Effect of low-intensity ultrasound on partial nitrification: Performance,sludge characteristics,and properties of extracellular polymeric substances

Ultrasound technology, which is environment-friendly and economical, has emerged as a novel strategy that can be used to enhance the partial nitrification process. However, its effect on this process remains unclear. Therefore, in this study, partial nitrification sludge was subjected to low-intensity (0.15 W/mL) ultrasound treatment for 10 min, and the effect of ultrasonic treatment on the partial nitrification process was evaluated based on changes in reactor performance, sludge characteristics, and the properties of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS). The results obtained showed that the ultrasonic treatment enhanced nitrite accumulation performance as well as the activity of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria from 3.3 to 16.6 mg O₂/g VSS,⋅while inhibiting the activity of nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Further analysis showed that owing to the ultrasonic treatment, there was an increase in EPS contents. Particularly, there was a significant increase in loosely bound polysaccharide (PS) contents, indicating the occurrence of intracellular PS anabolics as well as PS secretion. Additionally, ultrasonic treatment induced a significant increase in carbonyl, hydroxyl, and amine functional group contents, and EPS analysis results revealed that it had a positive effect on mass transfer efficiency; thus, it enhanced the partial nitrification process. Overall, this study describes the effect of intermittent low-intensity ultrasound on the partial nitrification process as well as the associated enhancement mechanism.     

Lamellar phase of stacked two-dimensional rafts of actin filaments

We examined liquid crystalline phases of the cytoskeletal polyelectrolyte filamentous (F-)actin in the presence of multivalent counterions. As a function of increasing ion concentration, the F-actin rods in either an isotropic or a nematic phase will transform into a new and unexpected lamellar phase of cross-linked rafts (L(XR) phase), before condensing into a bundled phase of parallel, close-packed rods. This behavior is generic for alkali earth divalent ions Mg2+, Ca2+, Sr2+, and Ba2+, and the structural transitions are achieved without any architecture-specific actin-binding linker proteins.     

生物除磷污泥胞外多聚物含磷形态的核磁共振分析

利用31P-NMR研究了生物除磷污泥胞外多聚物(EPS)的含磷形态,并对检测方法中的影响因素进行了分析.研究发现,测定的三种污泥EPS中磷的形态有五种,磷酸盐、磷单脂、DNA磷、聚磷末端、焦磷酸盐和聚磷.具有除磷能力的A/A/O和A/A/O-MBR污泥其EPS中主要含的是聚磷,证明了EPS中含磷不仅是依靠吸附磷酸盐或生物聚磷过程磷酸盐的滞留,而且EPS本身可能也参与了生物聚磷过程.同时实验证明,EPS提取过程会对EPS含磷形态产生影响,但提取时间在1h内时影响较小;EPS在储存前需要进行中和,从而避免储存过程不同磷形态之间的转化.EPS含磷形态的31P-NMR测定过程中,EPS样品的pH 值对峰的分离和各峰化学位移的稳定性有较大影响,需要控制样品pH＞13.0以确保测定过程的准确性.     

Flocs surface functionality assessment of sonicated activated sludge in relation with physico-chemical properties

Flocs surface functional groups evolutions due to an ultrasonic treatment were investigated in respect with the mechanisms involved during sonication. Activated sludge surface functional groups changes were studied after treatment of a sample at different ultrasonic specific energies. Sludge functionality was qualitatively assessed by recording the infrared (FT-IR) spectra of centrifugation pellets. Potentiometric titration coupled with proton surface complexation modeling was used to assess the nature and quantity of ionizable functional groups present at the floc surface and in the aqueous phase. These evolutions were linked to changes of both mixed liquor biochemical composition (TSS, VSS, COD, proteins, humic like substances, polysaccharides) and physical properties (floc size and settleability). Observations carried out showed that activated sludge flocs were essentially mechanically disintegrated by ultrasonic waves: the nature of chemical bonds observed by FT-IR did not shift after ultrasonic treatment. Moreover, the total number of ionizable functional groups measured by potentiometric titrations remained constant during sonication. However, due to the solubilization of organic components induced by cavitation process, the corresponding ionizable functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, amine) were transferred from particulate to soluble fraction. Moreover, due to the variable amount of proteins, humic like substances and polysaccharides solubilised, the relative contributions of carboxyl, hydroxyl and amine groups varied at floc surface.     

A review on the dewaterability of bio-sludge and ultrasound pretreatment

Bio-sludge, which contains large quantities of water, biomass and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), is difficult to be dewatered as a "super-compactable" sludge [Water Res. 35 (5) (2001) 1358]. Reported water content in bio-sludge was commonly about 80-90% wt after dewatering process. The EPS and the form of water in sludge influences the structure of sludge. Adding cationic fluctuations can change the form of water in sludge and increase the velocity of dewatering process, but has little influence on the final water content. According to Bien's work [Water Sci. Technol. 36 (4) (1997) 287], a combination of ultrasound or other method could agglomerate the sludge, improve the activities of biomass [Ultrasonics 38 (2000) 711; Ultrasonics 40 (2002) 25], enhance anaerobic process [Water Sci. Technol. 36 (11) (1997) 155; Water Sci. Technol. 36 (11) (1997) 121; Water Res. 35 (8) (2001) 2003; Water Sci. Technol. 36 (12) (1997) 117] and decrease over 10% final water content of sludge. The mechanisms of ultrasonic influence on sludge are not very clear, but the application of ultrasound to industrial process is relatively easy and possible.     

Transformation of nitrogen during hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge: Effects of temperature and Na/Ca acetates addition

This study reports the effects of temperature and Ca/Na acetates addition on the transformation of nitrogen during hydrothermal carbonization of sewage sludge at 160–250 °C. The nitrogen species in the hydrochar, aqueous, oil and gas products from sludge hydrothermal carbonization at different temperatures are well characterized, with a focus on the amino acid species in various products. Temperature is found to greatly affect the nitrogen transformation during sludge hydrothermal carbonization. At 160 °C, 47.3% of nitrogen is transformed into the aqueous product. When the temperature increases to 250 °C, only 27.1% of nitrogen is retained in the hydrochar, while 69.2 and 6.7% of nitrogen is present in the aqueous and oil products, respectively. During hydrothermal carbonization, the protein-N is first converted into the polypeptide-N in the aqueous product, followed by its further decomposition into the NH+ 4-N. This leads to a high content of the NH+ 4-N in the aqueous product, especially at increased temperatures. The labile protein-N is also transformed into the heterocylic-N (especially the pyrrole-N) in the hydrochar as the temperature increases. Among all nitrogen species in the aqueous product, the polypeptide-N consisting of amino acids with the alkyl group is the most stable. Moreover, the addition of NaAc and CaAc₂ reduces the nitrogen retention in the hydrochar, mainly due to enhanced hydrolysis of the protein-N. While for CaAc₂ addition, the deamination of the polypeptide-N is also enhanced, leading to a higher NH+ 4-N in the aqueous product. Our results show that the type of amino acid in protein is important to determine the nitrogen transformation pathways, and acetate addition is an important strategy for enhancing nitrogen removal in the hydrochar during hydrothermal carbonization.     

Ca，Be在镁合金中的阻燃作用

建立了镁合金的晶体,液态及其固/液界面模型.采用递归法计算了Ca,Be在α-Mg、固/液界面、镁液态中的环境敏感镶嵌能,定义并计算了Mg,Ca及Be与氧的原子亲和能.计算结果表明：Ca,Be在镁晶体中的环境敏感镶嵌能较高,不能稳定固溶于晶体中,因此在固体中的溶解度较小.合金凝固时Ca,Be扩散到环境能较低的液体中,向液面聚集.由于Ca,Be与氧的原子亲和能低于镁与氧的亲和能,聚集在液体表面的Ca,Be将优先与氧结合,生成致密的镁与合金元素的混合氧化物,阻止镁合金燃烧. 关键词： 电子结构 阻燃 Mg合金     

用XPS研究高灰熔融温度煤灰的矿物结构转化

高灰熔点X煤通过添加钙镁复配(W_CaO/W_MgO=1)助熔剂降低灰熔点,在模拟煤气化过程中制备灰渣,用X射线光电子能谱(XPS)分析不同温度点灰渣中O,Si,Al,Ca,Mg的存在形态及演化过程。认为钙镁复配助熔剂降低灰熔点主要是作用在硅、铝、氧结构变化上,表现为铝元素结构中铝氧配位方式的变化,即四配位的铝氧四面体[AlO₄]和六配位的铝氧八面体[AlO₆]随温度的变化而变化;硅元素结构中SiO₂链的破坏,Ca2+和Mg2+加入会破坏SiO₂链,使得桥氧硅变为非桥氧硅;以及氧元素结构中桥氧键断裂和非桥氧键形成。结合Factsage热力学分析软件,分析了添加钙镁复配助熔剂后,煤灰渣的高温相平衡组成,从矿物的结构变化研究助熔剂的助熔机理。结果表明,添加钙镁复配助熔剂后,Ca2+和Mg2+易与硅氧和铝氧四面体以及铝氧八面体中非桥氧键结合,生成低熔点的长石类矿物和镁质矿物,从而降低煤灰熔融温度。     

Leaching of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from industrial wastewater sludge by ultrasonic treatment

Ultrasonic treatment for sludge reduction in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) can substantially affect the fate of trace pollutants. However, their fates in the different phases of sludge and mass balances have rarely been reported. In this study, wastewater sludge samples were ultrasonicated at 600 W for 0–30 min. Then, the leaching of the 16 priority polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from the sludge solids (sediment) to the liquid phase (supernatant) was investigated. The total concentration of PAHs (∑₁₆ PAHs) in the sludge sediment (2.10 μg/g) was comparable with those of previous worldwide studies. Among the 16 PAHs, naphthalene and acenaphthylene were dominant. The total concentrations of PAHs in the supernatant generally increased with sonication time, indicating that PAHs associated with sludge materials, such as microorganisms, were released into the supernatant. Lighter and more water soluble PAHs were released preferentially into the supernatant in dissolved form, whereas heavier and more hydrophobic PAHs were strongly bound to particles. According to mass balance calculations, 21% of the PAHs in the sludge sediment moved to the supernatant without discernible sonodegradation. An additional experiment for degradation of PAHs supported this interpretation, and several reasons for the no significant sonodegradation were discussed. This result suggests that leaching trace pollutants may significantly contaminate the sludge filtrate after ultrasonic treatment, and therefore their fates should be investigated.     

生物炭对活性污泥沉降性能和反硝化作用的影响研究

Biochar is a massively produced by-product of biomass pyrolysis to obtain renewable energy and has not been fully used.Incomplete separation of sludge and effluent and insufficient denitrification of sewage are two of main factors that influence the efficiency of activated sludge process.In this work,we proposed a new utilization of biochar and investigated the effect of biochar addition on the performance of settleability and denitrification of activated sludge.Results show that the addition of biochar can improve the settleability of activated sludge by changing the physicochemical characteristics of sludge (e.g.,flocculating ability,zeta-potential,hydrophobicity,and extracellular polymeric substances constituents).Moreover,the dissolved organic carbon released from biochar obtained at lower pyrolysis temperature can improve the nitrate removal efficiency to a certain extent.     

气相界面活性剂对溴化锂水溶液吸收水蒸气的影响

目前在溴化锂吸收式制冷机/热泵中被广泛采用的界面活性剂是2-ethyl-1-hexanol(2EH)和1-octanol。传统的界面活性剂的添加方式是,将界面活性剂以液相形式投入到溴化锂溶液中。如果在三效循环中仍采用这样的方式将2EH加入到溴化锂溶液中,由于发生器的温度较高,势必有界面活性剂被蒸发而进入冷媒系统。为探讨三效循环界面活性剂的可能添加方式,同时试图研究界面活性剂以气相形式投入对溴化锂溶液吸收水蒸气的影响,本文针对几种可能有效的界面活性剂,做了界面活性剂的气相添加对吸收速度影响的测试实验。经过对2-ethyl-1-hexanol、1-heptanol和1-hexanol等添加剂的静态池实验,结果表明,气相添加的效果与液相投入没有明显的差别,同样可以大大提高溴化锂溶液吸收水蒸气的速度。     

Ultrasonic cell disruption of stabilised sludge with subsequent anaerobic digestion

The world-wide increasing environmental awareness and its subsequent regulations have led to the application of improved technologies in wastewater purification plants. This has resulted in higher wastewater and sludge productions. Sludge is the by-product of such plants and it is not only rich in organic carbon and pathogens but also in heavy metals and other environmental pollutants. In Europe, agricultural application of dried sludge (bio-solids) is confronted with negative reactions from the citizens, governmental organisations, farmers and the food industry. Ultrasonic disruption of sludge is a popular mechanical disruption process in sludge treatment. During ultrasonic treatment, high frequency acoustic signals are used to initiate the cavitation process. The applied ultrasonic field leads to a breakdown of cohesive forces of the liquid molecules resulting in the generation of cavitation bubbles. A shock wave is released by the collapse of the cavitation bubbles and propagates in the surrounding medium forming jet streams that cause the disruption of cells in sludge. Disruption of sludge cells enables the release of light organic substances into the sludge water thereby exposing them for further anaerobic digestion. This paper presents results on the disruption of conventionally stabilised sludge through the application of the ultrasonic field. In order to reduce the specific energy input (i.e. ratio of the consumed energy during ultrasonic disruption to the input sludge mass) and improve biogas production, the total solids content of the stabilised sludge was increased before disruption. The anaerobic digestion of sludge samples was carried out in a set of specially constructed laboratory anaerobic digesters. Results showed that subsequent anaerobic digestion of the ultrasonically disrupted sludge could improve biogas production with reduced sludge quantity that is vital to the economic consideration of the wastewater treatment plants. This process encourages the exploitation of valuable materials and energy from stabilised sewage sludge just before its final disposal. The negative effects of mixing disrupted sludge with its separated sludge water are also shown in this paper. This expresses the microbiological instability of the anaerobic process caused by the mixing process.     

Development of Agglomerate Size and Structure during spherical agglomeration in suspension

During the spherical agglomeration process, a suspended solid is agglomerated by adding a binding liquid. First, mircoagglomerates or flocs are produced, which are compacted in the course of the process. Agglomerate size was evaluated by laser diffraction spectrometry, image analysis was used to determine the size and some adequately defined shape parameters calculated by Fourier analysis of the particle contour. The shape analysis confirms the visual observations; the compaction of the flocs is expressed by the corresponding change of the shape parameters. The influence of several process parameters on changes in agglomerate shape can be described quantitatively and help to gain an insight into agglomeration mechanisms. The particle size distributions determined by image analysis and laser diffraction spectrometry hardly differ for fairly spherical flocs or agglomerates. Concerning the size distribution of the irregular flocs, laser diffraction spectrometry measures larger particles than image analysis.     

Effects of Ca/Al ratio and extrusion process on Mg–Al–Ca alloys to produce a high toughness in-situ composite

The microstructures and tensile properties of Mg–Al₂Ca–Mg₂Ca in situ composites (Mg–17Al–8Ca, Mg–14Al–11Ca and Mg–12.5Al–12.5Ca) with different Ca/Al ratios have been studied in both as-cast and extruded conditions. The results indicated that by increasing Ca/Al ratio, new Mg₂Ca intermetallic introduces to the Al₂Ca phase in eutectic structure. Computer-aided cooling curve analysis confirmed the formation of these phases during solidification. Extrusion process not only altered the size of large bulk Al₂Ca intermetallic, but also changed the size and morphology of intermetallics in eutectic structure considerably. The results showed that with increasing Ca/Al ratio, tensile properties of cast composites changes slightly, but significant enhancement is observed after extrusion process. The strength and elongation values of Mg–12.5Al–12.5Ca (Ca/Al = 1) alloy improved from 166 MPa and 2% in as-cast condition to 465 MPa and 12% in hot-extruded condition. The reason for the improved toughness may be attributed to the formation of finer and well-dispersed distribution of hard (Al₂Ca) and ductile (Mg₂Ca) phases. It was found that hot extrusion easily deforms ductile Mg₂Ca phase in comparison with Al₂Ca phase. In as-extruded condition, there are more very fine dimples than as-casted condition because extrusion process leads to formation of fragmented tiny particles and more uniformity distribution of Al₂Ca particles.     

应用分子动力学模拟和拉曼光谱对钙、镁、氯离子 水化现象的研究

应用分子动力学方法,模拟了298 K下,密度为1.0 g/cm~3的水溶液中Ca²⁺,Mg²⁺,Cl~-的水化现象,得到了相应离子周围水分子的微观分布情况.发现在钙离子周围,水分子以其氧离子去靠近中心离子;而在氯离子周围,水分子则以其中的一个氢原子去靠近中心离子.通过分析三种离子的径向分布函数、配位数曲线、水化数、水化半径,发现Ca²⁺的水化数和水化半径均大于Mg²⁺,即Ca²⁺的水合能力比Mg²⁺强.与以往研究结果相比,本文计算所得的自扩散系数更接近实验所得结果.为了使模型更好的代表真实水溶液体系,本文还应用分子动力学和拉曼光谱法研究了不同浓度的CaCl₂水溶液.分子动力学研究发现随着浓度的升高,CaCl₂溶液中Ca²⁺,Cl~-的配位数分别呈降低趋势.同时,随着浓度的升高,Ca²⁺,Cl~-的自扩散系数也呈现降低的趋势.作者推断这是由于浓度的升高,加剧了离子的微观反...     

Improvement of biological activity by low energy ultrasound assisted bioreactors

Bioreactors are broadly applied in biotechnology and wastewater treatments. The so-called advanced bioreactor systems should be optimised in a more compact, more efficient and more effective form. One method of optimisation is the improvement of the solid-liquid interface of the sludge flocs and the mass transfer rate of gas and nutrients in the liquid. This could be obtained by the intake of ultrasound in the bioreactor at a frequency of 25 kHz and a power input of 0.3 Wl-1. An increase in the biological activity of the process investigated with alternating ultrasound as well as a decrease without ultrasound were measured.     

Degree of Flocculation and Interparticles Charges of Conditioned Municipal Activated Sludge using Mixed Polymers

The present research work focuses on a new conditioning and flocculation mechanism of municipal fresh activated sludge using a dual polymer system combining cationic and anionic polyelectrolytes. Various pairs of three different types of polyelectrolytes, low molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM-10), high molecular weight cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM-80) and an anionic polyacrylamide (APAM-30), were selected, being used either individually or as cationic-anionic pairs. The results of use of the dual systems indicated that using mixed polymers for conditioning gave lower turbidity with better settling when compared to that of using individual pure polymers. The mixed polymers improved the sludge volume index (SVI) by 62%. The zeta potentials of the supernatant and solid-like samples of conditioned activated sludge were measured. Slight increases in zeta potential, from –12 to –9, of the mixed polymers for all supernatants were observed. On the other hand, zeta measurements showed that the sludge solid-like particles retained their negative charges despite the addition of the individual cationic polymers in the mixture. This phenomenon was explained in terms of the addition of the polyelectrolytes attracting, primarily, the carboxylic groups of the fine suspended sludge particles, while hydrogen bonds between the larger sludge particles resulted in attraction in accordance with the Van der Waals mechanism, and both attractions caused an immediate dewatering that led to flocculation, but with low compactness. As a result of retaining negative charges on the large sludge particles, dissolved metals were partially attracted, causing reduction in conductivities of the supernatants of 10% to 15% for all pairs. Rheological tests showed that the formed flocs had low shear stress resistances, ranging between 0.2 and 0.4 Pa, and weak flocs strength.     

Photoluminescence of supernatant liquid of washed erythrocytes upon ultraviolet excitation

In this paper, we present the results of the study of supernatant liquid of washed erythrocytes by the photoluminescence upon ultraviolet excitation. The spectra of intrinsic photoluminescence of an aqueous solution of “Sodium adenosine triphosphate-Vial” (Na₂ATP) were compared with the spectra of supernatant liquid of erythrocytes with added Na₂ATP, glucose, and without additional substances. The results of the comparison suggest that ATP emerging from washed erythrocytes into environment can be recorded in supernatant liquid.     

Dry Powder Precursors of Cubic Liquid Crystalline Nanoparticles (cubosomes)

Cubosomes are dispersed nanostructured particles of cubic phase liquid crystal that have stimulated significant research interest because of their potential for application in controlled-release and drug delivery. Despite the interest, cubosomes can be difficult to fabricate and stabilize with current methods. Most of the current work is limited to liquid phase processes involving high shear dispersion of bulk cubic liquid crystalline material into sub-micron particles, limiting application flexibility. In this work, two types of dry powder cubosome precursors are produced by spray-drying: (1) starch-encapsulated monoolein is produced by spray-drying a dispersion of cubic liquid crystalline particles in an aqueous starch solution and (2) dextran-encapsulated monoolein is produced by spray-drying an emulsion formed by the ethanol–dextran–monoolein–water system. The encapsulants are used to decrease powder cohesion during drying and to act as a soluble colloidal stabilizer upon hydration of the powders. Both powders are shown to form (on average) 0.6m colloidally-stable cubosomes upon addition to water. However, the starch powders have a broader particle size distribution than the dextran powders because of the relative ease of spraying emulsions versus dispersions. The developed processes enable the production of nanostructured cubosomes by end-users rather than just specialized researchers and allow tailoring of the surface state of the cubosomes for broader application.     

Mg-Al-Ca合金中三元Laves相的稳定性和电子结构

采用基于密度泛函理论的第一性原理方法,应用VASP (Vienna Ab-initio Simulation Package) 计算软件,研究了Mg-Al-Ca合金中三元Laves相,即Ca(Mg1-x,Alx)2和Al2(Ca1-x,Mgx) (x=0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1)在不同形态结构(C14, C15和C36)下的相稳定性及电子结构。计算所得的晶格常数和实验值吻合很好,形成能和相关能的计算用来研究三元Laves相的合金化能力和稳定性,结果表明：C14-Ca(Mg0.25,Al0.75)2具有很好的合金化能力,而C15- CaAl2具有很好的结构稳定性。态密度和电荷密度的计算用来研究Mg-Al-Ca合金中三元Laves相稳定性的内在微观机制。