Mechanism of calcium mitigating membrane fouling in submerged membrane bioreactors

Two parallel membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were operated under different calcium dosages (168.5, 27 mg/L) to gain a better understanding of the mechanism of retarding membrane fouling by adding calcium. The results showed that the particle size of sludge flocs increased and the particle size distribution tended to be narrow at the optimum dosage (168.5 mg/L). Calcium was effective in decreasing loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances (LB-EPS) in microbial flocs and soluble microbial products (SMP) in the supernatant at the dosage of 168.5 mg/L by strengthening the neutralization and bridging of EPS with flocs. Furthermore, the amount of COD_S and COD_C decreased in both the mixed liquor and the fouling cake layer on the membrane surface. In order to compare the filtration characteristics of cake layers from the MBRs with the two calcium dosages, the specific cake resistance and the compressibility coefficient were measured. The specific cake resistance from the MBR with optimum dosage (168.5 mg/L) was distinctly lower than that with low dosage (27 mg/L). The compressibility coefficient of the cake layers under two dosages were respectively attained as 0.65, 0.91. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and three-dimensional confocal scanning laser microscope analysis (CLSM) images were utilized to observe the gel layer directly.     

Humic substances

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Freshwater bodies which chemistry is dominated by dissolved humic substances (HS) seem to be the major type on Earth, due to huge non-calcareous geological formations in the Northern Hemisphere and in the tropics. Based on the paradigm of the inertness of being organic, direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms are mostly neglected. However, dissolved organic carbon, the majority of which being HS, are natural environmental chemicals and should therefore directly interact with organisms. Major results that widened our perspective on humic substance ecology come from experiments with the compost nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, which behaved contradictorily to textbook knowledge and provoked an in-depth re-consideration of some paradigms. APPROACH: To overcome old paradigms on HS and their potential interactions with organisms, we reviewed recent international literature, as well as 'grey' literature. We also include results from own ongoing studies. RESULTS: This review focuses on direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms and disregards indirect effects, such as under-water light quenching. Instead we show with some macrophyte and algal species that HS adversely interfere with photosynthesis and growth, whereby closely related algal species show different response patterns. In addition to this, HS suppress cyanobacteria more than eukaryotic algae. Quinones in the HS appear to be the effective structure. Furthermore, HS can modulate the offspring numbers in the nematode C. elegans and cause feminization of fish and amphibians--they possess hormone-like properties. The ecological consequences of this potential remain obscure at present. HS also have the potential to act as chemical attractants as shown with C. elegans and exert a mild chemical stress upon aquatic organisms in many ways: induction of molecular chaperons (stress proteins), induction and modulation of biotransformation and anti-oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, they produce an oxidative stress with lipidperoxidation as one clear symptom or even stress defense strategy. Stronger chemical stresses by HS may even lead to teratogenic effects as shown with fish embryos; all physiological responses to HS-mediated stress require energy, which were compensated on the expense of yolk as shown with zebra fish embryos. One Finnish field survey supports the view of a strong chemical stress, as the weight yield in fish species decreases with increasing HS content in the lakes. DISCUSSION: HS exert a variety of stress symptoms in aquatic and compost organisms. According to current paradigms of ecotoxicology, these symptoms have to be considered adverse, because their compensation consumes energy which is deducted from the main metabolism. However, the nematode C. elegans looks actively for such stressful environments, and this behavior is only understandable in the light of new paradigms of aging mechanisms, particularly the Green Theory of Aging. In this respect, we discuss the mild HS-mediated stress to aquatic and compost organisms. New empirical findings with HS themselves and HS building blocks appear to be consistent with this emerging paradigm and show that the individual lifespan may be expanded. At present the ecological consequences of these findings remain obscure. However, a multiple-stress resistance may be acquired which improves the individual fitness in a fluctuating environment. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that dissolved HS have to be considered abiotic ecological driving forces, somewhat less obvious than temperature, nutrients, or light. PERSPECTIVES: The understanding of the ecological control by dissolved humic substances is still fragmentary and needs to be studied in more details.     

Influence of Relative Humidity and Ozone on the Sampling of Volatile Organic Compounds on Carbotrap/Carbosieve Adsorbents

By using a dynamic dilution system, the atmospheric measurement of 11 selected toxics VOCs (ethylene, acetylene, propene, 1-butene, 1,3-butadiene, 1-pentene, 1-hexene, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene) from the list WHO of 1996 and TO-14 method of US EPA by preconcentration by thermal desorption (TD), analysis by gas chromatography (GC), identification and quantification with a flame ionisation detector (FID) was developed and validated in term of metrology, especially the techniques of sampling of these VOCs with adsorbents cartridges "Air Toxics" when used with an "UMEG sampler" equipped in the inlet with a nafion membrane. In particular the influence of climatic conditions (temperature and relative humidity) and the influence of chemical factors like ozone, on the representativity of sampling were studied. Experiments made with various humidities showed that the addition of a nafion membrane in the inlet of the sampling system was required. Without this membrane, losses of compounds were observed for RH >50%. With this membrane, storage for 2 weeks in a refrigerator, as for canisters, did not induce a loss of compounds. No significative decrease of concentrations of the studied VOCs after 14 days storage, which are known to react with ozone, were observed with an ozone concentrations of 55 ppb. One explanation is that nafion membrane, placed in the inlet of the sampler, will neutralize ozone before entering the sampling tubes. This observation is in accordance with literature which states that the sampling of VOCs on Carbotrap cartridges without ozone scrubber induce a loss of compounds.     

氯酚与富里酸的缔合作用

本文用超滤膜方法证实氯酚与富里酸之间存在缔合作用,并计算出表观缔合常数在２．７＊１０＾３－－１２１＊１０＾３ｍｌ．ｇ＾－１范围内。实验结果表明”ＰＨ、富里酸含量,氯酚取代氯原子个数都能够影响Ｋ值的大小。     

中空纤维膜应用于烟气脱硫的现状与前景

本文介绍了中空纤维膜的基本情况,概述了中空纤维膜烟气脱硫技术的研究现状,并对其发展前景进行了展望。     

饮用水除氟技术研究的新进展

综述了近年来国内外饮用水除氟技术的研究新进展,介绍了沉淀、吸附和膜分离三种处理工艺的热点研究——电凝法、载镧改性吸附法和唐南透析法的基本原理和发展动态,并分析了各自的优缺点。认为开发高效、低成本、易操作和安全的饮用水新型除氟技术是目前的研究重点和方向。     

硅藻土强化混凝去除微污染原水中的有机物

研究了联用硅藻土与聚合氯化铝（PAC）强化混凝对有机微污染原水中不同性质溶解性有机物的去除效果。采用超滤膜和XAD系列树脂对微污染原水中溶解性有机物进行分级表征,物理分级表明分子量〈4 kD的溶解性有机物占50%以上,化学分级表明原水中以憎水酸（HoA）和亲水物质（HiM）为主。硅藻土助凝去除溶解性有机物,实验结果表明,当PAC投加量30 mg/L,硅藻土投加量0.5 g/L时,溶解性有机碳去除率由22.5%提高到26.3%。     

基因工程菌在厌氧膜生物反应器中对偶氮染料废水的脱色

印染和染料废水色度大,COD高,可生化性差.采用基因工程菌Escherichia coli JM109(pGEX-AZR)在厌氧膜生物反应器中,对模拟偶氮染料废水进行脱色研究.结果表明,系统对酸性红B有很好的脱色能力,且启动期短,脱色效率高,脱色率稳定在95%以上,对COD的去除率能达到68%.系统运行过程中,反应器内生物量稳定在0.4 g/L.EPS与生物量变化趋势一致,先升高后降低;pH值在运行初期由6.5降至6.2,后维持在6.6左右.系统运行27 d后进行第一次膜清洗,膜通量恢复为初始值的92%,系统运行周期约为26 d.     

瑞典环境损害评估与修复制度及其启示

环境损害事件发生后,行政机关第一时间应清除损害并进行评估与修复,但我国生态环境损害的救济立法规定相对粗糙,难以具有执行力.而《瑞典环境法典》则从本国国情出发制定其环境损害评估与修复制度,污染发生后环境监督机关迅速进入污染区域调查并制作报告,明确事后治理责任主体,并通过环境质量标准确定损害修复应达到的水平并开展损害修复工...     

外源NO对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长和根系膜脂过氧化作用的影响

采用营养液水培,研究外源NO对NaCl胁迫下黄瓜幼苗生长、根系膜脂过氧化作用的影响.结果表明,100 μmol·L-1NO供体硝普钠(SNP)能显著缓解50 mmol·L-1NaCl胁迫对黄瓜植株造成的伤害,提高幼苗生长量,增强幼苗根系抗氧化酶活性,提高根系脯氨酸(Pro)含量,缓解根系膜脂过氧化作用,从而提高植株耐盐性.