered and was made up to 50 mL with distilled water in
a volumetric flask. This sample is further subjected for metal analysis using AAS.
16.2.4 Histology
The histopathological studies of the earthworm may signal a damaging effect of the
toxicants to which the organism is exposed, hence this study includes the same.
Following the experimental period, the gut contents ejected by the earthworms kept
in the petridish were removed. The organisms were sacrificed following the freezing.
Washing and dehydration was done further. Bovin’s fluid was used for the tissue
Table 16.1 Quantity of wastes subjected to composting and vermicomposting
Vermireactors
Components
Weight (g)
DIS
VW
CD
SD
DSC1
DIS + VW + SD + CD
900
300
300
900
DSV1
DIS + VW + SD + CD + E. eugeniae
900
300
300
900
DSC2
DIS + VW + SD + CD
300
300
300
1500
DSV2
DIS + VW + SD + CD + E. eugeniae
300
300
300
1500
DSC distillery sludge compost, DSV distillery sludge vermicompost, VW vegetable waste, SD saw
dust, CD cow dung
16 Toxicity and Histopathological Effect of Distillery Industrial Sludge on the. . .
271
over the substrates manually once in 15 days. Initial decomposition was allowed for
15 days after which 50 non-ciliated earthworms were introduced into the vermi
reactors. The reactors were maintained at 25 Æ 3
C in dark and the moisture content
was about 60–80%. The quantity of waste was maintained constant throughout the
study.
16.2.2 Metal Detection in Compost and Vermicompost
About 10 g of compost and vermicompost sample was taken from each treatment
container for analysing the heavy metal as per Pedersen and Van Gestel (2001) and
Kamitani and Kaneko (2007) using atomic absorption spectrophotometer (PerkinElmer model 3110).
16.2.3 Heavy Metals Analysis of Tissue Samples
The tissues of earthworm samples were digested in 2.5 conc. HNO 3 and heated to
dryness in a hotplate. The dried earthworms were crushed, redissolved in 1.5 conc.
HNO 3 and the solution was filtered and was made up to 50 mL with distilled water in
a volumetric flask. This sample is further subjected for metal analysis using AAS.
16.2.4 Histology
The histopathological studies of the earthworm may signal a damaging effect of the
toxicants to which the organism is exposed, hence this study includes the same.
Following the experimental period, the gut contents ejected by the earthworms kept
in the petridish were removed. The organisms were sacrificed following the freezing.
Washing and dehydration was done further. Bovin’s fluid was used for the tissue
Table 16.1 Quantity of wastes subjected to composting and vermicomposting
Vermireactors
Components
Weight (g)
DIS
VW
CD
SD
DSC1
DIS + VW + SD + CD
900
300
300
900
DSV1
DIS + VW + SD + CD + E. eugeniae
900
300
300
900
DSC2
DIS + VW + SD + CD
300
300
300
1500
DSV2
DIS + VW + SD + CD + E. eugeniae
300
300
300
1500
DSC distillery sludge compost, DSV distillery sludge vermicompost, VW vegetable waste, SD saw
dust, CD cow dung
16 Toxicity and Histopathological Effect of Distillery Industrial Sludge on the. . .
271