ISSN:
0006-3592
Keywords:
Chemistry
;
Biochemistry and Biotechnology
Source:
Wiley InterScience Backfile Collection 1832-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
The response of aerobically growing heterogeneous microbial populations of sewage origin to step increases and decreases in pH were studied in both once-through and cell recycle systems. The pH range studied was 2.7 to 8.0. All studies were conducted at a dilution rate of 0.125 hr-1, and all shocks were administered from a base or preshock pH level of 6.4 to 6.7. In each experiment, the preshock or initial “steady state” was assessed, the pH of the feed changed, and the resulting transient behavior of the system examined until attainment of the new or final “steady state” was approached. The major objectives of the work were to characterize the nature of the response with respect to biomass and effluent substrate concentrations, types of microbial populations present and chemical composition of the biomass, and to obtain guidelines as to allowable change in pH in waste streams. It was found in once-through systems that substrate removal efficiency recovered from pH levels as low as 3.0 after rather long periods of transient leakage of substrate. Cell recycle attenuated the severity of substrate leakage. In all cases of severe acid shock, the microbial population changed from predominantly bacterial-protozoan to one consisting predominantly of filamentous fungi. Changes in chemical composition of the sludge (protein and carbohydrate content) were consistent with the population changes. Based upon the results, it can be conservatively estimated that changes in pH of no more than one unit from the neutral preshock range can be tolerated without possible disruption of biochemical efficiency of substrate removal.
Additional Material:
10 Ill.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/bit.260150511
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