Presenter(s)

Yexun Wang

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Description

Biological transformation processes are widely used in wastewater treatment, where those processes are dependent on mixed microorganisms, mainly bacteria. However, filamentous bacteria, a type of existing bacterial microorganisms in wastewater, need to be controlled to prevent excessive overgrowth that interferes with wastewater treatment. Current research on this program is seeking a biocontrol of filamentous bacteria via selective bacteriophages other than chemicals to protect other useful microbes. This project is to search for a number of phage groups that control the growth of specific filamentous bacteria in sludge production processes without interfering with the other bacteria. Samples were enriched for phage. Phages were isolated in one of two host bacteria and then selectivity tested against the other host. Sphaerotilus natans, a type of filamentous bacteria that is known in the activated sludge process, was used as the host with inoculating phages, as well as E.coli which may be common in wastewater treatment processes. Samples were obtained of supernatant from diverse treatment processes at various wastewater treatment plants. All the samples were thought to be good candidates since no article pointed out which process was better than the others. Other than the optimum control conditions regarding enrichment, maintenance and storage that is still being explored, the controls of growth, inoculation methods and storage of hosts would be recommended individually and compared with previous protocols.

Publication Date

4-18-2012

Project Designation

Graduate Research

Primary Advisor

Denise G. Taylor

Primary Advisor's Department

Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering Mechanics

Keywords

Stander Symposium project

Isolation and Characterization of Wastewater Phage

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