Reference Library

Potential cause: Organic Acids

Elevated Organic Acid Concentrations: Filamentous bulking from many recognized filamentous bacteria morphotypes is correlated with elevated concentrations of low molecular weight organic acids. Generally, >80 mg/L of volatile acids is a recognized cause for selection of these filaments. Organic acids may be naturally occurring in many industrial wastes and septage or may be formed in areas of septicity/fermentation (i.e., collection systems, lift stations, eq basins, primary clarifiers).

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Flexibacter

Diameter:
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
Flexibacter cropped from 1000x DIC scaled
Flexibacter cropped from 1000x DIC scaled
Shape:
Rods
Septa:
N/A
Sulfur Granules:
N/A
Sheath:
N/A
Branching:
N/A

Description

Rod shaped. Grow outside of the floc (or sometimes near the floc edges) and correlated with organic acid substrate and/or microaerophilic conditions.

Spirochaetes

Diameter:
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
Spirochaetes cropped form 1000x DIC
Spirochaetes cropped form 1000x DIC
Shape:
N/A
Septa:
N/A
Sulfur Granules:
N/A
Sheath:
N/A
Branching:
N/A

Description

“Cork-screw-like” and motile. Grow outside of the floc and correlated with organic acid substrate and/or microaerophilic conditions.

Spirilla

Diameter:
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
spirillum cropped from 1000x phase contrast
spirillum cropped from 1000x phase contrast
Shape:
N/A
Septa:
N/A
Sulfur Granules:
N/A
Sheath:
N/A
Branching:
N/A

Description

Small and slightly curved structure. Grow outside of the floc and correlated with organic acid substrate and/or microaerophilic conditions.

Globular Zoogloea

Diameter:
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
Globular Zoogloea cropped from 1000x DIC scaled
Globular Zoogloea cropped from 1000x DIC scaled
Shape:
N/A
Septa:
N/A
Sulfur Granules:
N/A
Sheath:
N/A
Branching:
N/A

Description

Associated with organic acid substrate. Generally, occur when there are high bacterial growth rates in the Initial Contact Zone (first 15-30 minutes) of the aeration basin.

Fingered Zoogloea

Diameter:
N/A
Dimensions
N/A
Fingered zoogloea cropped from 1000x phase
Fingered zoogloea cropped from 1000x phase
Shape:
N/A
Septa:
N/A
Sulfur Granules:
N/A
Sheath:
N/A
Branching:
N/A

Description

Associated with organic acid substrate. Generally, occur when there are high bacterial growth rates in the Initial Contact Zone (first 15-30 minutes) of the aeration basin.

Filament Type 0581

Diameter:
.5-.8 µm
Dimensions
Shape:
N/A
Septa:
Usually not visible
Sulfur Granules:
No
Sheath:
No
Branching:
No

Description

Looks like Microthix but gram positive.

Filament Type 0211 Morphotype

Diameter:
.3-.4 µm
Dimensions
.4 x .6 µm
Shape:
OvalsRods
Septa:
Yes usually visible
Sulfur Granules:
No
Sheath:
No
Branching:
No

Description

Grows dispersed. “Thin and crooked”.

Filament Type 0092

Diameter:
0.6-1.2 µm
Dimensions
.8-1.0 x 1.0
type 0092 cropped from 1000x Neisser
type 0092 cropped from 1000x Neisser
Shape:
Rectangles
Septa:
Yes - Sometimes but not always Visible
Sulfur Granules:
No
Sheath:
Variable
Branching:
Variable

Description

Neisser positive. Need Neisser stain to ID. Often difficult to see at phase contrast. Common to not see individual cells.

Filament Type 0961

Diameter:
1.0-1.4 µm
Dimensions
1.0-1.4 x 2.0-4.0 µm
Shape:
SausageRods
Septa:
Yes - visible
Sulfur Granules:
No
Sheath:
No - not a true sheath
Branching:
No - not a true sheath

Description

Transparent/ "lighter" appearance.

Filament Type 0411 Morphotype

Diameter:
.8-1.2 µm
Dimensions
.8-1.2 x 2.0-5.0 µm
type 0411 cropped from 1000x phase contrast
type 0411 cropped from 1000x phase contrast
Shape:
SausageRods
Septa:
Yes - visible
Sulfur Granules:
No
Sheath:
No
Branching:
No

Description

"Elongated rods/ long sausage links"

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Ryan Hennessy Wastewater Microbiology
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