一体式MFC-好氧MBR运行效果及膜污染特性

膜生物反应器(MBR)是一种高效的污水处理工艺,而微生物燃料电池(MFC)能利用NO-3作为电子受体进行脱氮。为解决膜生物反应器(MBR)脱氮效率低和膜污染问题,建立了一套能够进行脱氮、有效抑制膜污染的一体式MFC-好氧MBR新工艺。以开路MFC-MBR反应器为对照,对耦合系统中污水处理效果、膜污染情况进行研究。研究表明,2套系统的COD去除率均超过88%,对NH4-N的去除均达到99%。闭路MFC-MBR系统TN去除率达到69.4%,高于开路系统的55.3%。混合液的MLVSS/MLSS稳定在88%左右,同时耦合系统能够改善污泥混合液的性质,zeta电位的绝对值和粘度较开路系统有所减少,污泥颗粒平均体积粒径(233.482μm)较开路系统(94.877μm)有明显增加,膜清洗周期延长了41.17%。     

一体式MFC-好氧MBR运行效果及膜污染特性

膜生物反应器（MBR）是一种高效的污水处理工艺,而微生物燃料电池（MFC）能利用N0i作为电子受体进行脱氮。为解决膜生物反应器（MBR）脱氮效率低和膜污染问题,建立了一套能够进行脱氮、有效抑制膜污染的一体式MFC-好氧MBR新工艺。以开路MFC—MBR反应器为对照,对耦合系统中污水处理效果、膜污染情况进行研究。研究表明,2套系统的COD去除率均超过88％,对NH4-N的去除均达到99％。闭路MFC—MBR系统TN去除率达到69．4％,高于开路系统的55．3％。混合液的MLVSS／MLSS稳定在88％左右,同时耦合系统能够改善污泥混合液的性质,zeta电位的绝对值和粘度较开路系统有所减少,污泥颗粒平均体积粒径（233．482μm）较开路系统（94．877μm）有明显增加,膜清洗周期延长了41．17％。     

微生物燃料电池藻阴极性能比较及膜污染分析

为考察藻种类及阴极材料对藻阴极型微生物燃料电池性能的影响,以微藻及水绵为阴极生物,分别采用碳毡,碳纸,载铂碳纸为阴极材料,构建了微生物燃料电池。结果显示,以碳毡作为阴极材料时,2种藻阴极微生物燃料电池最大功率密度均高于以碳纸为阴极材料时相应的功率密度。采用载铂碳纸为阴极材料、天然湖水为阴极液,微生物燃料电池最大功率密度分别达到165.1 mW/m2(微藻阴极)和119.9 mW/m2(水绵阴极)。电化学测试表明,藻类生长形态影响了阴极的电化学特征,进而影响到了微生物燃料电池的性能。藻阴极MFC长期运行时,膜污染是藻阴极微生物燃料电池功率密度下降的关键因素之一。SEM-EDS分析显示,膜两侧污染主要原因分别是微生物生长和磷酸盐晶体沉积。     

双室微生物燃料电池同时去除废水中的苯酚和硝酸盐

构建了一种双室微生物燃料电池,以苯酚为阳极燃料,同时去除阴极室的硝酸盐废水。结果表明,在闭合情况下,该微生物燃料电池阳极室的苯酚降解效率达到7.6 mg/(L·h),是开路情况下的2倍;反应开始后的5 d内,闭合系统阴极室硝酸盐降解效率达到4.43 mg/(L·d),是开路情况下的2倍多,表明了该MFC系统可以同时去除废水中2种难降解污染物,并且与传统的生物降解方式相比较,具有更快的降解速率。     

阳极添加三价铁离子对沉积型微生物燃料电池运行特性的影响

以剩余污泥为底物和接种物,借助电化学交流阻抗等电化学分析方法,研究了阳极投加三价铁离子对沉积型微生物燃料电池(sediment microbial fuel cell, SMFC)电能输出及内阻分布的影响.结果表明,500 mg/L铁离子可有效改善SMFC的运行特性,功率密度峰值、底物降解速率和阳极污泥絮体大小分别上升到103.09 mW/m2、35.68 mg VSS/(m3/h)和190.33 μm.电化学阻抗谱分析表明,阴极欧姆内阻及极化内阻随铁离子浓度增加而降低,阳极内阻则随铁离子浓度增加先降低后增加,当三价铁离子添加浓度为500 mg/L时,阳极欧姆内阻和活化内阻与对照组相比分别下降了45.28%和47.97%.     

MFC-MBR耦合系统运行效果及产电性能

为了解决膜生物反应器（MBR）运行成本高、膜污染的问题,本研究建立了一个微生物燃料电池（MFC）-MBR耦合系统,通过MFC回收污水中的能量,同时控制膜污染。研究结果表明,耦合系统对COD和NH3-N的去除率分别为（94.6±3.0）%和（90.9±6.9）%,出水水质稳定。由于MFC的耦合作用,使MBR的运行周期由18 d延长至36 d,膜污染得到了明显的减缓。耦合系统中MFC产电性能稳定,电流密度稳定在5.7 A/m3,最大功率密度达到了928.0 mW/m3,循环伏安法（CV）表明,阴极附着的微生物具有良好的电化学催化作用。MFC-MBR耦合系统将污水中的化学能转化为电能从而实现了膜污染的减缓及能量的回收,显示出巨大的发展前景。     

生物阴极微生物燃料电池中同步产电反硝化菌的分离鉴定与性能

利用反硝化筛选培养基从稳定运行的MFC-AA/O反应器阴极板上分离纯化反硝化细菌,经16S rRNA鉴定后,接种于双室MFC的阴极,测试其产电能力以筛选同步产电反硝化细菌,之后对MFC的运行温度和pH进行优化,最后通过扫描循环伏安曲线分析其产电机理。结果表明：分离获得的一株反硝化菌经鉴定为铜绿假单胞杆菌(Pseudomonas aeruginosa),该菌可实现同步产电脱氮,最高输出电压可达168 mV左右,其脱氮反应的最优pH为7.5,最适温度为30 ℃;在生物阴极起催化产电反硝化作用的可能是Pseudomonas aeruginosa的分泌物,其作为中介体,可从电极获得电子,完成硝酸盐的还原。上述结果说明,Pseudomonas aeruginosa作为接种MFC生物阴极的纯菌,可以实现同步产电反硝化,为反硝化生物阴极MFC的实际应用奠定基础。     

微生物燃料电池化学阴极与生物阴极处理含铬废水

采用双室微生物燃料电池(MFC)反应器,考察了不同初始Cr(VI)浓度下化学阴极与生物阴极MFC的产电及Cr(VI)去除情况。结果表明,在各Cr(VI)浓度梯度 (20、28、32、36、40和44 mg/L)下生物阴极MFC的产电及Cr(VI)去除性能均较化学阴极MFC更优,生物阴极最大输出电压为180.1 mV,是化学阴极的1.3倍。随着初始Cr(VI)浓度的递增,两者对Cr(VI)去除的差异越明显,最终在Cr(VI)浓度为44 mg/L时,生物阴极MFC的Cr(VI)去除率为66.4%,较化学阴极提高了55.1%。进一步由循环伏安扫描、电镜扫描及X-射线能谱分析证实生物阴极MFC较化学阴极MFC产电及去铬性能优越的主要原因除了生物阴极电极上电化学活性微生物的催化作用外,Cr(VI)还原产生的不导电Cr(III)沉积物在其电极上附着较少也是一个关键因素,该Cr(III)沉积物中含有Cr2O3。     

Synthesis of piperazine functionalized magnetic sporopollenin: a new organic-inorganic hybrid material for the removal of lead(II) and arsenic(III) from aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The present work describes the successful functionalization/magnetization of bio-polymeric spores of Lycopodium clavatum (sporopollenin) with...     

Development of a fast instrumental method for the analysis of pharmaceuticals in environmental and wastewaters based on ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC)-tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS)

This work describes the development, optimization and validation of an analytical method for the simultaneous detection and identification of 74 pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs), from various therapeutic groups, in both environmental (ground and surface water) and wastewaters (WW). The method is based on the simultaneous extraction of all target compounds by solid phase extraction (SPE), using a hydrophilic-lipophilic balanced polymer followed by ultra high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS). Two selected reaction monitoring (SRM) transitions have been monitored per compound in order to fulfil the EC guidelines, as well as to ensure an accurate identification of target compounds in the samples. Quantification is performed by internal standard approach, applying 24 specific isotopically labeled compounds. The main advantages of the developed method, besides the selectivity and reliability of the results, is its high throughput. All compounds are extracted in a single step and the instrumental analysis lasts 5 min (NI mode) + 8 min (PI mode), allowing fast throughput of samples. The limits of detection range from 0.01 to 50 ng L⁻¹, depending on the matrix, for most of the compounds. Finally, the method developed has been applied to the analysis of pharmaceuticals in the Ebro river basin (NE Spain).     

Towards a rational design of materials for the removal of environmentally relevant cations: polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) and surface-modified PIMs for Sn2+ sequestration in aqueous solution

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - This work is focused on the design and preparation of polymer inclusion membranes (PIMs) for potential applications for stannous cation sequestration...     

Integration of biological responses from a suite of bioassays for the Venice Lagoon (Italy) through sediment toxicity index - Part A: Development and comparison of two methodological approaches

Marine and coastal quality assessment, based on test batteries involving a wide array of endpoints, organisms and test matrices, needs for setting up toxicity indices that integrate multiple toxicological measures for decision-making processes and that classify the continuous toxicity response into discrete categories according to the European Water Framework Directive.Two toxicity indices were developed for the lagoon environment such as the Venice Lagoon. Stepwise procedure included: the construction of a database that identified test-matrix pairs (indicators); the selection of a minimum number of ecotoxicological indicators, called toxicological core metrics (CMs-tox) on the basis of specific criteria; the development of toxicity scores for each CM-tox; the integration of the CMs-tox into two indices, the Toxicity Effect Index (TEI), based on the transformation of Toxic Unit (TU) data that were integrated as logarithmic sum, and the Weighted Average Toxicity Index (WATI), starting from toxicity classes integrated as weighted mean. Results from the indices are compared; advantages and drawbacks of both approaches are discussed.     

Development of a terrestrial vertebrate model for assessing bioavailability of cadmium in the fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) and in ovo effects on hatchling size and thyroid function

In the terrestrial environment, standardized protocols are available for measuring the exposure and effects of contaminants to invertebrates, but none currently exist for vertebrates. In an effort to address this, we proposed that developing lizard embryos may be used as a terrestrial vertebrate model. Lizard eggs may be particularly susceptible to soil contamination and in ovo exposure may affect hatchling size, mortality, as well as thyroid function. Toxicant-induced perturbations of thyroid function resulting from in ovo chemical exposure may result in toxicity during the critical perinatal period in reptiles. Fertilized Eastern fence lizard (Sceloporus undulatus) eggs were placed in cadmium (Cd)-spiked expanded perlite (0, 1.48, 14.8, 148, 1480, 14 800 μg Cd/g, nominal concentrations), artificially incubated at 28 °C, and examined daily for mortality. Whole lizard hatchlings as well as failed hatches were homogenized in ethanol and the homogenate was divided for Cd body residue analysis and thyroid hormone (triiodothyronine (T₃) and thyroxine (T₄)) analyses. Acute mortality was observed in the two highest doses (1480 and 14 800 μg Cd/g). Cadmium body residues showed a higher internal concentration with increasing exposure concentration indicating uptake of Cd. There was a decrease in T₃:T₄ ratio at the highest surviving dose (148 μg Cd/g), however, there were no differences observed in hatchling size measured as weight and snout-vent length, or in whole body thyroid hormone levels. In summary, this study has shown Cd amended to a solid phase representing soil (perlite) can traverse the thin, parchment-like shell membrane of the fence lizard egg and bioaccumulate in lizard embryos. We believe this study is a good first step in investigating and evaluating this species for use as a model.     

In vitro and in vivo approaches for the measurement of oral bioavailability of lead (Pb) in contaminated soils: a review

We reviewed the published evidence of lead (Pb) contamination of urban soils, soil Pb risk to children through hand-to-mouth activity, reduction of soil Pb bioavailability due to soil amendments, and methods to assess bioaccessibility which correlate with bioavailability of soil Pb. Feeding tests have shown that urban soils may have much lower Pb bioavailability than previously assumed. Hence bioavailability of soil Pb is the important measure for protection of public health, not total soil Pb. Chemical extraction tests (Pb bioaccessibility) have been developed which are well correlated with the results of bioavailability tests; application of these tests can save money and time compared with feeding tests. Recent findings have revealed that fractional bioaccessibility (bioaccessible compared to total) of Pb in urban soils is only 5-10% of total soil Pb, far lower than the 60% as bioavailable as food-Pb presumed by U.S.-EPA (30% absolute bioavailability used in IEUBK model).     

Evaluation of UV/TiO(2) and UV/ZnO photocatalytic systems coupled to a biological process for the treatment of bleaching pulp mill effluent

This paper presents an exploratory study of pulp mill bleaching effluent treatment by a biological-photocatalytic coupled system. A fungus, Trametes pubescens, immobilized on polyurethane foam was used to inoculate the biological pre-treatment system. The pretreated effluent was then exposed to a photocatalytic treatment in which two catalysts (TiO₂ and ZnO) and two supports (aluminum foil and Luffa cylindrica) were tested. Catalyst characterization was carried out by means of X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). Information about crystalline structure, chemical composition, morphology, homogeneity and distribution on the support surface area was obtained. The overall biological-photocatalytic coupled system achieved degradation of 96% of initial total organic carbon (TOC), 97% of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP), 90% of 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-CP) and 99% of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP). This approach of synergistic coupling of T. pubescens and a semiconductor photocatalyst appears to be a viable alternative for the treatment of these non-biodegradable effluents.     

Ethylenediurea (EDU): a research tool for assessment and verification of the effects of ground level ozone on plants under natural conditions

Ethylenediurea (EDU) has been widely used to prevent ozone (O₃) injury and crop losses in crop plants and growth reductions in forest trees. Successful use requires establishing a dose/response curve for EDU and the proposed plant in the absence of O₃ and in the presence of O₃ before initiating multiple applications to prevent O₃ injury. EDU can be used to verify foliar O₃ symptoms in the field, and to screen plants for sensitivity to O₃ under ambient conditions. Despite considerable research, the mode of action of EDU remains elusive. Additional research on the mode of action of EDU in suppressing O₃ injury in plants may also be helpful in understanding the mode of action of O₃ in causing injury in plants.     

The OECD Validation Program of the H295R Steroidogenesis Assay for the Identification of In Vitro Inhibitors and Inducers of Testosterone and Estradiol Production. Phase 2: Inter-Laboratory Pre-Validation Studies (8 pp)

Background, Goals and Scope In response to concerns that have been raised about chemical substances that may alter the function of endocrine systems and result in adverse effects on human health, an OECD initiative was undertaken to develop and validate in vitro and in vivo assays to identify chemicals that may interfere with endocrine systems of vertebrates. Here we report on studies that were conducted to develop and standardize a cell-based screening assay using the H295R cell line to prioritize chemicals that may act on steroidogenic processes in humans and wildlife. These studies are currently ongoing as part of the ‘Special Activity on the Testing and Assessment of Endocrine Disruptors’ within the OECD Test Guidelines Program to review, develop, standardize, and validate a number of in vitro and in vivo toxicological assays for testing and assessment of chemicals concerning their potential to interact with the endocrine system of vertebrates. Study Design Six laboratories from five countries participated in the pre-validation studies. Each laboratory tested the effects of three model chemicals on the production of testosterone (T) and estradiol (E2) using the H295R Steroidogenesis Assay. Chemicals tested were well described inducers or inhibitors of steroidogenic pathways (forskolin, prochloraz and fadrozole). All experiments were conducted in 24 well plates following standard protocols. Six different doses per compound were analyzed in triplicate per plate. A quality control (QC) plate was run in conjunction with the chemical exposure plate to account for inter-assay variation. Each chemical exposure was conducted two or three times. Results All laboratories successfully detected increases and/or decreases in hormone production by H295R cells after exposure to the different model compounds and there was good agreement in the pattern of response for all groups. Forskolin increased both T and E2 while fadrozole and prochloraz decreased production of both hormones. All chemicals affected hormone production in a dose-dependent manner with the exception of fadrozole which caused maximum inhibition of E2 at the two least concentrations tested. Some inter-laboratory differences were noted in the alteration of hormone production measured in chemically exposed cells. However, with the exception of the production of T measured at one laboratory in cells exposed to forskolin, the EC₅₀s calculated were comparable (coefficients of variation 34–49%) for all hormones. Discussion and Perspectives The results indicated that the H295R Steroidogenesis Assay protocol was robust, transferable and reproducible among all laboratories. However, in several instances that were primarily related to one laboratory there were unexplained minor uncertainties related to the inter-laboratory hormone production variation. Based on the findings from this Phase 2 prevalidation study, the H295R Steroidogenesis Assay protocol is currently being refined. The next phase of the OECD validation program will test the refined protocol among the same group of laboratories using an extended set of chemicals (∼30) that will include positive and negative chemical controls as well as a broad spectrum of different potential inducers and inhibitors of steroidogenic pathways. Submission Editor: Dr. Carsten Brühl (bruehl@uni-landau.de)