Parameters for Measuring the Activity and Viability of Activated Sludge

Abstract

Abstract Conventional wastewater parameters are accepted as inadequate estimates of the condition of activated sludge but numerous other indices have been suggested as specific measurements of the activity and viability of the biomass. Literature in the related fields of microbiology and biochemistry were reviewed in order to select the most appropriate activity parameters for application to a heterogeneous biological material. Modified analytical methods were applied to a well-controlled biological system containing a single predominant bacterial species to evaluate the relative merit of each as an indicator of viability and activity. The potential of each parameter in a complex heterogeneous system was determined by monitoring each index in a bench activated sludge system. The predominant culture studies indicated that the ATP content of the biomass and the dehydrogenase activity were potential indicators of cell viability in a simple system. However, in the complex activated sludge system, only the ATP content showed significant correlation to the organic carbon removal rate.