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Evaluating the role of total organic carbon in predicting the treatment efficacy of biosand filters for the removal of Vibrio cholerae in drinking water during startup
Author(s) -
DanleyThomson A.A.,
Huang E.C.,
WorleyMorse T.,
Gunsch C.K.
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
journal of applied microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.889
H-Index - 156
eISSN - 1365-2672
pISSN - 1364-5072
DOI - 10.1111/jam.13909
Subject(s) - total organic carbon , vibrio cholerae , biofilm , environmental chemistry , chemistry , water treatment , environmental engineering , pulp and paper industry , extracellular polymeric substance , environmental science , biology , bacteria , engineering , genetics
Aims In biosand filters ( BSF ), treatment is largely driven by the development of a biolayer (schmutzdecke) which establishes itself during the startup phase. In this study, the effect of changing influent total organic carbon ( TOC ) loading on the removal efficiency of Vibrio cholerae in laboratory‐operated BSF s was quantified. Methods and Results BSF s were charged with high, medium or low TOC influents and removal efficacy and schmutzdecke composition was monitored over 2 months. The highest V. cholerae removal efficiencies were observed in the BSF receiving the lowest TOC . Schmutzdecke composition was found to be influenced by influent TOC , in terms of microbial community structure and amount of extracellular polymeric substance ( EPS ). Conclusions Physical/chemical attachment was shown to be important during startup. The BSF receiving influent water with lower TOC had a higher attachment coefficient than the BSF receiving high TOC water, suggesting more physical/chemical treatment in the lower TOC BSF . The high TOC BSF had more EPS than did the biofilm from the low‐ TOC BSF , suggesting that schmutzdecke effects may be more significant at high TOC . Significance and Impact of the Study Overall, this study confirms that influent water characteristics will affect BSF treatment efficacy of V. cholerae especially during the startup phase.