pH-gradient real-time aeration control for nitritation community selection in a non-porous hollow fiber membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) with dilute wastewater

Nitritation (ammonium to nitrite) as a pre-treatment of Anammox (anaerobic ammonium oxidation) is a key step for an energy-efficient nitrogen-removal alternative from dilute wastewaters, e.g. anaerobically-treated sewage, with which limited study has achieved sustainable nitritation at ambient temperature and short hydraulic retention times. To this end, pH-gradient real-time aeration control in an oxygen-based membrane biofilm reactor was observed at 20 °C in the sequencing batch mode. An optimum oxygen supply via diffusion for ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) was established, but nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) could be inhibited. The system achieved nitrite accumulation efficiencies varying from 88% to 94% with the aeration control. Mass balance and rate performance analyses indicate that this aeration control is able to supply an oxygen rate of 1.5 mol O₂ mol^?1 ammonium fed, the benchmark oxygenation rate based on stoichiometry for nitritation community selection. Microbial analyses confirmed AOB prevalence with NOB inhibition under this aeration control.     

Percentile estimation using variable censored data

Much progress has been made in recent years to address the estimation of summary statistics, using data that are subject to censoring of results that fall below the limit of detection (LOD) for the measuring instrument. Truncated data methods (e.g., Tobit regression) and multiple-imputation are two approaches for analyzing data results that are below the LOD. To apply these methods requires an assumption about the underlying distribution of the data. Because the log-normal distribution has been shown to fit many data sets obtained from environmental measurements, the common practice is to assume that measurements of environmental factors can be described by log-normal distributions. This article describes methods for obtaining estimates of percentiles and their associated confidence intervals when the results are log-normal and a fraction of the results are below the LOD. We present limited simulations to demonstrate the bias of the proposed estimates and the coverage probability of their associated confidence intervals. Estimation methods are used to generate summary statistics for 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro dibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD) using data from a 2001 background exposure study in which PCDDs/PCDFs/cPCBs in human blood serum were measured in a Louisiana population. Because the congener measurements used in this study were subject to variable LODs, we also present simulation results to demonstrate the effect of variable LODs on the multiple-imputation process.     

Appendix

Abstract

An atrazine‐degrading bacterial isolate (M91–3) was able to utilize simazine and cyanazine as N sources for glucose‐dependent growth. The degradation of these three 5‐triazine herbicides was also investigated in binary and ternary mixtures. The organism used atrazine and simazine indiscriminately, whereas cyanazine degradation was slow and delayed until the depletion of the two other herbicides. There was no apparent effect of other commonly used herbicides on the rate of atrazine degradation by M91–3.     

Women farmers’ perceived indices of occurrence and severity of observed climate extremes in rural Savannah,Ghana

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Climate extremes over the years have been a major concern for the globalized world. The hardest hit from these climate extremes are women farmers with...     

Effect of combined addition amount of nano zero-valent iron and biochar on methane production by anaerobic digestion of corn straw

Environment, Development and Sustainability - Anaerobic digestion (AD) is an attractive straw resource treatment technology as it can improve the utilization efficiency of straw resource. Raw straw...     

Personal monitoring of air pollution exposures

In industrial hygiene and health physics the goal has been to protect the health of the individual. Therefore monitoring the exposure people actually receive has been the principal concern. In regulating public exposures to air pollution, the focus has been much different. Recently, use of personal monitors and alternative means of estimating actual exposures has expanded rapidly. The role of personal monitors in epidemiology, exposure studies, and in supplementing the existing fixed station monitoring network for establishing trends and for regulatory purposes is discussed. The implications for air quality standards in recent findings of personal and indoor exposures is considered. New developments that are needed, and those that are not needed, are outlined.     

铁氧化物复合氧化铝催化臭氧化过程中溴酸盐的生成控制

以市售活性炭、硅藻土和氧化铝小球为载体,考察了负载铁基活性组分对催化臭氧化过程中溴酸盐的控制情况,其中,铁基复合氧化铝小球体现出更好的溴酸盐还原特性和催化剂稳定性,证实催化剂中铁氧化物是溴酸盐得到有效控制的主要活性组分。进一步考察了铁基复合氧化铝小球催化臭氧化处理实际原水过程中对溴酸盐的生成控制,以及反应过程中溶解性有机碳（DOC）的去除情况。结果表明,与单独臭氧化相比,该催化剂既能有效去除水中的溶解性有机物,又能明显抑制溴酸盐的生成,反应50h,其活性并没有明显下降。催化剂失活主要归因于吸附位点数量的下降,可以通过负载铁氧化物来实现催化剂的再生。     

Validation of Models for Predicting Formaldehyde Concentrations in Residences due to Pressed-Wood Products

This paper describes a laboratory project to assess the accuracy of emission and indoor air quality models to be used in predicting formaldehyde (HCHO) concentrations in residences due to pressed-wood products made with urea-formaldehyde bonding resins. The products tested were partlcleboard underlayment, hardwood- plywood paneling and medium-density fiberboard (mdf). The products were initially characterized in chambers by measuring their formaldehyde surface emission rates over a range of formaldehyde concentrations, air exchange rates and two combinations of temperature and relative humidity (23° C and 5 0% RH; 26°C and 60% RH). They were then installed in a two-room prototype house in three different combinations (underlayment flooring only; underlayment flooring and paneling; and underlayment flooring, paneling, and mdf). The equilibrium formaldehyde concentrations were monitored as a function of air exchange rate. Particleboard underlayment and mdf, but not paneling, behaved as the emission model predicted over a large concentration range, under both sets of temperature and relative humidity. Good agreement was also obtained between measured formaldehyde concentrations and those predicted by a mass-balance indoor air quality model.     

差异性区域网格化环境管理初探

差异性区域网格化环境管理是在环境状况存在明显分异区域进行环境管理的有效的方式。依托网格化管理在资源整合和信息共事方面的优势．探讨在环境状况差异明显区域构建网格化管理体系的目标、步骤与管理思路。以上海市宝山区的实践为例．根据区内环境现状差异明显的特征。将全区划分为150个网格．从中选取环境矛盾较为突出的网格．开展区域环境综合整治与环境建设．逐年逐块提升区域网格环境状况．实现区域环境网格等级的提升．初步达成区域生态、生产、生活的协调。实践表明．差异性区域网格化管理是建设环境友好型社会的一种有效的环境管理手段。     

分形理论在三峡水库汛期洪水分期中的应用

水库分期汛限水位控制能在不增加新的防洪风险条件下提高水库的兴利效益,汛期洪水的划分则是分期汛限水位控制的前提.介绍了分形理论及容量维数的计算方法,以三峡水库宜昌站为例,利用传统统计学法和动态分维数法,确定了洪水分期数目,并计算了各分期的容量维数,从而最终确定三峡水库的洪水分期.结果显示,用分形方法划分的三峡水库的汛期洪水和传统研究分期基本一致,但分形理论计算较为客观,进一步表明分形理论在洪水分期中是可行的,值得深入探讨和应用.