Scaling up a novel denitrifying microbial fuel cell with an oxic-anoxic two stage biocathode

A scaled up microbial fuel cell （MFC） of a 50 L volume was set up with an oxic-anoxic two-stage biocathode and activated semicoke packed electrodes to achieve simultaneous power generation and nitrogen and organic matter removals. An average maximum power density of 43.1 W·m^-3 was obtained in batch operating mode. By adjusting the two extemal resistances, the denitrification in the A-MFC and power production in the O-MFC could be enhanced. In continuous mode, when the hydraulic retention times were set at 6 h, 8 h and 12 h, the removal efficiencies of COD, NHf-N and total nitrogen （TN） were higher than 95%, 97%, and 84%, respectively. Meanwhile the removal loads for COD, NH4^＋-N and TN were10, 0.37 and 0.4 kg·（m^3·d）^-1, respectively.     

Efficient production of hydrogen peroxide in microbial reverse-electrodialysis cells coupled with thermolytic solutions

● Appreciable H₂O₂ production rate was achieved in MRCs utilizing NH₄HCO₃ solutions. ● Carbon black outperformed activated carbon as the catalyst for H₂O₂ production. ● The optimum carbon black loading for H₂O₂ production on air-cathode was 10 mg/cm². ● The optimum number of cell pairs was determined to be three. ● A maximum power density of 980 mW/m² was produced by MRCs with 5 cell pairs. H₂O₂ was produced at an appreciable rate in microbial reverse-electrodialysis cells (MRCs) coupled with thermolytic solutions, which can simultaneously capture waste heat as electrical energy. To determine the optimal cathode and membrane stack configurations for H₂O₂ production, different catalysts, catalyst loadings and numbers of membrane cell pairs were tested. Carbon black (CB) outperformed activated carbon (AC) for H₂O₂ production, although AC showed higher catalytic activity for oxygen reduction. The optimum CB loading was 10 mg/cm² in terms of both the H₂O₂ production rate and power production. The optimum number of cell pairs was determined to be three based on a tradeoff between H₂O₂ production and capital costs. A H₂O₂ production rate as high as 0.99 ± 0.10 mmol/(L·h) was achieved with 10 mg/cm² CB loading and 3 cell pairs, where the H₂O₂ recovery efficiency was 52 ± 2% and the maximum power density was 780 ± 37 mW/m². Increasing the number of cell pairs to five resulted in an increase in maximum power density (980 ± 21 mW/m²) but showed limited effects on H₂O₂ production. These results indicated that MRCs can be an efficient method for sustainable H₂O₂ production.     

Effects of nitrate concentration on biological hydrogen production by mixed cultures

The effects of nitrate on fermentative hydrogen production and soluble metabolites from mixed cultures were investigated by varying nitrate concentrations from 0 to 10 g N/L at 35°C with an initial pH of 7.0. The results showed that the substrate degradation rate, hydrogen production potential, hydrogen yield, and average hydrogen production rate initially increased with increasing nitrate concentrations from 0 to 0.1 g N/L, while they decreased with increasing nitrate concentrations from 0.1 to 10 g N/L. The maximum hydrogen production potential of 305.0 mL, maximum hydrogen yield of 313.1 mL/g glucose, and maximum average hydrogen production rate of 13.3 mL/h were obtained at a nitrate concentration of 0.1 g N/L. The soluble metabolites produced by the mixed cultures contained only ethanol and acetic acid (HAc) without propionic acid (HPr) and butyric acid (HBu). This study used the Modified Logistic model to describe the progress of cumulative hydrogen production in batch tests. A concise model was proposed to describe the effects of nitrate concentration on average hydrogen production rate.     

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.     

Using crosslinked polyvinyl alcohol polymer membrane as a separator in the microbial fuel cell

Separator between anode and cathode is an essential part of the microbial fuel cell （MFC） and its property could significantly influence the system perfor- mance. In this study we used polyvinyl alcohol （PVA） polymer membrane crosslinked with sulfosuccinic acid （SSA） as a new separator for the MFC. The highest power density of 7594-4 mW-m-2 was obtained when MFC using the PVA membrane crosslinked with 15% of SSA due to its desirable proton conductivity （5.16 x 10-2 S.cml）. The power density significantly increased to 11064- 30 mW.m-2 with a separator-electrode-assembly config- uration, which was comparable with glass fiber （11704- 46 mW.m-2）. The coulombic efficiencies of the MFCs with crosslinked PVA membranes ranged from 36.3% to 45.7% at a fix external resistance of lO00f2. The crosslinked PVA membrane could be a promising alter- native to separator materials for constructing practical MFC system.     

双酚A和壬基酚对河蚬呼吸代谢和抗氧化酶活性的影响

为了研究双酚A（Bisphenol A,BPA）和壬基酚（Nonylphenol,NP）对河蚬（Corbicula fluminea）呼吸代谢能力和抗氧化酶活性的影响,探讨BPA和NP对河蚬的毒性作用。以河蚬为受试生物,采用半静态染毒法,研究了BPA和NP对河蚬的单一毒性等级、联合毒性作用类型和对河蚬耗氧率、排氨率以及抗氧化酶系统中SOD、CAT活性的影响。结果显示：① BPA、NP对河蚬的半致死质量浓度（96 h-LC50）分别为6.34和1.09 mg＆#183;L-1,毒性顺序为NP＞BPA,二者均为高毒物质;② BPA-NP对河蚬毒性作用类型为协同作用;③亚急性毒性指标耗氧率、排氨率以及超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）、过氧化氢酶（CAT）对BPA、NP及二者混合物均比较敏感,在本试验的质量浓度范围内（BPA：0.63、0.79、1.59、3.17 mg＆#183;L-1;NP：0.109、0.136、0.271、0.542 mg＆#183;L-1;BPA＋NP：（0.0782＋0.029）、（0.0978＋0.0363）、（0.196＋0.0725）、（0.391＋0.145） mg＆#183;L-1）,河蚬耗氧率、排氨率以及两种酶活性变化均呈现先下降后上升再下降的趋势,其中在BPA、NP和二者混合物的质量浓度较低时,河蚬的耗氧率和排氨率、SOD和CAT活性只有微小降低,随着质量浓度的升高,河蚬耗氧率和排氨率、两个酶活性相对均有所升高,而在质量浓度极高时其耗氧率和排氨率以及两个酶活性才又受到显著性或极显著性的抑制。实验结果显示河蚬耗氧率、排氨率和SOD、CAT活性对水体中酚类内分泌干扰物反应敏感,具有较好的一致性和规律性,耗氧率、排氨率和SOD、CAT活性与其他敏感性指标一起可以作为酚类内分泌干扰物污染的一项早期监测指标。     

冬季土地管理对稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验测定了冬季休闲、种麦和淹水处理水稻生长期CH4的产生潜力、氧化潜力及其排放通量,以探讨冬季土地管理对后续稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明：休闲与种麦处理间CH4产生潜力无显著差异（P〉0．05）,但2者均显著低于淹水处理（P〈0．05）;各处理间CH4氧化潜力无显著差异（P〉0．05）,土壤中NH4^＋-N含量可能是较冬季土地管理更为重要的影响CH4氧化潜力的因素;休闲处理CH4平均排放通量显著高于种麦处理（P〈0．05）,但2者均显著低于淹水处理（P〈0．05）。冬季持续淹水稻田CH4产生潜力显著高于冬季排水稻田是其CH4排放量远高于冬季排水稻田的原因。冬季土地管理对稻季CH4排放的影响主要受CH4产生潜力而非CH4氧化潜力的限制。     

冬季土地管理对稻季CH_4产生、氧化和排放的影响

通过室内培养和田间试验测定了冬季休闲、种麦和淹水处理水稻生长期CH4的产生潜力、氧化潜力及其排放通量,以探讨冬季土地管理对后续稻季CH4产生、氧化和排放的影响。结果表明:休闲与种麦处理间CH4产生潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05);各处理间CH4氧化潜力无显著差异(P>0.05),土壤中NH4+-N含量可能是较冬季土地管理更为重要的影响CH4氧化潜力的因素;休闲处理CH4平均排放通量显著高于种麦处理(P<0.05),但2者均显著低于淹水处理(P<0.05)。冬季持续淹水稻田CH4产生潜力显著高于冬季排水稻田是其CH4排放量远高于冬季排水稻田的原因。冬季土地管理对稻季CH4排放的影响主要受CH4产生潜力而非CH4氧化潜力的限制。     

Effects of shear force on formation and properties of anoxic granular sludge in SBR

This paper reports the effects of shear force on anoxic granular sludge in sequencing batch reactors （SBR）. The study was carried out in two SBRs （SBR1 and SBR2） in which sodium acetate （200mg COD·L^-1） was used as the sole substrate and sodium nitrate （40 mgNO3-N·L^-1） was employed as the electron acceptor. The preliminary objective of this study was to cultivate anoxic granules in the SBR in order to investigate the effects of shear force on the formation of anoxic granular sludge and to compare the properties of anoxic sludge in the SBR. This study reports new results for the values of average velocity gradient, a measure of the applied shear force, which was varied in the two SBRs （3.79 s^-1 and 9.76 s^-1 for SBR1 and SBR2 respectively）. The important findings of this research highlight the dual effects of shear force on anoxic granules. A low shear force can produce large anoxic granules with high activity and poor settling ability, whereas higher shear forces produce smaller granules with better settling ability and lower activity. The results of this study show that the anoxic granulation is closely related to the strength of the shear force. For high shear force, this research demonstrated that： 1） granules with smaller diameters, high density and good settling ability were formed in the reactor, and 2） granular sludge formed faster than it did in the low shear force reactor （41days versus 76 days）. Once a steady-state has been achieved, the nitrate and COD removal rates were found to be 98% and 80%, respectively. For low shear force, such as was applied in SBR1, this research demonstrated that： 1） the activity of anoxic granular sludge in low shear force was higher than that in high shear force, 2） higher amount of soluble microbial products （SMPs） were produced, and 3） large pores were observed inside the larger granules,which are beneficial for nitrogen gas diffusion. Electron microscopic examination of the anoxic granules in both reactors showed that the morphology of the granules was ellipsoidal with a clear outline. Coccus and rod-shaped bacteria were wrapped by filamentous bacteria on the surface of granule.     

外阻对污泥微生物燃料电池产电以及有机物降解的影响

重点考察了不同外阻（10、150和1 000Ω）对污泥微生物燃料电池（sludge microbial fuel cell,SMFC）产电性能及有机物去除速率的影响。结果表明,外阻对电池产电和有机物降解有显著影响,低电阻有利于电流产生及有机物消耗。当外阻为10Ω时,输出电流最高（4.2 mA）,且污泥溶解性化学需氧量（SCOD）去除速率最快（53 mg.d-1）。DGGE图谱显示,不同外阻导致阳极微生物菌落结构有明显差异;CV扫描发现外阻对生物膜氧化还原能力有显著影响,低电阻下运行的阳极生物膜氧化还原活性较强。本研究为理解外阻与阳极生物膜间的关系提供一条有益线索,也为MFC性能提高提供一条可操作性的途径。     

冬季淹水稻田CH_4产生、氧化和排放规律及其影响因素研究

采用静态箱/气象色谱法——田间原位观测和室内培养试验连续一年研究了冬季淹水稻田的CH4产生潜力、氧化潜力和排放通量,以探讨冬季淹水稻田CH4产生、氧化和排放的季节变化规律及其影响因素。结果表明：0~251 d（d表示淹水后天数）,CH4产生潜力逐渐增大,到251 d达最大值,之后逐渐减小;0~204 d,CH4氧化潜力变化较小,但到235 d急剧增至最大值,随后逐渐减小;0~169 d,稻田几乎没有CH4排放,192 d才开始有较明显的CH4排放,到230 d达最大值,为80.2 mg.m-2.h-1,随后逐渐减小,331 d出现一个CH4排放高峰。全观测期内CH4排放量为69.9 g.m-2,其中非水稻生长期排放6.7 g.m-2,占总量的9.5%。全观测期内CH4产生潜力与土温及土壤Eh均无显著相关性;全观测期内CH4氧化潜力与土温极显著正相关（P〈0.01）,水稻生长期CH4氧化潜力与土壤中氨氮含量呈极显著正相关（P〈0.01）;全观测期内稻田CH4排放与土温和CH4产生潜力两个因素均显著正相关（P〈0.05）而与土壤Eh呈显著负相关（P〈0.05）。     

Effects of hydraulic retention time on net present value and performance in a membrane bioreactor treating antibiotic production wastewater

• The membrane bioreactor cost decreased by 38.2% by decreasing HRT from 72 h to 36 h. • Capital and operation costs contributed 62.1% and 37.9% to decreased costs. • The membrane bioreactor is 32.6% cheaper than the oxidation ditch for treatment. • The effluent COD also improved from 709.93±62.75 mg/L to 280±17.32 mg/L. • Further treatment also benefited from lower pretreatment investment. A cost sensitivity analysis was performed for an industrial membrane bioreactor to quantify the effects of hydraulic retention times and related operational parameters on cost. Different hydraulic retention times (72–24 h) were subjected to a flat-sheet membrane bioreactor updated from an existing 72 h oxidation ditch treating antibiotic production wastewater. Field experimental data from the membrane bioreactor, both full-scale (500 m³/d) and pilot (1.0 m³/d), were used to calculate the net present value (NPV), incorporating both capital expenditure (CAPEX) and operating expenditure. The results showed that the tank cost was estimated above membrane cost in the membrane bioreactor. The decreased hydraulic retention time from 72 to 36 h reduced the NPV by 38.2%, where capital expenditure contributed 24.2% more than operational expenditure. Tank construction cost was decisive in determining the net present value contributed 62.1% to the capital expenditure. The membrane bioreactor has the advantage of a longer lifespan flat-sheet membrane, while flux decline was tolerable. The antibiotics decreased to 1.87±0.33 mg/L in the MBR effluent. The upgrade to the membrane bioreactor also benefited further treatments by 10.1%–44.7% lower direct investment.     

苯并[a]芘对马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶活性的影响

将马氏珠母贝（Pinctada martensi）暴露于不同质量浓度（1、4和8μg.L-1）苯并[a]芘B[a]P中,检测暴露后第3、7和10天后,马氏珠母贝鳃组织抗氧化酶（超氧化物歧化酶SOD、谷胱甘肽硫转移酶GST和过氧化氢酶CAT）对苯并[a]芘胁迫的生态毒理效应。结果表明：暴露时间为3、7 d时,SOD活性无明显变化,随着暴露时间的延长,SOD活性在第10天时被激活;在胁迫初期,GST活性被激活,随后表现出逐渐降低的趋势,在暴露后10 d,不同质量浓度组GST活性变化趋于稳定。当暴露质量浓度相同时,表现出明显的时—效关系;而CAT活性在第7天被激活,随着时间的延长,高质量浓度（4和8μg.L-1）组表现出先升高后下降的趋势,并表现出一定的时-效关系。SOD、GST和CAT均可作为B[a]P污染的生物标志物,活性变化相对于SOD,GST和CAT对B[a]P的胁迫更加敏感。     

Assessing the potential of crop residue recycling in China and technology options based on a bottom-up model

Crop residues are an important biomass, and are significant in the sustainable development of China. This paper uses the Grey-Markov modeling approach, the cost-benefit analysis method, and the constraint optimiza- tion method to establish the potential of crop residue recycling in China （CRRC） using a bottom-up analysis. Taking 2010 as the baseline year, the CRRC model is used to determine the quantity trends of crop residue resources, simulating the recycling potential and selecting key crop residue recycling technologies for operation between 2010 and 2030. The results illustrate that the total residue output from different crops will gradually increase to 1062 million tons in 2030. The proportion of crop residue for field burning is expected to decrease as a result of guidance and support from the government. Market mechanisms are also improving the development of the crop residue recycling industry. The economic benefit of crop residue recycling is expected to be worth 132 billion CNY in 2030 according to technology structure options. Key crop residue recycling technologies preferred such as liquefaction, amination, silo, co-firing straw power and composting will account for more than 85% of the total benefits.     

Economic contribution and the potential use of wood charcoal for soil restoration: a case study of village-based charcoal production in Central Laos

Wood charcoal production provides affordable energy in many developing countries and has substantially contributed to the economy through the provision of rural incomes. In several countries, charcoal production leads to overexploitation of forests due to inefficiencies in processing. This study was undertaken in central Laos to (1) examine and document traditional charcoal production systems; (2) investigate the production capacity, recovery efficiencies and economic gains of existing traditional charcoal production methods; (3) characterize the chemical properties of wood charcoal and investigate the potential for soil restoration and (4) investigate local charcoal producers' perception on forest degradation and their species preferences. Through a socio-economic survey, a cost-based method for economic valuation was undertaken on a range of charcoal production methods currently being used. Laboratory chemical analyses were performed on wood charcoal samples. Results indicated that the traditional mud charcoal mound was used by the majority (82%) of charcoal producers. Total charcoal production per production cycle varied between 400 (produced from 2.7 m³ of wood) and 1600 kg (produced from 18 m³ of wood), with a mean of 938 kg (±120) for traditional mud charcoal mounds. The volume of the traditional mud charcoal mounds correlated positively and significantly with total charcoal production (R ² = 0.45, p?=?0.03), whereas correlated negatively and significantly with the recovery efficiency (R ² = 0.58, p?=?0.01). On average, the local producers receive a total net benefit of 457,272 Lao kip (USD 57.2) in 17 days. We also identified a rice husk mound method of charcoal production, which may not encourage further deforestation while producing rice husk biochar that can be used for soil restoration. Furthermore, we found that there are significant differences (p < 0.05) between the sampled wood charcoals in chemical properties, indicating that the potential of using wood charcoal for the restoration of degraded soils varies from charcoal to charcoal.     

微孔曝气与覆盖对城市重污染河道底泥磷形态分布及释放过程的影响

采用自行研发的泥-水界面微孔曝气系统,开展了底泥表面曝气和覆盖对城市重污染河道底泥磷释放及形态分布规律的影响研究.结果表明,微孔曝气能够有效提高上覆水的溶解氧(DO)和沉积物的氧化还原电位(Eh),能够将泥-水界面Eh维持在-100 m V左右,DO提高到6 mg·L-1以上.与对照比较,原位覆盖处理的上覆水DO和Eh有一定提高,但仍明显低于微孔曝气处理.与对照相比较,微孔曝气处理均有效降低上覆水中总磷(TP)和溶解性正磷酸盐(PO3-4)的含量.试验结束时,微孔曝气(A)和微孔曝气+原位覆盖处理(A+C)上覆水中TP含量由初始的0.201 mg·L-1分别降至0.062 mg·L-1和0.050 mg·L-1;上覆水中PO3-4含量由0.086 mg·L-1和0.078 mg·L-1分别降至0.026 mg·L-1和0.023 mg·L-1.与对照相比,微孔曝气处理明显降低了底泥间隙水中TP的浓度,在整个培养期间,其TP含量平均下降38.8%(A)和47.9%(A+C).底泥原位覆盖处理对抑制泥-水界面磷释放能力要弱于微孔曝气处理,而且在试验后期(50 d),上覆水中TP和PO3-4的含量均有所反弹.不管有无覆盖,泥-水界面微孔曝气处理均显著改变了表层底泥磷形态分布特征,显著降低了底泥中铁铝结合态磷(Fe/Al-P)组分比例,而钙结合态磷(Ca-P)含量比例却出现明显增加.单一的表面覆盖处理对底泥磷形态分布特征没有显著影响(P0.05).研究表明,与单一的处理效果相比较,泥-水界面纳米微孔曝气处理,并结合底泥原位覆盖,更有利于抑制城市重污染河道泥-水界面中磷的释放风险.     

大气CO2浓度升高和氮肥施用对三江平原湿地小叶章生物量及根冠比的影响

利用开顶箱薰气室（open—top chamber）试验装置,研究了不施氮（NN）、施常氮（MN,5g·m^2）和施高氮（HN,15g·m^2）3个氮素水平下大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章（Calamagrostis angustifolia）生物量和根冠比的影响。结果表明,大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章生物量的影响因生长期而异。大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地上生物量的促进作用主要表现在生长前期,拔节期和抽穗期地上生物量较正常大气CO2浓度增加12．42％～22．60％,而腊熟期和成熟期仅增加3．11％～12．97％;大气CO2浓度升高对小叶章地下生物量的促进作用在生长后期表现明显,除拔节期外,小叶章地下生物量增加17．63％～42．20％。小叶章生物量和根冠比对大气CO2浓度的响应与供N水平有关。在HN水平下,大气CO2浓度升高使小叶章生物量和根冠比明显增加,在NN条件下促进作用则不显著。小叶章根冠比明显增加主要是地下生物量显著增长引起的。     

Effects of organic and inorganic fertilisation on soil nutrient dynamics in a Savannah region (DR Congo)

Very few studies have considered the residual effect of inorganic and organic fertilisation on oxisol chemistry and plant productivity while studying the response of maize to fresh fertiliser application. The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of five treatments of inorganic and organic fertilisers on maize productivity and soil fertility under field conditions in a Savannah region. The trials were conducted from 2009 to 2011 and the treatments included inorganic nitrogen–phosphorus (NP), Entada abyssinica, Tithonia diversifolia, inorganic NP combined with E. abyssinica, and inorganic NP combined with T. diversifolia, and no fertilised plots. The combination of NP with T. diversifolia or E. abyssinica leaves resulted in the highest increase in grain yields during the first crop season.The positive residual effects of fertilisers on maize grain yield were strong and significant in the immediate succeeding season and decreased during the second year following fertilisation. The highest residual effect was observed in plots fertilised with E. abyssinica combined with NP, followed by T. diversifolia combined with NP, and E. abyssinica and T. diversifolia without NP, respectively. The lowest residual effect was observed in plots fertilised with inorganic NP. Analytical results revealed that total nutrients in the soil matrix are not dominantly in forms available for plant uptake. There were significant residual effects for total potassium in the site with low initial nutrient levels. The soil content of bioavailable phosphorus, nickel, zinc, copper, and cobalt was in general below detectable levels.     

苯并[a]芘和菲对缢蛏血细胞DNA损伤的研究

为研究苯并[a]芘和菲对缢蛏的毒性效应,将缢蛏(Sinonovacula constricta)分别暴露于浓度为0.45 mg·L-1、0.15 mg·L-1、0.05 mg·L-1苯并[a]芘溶液和0.45 mg·L-1、0.15 mg·L-1、0.05 mg·L-1菲的溶液中,采用单细胞凝胶电泳实验(彗星实验)技术检测不同暴露时间缢蛏血淋巴细胞的DNA损伤程度,对照组为清洁海水。结果显示,高浓度(0.45 mg·L-1)苯并[a]芘溶液和(0.45 mg·L-1)菲溶液在短期(7 d)内即可导致缢蛏血细胞显著的DNA损伤,并且随苯并芘[a]和菲浓度的增大和暴露时间的延长,DNA损伤程度增加。21 d恢复实验后,各浓度组DNA损伤又均有不同程度的恢复,但中高浓度组(0.45 mg·L-1和0.15 mg·L-1)与对照组仍显著性差异。两种多环芳烃物质对缢蛏血细胞的DNA损伤作用均存在较显著时间-剂量-效应关系。其中,苯并芘[a]对缢蛏血细胞的DNA损伤作用要高于菲。