Enhanced removal of 1,2-dichloroethane by anodophilic microbial consortia

1,2-Dichloroethane (1,2-DCA) is a well-known recalcitrant groundwater contaminant. New environment-friendly approaches for the removal of 1,2-DCA that does not bring about volatilization of the compound are required. In this study, different anodophilic consortia enriched in microbial fuel cells (MFCs) operated under airtight conditions were shown to effectively degrade 1,2-DCA (up to 102 mg per liter reactor volume per day), while concomitantly generating a current. An anodophilic consortium previously enriched with acetate as the electron donor changed its composition at the rate of 48% per week and increased its richness (Rr) 3-fold, upon adapting to 1,2-DCA as the new electron donor. After being stable, during 1 month of operation, it removed up to 95% of the 1,2-DCA amount in the medium in the first 2 weeks, while converting 43 ± 4% of electrons available from the removal to electricity. A natural consortium from a 1,2-DCA contaminated site changed its composition at the rate of 9% per week and increased its Rr 2-fold, upon adapting to the MFC anode conditions with 1,2-DCA as the electron donor. After being stable, during 1 month of operation, it removed up to 85% of the 1,2-DCA amount in the medium in the first 2 weeks and the coulombic efficiency was 25 ± 4%. The operation of the MFCs under closed circuit conditions resulted in higher 1,2-DCA removal rates than the operation under open circuit conditions, indicating that bioelectrochemical activities enhanced the removal of 1,2-DCA in the MFC anode. The production of ethylene glycol, acetate and carbon dioxide indicated that the anodophilic bacteria oxidatively metabolized 1,2-DCA, probably by means of a hydrolysis-based pathway. The results show that MFCs can be potentially used as a practically convenient technology for the biological removal of 1,2-DCA.     

The ability of zinc to inhibit the sporulation and viability of Clostridium sporogenes and growth of other bacteria

The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of zinc on the sporulation and viability of Clostridium sporogenes and on the growth of other bacteria. When 0.5% ZnCl₂ was added to a sporulation medium, it completely inhibited C. sporogenes (PA 3679) sporulation for up to 3 weeks. At concentrations of 0.5% and 1.0%, ZnCl₂ not only completely inactivated the vegetative cell viability (>7.0 Log reduction) but also significantly reduced the spore viability (<2.1 Log reduction) of C. sporogenes. Taken together, it was concluded that zinc blocks C. sporogenes sporulation by damaging (or killing) vegetative cells and probably by interfering with the biosynthesis of spore components. In addition to the inhibitory effect on the sporulation and viability of C. sporogenes, ZnCl₂ was found to have a broad antimicrobial spectrum against all Gram‐positive and Gram‐negative spoilage and pathogenic bacteria tested. The minimal inhibitory concentration for inhibiting the bacteria ranged between 3.7 and 7.4 mm . Therefore, we expect that this compound or a combination thereof has a potential as a surface‐cleaning agent or disinfectant.     

Structural purity of magnetite nanoparticles in magnetotactic bacteria

Magnetosome biomineralization and chain formation in magnetotactic bacteria are two processes that are highly controlled at the cellular level in order to form cellular magnetic dipoles. However, even if the magnetosome chains are well characterized, controversial results about the microstructure of magnetosomes were obtained and its possible influence in the formation of the magnetic dipole is to be specified. For the first time, the microstructure of intracellular magnetosomes was investigated using high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction. Significant differences in the lattice parameter were found between intracellular magnetosomes from cultured magnetotactic bacteria and isolated ones. Through comparison with abiotic control materials of similar size, we show that this difference can be associated with different oxidation states and that the biogenic nanomagnetite is stoichiometric, i.e. structurally pure whereas isolated magnetosomes are slightly oxidized. The hierarchical structuring of the magnetosome chain thus starts with the formation of structurally pure magnetite nanoparticles that in turn might influence the magnetic property of the magnetosome chains.     

A survey on the milk chemical and microbiological quality in dairy donkey farms located in NorthWestern Italy

There is a growing interest in donkey's milk as food for sensitive consumers, such as infants with cow's milk protein allergy and elderly people. The aim of this study was to carry out a survey on the dairy donkeys farming in Piedmont, Italy. The research was conducted in order to analyze the farm characteristics as well as the chemical and microbiological quality of milk. All the farms were small-sized, family-run, and, in most cases, animals were farmed semi-extensively. The donkey milk from Piedmont farms was characterized by a protein content around 1.5 g/100 mL and a fat content lower than 0.1 g/100 mL. Lysozyme activity was considerably higher than that reported in raw cow milk. The milk microbiological profile greatly differed among the farms. Milk sampled in the farm that performed hand milking showed total viable counts significantly lower than milk collected in the farms equipped with automatic milking. Samples were tested for several pathogens and negative results were observed, except for the detection of Bacillus cereus in one sample. The survey provided useful data for the laying down of recent regional regulation for the production and commercialization of donkey's milk. The results of the survey indicate that further research is needed in order to define the best management and nutritional strategies for the improvement of the quali-quantitative production of dairy donkeys.     

Bacterial inactivation in water,DNA strand breaking,and membrane damage induced by ultraviolet-assisted titanium dioxide photocatalysis

The effects of UV-assisted TiO₂-photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) inactivation of pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, Salmonella typhimurium) in a liquid culture using different domains of UV irradiation (A, B and C) were evaluated. Structural changes in super-coiled plasmid DNA (pUC19) and genomic DNA of E. coli were observed using gel electrophoresis to demonstrate the photodynamic DNA strand breaking activity of UV-assisted TiO₂-PCO. Membrane damage in bacterial cells was observed using both a scanning electron microscope (SEM) and a confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Both UVC-TiO₂-PCO and UVC alone resulted in an earlier bactericidal phase (initial counts of approximately 6 log CFU/mL) in 60 s and 90 s, respectively, in liquid culture. UVC-TiO₂-PCO treatment for 6 min converted all plasmid DNA to the linear form; however, under UVC irradiation alone, super-coiled DNA remained. Prolonged UVC-TiO₂-PCO treatment resulted in structural changes in genomic DNA from E. coli. SEM observations revealed that bacteria suffered severe visible cell damage after UVC-TiO₂-PCO treatment for 30–60 min. S. typhimurium cells showed visible damage after 30 min, which was confirmed using CLSM. All treated cells were stained red using propidium iodide under a fluorescent light.     

Multistage treatment system for raw leachate from sanitary landfill combining biological nitrification–denitrification/solar photo-Fenton/biological processes,at a scale close to industrial – Biodegradability enhancement and evolution profile of trace pollutants

A multistage treatment system, at a scale close to the industrial, was designed for the treatment of a mature raw landfill leachate, including: a) an activated sludge biological oxidation (ASBO), under aerobic and anoxic conditions; b) a solar photo-Fenton process, enhancing the bio-treated leachate biodegradability, with and without sludge removal after acidification; and c) a final polishing step, with further ASBO.     

沈阳市污水处理厂1000t/d污泥处理工程设计

沈阳市污水处理厂污泥处理工程是目前世界上已投入运行的处理规模最大的机械化槽式污泥堆肥项目,介绍了项目工艺流程及设计情况(物料衡算、单体工艺参数、主要设备等),总结了项目设计特点,并分析了项目运行效果,最后得到结论:对于超大型污泥处理项目,堆肥仍可视为有效处理方法之一;规模的扩大不应以牺牲环境质量为代价,除臭仍应受到充分重视;机械化程度的提高对于规模化堆肥技术的推广具有现实意义;该项目堆肥成品含水率为35％,严于国家标准,但并未引起运行成本升高,对于采用返混为主的堆肥系统是一个有益的借鉴;在本土化基础上的国际合作是探索适合中国国情污泥处理处置道路的理想选择.     

Mn(Ⅱ)对好氧颗粒污泥微生物活性的影响

针对城市污水中重金属离子短期超标影响污水生物处理系统正常运行的问题,采用好氧颗粒污泥SBR反应器,研究了不同浓度Mn(Ⅱ)短期冲击下对好氧颗粒污泥污染物去除性能、外观结构和微生物活性的影响。试验结果表明,好氧颗粒污泥受不同浓度Mn(Ⅱ)10 d的冲击后,COD去除率受Mn(Ⅱ)影响较小,Mn(Ⅱ)会轻微促进AGS对TN的去除。Mn(Ⅱ)分别为0.5、1.0、3.0 mg/L可提高好氧颗粒污泥的活性,在相应浓度的冲击下SOUR分别提高16.0%、108.5%、51.8%,TTC-ETS分别提高了7.7%、112.4%、45.7%。5.0 mg/L Mn(Ⅱ)对SOUR和TTC-ETS的抑制率分别为13.8%和33.5%。     

生长因子对SRB处理硫酸盐废水的影响研究

采用实验室模拟手段,研究了静态条件下硫酸盐还原菌(Sulfate Reducing Bacteria,SRB)对硫酸盐废水的处理效果,考察了菌液接种量、初始pH、碳源种类、m(COD)/m(SO_4~(2-))等生态因子对处理效果的影响。结果表明,增加菌液量、提升pH、提高m(COD)/m(SO_4~(2-))均可提升SO_4~(2-)去除率;以乳酸钠、葡萄糖、甘油、甲酸作为碳源时,SRB利用这4种碳源对SO_4~(2-)的还原率由大到小依次为甲酸乳酸钠甘油葡萄糖。该研究对SRB处理硫酸盐废水的工程应用具有一定的指导意义。     

内聚甲醇固定化硫酸盐还原菌小球去除硫酸盐和铬

Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)对生态环境构成严重威胁,制备内聚甲醇为营养源的固定化硫酸盐还原菌小球处理初始Cr~(6+)浓度为100 mg·L-1和初始SO_4~(2-)浓度为200 mg·L-1的废水,探讨内聚甲醇固定化硫酸盐还原菌小球处理含Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)的效果。结果表明,内聚甲醇为营养源的固定化硫酸盐还原菌小球对废水中Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)具有较好的去除效果,对Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)的最大去除量分别达到301.20μg·g-1和1 284.89μg·g-1。SEM分析表明,硫酸盐还原和吸附在其中发挥了重要作用,Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)去除率最高达99.40%和97.49%。内聚甲醇的固定化硫酸盐还原菌小球是一种良好的处理含Cr~(6+)和SO_4~(2-)废水的新型生物吸附剂。