Biofiltration pretreatment for reverse osmosis (RO) membrane in a water reclamation system

Biofouling control is considered as a major challenge in operating membrane systems. A lab-scale RO system was setup at a local water reclamation plant to study the feasibility of using biofiltration as a pretreatment process to control the biofouling. The biological activity in the RO system (feed, product, reject streams) was tested using the standard serial dilution plating technique. Operational parameters such as differential pressure (DP) and permeate flowrate of the system were also monitored. Effects of biofilter on AOC and DOC removals were investigated. Biofiltration was found to be a viable way of assimilable organic carbon (AOC) and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) removals, with removal efficiencies of 40-49% and 35-45% at an empty bed contact time (EBCT) of 30 min. It was also found that using the biofiltration as a pretreatment reduced the rate of biofouling. It took only about 72 h for biofouling to have a significant impact on the performance of the RO membrane, when the system was operated without using biofiltration as pretreatment. There was, however, a five times increase in operational length to more than 300 h when biofiltration was used. This study presented the suitability of the biofilter as an economical and simple way of biofouling control for RO membrane.     

The effect of temperature on the rate of cyanide metabolism of two woody plants

The response of cyanide metabolism rates of two woody plants to changes in temperature is investigated. Detached leaves (1.0 g fresh weight) from weeping willow (Salix babylonica L.) and Chinese elder (Sambucus chinensis Lindl.) were kept in glass vessels with 100ml of aqueous solution spiked with potassium cyanide for a maximum of 28 h. Ten different temperatures were used ranging from 11 degrees C to 32 degrees C. The disappearance of aqueous cyanide was analyzed spectrophotometrically. The cyanide removal rate of Chinese elder was higher than that of weeping willow at all temperatures. The highest cyanide removal rate for Chinese elder was found at 30 degrees C with a value of 12.6 mg CN kg(-1) h(-1), whereas the highest value of the weeping willow was 9.72 mg CN kg(-1) h(-1) at 32 degrees C. The temperature coefficient values, Q10, which are the ratio of removal rates at a 10 degree difference, were determined for Chinese elder and weeping willow to 1.84 and 2.09, respectively, indicating that the cyanide removal rate of weeping willow was much more susceptible to changes in temperature than that of the Chinese elder. In conclusion, changes in temperature have a substantial influence on the removal rate of cyanide by plants.     

Spatial and temporal variations of PM(2.5) concentration and composition throughout an urban area with high freeway density-the Greater Cincinnati study

The PM(2.5) concentration and its elemental composition were measured in the Cincinnati metropolitan area, which is characterized by intense highway traffic. The spatial and temporal variations were investigated for various chemical elements that contributed to the PM(2.5) fraction during a 1-year-long measurement campaign (December 2001-November 2002). The ambient aerosol monitoring was performed in 11 locations around the city during nine measurement cycles. During each cycle, four Harvard-type impactors were operating in parallel in specific locations to explore various factors affecting the PM(2.5) elemental concentrations. The sampling was performed during business days, thus assuring traffic uniformity. The 24-h PM(2.5) samples were collected on Teflon and quartz filters. Teflon filters were analyzed by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis while quartz filters were analyzed by thermal-optical transmittance (TOT) analysis. In addition to PM(2.5) measurements, particle size-selective sampling was performed in two cycles using micro-orifice uniform deposit impactor; the collected fractionated deposits were analyzed by XRF. It was found that PM(2.5) concentration ranged from 6.70 to 48.3 mug m(-3) and had low spatial variation (median coefficient of variation, CV=11.3%). The elemental concentrations demonstrated high spatial variation, with the median CV ranged from 38.2% for Fe to 68.7% for Ni. For traffic-related trace metals, the highest concentration was detected in the city center site, which was close to a major highway. The particle size selective measurement revealed that mass concentration of the trace metals, such as Zn, Pb, Ni, as well as that of sulfur reach their peak values in the particle size range of 0.32-1.0 mum. Meteorological parameters and traffic intensity were not found to have a significant influence on the PM(2.5) elemental concentrations.     

Biodegradation mechanisms and kinetics of azo dye 4BS by a microbial consortium

A microbial consortium consisting of a white-rot fungus 8-4* and a Pseudomonas 1-10 was isolated from wastewater treatment facilities of a local dyeing house by enrichment, using azo dye Direct Fast Scarlet 4BS as the sole source of carbon and energy, which had a high capacity for rapid decolorization of 4BS. To elucidate the decolorization mechanisms, decolorization of 4BS was compared between individual strains and the microbial consortium under different treatment processes. The microbial consortium showed a significant improvement on dye decolorization rates under either static or shaking culture, which might be attributed to the synergetic reaction of single strains. From the curve of COD values and the UV-visible spectra of 4BS solutions before and after decolorization cultivation with the microbial consortium, it was found that 4BS could be mineralized completely, and the results had been used for presuming the degrading pathway of 4BS. This study also examined the kinetics of 4BS decolorization by immobilized microbial consortium. The results demonstrated that the optimal decolorization activity was observed in pH range between four and 9, temperature range between 20 and 40 degrees C and the maximal specific decolorization rate occurred at 1,000 mg l(-1) of 4BS. The proliferation and distribution of microbial consortium were also microscopically observed, which further confirmed the decolorization mechanisms of 4BS.     

调理剂对CAF污泥浓缩工艺影响的试验研究

涡凹气浮（CAF）已广泛应用于工业废水和城市污水的预处理中.由于污泥本身的特性原因,CAF在污泥处理中尚没有应用.通过试验投加污泥调理剂改变污泥的特性,以达到将CAF工艺用于浓缩活性污泥的目的.试验表明,CAF工艺浓缩低浓度剩余活性污泥效果很好,但正确选择污泥调理剂的投加点和投加量对CAF污泥浓缩工艺至关重要.     

硫酸锰废渣的浸出毒性及处理研究

研究了硫酸锰废渣的主要金属元素组成及浸出毒性,并采用锰渣加石灰混合的方法进行无害化处理,研究结果表明,硫酸锰废渣浸出液中Mn、Cd超标,锰渣加石灰混合处理的方法能有效降低废渣的浸出毒性,锰渣与石灰的重量比为25:2最佳.     

含铬废水的治理研究

介绍了含铬废水的分离处理研究现状，讨论了各自的应用原理及优缺点。对工程设计和生产工艺提出了一些有益的建议。并对含铬废水处理的发展趋势作了分析和展望。     

空气微生物研究方法进展与展望

着重论述了空气微生物气溶胶的研究方法，主要有培养基法和非培养基法。培养基法是传统的微生物研究方法，需要花费大量的时间和劳动力，只能够检测活的能够在培养基上生长的微生物，可以大致反映空气中的微生物气溶胶。非培养基法，主要是PCR法，具有敏感性高、快速、特异性强等特点，能够检测出环境样品中绝大多数的微生物，是一种微生物气溶胶检测的有效途径。最后指出实时持续的监测是将来空气微生物研究的努力方向和发展趋势。     

多相催化-臭氧氧化法处理模拟有机磷农药废水

实验通过臭氧氧化法来降解模拟废水中的有机磷农药，将其转化为无害物质，并试验研究了在废水中加入2种自制的催化剂对降解结果的影响。采用气相色谱法测定水中有机磷农药的量。结果表明，只用臭氧处理的情况下1周后有机磷的去除率为78．03％；在催化剂A存在下，去除率可达93．85％；在催化剂B存在下，去除率可达为88．35％。结果表明，臭氧氧化法对此类污水：具有较好的降解作用，尤其在有催化剂存在的情况下处理效果更好，在室温和中性介质中均属于一级反应。     

曝气生物滤池去除有机物及硝化氨氮的影响因素研究

采用以陶粒为填料的曝气生物滤池(BAF)处理低浓度生活污水,研究在气水比一定的条件下,水力负荷、有机负荷及氨氮负荷对BAF去除有机物及硝化氨氮的性能的影响.研究结果表明,当试验进水COD为105.8～156.6 mg/L,气水比为3:1的条件下,降解有机物的最佳水力负荷为1.35～1.68 m3/(m2·h),COD平均去除率为86.3%.氨氮负荷是影响反应器硝化性能的直接因素.当水力负荷为1.05 m3/(m2·h),平均进水COD为106.1 mg/L时,若使出水氨氮低于15 mg/L,则反应器能承受的最大进水氨氮负荷为0.5 kg/(m3·d)左右.并确立了相应的反应器动力学模型.