Enzyme extraction by ultrasound from sludge flocs

Enzymes play essential roles in the biological processes of sludge treatment. In this article, the ultrasound method to extract enzymes from sludge flocs was presented. Results showed that using ultrasound method at 20 kHz could extract more types of enzymes than that ultrasound at 40 kHz and ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) methods. The optimum parameters of ultrasound extraction at 20 kHz were duration of 10 min and power of 480 W. Under the condition, ultrasound could break the cells and extract both the extracellular and intercellular enzymes. Ultrasound power was apparently more susceptive to enzyme extraction than duration, suggesting that the control of power during ultrasound extraction was more important than that of duration. The Pearson correlation analysis between enzyme activities and cation contents revealed that the different types of enzymes had distinct cation binding characteristics.     

Isolation and characteristics of a novel biphenyl-degrading bacterial strain, Dyella ginsengisoli LA-4

A novel biphenyl-degrading bacterial strain LA-4 was isolated from activated sludge. It was identified as Dyella ginsengisoli according to phylogenetic similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequence. This isolate could utilize biphenyl as sole source of carbon and energy, which degraded over 95 mg/L biphenyl within 36 h. The major metabolites formed from biphenyl, such as 2-hydroxy-6-oxo-6-phenylhexa-2,4-dienoic acid (HOPDA) and benzoic acid, were identified by LC-MS. The crude cell extract of strain LA-4 exhibited the activity of 2,3-dihydroxybiphenyl 1,2-dioxygenase (2,3-DHBD) and the kinetic parameters were Km= 26.48 μmol/L and Vmax= 8.12 μmol/mg protein. A conserved region of the biphenyl dioxygenase gene bphA1 of strain LA-4 was amplified by PCR and confirmed by DNA sequencing.     

Induction of chemotaxis to sodium chloride and diacetyl and thermotaxis defects by microcystin-LR exposure in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Apart from the liver disruption, embryotoxicity and genotoxicity, microcystin (MC)-LR also could cause neurotoxicity. Nematode Caenorhabditis elegans was explored as a model to study the neurotoxicity. In the present study, we provided evidence to indicate the neurotoxicity on chemotaxis to NaCl and diacetyl, and thermotaxis from MC-LR exposure to C. elegans. As a result, higher concentrations of MC-LR caused significantly severe defects of chemotaxis to NaC1 and diacetyl, and thermotaxis. The neurotoxicity on chemotaxis to NaCl and diacetyl, and thennotaxis from MC-LR exposure might be largely mediated by the damage on the corresponding sensory neurons (ASE, AWA, and AFD) and interneuron AIY. The expression levels of che-1 and odr-7 were significantly decreased (P<0.01) in animals exposed to MC-LR at concentrations lower than 10 μg/L, whereas the expression levels of ttx-1 and ttx-3 could be significantly (P<0.01) lowered in animals even exposed to 1 μg/L of MC-LR. Moreover, both the chemotaxis to NaCl and diacetyl and the thermotaxis were more significantly reduced m MC-LR exposed mutants of che-1(p674), odr-7(ky4), ttx-1(p767), and ttx-3(ks5) than those in exposed wild-type N2 animals at the same concentrations.     

Photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange over ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films

ITO/CdS/ZnO interface composite films were successfully prepared by subsequent electrodeposition of CdS and ZnO onto indium tin oxide (ITO) glass substrates. The obtained ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The photocatalytic activity of ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films were investigated using methyl orange (MO) as a model organic compound under UV light irradiation. The influence of operating parameters on MO degradation including initial concentration of MO, pH value of solution, and inorganic anion species over the composite films were examined. A blue shift of absorption threshold was observed for the ITO/CdS/ZnO film in comparison with ITO/ZnO film. ITO/CdS/ZnO composite films prepared under specific conditions showed a higher photocatalytic activity than that of ITO/ZnO films. It was also found that the photocatalytic degradation of MO on the composite filing followed pseudo-first order kinetics.     

Adverse effects of metal exposure on chemotaxis towards water-soluble attractants regulated mainly by ASE sensory neuron in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Chemotaxis to water-soluble attractants is mainly controlled by ASE sensory neuron whose specification is regulated by che-1 in Caenorhabditis elegans. Our data suggested that exposure to high concentrations of metals, such as Pb, Cu, Ag, and Cr, would result in severe defects of chemotaxis to water-soluble attractants of NaCl, cAMP, and biotin. Moreover, the morphology of ASE neuron structures as observed by relative fluorescent intensities and relative size of fluorescent puncta of cell bodies, relative lengths of sensory endings in ASE neurons, and the expression patterns of che-1 were obviously altered in metal exposed animals when they meanwhile exhibited obvious chemotaxis defects to water-soluble attractants. In addition, the dendrite morphology could be noticeably changed in animals exposed to 150 mol/L of Pb, Cu, and Ag. Furthermore, we observed significant decreases of chemotaxis to water-soluble attractants in Pb exposed che-1 mutant at concentrations more than 2.5 mol/L, and in Cu, Ag, and Cr exposed che-1 mutant at concentrations more than 50 mol/L. Therefore, impairment of the ASE neuron structures and functions may largely contribute to the appearance of chemotaxis defects to water-soluble attractants in metal exposed nematodes.     

垃圾焚烧飞灰熔融过程中重金属分离效果影响因素研究

采用重庆同兴垃圾焚烧发电厂产生的焚烧飞灰,在感应炉上进行熔融处理实验研究,探讨了熔融温度、熔融时间、碱度等因素对熔融过程中重金属分离效果的影响.结果表明,重金属的挥发率按其熔沸点高低区分明显,Pb、Zn和Cd的挥发率较高,分别为80%、60%和95%左右;Cr、Mn的挥发率均低于10%.随着熔融时间、熔融温度和碱度的增加,Pb、Zn、Cd、Mn、Cr的挥发率变化趋势不明显;铁浴熔融方式可进一步促进Zn、Pb、Hg的挥发,有利于Cr、Cu从熔渣中分离出来,与生铁形成合金.对熔渣的浸出毒性测试结果表明,重金属元素的浸出毒性均可达标(GB5085.3-1996).     

Evaluation of the relationship between two different methods for enumeration fecal indicator bacteria： Colony-forming unit and most probable number

Most probable number (MPN) and colony-forming unit (CFU) estimates of fecal indicator bacteria (FIB) concentration are common measures of water quality in aquatic environments. Thus, FIB intensively monitored in Yeongsan Watershed in an attempt to compare two di erent methods and to develop a statistical model to convert from CFU to MPN estimates or vice versa. As a result, the significant di erence was found in the MPN and CFU estimates. The enumerated Escherichia coli concentrations in MPN are greater than those in CFU, except for the measurement in winter. Especially in fall, E. coli concentrations in MPN are one order of magnitude greater than that in CFU. Contrarily, enterococci bacteria in MPN are lower than those in CFU. However, in general, a strongly positive relationship are found between MPN and CFU estimates. Therefore, the statistical models were developed, and showed the reasonable converting FIB concentrations from CFU estimates to MPN estimates. We expect this study will provide preliminary information towards future research on whether di erent analysis methods may result in di erent water quality standard violation frequencies for the same water sample.     

Determination of N-nitrosodimethylamine in drinking water by UPLC-MS/MS

The method for detecting N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) in drinking water using ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC) coupled with tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) was improved by optimizing the clean-up procedure to remove the matrix interference in pretreatment process, and was then applied to a survey of NDMA in both raw and finished water samples from five water treatment plants in South China. The NDMA concentrations ranged from 4.7 to 15.1 ng/L in raw water samples, and from 4.68 to 46.9 ng/L in finished water. The NDMA concentration in raw water was found to be related with nitrite concentration, and during the treatment, the NDMA concentration increased following ozonation but decreased after subsequent activated carbon treatment.     

垃圾渗滤液对黑麦草和高羊茅种子萌发的影响

为了解垃圾渗滤液作培养液时草本植物种子萌发的情况。以黑麦草和高羊茅两种草本植物种子为研究材料,分别研究了垃圾填埋场渗滤液处理站的渗滤液原液、渗滤液生物处理出水以及渗滤液最终出水在6个不同配比的稀释溶液(V渗滤液/V蒸馏水=1/0,3/1,1/1,1/2,1/3,1/4)下对这两种种子萌发的影响。结果显示:随着渗滤液稀释强度的降低,种子的发芽势、发芽率、发芽指数和活力指数均增加,V渗滤液/V蒸馏水为1/3时,种子发芽率均为最高,黑麦草种子发芽率达96%,高羊茅种子发芽率达79%。用渗滤液作培养液时,更有利于黑麦草种子的萌发;用最终出水作培养液时,更有利于种子的萌发。这两种不同的渗滤液,在不同配比的稀释浓度下对种子的发芽率、发芽势、发芽指数和活力指数等均具有显著的生理作用。     

城市合流污水A２/O处理系统中TTC ETS活性监测研究

研究了温度和F/M的变化对A^２/O系统TTCETS活性的影响,分析了TTCETS活性与COD降解的相关关系;通过低C/N冲击下TTCETS活性和理化指标的比较,讨论了以TTCETS活性表征系统运行状况的优劣.结果表明,一定范围内,温度与F/M均与TTCETS活性成正相关,TTCETS活性(TF/TSS·t)变化范围约13.2～48.3 mg/(g·h),最大值约为60 mg/(g·h);TTCETS活性与COD去除率相关性显著,并且TTCETS活性可预警系统的异常状态,当TTCETS活性为41.0 mg/(g·h)时,COD去除效率最高.