Influences of influent carbon source on extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and physicochemical properties of activated sludge

It is necessary to understand the bioflocculation, settling and dewatering characteristics in the activated sludge process in order to establish more efficient operational strategies. The influences of carbon source on the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and flocculation, settling and dewatering properties of the activated sludge were investigated. Laboratory-scale completely mixed activated sludge processes were used to grow the activated sludge with different carbon sources of starch, glucose and sodium acetate. The sludge fed with acetate had highest loosely bound EPS (LB-EPS) and that fed with starch lowest. The amount of tightly bound EPS (TB-EPS), protein content in LB-EPS, polysaccharide content and protein contents in TB-EPS, were independent of the influent carbon source. The polysaccharide content in LB-EPS of the activated sludge fed with sodium acetate was lower slightly than those of starch and glucose. The sludge also had a nearly consistent flocs size and the sludge volume index (SVI) value. ESS content of the sludge fed with sodium acetate was higher initially, although it was similar to those fed with glucose and starch finally. However, the specific resistance to filtration and normalized capillary suction time fluctuated first, but finally were stable at around 5.0 × 10⁸ m kg⁻¹ and 3.5 s L g⁻¹ SS, respectively. Only the protein content in LB-EPS weakly correlated with the flocs size and SVI of the activated sludge. But there was no correlation between any other EPS contents or components and the physicochemical properties of the activated sludge.     

Humic substances

GOALS, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Changing environmental conditions and handling stress are well known to cause chronic or acute stress situations in fish with subsequent infections. These requires a therapy by means of antibiotics and chemicals. In contrast to the huge number of pathogens, only a few substances are permitted for application as therapeutics in German aquaculture. Hence, there emerges an urgent need for highly effective and residueless alternatives. MAIN FEATURES: The prophylactic stimulation and training of the defense system of fish by alternative approaches becomes increasingly necessary. One approach is the application of dissolved humic substances (HS) of natural or artificial origin. For example, there exist several reports on the positive effect of HS to fishes. These effects shall be considered in detail. Furthermore, the impact of HS on the constitution of parasites and pathogens will be displayed. The reports on this issue are diverse, if not inconsistent. We try to shed some light on these discrepancies. The last aspect covered by this review is the outdated paradigm that calcium ions act as antidotes. In the presence of HS, even the opposite effect may occur. APPROACH: To overcome old paradigms on HS and their potential interactions with fish and fish parasites, we reviewed recent international literature, as well as 'grey' literature. We also include results from own former and ongoing studies. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION: HS are able to increase the physiological condition of the individuals and to reduce adverse physiological and histological consequences caused by stress; the mechanism behind remains obscure. HS detoxify heavy metals and organic pollutants. Damages caused by several fish pathogens, such as bacteria and parasites, can be repaired more quickly in the presence of HS. Some parasites--mainly fungi--appear to be directly affected by HS. Comparing the fungicidal effects of HS from various sources, evidence is increasing that the aliphatic moiety may be the effective structures. However, further research is necessary to relate more physiological and anti-pathogenic effects to the chemical characteristics of HS. CONCLUSIONS: HS are not real alternatives to strong traditional therapeutics. However, they show different advantages in repairing secondary, stress induced damages in fish. The ecophysiological relevance of HS in either aquatic systems or aquaculture is getting conspicuously. PERSPECTIVES: The lack of therapeutic and antiparasitic substances in aquaculture requires new strategies and ways of thinking. The search for alternatives to the 'traditional' chemical therapeutics calls for the intensive research. Inevitably, this search will lead to an intensive contemplation on HS as 'health promoting substances' and/or even therapeutics. Basic research is needed to detect the functional groups of the HS responsible for the effects observed. Health promoting effects of first investigations made in vitro to affect pathogens via application of HS and several field studies with HS raises hopes for a broader utilisation of HS to reduce stress consequences in fish and fish pathogens residuelessly.     

Characterization of extractable and non-extractable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in soils and sediments from the Pearl River Delta, China

Formation of bound residues of pollutants in soils and sediments is an important process to control the fate of pollutants in the environment. The most of bound residue is not solvent extractable. In this paper, we measured both extractable and non-extractable polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in different organic matter fractions of samples from the Pearl River Delta, China. Non-extractable PAHs concentration was 234.45-1424.57 μg/kg and accounted for 33.78-57.44% of total PAHs. 2-3 Ring PAHs were the dominant species and differed in concentration substantially between the samples. The atomic ratio of PAHs over organic-C in the fractions ordered as solvent soluble organic matter > humin > humic acids, matching the content of aliphatic moieties in the fractions of organic matter. The ratio of extractable and non-extractable PAHs may relate to the aging process of PAHs in soil and sediment.     

日本恶臭排放标准体系研究及对中国的借鉴

日本是世界上第一个对恶臭防治进行立法的国家,经过50多年的发展,日本形成了以“22种特定恶臭物质”和“臭气指数”为管控指标的恶臭排放标准体系,对产生恶臭企业的厂界、排气筒和外排水进行排放管控。本文着重介绍两类管控指标在三个管控点位排放标准的制定依据和计算方法,这是日本恶臭排放标准体系精细化程度高、基础研究扎实的具体体现,对我国的标准制定和恶臭基础研究具有很强的借鉴意义。日本以“不引起周边居民反感”的臭气强度范围2.5～3.5作为厂界排放标准限值制定依据,通过对特定恶臭物质/臭气指数与臭气强度的关系研究,制定厂界排放标准范围,并且规定市区町村根据地区自然和社会条件,因地制宜制定地方标准。日本排气筒排放限值依据厂界限值通过模型计算得到,受地形、天气等因素影响,一厂一标准。臭气指数的外排水标准通过厂界限值计算得到,特定恶臭物质的外排水标准限值通过研究恶臭物质在水和大气中的影响关系得到。我国国标制定了排放标准的下限,各省（区、市）在国标基础上制定了更为严格的排放标准。日本1313个市区町村在国法的范围内制定了地方标准,而我国的恶臭地方标准非常少。我国同时执行8项特定恶臭物质和臭气浓度标准,并规...     

Effect of Mn2+ on the phosphorus removal and bioflocculation under anoxic condition

Manganese ion (Mn²⁺) generated from metallurgical, steel making and chemical industries enters sewage treatment plants and affects the sludge activity and flocculation. The effect of Mn²⁺ on the removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total phosphorus (TP) and sludge activity were investigated in anoxic zone of an anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A²O) process. The compositions and structures of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were characterized using three-dimensional excitation emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy (3D-EEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) to reveal the relationship among Mn²⁺, EPS and sludge flocculation.The results showed that low concentration of Mn²⁺ (<5 mg/L) improved removal efficiencies of COD and TP and increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and dehydrogenase. Meanwhile, the addition of Mn²⁺ increased total EPS, sludge contact angle, Zeta potential and sludge particle size, and thus enhanced sludge flocculation. However, high concentration of Mn²⁺ (>10 mg/L) hindered microbial flocculation and reduced removal efficiencies of the pollutants. When Mn²⁺was 5 mg/L, removal efficiencies of COD and TP reached 65% and 90%, respectively. Sludge flocculation was the best and SVI was 70.56 mL/g. The changes of Mn²⁺ concentration caused deviation of groups’ compositions in LB-EPS and TB-EPS, where the main components were always protein (PN) and polysaccharide (PS). The addition of Mn²⁺ resulted in the degradation of humic acids. However, it did not give rise to significant morphology changes of EPS.     

白腐菌联合纳米零价铁强化去除水中Cd(II)

采用白腐菌和纳米零价铁(nZVI)联合体系强化去除水中Cd (II),并考察pH值、Cd (II)初始浓度、温度、nZVI投加量对Cd (II)去除的影响,分析nZVI对白腐菌胞内外富集镉的影响特性,同时结合扫描电镜、红外光谱、X射线光电子能谱、三维荧光光谱等手段分析联合体系对Cd (II)的强化去除机制.结果表明,在pH=6,Cd (II)初始浓度为50mg/L,温度为30℃,nZVI投加量为0.1g/L的条件下反应180min后,Cd (II)的去除率可达到99.5%以上.联合体系对Cd (II)的去除过程符合准二级动力学,主要去除机制为白腐菌对Cd (II)的胞外络合吸附,添加nZVI能促进白腐菌对Cd (II)的胞外吸附,FTIR和XPS分析表明,羟基、羧基和氨基参与了Cd (II)的吸附,白腐菌胞外聚合物(EPS)能与铁发生内层配位形成P-O-Fe键,加速富含羟基官能团的纤铁矿、磁铁矿等铁矿物形成,从而促进对溶液中Cd (II)的吸附去除.