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.     

Extracellular polymeric substance induces biogenesis of vivianite under inorganic phosphate-free conditions

Vivianite is often found in reducing environments rich in iron and phosphorus from organic debris degradation or phosphorus mineral dissolution. The formation of vivianite is essential to the geochemical cycling of phosphorus and iron elements in natural environments. In this study, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were selected as the source of phosphorus. Microcosm experiments were conducted to test the evolution of mineralogy during the reduction of polyferric sulfate flocs (PFS) by Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 (S. oneidensis MR-1) at EPS concentrations of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L. Vivianite was found to be the secondary mineral in EPS treatment when there was no phosphate in the media. The EPS DNA served as the phosphorus source and DNA-supplied phosphate could induce the formation of vivianite. EPS impedes PFS aggregation, contains redox proteins and stores electron shuttle, and thus greatly promotes the formation of minerals and enhances the reduction of Fe(III). At EPS concentration of 0, 0.03, and 0.3 g/L, the produced HCl-extractable Fe(II) was 107.9, 111.0, and 115.2 mg/L, respectively. However, when the microcosms remained unstirred, vivianite can be formed without the addition of EPS. In unstirred systems, the EPS secreted by S. oneidensis MR-1 could agglomerate at some areas, resulting in the formation of vivianite in the proximity of microbial cells. It was found that vivianite can be generated biogenetically by S. oneidensis MR-1 strain and EPS may play a key role in iron reduction and concentrating phosphorus in the oligotrophic ecosystems where quiescent conditions prevail.     

Alterations in microbial community during the remediation of a black-odorous stream by acclimated composite microorganisms

Microbial application is an efficient, economical, and ecofriendly method for remediating black-odorous rivers. In this study, the field treatment effect and microbial community changes were monitored during remediation by the acclimated complex microorganisms of a typical black-odorous stream. After the treatment, the total phosphorus and ammonia contents decreased by 74.0% and 76.3% and the concentrations of dissolved oxygen increased from 1.65 to 4.90 mg/L, indicating the effectiveness of the acclimated composite microorganisms. The proportion of Bacteroidetes decreased significantly by 48.1% and that of Firmicutes increased by 2.23% on average, and the microbial diversity index first increased and then tended to be uniform. Redundancy analysis demonstrated that the pH, dissolved oxygen, and oxidation-reduction potential together determined the composition of the microbial communities (p < 0.05). These findings showed that the acclimated composite microorganisms can effectively remediate the black odor.     

Phenol degradation in waters with high iodide level by layered double hydroxide-peroxodisulfate: Pathways and products

Recently, layered double hydroxide-peroxodisulfate (LDH-PDS) as an advanced oxidation system can effectively remove organics by the pathway of free radical. However, little has been known if there is a potential risk regarding the formation of high toxic iodine byproducts through another pathway when LDH-PDS is used in high iodide waters at coastal areas. Therefore, this study investigated phenol degradation pathways and transformation products to evaluate both removal mechanism and potential risk by LDH-PDS in high iodide waters. The results showed that in LDH-PDS system, with the degradation of PDS, phenol degraded till below detection limit in 1 hr in the presence of iodide, while PDS and phenol were hardly degraded in the absence of iodide, indicating iodide accelerated the transformation of PDS and the degradation of phenol. What is more, it reached the highest phenol removal efficiency under the condition of 100 mg/L LDH, 0.1 mmol/L PDS and 1.0 mmol/L iodide. In LDH-PDS system, iodide was rapidly oxidized by the highly active interlayer PDS, resulting in the formation of reactive iodine including hypoiodic acid, iodine and triiodide instead of free radicals, which contributed rapid degradation of phenol. However, unfortunately toxic iodophenols were detected. Specifically, 2-iodophenol and 4-iodophenol were formed firstly, afterwards 2,4-diiodophenol and 2,6-diiodophenol were produced, and finally iodophenols and diiodophenols gradually decreased and 2,4,6-Triiodophenol were produced. These results indicated that LDH-PDS should avoid to use in high iodide waters to prevent toxic iodine byproduct formation although iodide can accelerate phenol degradation.     

临夏盆地13.0~4.3 Ma湖相沉积物中正构脂肪酮记录的古气候演化

本文主要采用气相色谱-质谱分析技术对临夏盆地13.0~4.3 Ma沉积地层剖面样品进行检测,根据样品中正构烷烃、正构脂肪酮-2和正构脂肪酮-3的分布特征,揭示了正构脂肪酮对环境气候的指示意义。正构脂肪酮-2、正构脂肪酮-3与正构烷烃具有相同的有机质来源。其中正构脂肪酮-2的C₂₁^-/C₂₂⁺及正构脂肪-3-酮的C₂₁^-/C₂₃⁺比值变化与地质历史时期的气候与环境条件具有较好的相关性,对环境温度及湿度等变化有一定的指示意义。正构脂肪酮-2、正构脂肪酮-3的高、低碳数优势的转化指示研究区在13.0~4.3 Ma间的古气候具有四个较为明显的变化阶段,其中10.77~9.42 Ma、7.17~6.92 Ma气候由干冷变为暖湿,9.42~7.17 Ma、6.92~6.45 Ma气候由暖湿变为干冷,临夏盆地的干旱化事件指示了我国西北内陆现代干旱气候可能从8 Ma左右开始。     

面向可持续发展的技术创新:从技术预见到战略选择

本文研究了技术预见、关键技术选择和技术创新之间的关系,从方法学、科学技术观的角度分析了技术预见、关键技术选择在技术创新战略中的地位和作用,提出技术预见和关键技术选择是制订和实施技术创新战略的重要手段和基础,应当成为国家创新体系的重要组成部分。建立面向可持续发展的技术创新体系,对落实全面、协调、可持续的科学发展观,实现社会和谐发展具有战略意义。本文分析了传统的技术创新与可持续发展的差异,提出适应当今经济社会发展方向的技术创新应追求经济、社会和环境效益的统一。本文还探讨了在我国开展技术预见和关键技术选择的方法和应遵循的原则,提出应从战略视角把握关键技术选择,进一步指出在技术预见的基础上促进面向可持续发展的技术创新体系建设对实现我国可持续发展战略目标具有重大意义。     

国外防护服技术的发展

近十几年来,国际上防护服技术发展非常迅速,主要表现在:国际性学术会议举行频繁;学术性团体相继成立;学术论文数量增加很快;新品种不断出现;市场形势看好。发展迅速的主要原因是:皮肤防护意识的加强;法规和标准化建设的推动;新型防护材料的发展;基础研究工作的深入。但就整体而言,防护服技术仍是一个比较年轻的处于初始阶段的学科,许多问题有待解决。预计近期内仍将是一种蓬勃发展的形势。     

重大工业危险源(罐区)监控预警系统

系统建立了管理软件和硬件监控相结合的安全生产监控预警系统，在安全管理的基 础上，把罐区诸多的危险参数给予实时监测、报警和控制。本系统实现了生产过程控制与安全监控 相结合，安全监测报警与事故预案相结合，既满足了生产控制又实现了动态的安全管理，对安全生产 具有较大意义。