Mechanisms of allicin exposure for the sludge fermentation enhancement: Focusing on the fermentation processes and microbial metabolic traits

As a frequently used product with antimicrobial activity, consumed allicin might be discharged and concentrated in waste-activated sludge (WAS). However, the influence of allicin (as an exogenous pollutant) on WAS fermentation has not been clearly revealed. This study aimed to disclose the impacts of allicin on volatile fatty acid (VFA) generation during WAS fermentation. The results showed that the appropriate presence of allicin (10 mg/g TSS) significantly enhanced the VFA yield (1894 versus 575 mg COD/L in the control) with increased acetate proportion (24.3%). Further exploration found that allicin promoted WAS solubilization, hydrolysis and acidification simultaneously. Metagenomic analysis revealed that the key genes involved in extracellular hydrolysis metabolism (i.e., CAZymes), membrane transport (i.e., gtsA and ytfT), substrate metabolism (i.e., yhdR and pfkC) and fatty acid synthesis (i.e., accA and accD) were all highly expressed. Allicin also induced the bacteria to produce more signalling molecules and regulate cellular functions, thereby enhancing the microbial adaptive and regulatory capacity to the unfavourable environment. Moreover, the variations in fermentative microbes and their contributions to the upregulation of functional genes (i.e., ytfR, gltL, INV, iolD and pflD) for VFA generation were disclosed. Overall, the simultaneous stimulation of functional microbial abundances and metabolic activities contributed to VFA production in allicin-conditioned reactors.     

Longitudinal data analysis in support of functional stability concepts for leachate management at closed municipal landfills

Landfill functional stability provides a target that supports no environmental threat at the relevant point of exposure in the absence of active control systems. With respect to leachate management, this study investigates “gateway” indicators for functional stability in terms of the predictability of leachate characteristics, and thus potential threat to water quality posed by leachate emissions. Historical studies conducted on changes in municipal solid waste (MSW) leachate concentrations over time (longitudinal analysis) have concentrated on indicator compounds, primarily chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). However, validation of these studies using an expanded database and larger constituent sets has not been performed. This study evaluated leachate data using a mixed-effects regression model to determine the extent to which leachate constituent degradation can be predicted based on waste age or operational practices. The final dataset analyzed consisted of a total of 1402 samples from 101 MSW landfills. Results from the study indicated that all leachate constituents exhibit a decreasing trend with time in the post-closure period, with 16 of the 25 target analytes and aggregate classes exhibiting a statistically significant trend consistent with well-studied indicators such as BOD. Decreasing trends in BOD concentration after landfill closure can thus be considered representative of trends for many leachate constituents of concern.     

A detailed kinetic investigation on the effects of hydrogen enrichment on the performance of gas-fueled SI engine

This study investigates the effects of hydrogen enrichment on formation of pollutants and greenhouse gases in gas-fueled spark ignition engines. To this end, a previously validated detailed mechanism is embedded with a comprehensive one-dimensional engine model and the results are verified with experimental observations at different compression ratios and engine loads. The simulations are then performed for different mixtures of hydrogen and natural gas. The results indicate that adding hydrogen increases the cylinder peak pressure at different loads and compression ratios, despite the fact that reduces the amount of carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and methane in all the conditions.     

天津市春季道路降尘PM2.5和PM10中的元素特征

为探究天津市春季道路降尘中元素污染特征及来源,于2015年春季采集了天津市道路降尘样品,通过再悬浮得到PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)滤膜样品,继而测定了滤膜样品中16种元素的含量,通过非参数检验、分歧系数法、富集因子法等研究了道路降尘中元素的污染特征、来源和成分谱的相似性.结果表明,天津市春季道路降尘PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)质量分数平均值在1%~20%之间的元素从大到小依次为:SiAlCaFeMgKNa;PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中元素成分谱分歧系数为0.06,表明两者元素成分谱很相似;PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)中,元素Cd和Cr强烈富集,Zn、Cu、Pb和As显著富集;道路降尘PM_(2.5)和PM_(10)中元素主要来源于土壤风沙尘、建筑尘、交通尘(汽车尾气的排放、轮胎磨损和刹车片磨损)和煤烟尘.     

保定地区PM2.5中重金属元素的污染特征及健康风险评价

为了解保定市大气环境中PM_2.5中重金属的污染特征及其健康风险,在保定市设立观测站点,利用中流量颗粒物采样器对保定市大气PM_2.5进行了连续昼夜采集,并使用微波消解-电感耦合等离子质谱法分析了样品中的V、Cr、Mn、Co、Ni、Cu、Zn、As、Cd和Pb等10种重金属元素的质量浓度.结果表明,保定市大气PM_2.5浓度范围为16.84~476.19 μg·m^-3,采样期间有65d高于我国《环境空气质量标准》（GB 3095-2012）中的二级标准,超标率为54.2%.保定市PM_2.5中重金属元素的浓度变化趋势为：除Ni、Mn和Co外,夜间浓度略大于日间;大部分重金属元素秋冬季浓度大于春夏季.富集因子分析可知,保定市Cu、Zn、Pb、Cd主要来自于人为源,特别是受到交通源的影响较大.健康风险评估结果表明,保定市大气PM_2.5中的重金属污染的非致癌风险较小,致癌风险主要是As、Cr、Cd和Co,且成年人的致癌风险大于儿童.     

Coupled biodegradation of p-nitrophenol and p-aminophenol in bioelectrochemical system: Mechanism and microbial functional diversity

Biodegradation mechanisms and microbial functional diversity during coupled p-nitrophenol (PNP) and p-aminophenol (PAP) degradation were studied in a bioelectrochemical system. PNP in the biocathode and PAP in the bioanode were almost completely removed within 28hr and 68hr respectively. The degradation followed the steps including hydrating hydroxyalkylation, dehydrogenating carbonylation, and hydrolating ring cleavage, etc. Metagemomic analysis based on the KEGG and eggNOG database annotations revealed the microbial composition and functional genes/enzymes related to phenol degradation in the system. The predominant bacteria genera were Lautropia, Pandoraea, Thiobacillus, Ignavibacterium, Truepera and Hyphomicrobium. The recognized biodegradation genes/enzymes related to pollutant degradation were as follows: pmo, hbd, & ppo for phenol degradation, nzba, amie, & badh for aromatic degradation, and CYP & p450 for xenobiotics degradation, etc. The co-occurrence of ARGs (antibiotic resistant genes), such as adeF, MexJ, ErmF, PDC-93 and Escherichia_coli_mdfA, etc., were annotated in CARD database during the biodegradation process. The Proteobacteria & Actinobacteria phylum was the primary host of both the biodegradation genes & ARGs in this system. The microbial functional diversity ensured the effective biodegradation of the phenol pollutants in the bioelectrochemical system.     

洁净环境样本低浓度微生物高效富集检测及应用

为了研究对洁净环境样本的低浓度微生物监测方法,制备了低浓度的革兰氏阳性菌和阴性菌各3种,使用修饰后的新型磁珠对模拟样本中的微生物进行富集评价实验.革兰氏染色和菌落计数结果表明,磁珠对3种革兰氏阳性菌和3种阴性菌均具有显著富集浓缩作用,与大肠杆菌相比,磁珠对金黄色葡萄菌的富集浓缩比更高.使用磁珠富集液对自来水、桶装水和瓶装矿泉水中的微生物进行非特异性吸附后,比较上清和磁珠-微生物复合物的细菌16S rDNA基因拷贝数和菌落总数指标,结果表明磁珠对自来水和桶装水中的微生物均具有显著的吸附效果（P<0.01,P<0.001）.通过比较,抽滤法和磁珠法对自来水中的微生物富集效果有差异（P=0.002）,2种方法对桶装水和矿泉水的富集效果无显著差异（P=0.362）.采集实际空气样本进行磁珠富集微生物的菌落计数及细菌16S rDNA基因拷贝数进行分析,磁珠-微生物复合物中的绝对基因拷贝数和菌落总数均显著高于磁分离后上清液中基因拷贝数和菌落计数（P=0.0001）.此方法对微生物具有一定的高效富集作用.     

电镀厂周边大气PM10中重金属季节性分布特征及生态风险评价

本研究以东莞市5个镇区的电镀厂为中心,在其周边共布设45个监测点位,通过系统采集2015年度春夏秋冬四个季节不同时段电镀厂周边大气PM_(10)颗粒物样品,应用ICP-MS分析样品中12种重金属的含量,并对季节分布特征及空间分布特征进行比较,评价其生态风险.以期为大气环境危害与风险评估及相关部门制定污染治理决策提供科学依据.结果表明,5个镇的PM_(10)浓度均小于我国《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095-2012)中相应日均值二级标准限值,且呈现出冬季污染严重,夏季污染较轻的规律.PM_(10)中各金属的浓度总体表现为秋冬季偏高,且各镇PM_(10)中As、Cd、Cr均超过《环境空气质量标准》(GB 3095-2012)中年平均浓度限值,其中严重超标的是虎门镇、沙田镇和大岭山镇.富集因子法和地累积指数法分析表明,Cd、Sb、Hg、Co为极强污染,Pb、Zn为轻度污染到强污染,Ni、Cr、Mn和V属于未污染.研究区大气颗粒物PM_(10)中重金属的潜在生态风险指数RI远大于600,潜在的生态风险极强.     

滏阳河河系表层沉积物重金属污染特征及其风险评价

采集滏阳河表层沉积物,分析了6种重金属的污染特征,并采用富集系数法和Hankanson潜在生态危害指数法分析了重金属的来源,进而评价其环境风险.结果表明,沉积物中重金属Cr、Cu、Cd、Pb、Zn、Ni的平均含量分别为340.09、90.28、1.28、65.87、760.71、48.62 mg·kg-1,均在一定程度上超过了河北省土壤元素背景值.重金属富集系数分析结果显示,元素Cd、Zn在整个流域尺度内主要源于人为输入,Cr在邵村排干河段及Cu、Pb、Ni在汪洋沟上游河段受人为排放源影响较大,主要是由于河流沿线城市生产和生活污水的排放造成.单一金属的潜在生态危害指数评价结果显示,沉积物中Cd污染达到极强生态危害,其次为Cu、Pb和Zn,而重金属综合生态危害指数(RI)评价表明,滏阳河沉积物重金属总体处于强生态风险,其中,汶河河段达到很强生态风险.     

紫茎泽兰和鬼针草对重金属铬的竞争富集作用

采用火焰原子吸收法考察了紫茎泽兰和鬼针草在重金属铬的胁迫下竞争富集作用。研究结果显示：紫茎泽兰对铬具有更强的耐受性,可以在50rag／kg铬的培养液里很好地生长。鬼针草对铬的耐受性较差,在20mg／kg铬的培养液里生长抑制。在相同的环境里鬼针草的富集系数大于紫茎泽兰,两种植物的EF在一定浓度范围内和培养液里铬含量正相关,超出其耐受极限浓度时,因为生长受到抑制而使EF降低。