Date of Award
2019
Document Type
Open Access Master's Thesis
Degree Name
Master of Science in Environmental Engineering (MS)
Administrative Home Department
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor 1
Eric A. Seagren
Advisor 2
Jennifer G. Becker
Committee Member 1
Stephen Techtmann
Committee Member 2
Ebenezer Tumban
Abstract
Biosolids are a by-product of municipal wastewater treatment which, when treated to reduce pathogens, can be land applied as a fertilizer. Class A biosolids must contain low pathogen levels and are unrestricted in their use. This thesis describes methods to identify pathogen and indicator organism (PIO) inactivation mechanisms and PIO inactivation rates for use in low-cost low-tech Class A processes. Procedures to control the levels of spiked bacteria and viruses, total solids, volatile fatty acids, pH, and temperature in biosolids are described for their use in laboratory experiments. Methods for coliphage in biosolids as a surrogate for total enteric viruses are also presented. The two-step enrichment method yields a most probable number estimate of coliphages and was found to have minimal interference from solids, limit background bacteria interference, and may be a useful process monitoring tool at wastewater treatment facilities.
Recommended Citation
Eyre, Karina, "Pathogen and Indicator Organism Inactivation and Quantification for Low-Cost Low-Tech Biosolids Treatment", Open Access Master's Thesis, Michigan Technological University, 2019.