Syntrophic co-culture of Bacillus subtilis and Klebsiella pneumonia for degradation of kraft lignin discharged from rayon grade pulp industry

In order to search the degradability of kraft lignin, the potential bacterial strains Bacillus subtilis (GU193980) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (GU193981) were isolated, screened and applied in axenic and co-culture conditions. Results revealed that mixed culture showed better decolorization efficiency (80%) and reduction of pollution parameters (COD 73% and BOD 62%) than axenic culture. This indicated syntrophic growth of these two bacteria rather than any antagonistic effect. The HPLC analysis of degraded samples of kraft lignin has shown the reduction in peak area compared to control, suggesting that decrease in color intensity might be largely attributed to the degradation of lignin by isolated bacteria. Further, the GC–MS analysis showed that most of the compounds detected in control were diminished after bacterial treatment. Further, the seed germination test using Phaseolus aureus has supported the detoxification of bacterial decolorized kraft lignin for environmental safety. All these observations have revealed that the developed bacterial co-culture was capable for the effective degradation and decolorization of lignin containing rayon grade pulp mill wastewater for environmental safety.     

Effects of different sludge disintegration methods on sludge moisture distribution and dewatering performance

A key step in sludge treatment is sludge dewatering. However, activated sludge is generally very difficult to be dewatered. Sludge dewatering performance is largely affected by the sludge moisture distribution. Sludge disintegration can destroy the sludge structure and cell wall, so as change the sludge floc structure and moisture distribution, thus affecting the dewatering performance of sludge. In this article, the disintegration methods were ultrasound treatment, K₂FeO₄ oxidation and KMnO₄ oxidation. The degree of disintegration (DD_COD), sludge moisture distribution and the final water content of sludge cake after centrifuging were measured. Results showed that three disintegration methods were all effective, and K₂FeO₄ oxidation was more efficient than KMnO₄ oxidation. The content of free water increased obviously with K₂FeO₄ and KMnO₄ oxidations, while it decreased with ultrasound treatment. The changes of free water and interstitial water were in the opposite trend. The content of bounding water decreased with K₂FeO₄ oxidation, and increased slightly with KMnO₄ oxidation, while it increased obviously with ultrasound treatment. The water content of sludge cake after centrifuging decreased with K₂FeO₄ oxidation, and did not changed with KMnO₄ oxidation, but increased obviously with ultrasound treatment. In summary, ultrasound treatment deteriorated the sludge dewaterability, while K₂FeO₄ and KMnO₄ oxidation improved the sludge dewaterability.     

贵金属负载TiO_2光催化降解甲苯研究

采用Degussa P25 TiO2粉末,利用光沉积法制备贵金属负载光催化剂M/TiO2(M分别为Pt、Pd、Ag和Au)。通过气相甲苯光催化降解实验考察M/TiO2的光催化活性。实验结果表明:负载1.0 wt%的Pt、Pd、Ag和Au四种贵金属均可提高TiO2光催化降解甲苯的效率,其中Pt/TiO2的光催化活性最佳。循环伏安法(CV)、塔菲尔(Tafel)和Mott-Schottky电化学测试证明Pt的负载抑制光生电子和空穴的复合,提高载流子浓度,进而增强TiO2光催化活性。     

过程安全管理关键要素——测量和指标探讨

介绍了过程安全管理关键要素"测量和指标"的主要内容,探讨了过程安全绩效指标的重要性、原理、分级、设置和用途,并以变更管理为例列举了过程安全绩效指标示例,为过程安全绩效指标设置提供借鉴。     

高原环境对车辆动力性的影响及动力提升措施

在总结我国高原气候和地理环境特点的基础上,从反映车辆动力性能的指标出发,以加速时间、最大爬坡度和最高车速入手,理论分析了对整车高原动力性影响较大的因素,主要包括有效热效率、循环喷油量、滚动阻力系数、空气密度对空气阻力的影响等。通过分析高原环境对这些因素的影响,总结出了高原环境对车辆动力性的影响机理,并进一步提出了整车高原动力性改进的技术措施,认为先进增压、燃烧优化、高压共轨燃油喷射、高原环境标定、热平衡控制和富氧进气燃烧等技术措施成为提高车辆动力性的有效技术措施。     

Evaluation of Bacillus sp. MZS10 for decolorizing Azure B dye and its decolorization mechanism

To evaluate decolorization and detoxification of Azure B dye by a newly isolated Bacillus sp. MZS10 strain, the cultivation medium and decolorization mechanism of the isolate were investigated. The decolorization was discovered to be dependent on cell density of the isolate and reached 93.55%(0.04 g/L) after 14 hr of cultivation in a 5 L stirred-tank fermenter at 2.0 g/L yeast extract and 6.0 g/L soluble starch and a small amount of mineral salts. The decolorization metabolites were identified with ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectroscopy(UPLC-MS). A mechanism for decolorization of Azure B was proposed as follows: the C=N in Azure B was initially reduced to –NH by nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate(NADPH)-dependent quinone dehydrogenase, and then the –NH further combined with –OH derived from glucose to form a stable and colorless compound through a dehydration reaction. The phytotoxicity was evaluated for both Azure B and its related derivatives produced by Bacillus sp. MZS10 decolorization, indicating that the decolorization metabolites were less toxic than original dye. The decolorization efficiency and mechanism shown by Bacillus sp. MZS10 provided insight on its potential application for the bioremediation of the dye Azure B.     

石油污染物对海底微生物燃料电池性能的影响及加速降解效应

海底石油污染物在缺氧环境下导致其生物降解过程缓慢,对海洋环境造成长期危害.本文利用海底微生物燃料电池(BMFCs)原理,尝试通过电催化作用提高海底石油污染物的降解速率.对比测试了含油电池装置(BMFCs-A)与无油电池装置(BMFCs-B)的电化学性能,研究了石油污染物对电池性能的影响;比较了含油通路(BMFCs-A)和断路状态下(BMFCs-C)的石油降解率和细菌聚集量,分析了BMFCs对石油污染物降解的加速作用.结果表明,BMFCs-A和BMFCs-B阳极的交换电流密度分别为1.37×10-2A·m-2和1.50×10-3A·m-2,最大输出功率密度分别是105.79 m W·m-2和83.60 m W·m-2,BMFCs-A装置的抗极化能力增强,交换电流密度提高近9倍,最大输出功率密度提高1.27倍.BMFCs-A和BMFCs-C阳极表面的异养菌数量分别是(66±3.61)×107CFU·g-1和(7.3±2.08)×107CFU·g-1,细菌数量增加了8倍,高的异养菌数量导致石油降解加速进行,BMFCs的石油降解率是自然条件下的18.7倍.BMFCs在电化学性能提高的同时,加速石油污染物的降解.本文同时提出了一种海底微生物燃料电池对石油污染物加速降解的新模式.     

A preliminary validation of a new measure of occupational health and safety

INTRODUCTION: This article describes the validation of an instrument designed to conduct an Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) self-diagnosis using workers observations of tangible facts and actions in the workplace. The instrument puts the emphasis on observable factors that make it possible to act proactively before accidents actually occur. METHOD: Three companies were recruited from the printing sector in Québec based on their OHS performance (low, medium, and high), their interest in the project, and their availability. The master sample was composed of 269 people. Partial least squares (PLS) and vanishing tetrad analyses were used to study the behavior of the formative scales developed. RESULTS: The results indicate that partial revision of the instrument will be necessary to reach a fully satisfying level of validity. With regards to the statistical approach adopted, the use of a macro called CTA-SAS 2.0 developed by Bollen and Ting [Bollen, K.A., & Ting, K.-F. (1993). Confirmatory tetrad analysis. In P.V. Marsden (Ed.), Social methodology.Vol.23 (pp.147-176). Cambridge, MA: Blackwell, 23] has proven to be effective in providing a suitable statistical treatment of the latent formative variables on which our instrument's development is based. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that the instrument appears to be relatively robust and appropriate to diagnose OHS leading measures. IMPACT ON INDUSTRY: In the long run, this instrument will make it possible for companies to draw a more refined picture of OHS evolution, even in the absence of occupational injuries.     

Mitigation of CO2 Emissions from the EU-15 Building Stock. Beyond the EU Directive on the Energy Performance of Buildings (9 pp)

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Goal Scope and Background. The European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings which came into force 16 December 2002 will be implemented in the legislation of Member States by 4 January 2006. In addition to the aim of improving the overall energy efficiency of new buildings, large existing buildings will become a target for improvement, as soon as they undergo significant renovation. The building sector is responsible for about 40% of Europe's total end energy consumption and hence this Directive is an important step for the European Union in order that it should reach the level of saving required by the Kyoto Agreement. In this the EU is committed to reduce CO2 emissions relative to the base year of 1990 by 8 per cent, by 2010. But what will be the impact of the new Directive, how large could be the impacts of extending the obligation for energy efficiency retrofitting towards smaller buildings? Can improvement of the insulation offset or reduce the growing energy consumption from the increasing installation of cooling installations? EURIMA, the European Insulation Manufacturers Association and EuroACE, the European Alliance of Companies for Energy Efficiency in Buildings, asked Ecofys to address these questions.

Methods

The effect of the EPB Directive on the emissions associated with the heating energy consumption of the total EU 15 building stock has been examined in a model calculation, using the Built Environment Analysis Model (BEAM), which was developed by Ecofys to investigate energy saving measures in the building stock. The great complexity of the EU-15 building stock had to be simplified by examining five standard buildings with eight insulation standards, which are assigned to building age and renovation status. Furthermore, three climatic regions (cold, moderate, warm) were distinguished for the calculation of the heating energy demand. This gave a basic 210 building types for which the heating energy demand and CO2 emissions from heating were calculated according to the principles of the European Norm EN 832.

Results and Discussion

The model calculations demonstrates that the main contributor to the total heating related CO2 emissions of 725 Mt/a from the EU building stock in 2002 is the residential sector (77%) while the remaining 23% originates from non-residential buildings. In the residential sector, single-family houses represent the largest group responsible for 60% of the total CO2 emissions equivalent to 435 Mt/a.

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- The technical potential: If all retrofit measures in the scope of the Directive were realised immediately for the complete residential and non-residential building stock the overall CO2 emission savings would add up to 82 Mt/a. An additional saving potential compared to the Directive of 69 Mt/a would be created if the scope of the Directive was extended to cover retrofit measures in multi-family dwellings (200-1000m2) and non-residential buildings smaller than 1000m2 used floor space. In addition including the large group of single-family dwellings would lead to a potential for additional CO2 emission reductions compared to the Directive of 316 Mt/a.

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- Temporal mobilization of the potential: Calculations based on the building stock as it develops over time with average retrofit rates demonstrated that regulations introduced following the EPB Directive result in a CO2 emissions decrease of 34 Mt/a by the year 2010 compared to the business as usual scenario. Extending the scope of the EPB Directive to all residential buildings (including single and multi-family dwellings), the CO2 emission savings potential over the 'business as usual' scenario could be doubled to 69 Mt/a in the year 2010. This creates an additional saving potential compared to the Directive of 36 Mt/a.

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- Cooling demand: The analysis demonstrated that in warm climatic zones the cooling demand can be reduced drastically by a combination of lowering the internal heat loads and by improved insulation. With the reduction of the heat loads to a moderate level the cooling demand, e.g. of a terraced house located in Madrid, can be reduced by an additional 85% if the insulation level is improved appropriately.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates that the European Directive on Energy Performance of Buildings will have a significant impact on the CO2 emissions of the European building stock. The main saving potential lies in insulation of the existing building stock. Beyond this, CO2 emissions could, however, be greatly reduced if the scope of the Directive were to be extended to include retrofit of smaller buildings.

Recommendation and Perspective

The reductions should be seen in relation to the remaining gap of 190 Mt CO2 eq. per annum between the current emission levels of EU-15 and the target under the Kyoto-Protocol for the year 2010. The energy and industrial sector will probably contribute only a fraction of this reduction via the newly established EU emissions trading scheme and connected projects under the flexible mechanism. In addition, the traffic sector is likely to continue its growth path leading to a widening of the gap. Thus, there is likely to be considerable pressure on the EU building sector to contribute to the EU climate targets beyond what will be achieved by means of the current EPB Directive. Legislators on the EU and national level are therefore advised to take accelerated actions to tap the very significant emission reduction potentials available in the EU building stock.     

Biodegradability,hydrolytic degradability,and builder performance in detergent formulations of partially dicarboxylated alginic acid

Partially dicarboxylated alginic acids with degree of dicarboxylations from 13 to 61 mol% were prepared and their biodegradability, hydrolytic degradability, and builder performances in detergent formulations were measured. Also, the correlations between biodegradability and hydrolytic degradability were examined with respect to the degree of dicarboxylation. The biodegradability of dicarboxylated alginic acid sodium salt (DCAa), evaluated by biochemical oxygen demand with activated sludge, depended on the degree of dicarboxylation. DCAa containing more than 75 mol% remaining uronide residues in the polymer chain showed excellent biodegradation. Hydrolytic degradation of DCAa depended on the degree of dicarboxylation and the pH of the incubation media. After 30-day incubation at 30°C at pH 4–6, a significant molecular weight reduction by hydrolytic degradation was observed for highly dicarboxylated alginic acid. DCAa with a high degree of dicarboxylation showed excellent builder performance in detergent formulations based on the detergency and calcium sequestration capacity.