Insights into sludge granulation during anaerobic treatment of high-strength leachate via a full-scale IC reactor with external circulation system

In this study, a full-scale internal circulation(IC) reactor coupled with an external circulation system was developed to treat high-strength leachate from a municipal solid waste(MSW)incineration plant, in which anaerobic sludge granulation was intensively investigated. Results showed that the IC reactor achieved excellent treatment performance under high organic loading rates(OLR) of 21.06–25.16 kg chemical oxygen demand(COD)/(m3? day). The COD removal efficiency and biogas yield respectively reached 89.4%–93.4% and 0.42–0.50 m3/kg COD.The formation of extracellular polymeric substances(EPS) was closely associated with sludge granulation. Protein was the dominant component in sludge EPS, and its content was remarkably increased from 21.6 to 99.7 mg/g Volatile Suspended Solid(VSS) during the reactor operation. The sludge Zeta potential and hydrophobicity positively correlated with the protein/polysaccharide ratio in EPS, and they were respectively increased from-26.2 m V and 30.35% to-10.6 m V and 78.67%, which was beneficial to microbial aggregation. Three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy(3 D-EEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR)analysis further indicated the importance of protein-like EPS substances in the sludge granulation. Moreover, it was also found that the secondary structures of EPS proteins varied during the reactor operation.     

Characteristics of molecular weight distribution of dissolved organic matter in bromide-containing water and disinfection by-product formation properties during treatment processes

The characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and bromide ion concentration have a significant influence on the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). In order to identify the main DBP precursors, DOM was divided into five fractions based on molecular weight (MW), trihalomethane formation potential and haloacetic acid formation potential were determined for fractions, and the change in contents of different fractions and total DBPs during treatment processes (pre-chlorination, coagulation, sand filtration, disinfection) were studied. Moreover, the relationship between bromide concentration and DBP generation characteristics in processes was also analyzed. The results showed that the main DBP precursors were the fraction with MW < 1 kDa and fraction with MW 3−10 kDa, and the DBP''s generation ability of lower molecular weight DOM (< 10 kDa) was higher than that of higher molecular weight DOM. During different processes, pre-chlorination and disinfection had limited effect on removing organics but could alter the MW distribution, and coagulation and filtration could effectively remove organics with higher MW. For DBPs, trihalomethanes (THMs) were mainly generated in pre-chlorination and disinfection, while haloacetic acids (HAAs) were mostly generated during pre-chlorination; coagulation and sand filtration had little effect on THMs but resulted in a slight removal of HAAs. In addition, the results of ANOVA tests suggested that molecular sizes and treatment processes have significant influence on DBP formation. With increasing bromide concentration, the brominated DBPs significantly increased, but the bromine incorporation factor in the processes was basically consistent at each concentration.     

Are current Chinese national ambient air quality standards on 24-hour averages for particulate matter sufficient to protect public health?

With rapid economic development and urbanization in recent decades, China has experienced the worsening of ambient air quality. For better air quality management to protect human health, Chinese government revised national ambient air quality standards(NAAQS) for particulate matter(PM) in 2012(GB3095-2012). To assess the effectiveness of current NAAQS for PM on public health in Chinese population, we conducted a metaanalysis on published studies examining the mortality risk of short-term exposure to PM with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 and 2.5 μm(PM_(10) and PM_(2.5)) in China. The reported24-hour concentrations of PM_(10) and PM_(2.5) in studies ranged from 43.5 to 150.1 μg/m~3 and 37.5 to 176.7 μg/m~3. In the pooled excess, mortality risk estimates of short-term exposure to PM.In specific, per 10 μg/m~3 increase in PM_(10), we observed increases of 0.40%(95%CI: 0.33%,0.47%), 0.57%(95%CI: 0.44%, 0.70%) and 0.49%(95%CI: 0.40%, 0.58%) in total, respiratory and cardiovascular mortality, per 10 μg/m~3 increase in PM_(2.5), we observed increases of 0.51%(95%CI: 0.38%, 0.63%), 0.62%(95%CI: 0.52%, 0.73%) and 0.75%(95%CI: 0.54%, 0.95%) in total,respiratory and cardiovascular mortality. Finally, we derived 125 μg/m~3 for PM_(10) and 62.5 μg/m~3 for PM_(2.5) as 24-hour recommendation values based on the pooled estimates. Our results indicated that current Chinese NAAQS for PM could be sufficient in mitigating the excess mortality risk from short-term exposure to ambient PM. However, future research on longterm exposure cohort studies in Chinese population is also essential in revising annual averages for PM in Chinese NAAQS.     

Insights into the formation of secondary organic carbon in the summertime in urban Shanghai

To investigate formation mechanisms of secondary organic carbon(SOC) in Eastern China,measurements were conducted in an urban site in Shanghai in the summer of 2015. A period of high O_3 concentrations(daily peak 120 ppb) was observed, during which daily maximum SOC concentrations exceeding 9.0 μg/(C·m~3). Diurnal variations of SOC concentration and SOC/organic carbon(OC) ratio exhibited both daytime and nighttime peaks. The SOC concentrations correlated well with O_x(= O_3+ NO_2) and relative humidity in the daytime and nighttime, respectively, suggesting that secondary organic aerosol formation in Shanghai is driven by both photochemical production and aqueous phase reactions. Single particle mass spectrometry was used to examine the formation pathways of SOC. Along with the daytime increase of SOC, the number fraction of elemental carbon(EC) particles coated with OC quickly increased from 38.1% to 61.9% in the size range of 250–2000 nm, which was likely due to gas-to-particle partitioning of photochemically generated semi-volatile organic compounds onto EC particles. In the nighttime, particles rich in OC components were highly hygroscopic, and number fraction of these particles correlated well with relative humidity and SOC/OC nocturnal peaks. Meanwhile, as an aqueous-phase SOC tracer, particles that contained oxalate-Fe(III) complex also peaked at night. These observations suggested that aqueous-phase processes had an important contribution to the SOC nighttime formation. The influence of aerosol acidity on SOC formation was studied by both bulk and single particle level measurements, suggesting that the aqueous-phase formation of SOC was enhanced by particle acidity.     

A green method to synthesize flowerlike Fe(OH)3 microspheres for enhanced adsorption performance toward organic and heavy metal pollutants

Dyestuffs and heavy metal ions in water are seriously harmful to the ecological environment and human health.Three-dimensional(3 D) flowerlike Fe(OH)_3 microspheres were synthesized through a green yet low-cost injection method,for the removal of organic dyes and heavy metal ions.The Fe(OH)_3 microspheres were characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis(TGA),Fourier transform infrared(FT-IR),and transmission electron microscopy(TEM) techniques.The adsorption kinetics of Congo Red(CR) on Fe(OH)_3 microspheres obeyed the pseudo-second-order model.Cr~(6+) and Pb~(2+) adsorption behaviors on Fe(OH)_3 microspheres followed the Langmuir isotherm model.The maximum adsorption capacities of the synthesized Fe(OH)_3 were 308,52.94,and 75.64 mg/g for CR,Cr~(6+),and Pb~(2+) respectively.The enhanced adsorption performance originated from its surface properties and large specific surface area of 250 m~2/g.The microspheres also have excellent adsorption stability and recyclability.Another merit of the Fe(OH)_3 material is that it also acts as a Fenton-like catalyst.These twin functionalities(both as adsorbent and Fenton-like catalyst) give the synthesized Fe(OH)_3 microspheres great potential in the field of water treatment.     

Behaviors and kinetics of toluene adsorption‐desorption on activated carbons with varying pore structure

This work was undertaken to investigate the behaviors and kinetics of toluene adsorption and desorption on activated carbons with varying pore structure. Five kinds of activated carbon from different raw materials were selected. Adsorption isotherms and breakthrough curves for toluene were measured. Langmuir and Freundlich equations were fitted to the equilibrium data, and the Freundlich equation was more suitable for simulating toluene adsorption. The process consisted of monolayer, multilayer and partial active site adsorption types. The effect of the pore structure of the activated carbons on toluene adsorption capacity was investigated. The quasi-first-order model was more suitable for describing the process than the quasi-second-order model. The adsorption data was also modeled by the internal particle diffusion model and it was found that the adsorption process could be divided into three stages. In the external surface adsorption process, the rate depended on the specific surface area. During the particle diffusion stage, pore structure and volume were the main factors affecting adsorption rate. In the final equilibrium stage, the rate was determined by the ratio of meso-and macro-pores to total pore volume. The rate over the whole adsorption process was dominated by the toluene concentration. The desorption behavior of toluene on activated carbons was investigated,and the process was divided into heat and mass transfer parts corresponding to emission and diffusion mechanisms, respectively. Physical adsorption played the main role during the adsorption process.     

邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯对小鼠学习记忆的影响

为研究增塑剂邻苯二甲酸二异癸酯（DIDP）对小鼠学习和记忆能力的影响,以白藜芦醇（Res）作为保护剂,将42只雄性昆明小鼠随机分为6组,每组7只,分别为：生理盐水组、1.5,15,150mg/（kg·d） DIDP组、20mg/（kg·d） Res组、150mg/（kg·d） DIDP+20mg/（kg·d） Res组.连续灌胃染毒9d,期间同时进行Morris水迷宫实验.第10d将小鼠处死,取出脑组织,检测活性氧簇（ROS）、谷胱甘肽（GSH）、丙二醛（MDA）、8-羟基脱氧鸟苷（8-OHdG）、肿瘤坏死因子（TNF-α）、白细胞介素1β（IL-1β）的含量.并对小鼠海马体切片进行H&E染色,观察病理变化.结果显示,15,150mg/（kg·d） DIDP染毒可导致小鼠的学习和记忆能力显著低于对照组,同时可诱发脑组织产生氧化应激,并促进炎症因子释放,而Res能有效减弱脑组织氧化应激水平.由上可得,DIDP致小鼠学习和记忆能力下降可能与其引起的脑组织中海马体的氧化损伤有关,同时Res可能通过降低DIDP引起的氧化应激进而减轻其对小鼠造成的学习记忆损伤.     

固氮鱼腥藻Anabaena sphaerica和念珠藻Nostoc muscorum对有机氯农药林丹的降解效应和机理

研究了固氮鱼腥藻A.sphaerica和念珠藻N.muscorum对林丹(γ-HCH)的降解效应及机理.结果表明,在初始藻种叶绿素含量约为37mg·L-1,林丹起始浓度均为0.2mg·L-1条件下,A.sphaerica和N.muscorum均能明显降解林丹,5d降解率分别为66.1%和69.5%,其降解半衰期分别为3.19和3.23d.在培养过程中,0.2mg·L-1林丹并不会抑制两种固氮藻的生长,培养5d后,叶绿素a的含量分别增加0.82倍和1.36倍.升高温度和增强光照均能增加林丹的降解率.相对于N2,NaNO3作为唯一氮源更能刺激固氮蓝藻对林丹的降解,对于A.sphaerica和N.muscorum,其对林丹的5d降解率分别增加44.6%和40.5%.气质联用检测结果表明,脱去HCl生成γ-五氯环己烯是两种固氮蓝藻降解林丹的主要脱氯分子机理.     

萃取膜生物反应器处理苯酚废水的试验研究

从经过驯化的活性污泥中筛选出苯酚降解菌.制备成菌悬液,对比活性污泥体系和菌悬液体系的萃取膜生物反应器(EMB)对苯酚废水的处理效果,考察了料液苯酚浓度、反应器温度等因素对膜萃取速率及生物降解效果的影响.结果表明,通过以苯酚为唯一碳源,逐渐提高苯酚浓度的方法对活性污泥进行驯化.当进水苯酚浓度为700 mg·L-1时,苯酚去除率达99%以上;适当提高反应器温度和料液初始浓度有利于提高膜萃取速率;当初始料液苯酚浓度为2000 mg·L-1时,膜萃取速率高于生物降解速率,生物相中产生苯酚积累;菌悬液体系EMB的生物膜厚度明显小于活性污泥体系,且水力反冲洗可有效控制生物膜厚度.对苯酚生物降解产物的GC-MS分析结果表明,苯酚的生物降解较彻底,基本无苯酚中间产物的残留.     

SBR中生物除磷颗粒污泥的反硝化聚磷研究

反硝化聚磷菌(DNPAOs)可利用厌氧储存的聚.3.羟基丁酸(PHB)以硝酸盐和亚硝酸盐为电子受体进行过量吸磷和反硝化,从而达到在低碳源下脱氮除磷的双重目的.本试验在SBR反应器中,采用厌氧,缺氧/好氧(A/A/O)交替运行的方式.将富集聚磷菌(PAOs)的颗粒污泥成功地诱导为具有反硝化聚磷能力的颗粒污泥.诱导结束后P的去除率在90%以上,NOx-N的去除率在93%以上,厌氧段释磷量在25-33 mg/L,缺氧段每去除lg NOx-N吸收P约1.3 g;典型周期运行结果显示,厌氧段最大比释磷速率(SRPR)为18.39 mg/(g.h),缺氧段最大比吸磷速率(SUPR)为23.72 mg/(g·h),最大比反硝化速率(SDNR)为18.19mg/(g·h),好氧段最大SUPR为17.15 me,/(g·h):颗粒污泥中DNPAOs的数量由诱导前的14.9%增加到80.7%.与除磷颗粒污泥相比.反硝化聚磷颗粒污泥沉速提高0.16-0.7倍,比重提高0.003 1.