The potential of the acetonitrile biodegradation by Mesorhizobium sp. F28

Mesorhizobium sp. F28 was used in the NHase/amidase enzyme system to convert acetonitrile into acetamide and acetic acid, and the cells grew with the production of acetic acid. The NHase activity of the strain F28 was 78 U mg(-1)dcw, observed in the conversion of 19.5mM acetonitrile at 0.2h. As the initial pH value was between 6.5 and 8.3, 18.3mM acetonitrile completely converted into acetamide within 2h and the accumulation of acetamide subsequently converted into acetic acid and ammonia within 46h. When 20.3mM acetamide was added in the medium, the conversion rate of acetonitrile was 80% at 2h and the conversion rate of the accumulative acetamide was slightly affected. The concentrations of acetic acid and ammonia were respectively 6.01 and 6.68 mM at 46h. The addition of acetic acid decreased the activities of the NHase and amidase. The conversion rate of acetonitrile was 94% at 9.5h and traces of acetic acid (0.25 mM) and ammonia (0.29 mM) were produced. The effects of product-inhibition indicated that the appropriate operation of bioreactor would be beneficial for Mesorizobium sp. F28 to degrade acetonitrile continuously.     

Sorption and biodegradation of tetracycline by nitrifying granules and the toxicity of tetracycline on granules

This paper examines the simultaneous sorption and biodegradation performance of tetracycline (TC) by the nitrifying granular sludge as well as the short-term exposure toxicity of TC. The removal of TC was characterized by a quick sorption and a slow process of biodegradation. The adsorption process fits pseudo-second-order kinetic model, with a complex mechanism of surface adsorption and intra-particle diffusion. Both temperature and mixed liquor suspended solid (MLSS) influenced TC sorption to the granules. TC biodegradation was enhanced with the increase of COD and NH(4)(+)-N concentrations, with except of the NH(4)(+)-N concentrations higher than 150 mg/L. With the ATU addition, TC degradation was weakened remarkably, indicating a synergistic effect of multiple microbes. Results of the short-term exposure (12h) effects showed that the respirometric activities of the microbes decreased greatly. The addition of TC also decreased the rate of NH(4)(+)-N utilization considerably, with the half saturation constant (K(s)) increasing from 297.7 to 347.2 mg/L.     

Phenol degradation by Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from industrial effluents

The degradation of phenol (2-30 mM) by free cells and by alginate-immobilized cells of Aureobasidium pullulans FE13 isolated from stainless steel effluents was studied in batch cultures with saline solution not supplemented with nutrients or yeast extract. The rate at which the immobilized cells degrade phenol was similar to the rate at which the suspended cells could degrade phenol, for a concentration of up to 16 mM of phenol. The maximum phenol volumetric degradation rate for 16 mM phenol was found to be 18.35 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with free cells and 20.45 mg l(-1)h(-1) in the assays with alginate-immobilized cells, 18 mM phenol and cellular concentration of 0.176 g/l. At concentrations higher than this, an inhibitory effect was observed, resulting in the lowering of the phenol degradation rates. The immobilization was detrimental to the catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity. However, the immobilized cells remained viable for a longer period, increasing the efficiency of phenol degradation. The yeast showed catechol 1,2-dioxygenase activity only after growth in the phenol, which was induced at phenol concentrations as low as 0.05 mM and up to 25 mM at 45 h of incubation at 30 degrees C. Phenol concentrations higher than 6mM were inhibitory to the enzyme. Addition of glucose, lactate, succinate, and benzoate reduced the rate at which phenol is consumed by cells. Our results suggest that inoculants based on immobilized cells of A. pullulans FE13 has potential application in the biodegradation of phenol and possibly in the degradation of other related aromatic compounds.     

醇胺改性氧化石墨烯的制备及二氧化硫吸附性能

固体吸附剂在烟道气脱硫方面具有很大的潜力。以氧化石墨烯(GO)为基底材料,通过乙醇胺(MEA)、二乙醇胺(DEA)和三乙醇胺(TEA)对氧化石墨烯进行改性,得到了GO-MEA、GO-DEA和GO-TEA三种用于吸附SO_2的固体吸附剂。利用扫描电镜(SEM)、傅里叶变换红外光谱(FT-IR)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、能量色散X射线能谱(EDS)、元素分析(EA)等手段对其进行表征,并采用称重法测定了醇胺改性氧化石墨烯对SO_2气体的吸附性能。结果表明,醇胺改性氧化石墨烯对SO_2的吸附性能相比未改性氧化石墨烯有较大提高,其中GO-DEA的SO_2吸附性能最好,15h后平衡吸附量达到188.5mg/g。在130℃、真空条件下进行解吸,经过五次循环之后吸附量依然保持在165.3mg/g。     

Ion exchange uptake of ammonium in wastewater from a Sewage Treatment Plant by zeolitic materials from fly ash

The potential value of zeolitic materials (ZM) obtained from a hazardous waste, such as coal fly ash, for the retention of NH(4)(+) present in liquid effluents from a Sewage Treatment Plant (STP) is studied. A wastewater sample was taken from an STP in Zaragoza (Spain) after conventional treatment at the Plant. The water was treated with different amounts of three ZM: NaP1 zeolite, K-F zeolite and K-Chabazite/K-Phillipsite zeolites all of them in powdered and granulated state. The wastewater was treated by two kinds of processes: continuous stirring batch experiments with powdered ZM, and fixed packed bed of granulated ZM in a column. The powdered materials reduced about 80% of NH(4)(+) from wastewater, even in the presence of Ca(2+), which competes with NH(4)(+) for the cation exchange sites in zeolites. Around 70% of NH(4)(+) reduction was achieved with granulated materials. In both cases, moderate ZM/wastewater ratios had to be used to achieve those results, with K-zeolites slightly less effective in NH(4)(+) retention.     

Selective binding of NH4 + by redox-active crown ethers: application to a NH4 + sensor

Two redox-active crown ethers, (1,1'- bi-2-naphthyl)-23-crown-6 incorporating 9,10-anthraquinone (BNAQ) and 1,4-benzoquinone (BNBQ), were synthesized and employed in the selective binding of NH(4)(+) over K(+). Their applications to NH(4)(+) detection were studied by cyclic voltammetry and amperometry in aqueous media. The results showed that the magnitude of the quinone redox peak decreased linearly as the concentration of NH(4)(+) increased, indicating the formation of BNAQ-NH(4)(+) and BNBQ-NH(4)(+) complexes. Formation constants of BNAQ-NH(4)(+) and BNBQ-NH(4)(+) complexes were determined to be 4.3 x 10(3) and 4.0 x 10(3) M(-1), respectively, which were 2 orders of the magnitude greater than those of BNAQ-K(+) and BNBQ-K(+) complexes. The (1)H NMR titration method carried out in DMSO-d(6) showed that both complexes possessed 1:1 stoichiometry, and association constants were determined to be 648 +/- 35 and 600 +/- 47 M(-1) for BNAQ-NH(4)(+) and BNBQ-NH(4)(+), respectively. Interference effects from other alkali and alkaline earth metal ions in the analysis of NH(4)(+) were also investigated. The BNAQ-modified sensor showed a linear response from 1.0 microM to 1.0 mM for NH(4)(+), and the detection limit was determined to be 0.9 +/- 0.03 microM.     

Simultaneous removal of phenol, ammonium and thiocyanate from coke wastewater by aerobic biodegradation

A laboratory-scale activated sludge plant composed of a 20 L volume aerobic reactor followed by a 12 L volume settling tank and operating at 35 degrees C was used to study the biodegradation of coke wastewater. The concentrations of ammonium nitrogen (NH(4)(+) -N), phenols, chemical oxygen demand (COD) and thiocyanate (SCN(-)) in the wastewater ranged between 504 and 2,340, 110 and 350, 807 and 3,275 and 185 and 370 mg/L, respectively. The study was undertaken with and without the addition of bicarbonate. The addition of this inorganic carbon source was necessary to favour nitrification, as the alkalinity of the wastewater was very low. Maximum removal efficiencies of 75%, 98% and 90% were obtained for COD, phenols and thyocianates, respectively, without the addition of bicarbonate. The concentration of ammonia increased in the effluent due to both the formation of NH(4)(+) as a result of SCN(-) biodegradation and to organic nitrogen oxidation. A maximum nitrification efficiency of 71% was achieved when bicarbonate was added, the removals of COD and phenols being almost similar to those obtained in the absence of nitrification. Batch experiments were performed to study the influence of pH and alkalinity on the biodegradation of phenols and thiocyanate.     

Anaerobic ammonia removal in presence of organic matter: a novel route

This study describes the feasibility of anaerobic ammonia removal process in presence of organic matter. Different sources of biomass collected from diverse eco-systems containing ammonia and organic matter (OM) were screened for potential anaerobic ammonia removal. Sequential batch studies confirmed the possibility of anaerobic ammonia removal in presence of OM, but ammonia was oxidized anoxically to nitrate (at oxidation reduction potential; ORP=-248+/-25 mV) by an unknown mechanism unlike in the reported anammox process. The oxygen required for oxidation of ammonia might have been generated through catalase enzymatic activity of facultative anaerobes in mixed culture. The oxygen generation possibility by catalase enzyme route was demonstrated. Among the inorganic electron acceptors (NO(2)(-), NO(3)(-) and SO(4)(2-)) studied, NO(2)(-) was found to be most effective in total nitrogen removal. Denitrification by the developed culture was much effective and faster compared to ammonia oxidation. The results of this study show that anaerobic ammonia removal is feasible in presence of OM. The novel nitrogen removal route is hypothesized as enzymatic anoxic oxidation of NH(4)(+) to NO(3)(-), followed by denitrification via autotrophic and/or heterotrophic routes. The results of batch study were confirmed in continuous reactor operation.     

Hazardous ions uptake behavior of thermally activated steel-making slag

This study concerns the utilization of waste steel-making slag, a by-product that contains mainly CaO, Fe(2)O(3) and SiO(2). The as-received slag was ground and thermally activated by temperature treatment from 110 to 1000 degrees C for 24 h. Although the as-received slag was amorphous, it became partially crystallized during grinding. These crystalline phases were larnite and iron oxide but other crystalline phases also appeared in addition to larnite after calcination. The uptake of Ni(2+), PO(4)(3-) and NH(4)(+) by the samples was investigated from solutions with initial concentrations of 10 mmol/l. The sample calcined at 800 degrees C showed the highest Ni(2+) uptake (4.85 mmol/g) whereas the highest simultaneous uptake of PO(4)(3-) (2.75 mmol/g) and NH(4)(+) (0.25 mmol/g) was achieved by calcining the material at 700 degrees C. The principal mechanism of Ni(2+) uptake is thought to involve replacement of Ca(2+) by Ni(2+). The mechanism of PO(4)(3-) uptake is mainly by formation of calcium phosphate while that of NH(4)(+) involves sorption by the porous silica surface of the samples.     

Isolation and characterization of phenanthrene-degrading strains Sphingomonas sp. ZP1 and Tistrella sp. ZP5

Two bacteria strains Sphingomonas sp. strain ZP1 and Tistrella sp. strain ZP5 were identified as phenanthrene-degrading ones, based on Gram staining, oxydase reaction, biochemical tests, FAME analysis, G+C content and 16S rDNA gene sequence analysis. We isolated these two bacteria strains Sphingomonas sp. ZP1 and Tistrella sp. ZP5 from soil samples contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH)-containing waste from oil refinery field in Shanghai, China. Strain Sphingomonas sp. ZP1 was able to degrade naphthalene, phenanthrene, toluene, methanol and ethanol, salicylic acid and Tween 80. Moreover, it can remove nearly all the phenanthrene at 0.025% concentration in 8 days. Strain Tistrella sp. ZP5 cannot degrade phenanthrene individually but it can increase the speed of phenanthrene degradation together with ZP1. The growth conditions of strain Sphingomonas sp. ZP1 were optimized. The result also indicated that the degradation rate of phenanthrene ranged from 250 to 1000 ppm with strain ZP1 remained nearly the same, i.e., a high concentration of phenanthrene did not inhibit both the growth of microbial strains and the phenanthrene-degradation ability. Besides, the effect of non-ionic surfactants such as Brij 30, Triton X-100 and Tween 80 on the phenanthrene degradation was determined. Such two strains may be useful for bioremediation applications.     

Photocatalytic degradation of C.I. Acid Red 27 by immobilized ZnO on glass plates in continuous-mode

The photocatalytic degradation of C.I. Acid Red 27 (AR27), an anionic monoazo dye of acid class, in aqueous solutions was investigated with immobilized ZnO catalyst on glass plates in a continuous-mode. In the slurry ZnO system the separation and recycling of the photocatalyst is practically difficult. Thus, ZnO was immobilized on solid supports to solve this problem. The removal percent increases with increasing the photoreactor volume and light intensity but it decreases when the flow rate is increased. With decreasing flow rate from 43 to 15mlmin(-1), the complete decolorization and degradation was obtained at around 748 and 1080cm(3) from photoreactor volume. The increase in the light intensity from 21.4 to 58.5Wm(-2) increases the decolorization from 23 to 57.6% and degradation from 17.5 to 37.8% for 374cm(3) of photoreactor volume. NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-), NO(2)(-) and SO(4)(2-) ions were analyzed as mineralization products of nitrogen and sulfur heteroatoms. Results showed that final concentration of SO(4)(2-) ions and N-containing mineralization products were less than the finally expected stoichiometric values. The positive slope of production of NH(4)(+), NO(3)(-) and NO(2)(-) shows that these compounds are initial products resulting directly from the initial attack on the nitrogen-to-nitrogen double bond (-NN-) of the azo dye.     

Phosphogypsum Utilization Part II: Preparation of Ammonium Sulphate

The aim of this work was to describe the conversion of raw phosphogypsum, issued from the manufacture of H3PO4 by dissolving the phosphate rock in H2SO4, into (NH4)2SO4 and CaCO3. The thermal analysis technique was used to estimate the yield of conversion. (NH4)2CO3 or (NH4)2CO3 with excess NH4OH or (NH4)2CO3 with NH3 gas were used in the preparation of (NH4)2SO4 from phosphogypsum. The obtained samples were separated and tested by chemical and thermogravimetric analyses, infrared spectrum and X-ray diffraction and the optimum conditions of conversion were determined. The results indicated that the yield of conversion equals to 83.37 and 86.70% in case of using (NH4)2CO3 or (NH4)2CO3 with excess ammonia respectively, while by using NH3 gas the percentage of conversion increased to 94.2% at a flow rate of 6 ml/min. Chemical analysis, infrared spectrum and X-ray diffraction patterns of the yield, (NH4)2SO4 were nearly similar to the standard sample.     

Ammonium exchange in aqueous solution using Chinese natural clinoptilolite and modified zeolite

In this study, the Chinese natural clinoptilolite (sample 1) was fused with sodium hydroxide prior to hydrothermal reaction, and it was transformed to modified zeolite Na-Y (sample 2). The uptake of ammonium ion from aqueous solutions in the concentration range 50-250 mg NH(4)(+)/l on to the two samples was compared and the equilibrium isotherms have been got. The influence of other cations present in water upon the ammonia uptake was also determined. The cations studied were potassium, calcium and magnesium. In all cases the anionic counterion present was chloride. The results showed that sample 2 exhibited much higher uptake capacity compared with sample 1. At the initial concentration of 250 mg NH(4)(+)/l, the ammonium ion uptake value of sample 2 was 19.29 mg NH(4)(+)g(-1) adsorbent, while sample 1 was only 10.49 mg NH(4)(+)g(-1) adsorbent. For the natural clinoptilolite, the effect of the metal ions suggested an order of preference K(+)>Ca(2+)>Mg(2+). These contrasted with the modified zeolite, where the order appeared to be Mg(2+)>Ca(2+)>K(+).     

Highly compressed ammonia forms an ionic crystal

Ammonia is an important compound with many uses, such as in the manufacture of fertilizers, explosives and pharmaceuticals. As an archetypal hydrogen-bonded system, the properties of ammonia under pressure are of fundamental interest, and compressed ammonia has a significant role in planetary physics. We predict new high-pressure crystalline phases of ammonia (NH(3)) through a computational search based on first-principles density-functional-theory calculations. Ammonia is known to form hydrogen-bonded solids, but we predict that at higher pressures it will form ammonium amide ionic solids consisting of alternate layers of NH(4)(+) and NH(2)(-) ions. These ionic phases are predicted to be stable over a wide range of pressures readily obtainable in laboratory experiments. The occurrence of ionic phases is rationalized in terms of the relative ease of forming ammonium and amide ions from ammonia molecules, and the volume reduction on doing so. We also predict that the ionic bonding cannot be sustained under extreme compression and that, at pressures beyond the reach of current static-loading experiments, ammonia will return to hydrogen-bonded structures consisting of neutral NH(3) molecules.     

Co-metabolism of 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-Cl-m-cresol in the presence of glucose as an easily assimilated carbon source by Staphylococcus xylosus

Comparison of the ability of Staphylococcus xylosus to degrade 2,4-dichlorophenol and 4-Cl-m-cresol in separate cultures is reported. Bacterial adaptation and the continuous presence of glucose, as a conventional carbon source, were found to stimulate the degrading efficiency of S. xylosus. 4-Cl-m-cresol exhibited higher substrate-induced toxicity with K(ig) value at 0.25 mM, comparing to 2,4-dichlorophenol (K(ig) value at 0.90 mM) at initial concentration ranging from 0.1 to 0.5 mM. Degradation rate of 4-Cl-m-cresol was found to decrease only, revealing lower value of inhibition degradation constant (K(i) at 0.019 mM) comparing to that of 2,4-dichlorophenol (K(i) at 0.41 mM). Both glucose and each one of the chloro-aromatic compounds tested were simultaneously consumed and an increase of chloride ions in the medium appeared, during the exponential phase of growth. The chloride ions increase was nearly stoichiometric in the presence of 2,4-dichlorophenol and one of its several intermediate products identified was 2-Cl-maleylacetic acid. In the case of 4-Cl-m-cresol, only one metabolic product was found and identified as 3-methyl-4-oxo-pentanoic acid.     

Regeneration of hexamminecobalt(II) catalyzed by activated carbon treated with KOH solutions

The combined elimination of NO and SO(2) can be realized by hexamminecobalt(II) solution which is formed by adding soluble cobalt(II) salt into the aqueous ammonia solution. Activated carbon is used as a catalyst to regenerate hexamminecobalt(II), Co(NH(3))(6)(2+), so that NO removal efficiency can be maintained at a high level for a long time. In this study, KOH solution has been explored to modify coconut activated carbon to meliorate its catalytic performance in the reduction of hexamminecobalt(III), Co(NH(3))(6)(3+). The experiments have been performed in a batch stirred cell to investigate the effects of KOH concentration, impregnation duration, activation temperature and activation duration on the performance of activated carbon. The results show that the best KOH concentration for the improvement of activated carbon is 0.5 mol l(-1). The optimal impregnation duration is 9h. High temperature is favorable to ameliorating the catalytic performance of activated carbon. The optimum activation duration is 4h.     

Isolation and characterization of a nitrobenzene degrading yeast strain from activated sludge

Strain Z1 was isolated from nitrobenzene-contaminated sludge. Strain Z1 was able to utilize nitrobenzene as a sole source of carbon, nitrogen, and energy under aerobic condition. Based on the morphology, physiological biochemical characteristics, and 26S rDNA D1/D2 domain sequence, strain Z1 was identified as Rhodotorula mucilaginosa. Strain Z1 mineralized up to 450mg L(-1) nitrobenzene. Kinetics of nitrobenzene degradation was described using the Andrews equation. The kinetic parameters were as follows: q(max)=1.50h(-1), K(s)=31.31mg L(-1), and K(i)=101.34mg L(-1). Strain Z1 had a high-salinity tolerance. It degraded nitrobenzene effectively in 5% NaCl (quality concentration). Even in the presence of aniline or phenol, strain Z1 degraded nitrobenzene efficiently. Strain Z1 therefore could be an excellent candidate for the bio-treatment of nitrobenzene industrial wastewaters.     

A study on major inorganic ion composition of atmospheric aerosols at Tirupati

Atmospheric aerosol samples were collected from an urbanized area (Tirupati, South India) during the period April to September 2001 and were analyzed for major inorganic ions-F, Cl, NO(3,) SO(4), Na, K, Mg, Ca and NH(4) by employing the ion chromatograph. The average mass of the aerosol was found to be 55.64 microgram(-3) with a total water-soluble load (total anion+total cation) of 5.74 microgram(-3). Seasonal distribution of the aerosol mass and temporal variations of the ion concentrations present a clear trend of lowering atmospheric levels during the rainy season due to washout effect. Composition of the aerosols showed higher concentration of SO(4) followed by NO(3) and NH(4) and found to be influenced by local terrestrial sources. The presence of SO(4) and NO(3) may be due to re-suspension of soil particles (formation by heterogeneous oxidation). Ca, Mg and Cl are mainly soil derived ones. The presence of NH(4) may be attributed to the reaction of NH(3) vapors with acidic gases such as H(2)SO(4), HNO(3) and HCl or ammonia vapor may react or condense on an acidic particle surface of anthropogenic origin. Equivalent ratios of NH(4)/(NO(3)+SO(4)) varied between 0.62 and 0.74. It shows the aerosol to be slightly acidic due to the neutralization of basicity by SO(2) and NO(x).     

Degradation of pyridine by one Rhodococcus strain in the presence of chromium (VI) or phenol

A Rhodococcus strain, Chr-9, which has the ability to degrade pyridine and phenol and reduce chromium (VI) (Cr (VI)) was isolated. The strain could grow with pyridine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source, and its pyridine-degradation capability was enhanced by 100 mg l(-1) phenol; however, the degradation of pyridine was inhibited when the phenol concentration was greater than 400 mg l(-1). The hydroxylation of pyridine suggested that the stimulation and inhibition of phenol to the pyridine degradation may be attributed to competition of phenol and pyridine for the hydroxylase gene. Strain Chr-9 was also able to reduce Cr (VI) when glucose and LB was used as the carbon source; however, the Cr (VI) reduction did not occur when pyridine was the sole carbon and energy source. In addition, strain Chr-9 could reduce Cr (VI) and simultaneously degrade pyridine in the presence of glucose. To the best of our knowledge, strain Chr-9 is the first Rhodococcus strain reported to degrade pyridine in the presence of Cr (VI), and the first strain with the pyridine degradation being stimulated by low concentrations of phenol.