Use of the ADM1 to investigate the effects of acetoclastic methanogen population dynamics on mesophilic digester stability.

The ADM1 was employed to assess the effect of variations in solids hydrolysis and acetoclastic methanogen process characterizations on municipal digester stability relating to excess acetate utilization capacity. First-order single- and dual-pathway hydrolysis rate functions and single and competitive acetoclastic methanogen rate functions were implemented in the ADM1. The acetate capacity number (ACN), defined as the ratio between the maximum acetate utilization rate and the average acetate production rate, was used to index digester instability. Simulations of a single CSTR at steady state indicate a similar ACN can be obtained with a 12-day SRT digester dominated by Methanosarcina sp and a 24-day SRT digester dominated by Methanosaeta sp. An increase in ACN with a decrease in SRT representing Methanosarcina sp. selection was observed for particulate feed loadings from 40 g COD/L to 90 g COD/L. Feeding frequency and dual-pathway hydrolysis were found to have less effect on the ACN than the competitive acetoclastic model structure.     

Roles of methanogens on volatile organic sulfur compound production in anaerobically digested wastewater biosolids.

Land application of wastewater biosolids is both economical and beneficial to resource recycling. However, this environmentally friendly practice can be at risk due to odor complaints. Volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) including methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, and dimethyl disulfide, have been identified as major contributors to biosolids odor. In this study, methanogens were shown to play a key role in removing VOSCs and reducing odors, and methane production was related to reduced VOSC production. Factors influencing the growth of methanogens such as the shear during dewatering and storage temperature showed a strong impact on net odor production. Examination of the microbial communities of both bacteria and archaea indicated a simplified archaeal community in biosolids, which is susceptible to environmental perturbations. Therefore, one possible odor control strategy is the preservation and enhancement of the methanogenic population during biosolids storage.     

Microbial population dynamics in a thermophilic methane digester fed with garbage.

The diversity of microbial communities in three full-scale thermophilic anaerobic digesters which treated garbage, sewage sludge and livestock wastes (hereafter called TGD, TSD and TLD, respectively) was investigated using 16S rDNA clone libraries in triplicate. The population dynamics of TGD were also studied. The purposes were to show the microbial diversity in each reactor and to suggest which key microbes in a thermophilic methane digester fed with garbage, including a check of reproducibility and the suggestion of an error range in this molecular biology method. 736 clones were identified, and the maximum error was estimated to be around +/-10% for the same OTU (operational taxonomic unit) and for most detected OTUs. The most frequently detected OTU shows a close relationship to Uncultured bacterium clone MBA08, Unidentified bacterium clone TUG22 and Uncultured archaeal symbiont PA204 in TGD, TSD and TLD, respectively. The microbial population dynamics in TGD were studied over a period of 90 days, and the occupying ratios of Bacillus infernus and Methanothermobacter wolfeii were shown to change with the change in VFA concentration. From the dynamic change and characteristics of the microbes, it is concluded that Bacillus infernus and Methanothermobacter wolfeii played an important role and were recommended as key microbes in TGD.     

Effects of transient temperature increases on odor production from thermophilic anaerobic digestion.

The City of Los Angeles, Bureau of Sanitation, has implemented thermophilic anaerobic sludge digestion at the Hyperion and Terminal Island Treatment Plants (HTP and TITP). A two-stage continuous-batch process was established at HTP, while a single-stage sequencing batch process was established at TITP. This was to evaluate compliance with the Class A pathogen reduction requirements of U.S. EPA 40 CFR Part 503. A rapid increase of the digester temperature at TITP from 57.5 to 65.5 degrees C caused an increase of the volatile fatty acid to alkalinity ratio, a decline in digester performance, and an elevated production of methyl mercaptan and hydrogen sulfide. A rapid increase of the digester temperature at HTP from 54 to 58 degrees C caused an elevated production of methyl mercaptan, but the effect on the volatile fatty acid to alkalinity ratio and digester performance was insignificant. It is likely that these effects observed at TITP and HTP were transient responses to rapid changes in temperature.     

Application of a multi-channel system for continuous monitoring and an early warning system.

A multi-channel continuous toxicity monitoring system developed in our laboratory, based on two-stage mini-bioreactors, was successfully implemented in the form of computer-based data acquisition. The multi-channel system consists of a series of a two-stage minibioreactor systems connected by a fiber optic probe to a luminometer, and uses genetically engineered bioluminescent bacteria for the detection of the potential toxicity from the soluble chemicals. This system can be stably and continuously operated due to the separation of the culture reactor from the test reactor and accomplish easy and long-term monitoring without system shut down by abrupt inflows of severe polluting chemicals. Four different recombinant bioluminescent bacteria were used in different channels so that the modes of the samples toxicities can be reasonably identified and evaluated based upon the response signature of each channel. The bioluminescent signatures were delivered from four channels by switching one at once, while the data is automatically logged to an IBM compatible computer. We also achieved the enhancement of the system through the manipulation of the dilution rate and the use of thermo-lux fusion strains. Finally, this system is now being implemented to a drinking water reservoir and river for remote sensing as an early warning system.     

The effect of temperature on the performance and stability of thermophilic anaerobic digestion.

Sustainable operation of an anaerobic sewage sludge digester requires the effective shuttling of carbon from complex organic material to methane gas. The accumulation of intermediates and metabolic products such as volatile fatty acids and hydrogen gas not only reveal inefficiency within the digestion process, but can be detrimental to reactor operation at sufficiently high levels. Eight anaerobic digesters (1 mesophilic and 7 thermophilic) were operated in order to determine the effect of steady-state digestion temperature on the operational stability and performance of the digestion process. Replicate reactors operated at 57.5 degrees C, the highest temperature studied, were prone to accumulation of volatile fatty acids (4052 and 3411 mg/L as acetate) and gaseous hydrogen. Reactors operated at or below 55 degrees C showed no such accumulation of intermediate metabolites. Overall methanogenesis was also greatly reduced at 57.5 degrees C (0.09 L CH4/g VS fed) versus optimal methane formation at 53 degrees C (0.40 L CH4/g VS fed). Microbial community assessment and free energy calculations suggest that the accumulation of fatty acids and hydrogen, and relatively poor methanogenic performance at 57.5 degrees C are likely due to temperature limitations of thermophilic aceticlastic methanogens.     

A dispersion based model for anaerobic digestion of solid cattle wastes in a stratified thermophilic accumulation system.

A dynamic model has been developed to describe the anaerobic digestion of solid cattle waste in an accumulation system (AC). To calibrate the model an experiment was carried out at a lab-scale AC at 50 degrees C. The predicted methane production shows a very good agreement (i.e. R2 = 0.998) with the experimental data. However less agreement is evident for the intermediates. After model validation the model was applied to study the effect of different aspect ratios on the system performance. An optimum aspect ratio of 2-3 could be determined.     

On-site treatment of high-strength alcohol distillery wastewater by a pilot-scale thermophilic multi-staged UASB (MS-UASB) reactor.

A pilot-scale multi-staged UASB (MS-UASB) reactor with a working volume of 2.5 m3 was operated for thermophilic (55 degrees C) treatment of an alcohol distillery wastewater for a period of over 600 days. The reactor steadily achieved a super-high rate COD removal, that is, 60 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) with over 80% COD removal. However, when higher organic loading rates were further imposed upon the reactor, that is, above 90 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) for barely-based alcohol distillery wastewater (ADWW) and above 100 kgCOD m(-3) d(-1) for sweet potato-based ADWW, the reactor performance somewhat deteriorated to 60 and 70% COD removal, respectively. Methanogenic activity (MA) of the retained sludge in the thermophilic MS-UASB reactor was assessed along the time course of continuous run by serum-vial test using different substrates as a vial sole substrate. With the elapsed time of continuous run, hydrogen-utilizing MA, acetate-utilizing MA and propionate-fed MA increased at maximum of 13.2, 1.95 and 0.263 kgCOD kgVSS(-1) d(-1), respectively, indicating that propionate-fed MA attained only 1/50 of hydrogen-utilizing MA and 1/7 of acetate-utilizing MA. Since the ADWW applied herewith is a typical seasonal campaign wastewater, the influence of shut-down upon the decline in sludge MA was also investigated. Hydrogen-utilizing MA and acetate-utilizing MA decreased slightly by 3/4, during a month of non-feeding period, whereas propionate-fed MA were decreased significantly by 1/5. Relatively low values of propionate-fed MA and its vulnerability to adverse conditions suggests that the propionate degradation step is the most critical bottleneck of overall anaerobic degradation of organic matters under thermophilic condition.     

锦屏一级水电站左岸岩质边坡预警判据初探

以边坡岩土体蠕变理论为基础，结合锦屏一级水电站边坡安全监测情况，重点分析边坡变形时效特性，划分边坡变形以至于形成滑坡灾害的发展过程为4个阶段：1)变形启动阶段；2)均匀蠕滑阶段；3)变形快速发展阶段；4)破坏趋势阶段。根据室内岩石三轴压缩蠕变试验结果，得到的岩石进入加速流变阶段的流变速率极限值为：加速初期变形速率为1.0～2.5mm/d,加速后期2.5～5.0mm/d，破坏阶段为大于5.0mm/d。边坡岩体目前的内部和外观测点变形速率维持在0.05mm/d左右，有小幅波动，边坡处于均匀蠕滑阶段。结合岩石实验和具体监测情况，拟定了边坡变形速率阀值。在综合分析国内外引起滑坡的降雨强度临界值和坝址区的水文地质和工程地质条件的基础上，拟定降雨强度预警等级。根据边坡安全监测的具体情况，制定边坡进入加速变形-破坏阶段的综合预警判据，为锦屏一级水电站边坡施工期及运行期的安全预警提供有力依据，对其它类似工程边坡的预警工作有一定参考价值。     

锦屏一级水电站左岸岩质边坡预警判据初探

以边坡岩土体蠕变理论为基础,结合锦屏一级水电站边坡安全监测情况,重点分析边坡变形时效特性,将边坡变形以至于形成滑坡灾害的发展过程划为4个阶段:(1)变形启动阶段;(2)均匀蠕滑阶段;(3)变形快速发展阶段;(4)破坏趋势阶段。根据室内岩石三轴压缩蠕变试验结果,得到的岩石进入加速流变阶段的流变速率极限值为:加速初期变形速率为1.0～2.5mm/d,加速后期2.5～5.0mm/d,破坏阶段为大于5.0mm/d。目前该边坡岩体内部和外观测点的变形速率维持在0.05mm/d左右,有小幅波动,边坡处于均匀蠕滑阶段。结合岩石实验和具体监测情况,拟定了边坡变形速率阀值。在综合分析国内外引起滑坡的降雨强度临界值和坝址区的水文地质和工程地质条件的基础上,拟定降雨强度预警等级。根据边坡安全监测的具体情况,制定边坡进入加速变形-破坏阶段的综合预警判据,为锦屏一级水电站边坡施工期及运行期的安全预警提供了依据。     

Effect of xylose and nutrients concentration on ethanol production by a newly isolated extreme thermophilic bacterium

An extreme thermophilic ethanol-producing strain was isolated from an ethanol high-yielding mixed culture, originally isolated from a hydrogen producing reactor operated at 70 degrees C. Ethanol yields were assessed with increasing concentrations of xylose, up to 20 g/l. The ability of the strain to grow without nutrient addition (yeast extract, peptone and vitamins) was also assessed. The maximum ethanol yield achieved was 1.28 mol ethanol/mol xylose consumed (77% of the theoretical yield), at 2 g/l of initial xylose concentration. The isolate was able to grow and produce ethanol as the main fermentation product under most of the conditions tested, including in media lacking vitamins, peptone and yeast extract. The results indicate that this new organism is a promising candidate for the development of a second generation bio-ethanol production process.     

地下水水源地污染预警应用研究——以浑河冲洪积扇为例

地下水水源地污染预警是集中城镇供水的地下水资源保护和管理的重要依据。为了控制地下水污染,使地下水保护更具预见性和主动性,提出了基于水质现状和污染风险的地下水水源地污染预警思路。水质现状是预警基础,决定预警的起始状态;污染风险考虑了污染源载荷风险和污染危害性,反映人类活动对地下水的影响,决定区域污染状况的发展变化。以浑河冲洪积扇饮用水水源地为例,通过各因子的评价和叠加分析得到地下水水源地污染预警值,结果显示浑河冲洪积扇地区大部分水源地存在不同程度的污染警情。研究结果可为当地地下水水源地保护提供依据。     

Nitrite oxidation inhibition by hydroxylamine: experimental and model evaluation.

A proposed approach for biological nitrogen removal significantly reduces cost by reducing biomass production and carbon requirements via inhibition of nitrite oxidation (NO2- to NO3-). Batch experiments were conducted to examine the effect of hydroxylamine (HM) on nitrite oxidizers, ammonia oxidizers, and nitrite reducers. Hydroxylamine effect experiments were done at initial pH values of 7.4-8.4, nitrogen concentrations of 100 mg N/L, biomass concentrations of 100-400 mg VSS/L and HM dosages up to 43 mg/L. Nitrite oxidizer activity was completely inhibited by HM at dosages of 7.0 and 8.9 mg/L for pH values of 8.4 and 7.6, respectively. Relatively low HM concentrations (0.35-5.5 mg/L) can be used to completely inhibit nitrite oxidation, but do not significantly affect ammonia oxidizers and nitrite reducers. A model developed to describe the effect of pH on nitrite oxidation rate fits the data well (R2 = 0.89) with values for Vmax of 0.372 (mg N/mg VSS-hr), pH* of 7.72, and the inhibition constant Kh of 0.154. Incorporation of HM inhibition into the model provided a good fit to relative nitrite oxidation rate as a function of undissociated HM concentration (R2 = 0.80, Vmax = 0.028 mg N/mg VSS-hr, pH = 7.89, Kh = 0.302, a = 0.195, and Ki= 0.277 mg/L).     

Development of an empirical mathematical model for describing and optimizing the hygiene potential of a thermophilic anaerobic bioreactor treating faeces.

Poor sanitation and insufficient disposal of sewage and faeces are primarily responsible for water associated health problems in developing countries. Domestic sewage and faeces are prevalently discharged into surface waters which are used by the inhabitants as a source for drinking water. This paper presents a decentralized anaerobic process technique for handling of such domestic organic waste. Such an efficient and compact system for treating faeces and food waste may be of great benefit for developing countries. Besides a stable biogas production for energy generation, the reduction of bacterial pathogens is of particular importance. In our research we investigated the removal capacity of the reactor concerning pathogens, which has been operated under thermophilic conditions. Faecal coliforms and intestinal enterococci have been detected as indicator organisms for bacterial pathogens. By the multiple regression analysis technique an empirical mathematical model has been developed. The model shows a high correlation between removal efficiency and both, hydraulic retention time (HRT) and temperature. By this model an optimized HRT for defined bacterial pathogens effluent standards can be easily calculated. Thus, hygiene potential can be evaluated along with economic aspects. In this paper not only results for describing the hygiene potential of a thermophilic anaerobic bioreactor are presented, but also an exemplary method to draw the right conclusions out of biological tests with the aid of mathematical tools.     

Performance of a non-phosphorus antiscalant on inhibition of calcium-sulfate precipitation

The aim of this study is to report on the performance of a novel non-phosphorus antiscalant, acrylic acid (AA)-allylpolyethoxy carboxylate (APEC), being developed for calcium-sulfate scale inhibition in industrial water systems. The performance of AA-APEC on calcium-sulfate scale inhibition was compared with that of the two commercial inhibitors, polyamino polyether methylene phosphonates (PAPEMP) and polyacrylic acid (PAA), containing the same polyethylene glycol segments or carboxyl functional groups as AA-APEC. The study indicated that AA-APEC could act as a highly effective calcium sulfate inhibitor, having strong ability to inhibit the precipitation of calcium sulfate at a dosage of 2 mg L(-1), showing approximately 83.6% inhibition. The results also showed that AA-APEC dosage, the solution pH, inhibiting temperature, concentration of Ca(2+), and SO(4)(2-) all play important roles in inhibiting calcium-sulfate precipitation. The precipitation thermodynamics and kinetics at different temperatures were also discussed. X-ray diffractometer (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis showed that AA-APEC strongly affected the texture and the morphology of the deposited calcium sulfate. Calcium sulfate has been inhibited through stabilization by adsorption onto crystal growth sites of nascent crystals altering their morphology.     

Advanced oxidation of commercial textile biocides in aqueous solution: effects on acute toxicity and biomass inhibition.

In the present study, the decomposition of two biocides used in the textile finishing process with Advanced Oxidation Processes (AOPs) has been studied. Different AOPs, i.e O3/OH-, TiO2/UV-A and Fe2+/H2O2 have been used representing mutually combined components of the chemically and photochemically driven advanced oxidation systems. The course of reaction was examined by changes in chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC) and acute toxicity towards the water flea Daphnia magna (assessed in terms of the effective dilution ratio LD50). Particular attention has been paid to determine the inhibitory effect of raw and ozonated biocides on biological activated sludge consortium at concentrations typically encountered in textile finishing effluents. Significant oxidation and mineralization of both biocides could be achieved employing ozonation at pH = 11.5 and heterogeneous photocatalysis (TiO2/UV-A) at pH = 5.0, whereas Fenton's reagent appeared to be less effective in COD and acute toxicity abatement.     

扬水曝气器出流结构优化及对控藻效果的影响

扬水曝气是湖泊水库富营养化控制的有效新技术。本文采用不同的扬水曝气器出流结构,运用FLUENT数值模拟了扬水曝气器外围流场和藻类浓度场,模拟的流速和藻类浓度结果与实测结果吻合较好。在典型曝气量25m3/h下,运用动量方程计算了不同出流结构条件下设备所受的冲击力。计算结果表明采用上升筒侧壁开孔和设导流板的优化出流结构使设备所受最大冲击力减少46.4%;最大冲击力随水流速度峰值增加而增大,但呈非线性关系。采用优化的出流结构,在水库典型水深55 m和80 m条件下,扬水曝气器外围的入口顺时针环流半径分别扩大8.3%和21.4%,核心控藻区域半径分别增加3.0%和22.2%,核心控藻区域面积分别增加0.6%和5.4%,藻类完全混合的时间分别延长11.1%和15.4%。扬水曝气器更适宜于深水型分层湖库原位控藻。     

基于 STELLA 的水资源供需系统模拟和预警分析——以山东省为例

科学预测区域水资源供需变化并提出合理的应对方案对区域可持续发展有重要意义,但现有研究多未合理考虑区域的生态需水量。本文以山东省水资源供需系统为研究对象,考虑城市生态建设及河流生态需水,利用系统动力学软件STELLA模拟预测了山东省2015-2030年水资源供需状况的动态变化,利用支撑度构建水资源短缺预警等级,并进行预警分析;基于敏感性分析结果从重视经济、节水、开源、综合协调4个角度提出发展应对方案。结果表明:当前山东省生态缺水严重,至2030年水资源供需差额将达90×108m3,并有10×108m3会影响到当地生产生活,全省将处于Ⅲ级缺水状态;重视经济和节水型方案均不利于山东省可持续发展,而综合协调型方案将建立兼顾社会经济与生态环境的水资源利用模式,为缓解水资源供需矛盾、优化水资源配置提供科学依据,对水生态文明建设也具有重要意义。     

山洪灾害预警预报手机指令集成策略研究以浙江省金华市金华江流域为例

手机指令集成策略研究是准确、及时洪灾预警预报的应用基础。本文选取金华市金华江流域为研究区,分析山洪灾害监测、预警及预报预警措施和能力,结合我国三大电信运营商对手机信令数据侦测应用技术,提出了山洪灾害预警预报发布的手机指令集成和解决方案。结果表明：提出的方案有效解决了山洪灾害隐患点威胁区域的人员实时预警、动态生成电子围栏、电子围栏人群捕获等功能,弥补了现有基于短信和广播预警发布解决方案的不足。     

Impacts of urbanization on West Nose Creek: a Canadian experience.

The lower reaches of West Nose Creek have been subject to urbanization since the 1970s, leading to channel widening and excessive erosion. This paper discusses what would likely happen if urbanization were allowed to continue in the same manner. Comparisons are presented of the channel width and depth for both the upstream rural and downstream urbanizing reaches. Estimates of the evolution of the creek were generated by linking the dominant discharge to the entire shape and volume of the hydrograph that the creek is subjected to rather than solely considering peak discharges. otential remedial measures and stormwater management philosophies are discussed in relationship to instream flow needs (IFNs) initiatives. IFNs are generally developed by relating the amount of suitable aquatic habitat to the quantity of flow. The emphasis has so far been on IFNs for large river systems. Unfortunately, none of the IFN approaches cover streams that are subject to significant urbanization. In urbanized streams the issue is not as much the impacts due to withdrawals but due to significantly increased runoff rates and volumes generated within the urban areas. Examples are provided how fisheries habitat is impacted by the changed hydrologic regime and changed stream morphology.