The size distribution of airborne bacteria and human pathogenic bacteria in a commercial composting plant

•Bacterial concentrations from eight stages were 10⁴–10⁵copies/m³. •Diameter influenced clustering of bacterial and HPB lineages. •Dg of 8 HPB ranged from 2.42 to 5.09 μm in composting areas. •Dg of 8 HPB ranged from 3.70 to 8.96 μm in packaging areas. •HPB had high concentrations and small sizes in composting areas. Composting plants are regarded as one of the important sources of environmental bioaerosols. However, limitations in the size distribution of airborne bacteria have prevented our comprehensive understanding of their risk to human health and their dispersal behavior. In this study, different sizes of airborne bacteria were collected using an eight-stage impactor from a full-scale composting facility. Size-related abundance and communities of airborne bacteria as well as human pathogenic bacteria (HPB) were investigated using 16S rRNA gene sequencing coupled with droplet digital PCR. Our results indicate that the bacterial concentrations from the eight stages were approximately 10⁴–10⁵copies/m³. Although no statistical correlation was detected between the particle size and the Shannon index, the influence of size on bacterial lineages was observed in both composting and packaging areas. For airborne bacteria from different stages, the dominant phyla were Firmicutes, Proteobacteria, and Actinobacteria, and the dominant genera was Bacillus. Seven out of eight HPB with a small geometric mean aerodynamic diameter had a high concentration in composting areas. Based on diameters of 2.42 to 5.09 μm, most HPB in the composting areas were expected to be deposited on the bronchus and secondary bronchus. However, in the packaging areas, the deposition of HPB (diameters 3.70 to 8.96 μm) occurred in the upper part of the respiratory tract. Our results on the size distribution, abundance, and diversity of these bacteria offer important information for the systematic evaluation of bacterial pathogenicity and the potential health impacts on workers in composting plants and the surrounding residents.     

Research progress on distribution,sources, identification,toxicity, and biodegradation of microplastics in the ocean,freshwater, and soil environment

• Microplastics are widely found in both aquatic and terrestrial environments. • Cleaning products and discarded plastic waste are primary sources of microplastics. • Microplastics have apparent toxic effects on the growth of fish and soil plants. • Multiple strains of biodegradable microplastics have been isolated. Microplastics (MPs) are distributed in the oceans, freshwater, and soil environment and have become major pollutants. MPs are generally referred to as plastic particles less than 5 mm in diameter. They consist of primary microplastics synthesized in microscopic size manufactured production and secondary microplastics generated by physical and environmental degradation. Plastic particles are long-lived pollutants that are highly resistant to environmental degradation. In this review, the distribution and possible sources of MPs in aquatic and terrestrial environments are described. Moreover, the adverse effects of MPs on natural creatures due to ingestion have been discussed. We also have summarized identification methods based on MPs particle size and chemical bond. To control the pollution of MPs, the biodegradation of MPs under the action of different microbes has also been reviewed in this work. This review will contribute to a better understanding of MPs pollution in the environment, as well as their identification, toxicity, and biodegradation in the ocean, freshwater, and soil, and the assessment and control of microplastics exposure.     

Quorum sensing regulation methods and their effects on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems: A review

• Quorum sensing enhancement and inhibition methods are summarized. • Effects of quorum sensing regulation on biofilm are reviewed. • Current knowledge gaps and research challenges are proposed. Quorum sensing (QS) plays an important role in microbial aggregation control. Recently, the optimization of biological waste treatment systems by QS regulation gained an increasing attention. The effects of QS regulation on treatment performances and biofilm were frequently investigated. To understand the state of art of QS regulation, this review summarizes the methods of QS enhancement and QS inhibition in biological waste treatment systems. Typical QS enhancement methods include adding exogenous QS molecules, adding QS accelerants and cultivating QS bacteria, while typical QS inhibition methods include additions of quorum quenching (QQ) bacteria, QS-degrading enzymes, QS-degrading oxidants, and QS inhibitors. The specific improvements after applying these QS regulation methods in different treatment systems are concluded. In addition, the effects of QS regulation methods on biofilm in biological waste treatment systems are reviewed in terms of biofilm formation, extracellular polymeric substances production, microbial viability, and microbial community. In the end, the knowledge gaps in current researches are analyzed, and the requirements for future study are suggested.     

Fenton试剂处理选矿废水机理研究

研究了用Fenton试剂处理选矿废水中残余的黄药,分别考查了氧化时间、反应初始pH值、Fe2+浓度及H2O2用量对黄药降解效果的影响,用正交试验确定了4个因素的最好条件。结果表明:初始pH值和H2O2用量是影响去除效果的主要因素;氧化时间为60 m in,反应初始pH=4,[Fe2+]=20 mg/L,[H2O2]=20 mg/L,黄药的浓度为125 mg/L时,黄药的去除率达到99.5%;初步探讨了Fenton试剂净化废水中黄药的机理是.OH自由基先将黄药氧化为过氧化黄原酸盐,再将其氧化为CO2,黄药得到去除。     

生活垃圾填埋场封场后种植植物中重金属迁移研究

在上海老港生活垃圾填埋场填埋单元封场的覆盖土中掺混了矿化垃圾种植植物,分析Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn 4种重金属在土壤和植物中的迁移变化,研究表明:(1)覆盖土土质从一般耕作土变成肥沃土壤;覆盖土和种植混合土重金属Cd、Pb、Cu、Zn中Cd、Pb含量相近,但种植土的Cu含量略大于覆盖原土,Zn含量远大于覆盖原土;(2)植物能富集土壤和垃圾中的重金属,木本植物的根部富集重金属的能力强于草本植物,但重金属在草本植物根、茎、叶中的迁移速度大于木本植物;(3)植物根、茎、叶的Cu、Zn含量均远大于未受污染土壤种植植物相应部位的Cu、Zn含量,种植的植物不能供家养动物食用,以免通过食物链作用危及人体安全.     

直接驯化嗜盐菌处理高盐废水的研究

从大连旅顺盐场底泥中筛选出适合高盐度的嗜盐菌,在序批式间歇反应器(SBR)中对其进行3.5%(质量分数)盐度的驯化,污泥混合液悬浮固体(MLSS)平均质量浓度达600mg/L。污泥比耗氧速率(SOUR)测量结果显示,内源呼吸阶段污泥SOUR为10.36mg/(g.h),外源呼吸阶段污泥SOUR达到29.09mg/(g.h),表明所筛选的嗜盐菌培养的污泥具有较高活性。利用培养的污泥进行高盐模拟废水处理试验,结果表明,对盐度为3.5%、COD为240～340mg/L的高盐废水,在每周期12h、曝气量0.6L/min、污泥MLSS为600mg/L、污泥龄为18d条件下,COD去除率达95%以上,NH4+-N去除率达61%,TP去除率达55%。改变进水有机负荷对出水COD去除影响不大,该系统耐有机负荷冲击能力较强;盐度负荷的改变对COD的去除影响不大,而NH4+-N去除率有明显变化,在3.5%和5.0%的盐度下,NH4+-N去除率分别为61%和31%。     

气液相组合生物法净化低浓度甲醛废气研究

对生物膜填料塔 液相生物处理的组合系统净化低浓度甲醛废气进行实验研究,结果表明,组合系统对甲醛废气的净化效果明显优于单独生物膜填料塔净化系统,甲醛净化效率提高35%以上,甲醛生化去除量增大50%以上.动力学研究结果表明,甲醛在生物膜上的生化降解反应为慢速生化反应,需要采取强化甲醛液相生化降解反应、提高反应速率的措施,来提高废气中甲醛的生物净化效果.     

EDTA络合铜在无机柱撑膨润土上的吸附研究

利用天然膨润土、羟基铁和羟基铁铝柱撑膨润土,进行吸附EDTA络合铜离子(EDTA-Cu)的实验.研究了溶液中EDTA与Cu2 摩尔比、pH值、吸附时间对吸附过程的影响和吸附等温线的变化规律.结果表明,达到吸附平衡的时间为1 h;pH值对天然膨润土的吸附影响甚小,柱撑膨润土的最佳吸附pH在6～8之间;膨润土的分配系数随着溶液中EDTA与Cu2 的摩尔比的增加而减少,当摩尔比＞2后,分配系数趋于稳定;柱撑膨润土羟基吸附位的活性是决定吸附性能的关键因素;吸附过程符合Langmuir和Freundlich等温吸附模型,吸附容量的大小和吸附作用强弱的顺序为:羟基铁铝膨润土＞羟基铁膨润土＞天然膨润土.     

悬挂链生物接触氧化工艺处理河道污水

采用悬挂链曝气式接触氧化工艺在3个时段内处理城市河道污水,通过采用磷脂法、TTC-脱氢酶活性法和MPN法研究载体表面生物膜特性,来验证装置的水质净化效果。结果表明,进水水质变化幅度较大的时段1内,水质对缺氧区和好氧区内生物膜量及活性有很大冲击,对污染物的去除效果影响不大,COD、NH+4-N、TN和TP的平均去除率分别达到75.9%、80.8%、64.6%和78.3%;进水水质稳定的时段2内,缺氧区和好氧区内生物膜量和活性要高于其他时段,COD、NH+4-N、TN和TP的平均去除率分别达到77.0%、80.6%、69.4%和55.3%;低温运行的时段3内,缺氧区和好氧区内生物膜量和活性都低于其他时段,水质净化效果明显下降,COD、NH+4-N、TN和TP的平均去除率分别为71.1%、68.5%、48.9%和46.6%。     

Nationwide monitoring of atmospheric PCDD/Fs and dioxin-like PCBs in South Korea

Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) and dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (DL-PCBs) were measured in ambient air samples collected from different parts of South Korea in 2008, and the measured levels were used for assessing the spatial and temporal distribution of atmospheric PCDDFs and DL-PCBs in South Korea. The average concentrations of atmospheric PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs among the 37 sites were 28 fg I-TEQ m⁻³ (ND ∼ 617) and 1 fg WHO-TEQ m⁻³ (ND ∼ 0.016). Elevated atmospheric levels of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs observed at residential/industrial sites and in the north-west of Korea, indicated a potential contribution and impacts of anthropogenic sources of PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs. These levels were similar or lower than those previously reported in other ambient air surveys. Average concentrations of PCDD/Fs showed small seasonal variations (ANOVA analysis, p = 0.144). The highest concentrations of PCDD/Fs were observed during winter, followed by spring, autumn and summer. Atmospheric PCDD/Fs and DL-PCBs in South Korea rapidly decreased during the last 10 years (1998-2008), demonstrating the efficiency of stricter regulations and the application of best available technologies/best environmental practices at emission sources. Comparison of the congener profiles and principal component analysis showed that current atmospheric PCDD/Fs are mostly influenced by industrial sources and PCBs from old commercial PCB uses. Nationwide POPs monitoring will continue and allows an effective evaluation of the implementation of the Stockholm Convention on POPs.