Effect of photo-biodegradation and biodegradation on the biogeochemical cycling of dissolved organic matter across diverse surface water bodies

The objective of this research was to quantify the temporal variation of dissolved organic matter(DOM) in five distinct waterbodies in watersheds with diverse types of land use and land cover in the presence and absence of sunlight. The water bodies were an agricultural pond, a lake in a forested watershed, a man-made reservoir, an estuary, and a bay. Two sets of samples were prepared by dispensing unfiltered samples into filtered samples in 1:10 ratio(V/V). The first set was exposed to sunlight(10 hr per day for 30 days) for examining the combined effect of photo-biodegradation, while the second set was stored in dark for examining biodegradation alone. Spectroscopic measurements in tandem with multivariate statistics were used to interpret DOM lability and composition. The results suggest that the agricultural pond behaved differently compared to other study locations during degradation experiments due to the presence of higher amount of microbial humic-like and protein-like components derived from microbial/anthropogenic sources. For all samples, a larger decrease in dissolved organic carbon(DOC) concentration(10.12% ±9.81% for photo-biodegradation and 6.65% ± 2.83% for biodegradation) and rapid transformation of DOM components(i.e., terrestrial humic-like components into microbial humic and protein-like components) were observed during photo-biodegradation experiments.Results suggest that sunlight facilitated DOM biodegradation, resulting in simpler recalcitrant molecules regardless of original composition. Overall, it was found that combined effects of light and bacteria are more efficient than bacterial effects alone in remineralizing and altering DOM, which highlights the crucial importance of sunlight in transforming aquatic DOM.     

Bayesian approach to estimating margin of safety for total maximum daily load development

A Bayesian-updating approach is presented to the estimation of total uncertainty-based Margin of Safety (MOS) for Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL) calculations. Probability distributions are presented to construct the likelihood function, the prior probability distribution, and the posterior (total uncertainty) probability distribution. The Bayesian-updating approach is demonstrated through a case study for the Lower Amite River, Louisiana. The posterior probability distribution-based on the Bayesian approach updates the standard deviation of summer dissolved oxygen in the Amite River from 1.88 mg/L to 2.10 mg/L when the total uncertainty is considered. Results from the Bayesian-updating approach are compared with two conventional methods. The dissolved oxygen reserve based on a conventional margin of safety of 20% is estimated to be 45,682.26 kg/Day. The second conventional method, where we consider the standard deviation of 1.88 mg/L, produces a dissolved oxygen reserve of 40,516.09 kg/Day. The Bayesian approach yields the dissolved oxygen reserve of 38,614.43 kg/Day with the first level (μ-σ) of MOS, producing a deficit of 5606.65 kg/Day in dissolved oxygen. The dissolved oxygen reserve deficit increases to 23,895.13 kg/Day when the second level (μ-2σ) of MOS is used, which escalated to 42,383.52 kg/Day when the highest level (μ-3σ) of MOS is used. While the total uncertainty-based Bayesian approach is demonstrated for a TMDL development on the Amite River, the overall approach could be applied in any river system with similar available data.     

Predicting δCDIC dynamics in CCS: A scheme based on a review of inorganic carbon chemistry under elevated pressures and temperatures

Stable carbon isotopes are important tools to assess potential storage sites for CO₂, as they allow the quantification of ionic trapping via isotope mass balances. In deep geological formations high p/T conditions need to be considered, because CO₂ dissolution, equilibrium constants and isotope fractionation of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) depend on temperature, pressure and solute composition. After reviewing different approaches to account for these dependencies, an expanded scheme is presented for speciation and carbon isotope fractionation of DIC and dissolution of CaCO₃ for pCO₂ up to 100 bar, pH down to 3 and temperatures of up to 200 °C. The scheme evaluates the influence of respective parameters on isotope ratios during CO₂ sequestration. The pCO₂ and pH are the dominant controlling factors in the DIC/δ¹³C/pH system. The fugacity of CO₂ has major impact on DIC concentrations at temperatures below 100 °C at high pCO₂. Temperature dependency of activities and equilibrium dominates at temperatures above 100 °C. Isotope ratios of DIC are expected to be about 1–2‰ more depleted in ¹³C compared to the free CO₂ at pCO₂ values above 10 bar. This depletion is controlled by carbon isotope fractionation between CO₂ and H₂CO₃* which is the dominant species of DIC at the resulting pH below 5.     

Industrial experience of process identification and set-point decision algorithm in a full-scale treatment plant

This paper presents industrial experience of process identification, monitoring, and control in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant. The objectives of this study were (1) to apply and compare different process-identification methods of proportional-integral-derivative (PID) autotuning for stable dissolved oxygen (DO) control, (2) to implement a process monitoring method that estimates the respiration rate simultaneously during the process-identification step, and (3) to propose a simple set-point decision algorithm for determining the appropriate set point of the DO controller for optimal operation of the aeration basin. The proposed method was evaluated in the industrial wastewater treatment facility of an iron- and steel-making plant. Among the process-identification methods, the control signal of the controller's set-point change was best for identifying low-frequency information and enhancing the robustness to low-frequency disturbances. Combined automatic control and set-point decision method reduced the total electricity consumption by 5% and the electricity cost by 15% compared to the fixed gain PID controller, when considering only the surface aerators. Moreover, as a result of improved control performance, the fluctuation of effluent quality decreased and overall effluent water quality was better.     

Influence of thermal environment on metallographic structure characteristics of the electric arc bead pattern

Electrical apparatuses are prone to arc, which generally causes a fire, even an explosion hazard, when a flammable gas mixture is present, especially during industrial processes. Terrible fire scenes are challenging for fire investigations. In this work, by performing a simultaneous thermal analysis test we simulated a fire environment and found that as the oxygen concentration decreased, the oxidation/exothermic peak temperature of ‘cause’ bead became higher, but the melting temperature was unaffected. Results indicated that the bead pattern underwent oxidation at approximately 831 °C, melting initiated at approximately 1060 °C, and the pattern then disappeared. The melted pattern grain changes were divided into three critical temperature stages: Approximately 600 °C, the onset temperature at which the melted pattern grains began to be equiaxed; approximately 831 °C, at which the grains were interspersed with oxygen-containing material; and 831–1060 °C, when the grains disappeared, which is a criterion for identifying electrical fires. However, the boundaries remained throughout the thermal environment process. Moreover, the bead pattern demonstrated three metallographic regions: Deep layer (Region I), the intermediate layer (Region Ⅱ), and surface layer (Region Ⅲ). Region I was the most thermally sensitive, in which equiaxed crystals first appeared. Region Ⅲ was the thermal reaction lag zone, in which the typical branching crystals finally disappeared, and Region Ⅱ was intermediate between Regions I and Ⅲ. The results may help fire investigators determine the fire scene temperature stages and provide support for fire evidence extraction.     

Sorption of hydrophobic pesticides on a Mediterranean soil affected by wastewater, dissolved organic matter and salts

Irrigation with treated wastewaters as an alternative in countries with severe water shortage may influence the sorption of pesticides and their environmental effects, as wastewater contains higher concentrations of suspended and dissolved organic matter and inorganic compounds than freshwater. We have examined the sorption behaviour of three highly hydrophobic pesticides (the herbicide pendimethalin and the insecticides α-cypermethrin and deltamethrin) on a Mediterranean agricultural soil using the batch equilibration method. We considered wastewater, extracts from urban sewage sludge with different dissolved organic carbon contents, and inorganic salt solutions, using Milli Q water as a control. All pesticides were strongly retained by soil although some sorption occurred on the walls of the laboratory containers, especially when wastewater and inorganic salt solutions were used. The calculation of distribution constants by measuring pesticide concentrations in soil and solution indicated that pendimethalin sorption was not affected whereas α-cypermethrin and deltamethrin retention were significantly enhanced (ca. 5 and 2 times, respectively) when wastewater or salt solutions were employed. We therefore conclude that the increased sorption of the two pesticides caused by wastewater cannot be only the result of its dissolved organic carbon content, but also of the simultaneous presence of inorganic salts in the solution.     

Allocation of supplementary aeration stations in the Chicago waterway system for dissolved oxygen improvement

The Chicago Waterway System (CWS), used mainly for commercial and recreational navigation and for urban drainage, is a 122.8 km branching network of navigable waterways controlled by hydraulic structures. The CWS receives pollutant loads from 3 of the largest wastewater treatment plants in the world, nearly 240 gravity Combined Sewer Overflows (CSO), 3 CSO pumping stations, direct diversions from Lake Michigan, and eleven tributary streams or drainage areas. Even though treatment plant effluent concentrations meet the applicable standards and most reaches of the CWS meet the applicable water quality standards, Dissolved Oxygen (DO) standards are not met in the CWS during some periods. A Use Attainability Analysis was initiated to evaluate what water quality standards can be achieved in the CWS. The UAA team identified several DO improvement alternatives including new supplementary aeration stations. Because of the dynamic nature of the CWS, the DUFLOW model that is capable of simulating hydraulics and water quality processes under unsteady-flow conditions was used to evaluate the effectiveness of new supplementary aeration stations. This paper details the use of the DUFLOW model to size and locate supplementary aeration stations. In order to determine the size and location of supplemental aeration stations, 90% compliance with a 5 mg/l DO standard was used as a planning target. The simulations showed that a total of four new supplementary aeration stations with oxygen supply capacities ranging from 30 to 80 g/s would be sufficient to meet the proposed target DO concentration for the North Branch and South Branch of the Chicago River. There are several aeration technologies, two of which are already being used in the CWS, available and the UAA team determined that the total capital costs of the alternatives range from $35.5 to $89.9 million with annual operations and maintenance costs ranging from $554,000 to $2.14 million. Supplemental aeration stations have been shown to be a potentially effective means to improve DO concentrations in the CWS and will be included in developing an integrated strategy for improving water quality in the CWS.     

汾河底泥耗氧速率测试

以汾河运城段几个县界断面底泥和水质为实验目标,采用实验室测定方法,分别对在平水期、枯水期的底泥耗氧(SOD)速率进行测试,并对测试条件进行优化,对结果进行分析。研究表明,无论枯水期还是平水期,SOD总体变化趋势与河流水质污染(化学需氧量、氨氮)趋势基本一致。     

水环境中溶解性有机物溯源分析及分子结构表征概述

溶解性有机物(DOM)是地球上最大的碳基化合物反应性储层之一,涉及各种生物地化反应并且在污染物溶解度、毒性、生物利用度、流变性和分布中发挥重要作用。本文介绍了当前用于表征水环境中DOM的策略和工具,探讨了当前研究在技术限制(预处理过程复杂、仪器分辨率低、数据处理困)、结构复杂性、结构多变性等方面存在的诸多局限性。分析认为:已有研究主要侧重于溯源分析和分子结构特征解析,未来研究应该在不同的结构层面和角度开展,加强多学科融合、数据库创建、对照实验和协同工作。     

Algal uptake of dissolved organic nitrogen in wastewater treatment plants

The algal uptake of dissolved organic nitrogen(DON) in the anaerobic–anoxic–oxic(A_2O)process was investigated in this study. Anaerobic, aerobic and effluent DON samples from two wastewater treatment plants(WWTPs) were separated into hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions using a DAX-8 resin coupled with an anion exchange resin and a nanofiltration(NF)pretreatment. Hydrophilic DON accounted for 66.66%–88.74% of the entire DON for the two plants evaluated. After a 15-day incubation, 16.95%–91.75% DON was bioavailable for algal growth, and untreated samples exhibited higher DON bioavailability, with 52.83% DON average uptake rates, compared with the hydrophilic and hydrophobic fractions(45.53% and 44.40%, respectively) because the pretreatment caused the inorganic salt to be resistant to algae. Anaerobic untreated samples, hydrophilic fractions and hydrophobic fractions showed higher DON reduction rates and higher biomass accumulation compared with the other DON fractions due to the decomposition of resistant organics by anaerobic and anoxic bacteria.DON in aerobic and effluent samples of plant A was more bioavailable than that of plant B with usages of 27.49%–55.26% DON. DON bioavailability in the anaerobic–anoxic–oxic process decreased in the following order: anaerobic effluent aerobic. The DON contents were reduced after anaerobic treatment in the two plants. The EEM-PARAFAC model identified three DON components, including two humic acid-like substances and one protein-like substance in plant A and two protein-like substances and one humic acid-like substance in plant B.