Probabilistic risk assessment for zinc in some commercial dishwashing detergents: the anaerobic digestion processes in US POTWs

A US patent was issued to a commercial dishwashing detergent composition in which soluble zinc serves as an anti-corrosion agent. Since the detergents are used in a down-the-drain fashion, some of the detergents are discharged as wastewater and treated in publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). A risk assessment was previously conducted which focused on the nitrification processes in US POTWs. As a conservative pollutant, zinc removed from wastewater during treatment is transferred to sludges and at sufficiently high concentrations may inhibit the sludge treatment processes. In the present assessment, a probabilistic risk assessment was conducted to quantitatively determine the risk of zinc in the detergents to the anaerobic digestion processes in US POTWs. The procedure for POTW local limit development designed by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was used as a reference when conducting the risk assessment. The assessment took into account the background zinc concentrations in POTW influents and was conducted at different market penetration rates (MPRs) for the US market of detergents based on the patented formula. Several factors were present that contributed to the conservativeness of the assessment. Results indicate that zinc in detergents does not present a significant risk to the anaerobic digestion processes in POTWs at a MPR up to 10%, with a probability of anaerobic digestion inhibition of below 1%.     

The occurrence of cyanide formation in six full-scale publicly owned treatment works.

This paper presents results from an intensive monitoring program implemented at six full-scale publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) to investigate the fate and formation of cyanide in wastewater treatment processes, with a focus on chlorination and dechlorination processes. A review of historical monitoring data for cyanide species in these POTWs was also conducted. This POTW monitoring program provided a database for the investigation of cyanide formation in wastewater secondary treatment. Data from participating POTWs showed evidence of cyanide formation in this 1-year monitoring effort, although the cyanide formation pattern varied significantly from one plant to another and among seasons. Generally, the chlorination of thiocyanate (SCN-) seems to be the most important mechanism for the formation of cyanide in wastewater treatment processes, especially in chlorination and dechlorination. This hypothesis is supported by the findings of a related laboratory study of mechanisms of cyanide formation in POTWs. It is recommended that POTWs monitor SCN in influent and secondary effluent to identify its presence and adjust chlorine dose appropriately.     

Effects of nitrosation on the formation of cyanide in publicly owned treatment works secondary effluent.

Cyanide has been detected in the effluents of some publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) at levels exceeding the influent concentration. The presence of nitrite ion (NO2-) as a common constituent in domestic wastewater effluents may play an important role in the formation of cyanide through reaction with certain kinds of organic compounds, especially aromatic compounds. Laboratory studies with seven organic compounds (aniline. p-toluidine, phenol, 1,2,4-trihydroxybenzene, L-serine, glycine, and benzoic acid) revealed that cyanide can be formed by reaction of nitrite with some of these compounds. The most substantial free cyanide (HCN. CN-) production observed at 25 degrees C was 0.15 mg/L from reaction of 0.01 mM 1.2.4-trihydroxybenze with 5 mg/L nitrite for 72 hours. Substantial free cyanide formation was also observed at pH 2-4 in experiments with POTW effluents when reactive organics and nitrite were both added to wastewater. Formation of cyanide through nitrosation was strongly pH dependent, being most significant at low pH (2 to 4) and negligible at neutral-to-high pH. This result points to nitrous acid (HNO2) as being more reactive than the dissociated NO2- ion. The reaction of these nitrite species with organics also occurs in conventional analyses for total cyanide which involve distillation under strongly acidic conditions. Sufficient sample pretreatment with sulfamic acid at the time of sampling, not at the time of analysis. is highly recommended to prevent biasing analytical measurement of total cyanide in POTW effluents.     

Effects of thiocyanate on the formation of free cyanide during chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection of publicly owned treatment works secondary effluent.

Cyanide has been detected in effluent of some publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) at levels exceeding influent concentration. Thiocyanate (SCN-) is a cyanide-related compound encountered in most POTW influents and may be decomposed to free cyanide (CN-) under some circumstances. Effects of SCN- on the formation of cyanide during chlorination and UV disinfection were studied through a laboratory study with synthetic solutions and POTW secondary effluent. Results indicated that CN- was detected in SCN- solutions after chlorination in which the chlorine dose or reaction time was not sufficient to destroy SCN-completely, thus ensuring no residual chlorine to destroy any CN-produced. It was also found that SCN can be broken down to yield cyanide by UV irradiation. In addition, SCN- was observed to cause significant positive error in the conventional total cyanide analysis technique involving acidic distillation and colorimetric measurement when nitrate was present in the sample.     

Formation of free cyanide and cyanogen chloride from chloramination of publicly owned treatment works secondary effluent: laboratory study with model compounds.

The potential generation of cyanide species in wastewater upon chlorination in the presence of residual ammonia (resulting in chloramine formation) was investigated in experiments with synthetic solutions and publicly owned treatment works (POTW) secondary effluent. This study demonstrated that low concentrations (approximately 5 to 25 microg/L as cyanide) of cyanogen chloride (CNCI), a highly toxic cyanide species not measured in total or free cyanide analyses, could be detected as a result of chloramination reactions in POTW secondary effluent. The potential for chloramination of nitrogen-bearing organic compounds to yield CNCl and/or free cyanide was demonstrated in experiments with synthetic solutions spiked with selected precursor organics: L-serine, benzene, catechin, and humic acid. The amino acid L-serine yielded the largest concentrations of CNCI upon chloramination. Additionally, detectable cyanide (approximately 10 microg/L) was observed in solutions of L-serine and in POTW secondary effluent that was chloraminated followed by dechlorination to prevent destruction of any free cyanide produced. Thus, chlorination of POTW secondary effluent containing residual ammonia can lead to chloramination of organic compounds and the resulting production of CNCl and free cyanide.     

短程硝化—厌氧氨氧化组合工艺在脱氮领域的研究进展

基于全程硝化反硝化的传统生物脱氮工艺在硝化过程中需要大量氧气供应,反硝化过程需要有机物作为碳源,存在能耗与药耗过大的问题.为了降低废水脱氮的成本,短程硝化(PN)—厌氧氨氧化(ANAMMOX)组合工艺(PNA工艺)得到了高速发展.综述了PNA工艺的影响因素,重点介绍了4种基于PN与ANAMMOX原理开发的衍生PNA工艺...     

Metal availability and uptake by sorghum plants grown in soils amended with sludge from different treatments

Several factors depending on the sludge, the soil, or the combination of both substrates, may affect element availability to plants. In this study, an assessment was done of the effect of two sludges obtained by different processes (activated sludge and facultative stabilization pond) on heavy-metal availability and uptake by sorghum plants in soils with high and low copper contents. Results obtained for DTPA-extractable metal indicated higher metal availability in sludge-amended soils. In addition, sludges caused changes in copper and zinc distribution in soil, indicating in most cases a discrete increase in the more labile metal forms. However, observed changes did not increase heavy metal concentration in plant leaves, indicating that assessment of metal availability by a chemical procedure (single extraction or metal fractionation) would not permit a good prediction of metal bioavailability. On the other hand, sludge application at a rate of 100 t ha⁻¹ to high-copper agricultural soils would not imply greater mobility of this metal on account of a greater sorbing capacity provided by the sludges. Such results would indicate that sludges from wastewater treatment plants, meeting the standards of heavy metal contents, regardless of the process by which they were obtained, may be applied to several kinds of soil, even to high-copper soils, with no risk of increasing heavy metal bioavailability to phytotoxic levels in the short range.     

两级SBR与传统SBR工艺的对比研究

用两级SBR工艺（TSSBR）处理COD与氮浓度较高的工业废水，SBR1去除有机物，SBR2主要进行硝化反硝化。TSSBR与传统SBR工艺相比，COD降解速率和硝化反应速率明显提高，COD去除率由84％提高到93％，2种工艺的反硝化速率没有明显差别。在原水COD浓度较高的情况下，TSSBR可有效克服高COD浓度对硝化反应的抑制，硝化反应速率是传统SBR的2倍。对于COD和氮浓度较高的工业废水，TSSBR明显优于传统SBR，是一种理想的处理工艺。     

电沉积处理电解锌漂洗废水的实验研究

采用电沉积技术对电解锌漂洗废水进行初步处理,以求达到废水回用和重金属锌的回收。研究了电沉积法处理含锌废水过程中各个影响因素对电沉积效果的影响,并且设计了正交实验。结果表明,极板间距、槽电压、进水pH、极板材料等对二维电沉积处理模拟废水具有显著影响。适宜的电沉积条件是：极板间距20 mm、槽电压5～6 V、阴极板材料为铝板、电沉积时间为30～45 min。     

单级与二级BAF工艺除碳硝化效能的对比研究

在总曝气量、HRT、水温、进水水质相同的条件下,对比研究了单级(BAF C/N)和二级曝气生物液池(BAF C+N)处理生活污水的除碳硝化效能。结果表明,将除碳和硝化分级有利于提高BAF工艺的处理效能。分级后,C柱较C/N柱具有更高的COD去除容积负荷,且出水COD浓度稳定低于50 mg/L;二级BAF工艺出水NH4+-N浓度由单级BAF的5～12 mg/L降至5 mg/L以下,且N柱在pH<6.3时依然能够进行硝化;N柱中下部具有较高的微生物活性,平均比耗氧速率为32 mg O2/(g VAS·h)。二级BAF中C柱的反冲洗周期和强度与单级BAF相同,而N柱的反冲洗周期则延长至5～7 d,能够降低反冲洗能耗和用水量。     

废水的硝化作用

硝化作用是废水生物脱氮中的关键。本文介绍了硝化作用的生化反应、硝化细菌的类群、硝化反应动力学和影响硝化作用的主要环境因子：溶解氧、ｐＨ、温度和毒物。     

两级SBR与传统SBR工艺的对比研究

采用两级SBR工艺(TSSBR)处理COD与氮浓度较高的工业废水,SBR1去除有机物,SBR2主要进行硝化反硝化。TSSBR与传统SBR工艺相比,COD降解速率和硝化反应速率明显提高,COD去除率由84%提高到93%,2种工艺的反硝化速率没有明显差别。在原水COD浓度较高的情况下,TSSBR可有效克服高COD浓度对硝化反应的抑制,硝化反应速率是传统SBR的2倍。对于COD和氮浓度较高的工业废水,TSSBR明显优于传统SBR,是一种理想的处理工艺。     

Comparison of nitrification rates in conventional and membrane-assisted biological nutrient removal processes

A membrane-assisted and a conventional activated sludge system, both operated in an enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) mode and under identical operating conditions, were studied to investigate the effect of the membrane solids-liquid separation on nitrification activity. Both the membrane EBPR (MEBPR) and conventional EBPR (CEBPR) processes achieved stable and complete removal of ammonium-nitrogen from the influent wastewater. However, when the intrinsic nitrification activity was assessed in offline batch tests, the CEBPR mixed liquor exhibited 15 to 75% greater nitrification potential than the MEBPR counterpart. These results were further validated by monitoring nitrification rates of conventional mixed liquor as it evolved toward a membrane mixed liquor. It was also demonstrated that the larger aerobic mass fraction of the MEBPR system could not be the only factor influencing the reduced intrinsic nitrification rate. The present study strongly suggests that the presence of a membrane solids-liquid separation per se may be sufficient to alter the nitrification kinetics of an EBPR mixed liquor and that this possibility should be considered in arriving at an appropriate process design.     

Careers in Air Pollution Control Monitoring-Surveillance

ABSTRACT

The temporal and longitudinal characteristics of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from the aeration units of a publicly owned treatment works (POTWs) have been investigated by systematic monitoring and mathematical modeling. Field tests have been conducted at a 120-mgd wastewater treatment plant to investigate the hourly, weekly, and seasonal changes of VOC emissions. Variations of VOC emissions along the length of the aeration units have been tested and modeled. Most VOCs have decreasing concentration profiles. Henry's law coefficients and biodegradation constants for the detected compounds have been validated with the improved models and the field test data. More than one-half of the emissions were found to have been generated from the first one-third of the aeration unit length.     

Effect of cold-temperature shock on nitrification.

Nitrification is known as the most temperature-sensitive step among the biological processes in wastewater treatment. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of temperature on nitrification, in the case of a sharp decrease of temperature, and to compare this effect with that of a gradual temperature decrease. It was found that a sudden temperature decrease affected nitrification much more than predicted. The immediate decrease of temperature by 10 degrees C led to a 20% larger decrease of specific nitrification rate than predicted by the temperature correction factor of 1.072. The change of nitrification rate resulting from a gradual temperature decrease was modeled correctly with the current default temperature correction factor of 1.072. It was concluded that the correction factor actually can be applied to a gradual temperature-change situation; however, in the case of a sudden temperature decrease, measures need to be taken to avoid nitrifier washout.     

DNA damage in caged Gammarus fossarum amphipods: a tool for freshwater genotoxicity assessment

The aim of this study was to propose a tool for freshwater environmental genotoxicity assessment using Gammarus fossarum, a high ecologically relevant species. In a first part, gammarids were caged upstream and downstream wastewater treatment plant effluent output. The sensitivity of genotoxic responses of haemocytes, oocytes and spermatozoa was compared using the Comet assay. Spermatozoa appeared to be the most sensitive, suitable and relevant cell type for genotoxicity risk assessment. In a second part, a watershed-scale study was conducted over 2 years to evaluate the applicability of our caging procedure. The genotoxic impact of a contamination was followed, taking into account seasonal variability. DNA damage in spermatozoa exhibited low basal level and low variability in control upstream sites, providing a reliable discrimination of polluted sites. Finally, DNA damage in caged G. fossarum has been proved to be a sensitive and reproducible tool for freshwater genotoxicity assessment.     

Comparison of bioluminescence and nitrification inhibition methods for assessing toxicity to municipal activated sludge

The aim of this study was to compare two alternative toxicity assessment methods to determine wastewater toxicity and predict treatment plant process upsets. The toxicity of two synthetic organic compounds (triclosan and 4-n-nonylphenol), which are commonly detected in municipal wastewater, and municipal and industrial wastewaters with different heavy metals content were evaluated by the nitrification inhibition assay and bioluminescence toxicity test. Comparison between both assays confirmed that Vibrio fischeri is generally more sensitive than autotrophic bacteria, and, if not calibrated, the bioluminescence method tends to overestimate toxic effects on activated sludge biomass. The nitrification inhibition assay appears to predict plant process upsets more accurately. Both methods showed a significant toxicity decrease through treatment that could be partially attributed to the significant heavy metals removal obtained by primary and secondary treatment. A good correlation for the two assays was obtained, as indicated by a high correlation coefficient (r2 = 0.80).     

异养硝化及其在污水脱氮中的作用

通过与传统自养硝化作用的比较，异养硝化作用不仅是客观存在的过程，而且某些特殊的异养菌，可以同步进行异养硝化和好氧反硝化，对于污水脱氮具有重要的理论意义和应用价值。     

Biological nitrification/denitrification of high sodium nitrite (navy shipyard) wastewater

In the hydroblasting of ships' boiler tubes, a wastewater high in nitrite (as high as 1200 mg litre(-1)) is produced by the US Navy. This research has evaluated the use of a suspended-growth biological system to treat this wastewater by denitrification. Two biological treatment configurations were evaluated (direct denitrification versus nitrification/denitrification) with nitrification/denitrification producing better nitrite removal efficiencies (54 to 62% versus 40%, respectively). The introduction of metals (cadmium, chromium, lead, copper and iron) in concentrations typical for this wastewater did not inhibit the nitrite removal efficiencies. The influent metal concentrations ranged from 0.02 mg litre(-1) for cadmium to 22 mg litre(-1) for iron and the metal removal efficiencies ranged from 4.8% for cadmium to 50% for copper. Increasing sludge age resulted in improved nitrite removal efficiencies (52%, 57% and 74% for sludge ages of 4, 6 and 8 days, respectively). The resulting biokinetic constants were similar to those reported by others for lower influent concentrations of nitrite or nitrate (Ygs=0.02 mg/mg; Ygn=0.16 mg/mg; Yb=0.8 mg/mg; and b=0.006 h(-1)).     

烤胶废料活性炭对含铬废水的处理能力

介绍了微波照射下氯化锌法制取烤胶废料活的方法,用该方法所制烤胶废料活性炭处理含废水的结果表明,烤胶废料活性炭具有吸附容量大,过滤速度快,操作控制方便等优点,活性炭对铬的吸附容量是市售一级粉末活性炭的１．８倍。