The Influence of Temperature on the Effectiveness of Filamentous Bacteria Removal from Activated Sludge by Rotifers

Abstract

We investigated the feeding of the rotifer Lecane inermis on filamentous bacteria to determine if the ability of rotifers to remove filaments depends on temperature. The bacteria originated from two treatment plants, one of which was dominated by Microthrix parvicella and the other by Nostocoida limicola-like organisms. The experiments showed that the number of rotifers increased with temperature, and thus the ability of rotifers to reduce the number of filaments also increased with temperature. At 8 degrees C, their removal effectiveness was low, but the rotifers were able to survive at this temperature. When presented with sludge containing N. limicola-like microorganisms at 20 degrees C, the rotifers reduced the number of bacteria by 95%. In the case of M. parvicella, the reduction reached 50%. The results confirmed that Lecane are capable of controlling the growth of bacteria responsible for sludge bulking. This is the first report indicating that the seasonality of bulking may be the result of the activity of filamentous bacteria grazers, which is temperature dependent.