Validation of Bacteroidales-based microbial source tracking markers for pig fecal pollution and their application in two rivers of North China

• Pig feces is the predominant excrement produced by animal husbandry in China. • The PF, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan MST assays showed better performance. • The pig-specific MST assays can contribute to managing the pig fecal pollution. In China, pig feces is the predominant source of excrement produced by animal husbandry. Improper use or direct discharge of pig feces can result in contamination of natural water systems. Microbial source tracking (MST) technology can identify the sources of fecal pollution in environmental water, and contribute to the management of pig fecal pollution by local environmental protection agencies. However, the accuracy of such assays can be context-dependent, and they have not been comprehensively evaluated under Chinese conditions. We aimed to compare the performance of five previously reported pig-specific MST assays (PF, Pig-Bac1^SYBR, Pig-Bac2^SYBR, Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan, and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan, which are based on Bacteroidales 16S rRNA gene markers) and apply them in two rivers of North China. We collected a total of 173 fecal samples from pigs, cows, goats, chickens, humans, and horses across China. The PF assay optimized in this study showed outstanding qualitative performance and achieved 100% specificity and sensitivity. However, the two SYBR green qPCR assays (Pig-Bac1^SYBR and Pig-Bac2^SYBR) cross-reacted with most non-pig fecal samples. In contrast, both the Pig-1-Bac^TaqMan and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays gave 100% specificity and sensitivity. Of these, the Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assay showed higher reproducibility. Our results regarding the specificity of these pig-specific MST assays differ from those reported in Thailand, Japan, and America. Using the PF and Pig-2-Bac^TaqMan assays, a field test comparing the levels of pig fecal pollution in rivers near a pig farm before and after comprehensive environmental pollution governance indicated that pig fecal pollution was effectively controlled at this location.     

Metabolic uncoupler, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide addition for sludge reduction and fouling control in a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor

• Effects of metabolic uncoupler TCS on the performances of GDMBR were evaluated. • Sludge EPS reduced and transformed into dissolved SMP when TCS was added. • Appropriate TCS increased the permeability and reduced cake layer fouling. • High dosage aggravated fouling due to compact cake layer with low bio-activity. The gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (MBR)system is promising for decentralized sewage treatment because of its low energy consumption and maintenance requirements. However, the growing sludge not only increases membrane fouling, but also augments operational complexities (sludge discharge). We added the metabolic uncoupler 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) to the system to deal with the mentioned issues. Based on the results, TCS addition effectively decreased sludge ATP and sludge yield (reduced by 50%). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS; proteins and polysaccharides) decreased with the addition of TCS and were transformed into dissolved soluble microbial products (SMPs) in the bulk solution, leading to the break of sludge flocs into small fragments. Permeability was increased by more than two times, reaching 60–70 L/m²/h bar when 10–30 mg/L TCS were added, because of the reduced suspended sludge and the formation of a thin cake layer with low EPS levels. Resistance analyses confirmed that appropriate dosages of TCS primarily decreased the cake layer and hydraulically reversible resistances. Permeability decreased at high dosage (50 mg/L) due to the release of excess sludge fragments and SMP into the supernatant, with a thin but more compact fouling layer with low bioactivity developing on the membrane surface, causing higher cake layer and pore blocking resistances. Our study provides a fundamental understanding of how a metabolic uncoupler affects the sludge and bio-fouling layers at different dosages, with practical relevance for in situ sludge reduction and membrane fouling alleviation in MBR systems.     

Metagenomic analysis reveals the effects of cotton straw–derived biochar on soil nitrogen transformation in drip-irrigated cotton field

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biochar has been widely accepted as a soil amendment to improve nitrogen (N) use efficiency, but the effect of biochar on N transformation metabolic...     

Assessing the land use type and environment factors affecting groundwater nitrogen in an arid oasis in northwestern China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Identifying the magnitude and seasonal variability of groundwater nitrogen (N) under various land use types and quantifying the contribution of their...     

N2O profiles in the enhanced CANON process via long-term N2H4 addition: minimized N2O production and the influence of exogenous N2H4 on N2O sources

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Production of the greenhouse gas nitrous oxide (N2O) from the completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process is of growing...     

Effects of reciprocal hybridization on cadmium accumulation in F1 hybrids of two Solanum photeinocarpum ecotypes

In this study, farmland and mining ecotypes of Solanum photeinocarpum (a potential cadmium (Cd) hyperaccumulator plant) were reciprocally hybridized each other, and the Cd accumulation characteristics of the F1 hybrids were studied. In pot experiments, higher biomasses and Cd extraction abilities were found for two S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than for the parents, but the Cd contents in various organs were lower in the hybrids than the parents. However, the differences between the Cd contents in the two hybrids were not significant. The antioxidant enzyme (superoxide dismutase and peroxidase) activities were higher for the S. photeinocarpum F1 hybrids than the parents. Less DNA methylation was found in the hybrids than the parents because more demethylation occurred in the hybrids than the parents. The biomass, Cd content, and Cd extraction ability effects in field experiments were similar to the effects in the pot experiments. It was concluded that reciprocally hybridizing different S. photeinocarpum ecotypes improved the ability of S. photeinocarpum to be used to phytoremediate contaminated land.

     

白水江表层沉积物溶解性有机质荧光特性研究

为探究白水江表层沉积物溶解性有机质(DOM)荧光特性,2018年3月采集研究区深度为0～20cm的沉积物,采用三维荧光光谱技术、区域积分法和荧光指数法,确定主要荧光物质种类,并结合表层水基本参数等数据分析荧光组分的来源、转化过程与空间分布差异。结果表明:(1)白水江表层沉积物DOM以类蛋白有机物为主,其中可溶性微生物降解产物占总体荧光物质相对含量的64.56%～73.06%;各断面均出现明显的可溶性微生物降解产物荧光峰;相比上游,中、下游荧光强度逐渐增强,并出现类酪氨酸与类色氨酸荧光峰。(2)上游至下游,总荧光组分、各荧光组分含量均呈现逐渐升高的趋势。人类活动可能是造成白水江表层沉积物DOM荧光组分存在空间分异的主导因素。     

高氯酸盐还原颗粒污泥的快速培养及其特性分析

为实现高氯酸盐还原颗粒污泥的快速培养,以反硝化颗粒污泥为接种污泥,对高氯酸盐还原颗粒污泥的快速培养进行了研究。在降低进水硝酸盐(NO_3~-)浓度的同时,采用逐步升高进水高氯酸盐(ClO_4~-)浓度的方法,考察了高氯酸盐还原颗粒污泥培养过程中ClO_4~-的去除以及颗粒污泥的特性。结果表明:以反硝化颗粒污泥为接种污泥,经过50 d快速培养出高氯酸盐还原颗粒污泥,ClO_4~-去除速率达96%以上;其混合液悬浮固体浓度(MLSS)为50.68 g·L~(-1),混合液挥发性固体浓度(MLVSS)为40.58 g·L~(-1),主要粒径分布在0.60 mm和1.00～2.00 mm。NO_3~-浓度逐步降低的培养方式可缓解ClO_4~-对颗粒污泥中各类微生物的毒性,为高氯酸盐颗粒污泥的快速培养提供了新的方法,具有重要的理论和实践意义。