A novel Acinetobacter sp. for treating highly acidic rubber latex centrifugation effluent

Summary A novel Acinetobacter sp. BTJR-10 isolated from highly acidic (pH 2.5–4.5) rubber latex centrifugation effluent with high COD (22000 mg/L) and BOD (5000 mg/L). This strain could effect 39.5% COD reduction on free cell inoculation of effluent without incorporation of additional nutrients after 8 days. Calcium alginate immobilized cells showed 16.4% and 25% COD reduction after 6 hrs. without aeration and after 1 hr. with mild aeration under batch process respectively. Whereas 44.0% COD reduction could be achieved after 6 hrs. on continuous treatment in a packed bed reactor with mild aeration. Further, even after 3 cycles 37% COD reduction was recorded with continuous treatment.