Concurrent denitrification and oxygen uptake in microbial films

Mixed microbial films were grown on the inner walls of a tubular reactor with recirculation of the reactor contents and continuous flow-through of nutrient solution. The loss of total oxidized nitrogen was correlated to the film population, the nitrite concentration and the dissolved oxygen concentration in the reactor. When film population was greater than 0.5 × 10⁹ cells cm⁻², reactor dissolved oxygen concentration greater than 1 mg l⁻¹ had little effect on the nitrate loss. Nitrate loss declined for film populations greater than 2 × 10⁹ cells cm⁻². Models based on Monod and zero-order microbial kinetics were calibrated using these data and a nonlinear least squares method. There was little difference in the residual errors with these methods.     

A pore crack model for the mechanical behaviour of porous granular rocks in the brittle deformation regime

A model is developed for predicting and simulating the mechanical behaviour and failure mode of brittle porous granular rocks loaded in compression. It is based on a fracture mechanics analysis applied to cracks emanating from the surface of cylindrical pores in two-dimensional, which is well suited to the microstructure of such rocks. It is also consistent with the usual experimental procedure used for biaxial compression tests since the numerical scheme is implemented under the assumption of imposed axial strain. The model takes into account interactions between neighbouring cracks, which grow when their stress intensity factor reaches the fracture toughness of the rock. The simulation of crack growth from cylindrical holes, associated with a failure criterion based on the coalescence of interacting cracks, allows one to calculate the critical stress at rupture and to derive theoretical stress–strain curves.The present model is then used to compare theoretical results with laboratory data obtained on four sandstones with porosity ranging between 13% and 25.5% which were deformed under conventional triaxial compression conditions at confining pressures between 0 and 35 MPa. The comparison shows that by using a small number of parameters (pore size, pore density, fracture toughness, and elastic moduli), the model is able to predict the rock behaviour during the compression tests and the stress level at rupture in a quite accurate way, when the microstructural parameters introduced are consistent with the observations.     

The effect of temperature on the removal of non-ionic surfactants during small-scale activated-sludge sewage treatment—I. Comparison of alcohol ethoxylates with a branched-chain alkyl phenol ethoxylate

The degree of biodegradability of three non-ionic surfactants has been assessed using small-scale activated-sludge sewage treatment plants. The effect of temperature on biodegradability was studied by operation at 15°, 11° and 8°C.The two alcohol ethoxylate surfactants tested were well degraded at all three operating temperatures. The alkyl phenol ethoxylate surfactant tested was well degraded at 15°C but at lower temperatures the biodegradability was dependent on concentration. At 5 mg 1⁻¹, greater than 90 per cent removal was achieved but at 20 mg 1⁻¹ the degree of removal fluctuated between 40 and 95 per cent at 11°C and between 20 and 80 per cent at 8°C.The present results have been compared with those obtained using the same surfactants in community trials at a small sewage works employing biological filtration. Although a similar temperature effect was observed with the alkyl phenol ethoxylate, the biodegradabilities obtained in the laboratory were consistently greater than those obtained at the sewage works, perhaps because of the constant conditions of the laboratory test.     

Paleonutritional analysis of the pre-Hispanic population from Fuerteventura (Canary Islands)

In this study, from histological and chemical perspectives, we analyse the human remains belonging to the pre-Hispanic inhabitants from Fuerteventura (one of the Canary Islands) and compare the results with those obtained on a sample of pre-Hispanic inhabitants from Gran Canaria (Canary Islands). We observe that trabecular bone mass was normal in the samples from Fuerteventura except for an elderly woman; this result is in sharp contrast with the decreased bone mass observed in the population from Gran Canaria. The pre-Hispanic population from Fuerteventura showed lower bone strontium, Sr/Ca ratio, and bone barium, but slightly higher bone copper, than that from Gran Canaria. All these data indicate a greater consumption of marine products by the population of Fuerteventura. The high prevalence of osteoporosis observed in the population from Gran Canaria may be interpreted as a consequence of protein-calorie malnutrition, a condition which seemed to be not so prevalent in the population of Fuerteventura.     

Interstitial inorganic phosphorus concentrations in lakes Mendota and Wingra

Interstitial P levels in Lake Mendota and Lake Wingra were evaluated as a function of season and water column and sediment depth. Interstitial water was obtained by the centrifugation-filtration method. Temporal variations were observed over the entire 15 cm sediment depth interval examined in all four locations evaluated. Interstitial reactive P (IRP) levels in Lake Mendota ranged from 0.014–1.67 mg l⁻¹ at the 5–6 m water column depth and from 1.20–5.75 mg l⁻¹ at the 18–19.5 m depth. IRP levels in Lake Wingra ranged from 0.029–2.15 mg l⁻¹ at 3.5 m and from 0.191–3.96 mg l⁻¹ at 2 m. Variations in interstitial P were attributed to variations in oxidation state of Fe as influenced by oxygen transport and reduction rates.     

Coping with COPA II: Actions to Improve Effluent Quality

The paper outlines some of the actions taken by Severn Trent Water to achieve compliance with consent limits since the implementation of the Control of Pollution Act (Part II) in 1985.
Prior to and since 1985, Severn Trent Water has undertaken an extensive programme to analyse the reasons for failure and carry out remedial work. A major feature of this programme, which has been further stimulated by privatization, has been the need to reduce the lead time for carrying out improvements.
The paper discusses the means by which this has been achieved, including the introduction of the 'fast-track'initiative and the 'process matrix'.
Other aspects are outlined including initiatives to develop more robust processes, computerized work scheduling, extensive training programmes and best practice studies.     

Sensory evaluation of drinking water by consumer panels

The human senses play an important role in assessing the quality of food and of the environment. Particularly the chemical senses of taste and smell determine the pleasantness of foods and drinks and may provide a warning mechanism for the presence of more or less toxic contaminants. Even after the recent rapid development of powerful analytical techniques the human nose can easily detect trace amounts of chemicals at levels manytimes lower than the analytical detection limits.Although taste and odour assessment of drinking water has been practized inmany waterworks laboratories by small panels, relatively unreliable results were obtained and such sensory data played up till now only a minor role in the management of the water treatment plant. More sophisticated and reliable methods for sensory water quality evaluation are discussed. Special attention is given to the characteristics of the human senses of taste and smell, to which the methodology of sensory assessment should be better adapted. High numbers of observations on a sample are generally needed, for which purpose the use of large panels has to be realized. In this respect the help of large consumer panels is an alternative for the presently often used small laboratory groups. As an example the preliminary results of a large ongoing experiment of sensory water quality assessment by 2 consumer panels of 100 persons each in the Rotterdam area are discussed. Drinking water quality is judged at the consumer homes every week. The experiment started September 1979 and will be continued for one year.     

Sulfolane biodegradation potential in aquifer sediments at sour natural gas plant sites

Sulfolane is used in the treatment of sour natural gas. It is a highly water soluble compound that has been introduced into soils and groundwaters at a number of sour gas processing plant sites. Aquifer sediments from contaminated locations at three sites in western Canada were assessed for microbial activity and their ability to degrade sulfolane under aerobic and five anaerobic (nitrate-, Mn(IV)-, Fe(III)-, sulfate- and CO₂-reducing) conditions. The microcosms were supplemented with 200 mg/L sulfolane and adequate supplies of N, P, and the appropriate terminal electron acceptor. Microcosms containing contaminated aquifer sediments from each of the three sites were able to degrade sulfolane aerobically at 8°C and 28°C, and the biodegradation followed zero-order kinetics. The lag times before the onset of sulfolane biodegradation were shorter when sulfolane-contaminated sediments were used as inocula than when uncontaminated soils were used. No anaerobic sulfolane biodegradation was observed at 28°C, nor was sulfolane biodegradation observed at 8°C under Fe(III)-, sulfate- and CO₂-reducing conditions. At 8°C, anaerobic degradation of sulfolane coupled to Mn(IV) reduction was observed in microcosms from two sites, and degradation coupled to nitrate reduction was seen in a microcosm from one of the contaminated sites.