Tree Leaf Biomarkers for Atmospheric Nitrogen Deposition

The aim of this paper was to investigate the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on tree N cycling and identify potential biomarkers forNdeposition. Between April and October 2002 extensive fieldwork was undertaken at Mardley Heath in Hertfordshire. This woodland, located adjacent to the A1(M) motorway, is exposed to high levels of atmospheric nitrogen oxides from the traffic. Measurements of ¹⁵N, in vivo nitrate reductase (NR) activity, tissue, xylem and surface nitrate concentrations as well as N concentration and growth were made along a 700-m transect at 90° to the motorway. The ¹⁵N data show that oxidised N from the road traffic is taken up by nearby trees and is incorporated into plant tissues. Our measurements of NR activities suggest elevated rates close to the motorway. However, xylem sap, leaf tissue and leaf surface nitrate concentrations showed no differences between the roadside location and the most distant sampling point from the motorway. Taken together the ¹⁵N and nitrate reductase data suggest uptake and assimilation of N through the foliage.We conclude that for this lowland deciduouswoodland, tissue, xylem and surface measurements of nitrate are unreliable biomarkers for N deposition whereas ¹⁵N, growth measurements and integrated seasonal NR might be useful. The results also point to the benefit of roadside tree planting to screen pollution from motor vehicles.     

EMMC process for combined removal of organics, nitrogen and an odor producing substance

In order to improve the process performance regarding the removal of organics, nitrogen, and an odor-causing compound (sulfide) contained in domestic wastewater, an entrapped-mixed-microbial cell (EMMC) with and without humic substances for both fixed and moving carrier reactors and conventional suspended growth culture (i.e. conventional activated sludge process) were investigated simultaneously. Both synthetic (simulated to the organics concentration of general domestic sewage) and actual domestic wastewater were investigated under operational conditions of 12 h of hydraulic retention time (HRT) with 1 h of aeration and 1 h of non-aeration, and 6 h of HRT with continuous aeration, at a room temperature of 25 +/- 2 degrees C. It was found that entrapping humic substances in the EMMC carriers had no impact on the removal of organics, nitrogen, and the odor-producing compound. Additionally, the performance of the EMMC moving carrier system for the removal of these pollutants is similar to that of the EMMC fixed carrier system. In general, the EMMC associated systems which provide high solids retention time achieve a better removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrogen, and the odor-producing substance than the suspended growth system for both HRTs of 6 h (continuous aeration) and 12 h (1 h of aeration and 1 h of non-aeration). Both the fixed and moving carrier EMMC processes, therefore, have the potential for improvement or replacement of the existing conventional activated sludge process with regard to improving the effluent qualities (such as COD, nitrogen and odor-producing compound) for reuse/disposal.     

Chemistry of Selected High-Elevation Lakes in Seven National Parks in the Western United States

A chemical survey of 69 high-altitude lakes in seven national parks in the western United States was conducted during the fallof 1999; the lakes were previously sampled during the fall of 1985, as part of the Western Lake Survey. Lakes in parks in the Sierra/southern Cascades (Lassen Volcanic, Yosemite, Sequoia/Kings Canyon National Parks) and in the southern RockyMountains (Rocky Mountain National Park) were very dilute; medianspecific conductance ranged from 4.4 to 12.2 S cm^-1 andmedian alkalinity concentrations ranged from 32.2 to 72.9 eqL^-1. Specific conductances and alkalinity concentrations were substantially higher in lakes in the central and northernRocky Mountains parks (Grand Teton, Yellowstone, and GlacierNational Parks), probably due to the prevalence of more reactivebedrock types. Regional patterns in lake concentrations of NO₃ and SO₄ were similar to regional patterns in NO₃ and SO₄ concentrations in precipitation, suggestingthat the lakes are showing a response to atmospheric deposition.Concentrations of NO₃ were particularly high in Rocky Mountain National Park, where some ecosystems appear to be undergoing nitrogen saturation.     

AN EXAMINATION OF LAND USE - NUTRIENT EXPORT RELATIONSHIPS1

ABSTRACT: Lake and watershed management strategies and recent environmental legislation dictate that nonpoht nutrient sources associated with storm water runoff must be assessed. Accordingly, a nutrient flu assessment for phosphorus and nitrogen is conducted through an extensive literature review of nutrient export studies. These studies are reevaluated. The nutrient export coefficients are screened according to sampling design criteria and compiled according to land use. The ecological mechanisms within each land use influencing the magnitude of nutrient flux are also discussed     

THE FATE OF NITRATE IN LAKE SEDIMENT COLUMNS1

ABSTRACT: To investigate the magnitude of denitrification and assimilatory nitrate reduction as these reactions relate to the fate of nitrate reaching sediments via groundwater seepage, undisturbed core samples of sediments (40 cm length) from two lakes (Mendota and Tomahawk) were leached from the bottom (at 1.4 cm/day) with a solution of ¹⁵N-nitrate (10 mg N/liter). The sediment columns were fitted with Pt electrodes to measure the oxidation-reduction (Eh) potential. While leaching removed considerable ammonium-N and soluble organic N, essentially no ¹⁵N had passed through the columns by 50 days. The Eh readings indicated that denitrification was occurring in the lower portions of the columns. The ¹⁵N distribution of the sediment N after 50 days showed that about 15 to 26% of the added nitrate-N was converted to organic N and ammonium-N. The data show that denitrification can be a significant N sink in seepage lakes.     

环太湖丘陵地区农田氮素随地表径流输出特征

对环太湖丘陵地区农田氮素随地表径流的输出特征进行了研究,结果表明,地表径流中TN浓度随径流量而变化,浓度峰值出现时间滞后于径流量峰值;径流发生前期,NH3 N和NO-3 N浓度水平相当,后期NO-3 N浓度缓慢抬升,而NH3 N含量缓慢下降;NO-2 N浓度相对较低,随时间快速下降;对于TN和NO-3 N而言,溶解态含量高于悬浮态,而溶解态和悬浮态NH3 N的浓度相当;无机氮平均浓度高于有机氮,有机氮尤其是悬浮态有机氮浓度表现出随径流量而变化的特点。     

一体化间歇曝气完全混合活性污泥法

一体化间歇曝气完全混合活性污泥法处理装置采取特殊的沉淀区构造,改变了活性污泥的循环流动方式,通过间歇曝气,反应区交替处于好氧/缺氧状态,达到了有机物高效去除、高效硝化反硝化及控制污泥膨胀的效果.该方法具有出水水质好、运行稳定、能耗低、流程简洁和操作管理方便的特点,是一种很有发展潜力的一体化中小型生活污水、城市污水处理系统.     

MFC强化同步短程硝化反硝化工艺的启动

微生物燃料电池(MFC)可在阴极实现反硝化、短程反硝化和同步硝化反硝化并产生电能,但在MFC阴极实现同步短程硝化反硝化的研究尚未见到报道。为了探讨MFC阴极同步短程硝化反硝化工艺的性能,将双室曝气阴极MFC与A/O脱氮工艺结合处理人工模拟低碳氮比废水。通过静置运行15 d使得MFC阴极室亚硝态氮得以积累,氨氧化菌得以富集。随即改为连续运行后第21天成功启动同步短程硝化反硝化MFC;阴极出水氨氮浓度为0.3 mg/L,亚硝态氮浓度为15.9 mg/L,硝态氮浓度为0.6 mg/L,亚硝化率达到95%以上,阴极电极自养反硝化去除率达到50%以上,COD去除率达到85%以上。结果表明,将MFC与同步短程硝化反硝化工艺结合,通过阴极室中氧气得电子获得高pH,可以强化同步短程硝化反硝化工艺,完成生物脱氮的同时回收电能,并具有减少外加碱度的优势。     

改良型Carrousel氧化沟工艺生物脱氮除磷效果研究

为了提高改良型Carrousel氧化沟工艺污水处理厂的脱氮除磷效果,结合某污水处理厂3年的运行实践,讨论了该工艺的处理效果,生物脱氮除磷原理及影响出水效果的因素.分析表明将DO控制在0.3～0.7 mg/L范围内,能够使出水中的TN浓度低于20 mg/L;在氧化沟中发生的同步硝化反硝化反应(SND)对总氮的去除的贡献占总系统脱氮的66%;该系统剩余污泥的含磷率为3.0%,生物细胞中平均含磷量可达细胞干重的4.2%;总磷去除率与污泥龄具有很好的线性关系,加大污泥排放量可以提高除磷效果.     

上流式缺氧污泥床和好氧生物膜组合脱氮工艺的研究

将上流式颗粒污泥床(USB)用于反硝化和生物膜法用于自养硝化处理蔗糖配水和小区生活污水,反硝化污泥床去除有机物和硝态氮具有节省需好氧去除有机物的能耗的优势,同时好氧生物膜法硝化效率高。试验结果表明,当工艺进水的有机负荷小于2kgCOD/m3·d时,出水COD均小于60mg/L,好氧单元进水有机负荷和氨氮负荷分别小于13kgCOD/m3·d和09kgNH3N/m3·d时,出水氨氮小于5mg/L;COD/NO-3N是影响反硝化的关键因素,处理蔗糖配水时,COD/NO-3N大于5时反硝化脱氮完全,而COD/NO-3N为10时,生活污水作为电子供体仍然脱氮不完全;有机物含量过高导致好氧单元硝化效果降低,HRT是影响好氧单元硝化效率的主要因素,HRT缩短为15h时,氨氮去除率降低了85%左右;同时处理蔗糖配水和生活污水的反硝化菌活性相当。