Microthrix Parvicella in Wastewater

Microthrix parvicella is a Gram positive, Neisser negative filament that often appears as long, thin strands, often in tangles reminiscent of spaghetti, with no branching or visible cell septa (1). When incorporated within the floc structure, it may stain Gram variable (1). This organism has no sulfur granules, no attached growth or sheath present (1) and is able to take up and store long chain fatty acids under anaerobic conditions until levels of nitrate and oxygen are suitable for growth (2). In the early stages, M. parvicella may go unnoticed since it generally forms shorter filaments (<150 um), with clear spaces inside the filaments and a variable Gram stain reaction, also it does not yet cause foam in this stage (3).

M. parvicella has been shown to have a relatively hydrophobic cell surface (2), which also makes the cells water resistance and enables them to float when aerated (1). In most cases, the long filaments protrude from smaller than normal flocs and interact to form inter-floc bridges, which prevent compacting and settling and generate a net like structure within the sludge trapping gasses and other hydrophobic particles in the foam (6).

Mechanism of Foaming

(Print the Microthrix Parvicella Foam Cycle PDF)

Microthrix Parvicella Control Strategies

As M. parvicella competes better at low F/M than floc-forming bacteria, reducing detention time in the aeration basin may be beneficial (1, 5). This is further backed by experimentation, which showed that M. parvicella content was determined to be highly dependent on the SRT with eventual elimination from the system at an SRT of lower than 5.7 days, which may also suppress growth of Type 0041 and Type 0675 (3). However, reduction of the detention time may not be possible, as it could result in incomplete nitrification, which may promote growth (3, 4, 6).

Although not recommended, some chemical measures that have been shown to be effective against M. parvicella, include: dosing with PAX (polyaluminum chloride) (5) or other aluminum salts at 3.5 g Al/ Kg MLSS per day (this may reduce floc size) (4), or extensive chlorination or RAS chlorination (1).

Aquafix biological alternatives to treating Microthrix parvicella include a two-step treatment where first De-Foam 3000 is applied to collapse the foam structure resulting in the return of the organism and lipid substrates to the mixed liquor where the fatty acid substrates can then be degraded by the addition of a bacterial product VitaStim 2200. An alternative measure, if a treatment plant is adequately equipped, is to mist VitaStim 900L over the problem basin to enzymatically degrade the lipid substrates in the foam directly.

How They Work

Conditions Promoting Growth / Foam:

• Low temperatures (5) with populations generally appearing around late autumn (4) and reaching their max at end of winter (4).
• Presence of long chain fatty acids (5), in particular, high amounts of oleic acid or lower amounts with higher levels of volatile fatty acids or saturated fatty acids of medium length (eg. Caproic, caprylic, and lauric acids) (6).
• Low oxygen levels contributing to incomplete nitrification also promote growth since ammonium sulfate is the main nitrogen source used (4, 6).
• pH not less than 7.1 (6).
• It was found that M. parvicella does not use unesterified long-chain fatty acids as they may be difficult to access in water, nor does it use typical microbial substrates (used by most floc-forming bacteria) such as fructose, glucose, citric acid, succinic acid, or lactic acid (6).

The activity of a surface-associated extracellular lipase was observed, indicating that M. parvicella is able to degrade lipids near the cell surface (2). It is also know that this filamentous bacterium requires oleic acid and other long chain fatty acids for incorporation into cell membranes for growth unlike most floc-forming bacteria (2). The maintenance energy requirement (minimum energy input necessary for cellular biochemical processes) has been calculated and shows that M. parvicella has a lower maintenance energy requirement than floc-forming bacteria (3) allowing it to survive under conditions where most floc-forming bacteria cannot such as with low F/M.

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References:

1. Glymph, Tony. Wastewater Microbiology A Handbook for Operators. Denver, CO: American Water Works Association, 2005. pp.76-78, 95-97
2. Nielsen PH, Roslev P, Dueholm TE, and Nielsen JL. Microthrix parvicella, a specialized lipid consumer in anaerobic-aerobic activated sludge plants. Water science and technology: a journal of the International Association on Water Pollution Research 46(1-2):73-80, 2002
3. Noutsopoulos, C., Mamais, D., and Andreadakis, A. Effect of solids retention time on Microthix parvicella growth. Water AS. 32(3): 315-321, 2006
4. “Microthrix Parvicella.” asissludge.com. 2000. Activated sludge information systems. October 2009.
5. Orbaneja, Miguel.Characterization and control of Microthrix Parvicella in a laboratory-scale activated sludge plant. (Ph.D. Thesis). University of Birmingham water engineering. October 2009. (http://www.iem.bham.ac.uk/water/orbaneja.htm)
6. Wanner, Jiri. Activated sludge bulking and foaming control, First edition. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press LLC, 24, Nov. 1994.