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.     

Diffusive gradients in thin films using molecularly imprinted polymer binding gels for in situ measurements of antibiotics in urban wastewaters

• Selective molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) binding gel was prepared. • MIP-DGT showed excellent uptake performance for antibiotics. • In situ measurement of antibiotics in wastewaters via MIP-DGT was developed. • The MIP-DGT method was robust, reliable, and highly sensitive. Urban wastewater is one of main sources for the introduction of antibiotics into the environment. Monitoring the concentrations of antibiotics in wastewater is necessary for estimating the amount of antibiotics discharged into the environment through urban wastewater treatment systems. In this study, we report a novel diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) method based on molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for in situ measurement of two typical antibiotics, fluoroquinolones (FQs) and sulfonamides (SAs) in urban wastewater. MIPs show specific adsorption toward their templates and their structural analogs, resulting in the selective uptake of the two target antibiotics during MIP-DGT deployment. The uptake performance of the MIP-DGTs was evaluated in the laboratory and was relatively independent of solution pH (4.0–9.0), ionic strength (1–750 mmol/L), and dissolved organic matter (DOM, 0–20 mg/L). MIP-DGT samplers were tested in the effluent of an urban wastewater treatment plant for field trials, where three SA (sulfamethoxazole, sulfapyridine, and trimethoprim) and one FQ (ofloxacin) antibiotics were detected, with concentrations ranging from 25.50 to 117.58 ng/L, which are consistent with the results measured by grab sampling. The total removal efficiency of the antibiotics was 80.1% by the treatment plant. This study demonstrates that MIP-DGT is an effective tool for in situ monitoring of trace antibiotics in complex urban wastewaters.     

High crosslinked sodium carboxyl methylstarch-g-poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) resin for heavy metal adsorption: its characteristics and mechanisms

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A lower expansive heavy metal adsorbent, high crosslinked sodium carboxyl methylstarch-g-poly (acrylic acid-co-acrylamide) resin (HCAA), has been...     

Determination of Steroid Estrogens in Wastewater Treatment Plant of A Controceptives Producing Factory

Steroid estrogens such as estrone (E1), 17β-estradiol (E2), estriol (E3), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) have been suspected to be the main contaminants, which can affect the endocrine system of animals. Many authors have investigated these chemicals in the domestic wastewater treatment plants (WTP). However, wastewater from industries producing steroid contraceptives has not got ample attention. From the environmental point of view, the four steroids are very significant because even very low concentrations (ng/L) can cause reproductive disturbances in human, livestock and wildlife. The main purpose of the present investigation was to develop an analytical method for the determination of the four steroid estrogens present in WTP of a pharmacy factory, mainly producing contraceptive medicine in Beijing, China. Analysis was performed by solid-phase extraction (SPE) system and liquid chromatography combined with tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The average recoveries from effluent samples ranged from 88% to 103% and the precision of the method ranged from 9% to 4%. Based on 0.5-L wastewater samples, the limit of quantification (LOQ) was determined at 0.7 ng/L for E1, 0.8 for E2, 0.9 ng/L for E3, and 0.5 ng/L for EE2 in influent, and 1.0 ng/L for E2 and EE2, and 2.0 ng/L for E1 and E3 in effluent. In the influent samples, average concentrations of 80, 85, 73 and 155 ng/L were determined for E1, E2, E3 and EE2, respectively, showing that they were removed in this WTP to the extent of 79, 73, 85 and 67%, respectively.     

VOCs在线监测远程质量控制可行性研究

地表水水质自动监测要求对主要监测指标具备远程质量控制功能,而对挥发性有机物（VOCs）在线监测没有明确要求。采用自行设计的标准溶液储存装置和一套吹扫捕集-气相色谱-氢火焰离子化检测器/电子捕获检测器（P＆C-GC-FID/ECD）在线监测系统对水中19种VOCs组分开展了远程标准溶液测试。结果表明,19种VOCs组分在线加标回收率为88.8%～103.8%,在线多点线性测试相关系数为0.995 9～0.999 7,连续16 d标准溶液测试的示值误差范围为-18.91%～21.91%;VOCs在线监测系统远程质量控制是可行的,可实时监控仪器性能,有效预警预报水质状况。     

铬盐废水蒸发系统腐蚀突变与缓蚀工况研究

针对铬盐废水蒸发系统运行过程中的腐蚀问题,采用失重法、pH值检测、扫描电镜(SEM、EDS)和XRD等手段,模拟研究了温度、Cr3+质量浓度对20#碳钢腐蚀速率、腐蚀产物的影响,并从废水pH值和形貌分析角度探索腐蚀速率发生突变的原因.研究表明:废水Cr3+质量浓度在150～180 mg/L范围,碳钢腐蚀速率发生突增,废...     

ClO2三相催化氧化处理硝基苯生产废水的试验

硝基苯(NB)生产废水中含有大量NB及其衍生物,对生物具有毒性,属难生物降解物质.采用ClO2三相催化氧化工艺对NB废水进行处理.结果表明,每升废水投加280、350 mg ClO2,废水在活性炭加载含铜复合金属氧化物的催化剂床层停留56min,NB和色度的去除率均达到95%以上,COD去除率达到90%以上.吨废水处理成本约为10.5元.     

荧光法研究DNA与蒽相互作用机理

利用荧光猝灭光谱和紫外-可见吸收光谱研究了体外DNA对蒽的荧光猝灭机理.结果表明,DNA的紫外-可见光谱没有发生红移现象,通过计算分析不同温度下的荧光猝灭常数和热力学参数,结合两种光谱分析可知DNA对蒽的荧光猝灭属于动态猝灭机理.     

混合重金属对硝化颗粒污泥毒性作用的析因实验研究

分别测定了Cu2 、Zn2 和Cd2 对硝化颗粒污泥的单一毒性,采用析因实验研究了二元和三元重金属混合体系对硝化颗粒污泥的联合毒性.结果表明,Cu2 、Zn2 和Cd2 的2 h半抑制浓度EC50分别为95.23、62.11和12.48 mg/L,由析因实验所得的响应曲面模型具有较好的优度(其R2＞0.95),能够对混合体系的联合毒性很好地进行预测,析因实验可以用于环境领域混合体系联合毒性的研究.     

遥感技术在现代环境监测与环境保护中的应用

现代环境监测已经发展到环境质量监测为主的整体预防性监测,全球环境保护的国际性、跨学科及综合性性质,使得包括遥感在内的“3S”技术在区域环境质量监测和全球性的重大环境问题研究方面广泛应用。本文介绍了遥感技术在全球气候监测、水环境监测和大气污染监测等方面的应用实例,指出遥感技术应与地面监测紧密结合,进一步加强对环境资源的动态监测。