Characterization of the genes involved in nitrogen cycling in wastewater treatment plants using DNA microarray and most probable number-PCR

To improve nitrogen removal performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), it is essential to understand the behavior of nitrogen cycling communities, which comprise various microorganisms. This study characterized the quantity and diversity of nitrogen cycling genes in various processes of municipal WWTPs by employing two molecular-based methods:most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) and DNA microarray. MPN-PCR analysis revealed that gene quantities were not statistically different among processes, suggesting that conventional activated sludge processes (CAS) are similar to nitrogen removal processes in their ability to retain an adequate population of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. Furthermore, most processes in the WWTPs that were researched shared a pattern:the nirS and the bacterial amoA genes were more abundant than the nirK and archaeal amoA genes, respectively. DNA microarray analysis revealed that several kinds of nitrification and denitrification genes were detected in both CAS and anaerobic-oxic processes (AO), whereas limited genes were detected in nitrogen removal processes. Results of this study suggest that CAS maintains a diverse community of nitrogen cycling microorganisms; moreover, the microbial communities in nitrogen removal processes may be specific.

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Wastewater-nitrogen removal using polylactic acid/starch as carbon source: Optimization of operating parameters using response surface methodology

The use of PLA/starch blends for nitrogen removal was achieved. The influence of different operating parameters on responses was verified using RSM. The conditions for desired responses were successfully optimized simultaneously. Blends material may have a promising application prospect in the future. Nitrogen removal from ammonium-containing wastewater was conducted using polylactic acid (PLA)/starch blends as carbon source and carrier for functional bacteria. The exclusive and interactive influences of operating parameters (i.e., temperature, pH, stirring rate, and PLA-to-starch ratio (PLA proportion)) on nitrification (Y₁), denitrification (Y₂), and COD release rates (Y₃) were investigated through response surface methodology. Experimental results indicated that nitrogen removal could be successfully achieved in the PLA/starch blends through simultaneous nitrification and denitrification. The carbon release rate of the blends was controllable. The sensitivity of Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ to different operating parameters also differed. The sequence for each response was as follows: for Y₁, pH>stirring rate>PLA proportion>temperature; for Y₂, pH>PLA proportion>temperature>stirring rate; and for Y₃, stirring rate>pH>PLA proportion>temperature. In this study, the following optimum conditions were observed: temperature, 32.0°C; pH 7.7; stirring rate, 200.0 r·min^-1; and PLA proportion, 0.4. Under these conditions, Y₁, Y₂, and Y₃ were 134.0 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, 160.9 μg-N·g-blend^-1·h^-1, and 7.6 × 10³ μg-O·g-blend^-1·h^-1, respectively. These results suggested that the PLA/starch blends may be an ideal packing material for nitrogen removal.     

生活污水为主要补给源的城郊排水沟渠氮磷滞留特征

为揭示生活污水补给影响下排水沟渠氮、磷滞留特征,以合肥市城郊结合部的关镇河支渠为对象,以NH₄Cl和KH₂PO₄为添加营养盐,以NaCl为保守型示踪剂,开展5次现场示踪试验. 在此基础上,利用OTIS(one-dimensional transport with inflow and storage)模型估算D(扩散系数)、A(渠道过水断面面积)、A_s(暂态存储区断面面积)、α(暂态存储交换系数)、λ(主流区溶质一阶吸收系数)和λ_s(暂态存储区吸收系数);并利用营养螺旋原理,计算营养盐的S_w(吸收长度)、V_f(吸收速度)和U(吸收速率)等. 结果表明:①A_s/A具有随流量减小而增大的变化特征,平均值为0.35;5次试验得到的α均处在10-3数量级水平,平均值为2.49×10-3 s-1. ②S_w-NH₄和S_w-PO₄(分别表示NH₄-N和PO₄-P的S_w,下同)均较大,最大值分别达934 020、47 518 m,意味着关镇河支渠已基本不具备氮、磷滞留能力;而S_w-NH₄和S_w-PO₄均不同程度地出现负值,表明该支渠还具有“源”的作用. ③V_f-NH₄与河水平均深度、渠道流量均呈显著负相关,V_f-PO₄和U-PO₄与渠道水面宽度均呈显著正相关. ④NH₄-N和PO₄-P的营养螺旋指标与其相应质量浓度背景值无明显相关性.      

HRT对城市污水厂尾水反硝化深度脱氮的影响

污水厂尾水回用作为水源时,其ρ(TN)较高是亟待解决的问题. 在调研污水厂尾水水质的基础上,利用MBBR(移动床生物膜反应器)对其进行深度脱氮,并考察HRT(水力停留时间)对不同填料(聚乙烯和陶粒)的MBBR运行效果的影响. 结果表明,NO₃--N是尾水中氮的主要形态,其质量浓度约占ρ(TN)的80.8%±8.4%. HRT分别为12、8和4 h时,对NO₃--N去除率影响不大,均能达到90%以上,但反硝化能力随着HRT的缩短而成倍增加;HRT为4 h时各反应器的反硝化能力最大,聚乙烯和陶粒MBBR中分别为(28.4±14.5)和(27.4±14.3)mg/(L·d)(以NO₃--N计). 随着HRT的减少,COD_Cr去除率呈降低趋势. 三维荧光分析表明,进、出水中均含有类富里酸和类蛋白质等DOM物质. HRT为8 h时MBBR对DOM的去除率最高,聚乙烯填料MBBR对有机污染物的去除效果略优于陶粒填料. 综合考虑氮和有机污染物去除效能,聚乙烯和陶粒填料MBBR优化HRT均为8 h.      

Effluent stream treatment in a nitrogenous fertilizer factory: An exergy analysis for process integration

The industrial processes used for the production of nitrogenous fertilizers are the main generators of reactive nitrogen compounds, chemicals and effluents that ultimately impact the biosphere. Exergy analysis has been performed to a nitrogen fertilizer factory in the State of Bahia, Brazil, where the Anaerobic Ammonium Oxidation (Anammox) and other physical–chemical processes are used to partially or totally handle the feed streams normally sent to a stripping tower.The results showed that the combined use of physical–chemical and biological process can improve the overall exergetic efficiency and avoid the emission of reactive compounds to the atmosphere allowing the recovery of the condensate lost as effluent, so that it can be reincorporated in the production of steam network, increasing energy efficiency and environmental performance of the process.     

Nutrient balance in the ecosystem of the North Western Adriatic Sea

The effects of biological processes on dissolved inorganic nutrients, dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) and phosphorus (DOP) are considered in the north western Adriatic Sea. The budgets of these nutrients, which represent the sum of production and consumption processes in comparison to advection, are discussed with regard to dissolved inorganic nitrogen ( 15 N labelled) uptake, which basically indicates the biological demand of this fraction of nitrogen by phytoplankton community. The presented data show that, although important, the continental input of dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN), mainly nitrate, is utilised and recycled within the coastal marine environment (budget of m 15 r µmol-N·dm m 3 ). In fact, during four cruises (June, 1996; February, 1997; June, 1997; February, 1998), phytoplankton production was mainly driven by regenerated nutrients ( f h 0.4). Regarding dissolved inorganic phosphorus (DIP), the negative budgets observed in most cases (down to m 0.4 r µmol-P·dm m 3 ) confirm, above all, its scarce availability in this basin. Recycling processes rather than continental inputs regulate the availability of this nutrient. In addition, the comparison between DIN and DIP budgets indicates that, in this ecosystem, dissolved inorganic phosphorus is recycled faster than nitrogen through the living particulate and dissolved organic pools. As a consequence of biological activities, a strong production of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) can occur in summer (up to +22 r µmol-N·dm m 3 ) while DOP shows a more independent behaviour both with respect to its accumulation in the environment and to the observed nitrogen variations.     

大气高CO2浓度对油菜氮素同化累积与植株生长的影响

为了指导高CO2浓度条件下甘蓝型油菜Brassica napus L.合理施氮、创建油菜高产高效以及进一步探明油菜氮代谢的调节机制提供理论依据,本研究采用微区试验,研究2个油菜品种（沪油15-33号和742-2）在2个CO2浓度水平（自然CO2摩尔分数400μmol·mol-1和高CO2摩尔分数（800±20）μmol·mol-1）和2个氮素水平（施氮与不施氮）条件下,氮素同化酶（NR和GS）活性和可溶性蛋白含量的变化,以及油菜地上部干物质量和氮素累积量的响应。试验结果表明,高CO2浓度会提高NR和GS活性;在氮素处理的影响方面,NR活性的变化与油菜的品种和生育时期不同有关：在高CO2浓度条件下,品种A在各时期的施氮处理的酶活性高于不施氮处理;品种B只在抽薹期的施氮处理低于不施氮处理,其他时期则升高;对于GS酶活性,在自然CO2浓度条件下施氮会提高GS酶活性,高CO2浓度条件下施氮则降低其活性（苗期除外）。CO2浓度升高会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量（盛花期除外）;在正常CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会提高叶片中可溶性蛋白含量,而在高CO2浓度下,增施氮肥会降低叶片中可溶性蛋白含量。CO2浓度升高和增施氮肥都会提高油菜地上部干物质量与氮素累积量,油菜干物质量与氮素累积量总体上与上述测定指标呈极显著相关。     

猪场废水厌氧消化过程中的除磷效果

采用序批式半连续厌氧消化试验方法,研究猪场废水厌氧消化过程中磷的去除情况。结果表明,水力停留时间（HRT）为1、3、6和9 d的厌氧反应器平均除磷率分别为65.0%、81.1%、82.7%和83.0%,而COD平均去除率分别为54.5%、82.3%、87.0%和85.9%。厌氧反应器除磷能力随沼气产量的增加而增加,说明厌氧反应器中磷的去除与产甲烷过程密切相关。对厌氧消化前后的污泥进行浸提后发现,厌氧消化过程中,化学反应生成磷酸盐沉淀的除磷作用十分显著,污泥中正磷酸盐,与铁结合的磷化合物（Fe-RP）,还原可溶性磷,与钙、镁离子结合的磷化合物（Ca-RP、Mg-RP）以及无机或有机聚合磷增加量分别为0.027 8～0.101 5、0.013 5～0.081 0、0.2165～0.430 5、23.4～54.8和7.2～21.5 mg.g-1;且总体而言,HRT越长,污泥中与不同金属结合的磷增加量就越大。从HRT、磷和有机物的去除效果以及沼气产气速率3个方面综合考虑,猪场废水厌氧消化反应器的HRT控制在3 d为宜。     

广州市园林绿化植物苗木对二氧化硫和二氧化氮吸收能力分析

采用人工模拟熏气法,研究了36种广州市园林绿化植物对SO2和NO2气体吸收净化能力,以系统聚类分析方法为依据,将参试植物的吸收净化能力划分为强性、较强、中等、较弱及弱5个等级。结果显示,在不同SO2质量浓度（0.259和0.448 mg.m-3）环境下,黄槐、鸡冠刺桐、红花银桦、木棉、红千层、大花紫薇、复羽叶栾树吸收SO2能力具有强或较强的能力,而罗汉松、竹柏、深山含笑、乐昌含笑、观光木、樟树、阴香、双翼豆、印度紫檀、大花五桠果、长芒杜英、五月茶、海南蒲桃、芒果、海南红豆、糖胶树和幌伞枫吸收SO2能力表现为较弱或弱;在NO2质量浓度（0.149和0.428 mg.m-3）环境下,黄槐、黄葛榕、红花银桦、红千层、麻楝、复羽叶栾树、大花紫薇和小叶榄仁吸收净化NO2能力为较强或强,而深山含笑、五月茶、芒果、海南红豆、糖胶树和桂花叶片对NO2吸收能力表现为较弱或弱。在不同SO2和NO2浓度环境下,黄槐、红花银桦、红千层、复羽叶栾树和大花紫薇叶片对SO2和NO2吸收净化能力表现为强或较强,而深山含笑、五月茶、芒果、海南红豆、糖胶树叶片对SO2和NO2吸收净化能力为较弱或弱。研究结果为珠三角城市功能型园林植物选择和广东生态景观林带建设提供科学依据。     

污泥龄对高浓度含氮废水亚硝化稳定性的影响研究

为考察污泥龄与高浓度含氮废水亚硝化稳定性之间的关系,采用连续进水、间歇排水SBR工艺,当水力停留时间为0.75 d,污泥停留时间为3 d时,系统亚硝化率约为75%和氨氮降解率约为60%。试验结果证明SRT控制在一定范围内能实现对硝酸菌的"洗出",使亚硝酸菌占据系统中的优势地位,从而保证了系统较高的亚硝化率。