Microbial Ecology Of Activated Sludge

Microbial Ecology of Activated Sludge, written for both microbiologists and engineers, critically reviews our current understanding of the microbiology of activated sludge, the most commonly used process for treating both domestic and industrial wastes. The contributors are all internationally recognized as leading research workers in activated sludge microbiology, and all have made valuable contributions to our present understanding of the process. The book pays particular attention to how the application of molecular methods has changed our perceptions of the identity of the filamentous bacteria causing the operational disorders of bulking and foaming, and the bacteria responsible for nitrification and denitrification and phosphorus accumulation in nutrient removal processes. Special attention is given to how it is now becoming possible to relate the composition of the community of microbes present in activated sludge, and the in situ function of individual populations there, and how such information might be used to manage and control these systems better. Detailed descriptions of some of these molecular methods are provided to allow newcomers to this field of study an opportunity to apply them in their research. Comprehensive descriptions of organisms of interest and importance are also given, together with high quality photos of activated sludge microbes. Activated sludge processes have been used globally for nearly 100 years, and yet we still know very little of how they work. In the past 15 years the advent of molecular culture independent methods of study have provided tools enabling microbiologists to understand which organisms are present in activated sludge, and critically, what they might be doing there. Microbial Ecology of Activated Sludge will be the first book available to deal comprehensively with the very exciting new information from applying these methods, and their impact on how we now view microbiologically mediated processes taking place there. As such it will be essential reading for microbial ecologists, environmental biotechnologists and engineers involved in designing and managing these plants. It will also be suitable for postgraduate students working in this field.

Microbial Ecology of Wastewater Treatment Plants presents different methods and techniques used in microbial ecology to study the interactions and evolution of microbial populations in WWTPs, particularly the new molecular tools developed in the last decades. These molecular biology-based methods (e.g. studies of DNA, RNA and proteins) provide a high resolution of information compared to traditional ways of studying microbial wastewater populations, such as microscopic examination and culture-based methods. In addition, this book addresses the ability of microorganisms to degrade environmental pollutants. Describes application of different Omics tools in Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) Demonstrates the role of microorganisms in WWTPs Includes discussions on the microbial ecology of WWTPs Covers the microbial diversity of activated sludge Emphasizes cutting-edge molecular tools

This book has been a long time in preparation. Initially it grew out of our frustrating attempts over the past ten years to identify the filamentous bacteria seen in large numbers in most activated sludge plants, and the realization that we know very little about them and the other microbial populations in these systems. Unfortunately this book does not provide many answers to the problems these filamentous bacteria can cause, but we hope it might encourage microbiologists and engineers to communi cate more with each other and to spend some time trying to understand the tax onomy, ecology and physiology of activated sludge microbes. It is now very timely, for example, to try to provide these filamentous bacteria with proper taxonomically valid names and to determine their correct place in bacterial classifications. This book is not meant to compete directly with the books by Gray (1989, 1990) nor the excellent manual published by Jenkins and coworkers (1993b), which has been invaluable to us and others trying to identify filamentous bacteria. Wanner's book (1994a) also provides an excellent account of the problems of bulking and foaming caused by filamentous bacteria. These publications and others by Eikelboom's group have made an enormous contribution to the study of filamentous bacteria, and will con tinue to do so.

The International Committee on Microbial Ecology (ICOME) sponsors both the Interna tional Symposium on Microbial Ecology, held in various parts of the world at three-year intervals, and the publication of Advances in Microbial Ecology. Advances was estab lished to provide a vehicle for in-depth, critical, and even provocative reviews in microbial ecology and is now recognized as a major source of information for both practicing and prospective microbial ecologists. The Editorial Board of Advances nor mally solicits contributions from established workers in particular areas of microbial ecology, but individuals are encouraged to submit outlines of unsolicited contributions to any member of the Editorial Board for consideration for pUblication in Advances. Chapters in Volume 11 of Advances in Microbial Ecology include those on micro bial transformations of chitin by G. W. Gooday, organic sulfur compounds by D. P. Kelly and N. A. Smith, and phosphorus, including its removal in waste water treatment plants, by D. F. Toerien, A. Gerber, L. H. Lotter, and T. E. Cloete. The importance of diffusion processes in microbial ecology is discussed by A. L. Koch, and 1. I. Prosser reviews the application of mathematical modeling to nitrification processes. Considera tions of particular ecosystems include the Antarctic by D. D. Wynn-Williams and Australian coastal microbial mats by G. W. Skyring and 1. Bauld. Other chapters include the regulation of N2 fixation by H. W.

This book has been a long time in preparation. Initially it grew out of our frustrating attempts over the past ten years to identify the filamentous bacteria seen in large numbers in most activated sludge plants, and the realization that we know very little about them and the other microbial populations in these systems. Unfortunately this book does not provide many answers to the problems these filamentous bacteria can cause, but we hope it might encourage microbiologists and engineers to communi cate more with each other and to spend some time trying to understand the tax onomy, ecology and physiology of activated sludge microbes. It is now very timely, for example, to try to provide these filamentous bacteria with proper taxonomically valid names and to determine their correct place in bacterial classifications. This book is not meant to compete directly with the books by Gray (1989, 1990) nor the excellent manual published by Jenkins and coworkers (1993b), which has been invaluable to us and others trying to identify filamentous bacteria. Wanner's book (1994a) also provides an excellent account of the problems of bulking and foaming caused by filamentous bacteria. These publications and others by Eikelboom's group have made an enormous contribution to the study of filamentous bacteria, and will con tinue to do so.

Environmental Microbiology, besides a traditional discipline in Developing fast, because of realization of its importance in Industry, Agriculture Pharmaceutical concerns, Public Health, Geological explorations, bioenergetics and as a mean to exploit new sources of energy useful for various purposes. Environmental Microbiology comprises a crucial element of studies in microbiology. Enabling scientists to explore microbes in greater detail, it gives an insight into how microorganisms behave under non-simulated, natural conditions, although microbes that exist in artificial environments such as bioreactors are also studies. Exploring such processes as microbial ecology, microbially mediated nutrient cycling, geomicrobiology, microbial diversity and bioremediation the subject encompasses a great deal. Environmental Microbiology was born at the dawn of the "e;environmental era"e; at the beginning of the 1970s. Thirty years of maturation have led to an exciting and vibrant field that has attracted countless numbers of productive and enthusiastic scientists and students at universities, research centers and government agencies around the world. The present text has been designed to outline the basic and fundamental aspects of Environmental Microbiology to be understood in its right perspective. The modern techniques and designs employed in microbiological applications are discussed in a comprehensive manner which will update the readers of the commercial aspects of microbiology.

Microbial Community Analysis surveys the vast amount of theoretical and practical knowledge on the design of biological treatment systems. It describes the different types of biological wastewater systems, the role of microbial diversity in these systems, and how this affects design and operation, methods for studying microbial community dynamics, and mathematical modelling of these systems. Contents Biological methods for the treatment of wastewaters Biodiversity and microbial interactions in the biodegradation of organic compounds Microbial population dynamics in biological wastewater treatment plants Molecular techniques for determining microbial community structures in activated sludge Principles in the modelling of biological wastewater treatment plants Practical considerations for the design of biological wastewater treatment systems Scientific and Technical Report No.5