Analysis of the structural diversity of the microbial community in a paper-mill water system

Abstract

Microbial populations in paper-mill water systems are usually enumerated using microbiological techniques such as plate counts and the most probable number technique. These conventional methods can only quantify a limited percentage of the microbial populations and the microbial numbers are, therefore, generally underestimated. One possible alternative to these methods involves the analysis of signature lipid biomarkers to study the structural diversity of microbial populations. The aim of this study was, therefore, to evaluate the applicability of signature lipid biomarker analysis in a paper-mill water system. Samples from the sessile and planktonic phases were collected over a period of one year at the Sappi Cape Kraft paper-mill. The samples were subjected to analysis of signature lipid biomarkers as well as conventional culturing. Analysis of the phospholipid fatty acids revealed the presence of a large diversity of micro-organisms.

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