湿地基质及阴极面积对人工湿地型微生物燃料电池去除偶氮染料同步产电的影响

本研究采用人工湿地型微生物燃料电池处理偶氮染料X-3B,实现降解偶氮染料同步产电的效果.为了构建性能最优的人工湿地型微生物燃料电池(CW-MFC)系统,本研究主要从湿地基质和阴极面积两个方面研究系统构型对去除X-3B同步产电的影响,提高系统性能.研究表明以粒径10 mm、孔隙率30%的小石子作为湿地基质构造的CW-MFC系统微生物生物量最大,去除X-3B效果最好,脱色率高达92.70%,但其产电性能最差.较小的粒径和孔隙率使底层微生物生物量增加,促进X-3B的去除,但随着湿地基质粒径和孔隙率的减小,导致阴阳极营养物质不足,系统传质阻力增加,抑制了系统产电性能.X-3B的去除效果随着阴极面积的增加而提高直到阴极面积为594 cm~2时取得最大脱色率99.41%.当阴极面积继续增加时,CW-MFC系统产电性能上升趋势趋于平缓,X-3B去除效果呈现下降趋势,这是因为阴极反应过快导致更多的阳极电子输送到阴极用于产生电流,与X-3B发生反应的电子减少,阳极成为提高CW-MFC系统性能的限制因素.     

长江口及邻近海域春夏季有色溶解有机物时空分布特征及主要影响因素

利用三维荧光光谱(EEMs)-平行因子(PARAFAC)分析技术对长江口及邻近海域春季(2015年3月)和夏季(2015年7月)有色溶解有机物(CDOM)的荧光组成及分布特征进行分析.共识别出2类4个荧光组分,即类腐殖质组分C1(370/495nm)、C2(330/405 nm)、C3(365/440 nm)及类蛋白质组分C4(295/345 nm).春夏季各层4个荧光组分分布模式基本一致,从长江口到邻近海域逐渐降低.春季类腐殖质组分的高值区分布在长江口内,而类蛋白组分高值区位于南槽附近区域,表层的CDOM主要来源于陆源输入和人类活动;中层荧光强度值比表层低,受陆源影响减弱;底层荧光强度值比中层略高,是由沉积物再悬浮造成的.各荧光组分在岱山县附近海域均有一个较高值,这与岛上的居民活动有关.夏季荧光组分高值区与春季相似,各层荧光组分值接近,说明夏季研究区域水体混合较均匀.春夏季腐殖化指数(HIX)在长江口较高,而生物指数(BIX)在邻近海域较高.将4个荧光组分(C1~C4)、吸收系数(a355)与盐度(S)、溶解有机碳(DOC)、总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)、叶绿素a(Chl-a)、溶解氧(DO)做冗余分析.结果表明,4个荧光组分(C1~C4)与总氮(TN)、总磷(TP)主要受陆源输入、人类活动的影响,溶解有机碳(DOC)受陆源与海源的共同影响.本文利用三维荧光光谱-平行因子分析(EEMs-PARAFAC)技术结合多元统计方法解析了CDOM组成,清晰揭示了长江口及邻近海域CDOM的来源及主要影响因子,可为河口海域生源要素海洋生物地球化学研究提供有益的补充.     

膜污染层微生物与聚丙烯微滤膜间的界面作用及其吸附特征

采用热力学方法及界面吸附理论,对2株膜污染层微生物(Aeromonas veronii M4、Aeromonas caviae N25)与聚丙烯(PP)微滤膜间的界面作用及吸附特征进行研究.结果表明,Aeromonas veronii M4与PP膜表面均表现出明显的疏水性特征,而Aeromonas caviae N25则呈现亲水性特征,并且A.veronii M4的运动性能也要高于A.caviae N25;另外,2株细菌及PP膜的表面均带有负电荷,表现出明显的电子供体特征,而Lewis酸碱分量U_(mlb)~(AB)则在2株细菌与PP膜的界面作用能中占据着主导地位;依据XDLVO理论,A.caviae N25及A.veronii M4与PP膜之间的总界面作用能均为负值,表明二者在膜上的吸附是一个主动吸附过程,而A.veronii M4-PP膜之间的界面作用能负值最大,说明A.veronii M4具有较高的吸附能力;静态吸附结果则表明,A.veronii M4在PP膜上的吸附量要明显高于A.caviae N25,而2株菌在膜上的吸附行为可由准二级动力学模型进行描述.     

反渗透膜面细菌胞外多聚物提取方法研究

城市污水脱盐系统的反渗透(RO)膜面生物污堵问题严重影响了该技术的稳定运行,解析生物污堵机理的关键因素是微生物胞外多聚物(EPS)特征分析,然而目前细菌EPS提取方法多样,无统一标准,制约了EPS分析的可靠性和可对比性.基于此,本文以再生水厂RO膜面污堵物中分离的细菌为对象,采用水浴、超声、离子树脂、碱液4种方法提取EPS,以DOC和DNA含量表征提取的EPS总量和提取过程细胞破裂程度.结果表明,45℃水浴法不造成细胞破裂,提取总量多,是一种有效的提取方法.进一步对比不同提取时间条件下EPS溶液中多糖和蛋白含量变化,以及分子量、荧光特征等,综合认为提取1 h时,提取的EPS中多糖与蛋白相对含量稳定,不同分子量化合物均溶于水中,能客观地反映EPS特征.研究表明,45℃水浴1 h可以作为细菌EPS提取的适用方法应用.     

膜组合工艺对地下水中铀的去除及其微生物群落特征

含铀地下水因具有放射性和化学毒性对人类健康构成严重威胁,常规工艺有时无法有效去除地下水铀故需增加处理工艺以满足饮用水水质要求.以我国某地膜组合工艺处理工程为研究对象,监测了6个月运行过程中铀去除效果及常规水质参数,并对各工艺阶段出水及生物膜进行样品采集.结合水质分析与高通量测序探讨了不同工艺段出水水质参数变化,微生物群...     

建筑安全风险因素分级排序的风险矩阵法

为减少风险分级排序时产生的风险结,在引入施工安全事故频率的基础上,采用单元格细化和Borda序值法改进原有的风险矩阵法。改进后的方法使得风险等级数量增加,风险结数量减少。将该方法应用于脚手架工程的风险因素的分级与排序,风险等级分为6级,且实现了12个因素的明确排序。     

Multi-criteria decision-making considering risk and uncertainty in physical asset management

In this work we present a method for risk-informed decision-making in the physical asset management context whereby risk evaluation and cost-benefit analysis are considered in a common framework. The methodology uses quantitative risk measures to prioritize projects based on a combination of risk tolerance criteria, cost-benefit analysis and uncertainty reduction metrics. There is a need in the risk and asset management literature for a unified framework through which quantitative risk can be evaluated against tolerability criteria and trade-off decisions can be made between risk treatment options. The methodology uses quantitative risk measures for loss of life, loss of production and loss of property. A risk matrix is used to classify risk as intolerable, As Low As Reasonably Practicable (ALARP) or broadly tolerable. Risks in the intolerable and ALARP region require risk treatment, and risk treatment options are generated. Risk reduction benefit of the treatment options is quantified, and cost-benefit analysis is performed using discounted cashflow analysis. The Analytic Hierarchy Process is used to derive weights for prioritization criteria based on decision-maker preferences. The weights, along with prioritization criteria for risk reduction, tolerance criteria and project cost, are used to prioritize projects using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution. The usefulness of the methodology for improved decision-making is illustrated using a numerical example.     

Mitochondrial toxicity and in vitro biological effects of ambient PM2.5 from an urban site in China

Abstract

The roles of PM_2.5-induced mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress on mast cell degranulation were examined in vitro. Mast cells were treated with suspensions of PM_2.5 in Dulbecco’s modified Eagle’s medium at concentrations from 25 to 200?mg/L in the absence or presence of 10?mmol/L N-acetyl-L-cysteine. Biological effects and mitochondrial function were assessed by determining cell viability, β-hexosaminidase release, interleukin-4 secretion, reactive oxygen species generation, adenosine triphosphate production, potential alteration of mitochondrial membrane, and activities of mitochondrial electron transport chain complexes I and III. Exposure of mast cells to PM_2.5 induced reduction of adenosine triphosphate production, collapse of mitochondrial membrane potential, and inhibition of the activity of complex III. Co-treatment of mast cells exposed to PM_2.5 with N-acetyl-L-cysteine attenuated cytotoxicity and the production of reactive oxygen species, and decreased the release of β-hexosaminidase and interleukin-4. Evidently, PM_2.5-induced oxidative stress plays an essential role in mitochondrial toxicity and mast cell activation.     

Metabolic uncoupler, 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide addition for sludge reduction and fouling control in a gravity-driven membrane bioreactor

• Effects of metabolic uncoupler TCS on the performances of GDMBR were evaluated. • Sludge EPS reduced and transformed into dissolved SMP when TCS was added. • Appropriate TCS increased the permeability and reduced cake layer fouling. • High dosage aggravated fouling due to compact cake layer with low bio-activity. The gravity-driven membrane bioreactor (MBR)system is promising for decentralized sewage treatment because of its low energy consumption and maintenance requirements. However, the growing sludge not only increases membrane fouling, but also augments operational complexities (sludge discharge). We added the metabolic uncoupler 3,3′,4′,5-tetrachlorosalicylanilide (TCS) to the system to deal with the mentioned issues. Based on the results, TCS addition effectively decreased sludge ATP and sludge yield (reduced by 50%). Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS; proteins and polysaccharides) decreased with the addition of TCS and were transformed into dissolved soluble microbial products (SMPs) in the bulk solution, leading to the break of sludge flocs into small fragments. Permeability was increased by more than two times, reaching 60–70 L/m²/h bar when 10–30 mg/L TCS were added, because of the reduced suspended sludge and the formation of a thin cake layer with low EPS levels. Resistance analyses confirmed that appropriate dosages of TCS primarily decreased the cake layer and hydraulically reversible resistances. Permeability decreased at high dosage (50 mg/L) due to the release of excess sludge fragments and SMP into the supernatant, with a thin but more compact fouling layer with low bioactivity developing on the membrane surface, causing higher cake layer and pore blocking resistances. Our study provides a fundamental understanding of how a metabolic uncoupler affects the sludge and bio-fouling layers at different dosages, with practical relevance for in situ sludge reduction and membrane fouling alleviation in MBR systems.     

An LC-MS/MS method for creatine and creatinine analysis in paraquat-intoxicated patients

Abstract

A sudden increase in serum creatinine after paraquat intoxication has been reported in several clinical studies. However, this dramatic change of creatinine may be possibly due to an interconversion of creatine-creatinine in relation to paraquat toxicity. In order to investigate the creatine-creatinine relationship, a liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry in combination with electrospray ionization was developed and validated for simultaneous determination of creatine and creatinine in the serum. The chromatographic separation was achieved on a Gemini® C₆-Phenyl column with a gradient elution consisting of 0.1% formic acid in ultrapure water and methanol as the mobile phase. The method yielded suitable levels of specificity and selectivity, and calibration curves of creatine and creatinine in serum were linear over the concentration range of 0.5–200?µg mL^?1. The limit of quantification of both compounds was 0.5?µg mL^?1, and the method was accurate within the recovery range of 96.23–102.75%, indicating the robustness of the method. The method was successfully applied to toxicological samples from paraquat-intoxicated patients, and the concentrations of creatine and creatinine were quantified. High creatine concentrations in serum samples were observed which may lead to high serum creatinine despite normal kidney function as creatine is converted to creatinine in proportion to its concentration.