Water transformation in the media of biofilters controlled by Rhodococcus fascians in treating an ethyl acetate-contaminated airstream

Biofilters do not provide much water for bacteria to grow. To use them efficiently and properly, it is essential to understand the kinetics of water transformation and to control moisture levels. This study aims to clarify whether the metabolism of microorganisms will improve the water-holding capacity of media or will intensify drying. This experiment was conducted in duplicate, that is, both with and without bacterial inoculation. Both the constant water content mode and the declining water content mode show that microbial growth in a log phase will enhance drying. In contrast, the bacteria growing in a logarithmic decline phase will improve water-holding capacity. Basically, water evaporation can result from the latent heat obtained from microbial respiration or from the physical temperature difference between the unsaturated air and the wet media. Two ways that biofilters can gain water are from water incorporated into bacteria cells and from water obtained from the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).     

Carbonyl Sulfide Removal with Compost and Wood Chip Biofilters,and in the Presence of Hydrogen Sulfide

Abstract

Carbonyl sulfide (COS) is an odor-causing compound and hazardous air pollutant emitted frequently from wastewater treatment facilities and chemical and primary metals industries. This study examined the effectiveness of biofiltration in removing COS. Specific objectives were to compare COS removal efficiency for various biofilter media; to determine whether hydrogen sulfide (H₂S), which is frequently produced along with COS under anaerobic conditions, adversely impacts COS removal; and to determine the maximum elimination capacity of COS for use in biofilter design. Three laboratory-scale polyvinyl chlo-ride biofilter columns were filled with up to 28 in. of biofilter media (aged compost, fresh compost, wood chips, or a compost/wood chip mixture). Inlet COS ranged from 5 to 46 parts per million (ppm) (0.10–9.0 g/m³fihr). Compost and the compost/wood chip mixture produced higher COS removal efficiencies than wood chips alone. The compost and compost/wood chip mixture had a shorter stabilization times compared with wood chips alone. Fresh versus aged compost did not impact COS removal efficiency. The presence of H₂S did not adversely impact COS removal for the concentration ratios tested. The maximum elimination capacity is at least 9 g/m³·hr for COS with compost media.     

Transformation characteristics of refractory pollutants in plugboard wastewater by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton process

The treatment of the plugboard wastewater was performed by an optimal electrocoagulation and electro-Fenton. The organic components with suspended fractions accounting for 30% COD were preferably removed via electrocoagulation at initial 5 min. In contrast, the removal efficiency was increased to 76% with the addition of H(2)O(2). The electrogenerated Fe(2+) reacts with H(2)O(2) and leads to the generation of (·)OH, which is responsible for the higher COD removal. However, overdosage H(2)O(2) will consume (·)OH generated in the electro-Fenton process and lead to the low COD removal. The COD removal efficiency decreased with the increased pH. The concentration of Fe(2+) ions was dependent on the solution pH, H(2)O(2) dosage and current density. The changes of organic characteristics in coagulation and oxidation process were differenced and evaluated using gel permeation chromatography, fluorescence excitation-emission scans and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The fraction of the wastewater with aromatic structure and large molecular weight was decomposed into aliphatic structure and small molecular weight fraction in the electro-Fenton process.     

Transformation and Ecotoxicity of Carbamic Pesticides in Water (5 pp)

Background N-methylcarbamate insecticides are widely used chemicals for crop protection. This study examines the hydrolytic and photolytic cleavage of benfuracarb, carbosulfan and carbofuran under natural conditions. Their toxicity and that of the corresponding main degradation products toward aquatic organisms were evaluated. Methods Suspensions of benfuracarb, carbosulfan and carbofuran in water were exposed to sunlight, with one set of dark controls, for 6 days, and analyzed by 1H-NMR and HPLC. Acute toxicity tests were performed on Brachionus calyciflorus, Daphnia magna, and Thamnocefalus platyurus. Chronic tests were performed on Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata, and Ceriodaphnia dubia. Results and Discussion Under sunlight irradiation, benfuracarb and carbosulfan gave off carbofuran and carbofuran-phenol, while only carbofuran was detected in the dark experiments. The latter was degraded to phenol by exposure to sunlight. Effects of pH, humic acid and KNO3 were evaluated by kinetics on dilute solutions in the dark and by UV irradiation, which evidenced the lability of the pesticide at pH 9. All three pesticides and phenol exhibited acute and higher chronic toxicity towards the aquatic organisms tested. Conclusion Investigation on the hydrolysis and photolysis of benfuracarb and carbosulfan under natural conditions provides evidence concerning the selective decay to carbofuran and/or phenol. Carbofuran is found to be more persistent and toxic. Recommendations and Outlook The decay of benfuracarb and carbosulfan to carbofuran and the relative stability of this latter pesticide account for many papers that report the detection of carbofuran in water, fruits and vegetables.     

Transformation of the insecticide teflubenzuron by microorganisms

Transformation of teflubenzuron, the active component in the insecticide commercialized as Nomolt, by soil microorganisms was studied. It was shown that microorganisms, belonging to Bacillus, Alcaligenes, Pseudomonas and Acinetobacter genera are capable to perform the hydrolytic cleavage of the phenylurea bridge of teflubenzuron in different positions, especially active was Bacillus brevis 625. The structure of the intermediates formed was established using TLC, HPLC, mass-spectrometry and 19F NMR techniques. It was shown that for a dose range of 53-132 microM and upon 12 days of fermentation about 30% of the teflubenzuron was modified. About 10-15% was transformed into 2,6-difluorobenzamide, 3-5% into 2,6-difluorobenzoic acid, 10-12% into 2,4-difluoro-3,5-dichloro-aniline. The late compound gave rise to formation of a condensed compound, identified as 1,2-bis(2,4-difluoro-3,5-dichlorophenyl)urea with molecular mass of 420. The results obtained indicate degradation of teflubenzuron by soil microorganisms to be a process to be mediated by microbial consortia, and starting with hydrolysis of the phenylurea bridge by several bacterial species. Subsequent further degradation of the aromatic degradation products has to be mediated by other strains known to be capable of degradation of halogenated aromatics.     

Transformation of diesel engine exhaust in an environmental chamber

Overnight aging experiments with diesel engine exhaust from a diesel power aggregate, with no or 9 kW load, and from a diesel-fueled vehicle were conducted in an environmental chamber. During a 24 h aging period the volatilities of monodisperse particles at 140, 250 and 360 °C heater temperatures were analyzed with volatility tandem differential mobility analysis (VTDMA). The particulate organic to total carbon ratio and organic carbon subfractions at 120, 250, 450 and 550 °C were analyzed with thermal-optical carbon analysis for samples from fresh, 8 or 18 h aged and 24 h aged aerosol. During the experiment also the particle size distribution, ozone and nitrogen oxide concentration, and temperature, relative humidity and total solar and total ultraviolet radiation in the chamber were monitored.After injection, the geometric mean diameter and number concentration of the particles in the chamber were 66–85 nm and 0.9–4.6×10⁵ cm⁻³, respectively. The particles were seen to grow fast, at a growth rate of 18–47 nm h⁻¹ during the first hour. The fresh particles from the diesel power aggregate contained 37–45% of apparent volume semi-volatile compounds with no load and 10–24% with 9 kW load. The semi-volatile apparent volume fraction at 360 °C for 50 nm particles produced by the diesel power aggregate was 57%. After 24 h of aging, the semi-volatile apparent volume fraction at 360 °C for 100 nm particles was 99%. This suggests that the particles in the 24 h aged aerosol at this size class are no more primary particles but particles that are formed in the chamber through nucleation and subsequent growth.     

Benzoate degradation by Rhodococcus opacus 1CP after dormancy: Characterization of dioxygenases involved in the process

The process of benzoate degradation by strain Rhodococcus opacus 1CP after a five-year dormancy was investigated and its peculiarities were revealed. The strain was shown to be capable of growth on benzoate at a concentration of up to 10 g L^?1. The substrate specificity of benzoate dioxygenase (BDO) during the culture growth on a medium with a low (200–250 mg L^?1) and high (4 g L^?1) concentration of benzoate was assessed. BDO of R. opacus 1CP was shown to be an extremely narrow specificity enzyme. Out of 31 substituted benzoates, only with one, 3-chlorobenzoate, its activity was higher than 9% of that of benzoate. Two dioxygenases, catechol 1,2-dioxygenase (Cat 1,2-DO) and protocatechuate 3,4-dioxygenase (PCA 3,4-DO), were identified in a cell-free extract, purified and characterized. The substrate specificity of Cat 1,2-DO isolated from cells of strain 1CP after the dormancy was found to differ significantly from that of Cat 1,2-DO isolated earlier from cells of this strain grown on benzoate. By its substrate specificity, the described Cat 1,2-DO was close to the Cat 1,2-DO from strain 1CP grown on 4-methylbenzoate. Neither activity nor inhibition by protocatechuate was observed during the reaction of Cat 1,2-DO with catechol, and catechol had no inhibitory effect on the reaction of PCA 3,4-DO with protocatechuate.     

Transformation of a non-oestrogenic steroid metabolite to an oestrogenically active substance by minimal bacterial activity

The majority of oestrogenic material excreted from humans and wildlife, and therefore released into sewers, is in a conjugated form. However, the finding of “free” oestrogens in sewage effluent suggests that these metabolites are somehow converted back into an active form, before or during passage through a sewage treatment process. When male fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas) were continuously exposed to oestradiol-3-glucuronide, in a continuous-flow system, it demonstrated no inherent oestrogenic activity. However, when fish were exposed to effluent generated from laboratory simulations of sewage treatment processes, to which had been added oestradiol-3-glucuronide, oestrogenic activity was observed, suggesting microbial activity was capable of degrading the steroid metabolite into a more potent oestrogen. Oestrogenic potency was determined by measuring changes in plasma vitellogenin (egg yolk precursor) concentrations and gonadosomatic index. The results suggest that inactive metabolites of steroids are very readily biotransformed into biologically active oestrogens.     

Biodegradation of hydrogen sulphide by inoculated Rhodococcus sp.zw11 in a pilot-scale biotrickling filter

A strain of autotrophic micro-organism, Rhodococcus sp.zw11, was isolated from pharmaceutical wastewater containing hydrogen sulphide (H₂S). The shape, physiological and biochemical characteristics and oxidation capacity of Rhodococcus sp.zw11 were studied, and the effect of inlet concentration and volumetric loading of H₂S on the removal efficiency was evaluated by the biotrickling filter inoculated with Rhodococcus sp.zw11. The results suggested that the optimal temperature of Rhodococcus sp.zw11 (aerobic bacilli, short rod and gram-negative) was from 20°C to 28°C and the optimal pH was from 5.5 to 6.5. The criteria necessary for a scale-up design of the biotrickling filter were established, and pressure drops at the start and end of the experiment were investigated. The optimal inlet loading could be noted as 180 g/m³h, corresponding to H₂S removal efficiency close to 100%. Furthermore, the inoculated biotrickling filter had good ability to resist shock loading, which was a potential industrialisation method to control H₂S emissions.     

Photolysis Behavior of Herbicide Propisochlor in Water Media and Preliminary Analysis of Photoproducts Under Different Light Sources

Photolysis behavior of a new herbicide propisochlor in water media as well as the effects of light sources, initial concentration of propisochlor, pH value, dissolved oxygen (DO) level, and salinity on the photolysis process was investigated. It was found that the relationship between initial concentration of propisochlor and its photodegradation rate was negatively correlated. The changes in acidity and alkalinity of the reaction medium influenced the photoreaction rate evidently. In the alkaline solution the degradation was accelerated. In the reaction media with different pH values, the photolysis followed the first-order kinetics. The presence of dissolved oxygen may promote the photolysis and there existed an optimum of dissolved oxygen concentrations. Increasing the DO level can weaken the promotion and even have an adverse effect. It was demonstrated that with dissolved oxygen the photodegradation of propisochlor followed the first-order kinetics equation. The addition of salt ions Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ changed the ionic strength and solvent polarity, resulting in the effect on propisochlor photolysis. The photoproducts were detected by both HPLC and GC-MS methods. It was found that photolysis products varied under different light sources. Conclusions may be reached that in the photodegradation of propisochlor, the benzene ring remained intact under irradiation of both solar light and high-pressure mercury lamp, and the amido link was relatively stable, while dechlorination was liable to take place; moreover, α-hydrogen at the substituent of benzene ring was active.     

测定地表水及饮用水中硫酸盐的两种方法探讨

通过比较两种监测分析方法,分析了测定硫酸盐分光光度法的影响因素、存在问题,以及火焰原子吸收法的优点,提出对不同浓度范围的硫酸盐,宜采用合适的分析方法,以减小测定的误差,提高测定结果的准确性和科学性。     

Investigation of the Organic Solvent Resistance Mechanisms in Rhodococcus and Lysinibacillus Using Several Molecular Forensic Tools

Rhodococcus erythropolis IBB_Po5 (KM405337) and Lysinibacillus xylanilyticus IBB_Po7 (KM405338) showed good tolerance to 5% (v/v) organic solvents (alkanes, aromatics). However, 5% (v/v) alkanes (i.e., cyclohexane, n-hexane, n-decane) were less toxic for R. erythropolis IBB_Po5 and L. xylanilyticus IBB_Po7 cells, compared with 5% (v/v) aromatics (i.e., toluene, o-xylene, ethylbenzene). The high organic solvent tolerance of these two Gram-positive bacteria could be due to the presence in their genome of some catabolic (alkB1, todM, xylM) and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase (otsA1) genes. R. erythropolis IBB_Po5 possesses three catabolic genes (i.e., alkB1, todM, xylM), while L. xylanilyticus IBB_Po7 possesses only one catabolic gene (i.e., alkB1). Numerous adaptations involved in organic solvents tolerance were depicted in R. erythropolis IBB_Po5 and L. xylanilyticus IBB_Po7 cells exposed to 5% (v/v) alkanes and aromatics (i.e., changes in the cell growth rate, membrane permeability, cell morphology, biosurfactant emulsification index, carotenoids profile, DNA fingerprinting). Therefore, microbiological, biochemical, and DNA fingerprinting studies of the bacteria isolated from polluted environments could provide valuable information that may complement or supplement other forensic investigations.     

内循环微电解对天然气中H2S的处理及其工艺的优化

天然气已经成为工业生产中的重要能源,但天然气中含有大量的H_2S,在加工运输过程中会造成管道腐蚀等问题。因此,天然气脱硫是其加工利用过程中重要的一步。将内循环微电解技术用于天然气中H_2S的处理,分别考察了反应时间、通气速率、铁炭比和pH对H_2S去除效果的影响,筛选出影响H_2S去除效果的主控因子,采用Box-Behnken响应曲面法对处理H_2S的反应条件进行了优化。最终确定的最佳反应条件:反应时间为30 min、通气速率为0.33 m~3·h~(-1)、铁炭比为3∶2和pH=6.1,在最佳反应条件下进行验证实验,结果表明,H_2S的去除率可达到84.6%,其落在模型预测值的95%置信区间(80.16%～100%)内,经内循环微电解技术处理后,H_2S含量能够达到《天然气》(GB 17820-2012)中三类标准。因此,内循环微电解技术可以有效地去除天然气中的H_2S,研究结果可为内循环微电解应用于天然气中H_2S的处理提供参考,同时为天然气中H_2S的处理提供了一种简单高效的技术方法。     

Transformation pathways of hexachlorocyclopentadiene in the aquatic environment

-- An environmental assessment of the transformation and transport pathways of hexachlorocyclopentadiene (hex) in simulated aquatic ecosystems is presented. Hydrolytic and photolytic disappearance rate constants in distilled and natural waters and in sediment-water systems are given. Sediments in defined sediment-water systems do not significantly affect the disappearance rate constants, compared to distilled water values, for the hydrolytic and photolytic processes. Water solubility, octanol/water partition coefficient, and vapor pressure for hex are also reported and compared with literature values. Fate and transport assessment using an evaluative model indicates that hex will not likely reach substantial steady-state concentrations in the various compartments of the simulated ecosystems. The results also indicate that photolysis and, to a lesser extent, hydrolysis are the predominant degradation processes; export via the water column is the predominant transport process.     

微生物膜法快速测定水中的BOD

利用微生物膜法快速测定水中的BOD,用质控样和标液进行方法准确度和精密度的考察,标准偏差在0.9%～5.2%之间,相对误差≤4.0%,加标回收率为95.5%～103%.与接种稀释法进行对比实验,相对误差在1.5%～10.3%范围内,两种方法测定结果基本一致.     

Treating uncertainty in models of the atmospheric chemistry of nitrogen compounds

The paper presents a highly simplified model of the long-range transport and deposition of nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, gaseous nitric acid and nitrate aerosol over NW Europe. A ‘constant drizzle’ representation of wet removal of gaseous nitric acid and nitrate aerosol is developed in addition to the representation of dry deposition using appropriate deposition velocities. An analysis of the sensitivity of dry and wet deposition rates of oxidized nitrogen species at a remote, receptor site to the individual model parameters is described. This analysis is extended using latin hypercube sampling to an evaluation of the uncertainties in modelled dry and wet deposition and the contribution played by each model input parameter.     

极谱法测定海水中的镉、铅含量

利用极谱二电极系统测定海水中的镉、铅，测定结果的精密度、准确度均符合分析要求。     

气相分子仪测定水中的硫化物

用气相分子吸收光谱仪测定水中的硫化物，对其工作曲线、精密度等进行了试验，表明方法简便、快捷、精密度、准确度都较好，适用于各种水质硫化物的测定。     

气相色谱法测定水中的2，4-二硝基氯苯

采用苯萃取,HP-624 30 m×0.53 mm×3.00 μm大口径毛细管柱分离,电子捕获检测器(ECD)检测2,4-二硝基氯苯,得到了良好的分离效果、较宽的线性关系和较高的灵敏度.