Physico-chemical and microbiological characterization of dairy effluents and water from the N'Djili River in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Introduction Dairy effluents essentially contain water and diluted milk or dairy product residues. They can also be sources of high levels of phosphorus and other major ions, which may lead to disturbances in the environments where they are discharged. Purpose The aim of this study was to...
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Orapuh, Inc.
2025-06-01
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| Series: | Orapuh Journal |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.orapuh.org/ojs/index.php/orapj/article/view/391 |
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| Summary: | Introduction
Dairy effluents essentially contain water and diluted milk or dairy product residues. They can also be sources of high levels of phosphorus and other major ions, which may lead to disturbances in the environments where they are discharged.
Purpose
The aim of this study was to carry out a physico-chemical and microbiological characterization of dairy product effluents and water from the N'Djili River in the city of Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, in order to assess the possible hazards posed by these effluents to the environment, particularly at their point of discharge, the N'Djili River.
Methods
Physical parameters were assessed in situ using an appropriate multi-parameter probe. Chemical parameters were determined spectrophotometrically, and microbiological parameters were determined by membrane filtration followed by culture of the samples to be analyzed.
Results
The results obtained show that, with the exception of a few microbiological parameters, the highest concentrations of the parameters analyzed were found in dairy effluents compared with water from the N'Djili River. Average conductivity and turbidity values showed that dairy effluents (cleaning effluents: 3998.7 ± 0.95 µS/cm conductivity and 1995.4 ± 6.44 ppm turbidity; raw effluents: 896.05 ± 0.95 µS/cm conductivity and 464.5 ± 86.7 ppm turbidity) were more mineralized, saltier, and more turbid than N'Djili River water (site 2: 273.33 ± 13.42 µS/cm and site 1: 124.25 ± 4.74 µS/cm). The biodegradability index values for dairy effluents indicated that they were biodegradable, with values ranging from 1.48 to 1.50. Generally speaking, high loads of total germs, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and moulds were reported in the dairy effluents examined.
Conclusion
The results of this study are of great importance in biotechnology for the implementation of biological treatment techniques for the effluents studied. They highlight the need for reducing the load of organic and inorganic matter as well as microorganisms that can contribute to the degradation of receiving environments and their resources.
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| ISSN: | 2644-3740 |