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Physicochemical Changes Effected in Activated Sludge by the Earthworm Eisenia foetida¹

ABSTRACT

Measurements were made of some physicochemical changes effected in activated sludge by the earthworm Eisenia foetida following conversion of the sludge into wormcasts. Mineralization was accelerated 1.3-fold and 2% of the minerals were assimilated. The rate at which heavy metals were concentrated during sludge catabolism was also accelerated. Castings stabilized within 2 weeks, as indexed by respirometry. Nucleic acids, which can be used as an index of microbial biomass, were present at a greater concentration in the wormcasts than in the sludge, while the phenolic content, which may potentially serve as an index of humification, was less concentrated. Other changes included a reduction in pH and an increase in oxidation-reduction potential and cation exchange capacity. The major general effect of E. foetida on the physicochemical properties of activated sludge is to convert a material which has a relatively small surface/volume ratio into numerous particles with an overall large S/V ratio, thus accelerating decomposition, mineralization, drying, and preclusion of malodor.

Key Words: nucleic acids • phenolics

¹ Work supported by the National Science Foundation, in cooperation with SUNY Coll. of Environ. Sci. and Forestry, Syracuse, NY 13210.

² Professor of Biology, State Univ. Coll. of Environ. Sci. and Forestry, Syracuse, N.Y., and Chemistry Undergraduate Student, Syracuse Univ., respectively.

Received for publication October 9, 1979.