Tolerance to trichlorophenols in microorganisms from a polluted and a pristine site of a river

The effect of 2,4,5- and 2,4,6-trichlorophenol on the microbiota from a polluted and a pristine site of a river was studied. Bacterial metabolic activity measurements by epifluorescence microscopy showed that the polluted site contained more metabolically active cells than the pristine site. Total culturable bacterial counts and tolerant bacterial counts from both sites were not affected by incubation (for up to 5 days) with 200 ppm of chlorophenols. However, the incubation with 500 ppm of 2,4,5-trichlorophenol prevented detection of total and tolerant bacterial counts in the pristine site, and inhibited tolerants in the polluted site. None of 250 bacterial colonies directly isolated from these samples was able to grow on chlorophenols. However, bacteria able to grow on 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, were obtained by enrichment of water and sediments samples.     

Prokaryotic life in a potash-polluted marsh with emphasis on N-metabolizing microorganisms

Prokaryotic life along the salt gradient of the potash marsh resulting from mining waste at Schreyahn, Northern Germany, was screened for the distribution of total prokaryote (assessed by the 16S rRNA gene) and of N2-fixing (nifH gene), denitrifying (nosZ) and nitrifying (amoA) microorganisms. Information on prokaryotes was retrieved from the different soil sites (a) by culturing in conventional media, (b) by isolating the DNA, amplifying the target genes by PCR followed by sequencing, (c) by employing the recently developed computer program (TReFID [R?sch, C., Bothe, H., 2005. Improved assessment of denitrifying, N2-fixing, and total-community bacteria by terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using multiple restriction enzymes. Applied and Environmental Microbiology 71, 2026-2035]) based on tRFLP data. New sequences were obtained as well as ones that were almost identical to those found at far distant locations. Whereas the distribution of plants strictly follows the salt gradient, this is apparently not the case with prokaryotes. Bacteria of hypersaline areas coexist with salt-non-tolerant species. The recently developed TReFID program is successfully applied to characterize a prokaryote community structure.     

一种包埋微生物复合填料的制备及性能评价简

采用包埋法制备出一种复合生物填料,测其各项理化性质,并以NO_x模拟废气验证其脱硝性能。填料主要由碳酸钙、牛粪堆肥腐殖质、菌剂载体、水泥、轻质珍珠岩、立体网状纤维及脱硝功能微生物等复合而成,粒径12 mm×20 mm,自然堆积密度（471±0.8）kg/m³,持水量（49±1.3）%,比表面积3.91 m²/g,平均机械强度（427.3±0.2）N,pH为10.5±0.2。填料能长期在潮湿环境中保持良好的粘结强度,并具有营养缓释及pH缓冲能力。包埋脱硝功能微生物复合填料中初期微生物数量5.3 ×10⁵ CFU/g,运行60 d后微生物数量达到8.6×10⁸ CFU/g,闲置停运30 d微生物有所减少,但重启后净化效率基本不变。当进气负荷低于1 878 mg/（m³·h）,气体停留时间为14.47 s时,BF₁的去除率高达93.15%。     

Effects of pesticides on activities of enzymes and microorganisms in a clay soil

Laboratory experiments were conducted to determine the effect of 32 pesticides applied at 2 levels on populations of microorganisms, activities of urease, dehydrogenase, phosphatase and nitrogenase in a clay loam incubated for 1 week. Results indicated that a decrease in bacterial number was observed with thiram for 2 days and stimulation with chlorpyrifos after 7 days. Some fungicides and fumigants inhibited fungal numbers for 2 days. The recovery was rapid and stimulatory effects on microbial numbers were evident in many samples. None of the pesticides inhibited soil urease drastically. Formazan formation was not suppressed vigorously by the treatments. With the exception of DD and Vorlex at a high level, none of the treatments inhibited phosphatase in the hydrolysis of p-nitrophenyl disodium orthophosphate. A temporary decrease in nitrogenase activity in acetylene (C2H2) reduction was observed with many pesticides. The low amount of pesticides applied to the clay loam is unlikely to have detrimental effects on soil microbes and the enzymes important to soil fertility.     

一种包埋微生物复合填料的制备及性能评价

采用包埋法制备出一种复合生物填料,测其各项理化性质,并以NO。模拟废气验证其脱硝性能。填料主要由碳酸钙、牛粪堆肥腐殖质、菌剂载体、水泥、轻质珍珠岩、立体网状纤维及脱硝功能微生物等复合而成,粒径书12mm×20mm,自然堆积密度（471±0．8）kg／m2,持水量（49±1．3）％,比表面积3．91m2／g,平均机械强度（427．3±0．2）N,pH为10．5-0．2。填料能长期在潮湿环境中保持良好的粘结强度,并具有营养缓释及pH缓冲能力。包埋脱硝功能微生物复合填料中初期微生物数量5．3×10^5 CFU／g,运行60d后微生物数量达到8．6×10 8 CFU／g,闲置停运30d微生物有所减少,但重启后净化效率基本不变。当进气负荷低于I878mg／（13m3·h）,气体停留时间为14．47s时,BF,的去除率高达93．15％。     

Biodegradation of organic pollutants in saline wastewater by halophilic microorganisms: a review

Agro-food, petroleum, textile, and leather industries generate saline wastewater with a high content of organic pollutants such as aromatic hydrocarbons, phenols, nitroaromatics, and azo dyes. Halophilic microorganisms are of increasing interest in industrial waste treatment, due to their ability to degrade hazardous substances efficiently under high salt conditions. However, their full potential remains unexplored. The isolation and identification of halophilic and halotolerant microorganisms from geographically unrelated and geologically diverse hypersaline sites supports their application in bioremediation processes. Past investigations in this field have mainly focused on the elimination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and phenols, whereas few studies have investigated N-aromatic compounds, such as nitro-substituted compounds, amines, and azo dyes, in saline wastewater. Information regarding the growth conditions and degradation mechanisms of halophilic microorganisms is also limited. In this review, we discuss recent research on the removal of organic pollutants such as organic matter, in terms of chemical oxygen demand (COD), dyes, hydrocarbons, N-aliphatic and N-aromatic compounds, and phenols, in conditions of high salinity. In addition, some proposal pathways for the degradation of aromatic compounds are presented.     

Slightly acidic electrolyzed water for reducing airborne microorganisms in a layer breeding house

Reducing airborne microorganisms may potentially improve the environment in layer breeding houses. The effectiveness of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW; pH 5.29–6.30) in reducing airborne microorganisms was investigated in a commercial layer house in northern China. The building had a tunnel-ventilation system, with an evaporative cooling. The experimental area was divided into five zones along the length of the house, with zone 1 nearest to an evaporative cooling pad and zone 5 nearest to the fans. The air temperature, relative humidity, dust concentration, and microbial population were measured at the sampling points in the five zones during the study period. The SAEW was sprayed by workers in the whole house. A six-stage air microbial sampler was used to measure airborne microbial population. Results showed that the population of airborne bacteria and fungi were sharply reduced by 0.71 × 10⁵ and 2.82 × 10³ colony-forming units (CFU) m^?3 after 30 min exposure to SAEW, respectively. Compared with the benzalkonium chloride (BC) solution and povidone-iodine (PVP-I) solution treatments, the population reductions of airborne fungi treated by SAEW were significantly (P < 0.05) more, even though the three disinfectants can decrease both the airborne bacteria and fungi significantly (P < 0.05) 30 min after spraying.

Implications: There are no effective methods for reducing airborne microbial levels in tunnel-ventilated layer breeding houses; additionally, there is limited information available on airborne microorganism distribution. This research investigated the spatial distribution of microbial population, and the effectiveness of spraying slightly acidic electrolyzed water in reducing microbial levels. The research revealed that slightly acidic electrolyzed water spray was a potential method for reducing microbial presence in layer houses. The knowledge gained in this research about the microbial population variations in the building may assist producers in managing the bird housing environment and engineers in designing poultry houses.     

Degradation of the insecticide fensulfothion by a mixed culture of soil microorganisms

Abstract

Fensulfothion was incubated in nutrient media with a mixed culture of soil microorganisms obtained from sandy loam. The half life of fensulfothion in both inoculated samples and sterile controls was about 16 wk. There was some conversion to fensulfothion sulfone (16% at 6 wk) in inoculated samples, but not in the controls. Traces of fensulfothion sulfide were found in both inoculated samples (<3%) and controls (<2%) . When 1% ethanol was added to the inoculated nutrient mixture the fensulfothion disappeared rapidly (t_½>～1_½> wk) with 32% conversion at 20 wk to fensulfothion sulfide.     

The humidity dependence of ozone deposition onto a variety of building surfaces

Measurements of the dry deposition velocity of O₃ to material samples of calcareous stone, concrete and wood at varying humidity of the air, were performed in a deposition chamber. Equilibrium surface deposition velocities were found for various humidity values by fitting a model to the time-dependent deposition data. A deposition velocity-humidity model was derived giving three separate rate constants for the surface deposition velocities, i.e. on the dry surface, on the first mono-layer of adsorbed water and on additional surface water. The variation in the dry air equilibrium surface deposition velocities among the samples correlated with variations in effective areas, with larger effective areas giving higher measured deposition velocities. A minimum for the equilibrium surface deposition velocity was generally measured at an intermediate humidity close to the humidity found to correspond to one mono-layer of water molecules on the surfaces. At low air humidity the equilibrium surface deposition velocity of O₃ was found to decrease as more adsorbed water prevented direct contact of the O₃ molecules with the surface. This was partly compensated by an increase as more adsorbed water became available for reaction with O₃. At high air humidity the equilibrium surface deposition velocity was found to increase as the mass of water on the surface increased. The deposition velocity on bulk de-ionised water at RH=90% was an order of magnitude lower than on the sample surfaces.     

组合人工湿地工艺微生物群落结构及脱氮效果研究

将复合垂直流、表面流、潜流3种不同类型的人工湿地串联起来,研究每种人工湿地的脱氮微生物及其脱氮效果.结果表明,各种人工湿地池填料表面微生物数量丰富,组合人工湿地系统形成两个串联的A/O单元,脱氮效果良好,其中总氮去除率达82.61%.     

黑麦草根际强化微生物净化甲苯

采用在普通生物反应器上种植黑麦草的方法,研究了黑麦草根系强化微生物净化甲苯污染气体的作用,及甲苯入口浓度、填料深度、温度对反应器净化甲苯速率的影响。结果表明,在生物反应器相同的填料深度,细菌数量的水平分布为黑麦草根际区>过渡区>非根际,与相同位置的甲苯浓度分布呈负相关,说明黑麦草根系通过促进细菌的活性进而增加甲苯的降解。在相同的甲苯入口浓度下,甲苯的净化速率随着填料深度的增加而增加,在甲苯入口浓度不高于500 mg/m3条件下,相同的填料深度,反应器对甲苯的净化速率随着甲苯浓度的增加而增加。在5~35℃范围内,温度升高有助于提高微生物活性,促进微生物对甲苯的降解,且有黑麦草处理的甲苯净化速率大于同等条件下无黑麦草处理。     

Effect of selected herbicides on activities of microorganisms in soils

Abstract

With the exception of EPTC, herbicide treatments showed inhibitory effects on bacterial colony counts in a sandy loam soil for the first week. Monolinuron and simazine were stimulatory to the growth of fungi in the organic soil after 2 wk. None of the herbicide treatments affected nitrification during the first week of incubation. Except the treatment of EPTC in organic soil, all herbicides inhibited nitrification after 2 wk in both soils. All herbicide treatments stimulated SO₄ formation during the 8‐wk period in the sandy loam soil. Simazine and tridiphane also stimulated sulfur oxidation after 4 wk in an organic soil. With the exception of EPTC and nitrapyrin, no significant inhibitory effect on the amount of biomass‐C was observed in the organic soil. A stimulatory effect on denitrification was observed with EPTC for 2 wk and monolinuron for 1 wk in the sandy loam soil and with simazine and tridiphane after 2 wk in the organic soil. It is apparent that the indigenous soil microorganisms can tolerate the effects of the chemicals for control of soil weeds.     

Comparison of degradation studies in a biosimulatorby continuous cultivation of Pseudomonas andindigenous microorganisms with varied dissolvedoxygen concentrations

The aim of this study was to compare the potential of a pure bacterial culture of Pseudomonas with the potential of an indigenous microorganism for malathion degradation by continuous cultivation using two different sets of conditions (with-culture: Pseudomonas, and without-culture: indigenous microorganisms) at varied dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations (4.0 and 8.0 mg/L) in a biosimulator. The samples were analysed for pH, DO and COD (unfiltered). Gas chromatography (GC) revealed that almost 90% of malathion removal was achieved within ten hours of treatment in both studies of with-culture using 4.0 and 8.0 mg/L DO, whereas COD was considerably reduced during the treatment process and the removal efficiency was found to be above 90% in both conditions. The removal of COD was found to be in direct relation to retention time. However, the unfiltered COD and malathion removal efficiency was significantly influenced by DO. The percentage degradation of malathion using 4.0 mg/L DO, with-culture after 10 hours was 90.01%, whereas after 51 hours it was 99.03%. The without-culture studies showed percentage values which were 38.29% after 10 hours, whereas the corresponding value after 51 hours was 96.84%. Similarly, the percentage degradation of malathion using 8.0 mg/L DO, with-culture studies revealed that almost 89.40% malathion degradation was achieved after 10 hours, whereas it was 96.91% after 51 hours after inoculation of the culture. However, for the without-culture studies the value after 10 hours was 52.34%, whereas 96.86% malathion degradation was achieved after 51 hours without added culture. Although no significant variation in the pH was observed during the study the pH values increased gradually during the treatment process in all of the conditions. A critical evaluation of data presented revealed that the degradation potential of Pseudomonas was better when compared to the degradation potential of indigenous microorganisms.     

利用有效微生物菌群控制蓝藻水华研究

蓝藻水华污染在我国和世界都呈现迅猛的发展趋势,如何治理是环境科学研究领域的热点。2008年7～8月在北京市延庆县妫水湖的现场围隔水体中,通过投加筛选和培养土著有效微生物菌群(EM菌),对控制蓝藻水华污染形成的效果进行研究。结果表明,与对照相比,投加EM菌不仅可以控制蓝藻水华的暴发,使蓝藻生物量降低70%以上,而且可以快速降低水体中的氮和磷浓度,因此,明显控制了蓝藻水华的形成,在治理湖泊蓝藻水华污染方面具有重要的应用前景。