Inactivation of chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) via various disinfection methods: Resistance mechanism and relation with carbon source metabolism.

With the widespread use of chlorine disinfection, chlorine-resistant bacteria (CRB) in water treatment systems have gained public attention. Bacterial chlorine resistance has been found positively correlated with extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) secretion. In this study, we selected the most suitable CRB controlling method against eight bacterial strains with different chlorine resistance among chloramine, ozone, and ultraviolet (UV) disinfection, analyzed the resistance mechanisms, clarified the contribution of EPS to disinfection resistance, and explored the role of carbon source metabolism capacity. Among all the disinfectants, UV disinfection showed the highest disinfection capacity by achieving the highest average and median log inactivation rates for the tested strains. For Bacillus cereus CR19, the strain with the highest chlorine resistance, 40 mJ/cm2 UV showed a 1.90 log inactivation, which was much higher than that of 2 mg-Cl2/L chlorine (0.67 log), 2 mg-Cl2/L chloramine (1.68 log), and 2 mg/L ozone (0.19 log). Meanwhile, the UV resistance of the bacteria did not correlate with EPS secretion. These characteristics render UV irradiation the best CRB controlling disinfection method. Chloramine was found to have a generally high inactivation efficiency for bacteria with high chlorine-resistance, but a low inactivation efficiency for low chlorine-resistant ones. Although EPS consumed up to 56.7% of chloramine which an intact bacterial cell consumed, EPS secretion could not explain chloramine resistance. Thus, chloramine is an acceptable CRB control method. Similar to chlorine, ozone generally selected high EPS-secreting bacteria, with EPS consuming up to 100% ozone. Therefore, ozone is not an appropriate method for controlling CRB with high EPS secretion. EPS played an important role in all types of disinfection resistance, and can be considered the main mechanism for bacterial chlorine and ozone disinfection resistance. However, as EPS was not the main resistance mechanism in UV and chloramine disinfection, CRB with high EPS secretion were inactivated more effectively. Furthermore, carbon source metabolism was found related to the multiple resistance of bacteria. Those with low carbon source metabolism capacity tended to have higher multiple resistance, especially to chlorine, ozone, and UV light. Distinctively, among the tested gram-negative bacteria, in contrast to other disinfectants, chloramine resistance was negatively correlated with EPS secretion and positively correlated with carbon source metabolism capacity, suggesting a special disinfection mechanism.

Modeling and optimization of synergistic ozone-ultraviolet-chlorine process for reclaimed water disinfection: From laboratory tests to software simulation.

The ozone-ultraviolet (UV)-chlorine process is a highly effective method of disinfection in water reuse system, but currently still lacks precise quantification and accurate control. It is difficult to determine the dosage of each disinfectant because of the complex interactions that occur between disinfection units and the complicated mathematical calculation required. In this study, we proposed a dosage optimization model for ozone-UV-chlorine synergistic disinfection process. The model was able to identify the cost-effective doses of the disinfectants under the constraints of microbial inactivation, decolorization, and residual chlorine retention requirements. Specifically, the simulation of microbial inactivation rates during synergistic disinfection process was accomplished through quantification of the synergistic effects between disinfection units and the introduction of enhancement coefficients. In order to solve this optimization model rapidly and automatically, a MATLAB-based software program with graphical user interface was developed. This software consisted of calibration unit, prediction unit, assessment unit, and optimization unit, and was able to simulate synergistic ozone-UV-chlorine process and identify the optimal dose of ozone, UV, and chlorine. Validation experiments revealed good agreements between the experimental data and the results calculated by the developed software. The developed software is believed to help the water reclamation plants improve disinfection efficiency and reduce the operational costs of synergistic disinfection processes.

Selenium nanoparticle prepared by femtosecond laser-induced plasma shock wave.

A novel approach for the production of both amorphous and crystalline selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) using femtosecond laser-induced plasma shock wave on the surface of Bi2Se3 topological insulators at room temperature and ambient pressure is demonstrated. The shape and size of SeNPs can be reliably controlled via the kinetic energy obtained from laser pulses, so these are applicable as active components in nanoscale applications. Importantly, the rapid, low-cost and eco-friendly synthesis strategy developed in this study could also be extendable to other systems.

Tapered ZnO Whiskers: {hkil}-Specific Mosaic Twinning VLS Growth from a Partially Molten Bottom Source.

Zn particulates overlaid with wurtzite (W)-type ZnO condensates having nearly orthogonal {101̄1} and {112̄1} facets were found to self-catalyze unusual tapered W-ZnO whiskers upon isothermal atmospheric annealing, i.e., thermal oxidation, at 600 °C. Analytical electron microscopic observations indicated that such whiskers formed tapered slabs having mosaic {101̄1} and {21̄1̄1} twinned domains. The tapered whiskers can be rationalized by an alternative vapor-liquid-solid growth, i.e., {hkil}-specific coalescence twinning growth from the ZnO condensates taking advantage of a partially molten bottom source of Zn and the adsorption of atoms at the whisker tips and ledges under the influence of capillarity effect. The tapered whiskers having strong photoluminescence at 391 nm and with a considerable flexibility could have potential applications.