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Extraction of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge using sodium oxalate

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Abstract

In this study, sodium oxalate was employed to extract extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from activated sludge samples. The optimum dose of sodium oxalate was 1.34 g/g VSS (volatile suspended solids), and the extraction time was 60 min at pH 7. The total EPS contents obtained under the optimized conditions were approximately 191 mg/g VSS, and they predominantly consisted of proteins, polysaccharides and humic substances. The extraction efficiencies of the chosen method for the major biopolymers were 39, 43 and 410 % higher compared with the ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA), cation exchange resin and control methods. Cell lysis measured in terms of deoxyribonucleic acid, and unidentified EPS were approximately 50 % lower in the sodium oxalate method than in the NaOH and EDTA methods. The EPS composition and the ratio of proteins/polysaccharides (1.38–2.21) were extremely dependent on the operating conditions maintained during the extraction. The inductively coupled plasma spectroscopic results demonstrated that the release of divalent metals, such as Ca2+ and Mg2+, from the sludge matrix was directly correlated with higher EPS extraction efficiencies in the sodium oxalate protocol. Moreover, the precipitation of Ca2+ and Mg2+ as metallic oxalates disrupted the floc structure and subsequently enhanced the EPS recovery. Fourier transform infrared studies revealed the presence of functional groups due to EPS molecules in all extracted samples.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are very thankful to Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Republic of Korea (Grant # 2016-0158), for providing the financial support to complete this research work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korea University of Science and Technology, 217 Gajeong-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    M. Sajjad & K. S. Kim

  2. Environmental Engineering Research Division, Korea Institute of Civil Engineering and Building Technology, 283 Goyangdae-ro, Ilsanseo-gu, Goyang-Si, Gyeonggi-Do, 411-712, Republic of Korea

    M. Sajjad & K. S. Kim

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  1. M. Sajjad
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  2. K. S. Kim
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Correspondence to K. S. Kim.

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Abbreviations

EPS

Extracellular polymeric substances

DNA

Deoxyribonucleic acids

EDTA

Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid

CER

Cation exchange resin

PN/PS

Protein/polysaccharide

VSS

Volatile suspended solids

ICP

Inductively coupled plasma

FTIR

Fourier transform infrared

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Sajjad, M., Kim, K.S. Extraction of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge using sodium oxalate. Int. J. Environ. Sci. Technol. 13, 1697–1706 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1004-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13762-016-1004-5

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