Detecting Malfunctions in the Nitrification Stage

Raimund Schneider, wastewater manager at Stadtwerke Schramberg, reports about his experience with the use of VIT® gene probe technology for analysis and monitoring of the nitrification stage.

Abstract

The nitrification stage of the biological treatment process is highly sensitive to external influences like oxygen limitation, fluctuations in temperature and pH value and toxic substances in the wastewater. For this reason, breakdowns of the nitrification or reduced dergradation performances are not uncommon. Especially during the cold seasons, nitrification problems occur quite frequently. In the article “Detecting Malfunctions in the Nitrification Stage”, Raimund Schneider, wastewater manager at Stadtwerke Schramberg, reports about current problems at the plant and how these could be examined and monitored with the help of VIT® gene probe technology. “Soon it became obvious that after the laboratory introduction by vermicon AG we would purchase a suitable adapted fluorescence microscope. In addition, test kits for on-site analysis of nitrifying bacteria were ordered. Since then we have performed several analyses of the biocenosis in our wastewater treatment plant’s biology (…) The analysis of bacteria groups via VIT® gene probe technology is, in our view, very helpful for gaining a better understanding of the processes in the “black box” of nitrification.”

Publication language: German

Identical microscopic images after analysis with VIT®: Phase contrast, nitrite oxidizing bacteria shine green, ammonia oxidizing bacteria shine red.

Quotation

Raimund Schneider, Abwassermeister Stadtwerke Schramberg GmbH & Co. KG (2018): Mikrobiologie des Abwassers. Erkennen von Betriebsstörungen in der Nitrifikation. In: KA Betriebs-Info, 48 Jahrgang, Nr. 3 Juli 2018. Herausgeber: DWA - Deutsche Vereinigung für Wasserwirtschaft, Abwasser und Abfall e.V.