1. Introduction
For environmental engineers, microorganisms are important
for a number of reasons. First, pathogenic microorganisms represent
a threat to public health and must be eliminated from
potable water; second, biocatalytic microorganisms are used to
treat toxic pollutants (i.e., bioremediation) and thus should be
encouraged to thrive; and third, nuisance microorganisms upset
the reliable performance of bioprocesses. For environmental
engineers, mycobacteria represent all three types. For instance,
Gordonia (formerly Nocardia) amarae have been shown to be
a causative agent for the formation of filamentous nuisance biological
foam (e.g., nocardiafoam) on the surfaces of aeration
basins, secondary clarifiers, and anaerobic digesters in municipal
sewage treatment around the world [1–3]. The problem of
nocardiafoam has been studied for more than 30 years, and
∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 513 556 2347; fax: +1 513 556 7326.
E-mail address: ipapauts@ececs.uc.edu (I. Papautsky).
the estimated total accumulative cost of incidences of nocardiafoam
disrupting the acceptable performance of sewage treatment
plants is of the order of 1 billion dollars [4].
1. IntroductionFor environmental engineers, microorganisms are importantfor a number of reasons. First, pathogenic microorganisms representa threat to public health and must be eliminated frompotable water; second, biocatalytic microorganisms are used totreat toxic pollutants (i.e., bioremediation) and thus should beencouraged to thrive; and third, nuisance microorganisms upsetthe reliable performance of bioprocesses. For environmentalengineers, mycobacteria represent all three types. For instance,Gordonia (formerly Nocardia) amarae have been shown to bea causative agent for the formation of filamentous nuisance biologicalfoam (e.g., nocardiafoam) on the surfaces of aerationbasins, secondary clarifiers, and anaerobic digesters in municipalsewage treatment around the world [1–3]. The problem ofnocardiafoam has been studied for more than 30 years, and∗ Corresponding author. Tel.: +1 513 556 2347; fax: +1 513 556 7326.E-mail address: ipapauts@ececs.uc.edu (I. Papautsky).the estimated total accumulative cost of incidences of nocardiafoamdisrupting the acceptable performance of sewage treatmentplants is of the order of 1 billion dollars [4].
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