ATP pools in activated sludge

Abstract

Summary. ATP was measured in samples of activated sludge under field conditions for several hours in a waste water treatment plant.The mean level of ATP in the sludge is relatively independent of the inflow of organic material, however a fast increase in the supply of organic material results in a simultaneous increase in the ATP.Since the inflow of the waste water treatment plant is continuously changing, oscillations in the ATP level are seen. It is concluded that average levels of ATP may give some information on the biological state of the activated sludge, while single determinations are not meaningful.