Nitrogen mineralization potentials in three tropical soils treated with biosolids

This study attained anaerobic biosolids (DS) and aerobic biosolids (MS) from the wastewater treatment plants in Kaohsiung and Taipei, Taiwan. Three tropical soils (Lt, Cp and Ca) were selected for incubation with the two biosolids at application rates of 10, 50 and 100 Mg ha(-1) for 48 weeks. This study aims to characterize the influence of the application of biosolids on the soil potential for N mineralization (N0) and also to elucidate the kinetics of N mineralization in tropical soils treated with different biosolids. Experimental results indicate that the amounts of N mineralized accumulated in the biosolids-treated soils during the incubation period tended to match the first-order kinetics calculated by the nonlinear least squares equation. The N0 values of the MS biosolids-treated soils greatly exceeded those of the DS soils. The rates of N mineralization (k) of the DS biosolids-treated soils varied greatly from 0.047 to 0.075 week(-1) and that of the MS soils varied from 0.047 to 0.105 week(-1). Little of the organic N fraction in the biosolids remained available for further mineralization following 48 weeks of incubation. Based on the demand of N uptake by vegetables grown in Taiwanese soils, the rates of biosolids application to the soils are safe, as determined by the amount of N mineralization that does not cause nitrate accumulation.     

Extractability and bioavailability of zinc over time in three tropical soils incubated with biosolids

Phytotoxicity of heavy metal is the primary concern in applying biosolids (sewage sludge) to agricultural land. This study evaluates the changes in chemical speciation of Zn in three tropical soils of Taiwan measured with sequential extraction over a one-year period. Biosolids were applied to the soils at application rates of 10, 50 and 100 Mg ha(-1), and correlated diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and sequential extraction as extract for prediction of Zn bioavailability to Chinese cabbage (Brassica chinensis L.). Experimental results indicated that the exchangeable (F1) and Fe-Mn oxide (F3) fractions in the sequential extractions increased with application rate of biosolids in the soils over time. Large amounts of Zn in the soils following the cessation of biosolids application were identified as soluble and were adsorbed by Fe-Mn oxides. The organically bound Zn, which is associated with readily decomposable carbon, is in limited amounts in the biosolid-treated soils. The DTPA-extractable concentrations of Zn in all biosolid-treated soils decreased over the time. A positive and significant correlation (r(2) = 0.96) was found between the Zn concentrations extracted with DTPA and sum of F1 and carbonate-bound (F2) fractions in the sequential extractions. Additionally, the concentrations of Zn extracted with DTPA were strongly correlated with the concentrations of Zn in the shoots of Chinese cabbages, indicating that F1+F2 in the sequential extractions was reliable for predicting Zn bioavailability to Chinese cabbage in the biosolid-treated soils.     

Response of microbial activities in two contrasting soils to 4-nonylphenol treated with biosolids

In the application of biosolids on agricultural lands, 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in soils is an important environmental concern because of its associated estrogenic risk to animals and human beings. Incubation experiments that involved the mixing of two contrasting soils (A: calcareous sandy soil; B: acidic clayey soil) and biosolids in 4-NP were performed to examine the effect of 4-NP on the rate of production of CO2, the mineralization of N and the microbial biomass, by considering the biodegradation of 4-NP for the evaluation of soil health. The experimental results indicated that the half-life (t1/2) of 4-NP increased with the supplementary concentration of 4-NP (80, 160 and 240 mg kg(-1)) in the two soils, and the t1/2 values in the soil A are always lower than that in soil B. The 4-NP supplement in the biosolids reverses C mineralization in soil B more than it does in soil A, but it reverses N mineralization in soil A more than in soil B. The aeration status and microbial population of the biosolids treated soils are key factors in determining the time course of 4-NP degradation associated with the microbial activities. The 4-NP was biodegraded mainly by bacteria, and the effect on C and N mineralization of 4-NP input is determined by a balance of the reductions in microbial biomass C (MBC) and N (MBN). After destruction in microbial cell membrane and protein structures by the 4-NP, C and N mineralization, MBC and MBN were subsequently followed by a final decline phase for the later period of incubation.     

Comparative tolerance of Pinus radiata and microbial activity to copper and zinc in a soil treated with metal-amended biosolids

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of elevated concentrations of copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) in a soil treated with biosolids previously spiked with these metals on Pinus radiata during a 312-day glasshouse pot trial. The total soil metal concentrations in the treatments were 16, 48, 146 and 232 mg Cu/kg or 36, 141, 430 and 668 mg Zn/kg. Increased total soil Cu concentration increased the soil solution Cu concentration (0.03–0.54 mg/L) but had no effect on leaf and root dry matter production. Increased total soil Zn concentration also increased the soil solution Zn concentration (0.9–362 mg/L). Decreased leaf and root dry matter were recorded above the total soil Zn concentration of 141 mg/kg (soil solution Zn concentration, >4.4 mg/L). A lower percentage of Cu in the soil soluble?+?exchangeable fraction (5–12 %) and lower Cu²⁺ concentration in soil solution (0.001–0.06 μM) relative to Zn (soil soluble?+?exchangeable fraction, 12–66 %; soil solution Zn²⁺ concentration, 4.5–4,419 μM) indicated lower bioavailability of Cu. Soil dehydrogenase activity decreased with every successive level of Cu and Zn applied, but the reduction was higher for Zn than for Cu addition. Dehydrogenase activity was reduced by 40 % (EC₄₀) at the total solution-phase and solid-phase soluble?+?exchangeable Cu concentrations of 0.5 mg/L and 14.5 mg/kg, respectively. For Zn the corresponding EC₅₀ were 9 mg/L and 55 mg/kg, respectively. Based on our findings, we propose that current New Zealand soil guidelines values for Cu and Zn (100 mg/kg for Cu; 300 mg/kg for Zn) should be revised downwards based on apparent toxicity to soil biological activity (Cu and Zn) and radiata pine (Zn only) at the threshold concentration.     

城市污水石灰法深度处理工艺中有毒物质的变化规律

分别采用7-乙氧基异酚恶唑酮-脱乙基酶(EROD)活性测定法,重组人激素受体基因的酵母测试和Q67发光菌试验方法,对北京市某生活污水处理厂的进水、二沉出水以及经过石灰法深度处理后的出水中的类二恶英物质、类雌激素物质和急性毒性物质进行了分析.进水中的三类生物毒性效应物质中的急性毒性物质,可通过活性污泥法基本去除,而对类雌激素物质和类二恶英物质的去除率分别为76%和52%.经过石灰沉淀法的深度处理后,可使上述两类物质的总去除率达到95%和68%.出水中的雌激素当量水平与欧洲国家污水处理厂出水水平相当,而类二恶英物质的总浓度低于美国EPA饮用水中二恶英的最大允许浓度.展示了生物毒性测试方法在排水生态风险和工艺评价方面的应用潜力.     

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) in biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment plants in China

Hydroxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (OH-PBDEs) along with methoxylated polybrominated diphenyl ethers (MeO-PBDEs) have been frequently identified as natural compounds in marine environment and also assumed as metabolites of PBDEs. In the present study, nine OH-PBDE, nine MeO-PBDE and 10 PBDE congeners were studied in the sewage sludge collected from 36 municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) in 27 cities of China. The results suggest that OH-PBDEs and PBDEs are ubiquitous in sewage sludge in China, however, methoxylated PBDEs were not detectable. Composition profiles of detected OH-PBDE congeners were different depending on the sampling location. ΣOH-PBDEs in WWTPs sludge ranged from 0.04 to 2.24 ng g^?1 dry weight (mean: 0.35 ng g^?1 dry weight). The total amount of the two most prominent congeners (6-OH-BDE-47 + 2′-OH-BDE-68) accounted for about 53.3–100% of the sum of all six identified congeners. A significant linear relationship was found between 6-OH-BDE-47 and 2′-OH-BDE-68. A distinct geographical distribution of ΣOH-PBDEs was observed with greater concentrations of OH-PBDEs at coastal areas than inland regions in China.     

城市污水石灰法深度处理工艺中有毒物质的变化规律

分别采用7-乙氧基异酚恶唑酮．脱乙基酶（EROD）活性测定法，重组人激素受体基因的酵母测试和Q67发光菌试验方法，对北京市某生活污水处理厂的进水、二沉出水以及经过石灰法深度处理后的出水中的类二恶英物质、类雌激素物质和急性毒性物质进行了分析。进水中的三类生物毒性效应物质中的急性毒性物质，可通过活性污泥法基本去除，而对类雌激素物质和类二恶英物质的去除率分别为76％和52％。经过石灰沉淀法的深度处理后，可使上述两类物质的总去除率达到95％和68％。出水中的雌激素当量水平与欧洲国家污水处理厂出水水平相当，而类二恶英物质的总浓度低于美国EPA饮用水中二恶英的最大允许浓度。展示了生物毒性测试方法在排水生态风险和工艺评价方面的应用潜力。     

工业废水中多金属离子的吸附净化

以含有Si、Al、Ca、C元素的矿物材料作为基质,经特定条件处理后造粒成型加工成轻质多孔Si-Al-Ca-C结构的吸附材料。研究了该吸附材料对工业废水中多种金属离子的吸附性能,探讨了影响吸附性能的因素。研究结果表明,在一定条件下,Si-Al-Ca-C吸附材料对工业废水中Al3+、Ca2+、Mn2+、Cu2+、Fe3+、Mg2+、As3+和Zn2+的净化率分别高达99.34%、99.82%、98.26%、98.16%、97.76%、97.01%、100%和89.09%。金属离子残留浓度分别为0.152、0.07、0.012、0.02、0.119、0.311、0和0.259 mg/L,均低于国家污水综合排放标准(GB8978-1996)一级标准。     

重金属离子对活性污泥处理污水的影响

研究了Hg2+、Cd2+、Pb2+3种金属离子对活性污泥系统处理污水效能的影响。通过对出水理化指标和生物指标的测定反映Hg2+、Cd2+、Pb2+对活性污泥系统运转效能的影响。结果表明:实验第4 d,Hg2+(0.3、0.4、0.5和0.6 mg/L),Cd2+(15、20、25和30 mg/L)和Pb2+(300、400、600和800 mg/L)各实验组出水的COD、SVI等均有显著影响。在实验中得出,对COD影响最为明显的为浓度600 mg/L和800 mg/L Pb2+实验组,在第4 d时,出水的COD去除率已经为零。锐利楯纤虫对Hg2+的浓度变化耐受力较强;点钟虫对Cd2+的浓度变化耐受力较强;杯钟虫对Cd2+的浓度变化耐受力较强。锐利楯纤虫对Pb2+和Cd2+的浓度变化较为敏感;点钟虫对Hg2+的浓度变化较为敏感;小口钟虫对Pb2+的浓度变化较为敏感。     

Valorization of treated olive mill wastewater in fertigation practice

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) brings about a major environmental problem in Tunisia as well as in the other Mediterranean countries. Its strong organic load and its toxicity due to the presence of complex phenolic compounds have dire effects when applied to soil. To overcome this difficulty, the OMW pretreatment was investigated in the present work using the Fenton oxidation reaction with zero-valent iron. Then, this pretreated wastewater was valorized in fertigation practice. The effects of the addition of different concentrations of both treated and raw OMW on soil and cropping system were investigated. The treatment by Fenton oxidation with zero-valent iron could reduce 50 % of COD and decrease 53 % of phenolic compounds. OMW application had a temporary effect on the soil pH and EC. The results showed that the evolution of soil pH and EC was related to the organic matter of the soil which depends on the spread concentrations of raw or treated OMW. After 15-day incubation period, the soil pH and EC tended to stabilize and return to the control level. Moreover, this stabilization is faster in treated OMW than that in raw OMW especially for concentrations as high as 3 and 4 %. Plants cultivated with treated OMW showed an increase in their germination. The results pointed an improvement in the stem length of plants which is almost similar to that of the control for both pea and tomato, especially for high concentrations of 3 and 4 %.     

混凝强化除磷的模拟实验研究

以模拟污水为研究对象,考察了不同絮凝剂(聚合氯化铝、三氯化铁及硫酸亚铁)对污水中磷的去除效果及其影响因素,并对氢氧化铁的吸附除磷规律,以及氢氧化铁与絮凝剂复配除磷的效果进行了探讨,提出了聚合氯化铝、三氯化铁及硫酸亚铁可行的投加量.     

接枝共聚木质素絮凝处理电镀废水中的重金属离子

对含有低浓度重金属离子的电镀废水进行处理研究,采用木质素磺酸盐与丙烯酰胺接枝共聚合成了一种木质素接枝共聚物,应用正交实验确定最佳操作条件,并通过红外光谱对其结构进行了表征.用这种改性木质素磺酸盐处理电镀废水,当其用量为90 mg/L,pH值控制在4～7,絮凝时间为2 h,在室温的条件下,可使电镀废水中的Cu2 、Zn2 、Pb2 和Ni2 去除率分别达到93%、90%、96%和90%以上.     

固定化微生物技术及其在重金属废水处理中的应用

固定化微生物技术是一种有效的废水生物处理技术.较为全面地介绍了其定义、分类及载体选择.全面系统地介绍了固定化微生物(主要是菌类和藻类)技术近年来在重金属废水处理中的应用现状,分析认为,固定化微生物技术对于处理含各种重金属离子的废水均有很广阔的应用前景,并对今后的研究方向做了探讨.     

Effects of phytoextraction on heavy metal concentrations and pH of pore-water of biosolids determined using an in situ sampling technique

Heavy metal concentrations and pH of pore-water in contaminated substrates are important factors in controlling metal uptake by plants. We investigated the effects of phytoextraction on these properties in the solution phase of biosolids and diluted biosolids in a 12-month phytoextraction column experiment. Phytoextraction using Salix and Populus spp. temporarily decreased pore-water pH of the substrates over the experimental period followed by a return to initial pH conditions. Salix × reichardtii and Populus balsamifera effectively extracted Ni, Zn and Cd and actively mobilized these metals from the solid to the solution phase. S. × reichardtii had the stronger effect on mobilization of metals due to its larger root system. Phytoextraction did not affect Cu in the solution phase of the biosolids. Heavy metals were leached down to lower depths of the columns during the phytoextraction process.     

Modeling binding equilibrium in a competitive estrogen receptor binding assay

Although the free concentration is more significant in the environmental chemistry and toxicology of receptor-mediated toxicants, few studies have been conducted to use it as a dose-metric. The relative binding affinity of three model endocrine disrupting compounds, diethylstilbestrol (DES), ethynylestradiol (EE2), and bisphenol A (BPA), were evaluated using a competitive ELISA with human estrogen receptor alpha. After measuring the available receptors and the dissociation constant for 17beta-estradiol, binding inhibition curves using the free concentration as the dose-metric were obtained by assuming species equilibrium in the ELISA system and compared with apparent inhibition curves generated using the nominal concentration as the dose-metric. Because ligand binding to estrogen receptors may reduce its free concentration in the assay system, the differences between the two curves for free and nominal concentrations are more significant for more strongly binding ligands. The ratio of a compound's nominal concentration causing 50% inhibition (IC50) to the IC50 of DES, the positive control, was strongly affected by specific assay conditions, while that estimated by modeling free concentration is independent of receptor concentration, indicating that the free concentration is a better dose-metric for a competitive binding assay.     

固定化微生物技术及其在重金属废水处理中的应用

固定化微生物技术是一种有效的废水生物处理技术。较为全面地介绍了其定义、分类及载体选择。全面系统地介绍了固定化微生物（主要是菌类和藻类）技术近年来在重金属废水处理中的应用现状，分析认为，固定化微生物技术对于处理含各种重金属离子的废水均有很广阔的应用前景，并对今后的研究方向做了探讨。     

Heavy metal accumulation in Halimione portulacoides: intra- and extra-cellular metal binding sites

Salt marsh plants can sequestrate and inherently tolerate high metal concentrations found in salt marsh sediments. This work intended to understand the Halimione portulacoides (L.) Aellen strategies to prevent metal toxicity, by investigating the metal location in different plant organs and in the cell. A sequential extraction was performed on leaves, stems and roots of H. portulacoides in order to determine and compare the metal (Zn, Pb, Co, Cd, Ni and Cu) concentration in several fractions of the plant material (ethanolic, aqueous, proteic, pectic, polissacaridic, lenhinic and cellulosic). This study shows that all plant organs of H. portulacoides mostly retain metals in the cell wall (65% is the average for all studied metals stored in the root cell wall, 55% in the stems and 53% in the leaves), and the metal content in the intracellular compartment is much lower (21% in roots, 25% in stems and 32% in leaves). High levels of heavy metal in the sedimentary environment do not cause toxicity to H. portulacoides, because H. portulacoides immobilizes them in different cell compartments (cell wall+proteic fraction+intracellular) outside key metabolic sites.     

Removal efficiency of emerging micropollutants in biofilter wastewater treatment plants in tropical areas

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - We studied the removal of 61 emerging micropollutants, including illicit drugs, in a biofilter wastewater treatment plant located in the French Indies...     

Removal of hydrocarbons from wastewater using treated bark

This paper explores the possibility of removing hydrocarbons (HCs) and trace elements from synthetic and industrial effluents using treated bark as biosorbent. Coniferous bark was treated either chemically (Tc) or biologically (Tb) to eliminate soluble organic compounds of bark. The removal efficiency (RE) of the HCs from a synthetic oil-water mixture containing spent diesel motor oil exceeds 95% using 2 g/L of treated bark mixed with a synthetic oil-water mixture containing 2 g/L of spent oil. Under these conditions, the retention capacity (RC) was approximately 1 g HC/g dry substrate. The sorption reaction seems to be quasi-instantaneous, and the retention capacity of spent oil on treated bark increases as the temperature augments. This implies that the retention mechanism is related to the capillary action. Results of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy indicate that spent oil is mainly composed of alkanes. They also suggest that no chemical bonds between Tc and spent oil were established. Measurement of the surface tension of spent oil and the wetting index of the bark suggests that only spent oil will be retained by the substrate. Treatment of an industrial effluent containing 14.4 g/L of total HCs was performed using Tc. It was possible to remove 97% of HCs and retain some trace elements such as Al, Ca, Fe, Mg, S, and so on.