Bioremediation of Chlorobenzene-Contaminated Groundwater on Granular Activated Carbon Barriers

During the past decade, various promising technologies have been developed for the decontamination of groundwater insitu which do not require long-term pumping or high energy consumption. One approach is to use funnel and gate technology. In the case described here, the combination of adsorption of contaminants on granular activated carbon (GAC) and its biodegradation is applied to considerably extend the operating time of the filling material in the barrier system. Monochlorobenzene (MCB), a recalcitrant groundwater contaminant under anaerobic conditions, undergoes high-capacity adsorption on GAC up to about 450 mg per gram. Aerobic enrichment cultures, obtained from a contaminated aquifer, were able to mineralize initially adsorbed MCB. In respirometer experiments the rate of carbon dioxide formation was dependent on the equilibrium concentration of MCB. The oxygen consumption of activated carbon by means of autoxidative reactions may delay aerobic biodegradation in GAC filters. The oxygen uptake of pristine activated carbon amounted to 5.6 mg per gram GAC in laboratory column experiments. When GAC was pre-loaded with MCB, autoxidation rates were considerably reduced. Hence, it is advisable not to stimulate the biodegradation of MCB by oxygen supply in GAC biobarriers until after an initial period of solely sorptive MCB removal from the groundwater flow.     

湿法腈纶废水的生化处理

采用水解酸化—固定化微生物流化床—氧化混凝联合工艺处理湿法腈纶废水.该工艺采用的高效菌微生物固定化技术及新型氧化混凝技术均对湿法腈纶废水有较好的处理效果.实验结果表明:在水解酸化温度为42℃、水解酸化运行周期为20 h的条件下,接种活性污泥和高效菌的SBR的COD去除率为26.0％;在新型氯铁型氧化混凝剂加入量为15 mL/L的条件下,混凝出水COD可降至66 mg/L.水解酸化—固定化微生物流化床—氧化混凝联合工艺的总COD去除率可达89.4％.     

High Immobilization of NH4+ in Danish Heath Soil Related to Succession,Soil and Nutrients: Implications for Critical Loads of N

During recent decades heathlands havechanged into grasslands in regions with high atmosphericnitrogen deposition. In regions with intermediatedeposition level (e.g., Denmark) changes have been lesspronounced which may be due to delay or decrease inresponse of the ecosystem. The mor layer (O horizon) mayplay an important role for this delay due to high sinkstrength for N. In this study, the capacity for netNH₄ ⁺ immobilization and mineralization wasstudied during short- and long-term incubations (2–36 days)of mor samples from Danish dry inland heaths. High short-term capacity for net NH₄ ⁺ immobilization wasfound to be a general characteristic of Danish heath morlayers both under heather (Calluna vulgaris) andcrowberry (Empetrum nigrum ssp nigrum), the latterdominating late stages in heathland succession. The netNH₄ ⁺ immobilization was higher under youngcompared to old or dead vegetation, and higher on lessnutrient poor soils than on extremely nutrient poor soils.The addition of N, P and C stimulated CO₂ productionand net NH₄ ⁺ immobilization, but not net Nmineralization. The immobilization of ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺caused release of dissolved organic N, increased N anddecreased C/N ratio in the microbial biomass, and indicatedgrowth of microorganisms with other metabolic abilitiesthan the indigenous population. No evidence was obtained ofstabilization of immobilized ¹⁵NH₄ ⁺ intosoil organic matter during the experiment. On background ofthe results and current knowledge it was concluded that therecognition of the high capacity for net NH₄ ⁺immobilization in mor layers does not allow for a raiseof critical loads for N for northern dry inland heaths.     

Comparative analysis for the production of fatty acid alkyl esterase using whole cell biocatalyst and purified enzyme from Rhizopus oryzae on waste cooking oil (sunflower oil)

The petroleum fuel is nearing the line of extinction. Recent research and technology have provided promising outcomes to rely on biodiesel as the alternative and conventional source of fuel. The use of renewable source - vegetable oil constitutes the main stream of research. In this preliminary study, Waste Cooking Oil (WCO) was used as the substrate for biodiesel production. Lipase enzyme producing fungi Rhizopus oryzae 262 and commercially available pure lipase enzyme were used for comparative study in the production of Fatty Acid Alkyl Esters (FAAE). The whole cell (RO 262) and pure lipase enzyme (PE) were immobilized using calcium alginate beads. Calcium alginate was prepared by optimizing with different molar ratios of calcium chloride and different per cent sodium alginate. Entrapment immobilization was done for whole cell biocatalyst (WCB). PE was also immobilized by entrapment for the transesterification reaction. Seven different solvents - methanol, ethanol, n-propanol, n-butanol, iso-propanol, iso-butanol and iso-amyl alcohol were used as the acyl acceptors. The reaction parameters like temperature (30°C), molar ratio (1:3 - oil:solvent), reaction time (24 h), and amount of enzyme (10% mass ratio to oil) were also optimized for methanol alone. The same parameters were adopted for the other acyl acceptors too. Among the different acyl acceptors - methanol, whose reaction parameters were optimized showed maximum conversion of triglycerides to FAAE-94% with PE and 84% with WCB. On the whole, PE showed better catalytic converting ability with all the acyl acceptor compared to WCB. Gas chromatography analysis (GC) was done to determine the fatty acid composition of WCO (sunflower oil) and FAAE production with different acyl acceptors.     

Characterization of Atrazine-Loaded Biodegradable Poly(Hydroxybutyrate-Co-Hydroxyvalerate) Microspheres

Polyhydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate microspheres (PHBV-MS) were prepared as a delivery system for the herbicide atrazine (ATZ). Characterization of the system included investigation of in vitro release properties and genotoxicity. ATZ − PHBV-MS particle diameters showed a size distribution range of 1–13 μm. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses indicated that ATZ was associated with the PHBV microparticles. The release profiles showed a different release behavior for the pure herbicide in solution, as compared with that containing ATZ-loaded PHBV-MS. Korsmeyer–Peppas model analyses showed that atrazine release from the microparticles occurred by a combination of diffusion through the matrix and partial diffusion through water-filled pores of the PHBV microparticles. A Lactuca sativa test result showed that the genotoxicity of ATZ-loaded PHBV-MP was decreased in relation to ATZ alone. The results demonstrate a viable biodegradable herbicide release system using atrazine for agrochemical purposes.     

Kinetic Study of Naphthalene Biodegradation in Aerobic Slurry Phase Microcosms for the Optimisation of the Process

The research was focused on the slurry-phase biodegradation of naphthalene. The biodegradation process was optimised with preliminary experiments in slurry aerobic microcosms. From soil samples collected on a contaminated site, a Pseudomonas putida strain, called M8, capable to degrade naphthalene was selected. Microcosms were prepared with M8 strain by mixing non-contaminated soil and mineral M9 medium. Different experimental conditions were tested varying naphthalene concentration, soil:water ratio and inoculum density. The disappearance of hydrocarbon, the production of carbon dioxide, and the ratio of total heterotrophic and naphthalene-degrading bacteria were monitored at different incubation times. The kinetic equation that best fitted the disappearance of contaminant with time was determined. The results showed that the isolated strain enhanced the biodegradation rate with respect to the natural biodegradation.     

Ultrasound pretreatment of filamentous algal biomass for enhanced biogas production

The filamentous alga Hydrodictyon reticulatum harvested from a bench-scale wastewater treatment pond was used to evaluate biogas production after ultrasound pretreatment. The effects of ultrasound pretreatment at a range of 10–5000 J/mL were tested with harvested H. reticulatum. Cell disruption by ultrasound was successful and showed a higher degree of disintegration at a higher applied energy. The range of 10–5000 J/mL ultrasound was able to disintegrated H. reticulatum and the soluble COD was increased from 250 mg/L to 1000 mg/L at 2500 J/mL. The disintegrated algal biomass was digested for biogas production in batch experiments. Both cumulative gas generation and volatile solids reduction data were obtained during the digestion. Cell disintegration due to ultrasound pretreatment increased the specific biogas production and degradation rates. Using the ultrasound approach, the specific methane production at a dose of 40 J/mL increased up to 384 mL/g-VS fed that was 2.3 times higher than the untreated sample. For disintegrated samples, the volatile solids reduction was greater with increased energy input, and the degradation increased slightly to 67% at a dose of 50 J/mL. The results also indicate that disintegration of the algal cells is the essential step for efficient anaerobic digestion of algal biomass.     

Biodegradability of chitin- and chitosan-containing films in soil environment

The biodegradation of polyethylene-chitin (PE-chitin) and polyethylene-chitosan (PE-chitosan) films, containing 10% by weight chitin or chitosan, by pure microbial cultures and in a soil environment was studied. Three soil-inhabited organsims,Serratia marcescens, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, andBeauveria bassiana were able to utilize chitin and chitosan in prepared PE-chitin and PE-chitosan films after eight weeks of incubation at 25°C in a basal medium containing no source of carbon or nitrogen. In a soil environment, the biodegradation of those films was studied and compared with a commercial biodegradable film containing 6% by the weight of corn starch. In soil placed in the lab, 73.4% of the chitosan and 84.7% of the chitin in the films were degraded, while 46.5% of the starch in the commercial film was degraded after six months of incubation. In an open field, 100% of the chitin and 100% of the chitosan in the films were degraded, but only 85% of the starch in the commercial film was degraded after six months of incubation. The weight of controls, (polyethylene films), remained mainly stable during the incubation period. Both PE-chitin and PE-chitosan films degraded at a higher rate than the commercial starch-based film in a soil environment indicating the potential use of chitin-based films for the manufacturing of biodegradable packaging materials.     

Increased biodegradation of a low-density polyethylene (LDPE) matrix in starch-filled LDPE materials

Preheated¹⁴C-labeled LDPE-films with 15% corn starch and a proxidant formulation [masterbatch (MB)] incubated in aqueous solutions with fungi at ambient temperature are about three times more susceptible to biodegradation than the corresponding preheated pure LDPE as observed by liquid scintillation counting (LSC). The inbuilt induction time before autoxidation commences can be shortened by initial heating. Preheated LDPE-MB materials biodegrade about five times faster than nonheated ones. After 1 year of biodegradation of nonheated LDPE-MB, sporadic increases in the evolution of¹⁴CO₂ have been noted, showing that the induction time may be running toward and end.     

Application of Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) Macroporous Microparticles as a Catalyst Support in the Enzymatic Synthesis of Biodiesel

Macroporous poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) microparticles, with three different structural characteristics, have been synthesized and used as supports in the immobilization of lipase from Burkholderia cepacia. The best immobilization yield was found upon using microparticles with 35 % of divinylbenzene and the immobilized lipase on this type of particles was used as a catalyst to obtain biodiesel from soybean oil and ethanol. From the experimental results of the transesterification reaction, an empirical model quantitatively relating the temperature, the concentration of the enzyme and the transesterification yield was obtained. Statistical analysis of this model indicated that within the range of values of the variables studied (35–47 °C and 231–788 U/mg respectively) only the enzyme concentration exerted a significant influence on the reaction yield. Additionally, the good fit of a Michaelis–Menten-type model to the experimental results suggests that the limiting step of the reaction was the formation of the enzyme-substrate complex.     

Processability and Biodegradability Evaluation of Composites from Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) Bioplastic and Biofuel Co-products from Ontario

This study investigates the processability and biodegradability of composite bioplastic materials. Biocomposites were processed using twin-screw compounding of the bioplastic poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) with bio-based fillers derived from co-products of biofuel production. An extensive biodegradability evaluation was conducted on each biocomposite material, as well as the base materials, using respirometric testing to analyze the conversion of organic carbon into carbon dioxide. This evaluation revealed that the presence of meal-based fillers in the biocomposites increased the rate of biodegradation of the matrix polymer, degrading at a faster pace than both the pure PBS polymer and the switchgrass (SG) composite. This degradation was further confirmed using FT-IR and thermal analysis of the material structure before and after biodegradation. The increased biodegradation rate is attributed to the high concentration of proteins in the meal-based composites, which enhanced the hydrolytic biodegradation of the material and facilitated micro-organism growth. The SG-based composite degraded slower than the pure polymer due to its lignin content, which degrades via a different mechanism than the polymer, and slowed the biodegradation process.     

Biodegradability and biodegradation rate of poly(caprolactone)-starch blend and poly(butylene succinate) biodegradable polymer under aerobic and anaerobic environment

The biodegradability and the biodegradation rate of two kinds biodegradable polymers; poly(caprolactone) (PCL)-starch blend and poly(butylene succinate) (PBS), were investigated under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. PCL-starch blend was easily degraded, with 88% biodegradability in 44 days under aerobic conditions, and showed a biodegradation rate of 0.07 day⁻¹, whereas the biodegradability of PBS was only 31% in 80 days under the same conditions, with a biodegradation rate of 0.01 day⁻¹. Anaerobic bacteria degraded well PCL-starch blend (i.e., 83% biodegradability for 139 days); however, its biodegradation rate was relatively slow (6.1 mL CH₄/g-VS day) compared to that of cellulose (13.5 mL CH₄/g-VS day), which was used as a reference material. The PBS was barely degraded under anaerobic conditions, with only 2% biodegradability in 100 days. These results were consistent with the visual changes and FE-SEM images of the two biodegradable polymers after the landfill burial test, showing that only PCL-starch blend had various sized pinholes on the surface due to attack by microorganisms. This result may be use in deciding suitable final disposal approaches of different types of biodegradable polymers in the future.     

Treatment of acid lignite mine flooding water by means of microbial sulfate reduction

During and after mining activities acidic waters containing high amounts of heavy metals and sulfate often occur. In addition to precipitation processes, water purification is also possible with the help of sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB). A mixed culture of SRB was adapted to methanol as a cheap carbon source. In order to receive high sulfate-reduction rates immobilization on porous materials proved to be advantageous. Continuous laboratory experiments based on immobilized SRB were carried out with original water from a lignite mining site reaching sulfate-reducing rates up to 132 mg SO4(2-)/(1 h). Based on these results a process for the treatment of such waters was designed. Heavy metals are removed by recycling sulfide containing effluent, excess sulfide can be oxidized to elemental sulfur by addition of hydrogen peroxide. The plant with a 3.9 m3 bioreactor with immobilized SRB was constructed at the mine site. This pilot plant was operated successfully for some months. The removal of heavy metals was close to 100%, the pH of the acidic water increased from 3.0 to 6.9. The sulfate-reducing rate again reached 134 mg SO4(2-)/(1 h). The production of sulfur from the excess sulfide is possible.     

The impact of high level gamma radiation on immobilized waste forms in polymeric matrices

A new polymer-based composite binder was developed for the containment/immobilization of radioactive waste forms. This material was subjected to a variety of physicochemical tests to determine its suitability for this purpose. It appears that this composite material possesses superior qualities in terms of resisting radiation damage, retaining the radio isotopes after radiation exposure, and resisting biodegradation. Further, a combination of chemical fixation/immobilization technology with the radiation-resistant binder was studied. Our evaluation procedures, the results, and its potential applications based on our conclusions are presented in this article.     

Biodegradation of Polycaprolactone Powders Proposed as Reference Test Materials for International Standard of Biodegradation Evaluation Method

Polycaprolactone (PCL) powders were prepared from PCL pellets using a rotation mechanical mixer. PCL powders were separated by sieves with 60 and 120 meshes into four classes; 0–125 μm, 125–250 μm, 0–250 μm and 250–500 μm. Biodegradation tests of PCL powders and cellulose powders in an aqueous solution at 25°C were performed using the coulometer according to ISO 14851. Biodegradation tests of PCL powders and cellulose powders in controlled compost at 58°C were performed by the Mitsui Chemical Analysis and Consulting Service, Inc. according to ISO 14855-1 and by using the Microbial Oxidative Degradation Analyzer (MODA) instrument according to ISO/DIS 14855-2. PCL powders were faster biodegraded than cellulose powders. The reproducibility of biodegradation of PCL powders is excellent. Differences in the biodegradation of PCL powders with different class were not observed by the ISO 14851 and ISO/DIS 14855-2. An enzymatic degradation test of PCL powders with different class was studied using an enzyme of Amano Lipase PS. PCL with smaller particle size was faster degraded by the enzyme. PCL powders with regulated sizes from 125 μm to 250 μm are proposed as a reference material for the biodegradation test.     

Long-Term Maintenance of Rapid Atrazine Degradation in Soils Inoculated with Atrazine Degraders

Two different microbial communities able to degrade atrazine (atz) were inoculated in four different soils. The most critical factor affecting the success of inoculation was the soil pH and its organic matter (OM) content. In two alkaline soils (pH > 7), some inoculations led immediately to a strong increase of the biodegradation rate. In a third slightly acidic soil (pH = 6.1), only one inoculum could enhance atz degradation. In a soil amended with organic matter and straw (pH = 5.7, OM = 16.5%), inoculation had only little effect on atz dissipation on the short as well as on the long-term. Nine months after the microflora inoculations, atz was added again and rapid biodegradation in all alkaline inoculated soils was recorded, indicating the long-term efficiency of inoculation. In these soils, the number of atz degraders was estimated at between 6.5 × 10³ and 1.5 × 10⁶ (g of soil)^-1, using the most probable number (MPN) method. Furthermore, the presence of the atz degraders was confirmed by the detection of the gene atzA in these soils. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis of the 16S rDNA genes indicated that the inoculated bacterial communities had little effect on the patterns of the indigenous soil microflora.     

Biodegradation Study of Starch-graft-Acrylonitrile Copolymer

In this study the biodegradability of starch-graft-acrylonitrile (St-g-AN) copolymer has been investigated using some microorganisms including Aspergillus niger. The fungus A. niger was isolated from the soil and from the wastewater of an acrylic fiber company. The effects of four factors including environment temperature, primary inoculum concentration, pH and weight of copolymer film, on the biomass generation as a measure of biodegradation rate of copolymer, were studied using Taguchi experimental design. The statistical analysis of the results showed that the primary inoculum concentration and temperature were the most important factors affecting the biodegradation of St-g-AN copolymer. The optimum levels of temperature, pH, inoculum concentration, and weight of films to attain the maximum biodegradation (as much as 8.59 % by weight percentage during 28 days) were obtained as 30 °C, 4.75, 10⁸ spore/mL, and 1.1 g, respectively. The changes in the structure and morphological properties of the copolymer before and after degradation were determined using transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.     

Decomposition of asbestos by a supernatant used for immobilization of heavy metals in fly ash

A supernatant solution, obtained after immobilization of heavy metals involved in fly ashes by a solution of sulfur and calcium hydroxide, was re-used for immobilization of heavy metals and decomposition of asbestos in construction materials. Asbestos was decomposed to more than 99.9 % by mixing it with the supernatant in a ball mill at room temperature. The decomposition of asbestos was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), a phase contrast microscope after staining the asbestos with solutions of different diffractive indexes and a scanning electron microscope. XRD indicated complete disappearance of specific main peaks of asbestos: chrysotile, crocidolite, amosite and tremolite. Heavy metals such as chromium(VI) and lead(II) in fly ashes were completely immobilized by the supernatant. It is the first time that a solution obtained after the treatment of wasted fly ash is recycled for decomposition of hazardous waste materials such as asbestos.     

多酚原位固化茶渣对水中Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附

通过甲醛与茶渣中多酚类组分的反应制备了多酚原位固化茶渣吸附材料,并将其用于对水中Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附。表征结果显示：茶渣多酚的原位固化提高了其热稳定性,同时对茶渣粒料起到了修补增强作用。固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量随溶液pH的减小而增大。在吸附温度303 K、初始Cr（Ⅵ）质量浓度60 mg/L、吸附剂投加量1.0 g/L、吸附时间300 min、溶液pH为2的条件下,固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量为56.56 mg/g,去除率达94.3%。固化茶渣对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附模型和准二级动力学方程,吸附是一个自发的、吸热过程,303,318,333 K下的Langmuir饱和吸附量分别为83.26,107.64,129.20 mg/g。     

Changes in Extractability of Cr and Pb in a Polycontaminated Soil After Bioaugmentation With Microbial Producers of Biosurfactants, Organic Acids and Siderophores

Partly because of the low bioavailability of metals, the soil cleaning-up using phytoremediation is usually time-consuming. In order to enhance the amount of metals at the plant's disposal, the soil bioaugmentation coupled together with phytoextraction is an emerging technology. In this preliminary work, two agricultural soils which mainly differed in their Cr, Hg and Pb contents (LC, low-contaminated soil; HC, high-contaminated soil) were bioaugmented in laboratory conditions by either bacterial (Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas fluorescens or Ralstonia metallidurans) or fungal inocula (Aspergillus niger or Penicillium simplicissimum) and incubated during three weeks. The LC soil pots bioaugmented with A. niger and P. aeruginosa contained higher concentrations of Cr (0.08 and 0.25 mg.kg⁻¹ dw soil) and Pb (0.25 and 0.3 mg.kg⁻¹ dw soil) in the exchangeable fraction F1 (extraction with MgCl₂) by comparison with the non-bioaugmented soil where neither Cr nor Pb was detected. Conversely, immobilization of Cr and Pb in the soil were observed with the other microorganisms. The soil bioaugmentation not only modified the metal speciation for the most easily extractable fractions but also modified the distribution of metals in the other fractions, to a lesser extent nevertheless. The difference in microbial concentrations between the bioaugmented or not HC soils reached up to 1.8 log units. Thus the microorganisms that we chose for the soil bioaugmentation were competitive towards the indigenous microflora. The PCA analysis showed close positive relationships between the microorganisms which potentially produced siderophores in the soil and the amount of Cr and Pb in the fraction F1.