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Assessment by Microscopy of the Coverage of Sludge Flocs by a Nano‐scale Surface Layer
Author(s) -
Pazin Dorothy,
Lott John N. A.,
West M. Marcia,
Leppard Gary G.
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
the canadian journal of chemical engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.404
H-Index - 67
eISSN - 1939-019X
pISSN - 0008-4034
DOI - 10.1002/cjce.5450830610
Subject(s) - settling , wastewater , flocculation , layer (electronics) , bioreactor , transmission electron microscopy , nano , chemical engineering , surface layer , materials science , chemistry , environmental engineering , environmental science , nanotechnology , composite material , engineering , organic chemistry
Flocs are irregularly shaped suspended particles of complex structure and composition that occur naturally in aquatic systems. In water treatment facilities, the settling of flocs is extremely important. Transmission electron microscopy was used to quantify the formation of a nano‐scale surface layer on flocs from two laboratory bioreactors modelling a biological wastewater treatment facility. By comparing different floc populations, we demonstrated that flocs that settled quickly out of wastewater had a significant amount of this layer, whereas those with little nano‐scale surface layer had poor settling properties. This morphological feature of floc ultrastructure may permit engineering manipulations that promote floc settling.