Data processing: measuring – calibrating – or testing – Measurement system in a specific environment – Biological or biochemical
Reexamination Certificate
2001-09-20
2004-06-08
Brusca, John S. (Department: 1631)
Data processing: measuring, calibrating, or testing
Measurement system in a specific environment
Biological or biochemical
C435S034000, C435S040500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06748331
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of biological waste water treatment processes and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to the identification of a filamentous organism in a biological sample.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Filamentous organisms (filamentous bacteria) are very important to the biological process that occurs in a wastewater treatment plant. They form a backbone for activated sludge floc which helps the sludge settle in the secondary clarifier. However, excessive filamentous bacteria can cause bulking and foaming in the biological process. Research has indicated that various bulking and foaming problems are caused by the type and amount of filamentous bacteria present.
Therefore, correctly identifying filamentous bacteria in biological treatment processes, especially in activated sludge, is very important for proper diagnosis of a specific bulking or foaming problem. It is the necessary first step in bulking and foaming control. Certain filaments are associated with particular operational conditions. These bacteria can be, for instance, sulfur oxidizing filaments, low dissolved oxygen filaments, or low food to microorganism ratio (F/M) filaments. Different filaments require different control methods. Correct typing of filamentous bacteria gives an operator additional knowledge with which to design the proper control for bulking and foaming in the wastewater treatment plant.
Typing of filamentous bacteria is presently conducted using a microscope. Under the microscope, each filamentous organism is characterized using a number of parameters. These parameters include branching, motility, filament shape, filament location, attached growth, sheath, crosswalls, filament diameter, filament length, cell shape, cell size, presence of sulfur deposits, presence of other granules, Gram stain and Neisser stain. In total, 15 parameters have been identified. Based on information from Eikelboom and van Buijsen, Jenkins et al. provide a short description for each of the 29 filamentous organisms commonly observed in activated sludge in their
Manual on the Causes and Control of Activated Sludge Bulking and Foaming
, Jenkins et al., 1993. Prior art methods of identifying filaments involve matching the observed filament characteristics with the short descriptions provided in the
Manual on the Causes and Control of Activated Sludge Bulking and Foaming
, Jenkins et al., 1993. The procedure described in this manual to identify each filamentous organism in a wastewater sample is widely used by wastewater treatment personnel.
The key point in identifying a filamentous organism is to match the unique set of 15 characteristics with one of the 29 filaments provided in the Jenkins et al. manual. Among the 29 filaments, many of them have similar characteristics and some of the filaments are differentiated by only a few parameters. Therefore, the matching process requires experience. For an experienced observer using prior art techniques, it normally takes about two hours to type one sample. Among wastewater treatment plant operators and environmental engineers, there are only a few who have sufficient knowledge of the multiple typing considerations to type filaments correctly and expediently. Therefore, there is a need for improvements in the art to assist typing observers in quickly and reliably identifying filamentous bacteria.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to an apparatus and method for identifying a filamentous organism of the type present in a biological waste water treatment process.
In accordance with preferred embodiments, a magnified image of an unstained filamentous organism is obtained, and initially evaluated for the presence or absence of attached growth and the presence or absence of sulfur granules.
A computer routine resident in a computer workstation is executed which, for each combination of the presence or absence of attached growth and the presence or absence of sulfur granules, provides a separate user interactive search tree, each search tree leading to a different set of possible types of filamentous organisms. The routine preferably displays digital images showing representations of each of the four possible combinations of the foregoing parameters. Based on user selection of what is observed in the sample, the routine presents successive screens with further options which most closely correlate with what is observed in the magnified image, ultimately leading the user (via multiple paths in many cases) to the final identification of the filamentous organism in an efficient and reliable manner.
Using the search tree associated with the combination of the presence of attached growth and the presence of sulfur granules, the filamentous organism is readily identified as type 0914. The search tree associated with the combination of the absence of attached growth and the presence of sulfur granules leads to identification of the filamentous organism as a selected one of the following five types: 0914, 021N, Beggiatoa, Thiothrix I or Thiothrix II, based on additional observation of physical characteristics in the unstained sample.
The search tree associated with the combination of the presence of attached growth and the absence of sulfur granules leads to the identification of the filamentous organism as a selected one of the following seven types: 0041, 0675, 0914, 1701, 1851
, H. Hydrossis
or
S. Natans
, based on additional observation of physical characteristics in the unstained sample.
Finally, when neither attached growth nor sulfur granules are present in the sample, the associated search tree leads to the identification of the filamentous organism as a selected one of the following 23 types: 0041, 0092, 021N, 0411, 0581, 0675, 0803, 0914, 0961, 1701, 1851, 1863, Beggiatoa, Flexibacter,
H. Hydrossis
, Limicola I, Limicola II, Limicola III,
M. Parvicella
, Nocardia ssp.,
S. Natans
, Thiothrix I or Thiothrix II. Most of these filamentous organisms can be identified based on observed physical characteristics without the need for extensive, time consuming identification methods, such as Neisser and Gram staining.
These and various other features and advantages which characterize the present invention will be apparent from a reading of the following detailed description and a review of the associated drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4199748 (1980-04-01), Bacus
Williams et al. Isolation and characterization of filamentous bacteria present in bulking activated sludge. Appl. Microbiol. Biotechnol. vol. 22, pp. 273-282 (1985).*
Robin L. Brigmon, Gabriel Bitton, Stephen G. Zam, Harris W. Martin and Bonnie O'Brien; “Identification, Enrichment, and Isolation of Thiothrix ssp. From Environmental Samples*”; Current Microbiology vol. 28 (1994), pp. 243-246.
Monika Emmrich Manfred Ziegler and Henning Ruden; “Filamentous Bacteria in Activated Sludge (Bulking Sludge)”; Zbl. Bakt. Hyg., I. Abt. Orig. B 177, 436-450 (1983).
Campana Christopher K.
Stover Enos L.
Wilson Gerald E.
Zhao Qin
Brusca John S.
Crowe & Dunlevy, P.C.
Stover & Associates, Inc.
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