Evaluation of the Temporal Transferability of a Model Describing Dissolved Solids in Streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin1

Kenney, Terry A. and Susan G. Buto, 2012. Evaluation of the Temporal Transferability of a Model Describing Dissolved Solids in Streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin. Journal of the American Water Resources Association (JAWRA) 48(5): 1041‐1053. DOI: 10.1111/j.1752‐1688.2012.00667.x Abstract: The application of a nonlinear least‐squares regression model describing the sources and transport of dissolved solids in streams of the Upper Colorado River Basin, and that was calibrated using data from water year 1991, was evaluated for use in predicting annual dissolved‐solids loads for the years 1974 through 1998. Simulations for each water year were run using annual climate data. To evaluate how well the model captures the observed annual variability across the basin, differences in predicted annual dissolved‐solids loads for each simulated year and 1991 were compared with differences in monitored annual loads. The temporal trend of the differences between predicted annual loads for the simulated years and the load for 1991 generally followed the trend of the monitored loads. The model appears to underpredict the largest annual loads and overpredict some of the smaller annual loads. An underprediction bias for wetter years was evident in the residuals as was an overprediction bias, to a lesser degree, for drier years. A regression analysis on the residuals suggests that the underprediction bias is associated with precipitation differences from 1991 and with previously defined downward trends in dissolved‐solids concentrations in the basin. In general, given the representative climatic conditions, the model adequately performs throughout the period examined. However, the model is most transferable to years with climatic conditions similar to 1991.     

Identifying different types of bulking in an activated sludge system through quantitative image analysis

The present study proposes an image analysis methodology for the identification of different types of disturbances in wastewater treatment activated sludge systems. Up to date, most reported image analysis methodologies have been used in activated sludge processes with the aim of filamentous bulking detection, however, other disturbances could be foreseen in wastewater treatment plants. Such disturbances can lead to fluctuations in the biomass contents, affecting the mixed liquor suspended solids (MLSS), and in the sludge settling ability, affecting the sludge volume index (SVI). Therefore, this work focuses on predicting the MLSS and SVI parameters for different types of disturbances affecting an activated sludge system. Four experiments were conducted simulating filamentous bulking, zoogleal or viscous bulking, pinpoint floc formation, and normal operating conditions. Alongside the MLSS and SVI determination, the aggregated and filamentous biomass contents and morphology were studied as well as the biomass Gram and viability status, by means of image analysis.     

Effects of bulking agent addition on odorous compounds emissions during composting of OFMSW

The effects of rice straw addition level on odorous compounds emissions in a pilot-scale organic fraction of municipal solid waste (OFMSW) composting plant were investigated. The cumulative odorous compounds emissions occurred in a descending order of 40.22, 28.71 and 27.83 mg/dry kg of OFMSW for piles with rice straw addition level at ratio of 1:10, 2:10 and 3:10 (mixing ratio of rice straw to OFMSW on a wet basis), respectively. The mixing ratio of rice straw to OFMSW had a statistically significant effect on the reduction of malodorous sulfur compounds emissions, which had no statistically significant effect on the reduction of VFAs, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, aromatics and ammonia emissions during composting, respectively. The cumulative emissions of malodorous sulfur compounds from piles with the increasing rice straw addition level were 1.17, 1.08 and 0.88 mg/dry kg of OFMSW, respectively. The optimal mixing ratio of rice straw to OFMSW was 1:5. Using this addition level, the cumulative malodorous sulfur compounds emissions based on the organic matter degradation were the lowest during composting of OFMSW.     

不同泥龄MBR中溶解性微生物代谢产物对膜污染的影响

通过4套平行运行的小试膜生物反应器(membrane bioreactor,MBR)研究了不同泥龄下溶解性微生物代谢产物(soluble microbial products,SMP)对膜污染的影响.以多糖、蛋白质表征SMP的含量,并通过三维荧光光谱(EEM)、分子量分布(MW)、红外光谱(FTIR)及扫面电镜-能谱分析(SEM-EDX)技术分析了不同泥龄下SMP的变化.结果表明,各泥龄MBR对氨氮和COD均有较好的去除效果,但SMP的含量以及膜污染程度均随着泥龄的升高而降低.泥龄越低,膜阻力越大,小分子量物质(＜1 000)积累程度越大,低泥龄MBR中蛋白质以及腐殖酸类物质含量较高;扫描电镜-能谱分析(SEM-DEX)结果表明,金属元素更容易在低泥龄MBR中的膜表面堆积.     

Determination of phenolic and steroid endocrine disrupting compounds in environmental matrices

BACKGROUND, AIM AND SCOPE: Many pollutants have received significant attention due to their potential estrogenic effect and are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs). EDCs comprise many classes of organic compounds. The development or optimization of analytical protocols for the simultaneous determination of EDCs in environmental samples is an analytical challenge because these compounds exhibit different physicochemical characteristics, they occur in the aquatic environment in relatively low concentrations and, furthermore, environmental samples are considered as complex matrices. The aim of this study is the development of analytical methods for the simultaneous determination of phenolic and steroid EDCs in aqueous and solid samples. The target compounds are 4-nonylphenol, 4-octylphenol, their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylates of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A, the estrogens (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol) and the synthetic steroids (mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Solid phase extraction employing Oasis HLB cartridges and different elution solvents was used for the recovery studies of the target compounds from various types of water samples (ultrapure water, artificial seawater, river water and seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was applied for the recovery of the target EDCs from the solid samples. The recoveries were assessed using various solvents for the extraction and the elution of EDCs from different SPE cartridges used for clean up. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry after derivatization with N,O-bis(trimethylsilyl)-trifluoroacetamide was employed for the determination of these compounds. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: The recovery rates of three elution solvents (methanol, acetone and ethylacetate) for the extraction of target EDCs from artificial seawater were assessed after preconcentration on SPE cartridges. Acetone showed better recoveries and was further tested for its extraction efficiency in different water types (river water, seawater). Ultrasonic assisted extraction was used for the recovery of target EDCs from solid matrices. Acetone, methanol, mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) and ethylacetate were used as extraction solvents. Ethylacetate and the mixture of acetone-methanol (1:1) exhibited better extraction efficiencies. An additional clean up step was necessary for sediment samples. Different SPE cartridges were employed for clean up of the extracts (Oasis HLB, C18, Florisil, silica, combination of silica and alumina). Florisil cartridges were finally used. The proposed methods were further validated on the determination of target EDCs in field collected samples (river water, seawater, wastewater, total suspended solids and sediments) from the major area of Thessaloniki, Greece. CONCLUSIONS: Efficient and accurate integrated methods for the simultaneous determination of alkylphenols (nonylphenol, octylphenol), their ethoxylate oligomers (mono- and di-ethoxylate of nonylphenol and octylphenol), bisphenol A and steroids (estriol, estrone, 17beta-estradiol, 17alpha-estradiol, mestranol and 17alpha-ethynylestradiol) in aqueous and solid samples were developed. The proposed methods were applied for the determination of the target compounds in representative environmental samples in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. RECOMMENDATIONS AND PERSPECTIVES: This study confirms the occurrence of selected EDCs in inland and marine waters in the area of Thessaloniki, Northern Greece. Since there is no previous data on the occurrence of the target EDCs in the major area, an extended survey is in progress to evaluate the occurrence and fate of these compounds.     

First flush of storm runoff pollution from an urban catchment in China

Storm runoff pollution process was investigated in an urban catchment with an area of 1.3 km^2 in Wuhan City of China. The results indicate that the pollutant concentration peaks preceded the flow peaks in all of 8 monitored storm events. The intervals between pollution peak and flow peak were shorter in the rain events with higher intensity in the initial period than those with lower intensity. The fractions of pollution load transported by the first 30% of runoff volume （FF30） were 52.2%-72.1% for total suspended solids （TSS）, 53.0%-65.3% for chemical oxygen demand （COD）, 40.4%-50.6% for total nitrogen （TN）, and 45.8%-63.2% for total phosphorus （TP）, respectively. Runoff pollution was positively related to non-raining days before the rainfall. Intercepting the first 30% of runoff volume can remove 62.4% of TSS load, 59.4% of COD load, 46.8% of TN load, and 54.1% of TP load, respectively, according to all the storm events. It is suggested that controlling the first flush is a critical measure in reduction of urban stormwater pollution.     

新安江水库悬浮颗粒物时空分布、沉降通量及其营养盐效应

为分析降雨入流影响下水库悬浮颗粒物的时空分布及沉降特征,在华东地区最大水库新安江水库(千岛湖)的河流区、过渡区和湖泊区(分别对应街口、小金山和大坝这3个水质断面)布设水体沉降物自动捕获器和水质高频自动监测浮标,结合定期水样采集分析,开展了为期1 a的水体颗粒物沉降通量及其营养盐效应观测研究.结果发现,水库水体浊度、悬浮颗粒物浓度(SS)、颗粒物沉降通量与降雨量、入库流量极显著相关(P0.01),其中浊度与SS的相关性最好(R~2=0.86);在降雨较多的春夏季,SS空间差异明显(河流区过渡区湖泊区),而秋冬空间差异不大;颗粒物沉降通量具有明显的时空异质性,空间上河流区过渡区湖泊区[分别为27.82、 4.34和0.26 g·(m~2·d)~(-1)],时间上春夏季秋冬季;结合全湖60个点位四季悬浮物浓度调查估算,全库颗粒物沉降通量为2.57×10~6 t·a~(-1),其中春夏季沉降通量高于秋冬季;街口、小金山和大坝捕获沉降物中颗粒态氮含量(PN)分别为6 812、 15 886和21 986 mg·kg~(-1),磷含量(PP)分别为2 545、 3 269和3 077 mg·kg~(-1),自上游向下递增.统计分析表明,中雨以上降雨过程与河流区浊度增量呈指数相关(R~2=0.81),持续强降雨则对浊度有累加效应,但对过渡区影响不大;SS浓度自河流入库区至下游大坝随距离增加呈较好的指数下降特征(R~2=0.84),降雨较多的春夏季更为明显.结果还表明,新安江水库年均库容淤损率为0.07%,与全国其它大型水库相比较低,但是坝前沉降物营养盐含量较高,具有一定的内源释放风险;管理上应加强流域水土保持治理,降低降雨冲刷对水质的影响;同时关注坝前高营养沉积物的内源释放对水质的影响.     

河道生态护坡对地表径流的污染控制

在上海市进木港生态河道示范区,通过现场模拟径流试验,研究了柴笼、灌丛垫、植草3种不同类型的生态护坡对地表径流的延滞作用和污染控制作用.结果表明,生态护坡在控制地表径流污染方面具有良好的生态效益,柴笼对地表径流的平均延滞时间为28.00～33.33min,可拦截80.95%粒径为30.07～111.05μm的悬浮固体,可截留92.58%～97.15%的水溶态营养盐和75.75%～91.24%的泥沙结合态营养盐.灌丛垫使地表径流进入河道的时间比对照裸坡滞后9.70～15.33min,可有效截留88.53%～92.94%的水溶态营养盐;但其对悬浮颗粒的拦截能力比柴笼和植草护坡弱.植草护坡延滞地表径流的能力不及柴笼和灌丛垫,但其对地表径流中较小粒径的悬浮固体(14.89～52.63μm)和泥沙结合态营养盐的拦截率分别达到85.93%和80.53%～85.33%.研究还探讨了生态护坡对地表径流污染的控制与植被覆盖度、土壤含水率以及土壤抗剪强度等指标的关系,并提出了控制地表径流污染的生态护坡优化组合方案.     

太湖梅梁湾水体悬浮颗粒物中重金属的含量

用ICP—AES方法测定太湖梅梁湾水体悬浮颗粒物中的Co,Cr,Cu,Ni,Pb,Zn等重金属元素,以及Al,Ba,Be,Ca,Fe,K,Mg,Mn,Na,Sr,Ti,V等相关金属元素的含量,并分析了沉积物中相关元素的含量和分布特征．悬浮物中Cr,Cu,Mn,Ni,Zn的含量显著高于表层沉积物,Al,Ba,Be,Ca,Co,Fe,K,Mg,Pb,V等元素的含量高出表层沉积物10％-30％,Sr和Ti与沉积物中的含量相当,Na的含量则显著低于沉积物．重金属元素在悬浮物中表现出较强的富集作用．从污水入湖口到湾心,悬浮物中Cr,Cu,Pb,Zn含量呈明显降低的趋势,反映出直湖港对太湖的污染作用仍十分严重．但沉积物中重金属含量并未表现出自港口到湾心显著降低的趋势,说明该区域沉积物对水体重金属污染的记录信息可能失真．水体悬浮物的重金属含量可以很好地反映水体的污染状况及其潜在的生态效应．     

污泥的电渗透脱水技术研究进展

污泥的处置困难,其关键是含水量过高。为了综合利用和最终处置,需对污泥作脱水处理。所以在整个污泥处理系统中,脱水是最重要的减量化手段。文章介绍了常规的污泥脱水方法,并且介绍新型污泥脱水技术-电渗透脱水技术（EDW）的原理及该技术在国内外污泥脱水领域的研究进展,指出了电渗透脱水的优势及存在的问题。最后,对其研究发展作了展望。