Improvement of upflow anaerobic sludge bed performance using chitosan.

Chitosan, with a degree of deacetylation of 85% and a molecular weight of 2.5 x 10(5) Da, yielding high flocculation efficiency (85 to 100% flocculation) and a broad flocculation region (2 to 45 mg/g suspended solids), was selected for accelerating granulation in a 30-L upflow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) used to treat wastewater from a tropical fruit-processing industry. Compared with other studies, smaller amounts of chitosan were applied (two injections with 2 mg chitosan/g suspended solids in the reactor at each injection). Comparison with the UASB without chitosan addition, the UASB had a 24 to 37% larger particle size and a 6 to 41% longer solids retention time. In addition, the reactor performances were also enhanced. The UASB with chitosan addition had a 9 to 59% lower effluent chemical oxygen demand (COD), 4 to 10% higher COD removal, up to 35% higher biogas production rate, and a 16 to 68% lower biomass washout. The paired t-test analysis indicated that these performance parameters were significantly different (P < 0.05).     

Effects of polyelectrolytes on reduction of model compounds via coagulation

The objective of this research work was to evaluate the performance of enhanced coagulation by alum and polymer. Synthetic source waters containing high molecular weight humic acids, medium molecular weight tannic acids and low molecular weight p-hydroxybenzoic acid were formulated by adjusting the concentration of turbidity and pH; and jar tests were used to study the effect of various types and dosages of polymer on reducing the above model compounds. At a specific pH condition, the applied alum dosage would efficiently decrease the turbidity to 2 NTU follows the order: humic>tannic>p-hydroxybenzoic acid. Adjustment of pH influenced the performance of alum obviously but not of p-DADMAC. High p-DADMAC dosage overwhelming the effects of alum is less affected by pH adjustment. The results of this investigation reveal that enhanced coagulation with p-DADMAC was founded to be very effective for removing high-molecular-weight THM precursors, i.e., humic acid and tannic acid, and markedly reduced the alum dosages required for turbidity removal. The other two polymers, i.e., cationic PAM and non-ionic PAM, which had higher molecular weight but lower charge density than p-DADMAC, were not capable of removing organic precursors. It was thus concluded that enhanced coagulation with polymer, p-DADMAC, could be considered as a promising technique for removal of NOMs with hydrophobic and higher-molar-mass (>1K) in water treatment plants.     

壳聚糖季铵盐的合成及其絮凝性能

对壳聚糖进行季铵化改性制得壳聚糖季铵盐,用于味精废水的絮凝实验证明了其絮凝性能较壳聚糖好,投药量低,ｐＨ值适用范围宽,絮体沉降快且含水率低,是一种具有良好反应活性的高分子絮凝剂。     

Investigation of solution chemistry effects on sorption behavior of Cu(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite

The sorption of Cu(II) from an aqueous solution using ZSM-5 zeolite was investigated by batch technique under ambient conditions. Sorption was investigated as a function of pH, ionic strength, foreign ions, humic substances, and temperature. The results indicate that the sorption of Cu(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite is strongly dependent on pH. Sorption is dependent on ionic strength at low pH, but independent of ionic strength at high pH values. The presence of humic/fluvic acid (HA/FA) enhances the sorption of Cu(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite at low pH values, and reduces Cu(II) sorption at high pH values. Sorption isotherms were well simulated by the Langmuir model. Thermodynamic parameters (i.e., deltaH0, deltaS0 and deltaG0) for the sorption of Cu(II) were determined from temperature-dependent sorption isotherms at 293.15, 313.15, and 333.15 K, respectively. Results indicate that the sorption process of Cu(II) on ZSM-5 zeolite is spontaneous and endothermic.     

壳聚糖在活性污泥中的可生化性研究

以不同分子量和不同脱乙酰度的壳聚糖为对象,研究了壳聚糖溶液的COD和BOD5分别随分子量和脱乙酰度变化的规律,并将其应用于活性污泥法废水处理,研究了不同分子量和不同脱乙酰度的壳聚糖对微生物活性的影响及其抑菌作用。由壳聚糖溶液的BOD5/COD及其对微生物活性的影响初步得出壳聚糖在活性污泥中是不可生化的。     

壳聚糖在活性污泥中的可生化性研究

以不同分子量和不同脱乙酰度的壳聚糖为对象,研究了壳聚糖溶液的COD和BOD5分别随分子量和脱乙酰度变化的规律,并将其应用于活性污泥法废水处理,研究了不同分子量和不同脱乙酰度的壳聚糖对微生物活性的影响及其抑菌作用.由壳聚糖溶液的BOD5/COD及其对微生物活性的影响初步得出壳聚糖在活性污泥中是不可生化的.     

基于剩余污泥的超声法提取微生物絮凝剂

通过超声系列实验,对超声法从剩余污泥中提取微生物絮凝剂(MBF)进行了系统研究。从剩余污泥中提取的MBF在碱性条件下表现出较好的絮凝活性。提高污泥浓度有利于提取出较高絮凝活性的MBF。由于超声波的破解作用,超声频率或功率过高均不利于MBF的提取。在20 kHz的超声频率下,连续超声比脉冲为1、4或8 s超声时的提取效果均要好。经过工艺优化,采用20 kHz、120 W的超声波对剩余污泥(19.4 g/L)连续超声30 s,所提取的MBF对高岭土悬浊液的絮凝率接近70%。结果表明,超声法可用于从剩余污泥中直接提取MBF,在降低MBF生产成本的同时实现污泥的资源化利用。     

Adsorption behavior of reactive dye in aqueous solution on chemical cross-linked chitosan beads

A batch system was applied to study the adsorption of reactive dye (reactive red 189) from aqueous solutions by cross-linked chitosan beads. The ionic cross-linking reagent sodium tripolyphosphate was used to obtain more rigid chitosan beads. To stabilize chitosan in acid solutions, chemical cross-linking reagent epichlorohydrin (ECH), glutaraldehyde and ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether was used and ECH shows a higher adsorption capacity. The Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models were applied to describe the equilibrium isotherms at different particle sizes and isotherm constants were determined. The Langmuir model agrees very well with experimental data and its calculated maximum monolayer adsorption capacity has very large value of 1802-1840 (g/kg) at pH 3.0, 30 degrees C. The kinetics of the adsorption with respect to the initial dye concentration, temperature, pH, ionic strength, and wet/dry beads were investigated. The pseudo-first-order, second-order kinetic models and intraparticle diffusion model were used to describe the kinetic data and the rate constants were evaluated. The dynamical data fit well with the second-order kinetic model, except for the dry beads fitting better with the first-order model. The adsorption capacity increases largely with decreasing solution pH or with increasing initial dye concentration. Thermodynamic parameters such as change in free energy (deltaG(0)), enthalpy (deltaH(0)), entropy (deltaS(0)) and activation energy were also determined. The adsorption mechanism is shown to be the electrostatic interactions between the dye and chitosan beads. The desorption data shows that the removal percent of dye RR 189 from the cross-linked chitosan beads is 63% in NaOH solutions at pH 10.0, 30 degrees C. The desorbed chitosan beads can be reused to adsorb the dye and to reach the same capacity as that before desorption.     

Removal of perfluorinated surfactants by sorption onto granular activated carbon, zeolite and sludge

Perfluorinated surfactants are emerging pollutants of increasing public health and environmental concern due to recent reports of their world-wide distribution, environmental persistence and bioaccumulation potential. Treatment methods for the removal of anionic perfluorochemical (PFC) surfactants from industrial effluents are needed to minimize the environmental release of these pollutants. Removal of PFC surfactants from aqueous solutions by sorption onto various types of granular activated carbon was investigated. Three anionic PFC surfactants, i.e., perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorobutane sulfonate (PFBS), were evaluated for the ability to adsorb onto activated carbon. Additionally, the sorptive capacity of zeolites and sludge for PFOS was compared to that of granular activated carbon. Adsorption isotherms were determined at constant ionic strength in a pH 7.2 phosphate buffer at 30 degrees C. Sorption of PFOS onto activated carbon was stronger than PFOA and PFBS, suggesting that the length of the fluorocarbon chain and the nature of the functional group influenced sorption of the anionic surfactants. Among all adsorbents evaluated in this study, activated carbon (Freundlich K(F) values=36.7-60.9) showed the highest affinity for PFOS at low aqueous equilibrium concentrations, followed by the hydrophobic, high-silica zeolite NaY (Si/Al 80, K(F)=31.8), and anaerobic sludge (K(F)=0.95-1.85). Activated carbon also displayed a superior sorptive capacity at high soluble concentrations of the surfactant (up to 80 mg l(-1)). These findings indicate that activated carbon adsorption is a promising treatment technique for the removal of PFOS from dilute aqueous streams.     

胞外多聚物对活性污泥絮凝性能影响的研究进展

活性污泥的絮凝性能直接影响出水SS浓度,而胞外多聚物(EPS)是影响活性污泥絮凝性能的重要因素。从EPS的组分及其化学性质入手,结合现有的活性污泥絮凝机制评价了EPS在活性污泥絮凝性能中的重要作用,系统分析了EPS组分对污泥絮凝性能的影响,以及EPS产量和组分的影响因素,并就近年来的研究热点———松散层EPS、致密层EPS与活性污泥絮凝性能的关系进行了归纳,还对利用EPS提高活性污泥絮凝性能的技术应用进行了总结。最后,对该领域的研究方向进行了展望。     

碱减量-印染混合废水的预处理研究

针对碱度大、COD高、组成复杂的碱减量-印染混合废水,采用高碱度下直接混凝再酸析相结合的方法进行预处理,取得理想效果.试验结果表明,在高碱度条件下先加入镁盐及少量高分子絮凝剂,可去除大部分可溶性及不溶性污染物;再通过降低pH的酸析法,能有效去除废水中的色度、浊度,大大降低COD.在MgSO4用量为800～1 500 mg/L,阴离子聚丙烯酰胺用量为2 mg/L,酸析pH小于3.0时,色度去除率达97%,COD去除率达92%,浊度去除率近100%.     

Humic acid complexation of basic and neutral polycyclic aromatic compounds

Complexation by humic acid (HA) of basic (quinoline) and neutral (naphthalene) polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) was compared using fluorescence spectroscopy and equilibrium dialysis (ED). These compounds sorb to HA via cation exchange and hydrophobic interactions, respectively. Ionization of quinoline strongly affects its sorption to HA; maximum sorption is observed at pH close to logKb (4.92), and competition with H+ and electrolyte cation (Li+) is evident. Spectroscopic experiments indicate that quinolinium (QH+) cation fluorescence is quenched via a static mechanism (i.e., a dark complex is formed) when the protonated form is adsorbed via ion exchange to HA. The extent of sorption, calculated from fluorescence data using the Stern-Volmer equation, was compared to independent ED measurements. Although both methods indicated the same trends with solution chemistry, fluorescence quenching data suggested more extensive complexation than that measured using ED. In contrast to ionizable PACs, studied here and previously, interaction of naphthalene with HA is unaffected by changes in solution conditions (pH, ionic strength).     

Desorption of copper and cadmium from soils enhanced by organic acids

The adsorption/desorption behavior of copper and cadmium on soils was investigated in this study. The adsorption isotherm of copper and cadmium conformed to Langmuir equation better than Freundlich equation. The effect of ionic strength, pH, and organic acid, including ethylenediamine tetraacetic disodium acid salt (EDTA), citric acid, oxalic acid and tartaric acid, on the desorption of copper and cadmium was studied. The desorption of copper and cadmium increased with the increase of ionic strength, while the desorption decreased with the rise of pH. The desorption of copper and cadmium enhanced by organic acids was influenced by pH. EDTA showed excellent enhancement on the desorption of both copper and cadmium; citric acid demonstrated great enhancement on the desorption of copper but negligible enhancement on the desorption of cadmium; oxalic acid enhanced the desorption of copper only at pH around 6.4 and enhanced the desorption of cadmium in the pH range from 6.4 to 10.7; tartaric acid slightly enhanced the desorption of copper but negligibly enhanced the desorption of cadmium. The desorption mechanism in the presence of organic acids were explained as the competition of complexation, adsorption and precipitation. The net effect determined the desorption efficiency. This study provided guidance for the selection of organic acids to enhance the electrokinetic (EK) remediation of copper and cadmium from contaminated soils.     

脱木素工艺处理造纸废水的实践与机理

脱木素工艺为中小制浆企业的黑液治理提供了新的方法。系统中酸化纤维污泥减小碱木素胶粒间的斥力 ,吸附废水中已析出的木质素和细小纤维 ;酸破坏了系统中胶体的水化膜 ,增大了胶体的粒径 ;混凝剂中和胶体表面电荷 ,增加颗粒间的接触机会 ,同时发挥了絮凝沉降的作用。该工艺与传统工艺相比 ,减少了酸及混凝剂的用量 ,木素沉降速度快。当试验废水pH =5、绝干纤维污泥与进水CODCr质量之比为 1.1、硫酸铝投加量为 160mg/L时 ,CODCr去除率高于 63 %。     

Investigation of the permeability of humic molecules using zeta potential measurements

Zeta potential measurements have been performed on colloidal humate in the presence of differing concentrations of sodium ions at pH = 6.0. A series of calculations has been performed in which the radius of the humic colloid was varied until the predicted surface potential was equal to the experimentally determined zeta potential. The results of the calculations showed that as the ionic strength increases, the apparent radius of the colloid decreases. Similar calculations in which a model colloid was treated as a rigid sphere, i.e., the radius of the colloid was kept constant, failed to simulate the observed zeta potential measurements.     

Azo dye decolourisation by anaerobic granular sludge

The decolourisation of 20 selected azo dyes by granular sludge from an upward-flow anaerobic sludge bed (UASB) reactor was assayed. Complete reduction was found for all azo dyes tested, generally yielding colourless products. The reactions followed first-order kinetics and reaction rates varied greatly between dyes: half-life times ranged from 1 to about 100 h. The slowest reaction rates were found for reactive dyes with a triazine reactive group. There was no correlation between a dye's half-life time and its molecular weight, indicating that cell penetration was probably not an important factor. Since granular sludge contains sulphide, eight dyes were also monitored for direct chemical decolourisation by sulphide. All these dyes were reduced chemically albeit at slower rates than in the presence of sludge at comparable sulphide levels. Increasing sulphide concentrations, even when present in huge excess, stimulated the azo reduction rate. The results indicate that granular sludge can decolourise a broad spectrum of azo dye structures due to non-specific extracellular reactions. Reducing agents (e.g., sulphide) in sludge play an important role. The presence of anaerobic biomass is probably beneficial for maintaining the pools of these reduced compounds.     

磺胺和四环素类抗生素对活性污泥性能的影响简

废水处理工艺中抗生素类污染物的存在可能会对生物处理过程产生长期而深远的影响,为探明此类污染物对废水生物处理主体活性污泥性能等方面的影响,采用间歇培养法研究了活性污泥法处理污水时,抗生素类污染物的存在对活性污泥性能如胞外聚合物（EPS）、污染物处理能力、脱氢酶活性和群落结构的影响。结果表明,抗生素的存在会导致活性污泥的胞外聚合物总量及其主要组分蛋白质和多糖增加,以产生保护屏障;且由于污泥絮体解体,细胞破裂导致EPS中DNA和色氨酸含量增加。同时,由于蛋白质大量增加引起的表面负电荷的增加,使污泥疏水性增强,絮凝性能恶化;污泥絮体解体导致污泥颗粒变小,SVI也随之下降;在活性污泥脱氢酶活性急剧下降的同时,出水TOC迅速升高。此外,抗生素类污染物在抑制活性污泥中大部分细菌的同时,对部分菌群也有刺激生长作用,最终导致活性污泥生物群落结构的改变。四环素类抗生素对活性污泥的EPS和絮凝沉降性能的影响大于磺胺类,而对污水处理能力和群落结构的影响则不如磺胺类。抗生素类污染物的长期存在会对活性污泥沉降性能、絮凝性能、脱氢酶活性以及活性污泥群落结构等产生一系列负面影响,进而影响污染物去除效果,导致出水水质恶化。     

Kinetics and mechanism of oxidation of tetrachloroethylene with permanganate

The kinetics, reaction pathways and product distribution of oxidation of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) by potassium permanganate (KMnO4) were studied in phosphate-buffered solutions under constant pH, isothermal, completely mixed and zero headspace conditions. Experimental results indicate that the reaction is first-order with respect to both PCE and KMnO4 and has an activation energy of 9.3+/-0.9 kcal/mol. The second-order rate constant at 20 degrees C is 0.035+/-0.004 M(-1) s(-1), and is independent of pH and ionic strength (I) over a range of pH 3-10 and I approximately 0-0.2 M, respectively. The PCE-KMnO4 reaction may proceed through further oxidation and/or hydrolysis reaction pathways, greatly influenced by the acidity of the solution, to yield CO2(g), oxalic acid, formic acid and glycolic acid. Under acidic conditions (e.g., pH 3), the further oxidation pathway will dominate and PCE tends to be directly mineralized into CO2 and chloride. Under neutral (e.g., pH 7) and alkaline conditions (e.g., pH 10), the hydroxylation pathway dominates the reaction and PCE is primarily transformed into oxalic acid prior to complete PCE mineralization. Moreover, all chlorine atoms in PCE are rapidly liberated during the reaction and the rate of chloride production is very close to the rate of PCE degradation.     

Enhanced Cr bioleaching efficiency from tannery sludge with coinoculation of Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans TS6 and Brettanomyces B65 in an air-lift reactor

Bioleaching process has been demonstrated to be an effective technology in removing Cr from tannery sludge, but a large quantity of dissolved organic matter (DOM) present in tannery sludge often exhibits a marked toxicity to chemolithoautotrophic bioleaching bacteria such as Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans. The purpose of the present study was therefore to enhance Cr bioleaching efficiencies through introducing sludge DOM-degrading heterotrophic microorganism into the sulfur-based sludge bioleaching system. An acid-tolerant DOM-degrading yeast strain Brettanomyces B65 was successfully isolated from a local Haining tannery sludge and it could metabolize sludge DOM as a source of energy and carbon for growth. A combined bioleaching experiment (coupling Brettanomyces B65 and A. thiooxidans TS6) performed in an air-lift reactor indicated that the rates of sludge pH reduction and ORP increase were greatly improved, resulting in enhanced Cr solubilization. Compared with the 5 days required for maximum solubilization of Cr for the control (single bioleaching process without inoculation of Brettanomyces B65), the bioleaching period was significantly shorten to 3 days for the combined bioleaching system. Moreover, little nitrogen and phosphorous were lost and the content of Cr was below the permitted levels for land application after 3 days of bioleaching treatment.     

Influence of trivalent electrolytes on the humic colloid-borne transport of contaminant metals: competition and flocculation effects

With the objective to assess the relevance of competitive effects in respect of the humic colloid-borne migration of actinides in case of release, the influence of Al(III) on humate complexation of La(III) as an analogue of trivalent actinides was investigated for various humic materials by using 140La as a radioactive tracer, allowing measurements in very dilute systems to simulate realistic settings. Generally, competition by aluminium is not detectable unless the metal-loading capacity of the humic colloids is nearly exhausted. For average contents of organic carbon, a threshold value of 10(-6) M Al(III) can be specified. The metal exchange turned out to be kinetically hindered. Effects on co-adsorption of La(III) and humic acid were found to be less important. Immobilization by the concomitantly induced flocculation process outweighs the role of displacement effects. Comparative studies on complexation and flocculation of humic acid with Al(III), Ga(III), In(III), Sc(III), Y(III), and La(III) were undertaken in order to evaluate the influence of specific properties apart from ion charge and to characterize the mechanism of flocculation. In spite of considerable variations in the binding affinities among these metals, it can be inferred that the possibility of significant competitive effects in natural aquatic systems is confined to Al(III). Complex stabilities and flocculation efficiencies proved to be interrelated. Precipitation is thus attributed to homocoagulation of humic colloids induced by charge compensation, which is further supported by flocculation experiments with Al(III) depending on pH, ionic strength, and humic acid concentration.