Carbonaceous and nitrogenous disinfection byproduct precursor variation during the reversed anaerobic–anoxic–oxic process of a sewage treatment plant

Disinfection byproduct(DBP)precursors in wastewater during the reversed anaerobic–anoxic–oxic(A~2/O)process,as well as their molecular weight(MW)and polarity-based fractions,were characterized with UV scanning,fluorescence excitation emission matrix,Fourier transform infrared and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Their DBP formation potentials(DBPFPs)after chlorination were further tested.Results indicated that the reversed A~2/O process could not only effectively remove the dissolved organic carbon(DOC)and dissolved total nitrogen in the wastewater,but also affect the MW distribution and hydrophilic–hydrophobic properties of dissolved organic matter(DOM).The accumulation of low MW and hydrophobic(HPO)DOM was possibly due to the formation of soluble microbial product-like(SMP-like)matters in the reversed A~2/O treatment,especially in the anoxic and aerobic processes.Moreover,DOM in the wastewater displayed a high carbonaceous disinfection byproduct formation potential(C-DBPFP)in the fractions of MW100 k Da and MW5 k Da,and revealed an increasing tendency of nitrogenous disinfection byproduct formation potential(N-DBPFP)with decrease of MW.For polarity-based fractions,the HPO fraction of wastewater showed significantly higher C-DBPFP and N-DBPFP than hydrophilic and transphilic fractions.Therefore,although the reversed A~2/O process could remove most DBP precursors by DOC reduction,it led to the enhancement of DBPFP with the formation and accumulation of low MW and HPO DOM.In addition,strong correlations between C-DBPFPs and SUVA,and between N-DBPFPs and DON/DOC,were observed in the wastewater,which might be helpful for DBPFP prediction in wastewater and reclaimed water chlorination.     

Microbial bioavailability of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) in the sediments of Lake Shankou, Northeastern China

Dissolved organic nitrogen(DON)extracted from Lake Shankou sediments using KCl was isolated into hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions.The bioavailabilities of the hydrophobic and hydrophilic fractions to three types of bacterial communities collected from sediments,activated sludge and compost products were examined.The DON recoveries obtained by DAX-8 and cation exchange resins treatment were 96.17% ± 1.58% and 98.14% ±0% for the samples obtained from N4 and N14 stations,respectively.After 25 days of incubation at 25°C,most DON(59% to 96%)was degraded.Hydrophilic DON exhibited a higher reduction rate than hydrophobic DON during the growth phase.Untreated wastewater from Changshuihe town was the main degradable DON source to station N4,and 93% of hydrophilic DON and 80% of hydrophobic DON were degraded.Station N14 received a large amount of refractory DON from forest soils and exhibited DON degradation rates of 82% and 71% for the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions,respectively.Amino acid contents and fluorescence intensities were also analyzed.Approximately 27% to 74% of amino acids were taken up by day 5,and their concentration gradually increased in the following days due to the decomposition of dissolved proteins.Parallel factor analysis resulted in identification of tryptophan-like proteins,tyrosine-like proteins and FA-like substances.During the growth phase,40%–51% of the tryptophan-like proteins were taken up by bacteria,and the accumulation of tyrosine-like proteins was attributed to the release of biotic substances.The concentration of the FA-like substances decreased due to microbial decomposition.     

Removal of nitrogen and phosphorus in a combined A2/O-BAF system with a short aerobic SRT

A bench-scale anaerobic/anoxic/aerobic process-biological aerated filter （A^2/O-BAF） combined system was carded out to treat wastewater with lower C/N and C/P ratios. The A^2/O process was operated in a short aerobic sludge retention time （SRT） for organic pollutants and phosphorus removal, and denitrification. The subsequent BAF process was mainly used for nitrification. The BAF effluent was partially returned to anoxic zone of the A^2/O process to provide electron acceptors for denitrification and anoxic P uptake. This unique system formed an environment for reproducing the denitdfying phosphate-accumulating organisms （DPAOs）. The ratio of DPAOs to phosphorus accumulating organisms （PAOs） could be maintained at 28% by optimizing the organic loads in the anaerobic zone and the nitrate loads into the anoxic zone in the A^2/O process. The aerobic phosphorus over-uptake and discharge of excess activated sludge was the main mechanism of phosphorus removal in the combined system. The aerobic SRT of the A^2/O process should meet the demands for the development of aerobic PAOs and the restraint on the nitrifiers growth, and the contact time in the aerobic zone of the A^2/O process should be longer than 30 min, which ensured efficient phosphorus removal in the combined system. The adequate BAF effluent return rates should be controlled with 1--4 mg/L nitrate nitrogen in the anoxic zone effluent of A^2/O process to achieve the optimal nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiencies.     

Biotransformation of nonylphenol ethoxylates during sewage treatment under anaerobic and aerobic conditions

Biotransformation of nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPEOs) during continuous anaerobic sewage treatment was compared with the aerobic treatment of sewage spiked with 23 μmol/L technical NPEOs over a period of 90 d. Immediate degradation of NPEOs was observed under both anaerobic and aerobic conditions, indicating that the enzymes and bacteria required for NPEO degradation existed abundantly in both aerobic and anaerobic sludge. Both treatments achieved high removal (＞92%) of the spiked NPEO9 mixture.Liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis showed that short-chain NPEOs (NPEO1-NPEO3) accumulated in anaerobic (2.01-2.56 μmol/L) and aerobic (1.62-2.03 μmol/L) effluents, with nonylphenol (NP) (0.24-0.31 μmol/L) as another group of metabolites in the anaerobic effluent, and nonylphenoxy carboxylates (NPECs) (2.79-3.30 μmol/L) in the aerobic effluent. Significant accumulation of NP in the anaerobic sludge and NPEO1-3 in the sludge of two reactors was observed. These results indicated that it was difficult to control these harmful metabolites in the conventional treatment processes. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis profiles of sludge samples support the speculation that the NPEO degradation bacteria might be the dominant indigenous species.     

Humification characterization of biochar and its potential as a composting amendment

Biochar has received increasing attention due to its applications as a soil amendment. Here, the chemical properties of solid and water-extractable fractions of four biochar samples were investigated. The results showed that wood biochar and bamboo biochar samples were 60%–80% more hydrophobic than those of rice husk biochar and rice husk ash. In addition, the acidity was 3.88 mmol/g from the total functional groups and 1.03 mmol/g from the carboxyl groups/lactones/phenols found in the wood biochar sample, which were about 1.5 times greater than those of the bamboo biochar sample. These functional groups could be used to determine the sorptive capacity of biochar for ionic solutes and water content and to increase the degradation of compost organics. The wood biochar sample was found to have the most humification materials(fulvic acid-like material + humic acid-like material) in the water-extractable fraction, which was 3–10 times higher than that in the rice husk biochar and rice husk ash; humified materials were not detected in the bamboo biochar sample. Humification materials in biochar may be involved in increasing the proportion of humic acid-like materials in humic-like substances within the compost product. Wood biochar had better hydrophobic, sorptive, aromatic, and humification properties compared to other biochars, suggesting that it may be used in composting in order to exert its effect as both a bulking agent and a composting amendment during the solid waste composting process.     

Biodegradability of terephthalic acid in terylene artificial silk printing and dyeing wastewater

As the characteristic pollutant,terephthalic acid(TA)was in charge of 40%-78% of the total COD of terylene artificial silk printing and dyeing wastewater(TPW-water).The studies on biodegradability of TA were conducted in a serial of activated sludge reactors with TPW-water.TA appeared to be readily biodegradable with removal efficiency over 96.5% under aerobic conditions,hardly biodegradable with removal efficiency below 10% under anoxic conditions and slowly biodegradable with a turnover between 31.4% and 56.0% under anaerobic conditions. TA also accounted for the majority of BOD in TPW-water.The process combined by anoxic,anaerobic and aerobic activated sludge reactor was suitable for TA degradation and TPW-water treatment.Further, the aerobic process was essentially much more effective than the anaerobic or anoxic one to degrade TA in TPW-water.     

Effects of oxygen and water content on microbial distribution in the polyurethane foam cubes of a biofilter for SO2 removal

The performance of a biofilter for off-gas treatment relies on the activity of microorganisms and adequate O_2 and H_2O. In present study, a microelectrode was applied to analyze O_2 in polyurethane foam cubes(PUFCs) packed in a biofilter for SO_2 removal. The O_2 distribution varied with the density and water-containing rate(WCR) of PUFCs. The O_2 concentration dropped sharply from 10.2 to 0.8 mg/L from the surface to the center of a PUFC with 97.20%of WCR. The PUFCs with high WCR presented aerobic–anoxic–aerobic areas.Three-dimensional simulated images demonstrated that the structure of PUFCs with high WCR consisted of an aerobic "shell" and an anoxic "core", with high-density PUFCs featuring a larger anoxic area than low-density PUFCs. Moreover, the H_2O distribution in the PUFC was uneven and affected the O_2 concentration. Whereas aerobic bacteria were observed in the PUFC surface, facultative anaerobic microorganisms were found at the PUFC core, where the O_2 concentration was relatively low. O_2 and H_2O distributions differed in the PUFCs, and the distribution of microorganisms varied accordingly.     

Comparison of conventional and inverted A2/O processes: Phosphorus release and uptake behaviors

Two full-scale systems operated in parallel, a conventional A²/O system consisting of anaerobic, anoxic and oxic compartments in succession and an inverted system consisting of anoxic, anaerobic and oxic compartments without internal recycle, were compared in terms of their phosphorus removal performance, with an emphasis on phosphate (P) release behaviors, using both operational data and simulation results. The inverted system exhibited better long-term phosphorus removal performance (0.2 ± 0.3 vs. 0.7 ± 0.7 mg/L), which should be attributed to the higher P release rate (0.79 vs. 0.60 kg P/(kg MLSS·day)) in the non-aerated compartments. The P release occurred in both the anoxic and anaerobic compartments of the inverted system, resulting in more efficient P release. Although the abundances of the ‘Candidatus Accumulibacter phosphatis' population in the two systems were quite similar ((19.1 ± 3.27)% and (18.4 ± 4.15)% of the total microbe (DAPI stained particles) population in the inverted and conventional systems, respectively, by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH)), the high-concentration DAPI staining results show that the abundances of the whole polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs) in the aerobic ends were quite different (the average ratios of the poly-P granules to total microbes (DAPI stained particles) were (45 ± 4.18)% and (35 ± 5.39)%, respectively). Both the operational data and simulation results showed that the inverted system retained more abundant PAO populations due to its special configuration, which permitted efficient P release in the non-aerated compartment and better P removal.     

Coupled anaerobic/aerobic biodegradation of 2,4,6 trichlorophenol

Degradation of 2, 4, 6-trichlorophenol(TCP) with co-immobilizing anaerobic granular sludge and isolated aerobic bacterial species was studied in coupled anaerobic/aerobic integrated reactors. The synergism of aerobes and anaerobes within co-immobilized granule might facilitate degrading the TCP and exchange of anaerobic metabolites 4-CP, which promoted system organic removal efficiency and recovered from organic shock-loads more quickly. The bionmass specific activities experiment further confirmed that strict anaerobes be not affected over the crsurse of this experiment by the presence of an oxic environment, aerobic activity predominated in the outer co-immobilized grange layers,while the interior was characterized by anaerobic activity. The co-immobilized granule could thus enable both aerobic and anaerobic microbes function in the same reactor and thereby integrate the oxidative and reductive catabolism.     

Organic matter extracted from activated sludge with ammonium hydroxide and its characterization

In order to characterize the organic properties of waste activated sludge in a wastewater treatment plant,organic matter within sludge was extracted with NH 3 ·H 2 O preferentially,and subsequently fractionated into five fractions using XAD-8/XAD-4 resins.Up to a 63.8%-71.1% of organic matter within the sludge could be efficiently extracted by NH 3 ·H 2 O.Fractionation results showed that hydrophobic acid and hydrophilic fraction were two main components among the sludge organic matter (accounting for 32.2% and 48.0% of the bulk organic matter,respectively),whereas transphilic acid,hydrophobic neutral and transphilic neutral were quite low (accounting for 9.2%,5.8% and 4.8%,respectively).Despite that the extractant of NH 3 ·H 2 O showed a relatively higher extraction efficiency of the aromatic components,the relatively low aromaticity of the organic fractions implied that those non-aromatic components could also be effectively extracted,especially for neutral and hydrophilic fractions.In addition,acidic fractions contained more aromatic humic-like components,whereas the neutral fractions had a greater content of aromatic proteins and soluble microbial byproduct-like components.Extraction of sludge organics with NH 3 ·H 2 O and subsequential fractionation using XAD resins could be a novel method for further characterization of sludge organics.     

Simultaneous denitrification and denitrifying phosphorus removal in a full-scale anoxic–oxic process without internal recycle treating low strength wastewater

Performance of a full-scale anoxic-oxic activated sludge treatment plant(4.0×10~5 m~3/day for the first-stage project) was followed during a year.The plant performed well for the removal of carbon,nitrogen and phosphorus in the process of treating domestic wastewater within a temperature range of 10.8℃ to 30.5℃.Mass balance calculations indicated that COD utilization mainly occurred in the anoxic phase,accounting for 88.2% of total COD removal.Ammonia nitrogen removal occurred 13.71% in the anoxic zones and 78.77% in the aerobic zones.The contribution of anoxic zones to total nitrogen(TN) removal was 57.41%.Results indicated that nitrogen elimination in the oxic tanks was mainly contributed by simultaneous nitrification and denitrification(SND).The reduction of phosphorus mainly took place in the oxic zones,51.45% of the total removal.Denitrifying phosphorus removal was achieved biologically by 11.29%.Practical experience proved that adaptability to gradually changing temperature of the microbial populations was important to maintain the plant overall stability.Sudden changes in temperature did not cause paralysis of the system just lower removal efficiency,which could be explained by functional redundancy of microorganisms that may compensate the adverse effects of temperature changes to a certain degree.Anoxic-oxic process without internal recycling has great potential to treat low strength wastewater(i.e.,TN 35 mg/L) as well as reducing operation costs.     

臭氧/活性炭协同作用去除二级出水中DON

为探讨臭氧氧化和活性炭吸附对城市污水厂二级出水中溶解性有机氮(DON)的去除机制,首先测定二级出水DON、溶解性有机炭(DOC)、UV254、pH值等指标.接着通过臭氧氧化试验和活性炭吸附试验来考察二级出水中DON、DOC和UV254变化,以及DON分子量分布和DON亲疏水性变化,并应用三维荧光光谱对二级出水中DON变化进行表征.结果表明,当臭氧投加量为8mg/L,DON的去除率大约为33.9%,DOC和UV254去除率约21.2%、66.7%;当活性炭投加量为2.0g/L,DON、DOC和UV254的去除率大约为43.4%、27.6%、92.2%;臭氧氧化和活性炭吸附组合试验时,对DON的去除率大约为83.3%和81.5%;臭氧氧化提高小分子量( 20kDa)的DON所占比例;活性炭吸附降低小分子量( 20kDa)DON所占比例为;臭氧氧化和活性炭吸附都提高亲水性DON所占比例,而降低疏水性和过渡性DON所占比例;三维荧光光谱证实,二级出水中DON变化与3个主要峰有关,分别代表物质为色氨酸类蛋白质、芳香族类蛋白质和富里酸类物质.     

湖泊沉积物溶解性有机氮组分的藻类可利用性

选择乌梁素海和洱海沉积物样品,利用XAD-8树脂分离和三维荧光光谱技术,在室内培养条件下,研究了其溶解性有机氮(DON)不同组分的藻类可利用性.结果表明:①DON分组后,所研究湖泊沉积物DON及DOC平均损失低于5%,即XAD-8树脂分离技术可以用于湖泊沉积物DON的分组研究.②通过三维荧光光谱分析,湖泊沉积物DON亲水组分以类蛋白质为主,疏水组分以类腐殖质为主.③亲水组分培养条件下,来自乌梁素海和洱海沉积物的DON处理,其藻类生长分别呈"S"型曲线和直线上升趋势,最大藻密度分别达到535.5×104个·mL-1和709.5×104个·mL-1;其ρ(DON)均呈显著降低趋势,培养后ρ(DON)分别降低了2.46 mg·L-1和2.98 mg·L-1,表明湖泊沉积物亲水DON组分是藻类可利用的有机氮形态.④疏水组分培养条件下,来自乌梁素海和洱海沉积物的DON处理,其藻类生长均呈"单峰"曲线变化,最大藻密度分别达到113.5×104个·mL-1和275.5×104个·mL-1;ρ(DON)均在培养初期迅速下降,培养后期几乎不变,表明湖泊沉积物疏水DON组分在短时间内藻类可利用性较低,对藻类生长几乎无贡献作用.     

溶解性有机物在土壤含水层处理系统中的变化

通过实验室模拟土壤含水层处理(SAT)的土壤柱系统研究了二级处理出水中溶解性有机物(DOM)的荧光特性在SAT系统中的变化.利用XAD树脂将二级处理出水中的DOM分为5个部分:疏水性有机酸(HPO-A),疏水性中性有机物(HPO-N),过渡亲水性有机酸(TPI-A),过渡亲水性中性有机物(TPI-N)和亲水性有机物(HPI).结果表明,TPI-N中的类芳香族蛋白质荧光物质在SAT系统中优先去除.经过SAT系统处理后,类芳香族蛋白质荧光物质和类溶解性微生物代谢产物荧光物质在HPO-A,HPO-N,TPI-A和HPI中的相对含量升高.各组分中带有3~5个稠合苯环的荧光物质,以及激发波长/发射波长(λex/λem)=390~410nm/456~476nm的类腐殖酸荧光物质在SAT系统中的去除率低于相应组分中以溶解性有机碳(DOC)表征的整体有机物的去除率.不同组分中的其他荧光物质在SAT系统中去除行为不同.     

不同氨氮填加量下沉水植物对沉积物DOM荧光特性的影响

采用三维荧光光谱技术,模拟研究了不同氨氮添加量(0,100,200和400 mg/kg)下沉水植物对湖泊沉积物DOM(溶解性有机质)荧光特性的影响.结果表明:不同氨氮添加量下,沉水植物的存在明显增强沉积物DOM荧光强度,其中对类蛋白质和类氨基酸组分荧光强度影响较大(荧光强度分别增大了20%～77%和27%～56%);而对类腐殖酸和类富里酸组分影响相对较小(荧光强度分别增大了5%～25%和21%～29%). 添加氨氮可增强沉水植物对沉积物DOM荧光强度影响的程度,当添加量为100 mg/kg时,沉水植物生长最旺盛,沉积物DOM中类蛋白质和类氨基酸组分荧光强度增幅最大(分别约77%和56%);即外源氨氮通过增加沉积物蛋白质和氨基酸含量增强了沉积物有机氮的生物有效性;而在其他添加量下,DOM各荧光组分强度增幅不大,即适当添加外源氨氮,可通过促进沉水植物生长增加沉积物中蛋白质和氨基酸等含量,从而提高沉积物有机氮的生物有效性.      

洱海上覆水溶解性有机氮特征及其与湖泊水质关系

研究了洱海上覆水溶解性有机氮(DON)含量及空间分布,利用三维荧光和紫外光谱技术分析了其结构组分特征,探讨了DON与湖泊水质间关系.结果表明:2014年洱海上覆水DON含量在0.08~0.33mg/L之间,全年平均为0.18mg/L,时间分布为春季 > 夏季 > 秋季 > 冬季,空间分布呈南部 > 北部 > 中部的趋势,垂向分布呈中层 > 表层 > 底层的趋势.洱海上覆水DON腐殖化程度较高,取代基中羰基、羧基、羟基、酯等含量较少,主要以脂肪链为主;自生源指数(BIX)在0.84~1.19之间(平均值0.94),荧光指数FI值在1.58~1.66之间(平均值为1.63),表明洱海上覆水DON受陆源输入和内源生物代谢共同影响;另外,洱海上覆水DON主要组分为腐殖质类物质(平均61.82%),且在0~2m各荧光组分转化量最大,其类蛋白成分P_(I+II,n)始终小于20%.洱海上覆水DON和溶解性总氮(DTN)呈极显著正相关(R=0.949, P < 0.01),类蛋白物质与类腐殖质比值(P_(I+II,n)/P_(III+V,n))与TN、DTN和SRP呈显著正相关(R=0.467~0.552, P < 0.05),表明上覆水DON含量在一定程度上可以指示洱海水质状况,特别是其类蛋白物质含量能较好的指示其水质状况,即类蛋白物质含量越高,上覆水体氮磷含量越高.     

Effects of aging process on adsorption–desorption and bioavailability of fomesafen in an agricultural soil amended with rice hull biochar

Biochar has been introduced as an acceptable soil amendment due to its environmental benefits such as sequestering soil contaminants. However, the aging process in biochar amended soil probably decreases the adsorption capacity of biochar through changing its physico-chemical properties. Adsorption, leaching and bioavailability of fomesafen to corn in a Chinese soil amended by rice hull biochar after 0, 30, 90 and 180 days were investigated.Results showed that the addition of 0.5%–2% fresh biochar significantly increases the adsorption of fomesafen 4–26 times compare to unamended soil due to higher SSA of biochar. Biochar amendment also decreases fomesafen concentration in soil pore water by5%–23% resulting lower risk of the herbicide for cultivated plants. However, the aging process decreased the adsorption capacity of biochar since the adsorption coefficient values which was 1.9–12.4 in 0.5%–2% fresh biochar amended soil, declined to 1.36–4.16, 1.13–2.78 and 0.95–2.31 in 1, 3 and 6-month aged treatments, respectively. Consequently, higher desorption, leaching and bioavailable fraction of fomesafen belonged to 6-month aged treatment. Nevertheless, rice hull biochar was effective for sequestering fomesafen as the adsorption capacity of biochar amended soil after 6 months of aging was still 2.5–5 times higher compared to that of unamended soil.     

二级处理出水中溶解性有机物的荧光特性

为研究二级处理出水中溶解性有机物的荧光特性,以沈阳市B污水处理厂为研究对象,利用XAD树脂对二级处理出水中的溶解性有机物(DOM)进行分级分离。按照DOM在不同树脂上的吸附特性将其分为5个部分:疏水性有机酸(HPO-A)、疏水性中性有机物(HPO-N)、过渡亲水性有机酸(TPI-A)、过渡亲水性中性有机物(TPI-N)和亲水性有机物(HPI)。研究结果表明,DOM组分中含有类腐植酸荧光团、类富里酸荧光团、类芳香族蛋白质荧光团和类溶解性微生物代谢产物荧光团,此外,还含有具有多环芳香结构的荧光物质。DOM中的荧光物质主要集中在HPO-N和TPI-N中。类腐植酸荧光团、类富里酸荧光团和类溶解性微生物代谢产物荧光团在TPI-N中的含量最高,而类芳香族蛋白质荧光团在HPO-N中的含量最高。对于HPO-A、TPI-A和TPI-N来说,类富里酸荧光峰的强度最高;类芳香族蛋白质荧光峰是HPO-N的最强峰;类溶解性微生物代谢产物荧光峰是HPI的最强峰。     

Characterization of dissolved organic matter fractions and its relationship with the disinfection by-product formation

Dissolved organic matter(DOM) has been identified as precursor for disinfection by-products(DBPs) formation during chlorination. Recently,it has been demonstrated that the characteristics of DOM influence the DBPs formation mechanism. A study was,therefore,initiated to investigate the effects of DOM fractions on DBPs formation mechanism. In the chlorination process,organic acids are dominant precursors of total thihalomethanes(TTHM) because of the νC-O and unsaturated structures. Furthermore,the TTHM format...