Fractional, biodegradable and spectral characteristics of extracted and fractionated sludge extracellular polymeric substances
Journal
Water Research
Journal Volume
46
Journal Issue
14
Pages
4387-4396
Date Issued
2012
Author(s)
Abstract
Correlation between fractional, biodegradable and spectral characteristics of sludge extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) by different protocols has not been well established. This work extracted sludge EPS using alkaline extractants (NH 4 OH and formaldehyde + NaOH) and physical protocols (ultrasonication, heating at 80 °C or cation exchange resin (CER)) and then fractionated the extracts using XAD-8/XAD-4 resins. The alkaline extractants yielded more sludge EPS than the physical protocols. However, the physical protocols extracted principally the hydrophilic components which were readily biodegradable by microorganisms. The alkaline extractants dissolved additional humic-like substances from sludge solids which were refractory in nature. Different extraction protocols preferably extracted EPS with distinct fractional, biodegradable and spectral characteristics which could be applied in specific usages. ? 2012 Elsevier Ltd.
Subjects
Biodegradable rate
Extracellular polymeric substances
Extraction methods
Fractionation
Sludge
Type
journal article