ENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY

BY: LOKE KOK FOONG

INTRODUCTION
With proper analysis and environmental control, almost all wastewater can be treated biologically. Therefore, it is essential that the environmental engineer understand the characteristics of each microorganisms and biological process to ensure that the proper environment is produced and controlled effectively. The objectives of the biological treatment of wastewater are to coagulate and remove the non-settleable colloidal solids and to stabilize the organic matter. On the basis of cell structure and function, microorganisms are commonly divides into two major subdivisions or kingdoms, plants and animals. The term Protista is often used to classify organisms in which there is no cell specialization, that is each cell is capable of carrying out all of the functions of that organism. Members of the protista group are called protists and may belong to either the plant or animal kingdom under the classical nomenclature most of the organisms of significance in natural purification processes the bacteria, algae, protozoa, fungi, and viruses are protests. In the living system that is used in secondary treatment of wastewaters, bacteria and protozoa are the major groups of microorganisms. The reaction in the biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) test to determine wastewater strength, a mixed culture of these microorganisms also performs. The aquatic food chain where involving organisms in natural waters, can be distressed by water pollution. Bacteria, protozoa and viruses can caused several waterborne diseases. To evaluate the sanitary quality of water for drinking and recreation, indicator organisms and particularly coliforms are used. The bacteria, viruses, fungi, algae and protozoa can live together as one community. So sewage treatment plants are designed to optimize contact between microorganisms and organics under the most favorable environmental conditions. The important of microorganisms are used to convert and biodegrade the colloidal and dissolved carbonaceous organic matter into various gases, into cell tissue and into simple compounds. Because cell tissue has a specific gravity slightly greater than that of water,

the resulting cells can be removed from the treated liquid by gravity settling. About biodegrade organic and inorganic matter into simple compounds such as below Energy Organic Matter + O2 CO2 + H2O + New Cells

BACTERIA

Bacteria Cell Structure

The word bacteria comes from the Greek word meaning Rod or staff, a shape characteristic of most bacteria. Bacteria are single-celled procaryotic organisms that utilize soluble food, usually colorless and are the lowest form of life capable of synthesizing protoplasm from the surrounding environment. They fill on indispensable ecological role of decaying organic matter both in nature and in stabilizing organic waste in treatment plants. Their usual made of reproduction is by binary fission and also some species reproduce sexually or by budding. Most bacteria can be grouped by form into four general categories there are spheroid, rod, curved rod or spiral and filamentous. Spherical bacteria known as cocci ( Singular, coccus ) are about 1 to 3 m in diameter. The rod-shaped bacteria known as bacilli ( Singular, bacillus ) are quite variable in size ranging from 0.3 to 1.5 m in width or diameter and from 1.0 to 10.0 m in length. Escherichia coli, a common organism found in human feces is described as being 0.5 m in width by 2 m in length. Curved rod-shaped bacteria known as vibrios,

typically vary in size from 0.6 to 1.0 m in width or diameter and from 2 to 6 m in length. Sprical bacteria known as spirilla ( Singular, spirillum ) may be found in length up to 50 m. Filamentous forms known under a variety of names can occur in length of 100 m and longer. Bacteria are classified into two major group there is heterotrophic or autotrophic depend on their nutrients source. Sometimes, heterotrophs referred to as saprophytes and both an energy and a carbon source for synthesis is from organic matter. Depending on their action toward free oxygen, these bacteria are further subdivided into three groups. Free dissolved oxygen in decomposing organic matter to gain energy for growth and multiplication are require from Aerobes. Anaerobes oxidize organics in the complete absence of dissolved oxygen by using oxygen bound in other compound such as nitrate and sulfate. Facultative bacteria compose a group that live in its absence by gaining energy from anaerobic reaction but they can also uses free dissolved oxygen when available. In wastewater treatment, anaerobes predominate in sludge digestion but aerobic microorganisms are found in activated sludge and trickling filters. Facultative bacteria are active in both aerobic and anaerobic treatment units. Gains of energy for synthesis of new cells and for respiration and motility is the primary reason heterotrophic bacteria decompose organics. In the form of heat, a small fraction of the energy is lost. The diseases caused by bacteria is typhoid fever, jaundice fever and cholera.

Aerobe: Organics + Oxygen CO2 + H2O + Energy

Anaerobe: Organics + NO3Organics + SO4 Facultative: Organics + Organics Acids + CO2 + H2O + Energy Organics + CH4 + CO2 + Energy
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CO2 + N2 + Energy CO2 + H2S + Energy

VIRUSES

Viruses in Wastewater

Viruses are the smallest biological structures known to contain all the genetic information necessary for their own reproduction. Viruses with sizes range from 0.01 to 0.3 m, so small that they can only be seen with the aid of an electron microscope. Viruses are obligate parasites that require a host in which to live where the viral genetic material redirects cell activities to the production of new viral particles at the expense of the host cell. When an infected cell dies, large numbers of viruses are released to infect other cells. Viruses that infect only bacteria are called bacteriophages or simply phages. Generally helical, polyhedral or combination T-even are viruses particles. The bacteriophages injects genetic material into the bacteria, the protein coat does not enter the cell. In contrast, break the host cells membrane and drift in to uncoat the genetic material by animal viruses. Once inside, the virus takes over the cells metabolism to synthesize new virus proteins and nucleic acids. The whole cycle takes about 30 to 40 minute for phages infecting bacteria. Viruses are present in wastewater treatment plant effluents discharged to surface waters. The viruses found in relatively large numbers in human feces are the caliciviruses cause diarrhea and gastroenteritis, adenoviruses associated with respiratory and eye infections, enteroviruses which include coxsackie, poliovirus and echoviruses cause a wide range of illnesses including meningitis, paralytic disease, myocorditis and the

hepatitis A virus ( HAV ) causes infectious hepatitis, an acute inflammation of the liver. Viruses that are excreted by human beings may become a major hazard to public health. For example, from experimental studies, it has been found that from 10,000 to 100,000 infectious doses of hepatitis virus are emitted from each gram of feces of a patient ill with this waterborne disease.

FUNGI

Fungi in Wastewater

Fungi importance in environmental engineering are considered to be multicellular, non-photosynthetic, heterotrophic protists, chemoheterotrophic and eucoryotic protists. Fungi are usually classified by their mode of reproduction. They reproduce sexually or asexually by fission, budding or spare formation. Molds or true fungi, produce microscopic units ( hyphae ) that collectively form a filamentous mass called the mycelium. Yeasts are fungi that cannot form a mycelium and are therefore unicellular. Fungi obtaining their food from dead organic matter. Along with bacteria, fungi are the principal organisms responsible for the decomposition of carbon in the biosphere. Ecologically, fungi have two advantages over bacteria that is they can grow in low-moisture areas and they can grow in low pH environments. Without the presence of fungi to break down organic material, the carbon cycle would soon cease to exist and organic matter would start to accumulate.

Most fungi are strict aerobes. The optimum pH for most species is 5.6, the range is 2 to 9. Fungi also have a low nitrogen requirement, needing approximately one-half as much as bacteria. The ability of the fungi to survive under low pH and nitrogen-limiting conditions, coupled with their ability to degrade cellulose and makes them very important in the biological treatment of some industrial wastes and in the composting of solid organic wastes.

ALGAE

Algae in Wastewater

Algae are autotrophic, photosynthetic organisms plants of the simplest forms, nor leaves, having neither roots and stems. Algae can be a great nuisance in surface water because when conditions are right, they will rapidly reproduce and cover streams, lakes and reservoirs in large floating colonies called blooms. Algae range in size from tiny single cells and giving water a green colour to branched forms of visible length that often appear as attached green slime. Algae blooms are usually characteristic of what is called a eutrophic lake or a lake with a high content of the compounds needed for biological growth, this is because effluent from wastewater treatment plants is usually high in biological nutrients, discharge of the effluent to lakes causes enrichment and increases the rate of eutrophication. The same effects can also occur in streams. Algae are important in biological treatment processes for two reasons that is in ponds, the ability of algae to produce oxygen by photosynthesis is vital to the ecology of

the water environment. For an aerobic or facultative oxidation pond to operate effectively, algae are needed to supply oxygen to aerobic and heterotrophic bacteria. Energy for photosynthesis is derived from light. Algae are also important in biological treatment processes because the problem of preventing excessive algae growth in receiving waters has to date, centered around nutrient removal in the treatment process. Some scientists advocate the removal of nitrogen from treatment plant effluents, others recommend the removal of phosphorous and still others recommend removal of both. The choice of treatment objective influences the type of biological process selected. If the presence too much of algae will effects the value of water for water supply because they often cause taste and smell problems, reduce the intensity of light penetration and also die off-disintegrate and cause anaerobic condition.

PROTOZOA

Protozoa in Wastewater

Protozoa are single-celled eucaryotic microorganisms without cell walls and reproduce by binary fission. Protozoa are more complex in their functional activity than bacteria or viruses. Protozoa also have a complex digestive systems and use solid organic matter as food. The protozoa with size 10 to 100 m and since protozoa are one to two orders of magnitude larger than bacteria, the protozoa diet often includes bacteria cells as well as colloidal organics. The majority of protozoa are aerobic or facultatively anaerobic chemoheterotrops, although some type are known. Protozoa are important to wastewater engineers include

amoebas, flagellates, stalked ciliates, and free-swimming protozoa use a rapid movement of their cilia to propel themselves through the water in search of food. Protozoa feed on bacteria and other microscopic microorganisms and are essential in the operation of biological treatment processes and in the purification of streams because they maintain a natural balance among the different group of microorganisms. Protozoa also act as cleaning agent in sewage treatment plant. A number of protozoa are also pathogenic that can cause diseases of the gastrointestinal tract such as typhoid and paratyphoid fever, dysentery, diarrhea, and cholera.

ROTIFERS

Rotifers in Wastewater

Rotifers are lower-order animals that prey on bacteria, protozoa and algae. The rotifer is an aerobic, heterotrophic and multicellular animal. Its name is derived from the fact that is has two sets of rotating cilia on its head, which are used for motility and capturing food. Rotifers help to maintain a balance in the populations of primary producers and serve as an important link in the chain by which organic materials are passed on to higher-order animals. Rotifers are very effective in consuming dispersed and flocculated bacteria and small particles of organic matter. Their presence in an effluent indicates a highly efficient aerobic biological purification process.

BACTERIA GROWTH
Effective environment control in biological waste treatment is based on an understanding of the basic principles governing the growth of microorganisms. Bacteria can reproduce by binary fission, by budding or by a sexual mode. Bacteria reproduce by binary fission example by dividing the original cell becomes two new organisms. The time required for each fission which in termed the generation time, can vary from days to less than 20 minute. The relationship of cell growth and food utilization can be illustrated by a simple batch reactor such as a stoppered bottle. A given quantity of a food containing all the necessary nutrients is placed in the bottle and inoculated with a mixed culture of microorganisms. The microorganisms must first become acclimated to their surrounding environment and to the food provided. The acclimation period, called the lag phase. If the organisms have been accustomed to a similar environment and similar food, the lag phase will be vary brief. Bacterial cell reproduce by binary fission that is cells divide into segments that separate to become two new independent cells. The time required for a cell to mature and separate, depends on environmental factors and food supply. Maximum growth thus occurs at a logarithmic rate and the growth curve is called the log-growth phase. The maximum growth cannot continue indefinitely because of the food supply may become limiting and environment conditions may change example like overcrowding and waste product build up and also a population of grazers may develop. The bacteria are unable to obtain food from external source begin endogenous catabolism or the catabolizing of stored protoplasm for maintenance energy. About other bacteria die or break open, releasing their protoplasm which adds to the available food. The stationary phase represents the times during which the production of new cellular materials is roughly offset by death and endogenous respiration. In this final endogenous phase, biomass slowly decreases, approaching zero asymptotically after a very long time.

CONCLUSION
The microorganisms are very important in sewage treatment. Biological processes have found little use in the treatment of potable water supplies because of the low levels of biodegradable organics in the raw water. However, biological processes are used

extensively in wastewater treatment to convert biodegradable organics and other nutrients into a more manageable form. Biological processes form the basis for secondary treatment in which dissolved and colloidal organics are converted into biomass that is subsequently separated from the liquid stream. Secondary treatment systems are designed to optimize contact between microorganisms and organics under the most favorable environmental conditions. Once separated, the biomass becomes a concentrated waste stream that must be dealt with promptly. Biological treatment of this and other organic wastewater sludge, called sludge digestion is one of the most important and most difficult process in wastewater treatment. The principal applications of biological treatment processes are for the removal of the carbonaceous organic matter in wastewater, usually measured as BOD, total organic carbon ( TOC ) or chemical oxygen demand ( COD ), nitrification, denitrification, phosphorus removal, and waste stabilization.

REFERENCES
1. Mark J. Hammer, Water and Wastewater Technology, fifth edition, Pearson Prentice Hall, 2004. 2. Howard S. Peavy, Donald R. Rowe, George Tchobanoglous, Environmental Engineering, McGraw-Hill Book Company, 1986. 3. Metcalf & Eddy, Wastewater Engineering: Treatment, Disposal and Reuse, Third Edition, McGraw-Hill Inc, 1991. 4. A. James, Biological Indicators of Water Quality, John Wiley & Sons, 1979. 5. Bernard B. Berger, Control Of Organic Substances In Water And Wastewater, Noyes Data Corporation, 1987. 6. International Conference, Johannesburg, Advanced Treatment And Reclamation Of Wastewater, The International Association On Water Pollution Research, ( IAWPR )1977. 7. Babbitt H.E. & E.R.Baumann, Sewerage and Sewage Treatment, eight edition, Wiley, New York, 1952.