Mechanistic insight into the biofilm formation and process performance of a passive aeration ditch (PAD) for decentralized wastewater treatment

• A Passive Aeration Ditch was developed to treat decentralized wastewater. • A model was developed to describe the process performance. • A high C/N ratio facilitates microbial growth but nitrification deteriorates. • A high salinity decreases both organic and nitrogen contaminants removal. Decentralized wastewater containing elevated salinity is an emerging threat to the local environment and sanitation in remote coastal communities. Regarding the cost and treatment efficiencies, we propose a passive aeration ditch (PAD) using non-woven polyester fabric as a feasible bubbleless aerator and biofilm carrier for wastewater treatment. Consideration has been first given to PAD’s efficacy in treating saline decentralized wastewater, and then to the impact of chemical oxygen demand-to-nitrogen (C/N) ratio and salinity on biofilm formation. A multispecies model incorporating the salinity effect has been developed to depict the system performance and predict the microbial community. Results showed that the PAD system had great capacity for pollutants removal. The biofilm thickness increased at a higher C/N ratio because of the boost of aerobic heterotrophs and denitrifying bacteria, which consequently improved the COD and total nitrogen removal. However, this led to the deterioration of ammonia removal. Moreover, while a higher salinity benefited the biofilm growth, the contaminant removal efficiencies decreased because the salinity inhibited the activity of aerobic heterotrophs and reduced the abundance of nitrifying bacteria inside the biofilm. Based on the model simulation, feed water with salinity below 2% and C/N ratio in a range of 1 to 3 forms a biofilm that can reach relatively high organic matter and ammonia removal. These findings not only show the feasibility of PAD in treatment of saline decentralized wastewater, but also offer a systematic strategy to predict and optimize the process performance.     

Integrating soil carbon cycling with that of nitrogen and phosphorus in the watershed model SWAT: Theory and model testing

In this paper we describe and test a sub-model that integrates the cycling of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in the Soil Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) watershed model. The core of the sub-model is a multi-layer, one-pool soil organic carbon (S_C) algorithm, in which the decomposition rate of S_C and input rate to S_C (through decomposition and humification of residues) depend on the current size of S_C. The organic N and P fluxes are coupled to that of C and depend on the available mineral N and P, and the C:N and N:P ratios of the decomposing pools. Tillage explicitly affects the soil organic matter turnover rate through tool-specific coefficients. Unlike most models, the turnover of soil organic matter does not follow first order kinetics. Each soil layer has a specific maximum capacity to accumulate C or C saturation (S_x) that depends on texture and controls the turnover rate. It is shown in an analytical solution that S_x is a parameter with major influence in the model C dynamics. Testing with a 65-yr data set from the dryland wheat growing region in Oregon shows that the model adequately simulates the S_C dynamics in the topsoil (top 0.3 m) for three different treatments. Three key model parameters, the optimal decomposition and humification rates and a factor controlling the effect of soil moisture and temperature on the decomposition rate, showed low uncertainty as determined by generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation. Nonetheless, the parameter set that provided accurate simulations in the topsoil tended to overestimate S_C in the subsoil, suggesting that a mechanism that expresses at depth might not be represented in the current sub-model structure. The explicit integration of C, N, and P fluxes allows for a more cohesive simulation of nutrient cycling in the SWAT model. The sub-model has to be tested in forestland and rangeland in addition to agricultural land, and in diverse soils with extreme properties such high or low pH, an organic horizon, or volcanic soils.     

Transformation of Organic Matter of the Larch Forest Soils in the Northern Taiga of Nizhne-Tungusskoe Plateau, Central Siberia

The evaluation of biospheric role of the boreal forests in the accumulation of carbon is connected with the evaluation of organic matter (OM) pool in soils. The research sites were larch forests, they are situated on Nizhne-Tungusskoe Plateau. Larch forests of feather-moss and lichen types (110 and 380 years old) were formed on 'ochric podbur' soils. Litter stocks are 3.5–4.5 kg m^{− 2} with thickness 10–25 cm. Cryomezomorphic northern taiga soils contains 38–73 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}. Pool of fast mineralized OM has average value 38.1 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}, including 20.5 and 6.4 t (Carbon) ha^{− 1} of labile compounds on surface and in the soil, and 11.2 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} of mobile OM. Microbial mass reaches 1.78–3.47 t (carbon) ha^{− 1}, its proportion is 3.6–4.9% of the total OM carbon. Zoomass of feather-moss larch forest is 0.20–0.61 * 10^{− 2}, in lichen larch forest −0.01–0.07 * 10^{− 2} t (carbon) ha^{− 1}. A pool of resistant to biological decomposition and bonded to mineral soil matrix OM is 17.7 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} and it varies from 18.6 to 29.0 in feather-moss larch forest, and from 6.4 to 17.0 t (carbon) ha^{− 1} in lichen larch forest. Two-years field experiment has been performed to determine transformation rates of various plant litter fractions and to clarify the role of soil biota in these processes. The results showed participation of all biota groups in the decomposition of plant residues caused weight loss of larch-needles and root mortmass. Isolation of organic matter from all-size invertebrate groups leads to some decrease of decomposition activity.     

Understanding the role of nano-TiO2 on the toxicity of Pb on C. dubia through modeling–Is it additive or synergistic?

• A two-compartment model is able to quantify the effect of nano-TiO₂ on Pb toxicity. • Nano-TiO₂ reduces Pb tolerance level and increased the killing rate for C. dubia. • Thus, nano-TiO₂ synergistically enhances Pb toxicity. • Algae reduce Pb transfer rate to the body tissue and the killing rate. Nano-TiO₂ can remarkably increase lead (Pb) toxicity in aquatic organisms. However, the mechanism of this toxicity, additive or synergistic, is not well understood. To explore this mechanism, we inspected the role of nano-TiO₂ in the toxicity of Pb on Ceriodaphnia dubia (C. dubia), a model water flea species typically used for ecotoxicity studies. The effect of algae, a diet for aquatic organisms, on the effect of this binary mixture was also investigated. A two-compartment toxicokinetic (TK)-toxicodynamic (TD) modeling approach was used to quantify the Pb toxicity under these complex conditions and to develop critical parameters for understanding the mechanism of toxicity. This two-compartment modeling approach adequately described the Pb accumulation in the gut and in the rest of the body tissue under different nano-TiO₂ concentrations, with and without algae, and predicted the toxicity response of C. dubia. It indicated that increasing the nano-TiO₂ concentration reduced the Pb tolerance level and concurrently increased the killing rate constant of C. dubia. Therefore, nano-TiO₂ synergistically enhanced Pb toxicity. Algae remarkably reduced the toxicity of this binary mixture through reducing the Pb transfer rate to the body tissue and the killing rate, although it did not affect the Pb tolerance level. This two-compartment modeling approach is useful in understanding the role of nanoparticles when assessing the overall toxicity of nanoparticles and other toxic elements in the environment.     

沼泽湿地孔隙水中溶解有机碳、氮浓度季节动态及与甲烷排放的关系

选择三江平原典型的毛果苔草沼泽湿地为研究对象,测定了沼泽湿地孔隙水中水溶性碳、氮浓度、CH4浓度和CH4排放通量,以及相关环境因子;研究了沼泽水中水溶性有机碳、氮浓度变化特征,探讨了沼泽湿地孔隙水中CH4浓度和排放通量季节性变化及发生原因.结果表明,三江平原沼泽湿地土壤孔隙水中DOC浓度有明显的季节变化(p＜0.01).最高值(剖面平均值为95.1 mg·L-1)出现在6月份,9和10月份出现最低值(剖面平均值均为79.3 mg·L-1),剖面上浓集中心位于15～30 cm.孔隙水中NH4 -N和NO-3-N浓度也有明显的季节变化,而DON变化不明显.孔隙水中CH4浓度在剖面上的分布特征与DOC一致,高浓度中心位于20～30 cm.除6月份外,孔隙水甲烷浓度与土壤温度和DOC浓度有显著的正相关关系,与NH4 -N和NO3-N均没有显著相关性.土壤温度和孔隙水中DOC浓度是影响沼泽湿地产CH4能力的重要因素.CH4排放通量与土壤温度和积水深度呈很好的指数关系,与剖面CH4浓度和孔隙水NH4 -N浓度有显著的正相关关系.CH4排放通量与孔隙水DOC浓度相关性不显著.     

Does low N-mineralisation rate in soils under grass help limit nitrate leaching in summer?

This paper aimed to confirm the hypothesis that rates of ammonification and net mineral-N production in soils under grass in summer are low and this, rather than nitrate uptake by plants, reduces mineral leaching from soils in summer. Six sets of soil samples were collected from under mown grass on the University of York campus in the UK. Samples were taken from two depths in late summer (August) and late autumn (November) to compare seasonal differences in N species transformations when field-moist soils were incubated for a week at ambient outdoor temperatures after prior removal of vegetation. Ammonification and net mineral-N production rates were low in August in spite of warm temperatures. Net mineral-N production rates were also low in November. The results agreed with those of an earlier study in a different year after considering weather differences between years. They support the hypothesis that litter accumulated over autumn/winter will be minimally mineralised and retain N before the temperature rises in spring. The study shows the merit of measuring concentrations of mineral-N species in both fresh soils and soils incubated at ambient outdoor temperatures after removing plant material to eliminate plant N uptake effects. The results suggest that soil C% and N% are more important than soil C:N ratio alone in understanding controls on N transformations.     

A~2/O-曝气生物滤池工艺处理低C/N比生活污水脱氮除磷

以低C/N比实际生活污水为研究对象,重点考查了A2/O-曝气生物滤池生化系统的脱氮除磷特性.同时,考虑到A2/O工艺的主要功能是除磷及反硝化,而曝气生物滤池则以硝化为目的.因此,通过缩短A2/O的泥龄,可将硝化过程从A2/O中分离出去,让曝气生物滤池完成硝化,实现硝化菌和聚磷菌的分离,并解决了硝化菌和聚磷菌泥龄之间的矛盾.试验结果表明,该生化系统可实现有机物、氮和磷的同步去除.在平均C/N比为4.2,内回流比R为250%的条件下,平均进水COD、TN、TP分别为239.9、57.3和5.1mg·L-1,平均最终出水COD、TN、TP分别为34.1、13.3和0.1mg·L-1,去除率分别为85.8%、76.9%和98.3%.曝气生物滤池对氨氮几乎保持了100%的去除率.序批试验表明,反硝化聚磷菌占聚磷菌的比例为40.5%.     

纯种氨氧化菌短程反硝化特性

以Comamonas aquatica LNL3为研究对象,根据其既能短程硝化又能短程反硝化的特性,采用好氧方式富集和固定化菌种,再以厌氧方式驯化,得到具有高效短程反硝化特性的纯种氨氧化菌。采用扫描电镜对固定化前后的载体进行表征,且用正交试验考察了不同环境因子(温度、pH、碳氮比、溶解氧)对Comamonas aquatica LNL3短程反硝化的影响。结果表明,所用载体与Comamonas aquatica LNL3有良好的亲和性,适于微生物的固定化;环境因子对Comamonas aquatica LNL3短程反硝化影响大小顺序为:温度>pH>DO>C/N;在环境条件改变过程中当温度为35℃,pH=8,C/N=3,DO=2.5 mg/L时,Comamonas aquatica LNL3短程反硝化速率达到最大,为32.63 mg/(L.h);研究结果还表明,Comamonas aquatica LNL3具有好氧反硝化特性,适宜处理低碳氮比废水。     

3DBER-S反硝化脱氮性能及其菌群特征

针对污水处理厂尾水TN去除问题,采用16S rDNA克隆文库法,探究了3DBER-S(三维电极生物膜耦合硫自养脱氮工艺)的强化脱氮机制及其菌群特征. 结果表明,I(电流)和HRT(水力停留时间)对3DEBR-S中氢自养和硫自养反硝化作用所占比例的影响较大,但对脱氮效率影响不显著. 当进水C/N〔ρ(COD_Cr)/ρ(TN)〕为1、ρ(NO₃--N)为35 mg/L、I为300 mA、HRT为4 h时,NO₃--N和TN去除率可分别稳定在80%和74%以上. 16S rDNA克隆文库结果显示,反应器中β变形菌纲为优势菌群,占47.89%〔以OUT(操作单元)计〕. 在β变形菌纲中,与具有反硝化功能的陶厄氏菌属(Thauera)相似的细菌所占比例最大,为52.94%;与可分别利用硫和氢为电子供体进行反硝化脱氮的硫杆菌属(Thiobacillus)和食酸菌属(Acidovorax)相似的细菌分别占17.65%和14.71%. 3DBER-S中存在异养联合氢自养和硫自养反硝化协同去除硝酸盐氮的作用,可为反硝化脱氮提供充足的电子供体,节约了有机碳源消耗,并保证了稳定高效的脱氮效果.      

UASB+AF处理维生素C废水的研究

采用有效容积为６ｍ３的ＵＡＳＢ＋ＡＦ反应器处理维生素Ｃ高浓度有机废水,结果表明：稳定运行容积负荷可达１０—１２ｋｇＣＯＤ／（ｍ３·ｄ）ＣＯＤ去除率大于８０％,容积产气率大于３．０Ｎｍ３／（ｍ３·ｄ）,并具有启动速度快和较强耐冲击负荷的能力。