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Call now to set up a Wastewater Biomass Analyses or Filamentous Identification of your plant!
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Filamentous Identification New training program
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Well, I do not know how to do that myself, what can I do. . . . Well, you can always send in a sample to our lab for an analyses. What would that analyses consist of? A wastewater biomass analyses would consist of a number of different things. A brief cover letter explaining the overall health of your system as observed through the sample. Any suggestions for troubleshooting that might be indicated by the observations noted. An analyses of the floc, the higher life forms and possible filamentous identifications if requested. What is a wastewater biomass analyses? The Wastewater Biomass Analyses consists of two sheets. A Higher Life Forms sheet and the Floc Characterization Sheet.
What is the Higher Life Forms or "Indicator Organisms" Sheet The Higher Life Forms Sheet shows the number and types of higher life forms found in the wastewater sample. It is usually performed under the microscope at 100x. An average of 10 fields are used to determine the number and types of life forms. The purpose of recording the number of higher life forms is to determine the health and age of the system. Typically the organisms represent only 5% of the biomass. These organisms are exactly what they are called-Indicator organisms. They are usually the last to come and the first to go in a system if it is not running properly. They usually correlate to the plant performance. They can indicate if the sludge is young, old or medium aged. They can sometimes indicate if there had been a recent slug of high BOD loading.
Some things that may be noted on your sheet:
2. Many rotifers and nematodes usually indicate an older sludge age unless the system is a fixed film type. 3. Increase in amoebas and flagellates from normal numbers of higher life forms can indicate a change to a younger sludge ( lower MLSS), high F/M ratios or BOD loading.
5. Many stalked ciliates can be an indication of middle aged sludge. 6. Fungi or yeast can indicate low pH, fermentative conditions or severe phosphorous deficiency. Sometimes if present with high numbers of Thiothrix, it can indicate septic conditions in previous clarifiers or process units that feed into the aeration section of the wastewater treatment plant. 7. Tetrads can indicate a nutrient deficiency, usually nitrogen or low F/M. These cause high levels of TSS and require lots of polymer. 8. The presence of spirillum or spirochaetes usually indicates septicity. The presence of high organic acids or low DO is usually associated with septicity. Again, check your clarifier for too long of a holding time.
10. The presence of heavy metals can result in dispersed growth of floc structures. Check to see if Arcella are present.
The Floc Characterization Sheet The Floc Characterization Sheet is used to identify outstanding characteristics of the floc structures found in the biomass, including size, morphology, filament abundance, etc. Floc Structures and Filaments
Because every wastewater has a different bacterial population as its biomass, every wastewater has a different floc structure. What is good floc structure in one wastewater may be poor floc structure in another wastewater. It is difficult to tell good or poor structure by looking at a specimen through the microscope one time. Generally, the more that is known about a particular wastewater, the more comments can be made about its structure.
A microscopic evaluation is carried out by our Bioengineering Laboratory Specialists and is documented by photomicrographs. Depending on the type of sample, various staining techniques may be utilized to determine biopolymer levels and filament types. Microscopic examination is critical for filamentous identification, since filamentous organisms typically cannot be grown on agar media plates. Filamentous Identification
A Filamentous Worksheet may be included if necessary. When Gram and Neisser stains are performed for filamentous Identification, the types of filaments found present will be noted on the Floc Characterization sheet to the right of the filament section and will be noted on the Cover Sheet. A Filament Causes sheet, Filamentous Predominance sheet and corrective actions will be given and included also with the report. Individual sheets on the actual filaments present in the sample will be included with more information on that particular filament.
Start your way now to a cleaner, brighter effluent with fewer hassles in your waste treatment plant. Filamentous bulking vs. Zoogleal bulking Wastewater Biomass Analyses Brochure The Most Comprehensive Filamentous Bacteria Training Program you will find!!! Sample Case History
Ok, you convinced me. How do I go about sending in a sample? Call 1-630-906-9791 What will I need to send in? Send in 100 mls of MLSS in a small, plastic bottle with at least 1-2 inches of headspace in the bottle. Seal the bottle carefully. Send overnight by UPS, Fed ex- etc. If possible, pack with blue ice to keep refrigerated. Ship to Environmental Leverage Inc. Attn:Wastewater Lab 812 Dogwood Suite A North Aurora, IL 60542 What will the analyses contain: The Standard Wastewater Biomass Analyses will contain a cover letter with comments, recommendations and troubleshooting tips. Additional training materials may be included if conditions at the plant require it. A Higher life form sheet will be included as well as a floc structure analyses. A CD with photos and videos of your biomass is included. This analyses costs $250.00 A Wastewater Biomass Analyses with Filamentous Identification including Gram and Neisser stains, suggestions on causes and control, troubleshooting tips as well as the above standard analyses. This analyses costs $350.00 Cooling Tower Microscopic analyses- New lab service $150.00
Cover sheet with summary and process recommendations Photo Sheets
Worksheet with filamentous Identification, Floc analyses and Higher life form characteristics
Photo sheets are included, but a CD with videos and photos taken of your sample is also included Call now to set up a Wastewater Biomass Analyses or Filamentous Identification of your plant! 630-906-9791
Start your way now to a cleaner, brighter effluent with fewer hassles in your waste treatment plant. Filamentous bulking vs. Zoogleal bulking Wastewater Biomass Analyses Brochure How are your bugs doing? Filamentous Identification Training class Filamentous Identification The Easy Way- Training program CD Wastewater Biomass Analyses Brochure
The Most Comprehensive Filamentous Bacteria Training Program you will find!!! Sample Case History
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1. Loss of all
higher life forms can indicate a recent high BOD loading or toxic shock. 
4. Suctorians
are usually excellent indicators of good sludge.
9.
Hypomicrobium look like "beans on a stalk". They are an indication that
denitrification is going on. 
11. Zooglea
are extremely large, non-motile bacteria. The bacteria staining is usually
Gram negative and Neisser negative. No sulfur granules are present. They can be
"fingered or amorphous". They have the ability to denitrify. Zooglea have the
presence of excessive amounts of polysaccharide coating. Zooglea grow usually as
"amorphous" clumps or "fingered" like a tree. They can indicate low pH. This
bacteria is usually found in environments where there is a high F/M ratio where
the soluable organic compounds are readily bio-degradable. Often present in
selector systems in activated sludge. Also an indication of nutrient deficiency
(N or P).
Nonetheless,
some characteristics can be examined to determine relative floc condition.
Generally, the more firm and compact a floc is, the better it will settle. The
more lacy and dispersed a floc is, the less likely it will be to settle. The
presence or absence of pin or straggler floc, which can be responsible for high
suspended solids (TSS) in wastewater, is also an important observation when
examining floc structure. The presence of many filamentous bacteria is also
examined to determine if filamentous bulking is responsible for poor settling.
Filaments can
be internally or externally and they can be free of the floc structures or found
intertwined in the floc. Filaments present in the system do not always have to
mean a problem. Some filaments are good if they form a strong backbone and add a
rigid network to the floc. They help give the floc more structure and settle
faster. Filaments are good BOD degraders also. They are only a problem when they
become dominant. If filament abundance is in the abundant or excessive range,
having a Filamentous Identification performed is recommended. 
One reason to
identify filaments is to determine the filaments characteristics and then
determine the type present. If the type is found out, a root cause can usually
be associated with a particular filament. If the cause is known, then a
correction can be made to alleviate problems. Chlorination is only a quick fix.
Without process changes, filaments will grow back after chlorination. 
