The influence of protruding filamentous bacteria on floc stability and solid-liquid separation in the activated sludge process

W Burger; K Krysiak-Baltyn; PJ Scales; GJO Martin; AD Stickland; SL Gras

Journal article

The influence of protruding filamentous bacteria on floc stability and solid-liquid separation in the activated sludge process

W Burger, K Krysiak-Baltyn, PJ Scales, GJO Martin, AD Stickland, SL Gras

Water Research | PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD | Published : 2017

DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2017.06.063

Abstract

Filamentous bacteria can impact on the physical properties of flocs in the activated sludge process assisting solid-liquid separation or inducing problems when bacteria are overabundant. While filamentous bacteria within the flocs are understood to increase floc tensile strength, the relationship between protruding external filaments, dewatering characteristics and floc stability is unclear. Here, a quantitative methodology was applied to determine the abundance of filamentous bacteria in activated sludge samples from four wastewater treatment plants. An automated image analysis procedure was applied to identify filaments and flocs and calculate the length of the protruding filamentous bacte..

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University of Melbourne Researchers

Peter Scales Author

Greg Martin Author

Anthony Stickland Author

Sally Gras Author

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Grants

Awarded by Australian Research Linkage Grant

Awarded by ARC Dairy Innovation Hub

Awarded by Australian Research Council

Funding Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Sam Skinner and Raul Cavalida for providing the high-end solids concentration data required for parameter extraction by using the Batch Settling Analysis Method Software (BSAMS). This work was funded by an Australian Research Linkage Grant (LP120100304) with input from Melbourne Water, South Australia Water and Water Corporation. The authors are thankful to Melbourne Water, City West Water and South East Water for providing the activated sludge samples. Sally Gras is supported by the ARC Dairy Innovation Hub (IH 120100005).