Sludge deterioration in a full scale UASB reactor after a pH drop working under low loading conditions.

A full scale UASB reactor treating the effluent of a malting plant was operated during nearly two years. During 37 weeks of operation the reactor worked with a COD removal efficiency of 80% and a biogas production of nearly 300 m(3)/d with a methane content of 77%. After the start up and during these months of operation the volumetric organic load was 4 kgCOD/m(3).d and the specific organic load was between 0.2-0.4 kgCOD/kgVSS.d. The sludge SMA in this period was around 0.25 kgCOD/kg VSS.d. On week 37 as a result of a problem at the industrial process the pH in the reactor dropped to a value of 4.8. After pH recovering, the reactor worked with fluctuating COD values in the exit and showed a downward trend in the COD removal efficiency. On week 81 the presence of filaments in the granules was detected. High proportion of Chloroflexi filaments were detected by FISH in the sludge. Changes in the microbial population caused by the low pH probably destabilize the reactor performance. The presence of filamentous granules in the sludge and its further growing could be encouraged by the pH drop and the low specific organic load applied to the reactor. The low specific organic load was a consequence of the high VSS content in the UASB reactor, due to the lack of purges. The length of the filaments attached to the granules grew throughout time. In order to eliminate the sludge with poor settlement properties a recycle was applied to the reactor. As a consequence, low amount of granular sludge stayed in the reactor. At the end, COD concentration in the influent reached higher values than in normal operation; at the same time a complete sludge wash out occurred. On the other hand, using the same sludge (after the recycle implementation) in a bench scale reactor the good properties of the sludge were completely recovered.     

In-situ characterization of microbial community in an A/O submerged membrane bioreactor with nitrogen removal.

The bacterial community involved in removing nitrogen from sewage and their preferred DO environment within an anoxic/oxic membrane bioreactor (A/O MBR) was investigated. A continuously operated laboratory-scale A/O MBR was maintained for 360 d. At a sludge age of 150 d and a C/N ratio of 3.5, the system was capable of removing 88% of the influent nitrogen from raw wastewater through typical nitrogen removal transformations (i.e. aerobic ammonia oxidation and anoxic nitrate reduction). Characterization of the A/O MBR bacterial community was carried out using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques. FISH results further showed that Nitrosospira spp. and Nitrospira spp. were the predominant groups of ammonia and nitrite oxidizing group, respectively. They constituted up to 11% and 6% of eubacteria at DO below 0.05 mg/l (low DO), respectively, and about 14% and 9% of eubacteria at DO between 2-5 mg/l (sufficient DO), respectively, indicating preference of nitrifiers for a higher DO environment. Generally low counts of the genus Paracoccus were detected while negative results were observed for Paracoccus denitrificans, Alcaligenes spp, and Pseudomonas stutzeri under the low and sufficient DO environments. The overall results indicate that Nitrosospira spp., Nitrospira spp. and members of Paracoccus spp. can be metabolically functional in nitrogen removal in the laboratory-scale A/O MBR system.     

Structure and microbial composition of nitrifying microbial aggregates and their relation to internal mass transfer effects.

This paper presents an analysis of the structure and microbial composition of nitrifying aggregates, formed as either flocs or granules, in sequencing batch reactors (SBR) operated with a high ammonium load. The structure and microbial community of the aggregates was determined by fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH). The aggregate structure and size was related to mass transfer limitations observed by measurements of OURs measured by either a titrimetric and off-gas analysis sensor (TOGA) or by microsensors. The FISH analysis showed that the spatial arrangement of the microbial consortia correlated well with the oxygen gradients inside the aggregates. In the larger aggregates, the ammonium- and nitrite-oxidising bacteria were mainly concentrated to the outer 100-200 microm, whereas in the floc system, the bacteria were distributed throughout the entire aggregate. This indicates that the internal mass transfer resistance is considerably larger when the aggregate size increases which is directly supported by TOGA measurements.     

Use of a dynamic gassing-out method for activity and oxygen diffusion coefficient estimation in biofilms

p-toluenesulphonic acid degradation by Comamonas testosteroni T-2 in multi-species biofilms was studied in a fixed bed biofilm reactor. The polypropylene static mixer elements (Sulzer Chemtech Ltd., Switzerland) were used as a support matrix for biofilm formation. Biofilm respiration was estimated using the dynamic gassing-out oxygen uptake method. A strong relation between oxygen uptake and reactor degradation efficiency was observed, because p-toluenesulphonate degradation is a strictly aerobic process. This technique also allowed us to estimate the thickness of the active layer in the studied system. The mean active thickness was in order of 200 μm, which is close to maximum oxygen penetration depth in biofilms. A transient mathematical model was established to evaluate oxygen diffusitivity in non-steady-state biofilms. Based on the DO concentration profiles, the oxygen diffusion coefficient and the maximum respiration activity were calculated. The oxygen diffusion coefficient obtained (2 10^-10-1.2 10^-9 m² s^-1) is in good agreement with published values. The DO diffusion coefficient varied with biofilm development. This may be, most likely, due to the biofilm density changes during the experiments. The knowledge of diffusivity changes in biofilms is particularly important for removal capacity estimation and appropriate reactor design.     

盘石头水库河槽段趾板基岩的地质概况与防渗设计分析

盘石头水库河槽段趾板基岩建基面下8m为相对不透水层,如按常规进入不透水层5m设计帷幕,深度只有13m左右,对100m高坝而言,深度偏浅,为安全考虑,帷幕设计为悬挂式帷幕,主帷幕深度按1/3坝高考虑,穿透隔水层,隔水层以上以一排主帷幕和两排副帷幕防渗,隔水层以下以一排主帷幕防渗。     

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from sewage sludge by anaerobic degradation.

Due to the hydrophobic nature of the polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) they are mostly bound to the sludge and escape aerobic treatment in a wastewater treatment plant. They therefore proceed directly to the anaerobic post treatment, terminate in the sludge, and can be released to the environment if land spreading is used. PAH degradation in anaerobic methanogenic systems has only recently been shown to occur. In this study we have assessed several factors of anaerobic PAH degradation by evaluating thermodynamic feasibility of degradation, assessing degradation at different temperatures, and investigating the enriched cultures using fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH). Thermodynamic calculations indicated that PAH degradation was possible under methanogenic conditions, in the presence of hydrogen utilizing methanogens. Removal of naphthalene and 1-methyl naphthalene depended both on temperature and the initial inoculum. Inocula sourced from contaminated land sites were the most effective. The enrichments were all a mixture of Bacteria, and Archaea, and the Archaea were generally identified as Methanobacteriales, using an order-specific probe. The bacteria were not specifically identified. The results indicate a syntrophic culture, with the bacteria oxidizing the naphthalene, and the Archaea converting the hydrogen produced by oxidation, to methane.     

The large PAO cells in full-scale EBPR biomass samples are not yeast spores but possibly novel members of the beta-Proteobacteria.

Large, homogenous clusters of coccobacilli were found to be abundant in the biomasses from a conventional plant at Rosebud, Victoria, Australia. The identity and the in situ physiology of these dominant microorganisms were investigated in this study. These large clustered cells were revealed to be neither Gram positive nor Gram negative bacteria and contain polyP granules. Cells with similar features were also observed in some enhanced biological phosphate removal (EBPR) systems and reported as yeast spores and Rhodocyclus-related polyphosphate accumulating organisms (PAOs). In this study, fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) probing showed these cells were prokaryotic and members of the beta-Proteobacteria. However, these large clustered cells did not respond to the PAO mix FISH probes. The in situ physiology of these large cells was studied with FISH in combination with microautoradiography (MAR) in order to understand their substrate assimilation abilities under different conditions as well as their phosphate uptake ability. These cells were able to take up acetate, glutamate and aspartate, but not glucose under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Nile Blue A staining in combination with MAR showed that cells incubated under anaerobic conditions contained polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) granules. In addition, MAR showed aerobic 33Pi assimilation with all these substrates, consistent with them supporting an EBPR capacity in these large cells. As well as raising doubts about a role for yeasts in EBPR, this study suggests that much still needs to be learned about the identity and level of biodiversity of the PAO in EBPR systems, and emphasizes the benefits of using techniques like FISH/MAR and PHA staining/MAR to resolve the in situ physiology of the populations of interest there.     

Ultrastructure of a bio-electrolytic methanogenic/methanotrophic granular biofilm for the complete degradation of tetrachloroethylene in contaminated groundwater.

The electrolytical methanogenic/methanotrophic coupling (eMaMoC) process was tested in a laboratory-scale single-stage reactor for the treatment of tetrachloroethene (PCE)-contaminated waters. A water electrolysis cell was placed directly in the effluent recirculation loop for the supply of both O2 and H2 to the system: H2 serving as the electron donor for both carbonate reduction into CH4 and reductive dechlorination. The concurrent presence of O2 and CH4 could be used by the methanotrophs for co-metabolically oxidising the chlorinated intermediates left over by the anaerobic transformation of PCE. At a PCE inlet of 33-52 microM and a hydraulic residence time (HRT) of 5.6 days, PCE reductive dechlorination to dichloroethene (DCE) was over 95% with a maximum DCE mineralisation of 83%. Fluorescence in situ hybridisation with 16S rRNA probes related to type I and type II methanotrophic bacteria were utilised to localise the methanotrophic communities in the anaerobic/aerobic granules. It evidenced that with operational time, along with increasing oxygenation rate, methanotrophic communities were specifically colonising onto the outermost layer of the anaerobic/aerobic granule.     

Veliger density and environmental conditions control quagga mussel colonization rates in two perialpine lakes

Quagga and zebra mussels (Dreissena bugensis and D. polymorpha) are spreading across lakes in Europe and North America. In particular, quagga mussels colonize lakes to great depths (>200 m). To better understand the colonization pattern of quagga mussels in deep lakes, we studied the settlement of quagga mussels along a depth gradient on colonization plates at multiple depths (1–140 m) in the pelagic zone of two recently invaded perialpine lakes, Lake Constance and Lake Geneva. We measured colonization rates every three months over one year on colonization plates deployed in both lakes at defined depths. We also assessed long-term population dynamics from abundance and size distribution using repeated photogrammetry of colonization plates. Highest colonization rates and largest mussel sizes occurred above 8 m depth, and almost no zebra mussels were found. Colonization rates decreased to almost zero below 30 m. Colonization rates on plates were associated with variation in environmental conditions as well as veliger densities in the plankton across season and depth. Temperature was the most important environmental parameter that influenced colonization. Our results will help to better understand the seasonal colonization patterns of invasive quagga mussels in deep lakes.     

Formation mechanism of nitrifying granules observed in an aerobic upflow fluidized bed (AUFB) reactor.

The influences of trace metals in the wastewater and shear stress by aeration were particularly examined to clarify the formation mechanism of nitrifying granules in an aerobic upflow fluidized bed (AUFB) reactor. It was found that Fe added as a trace element to the inorganic wastewater accumulated at the central part of the nitrifying granules. Another result obtained was that suitable shear stress by moderate aeration (0.07-0.20 L/min/L-bed) promoted granulation. Furthermore, it was successfully demonstrated that pre-aggregation of seed sludge using hematite promoted core formation, leading to rapid production of nitrifying granules. From these results, a nitrifying granulation mechanism is proposed: 1) as a first step, nitrifying bacteria aggregate along with Fe precipitation, and then the cores of granules are formed; 2) as a second step, the aggregates grow to be spherical or elliptical in form due to multiplication of the nitrifying bacteria and moderate shear stress in the reactor, and then mature nitrifying granules are produced. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis successfully visualized the change in the spatial distribution of nitrifying bacteria in the granules, which supports the proposed granulation mechanism.     

Distribution of Photosynthetic Pigments in Nearshore Sediments of Lake Michigan

To characterize nearshore detrital deposits and to identify potential input sources, photosynthetic pigments were examined in sediment cores taken from three stations in nearshore Lake Michigan between May and October 1979. Two stations were located at 11 m and one was at 23-m depth. At the 11-m stations, total pigment concentrations in the upper 0–1 cm layer were greatest in May and then declined, while seasonal changes at the 23-m station were not apparent. A high proportion of the spring influx of pigment at the 11-m depth was undegraded, indicating freshly settled material from the water column as a likely source. Sediment chlorophyll concentrations in the spring were as high as 212 μg/g, but typical summer values were 1–7 μ/g. Although these pelagic inputs are temporary, strong links exist between this material and benthic invertebrate distributions.     

Nitrification and denitrification in partially aerated biological aerated filter (BAF) with dual size sand media.

A 104-mm (4-inch) diameter pilot-scale biological aerated filter (BAF) with a media depth of 2.5 m (8.3 feet) was operated with an anaerobic, anoxic and oxic zone at a temperature of 23 degrees C. The medium for the anaerobic and anoxic zones was 10 mm diameter sand while the medium for the oxic zone was 5 mm diameter sand. The influent sCOD and total nitrogen concentrations in the feedwater were approximately 250 mg/L and 35 mg N/L, respectively. sCOD removal at optimum hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 3 h with recirculation rates of 100, 200 and 300% in the column was above 96%. Nitrification was found to be more than 96% for 3 h HRT at 200 and 300% recirculation. Total nitrogen removal was consistent at more than 80% for 4 and 6 h HRT at 300% recirculation. For 3 h HRT and 300% recirculation, total nitrogen removal was approximately 79%. The ammonia loading rates for maximum ammonia removed were 0.15 and 0.19 kg NH3-N/m3-day for 100 and 200% recirculation, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the BAF can be operated at an HRT of 3h with 200-300% recirculation rates with more than 96% removal of sCOD and ammonia and at least 75% removal of total nitrogen.     

不同潜水埋深条件下的农田土壤水分动态试验研究

不同潜水埋深下玉米田土壤水分动态表现为:该区玉米田土壤水分的季节性变化可划分为3个阶段:春季缓慢失墒期(4~6月)、雨季干湿交替期(7~8月)、稳墒恢复期(9月)。地下水埋深愈浅,相同层次土壤含水率愈高。当地下水埋深较大时,0.6m以下土层含水率呈现明显的分层分布状态,表层受地下水补给的水量已大大减小,其降低的程度主要与各层次土壤的持水特性有关。     

Stratification of microbial metabolic processes and redox potential change in an aerobic biofilm studied using microelectrodes

In this study we used oxygen, sulfide, redox potential and pH microelectrodes to examine the stratification of microbial metabolic processes and the change of redox potential within an aerobic biofilm used to treat azo dye containing wastewater. These microelectrodes have tip diameters of 3 to 20 μm and a high spatial resolution. They were used to measure the profiles of oxygen, total dissolved sulfide, redox potential and pH as a function of depth in the biofilm. These profiles demonstrated that oxygen was depleted at 550 μm from the surface and the deeper section of the biofilm was actually anaerobic. While aerobic oxidation took place only in a shallow layer near the surface, sulfate reduction occurred in the deeper anaerobic zone, even with a low concentration of sulfate (6.75 mg/1 as SO^2-) in the bulk solution. We discovered a sharp decrease of redox potential (271 mV) from a positive potential to a negative potential within a very narrow band of 50 μm near the interface between the aerobic zone and the sulfate reduction zone. The new experimental findings support the concept of stratification of the microbial metabolic processes in biofilms.     

围岩与初期支护间缓冲层的大变形控制效果及合理厚度研究

以丽江至香格里拉铁路中义隧道为依托,采用数值计算的方法,结合试验段的现场监测资料,对在围岩和初期支护间设置缓冲层控制初期支护变形的效果及不同地应力侧压力系数下缓冲层的合理厚度进行了研究.研究表明:在围岩与初期支护间的边墙段设置合理厚度的高密度泡沫板(EPS)可显著提高初期支护的稳定性,并使初期支护最大水平收敛、拱顶下沉...     

Fate and transport of faecal contamination microbial indicators, pathogenic protozoa and Campylobacter in the artificially recharged fractured aquifer of Salento, Italy.

The study investigates the fate and transport of microorganisms introduced by artificial groundwater recharge at the Nardò fractured aquifer in Salento, Italy. Microbial indicators of faecal contamination, parasitic protozoa (Giardia and Cryptosporidium) and pathogenic bacteria (Campylobacter spp.), were monitored into injected water and groundwater to test the efficiency of the "natural disinfection" into the fractured aquifer. A remarkable decrease of microbial indicators and pathogens was observed suggesting that pathogens removal or inactivation may be possible during water flow in fractured aquifer. The recently described PNA probe CJE195 (Lehtola et al. 2005) was utilised for the rapid and specific detection of Campylobacter spp. by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) after enrichment. FISH results were consistent with those of traditional cultural method (ISO 17995) applied in parallel: time required for Campylobacter identification was reduced of 4 days.     

鲁北平原养鸡场周边包气带与地下水砷化合物分布规律

洛克沙胂(3-硝基-4-羟基苯胂酸)被广泛用作饲料添加剂,但大部分以原体形式随粪便排出,进入环境的洛克沙胂在微生物和光照作用下最终转化为毒性较大的As(V)和As(III)等,并在雨水或农灌的淋滤冲积下污染周边土壤、地表水和地下水。以鲁北平原某养鸡场为研究区,对鸡粪、饲料、周边表层土壤、鸡粪堆积和背景包气带垂向剖面以及地下水进行洛克沙胂及其代谢物的检测,结果饲料中洛克沙胂浓度为34mg/kg,鸡粪中HAPA(3-氨基-4-羟基苯胂酸)浓度为11 mg/kg,距离鸡场越近的表层土壤砷含量越高。三个包气带垂向剖面均以As(V)为主,As(III)含量较小。鸡粪堆积处垂向剖面上HAPA、As(V)和As(III)在土壤表层含量最高,浓度随深度增加而呈下降趋势,同时受到土壤岩性的影响,砷化合物主要的吸附层位为0~30cm与200cm以下;背景包气带垂向剖面上各砷化合物含量均明显低于鸡粪堆积处包气带垂向剖面的砷化合物含量;在鸡场内旧井中检测到浓度为165μg/kg的As(V)。结果证实鸡粪堆积导致土壤包气带、周边土壤和地下水砷含量增加,且这种污染很难消除。     

Recovery of methane from anaerobic process effluent using poly-di-methyl-siloxane membrane contactors

This paper demonstrates the potential for recovering dissolved methane from low temperature anaerobic processes treating domestic wastewater. In the absence of methane recovery, ca. 45% of the produced methane is released as a fugitive emission which results in a net carbon footprint of -0.47 kg CO(2e) m(-3). A poly-di-methyl-siloxane (PDMS) membrane contactor was applied to support sweep gas desorption of dissolved methane using nitrogen. The dense membrane structure controlled gaseous mass transfer thus recovery was maximised at low liquid velocities. At the lowest liquid velocity, V(L), of 0.0025 m s(-1), 72% of the dissolved methane was recovered. A vacuum was also trialled as an alternative to sweep-gas operation. At vacuum pressures below 30 mbar, reasonable methane recovery was observed at an intermediate V(L) of 0.0056 m s(-1). Results from this study demonstrate that dissolved methane recovery could increase net electrical production from low temperature anaerobic processes by ca. +0.043 kWh(e) m(-3) and reduce the net carbon footprint to +0.01 kg CO(2e) m(-3). However, further experimental work to optimise the gas-side hydrodynamics is required as well as validation of the long-term impacts of biofouling on process performance.     

苏北海岸带浅部弱透水层孔隙水咸化过程

由黏性土构成的弱透水层中的孔隙水很大程度上还保留着地下水形成演化的水文环境信息。为探讨海岸带浅部弱透水层孔隙水咸化过程,提取苏北海岸带H1及H2钻孔35 m以浅的弱透水层孔隙水,分析了孔隙水水化学及氘氧同位素特征。结果表明:H1孔与H2孔相距7 km,H1孔孔隙水TDS为3.6~9.9 g/L,H2孔孔隙水TDS为12.5~37.0 g/L;水化学组分中,相对于区域地下淡水体,Br^-明显富集,相对于海水组成,Na⁺、Ca²⁺浓度变化各异;δD、δ¹⁸O值呈现随深度增加再降低的趋势,在10.1 m处最富集;同时孔隙水δD、δ¹⁸O值明显聚集在当地雨水线和海水混合线交点下方。δD-δ¹⁸O、Cl-Br关系指示孔隙水主要起源于原始的全新世海水,后期被大气降水稀释淡化,但位于盐场的H2孔孔隙水受到盐场卤水混合的影响;孔隙水中Na⁺、Ca²⁺的富集或衰减反映了孔隙水咸化过程中发生了明显的水岩相互作用。