Efficiency of beef extract for the recovery of poliovirus from wastewater effluents

Abstract

The efficiency of poliovirus elution from fiber glass cartridge filters (K27), epoxy-fiber glass-asbestos filters (M780) and pleated cartridge filters was assessed by using 3% beef extract (pH 9.0) or 0.1 M glycine (pH 11.5). Poliovirus type I, strain LSc, was seeded into 20-25 gallon (approximately 75.6-95.6 l) samples of treated sewage effluent and concentrated by using a filter adsorption-elution technique. Virus elution was accomplished by using 600 ml portions of 3% beef extract (pH 9.0), or 2 1 l portions of 0.1 M glycine (pH 11.5). In all experiments, beef extract elution followed by organic flocculation was superior, yielding a mean recovery efficiency of 85%, with recoveries ranging from 68-100%. Elution with 0.1 M glycine (pH 11.5) followed by inorganic flocculation resulted in a mean recovery efficiency of 36%. The variable range of recoveries with beef extract could not be significantly improved by varying the type of beef extract or by extending the elution time to 30 min. Second-step reconcentration of 1 l seeded sewage effluent and renovated wastewater samples indicated that organic flocculation was a more efficient method for virus recovery than inorganic flocculation. Beef extract concentrations of less than 3% were efficient in the recovery of poliovirus from renovated wastewater.