Aerobic treatment of palm oil mill effluent

In this study treatment of palm oil mill effluent (POME) was investigated using aerobic oxidation based on an activated sludge process. The effects of sludge volume index, scum index and mixed liquor suspended solids during the acclimatizing phase and biomass build-up phase were investigated in order to ascertain the reactor stability. The efficiency of the activated sludge process was evaluated by treating anaerobically digested and diluted raw POME obtained from Golden Hope Plantations, Malaysia. The treatment of POME was carried out at a fixed biomass concentration of 3900+/-200mg/L, whereas the corresponding sludge volume index was found to be around 105+/-5mL/g. The initial studies on the efficiency of the activated sludge reactor were carried out using diluted raw POME for varying the hydraulic retention time, viz: 18, 24, 30 and 36h and influent COD concentration, viz: 1000, 2000, 3000, 4000 and 5000mg/L, respectively. The results showed that at the end of 36h of hydraulic retention time for the above said influent COD, the COD removal efficiencies were found to be 83%, 72%, 64%, 54% and 42% whereas at 24h hydraulic retention time they were 57%, 45%, 38%, 30% and 27%, respectively. The effectiveness of aerobic oxidation was also compared between anaerobically digested and diluted raw POME having corresponding CODs of 3908 and 3925mg/L, for varying hydraulic retention time, viz: 18, 24, 30, 36, 42, 48, 54 and 60h. The dissolved oxygen concentration and pH in the activated sludge reactor were found to be 1.8-2.2mg/L and 7-8.5, respectively. The scum index was found to rise from 0.5% to 1.9% during the acclimatizing phase and biomass build-up phase.     

Microbial biomass yield and turnover in soil biodegradation tests: carbon substrate effects

Most of the standardized biodegradation tests used to assess the ultimate biodegradation of environmentally degradable polymers are based solely on the determination of net evolved carbon dioxide. However, under aerobic conditions, it has to be considered that heterotrophic microbial consortia metabolize carbon substrates both to carbon dioxide and in the production of new cell biomass. It is generally accepted that in the relatively short term, 50% of the carbon content of most organic substrates is converted to CO₂, with the remaining carbon being assimilated as biomass or incorporated into humus. The latter is particularly important when the metabolism of the organic matter occurs in a soil environment. A straightforward relationship between the free-energy content of a carbon substrate (expressed as the standard free-energy of combustion) and its propensity for conversion to new microbial biomass rather than mineralization to CO₂ has been established. This can potentially lead to underestimation of biodegradation levels of test compounds, especially when they consist of carbon in a fairly low formal oxidation state and relatively high free-energy content. In the present work, the metabolism of different kind of carbon substrates, especially in soil, is reviewed and compared with our own experimental results from respirometric tests. The results show that conversion of highly oxidized materials, such as the commonly used reference materials, cellulose or starch, to CO₂ may be significantly overestimated. The addition of glucosidic material to soil leads to greatly increased respiration and is accompanied by a very low conversion to biomass or humic substances. In contrast, relatively less oxidized substrates metabolize more slowly to give both CO₂ and biomass to an extent which may be significantly underestimated if glucosidic materials are used as the reference. The need for an overall carbon balance taking into account both the carbon immobilized as biomass and that volatized as CO₂ must be considered in standard respirometric procedures for assessing the biodegradability of slowly degrading macromolecules.     

Biological degradation of some organic compounds involved in the paper industry

An evaluation of the biodegradation by aerobic microorganisms was investigated for some organic compounds occurring in paper manufacturing technology. Lines of biodegradation for nine organic compounds, as a percentage removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), were detected over seven days incubation. The results of the biodegradability test clearly revealed that some of the organic compounds under investigation were highly biodegradable while others ranked from fairly biodegradable to non-biodegradable. Significant biodegradation results were recorded as COD removal, for anti-coating ester (95.0 percent), Basoplast 200D (85.3 percent) and Basoplast PR 8050 (87.6 percent). The bleaching agent (formamidin-sulfinic acid), Ukanol BSA and Solidurit KM demonstrated moderate biodegradation with results of 62.1 percent, 76.2 percent and 69.8 percent, respectively. Poor biodegradation results for Hedifix M/35 (12.7 percent), Basazol Orange (34.9 percent) and Basazol Brown (29.0 percent) were recorded. Accordingly, appropriate precautions should be taken into consideration when applying these compounds to paper manufacturing processes.     

Degradation of pyrene by immobilized microorganisms in saline-alkaline soil

Biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is very difficult in saline-alkaline soil due to the inhibition of microbial growth under saline-alkaline stress. The microorganisms that can most effectively degrade PAHs were screened by introducing microorganisms immobilized on farm byproducts and assessing the validity of the immobilizing technique for PAHs degradation in pyrene-contaminated saline-alkaline soil. Among the microorganisms examined, it was found that Mycobacterium sp. B2 is the best, and can degrade 82.2% and 83.2% of pyrene for free and immobilized cells after 30 days of incubation. The immobilization technique could increase the degradation of pyrene significantly, especially for fungi. The degradation of pyrene by the immobilized microorganisms Mucor sp. F2, fungal consortium MF and co-cultures of MB+MF was increased by 161.7% (P < 0.05), 60.1% (P < 0.05) and 59.6% (P < 0.05) after 30 days, respectively, when compared with free F2, MF and MB+MF. Scanning electron micrographs of the immobilized microstructure proved the positive effects of the immobilized microbial technique on pyrene remediation in saline-alkaline soil, as the interspace of the carrier material structure was relatively large, providing enough space for cell growth. Co-cultures of different bacterial and fungal species showed different abilities to degrade PAHs. The present study suggests that Mycobacterium sp. B2 can be employed for in situ bioremediation of PAHs in saline-alkaline soil, and immobilization of fungi on farm byproducts and nutrients as carriers will enhance fungus PAH-degradation ability in saline-alkaline soil.     

碳源对工业污染场地土壤中HCHs和DDTs降解的促进作用

我国对有机氯农药的大量需求使得在农药生产、加工和分装等过程中造成了许多城镇中存在有机氯农药污染场地,限制了土地的后续开发利用.本研究选取3种类型的碳源组成有机修复剂A、B、C,添加到受有机氯工业污染场地土壤中进行微生物降解试验,并对比了3种修复剂的效果.试验过程中,反应体系水分含量为50％,添加零价金属调节氧化还原电位,采用好氧/厌氧交替循环方式进行生物降解.实验结果表明:3种修复剂对HCHs和DDTs的降解都有显著促进作用.与DDTs相比,HCHs较易降解.90 d内,添加修复剂(A、B、C)的处理中∑HCH的浓度分别从73.37~85.71 mg·kg^-1降解到了15.88~38.21 mg·kg^-1.与未添加修复剂的对照相比较,∑HCH的降解率提高了19%~52%,90 d内,ΣHCH的降解率最高可达81%.添加修复剂(A、B、C)的处理中ΣDDT的浓度分别从91.68~119.79 mg·kg^-1降解到了45.1~60.7 mg·kg^-1,相对未添加修复剂的对照试验,∑DDT的降解率提高了39%~45%,30 d内∑DDT的降解率最高可达到51%,但30 d后降解效率无明显增加.就不同类型碳源的促进作用来看,C/N最高,而含水率最低的修复剂B的效果最好,而C/N比最低而含水率最高的修复剂A效果最差.     

城市污水处理厂内分泌干扰物浓度分布和去除规律

采集南方某城市3个污水处理厂进出水及各工艺单元的水样,通过固相萃取-衍生化过程对水样进行预处理,并用气相色谱-质谱联用仪定量检测水样中的17α-雌二醇(17α-E2)、雌酮(E1)、雌二醇(E2)、雌炔醇(EE2)、雌三醇(E3)、辛基酚(OP)、正壬基酚(NP)和双酚A(BPA)等8种内分泌干扰物(EDCs).连续4个季度的分析结果显示,3个污水厂进出水及各工艺单元中均有EDCs检出,EE2和BPA是含量最高的两种EDCs,出水中最高浓度分别达到498.9ng.L-1和2652.5ng.L-1,其他6种EDCs浓度均不超过100ng.L-1;生物处理工艺对EE2、E3、NP、OP和BPA有较高的去除率,平均去除率约为57%～85%,但对于E1、E2和17α-E2的去除率较低且不稳定;一级处理工艺对EDCs仅有低于18%的去除率;紫外辐照消毒工艺对EDCs的去除没有明显效果;EDCs浓度季节差异显著,由于雨水的稀释作用,旱季浓度约为雨季的2.5～7.8倍.本文对于了解我国南方地区污水处理工艺中EDCs类物质的分布和转化特点有一定的参考意义.     

Biofiltration of the antibacterial drug sulfamethazine by the species Chenopodium quinoa and its further biodegradation through anaerobic digestion

The biofiltering capacity, distribution patterns and degradation of the antimicrobial sulfamethazine(SMT) by halophyte Chenopodium quinoa under hydroponic conditions and its further biodegradation through anaerobic digestion were evaluated. C. quinoa was cultivated for a complete life cycle under different concentrations of SMT(0, 2 and 5 mg/L) and sodium chloride(0 and 15 g/L). C. quinoa is able to uptake and partially degrade SMT. The higher the SMT concentration in the culture medium, the higher the SMT content in the plant tissue. SMT has different distribution patterns within the plant organs, and no SMT is found in the seeds.Dry crop residues containing SMT have a great potential to produce methane through anaerobic digestion and, in addition, SMT is further biodegraded. The highest specific methane yields are obtained using crop residues of the plants cultivated in the presence of salt and SMT with concentrations between 0 and 2 mg/L.     

Characteristics of microorganisms isolated from technogenic soils of the Kama region

Microorganisms capable of degrading monocyclic and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and several chlorinated aromatic compounds were isolated from soils polluted with industrial waste from chemical plants. They were identified as representatives of the genera Pseudomonas, Flavobacterium, Alcaligenes, Rhodococcus, Microbacterium, Cellulomonas, Arthrobacter, and Brevibacterium. Among them, bacteria capable of utilizing xenobiotics in a wide range of ambient temperatures and pH and in the presence of high sodium chloride concentrations were revealed.     

Burkholderia sp.FDS-1降解硝基苯酚类化合物的特性研究

从长期受农药污染的土壤中分离到1株高效杀螟硫磷降解菌株Burkholderia sp.FDS^-1,它能以3-甲基-4-硝基苯酚(MNP)为唯一碳源和氮源进行生长.该菌能在9h内将0.6mmol.L-1MNP完全转化成邻甲基对苯二酚(MHQ),并能继续降解MHQ.该菌降解MNP的最适温度和pH分别为30℃和7.0,菌株降解MNP的速率和起始接种量呈正相关.降解MNP的酶为诱导酶.     

Anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation with four kinds of electron acceptors enriched from the same mixed inoculum and exploration of metabolic pathways

Anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation enriched process was described in detail. The enriched bacterial communities were characterized under four redox conditions. The enriched archaeal communities were stated under high percentage conditions. Relatively intact pathways of anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation were proposed. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are widespread and persistent contaminants worldwide, especially in environments devoid of molecular oxygen. For lack of molecular oxygen, researchers enhanced anaerobic zones PAHs biodegradation by adding sulfate, bicarbonate, nitrate, and iron. However, microbial community reports of them were limited, and information of metabolites was poor except two-ring PAH, naphthalene. Here, we reported on four phenanthrene-degrading enrichment cultures with sulfate, bicarbonate, nitrate, and iron as electron acceptors from the same initial inoculum. The high-to-low order of the anaerobic phenanthrene biodegradation rate was the nitrate-reducing conditions>sulfate-reducing conditions>methanogenic conditions>iron-reducing conditions. The dominant bacteria populations were Desulfobacteraceae, Anaerolinaceae, and Thermodesulfobiaceae under sulfate-reducing conditions; Moraxellaceae, Clostridiaceae, and Comamonadaceae under methanogenic conditions; Rhodobacteraceae, Planococcaceae, and Xanthomonadaceae under nitrate-reducing conditions; and Geobacteraceae, Carnobacteriaceae, and Anaerolinaceae under iron-reducing conditions, respectively. Principal component analysis (PCA) indicated that bacteria populations of longtime enriched cultures with four electron acceptors all obtained significant changes from original inoculum, and bacterial communities were similar under nitrate-reducing and iron-reducing conditions. Archaea accounted for a high percentage under iron-reducing and methanogenic conditions, and Methanosarcinaceae and Methanobacteriaceae, as well as Methanobacteriaceae, were the dominant archaea populations under iron-reducing and methanogenic conditions. The key steps of phenanthrene biodegradation under four reducing conditions were carboxylation, further ring system reduction, and ring cleavage.