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EXPERIENCE OF ACTIVATED‐SLUDGE BULKING IN THE UK
Author(s) -
Horan N.,
Lavender P.,
Cowley E.
Publication year - 2004
Publication title -
water and environment journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.437
H-Index - 37
eISSN - 1747-6593
pISSN - 1747-6585
DOI - 10.1111/j.1747-6593.2004.tb00522.x
Subject(s) - protein filament , activated sludge , biology , sludge bulking , pulp and paper industry , chemistry , microbiology and biotechnology , sewage treatment , environmental science , environmental engineering , biochemistry , engineering
The predominant filamentous bacteria which are found in bulking activated sludge in the UK have been assessed from a microscopic analysis of samples taken over a three‐year period. There were major differences in the floc biology of samples received from plants treating predominantly domestic wastewaters and those of industrial origin. Most samples (84%) of domestic origin were dominated by two filament types: Microthrix parvicella was the dominant filament in 63% of the samples and Type 021N dominated in 21% of the samples. Nostocoida limicola and Sphaerotilus natans dominated in the remaining 16% of samples. The samples of industrial origin showed much greater filament diversity, with eight filament types routinely observed in high numbers. Type 021N was the most prevalent and M. parvicella was not observed in the industrial samples. Many domestic samples from sequencing batch reactors were dominated by M. parvicella. Based upon knowledge of the predominant filament type from microscopic examination. it was possible to identify the likely causes for their proliferation and suggest long‐term solutions to achieve their eradication.