Microbial-based waste water treatment compositions and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to microbial compositions useful in treating and remediating wastewater, removing organic matter from the surfaces of post harvested fruits and vegetables, and decreasing post-harvest disease in fruit and vegetables.
1. A dry powder composition comprising a mixture of: a first bacterial component consisting of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, Bacillus licheniformis , and Bacillus pumilus , wherein each Bacillus organism is individually aerobically fermented, harvested, freeze-dried, and ground to produce a powder having a mean particle size of about 200 microns, with greater than about 60% of the Bacillus particles in the size range between 100-800 microns; and a second bacterial component consisting of Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum , wherein each Pediococcus and Lactobacillus organism is individually anaerobically fermented, harvested, freeze-dried, and ground to produce a powder having a mean particle size of about 200 microns, with greater than about 60% of the Pediococcus and Lactobacillus particles in the size range between 100-800 microns, wherein: the first bacterial component and the second bacterial component are the sole bacterial components; the composition upon addition to w ater fully disperses; and the ratio of the first bacterial component to the second bacterial component by weight is between 1:10 to 10:1.
2. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the first bacterial component to the second bacterial component by weight is 1:10.
3. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the ratio of the Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus and Lactobacillus plantarum of the second bacterial component is by weight 1:1:1.
4. The composition of claim 1 , wherein the composition has a moisture content of less than about 5% by weight and a final bacterial concentration of between about 10 8 to 10 11 colony forming units (CFU) per gram of the composition.
5. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an inert carrier.
6. The composition of claim 5 , wherein the inert carrier is dextrose monohydrate.
7. The composition of claim 6 , wherein the dextrose monohydrate is at a concentration of about between 75-95% (w/w).
8. The composition of claim 1 , further comprising an organic emulsifier.
9. The composition of claim 8 , wherein the organic emulsifier is at a concentration of about between 2 to 5% (w/w).
10. The composition of claim 8 , wherein in the organic emulsifier is soy lecithin.
11. A method of treating wastewater comprising contacting the wastewater with an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , w herein treating the wastewater includes decreasing biological oxygen demand (BOD), total suspended solids (TSS), total kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and fats, oils and grease (FOG) in the wastewater.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the wastewater is municipal sewage, residential septic, or industrial wastewater.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the industrial wastewater comprises food, fats, oils, grease, brewery, agriculture, or commodity waste.
14. A method of treating swimming pool water comprising contacting the water with an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , wherein treating the swimming pool water includes reducing scum in the swimming pool.
15. The method of claim 14 , wherein the water is contacted by contacting a swimming pool filtration unit with the composition.
16. The method of claim 14 , wherein the composition is embedded in a solid support.
17. A method of remediating wastewater from fruit or vegetable washing comprising contacting the wastewater with an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , wherein remediating the wastewater includes reducing latex concentration in the wastewater.
18. A method of treating the surface of a fruit or a vegetable, comprising contacting the fruit or the vegetable with an effective amount of the composition of claim 1 , wherein the method removes organic material from the surface of the fruit or the vegetable.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the fruit is banana.
20. A method of manufacturing the composition of claim 3 , the method comprising the following steps:
a) individually aerobically fermenting each Bacillus organism;
b) individually anaerobically fermenting each Pediococcus and Lactobacillus organism;
c) harvesting each Bacillus, Pediococcus and Lactobacillus organism;
d) drying the harvested organisms;
e) grinding the dried organisms to produce a powder;
f) combining each of the Bacillus powders to produce a Bacillus mixture;
g) combining each of the Pediococcus and Lactobacillus powders in equal amounts to produce a Pediococcus - Lactobacillus mixture; and
h) combining the Bacillus mixture and the Pediococcus - Lactobacillus mixture at a ratio of between 1:10 to 10:1 by weight.