Enhancement of removal efficiency of ammonia nitrogen in sequencing batch reactor using natural zeolite

Two sets of lab-scale sequencing batch reactors (SBR), i.e., control SBR and SBR using zeolite as carrier (zeo-SBR), were applied to assess nitrogen removal efficiency. The test results revealed that zeolite powder added in SBR could improve its performance. Due to the combination of zeolite adsorption for NH₄ ⁺–N and enhanced simultaneous nitrification and de-nitrification (SND), a higher removal ratio of ammonia nitrogen in wastewater was observed in the test reactor, and the introduction of zeolite powder was helpful to inhabit sludge bulging comparing with the control SBR, in other words, activated sludge immobilized by zeolite powder could remove NH₄ ⁺–N, COD, and PO₄ significantly in a shorter cycle time. Applied two hydraulic retention times (HRTs) showed that the nitrogen and phosphorus removal could be improved while adapting to load variations.     

Nutrient removal from activated sludge mixed liquor by wastewater protozoa in a laboratory scale batch reactor

The aim of the study was to investigate the nutrient removal rate of three wastewater protozoan isolates. The study was carried out in a laboratory-scale batch reactor for a period of 120 h. in a four batch study. Aliquot samples were withdrawn from the reactor every 24 h. for the analysis of phosphate, nitrate, nitrite, ammonia, chemical oxygen demand, dissolved oxygen and pH, using standard methods. The results obtained in the different batches among the three isolates showed PO₄ ^2? removal rate ranging from 0.04 to 0.52 mg-PO₄ ^2?/L/h. while NO₃ ^? nitrate removal rates ranged from 0.08 to 0.16 mg-NO₃ ^?/L /h. Also NO₂- and NH₃ rates were observed to range between 0.022 and 0.087 mg-NO₂ ^?/L /h. 0.05 and 0.16 mg-NH₃ ^?/L /h, respectively. For the physicochemical parameters, there was no observed COD decrease; rather there was an increase and this was irrespective of isolates and experimental batches. However, dissolved oxygen concentration decreased drastically (below 1 mg/L) at the end of each batch while pH show a decrease after an initial 24 h. period and thereafter increased. This trend was also irrespective of isolates and experimental batches. Overall, the study has been able to show the effect of the test isolates on nutrient removal rates and other physicochemical parameters (COD, DO and pH) in activated sludge mixed liquor.     

Residues of toxaphene decrease in estuarine fish after removal of contaminated sediments

To determine if toxaphene residues in edible fish tissue decreased after removal of contaminated sediments from an estuarine site in 1999, 51 composite samples representing six finfish species were collected in 2001 and analyzed using gas chromatography with electron capture and negative ion mass spectrometric detection. The grand mean total toxaphene residue concentration on a wet weight basis (ΣTOX_wet) was 1,400 ± 3,500 ng g⁻¹ (range: < 18 to 18,000 ng g⁻¹) and was positively correlated with extractable lipid. On a lipid basis, the mean ΣTOX_lip was 26 ± 33 μg g¹, which decreased with increasing distance from the study site. Although benthically-oriented species, such as spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) and striped mullet (Mugil cephalus), exhibited higher mean ΣTOX_wet than those of higher trophic level fish, mean ΣTOX_lip were not significantly different among species. The grand mean ΣTOX for 2001 was 3.8 (wet) and 2.6 (lipid) times less than corresponding preremedial action (1997) concentrations, suggesting that bioavailable toxaphene residues in this system have been reduced. Forage species, such as croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), mullet, and spot, preferentially accumulate toxaphene residues in this system and may serve as vectors of organochlorine contaminants in the estuarine and coastal ocean food web.     

Evaluation of moving-bed biofilm sequencing batch reactor (MBSBR) in operating A<Superscript>2</Superscript>O process with emphasis on biological removal of nutrients existing in wastewater

In this study, the performance of moving-bed biofilm sequencing batch reactor in operating the anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (A²O) process for treatment of wastewaters containing nitrogen and phosphorous was evaluated. For this purpose, a pilot system with two bench-scale sequencing batch reactors with a total volume of 30 L and functional volume of 10 L was used. The installation was elaborated using plexiglass, in which 60% of the functional volume consisted of PVC suspended carriers (Kaldnes K3) with a specific surface area of 560 m²/m³. The independent variables used in this study were hydraulic retention time (HRT) (1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, and 3.5 h) and the initial organic load (300, 500, 800, 1000 mg O₂/L). The results showed impressive performance in the case of an initial organic load of 300 mg O₂/L and HRT of 3 h with maximum removal of COD and TN, respectively, by 95.1 and 89.8%. In the case of an initial organic load of 1000 mg O₂/L and HRT of 3.5 h, the maximum total phosphorus removal was 72.3%. Therefore, according to the analysis of data obtained by different HRTs, it was revealed that the system of A²O has greater efficiency in removing organic matter from wastewater in the shortest possible time.     

Normalization of metal concentrations in estuarine sediments from the Gulf of Mexico

Metal concentrations were examined in sediments from 497 sites within the estuaries of the Gulf of Mexico by the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program (EMAP). Data were normalized for extant concentrations of aluminum to isolate natural factors from anthropogenic ones. The normalization was based on the hypothesis that metal concentrations vary consistently with the concentration of aluminum, unless metals are of anthropogenic origin. Strong linear correlations (>75% variation explained) were observed between Al and Cr, Cu, Pb, Ni, and Zn. Moderate correlations (50–75% variation explained) were observed between Al and As or Ag. Weak but significant correlations (30–40% variation explained) were observed between Al and Hg or Cd. Based on these results, the spatial extent of contamination was examined. About 39% of sites with contamination by at least one metal occurred near population centers, industrial discharge sites, or military bases. The remainder of the observed contamination represented a dispersed pattern, including the lower Mississippi River (7%) and numerous agricultural watersheds (54%), suggesting that the contamination might be from nonpoint sources.     

粉煤灰处理含氟废水的正交试验研究

对粉煤灰处理含氟废水进行了正交试验研究。结果表明各因素对F-去除率的影响顺序为:pH>V/M>T>CF-,极差R分别为49.6、9.1、4.9和3.6;在pH=5、V/M=10、T=3h时,粉煤灰对于CF-<500 mg/L的废水具有较好的去除效果;粉煤灰吸附F-的行为符合Langmuir等温方程,方程为Ce/qe=0.251 8Ce+6.087 3。     

电解脱氮除磷技术在海产养殖废水治理中的研究

海产养殖迅速发展造成水域富营养化、赤潮频发,海产养殖废水污染的治理迫在眉睫。为解决此问题将电解脱氮除磷技术应用在海产养殖废水处理中,并探讨电压、pH、极板间距和电解时间对脱氮除磷去除率的影响。结果表明:脱氮除磷的去除率与电压成正相关,与极板间距成负相关。在电压为30V,极板间距10cm,pH为7时,NH_4~+-N、NO_3~--N和TP的去除率达到最大分别为72%、90%、85%。     

The effects of sea salts on the forms of nitrogen released from estuarine and freshwater sediments: Does ion pairing affect ammonium flux?

In sediments with oxidized surface layers, the percentage of mineralized nitrogen that is nitrified/denitrified, compared with that released directly as ammonium, appears to be affected by the presence of sea salts. In estuarine systems, a significant portion of the nitrogen is released as ammonium, whereas in freshwater systems, most of the mineralized nitrogen is often released from the sediments as nitrogen gas. We hypothesized that this discrepancy is caused by differential competition between physical diffusion and nitrification/denitrification in the two systems. The vertical migration (by Fickian diffusion) of ammonium out of the oxic layer may be hindered by cation exchange (or sorption) interactions with sediment particles to a greater extent in fresh water than in estuarine systems. The resulting relatively long residence time, and potentially high levels of particle-bound ammonium in the freshwater sediments, would favor nitrification as the major ammonium removal process. By contrast, ion pair formation of ammonium with seawater anions and blockage of sediment cation exchange sites with seawater cations may allow a sizable fraction of the ammonium to diffuse out of estuarine sediments before it is nitrified. A salt effect, consistent with this hypothesis, has been demonstrated in experimental systems by changing the ionic composition of water flowing above intact cores of freshwater and estuarine sediments. Steady-state ammonium release from Lake Michigan sediments was substantially enhanced in the presence of 30% seawater over that in the presence of lake water alone. Likewise, steady-state ammonium release, from Ochlockonee River and Bay sediments (Florida) and from Toms River and Barnegat Bay sediments (New Jersey), was usually higher in the presence of diluted synthetic seawater than it was in the presence of fresh water.     

生物滞留系统去除地表径流中的氮素研究评述

总结了近年来国内外应用生物滞留系统脱除降雨径流氮素的研究现状,从生物滞留系统脱氮效能、脱氮影响因素和脱氮机制3个方面论述了国内外主要研究进展和理论成果。提出了生物滞留系统脱氮的研究建议:加强生物滞留系统内氮素迁移转化驱动机制研究;推动生物滞留系统"宏观生境-运行效能-微生态系统"耦合响应体系研究;开展生物滞留系统功能植物关键分子生物学特征研究。     

The removal of color and COD from wastewater containing water base color by coagulation process

In this study acrylic water base color was removed from synthetic wastewater using coagulation process. Experiments were conducted on the sample containing 100 mg/L and 400 mg/L of acrylic water base color. Destruction of color by means of coagulation/flocculation techniques using ferrous sulfate, alum, lime and polyelectrolyte (cationic, anionic and non ionic). The study was performed in a systematic approach searching optimum values of alum and FeSO₄ concentration, pH and temperature. All the experiments were run in a laboratory scale.The obtained results show that treatment with alum and ferrous sulfate alone proved to be very effective in removing the color (> 99 %) and part of COD (60–70 %) from aqueous solution. Lime alone did not significant change on COD and color removal.     

Efficiency of compost in the removal of heavy metals from the industrial wastewater

Authorities have been applying very strict regulations for the treatment of industrial wastewater recently because of the threatening level of the environmental pollution faced. Industrial wastewater containing heavy metals is a threat to the public health because of the accumulation of the heavy metals in the aquatic life which is transferred to human bodies through the food chain. Therefore, recently, researchers have been oriented toward the practical use of adsorbents for the treatment of wastewater polluted by heavy metals. The aim of this research was to determine the retention capacity of compost for copper, zinc, nickel and chromium. For this purpose, experiments in batch-mixing reactors with initial metal concentrations ranging from 100 to 1,000 mg/l were carried. It was also observed that compost could repeatedly be used in metal sorption processes. The experiments conducted indicated that compost has high retention capacities for copper, zinc and nickel, but not for chromium. Thus, compost has been approved as a potential sorbent for copper, zinc and nickel and may find place in industrial applications. Thus, solid waste which is another source of significant environmental pollution will be reduced by being converted into a beneficial product compost.     

Organic and organometallic compounds in estuarine sediments from the Gulf of Mexico (1993–1994)

Sediment samples from 281 estuarine sites in the Gulf of Mexico were collected in 1993–1994 and analyzed for several classes of organic and organometallic compounds as part of the Environmental Monitoring and Assessment Program of the United States Environmental Protection Agency. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were the contaminant class found most frequently and in the highest concentrations; the sum of 24 congeners (ΣPAHs) ranged from <5 ng g^?1 to 15.500 ng g^?1 (dry wt basis). A low percentage of samples (3.9%) exceeded 2000 ng g^?1 ΣPAHs, and only six samples (2.1%) exceeded 4000 ng g^?1, a level above which adverse biological effects may be expected to occur. Less than 4% of sediments exceeded 20 ng g^?1 for the sum of 20 polychlorinated biphenyls (ΣPCBs) and only four samples (1.4%) exceeded 20 ng g^?1 for the sum of several organochlorine pesticides (ΣOCPs). A sample from Freeport Harbor, Texas, contained 4230 ng g^?1 ΣPAHs, 322 ng g^?1 ΣPCBs, and 49.6 ng g^?1 ΣOCPs. Tributyltin exceeded 100 ng g^?1 in only four samples, all of which were from stations in Corpus Christi Bay or Galveston Bay in Texas. The detection of a suite of organophosphate pesticides was very rare and did not exceed 15 ng g^?1. Sediments from the tidally influenced section of the Mississippi River in Louisiana contained low to moderate levels of all classes of organic compounds. The most contaminated sites were in urban estuaries (e.g., Corpus Christi, Galveston, and Pensacola (Florida bays), underscoring the need to concentrate future monitoring and assessment efforts at the regional and local level.     

城市重污染河道环境因子对底质氮释放影响

以苏州市古城区劣Ⅴ类水体为研究对象,利用模拟试验方法,研究和探讨了水体环境条件(DO、Eh、pH值、温度)变化和疏浚深度对河道底泥氮释放的影响.底泥供试样中NH₄+-N与NO₃--N含量一般为0.277 g/kg与0.0012g/kg,上覆水体NH₄+-N与NO₃--N含量一般为6.743 mg/L与1.500 mg/L.试验结果表明:厌氧环境(DO<0.5 mg/L)、强还原环境(Eh<-108 mV)、酸性环境(pH<6.0)及温度升高均有利于底泥中NH₄+-N的释放,NO₃--N的迁移转化规律则相反;供试样控制疏浚深度5 cm、10 cm、15 cm、20 cm,当疏浚深度15 cm时,泥-水界面向上覆水体中扩散的氮通量最小;疏浚深度、DO和Eh对底泥NH₄+-N释放程度的影响大于pH和温度,通过曝气等方式保持水体中适当的溶解氧或使底泥保持较强的氧化电位环境可以有效抑制底泥中NH₄+-N的释放.     

绿沸石基复合材料对河道水中氨氮去除效果研究

以绿沸石、硅藻土、膨润土、牡蛎壳为主要原材料,包衣机制粒后马弗炉焙烧制成绿沸石-硅藻土(GZD)、绿沸石-膨润土(GZB)、绿沸石-牡蛎壳(GZO)等3款球状氨氮吸附材料。探究造孔剂-粘结剂配比、物料配比、焙烧温度、焙烧时间对污水中氨氮的吸附量和材料散失率的影响,通过吸附动力学、吸附等温线、氨氮去除率、材料散失率试验探讨其吸附机理。并设计了简易装置,用实际河道水样对比分析了3款复合材料与块状绿沸石原矿对氨氮的吸附效果和重复利用次数,对处理效果最佳的GZD中的主要材料绿沸石和硅藻土进行了SEM和XRF表征。结果表明:GZD的氨氮吸附效果最佳,制备条件为造孔剂、粘结剂、绿沸石、硅藻土的质量比为1.2﹕5﹕9﹕1;在500℃下焙烧3 h;GZD对氨氮的吸附符合准二级动力学,用Freundlich等温线比Langmuir等温线更适合描述其吸附过程;GZD对实际河道水样进行5次吸附再生后仍具有明显效果。     

Statistical analysis of main and interaction effects during the removal of BTEX mixtures in batch conditions, using wastewater treatment plant sludge microbes

Biodegradation has proved to be a versatile technique to remediate benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene and xylene mixtures in contaminated soil and groundwater. In this study, a mixed microbial culture obtained from a wastewater treatment plant was used to degrade liquid phase ethyl benzene and xylene, at initial concentrations varying between 15 to 75 mg/l. Experiments were conducted according to the 2^k?1 fractional factorial design to identify the main and interaction effects of parameters and their influence on biodegradation of individual ethyl benzene and xylene compounds in mixtures. The removal efficiencies of these compounds varied between 2 to 90% depending on the concentration of other compounds and also on their interaction effects. A statistical interpretation of the results was done based on the Fishers variance ratio (F) and probability (P) values. Though all the main effects were found significant (P < 0.05) at the 5% confidence level, the interactions between benzene and toluene and benzene and xylene concentrations were also found to be statistically significant and play a major role in affecting the total ethyl benzene and xylene removal.     

Distribution of nitrogen forms in surface sediments of lakes from different regions,China

The characteristics of nitrogen fractions in the surface sediments of lakes from Eastern Plain Region, Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Region, Northeast China Region, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Region and Mongolia-Xinjiang Plateau Region were investigated and the differences of five lake regions on nitrogen fractionation were discussed. The results indicated that organic nitrogen (N_org) was the major nitrogen fraction accounting for 76.38–92.02 % of N_tot in sediments. The rank order of average N_org and N_tot of sediments in five lake regions was: Yunnan-Guizhou Plateau Region > Northeast China Region > Mongolia-Xinjiang Plateau Region > Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Region > Eastern Plain Region. The exchangeable nitrogen had a similar distribution as organic nitrogen in the studied sediments. NH₄ ⁺–N is the main exchangeable nitrogen of sediments in the studied lakes except in Lake Qinghai and Lake Yamdrok which contained higher nitrate concentrations than ammonium. Fixed ammonium (N_fix) in the sediments of studied lakes was irregularly distributed with the values ranging from 99.45 to 329.02 mg/kg. TOC was significantly and positively correlated with ammonium, nitrate, N_org and N_tot, while N_fix was negatively correlated with nitrate probably due to electrostatic attraction between N_fix and nitrate in layers of sediments.     

Diagenetic processes on metals in hypersaline mudflat sediments from a subtropical saltmarsh (SE Gulf of California): Postdepositional mobility and geochemical fractions

To understand the biogeochemical cycles of trace metals (Cd, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni and Zn) in a hypersaline subtropical marsh, geochemical studies of both interstitial and solid phases were conducted on sediment cores from Chiricahueto marsh, SE Gulf of California. The sequential extraction procedure proposed by Tessier was used to estimate the percentages of the metals present in each geochemical phase of the sediment. Metal concentrations in the solid phase were found to be enriched in the upper layers and mainly associated with reactive fractions such as organic matter, Fe–Mn oxyhydroxides and carbonates (46–74% of Ni, Mn and Cd, and 11–19% of Cu and Zn). Principal factor analysis (PFA) and Spearman correlation analysis revealed a strong positive association of metals and their reactive phases with OC (the diagenetic component), and a negative or non-association with the mud content, Al, Fe and Li (the lithogenic component). Diagenetically released metals are mainly mobilized within hypersaline sediments by buoyancy transport (>90% of total flux) in response to an extreme salinity gradient by input of fresh groundwater (3–6 psu cm⁻¹). The molecular diffusion due to the gradient of metals in porewater (maximum and higher levels at 5–7 and below 20 cm depth, respectively) is significantly less important to the advective transport. Most of the metals mobilized by diffusion–advection processes are re-precipitated in the sediments by authigenic minerals, only <10% of most metals are extruded out to the overlying water column. Authigenic accumulation rates were estimated as 1.42–7.09 mg m⁻² a⁻¹ for Cd; 58.8–378 for Cu; 6922–17,985 for Fe; 38.2–345 for Mn; 20.8–263 for Ni; and 282–2956 mg m⁻² a⁻¹ for Zn. The Mn–Fe oxyhydroxides (40–85% of reactive metals) in the upper oxic–suboxic layers (<5 cm below surface) and sulfide minerals (75–97%) in anoxic sediment layers (7–18 cm) constitute the main scavengers for metals.     

Removal of lead (II) from synthetic and batteries wastewater using agricultural residues in batch/column mode

The present article explores the ability of five different combinations of two adsorbents (Arachis hypogea shell powder and Eucalyptus cameldulensis saw dust) to remove Pb(II) from synthetic and lead acid batteries wastewater through batch and column mode. The effects of solution pH, adsorbent dose, initial Pb(II) concentration and contact time were investigated with synthetic solutions in batch mode. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy study revealed that carboxyl and hydroxyl functional groups were mostly responsible for the removal of Pb(II) ions from test solutions. The kinetic data were found to follow pseudo-second-order model with correlation coefficient of 0.99. Among Freundlich and Langmuir adsorption models, the Langmuir model provided the best fit to the equilibrium data with maximum adsorption capacity of 270.2 mg g^?1. Column studies were carried out using lead battery wastewater at different flow rates and bed depths. Two kinetic models, viz. Thomas and Bed depth service time model, were applied to predict the breakthrough curves and breakthrough service time. The Pb(II) uptake capacity (q _e = 540.41 mg g^?1) was obtained using bed depth of 35 cm and a flow rate of 1.0 mL min^?1 at 6.0 pH. The results from this study showed that adsorption capacity of agricultural residues in different combinations is much better than reported by other authors, authenticating that the prepared biosorbents have potential in remediation of Pb-contaminated waters.     

太湖北部底泥中氮、磷的空间变化和环境意义

以太湖底泥为研究对象，通过分析不同形态N，P的含量，揭示太湖北部底泥N，P的区域和垂向变化特征，探讨了主要营养元素的环境意义。太湖北部底泥N，P的高值区分布在五里湖，梅梁湾北部和竺山湖北部，有效氮的分布与总氮的分布一致。相关分析表明，有效磷与无机磷具有很好的正相关性，N，P的含量还与粘土矿物的含量成正比。柱状样的N，P垂直变化显示，数千年人类的活动并未明显影响底泥中N，P的含量，而在近代则明显增加。底泥中大量的N，P主要来自生活污水，其次是农田肥料和围网养殖。