| Author: | Cheung, Wing-leung Montgomery |
| Title: | Filamentous growth in activated sludge |
| Degree: | M.Sc. |
| Year: | 1995 |
| Subject: | Sewage -- Purification -- Activated sludge process Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations |
| Department: | Multi-disciplinary Studies |
| Pages: | viii, 68 leaves : ill. ; 30 cm |
| Language: | English |
| Abstract: | The activated sludge process is one of the most widely used biological processes for treating the domestic sewage and industrial effluents. Since its development in 1914, activated sludge process has been reported to encounter operational problem of bulking and foaming. Bulking and foaming in activated sludge process are usually associated with filamentous overgrowth, but the detail mechanisms are not fully understood. Sewage treatment works at Sha Tin and Tai Po in Hong Kong have been frequently experienced with the formation and accumulation of foam which result in difficult operational problems. The branched - filamentous Nocardia amarae was identified as the causative organism. In vitro culture showed that long - chain fatty acids that are commonly present in domestic sewage could be utilized by N. amarae as the sole carbon source. An addition of fatty acids (e.g. C8, C9 and C14) with domestic sewage could also stimulate and promote the growth of N. amarae in activated sludge. In addition, the presence of fatty acids in sewage could directly promote foaming and enhanced foam stability. The reason for this was attributed to the surface - active properties of fatty acids, which increased the stability and resistance against breaking - up of the liquid film of air bubbles. Filamentous N. amarae and non-filamentous Pseudomonas aureginosa were cultivated with fatty acids as sole carbon source. N. amarae could utilize all fatty acids tested (e.g. C2 to C24 ) for growth, while P. aureginosa had difficulty utilizing fatty acids with 12 or more carbons. Maximum growth rate and saturation constant of N. amarae on C24 were 0.048 h-1 and 1.520 gCOD/L respectively, which was much lower that P. aureginosa. In the kinetic selection, N. amarae was a Ks-strategists that grew slowly, but had a relatively strong affinity with long - chain fatty acids and could survive on low concentrations of the fatty acid. On the contrary, P. aureginosa was a 撘峻ax - strategists which grew rapidly, but required high concentration of fatty acids for growth. With readily biodegradable organic (e.g. acetic acid), the maximum specific growth rate and saturation constant of N. amarae at 0.095 h-1 and 0.302 gCOD/L respectively, were still much lower than that of P. aureginosa. Growth yields of N. amarae remained fairly constant, ranging among 0.413 to 0.487 g/gCOD, with all fatty acids tested. Growth yields of P. aureginosa with acetic acid was high, at 0.665 g/gCOD, but values were significantly lower when long-chain fatty acids were used as the sole carbon source. N. amarae was competitive, among other microorganisms, in activated sludge processes that receive sewage containing a high proportion of long - chain fatty acids, oils and fats. |
| Rights: | All rights reserved |
| Access: | restricted access |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b12050180.pdf | For All Users (off-campus access for PolyU Staff & Students only) | 2.58 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/3003