The influence of carbon-nitrogen ration on the chlorination of microbial aggregates

Abstract

Experiments were conducted with attached microbial films in a continuous flow reactor to determine the response of the film to hypochlorite treatment as a function of influent substrate concentration, influent carbon-nitrogen ratio (C/N) and shear force at the slime-water interface. Experiments were also conducted in batch systems with suspended organisms grown at varying C/N.Results were obtained regarding the relationship of bactericidal action to slime destruction. Comparison of experiments with HOCI and Hg2+ indicate that bactericidal efficiency does not influence slime destruction. Destructive effects of hypochlorite oxidation were noted by measuring decrease in solids concentration of bacterial cultures.