Selective elimination of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants potentially has a detrimental effect on both aquatic organisms and humans. This study evaluated the removal and transformation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant under different seasons. The results showed that bio-treatment was found to be more efficient in removing bulk DOM (in terms of dissolved organic carbon, DOC) than CDOM and FDOM, which was contrary to the disinfection process. CDOM and FDOM were selectively removed at various stages during the treatment. Typically, the low molecular weight (MW) fractions of CDOM and protein-like FDOM were more efficiently removed during bio-treatment process, whereas the humic-like FDOM exhibited comparable decreases in both bio-treatment and disinfection processes. Overall, the performance of the WWTP was weak in terms of CDOM and FDOM removal, resulting in enrichment of CDOM and FDOM in effluent. Moreover, the total removal of the bulk DOM (P < 0.05) and the protein-like FDOM (P < 0.05) displayed a significant seasonal variation, with higher removal efficiencies in summer, whereas removal of CDOM and the humic-like FDOM showed little differences between summer and winter. In all, the results provide useful information for understanding the fate and transformation of DOM, illustrating that sub-fractions of DOM could be selectively removed depending on treatment processes and seasonality.     

Challenges to quantitative applications of Landsat observations for the urban thermal environment

Since the launch of its first satellite in 1972, the Landsat program has operated continuously for more than forty years. A large data archive collected by the Landsat program sig-nificantly benefits both the academic community and society. Thermal imagery from Landsat sensors, provided with relatively high spatial resolution, is suitable for monitoring urban thermal environment. Growing use of Landsat data in monitoring urban thermal environment is demonstrated by increasing publications on this subject, especially over the last decade. Urban thermal environment is usually delineated by land surface temperature (LST). However, the quantitative and accurate estimation of LST from Landsat data is still a challenge, especially for urban areas. This paper will discuss the main challenges for urban LST retrieval, including urban surface emissivity, atmospheric correction, radiometric calibration, and validation. In addition, we will discuss general challenges confronting the continuity of quantitative applications of Landsat observations. These challenges arise mainly from the scan line corrector failure of the Landsat 7 ETM + and channel differences among sensors. Based on these investigations, the concerns are to: (1) show general users the limitation and possible uncertainty of the retrieved urban LST from the single thermal channel of Landsat sensors; (2) emphasize efforts which should be done for the quantitative applications of Landsat data; and (3) understand the potential challenges for the continuity of Landsat observation (i.e., thermal infrared) for global change monitoring, while several climate data record programs being in progress.     

On-line batch production of ferrate with an chemical method and its potential application for greywater recycling with Al(III) salt

Ferrate(VI) salt is an oxidant and coagulant for water and wastewater treatment. It is considered as a possible alternative method in greywater treatment. However, challenges have existed in putting ferrate(VI) technology into full-scale practice in water and wastewater treatment due to the instability of ferrate solution and high production cost of solid ferrate products. This study demonstrated a new approach of greywater treatment with on-line batch production of Fe(VI) to which Fe(III) salt was oxidized at a weak acidity solution. A series of experiments were conducted to investigate the effect of Fe(VI) on light greywater (total organic carbon (TOC) = 19.5 mg/L) and dark greywater (TOC = 55 mg/L) treatment under different conditions with varying pH and Fe(VI) doses. In addition, the combination use of Fe(VI) and Al(III) salts was proved to be more efficient than using the Fe(VI) salts alone at greywater recycling. The optimum dosage of Fe(VI)/Al(III) salts was 25/25 mg/L for light greywater, 90/60 mg/L for dark greywater, respectively. The TOC values of both light greywater and dark greywater were reduced to less than 3 mg/L with the dosages. The cost for treating greywater was 0.06–0.2 $/ton at ferrate(VI) dosage of 25–90 mg/L and 0.008–0.024 $/ton at AlCl₃ dosage of 25–60 mg/L. The full operating cost needs further assessment before the Fe(VI)/Al(III) technology could be implemented in greywater treatment.     

Study on the mechanism of copper–ammonia complex decomposition in struvite formation process and enhanced ammonia and copper removal

Heavy metals and ammonia are difficult to remove from wastewater, as they easily combine into refractory complexes. The struvite formation method (SFM) was applied for the complex decomposition and simultaneous removal of heavy metal and ammonia. The results indicated that ammonia deprivation by SFM was the key factor leading to the decomposition of the copper–ammonia complex ion. Ammonia was separated from solution as crystalline struvite, and the copper mainly co-precipitated as copper hydroxide together with struvite. Hydrogen bonding and electrostatic attraction were considered to be the main surface interactions between struvite and copper hydroxide. Hydrogen bonding was concluded to be the key factor leading to the co-precipitation. In addition, incorporation of copper ions into the struvite crystal also occurred during the treatment process.     

Purification, characterization and application of dual coagulants containing chitosan and different Al species in coagulation and ultrafiltration process

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of different Al species and chitosan (CS) dosages on coagulation performance, floc characteristics (floc sizes, strength and regrowth ability and fractal dimension) and membrane resistance in a coagulation–ultrafiltration hybrid process. Results showed that different Al species combined with humic acid in diverse ways. Al_a had better removal efficiency, as determined by UV₂₅₄ and dissolved organic carbon, which could be further improved by the addition of CS. In addition, the optimal dosage of different Al species was determined to be 4.0 mg/L with the CS concentration of 1.0 mg/L, by orthogonal coagulation experiments. Combining Al_a/Al_b/Al_c with CS resulted in larger flocs, higher recovery, and higher fractal dimension values corresponding to denser flocs; in particular, the floc size at the steady state stage was four times larger than that obtained with Al species coagulants alone. The results of ultrafiltration experiments indicated that the external fouling percentage was significantly higher than that of internal fouling, at around 85% and 15%, respectively. In addition, the total membrane resistance was significantly decreased due to CS addition.     

关于建设项目生态补偿的思考

作为一种解决环境保护与经济社会发展矛盾的重要经济手段,生态补偿越来越受到人们关注。建设项目生态补偿是生态补偿的一个重要领域,但相对于其他领域而言,理论和实践研究均相对较少。结合实际案例研究,文章初次提出了建设项目生态补偿概念、原则及应注意的问题。最后,建议加强两方面研究,建设项目生态补偿内涵和范畴确定;建设项目生态补偿方式及标准确定。     

人工替代栖息地对长江口湿地的补充作用研究

利用恢复生态学和景观生态学原理构建人工替代栖息地是恢复和重建生物栖息地环境的重要手段之一,是用于滨海河口区修复或重建滩涂湿地等栖息地的一种替代方法。人工替代栖息地构建出了接近自然原貌的人工系统,创造一种湿地植被和湿地动物可以协调共存的生境,不仅可以为鸟类资源和渔业资源提供良好的栖息环境,其中多样化组合的植被群落在滨水景观、水质净化等方面也起到了重要的作用,对长江口自然湿地的恢复和自然保护区的动态管理具有不可忽视的补充作用。在迁徙鸟类重要中转驿站,珍稀或者经济鱼类的洄游通道,特殊价值的重要湿地景观格局以及水资源战略储备区域中布局人工替代栖息地,可以发挥其对长江口湿地的补充作用,使高度开放而又极为敏感的长江河口地区循着生态健康道路发展。     

厌氧发酵处理红霉素菌渣的效能及红霉素降解规律研究

红霉素菌渣是宝贵的资源,但却含有少量的红霉素残留,潜在引发环境细菌耐药的风险,被国家定义为危险废物。文章采用厌氧发酵技术处理红霉素菌渣,拟借助微生物作用降低抗生素残留并制取生物燃气,文中考察了红霉素残留随厌氧发酵过程的降解规律。研究发现:中温(35℃)发酵、接种比为0.4、含固率为8%时,单位池容产气率最高,红霉素菌渣的厌氧发酵处理是可行的。此外,在发酵的10 d后,红霉素降解率达到94%以上,日相对降解率与发酵液pH相关,pH越小降解速率越大,pH越接近中性,降解越缓慢。同时得到其降解过程与厌氧发酵产气量无明显相关性。该文为红霉素菌渣安全资源化提供了基础数据。     

活性污泥胞外聚合物的组成与结构特点及环境行为

在活性污泥处理系统中,微生物大多以污泥絮体的形式悬浮在水中。胞外聚合物(EPS)作为污泥絮体的重要组成部分,以其独特的聚合结构和化学组成,在污水生物处理系统中起到重要作用。为了更好的描述EPS的环境行为,文章综合了近年来国内外相关的研究成果,首先分析了EPS的来源、化学组成及结构分布,得出EPS中包含蛋白质、多糖、腐殖酸、核酸、糖醛酸及脂类大分子等化学物质,其中蛋白质和多糖之和占总有机物含量的70%~80%;在结构上,EPS分为SB-EPS、LB-EPS和TB-EPS,三者与细胞结合的紧密程度递增,其中所含化学成分比例的不同将使其具有不同的理化特性。其次,文章对EPS的理化特征对污水处理系统的影响,如对系统中微生物降解特性的影响、磷和重金属的吸附等进行了讨论,并总结了EPS中相关的官能团对上述环境行为的贡献。同时,文章还论述了EPS中官能团的亲疏水特性及化学成分对污泥絮体的脱水性、絮凝沉降性能的影响。     

西安市汉城湖浮游植物群落结构与水质状况分析

为探究汉城浮游植物群落结构特点并确定水体营养化程度,于2015年对汉城湖水体浮游植物群落结构和主要理化因子进行了调查与分析。结果表明:共检测出浮游植物7门44属,其中绿藻门19属,蓝藻门10属,硅藻门6属,金藻门3属,隐藻门、甲藻门和裸藻门各2属;浮游植物细胞密度变化范围为1.42×10~4~24.18×10~4个/L,平均值为11.20×10~4个/L;浮游植物主要优势属为鞘丝藻属(Lyngbya)、锥囊藻属(Dinobryon)、隐藻属(Cryptomonas)、蓝隐藻属(Chroomonas)、平裂藻属(Merismopedia)、裸藻属(Euglene)和裸囊藻属(Trachelomonas)等;浮游植物优势种、污染指示种、多样性指数和水体综合营养状态指数TLI(∑)的综合分析显示,汉城湖水体整体处于中-富营养化状态,秋季水质最差,春季水质最好,氮、磷的含量有逐渐增加的趋势,水体从上游至下游逐渐被净化。