Comparison of the purification performance and microbial community functional diversity in flow-directional-switching and unidirectional-flow biotrickling filters

Because of the characteristics of low operating cost and convenient operation, the biotrickling filter is extensively researched and used to treat low concentration waste gas contaminated by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other odors. In this paper, two laboratory-scale biotrickling filters were constructed and toluene was selected as the sole carbon source, and the effects of different waste-gas flow configuration patterns on the purification capacity and the microbial community functional diversity of biotrickling filters were evaluated. The results indicated that the flow-directional-switching (FDS) biotrickling filter had better purification performance, and the maximum elimination capacity reached 480 g·m^?3·hr^?1, which was 17.1% higher than conventional unidirectional-flow (UF) biotrickling filter. Comparing the purification capacities of different sections in two biotrickling filters, the maximum toluene elimination capacity of section III in FDS system could reach 542 g·m^?3·hr^?1, which was 2.8 times as great as that in UF system, which resulted from the difference of elimination capacity in two systems. By analyzing the metabolic activity of two systems by community-level physiological profiling (CLPP) with Biolog (Biolog Inc., Hayward, CA) ECO-plate technique, metabolic activity in three sections of FDS system was higher than that of UF system. The metabolic activity was the highest in section III of FDS system and 46.8% higher than that of UF system. Shannon index and McIntosh index of section III in FDS system were 6.2% and 31.5% higher, respectively, than those of UF system.

Implications: The flow-directional-switching (FDS) biotrickling filter had a better purification performance than unidirectional-flow (UF) biotrickling filter at high inlet loadings, because FDS produced a more uniform distribution of biomass and microbial metabolic capacity along the length of the packed bed without diminishing activity and removal capacity in the inlet section.     

Fourier transform infrared and fluorescence spectral features of organic matter in conventional and organic dairy manure

Organic dairy production has exhibited potential for growth in the United States dairy sector. However, little information is available on whether there is any difference in manure composition and quality between organic (OD) and conventional (CD) dairy manure even though the composition and quality are important parameters with respect to availability, utilization, and cycling of manure nutrients and environmental impact evaluation. We comparatively characterized whole and water-extracted materials of 15 OD and seven CD dairy manure samples by Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and fluorescence spectroscopies. Fourier transform infrared features of manure organic matter varied mainly in the 1650 to 1550 cm range, reflecting the presence of different N compounds in these manure samples. Fluorescence data revealed five fluorophore components present in the water-extracted organic matter from the manures. We found no clearly distinct value ranges in whole and water-extractable organic matter between the two types of dairy manure with respect to C and N contents and FT-IR and fluorescence spectral features. However, based on the average values, we observed general pattern differences on the effect of organic farming on the manure composition: OD contained less soluble C and N compounds on dry weight basis but more hydrophobic aliphatic groups in whole manure. The soluble organic matter in OD samples contained more stable humic- and lignin-related components and less amino/protein N-related components based on their spectroscopic features. These differences might be attributed to more forage feedstuffs in organic dairy farming management and more protein additives in conventional dairy feedstuffs. Information from this work may be useful in aiding organic dairy farmers in making manure management decisions.     

高浓度氨氮废水好氧反硝化反应的基本条件

文章通过室内实验,对高浓度氨氮废水(垃圾渗滤液)间歇曝气,在只存在有机碳、无机氮的条件下进行好氧反硝化脱氮研究。实验结果表明:垃圾渗滤液中存在好氧反硝化土著微生物菌落;发生好氧反硝化的基本条件为在溶解氧充足的条件下间歇曝气;碳源不仅是厌氧反硝化所必须的,同样也是好氧反硝化的必要条件。     

Effect of inoculation methods on the composting efficiency of municipal solid wastes

Four types of inoculation methods were studied during the composting of municipal solid wastes and dry grass (MSWG). The methods included a control group as well as initial-stage, two-stage, and multi-stage inoculations. Fulvic acids were extracted from the composting materials and characterized by spectroscopic techniques. The results showed that inoculation of microbes in MSWG enhanced the biodegradation of aliphatics, proteins, and polysaccharides. The inoculation also increased the molecular weight, humic- and fulvic-like compound content, as well as humification degree of the composting products. The inoculation of microbes in MSWG significantly improved composting process and efficiency. The improvement efficiency was in the order of initial-stage < two-stage < multi-stage inoculations. Inoculation of microbes based on composting organic matter composition and temperature enhanced composting efficiency.     

Distribution and bioavailability of ceria nanoparticles in an aquatic ecosystem model

Along with the increasing utilization of engineered nanoparticles, there is a growing concern for the potential environmental and health effects of exposure to these newly designed materials. Understanding the behavior of nanoparticles in the environment is a basic need. The present study aims to investigate the distribution and fate of ceria nanoparticles in an aquatic system model which consists of sediments, water, hornworts, fish and snails, using a radiotracer technique. Concentrations of ceria in the samples at regular time intervals were measured. Ceria nanoparticles were readily removed from the water column and partitioned between different organisms. Both snail and fish have fast absorption and clearance abilities. Hornwort has the highest bioaccumulation factors. At the end of the experiment, sediments accumulated most of the nanoparticles with a recovery of 75.7 ± 27.3% of total ceria nanoparticles, suggesting that sediments are major sinks of ceria nanoparticles.     

Interaction between BSM-contaminated soils and Italian ryegrass

The interaction among the bensulfuron-methyl, growth of Italian ryegrass, and soil chemical/biochemical/microbiological parameters was investigated in a microcosm experiment. The bensulfuron-methyl added to the soil can be rapidly degraded by certain fungi and actinomycetes present in the original paddy rice soil. The growth of Italian ryegrass significantly accelerated the in-soil degradation of bensulfuron-methyl in its rhizosphere. The uptake of bensulfuron-methyl by ryegrass increased with increasing dosage level of bensulfuron-methyl. However, the phytoextraction of bensulfuron-methyl by ryegrass contributed insignificantly to the total removal of the soil bensulfuron-methyl. Within the dosage range set in this study, the root development of ryegrass was not adversely affected by the presence of the soil bensulfuron-methyl although the fresh biomass of shoot was slightly reduced in the higher dosage treatments. This can be attributed to the adsorption of the added bensulfuron-methyl by soil colloids and consequently the reduction of bensulfuron-methyl level in the soil pore water to a concentration sufficiently lower than the toxic level. The growth of ryegrass significantly increased soil pH and the activities of phosphatase and peroxidase but reduced the EC and the activities of urease in the rhizospheric soil.     

Speciation distribution and mass balance of copper and zinc in urban rain, sediments, and road runoff

Heavy metal pollution in road runoff had caused widespread concern since the last century. However, there are little references on metal speciation in multiple environmental media (e.g., rain, road sediments, and road runoff). Our research targeted the investigation of metal speciation in rain, road sediments, and runoff; the analysis of speciation variation and mass balance of metals among rain, road sediments, and runoff; the selection of main factors by principal component analysis (PCA); and the establishment of equation to evaluate the impact of rain and road sediments to metals in road runoff. Sequential extraction procedure contains five steps for the chemical fractionation of metals. Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (Shimadzu, AA-6800) was used to determine metal speciation concentration, as well as the total and dissolved fractions. The dissolved fractions for both Cu and Zn were dominant in rain. The speciation distribution of Zn was different from that of Cu in road sediments, while speciation distribution of Zn is similar to that of Cu in runoff. The bound to carbonates for both Cu and Zn in road sediments were prone to be dissolved by rain. The levels of Cu and Zn in runoff were not obviously influenced by rain, but significantly influenced by road sediments. The masses for both Cu and Zn among rain, road sediments, and road runoff approximately meet the mass balance equation for all rainfall patterns. Five principal factors were selected for metal regression equation based on PCA, including rainfall, average rainfall intensity, antecedent dry periods, total suspended particles, and temperature. The established regression equations could be used to predict the effect of road runoff on receiving environments.     

超声辐射浸渍法制备Fe-Ni-Mn/Al_2O_3催化剂及性能研究

以Al2O3为载体,分别采用超声辐射浸渍法和普通浸渍方法制备Fe-Ni-Mn/Al2O3催化剂。采用BET、XRD和SEM对催化剂的理化性质和孔结构进行了分析,以模拟酸性绿B废水为研究对象考察催化剂的催化性能。实验结果表明,浸渍溶液pH值和焙烧温度显著影响催化剂的性能。与普通浸渍法相比,超声浸渍法制备的Fe-Ni-Mn/Al2O3催化剂对酸性绿B脱色反应表现出较高的催化活性。     

山地城市暴雨径流污染特性及控制对策

为了解山城重庆的暴雨径流污染特性,充实国内仍然薄弱的基础资料,对4种用地类型的4场暴雨进行了监测,测试指标包括TSS、COD、TP、TN和NH3-N。结果表明,对于坡度2.5%的交通干道和坡度30%的校园人行道,从污染物浓度降幅的角度考虑初期径流的控制量应分别为2～3 mm和1.8 mm。随降雨时间的延长,路面污染物浓度迅速降低,坡度越大,降低速率越快。对于平均浓度,校园屋顶和草坪的各污染物浓度均达到地表水环境质量Ⅴ类标准(总氮和氨氮除外)。交通干道和校园人行道的总磷平均浓度也满足地表水环境质量Ⅴ类标准,但2种下垫面的COD、TN和氨氮平均浓度分别超出地表水环境质量Ⅴ类标准的2～8倍、1.9～3.1倍和1.9～4.3倍。对于交通干道,场次降雨径流的总氮、总磷和氨氮平均浓度与初期浓度的比值和污染物浓度20 min降幅接近(分别为0.5～0.53和50%～55%)接近,而COD和TSS平均浓度与初期浓度的比值和污染物浓度20 min降幅相近(分别为0.35～0.37和78%～84%)。对于校园人行道,污染物浓度20 min降幅均达到90%以上(90%～96%),场次降雨径流的总氮、总磷、氨氮、COD和TSS的平均浓度与初期浓度的比值接近(0.3～0.4)。研究结果为山地城市暴雨径流的污染控制提供了参考。