Effect of intermittent aeration mode on nitrogen concentration in the water column and sediment pore water of aquaculture ponds

Nitrogen in pond sediments is a major water quality concern and can impact the productivity of aquaculture. Dissolved oxygen is an important factor for improving water quality and boosting fish growth in aquaculture ponds, and plays an important role in the conversion of ammonium-nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) to nitrite-nitrogen (NO₂^?-N) and eventually nitrate-nitrogen (NO₃^?-N). A central goal of the study was to identify the best aeration method and strategy for improving water quality in aquaculture ponds. We conducted an experiment with six tanks, each with a different aeration mode to simulate the behavior of aquaculture ponds. The results show that a 36 hr aeration interval (T_c = 36 hr: 36 hr) and no aeration resulted in high concentrations of NH₄⁺-N in the water column. Using a 12 hr interval time (T_c = 12 hr: 12 hr) resulted in higher NO₂^?-N and NO₃^?-N concentrations than any other aeration mode. Results from an 8 hr interval time (T_c = 8 hr: 8 hr) and 24 hr interval time (T_c = 24 hr: 24 hr) were comparable with those of continuous aeration, and had the benefit of being in use for only half of the time, consequently reducing energy consumption.     

Drought can offset potential water use efficiency of forest ecosystems from rising atmospheric CO2

Increasing atmospheric CO₂ is both leading to climate change and providing a potential fertilisation effect on plant growth. However, southern Australia has also experienced a significant decline in rainfall over the last 30 years, resulting in increased vegetative water stress. To better understand the dynamics and responses of Australian forest ecosystems to drought and elevated CO₂, the magnitude and trend in water use efficiency (WUE) of forests, and their response to drought and elevated CO₂ from 1982 to 2014 were analysed, using the best available model estimates constrained by observed fluxes from simulations with fixed and time-varying CO₂. The ratio of gross primary productivity (GPP) to evapotranspiration (ET) (WUEe) was used to identify the ecosystem scale WUE, while the ratio of GPP to transpiration (Tr) (WUEc) was used as a measure of canopy scale WUE. WUE increased significantly in northern Australia (p < 0.001) for woody savannas (WSA), whereas there was a slight decline in the WUE of evergreen broadleaf forests (EBF) in the southeast and southwest of Australia. The lag of WUEc to drought was consistent and relatively short and stable between biomes (≤3 months), but notably varied for WUEe, with a long time-lag (mean of 10 months). The dissimilar responses of WUEe and WUEc to climate change for different geographical areas result from the different proportion of Tr in ET. CO₂ fertilization and a wetter climate enhanced WUE in northern Australia, whereas drought offset the CO₂ fertilization effect in southern Australia.     

Variations in concentrations and bioavailability of heavy metals in rivers caused by water conservancy projects: Insights from water regulation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir in the Yellow River

Water regulation of the Xiaolangdi Reservoir of the Yellow River was chosen as a case to investigate variations in concentrations and bioavailability of heavy metals caused by water conservancy projects in rivers. Water and suspended sediment (SPS) samples were collected at downstream sampling sites along the river during this period. Concentrations and speciation of Zn, Cr, Cu, Ni, and Pb in water and SPS samples were analyzed, and their bioaccumulation was studied with Daphnia magna. This study indicated that the exchangeable and carbonate-bound fractions of heavy metals in SPS decreased along the studied stretch, and the dissolved heavy metal concentrations increased along the river with 1.6–15 folds. This is because sediment resuspension increased along the river during water regulation, giving rise to the increase of heavy metal release from SPS. The dissolved Zn, Cu, Ni, and Pb concentrations were significantly positively correlated with SPS concentrations, and their increase along the river was greater than Cr. The body burdens of heavy metals in D. magna exposed into samples collected from the reservoir outlet were 1.3–3.0 times lower than those from downstream stations, suggesting that the heavy metal bioavailability increased during water regulation. This should be considered in the reservoir operation.     

Comparative study of carbonic anhydrase activity in waters among different geological eco-environments of Yangtze River basin and its ecological significance

This study provides the presence of carbonic anhydrase(CA) activity in waters of the Yangtze River basin, China, as well as the correlation of CA activity with HCO-3 concentration and CO_2 sink flux. Different degrees of CA activity could be detected in almost all of the water samples from different geological eco-environments in all four seasons. The CA activity of water samples from karst areas was significantly higher than from non-karst areas(PP3-concentration(r = 0.672, P2 sink flux(r = 0.602, P = 0.076) in karst areas. This suggests that CA in waters might have a promoting effect on carbon sinks for atmospheric CO_2 in karst river basins. In conditions of similar geological type, higher CA activity was generally detected in water samples taken from areas that exhibited better eco-environments, implying that the CA activity index of waters could be used as an indicator for monitoring ecological environments and protection of river basins. These findings suggest that the role of CA in waters in the karst carbon sink potential of river basins is worthy of further in-depth studies.     

A nanofilter composed of carbon nanotube-silver composites for virus removal and antibacterial activity improvement

We have developed a new nanofilter using a carbon nanotube-silver composite material that is capable of efficiently removing waterborne viruses and bacteria.The nanofilter was subjected to plasma surface treatment to enhance its flow rate,which was improved by approximately 62%.Nanoscale pores were obtained by fabricating a carbon nanotube network and using nanoparticle fixation technology for the removal of viruses.The pore size of the nanofilter was approximately 38 nm and the measured flow rate ranged from 21.0 to 97.2 L/(min·m~2)under a pressure of 1–6 kgf/cm~2 when the amount of loaded carbon nanotube-silver composite was 1.0 mg/cm~2.The nanofilter was tested against Polio-,Noro-,and Coxsackie viruses using a sensitive real-time polymerase chain reaction assay to detect the presence of viral particles within the outflow.No trace of viruses was found to flow through the nanofilter with carbon nanotube-silver composite loaded above 0.8 mg/cm~2.Moreover,the surface of the filter has antibacterial properties to prevent bacterial clogging due to the presence of 20-nm silver nanoparticles,which were synthesized on the carbon nanotube surface.     

Characteristics of change in water quality along reclaimed water intake area of the Chaobai River in Beijing, China

To reveal the basic characteristics and controlling factors of water quality change in the project Wenyu to Chaobai reclaimed water diversion, the water quality in the study area was monitored for one year at seven monitoring sites. Inverse geochemical models of the statistical groups were developed using PHREEQC to elucidate the hydrochemistry characteristics of reclaimed water and the factors. The monitoring results indicated that nitrogen and phosphorus contents were significantly reduced along the river mainly caused by seasonal and location variation. The pH ranged from 7.44 to 9.81. Photosynthesis of algae and denitrification in anaerobic microenvironment ultimately led to a sudden p H increase after the Jian River and the Chaobai River confluence. Mg~(2+)and SO_4~(2-) levels dropped obviously in the summer and increased in winter seasons after intersection. Na+and Cl-are relatively stable, and marked drop in the concentration only after the two rivers meet. And there is a decrease of Ca~(2+) and HCO~(3-) and increase in CO_3~(2-) during monitoring period. As a whole, the primary ions and nutrient components, including nitrogen and phosphorus, had high levels in winter. Algae's photosynthesis and respiration were observed to have an impact on the river water quality; there was precipitation–dissolution of minerals and denitrification from upstream to downstream. Inverse geochemical PHREEQC modeling confirmed that there was precipitation of aragonite or calcite, and gypsum or anhydrite in summer, and dissolution in winter; as well as precipitation of dolomite in winter, and cationic exchange and denitrification along the river.     

Spatial and temporal distribution of cyanobacteria in Batticaloa Lagoon

The necessity to understand the relationship between cyanobacterial species abundance and water quality variations in coastal lagoons is crucial to develop strategies to prevent further cyanobacterial proliferation. This paper evaluates the relationship between water quality variations on the distribution of cyanobacteria during a 12-month period in Batticaloa Lagoon (Sri Lanka) using Redundancy analysis and Pearson correlations. Drastic variations in pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen (DO) and total phosphorus (TP) levels were reported, but not turbidity and NO₃⁻. This brackish waterbody is hypereutrophic (TP levels > 0.1 mg/L). The cyanobacterial community contained 13 genera and 22 species. NO₃⁻, TP and turbidity levels positively influenced cyanobacterial abundance during all seasons indicating that nutrient (largely phosphorus) and sediment entry control is highly crucial along with periodic monitoring of cyanobacterial growth.     

典型内分泌干扰物对人工湿地运行效果的影响

研究构建了2组表流人工湿地模拟系统和3组潜流人工湿地模拟系统,种植菖蒲、芦苇,在平均进水COD、TN、NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N、NO_2~--N浓度分别为110、21、6、9以及6 mg/L,进水流速为42 m L/min,水力停留时间为6 h的条件下,研究典型内分泌物双酚A(BPA)和2,4-二氯苯酚在浓度为2 mg/L时对人工湿地的运行效果影响。结果表明,两种内分泌干扰物对人工湿地的污染物去除均有抑制作用。在COD去除上,两种内分泌干扰物对表流人工湿地的负面影响要高于潜流人工湿地。在各类N元素的去除上,在潜流人工湿地中,添加BPA的负面影响要高于添加2,4-二氯苯酚。     

净水厂应对水源地突发苯胺污染处理能力研究

通过对粉末活性炭(PAC)的改性研究提高净水厂对苯胺突发污染的应急能力。以松花江水源地为实验用水,以苯胺污染为研究对象,采用PAC吸附工艺对净水厂应对苯胺突发污染的能力进行了系统研究。结果表明,由于原水中NOM存在的竞争吸附作用,当苯胺超标5倍时,需要PAC投加量130 mg/L才能使出水达标,但对出水浊度产生不利影响;经KOH改性的PAC,在不影响出水浊度的投加量为80 mg/L时就能处理超标5倍的苯胺。