Fate of the pathogen indicators phage ΦX174 and Ascaris suum eggs during the production of struvite fertilizer from source-separated urine

Human urine has the potential to be a sustainable, locally and continuously available source of nutrients for agriculture. Phosphate can be efficiently recovered from human urine in the form of the mineral struvite (MgNH₄PO₄·6H₂O). However, struvite formation may be coupled with the precipitation of other constituents present in urine including pathogens, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals. To determine if struvite fertilizer presents a microbiological health risk to producers and end users, we characterized the fate of a human virus surrogate (phage ΦX174) and the eggs of the helminth Ascaris suum during a low-cost struvite recovery process. While the concentration of phages was similar in both the struvite and the urine, Ascaris eggs accumulated within the solid during the precipitation and filtration process. Subsequent air-drying of the struvite filter cake partially inactivated both microorganisms; however, viable Ascaris eggs and infective phages were still detected after several days of drying. The infectivity of both viruses and eggs was affected by the specific struvite drying conditions: higher inactivation generally occurred with increased air temperature and decreased relative humidity. On a log-log scale, phage inactivation increased linearly with decreasing moisture content of the struvite, while Ascaris inactivation occurred only after achieving a minimum moisture threshold. Sunlight exposure did not directly affect the infectivity of phages or Ascaris eggs in struvite cakes, though the resultant rise in temperature accelerated the drying of the struvite cake, which contributed to inactivation.     

Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometric Determination of Gadolinium in Urine Using Flow Injection On‐Line Sorption Preconcentration in a Knotted Reactor

Abstract

An on‐line gadolinium preconcentration and determination system, implemented with ultrasonic nebulization coupled to inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP‐OES), associated with flow injection (FI) was studied. Gadolinium was retained as Gd‐2‐(5‐bromo‐2‐pyridilazo)‐5‐diethylaminophenol complex (Gd‐5‐Br‐PADAP) at pH 9.0, on the inner walls of the knotted reactor (KR). The collected analyte complexes were quantitatively eluted from the 200 cm KR with 30% (v/v) nitric acid. An enhancement factor of 255‐fold was obtained (17 for KR and 15 for USN). The detection limit (DL) value for the preconcentration of 15 mL of sample was 4.0 ng L^?1. The relative standard deviation (RSD) was 3.5%, calculated from the peak heights obtained. The calibration graph using the preconcentration system for gadolinium was linear, with a correlation coefficient of 0.9996 at levels near the detection limit up to at least 200 µg L^?1. The method was successfully applied to the determination of gadolinium in urine samples.     

Ryegrass uptake of carbamazepine and ibuprofen applied by urine fertilization

Human urine is a potential alternative fertilizer for agriculture. However, its usage is associated with a risk of spreading pharmaceutical residues to fields. The individual and combined behavior of carbamazepine and ibuprofen was investigated by GC/MS analysis in a greenhouse experiment using ryegrass fertilized with pharmaceutical-spiked urine. Only carbamazepine could be detected in soil, roots, and aerial plant parts. Fifty-three per cent of carbamazepine originally present in the urine was recovered in soil samples taken after three months. Additionally, 34% of carbamazepine was found in aerial plant parts and 0.3% in roots. Model calculations showed that neither roots nor Casparian strip posed a considerable barrier to uptake. Carbamazepine transport was clearly driven by transpiration. Ibuprofen was not detected in the soil or in any plant parts after three months. This was assumed to be due to biodegradation of ibuprofen. Carbamazepine and ibuprofen, singly or in combination, did not adversely affect the growth of ryegrass.     

1H-NMR metabolic profiling of human neonatal urine

Object: The measurement of different urine components and their changes over time may provide comprehensive and early information about perinatal metabolic processes and physiological changes. We hypothesized that ¹ H−NMR-spectroscopy generating a complex spectral profile without pre-selection of urinary metabolites could identify metabolites determining the neonatal physiological status and discriminating between different metabolic states. Materials and Methods: We studied spot urine of three groups of neonates (healthy term-born, term-born with non-specific bacterial infections, and preterm neonates) for the first 6 days of life using ¹ H−NMR-spectroscopy. In the group of healthy neonates metabolites changing were identified and their excretion patterns compared between groups. Results: Six metabolites indicating physiological changes were identified: N-methylnicotinamide (NAD ⁺-pathway), formate, hippurate, betaine (kidney development), taurine (neuronal development), and bile acids (hepatic clearance). While the dynamic changes over the first 6 days were the same for all metabolites in both groups of term-born neonates, the excretion of N-methylnicotinamide and taurine was significantly higher in preterm neonates compared to healthy term neonates and neonates with bacterial infections from the third day after birth (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Urine analysis using ¹ H−NMR-spectroscopy could identify markers for perinatal metabolic changes. Further studies have to clarify if the proposed physiological interpretation will correlate with long-term physiological development.     

Design Criteria for a Rotating Biological Contactor System for Treatment of Urinal Wastewater

Various design criteria have been set for Rotating Biological Contactor (RBC) for treating urinal wastewater. The aim of treating urinal wastewater is to remove odour and color from it so that it can be recycled for flushing. In the present paper, significance of RBC system for treating urinal wastewater has also been elaborated. The setting up of design criteria is based on the assumption that the rate of nitrification is zero-order with respect to total Kjeldhal nitrogen concentration. Principles of bioprocess involved in wastewater treatment have also been described in relation to the composition of human urine.     

Comparison of Sample Preparation and Analysis Using Solid-Phase Extraction and Solid-Phase Microextraction to Determine Monohydroxy PAH in Urine by GC/HRMS

Sample preparation techniques using solid-phase extraction (SPE) and solid-phase microextraction (SPME) are compared for the analysis of monohydroxy polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OHPAH) in human urine. Urine samples spiked with five carbon-13 labeled internal standards are first enzymatically hydrolyzed. Sixteen OHPAH from eight parent compounds (naphthalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chrysene, benzo[ c ]phenanthrene, and benz[ a ]anthracene) are then extracted along with the internal standards by these two different techniques. The analytes are derivatized by a silylating reagent before final analysis. Final separation and detection are performed by temperature-programmed capillary gas chromatography (GC) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The two extraction techniques are compared for sample preparation time, cost, throughput, reinjection possibility, frequency of outliers, matrix interference, signal linearity, and method detection limit. SPE demonstrates major advantages over SPME for most of these aspects.     

A novel multi-walled carbon nanotube modified sensor for the selective determination of epinephrine in smokers

Epinephrine (EP), an important neurotransmitter, energizes and speeds up the various body systems and plays an important role during the time of stress and low blood sugar level. There is a close relation between the release of epinephrine and smoking. Edge plane pyrolytic graphite electrode modified with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs/EPPGE) has been used as a sensor for the efficient quantitative determination of epinephrine in body fluids of smokers and nonsmokers in resting stage at physiological pH 7.2 by using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and square wave voltammetry (SWV). The oxidation of epinephrine occurred in a well-defined peak having peak potential (E_p) ∼150 mV at pH 7.2. The limit of detection (3σ/slope) and limit of quantification were found to be 0.15 × 10⁻⁹ and 0.48 × 10⁻⁹ M using proposed sensor, respectively. The modified electrode was also utilized for the analysis of commercial sample of epinephrine in order to examine the accuracy of the proposed method. The analytical performance of the modified electrode has been evaluated for quantification of EP in real samples even in the presence of common coexisting biomolecules such as uric acid, ascorbic acid, dopamine and norepinephrine. The voltammetric response of the developed nanosensor towards epinephrine determination in body fluids is fast, sensitive and selective having desirable reproducibility and stability. A comparison of results with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) shows a good agreement.     

Voltammetric determination of bisoprolol fumarate in pharmaceutical formulations and urine using single-wall carbon nanotubes modified glassy carbon electrode

The electrochemistry of bisoprolol fumarate (BF) has been investigated by differential pulse voltammetry at a single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) modified glassy carbon electrode (GCE). The prepared electrode showed an excellent electrocatalytic activity towards the oxidation of BF leading to a marked improvement in sensitivity as compared to bare glassy carbon electrode where electrochemical activity for the analyte cannot be observed. The SWNTs-modified GCE exhibited a sharp anodic peak at a potential of ∼950 mV for the oxidation of BF. Under optimum conditions linear calibration curve was obtained over the BF concentration range 0.01-0.1 mM in 0.5 M phosphate buffer solution (pH 7.2) with a correlation coefficient of 0.9789 and detection limit of 8.27 × 10⁻⁷ M. The modified electrode has been applied for the drug determination in human urine with no prior extraction and in commercial tablets. The proposed method has also been validated.     

套管结晶器定期除垢强化介质传热效率

105HI型套管结晶器是针对络合反应条件吸收反应热量等特点为尿素脱蜡装置设计的专用反应器。在大温差的换热过程中极易结垢,长时间使用后严重影响换热效果,降低换热效率,同时因热量不均匀而影响产品质量。在相同的生产负荷下,采用定期除垢方法可大幅提高换热效率,增加低温水在结晶器中的停留时间,有利于提高产品质量和收率,大幅降低能耗。