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.     

Adsorption of lead on multi-walled carbon nanotubes with different outer diameters and oxygen contents: Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics

The effects of different outer diameters and surface oxygen contents on the adsorption of heavy metals onto six types of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) were investigated in an aqueous solution and lead was chosen as a model metal ion. The results indicated that the percentage removal and adsorption capacity of lead remarkably increased with decreasing outer diameter due to larger specific surface area (SSA). The SSA-normalized maximum adsorption capacity (qm /SSA) and SSA-normalized adsorption coefficient (Kd /SSA) were strongly positively correlated with surface oxygen content, implying that lead adsorption onto MWCNTs significantly increases with the rise of oxygen content and decreases with decreasing SSA. The calculated thermodynamic parameters indicated that adsorption of lead on MWCNTs was endothermic and spontaneous. When the oxygen content of MWCNTs increased from 2.0% to 5.9%, the standard free energy (△ G0 ) became more negative, which implied that the oxygenated functional groups increased the adsorption affinity of MWCNTs for lead. Through calculation of enthalpy (△ H0 ), G0 and free energy of adsorption (Ea ), lead adsorption onto MWCNTs was recognized as a chemisorption process. The chemical interaction between lead and the phenolic groups of MWCNTs could be one of the main adsorption mechanisms due to highly positive correlations between the phenolic groups and K d /SSA or q m /SSA.     

污泥减量化技术研究进展与发展趋势

污泥的处理与处置已成为国内外污水处理厂的沉重负担,污泥减量成为解决此问题的重要途径。针对污泥处理处置过程中的环境问题和经济效益,在隐性生长、代谢解偶联、微型动物捕食作用等方面阐述了在水处理方面污泥减量化技术的研究进展,综述了污泥减量技术的研究应用现状,同时探讨了各技术存在的问题及其重点发展方向。     

中国电子垃圾危害与处理技术研究

作为信息产业迅速发展的产物,大量的电子垃圾对环境和社会的可持续发展带来了越来越多的影响。小作坊式的家庭处理方式,使电子垃圾不仅带来环境污染,同时还存在着严重的安全隐患,并且还造成资源的浪费。电子垃圾被填埋或者焚烧时,其中的重金属造成当地土壤和地下水的污染;有机物经过焚烧,释放出大量的有害气体,对自然环境和人体造成危害。针对电子垃圾的处理情况,综述了几种目前常用的电子垃圾处理技术,并对其优缺点进行了总结。     

饮用水源地污染物监控与应急预警机制

为实施流域饮用水资源有效保护,从技术管理层面分析流域水资源共享过程中标准体系的构成与作用。对现阶段实施的生活饮用水卫生标准、地表水环境质量标准和排水标准中涵盖的有机污染物进行对称性分析,指出标准体系中存在的技术风险以及生活污水和工业废水混排存在的管理风险,并针对管理风险提出应急预警对策。     

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.     

安徽省TJ-Ⅱ型钻孔体应变同震效应分析

描述了安徽省地震局"十一五"期间安装的5套钻孔体应变仪的地质构造特点与钻孔岩芯物理特性,介绍了TJ-Ⅱ体应变仪的运行情况。通过对两次强震活动的同震效应分析,初步探讨了地理、地质构造条件不同的情况下,各观测井对记录应力活动能力强弱的反映。     

美国明尼苏达州水环境监测及其对中国的借鉴意义

文章对美国明尼苏达州水环境质量监测策略进行了介绍,并归纳总结了其水环境管理的技术思路,在对其分析消化的基础上,结合中国的水环境质量监测中的问题,对水环境质量监测工作的立法、数据的管理和利用、指标的确定、监测队伍建设四个方面提出了一些建议。     

地铁停车场上盖物业开发声环境影响评价研究

占地面积大、交通便利的地铁停车场上盖物业开发越来越受到青睐。以南京市江宁大学城停车场上盖物业为例,对受到地铁停车场、高架地铁和公路3方面噪声源影响的上盖物业进行了声环境影响预测分析。得出:该项目受到停车场噪声影响的最大声级达61.9dB(A),受到高架地铁噪声和公路噪声叠加影响的等效声级昼间可达67.7dB(A),夜间可达63.6dB(A)。在确保落实相应防护措施的前提下,地铁停车场上盖物业在声环境上总体上具有可行性。