[Flocculation of bacterial cells in culture with protozoa]

The initial phase of formation of the biogenic suspension was studied in experimental communities of bacteria and protozoans that simulate degradation of the phenol technogenic flows. Protozoans were shown to initiate formation of bacterial aggregates and increase the size of bacterial flocules several hundred times. Factors were found by the methods of mathematical planning, which markedly affect the size and amount of flocules. Unlike natural water bodies, in the sample communities, the presence of abiogenic substrate was not essential for aggregation of the bacteria. The aggregated bacterial cells make an important contribution to degradation of organic compounds.