Biodegradation potential of MTBE in a fractured chalk aquifer under aerobic conditions in long-term uncontaminated and contaminated aquifer microcosms

The potential for aerobic biodegradation of MTBE in a fractured chalk aquifer is assessed in microcosm experiments over 450 days, under in situ conditions for a groundwater temperature of 10 °C, MTBE concentration between 0.1 and 1.0 mg/L and dissolved O₂ concentration between 2 and 10 mg/L. Following a lag period of up to 120 days, MTBE was biodegraded in uncontaminated aquifer microcosms at concentrations up to 1.2 mg/L, demonstrating that the aquifer has an intrinsic potential to biodegrade MTBE aerobically. The MTBE biodegradation rate increased three-fold from a mean of 6.6 ± 1.6 μg/L/day in uncontaminated aquifer microcosms for subsequent additions of MTBE, suggesting an increasing biodegradation capability, due to microbial cell growth and increased biomass after repeated exposure to MTBE. In contaminated aquifer microcosms which also contained TAME, MTBE biodegradation occurred after a shorter lag of 15 or 33 days and MTBE biodegradation rates were higher (max. 27.5 μg/L/day), probably resulting from an acclimated microbial population due to previous exposure to MTBE in situ. The initial MTBE concentration did not affect the lag period but the biodegradation rate increased with the initial MTBE concentration, indicating that there was no inhibition of MTBE biodegradation related to MTBE concentration up to 1.2 mg/L. No minimum substrate concentration for MTBE biodegradation was observed, indicating that in the presence of dissolved O₂ (and absence of inhibitory factors) MTBE biodegradation would occur in the aquifer at MTBE concentrations (ca. 0.1 mg/L) found at the front of the ether oxygenate plume. MTBE biodegradation occurred with concomitant O₂ consumption but no other electron acceptor utilisation, indicating biodegradation by aerobic processes only. However, O₂ consumption was less than the stoichiometric requirement for complete MTBE mineralization, suggesting that only partial biodegradation of MTBE to intermediate organic metabolites occurred. The availability of dissolved O₂ did not affect MTBE biodegradation significantly, with similar MTBE biodegradation behaviour and rates down to ca. 0.7 mg/L dissolved O₂ concentration. The results indicate that aerobic MTBE biodegradation could be significant in the plume fringe, during mixing of the contaminant plume and uncontaminated groundwater and that, relative to the plume migration, aerobic biodegradation is important for MTBE attenuation. Moreover, should the groundwater dissolved O₂ concentration fall to zero such that MTBE biodegradation was inhibited, an engineered approach to enhance in situ bioremediation could supply O₂ at relatively low levels (e.g. 2–3 mg/L) to effectively stimulate MTBE biodegradation, which has significant practical advantages. The study shows that aerobic MTBE biodegradation can occur at environmentally significant rates in this aquifer, and that long-term microcosm experiments (100s days) may be necessary to correctly interpret contaminant biodegradation potential in aquifers to support site management decisions.     

Cation exchange in a glacial till drumlin at a road salt storage facility

At a former wood preservation plant severely contaminated with coal tar oil, in situ bulk attenuation and biodegradation rate constants for several monoaromatic (BTEX) and polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were determined using (1) classical first order decay models, (2) Michaelis–Menten degradation kinetics (MM), and (3) stable carbon isotopes, for o-xylene and naphthalene. The first order bulk attenuation rate constant for o-xylene was calculated to be 0.0025 d^− 1 and a novel stable isotope-based first order model, which also accounted for the respective redox conditions, resulted in a slightly smaller biodegradation rate constant of 0.0019 d^− 1. Based on MM-kinetics, the o-xylene concentration decreased with a maximum rate of k_max = 0.1 µg/L/d. The bulk attenuation rate constant of naphthalene retrieved from the classical first order decay model was 0.0038 d^− 1. The stable isotope-based biodegradation rate constant of 0.0027 d^− 1 was smaller in the reduced zone, while residual naphthalene in the oxic part of the plume further downgradient was degraded at a higher rate of 0.0038 d^− 1. With MM-kinetics a maximum degradation rate of k_max = 12 µg/L/d was determined. Although best fits were obtained by MM-kinetics, we consider the carbon stable isotope-based approach more appropriate as it is specific for biodegradation (not overall attenuation) and at the same time accounts for the dominant electron-accepting process. For o-xylene a field based isotope enrichment factor ε_field of − 1.4 could be determined using the Rayleigh model, which closely matched values from laboratory studies of o-xylene degradation under sulfate-reducing conditions.     

Histopathological effects of chronic aqueous exposure to bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) to environmentally relevant concentrations reveal thymus atrophy in European flounder (Platichthys flesus)

Although the use of tributyltin in antifouling paints has been banned, this compound is still a serious pollutant of the marine environment. This paper describes a unique study in which European flounder (Platichthys flesus) were chronically (8 months) exposed to bis(tri-n-butyltin)oxide (TBTO) in the water under controlled laboratory conditions. Residue levels in selected tissues (liver, muscle) and general health status indices were measured and the effects on several organs (gills, liver, mesonephros, ovary/testis, spleen, and gastrointestinal tract) were examined histopathologically. Additionally, morphometric analysis of the thymus was performed. The major finding is that exposure of flounder to 5 μg TBTO/l over a period of 8 months, resulting in body burdens comparable to high field levels, induced significant reduction of thymus volume, possibly affecting immunocompetence of the animals. Chronic exposure of European flounder to tributyltin is therefore likely to affect the general health status of this species in heavily polluted aquatic environments.     

扬州市城区地表水底泥重金属污染现状与风险评价

对扬州市城区地表水底泥进行等距离布点采样.分析cd、Cu、Pb、Zn 4种重金属的含量,并应用潜在生态危害指数法对重金属潜在生态风险进行了评价.结果表明:4种重金属的潜在生态风险由高到低的顺序为Cd>Pb>Cu>Zn,其中Cd的潜在生态风险程度已达很强;扬州市城区地表水底泥重金属潜在生态风险程度为强.各条河流底泥重金属潜在生态风险程度由强到弱顺序为古运河>二道河>宝带河>小秦淮河>新城河>水院池塘(对照);从空间上看,扬州市城区东部的地表水底泥重金属潜在生态风险程度高于西部,北部高于南部.     

一株高效脱硫脱氨氮菌的分离、鉴定及系统发育分析

从运行稳定的能同步脱臭的曝气生物滤池中采集样品,富集分离获得一株能高效脱硫脱氨氮的菌株TS-1。对分离菌株进行形态观察、生理生化试验及16S rRNA基因序列分析,结果表明,该菌株TS-1为革兰氏阳性菌,杆状;菌落在营养琼脂培养基上呈圆形,表面光滑,乳白色半透明;V-P试验阴性,能水解淀粉和明胶,利用柠檬酸盐生长;对菌株进行16S rRNA的PCR扩增,扩增产物测序结果表明分离菌株TS-1与巨大芽孢杆菌（Bacillus megaterium）同源性达到99%;以16S rRNA同源性为基础构建了包括24株相关种属细菌在内的系统发育树,在系统发育树中,分离菌株TS1与Bacillus megaterium在同一分支。结合形态观察、生理生化试验及16S rRNA基因序列分析结果,将其初步鉴定为巨大芽孢杆菌（Bacillus megaterium）。在常温（30±2）℃、转速为150 r/min的条件下,处理pH 7、S^2-和NH⁺₄-N分别为80 mg/L和88 mg/L的水样40 h,硫化物和氨氮的脱除率分别为91.8%和96.6%。     

CuCoOx/TiO2催化氧化NO性能研究

采用浸渍法制备了CuCoOx/TiO₂催化剂,考察了焙烧温度、反应温度、氧含量、NO浓度和空间速度对催化剂催化氧化NO性能的影响,并考察了催化剂的抗硫抗水性能。XRD、TPR和BET分析表明,350℃焙烧的催化剂具有CuCo₂O₄尖晶石结构,比表面积大,对NO的氧化效果好。在空速为5 000 h^-1,NO进口浓度500 mg/m³,含氧量10%的条件下,反应温度300℃时NO转化率可达79.5%,250℃时NO转化率接近50%。该催化剂具有良好的单独抗SO₂、抗H₂O毒化性能,H₂O和SO₂同时存在时很快失活。该催化剂可用于不同时含H₂O和SO₂的含NO气体催化氧化后再吸收处理。     

载钯螯合树脂的制备、表征及其降解多溴联苯醚的初步研究

以聚丙烯醛-异烟酰腙螯合树脂为高分子载体, 利用其活性基团对钯的选择性富集分离性能, 将金属元素钯键合到高分子载体上, 制备一种含钯树脂材料(树脂1), 并进一步原位还原得到还原态的载钯树脂(树脂2)。利用红外光谱、扫描电镜和X射线衍射等对以上2种含钯树脂材料进行了分析表征,并考察了它们对持久性有机污染物(POPs)多溴联苯醚(PBDEs)的脱溴降解性能。结果表明,2种树脂对BDE₂₀₉均有降解活性, 其中树脂1的降解性能比树脂2的降解性能要高, 树脂中钯的氧化形态可能对BDE₂₀₉的催化降解起主要作用。     

单块集尘板振打加速度的有限元分析

采用有限元分析软件ABAQUS,对单块集尘板振打加速度进行了分析计算。并将计算结果与解析法和实测法结果进行对比。对比结果表明,有限元计算值更接近于实测值。用有限元法对某厂实际运行的电除尘器加速度进行求解,计算结果与实际基本吻合。由于有限元法能非常方便地处理各种复杂板型、不同的悬挂方式、振打锤的大小以及振打方式,因此,有限元法对于现有极板的分析与新型极板的研究均具有重要的实际意义。     

脉冲电晕反应器结构对乙硫醇消除效果的影响

研究了脉冲电晕等离子体反应器结构的变化对乙硫醇消除效果的影响规律。结果表明,在反应器内设置折流板,可以增加气流的湍动程度,有利于活性粒子与污染物的充分接触,从而提高消除率。高压电极间距对电晕区范围及消毒效果有较大影响,间距较小将导致各电极产生的电场相互干扰明显,消除率减小;而电极间距过大,虽然电极间电场分布相互干扰小,但是反应器内可排布的电极数减少,总电晕区减少,消除率也减小。根据实验结果,电极间距设置为50 mm比较合理。另外,在相同的电场强度和脉冲频率下,毛刺形高压电极比线电极结构能耗低,能量利用率高。     

污水污泥裂解及其性能的研究

以碘吸附值为裂解残渣吸附性能的指标,通过单因素实验和正交实验,确定了制备裂解残渣的最佳工艺条件,并对残渣的表面元素组成、孔结构组成、晶相组成和吸附性能等性质进行了表征。结果显示：以浓度均为5 mol/L的ZnCl₂和H₂SO₄作活化剂、复配比2∶1、活化温度600℃、活化时间1 h、固液比1∶2.5,制得的裂解残渣酸洗后碘值平均值可达892.8 mg/g;用制备的裂解残渣对苯酚废水进行处理,室温下振荡5 min,苯酚去除率即可达到87.9%,且符合Langmuir吸附等温线方程和Freundlich吸附等温线方程。