A novel approach to estimate and control denitrification performance in activated sludge systems with respirogram technology

Respirogram technology has been widely applied for aerobic process, however, the response of respirogram to anoxic denitrification is still unclear. To reveal such response may help to design a new method for the evaluation of the performance of denitrification. The size distribution of flocs measured at different denitrification moments demonstrated a clear expansion of flocs triggered by denitrification, during which higher specific endogenous and quasi-endogenous respiration rates (SOUR_e and SOUR_q) were also observed. Furthermore, SOUR_q increases exponentially with the specific denitrification rate (SDNR), suggesting that there should be a maximum SDNR in conventional activated sludge systems. Based on these findings, an index R_q/t, defined as the ratio of quasi-endogenous (OUR_q) to maximum respiration rate (OUR_t), is proposed to estimate the denitrification capacity that higher R_q/t indicates higher denitrification potential, which can be readily obtained without complex measurement or analysis, and it offers a novel and promising respirogram-based approach for denitrification estimation and control by taking measures to extend anoxic time to maintain its value at a high level within a certain range.     

Hydrothermal-treated Pt/Al2O3 as an excellent catalyst for toluene total oxidation

The preparation of highly active supported noble metal catalysts with a low noble metal loading has always been the ultimate goal of researchers working on catalysis. Hydrothermally treated Pt/Al₂O₃ (Pt/Al₂O₃-H) exhibits better catalytic activity than that (Pt/Al₂O₃-C) treated via the conventional calcination approach. At the high space velocity of 100,000 mL/(g∙hr), the temperature that correspond to 50% toluene conversion (T₅₀) of Pt/Al₂O₃-H is 115°C lower than that of Pt/Al₂O₃-C, and the turnover frequency (TOF) value can reach 0.0756 sec⁻¹. The mechanism by which the hydrothermal approach enhances Pt/Al₂O₃ activity has been investigated. The structure associated with the high catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) can be retained via hydrothermal treatment. Furthermore, the support is transformed to AlO(OH) with numerous surface hydroxyl groups, which in turn can facilitate the adsorption of toluene. And the synergistic effects of Pt NPs and AlO(OH) increases the contents of Pt in oxidation state and active oxygen, which are beneficial for toluene oxidation.     

Enhanced metronidazole removal by binary-species photoelectrogenic biofilm of microaglae and anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria

High efficient removal of antibiotics during nutriments recovery for biomass production poses a major technical challenge for photosynthetic microbial biofilm-based wastewater treatment since antibiotics are always co-exist with nutriments in wastewater and resist biodegradation due to their strong biotoxicity and recalcitrance. In this study, we make a first attempt to enhance metronidazole (MNZ) removal from wastewater using electrochemistry-activated binary-species photosynthetic biofilm of Rhodopseudomonas Palustris (R. Palustris) and Chlorella vulgaris (C. vulgaris) by cultivating them under different applied potentials. The results showed that application of external potentials of -0.3, 0 and 0.2 V led to 11, 33 and 26-fold acceleration in MNZ removal, respectively, as compared to that of potential free. The extent of enhancement in MNZ removal was positively correlated to the intensities of photosynthetic current produced under different externally applied potentials. The binary-species photoelectrogenic biofilm exhibited 18 and 6-fold higher MNZ removal rate than that of single-species of C. vulgaris and R. Palustris, respectively, due to the enhanced metabolic interaction between them. Application of an external potential of 0V significantly promoted the accumulation of tryptophan and tyrosine-like compounds as well as humic acid in extracellular polymeric substance, whose concentrations were 7.4, 7.1 and 2.0-fold higher than those produced at potential free, contributing to accelerated adsorption and reductive and photosensitive degradation of MNZ.     

Cultivar-dependent rhizobacteria community and cadmium accumulation in rice: Effects on cadmium availability in soils and iron-plaque formation

The association between the rhizospheric microbial community and Cd accumulation in rice is poorly understood. A field trial was conducted to investigate the different rhizobacterial communities of two rice cultivars with high Cd accumulation (HA) and low Cd accumulation (LA) at four growth stages. Results showed that the Cd content in the roots of the HA cultivar was 1.23 - 27.53 higher than that of the LA cultivar (0.08 - 10.5 µg/plant) at four stages. The LA cultivar had a significantly lower Cd availability in rhizosphere and a higher quantity of iron plaque (IP) on the root surface than the HA cultivar at four stages. This resulted in the reduction of Cd concentration in IPs and Cd translocation from IP-to-root. Microbial analysis indicated that the LA cultivar formed a distinct rhizobacterial community from the HA cultivar and had less α-diversity. The rhizosphere of the LA cultivar was enriched in specific bacterial taxa (e.g., Massilia and Bacillus) involved in Cd immobilization by phosphate precipitation and IP formation by iron oxidization. However, the rhizosphere in the HA cultivar assembled abundant sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (e.g., Sulfuricurvum) and iron reduction bacteria (Geobacter). They promoted Cd mobilization and reduced IP formation via the metal redox process. This study reveals a potential approach in which specific rhizobacteria decrease or increase Cd accumulation in rice on contaminated soil and provides a new perspective for secure rice production.     

钙镁对垃圾渗滤液处理中微生物过氧化氢酶活性的影响

过氧化氢酶是影响微生物生命活动的关键酶,为揭示混合污染物对垃圾渗滤液中微生物过氧化氢酶活性的影响及其相互作用关系,选取垃圾渗滤液中常见的钙镁离子作为污染物,利用直接均分射线法设计3种浓度配比的钙镁离子混合物,钙离子占比分别为0.27、0.52、0.77;然后,根据抑制效应的变化分析钙镁离子对过氧化氢酶活性的抑制作用,并利用等效线图法分析钙镁离子对垃圾渗滤液中过氧化氢酶活性作用的相互关系. 结果表明:①钙镁离子及其混合物对过氧化氢酶活性的抑制效应具有相同的规律,在同一周期下抑制效应随着钙镁离子浓度的增加而增大,在同一浓度下抑制效应随着周期的增加而增大. ②当钙离子占比为0.27时,钙镁离子混合物对过氧化氢酶活性作用的相互关系主要表现为协同作用;当钙离子占比为0.52、0.77时,钙镁离子混合物对过氧化氢酶活性作用的相互关系主要表现为拮抗作用. 研究显示,随着钙离子占比的增加,钙镁离子混合物对过氧化氢酶活性作用的相互关系由以协同作用为主变为以拮抗作用为主.      

基于UV-Vis辽河保护区地表水DOM的时空分布特征

为探讨辽河保护区地表水中DOM（dissolved organic matter,溶解性有机质）组成、腐殖化程度及时空变化,采集辽河保护区上游至下游及主要支流入辽河干流河口处丰水期和枯水期地表水样品,基于UV-Vis（紫外-可见吸收光谱）揭示地表水中DOM结构组成的时空变化特征. 结果表明:①从季节上看,辽河保护区地表水丰水期DOC（dissolved organic carbon,溶解性有机碳）浓度(11.73 mg/L)高于枯水期(6.76 mg/L),且丰水期DOM中类蛋白质组分相对浓度高于枯水期,而类腐殖质组分的相对浓度较低;从空间上看,辽河保护区支流DOC平均浓度高于干流浓度,且丰水期地表水DOM中类蛋白物质与类腐殖质浓度增加. ②基于UV-Vis特征参数可知,辽河保护区地表水中DOM主要以内源释放为主;从季节上看,丰水期降水量和地表径流增加,DOM的芳香性、分子量、腐殖化水平降低;从空间上看,辽河保护区地表水DOM的腐殖化程度沿河流上游至下游呈现逐渐递减趋势,且支流DOM腐殖化程度较高,具有较高的芳香性及疏水性. 研究显示,河流地表水中DOM的芳香性与分子量大小受周边沿岸生态环境系统、生物条件、土地利用类型等因素影响,不同类型地表水中DOM具有显著差异.      

不同基质组合对氮磷吸附能力的研究

就地利用菜地改建小型湿地系统可能是实现农村生活污水消纳和资源化利用的一种有效途径,其中菜园土与吸附基质的组合直接关系水体污染物中氮磷的净化效果. 选取沸石、谷壳、活性炭、陶粒和菜园土作为试验基质,使用BET比表面积孔径分析仪、扫描电子显微镜和Ｘ射线衍射仪(EDX)对其进行表征,通过等温吸附试验分别筛选出对氮磷吸附效果较好的沸石和陶粒,设置菜园土∶陶粒∶沸石质量占比基质组合:F1(10∶0∶0)、F2(6∶2∶2)、F3(8∶1∶1)、F4(8∶2∶0)、F5(8∶0∶2)、F6(6∶1∶3)和F7(6∶3∶1). 在低、中、高3种氮磷浓度下,通过吸附动力学试验筛选出去除效果最好的基质组合. 结果表明:①5种单一基质中,活性炭、陶粒的比表面积(35.72、33.23 m2/g)和微孔体积(2.20×10?1、8.25×10?2 cm2/g)均较大;沸石和陶粒表面呈粗糙多孔结构. ②Freundlich和Langmuir等温吸附模型均能较好地拟合5种单一基质对氮磷的吸附,各基质对氮的饱和吸附量表现为沸石(2.00 mg/g)>陶粒(1.47 mg/g)>菜园土(1.17 mg/g)>活性炭(0.99 mg/g)>谷壳(0.21 mg/g),对磷的饱和吸附量表现为陶粒(1.28 mg/g)>活性炭(1.25 mg/g)>沸石(1.16 mg/g)>谷壳(0.80 mg/g)>菜园土(0.50 mg/g). ③7种基质组合对氮磷吸附具有相似的动力学特征,Elovich模型、双常数速率模型和一级反应动力学模型均能较好地模拟基质组合对不同污染负荷条件下氮磷的吸附规律. ④7种基质组合对氮磷的吸附速率均呈现先快后慢的趋势,最终于12~48 h趋于稳定. 研究显示,F2、F4和F7基质组合对氮磷的去除效果均较好,但考虑菜地改造的简易性和可操作性,F4为最佳基质组合,其在3种不同氮磷浓度下对氮、磷的吸附量分别为0.36~0.68和0.10~0.39 mg/g.      

渤海湾天津近岸海域沉积物氮赋存形态及其环境意义

本研究采用连续分相浸取法,研究了渤海湾近岸海域沉积物中离子交换态氮（IEF-N）、碳酸盐结合态氮（CF-N）、铁锰氧化态氮（IMOF-N）及有机态和硫化物结合态氮（OSF-N）4种可转化态氮（TF-N）的含量及空间分布特征,进而揭示其环境意义。结果表明,表层沉积物中TF-N含量范围为145~233μg/g,均值为193...     

海洋生物对微塑料迁移转化的调控作用

近年来,海洋微塑料污染已成为全球关注的重要环境问题。海洋中广泛存在的微塑料可被藻类吸附、微生物定植,亦可被海洋动物摄食并蓄积。生物与微塑料之间的相互作用必然会改变微塑料的物理、化学性质,及其在海洋中的迁移转化。因此,本文系统地阐述了海洋生物对微塑料的吸附、摄入、蓄积与排泄等关键过程;重点总结了微塑料在海洋生物过程(如排泄、与海洋雪团聚、形成生物膜以及生物扰动)影响下的沉降-埋藏等迁移过程;深入讨论了海洋动物对微塑料的摄食、消化过程以及微生物的分解作用导致的微塑料破碎、降解以及塑料添加剂和吸附污染物的释放过程及其机理。本文阐明了海洋生物对微塑料迁移转化的调控作用,为理解海洋微塑料的环境归趋提供理论依据。