A biofilter model for simultaneous simulation of toluene removal and bed pressure drop under varied inlet loadings

In this study, a biofiltration model including the effect of biomass accumulation and inert biomass growth is developed to simultaneously predict the Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) removal and filter bed pressure drop under varied inlet loadings. A laboratory-scale experimental biofilter for gaseous toluene removal was set up and operated for 100 days with inlet toluene concentration ranging from 250 to 2500 mg?m^-3. According to sensitivity analysis based on the model, the VOCs removal efficiency of the biofilter is more sensitive to Henry’s constant, the specific surface area of the filter bed and the thickness of water layer, while the filter bed pressure drop is more sensitive to biomass yield coefficient and original void fraction. The calculated toluene removal efficiency and bed pressure drop satisfactorily fit the experimental data under varied inlet toluene loadings, which indicates the model in this study can be used to predict VOCs removal and bed pressure drop simultaneously. Based on the model, the effect of mass-transfer parameters on VOCs removal and the stable-run time of a biofilter are analyzed. The results demonstrate that the model can function as a good tool to evaluate the effect of biomass accumulation and optimize the design and operation of biofilters.     

Biodegradation of mono-chlorobenzene by using a trickle bed air biofilter (TBAB)

In the present study, performance of the trickle bed airbiofilter (TBAB) for treating mono-chlorobenzene (MCB) was evaluated for various influent volatile organic compound (VOC) loadings using coal and mixed consortium of activated sludge as the packing material. Microbial acclimation to MCB was achieved by exposing the system continuously for 31 d to an average inlet MCB concentration of 0.688 g m(-3) at an empty bed residence time (EBRT) of 188 s. The TBAB achieved maximum removal efficiency of 87% at an EBRT of 188 s for an inlet concentration of 0.681 g m(-3), which is quite significance than the values reported in the literature. Elimination capacities of MCB increased with an increase of the influent VOC loading, but an opposite trend was observed for the removal efficiency The maximum elimination capacity of the biofilter was 110.75 g m(-3) hr(-1) at an inlet MCB concentration of 1.47 g m(-3). The effect of starvation on the TBAB was also studied. After starvation, the TBAB lost its ability to degrade MCB initially However the biofilter recovered very quickly Evaluation of the concentration profile along the bed height indicated that the bottom section of TBAB has the best performance for all concentrations. By using Wani's method of macrokinetic determination based on simple Monod kinetics, the maximum removal rate of MCB, r(max) and saturation constant K(m) was to be found as 1.304 g m(-3)s(-1) and 113.446 g m(-3), respectively.     

Effects of exogenous acylated homoserine lactones on biofilms in biofilters for gaseous toluene treatment

● Biofilm formation was enhanced by exogenous AHLs. ● EPS production and microbial adhesive strength of biofilm were promoted. ● Exogenous AHLs improved the performance of biofilters treating toluene. Biofilters are typical biofilm reactors, and they usually have poor biofilm formation resulting in limited reactor performance. Exogenous acylated homoserine lactones (AHLs) can enhance biofilm formation in many bioreactors based on quorum sensing regulation. However, their effect on biofilm in biofilters utilized for volatile organic compound (VOC) removal is unknown and needs to be investigated. In this study, the effects of the exogenous AHLs on biofilters for gaseous toluene removal were investigated. Analysis of biofilms in biofilters showed that the addition of exogenous AHLs considerably enhanced biofilm growth; the average biofilm concentration increased by 18%. Furthermore, the average biofilm coverage proportions in biofilters with and without exogenous AHLs were 17 % and 13 %, respectively, demonstrating the positive effect of exogenous AHLs on biofilm coverage. In particular, exogenous AHLs promoted the production of extracellular polymeric substances and the microbial adhesive strength of the biofilm. In addition, the exogenous AHLs showed no significant effect on the gaseous toluene removal efficiency of the biofilter. These results show that exogenous AHLs can enhance biofilm formation and can guide the application of exogenous AHLs in VOC biofilters.     

Removal of multicomponent VOCs in off-gases from an oil refining wastewater treatment plant by a compost-based biofilter system

Waste gases from oil refining wastewater treatment plants are often characterized by the presence of multicomponent and various concentrations of compounds. An evaluation of the performance and feasibility of removing multicomponent volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in off-gases from oil refining wastewater treatment plants was conducted in a pilot-scale compost-based biofilter system. This system consists of two identical biofilters packed with compost and polyethylene (PE). This paper investigates the effects of various concentrations of nonmethane hydrocarbon (NMHC) and empty bed residence time (EBRT) on the removal efficiency of NMHC. Based on the experimental results and practical applications, an EBRT of 66 s was applied to the biofilter system. The removal efficiencies of NMHC were within the range of 47%–100%. At an EBRT of 66 s, the average removal efficiency of benzene, toluene, and xylene were more than 99%, 99%, and 100%, respectively. The results demonstrated that multicomponent VOCs in off-gases from the oil refining wastewater treatment plant could be successfully removed in the biofilter system, which may provide useful information concerning the design criteria and operation of full-scale biofilters.     

气态有机物组成对生物过滤及菌体密度的影响

以堆肥-火山灰为填料的生物过滤器连续处理含甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的气体,观测生物过滤效果和填料的菌系状态变化.结果表明:在甲苯和乙酸乙酯共存的条件下,生物过滤器优先去除乙酸乙酯;当进气中同时存在甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇时,优先去除乙酸乙酯和异丙醇.填料中各种微生物的菌体密度与过滤去除的有机物组成和浓度有关.霉菌和酵母菌竞争利用乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的能力较强,放线菌和细菌对甲苯的竞争利用能力较强.进气中高浓度的有机物会使填料中的菌体密度增大.在处理甲苯、乙酸乙酯和异丙醇的生物过滤器的各段填料中,菌体密度按细菌、霉菌、酵母菌、放线菌的顺序而降低. 图 1表 3参 17     

生物膜法降解甲苯废气过程的探讨

采用陶粒为填料的生物滤池降解甲苯废气，并对清水试验和生物膜试验的结果进行分析，发现生物膜法降解甲苯这样的挥发性有机物（VOCs)具有良好的效果，已不再是清水试验中单纯的物理吸收过程，而是伴有生化反应的吸收过程，是以气膜控制为主的传质过程。     

木屑生物膜处理H2S气体研究

采用木屑为载体固定微生物处理含H2S废气．微生物经活性污泥驯化得到．结果表明：木屑为载体固定微生物小需要长时间的挂膜时间．生物滤池启动后的48h内进气浓度迅速提高到641mg／m^3，H2S的去除率达到了100％．实验测定了不同容积负荷下H2S的处理率，当容积负荷为360g(H2S)／(m^3d)时，H2S气体的去除率可以稳定在97．4％以上．最后采用Michaelis-Menten关系式对H2S的去除速率进行了宏观动力学分析，计算得出半饱和因子Ks为242．75mg／m^3，最大表观去除率Vm为833．33g(H2S)／(m^3d)．图5表2参8     

膜生物反应器处理甲苯废气的挂膜实验

采用假单胞菌在硅橡胶复合膜生物反应器上进行甲苯废气降解的挂膜启动实验,研究膜生物反应器挂膜启动特性,对挂膜启动过程中循环液吸光度、压力损失、甲苯降解效率和生物膜干重的变化进行考察,并观察挂膜稳定后的生物膜形态.结果表明:挂膜过程主要由生物膜成膜期(0~5 d)、生长期(6~10 d)、稳定期(11~14 d)3个阶段组成.循环液吸光度、反应器内液相压力损失、甲苯降解效率和生物膜干重等参数在成膜期都快速增加;进入膜生长期,循环液吸光度略微下降,而生物膜干重、压力损失和甲苯降解效率都继续增大;在稳定期各参数均趋于相对稳定,稳定后循环液吸光度维持在0.75左右,液相压力损失达到了180 Pa,甲苯降解效率维持在78%以上,生物膜干重为2.25 mg/cm2.试验表明,对循环液吸光度、液相压力损失、甲苯降解效率和生物膜干重等参数的综合分析,可作为膜生物反应器挂膜启动进程的判据.图9参15     

Impacts of advanced treatment processes on elimination of antibiotic resistance genes in a municipal wastewater treatment plant

The distributions of ARGs were monitored in a WWTP in Harbin during six months. CASS had the best removal efficacy of ARGs compared to other processes in the WWTP. UV disinfection could effectively control the HGT. AGAC significantly remove ARGs and organics due to its high absorption capacity. Combination of ozone and AGAC significantly improve removal of ARGs and organics. Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) pose a serious threat to public health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are essential for controlling the release of ARGs into the environment. This study investigated ARG distribution at every step in the treatment process of a municipal WWTP located in Harbin for six consecutive months. Changes in ARG distribution involved in two advanced secondary effluent treatment processes, ozonation and granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption, were analyzed. Biological treatment resulted in the highest ARG removal (0.76–1.94 log reduction), followed by ultraviolet (UV) disinfection (less than 0.5-log reduction). Primary treatment could not significantly remove ARGs. ARG removal efficiency increased with an increase in the ozone dose below 40 mg/L. However, amorphous GAC (AGAC) adsorption with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 1 h showed better removal of ARGs, total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) than ozonation at a 60 mg/L dose. UV treatment could efficiently reduce the relative ARG abundance, despite presenting the lowest efficiency for the reduction of absolute ARG abundance compared with GAC and ozone treatments. The combination of ozone and AGAC can significantly improve the removal of ARGs, TOC, TN and TP. These results indicate that a treatment including biological processing, ozonation, and AGAC adsorption is a promising strategy for removing ARGs and refractory organic substances from sewage.     

Influence of pore structure on biologically activated carbon performance and biofilm microbial characteristics

• Pore structure affects biologically activated carbon performance. • Pore structure determines organic matter (OM) removal mechanism. • Microbial community structure is related to pore structure and OM removal. Optimizing the characteristics of granular activated carbon (GAC) can improve the performance of biologically activated carbon (BAC) filters, and iodine value has always been the principal index for GAC selection. However, in this study, among three types of GAC treating the same humic acid-contaminated water, one had an iodine value 35% lower than the other two, but the dissolved organic carbon removal efficiency of its BAC was less than 5% away from the others. Iodine value was found to influence the removal of different organic fractions instead of the total removal efficiency. Based on the removal and biological characteristics, two possible mechanisms of organic matter removal during steady-state were suggested. For GAC with poor micropore volume and iodine value, high molecular weight substances (3500–9000 Da) were removed mainly through degradation by microorganisms, and the biodegraded organics (soluble microbial by-products,<3500 Da) were released because of the low adsorption capacity of activated carbon. For GAC with higher micropore volume and iodine value, organics with low molecular weight (<3500 Da) were more easily removed, first being adsorbed by micropores and then biodegraded by the biofilm. The biomass was determined by the pore volume with pore diameters greater than 100 μm, but did not correspond to the removal efficiency. Nevertheless, the microbial community structure was coordinate with both the pore structure and the organic removal characteristics. The findings provide a theoretical basis for selecting GAC for the BAC process based on its pore structure.     

Dust exposures in tractor and combine operations in eastern Mediterranean, Turkey

The objective of this study was to determine the dust concentrations in selected tractor and combine operations in eastern Mediterranean region in Turkey Mean dust concentrations were 137.9 mg m(-3), 83.6 mg m(-3), 80.3 mg m(-3), and 88.8 mg m(-3) respectively for soil packing, furrowing, straw making, and baling on tractors with no cabins whereas 106.9 mg m(-3) was found in combines without cabins, which are much higher than the limit dust concentration (10 mg m(-3)) considered hazardous for workers' health. In tractor operations with field-installed cabins, mean dust concentrations were 5.6 mg m(-3), 6.6 mg m(-3), 6.4 mg m(-3), and 3.7 mg m(-3), respectively in soil packing, furrowing, straw making, and baling while 4.7 mg m(-3) was measured in combines with field-installed cabins. Considering unit-manufactured cabins, mean dust concentrations were 1.1 mg m(-3), 1.6 mg m(-3), 3.2 mg m(-3), and 1.4 mg m(-3) respectively in tractor operations, and 1.4 mg mr(-3) in combine operations. Variance analyses showed that not only the respiration environment of the workers but also the field operation had a significant effect on measured dust concentrations (p < 0.01). Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.74 (very strong level) between dust concentration and wind speed in soil packing, 0.46 (medium level) between dust concentration and wind speed in baling, and 0.44 (medium level) between dust concentration and ground speed in combining.     

Methane emission from rice fields in relation to management of irrigation water

A field experiment was conducted for two years to find out best water management practice to mitigate methane emission from the rice-fields. Continuously flooded conditions yielded two major flushes of methane emission and on an average resulted in relatively higher rate of methane emission (2.20 and 1.30 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) during the kharif season. The methane flux was reduced to half (1.02 and 0.47 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) when rice fields were irrigated 2-3 days after infiltration of flood water into the soil. Irrigating the field at 0.15 bar matric potential reduced seasonal methane flux by 60% (0.99 and 0.41 mg m(-2) hr(-1), respectively in 2005 and 2006) as compared to completely flooded conditions, without any decline in grain yield (60 q ha(-1)).     

Characteristics and removal mechanism of the precursors of N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide in a drinking water treatment process at Taihu Lake

• N-Cl-DCAM, an emerging N-DBP in drinking water was investigated. • A new BAC has a better removal efficiency for N-Cl-DCAM precursors than an old BAC. • N-Cl-DCAM precursors are more of low molecular weight and non-polar. • Adsorption of GAC plays a major role in removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors by an O₃-BAC. N-chloro-2,2-dichloroacetamide (N-Cl-DCAM) is an emerging nitrogenous disinfection by-product (N-DBP) which can occur in drinking water. In this study, an analytical method based on liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) was developed to validate the concentration of N-Cl-DCAM, which was found to be 1.5 mg/L in the effluent of a waterworks receiving raw water from Taihu Lake, China. The changes of N-Cl-DCAM formation potential (N-Cl-DCAMFP) in the drinking water treatment process and the removal efficiency of its precursors in each unit were evaluated. Non-polar organics accounted for the majority of N-Cl-DCAM precursors, accounting for 70% of the N-Cl-DCAM FP. The effect of conventional water treatment processes on the removal of N-Cl-DCAM precursors was found to be unsatisfactory due to their poor performance in the removal of low molecular weight (MW) or non-polar organics. In the ozonation integrated with biological activated carbon (O₃-BAC) process, the ozonation had little influence on the decrease of N-Cl-DCAM FP. The removal efficiency of precursors by a new BAC filter, in which the granular activated carbon (GAC) had only been used for four months was higher than that achieved by an old BAC filter in which the GAC had been used for two years. The different removal efficiencies of precursors were mainly due to the different adsorption capacities of GAC for individual precursors. Low MW or non-polar organics were predominantly removed by GAC, rather than biodegradation by microorganisms attached to GAC particles.     

螯台球菌TAD1在高温曝气生物滤池中的异养硝化-反硝化性能

初步实验证实螯台球菌(Chelatococcus daeguensis)TAD1在高温下具有异养硝化-反硝化的能力,为验证其可应用性,采用曝气生物滤池工艺,研究了TAD1在温度为50℃的异养硝化-反硝化性能.结果表明,TAD1在曝气生物滤池中可同时进行好氧反硝化和异养硝化.当分别以硝氮、氨氮及硝氮和氨氮为氮源时,12 h的氮去除率均达到100%,氮的去除能力分别为12.67 mg.L-.1h-1、3.62 mg.L-.1h-1及16.53 mg.L-.1h-1.虽然在脱氮过程中,亚硝盐在6 h迅速积累到76 mg.L-1(硝氮为氮源)和52.6 mg.L-1(硝氮和氨氮为氮源),但在随后的几个小时内又快速降低至0(检测限之外).因而,TAD1具有应用于高温生物脱氮工艺的能力和优势.     

Effects of design parameters on performance and cost analysis of combined ultraviolet-biofilter systems treating gaseous chlorobenzene based on mathematical modeling

A conceptual mathematical model was used to evaluate the design parameters of a combined ultraviolet (UV)-biofilter system, and perform a cost analysis. Results showed that the UV light source strength and the gas residence times in the UV system (UVRT) and biofilter (EBRT) had positive effects on the overall chlorobenzene removal efficiency of the system. High ratio of UVRT to EBRT improved the removal efficiency, suggesting that the UV system has a greater effect on the overall performance of the system compared with the biofilter. Analysis of the capital and operating costs showed that the capital costs of the standalone biofilter system were much higher than those of the standalone UV system. However, the biofilter operating costs were lower than those of the UV system. The operating costs of the combined UV-biofilter system increased with increasing UVRT/EBRT ratio, whereas its capital costs decreased.     

Biosorption of hexavalent chromium and malachite green from aqueous effluents,using Cladophora sp.

Biosorption potential of green macroalgae Cladophora sp., (GAC) for the removal of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) and malachite green (MG) from aqueous medium was investigated. Optimal conditions for biosorption experiments were determined as a function of initial pH, GAC dosage, temperature and initial concentration of Cr(VI) and MG. The biosorption equilibrium data were fitted with the isotherm models of Langmuir, Freundlich, Kiselev, Frumkin and Jovanovic, while the experimental data were analysed using the kinetic models such as pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Ritchie's and intraparticle diffusion. The Langmuir maximum biosorption capacity was calculated as 100.00?mg/g (Cr(VI)) and 142.85?mg/g (MG). The biosorption kinetic data showed better agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The thermodynamic parameters indicated spontaneous and endothermic nature of the biosorption process for Cr(VI) removal, whereas exothermic in the case of MG removal. Furthermore, the biosorption efficiencies of the GAC reusability were found significant up to five cycles and tested using 0.1, 0.5 and 1.0?M HCl, respectively. The results of the present study indicated that GAC is a suitable biosorbent for the sequestration of Cr(VI) and MG from aqueous solutions.     

Significant enhancement in catalytic ozonation efficacy: From granular to super-fine powdered activated carbon

In this study, super-fine powdered activated carbon (SPAC) has been proposed and investigated as a novel catalyst for the catalytic ozonation of oxalate for the first time. SPAC was prepared from commercial granular activated carbon (GAC) by ball milling. SPAC exhibited high external surface area with a far greater member of meso- and macropores (563% increase in volume). The catalytic performances of activated carbons (ACs) of 8 sizes were compared and the rate constant for pseudo first-order total organic carbon removal increased from 0.012 min^–1 to 0.568 min^–1 (47-fold increase) with the decrease in size of AC from 20 to 40 mesh (863 mm) to SPAC (~1.0 mm). Furthermore, the diffusion resistance of SPAC decreased 17-fold compared with GAC. The ratio of oxalate degradation by surface reaction increased by 57%. The rate of transformation of ozone to radicals by SPAC was 330 times that of GAC. The results suggest that a series of changes stimulated by ball milling, including a larger ratio of external surface area, less diffusion resistance, significant surface reaction and potential oxidized surface all contributed to enhancing catalytic ozonation performance. This study demonstrated that SPAC is a simple and effective catalyst for enhancing catalytic ozonation efficacy.

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饮用原水中微量NH_3-N的生物膜脱除

针对NH3-N浓度为1mg.l-1的饮用原水,分别以硅锰砂石和聚胺脂海绵作为硝化生物膜载体,考察了自制固定床生物膜反应器的脱氨效果.30d的连续运行结果表明,砂石载体系统达到95%—100%的NH3-N去除率,出水NH3-N浓度接近0,出水NO2--N浓度在0—0.02mg.l-1之间;而海绵载体系统虽然挂膜快,但运行阶段NH3-N去除率仅为10%—35%,出水NH3-N不能达标,且具有生物可降解性,反硝化过程优先导致NO2--N的积累.进一步考察了硅锰砂石生物膜系统稳定运行的最优参数,得出试验条件下,水力停留时间为6min,气水比为1:1,反冲洗周期为6d.硅锰砂石因其良好的孔隙率、粒径分布和密度等物理特性,以及化学稳定性和生物安全性,是含低浓度NH3-N原水生物膜净化的良好载体选择.     

Live algae as a vector candidate for hydrophobic polychlorinated biphenyls translocation to bivalve filter feeders for laboratory toxicity test

Live algae carrying hydrophobic xenobiotics can be an effective vector candidate for the chemical translocation to filter feeders in the laboratory toxicity test, but information on their application is lacking. Time-course uptake and elimination of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (0, 50, 100, and 500 ng g(-1) by two key algal foods, Isochrysis galbana and Tetraselmis suecica, were measured. Both of the algae achieved maximum concentration in an hourafter PCBs exposure regardless the chemical concentrations in our time-course measurements (0, 1, 5, 10, 24, 48 and 72 hrs). Once achieved the maximum concentration, the algae shortly exhibited elimination or eliminating tendency depending on the chemical concentrations. Algae exposed to the chemical for 1 and 24 hrs (hereafter 1 and 24 hr vectors, respectively) were then evaluated as a chemical translocation vector by feeding test to larval and spat Crassostrea gigas. In the feeding test the 24 hr vector, which contained lower chemicals than the 1-hr vector, appeared to be more damaging the early lives of the oyster. This was particularly significant for vectors of higher PCBs (p<0.05), probably due to algal reduction in food value by the prolonged chemical stress. These findings imply that 1 hr exposure is long enough for a generation of algal vector for laboratory toxicity test, minimizing data error resulted from reduction in food value by longer chemical stress.     

Combined process of biofiltration and ozone oxidation as an advanced treatment process for wastewater reuse

The effluent of a wastewater treatment plant was treated in a pilot plant for reclaimed water production through the denitrification biofilter (DNBF) process, ozonation (O₃), and biologic aerated filtration (BAF). The combined process demonstrated good removal performance of conventional pollutants, including concentrations of chemical oxygen demand (27.8 mg·L⁻¹) and total nitrogen (9.9 mg·L⁻¹) in the final effluent, which met the local discharge standards and water reuse purposes. Micropollutants (e.g., antibiotics and endocrine-disrupting chemicals) were also significantly removed during the proposed process. Ozonation exhibited high antibiotic removal efficiencies, especially for tetracycline (94%). However, micropollutant removal efficiency was negatively affected by the nitrite produced by DNBF. Acute toxicity variations of the combined process were estimated by utilizing luminescent bacteria. Inhibition rate increased from 9% to 15% during ozonation. Carbonyl compound concentrations (e.g., aldehydes and ketones) also increased by 58% as by-products, which consequently increased toxicity. However, toxicity eventually became as low as that of the influent because the by-products were effectively removed by BAF. The combined DNBF/O₃/BAF process is suitable for the advanced treatment of reclaimed water because it can thoroughly remove pollutants and toxicity.