Sewage sludge conditioning with sulphur oxidizing bacteria

✍ Scribed by Johnston, Wendye E. ;Ives, K. J.

• Book ID: 102302806
• Publisher: Wiley (John Wiley & Sons)
• Year: 1960
• Weight: 405 KB
• Volume: 2
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0368-1467
• DOI: 10.1002/jbmte.390020403

✦ Synopsis

Abstract

Previous research has shown that a reduction in pH of digested sewage sludge considerably improves its filtration characteristics. Experiments with sulphur oxidizing bacteria (thiobacilli) have shown that under aerobic conditions with a supply of elemental sulphur the pH can be reduced by microbial sulphuric acid synthesis. A semi‐continuous process of sludge conditioning by this method was evolved, which would continue if the pH did not rise above pH 7 and if sufficient sulphur was supplied. Attempts to substitute sodium thiosulphate, or sulphide‐rich sludge, for elemental sulphur were unsuccessful. A note is appended on a method of enumerating the thiobacilli.