Characterization of activated sludge exopolymers from various origins: a combined size-exclusion chromatography and infrared microscopy study.
High-pressure size-exclusion liquid chromatography and infrared microscopy were coupled to investigate the molecular weight and nature of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from various activated sludges. Six main families of compounds (proteins, polysaccharides, organic acids, lipids, mineral phases) were found either as a single molecule or as associations. The molecular weight of proteins varied from small (10 kDa) to large (600 kDa) sizes, while all polysaccharides were smaller than 1 kDa. Association of different molecules implied the presence of species large in size. The EPS chromatographic fingerprints of sludge from various origins remained stable in normal operating conditions, but were drastically modified during settling crises. In poor settling conditions, the EPS with smaller molecular sizes always prevailed and large polymers were underrepresented. The EPS identified in activated sludge were collected in a chemical database which provides the basis for comparison of municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants (WWTP).
Laboratoire Environnement et Minéralurgie, Ecole Nationale Supérieure de Géologie, CNRS UMR 7569, Institut National Polytechnique de Lorraine, 15 avenue du Charmois, BP 40, 54501 Vandoeuvre les Nancy Cedex, France. christophe_grn@yahoo.fr
Christophe
C
Garnier
Tatiana
T
Görner
Bruno S
BS
Lartiges
Sandra
S
Abdelouhab
Philippe
P
de Donato
D001515:Beer; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002850:Chromatography, Gel; D005602:France; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis; D008903:Minerals / Q000032:analysis; D008970:Molecular Weight; D010209:Paper; D011134:Polysaccharides / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000737:chemistry; D012621:Seasons; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014865:Waste Disposal, Fluid
D001704:Biopolymers; D007220:Industrial Waste; D008055:Lipids; D008903:Minerals; D011134:Polysaccharides; D011506:Proteins; D012722:Sewage