Feasibility study of a passive aeration reactor equipped with vertical pipes for compost stabilization of cow manure.

Pilot-scale composting was carried out with cow manure to evaluate the performances of two passive aeration systems: a conventional passive aeration system equipped with horizontal pipes and an unusual passive aeration method based on air delivery by means of vertical pipes. The effects of both types of passive aeration apparatus were investigated in order to determine the degree of composting rate by continuously monitoring temperature, moisture content, organic matter, electrical conductivity, pH and C/N ratio in the piles. Temperatures in the range of thermophily (55-65 degrees C) were reached in all runs within 1-2 days then lasting for about 1 week, a span long enough for pathogen abatement. Results suggest that passive aeration carried out by vertical pipes is more effective for air delivery into compost piles than conventional passive aeration of air adduction with horizontal pipes. The variation in the number of vertical pipes was revealed to be an important parameter for the control of composting rate and temperature. Composting rates estimated from the heat balance equation were substantially in agreement with those computed through the conversion ratio of total organic matter decrement. The conversion ratios and composting rates obtained in this study using passive aeration with vertical pipes were well aligned with those found using forced air delivery systems.     

活性污泥法的多变量最优控制Ⅲ.限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水BOD浓度

在前文的基础上,进一步研究了更常用的在限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水有机物浓度两种排放标准的约束条件下,使其运行费用最省的最优周期控制问题.计算结果都表明,最优控制变量QW和DO的变化规律都尽可能使其满足约束条件和节省运行费用,但是,当进水负荷变化幅度非常大时,任何控制也难于使出水水质达标,而运行费用还会大幅度增大.相对而言,同时限制平均与最高出水BOD浓度是更合理的排放标准,它既有利于污水处理厂的运行管理又能有效地保护受纳水体.初始状态S(0)对最优控制的影响不大.而X(0)的影响较大,在本研究中,X(0)的最优值在2400-2600mg/L范围内.     

A level change in mutagenicity of Japanese tap water over the past 12 yr

A relative comparison study of mutagenicity in Japanese tap water was conducted for 1993 and 2005 surveys. It intended to assess the effects of advanced water treatment installations to water works, improvement of raw water quality and improvement of residual HOCl concentration controlling. Sampling points (taps) were the same in both surveys. The results of 245 samples obtained by the Ames Salmonella mutagenicity test (Ames test) were analyzed. The Ames tests were conducted by using Salmonella typhimurium TA98 and TA100 strains with and without exogenous activation (S9). With the exception of TA100-S9, the other conditions needed no discussion as a factor in the mutagenicity level change. The average mutagenicity in 1993 and 2005 under the conditions of TA100-S9 were 2600 and 1100 net revertant L⁻¹, respectively. This indicated that the mutagenicity level of Japanese tap water decreased during the 12-yr period. Particularly a remarkable decrease in mutagenicity was observed in the water works where the advanced water treatments were installed during the 12-yr period. The advanced water treatments were effective in decreasing the mutagenicity of tap water. Mutagenicity also decreased in the water works with conventional water treatments; the improvement of residual HOCl concentration controlling was also considered to be effective in decreasing the mutagenicity of tap water.     

Biodegradation of Polycaprolactone Powders Proposed as Reference Test Materials for International Standard of Biodegradation Evaluation Method

Polycaprolactone (PCL) powders were prepared from PCL pellets using a rotation mechanical mixer. PCL powders were separated by sieves with 60 and 120 meshes into four classes; 0–125 μm, 125–250 μm, 0–250 μm and 250–500 μm. Biodegradation tests of PCL powders and cellulose powders in an aqueous solution at 25°C were performed using the coulometer according to ISO 14851. Biodegradation tests of PCL powders and cellulose powders in controlled compost at 58°C were performed by the Mitsui Chemical Analysis and Consulting Service, Inc. according to ISO 14855-1 and by using the Microbial Oxidative Degradation Analyzer (MODA) instrument according to ISO/DIS 14855-2. PCL powders were faster biodegraded than cellulose powders. The reproducibility of biodegradation of PCL powders is excellent. Differences in the biodegradation of PCL powders with different class were not observed by the ISO 14851 and ISO/DIS 14855-2. An enzymatic degradation test of PCL powders with different class was studied using an enzyme of Amano Lipase PS. PCL with smaller particle size was faster degraded by the enzyme. PCL powders with regulated sizes from 125 μm to 250 μm are proposed as a reference material for the biodegradation test.     

活性污泥法的多变量最优控制Ⅲ.限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水BOD浓度

在前文的基础上，进一步研究了更常用的限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水有机物浓度两种排放标准的约束条件下，使其运行费用最省的最优周期控制问题。计算结果都表明，最优控制变量ＱＷ和ＤＯ的变化规律都尽可能使其满足的约束条件和节省运行费用，但是，当进水负荷变化幅度非常大时，任何控制也难于使出水水质达标，而运行费用还会大幅度增大。     

Effects of Asian dust events on atmospheric bacterial communities at different distances downwind of the source region

Aeolian dust particles arising from arid and semiarid zones are known to carry microbes by air currents. The effect of wind-borne bacteria on atmospheric bacterial population at various downwind distances from the dust source regions must be clarified, but has not yet been reported. This study monitored the bacterial abundance and community composition in outdoor aerosol samples in Beijing, China, which is close to the Asian dust source regions, and compared them with the results obtained in a distant region(Osaka, Japan).The Asian dust collected in Beijing contained(4 ± 3) × 10~4 bacterial cells/m~3, approximately~4 times higher than in Osaka. On 15 April 2015, Beijing experienced severe Asian dust events with a 1000-fold increase in bacterial abundance, relative to non-Asian dust days. Dominant bacterial phyla and classes in Asian dust collected in Beijing were Actinobacteria, Bacilli and Acidobacteria, and the bacterial community composition varied more widely than in Osaka.The bacterial community compositions differed between the Beijing and Osaka dusts, even for the same Asian dust events. These results indicated that aerosol bacterial communities nearer the dust source are more affected by eolian dust than their distant counterparts.     

Biomass Carbon Ratio of Polymer Composites Measured by Accelerator Mass Spectrometry

The evaluation method of biomass carbon ratio of polymer composite samples including organic and inorganic carbons individually was investigated. Biodegradable plastics and biobased plastics can have their mechanical properties improved by combining with inorganic fillers. Polymer composites consisting of biodegradable plastics and carbonate were prepared by two different methods. Poly(lactic acid) (PLA) composite was prepared by synthesis from l-lactide with catalyst and calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) powders from lime. Poly(butylene succinate) (PBS) composite was prepared by hot-pressing the mixture of PBS powder and CaCO₃ powders from oyster shells. The mechanical properties of composite samples were investigated by a tensile test and a compression test using an Instron type mechanical tester. Tensile test with a dumbbell shape specimen was performed for PBS composite samples and compression test with a column shape specimen for PLA composite samples. Strength, elastic modulus and fracture strain were obtained from the above tests. Biomass carbon ratio is regulated in the American Standards for Testing and Materials (ASTM). In ASTM standards on biomass carbon ratio, it is required that carbon atoms from carbonates, such as CaCO₃, are omitted. Biomass carbon ratio was evaluated by ratio of ¹⁴C to ¹²C in the samples using Accelerator Mass Spectrometry (AMS). The effect of pretreatment, such as oxidation temperature and reaction by acid, on results of biomass carbon ratio was investigated. Mechanical properties decrease with increasing CaCO₃ content. The possibility of an evaluation method of biomass carbon ratio of materials including organic and inorganic carbons was shown.     

Environmental Kuznets Curve: the case of Bangladesh for waste emission and suspended particulate matter

Economists have shown the empirical relationships between the economic growth of a nation and its environmental quality using the hypothesis of the Environmental Kuznets Curve (EKC). To understand the EKC phenomena, a study of the literature was undertaken. As waste, waste emission, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) are the active agents of environmental degradation, the study focused on those agents for EKC consideration. Through understanding the different EKC trajectories, an attempt was made to relate the economic development of Bangladesh to the EKC. It is shown that the EKCs for waste, emissions from waste, and SPM follow the conventional EKC trajectory with a turning point related to higher income per capita in most cases. The type of economic policy that Bangladesh should follow to deal with the pollutants and their sources is also shown. The study recommends creating a tunnel in the EKC to lower the turning point in Bangladesh. The study is likely to help stimulate policy development in Bangladesh.     

高硫酸盐难降解废水高温厌氧处理中限量曝气的应用及影响

由于硫酸盐还原的影响,普通高温UASB反应器处理亚硫酸盐纸浆厂排出的高硫酸盐难降解废水过程中甲烷菌活性受到了严重抑制.考虑到空气对硫化氢的吹脱和对硫化物的氧化作用可能减轻硫化物对甲烷菌的抑制,本研究在厌氧反应器中引入限量曝气措施.试验结果表明,反应器的运行稳定性和处理能力均得到大幅提高.在有机负荷提高到原来2倍的情况下,曝气后COD去除率仍有提高,从40%～50%提高到60%～70%.试验证明部分甲烷菌可以耐氧,而某些种类的水解酸化细菌则对不完全厌氧环境比较敏感.     

活性污泥法的多变量最优控制Ⅲ.限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水BOD浓度

在前文的基础上，进一步研究了更常用的在限制最高和同时限制平均与最高出水有机物浓度两种排放标准的约束条件下，使其运行费用最省的最优周期控制问题．计算结果都表明，最优控制变量ＱＷ和ＤＯ的变化规律都尽可能使其满足约束条件和节省运行费用，但是，当进水负荷变化幅度非常大时，任何控制也难于使出水水质达标，而运行费用还会大幅度增大．相对而言，同时限制平均与最高出水ＢＯＤ浓度是更合理的排放标准，它既有利于污水处理厂的运行管理又能有效地保护受纳水体．初始状态Ｓ（０）对最优控制的影响不大．而Ｘ（０）的影响较大，在本研究中，Ｘ（０）的最优值在２４００—２６００ｍｇ／Ｌ范围内．