DESC:PROCESS, MICROBIAL CONSORTIUM AND BIOREACTOR SYSTEM FOR MUNICIPAL SOLID ORGANIC WASTE MANAGEMENT THROUGH MICROBIAL LIQUIFACTION

FIELD
The present disclosure in general relates to waste management.

BACKGROUND
Food waste poses to be a significant problem for local administrative bodies and municipal corporations, as it creates tremendous environmental and health hazards. There are various methods which are used for disposal of food waste such as landfill, composting, biogas and incineration. Food waste disposal in landfills generates methane gas, which is a potent greenhouse gas and contributes to global warming. Furthermore, food waste in landfills can also contaminate the soil and water resources. Improper disposal of food waste can also attract pests and insects and rodents, leading to health risks for humans and animals.
Composting is a solution that can be implemented on a per capita level; however, it is often accompanied by several disadvantages such as difficult execution, foul odour creation and slow decomposition. Composting also requires space and resources, which may not be available in densely populated areas. Biogas, being another solution, is not feasible and economically viable process at a small scale. Donation and redistribution are also some alternatives, but they are dependent on availability of resources.
Despite the growing awareness of the importance of sustainable waste management practices, specifically commercial entities like hotels and institutions are still lacking effective food waste disposal systems, leading to increased waste generation and disposal costs. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop technology to process food waste which can minimize negative environmental and health impacts.
Presently enzymatic liquefaction by microbial fermentation is done in a temperature range of 30oC to 55oC. Carrying out the composting at a temperature range higher than room temperature can be a challenge. Furthermore, the systems of the prior art need an external steady supply of oxygen/air/chemicals. Even further, hydraulic retention period required to liquify food waste is extensive.
The present disclosure envisages a process and a system form municipal solid waste management which aims at overcoming the above-mentioned inefficiencies in the prior art.

OBJECTS
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management at room temperature.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management which is cost efficient.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management which is time efficient.
It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and a bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste which is free from potent greenhouse gas emissions.
It is another object of the present disclosure to provide a process, a microbial consortium and a bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management which can be carried out in a small area.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present disclosure provides a process, microbial consortium and bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction. The process, the microbial consortium and the bioreactor system facilitates microbial liquefaction of the municipal solid organic waste efficiently at room temperature within a period of 24 hrs. to provide a liquefied organic waste as an end -product capable of being used as a liquid fertilizer and being re-processed to obtain any one of biogas, biohydrogen, compost and bio-stimulant therefrom. The process can be carried out in existing waste treatment system such as within a bioreactor. The process includes segregation of the municipal solid waste to separate out non-biodegradable material from biodegradable waste/ municipal solid organic waste, which is thereafter subjected to grinding (or size reduction) in presence of a k-type media (for example, plastic media, rubber media) to obtain shredded municipal solid organic waste. During grinding step, a microbial consortium along with water is concomitantly added to the shredded municipal solid organic waste to facilitate hydrolysis, decomposition and liquefaction thereof at room temperature around 28 to 45 0C, and preferably at 300C for 24 hrs. under aerobic/ microaerophilic conditions to obtain a slurry consisting of liquified organic waste and undecomposed solids. The microbial consortium provided by the present disclosure comprises of a microbial suspension of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus sp. and Trichoderma viride present in proportions of 0.5:0.5:1:0.5 respectively with a population density of the microbial consortium being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL. The microbial consortium and the water are added in proportions such that ratio of the municipal solid organic waste, the microbial consortium and the water remains as 10kg: 1.2 liters: 5 liters respectively to facilitate efficient liquefaction at room temperature within 24hrs. Thereafter, the process involves sieving the slurry by passing it through a mesh having diameter in range of 2-6mm and preferably 4mm, such that the liquefied organic waste percolates therefrom and separates out from the undecomposed solids. The liquefied organic waste can thereafter be used as a liquid fertilizer or processed further to obtain biogas. The present disclosure in another aspect further provides a bioreactor system for carrying out the process. The bioreactor system of the present disclosure includes a first chamber being a liquefaction chamber, a second chamber being a collection chamber for collecting the liquefied organic waste (end product) recovered from the first chamber and a slurry pump coupled to the second chamber for removing the liquefied organic waste therefrom. The slurry pump further includes an automatic control valve to allow re-circulation of the liquefied organic waste back to the first chamber offsetting the microbial consortium addition during future cycles of liquefaction.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The present disclosure is illustrated in the accompanying non-limiting drawings, throughout which reference letters indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.
Figure 1 shows a flow-chart of a process for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, in accordance with the present disclosure;
Figure 2 shows perspective view of a bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, in accordance with the present disclosure; and
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a central hollow shaft of the bioreactor system, in accordance with the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The present disclosure provides a process, a microbial consortium and a bioreactor system for municipal solid organic waste management. Particularly, the present disclosure provides a process, a microbial consortium and a bioreactor system for microbial liquefication of municipal solid organic waste. In one embodiment, the term ‘municipal solid organic waste’ is to be interpreted as food waste.

The features, functionalities, raw material, components, dimensions, conditions of operation, steps of operation, end uses, and the like of the system and process of the present disclosure include but are not limited to the disclosure provided herein below.
The details regarding the source and geographical origin of biological material used in the present application is as follows:
Source of isolation: kitchen waste from Bharat eco Solutions and technologies premises
Geographical origin: 19.454573, 73.789918
The microbial cultures for the same shall be submitted to National Culture Collection Centres and accession numbers shall be provided within stipulated time frame.
Referring to figure 1, in accordance with the first aspect, the present disclosure provides a process (100), hereinafter referred to as “the process (100)” for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction. The process (100) facilitates conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste which can either be used directly as a liquid fertilizer, or can be processed further to obtain biogas, biohydrogen, compost or bio-stimulant therefrom. The process (100) is coupled to or can be carried out in any existing waste treatment system such as for example, a bioreactor.
The process (100) includes, but is not limited to the following steps: pre-processing, grinding and liquefication, separation and post-processing. The process (100) begins at step (10), which involves pre-processing (or preparation of feed), wherein the municipal solid organic waste is sorted (or segregated) to remove any non-biodegradable materials such as plastic or metal. The non-biodegradable material can damage the liquefaction equipment (or the bioreactor) and can negatively impact the quality of the resulting liquid (end product). The resulting municipal solid organic waste after sorting (alternatively referred to as “sorted organic waste”) is completely biodegradable. Any reference to the term ‘sorted organic waste’ in the present document means sorted biodegradable organic waste. In an embodiment, the segregation of the municipal solid organic waste to remove the non-biodegradable materials therefrom is done manually. The waste will be received on a segregation table/conveyor and manually segregated into wet and dry fractions so that any non-biodegradable material does not enter the system. In another embodiment, the step of segregation is automated using mechanisms known in the art.
The process (100), at step (20), includes grinding of the municipal solid organic waste post segregation. Once the municipal solid organic waste is sorted, in an embodiment, the segregated organic biodegradable waste will be fed to the waste treatment system, i.e., the bioreactor. At this step, the municipal solid organic waste obtained at step (10) which is completely biodegradable is now grinded within the bioreactor in presence of at least one k-type media added therewithin, to obtain shredded solid organic waste. In an embodiment, the at least one k-type media is added in quantity of 5- 8% of total capacity of the waste treatment system i.e., the bioreactor, irrespective of the quantity of the municipal solid organic waste present therein. For example, for liquefaction of 10kg of the municipal solid organic waste, 2 kg of the at least one k-type media is added in the bioreactor with capacity of 25kg, but operating at 15kg. More volumes of the k-type media (due to increased size) lead to space constraints and does not leave enough space for the municipal solid organic waste to be fed within the bioreactor. Hence, with extensive experimentation, the inventors have proposed using 5- 8 % of the k-type media of the total capacity of the bioreactor. In another embodiment, size of the k-type media used is preferably 22*15mm. Smaller size of the k-type media is prone to destruction and reduction in size leading to instances of choking during removal of the end product.
The municipal solid organic waste (i.e., the sorted solid organic waste) undergoes size reduction by attrition- maceration upon grinding. In an embodiment, the at least one k-type media includes any one of plastic media and rubber media. However, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that any other k-type media known in the art can be used. In another embodiment, the at least one k-type media also serves as a substratum for microbial growth. The grinding facilitates reduction of big-sized solid organic waste to medium-sized solid organic waste. In another example embodiment, grinding of the municipal solid organic waste is done using a coarse shredder which facilitates size reduction of large vegetable particles. Pursuant to grinding, a shredded solid organic waste is obtained.
Once the big-sized waste converts to medium-sized waste, and during grinding, the process (100) at step (30) (liquefaction step), further includes concomitantly subjecting the shredded solid organic waste to microbial liquefaction by addition of a microbial consortium (or microbial culture) along with water. In an embodiment, the shredded solid organic waste undergoes further size reduction by attrition-maceration during this liquefaction step. The enzymes released from the microbial consortium help to divide the small waste particles to even smaller particles. The microbial consortium, (alternatively referred to as “the novel microbial consortium”), in accordance with a second aspect of the present disclosure, comprises of a microbial suspension of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus sp. and Trichoderma viride present in proportions of 0.5:0.5:1:0.5 respectively with a population density of the microbial consortium being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL. In a preferred embodiment, the Lactobacillus sp. is Lactobacillus casei. However, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that any species from Lactobacillus group can be used.
As used in herein, the term “CFUs” or “Colony Forming Units” refers to the number of microbial cells e.g., bacterial strain, in a defined sample (e g millilitre of liquid, gram of powder) that form colonies and thereafter numbered, on a semi-solid bacteriological growth medium.
In a preferred embodiment, the microbial consortium of the present disclosure is present in form of a liquid formulation. In another embodiment, the microbial consortium of the present disclosure is formulated in dry powder form. Particularly, the novel microbial consortium enables conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste capable of being used as a liquid fertilizer and being re-processed to obtain any one of biogas, biohydrogen, compost and bio-stimulant therefrom. That is, at step (30), pursuant to the addition of the microbial consortium either by incorporation or by spraying (for example, through sprinklers etc.) onto the shredded solid organic waste, the microbial consortium facilitates hydrolysis, decomposition and liquefaction of the shredded solid organic waste at room temperature of around 28 to 45 0C for 24 hrs. under aerobic or microaerophilic conditions to provide a slurry. In an embodiment, intermittent mixing (or rotation) facilitates aeration within the bioreactor automatically during the liquefaction step. In a preferred embodiment of the present disclosure, the microbial liquefaction is carried out at temperature of 30 0C to achieve optimum results without requirement of any pH adjustments. The addition of the microbial consortium is done in quantities such that proportion of the municipal solid organic waste, the microbial consortium and the water is maintained in the ratio of 10kg: 1.2 liters: 5 liters respectively to facilitate liquefaction within 24hrs. In short, 10kg of the municipal solid organic waste requires 1.2 liters of the novel microbial consortium and 5 liters of the water to perform efficient liquefaction at room temperature, and under aerobic conditions without any pH adjustments or any addition of chemical etc., and provide the slurry within 24hrs. Particularly, the microbial consortium and their enzymes hydrolyze and decompose the waste particularly into lower molecular weight components. The enzymes from the microbial consortium act on the proteins, starch, fats, and cellulose present in the solid waste and cause disintegration of small waste particles resulting in the release of bound water (cell sap) originally contained in the food (or organic) waste. The water thus released gets mixed with the water added in the bioreactor to form the slurry. This slurry contains small food waste particulates, microbial cells, enzymes, and water. Specifically, the slurry thus obtained consists of a mixture of liquid (liquified organic waste) and undecomposed solids.
The process (100), at step (40) thereafter includes separation of the solids from the liquids of the slurry obtained at end of the grinding and the liquefaction step. The process (100) at this step (40) involves sieving of the slurry obtained at the end of step (30) by passing it through a mesh (or sieve) having diameter in a range of 2-6mm such that the liquefied organic waste percolates from the mesh whereas the undecomposed solids remain behind and gets degraded during future cycles of liquefaction within the bioreactor. In a preferred embodiment, the mesh with a diameter of 4mm is preferably used so that solid particles with size larger than 4mm does not pass/ percolate through the mesh along with the liquid, since these larger solid particles causes clogging and damage to liquefaction equipment eventually leading to costly maintenance issues. These larger undecomposed solids thus stay behind to undergo further cycles of liquefaction. It is pertinent to note here that the liquefied organic waste thus obtained at end of the step (40) is enriched in nutritional content since it also includes amounts of the microbial consortium which being in liquid form also percolates from the mesh along with the slurry, and thus the liquefied organic waste (the liquid) thereby serves as a valuable end product that can be applied directly as a liquid fertilizer, or can be further processed to obtain biogas therefrom. In one embodiment, the liquefied organic waste due to having the microbial consortium therein can also be re-used/ re-cycled for further cycles of liquefaction offsetting requirement of microbial consortium addition. That is, the recovered liquified organic waste (the liquid with consortium) is used to offset addition of the microbial consortium and water during a fresh cycle of liquefaction. In another embodiment, in the final post-processing, the liquid separated from the slurry may further be processed to extract biogas, compost, or other useful materials therefrom. The process (100) ends at step (40).
In accordance with a third aspect, the present disclosure provides a preparation method of the novel microbial consortium used for conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste, as discussed hereinabove. As disclosed earlier, the novel microbial consortium finds application for liquefaction of the municipal solid organic waste at room temperature within 24hrs. The microbial consortium is cultivated, mixed, and prepared under controlled conditions to ensure optimal efficacy in waste degradation. Accordingly, the preparation method comprises the steps:
i. Culturing of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium: Both of these species are cultured separately in a nutrient broth containing yeast extract, peptone, sodium chloride and other basic nutritional requirements, as known in the art. Thereafter, the culture is incubated at 37°C to allow for microbial growth. This incubation period is carried out for time until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is achieved.
ii. Culturing of Lactobacillus sp. : The Lactobacillus sp. is cultured in MRS (deMan Rogosa Sharpe) broth, a medium known in the art, to support the growth of the Lactobacillus sp. Thereafter the culture is incubated at 37°C to allow for microbial growth. This incubation is carried out for time until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is obtained. In a preferred embodiment, the Lactobacillus sp. is Lactobacillus casei. However, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that any species from Lactobacillus group can be used.
iii. Culturing of Trichoderma viride: The Trichoderma viride is cultured in Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) broth known in the art. Specifically, no other carbon source is provided for culturing. Thereafter, the culture is incubated at 28°C to allow for growth until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is obtained, and
iv. Preparation of the microbial consortium: Once the individual cultures are obtained, thereafter the method involves combining/ mixing the microbial suspension obtained at step i), step ii) and step iii) under controlled conditions to form the novel microbial consortium having high cell viability. The microbial suspensions are combined such that proportions of the Bacillus subtilis, the Bacillus megaterium, the Lactobacillus sp. and the Trichoderma viride is in ratio of 0.5: 0.5: 1: 0.5 with a population density being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL respectively within the novel microbial consortium.
In a preferred embodiment, the microbial consortium includes the microbial suspension in following percentages: Bacillus subtilis Sp.: 20 %, Bacillus megaterium Sp.: 20 %, Lactobacillus Sp.: 40%, Trichoderma viride: 20%. These percentages may vary by +- 5 %, whilst offering similar end result.
Particularly, Bacillus group and the Lactobacillus sp. are present in equal proportions, whereas the Trichoderma viride is added in half quantities thereof. In addition, the Bacillus group includes equal proportion of the Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium.
In one example embodiment, 1.2 liters of the microbial consortium is prepared by adding following quantities of the microbial suspensions (or cultures) obtained at step i), step ii) and step iii):
• 250 mL of Bacillus subtilis Sp.
• 250 mL of Bacillus megaterium Sp.
• 500 mL of Lactobacillus Sp.
• 200 mL of Trichoderma viride
The total volume of the microbial consortium is thus 1.2 L, with each component contributing to the overall mixture. The resulting microbial consortium has a cell count (or population density) of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL.
The microbial consortium, in one embodiment, is formulated by the above preparation method as a liquid formulation. However, in another embodiment, the microbial consortium is formulated by the afore-mentioned preparation method as a powder formulation (carrier-based powder preparation), wherein, it involves an additional step of applying said liquid formulation of the microbial consortium obtained at step iv) to a suitable solid carrier molecule to create powder form. This additional step involves the adsorption of the microbial cultures onto the solid carrier molecule, followed by drying under controlled conditions to retain microbial viability. The powder culture can then be stored and used for future applications in solid waste liquefaction. In an embodiment, the solid carrier molecule is any one selected from talcum powder, maltose, sucrose, starch and other carriers known in the art. The said microbial consortium produces enzymes to dissociate and liquefy the municipal solid organic waste. Thus, the afore-stated preparation method of the novel microbial consortium ensures consistent and effective preparation of the microbial consortium with high cell viability, suitable for use in waste management and degradation applications at room temperature.
Referring to figures 2 and 3, in accordance with a fourth aspect, the present disclosure provides a bioreactor system (200) for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction. The present disclosure provides the bioreactor system (200) for microbial liquefication of municipal solid organic waste using the afore-mentioned process. In an embodiment, the afore-mentioned process (100) is entirely automated through PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) and as per the process requirements including dosing of water, culture etc. through metering pumps.
The process (100) of the present disclosure is preferably carried out within the bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure. Hereinafter, different components of the bioreactor system (200) are explained in conjunction with the process (100) whose steps are already disclosed hereinbefore. However, it is evident to a person skilled in the art that the bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure can be coupled to any existing process and/ or existing microbial consortium utilized for liquefaction, known in the art. Specifically, the bioreactor system (200) provides an equipment/ apparatus for conducting liquefaction of the municipal solid organic waste.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the bioreactor system (200) comprises of a horizontal cylindrical vessel defining a first chamber (220) and a second chamber (240) having a mesh configured therebetween, and a slurry pump (260) in communication with the second chamber (240) and the first chamber (220). The bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure, in one embodiment, is a cylindrical vessel built from stainless steel or any other food-grade materials. The bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure is designed to be a closed system with tight seals to ensure optimum control over the biological processes inside. In a preferred embodiment, the bioreactor system (200) is a 2-compartmentalized system for higher interaction and retention. In another embodiment, the bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure is scalable for handling liquefaction of 5 or 10 tonnes of the municipal solid organic waste per day.
The first chamber (220) is a liquefaction chamber configured to receive the municipal solid organic waste after segregation for liquefaction thereof by the novel microbial consortium of the present disclosure. In one embodiment, the municipal solid organic waste which is completely biodegradable is fed into the first chamber (220) of the bioreactor system (200) through either a bucket elevator or screw conveyor depending on the site conditions and capacity of the system. The first chamber (220) includes a central hollow shaft (4) with a plurality of triangular arms (1, 2, 3) configured thereacross to facilitate grinding of the municipal solid organic waste upon rotational movement of the central hollow shaft (4) pursuant to actuation by a motor (225) operably coupled thereto. In an embodiment, the plurality of triangular arms (1, 2, 3) are similar in construction, but have been labelled by grouping them according to their different inclination angles for lateral movement of the municipal solid organic waste. The legend and legend description used in figure 2 of the central hollow shaft (4) is as given below:
Legend No. Legend description
1, 2, 3 Triangular arms (grouped as per different inclination angles)
4 Central hollow shaft
5 Central hollow shaft motor bush
6 Central hollow shaft bush
7 M8 x 16 bolt

The first chamber (220) is filled with the at least one k-type media to assist in grinding, in proportion of 5- 8% total capacity of the bioreactor system (200), and thereinafter upon actuation of the motor (225), the central hollow shaft (4) rotates at an rpm of around 10-12 rpm, in clock-wise and anti-clockwise direction alternatively (driven by the motor (225) and variable frequency gearbox), thereby facilitating grinding (or crushing) of the municipal solid organic waste fed into the first chamber (220) , and obtain shredded solid organic waste (refer step (20) of the process (100)). In one embodiment, rotational movement alternates every 3 mins with a gap of 10- 15 secs. In this grinding step, the k-type media functions as an auxiliary grinder facilitating size reduction of the municipal solid organic waste to form shredded solid organic waste, when the central hollow shaft (4) is rotated. In addition to grinding, the k-type media also serves as a substratum for allowing microbial growth when the microbial consortium is incorporated within the first chamber (220). Furthermore, the rotational movement of the central hollow shaft (4) also facilitates mixing of the shredded solid organic waste with the microbial consortium to facilitate efficient liquefaction thereof at room temperature within 24 hrs. under aerobic conditions and obtain a slurry consisting of liquefied organic waste (liquids) and undecomposed solids (refer step (30) of the process (100)). The rotational movement of the central hollow shaft (4) further maintains aeration inside the first chamber (220) automatically to facilitate liquefaction therewithin.
The second chamber (240) is a collection chamber and is operatively coupled to the first chamber (220). The second chamber (240) has a mesh configured between or at intersection of the first chamber (220) and the second chamber (240). The mesh (or sieve) has a diameter in the range of 2-6mm. The slurry obtained within the first chamber (220) percolates through the mesh (or perforations) to allow movement of the water/ liquid to collect (or exit to) within the second chamber (240), whereas the undecomposed solids remain behind within the first chamber (220) for further cycles of liquefaction. That is, solids and liquids in the slurry obtained at the end of grinding and liquefication step are separated from each other by passing through the mesh attached at intersection of the first chamber (220) and the second chamber (240) of the bioreactor system (200). In an embodiment, the mesh having a diameter of 4mm is provided such that larger size solid particles do not enter the second chamber, and clog the pumps of the bioreactor system (200). The undecomposed solids stay within the first chamber (220) and gets biodegraded in a while. In an embodiment, only 3- 6 % bones or coconut shells remains over a period of 3- 6 months.
The slurry pump (260) is coupled to the second chamber (240) for removing (or withdrawing) the liquefied organic waste collected therewithin. The slurry pump (260) includes an automatic control valve (265), being a solenoid valve having variable auto-control (variable frequency drive) facilitating diversion of the liquefied organic waste back to the first chamber (220) via a segment of the slurry pump (260) in communication therewith to allow intermittent recycling of the liquefied organic waste thereby offsetting the microbial consortium addition during further liquefaction cycles for municipal solid organic waste management. In an embodiment, the liquid collected in the second chamber (240) is continuously re-cycled back to the first chamber (220) at an interval of 4 hrs. The automatic control valve (265) is configured on a segment in delivery line of the slurry pump (260) for automatic diversion of the liquified organic waste either back to first chamber (220) or for draining out. Specifically, the liquefied organic waste collected in the second chamber (240) is intermittently recycled back with the help of the slurry pump (260) to the first chamber (220) during the liquefaction process for better mixing of the municipal solid organic waste with the microbial culture available within the liquified organic waste (end product). The same slurry pump (260) will be used to drain out the liquified organic waste after completion of day’s cycle of liquefaction before admitting batch of fresh waste. The liquified organic waste is not used in place of water during future cycles as already some water containing the microbial culture (or consortium) remains within the first chamber (220) after the liquefaction cycle.
The bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure further optionally comprises of a liquid mixture tank (280) having a liquid mixture consisting of the microbial consortium and water contained therewithin, wherein, a liquid mixture pump (285) is coupled to the liquid mixture tank (280) to allow in intermittent feeding through nozzles, the liquid mixture therefrom into the first chamber (220) for microbial liquefaction of the municipal solid organic waste present therewithin during start of first cycle or end of the liquefaction cycle. In an embodiment, the liquid mixture tank (280) is placed elevated from the bioreactor system (200) and is connected to plurality of sprinklers for spraying the microbial consortium and water onto the municipal solid organic waste fed within the first chamber (220).
The bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure further optionally comprises of a coarse shredder concentrically configured above the first chamber (220) to facilitate grinding (or shredding) of the municipal solid organic waste wherein inlet of the coarse shredded is coupled to a hopper via conveyor belt for receiving the municipal solid organic waste therethrough and thereafter perform grinding (or shredding) thereof, such that shredded solid organic waste automatically drops within the first chamber (220) pursuant to grinding (or shredding) by the coarse shredder.
Experimental dataset:
The inventors of the present disclosure have carried out extensive experimentation to support use of the microbial consortium in the process (100) for obtaining efficient liquefaction at room temperature within 24hrs. without any other requirements or monitoring.
Following is a list of the total no. of experiments conducted along with their details and conclusions. Abbreviations used across the experiments for denoting the strains are as follows:
AP 1: Bacillus megaterium
AP 2: Bacillus subtilis
AP 3: Trichoderma viride
PC: Lactobacillus sp.

1. Date–02 March 2023 to 06 March 2023 Number of days –3 days
Number of days waste was added–2 days
Culture used–0.50L (Powdered culture) +0.25(AP1) +0.25(AP2) +0.20(AP3) Plastic Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste- Random Kg (Cooked waste) +2Kg (Green waste)
Aim: To assess the effect of introducing microbial culture on the waste liquification process, focusing on how the culture influences the efficiency of waste breakdown.
Conclusion: As discussed, there was a suggestion to change the outlet of the machine. The cup to the exterior of the machine which was prior used to collect the slurry was removed and 2 ball valves were fixed.
This experiment was conducted in a single batch with the addition of microbial culture, this experiment aimed to examine the influence of culture on waste liquification. The introduction of microbial culture demonstrated a significant positive impact on the liquification process.

2. Date–07 March 2023 to 11 March 2023 Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–2 days
Culture used–0.50L (Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic Media - 2 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg (Cooked waste) +2Kg (Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the impact of microbial culture on waste liquification over two 48-hour batches, investigating whether the culture affects the total solids (TS) in the waste and identifying any potential endpoint in the liquification process.
Conclusion: This experiment was performed in two batches (Batch 1 & Batch 2), both lasting 48 hours, with microbial culture added only once during waste introduction (AP1 0.50L + AP2 0.50L). Batch 1 exhibited an initial increase followed by a decrease in total solids (TS), while Batch 2 showed a continuous increase in TS. Overall, no definitive effect of culture on waste liquification was observed, and no clear endpoint was identified.

3. Date–14 March 2023 to 19 March 2023
Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–2 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 2 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg(Cooked waste)+2Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To determine the effect of adding microbial culture every 24 hours on the reduction of total solids (TS) and the liquefaction of waste over two 48-hour batches.
Conclusion: This experiment was done in two batches, batch 1 & batch 2 in both the batches waste was kept for 48hrs. In the experiment, microbial culture was added after every 24 hrs. In both the batches similar results were obtained. The experiment concluded that there was a reduction the TS % after addition of culture
after every 24 hrs.’ and addition of culture results in liquefication of waste as seen by reduction of TS%.

4. Date–21 March 2023 to 25 March 2023
Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–2 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media – 0.5 Kg
Composition of Waste-Random Kg(Cooked waste)+0Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To determine the impact of adding microbial culture and varying amounts of water on the total solids (TS) percentage and water elution in a waste liquefaction machine (WLM) over a 5-day period.
Conclusion: This experiment extended over a 5-day period with waste and culture added every alternate day, this experiment revealed fluctuations in TS% upon waste addition. The addition of fresh water was increased from 4L to 6L, resulting in improved water elution from the waste. The findings suggest the necessity of microbial culture when incorporating waste in the waste liquification machine (WLM).

5. Date–29 March 2023 to 01 April 2023
Number of days –4 days
Number of days waste was added–3 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 2 Kg
Composition of Waste- Random Kg(Cooked waste)
Aim: To investigate the impact of continuous addition of waste and culture over a 3-day period on the total solids (TS%) reduction, and to evaluate the effect of additional water on the elution of water and achievement of an endpoint in the experimental process.
Conclusion: In this experiment, waste and culture was added continuously for 3 days. At the end of the experiment, there was a constant reduction in the TS%. An end point was observed in this experiment. The extra addition of water helped in eluting out more water at the end of the experiment.

6. Date–03 April 2023 to 12 April 2023
Number of days –9 days
Number of days waste was added–8 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media – 0.5 Kg
Composition of Waste- 5Kg(Cooked waste)
Aim: To optimize the waste liquefaction process for commercial use by evaluating the effectiveness of a 10-day continuous operation with a specified water addition strategy and daily waste and microbial culture inputs, while assessing water consumption and the extent of waste liquefaction achieved.
Conclusion: Experiment 6, a continuous 10-day investigation designed to optimize waste liquification for commercial purposes, closely followed the methodology of Experiment 5. Employing a water addition strategy of 6L, with 3L introduced during waste addition and the remaining 3L after 24 hours during slurry removal, the experiment aimed to clean the machine and understand water consumption dynamics. Daily additions of waste and microbial culture, coupled with regular weight measurements of the un-liquefied material, revealed that a significant portion of the waste underwent liquification. The conclusion highlighted successful waste liquification within the waste liquification machine (WLM), with some residual un-liquefied waste remaining, providing valuable insights for potential commercialization.



7. Date–17 April 2023 to 22 April 2023
Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–4 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media – 1.5 Kg
Composition of Waste-7Kg(Cooked waste)
Aim: To assess the impact of recycling water during waste liquefaction using a new type of plastic media, with the goal of reducing water consumption and evaluating its effect on bacterial count and overall efficiency compared to previous methods.
Conclusion: Experiment 7 was conducted in a similar way to experiment 6. In this experiment a new type of plastic media of size (22x15 mm) was introduced. This experiment had a novel approach by recycling water eluted during waste liquification within the waste liquification machine (WLM), omitting the addition of fresh water after waste introduction. The primary objectives were to reduce water consumption and evaluate the potential impact of recycled water on bacterial count, considering its potential preexisting microbial flora. Throughout the experiment, daily additions of waste and microbial culture were maintained. The final stage involved measuring the bacterial count using Total Viable Count (TVC) and comparing it with Experiment 6. Surprisingly, the results indicated that recycling the same wastewater slurry did not contribute to an increase in bacterial count or the overall efficiency of the liquification process. Instead, a higher value of total solids percentage (TS%) was observed, suggesting potential implications for optimizing water management strategies in waste liquification processes.


8. Date–25 April 2023 to 29 April 2023
Number of days –4 days
Number of days waste was added–3 days
Culture used–0.50L (Powdered culture) +0.25(AP1) +0.25(AP2)
Plastic Media – 1.5 Kg
Composition of Waste-7Kg (Cooked waste)
Aim: To evaluate the impact of continuous fresh water addition on the efficiency of the waste liquefaction process, by analysing un-liquefied waste weight, total solids percentage (TS%), and overall process efficiency, and to compare these results with previous experiments to inform process optimization and machinery reliability.
Conclusion: Experiment 8 involved a consistent addition of waste, microbial culture, and fresh water, with a focus on assessing the un-liquified waste weight, total solids percentage (TS%), and overall process efficiency. The experimental parameters were maintained at a constant level, and comparisons were drawn with Experiment 7. Notably, the experiment revealed that the continuous addition of fresh water at the time of waste addition positively influenced the overall efficiency of the liquification process. Towards the conclusion of the 5-day experiment, a decrease in TS% was observed, and the process efficiency was calculated to be 80%. Unfortunately, the experiment was stopped due to a machine breakdown. The findings suggest that the significance of continuous fresh water addition for enhanced efficiency, emphasizing potential considerations for process optimization and machinery reliability in waste liquification systems.

9. Date–13 June 2023 to 23 June 2023
Number of days –11 days
Number of days waste was added–10 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)
Plastic Media – 1.5 Kg
Composition of Waste-7Kg (Cooked waste)
Aim: To assess the effects of varying waste and microbial culture quantities, modifications to the Waste Liquefaction Machine (WLM), and the addition of a new MBBR biofilter media on the efficiency of waste liquefaction, while addressing operational challenges and optimizing water removal for commercial applications.
Conclusion: This experiment was carried out for total of 12 days keeping in mind the commercial applications, daily additions of waste and microbial culture were implemented, excluding day 2 and 4 for waste addition. Notably, a larger quantity of waste and microbial culture was added on day 7 to assess the impact on the liquefaction process, resulting in increased water elution in the following day. To enhance water removal and streamline the manual separation of liquefied water from waste, modifications to the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) included the incorporation of an extra chamber outside the machine and the utilization of a new MBBR biofilter media (22x15mm). Fresh water additions, both preceding and succeeding waste introduction, aligned with previous experimental protocols. The conclusion of the experiment revealed a reduction in total solids (TS%) after the completion of the liquification process. However, a notable challenge emerged towards the experiment's conclusion as the water elution process slowed due to choking in the machine. Despite this setback, the experiment yielded valuable data pertinent to commercial applications, emphasizing the importance of addressing operational challenges for future optimization in waste liquification processes.


10. Date–29 July 2023 to 12 August 2023
Number of days –16 days
Number of days waste was added–12 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)
Plastic Media – 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg (Cooked waste)
Aim: To evaluate the impact of varying fresh water additions and the introduction of a new chamber in the Waste Liquefaction Machine (WLM) on waste breakdown
efficiency and total solids percentage (TS%), while addressing choking issues and optimizing the process for commercial applications.
Conclusion: In this 16-day experiment, the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) was further modified by introducing a new chamber, resulting in a total of three chambers. This adjustment aimed to enhance the efficient breakdown of waste, specifically isolating larger particles in one chamber to prevent choking issues observed in the previous experiment's concluding stages. Throughout the experiment, daily additions of waste and microbial culture, ranging from approximately 7-12 Kg each day, were implemented. Notably, on the 12th day, no fresh water was added during waste loading, followed by the introduction of only 1L of fresh water on the 13th day. On the 14th day, 1L of fresh water was added, and after 24 hours, an additional 4L of fresh water was introduced for dilution. These modifications were designed to assess the adaptability of microbial culture to varying fresh water additions and evaluate their impact on total solids percentage (TS%). The findings underscore the necessity of fresh water addition during waste loading, as an increase in TS% was observed with a corresponding decrease in fresh water. Unfortunately, the experiment was halted prematurely due to choking issues observed towards the end. These results emphasize the importance of ongoing optimization and addressing operational challenges in waste liquification processes.


11. Date–16 August 2023 to 22 August 2023
Number of days –6 days
Number of days waste was added–5 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)
Plastic Media – 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-9Kg (Cooked waste)
Aim: To assess the effect of a slight reduction in fresh water addition on the efficiency of waste liquefaction, focusing on slurry water elution and total solids percentage (TS%), and to determine the robustness of the process for optimizing resource utilization in waste management.
Conclusion: This experiment was similar to the experiment 10. In this experiment approximately 9-11 Kg of waste was input which was slightly larger than the waste input in the previous experiment. The experiment successfully concluded that the reduction of 1L of water did not significantly impact the process. The elution of slurry water after 24hrs and the total solids percentage (TS%) exhibited no major differences compared to the prior experiment. These findings suggest that the process remains robust and efficient despite a slight reduction in the initial fresh water addition, providing valuable insights for optimizing resource utilization in waste liquification processes.


12. Date–07 September 2023 to 07 October 2023
Number of days –20 days
Number of days waste was added–19 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste- Random Kg (Cooked waste) +0Kg (Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the effects of reduced water addition on the waste liquification process, including its impact on total solids percentage (TS%), slurry water volume, and residual un-liquified waste. Additionally, the experiments sought to assess the viability of microbial cultures AP1 and AP2 under low pH conditions and identify design flaws in the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) that hindered optimal microbial contact and efficiency, to guide improvements in system design and microbial culture selection for enhanced waste liquification performance.
Conclusion: Both experiments 12 and 13, conducted over a 12-day period, were dedicated to assessing the impact of reduced water addition as implemented in the prior experiment. Despite the similarity in experimental duration, both yielded comparable results in terms of total solids percentage (TS%), slurry water volume (in litres), and the residual un-liquified waste, which notably led to choking issues at the experiment's conclusion. Concurrently, pH viability tests were carried out on microbial cultures AP1 and AP2 to evaluate their survival in lower pH conditions. The results indicated that AP1 and AP2 were viable only up to pH 4.5, while the pH of the waste ranged between 3.5-4. This prompted a change in bacterial cultures for subsequent experiments, highlighting the significance of aligning microbial cultures with the specific pH conditions of the waste for optimal performance in waste liquification processes. A notable fault was identified in the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM), where all liquified material consistently exited into the third chamber, resulting in the formation of a semi solid fiber-like layer on the liquid surface. This unintended configuration raised concerns about reduced contact between the microbial culture and the waste, potentially impacting the efficiency of the liquification process. The accumulation of a fiber-like layer suggested a need for a more uniform distribution of liquified material throughout the chambers to optimize microbial interactions with the waste. Addressing this design flaw and promoting better contact between culture and waste became imperative for enhancing the overall effectiveness of the waste liquification system.


13. Experiment conducted same as experiment no. 12.

14. Date–03 November 2023 to 11 November 2023
Number of days –9 days
Number of days waste was added–8 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg (Cooked waste) +2Kg (Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of introducing a new powdered microbial culture (comprising 0.50L powdered culture, 0.25L AP1, and 0.25L AP2) in a modified Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) with a two-chamber system. The objectives included assessing the impact on the quality of eluted slurry water, measuring changes in total solids percentage (TS%), and verifying the resilience of the microbial culture under lower pH conditions, to determine the efficacy of the modified system and the powdered culture in enhancing waste liquification efficiency.
Conclusion: In this experiment, a new microbial culture in powdered form was introduced, comprising 1L in total (0.50L powdered culture, 0.25L AP1, and 0.25L AP2). Significant modifications were made to the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM), including the removal of the third chamber and a relocation to a two-chamber system. A mesh was installed in the second chamber and covered with a valve, preventing the contents from exiting the WLM and ensuring maximum contact between waste and culture. The experiment's conclusion highlighted a notable difference in the quality of eluted slurry water, attributing it to the introduction of the powdered culture. The impact on the liquification process was evident through a slight reduction in total solids percentage (TS%). Furthermore, the powdered culture demonstrated resilience in lower pH conditions, as verified by Total Viable Count (TVC) analysis of the initial culture and the final waste water slurry. These findings underscore the efficacy of the modified system and the positive influence of the powdered culture on waste liquification.


15. Date–22 November 2023 to 27 November 2023
Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–4 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg (Cooked waste) +2Kg (Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the impact of introducing green vegetable waste in combination with hotel cooked waste on the waste liquification process, maintaining a ratio of 1:4 (vegetable waste to hotel waste). The objective was to assess how the inclusion of vegetable waste, particularly its plant fibers, affects the efficiency and operability of the system, with a focus on identifying potential challenges such as choking and resistance to liquification, and to determine strategies for optimizing the waste liquification process in the presence of diverse waste materials.
Conclusion: In this experiment, green vegetable waste was introduced alongside hotel cooked waste to assess its impact on the waste liquification process, maintaining a ratio of 1:4 for vegetable waste to hotel waste. Unfortunately, on the 5th day, the experiment faced complications as choking occurred, prompting a premature halt. The presence of plant fibers led to significant challenges, as these fibers were resistant to liquification, impeding the smooth addition of waste and affecting the overall efficiency of the process. The observed difficulties underscore the importance of considering the composition of added waste materials and addressing potential challenges posed by certain waste components to ensure the continuous and effective operation of the waste liquification system.

16. Date–25 November 2023 to 05 December 2023
Number of days –5 days
Number of days waste was added–4 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg(Cooked waste)+2Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of increasing the mesh size in the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) and applying a new fungal culture, AP 3 (Trichoderma), in reducing choking issues caused by plant fibers in the system. Specifically, the experiment sought to determine whether these modifications would result in a significant reduction in plant fiber-induced choking and improve the overall efficiency of waste liquification, as measured by changes in the Total Solids percentage (TS%).
Conclusion: In this experiment, modifications were made to the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) by increasing the mesh size in the second chamber. The objective was to address challenges associated with plant fibers causing choking issues in the system. The experiment spanned 8 days, during which a new fungal culture, AP 3 (Trichoderma), was introduced to specifically target the plant fibers. AP 3 (0.20L) was applied on days 3, 4, and 6. Despite these interventions, the impact of AP 3 on the plant fibers appeared inconclusive, as there was no significant reduction in choking observed. The Total Solids percentage (TS%) exhibited a similar reduction of about 3-4% as seen in the previous experiment. The findings suggest a need for further investigation or alternative approaches to effectively address the challenges posed by plant fibers in the waste liquification process.

17. Date–25 December 2023 to 05 January 2024
Number of days –11 days
Number of days waste was added–10days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg(Cooked waste)+2Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the effect of temperature control and microbial culture composition on waste liquefaction efficiency and the resulting quality of the eluted slurry in a Waste Liquification Machine (WLM).
Conclusion: In this experiment, a novel microbial culture was employed, comprising 0.50L powdered culture, 0.25L AP1, 0.25L AP2, and 0.20L AP3. The Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) was maintained at a constant temperature of 30?, as it was hypothesized that temperature plays a pivotal role in sustaining microbial activity within the system. The experiment spanned 11 days, featuring a daily waste proportion of 8 Kg hotel cooked waste and 2 Kg green uncooked vegetable waste, totalling 10 Kg per day. Notably, waste addition was skipped on day 6. Surprisingly, a reduction in Total Solids percentage (TS%) was observed 24 hours before the addition of new waste. However, on the day following the omission of waste addition, fluctuating TS% levels were noted, with some days displaying higher TS% before waste addition. Despite these observations, the eluted slurry water exhibited a finer and thinner quality. The experiment concluded that maintaining a constant temperature of 30? contributed to a higher bacterial count, as indicated by Total Viable Count (TVC). Conversely, the addition of AP 3 did not exhibit a significant impact on plant fibers, even with temperature maintenance. Several samples were sent to Poly Test Labs for analysis, including TS%, VS%, BOD, and COD, providing a comprehensive assessment of the waste liquification process.

18. Date–10 January 2024 to 24 January 2024
Number of days –14 days
Number of days waste was added–10days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3) Plastic
Media - 1 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg(Cooked waste)+2Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To evaluate the effect of temperature control and microbial culture composition on waste liquefaction efficiency and the resulting quality of the eluted slurry in a Waste Liquification Machine (WLM).
Conclusion: The experiment was conducted following a similar protocol to the previous one, with the daily addition of 10 Kg of waste. Notably, green waste was subjected to shredding using a mixer to assess the impact of shredding on waste behaviour. During fine shredding, water was added to create a paste. On days 7, 9, and 13, the usual culture addition was replaced by using the water slurry eluted out from the previous day as a culture medium. Initially, the experiment followed the established protocol of adding culture and waste for the first 5-6 days to establish the process. On the 5th day, additional water was introduced to clean the machine, resulting in extra slurry elution. Subsequently, the decision was made to discontinue the addition of culture, and fluctuations in Total Solids percentage (TS%) were observed. It became apparent that the fine shredding process, resulting in a paste-like consistency, led to untreated waste exiting the machine in the form of paste, causing issues such as thickening of the eluted water and no change in TS%. Therefore, starting from the 10th day onwards, a shift was made to chopping the waste with a knife (as in the previous experiment), and culture was added every alternate day. These adjustments indicated that crushing the green waste with a mixer was unnecessary, as the waste emerged untreated in paste form. On the 14th day, due to the accumulation of fibers, water was eluted, additional water was added, and AP 3 inoculated on CMC broth was added to assess its impact on fibers.
These modifications highlighted the importance of waste preparation methods in the waste liquification process and the need for adjustments based on observed outcomes.

19. Date–01 February 2024 to 10 February 2024
Number of days –9 days
Number of days waste was added–3 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2) + 0.20(AP2)
Plastic Media – 1.5 Kg
Composition of Waste- Random Waste
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of modifying the culture medium from Potato Dextrose Broth (PDB) to Carboxy Methyl Cellulose Broth (CMC) for the inoculation of the AP3 culture in improving the breakdown and degradation of fibrous waste materials in a Waste Liquification Machine (WLM). Specifically, the study aimed to determine if the culture medium adjustment could enhance the AP3 culture's ability to address fiber accumulation issues and improve the overall process of waste liquification.
Conclusion: The experiment was conducted in similar way to the previous one, with the daily addition of 10 Kg of waste (8 Kg Cooked + 2 Kg green) and green waste being cut by knife instead of being shredded by a mixer. However, a notable modification was made to the culture medium: AP3, which was previously inoculated in Potato Dextrose broth (PDB), was now inoculated in Carboxy Methyl Cellulose broth (CMC). This adjustment aimed to enhance the effectiveness of the culture against fibers that cause choking in the machine. Results obtained from the experiment were consistent with the previous findings, showing regular fluctuations in Total Solids percentage (TS%). Towards the end of the experiment, when fibers had accumulated, AP3 was introduced into the WLM and left for 3 days to assess its impact on the fibers. Remarkably, the addition of AP3 resulted in the breakdown and degradation of fibers, transforming them into a greyish black matter. These findings validate an established process for the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM), highlighting the efficacy of the culture medium modification in addressing
fiber-related issues and confirming the viability of the overall process for waste liquification.


20. Date–18 April 2023 to 18 May 2023
Number of days –30 days
Number of days waste was added–24 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3)
Plastic Media – 1.5 Kg
Composition of Waste-8Kg(Cooked waste)+ 2Kg(Green waste)
Aim: To assess the impact of extending the duration of waste processing in the Waste Liquification Machine (WLM) to 30 days on the efficiency and effectiveness of waste liquefaction. Specifically, the study aimed to evaluate changes in slurry production, Total Solids (TS) percentage, and Total Viable Count (TVC) in response to continuous waste input and culture addition. Additionally, the experiment sought to identify and address operational challenges, such as fiber accumulation and plastic media degradation, to optimize the waste liquefaction process and improve overall system performance.
Conclusion: The experiment was conducted in a similar manner to the previous one, with the addition of 10 Kg of waste daily (8 Kg cooked and 2 Kg green). This experiment spanned 30 days, the longest duration compared to all prior experiments, with a total waste input of 250 Kg. The results aligned with those of previous experiments, with a notable increase in the quantity of slurry water produced. While the average slurry removal in past experiments was around 10-12L, this experiment yielded an average of 14-15L, indicating a positive outcome. One observation was that if the waste was processed in the WLM for more than 24 hours and the slurry was removed after a delay, the slurry tended to be thicker and less in quantity. However, continuous addition of waste and culture stabilized the process. The Total Solids (TS) percentage readings also indicated effective liquefaction of the waste. By the end of the experiment, the TS% values had dropped significantly to the lowest levels recorded, and the material balance of TS (g) closely matched the expected values. The Total Viable Count (TVC) was also higher compared to the previous experiment, indicating better survival of the bacterial culture in the WLM. Problems encountered included choking due to fiber accumulation, which was resolved by manually transferring content from the second chamber back to the first chamber. Additionally, the plastic media was found to be destroyed after 15-20 days, suggesting a need to find a stronger and more durable plastic media.




21. Date–30 May 2024 to 15 June 2024
Number of days –16 days
Number of days waste was added–15 days
Culture used–0.50L(Powdered culture)+0.25(AP1)+0.25(AP2)+0.20(AP3)
Plastic Media – 1 Kg
Composition of Waste- Random waste.
Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness and stability of the waste liquefaction process under conditions of irregular waste input, with a focus on assessing fluctuations in Total Solids (TS) percentage and average slurry removal despite machine breakdowns.
Conclusion: In this experiment, the amount of culture and fresh water was kept consistent, while the waste—both green and cooked—was added randomly without precise measurement. The results were surprisingly different from previous experiments, with the TS% values showing significant fluctuations and reaching the lowest levels observed in any experiment. Despite numerous machine breakdowns, which prevented the regular removal of slurry water, the average daily slurry water removed was approximately 12-14L. This experiment aimed to assess the viability of the process under real-time conditions, where waste input is likely to be random. However, the experiment had to be concluded early due to recurring machine breakdowns.


Inference:
The experimentation data suggests that the novel microbial consortium of the present disclosure facilitates in liquefaction of 10kg of the municipal solid organic waste within 24hrs. at room temperature using 1.2 liters of said consortium, without need of any additional chemical or pH monitoring requirements, to provide an end product enriched with nutritional content that can be used as liquid fertilizer or can be processed further to obtain biogas. The experiments establish the proportion of the municipal solid organic waste: microbial consortium: water to be in ratio of 10 kg: 1.2 liters: 5 liters respectively to achieve efficient liquefaction within 24hrs. at room temperature and obtain the slurry. It can be inferred from the extensive experimentation carried out as demonstrated above, that the combination of the microbial strains, the characteristic percentages/ proportions and ranges in which the waste and consortium is added, together result in a highly nutritional end product (the liquefied organic waste) that can be utilized as liquid fertilizer without further processing.
It is a characteristic of the present disclosure that the process (100) is carried out at tropical ambient/ room temperature (28- 450 C) and offers high percentage reduction in waste volume. Furthermore, the process (100) described herein above offers several significant benefits, including but not limited to reduced waste volume, decreased transportation costs, with improved ease of transportation and lower greenhouse gas emissions. By breaking down food waste into a liquid form, the process (100) also facilitates further processing to produce biogas, compost, and other valuable products. The water requirement of the process (100) is also less as compared to other processes.
It is a characteristic of the present disclosure that the novel microbial consortium is versatile in the liquefaction activity, that it can digest and decompose varied types of the organic wastes, and food having- carbohydrates, proteins, fats/ oils etc.
It is a characteristic of the present disclosure that the bioreactor system (200) facilitates intermittent re-cycling of the liquefied organic waste (the end product) thereby offsetting addition of said consortium every time during fresh cycle of liquefaction.
It is a characterizing feature of the present invention that the novel microbial consortium and the bioreactor allows scalability without affecting efficiency and % volume reduction of the solid waste.
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished, and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art solutions and approaches are overcome by the proposed invention described in the present embodiment. The embodiments described herein above are non-limiting. The foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as an illustration of the concept of the present disclosure and it is in no way to be construed as a limitation. Description of terminologies, concepts and processes known to persons acquainted with technology has been avoided to preclude beclouding of the afore-stated embodiments.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE
The technical advantages and economic significance of the process (100), the microbial consortium and the bioreactor system (200) of the present disclosure include but are not limited to:
• Conversion of solid waste to liquid facilitates reduced waste volume, ease of transportation, reduction in transportation costs, and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
• Further processing of liquified slurry facilitates to produce biogas, compost, and other valuable products.
• Minimal water requirement as compared to other processes.
• Operation carried out at ambient temperature without any heating or pH monitoring requirement.
• Operation carried out without any additional oxygen/air from outside and any heating arrangement.
• Does not require any physical pre-treatment, or addition of any chemicals, gas.
• The liquified organic waste is suitable for biogas generation through further anaerobic digester. The digester volumes will reduce as the first few steps of the process have already been carried out during liquefaction. The problems arising in the existing biogas process due to presence of fibrous and other slow biodegradable material in the waste feed gets considerably reduced as this has been taken care of during the liquefaction process.

The embodiments described herein above are non-limiting. The foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as an illustration of the concept of the present disclosure and it is in no way to be construed as a limitation. Description of terminologies, concepts and processes known to persons acquainted with technology has been avoided to preclude beclouding of the afore-stated embodiments.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. A process (100) for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, the process (100) facilitating conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste capable of being used as a liquid fertilizer and being re-processed to obtain any one of biogas, biohydrogen, compost and bio-stimulant therefrom, the process (100) being carried out in an existing waste treatment system such as a bioreactor, the process (100) comprising the steps of:
a) segregation of the municipal solid organic waste to remove non-biodegradable material therefrom and obtain the municipal solid organic waste being completely biodegradable;
b) grinding of the municipal solid organic waste of step a) in presence of at least one k-type media to obtain shredded solid organic waste, wherein the at least one k-type media being present in an amount ranging from 5- 8% of total capacity of the waste treatment system, and wherein the municipal solid organic waste undergoes size reduction upon grinding;
c) concomitantly subjecting the shredded solid organic waste to microbial liquefaction by adding a microbial consortium along with water to facilitate hydrolysis, decomposition and liquefaction of the shredded solid organic waste at room temperature around 28 to 45 0C for 24 hrs. under aerobic or microaerophilic conditions to obtain a slurry consisting of a mixture of liquified organic waste and undecomposed solids, wherein, the microbial consortium comprises of a microbial suspension of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus sp. and Trichoderma viride present in proportions of 0.5:0.5:1:0.5 respectively with a population density of the microbial consortium being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL; and
d) sieving the slurry obtained at step (c) by passing it through a mesh having diameter in a range of 2-6mm, wherein, the liquefied organic waste percolates therefrom and separates out from the undecomposed solids,
wherein, the municipal solid organic waste, the microbial consortium and the water is added in proportions of 10kg: 1.2 liters: 5 liters respectively thereby facilitating efficient liquefaction within 24hrs.
2. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the microbial liquefaction is preferably carried out at a temperature of 30 0C.
3. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mesh is preferably 4mm in diameter.
4. The process (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one k-type media is selected from a group consisting of a plastic media and rubber media.
5. A novel microbial consortium for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, the novel microbial consortium facilitating conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste capable of being used as a liquid fertilizer and being re-processed to obtain any one of biogas, biohydrogen, compost and bio-stimulant therefrom, the novel microbial consortium comprising of Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Lactobacillus sp. and Trichoderma viride being present in proportion of 0.5: 0.5: 1: 0.5 respectively with a population density of the microbial consortium being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL,
wherein, the Lactobacillus sp. is Lactobacillus casei, and wherein the novel microbial consortium facilitates conversion of the municipal solid organic waste at room temperature around 28 to 450 C, preferably at 300 C under aerobic or microaerophilic conditions to obtain the liquefied organic waste within 24 hrs.
6. A preparation method of a novel microbial consortium for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, the novel microbial consortium facilitating conversion of the municipal solid organic waste into liquified organic waste capable of being used as a liquid fertilizer and being re-processed to obtain any one of biogas, biohydrogen, compost and bio-stimulant therefrom, the preparation method comprising the steps of:
a) culturing of Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus megaterium separately in a nutrient broth containing yeast extract, peptone and sodium chloride and incubating at 37°C until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is attained;
b) culturing of Lactobacillus sp. in MRS (deMan Rogosa Sharpe) broth and incubating at 37°C until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is attained;
c) culturing of Trichoderma viride in Carboxy Methyl Cellulose (CMC) broth and incubating at 28°C until a microbial suspension with a population density in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL is attained; and
d) combining the microbial suspension obtained at step a), step b) and step c) to obtain the novel microbial consortium having high cell viability, wherein, the Bacillus subtilis, the Bacillus megaterium, the Lactobacillus sp. and the Trichoderma viride is present in proportion of 0.5: 0.5: 1: 0.5 with a population density being in the range of 106 CFU/mL to 108 CFU/mL respectively within the novel microbial consortium, and wherein, the Lactobacillus sp. is preferably Lactobacillus casei.
7. The preparation method of a novel microbial consortium as claimed in claim 6, further comprising a step of applying the novel microbial consortium to a solid carrier molecule facilitating adsorption of the novel microbial consortium thereon followed by drying to formulate the novel microbial consortium as a powder formulation, wherein the solid carrier molecule includes any one of talcum powder, maltose, sucrose and starch.
8. A bioreactor system (200) for municipal solid organic waste management through microbial liquefaction, the bioreactor system (200) comprising of:
a horizontal cylindrical vessel defining:
a) a first chamber (220) being a liquefaction chamber configured to receive the municipal solid organic waste for liquefaction thereof by a microbial consortium, the first chamber (220) consisting of a central hollow shaft (4) having a plurality of triangular arms (1, 2, 3) configured thereacross to facilitate grinding of the municipal solid organic waste upon rotational movement of the central hollow shaft (4) pursuant to actuation by a motor (225) operably coupled thereto, such that the municipal solid organic waste in presence of at least one k-type media added as an auxiliary grinder reduces in size and converts to shredded solid organic waste upon grinding, wherein the rotational movement of the central hollow shaft (4) at around 10- 12 rpm further enables intermittent mixing of the shredded solid organic waste with the microbial consortium added thereto to facilitate liquefaction thereof at room temperature within 24 hrs. under aerobic conditions and obtain a slurry consisting of liquefied organic waste and undecomposed solids;
b) a second chamber (240) being a collection chamber in communication with the first chamber (220) and configured with a mesh therebetween, the mesh having a diameter in range of 2-6 mm facilitating separation of the liquefied organic waste from the undecomposed solids within the slurry such that the liquefied organic waste percolates through the mesh and gets collected within the second chamber (240) whereas the undecomposed solids remains behind within the first chamber (220) to undergo further cycles of liquefaction facilitating complete decomposition thereof; and
c) a slurry pump (260) being configured in communication with the second chamber (240) to remove the liquefied organic waste collected therewithin, wherein, the slurry pump (260) includes an automatic control valve (265) facilitating diversion of the liquefied organic waste back to the first chamber (220) via a segment of the slurry pump (260) in communication therewith to allow intermittent recycling of the liquefied organic waste offsetting the microbial consortium addition during further liquefaction cycles for municipal solid organic waste management.
9. The bioreactor system (200) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising of a liquid mixture tank (280) having a liquid mixture consisting of the microbial consortium and water contained therewithin, wherein, a liquid mixture pump (285) coupled to the liquid mixture tank (280) facilitates in intermittent feeding of the liquid mixture therefrom into the first chamber (220) for microbial liquefaction of the municipal solid organic waste present therewithin.
10. The bioreactor system (200) as claimed in claim 8, further comprising of a coarse shredder concentrically configured above the first chamber (220) to facilitate grinding (or shredding) of the municipal solid organic waste, wherein the coarse shredded is coupled to a hopper via conveyor belt for receiving the municipal solid organic waste therethrough and thereafter perform grinding (or shredding) thereof, such that shredded solid organic waste automatically drops within the first chamber (220) pursuant to grinding (or shredding) by the coarse shredder.