Effect of benzylpenicillin sodium salt on the species composition of activated sludge biocenosis

Summary

The species composition of activated sludge depends on many abiotic and biotic factors. To date, there is a problem of the presence of trace pharmaceuticals in wastewater that negatively affect the organisms of activated sludge performing biological water treatment. Antibiotics are drugs that cause disturbances in the metabolism of activated sludge and lead to a decrease in the level of water treatment. These substances inhibit the survival and reproduction of some types of organisms, and also result in the development of resistance in bacteria. The results of studies on the effect of benzylpenicillin sodium salt on hydrobionts of activated sludge with single and repeated exposure within 72 hours are presented. The general properties of the sludge – color, smell, bulking, sedimentation – were estimated. To study the sludge biocenosis, we used the «crushed drop» method with a magnification of ×1000. While analyzing the microscopic slides, the number of hydrobionts of activated sludge and their general condition were taken into account. The following species were used as indicator organisms: naked amoeba Amoeba, testate Testacea, flagellate Flagellata, rotifers Rotaria, infusoria Vaginicola, Epistylis and Aspidisca, worms Nematoda and Oligоchaeta, tardigrades, filamentous bacteria. The obtained data testified to the satisfactory operation of the activated sludge under the experimental conditions. However, with repeated addition of benzylpenicillin sodium salt, the nitrification processes may deteriorate.

Key words

aeration tank , activated sludge , wastewater biological treatment , antibiotics , municipal wastewater treatment facilities , benzylpenicillin sodium salt , hydrobionts of activated sludge