Characterization of the genes involved in nitrogen cycling in wastewater treatment plants using DNA microarray and most probable number-PCR

To improve nitrogen removal performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), it is essential to understand the behavior of nitrogen cycling communities, which comprise various microorganisms. This study characterized the quantity and diversity of nitrogen cycling genes in various processes of municipal WWTPs by employing two molecular-based methods:most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) and DNA microarray. MPN-PCR analysis revealed that gene quantities were not statistically different among processes, suggesting that conventional activated sludge processes (CAS) are similar to nitrogen removal processes in their ability to retain an adequate population of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. Furthermore, most processes in the WWTPs that were researched shared a pattern:the nirS and the bacterial amoA genes were more abundant than the nirK and archaeal amoA genes, respectively. DNA microarray analysis revealed that several kinds of nitrification and denitrification genes were detected in both CAS and anaerobic-oxic processes (AO), whereas limited genes were detected in nitrogen removal processes. Results of this study suggest that CAS maintains a diverse community of nitrogen cycling microorganisms; moreover, the microbial communities in nitrogen removal processes may be specific.

Open image in new window

     

Wastewater-nitrogen removal using polylactic acid/starch as carbon source: Optimization of operating parameters using response surface methodology

The use of PLA/starch blends for nitrogen removal was achieved. The influence of different operating parameters on responses was verified using RSM. The conditions for desired responses were successfully optimized simultaneously. Blends material may have a promising application prospect in the future. Nitrogen removal from ammonium-containing wastewater was conducted using polylactic acid (PLA)/starch blends as carbon source and carrier for functional bacteria. The exclusive and interactive influences of operating parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, stirring rate, and PLA-to-starch ratio (PLA proportion)) on nitrification (Y₁), denitrification (Y₂), and COD release rates (Y₃) were investigated through response surface methodology. Experimental results indicated that nitrogen removal could be successfully achieved in the PLA/starch blends through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The carbon release rate of the blends was controllable. The sensitivity of Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ to different operating parameters also differed. The sequence for each response was as follows: for Y₁, pH>stirring rate>PLA proportion>temperature; for Y₂, pH>PLA proportion>temperature>stirring rate; and for Y₃, stirring rate>pH>PLA proportion>temperature. In this study, the following optimum conditions were observed: temperature, 32.0°C; pH 7.7; stirring rate, 200.0 r·min^-1; and PLA proportion, 0.4. Under these conditions, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ were 134.0 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, 160.9 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, and 7.6 × 10³ μg-O·g-blend^-1·h^-1, respectively. These results suggested that the PLA/starch blends may be an ideal packing material for nitrogen removal.     

Environment and economic feasibility of municipal solid waste central sorting strategy: a case study in Beijing

Although Beijing has carried out municipal solid waste (MSW) source separation since 1996, it has largely been ineffective. In 2012, a “Green House” program was established as a new attempt for central sorting. In this study, the authors used material flow analysis (MFA) and cost benefit analysis (CBA) methods to investigate Green House’s environment and economic feasibility. Results showed that the program did have significant environmental benefits on waste reduction, which reduced the amount of waste by 34%. If the Green House program is implemented in a residential community with wet waste ratio of 66%, the proportion of waste reduction can reach 37%. However, the Green House is now running with a monthly loss of 1982 CNY. This is mainly because most of its benefits come from waste reduction (i.e., 5878 CNY per month), which does not turn a monetary benefit, but is instead distributed to the whole of society as positive environmental externalities. Lack of government involvement, small program scale, and technical/managerial deficiency are three main barriers of the Green House. We, thus, make three recommendations: involve government authority and financial support, expand the program scale to separate 91.4 tons of waste every month, and use more professional equipment/technologies. If the Green House program can successfully adopt these suggestions, 33.8 tons of waste can be reduced monthly, and it would be able to flip the loss into a profit worth 35034 CNY.

Open image in new window

     

基于SCS水文模型的泥石流预报模型在四川宝兴冷木沟的应用

2013年4月20日四川芦山7.0级地震后,四川省宝兴县冷木沟沟道内新增大量崩塌、滑坡物源,在强降雨的诱发下,极易发生泥石流灾害,且沟口直面县城,直接威胁着整个县城的生命、财产安全。利用SCS水文模型,根据冷木沟流域的地貌特征将其划分成17个子流域,在子流域不同的土地利用数据及水文土壤条件下进行产流、汇流计算,最后通过叠加得到冷木沟流域出口断面的汇流过程;对2012年8月18日发生的泥石流汇流过程进行探讨预测,结果显示,本次泥石流的洪峰流量为278m³/s,泥石流总量为20.2×104m³,计算得到的泥石流总量与实际调查结果的相对误差为7.8%;用同一方法预测2013年5月23日冷木沟支沟黑沟的泥石流汇流过程,计算的洪峰流量为38.2 m³/s,与实际监测值的相对误差为4.2%。说明此模型对于冷木沟流域具有适用性,且效果较好,可用于宝兴县冷木沟泥石流的流量预测及泥石流灾害规模预测,将对宝兴县的泥石流防灾减灾工作提供科学指导。     

城市污泥堆肥用作草坪基质研究进展

针对城市污泥堆肥特点,阐述了国内外城市污泥堆肥用作草坪基质的研究现状。总结了污泥堆肥用于草坪生产存在的问题,并认为研究重点应放在污泥堆肥混合基质的组成、水肥管理技术、草种的筛选、规范堆肥生产和草坪质量综合评价标准及可能存在的环境问题等方面。另外,需要加大高新技术的投入促进产业化,以便为污泥堆肥用作草坪基质提供确实的理论指导和技术支持。     

输氧抽气技术在垃圾填埋场治理中的关键参数试验研究

输氧抽气技术是基于好氧降解原理对垃圾填埋场中固体废弃物实施原位处理的先进环保技术。采用该技术对垃圾填埋场中固体废弃物减量化研究,总结了技术应用中的关键参数:有效影响半径,最佳真空度等。结果表明抽气流量大小与影响半径密切相关,抽气影响半径建议取20~25 m,抽气系统最优负压为20 k Pa,同时在技术应用过程中应保证垃圾场表层覆盖层的密封性能,尽量减少空气的渗入。输氧抽气技术在垃圾场的成功实施为同类型场地治理提供工程技术参考。     

蚯蚓土壤填料生态滤池处理生活污水

采用二级蚯蚓土壤填料生态滤池对生活污水进行处理,考察其对污水中各类污染物的去除效果。连续运行90d,试验结果表明:滤池运行稳定,对COD、TP、NH3-N、TN和SS的去除效果良好,平均去除率分别为78.7%、93.4%、74.9%、60.4%和87.5%,出水满足GB 1898—2002《城镇污水处理厂污染物排放标准》二级标准。滤池二级串联结构设计系统稳定,改善了出水水质。蚯蚓在试验初期对滤池环境可较好较快的适应,维持了滤池的稳定运行。土壤生态处理技术工艺简单,兼具经济实用和规模灵活的优点,适合推广。