Activated carbon bacterial colonization

It has long been known that, under appropriate conditions and especially in the liquid phase, synergistic associations can develop between microbiological systems and activated carbons or other support media (e.g.. in trickling bed filters for aerobic water treatment). In liquid phase applications, bacterial colonization of activated carbon can occur quite readily [76-79]. For example, the adsorptive capacities of activated carbon beds used in water treatment are often greatly enhanced by the presence of microorganisms, and the useful filter life is extended beyond that expected for a process of purely physical adsorption. Essentially, the... 

Fig. 6. Scanning electron microscopy of activated carbon surface in the process of wastewater treatment a — individual bacterial cells, beginning of colonization, b — rich cobwebby matrix and unoccupied patches, c — rich net-like matrix, d — colonization by some algal forms...

In many liquid-phase applications, the bacterial colonization of activated carbons can occur quite readily [67]. This colonization [68] is considered to result from (i) the adsorptive properties of carbon, which produce an increase in the concentration of nutrients and oxygen as well as the removal of disinfectant compounds (ii) the pore texture of the carbon particles, which provides the bacteria with a protective environment (iii) the presence of a large variety of functional groups on the carbon surface, which enhances the adhesion of microorganisms and (iv) the nature of the mineral matter content of the carbon, which can favor bacteria adhesion. In general, bacteria attached to carbon particles are very resistant to disinfectants. 

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