Conventional methods to determine the biomass in activated sludge are the measurement of total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS). Such methods do not distinguish between active biomass and inactive organic material. In this study, biomass was determined with both conventional methods and also through measuring the protein content with the modified Lowry method. In order to investigate the relationship between activity and biomass concentration in terms of TSS, VSS and protein content, some starvation experiments were conducted. It was found that the protein fraction of VSS differs under different starvation conditions. The biological activity of the activated sludge was measured as oxygen uptake rate (OUR). The strongest correlation could be measured between protein and OUR under various conditions. The results show that protein is an appropriate parameter for the measurement of the biological activity.
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Research Article|
April 01 2012
Protein analysis as a measure of active biomass in activated sludge Available to Purchase
E. Yücesoy;
E. Yücesoy
1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Waste and Municipal Water Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, D-45141 Essen, Germany
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N. Lüdemann;
N. Lüdemann
1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Waste and Municipal Water Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, D-45141 Essen, Germany
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H. Lucas;
H. Lucas
1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Waste and Municipal Water Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, D-45141 Essen, Germany
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J. Tan;
J. Tan
1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Waste and Municipal Water Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, D-45141 Essen, Germany
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M. Denecke
1Faculty of Civil Engineering, Department of Waste and Municipal Water Management, University of Duisburg-Essen, Universitätsstraße 15, D-45141 Essen, Germany
E-mail: [email protected]
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Water Sci Technol (2012) 65 (8): 1483–1489.
Article history
Received:
April 26 2011
Accepted:
December 06 2011
Citation
E. Yücesoy, N. Lüdemann, H. Lucas, J. Tan, M. Denecke; Protein analysis as a measure of active biomass in activated sludge. Water Sci Technol 1 April 2012; 65 (8): 1483–1489. doi: https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2012.029
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