Suspended particle effects on ClO2/ultraviolet light combined disinfection of effluent

The concentration of suspended solids of effluent often varies in a wide range, therefore the dose of ultraviolet light （UV） in disinfection process needs to be adjusted to meet the disinfection criterion at a high frequency, and the desired disinfection effect is difficult to be ensured. The particles size and particle-associated fecal coliform （F.C.） contribution, and their influence on UV disinfection were investigated when ClO2 and UV combined disinfection process was used. The results showed that suspended solids content had a major impact on UV disinfection efficiency, especially the large particle size fraction. Particles （D〉10μm） associated F. C. were difficult to be disinfected and were the main part of the railings of F.C. inactivation curve. Pre-ClO2 oxidation could reduce the number of particles in effluent, and make large particles decrease to small ones. Therefore, the influence of particles on UV disinfection could be reduced after pre-ClO2 oxidation, and the resistance ability to particle loadings of combined process was enhanced. Moreover, the combined process has a lot of advantages, such as low toxicity, low operational/maintenance costs; it is also convenient to be established in the existing wastewater plant or the new planned one.     

Biodegradation of phenol and m-cresol by mutated Candida tropicalis

The phenol and m-cresol biodegradations were studied using the mutant strain CTM 2 obtained by the He-Ne laser irradiation on wild-type Candida tropicalis. The results showed that C. tropicalis exhibited the increased capacity of phenolic compounds degradation after laser irradiation. It could degrade 2600 mg/L phenol and 300 mg/L m-cresol by 5% inoculum concentration, respectively. In the dual-substrate biodegradation system, 0–500 mg/L phenol could accelerate m-cresol biodegradation, and 300 mg/L m-cresol could be completely utilized within 46 hr at the presence of 350 mg/L phenol. Besides, the maximum biodegradation of m-cresol could reach 350 mg/L with 80 mg/L phenol within 61 hr. Obviously, phenol, as a growth substrate, could promote CTM 2 to degrade m-cresol, and was always preferentially utilized as carbon source. Comparatively, low-concentration m-cresol could result in a great inhibition on phenol degradation. In addition, the kinetic behaviors of cell growth and substrate biodegradation were described by kinetic model proposed in our laboratory.     

Anti-fouling ultrafiltration membrane prepared from polysulfone-graft-methyl acrylate copolymers by UV-induced grafting method

Membrane fouling is one of the most important challenges faced in membrane ultrafiltration operations. The copolymers of polysulfone-graft-methyl acrylate were synthesized by homogeneous photo-initiated graft copolymerization. The variables affecting the degree of grafting, such as the time of UV(Ultraviolet-visible)irradiation and the concentrations of the methyl acrylate and photoinitiator, were investigated. The graft copolymer membranes were prepared by the phase inversion method. The chemical and morphological changes were characterized by attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR/FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy, and water contact angles measurements. Results revealed that methyl acrylate groups were present on the membranes and the graft degree of methyl acrylate had remarkable effect on the performance of membranes. Pure water contact allgle on the membrane surface decreases with the increase of methyl acrylate graftdegree. which indicated that the hydrophilicity of graft copolymer membranes Was improved. The permeation fluxes of pure water and bovine serum albumin solution were measured to evaluate the antifouling property of graft copolymer membranes, the results of which have shown an enhancement of antifouling property for graft copoly mermembranes.