Roles of acid-producing bacteria in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge

Three acid-producing strains, AFB-1, AFB-2 and AFB-3, were isolated during this study, and their roles in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge (WAS) were evaluated. Data of 16S rRNA method showed that AFB-1 and AFB-2 were Bacillus coagulans, and AFB-3 was Escherichia coli. The removal in terms of volatile solids (VS) and total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) was maximized at 42.7% and 44.7% by inoculating Bacillus coagulans AFB-1. Besides, the optimal inoculum concentration of Bacillus coagulans AFB-1 was 30% (v/v). Solubilization degree experiments indicated that solubilization ratios (SR) of WAS reached 20.8%±2.2%, 17.7%±1.48%, and 11.1%±1.53%. Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) concentrations and compositions were also explored with a gas chromatograph. The results showed that VFAs improved by 98.5%, 53.0% and 11.6% than those of the control, respectively. Biochemical methane potential (BMP) experiments revealed that biogas production increased by 90.7% and 75.3% when inoculating with Bacillus coagulans AFB-1 and AFB-2. These results confirmed that the isolated acid-producing bacteria, especially Bacillus coagulans, was a good candidate for anaerobic digestion of WAS.

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Effect of different gas releasing methods on anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production in batch cultures

Decreasing hydrogen partial pressure can not only increase the activity of the hydrogen enzyme but also decrease the products inhibition, so it is an appropriate method to enhance the fermentative hydrogen production from anaerobic mixed culture. The effect of biogas release method on anaerobic fermentative hydrogen production in batch culture system was compared, i.e., Owen method with intermediately release, continuous releasing method, and continuous releasing+ CO₂ absorbing. The experimental results showed that, at 35°C, initial pH 7.0 and glucose concentration of 10 g·L^-1, the hydrogen production was only 28 mL when releasing gas by Owen method, while it increased two times when releasing the biogas continuously. The cumulative hydrogen production could reach 155 mL when carbon dioxide in the gas stream was continuously absorbed by 1 mol·L^-1 NaOH. The results showed that acetate was dominated, accounting for 43% in the dissolved fermentation products in Owen method, whereas the butyrate predominated and reached 47%–53% of the total liquid end products when releasing gas continuously. It is concluded that the homoacetogenesis could be suppressed when absorbing CO₂ in the gas phase in fermentative hydrogen production system.     

A technology for the treatment of olive-mill waste water in a continuously fed plant

A bench-scale pilot plant has been developed for the treatment of olive-mill water. The plant is fed in a continuous mode and implements a primary treatment (sand filtering and irradiation with UV-rays) and a secondary treatment (anoxic and aerobic biological treatment). Satisfactory results were obtained and the treated green water falls under the limits of the Italian legislation. Veratric and ferulic acid biodegradation were studied under anoxic conditions in order to verify the requirements for optimal biodegradation. Electronic Publication     

Fermentative hydrogen production from beet sugar factory wastewater treatment in a continuous stirred tank reactor using anaerobic mixed consortia

A low pH, ethanol-type fermentation process was evaluated for wastewater treatment and bio-hydrogen production from acidic beet sugar factory wastewater in a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with an effective volume of 9.6 L by anaerobic mixed cultures in this present study. After inoculating with aerobic activated sludge and operating at organic loading rate (OLR) of 12 kgCOD?m^-3·d^-1, HRT of 8h, and temperature of 35°C for 28 days, the CSTR achieved stable ethanol-type fermentation. When OLR was further increased to 18 kgCOD?m^-3·d^-1 on the 53rd day, ethanol-type fermentation dominant microflora was enhanced. The liquid fermentation products, including volatile fatty acids (VFAs) and ethanol, stabilized at 1493 mg·L^-1 in the bioreactor. Effluent pH, oxidation-reduction potential (ORP), and alkalinity ranged at 4.1–4.5, -250–(-290) mV, and 230–260 mgCaCO₃?L^-1. The specific hydrogen production rate of anaerobic activated sludge was 0.1 L?gMLVSS^-1·d^-1 and the COD removal efficiency was 45%. The experimental results showed that the CSTR system had good operation stability and microbial activity, which led to high substrate conversion rate and hydrogen production ability.     

硼泥陶粒处理钢铁高浊度废水的探究

以硼泥、膨润土、粉煤灰、锯末为原材料制备硼泥陶粒吸附剂,应用于高浊度废水的处理,以浊度的去除率为指标,通过对pH值、流速、填料高度、锯末量、粒径、处理时间等因素的考察,确定合适的工艺条件。结果表明：对于浊度为795～820 NTU的废水,在pH为12、流速在1 200 s.L-1、填料高度50 cm、粒径4 mm、锯末量为40 g、处理时间60 min,废水的除浊率达到94%。实现了对硼泥的资源化利用,为制备吸附剂的来源及吸附剂处理废水的应用开辟了新途径。     

电子废物现状评述与资源化初探

电子垃圾是目前增长速度最快的固体废物之一,对其不合理处置和利用已引起了日趋严峻的环境污染。文章从电子废物的危害及回收利用的角度,概述了当前国内外数量巨大的电子废物的污染现状及其回收利用处理技术,并结合国内实际,从电子废物的回收系统和资源化处理利用技术方面提出了具有可行性的建议和设想。     

油脂去除对餐厨垃圾压滤液厌氧消化的影响

采用常温（25℃）厌氧消化工艺,通过设计两种不同的进料浓度和4个处理方式,研究了油脂的去除对餐厨垃圾压滤液厌氧消化产沼气的影响,并考察了消化过程中典型工艺参数pH值、挥发性脂肪酸（VFA）、CODCr、总磷等的变化规律.试验结果表明油脂对餐厨垃圾压滤液厌氧消化的产气前期有一定的抑制作用,但是整体抑制不明显.处理T1（未隔油餐厨垃圾滤液800 mL）、T2（隔油餐厨垃圾滤液800 mL）、T3（未隔油餐厨垃圾滤液500 mL）、T4（隔油餐厨垃圾滤液500 mL）的产气总量分别为：84357、55539、45031和31033 mL,其中T1的产气总量是T2的1.52倍;T3的产气总量是T4的1.45倍,结果表明餐厨垃圾滤液不需要经过隔油处理而直接可以用于厌氧消化产沼气.同时,当压滤液低浓度（T3、T4）时,产气差异小;高浓度（T1、T2）时,产气差异大.此外,在整个厌氧消化过程中,处理T1、T2、T3和T4的CODCr总去除率分别为80.44%、78.53%、79.67%和80.7%.     

人工湿地系统对含沼液畜禽废水净化效果试验研究

为了考察人工湿地处理含沼液畜禽废水的可行性,采用水平潜流人工湿地对含沼液畜禽废水进行处理实验。试验结果表明：在进水流量1.5 m3.d-1,水平潜流人工湿地系统对含沼液畜禽废水具有较好的处理效果。废水中COD、TP、TN和NH4＋-N浊度平均去除率分别为59.21%、53.80%、55.09%和55.57%.另外,通过对人工湿地沿程的污染物变化试验分析表明,人工湿地系统对污染物的降解是沿人工湿地水流方向逐渐降低的。     

球形陶粒滤池对城市尾水净化效果研究

为明确以陶粒为填料生物滤池对尾水中主要营养物处理效果,选择球形陶粒滤池对城市尾水进行净化效果研究。试验在室温条件下采用水力停留时间约2 h,曝气量为0.4 L.min-1的陶粒曝气生物滤池装置对洛阳市某污水处理厂的尾水进行深度处理。研究结果表明：球形陶粒生物滤池对尾水中NH3-N去除效果良好,去除率达76%以上;同时该装置对TN,TP和COD具有同时去除作用。进一步研究陶粒对NH3-N吸附去除特征表明,其等温线吸附符合Freundlich Model,表明陶粒对NH3-N的吸附为多层吸附,且对NH3-N的吸附在5 h基本达到饱和吸附。     

Removal of Mercury from Polluted Waters by the Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The uptake of mercury by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was studied in an outdoor experiment for 25 days at different metal concentrations. the removal of mercury from the water and uptake by plants was very effective during the first hours and decreased rapidly thereafter. the uptake of mercury was directly proportional to the initial concentration in the water. the highest concentrations were found in plant roots. According to the results, water hyacinth could be used for treatment of mercurial waste waters.     

Removal of Mercury from Polluted Waters by the Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes)

The uptake of mercury by water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes) was studied in an outdoor experiment for 25 days at different metal concentrations. the removal of mercury from the water and uptake by plants was very effective during the first hours and decreased rapidly thereafter. the uptake of mercury was directly proportional to the initial concentration in the water. the highest concentrations were found in plant roots. According to the results, water hyacinth could be used for treatment of mercurial waste waters.     

The impact of ultrasonic treatment on activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria in activated sludge

Conditions for ultrasonic treatment to achieve partial nitritation are optimized. Ultrasound reduces metabolic activity and releases intracellular metabolites. Mechanical shearing is essential to inhibit nitrite oxidation. The ultrasonic treatment of sludge has been considered as an effective method to facilitate the partial nitritation of municipal sewage. This study aims to reveal the effects of ultrasound on ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB). The impact factors including ultrasonic irradiation time and intensity, sludge concentration, thermal effect and released free radicals were studied. The maximized difference between the changes in AOB and NOB activities were obtained with 10 g mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS)/L, using 0.9 kJ/mL ultrasonic energy density and 12 h interval time. The increased ultrasonic intensity destroyed the floc structure of activated sludge, increased the microbial death, and decreased the cellular ATP level. Further, the mechanism exploration indicated that the mechanical shearing could be a critical factor in achieving the nitritation with inhibitory effect on nitrite oxidation.     

Economics analysis of food waste treatment in China and its influencing factors

• Economics of food waste treatment projects at 29 pilot cities in China was examined. • Roles of location, population size, processing technique, and income were studied. • Economic benefits were limited with a profit to cost ratio of 0.08±0.37. • Service population size affects construction economics significantly (P = 0.016). • Choice of food waste processing technique affects operating economics notably. This study examines the economic benefits of food waste treatment projects in China and factors affecting them. National-level pilot projects for food waste treatment located in 29 cities were selected as samples. The economics of food waste recycling from the investors’ perspective, in terms of investment during the construction phase and cost and benefit during the operation phase, was assessed. Results indicate that the average tonnage investment of food waste treatment projects was RMB 700.0±188.9 thousand yuan, with a profit to cost ratio of 0.08±0.37. This ratio increased to 0.95±0.57 following the application of government subsidies. It highlights the limited economic benefits of food waste treatment facilities, which rely on government subsidies to maintain their operations in China. Further analysis using a multi-factor analysis model revealed that regional location, service population size, processing techniques, and urban income exerted varying impacts on the economy of food waste treatment. Population size exerted the highest impact (P = 0.016) during the construction stage, and processing techniques notably influenced the project economy during the operation stage. The study highlights the need to prioritize service population size and processing techniques during economic decision-making and management of food waste recycling projects. The results of this study can serve as a valuable practical reference for guiding future policies regarding food waste treatment and related planning.     

In vitro agonistic and antagonistic endocrine disrupting effects of organic extracts from waste water of different treatment processes

Effluents from wastewater treatment plant （WWTP） have been reported to have a broad spectrum of endocrine disrupting compounds （EDCs）. The majority of studies have focused on the occurrence of estrogenic activity, while ignoring nuclear hormone receptors （NRs） pathways. In the present study, a battery of in vitro yeast bioassays and a cell bioassay, including antagonistic and agonistic effects on estrogen receptor （ER）, androgen receptor （AR）, progesterone receptor （PR）, estrogen- related receptor （ERR） and aryl hydrocarbon receptor （AHR）, were conducted to evaluate the removal efficien- cies of EDCs by different treatment processes of a WWTP located in Beijing. Estrogenic, anti-estrogenic, anti- androgenic, anti-progesteronic, anti-ERR and the activa- tion of AHR activities were detected in samples from all treatment processes and the receiving water. The concen- tration of estrogenic contaminants with estradiol （E2） equivalent concentrations ranged from 0.82 x 10-9 to 3.54 x 10 9g Ee_EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-estrogenic contaminants with 4-hydroxytamoxifen （4-OHT） equiva- lent concentrations ranged from 1.24 × 10-6 to 2.36 x 10-6 g 4-OHT-EQ.L-1. The concentration of anti-androgenic contaminants ranged from 2.21 x 10-s to 3.52 × 10-6g flutamide-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-progesteronic contaminants ranged from 3.15 x 10^-5 to 2.71 x 10^-4g RU486-EQ. L-1. The concentration of anti-ERR contami- nants ranged from 7.09 x 10-5 to 6.50 x 104 g 4-OHT-EQ × L^-10. The concentration of AHR activators ranged from 1.7 × 10-10 to 3.4 × 10^-10g TCDD-EQ-L-1. These processes including secondary clarifier, coagulation, as well as coal and sand filtration could eliminated 67.2% of estrogenic contaminants, 47.0% of anti-estrogenic contaminants, 98.3% of anti-androgenic contaminants, 88.4% of anti- progesteronic contaminants, 65.4% of anti-ERR contami- nants and 46.9% of AHR activators. WWTP effluents contain multiple receptor disruptors may have very complex adverse effects on exposed organisms.     

Presence,dissemination and removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes in urban drinking water system: A review

Reviewed the change of ARGs and ARB in full-scale urban drinking water systems. Conventional processes are more promising than BAC process in ARGs removal. Mechanisms of ARGs enrichment and spread in BAC filter and DWDSs are discussed. Raise the need of future research on ARGs and ARB change in building plumbing systems. Antibiotic resistance in aquatic environment has become an important pollution problem worldwide. In recent years, much attention was paid to antibiotic resistance in urban drinking water systems due to its close relationship with the biosafety of drinking water. This review was focused on the mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, as well as the presence, dissemination and removal of antibiotic resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the urban drinking water system. First, the presence of ARB and ARGs in the drinking water source was discussed. The variation of concentration of ARGs and ARB during coagulation, sedimentation and filtration process were provided subsequently, in which filtration was proved to be a promising technology to remove ARGs. However, biological activated carbon (BAC) process and drinking water distribution systems (DWDSs) could be incubators which promote the antibiotic resistance, due to the enrichment of ARGs and ARB in the biofilms attached to the active carbon and pipe wall. Besides, as for disinfection process, mechanisms of the inactivation of ARB and the promotion of conjugative transfer of ARGs under chlorine, ozone and UV disinfection were described in detail. Here we provide some theoretical support for future researches which aim at antibiotic resistance controlling in drinking water.     

水铝钙石类阴离子黏土在水污染处理领域应用的研究现状

水铝钙石(Hydrocalumite)是一种阴离子黏土,又称"弗里德尔盐"(Friedel’s Salt),属于层状双金属氢氧化物(LDHs),可通过多种低成本方法人工合成.水铝钙石的层间阴离子具有可交换性,且在一定温度范围内焙烧时所获产物在水溶液中具有层状结构可恢复性,因此在水污染和固体废物处理领域有很大应用价值,已被用于水中B(OH)4-、SeO24-、CrO24-、MoO24-、Zn2+等无机组分和十二烷基硫酸钠(SDS)、烷基苯磺酸钠(SDBS)、甲基橙(MO)、酸性大红(GR)等有机组分的去除实验研究,以及粉煤灰等典型固体废物在填埋前的预处理研究.水铝钙石类阴离子黏土对水中有害组分的去除效果受到离子种类和性质、溶液pH、去除产物溶度积常数等多种因素的影响,所涉及去除机理包括离子交换、溶解-沉淀、表面吸附等.当前利用水铝钙石去除水污染的研究基本局限于实验室研究阶段,并在严格控制的实验条件下进行,因而今后应加强其处理实际受污染水体和原生劣质水的实验研究,并尝试作为填充材料在可渗透性反应墙(PRB)等水污染原位处理装置中加以应用.     

塑料废弃物污染的综合治理研究进展

近年来,随着经济的发展,废旧塑料大幅增加,塑料废弃物所造成污染已经成为了破坏环境的主要因素之一.塑料废弃物污染即所谓的白色污染,主要是由废旧塑料高分子的不可降解性和添加剂的毒害性引起的.文章在对白色污染产生的背景及其污染危害的基础上,讨论了治理白色污染的治理的两个方面,一方面对可降解塑料和对废旧塑料的回收再生两个主要的技术研究开发方向进行了综述和展望,详细介绍了光降解塑料、光-生物双降解塑料和生物降解塑料的研发进展,并对填埋、焚烧和再生三种塑料废弃物的处理方法进行了详细的分析;另一方面就立足循环经济理论,加强政策法规的运用,同时加强宣传教育等方面的问题进行了讨论,并提出了相应的对策.     

Study of the effect of refinery waste water exposure on Allium cepa's enzymatic antioxidant defense: probing potential biomarkers

The effects of heavy metals, hydrocarbons, and various toxicants present in Mathura Refinery Waste Water (MRWW) on Allium cepa were examined as a model plant system. The study was based on exposure of A. cepa to different concentrations of MRWW and compared to untreated control (exposure of onion bulbs with aquaguard purified water) to determine the total protein content and activities of certain antioxidant enzymes. These enzymes were evaluated for their efficacy to serve as biomarkers of refinery waste water pollution. DNA damaging potential of MRWW was also investigated. Data demonstrated maximal enhancement in ascorbate peroxidase activity subsequent to MRWW insult, although a significant increase in activities was also noted for other enzymes in the following order: superoxide dismutase?>?glutathione-S-transferase?> catalase. This is suggestive of their potency as a biomarker of MRWW toxicity. Increase in activities of monodehydroascorbate reductase (MDHAR; 152%) and deoxyribonuclease (345%) were also found in the A. cepa system as a result of MRWW exposure. In conclusion, A. cepa system might thus serve as an appropriate tool for monitoring water pollution, especially produced by petroleum waste and heavy metals in term of induction of glutathione peroxidase, MDHAR, and deoxyribonuclease activity.     

Co-fermentation of waste activated sludge with food waste for short-chain fatty acids production: effect of pH at ambient temperature

Effect of pH ranging from 4.0 to 11.0 on co-fermentation of waste activated sludge (WAS) with food waste for short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production at ambient temperature was investigated in this study. Experimental results showed that the addition of food waste significantly improved the performance of WAS fermentation system, which resulted in the increases of SCFAs production and substrate reduction. The SCFAs production at pH 6.0, 7.0, 8.0, and 9.0 and fermentation time of 4 d was respectively 5022.7, 6540.5, 8236.6, and 7911.7 mg COD·L^-1, whereas in the blank tests (no pH adjustment, pH 8.0 (blank test 1), no food waste addition, pH 8.0 (blank test 2), and no WAS addition (blank test 3)) it was only 1006.9, 971.1, and 1468.5 mg COD·L^-1, respectively. The composition of SCFAs at pH from 6.0 to 9.0 was also different from other conditions and propionic acid was the most prevalent SCFA, which was followed by acetic and n-butyric acids, while acetic acid was the top product under other conditions. At pH 8.0 a higher volatile suspended solids (VSS) reduction of 16.6% for the mixture of WAS and food waste than the sole WAS indicated a synergistic effect existing in fermentation system with WAS and food waste. The influence of pH on the variations of nutrient content was also studied during anaerobic fermentation of the mixture of WAS and food waste at different pH conditions. The release of NH4+-N increased with fermentation time at all pH values investigated except 4.0, 5.0 and in blank test one. The concentrations of soluble phosphorus at acidic pHs and in the blank test one were higher than those obtained at alkaline pHs. Ammonia and phosphorus need to be removed before the SCFAs-enriched fermentation liquid from WAS and food waste was used as the carbon source.     

Distribution of selected elements and PAH in freshly deposited sediments of waste water streams from Lubin district, Southwest Poland

Nine selected elements (Cu, Pb, As, Zn, Co, Ni, Cr, Cd and Fe) were determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy in 15 samples from the tailings pond (Zelazny Most) and waste water streams (Moskorzynke and Rudna) in the Kupferschiefer mining district in Southwest Poland. Waste water from mining and industry enter the Zelazny Most pond. The water then flows through Moskorzynke and Rudna streams, and discharges into the River Odra. The analytic results indicate that the contamination with Cu, Pb, Zn, As, Co, Cd and Fe extend about 6km along the streams in contrast to the nonpolluted samples close the River Odra. Their concentrations reach a level, which could be toxic for plants, animals and humans. The contamination with Ni and Cr continued at least 20km along Rudna stream. Besides mechanical transport, redox conditions and C_org contents also played an important role for trace element and Fe contamination in Rudna stream. The samples with high C_org contents have also high contents of trace metals. In Moskorzynke stream the element contamination was mainly caused by mechanical transport of particles. Polyaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), which is abundant in Kupferschiefer, is toxic for animals and humans. The PAH concentration in the stream sediments was determined by GC and GC/MS. The results indicate that the contamination of PAH reaches 6 and 17mgkg_–1 in samples TP1 and RS6, respectively. In the other samples, the PAH contents are lower than 3mgkg_–1. Some PAH could be solved by waste water in the tailings pond and migrated to the stream sediments. Some PAH might be contained in particles which were transported mechanically from the tailings pond into stream sediments.