Abstract
The aim of the present study is to increase sludge solubilization potential of bacteria by the addition of cation binding agents. During the study, three strains of bacteria B1, B2 and B3 were isolated from waste activated sludge acclimatized to a thermophilic condition (55°C). Using these strains the mixed liquor suspended solids degradation was 67, 59, and 33% and the chemical oxygen demand solubilization enhancement was 71, 62, and 36% compared with the control. Cation binding agents such as citric acid, ethylenediaminetetraacetate and sodium tripolyphosphate were added to enhance the sludge solubilization further. Among these, citric acid along with B1 was more effective in solubilization with the mixed liquor suspended solids degradation of 110% and the chemical oxygen demand solubilization enhancement of 115%. 16s rRNA technique was used to identify the bacterial species B1 and it was found to be Bacillus licheniformis. It was also observed that mixed liquor suspended solids reduced rapidly when more soluble chemical oxygen demand was released, thereby increasing sludge solubilization.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ohsaka, F. (2005) Activity to reduce sludge generated from septic tanks to zero using bacterial method. FUJITSU Sci. Tech. J. 41: 259–268.
Yang, Q., K. Luo, X. Li, D. Wang, W. Zheng, G. Zeng, and J. Liu (2010) Enhanced efficiency of biological excess sludge hydrolysis under anaerobic digestion by additional enzymes. Biores. Technol. 101: 2924–2930.
Jalal, K. C. A., Z. Alam, S. A. Muyibi, and P. Jamal (2006) Isolation and purification of bacterial strains from treatment plants for effective and efficient bioconversion of domestic wastewater sludge. Am. J. Env. Sci. 2: 1–5.
Kim, Y. H., J. H. Bae, B. K. Oh, W. H. Lee, and J. W. Choi (2002) Enhancement of proteolytic enzyme activity for a thermophilic aerobic digestion process. Biores. Technol. 82: 157–164.
Hamer, G. and C. A. Mason (1987) Fundamental aspects of waste sewage sludge treatment: Microbial solids biodegradation in an aerobic thermophilic semi-continous system. Bioproc. Eng. 2: 69–77.
Balboa M. A., Y. Saez, and J. Balsinde (2003) Calcium-independent phospholipase A2 is required for lysozyme secretion in U937 promonocytes. J. Immunol. 170: 5276–5280.
Bomio, M., B. Sonnleitner, and A. Fiechter (1989) Growth and biocatalytic activities of aerobic thermophilic populations in sewage sludge. Appl. Microbiol. Biot. 32: 356–362.
Ugwuangi, J. O., L. M. Harvey, and B. McNeil (2008) Protein enrichment of corn cob heteroxylan waste slurry by thermophilic aerobic digestion using Bacillus stearothermophilus. Biores. Technol. 99: 6974–6985.
Victoria, E. B. L. and D. Jahng (2005) Isolation of protease producing aerobic thermophilic bacteria for digestion of excess sludge. Kor. J. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 4: 604–610.
Yan, S., K. Miyanaga, X. H. Xing, and Y. Tanji (2008) Succession of bacterial community and enzymatic activities of activated sludge by heat treatment for reduction of excess sludge. Biochem. Eng. J. 39: 598–603.
Guellil, A., M. Boualam, H. Quiquampoix, P. Ginestet, J. M. Audic, and J. C. Block (2001) Hydrolysis of wastewater colloidal organic matter by extracellular enzymes extracted from activated sludge flocs. Water Sci. Technol. 43: 33–40.
Nybroe, O., P. E. Jorgensen, and M. Henze (1992) Enzyme activities in wastewater and activated sludge. Water Res. 26: 579–584.
Burgess, J. E. and P. Bi (2008) Hydrolytic enzymes in sewage sludge treatment: A mini-review. Water SA. 34: 343–349.
Liu, C. H., W. B. Lu, and J. S. Chang (2006) Optimizing lipase of burkholderia sp. By response surface methodology. Proc. Biochem. 41: 1940–1944.
Kumar, P. A., M. Manikandan, and V. Kannan (2010) Optimization of nutrients for the production of Rnase by bacillus firmus VKPACU1 using response surface methodology. Biotechnol. Bioproc. Eng. 15: 641–650.
Wawrzynczyk, J., M. Recktenwald, O. Norrlow, and E. S. Dey (2007a) Solubilisation of sludge by combined chemical and enzymatic treatment. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 6: 1994–1999.
American Public Health Association (2005) Standard Methods for the examination of water and wastewater. 21st ed., Washington D. C., USA.
Kim, J., C. Park, T. H. Kim, M. Lee, S. Kim, S. W. Kim, and J. Lee (2003) Effects of various pretreatments for enhanced anaerobic digestion with waste activated sludge. J. Biosci. Bioeng. 95: 271–275.
Soccol, C. R., F. C. Prado, L. P. S. Vandenberghe, and A. Pandey (2004) Organic acids. production and application. citric acid. pp. 617–628. In: A. Pandey (editor). Concise Encyclopedia of Bioresource Technology, The Howorth Reference Press, NY, USA.
Haner, A., C. A. Mason, and G. Hamer (1994) Death and lysis during aerobic thermophilic sludge treatment: Characterization of recalcitrant products. Water Res. 28: 863–869.
Xuesong L., H. Ma, Q. Wang, S. Matsumoto, T. Maeda, and O. Hi (2009) Isolation, identification of sludge-lysing strain and its utilization in thermophilic aerobic digestion for waste activated sludge. Biores. Technol. 100: 2475–2481.
Ahmad, K. B. C. I. (2007) Kinetic parameter studies of activated sludge process for anaerobic pre-treated palm oil mill effluent. Ph. D. Thesis. University Sains Malaysia, Malaysia.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Gopi Kumar, S., Merrylin, J., Kaliappan, S. et al. Effect of cation binding agents on sludge solubilization potential of bacteria. Biotechnol Bioproc E 17, 346–352 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0465-0
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12257-011-0465-0