Critical assessment of extracellular polymeric substances extraction methods from mixed culture biomass

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) have a presumed determinant role in the structure, architecture, strength, filterability, and settling behaviour of microbial solids in biological wastewater treatment processes. Consequently, numerous EPS extraction protocols have recently been published that aim to optimize the trade off between high EPS recovery and low cell lysis. Despite extensive efforts, the obtained results are often contradictory, even when analysing similar biomass samples and using similar experimental conditions, which greatly complicates the selection of an extraction protocol. This study presents a rigorous and critical assessment of existing physical and chemical EPS extraction methods applied to mixed-culture biomass samples (nitrifying, nitritation-anammox, and activated sludge biomass). A novel fluorescence-based method was developed and calibrated to quantify the lysis potential of different EPS extraction protocols. We concluded that commonly used methods to assess cell lysis (DNA concentrations or G6PDH activities in EPS extracts) do not correlate with cell viability. Furthermore, we discovered that the presence of certain chemicals in EPS extracts results in severe underestimation of protein and carbohydrate concentrations by using standard analytical methods. Keeping both maximum EPS extraction yields and minimal biomass lysis as criteria, it was identified a sonication-based extraction method as the best to determine and compare tightly-bound EPS fractions in different biomass samples. Protein was consistently the main EPS component in all analysed samples. However, EPS from nitrifying enrichments was richer in DNA, the activated sludge EPS had a higher content in humic acids and carbohydrates, and the nitritation-anammox EPS, while similar in composition to the nitrifier EPS, had a lower fraction of hydrophobic biopolymers. In general, the easily-extractable EPS fraction was more abundant in carbohydrates and humic substances, while DNA could only be found in tightly bound EPS fractions. In conclusion, the methodology presented herein supports the rational selection of analytical tools and EPS extraction protocols in further EPS characterization studies.     

Dynamic thermal building analysis with CFD – modelling radiation

In an attempt to reduce the high computational effort required for dynamic thermal simulation of buildings using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) the authors have recently developed an adaptive freeze-flow method (i.e. freezing of flow equations over variable time periods). This article documents the work that has been carried out to predict the surface heat transfer in dynamic thermal building processes using CFD with particular focus on radiation. The Monte Carlo (MC) and discrete transfer (DT) radiation models were investigated and results compared with analytical solutions. The DT model has shown good performance whereas an unrealistic radiation distribution on the surfaces was observed when using the MC model. A further investigation of the DT model for the cooling of a solid wall has shown that the adaptive freeze-flow method is an efficient and accurate means of conducting dynamic thermal CFD simulations which involve radiation. Finally, application of the technique to a more realistic space comprising an uneven distribution of solar gain showed very good results when compared with a zonal dynamic thermal simulation program.     

Sludge properties and their effects on membrane fouling in submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAnMBRs)

Two submerged anaerobic membrane bioreactors (SAnMBRs) (thermophilic vs. mesophilic) were operated for a period of 3.5 months with kraft evaporator condensate at a feed chemical oxygen demand of 10,000 mg/L. The results show that the filtration behavior of the two systems was significantly different. The filtration resistance in the thermophilic SAnMBR was about 5–10 times higher than that of the mesophilic system when operated under similar hydrodynamic conditions. Comparison of sludge properties and cake layer structure from the two systems was made to elucidate major factors governing the different filtration characteristics. There were more soluble microbial products (SMP) and biopolymer clusters (BPC) produced and a larger portion of fine flocs (<15 μm) in the thermophilic SAnMBR. Analysis of bound extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) showed that the thermophilic sludge had a higher protein/polysaccharide ratio in EPS, as compared to that in the mesophilic sludge. A series of analyses, including Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM) and particle size analyzer showed that the cake layer formed in the thermophilic SAnMBR contained higher levels of both organic and inorganic foulants, smaller particle sizes, and especially, a denser and more compact sludge cake structure. These results indicate that floc size, SMP, BPC, bound EPS as well as cake layer structure are the major factors governing membrane fouling in SAnMBR systems.     

浅谈南岸干渠工程渠道伸缩缝施工工艺

结合南岸干渠工程概况,介绍了渠道伸缩缝处理的几种方法,重点就双组分聚氨酯砂浆灌缝的施工方法及施工注意事项进行了论述,实践证明聚氨酯砂浆的止水效果良好,灌缝质量完全满足设计要求。     

Recent advances in membrane bioreactors (MBRs): Membrane fouling and membrane material

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have been actively employed for municipal and industrial wastewater treatments. So far, membrane fouling and the high cost of membranes are main obstacles for wider application of MBRs. Over the past few years, considerable investigations have been performed to understand MBR fouling in detail and to develop high-flux or low-cost membranes. This review attempted to address the recent and current developments in MBRs on the basis of reported literature in order to provide more detailed information about MBRs. In this paper, the fouling behaviour, fouling factors and fouling control strategies were discussed. Recent developments in membrane materials including low-cost filters, membrane modification and dynamic membranes were also reviewed. Lastly, the future trends in membrane fouling research and membrane material development in the coming years were addressed.     

Friction Behavior of Human Skin Rubbing against Different Textured Polymeric Materials Obtained by a 3D Printing Microfabrication Technique

Understanding friction behavior of human skin is indispensable in order to optimize surfaces and materials in contact with the skin. The coefficient of friction (COF) for different materials contacting against the skin is mainly influenced by the nature of the materials, mechanical contact parameters, and physiological skin conditions. The aim of the present research work was to study the grip effect of two different polymeric materials by producing different textured patterns using a 3D printing microfabrication technique and a replication technique. It was found that under the same contact conditions, a difference in the friction amplitude exists between the two different polymeric materials and that positive texturing, which consists of high relief or protrusions, showed higher COFs than negative texturing, consisting of low relief, holes, or dimples, which showed a decrease in friction as the textured pattern area density increased.     

Ease-off拓扑修正的准双曲面齿轮齿面修形方法

为了提升驱动桥准双曲面齿轮传动的啮合性能,针对准双曲面齿轮刀倾半展成法(HFT)提出一种Ease-off拓扑修正方法。在建立齿面共轭啮合数学模型的基础上,推导出小轮基准齿面方程,通过计算小轮实际齿面与基准齿面之间的偏差,构建出Ease-off拓扑。借助二阶多项表达式对Ease-off拓扑分解,计算出齿面失配系数,通过调整齿面失配系数构建出修正Ease-off拓扑。通过比较当前Ease-off拓扑与修正Ease-off拓扑,消除小轮当前齿面与修正齿面之间的偏差,反求出小轮加工参数。最后以一对准双曲面齿轮为例进行齿面拓扑修形与磨齿加工,实际齿面印痕与仿真结果一致,验证了齿面拓扑修形方法的有效性。齿面加载接触分析结果表明,修形后齿面接触应力分布得到了改善,实际载荷下齿面接触重合度增加,从而验证了修形方案的合理性。     

JMS-逆流气浮-纳滤集成工艺去除水中腐殖酸的研究

本试验研究了JMS-逆流气浮-纳滤集成工艺去除水中腐殖酸的工艺特征和效果.试验结果表明：JMS-逆流气浮工艺去除水中腐殖酸时,在最佳投药点（PFC）,出水水质符合纳滤系统预处理单元的要求.该预处理系统与纳滤系统组合的集成工艺可以使水中的腐殖酸有机物浓度大大降低,且设有TQ56-36FC型纳滤膜的流程比设有M-N1812A型纳滤膜的流程效果好.前者出水的TOC值可达0.17～0.25mg/L,CODMn值为0.32～0.44mg/L,UV254nm值为0,且有95%以上的脱盐率;后者出水的TOC值在0.47～0.94mg/L,CODMn值为0.62～0.96mg/L,UV254nm值为0～0.0064cm^-1,脱盐率很低.另外,尽管保安过滤-活性炭预处理有利于纳滤膜（尤其是M-N1812A型纳滤膜）出水水质的提高,但活性炭柱与纳滤膜能去除的有机物种类是有些重合.     

用竖井管式絮凝器处理生活污水的研究

对竖井管式絮凝反应器作了大量实验研究,发现聚合氯化铝投加量为25~45 mg/L时,对城市生活污水有较好的处理效果,COD去除率可以达到65%左右,总磷去除率达55%~70%,浊度去除率达85%左右。运行时借助于水位落差和水力学作用,可以不需要其他搅拌设备,耗能少,占地小,有较强的推广价值。适合对城市污水的预处理,也适合于与生物法相结合,提高脱磷效果。     

新型阻垢剂IA-SSS-MA聚合物的合成与表征

以衣康酸(IA)、苯乙烯磺酸钠(SSS)和马来酸酐(MA)为单体,以水为溶剂,过硫酸铵作引发剂,合成了衣康酸-苯乙烯磺酸钠-马来酸酐(IA-SSS-MA)三元聚合物阻垢剂,考察了单体配比、反应温度、引发剂量、滴加时间等对聚合物阻碳酸钙垢效果的影响,结果表明:当单体配比为IA∶SSS∶MA=5∶1∶0.25(摩尔比),反应温度100℃,引发剂量占单体总量13%,滴加时间为5 h,阻碳酸钙垢效果最好,阻垢率达到98.11%。