MICROBIAL-POPULATIONS AND SLUDGE CHARACTERISTICS IN THERMOPHILIC AEROBIC SEWAGE-SLUDGE DIGESTION

Estimates of bacterial numbers from raw sewage sludge and sludge treated by thermophilic aerobic digestion were compared with simple indicators of sludge quality and concentrations of potential substrates. Significant differences were found between sludge types for all but one of the variables examined (frequency of dividing cells). During a stable period of digestor operation, the average number of viable obligate thermophiles present in digested sludge (1.63 × 106 ml-1) was approximately 102-fold greater than in feed sludge (1.10 × 104 ml-1). Total numbers of bacteria were slightly greater in digested sludge (3.24 × 1010 ml-1) than in feed sludge (2.39 × 10 ml-10), as were viable counts of bacteria at incubation temperatures of 37°C and 55°C. Significant correlation was found between viable counts of bacteria at 37°C and 55°C for digested sludge, and 65°C and 55°C for feed sludge. The numbers of obligate thermophiles present and the total of bacteria present were related to the temperature and pH of the digested sludge and inversely related to the numbers of Escherichia coli and coliforms present, which were not detected at temperatures greater than 50°C. © 1990 Springer-Verlag.