Recent Case Studies
Background Data:

Case Study: Laboratory Bench Test
Location: Your Environmental Solutions, Limited, Wastewater Quality Laboratory. Plantation, Florida
Date: November 2001
Treatment:Arthur Technology Respirometer manufactured by Respirometry Plus, LLC, Fond du Lac, Wisconsin.
Method of Treatment: Mixed Liquor effluent sample taken from the aeration basin at the Sunrise Utilities Wastewater Treatment Plant, Sunrise Florida.
 
Challenge:
To determine what, if any, biological affect a nutrient food source plus the addition of the Bio-Activator Bio-Kat( would have on the endogenous microbial respiration rate of a mixed liquor sample taken from the effluent of an aeration basin.
Discussion of Problem Area:
Utilizing an Arthur Technology Respirometer we can measure the Oxygen consumption rate of microorganisms during wastewater treatment in a closed cell environment. Then measure and determine weather or not the microbial respiration rate will change, and if so how much, with the addition of a nutrient food source and the effects of bio-stimulation to an endogenous microorganism population in a wastewater sample.
A 2000-ml mixed liquor sample of aeration basin effluent was added to a single cell of the respirometer. The respirometer was activated to simulate the aeration basin. The initial respiration rate was measured and the sample was allowed to achieve an endogenous state. This was determined by the sample establishing and maintaining a constant rate of respiration of 10 ml/L/hr. We then introduced a nutritional food source to the endogenous microorganisms in order to determine if the microorganisms would consume the food source as they do when raw sewage is introduced to a wastewater treatment plants' aeration basin. Beer was selected as a food source, as it is easily measured and maintains constant nutritional qualities. 3-ml of beer was added to the endogenous wastewater sample, an immediate increase in the respiration rate of the sample was observed. The respiration rate of the sample increased from 10ml/L/hr to 24.75 ml/L/hr. After 121.2 minutes the samples' respiration rate returned to its' original endogenous rate, indicating the food source had been completely consumed. This time period is an indication of treatment time.
 
The second test involved the introduction of a nutritional food source with the addition of the microbial Bio-Activator Bio-Kat(. Again 3-ml of beer was added to the wastewater sample, in addition the sample was dosed at 2 parts per million with Bio-Kat(. The samples' respiration rate increased immediately to 30.77 ml/L/hr, 6.02 ml/L/hr greater than the respiration rate achieved with only the food source. In addition it took only 82.8 minutes for the sample to return to its' original endogenous rate of respiration indicating that the food source had been consumed, and that the treatment time had decreased with the addition of the Bio-Activator.
 
The third test was to ascertain if the Bio-Activator would produce a residual effect on the microorganism activity of the wastewater sample. An additional 3-ml of beer was added to the wastewater sample and an immediate increase rate of respiration of 34.87 ml/L/hr was observed. 24.87 ml/L/hr greater than the initial rate of respiration with no Bio-Activator, and 4.1 ml/L/hr greater than the respiration rate achieved with the second test dosing the sample with a food source and the Bio-Activator. The time it took for the sample to consume the food source was only 69.6 minutes, 13.2 minutes faster than the previous test.
 
These testing procedures were repeated over several days and resulted in duplicated test results.
 
Conclusion:

Respirometer test results indicate that the addition of Bio-Kat( to a wastewater treatment plant aeration basin will dramatically stimulate and continue to stimulate microorganism activity. Not only will a Bio-Activator increase the rate at which food is consumed in an aeration basin, test results also indicate a significant decrease in treatment time. Results indicate that bio-stimulated microorganism activity will increase the amount of food consumed in the treatment process resulting in reduced solids. The introduction of Bio-Kat( will also decrease the treatment time resulting in increased treatment plant efficiency, and decreased energy consumption. The results indicate Bio-Kat( not only enhances microorganism ability to consume a food source at an increased rate, but also indicates a residual effect of an increased microorganism reproductive rate. This was substantiated by the third test procedure result, indicating that the respiration rate increased by 29%, and treatment time decreased by 43% after the initial dosing with Bio-Kat( and the use of Bio-Kat( created a continuing residual effect in the microorganisms' ability to consume a food source.
 
 
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