Evaluation of TCDD biodegradability under different redox conditions

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins have been generated as unwanted by-products in many industrial processes. Although their widespread distribution in different environmental compartments has been recognized, little is known about their fate in the ultimate environment sinks. The highly stable dioxin isomer 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) has been called the most toxic compound known to man. In this laboratory microcosm study, TCDD bioavailability was evaluated under five reduction/oxidation (redox) conditions including aerobic biodegradation, aerobic cometabolism, methanogenesis, iron reduction, and reductive dechlorination. Activated sludge and aquifer sediments from a TCDD and a pentachlorophenol (PCP) contaminated site were used as the inocula. Acetate, sludge cake, and cane molasses were used as the primary substrates (carbon sources) in cometabolism and reductive dechlorination microcosms. After a 90-day incubation period, microcosms constructed under reductive dechlorination conditions were the only treatment showing promising remediation results. The highest TCDD degradation rate [up to 86% of TCDD removal (with an initial concentration of 96 microg/kg of soil)] was observed in the microcosms with anaerobic activated sludge as the microbial inocula and sludge cakes as the primary substrates. Except for reductive dechlorination microcosms, no significant TCDD removal was observed in the microcosms prepared under other conditions. Thus, application of an effective primary substrate to enhance the reductive dechlorination process is a feasible method for TCDD bioremediation. Bioremediation expense can be significantly reduced by the supplement of some less expensive alternative substrates (e.g., sludge cakes, cane molasses). Results would be useful in designing a scale-up in situ or on-site bioremediation system such as bioslurry reactor for field application.     

吡啶缺氧生物降解特性及其降解产物

吡啶是焦化废水中较为典型的含氮杂环化合物,难以被生物降解。通过研究吡啶的缺氧生物降解特性,并对其降解产物进行鉴定,以期为实际生产提供理论依据和为今后进一步研究做出铺垫。结果表明,吡啶在本实验条件下的最佳降解浓度为80 mg·L-1,对于后期测定降解中间产物,该浓度和其降解周期均较为合适;戊二醛为吡啶在缺氧反硝化降解过程中的一个重要中间产物,其浓度在反应进行32 h时积累达到最大值。在上述实验基础上,在底物中加入40 mg·L-1苯酚,其对吡啶的降解产生抑制作用,戊二醛浓度最大值出现在反应进行40 h处,由此推断苯酚对吡啶降解的抑制作用可能产生于吡啶开环脱氮阶段。     

Determination of the nitrous oxide emission potential of deammonification under anoxic conditions

Various studies have been performed to determine nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions from conventional biological nitrogen removal processes in wastewater treatment like nitrification and denitrification in the main stream. However, with respect to the overall emissions of a wastewater treatment plant, part-stream treatment for high-strength wastewater (e.g., sludge liquor) is also expected to hold a significant emission potential because of high concentrations and extreme boundary conditions. This paper presents results from a laboratory-scale study on nitrous oxide production by biomass from a deammonification process (nitritation + anammox) under anoxic conditions. It was discovered that N2O formation results from incomplete endogenous denitrification rather than anammox and is dependent on substrate availability. Based on direct measurements of the dissolved N2O concentrations in a sequencing batch reactor, the dynamic behavior of N2O production is characterized in more detail. The results show that, during anoxic conditions, the N2O emission potential of deammonification is significantly lower than from conventional denitrification.     

UASB反应器对芳香族化合物反硝化降解特性研究

以苯、联苯和萘为模型化合物,研究了上流式厌氧污泥床反应器(UASB)在反硝化连续流运行条件下对含上述污染物废水的处理效果,并以葡萄糖为补充碳源,考察了COD/NO^-₃-N(简称C/N)比对有机物反硝化降解特性的影响。研究结果表明,当进水COD浓度约为900 mg/L,苯、联苯和萘总浓度约为60 mg/L,NO^-₃-N为20～60 mg/L时,UASB反应器能够在硝酸盐还原条件下稳定去除废水中有机污染物,其中COD平均去除率可达到85%,苯、萘和联苯平均去除率分别为90%、81%和71%。3种芳香烃反硝化降解速率顺序为苯>萘>联苯。 C/N比对苯的降解影响不十分显著,在C/N为5～30范围内,苯的去除率稳定在87%～92%;萘和联苯去除率受C/N影响较大,在C/N比为15时萘和联苯的去除率均达到最大,分别为82%和77%。     

Shewanellasp．XB缺氧反硝化降解苯酚

苯酚的生物降解一直受到关注。以苯酚为惟一电子供体,研究了Shewanellasp．XB对苯酚的缺氧降解特性。研究结果表明,在反硝化条件下,当C／N为13．3时,苯酚可以完全降解,NO2--N积累量很少。另外,当加入氧化还原介体,如核黄素3μmol／L、AQDS0．01mmol／L、AQS0．05mmol／L和LQ0．01mmol／L时,苯酚降解速率分别为不加介体时的1．45、1．77、1．67和1．63倍。当以氯化铵代替硝酸盐时,苯酚也能进行厌氧发酵降解。另外,菌株XB反硝化降解苯酚可能是厌氧和好氧降解的混合过程。     

含氮杂环化合物吡啶的缺氧降解和毒性削减研究

运用摇瓶试验,研究了含氮杂环化合物吡啶的缺氧降解情况、毒性削减规律以及它们之间的关系。结果表明,在吡啶缺氧降解过程中,有利于废水毒性削减的C／N比为8左右;废水中主要致毒物质为吡啶和亚硝酸盐,且亚硝酸盐的毒性大于吡啶的毒性,两者的联合为毒性相加作用;在整个吡啶降解过程中,废水毒性与吡啶降解和亚硝酸盐的产生有着直接联系,毒性削减时间长短与吡啶初始浓度有关。     

Evaluation of a serum bottle technique for assessing the anaerobic biodegradability of organic chemicals under methanogenic conditions

The serum bottle method of Shelton and Tiedje (1984), for assessing the potential of an organic chemical to undergo anaerobic biodegradation, was evaluated using U.K. primary digesting sludges. The method was modified by using the sludge at a known solids content and employing sterile (autoclaved) controls to correct for abiotic gas production. Gas production was measured with a compact hand-held pressure meter, which represented an improvement over previously described techniques. Results obtained confirmed the reliability and precision of this type of simple, screening test for assessing anaerobic biodegradability. However, the test is only applicable to low-sulphate, methanogenic environments and evidence is presented of interference from sulphate-reducing bacteria (SRB) when testing sulphate-containing chemicals.     

PAH dissipation in a contaminated river sediment under oxic and anoxic conditions

A batch experiment was conducted to compare PAH degradation in a polluted river sediment under aerobic and anaerobic conditions, and to investigate whether input of fresh organic material (cellulose) could enhance such degradation. All measurements were checked against abiotic control treatments to exclude artifacts of sample preparation and non-biological processes like aging. Three- and four-ring PAHs could be degraded by the indigenous microbial community under aerobic conditions, but anaerobic metabolism based on iron and sulphate reduction was not coupled with PAH degradation of even the simplest 3-ring compounds like phenanthrene. Cellulose addition stimulated both aerobic and anaerobic respiration, but had no effect on PAH dissipation. We conclude that natural attenuation of PAHs in polluted river sediments under anaerobic conditions is exceedingly slow. Dredging and biodegradation on land under aerobic conditions would be required to safely remediate and restore polluted sites.     

Effect of initial sulfide concentration on sulfide and phenol oxidation under denitrifying conditions

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of the initial sulfide concentration on the kinetics and metabolism of phenol and sulfide in batch bioassays using nitrate as electron acceptor. Complete oxidation of sulfide (20 mg L(-1) of S(2-)) and phenol (19.6 mg L(-1)) was linked to nitrate reduction when nitrate was supplemented at stoichiometric concentrations. At 32 mg L(-1) of sulfide, oxidation of sulfide and phenol by the organo-lithoautotrophic microbial culture was sequential; first sulfide was rapidly oxidized to elemental sulfur and afterwards to sulfate; phenol oxidation started once sulfate production reached a maximum. When the initial sulfide concentration was increased from 20 to 26 and finally to 32 mg L(-1), sulfide oxidation was inhibited. In contrast phenol consumption by the denitrifying culture was not affected. These results indicated that sulfide affected strongly the sulfide oxidation rate and nitrate reduction.     

Anaerobic PAH degradation in soil by a mixed bacterial consortium under denitrifying conditions

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the main classes of contaminants in the terrestrial environment. Concentrations of biphenyl, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene were added to soil samples in order to investigate the anaerobic degradation potential of PAHs under denitrifying conditions. A mixed population of microorganisms obtained from a paddy soil was incubated for 20 days in anaerobic conditions in the presence of soil alone or with nitrate, adding, as electron donors, PAHs and, in some samples, glucose or acetate. At regular time intervals oxidation-reduction potential, PAHs concentration, microbial ATP and nitrate concentration into the solution were measured. Degradation trends for each hydrocarbon are similar under all conditions, indicating that the molecular conformation prevails over other parameters in controlling the degradation. Poor degradation results were obtained when PAHs were the only organic matter available for the inoculum, thus confirming the recalcitrance to degradation of these compounds. Biodegradation was influenced by the addition of other carbon sources. As better degradation results were generally obtained when acetate or glucose were added, the hypothesis of a co-metabolic enhancement of PAH biodegradation seems likely. Thus, anaerobic biodegradation of PAHs studied, biphenyl, fluorene, phenanthrene and pyrene, seems to be possible both through fermentative and respiratory metabolism, provided that low molecular weight co-metabolites and suitable electron acceptors (nitrate) are present.     

Shewanella sp.XB缺氧反硝化降解苯酚

苯酚的生物降解一直受到关注。以苯酚为惟一电子供体,研究了Shewanella sp.XB对苯酚的缺氧降解特性。研究结果表明,在反硝化条件下,当C/N为13.3时,苯酚可以完全降解,NO-2-N积累量很少。另外,当加入氧化还原介体,如核黄素3μmol/L、AQDS 0.01 mmol/L、AQS 0.05 mmol/L和LQ 0.01 mmol/L时,苯酚降解速率分别为不加介体时的1.45、1.77、1.67和1.63倍。当以氯化铵代替硝酸盐时,苯酚也能进行厌氧发酵降解。另外,菌株XB反硝化降解苯酚可能是厌氧和好氧降解的混合过程。     

Denitrification of synthetic concentrated nitrate wastes by aerobic granular sludge under anoxic conditions

The aim of the present work was to determine the denitrification potential of aerobic granular sludge for concentrated nitrate wastes. We cultivated mixed microbial granules in a sequencing batch reactor operated at a superficial air velocity of 0.8 cm s⁻¹. The denitrification experiments were performed under anoxic conditions using serum bottles containing synthetic media with 225-2250 mg L⁻¹ NO₃-N. Time required for complete denitrification varied with the initial nitrate concentration and acetate to nitrate-N mass ratio. Complete denitrification of 2250 mg L⁻¹ NO₃-N under anoxic conditions was accomplished in 120 h. Nitrite accumulation was not significant (<5 mg N L⁻¹) at initial NO₃-N concentrations below 677 mg L⁻¹. However, denitrification of higher concentrations of nitrate (?900 mg N L⁻¹) resulted in buildup of nitrite. Nevertheless, nitrite buildups observed in present study were relatively lower compared to that reported in previous studies using flocculent activated sludge. The experimental results suggest that acetate-fed aerobic granular sludge can be quickly adapted to treat high strength nitrate waste and can thus be used as seed biomass for developing high-rate bioreactors for efficient treatment of concentrated nitrate-bearing wastes.     

A wind tunnel for measuring the gaseous losses of environmental chemicals from the soil/plant system under field-like conditions

Volatilization from treated areas is a major source of pesticide residues in air, fog, and rain. This may lead to long-range transport of pesticide residues to remote areas. Up to now most information on pesticide volatilization has come from laboratory experiments under controlled conditions. A new system has been designed and developed to measure the volatile losses of¹⁴C-labelled chemicals after application; the method compares with agricultural practice of treating soils or plants grown in lysimeters. Sensitive analytical methods guarantee a distinction between residues of unchanged pesticide, its metabolites or¹⁴CO₂ as a mineralization product released into the air.     

Respirometric testing method for biodegradability of xenobiotics using compost

Abstract

A simple, accurate automated respirometer is proposed to be used for testing the biodegradability of various xenobiotics. Compost is used as a source for microorganisms. The basic principle of the respirometer is that all oxygen consumed by the microorganisms is replaced by an equal amount of oxygen produced in an electrolytic cell which is plotted against time in a registration unit.

The proposed method is illustrated with pentachlorophenol as xenobiotic compound.

The advantages of this respirometer over other common equipment is briefly discussed.     

Expression of copper-resistance genes in microbial communities under copper stress and oxic/anoxic conditions

Microorganisms have developed copper-resistance mechanisms in order to survive in contaminated environments. The abundance and expression of the copper-resistance genes cusA and copA, encoding respectively for a Resistance Cell Nodulation protein and for a P-type ATP-ase pump, was assessed along a gradient of copper concentration in microcosms prepared from Seine estuary mudflat sediment. We demonstrated that the abundance of copA and cusA genes decreased with the increase of copper concentration and that cusA gene was up to ten times higher than the copA gene. Only the copA gene was expressed in both oxic and anoxic conditions. The abundance and activity of the microbial community remained constant whatever the concentrations of copper along the gradient. The molecular phylogeny of the two copper-resistance genes was studied and revealed that the increase of copper increased the diversity of copA and cusA gene sequences.     

Biotransformation of estrogens in nitrifying activated sludge under aerobic and alternating anoxic/aerobic conditions.

Natural and synthetic estrogens present in municipal wastewater can be biodegraded during treatment, particularly in activated sludge. The objective was to assess the extent of transformation of 17-beta-estradiol (E2) and 17-alpha-ethinylestradiol (EE2) by nitrifying activated sludge and evaluate potential relationships between availability of oxygen, nitrification rate, and estrogen removal. For each batch experiment, two reactors were set up--aerobic and alternating anoxic/aerobic-which were then amended with E2 and EE2 from methanolic stock solutions. The EE2 was persistent under anoxic conditions; under aerobic conditions, the observed level of its removal was 22%. The E2 was readily converted to estrone (El)--faster under aerobic (nitrifying) than anoxic (denitrifying) conditions. During the initial anoxic conditions, a metabolite consistent with 17-alpha-estradiol transiently accumulated and was subsequently removed when the reactor was aerated. Higher removal rates of estrogens were associated with higher nitrification rates, which supports the contention that the nitrifying biomass was responsible for their removal.     

A GC-TCD method for measuring the liquid water mass of collected aerosols

This work presents a gas chromatographic method that uses a thermal conductivity detector (GC-TCD) to measure the liquid water mass (LWM) of collected aerosols. The method is a modification of the previously developed EA-TCD method (Journal of Aerosol Science 29, 827). A microcomputer was incorporated into the system to control the analytical procedures, improve the measurement precision, and make possible a continuous operation. To validate the method, the aerosol LWMs of NaCl, Na₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃, (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄Cl, and Na₂CO₃ were measured at room temperature under relative humidities (RHs) varying between 20% and 90%, in both humidifying and dehumidifying conditions. Estimates of aerosol LWMs for varying aerosol chemical compositions and RHs by various measurement methods and predictive models are comprehensively compared. The comparison shows that the GC-TCD measurements agree closely with those of the other methods. The GC-TCD measurements are closer to the ISORROPIA model predictions than those of the AIM2 model. Most notably, our method determines, for the first time, the hygroscopic behavior of Na₂CO₃ aerosol yielding the deliquescence relative humidity and crystallization relative humidity at 78% and 39% RH, respectively. The hygroscopic characteristics of various NaCl mole fractions in mixed NaCl–Na₂SO₄ aerosols, determined by GC-TCD, are used to show the discrepancy between the measurements and the model's prediction.     

A novel method for measuring the evaporation of contaminant liquids from sands

A novel experimental system, electrodynamic levitation, is used to measure the evaporation of liquids from microparticles of sand. The levitator is used to measure the evaporation rate of diethylphthalate (DEP) from microparticles of Saudi Arabian sand at 1 atm pressure and 25 degrees C. Evaporation experiments were conducted for both inland- and coastal-sand microparticles, the diameter of which is 50 microm. The DEP-evaporation rate is determined from gravimetric changes in the DEP-sand-mixture particle, the weight of which is directly proportional to the levitating electric-field intensity. From telemicroscopical observations, it is found that, when the sand particle is enclosed in DEP liquid, the sand-DEP-mixture particle evaporates like a pure DEP droplet. However, when sufficient DEP liquid has evaporated and the DEP is adsorbed into the sand microparticle, the DEP evaporation rate is reduced by a factor of 3-5 as compared with a pure DP droplet.     

A simple screening test for studying the biodegradability of insoluble polymers

The head-space test based on CO₂ measurement was improved as a test for determining of the biodegradability of solid polymers, such as biodegradable plastics. The test can be performed either as closed or aerated cultures depending on the size of the sample and its oxygen demand. The distribution of CO₂ between the gas and liquid phases was also determined during the cultivations. The amount of microbial carbon was determined indirectly by determining the carbon/protein ratio and then using the intracellular protein as an indirect measure of the biomass. The amount of biomass was found to be so low that its determination did not significantly effect the final biodegradation result.