DNA Heat Treatment for Improving qPCR Analysis of Human Adenovirus in Wastewater

PCR inhibitory substances in complex sample matrices can cause false negatives or under-estimation of target concentration. This study assessed DNA heat treatment for reducing inhibition during qPCR analysis of human adenovirus (HAdV) in wastewater samples. Inhibition was reduced by heat treating DNA, where mean HAdV concentration was increased by 0.71 log₁₀ GC/L (and up to 3.04 log₁₀ GC/L in one case), and replicate variability and false negatives were reduced. DNA heat treatment should be further investigated for improving reliability of HAdV concentration estimates in water, which can support more accurate assessment of health risks associated with viral pathogen exposure.     

Assessment and Evaluation of an Integrated Hybrid Anaerobic–Aerobic Sewage Treatment System for the Removal of Enteric Viruses

The capability of a cost-effective and a small size decentralized pilot wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to remove enteric viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus genogroup I (GGI), norovirus genogroup II (GGII), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), and adenovirus was studied. This pilot plant is an integrated hybrid anaerobic/aerobic setup which consisted of anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), biological aerated filter (BAF), and inclined plate settler (IPS). Both the UASB and BAF are packed with a non-woven polyester fabric (NWPF). Results indicated that the overall log₁₀ reductions of enteric viruses’ genome copies through the whole system were 3.1 ± 1, 3.3 ± 0.5, and 2.6 ± 0.9 log₁₀ for rotavirus, norovirus GGI, and adenovirus, respectively. Reduction efficiency for both norovirus GGII and HEV after the different treatment steps could not be calculated because there were no significant numbers of positive samples for both viruses. The overall reduction of rotavirus infectious units through the whole system was 2.2 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction which is very close to the overall log₁₀ reduction of adenovirus infectious units through the whole system which was 2.1 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction. There was no considerable difference in the removal efficiency for different rotavirus G and P types. Adenovirus 41 was the only type detected in the all positive samples. Although the pilot WWTP investigated is cost effective, has a small footprint, does not need a long distance network pipes, and easy to operate, its efficiency to remove enteric viruses is comparable with the conventional centralized WWTPs.     

Adsorption of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole from aqueous solution by organo-bentonite

The adsorption behavior of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole onto organo-bentonite was investigated.Natural bentonite from Gaozhou in Guangdong Province,China was collected.Organo-bentonite was prepared by intercalation of cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide into the natural bentonite.The physicochemical properties of the prepared organo-bentonite were characterized by X-ray diffraction,N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.The results showed that montmorillonite is the main component of the natural bentonite.The basal spacing of the natural bentonite is 1.47 nm,which increased to 1.98 nm on intercalation with cetyltrimethyl ammonium bromide.Moreover,both the surface area and pore volume increased with intercalation.Clear CH2 stretching(3000-2800 cm-1) and scissoring(1480-1450 cm-1) modes of the intercalated surfactants were observed for organobentonite.Compared with the pseudo first-order kinetic model,the pseudo second-order kinetic model is more suitable to describe the adsorption kinetics of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole onto organo-bentonite.The adsorption capacity of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole onto organo-bentonite increased with increasing initial concentration of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole,but decreased with increasing adsorbent dosage.The adsorption isotherm of 2-mercaptobenzothiazole onto organo-bentonite fits well with the Langmuir model.The maximum adsorption capacity of organo-bentonite for 2-mercaptobenzothiazole was 33.61 mg/g,indicating that organo-bentonite is a promising adsorbent for 2-mercaptobenzothiazole.     

Critical velocity in phosphorus exchange processes across the sediment-water interface

Sediments are ultimate sinks of nutrients in lakes that record the pollution history evolutionary processes, and anthropogenic activities of a lake. However, sediments are considered as inner sources of environmental factor changes such as the variation in hydrodynamic conditions because of the nutrients they release. How does this process happen？ This study investigates a typical nutrient phosphorus （P） exchange among sediment, suspended particle matter （SPM）, and water. Compared with numerical and experimental studies, this study confirms that the critical velocity that occurs at a lower flow rate state exists in the range of 7 to 15 crn/sec. Critical velocity below the critical flow rate promotes the migration of particulate phosphorus （PP） to the SPM. On the other hand, critical velocity above the critical flow rate promotes the release of PP in water.     

餐饮废弃物的危害及环境管理对策

介绍了餐饮废弃物的特点,处理不当污染环境,探讨餐饮废弃物无害化处理方式,并提出了针对餐饮业废弃物的环境管理对策。     

国家相关政策法规对石化企业建设项目环保管理的影响分析

分析了近期国家陆续出台的各项政策对中国石化建设项目管理的影响,并提出了对策建议.     

保护层分析应用规则研究

为了确保保护层分析(LOPA)结果的客观性和可靠性,对LOPA的应用规则进行了探讨.按照LOPA应用的基本程序,对场景筛选、确定初始事件、独立保护层评估、场景频率计算、风险决策及后续跟踪等的相关规则进行了阐述.企业在应用LOPA时,应严格按照这些规则进行.     

环境保护规划评估考核技术方法与实践研究

环境保护规划评估与考核是及时掌握规划实施进展、督促各方实施规划以及保障规划顺利实施的重要手段和措施。在探讨总结国内外公共部门规划政策实施绩效评估与考核工作的进展与经验基础上,分析归纳规划实施绩效的一般评估与考核方法,并结合《国家环境保护“十一五”规划》中期评估与终期考核具体实践,对未来环境保护规划的评估与考核工作提出了4条建议：（1）进一步加强评估考核的体制建设;（2）提高定性评估技术水平;（3）研讨评估技术的实际应用;（4）工程设施领域的评估内容应从重建设转向重运营。     

排污权交易指标关联要素探讨

目前,排污权有偿使用和交易作为各地环保工作体制、机制创新的热点,是利用经济手段促进环境保护的有益尝试。本文从指标来源、指标使用期限、与污染减排的关系、技术支撑以及指标交易后续监管五个方面分析了排污权交易指标关联要素,得出交易指标与国家政策、污染减排以及环境监管密切相关的结论,从完善国家政策、强化与污染减排衔接和突出指标后续监管三个方面提出了相应的对策建议。