Journal Article

Degradation of White Water-Based Paints Using Selected Microbial Consortia Isolated from Deteriorated Wall Paints

Abstract

This study was carried out to assess the potentials of selected microbial consortia to degrade fresh waterbased paints within 35 days. Cost implications, human and environmental resources waste due to paint deteriorations, have been recorded in several references. Thus, this study isolated predominant microbes from scrapes of deterioration wall paints from four different hostels building in Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida University, Lapai, Niger State. Predominant bacterial (Pseudomonas + Bacillus + E. coli) and fungal (Aspergillus niger + Aspergillus fumigates + Mucor sp) consortia were designated as BAC and FUN respectively. A combination of bacterial and fungal consortium designated as [BAC + FUN] and control (without any microorganism) [CTRL] were also assessed. Microbial isolation was done using standard protocol and characterized based on the biochemical properties. Degradation profile of the white water-based paints were assessed with physiochemical parameters (Temperature, Specific gravity, viscosity, Transmittance and absorbance) and sensory properties of the paints. Data obtained were subjected to statistical analysis. Results shows that the prevalence of predominant bacterial (Pseudomonas, Bacillus, E. Coli) and fungal (Aspergillus fumigates, Aspergillus niger, and Mucor sp) isolates accounts for 55.1% and 72.8% respectively. Temperature (28 – 30.2 OC) were not significantly P (<0.05) altered by the microbial induced degradation. However, Specific gravity (0.80 – 1.70), Viscosity (15.1 – 21 x 10-4 g cm-2 s -1 ), transmittance (4.0 - 12.5 %T) and sensory evaluation (1.25 – 4.50) were significantly (P<0.05) altered by microbial induced degradation by more than 50%, 28%, 30% and 50% respectively. In conclusion, microbial consortia significantly (P<0.05) degraded white waterbased paints within 28 days in a decreasing order of [FUN] > [BAC] > [BAC + FUN] > [CTRL]. Interestingly, control samples were still adjudged to be good by panelists. Considering the cost and waste of material and human resources due to production and distribution chains, it is recommended that manufacturers should incorporate biocides additives as preservative and vendors and end-users should exercise high level of hygiene during handling to limit contaminations.

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