Microscopic exam is one of the easiest and most useful tests for monitoring biological wastewater treatment unit biomass. To make microscopic exam useful it is best to follow a few rules:
- Take sample from same location(s) each time
- Perform exam as soon as possible. If doing exam after a few hours, make sure samples were refrigerated
- Use 100x and 400x magnification (10x and 40x objectives on most microscopes).
- Use phase contrast if possible. Phase contrast helps see more detail in living, unstained organisms.
- Make sure to note floc size, density, shape, filament abundance & location, and amount of solids outside floc
- Now note the protozoa which are much larger and easier to see than bacteria. Classified by locomotion, protozoa are indicators of toxicity, soluble BOD/COD, dissolved oxygen, and shocks to the biomass.
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