Fate of ah receptor agonists during biological treatment of an industrial sludge containing explosives and pharmaceutical residues

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Sweden is meeting prohibition for deposition of organic waste from 2005. Since 1 million tons of sludge is produced every year in Sweden and the capacity for incineration does not fill the demands, other methods of sludge management have to be introduced to a higher degree. Two biological treatment alternatives are anaerobic digestion and composting. Different oxygen concentrations result in different microbial degradation pathways and, consequently, in a different quality of the digestion or composting residue, It is therefore necessary to study sludge treatment during different oxygen regimes in order to follow both degradation of compounds and change in toxicity. In this study, an industrial sludge containing explosives and pharmaceutical residues was treated with anaerobic digestion or composting, and the change in toxicity was studied. Nitroaromatic compounds, which are the main ingredients of both pharmaceutical and explosives, are well known to cause cytotoxicity and genotoxicity. However, little data are available concerning sludge with nitroaromatics and any associated dioxin-like activity. Therefore, we studied the sludge before and after the treatments in order to detect any changes in levels of Ah receptor (AhR) agonists using two bioassays for dioxin-like compounds. METHODS: An industrial sludge was treated with anaerobic digestion or composting in small reactors in a semi-continuous manner. The same volume as the feeding volume was taken out daily and stored at -20 degrees C. Sample preparation for the bioassays was done by extraction using organic solvents, followed by clean up with silica gel or sulphuric acid, yielding two fractions. The fractions were dissolved in DMSO and tested in the bioassays. The dioxin-like activity was measured using the DR-CALUX assay with transfected H4IIE rat hepatoma pGudluc cells and an EROD induction assay with RTL-W1 rainbow trout liver cells. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The bioassays showed that the sludge contained AhR agonists at levels of TCDD equivalents (TEQs) higher than other sludge types in Sweden. In addition, the TEQ values for the acid resistant fractions increased considerably after anaerobic digestion, resulting in an apparent formation of acid resistant TEQs in the anaerobic reactors. Similar results have been reported from studies of fermented household waste. There was a large difference in effects between the two bioassays, with higher TEQ levels in the RTL-W1 EROD assay than in the DR-CALUX assay. This is possibly due to a more rapid metabolism in rat hepatocytes than in trout hepatocytes or to differences in sensitivities for the AhR agonists in the sludge. It was also demonstrated by GC/FID analysis that the sludge contained high concentrations of nitroaromatics. It is suggested that nitroaromatic metabolites, such as aromatic amines and nitroanilines, are possible candidates for the observed bioassay effects. It was also found that the AhR agonists in the sludge samples were volatile. CONCLUSIONS: The sludge contained fairly high concentrations of volatile AhR agonists. The increase of acid resistant AhR agonist after anaerobic digestion warrants further investigations of the chemical and toxic properties of these compounds and of the mechanisms behind this observation. RECOMMENDATION AND OUTLOOK: This study has pointed out the benefits of using different types of mechanism-specific bioassays when evaluating the change in toxicity by sludge treatment, in which measurement of dioxin-like activity can be a valuable tool. In order to study the recalcitrant properties of the compounds in the sludge using the DR-CALUX assay, the exposure time can be varied between 6 and 24 hours. The properties of the acid-resistant AhR agonists formed in the anaerobic treatment have to be investigated in order to choose the most appropriate method for sludge management.     

公交车燃用B5生物柴油的非常规污染物排放特性及对区域大气污染物减排的作用

为推行区域大气污染联合防治并推广使用B5生物柴油,基于重型底盘测功机,采用C-WTVC循环,对比研究满足国Ⅳ、国Ⅴ排放标准的柴油公交车分别燃用国Ⅴ柴油、京Ⅵ柴油和B5生物柴油时的非常规污染物排放特性。结果表明：相比京Ⅵ柴油在采用B5生物柴油后,在不同耐久里程下的所有样车整体上的1,3-C4H6排放因子平均降低20.53%;C6H6排放因子平均降低7.67%;C7H8排放因子平均降低11.22%;HCHO排放因子平均降低14.92%;SO2排放因子平均降低6.09%。实验证明城市公交车在燃用B5生物柴油后的非常规污染物排放均降低。城市公交车推广使用B5生物柴油可有效净化大气质量,对区域大气污染物减排有着重要意义。     

聚乙烯醇包埋奥奈达希瓦氏菌MR-1还原U(Ⅵ)

实验用聚乙烯醇包埋奥奈达希瓦氏菌MR-1制备了包埋微球,并用其对U（Ⅵ）进行还原实验。实验结果表明,当pH=7.0,不同聚乙烯醇浓度对包埋微球的成球性、稳定性和传质性均有影响,制备包埋微球的聚乙烯醇的最优浓度为10%;当U（Ⅵ）浓度为15 mg·L-1,奥奈达希瓦氏菌投加量为6 mL,且奥奈达希瓦氏菌与聚乙烯醇按1∶2的比例进行包埋后,包埋微球对U（Ⅵ）的去除率最高达96.22%。Cu2+、Mn2+、Ca2+等共存离子对包埋微球还原U（Ⅵ）产生影响,2.0 mmol·L-1的Ca2+对包埋微球还原U（Ⅵ）存在微弱的促进作用;2.0 mmol·L-1 Cu2+、Mn2+对包埋微球还原U（Ⅵ）存在不同程度的抑制作用,去除率分别仅为8.14%和65.99%。扫描电镜和电子能谱分析结果表明,铀被微球还原沉积在包埋微球中。     

基于高通量测序的OMS-2对序批式反应器系统微生物群落的影响

随着纳米材料的广泛应用,越来越多的纳米材料随着废水进入污水处理厂,纳米材料对污水生物处理系统的潜在影响越来越受到重视。探讨了氧化锰八面体分子筛(manganese oxide octahedral molecular sieve, OMS-2)纳米颗粒对序批式反应器(sequencing batch reactor,SBR)中活性污泥微生物群落结构的影响;以活性艳红X-3B溶液模拟印染废水,将不同浓度的OMS-2混入稳定运行的SBR中,采用Illumina MiSeq高通量测序分析技术,对不同SBR中微生物分布规律进行了研究。结果表明：SBR添加0.25 g·L⁻¹的OMS-2后,其COD去除率和脱色率分别提升了6%和13.6%;Illumina MiSeq高通量测序显示,在混入0.25 g·L⁻¹的OMS-2后,SBR内污泥菌群中拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes)和变形菌门(Proteobacteria)的微生物DNA序列操作分类单元(operational taxonomic units,OTU)分别增加了16.8%和96.4%,这2类菌种可能提升了SBR降解有机污染物的能力;不同浓度的OMS-2改变了菌群的多样性和结构,低浓度的OMS-2可以提升微生物菌群的多样性和改变菌群的结构。X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析表明,OMS-2在SBR中存在锰(Ⅳ)/锰(Ⅲ)转变为锰(Ⅱ)的氧化还原反应,该过程可能影响了菌群的组成。研究为纳米材料的实际应用和环境风险提供了参考。     

改性粉煤灰合成沸石对甲基橙的吸附动力学

以粉煤灰(FA)为原料,采用水热晶化一步法制备了NaP1型沸石(ZFA),对合成产物的结构进行了表征,并采用阳离子表面活性剂十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTAB)对其进行改性。通过静态吸附实验,研究了改性后NaP1型沸石(MZFA)对水溶液中甲基橙的吸附特性,从动力学角度探讨了吸附机理。结果表明,在所研究的浓度条件下,改性NaP1型沸石对甲基橙的吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附方程,在25℃时,静态饱和吸附量(Qm)为64.76 mg/g。动力学分析表明,改性NaP1型沸石对溶液中甲基橙的吸附符合准二级动力学模型。     

高压脉冲放电等离子体处理活性红X-3B染料废水

采用高压脉冲放电等离子体技术对活性红X-3B染料废水进行处理,考察了废水电导率、脉冲电压、脉冲频率、针板间距以及曝气量对处理效果的影响。实验结果表明,当废水电导率为200μS/cm、脉冲电压为34kV、脉冲频率为60Hz、针板间距为15mm、曝气量为12L/h、处理时间为60m in时,活性红X-3B染料废水脱色率能达到98.6%。     

层状氢氧化镁铝对偶氮染料酸性黑10B的脱色性能研究

分别用层状氢氧化镁铝(LDH)和焙烧层状氢氧化镁铝(CLDH)作为吸附剂吸附脱除水溶液中偶氮染料酸性黑10B.考察了脱色时间、pH值、吸附剂的投加量、温度、染料初始浓度和焙烧温度等因素对脱色率的影响.结果表明,LDH及CLDH对酸性黑10B染料具有良好的脱除效果,室温下,10g/L LDH和1g/L的CLDH对浓度为100mg/L的染料的脱色率分别达95.93%和99.97%.pH值是影响吸附能力的关键因素,吸附剂对溶液pH值有一定缓冲作用.LDH及CLDH对酸性黑10B吸附结果符合Langmuir吸附等温式.饱和吸附后的LDH及CLDH用高温热解法再生,吸附性能良好,随再生次数增多,脱色率下降.     

Determination of aflatoxin-B1 in poultry feed and its components employing enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)

A highly sensitive enzyme immunoassay was standardized for aflatoxin B₁ determination in poultry feed and its components using Riedel-de-Haen, ELISA Systems_. A microtitration plate method was optimized using anti-aflatoxin B₁ antibodies and peroxidase – aflatoxin B₁ conjugate, based on competitive enzyme immunoassay principle. Standards of concentrations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500?ng/L aflatoxin B₁, prepared in phosphate-buffered saline, were used. Standard curves showed that as the concentration of antigen decreased, absorbance values increased. Fifty percent inhibition was observed at 37?ng/L. Regression analysis showed that log concentration was inversely related to %B/B₀, with a highly significant negative correlation (?0.980). The lowest detection limit for aflatoxin B₁ was 5?ng/L. Using this standardized ELISA, aflatoxin B₁ was detected in most of the commercially available poultry feed samples and their components.

The data suggest that this test is suitable for the accurate determination of aflatoxin B₁ concentrations in poultry feed and its components.     

α1-Microglobulin levels and correlation with cadmium and other metals in urine of non-smoking women among general populations in Japan

The present study was initiated to examine urinary α₁-microglobulin (α₁-MG-U) levels among non-smoking women in the general population in Japan. A previously established database on spot urine samples from adult woman volunteers in 10 non-polluted areas all over Japan was re-examined. The data examined were on α₁-MG-U, cadmium, calcium, magnesium and zinc levels in urine (Cd-U, Ca-U, Mg-U and Zn-U, respectively), urinary creatinine (CR or cr), urine specific gravity (SG or sg), smoking habits and age. Thus, 8975 never-smoking women were selected for statistical analyses. The grand geometric mean (GM) for α₁-MG-U among the population was 2.1?mg/L or 2.5?mg/g?cr, depending on the correction for urine density. It was 1.1?µg/L or 1.3?µg/g?cr for GM Cd-U. The inter-area difference in α₁-MG-U was <1.5?mg/g?cr or <0.7?mg/L; the area with the highest or lowest GM Cd-U was not always highest or lowest in GM α₁-MG-U. The correlation coefficient (0.53) between log?Cd-U and log?α₁-MG-U (both without urine density correction) became substantially smaller when the analyte levels were corrected for CR (0.25) or SG (0.26). In multiple regression analysis, the power of influence of the five independent variables (log?Cd-U, Ca-U, Mg-U, Zn-U and age) in combination was small (R ²?≦?0.13). In contrast, logistic regression analysis suggested that α₁-MG-U might be elevated as a function of an increase in Cd-U, depending on the cut-off values. Discussion was made on dose (Cd-U_cr) and response (α₁-MG-U_cr) relationship based on information available in literatures to show that the increment in α₁-MG-U_cr per Cd-U_cr was much greater when Cd-U_cr was large, e.g., in excess of 10?µg/g?cr.