Bacteria and Viruses in Aerobically Digested Sludge: Influence of Physical and Chemical Treatments on Survival and Association with Flocs under Laboratory Conditions

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Abstract
The effect of chemical (NaF, NaN3) and physical (heating, autoclaving) treatments of sludge flocs on bacteria and viruses in sludge undergoing aerobic digestion was studied as part of studies on the mechanisms of removal of these agents by aerobic waste treatment. Following either chemical or physical treatments, aerobically digested sludge flocs adsorbed only a small portion of added or indigenous bacteria. These treatments also reduced inactivation of bacteria as compared with untreated sludge flocs. In contrast, these treatments had relatively little effect on either adsorption of enteroviruses to sludge flocs or on inactivation of viruses. The treatments that decreased bacterial association with sludge flocs and decreased the inactivation rate of bacteria also reduced the number of active protozoans and other predators. It is concluded that enteric viruses and bacteria have different affinities for sludge flocs and are inactivated by different mechanisms during aerobic digestion of sludge.

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