Removal of nitrogen from wastewaters by anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) using granules in upflow reactors

Nitrogen pollution of waters has sometimes caused severe eutrophication, leading to the death of fishes and most aquatic life. There is therefore a need for efficient and cost-effective methods to remove nitrogen from ammonium-rich wastewaters. Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) is a promising process to remove nitrogen because this process directly oxidizes ammonium (NH₄ ⁺) to dinitrogen gas (N₂) under anoxic condition. Nonetheless, a challenge of this process is that chemolithoautotrophic Anammox bacteria grow slowly at the beginning, thus resulting in low Anammox biomass and instability of reactors. Such issues can be overcome by granulation of the Anammox sludge. Here, we review the characteristics of the Anammox bacteria, and the formation, structure and flotation of Anammox granules under high hydraulic loadings. We also evaluate the performances of full-scale granular Anammox processes. The major points are: 1) Anammox bacteria secrete a large amount of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), up to 415 mg g^?1 of volatile suspended solids (VSS), containing many hydrophobic functional groups that facilitate biomass granulation. 2) Granulation enhances the sludge settling property and retention time, which contributes to the extremely high nitrogen removal rate of 77 kg m^?3 d^?1 of Anammox upflow reactors. 3) Flotation of Anammox granules frequently occurs under nitrogen removal rate higher than 10 kg m^?3 d^?1, which is mainly due to the overproduction of EPS under high hydraulic conditions.     

Occurrence and human dietary assessment of sulfonamide antibiotics in cultured fish around Tai Lake,China

As the most important fishery medicines, sulfonamides are widely used to prevent diseases caused by pathogens in aquaculture. However, relatively little is known about the residues and dietary risks associated with cultured fish around Tai Lake. In the present study, a sampling strategy for a complete aquaculture period was conducted. Specifically, 12 selected sulfonamide antibiotics were measured among 116 fish samples recruited from four sampling periods, four species, four areas, and 18 fish ponds. All 12 antibiotics were detected at detection frequencies of 4.31–28.45%. Total sulfonamides were detected in 77.59% of the fish samples, with 57.76% of fish samples containing from 0.1 to 10 μg kg^?1. Sulfadiazine (SDZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMZ), sulfamethazine (SDD), and sulfamonomethoxine (SMM) were the main types of antibiotics used, and these were present at high concentrations (>100 μg kg^?1) with high occurrences, especially in the middle of the aquaculture season. Dietary assessment showed that residual antibiotics in all fish that were being sent to market were far below the maximum residue limit (MRL) of total sulfonamides and that there was almost no risk associated with fish consumption. The results of the present study will facilitate development of effective measures to produce safe aquatic products and meaningful suggestions for consuming aquatic products.     

甲醛暴露时间延长加剧小鼠哮喘模型肺氧化损伤并促进IL-17表达

为了探究不同暴露时间甲醛对小鼠哮喘模型肺氧化应激及IL-17表达的影响,用浓度为3.0 mg·m~(-3)的甲醛气体吸入染毒,同时将48只雄性Balb/c小鼠随机分为6组:(1)对照组(生理盐水组);(2)ovalbumin(OVA)致敏组;(3)0.5 h甲醛+OVA组;(4)1h甲醛+OVA组;(5)1.5 h甲醛+OVA组;(6)2 h甲醛+OVA组,以不同时间长度进行甲醛暴露,连续35 d。OVA致敏组、0.5 h甲醛+OVA组、1 h甲醛+OVA组、1.5 h甲醛+OVA组、2 h甲醛+OVA组均在第11、18及25天腹腔注射OVA致敏液(5 mg OVA+175 mg Al(OH)_3+30 mL生理盐水),第29~35天(共计1周)进行1%OVA雾化(30 min·d~(-1)),每日1次,诱发哮喘。第36天进行以下操作:取肺组织测定肺系数并制作肺匀浆,检测肺组织中活性氧自由基(ROS)、丙二醛(MDA)和还原型谷胱甘肽(GSH)的含量,并采用ELISA法检测肺组织中IL-17的水平。同时,采用HE染色法观察小鼠肺部气道的病理学变化。结果显示,在浓度为3.0 mg·m~(-3)的甲醛气体吸入染毒条件下,与对照组相比,1.5 h甲醛+OVA染毒组、2 h甲醛+OVA染毒组ROS、MDA、IL-17含量上升,具有统计学意义(P0.01)。同时,随着暴露时间长度的增加,小鼠肺部气道出现明显病理学变化。综上所述,每天2 h甲醛+OVA染毒能对小鼠肺造成损伤并恶化OVA对小鼠肺的损伤,产生炎症反应,并通过氧化应激反应介导。     

Excellent performance of Cu-Mn/Ti-sepiolite catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation

The Ti-modified sepiolite (Ti-Sep)-supported Mn-Cu mixed oxide (yMn5Cu/Ti-Sep) catalysts were synthesized using the co-precipitation method. The materials were characterized by the X-ray diffraction scanning electron microscope, N₂ adsorption-desorption, H₂-TPR, O₂-TPD, and XPS techniques, and their catalytic activities for CO oxidation were evaluated. It was found that the catalytic activities of yMn5Cu/Ti-Sep were higher than those of 5Cu/Ti-Sep and 30Mn/Ti-Sep, and the Mn/Cu molar ratio had a distinct influence on catalytic activity of the sample. Among the yMn5Cu/Ti- Sep samples, the 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep catalyst showed the best activity (which also outperformed the 30Mn5Cu/Sep catalyst), giving the highest reaction rate of 0.875 × 10^–3 mmol·g^–1·s^–1 and the lowest T _50% and T _100% of 56°C and 86°C, respectively. Moreover, the 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep possessed the best low-temperature reducibility, the lowest O₂ desorption temperature, and the highest surface Mn³⁺/Mn⁴⁺ atomic ratio. It is concluded that factors, such as the strong interaction between the copper or manganese oxides and the Ti-Sep support, good low-temperature reducibility, and good mobility of chemisorbed oxygen species, were responsible for the excellent catalytic activity of 30Mn5Cu/Ti-Sep.

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NO oxidation over Co-La catalysts and NO<Subscript><Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> reduction in compact SCR

A series of Co-La catalysts were prepared using the wet impregnation method and the synthesis of catalysts were modified by controlling pH with the addition of ammonium hydroxide or oxalic solution. All the catalysts were systematically investigated for NO oxidation and SO₂ resistance in a fixed bed reactor and were characterized by Brunanuer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method, Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X–ray diffraction (XRD), Thermogravimetric (TG) and Ion Chromatography (IC). Among the catalysts, the one synthesized at pH = 1 exhibited the maximum NO conversion of 43% at 180°C. The activity of the catalyst was significantly suppressed by the existence of SO₂ (300 ppm) at 220°C. Deactivation may have been associated with the generation of cobalt sulfate, and the SO₂ adsorption quantity of the catalyst might also have effected sulfur resistance. In the case of the compact selective catalytic reduction (SCR), the activity increased from 74% to 91% at the highest gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 300000 h^–1 when the NO catalyst maintained the highest activity, in excess of 50% more than that of the standard SCR.

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The dissipation and risk assessment of 2,4-D sodium,a preharvest anti-fruit-drop plant hormone in bayberries

Preharvest fruit-drop is a challenge to bayberry production. 2,4-D sodium as a commonly used anti-fruit-drop hormone on bayberry can reduce the yield loss caused by preharvest fruit-drop. The persistence and risk assessment of 2,4-D sodium after applying on bayberries were investigated. A method for determining 2,4-D sodium in bayberry was established based on LC-MS-MS. The average recoveries of 2,4-D sodium were at the range of 93.7–95.8% with relative standard deviations (RSDs) ranging from 0.9 to 2.8%. The dissipation rates of 2,4-D sodium were described using first-order kinetics, and its half-life ranged from 11.2 to 13.8 days. A bayberry consumption survey was carried out for Chinese adults for the first time. The safety assessments of 2,4-D sodium were conducted by using field trail data as well as monitoring data. Results showed that the chronic risk quotient and the acute risk quotient were calculated to be 0.23–0.59 and 0.02–0.05%, respectively, for Chinese adults, indicating low dietary risk for adults and children. In the end, the household cleaning steps were compared, and results showed that water rinsing for 1 min can remove 49.9% 2,4-D sodium residue, which provides pesticide removal suggestion for consumers.

     

Fabrication and characterization of electrospun porous cellulose acetate nanofibrous mats incorporated with capric acid as form-stable phase change materials for storing/retrieving thermal energy

Electrospun cellulose acetate (CA) nanofibrous mats incorporated with capric acid was studied to fabricate form-stable phase change materials (PCMs) for storing/retrieving thermal energy. Electrospun CA nanofibrous mats with different porous structures and specific surface areas were firstly prepared through regulating the volume ratio of mixture solvent of acetone/dichloromethane (DCM). Effects of different volume ratio of mixture solvent and mat thickness on the morphological structure, specific surface area, and absorption capacity of CA nanofibrous mats were systematically investigated. The results indicated that CA nanofibrous mats were highly porous on the surface; hence, they were capable of absorbing a large amount of capric acid. The maximum absorption capacity of CA mats via electrospinning with volume ratio of acetone/DCM being 5/5 was ~95.8 wt%, due to its higher specific surface area of ~17.1 m²/g. The specific surface area and capric acid absorption capacity of CA nanofibrous mats increased with the increases of mat thickness. As the thickness of nanofibrous mats increased from 10 to 85 μm, the corresponding specific surface area and capric acid absorption capacity of mats increased respectively from 7.2 to 29.0 m²/g and 92.1 to 98.5%. Morphological structures, as well as the properties of thermal energy storage and thermal insulation of the fabricated form-stable PCMs, were studied by scanning electron microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and measurement of freezing times, respectively. The results indicated that the resulting form-stable PCMs could well maintain their phase transition characteristics and demonstrated great thermal energy storage capability and temperature regulation ability.     

Potential biodiesel-producing microalgae: two new strains of Amphikrikos sp.

BH32 and BH43 were isolated and identified as Amphikrikos sp. based on morphological characteristics and phylogenetic trees. They shared the same 18S rRNA sequences, but possessed different amounts of introns in their 18S rDNAs. The specific growth rate, cellular component and fatty acid profile under different growth stages have been surveyed. Their main fatty acids were found to be C16 and C18 groups. Our results indicated that both of them could be taken as excellent candidates of biodiesel. Moreover, the intra-genus polymorphism of 18S rDNA caused by intron presence/absence can provide valuable information for the study of intron evolution.     

Fenton试剂—好氧活性污泥法处理邻苯二甲酸二丁酯废水

采用Fenton氧化—好氧活性污泥法处理邻苯二甲酸二丁酯（DBP）废水,优化了Fenton氧化反应的工艺条件。实验结果表明：在H₂O₂加入量4 g/L、Fe²⁺加入量200 mg/L、反应温度60 ℃、废水pH 4、反应时间60 min的最佳工艺条件下,Fenton氧化出水COD为200~250 mg/L,DBP质量浓度约为0.10 mg/L;在污泥质量浓度2 000 mg/L、DO 2~3 mg/L、水力停留时间8 h的条件下,好氧活性污泥法处理出水的COD基本低于50 mg/L,DBP质量浓度约为0.05 mg/L,均满足GB 8978—1996《污水综合排放标准》,可达标排放。     

薏米壳生物炭的制备及其对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附性能

采用限氧控温热分解法在不同温度下制备了薏米壳生物炭。研究了薏米壳生物炭对低浓度Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附性能及吸附机理。随碳化温度升高,薏米壳管状通道微孔结构逐渐显现,薏米壳生物炭表面芳香化程度增强。薏米壳生物炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附行为采用Langmuir等温吸附模型吻合度更高,吸附属于单分子层化学吸附,吸附过程是自发的、熵增吸热反应,吸附过程遵循准二级吸附动力学模型,膜扩散和颗粒内扩散共同控制吸附过程。