Comparative Studies of Biodegradation of Wastes Using Cellulase from Garden Snails (Limicolaria flammea) and Giant African Snails (Archachatina marginata)

The generation of solid waste is a massive and ever-growing problem that affects the entire world, particularly developing countries. In Africa, waste recycling is not fully embraced and performed; as a result, these waste products are viewed as physical contaminants that can harm the ecosystem, generate pollution, and cause a lot of environmental risks. The use of synthetic compounds in the decomposition of wastes could harm the ecosystem and lead to global warming, thus biocatalysts are a preferred option. Cellulase, a hydrolytic enzyme, could digest cellulose, a main component of solid waste. Garden snail (Limicolaria flammea) and Giant Africa snail (Archachatina marginata) are organisms that feed on dead, decaying and actively growing plants due to their possession of cellulolytic enzyme. Cellulase from the gut of Archachatina marginata haemolymph and Limicolaria flammea had specific activities of 1.15 U/mg and 1.14 U/mg respectively. It also showed high level of degradation. Limicolaria flammea haemolymph showed high activity of 504.11% on soluble starch, 529.39% on kick tree and 993.77% on carton paper. This study suggests that cellulase from both Limicolaria flammea and Archachatina marginata has biodegrading potentials on waste materials. While their effects and the rate of degrading wastes differ, they could both be relevant in waste management especially on kitchen waste.