Modelling anaerobic biofilm reactors--a review

Anaerobic treatment has become a technically as well as economically feasible option for treatment of liquid effluents after the development of reactors such as the upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactor, anaerobic biofilter and anaerobic fluidized bed reactor (AFBR). Considerable effort has gone into developing mathematical models for these reactors in order to optimize their design, design the process control systems used in their operation and enhance their operational efficiency. This article presents a critical review of the different mathematical models available for these reactors. The unified anaerobic digestion model (ADM1) and its application to anaerobic biofilm reactors are also outlined.     

Kinetics of phenol and m-cresol biodegradation by an indigenous mixed microbial culture isolated from a sewage treatment plant

An acclimatized mixed microbial culture, predominantly Pseudomonas sp., was enriched from a sewage treatment plant, and its potential to simultaneously degrade mixtures of phenol and m-cresol was investigated during its growth in batch shake flasks. A 2² full factorial design with the two substrates at two different levels and different initial concentration ranges (low and high), was employed to carry out the biodegradation experiments. The substrates phenol and m-cresol were completely utilized within 21 h when present at low concentrations of 100 mg/L for each, and at high concentration of 600 mg/L for each, a maximum time of 187 h was observed for their removal. The biodegradation results also showed that the presence of phenol in low concentration range (100–300 mg/L) did not inhibit m-cresol biodegradation. Whereas the presence of m-cresol inhibited phenol biodegradation by the culture. Moreover, irrespective of the concentrations used, phenol was degraded preferentially and earlier than m-cresol. A sum kinetics model was used to describe the variation in the substrate specific degradation rates, which gave a high coefficient of determination value (R² > 0.98) at the low concentration range of the substrates. From the estimated interaction parameter values obtained from this model, the inhibitory effect of phenol on m-cresol degradation by the culture was found to be more pronounced compared to that of m-cresol on phenol. This study showed a good potential of the indigenous mixed culture in degrading mixed substrate of phenolics.     

Kinetics of phenol and m-cresol biodegradation by an indigenous mixed microbial culture isolated from a sewage treatment plant

An acclimatized mixed microbial culture, predominantly Pseudomonas sp., was enriched from a sewage treatment plant, and its potential to simultaneously degrade mixtures of phenol and m-cresol was investigated during its growth in batch shake flasks. A 22 full factorial design with the two substrates at two di erent levels and di erent initial concentration ranges (low and high), was employed to carry out the biodegradation experiments. The substrates phenol and m-cresol were completely utilized within 21 h when present at low concentrations of 100 mg/L for each, and at high concentration of 600 mg/L for each, a maximum time of 187 h was observed for their removal. The biodegradation results also showed that the presence of phenol in low concentration range (100–300 mg/L) did not inhibit m-cresol biodegradation. Whereas the presence of m-cresol inhibited phenol biodegradation by the culture. Moreover, irrespective of the concentrations used, phenol was degraded preferentially and earlier than m-cresol. A sum kinetics model was used to describe the variation in the substrate specific degradation rates, which gave a high coe cient of determination value (R2 > 0.98) at the low concentration range of the substrates. From the estimated interaction parameter values obtained from this model, the inhibitory e ect of phenol on m-cresol degradation by the culture was found to be more pronounced compared to that of m-cresol on phenol. This study showed a good potential of the indigenous mixed culture in degrading mixed substrate of phenolics.     

Correction to: Studies on the influence of natural resource utilization by humans on foraging behavior of honey bees at rural ecosystems

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A Correction to this paper has been published: https://doi.org10.1007/s11356-021-14573-3     

Effect of ultrasonic pretreatment on secondary sludge and anaerobic biomass to enhance biogas production

Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management - Anaerobic digestion studies were carried out with tannery excess secondary sludge obtained from common effluent treatment plant. The excess sludge...     

Solubilization of zinc compounds by the diazotrophic, plant growth promoting bacterium Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus

Gluconacetobacter diazotrophicus an endophytic diazotroph also encountered as rhizosphere bacterium is reported to possess different plant growth promoting characteristics. In this study, we assessed the zinc solubilizing potential of G. diazotrophicus under in vitro conditions with different Zn compounds using glucose or sucrose as carbon sources. G. diazotrophicus showed variations in their solubilization potential with the strains used and the Zn compounds tested. G. diazotrophicus PAl5 efficiently solubilized the Zn compounds tested and ZnO was effectively solubilized than ZnCO(3) or Zn(3)(PO(4))(2). The soluble Zn concentration was determined in the culture supernatant through Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. Gas chromatography coupled Mass Spectrometry analysis revealed 5-ketogluconic acid, a derivative of gluconic acid as the major organic acid produced by G. diazotrophicus PAl5 cultured with glucose as carbon source. This organic anion may be an important agent that helped in the solubilization of insoluble Zn compounds.     

Responses of the Indian major carp Labeo rohita to deltamethrin at acute and sublethal concentrations

The effects of deltamethrin at acute and sublethal concentrations on some hematological and biochemical profiles in the Indian major carp Labeo rohita have been examined. The lethal concentrations (LC₅₀) of deltamethrin for 24 and 96 h were found to be 0.44 and 0.38 mg L^?1, respectively. During acute treatment (24 h), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), red blood cell (RBC), white blood cell (WBC), mean cellular volume (MCV), mean cellular hemoglobin (MCH), and mean cellular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) values were significantly increased compared to control group. Plasma glucose, protein, cholesterol, albumin, globulin, triglyceride, and glycogen in gill and muscle were significantly decreased. Upon sublethal treatment (0.044 mg L^?1, 10th of 24 h LC₅₀), RBC and the biochemical parameters, except glucose and cholesterol, decreased significantly, while MCV, MCH, and MCHC values increased up to the 28th day and then declined. Cholesterol level was significantly increased throughout the study period. A biphasic response in the levels of Hb, Hct, WBC, and glucose were observed during sublethal treatment.     

Polymeric Substitution of Triazole Moieties in Cellulosic Schiff Base for Heavy Metal Complexation Studies

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - The adsorption of metal ions from wastewater using Schiff base cellulose bearing pendulant heterocyclic chelating groups (MC-Tz) as a sorbent is the...     

A comparative analysis on groundwater vulnerability models—fuzzy DRASTIC and fuzzy DRASTIC-L

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Groundwater vulnerability assessment using the fuzzy logic technique is attempted in this study. A hierarchical fuzzy inference system is created to...     

Phycocyanin from Spirulina platensis bio-mimics quantum dots photocatalytic activity: A novel approach for dye degradation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In our present study, the photocatalytic degradation of malachite green (MG) an organic dye was carried out using a phycocyanin extract of Spirulina...