Date of Award:

5-1-1983

Document Type:

Thesis

Degree Name:

Master of Science (MS)

Department:

Biology

Department name when degree awarded

Life Sciences:Biology

Committee Chair(s)

Rex S. Spendlove

Committee

Rex S. Spendlove

Committee

J. Clifton Spendlove

Committee

Bill B. Barnett

Committee

Robert Sidwell

Abstract

In order to monitor virus levels in most water systems, a virus concentration step is necessary for current assay systems to detect the presence of the virus. Microscopic fluorescent particles were used to determine the efficiency of a microflotation apparatus developed for use in a virus concentration method. The adsorption of particles or viruses onto bubbles in water, enhanced by added or natural foaming agents, is the governing principle of the concentration method investigated. Tests were conducted with organic fluorescent particles in distilled water containing different foaming agents: skim milk, protease peptone, yeast extract, and polyethylene glycol 20M. Tests were conducted to deter mine the effects of pH 5 vs. 9, sparging disc pore size of 160 vs. 240 micrometers, and foaming agent concentration on effciency of the microflotation apparatus to concentrate the fluorescent particles. Tests were also conducted with fluorescent particles in sewage. Concentration factors of greater than 100 were obtained with fluorescent particles both in distilled water and raw sewage. The microflotation system was then tested with reovirus in distilled water and sewage. Some concentration of reovirus was achieved in distilled water with added foaming agent. Concentration factors of greater than 100 were obtained in tests with reovirus in sewage without the addition of foaming agents. The microflotation system developed in this research concentrated fluorescent particles as well as reovirus from raw sewage samples at concentration factors which represented a 100-fold increase in the collected sample concentration over that of the bulk water sampled. The potential hazard of bioaerosol formation through the vacuum pump-operated collection system was found to be insignificant. Concentration of Bacillus subtilis var. niger, commonly known as BG, was also achieved with a concentration factor averaging 45.

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