Concentration of viruses from water by using cellulose filters modified by in situ precipitation of ferric and aluminum hydroxides.

Untreated cellulose filters adsorbed only small amounts of poliovirus 1, echovirus 5, coxsackievirus B5, or bacteriophage MS2 that were added to tap water or to solutions of imidazole-glycine buffer at pH 5 to 7. Modification of filters by in situ flocculation of ferric and aluminum hydroxides greatly increased the ability of the filters to adsorb viruses. Viruses adsorbed to the modified filters could be recovered by treating the filters with 3% beef extract (pH 9.5). Greater than 60% of the enteroviruses and greater than 55% of the MS2 added to tap water or buffer could be recovered in the beef extract eluate.