Potential Biodegradation of Butyric Acid by Lysinibacillus fusiformis Isolated from a Pit Latrine in South Africa - 18150
Butyric acid is one of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which significantly contribute to pit latrine noxious odours. It has low odour detection thresholds. Current methods in reducing odour emitted from pit latrines in low incomes communities are ineffective due to economic, technological and social constraints. To seek the butyric acid-degrading bacteria, faecal sludge samples from pit latrine were collected to isolate them. Nine butyric acid-utilising isolates were obtained but the bacterial isolate designated as C4c was further investigated. The bacterial isolate was investigated under different environmental conditions. Under aerobic condition it was found that the isolate has best capability to utilise butyric optimally when the temperature was 30 deg. C and at pH of 7.0. The isolate was able to utilise butyric acid up to the concentration of 5000 mgL{sup -1}. In accordance with the 16S rRNA sequence analysis the isolate was identified as Lysinibacillus fusiformis. This, therefore, indicates that the isolate can be effectively used for bioremediation of butyric acid in the pit latrines. (authors)