Modelling Multi-Ion Transport in Saturated Soil and Parameter Estimation. II: Experimental

Multi-ion miscible displacement experiments were conducted

1 This paper is based on the M.S. thesis of the senior author. Chen Wenlin is now Research Associate at the Institute of Geography of the Academia Sinica, Beijing 100012, P.R. China.

with saturated soil columns under steady-state flow conditions. The experiments were carried out with four ionic species (Ca² Na⁺, SO₄2 and CI and the columns were 30 cm long. The experimental data were used to evaluate the multi-ion convective-dispersive miscible displacement model, developed in Part I of this study. Some parameters needed for this model were estimated with simplex and nonlinear least-square fitting methods. It was found that the model described the observed break through curves satisfactorily, when the soil matrix-solute interaction was described as an exchange process instead of an adsorption process.     

Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Degradation and the Development of a Kinetic Model for a Particulate Organic Matter Enriched Wastewater Sludge

The starch manufacturing industrial units, such as sago mills,both in medium and large scale, suffer from inadequate treatment and disposal problems due to high concentration of suspended solids present in the sludge. A laboratory scale study was conducted to investigate the viability of anaerobic treatment of sago waste sludge, enriched in particulate organicmatter, using a fluidized bed reactor. The start-up of the reactor was carried out using a mixture of digested supernatantsewage sludge and cow dung slurry in different proportions. The effect of operating variables such as COD of the effluent, bed expansion, minimum fluidization velocity on efficiency oftreatment and recovery of biogas was investigated. The maximum efficiency of treatment was found to be 82% and the nitrogen enriched digested sludge was recommended for agricultural use. A kinetic model was developed for the degradation of particulate organic matter using the general kinetic equation [dS/dt = K _HC SX_C] which allowed for a more accurate mathematical representation of the hydrolysis process. Analysing data from a series of batch tests, the best fit value of C was found to be in the range 0.43 to 0.62.     

Advanced Oxidation Processes for Wastewater Treatment: State of the Art

The protection and conservation of natural resources is one of the main priorities of modern society. Water is perhaps our most valuable resource, and thus should be recycled. Many of the current recycling techniques for polluted water only concentrate the pollutant without degrading it or eliminating it. In this sense, advanced oxidation processes are possibly one of the most effective methods for the treatment of wastewater containing organic products (effluents from chemical and agrochemical industries, the textile industry, paints, dyes, etc.). More conventional techniques cannot be used to treat such compounds because of their high chemical stability and/or low biodegradability. This article describes, classifies, and analyzes different types of advanced oxidation processes and their application to the treatment of polluted wastewater.     

设施土壤中三唑酮降解动力学研究

经25℃下培养1个月,采用GC/MS定量监测设施土壤和无菌土壤中三唑酮和降解产物三唑醇的含量变化。结果表明设施土壤中三唑酮的降解符合热力学方程,半衰期为15.2 d,无菌土壤处理后三唑酮的半衰期为39.4 d。土壤中降解产物三唑醇有立体选择体,在设施土壤中三唑醇的对映体选择值(EF)为4,无菌土壤中三唑醇的EF值为2。三唑醇的降解符合一元三次方程,设施土壤中三唑醇在第7 d达到最高点后含量逐步降低,无菌处理土壤中三唑醇含量最高点出现在第14 d。     

Evaluation of Vertical-Flow Constructed Wetlands for Swine Wastewater Treatment

In this study, the role of Cyperus sp. was evaluated for removal of pollutants from swine wastewater. Vertical-flow pilot scale constructed wetlands (CWs) operating with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 72 h were monitored in a greenhouse, located in Viçosa, Brazil. Significant differences were observed for the following parameters: Kjeldahl nitrogen, total phosphorus, alkalinity and electric conductivity, with averages removals of 37.5 and 28.5%, 55.9 and 44.4%, 30.2 and 25.6 and 26.1% and 22.9% (for planted and unplanted CWs, respectively). The rate of dry matter yield from Cyperus sp. was 7.5 g?m^?2 day^?1, and the nutrient uptake capacities were 21.8, 2.1, 14.0 and 0.9 g?m^?2 of N, P, K and Na, respectively. Evapotranspiration (2.7 mm day^?1) was statistically higher in the planted CWs. Plants in the CWs are important for achieving high nutrient removal.     

Ciprofloxacin Resistance in Domestic Wastewater Treatment Plants

The potential of domestic wastewater treatment plants to contribute for the dissemination of ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria was assessed. Differences on bacterial counts and percentage of resistance in the raw wastewater could not be explained on basis of the size of the plant or demographic characteristics of population served. In contrast, the treated effluent of the larger plants had significantly more heterotrophs and enterobacteria, including ciprofloxacin-resistant organisms, than the smaller (p?<?0.01). Moreover, longer hydraulic retention times were associated with significantly higher percentages of resistant enterobacteria in the treated effluent (p?<?0.05). Independently of the size or type of treatment used, domestic wastewater treatment plants discharged per day at least 10¹⁰–10¹⁴ colony forming units of ciprofloxacin-resistant bacteria into the receiving environment.     

Using a Numerical Model to Track the Discharge of a Wastewater Treatment Plant in a Tidal Estuary

Along the coast of Maine, USA, there are numerous wastewater treatment plants that discharge their treated effluents into a river estuary which is shared by commercial fishing and shellfish harvesting. Occasionally, there can be failures or bypasses of treatment plants that lead to untreated or partially treated sewage flowing into shellfish harvesting waters. To prevent any toxic contamination of harvested shellfish, a prohibitive zone is established around the treatment plant where shellfish harvesting is prohibited. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has conducted numerous dye studies on both coasts of the USA to determine these prohibitive zones, based on the guidelines of the National Shellfish Sanitation Program. In May 2010, the FDA conducted such a dye study at the Yarmouth, Maine wastewater treatment plant. The results are compared with a numerical coastal model that provides the velocity field for the currents around the treatment plant. This model includes a diffusion equation to simulate dye dispersion from a point source which is used to determine the prohibitive zone. The numerical model shows good correlation with the FDA dye study report and establishes a prohibitive zone for commercial harvesting in keeping with that of the FDA study. The benefits of the numerical model include sampling at thousands of locations simultaneously, seasonal changes in river volumes, and changes in plant discharge volumes.     

福建省年极端低温的分布及其参数估计

利用福建省67个气象站50a(1961-2010年)最低气温资料,分析了福建省极端低温的时空分布规律,并应用耿贝尔分布函数对各站的年极端气温进行了概率计算,计算过程中耿贝尔分布函数分别采用了2种参数估计方法:矩法和耿贝尔法,结合2种表征参数估计优良性的指标,对不同的参数估计方法进行了比较。结果表明:大多数情况下采用矩法时拟合效果较好;在推算不同重现期的年极端最低气温时,用耿贝尔法较好。     

Microalgal Dynamics in Batch Reactors for Municipal Wastewater Treatment Containing Dairy Sewage Water

This study investigates the microalgal community dynamics associated with changes in municipal wastewater quality and discharges from the dairy industry in central Veracruz, Mexico, using an experimental stabilization-reactors system. Thirty one species of microalgae were recorded and 15 physicochemical variables were measured daily over 25 days in pretreated water. The biomass of microalgal groups displayed significant negative correlations with biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total suspend solids (TSS). Conversely, a significant positive correlation was found with dissolved oxygen, pH and nitrates. Using the Canonical Correspondence Analysis we identified an initial anaerobic phase (Phase I), characterized by high BOD, TSS and COD, ammonium and faecal coliforms. This was followed by a transition phase (Phase II), an initial aerobic phase (Phase III), when water quality improved considerably, and finally an aerobic phase (IV) with a high percent reduction in these parameters and almost complete organic load removal. The most abundant species associated with these phases were Arthrospira jenneri (Cyanophyceae) and Coccomonas sp. (Chlorophyceae) in Phase I; Polytomella sp. (Chlorophyceae) in Phase II; Polytoma tetraolare, Chlamydomonas caeca (Chlorophyceae) and some Cyanophyceae including Geitlerinema, Synechocystis, Cyanobium and Glaucospira in Phase III; Carteria sp. (Chlorophyceae), Lepocynclis ovum and Euglena clavata (Euglenophcyeae) in Phase IV. Maximum richness, diversity, and biomass levels occurred during the aerobic phase. Similar to other wastewater treatment systems the high succession rates decreased with reactor stabilization. These findings provide statistical evidence on the suitability of certain microalgae species as indicators of wastewater stabilization reactor status and effluent quality.     

Assessment of Luffa cylindrica as Support in Biofilms Reactors for the Biological Treatment of Domestic Wastewater

A simultaneous treatment of BOD, phosphorous and ammonia in artificial wastewater was carried out in biofilm reactors with Luffa cylíndrica as organic support and compared with PVC's support under variations of dissolved oxygen of 1.5 a 3.0 mg l^?1 in the same reactor. During semicontinous treatment, the removal of BOD (92.5%) with Luffa cilíndrica was higher than PVC support (80%). Nitrification only existed at levels of oxygen of 3 mg l^?1, showed in the effluent a final concentration of ammonium of 17 and 19 mg l^?1 for Luffa cilíndrica and PVC support, respectively. In reactors with Luffa cilíndrica a higher percentage of P removal (40%) was reached, while no elimination in reactors with PVC was observed. The formation of anaerobic-aerobic zones inside the natural support probably allowed the increase in the efficiency of removal of phosphorous. Oxidation of organic matter, P removal and nitrification can be achieved with the variation of oxygen inside of the same biofilm reactor using L. cylindrical as support material.     

Degradation of Hazardous Dyes in Wastewater using Nanometer Mixed Crystal TiO2 Powders under Visible Light Irradiation

The partial phase transformation of nanometer TiO₂ powder from anatase phase to rutile phase was realized by heat-treatment and a new TiO₂ photocatalyst which could be excited by visible light was obtained. The heat-treated TiO₂ powder at different stage of transition crystal was characterized and monitored by XRD, TEM, FT-IR and UV–vis DRS methods. The test of photocatalytic activity of the heat-treated TiO₂ powder was carried out by the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and acid orange II dyes, respectively, in aqueous solution under visible light irradiation. The results indicate that the nanometer TiO₂ photocatalyst heat-treated at 500°C for 60 min shows the highest photocatalytic activity, that is, it can effectively degrade the rhodamine B and acid orange II under visible light irradiation. The remarkable improvement of photocatalytic activity of heat-treated TiO₂ powder at 500°C for 60 min was mainly illustrated by the formation of special interphase between rutile and anatase phases, which not only restrains the recombination of photogenerated electrons and holes, but also reduces the adsorbability of nanometer anatase TiO₂ powder properly for various dyes. Additionally, the effects of dye-assisting chemicals such as Na₂CO₃ and NaCl on the photocatalytic degradation were also studied.     

Ibuprofen Genotoxicity in Aquatic Environment: An Experimental Model Using Oreochromis niloticus

Medicines and their metabolites have been found as water contaminants at very low concentrations; moreover, there is no extensive toxicological data to determine the risks associated with their occurrence in water resources. The ibuprofen genotoxicity potential to the Oreochromis niloticus fish (Tilapia), due to nanograms per liter exposure, was evaluated using the micronucleus test. Acute (48 h) and sub-chronic assays (10 days) were carried out at 300 ng/L ibuprofen aquatic concentration comparing with the negative control group (without treatment), with eight animals per group. The results were assessed from the average of triplicate analyses. The micronucleus frequency in peripheral blood of fish was determined using a sample size of 3,000 erythrocytes per animal. Significance was defined using t test (p????0.05). The bioassay results showed a statistically significant increase in the frequency of micronuclei for both exposure times in comparison to the negative control. The micronucleus frequency observed for the sub-chronic tests was higher than the one identified in the acute assays. The observed ibuprofen genotoxic effects demonstrated an aquatic environmental risk of this pharmaceutical, which occurs for the used fish experimental model in lower concentration than previously described for other aquatic organisms.     

Impact and Publication Patterns: A Model for Examining Resources in an International Context

ABSTRACT

The goal of this study was to determine the international impact of publications from a variety of institutes of parasitology and to evaluate sources for research in order to improve collection development decisions. Two methods were developed: a method of providing academic librarians with information on the relative impact of their institution when compared with other similar institutions and a method for comparing research sources on an international level. Using articles indexed in ISI Web of Science, twelve parasitology research centers from five countries were compared over a five-year period for number of publications produced and times each of the journal articles was cited.     

Macrophyte Sorption and Bioconcentration of Elements in a Pilot Constructed Wetland for Flue Gas Desulfurization Wastewater Treatment

The sorption and bioconcentration of Hg, Se, and As were measured in Schoenoplectus californicus and Typha angustifolia in a pilot constructed wetland receiving wastewater inflows containing these elements at potentially hazardous levels. Results indicated that these species bioconcentrated Hg, Se, and As at factors of up to 1,911, 10,981, and 4,927, respectively. Plant tissue concentrations decreased as Hg, Se, and As were translocated from the roots to the aerial portions of the plant. Greatest element concentrations in S. californicus were found in roots, indicating that an exclusion mechanism may be responsible for element tolerance by this plant species. Greater root:shoot transfer of Hg, Se, and As was observed with T. angustifolia than with S. californicus, suggesting that element tolerance was more likely due to an internal detoxification mechanism. To completely assess ecological risks associated with the use of constructed wetlands, contaminant bioavailability for plant uptake, translocation, and bioconcentration must be considered.     

Application of Pilot-Scale-Constructed Wetland as Tertiary Treatment System of Wastewater for Phosphorus and Nitrogen Removal

This paper presents the results of using a pilot-scale-constructed wetland as a tertiary system to simulate the treatment conditions of wastewater effluents from the metal-mechanical industry, aiming to achieve the Brazilian legal standards of phosphorus and nitrogen emission. The macrophytes were placed in 1 m³ polyethylene tanks, daily estimating the treatment of 2 m³ of effluents. The effluents were circulated in a horizontal subsurface flow through a porous matrix of thick sand and gravel, in which the roots of the macrophytes of the species Reed (Scirpus sp.) and Cattail (Typha sp.) were fixed. Monitoring of the pilot plant was performed through a battery of physical?Cchemical and biological analyses. Despite the load variations and operational problems, the system presented a positive degree of pollutant efficiency removal, especially for phosphorus (73% medium), TKN (61% medium), and NH₄?CN (56% medium). Peak results were achieved during the last 3 months of monitoring. The chemical analysis of the support layer, plus the root system and aerial portion of the plants, revealed that these wastes could be used as fertilizer.     

Copper Oxide Nanoparticle-Coated Quartz Sand as a Catalyst for Degradation of an Organic Dye in Water

Copper oxide nanoparticles were immobilized on quartz sand and their catalytic activity for the degradation of an organic dye was investigated. The use of nanoparticles as catalysts for non photo-induced oxidation of water contaminants is relatively new. The CuO catalyst has shown promising results when suspended in free form in batch systems. Because heterogeneous catalysis is often the preferred mode of operation for application of catalytic technology, we studied the effect of immobilization of the nanoparticles on quartz sand in a flow-through system and its implication for the catalytic process. The coated sand was packed in a column and its catalytic activity for the degradation of an organic dye was investigated in a series of flow-through experiments with hydrogen peroxide as the oxidant. Control experiments with uncoated sand were also performed for comparison. The coated sand demonstrated high catalytic ability, achieving complete oxidation of the dye. During the reaction, CO₂ was produced, leading to a decrease in the water saturation in the column and reduced contact surface between the nano-CuO catalysts and the dye solution. The degradation was improved by enabling a longer residence time of the dye in the column, yielding up to 85% degradation of the dye. These results suggest that CuO nanoparticle-coated sand is an efficient catalyst for complete degradation of the organic dye.     

Microfauna Community as an Indicator of Effluent Quality and Operational Parameters in an Activated Sludge System for Treating Piggery Wastewater

In order to study the potential use of microfauna as an indicator of effluent quality and operational parameters in an activated sludge system for treating piggery wastewater, an experimental sequencing batch reactor was set up and evaluated by biological and physical–chemical analyses for 12 months. Results show that microfauna (and specifically ciliate protozoa) are a good parameter for assessing effluent quality in terms of both chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia and for assessing the organic and nitrogen load of the system. Specifically, the abundance of ciliates decreases from 20,000 individuals·mL^?1 to ca. 2,500 individuals·mL^?1 and from ca. 10,000 individuals mL^?1 to ca. 200 individuals mL^?1 when effluent concentration is between 550 and 750 mg L^?1 and above 100 mg L^?1 to the COD and ammonia concentrations, respectively. Furthermore, microfauna abundance is reduced from ca. 18,000 individuals mL^?1 (organic load between 0.1 and 0.2 mg COD mg total suspended solids (TSS)^?1 day^?1) to ca. 500 individuals mL^?1 (organic load between 0.3 and 04 mg COD mg TSS^?1 day^?1). Microfauna abundance also decreases as nitrogen loading increases. Nitrogen loading in the range of 5–60 mg NH₄–N g TSS^?1 day^?1 does not have any significant effect on microfauna abundance. However, ammonia loading from 60 to 120 mg NH₄–N g TSS^?1 day^?1 reduces microfauna abundance ca. 6-fold. Ciliate protozoa were the largest microfauna group during the whole period of study, representing ca. 75% of the total microfauna abundance. The largest group in the ciliate community was that of the free-swimming ciliates. This was followed by the group of attached and crawling ciliates. Specifically, the dominant ciliate species during the whole study period were Uronema nigricans, Vorticella microstoma-complex, Epistylis coronata, and Acineria uncinata.