Reduction of suspended biomass in municipal wastewater using bdelloid rotifers

Clarification of municipal wastewater was shown to be improved significantly by the addition of cultured bdelloid rotifers. The rate and degree of suspended particle removal were correlated with rotifer number. The size range of unsettled particles suspended in wastewater was determined and found to...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Water research (Oxford) 2003-05, Vol.37 (9), p.2027-2034
Main Authors: Lapinski, J., Tunnacliffe, A.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Activated sludge
Agglomeration
Animals
Applied sciences
Bdelloid rotifers
Biological and medical sciences
Biological treatment of waters
Biomass
Biomass reduction
Biotechnology
Cities
Clarification
Consumption
Correlation
Effluents
Environment and pollution
Exact sciences and technology
Feeding
Feeding Behavior
Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology
Industrial applications and implications. Economical aspects
Metazoa
Other wastewaters
Pollution
Rotifera
Settling
Total suspended solids
Waste Disposal, Fluid - methods
Wastewater treatment
Wastewaters
Water Purification - methods
Water treatment and pollution
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Summary:Clarification of municipal wastewater was shown to be improved significantly by the addition of cultured bdelloid rotifers. The rate and degree of suspended particle removal were correlated with rotifer number. The size range of unsettled particles suspended in wastewater was determined and found to overlap with the size range of particles consumed by rotifers. Rotifers were shown to have two distinct effects on suspended particles: consumption of biomass due to feeding activity; and improved settling, probably due to enhanced aggregation. These experiments demonstrate the potential for the use of bdelloid rotifers in an enhanced wastewater treatment process, with reduced biomass production and improved effluent clarity.
ISSN:0043-1354
1879-2448
DOI:10.1016/S0043-1354(02)00626-7