cen:proj:32853

Sludges - Extraction of bacteriophages from sludge

Scope

This European draft standard specifies a procedure for the elution of bacteriophages from sewage sludges. The standard is mainly intended for somatic coliphages but can also be applied to other bacteriophages and viruses, which tend to adsorb to solids.
The presence of somatic coliphages in a sewage sludge sample indicates pollution by faecal contaminants. Their survival in the environment, removal by sludge treatments and transport in soil resembles that of food-and waterborne human enteric viruses, for example the entero-, hepatitis A, and rotaviruses.
This European draft standard specifies how to proceed to obtain the extract before it is used for the enumeration of different types of bacteriophages according to the available standard protocols ISO 10705-1, ISO 10705-2 or ISO 10705-4. The determination of somatic coliphages allows results in the working day. It is suitable to evaluate the log reduction of coliphages through treatment as well as the quality of the end product. The method has a limit of detection of approximately 1 pfu/g wet weight.