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Chemical and autoflocculation of microorganisms in biological wastewater treatment
Author(s) -
Tenney Mark W.,
Verhoff Francis H.
Publication year - 1973
Publication title -
biotechnology and bioengineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.136
H-Index - 189
eISSN - 1097-0290
pISSN - 0006-3592
DOI - 10.1002/bit.260150605
Subject(s) - flocculation , polymer , microorganism , agglomerate , suspension (topology) , chemistry , colloid , chemical engineering , bacteria , organic chemistry , biology , genetics , mathematics , homotopy , pure mathematics , engineering
Abstract Experimental evidence is presented which indicates that both chemical and autoflocculation of microorganisms occur by the same mechanism. Basically, long chain polymeric species attach themselves between the microbial particles and agglomerate them into flocculant particles of sufficient magnitude to subside from suspension under quiescent conditions. Properties of the polymers which are produced during autoflocculation are investigated and these polymers are shown to be capable of causing the agglutination of inorganic colloids such as alumina. It is hypothesized that these biologically generated flocculating polymers could belong to a class of compounds known as transport enzymes. The experimental data qualitatively agrees with this hypothesis.