Particle Characterization in Environmental Applications
Waste Water Treatment
Task: Investigate the effect of waste water treatment sludge pH levels upon the formation of mixed culture biomass.
Sample: Fungal/bacteria biomass at pH 3.5 and pH 4.0, diluted with water filtered to 0.22µm.
Run Conditions: Samples were analyzed at magnifications 5X and 14X. Particle diameter and concentration were measured. Images containing particles larger than 30µm were stored in order to visually isolate the fungal biomass.
Analysis: It was found that relative to a pH of 4.0, a pH of 3.5 significantly prohibited the formation of fungal biomass in favor of the bacteria. Particle concentrations were 3.7 times higher predominantly between 1 to 20µm due to a larger concentration of bacteria and improperly formed fungi.
