Screening of Extractant for Determining Active Sludge Trehalose in Sewage Treatment

This study investigated and proposed the use of trehalose extraction and a detection method for the determining of active sludge trehalose in sewage treatment. Seven extractants (trichloroacetic acid, ethanol, methanol, acetone, pure water, formaldehyde and trichloromethane) were used separately to extract the active sludge trehalose, and their trehalose contents were determined. The results shown in standard curves plotted for all seven extractants demonstrated good linearity, and the regression coefficients varied insignificantly. Using trichloroacetic acid, active sludge trehalose was extracted within a period of only 40 min at 40 centigrade. In view of that, trichloroacetic acid proved to be as the most efficient extractants in extracting trehalose from active sludge. Its extraction rate was 4 to 11-times faster than that of other extractants for the same amount of active sludge. From our results, trichloroacetic acid was substantiated as the optimal extractant for determining active sludge trehalose.