Validation of Microtox as a first screening tool for waste classification

The Waste Framework Directive (WFD; 2008/98/EG) describes how waste materials are to be classified as hazardous or not. For complex waste materials chemical analyses are often not conclusive and the WFD provides the possibility to assess the hazardous properties by testing on the waste materials directly. As a methodology WFD refers to the protocols described in the CLP regulation (regulation on Classification, Labeling and Packaging of chemicals) but the toxicity tests on mammals are not acceptable for waste materials. The DISCRISET project was initiated to investigate the suitability of alternative toxicity tests that are already in use in pharmaceutical applications, for the toxicological hazard assessment of complex waste materials. Results indicated that Microtox was a good candidate as a first screening test in a tiered approached hazard assessment. This is now further validated in the present study. The toxic responses measured in Microtox were compared to biological responses in other bioassays for both organic and inorganic fractions of the wastes. Both fractions contribute to the toxic load of waste samples. Results show that the Microtox test is indeed a good and practical screening tool for the organic fraction. A screening threshold (ST) of 5 geq/l as the EC₅₀ value in Microtox is proposed as this ST allows to recognize highly toxic samples in the screening test. The data presented here show that the Microtox toxicity response at this ST is not only predictive for acute toxicity in other organisms but also for sub lethal toxic effects of the organic fraction. This limit value has to be further validated. For the inorganic fraction no specific biotest can be recommended as a screening test, but the use of direct toxicity assessment is also preferable for this fraction as metal speciation is an important issue to define the toxic load of elutriate fractions. A battery of 3 tests (Microtox, Daphnia and Algae) for direct toxicity assessment of this fraction is recommended in literature, but including tests for mechanistic toxicity might be useful.     

Characterization of microbial consortia that reductively dechlorinate 4-chlorophenol and transform phenol to benzoate enriched from estuarine sediment of Lake Shinji

Monochlorophenols were degraded to benzoate via phenol by the initial dechlorination and the subsequent conversion of phenol to benzoate in anaerobic sediment samples of estuarine Lake Shinji under methanogenic conditions. To characterize bacteria that dechlorinate 4-chlorophenol and transform phenol to benzoate, we analyzed the microbial community structure of the enrichment culture with each 4-chlorophenol and phenol by the limiting dilution method with polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) of 16S rRNA gene. After serial dilution of the culture, the 4-chlorophenol-dechlorinating culture consisted of two dominant bacteria, one of which was most homologous with Dehalobacter sp. In the enriched culture with phenol, minor band homologous with Cryptanaerobacter phenolicass corresponded to the transformation activity.     

Degradation of the insecticide fensulfothion by a mixed culture of soil microorganisms

Abstract

Fensulfothion was incubated in nutrient media with a mixed culture of soil microorganisms obtained from sandy loam. The half life of fensulfothion in both inoculated samples and sterile controls was about 16 wk. There was some conversion to fensulfothion sulfone (16% at 6 wk) in inoculated samples, but not in the controls. Traces of fensulfothion sulfide were found in both inoculated samples (<3%) and controls (<2%) . When 1% ethanol was added to the inoculated nutrient mixture the fensulfothion disappeared rapidly (t_½>～1_½> wk) with 32% conversion at 20 wk to fensulfothion sulfide.     

蚯蚓处理对污泥中微生物碳量及脱氢酶活性的影响

将含水率80.6%的脱水污泥制成5 mm的污泥颗粒,以添加蚯蚓(赤子爱胜蚓)为处理组,无蚯蚓为对照组,测定不同时期污泥的理化性质、微生物碳量(MBC)和脱氢酶活性(DHA)的变化,重点研究了蚯蚓对污泥降解过程中MBC和DHA变化的影响.结果表明,相比对照组,蚯蚓处理组p H变化幅度较小;实验结束时,蚯蚓处理组的电导率(EC)和溶解性有机碳(DOC)显著高于对照组,而有机质(OM)显著低于对照组.实验前30 d,蚯蚓处理组MBC显著高于对照组,40 d至实验结束,蚯蚓处理组MBC显著低于对照组.DHA的结果表明,蚯蚓处理组和对照组在前30 d并没有显著性差异,40 d后蚯蚓处理组的DHA显著低于对照组,DHA稳定在2.98~6.40 mg·g-1·h-1(以TPF计).相关分析表明,DHA、MBC和OM之间显著正相关.研究表明,接种蚯蚓在实验前期显著提升了系统的微生物量,加快污泥有机质的降解,从而导致后期产物的微生物量及其活性较低,最终产物更稳定.     

泰乐菌素的微生物降解途径及其降解产物研究

研究了越南伯克霍尔德氏菌(Burkholderia vietnamiensis)对泰乐菌素的降解能力,并通过对降解产物的分析,推测了泰乐菌素的微生物降解途径.在自主筛选驯化分离到1株泰乐菌素高效降解菌B.vietnamiensis的基础上,采用高效液相色谱法测定其在不同条件下降解泰乐菌素的能力,并利用制备液相色谱分离纯化降解产物,质谱鉴定其结构.实验结果表明:B.vietnamiensis能高度耐受并快速降解泰乐菌素,用B.vietnamiensis处理初始浓度为50、100、200、300、400或500 mg·L-1的泰乐菌素培养基7 d,泰乐菌素的降解率均达到99%以上.B.vietnamiensis降解泰乐菌素的可能途径是:泰乐菌素A首先脱去碳霉糖转化为泰乐菌素B,然后分子中内酯键和醛基再经水解和还原生成2个新的降解产物.研究结果为泰乐菌素微生物降解机制的研究以及在此基础上降解酶的确定提供有价值的技术参考.     

降解嗪草酮微生物菌剂的制备及稳定性研究

通过富集培养分离出嗪草酮降解菌N1,降解菌在固体平板上培养,菌落大,表面粗糙,扁平,不规则,为质地软、稍有光泽的白色菌落,直径为5～7mm.菌体细胞为杆状,末端方,成短或长链,菌体大小为1.0～ 1.2 μm× 3.0～ 5.0 μm.将N1降解菌制成菌剂,用气楣色谱法进行定量分析,通过单因素试验确定菌剂中载体配比、接种菌液量、加入营养液量、发酵时间、烘干温度等影响因子的优势条件,设计正交试验确定最优菌剂制备条件:m(豆粕):m(麦麸):m(木屑):m(硅藻土)比例为60:20:15:5,接种菌液量为15％,营养液量为10％,发酵时间为48 h,烘干温度为30℃.在上述条件制备的菌剂对嗪草酮的降解率为79％.该菌剂在25℃下保存50d后对嗪草酮仍有较高的降解效果.     

一株高效絮凝剂产生菌的分离鉴定与絮凝特性研究

采用富集培养及平板分离方法从成都某污水处理厂活性污泥中筛选出一株具有絮凝活性的菌株SNUX-1,经形态特征及16S rRNA鉴定该菌株为约氏不动杆菌(Acinetobacter johnsonii).对该菌株絮凝活性分布及在不同生长条件下所产絮凝剂的絮凝率进行了研究,并对其絮凝剂成分进行了分析.结果表明,该菌株所产微生物絮凝剂为胞外产物,显色剂显色结果表明,该絮凝剂不含蛋白质成分,含有糖类成分;在以蔗糖为碳源、培养基初始pH值为8、以氯化铜为助凝剂的条件下培养12 h,该菌株所产微生物絮凝剂的絮凝率最高,达96.71％,可作为治理环境污染的菌种资源.     

生活垃圾生物预处理后筛分及分选特性试验研究

堆肥化技术作为垃圾预处理方式在国内外已得到了广泛认可.本文通过现场试验,研究了生物预处理对垃圾筛分和分选特性的影响.结果表明,预处理后垃圾含水率降低了7.69%,堆体的体积从275 m~3减少到183 m~3,垃圾的容重从最初的356 kg·m~(-3)增加到470 kg·m~(-3).经过生物预处理,有机物不断被降解.预处理可以提高筛分后筛下物比例,预处理后的筛下物百分比提高了17%.预处理对可回收成分(金属、塑料、纸张、玻璃和布匹等)分选效率都较新鲜垃圾有不同程度的提高,对金属分选效果提高最显著,达到22.01%.本研究表明,生物预处理对垃圾筛分和分选均具有积极的作用,可以提高后期资源回收利用率.