Al Azhar University Gaza

Institution of Water and Environment

Wastewater Treatment and Reuse






Role of Microorganisms on Wastewater
Treatment



By

Mohammed Y. Al Safady







Palestine, Gaza
Feb 25, 2011


IV

CONTENTS
Symbols and Abbreviations ......................................................................................
List of Tables ..............................................................................................................
List of Figures ............................................................................................................
Table of Contents ......................................................................................................
I
II
III
IV
1. Introduction : 1
2. Biological Characteristics of Wastewater .......................................................................
2.1 General:
2.2 Wastewater Microorganisms:
2.2.1 Algae :
2.2.3 Protozoa:
2.2.4 Rotifers and Nematodes:
2.2.5 Viruses:
2.2.6 Indicator Organisms:
2.2.7 BACTERIA:
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2
2
2
3
4
5
6
6
3. Classification of Wastewater Microorganisms ..............................................................
3.1. Classification by Energy and Carbon Source:
3.2. Classification by Oxygen Relationship:
3.3. Classification by Temperature:
3.4. Classification by Electron Acceptor:
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7
7
8
8
4. Classification of Bacteria According to the Roles they perform ...........................
4.1. Acetogenic Bacteria (Example: Acetobacter and Syntrobacter)
4.2. Coliforms (Example: Escherichia)
4.3. Cyanobacteria (Example: Oscillatoria)
4.4. Gliding Bacteria (Example: Beggiatoa)
4.5. Hydrolytic Bacteria (Example: Bacteriodes)
4.6. Methane-Forming Bacteria (Example: Methanobacterium)
4.7. Nitrifying Bacteria (Example: Nitrosomonas)
4.8. Pathogenic Bacteria (Example: Camplyobacter )
4.9. Poly-P Bacteria (Example: Acinobacter )
4.10 Spirochetes (Example: Spirochaeta)
4.11 Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria (Example: Thiobacillus)
4.12 Sulfur-Reducing Bacteria (Example: Desulfovibrio)
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V

5. Biological Aspects and Processes (Wastewater) ...........................................................
5.1 Aerobic Process:
5.2 Anaerobic Process:
5.3 Anoxic Process :
5.4 Photosynthesis:
5.5 Growth Cycles:
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13
14
14
15
6. Bacterial Growth .......................................................................................................................
6.1. Factors Affecting Growth:
6.1.1 Temperature:
6.1.2 PH :
6.1.3 Oxygen:
6.1.4 Nutrients:
6.2 Growth Phases
6.2.1 Lag Phase:
6.2.2 Exponential Growth Phase (Log Phase):
6.2.3 Stationary Phase:
6.2.4 Death Phase:
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7. Microbial Metabolism .............................................................................................................
7.1. Introduction
7.2 Catabolism:
7.2.1 Aerobic Respiration.
7.2.1.1 Glycolysis (EmbdenMeyerhofParnas Pathway)
7.2.1.2 Transformation of Pyruvic Acid to Acetyl Coenzyme A
7.2.1.3 Krebs Cycle
7.2.1.4 Electron Transport System
7.2.2 Fermentation.
7.3. Anabolism
7.3.1 Photosynthesis:
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8. Wastewater Pollutants ............................................................................................................
8.1 Categories of Wastewater Pollutants:
8.2 The Value of Reduced Products:
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9. Biogeochemical Cycles ............................................................................................................
9.1 Carbon Cycle :
9.2 Nitrogen Cycle:
9.2.1 Microbiology of the Nitrogen Cycle
9.2.2 Nitrogen Removal in Wastewater Treatment Plants
9.3 Sulfur Cycle:
9.3.1 Microbiology of the Sulfur Cycle
9.4 Phosphorus Cycle
9.4.1 Microbiology of the Phosphorus Cycle
9.4.2 Phosphorus in a laboratory anaerobic aerobic activated sludge
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10. Application Microbiology of Secondary Treatment Unit Processes . 34
11. Conclusion .............................................................................................................................. 36
References .............................................................................................................................. 38

1 1. . I In nt tr ro od du uc ct ti io on n : :
The role of microorganisms is elaborated further here because they are also important in the
treatment of wastewater. What is waste for humans and higher vertebrates becomes a useful
food substrate for the microorganisms. In both natural and engineered treatment systems
microorganisms such as bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and crustaceans play an essential role in the
conversion of organic waste to more stable less polluting substances. They form what is
termed a food chain (Bitton, 2006).
Microorganisms play a major role in decomposing waste organic matter, removing
carbonaceous BOD, coagulating nonsettlable colloidal solids, and stabilizing organic matter.
These microorganisms convert colloidal and dissolved carbonaceous organic matter into
various gases and cell tissue. The cell tissue, having a specific gravity greater than water, can
then be removed from treated water through gravity settling (Liu and Liptak, 1999).
In the treatment of wastewater three types of overall processes are distinguished to represent
the conversion of organic wastes by microorganisms. The classification is based on whether
the environment where the process takes place is aerobic, anaerobic or photosynthetic. Under
aerobic conditions, micro-organisms utilize oxygen to oxidize organic substances to obtain
energy for maintenance and the synthesis of cellular material. Under anaerobic conditions, the
microorganisms utilize nitrates, sulphates and other hydrogen acceptors to obtain energy for
the synthesis of cellular material from organic substances (Spellman, 2000).
Photosynthetic organisms use carbon dioxide as a carbon source, inorganic nutrients as
sources of phosphate and nitrogen and utilize light energy to drive the conversion process.
Microorganisms also produce waste products, some of which are desirable and some
undesirable. Gases such as CO
2
and N
2
are desirable, since they can be easily separated and do
not produce pollution. Gases such as H
2
S, although easily separated require treatment for odor
(Liu and Liptak, 1999).
Microorganisms are significant in water and wastewater because of their roles in disease
transmission and in biological treatment processes. Water, wastewater, and other water
practitioners must have considerable knowledge of the microbiological characteristics of water
and wastewater (Spellman, 2003).
This report described the role of microorganisms on wastewater, reactions involved in their
activities, environmental parameters affecting their growth and activities, biological cycles,
and microbial groups associated with various biological wastewater treatment processes.