Fractional, biodegradable and spectral characteristics of extracted and fractionated sludge extracellular polymeric substances.
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 (NH₄OH 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.
School of Municipal & Environmental Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, 202 Haihe Road, Nangang District, Harbin 150090, China.
Liang-Liang
LL
Wei
Kun
K
Wang
Qing-Liang
QL
Zhao
Jun-Qiu
JQ
Jiang
Xiang-Juan
XJ
Kong
Duu-Jong
DJ
Lee
D000042:Absorption / Q000528:radiation effects; D001673:Biodegradation, Environmental; D001704:Biopolymers / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002241:Carbohydrates / Q000032:analysis; D005591:Chemical Fractionation / Q000379:methods*; D005110:Extracellular Space / Q000737:chemistry*; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D010100:Oxygen / Q000032:analysis; D011506:Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D012722:Sewage / Q000737:chemistry*; D012995:Solubility / Q000528:radiation effects; D013050:Spectrometry, Fluorescence; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
D001704:Biopolymers; D002241:Carbohydrates; D009930:Organic Chemicals; D011506:Proteins; D012722:Sewage; D010100:Oxygen