Abstract

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Waste human hair (WHH) is a part of municipal solid waste generated from salons that may lead to clogging of drainage pipes ensued with flooding. Pleurotus ostreatus (mushroom) is capable of utilizing several organic substrate types due to its enzyme secretions. This study determined the potential of WHH in cultivating edible mushrooms P. ostreatus (Oyster mushroom).The WHH from males was collected from two (2) barbing salons in Benin, Edo State, Nigeria. Microbial analyses of WHH were based on standard methods, while pulverised WHH samples (pasteurised and unpasteurised) were mixed with sawdust in varying concentrations (5, 10, 15 and 20% WHH) and used to monitor the growth of P. ostreatus for 100 days. Growth of P. ostreatus in sawdust and rice bran was used as control. The total bacterial and fungal counts obtained from WHH samples were 4.50 ± 1.00 x102 cfu/g and 6.10 ± 0.05 x10 sfu/g respectively. Among identified bacteria and fungi were Bacillus sp, Citrobacter sp. Penicillium sp. and Alternaria sp. Mycelium complete run observed in the pasteurised samples gave rise to mushrooms with the exception of the 20 % WHH sample. However, the control had the largest total yield (355 g) and biological efficiency (51%) this was followed by the 10% WHH group at 313 g (45%) and the 5% WHH group at 259g (37%). The least values were observed in the 15% WHH group at 87 g (12%) while mushroom growth was not detected in 20 % WHH group. The potential for recycling WHH provides an avenue for the promotion of the circular economy in Nigeria.

Keywords: Waste human hair; Pleurotus ostreatus, bacteria, fungi, mycelium