Assessment and Evaluation of an Integrated Hybrid Anaerobic–Aerobic Sewage Treatment System for the Removal of Enteric Viruses

The capability of a cost-effective and a small size decentralized pilot wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) to remove enteric viruses such as rotavirus, norovirus genogroup I (GGI), norovirus genogroup II (GGII), Hepatitis E virus (HEV), and adenovirus was studied. This pilot plant is an integrated hybrid anaerobic/aerobic setup which consisted of anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), biological aerated filter (BAF), and inclined plate settler (IPS). Both the UASB and BAF are packed with a non-woven polyester fabric (NWPF). Results indicated that the overall log₁₀ reductions of enteric viruses’ genome copies through the whole system were 3.1 ± 1, 3.3 ± 0.5, and 2.6 ± 0.9 log₁₀ for rotavirus, norovirus GGI, and adenovirus, respectively. Reduction efficiency for both norovirus GGII and HEV after the different treatment steps could not be calculated because there were no significant numbers of positive samples for both viruses. The overall reduction of rotavirus infectious units through the whole system was 2.2 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction which is very close to the overall log₁₀ reduction of adenovirus infectious units through the whole system which was 2.1 ± 0.8 log₁₀ reduction. There was no considerable difference in the removal efficiency for different rotavirus G and P types. Adenovirus 41 was the only type detected in the all positive samples. Although the pilot WWTP investigated is cost effective, has a small footprint, does not need a long distance network pipes, and easy to operate, its efficiency to remove enteric viruses is comparable with the conventional centralized WWTPs.     

废弃SCR脱硝催化剂的再生及其脱硝性能研究

对废弃脱硝催化剂处理后重新加工再生,研究了添加剂对其粉体成型和再生催化剂脱硝活性的影响,探讨了反应温度、空速、n(NH3)∶n(NO)摩尔比、氧含量、H2O和SO2对再生催化剂NH3选择性催化还原(SCR)NO的影响。结果表明:最佳再生条件是使用5%羧甲基纤维素和10%无机粘结剂辅助成型;废弃催化剂再生利用率高达90%;再生催化剂抗压强度为4.73 MPa,优于商用催化剂;空速5 000 h-1、氨氮摩尔比1、氧含量6%时,脱硝活性温度窗口为310⁴50℃,350℃时活性最高为94%;350℃时,单独通入1 000×10-6SO2或10%H2O对再生催化剂活性均有一定抑制作用,最低活性分别为70%和81%,停止通入SO2或H2O后其活性逐渐恢复;同时通入1 000×10-6SO2和10%H2O,再生催化剂活性下降至63%并于1 h内保持相对稳定,停止通入SO2和H2O 2 h后,活性逐渐恢复到73%。     

三槽氧化沟内底推位置与积泥厚度的分析研究

氧化沟工艺由于进水中含有大量的无机颗粒,无机颗粒的沉淀导致沟内积泥较厚。为了不影响正常生产,依据经验数据,依次对1号、2号氧化沟安装底推。对沟内积泥情况及影响因素进行分析比较,得出氧化沟的积泥主要由进水中密度较大的无机颗粒造成,且积泥规律与底推安装位置和运行情况相关。     

明胶厂剩余高钙污泥作为燃煤固硫剂的应用研究

明胶生产产业在废水处理工艺中产生大量剩余高钙污泥,采用该剩余污泥作为燃煤固硫剂,在高温管式电阻炉内进行燃烧实验,通过测定燃烧前和燃烧后样品中的硫含量确定该剩余污泥的固硫效果。通过单因素研究煤粉粒径、剩余污泥粒径和剩余污泥/煤样%等影响因素对固硫率的影响。在单因素试验的基础上通过正交设计法优选达到较高固硫率的实验条件。实验结果表明:影响固硫率的因素从大到小依次为燃烧温度>剩余污泥/煤样%>煤粉粒径>剩余污泥粒径。以剩余污泥作为固硫剂,固硫率最高的实验条件为:燃烧温度800℃,剩余污泥/煤样为3%,煤粉粒径60⁹0目,剩余污泥粒径9090目,剩余污泥粒径90¹20目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90120目。并且,当温度达到1150℃,煤粉粒径90¹20目,剩余污泥粒径为60120目,剩余污泥粒径为60⁹0目,污泥/煤样(质量比)为3%时,固硫率可达62.78%,说明在高温下该剩余污泥保持较高的固硫率。将明胶厂剩余污泥作为固硫剂是较为合适的再利用方法,可有效缓解当前该污泥大量堆积污染环境的状况。     

Formation of THMs and HANs during bromination of Microcystis aeruginosa

Bromine-contained disinfectants and biocides are widely used in swimming pools, recreational waters and cooling towers. The objective of this study was to evaluate the formation of thrihalomethanes (THMs) and haloacetonitriles (HANs) and their cytotoxicity in algae solutions during free bromine disinfection. Disinfection by-products formation potential experiments were conducted using model solutions containing 7 mg/L (as total organic carbon) Microcystis aeruginosa cells. Effects of free bromine dosage, pH and ammonia were investigated. The results showed that brominated disinfection by-products were the major products when free bromine was applied. The total THMs formed during bromination was much as that formed during chlorination, whereas HANs were elevated by using bromination instead of chlorination. Dibromoacetonitrice (C2H2NBr2 ) and bromoform (CHBr3 ) were the only detected species during free bromine disinfection. The production of C2H2NBr2 and CHBr 3 increased with disinfectant dosage but decreased with dosing ammonia. CHBr3 increased with the pH changing from 5 to 9. However, C2H2NBr2 achieved the highest production at neutral pH, which was due to a joint effect of variation in hydrolysis rate and free bromine reactivity. The hydrolysis of C2H2NBr2 was base-catalytic and nearly unaffected by disinfectant. Finally, estimation of cytotoxicity of the disinfected algae solutions showed that HANs formation was responsible for the majority of toxicity. Considering its highest toxicity among the measured disinfection by-products, the elevated C2H2NBr2 should be considered when using bromine-related algaecide.     

锦州市近十年降水现状调查分析

根据锦州市环境监测中心站的大气资料,通过对其3个采样点,从2001年到2010年共10年的监测数据进行综合分析,结果表明锦州地区酸雨多出现在5、6、7月,以SO42-、NO3-和NH4+、Ca2+为主要污染离子,体现了大气降水煤烟型污染的特点。通过对数据的综合分析,研究锦州市降水现状及发展变化趋势,分析了酸雨的成因并提出了酸雨控制的对策。     

哈尔滨大气中PAHs的污染源解析

通过将比值法、主成分分析和正定矩阵分析法相结合对大气中PAHs的污染源进行了解析,结果表明,煤的燃烧和汽车尾气的排放是PAHs的主要污染源,冬季,煤的燃烧是主要污染源,其贡献率为60.6%,其次为汽车尾气排放(34.4%),其他季节,汽车尾气的排放和燃煤污染是主要的污染源,其贡献率分别为59.3%和17.1%。通过等效毒性当量因子计算得到,哈尔滨大气中BaP当量浓度冬季为7.751 9 ng/m3,其他季节为0.688 6 ng/m3,均符合中国规定的10 ng/m3。     

Detection Method for Avian Influenza Viruses in Water

Recent events have shown that humans may become infected with some pathogenic avian influenza A viruses (AIV). Since soil and water, including lakes, rivers, and seashores, may be contaminated by AIV excreted by birds, effective methods are needed for monitoring water for emerging viruses. Combining water filtration with molecular methods such as PCR is a fast and effective way for detecting viruses. The objective of this study was to apply a convenient method for the detection of AIV in natural water samples. Distilled water and lake, river, and seawater were artificially contaminated with AIV (H5N3) and passed through a filter system. AIV was detected from filter membrane by real-time RT-PCR. The performance of Zetapor, SMWP, and Sartobind D5F membranes in recovering influenza viruses was first evaluated using contaminated distilled water. SWMP, which gave the highest virus recoveries, was then compared with a pre-filter combined GF/F filter membrane in a trial using natural water samples. In this study, the cellulose membrane SMWP was found to be practical for recovery of AIVs in water. Viral yields varied between 62.1 and 65.9% in distilled water and between 1 and 16.7% in natural water samples. The borosilicate glass membrane GF/F combined with pre-filter was also feasible in filtering natural water samples with viral yields from 1.98 to 7.33%. The methods described can be used for monitoring fresh and seawater samples for the presence of AIV and to determine the source of AIV transmission in an outbreak situation.     

Prevalence of Norovirus Infection in Children and Adults with Acute Gastroenteritis,Tehran, Iran, 2008–2009

Noroviruses are one of important agents that cause acute viral gastroenteritis worldwide. These viruses are belonging to Caliciviridae family and are genetically diverse. To date, there is no valuable data about prevalence of norovirus infection and the dominant genogroup/genotype among Iranian population. The objective of this study was to determine the frequency of norovirus infection in Iranian patients with gastroenteritis referred to three hospitals of Tehran and to specify the dominant genogroup/genotype of this virus among our study population. A total of 293 patients with acute gastroenteritis were included in the study. Detection of norovirus was performed using RT-PCR method and confirmed by direct sequencing with specific designed primers for capsid region of norovirus genome. Phylogenetic analysis was performed using the neighbor-joining method. Norovirus strains identified in our study were subsequently categorized according to previously defined genogroup/genotypes. Of these, norovirus GII was dominant genogroup. Sixty-five percent (17 of 26) of positive samples were determined as GII and 35% (9 of 26) were determined as GI, respectively, in 2008–2009. And among 8 sequenced strains of genogroup II the most frequent genotype was GII.3. The results of this study indicated that norovirus must be considered as one of the infectious causes of acute gastroenteritis among Iranian population. We also found that GII.3 is more prevalent in our study population. To the best of our knowledge there is limited data about the role of noroviruses in children and adults’ acute gastroenteritis among Iranian patients and this prevalence and genotyping report of norovirus infection could be remarkable for further studies.     

A framework for analyzing climate change adaptations as actions

Developing generalized theories about adaptation to climate change requires common concepts to map different adaptation situations. The paper aims to contribute to this endeavor by presenting a novel framework that conceptualizes adaptations to climate change as actions. The framework is intended to systematically analyze the actor relations involved in adaptations and the barriers to their implementation. By combining established scientific action theories with terminology from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in an innovative way, it can be used to clarify the notion of adaptation used in adaptation assessments. The framework’s potential is illustrated by a case study on cooling water management in the river Rhine catchment and by the elucidation of some prominent concepts in adaptation research. We show that by framing adaptations as actions, the purpose of adaptations and how they tend to connect up in means-ends-chains becomes crucial. Actors can take different functional roles as exposure unit, operator and receptor of adaptation. A mismatch of these roles can lead to barriers to adaptation, of which we deduce four types: complex actor relations, missing operators, missing means and unemployed means. The case study yields a complex bundle of adaptations, and shows that the potential barriers involved are quite diverse. There is thus no blueprint solution. Although we identify entry points for adaptation, the analysis leads to a skeptical conclusion for adapting cooling water management in the whole Rhine catchment.