A new approach for microbiological characterization of activated sludge: from the sample to the biomolecular analysis

The growing biomass in the wastewater treatment plant is called "activated sludge"; usually it is mainly composed by bacteria (95%) and by Protozoa and Metazoans (5%). The sludge biological composition is a good indicator of the wastewater treatment plant state of health. In this study, an initial characterization of the microorganisms present in the activated sludge is carried out through DNA analysis.The aim of this activity is the development of the procedures for the characterization of the sludge of the biological oxidation lines, to identify microorganism throught a new approach using biomolecular analysis and the definition of new standard protocols.