Indicators of biofilm development and activity in constructed wetlands microcosms
Abstract
Methods to measure protein, exopolysaccharide, viable cell number and INT reduction activity were tested on biofilm growing in a wastewater batch reactor. They were shown to be meaningful indicators of biofilm growth and correlated well with each other. Protein, exopolysaccharide, viable cells and INT reduction rates increased linearly over time. Viable cell number exhibited strong linear correlations with protein (R2= 0.98) and exopolysaccharide (R2= 0.99) while INT reduction rate was somewhat less well correlated (R2= 0.90). Our results indicate production rates of 0.91 x 10(-7) microg EPS per viable cell and 1.0 x 10(-7) microg protein per viable cell. Protein and polysaccharide specific INT reduction rates decreased by approximately 50%, whereas viable cell specific INT reduction rates decreased by 65% and the protein to polysaccharide ratio stayed relatively constant at between 1.1 and 1.2 as the biofilm developed. Measurement of protein, polysaccharide, viable cells and INT reduction rate at depth within the bioreactor showed that they were concentrated in the top 1cm of the influent end of the reactor and each decreased to a base level within 4.5 cm of the inlet. Protein to polysaccharide ratios increased with depth in t...Continue Reading
References
Alternative analysis of BOD removal in subsurface flow constructed wetlands employing Monod kinetics
Citations
Influence of Agapanthus africanus on nitrification in a vertical subsurface flow constructed wetland
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