An international survey of decabromodiphenyl ethane (deBDethane) and decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE) in sewage sludge samples

Decabromodiphenyl ethane (deBDethane) is an additive flame retardant marketed as a replacement for decabromodiphenyl ether (decaBDE). The structures of the two chemicals are similar, and hence deBDethane may also become an environmental contaminant of concern. Environmental data on deBDethane are scarce. Since sewage sludge is an early indicator of leakage of these chemicals into the environment, an international survey of deBDethane and decaBDE levels in sludge was conducted. Samples were collected from 42 WWTPs in 12 different countries and analyzed with GC/LRMS. DeBDethane was present in sludge from all countries and may therefore be a worldwide concern. The levels of deBDethane in sludge samples from the Ruhr area of Germany were the highest so far reported in the literature (216 ng g⁻¹ d.wt.). The [deBDethane]/[decaBDE] quotient for the whole data set ranged from 0.0018 to 0.83. High ratios were found in and around Germany where deBDethane imports are known to have been high and substitution of decaBDE with deBDethane is likely to have occurred. Low ratios were found in the USA and the UK, countries that have traditionally been large users of decaBDE. An estimate of the flux of deBDEthane from the technosphere via WWTPs to the environment within the European Union gave 1.7 ± 0.34 mg annually per person. The corresponding value for decaBDE was 41 ± 22 mg annually per person.     

Simple model of sludge thickening process in secondary settlers

In wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), a secondary settler acts as a clarifier, sludge thickener, and sludge storage tank during peak flows and therefore plays an important role in the performance of the activated sludge process. Sludge thickening occurs in the lower portions of secondary clarifiers during their operation. In this study, by detecting the hindered zone from the complete thickening process of activated sludge, a simple model for the sludge thickening velocity, u _s = aX ^b (a = 0.9925SSVI _3.5, b = 3.541ln(SSVI _3.5)+12.973), describing the potential and performance of activated sludge thickening in the hindered zone was developed. However, sludge thickening in the compression zone was not studied because sludge in the compression zone showed limited thickening. This empirical model was developed using batch settling data obtained from four WWTPs and validated using measured data from a fifth WWTP to better study sludge thickening. To explore different sludge settling and thickening mechanisms, the curves of sludge thickening and sludge settling were compared. Finally, it was found that several factors including temperature, stirring, initial depth, and polymer conditioning can lead to highly concentrated return sludge and biomass in a biologic reactor.     

Characterization of the genes involved in nitrogen cycling in wastewater treatment plants using DNA microarray and most probable number-PCR

To improve nitrogen removal performance of wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), it is essential to understand the behavior of nitrogen cycling communities, which comprise various microorganisms. This study characterized the quantity and diversity of nitrogen cycling genes in various processes of municipal WWTPs by employing two molecular-based methods:most probable number-polymerase chain reaction (MPN-PCR) and DNA microarray. MPN-PCR analysis revealed that gene quantities were not statistically different among processes, suggesting that conventional activated sludge processes (CAS) are similar to nitrogen removal processes in their ability to retain an adequate population of nitrogen cycling microorganisms. Furthermore, most processes in the WWTPs that were researched shared a pattern:the nirS and the bacterial amoA genes were more abundant than the nirK and archaeal amoA genes, respectively. DNA microarray analysis revealed that several kinds of nitrification and denitrification genes were detected in both CAS and anaerobic-oxic processes (AO), whereas limited genes were detected in nitrogen removal processes. Results of this study suggest that CAS maintains a diverse community of nitrogen cycling microorganisms; moreover, the microbial communities in nitrogen removal processes may be specific.

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个人护理用品(PCPs)的生态毒性和处理工艺效果研究进展

个人护理用品的大量使用导致其生产量和排放量也日渐增加,会不可避免地进入环境,对生态环境和人体健康产生影响。本文归纳整理了个人护理用品的分类,总结了其中代表化合物对水生生物的生态毒性研究现状,分析比较了主要废水处理工艺技术对个人护理用品的去除效果,为今后对这类物质的生态毒性和处理工艺研究提供参考。     

水处理中微生物絮凝剂产生菌的选育及应用

综述了微生物絮凝剂产生菌筛选和培育方面的研究进展,介绍了微生物絮凝剂在给水和饮用水、乳化液的油水分离、污水处理等领域的应用,以及廉价培养基的探索实践。提出针对影响微生物絮凝剂产生菌生长代谢的环境条件开展深入研究,同时寻找或设计廉价培养基,降低生产成本,推动其工业化应用。     

生物滴滤池法处理废气动力学模式研究

基于物料平衡和微生物降解废水中污染物的动力学模式,以丙酮、甲苯为处理对象提出了生物滴滤池处理废气的模式。当入口浓度C_(in)较低,小于临界浓度C_(crit),时,C=C_(in)EXP((-B/V_g)·H);当人口浓度C_(in)较高,大于临界浓度C_(crit)时,C=C_(in)-(K_0X/V_g)·H。研究表明,实验结果与模式计算结果吻合较好。     

SR系统工艺设计的几个必备要素：石屏县城市污水土地处理工程例析

在ＳＲ污水土地处理系统工艺设计中，处理场地的环境特征、限制性设计参数、作物选型及预处理方式的选择等决定了该系统运动的成败，应合理分析各必备要素以指导设计中参数的选择，达到污水处理与资源化的有机结合。     

阳宗海水质污染及其控制

由于近年Ｎ、Ｐ输入、输出失衡，大量营养盐滞留湖中，加以电厂温排水影响，阳宗海水体恶化加剧，两年出现大面积水华；且湖中鱼类结构不合理，数量偏少，导致水质变化。为此，必须取缔网箱及高密度堰塘养鱼，实施环湖截污，降低电厂排水温度，调整鱼类种群结构。     

国内机动车尾气污染及其防治

本文分析了汽车尾气的成分及各成份对人体健康的毒害和影响，并在说明国内机动车尾气污染现状及发展趋势的基础上，分析了机动车尾气污染的原因和造成大气污染的几大因素，提出了防治对策。     

浅析思茅地区乡镇企业的环境影响

思茅地区乡镇企业的发展迅速，污染物排放剧增，与１９８９年相比，１９９５年的废水，废气和固体废排放量分别增加了４３９．５％、２６．６５％和１６．６２％，给当地环境带带来不利影响。为此，必须集中布局，优化产品，加强领导，加大科技投入，走可持续发展之路。