Molecular Probes for Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment Process Evaluation

This research focuses on “granulation” or the formation of conglomerates of microorganisms, which is a critical but poorly understood phenomenon in anaerobic wastewater treatment systems. New molecular methods to study microbial population dynamics during granule formation and traditional methods to evaluate physical characteristics of granules and reactor performance will be combined to improve anaerobic wastewater treatment start-up and operation.