ABSTRACT

Biofilm in waste water treatment system was evaluated. Slime (film) formers were isolated from water samples collected from treated waste water; from brewery and bottling company in Aba. Result obtained from the adherence slip culture show the presence of five bacteria isolates with ability to adhere strongly onto the cover slip in water. The isolates and occurance  were; Staphylococcus,  100%, Bacillus, 100%, Pseudomonas 80%, E.coli  40% and Listeria  50%. Further tests for confirmation of biofilm production was done using the congo red agar colorimetric method. Staphylococcus, Bacillus,  and Pseudomonas  showed positive biofilm production while  E.coli  and Listeria  did not produce slime in the culture. Also present of physico-chemical properties of the waste water samples indicates low quality with high BOD of 9.7mg/l to 22.5mg/l in the treated water bottling company waste water and from 9.67mg/l to 13.7mg/l. The COD range was 4.61mg/l to 8.06mg/l and from 2.75mg/l to 5.66mg/l in the two waste waters respectively. The pH ranged from 5.33 to 5.79 and from 5.43 to 6.23 in the water samples. The more variations in Temperature of the waters over the days as well as in the Total Solids and Total Suspended Solids content. The water was considered to be polluted by organic pollutant and unsuitable for domestic use as the biofilm can cause deliteries effects on utensils including corrosion and possible infections. 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Title page i

Certification ii

Dedication iii

Acknowledgement iv

Table of Contents v

List of Tables vii

List of  Figures viii

Abstract ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction 1

1.2 Advantages and disadvantages of biofilm application 2

1.3 Aims and objectives 3

CHAPTER TWO - LITERATURE REVIEW 4

2.1 Wastewater and Its Treatment 4

2.1.1 Wastewater Components 5

2.2  Biofilms 7

2.2.1 Development of formation of biofilm 8

2.2.2 Biofilm system in Wastewater 11

2.2.3 Comparison between suspended and fixed film 12

2.2.4 Sludge mechanisms 13

2.2.5 Wastewater and anaerobic treatment 14

CHAPTER THREE - MATERIALS AND METHOD 16

3.1 Sources of Material 16

3.2 Sample and  Media Preparation. 16

3.2.1 Sample and Sampling 16

3.2.2 Media Preparations 16

3.3 Determination of Bacterial Load 17

3.4 Isolation of Biofilm Producing Bacteria   18

3.4.1 Characterisation and Identification of Biofilm suspect isolates   19

3.5 Determination of physiochemical properties of waste water samples.   20

3.5.1 Determination of temperature   20

3.5.2 Determination of pH   20

3.5.3 Determination of total and suspended solids.   20

3.5.4 COD determination    21

3.5.5 Determination of BOD    21

3.6 Determination of Biofilm formation of Isolates     22

CHAPTER FOUR – RESULTS        24

CHAPTER FIVE – DISCUSSION, CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION      30

5.1 Conclusion       31

5.2 Recommendation       31

References

Appendixes