Risk assessment of xenoestrogens in a typical domestic sewage-holding lake in China

Release of domestic sewage leads to accumulation of xenoestrogens in holding waters, especially in closed or semi-enclosed waters such as lakes. In the study, the occurrence, distribution, estrogenic activity and risk of eight xenoestreogens were evaluated in Lake Donghu, China. Nonylphenol (NP), octylphenol (OP), and bisphenol A (BPA) were identified as the main xenoestrogens ranging from tens of ng L⁻¹ (in the surface water) or ng g⁻¹ dw (in the suspended particles and sediment) to tens of μg L⁻¹ or μg g⁻¹ dw. The sum of 17β-estradiol equivalents (∑EEQs) ranged from 0.32 to 45.02 ng L⁻¹ in the surface water, 0.53 to 71.86 ng g⁻¹ dw in the suspended particles, and 0.09 to 24.73 ng g⁻¹ dw in the sediment. Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was determined as the main contributor to ∑EEQs followed by NP. The risk assessment showed a higher risk in the surface water than in the suspended particles and sediment in such domestic sewage-holding lake.     

Assessing benzene-induced toxicity on wild type Euglena gracilis Z and its mutant strain SMZ

Benzene is a representative member of volatile organic compounds and has been widely used as an industrial solvent. Groundwater contamination of benzene may pose risks to human health and ecosystems. Detection of benzene in the groundwater using chemical analysis is expensive and time consuming. In addition, biological responses to environmental exposures are uninformative using such analysis. Therefore, the aim of this study was to employ a microorganism, Euglena gracilis (E. gracilis) as a putative model to monitor the contamination of benzene in groundwater. To this end, we examined the wild type of E. gracilis Z and its mutant form, SMZ in their growth rate, morphology, chlorophyll content, formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and DNA damage in response to benzene exposure. The results showed that benzene inhibited cell growth in a dose response manner up to 48 h of exposure. SMZ showed a greater sensitivity compared to Z in response to benzene exposure. The difference was more evident at lower concentrations of benzene (0.005–5 μM) where growth inhibition occurred in SMZ but not in Z cells. We found that benzene induced morphological changes, formation of lipofuscin, and decreased chlorophyll content in Z strain in a dose response manner. No significant differences were found between the two strains in ROS formation and DNA damage by benzene at concentrations affecting cell growth. Based on these results, we conclude that E. gracilis cells were sensitive to benzene-induced toxicities for certain endpoints such as cell growth rate, morphological change, depletion of chlorophyll. Therefore, it is a potentially suitable model for monitoring the contamination of benzene and its effects in the groundwater.     

Air–water exchange fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the tropical coast,Taiwan

Air–water exchange fluxes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were simultaneously measured in air and water samples from two sites on the Kenting coast, located at the southern tip of Taiwan, from January to December 2010. There was no significant difference in the total PAH (t-PAH) concentrations in both gas and dissolved phases between these two sites due to the less local input which also coincided to the low levels of t-PAH concentration; the gas and dissolved phases averaged 1.29 ± 0.59 ng m^?3 and 2.17 ± 1.19 ng L^?1 respectively. The direction and magnitude of the daily flux of PAHs were significantly influenced by wind speed and dissolved PAH concentrations. Individual PAH flux ranged from 627 ng m^?2 d^?1 volatilization of phenanthrene during the rainy season with storm–water discharges raising dissolved phase concentration, to 67 ng m^?2 d^?1 absorption of fluoranthene during high wind speed periods. Due to PAH annual fluxes through air–water exchange, Kenting seawater is a source of low molecular weight PAHs and a reservoir of high molecular weight PAHs. Estimated annual volatilization fluxes ranged from 7.3 μg m^?2 yr^?1 for pyrene to 50 μg m^?2 yr^?1 for phenanthrene and the absorption fluxes ranged from ?2.6 μg m^?2 yr^?1 for chrysene to ?3.5 μg m^?2 yr^?1 for fluoranthene.     

Swine wastewater treatment in a two stage sequencing batch reactor using real‐time control

Abstract

A laboratory scale two‐stage sequencing batch reactor (TSSBR) was used to study the effectiveness of pH as a real‐time control parameter in swine wastewater treatment. A Ringlace media was inserted into the A/O (Anoxic/Oxic) reactor for bacteria immobilization. The TSSBR was subjected to three levels of organic loading. The pH and ORP (Oxidation Reduction Potential) patterns obtained were consistent with distinct features, enabling the real‐time control strategy to effectively set a flexible aeration time pending on influent concentration, hence resulting in flexible cycle time and HRT (Hydraulic Retention Time) for the system. The real‐time process ensured a removal efficiency of over 99% and 95%, respectively, for ammonia and TOC (Total Organic Carbon). For NO₃ ^‐‐N and PO₄ ^‐3, the run with influent TOC = 4,000 mg/L yielded the most efficient removal of 61% and 95%, respectively. Test results suggest that pH can be a viable tool for on‐line real‐time control of a biological treatment process.     

腐熟蓝藻与厌氧污泥混合厌氧发酵特性

采用批次小试实验对不同腐熟程度的蓝藻进行厌氧发酵产沼气实验研究。结果表明,新鲜蓝藻在30-35℃时腐熟7 d后,可在35℃的厌氧温度下获得最高的产气速率和246 mL/g COD的产气量,产气潜力为354 mL/g（VS）。厌氧反应15 d后,累计产气量、COD和VFA浓度趋于稳定。淀粉酶和脱氢酶的活性在厌氧反应初期受到抑制,蛋白酶活性和辅酶F420浓度在厌氧系统中逐渐增加,分别在第6天达到27.66μmol/（g VS·min）和第15天达到0.62μmol/g（VS）。15-18d是腐熟蓝藻适宜的中温厌氧发酵时间,少于以新鲜蓝藻为基质的厌氧消化时间。蓝藻腐熟过程促进了厌氧反应,腐熟7 d的蓝藻厌氧系统具有更高的微生物活性和产甲烷能力。     

生物填料地下渗滤系统对生活污水的脱氮

将草甸棕壤、炉渣和活性污泥等基质按体积比13∶6∶1配制生物填料,研究了生物填料地下渗滤系统（subsurface wastewater infiltration system,SWIS）在不同的水力负荷和污染负荷条件下对校园生活污水的脱氮效果。场地实验结果表明,当BOD5负荷为12.0 g BOD5/（m2·d）,表面水力负荷为0.04-0.10 m3/（m2·d）时,SWIS对NH＋4-N和TN的平均去除率分别为92.4%和82.0%。当水力负荷为0.08 m3/（m2·d）,BOD5负荷9.3-16.8 g BOD5/（m2·d）时,SWIS对NH＋4-N和TN的平均去除率为92.7%和81.2%。SWIS中氧化还原电位（oxygen reduction potential,ORP）随进水水力负荷和BOD5负荷的增加而降低,脱氮效率下降。综合出水水质和处理效率,适宜的水力负荷和污染负荷分别为0.065 m3/（m2·d）和12.0 g BOD5/（m2·d）。在此条件下,SWIS的启动周期为25-30 d。出水水质均优于《城市污水再生利用-景观环境用水水质》（GB/T18921-2002）标准,且处理效果稳定,抗负荷冲击能力强。     

有机污染胁迫对人工湿地中浮萍抗氧化系统的影响

湿地植物在处理高负荷有机废水时会受到不同程度的氧化胁迫。本研究基于对浮萍的有机污染胁迫模拟系统,通过对浮萍脂质过氧化和抗氧化防御系统的监测与分析,研究了浮萍对有机污染胁迫的耐受能力及胁迫去除后浮萍的恢复规律。结果表明,浮萍对有机污染胁迫具有较高的耐受性,在胁迫去除后,具有一定的恢复能力。在COD小于400mg/L时,浮萍并未受到氧化胁迫;当COD达到800 mg/L时,浮萍体内ROS含量上升,细胞膜脂过氧化加剧,但抗氧化酶活性升高,抗氧化物质含量增加,浮萍可保持生长,胁迫去除后,抗氧化防御系统可恢复到对照水平;当COD过高（≥1 000mg/L）,ROS急剧上升,抗氧化防御系统遭受破坏,造成不可逆伤害,胁迫去除后不能恢复正常生长。     

离子交换法选择性回收污泥厌氧消化液中的磷

为探讨高效选择性回收污泥厌氧消化液中磷的离子交换方法,采用静态实验和动态实验研究了4种阴离子交换树脂（D213、D202、D301和DSQ）的磷回收性能,筛选了适合富磷污泥厌氧消化液选择性磷回收的高交换容量树脂。实验结果表明,D213、D202、D301和DSQ 4种树脂对正磷浓度为70 mg/L的厌氧消化液进行动态处理时,其最大穿透体积分别为3、7、17和90 BV;DSQ树脂磷交换容量远高于其他3种树脂,达到6 860 mg P/L湿树脂,是目前报道的高磷交换容量树脂的3~4倍;DSQ树脂能有效地抵抗厌氧消化液中有机质和硫酸根等阴离子的干扰;用NaOH溶液再生DSQ树脂并回收磷,磷洗脱率超过96%,洗脱液是高浓度含磷液,可作为磷矿石的优质替代品。研究表明,DSQ树脂是一种高效选择性分离磷的树脂,适用于污泥厌氧消化液的磷回收。     

3种载体固定化菌藻共生系统脱氮除磷效果的对比

采用3种不同载体（海藻酸钠、聚乙烯醇、复合载体）,分别将小球藻和栅藻与活性污泥固定成菌藻共生系统,制成菌藻凝胶小球,单独菌、单独藻的凝胶小球,用于处理人工污水。结果表明,（1）复合载体固定的菌藻共生系统氮磷去除效果最好,PVA载体的脱氮除磷效果次于复合载体优于海藻酸钠;（2）固定化菌藻共生系统的脱氮除磷效果明显优于单独固定菌和单独固定藻,固定菌的效果较差;（3）3种载体包埋下的固定化小球藻的脱氮除磷效果均较相同载体固定化的栅藻效果好。     

膜电解法在线再生酸性蚀刻液及回收铜新技术

采用极化曲线法研究了酸性蚀刻液阴、阳极电化学行为,并构建了离子膜电解反应体系,考察了在线再生酸性蚀刻液及回收铜的效果。结果表明,阳极氧化过程发生浓差极化,存在极限电流密度,Cu＋含量越高,极限电流密度越大;阴极还原分4步反应进行,存在极限电流密度;强化溶液传质可有效提高阴、阳极极限电流密度,有利于避免电解过程中析出氯气和氢气;在线实验表明,通过监控阳极液ORP,可避免析出氯气;分步降低电流电解有利于避免析出氢气,形成致密的金属铜块;在电流为9～24A范围内分4步电解23．5h可再生酸性蚀刻液23．5L,同时电沉积回收510g铜,纯度高达99．98％。阴极电流效率达到95．2％,吨铜电耗3251kWh。电解过程中无氯气和氢气析出,无废液排放,表明膜电解法在线再生酸性蚀刻液具有良好的应用前景。