Biofilter treatment of volatile organic compound emissions from reformulated paint: complex mixtures, intermittent operation, and startup

Two biofilters were operated to treat a waste gas stream intended to simulate off-gases generated during the manufacture of reformulated paint. The model waste gas stream consisted of a five-component solvent mixture containing acetone (450 ppm(v)), methyl ethyl ketone (12 ppm(v)), toluene (29 ppm(v)), ethylbenzene (10 ppm(v)), and p-xylene (10 ppm(v)). The two biofilters, identical in construction and packed with a polyurethane foam support medium, were inoculated with an enrichment culture derived from compost and then subjected to different loading conditions during the startup phase of operation. One biofilter was subjected to intermittent loading conditions with contaminants supplied only 8 hr/day to simulate loading conditions expected at facilities where manufacturing operations are discontinuous. The other biofilter was subjected to continuous contaminant loading during the initial start period, and then was switched to intermittent loading conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that both startup strategies can ultimately achieve high contaminant removal efficiency (>99%) at a target contaminant mass loading rate of 80.3 g m(-3) hr(-1) and an empty bed residence time of 59 sec. The biofilter subjected to intermittent loading conditions at startup, however, took considerably longer to reach high performance. In both biofilters, ketone components (acetone and methyl ethyl ketone) were, more rapidly degraded than aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene). Scanning electron microscopy and plate count data revealed that fungi, as well as bacteria, populated the biofilters.     

Formation of water disinfection byproduct 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone from chlorination of green algae

We report that green algae in lakes and rivers can serve as precursors of halobenzoquinone(HBQ) disinfection byproducts(DBPs) produced during chlorination. Chlorination of a common green alga, Chlorella vulgaris, produced 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DCBQ), the most prevalent HBQ DBP in disinfected water. Under varying p H conditions(p H 6.0–9.0), 2,6-DCBQ formation ranged from 0.3 to 2.1 μg/mg C with maximum formation at p H 8.0. To evaluate the contribution of organic components of C. vulgaris to 2,6-DCBQ formation, we separated the organics into two fractions, the protein-rich fraction of intracellular organic matter(IOM) and the polysaccharide-laden fraction of extracellular organic matter(EOM). Chlorination of IOM and EOM produced 1.4 μg/mg C and 0.7 μg/mg C of 2,6-DCBQ, respectively. The IOM generated a two-fold higher 2,6-DCBQ formation potential than the EOM fraction, suggesting that proteins are potent 2,6-DCBQ precursors. This was confirmed by the chlorination of proteins extracted from C. vulgaris: the amount of 2,6-DCBQ produced is linearly correlated with the concentration of total algal protein(R2= 0.98). These results support that proteins are the primary precursors of 2,6-DCBQ in algae, and control of green algal bloom outbreaks in source waters is important for management of HBQ DBPs.     

Biofilter Treatment of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions from Reformulated Paint: Complex Mixtures,Intermittent Operation,and Startup

Abstract

Two biofilters were operated to treat a waste gas stream intended to simulate off-gases generated during the manufacture of reformulated paint. The model waste gas stream consisted of a five-component solvent mixture containing acetone (450 ppm_v), methyl ethyl ketone (12 ppm_v), toluene (29 ppm_v), ethylbenzene (10 ppm_v), and p-xylene (10 ppm_v). The two biofilters, identical in construction and packed with a polyurethane foam support medium, were inoculated with an enrichment culture derived from compost and then subjected to different loading conditions during the startup phase of operation. One biofilter was subjected to intermittent loading conditions with contaminants supplied only 8 hr/day to simulate loading conditions expected at facilities where manufacturing operations are discontinuous. The other biofilter was subjected to continuous contaminant loading during the initial start period, and then was switched to intermittent loading conditions. Experimental results demonstrate that both startup strategies can ultimately achieve high contaminant removal efficiency (>99%) at a target contaminant mass loading rate of 80.3 g m^?3 hr^?1 and an empty bed residence time of 59 sec. The biofilter subjected to intermittent loading conditions at startup, however, took considerably longer to reach high performance. In both biofilters, ketone components (acetone and methyl ethyl ketone) were more rapidly degraded than aromatic hydrocarbons (toluene, ethylbenzene, and p-xylene). Scanning electron microscopy and plate count data revealed that fungi, as well as bacteria, populated the biofilters.     

大型动物的种群恢复:大象种群增长的生态学效应

博茨瓦纳北部及其毗邻地区分布着世界上最大的非洲象种群(Loxodonta africana),而在100年前,由于过度捕猎,大象的种群数量极为稀少.     

Effects of halobenzoquinone and haloacetic acid water disinfection byproducts on human neural stem cells

Human neural stem cells(h NSCs) are a useful tool to assess the developmental effects of various environmental contaminants; however, the application of h NSCs to evaluate water disinfection byproducts(DBPs) is scarce. Comprehensive toxicological results are essential to the prioritization of DBPs for further testing and regulation. Therefore, this study examines the effects of DBPs on the proliferation and differentiation of h NSCs. Prior to DBP treatment, characteristic protein markers of h NSCs from passages 3 to 6 were carefully examined and it was determined that h NSCs passaged 3 or 4 times maintained stem cell characteristics and can be used for DBP analysis. Two regulated DBPs, monobromoacetic acid(BAA) and monochloroacetic acid(CAA), and two emerging DBPs, 2,6-dibromo-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DBBQ) and 2,6-dichloro-1,4-benzoquinone(2,6-DCBQ), were chosen for h NSC treatment. Both 2,6-DBBQ and 2,6-DCBQ induced cell cycle arrest at S-phase at concentrations up to 1 μmol/L. Comparatively, BAA and CAA at 0.5 μmol/L affected neural differentiation. These results suggest DBP-dependent effects on h NSC proliferation and differentiation. The DBP-induced cell cycle arrest and inhibition of normal h NSC differentiation demonstrate the need to assess the developmental neurotoxicity of DBPs.     

Cyanobacterial bloom dynamics in Lake Taihu

<正>Lake Taihu is the third largest freshwater lake in China and serves as an important drinking water source for the local populace;however,decades of excessive nutrient loading fueled by anthropogenic activities have resulted in hypertrophic conditions,promoting the annual formation of nuisance phytoplankton blooms(Chen et al.,2003;Duan et al.,2009)     

Searching quality data for municipal solid waste planning

Effective waste reduction and recycling is predicated upon credible data on refuse generation and disposal. Despite improvements in the quality of data for municipal solid wastes (MSW) disposal, dependable generation and recycling statistics to support planning, regulation and administration are lacking. The available aggregates on national waste production from two sources do not conform to each other and fail to serve the requirements of local solid waste planning. As recycling estimates will be difficult to discern, the collection of generation data based on weighing waste samples at generator sites has been portrayed as the key for developing sustainable local databases. The coefficients developed from the databases for the various categories of residential, commercial, industrial and institutional wastes can be used as variables for waste generation models.     

Investigation and modeling of diurnal variation in suburban ambient formaldehyde concentration

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a naturally occurring compound found in ambient air which can induce cancer and sick-building syndrome. It plays an important...     

Comparative cytotoxicity of fourteen trivalent and pentavalent arsenic species determined using real-time cell sensing

The occurrence of a large number of diverse arsenic species in the environment and in biological systems makes it important to compare their relative toxicity. The toxicity of arsenic species has been examined in various cell lines using different assays, making comparison difficult. We report real-time cell sensing of two human cell lines to examine the cytotoxicity of fourteen arsenic species: arsenite(As~Ⅲ), monomethylarsonous acid(MMA~Ⅲ) originating from the oxide and iodide forms, dimethylarsinous acid(DMA~Ⅲ), dimethylarsinic glutathione(DMAG~Ⅲ), phenylarsine oxide(PAO~Ⅲ), arsenate(AsV), monomethylarsonic acid(MMA~Ⅴ), dimethylarsinic acid(DMA~Ⅴ),monomethyltrithioarsonate(MMTTA~Ⅴ), dimethylmonothioarsinate(DMMTA~Ⅴ),dimethyldithioarsinate(DMDTA~Ⅴ), 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid(Roxarsone, Rox),and 4-aminobenzenearsenic acid(p-arsanilic acid, p-ASA). Cellular responses were measured in real time for 72 hr in human lung(A549) and bladder(T24) cells. IC50 values for the arsenicals were determined continuously over the exposure time, giving rise to IC50 histograms and unique cell response profiles. Arsenic accumulation and speciation were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry(ICP-MS). On the basis of the 24-hr IC50 values, the relative cytotoxicity of the tested arsenicals was in the following decreasing order: PAO~Ⅲ? MMA~Ⅲ≥ DMA~Ⅲ≥ DMAG~Ⅲ≈ DMMTA~Ⅴ≥ As~Ⅲ? MMTTA~Ⅴ AsV DMDTA~ⅤDMA~Ⅴ MMA~Ⅴ≥ Rox ≥ p-ASA. Stepwise shapes of cell response profiles for DMA~Ⅲ, DMAG~Ⅲ,and DMMTA~Ⅴcoincided with the conversion of these arsenicals to the less toxic pentavalent DMA~Ⅴ. Dynamic monitoring of real-time cellular responses to fourteen arsenicals provided useful information for comparison of their relative cytotoxicity.