High Genetic Diversity in the Himalayan Common Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) Germplasm with Divergence from Its Center of Origin in the Mesoamerica and Andes.

The common bean is found in the Himalayan region of Pakistan with substantial morphological variability. Genetic diversity within any crop species is a precursor for genetic improvement; however, little is known about common bean genetic diversity in this region. We explored the genetic diversity in the common bean from the Himalayan region (Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir) of Pakistan. Microsatellite genotyping was carried out for 147 samples with 40 simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. The results revealed a clear divergence of the Pakistani population from the primary gene pool (with FST values of 0.2 with Andes and 0.27 with Mesoamerica). However, within the Himalayan germplasm, no clear evidence of spatial structure was observed (with the maximum FST values of only 0.025), probably due to the dispersal of seeds by human activity within the region. This was further elucidated by the discriminant analyses of principal components. Considering the diversity parameters, high genotypic diversity was observed for the indigenous lines (0.990), comparable to the primary gene pool (0.976 for Mesoamerica and 0.976 for Andes populations). A high genotypic diversity was observed within the Himalayan population (ranging from 0.500 for Upper Dir to 0.952 for Mansehra). Gene diversity across loci varied between 0.28 for Chitral to 0.38 for Kurram. Our results suggested a divergent and independent evolution of the Himalayan population, which might have led to the diversification of the common bean germplasm in the region postintroduction into the region. The diversity observed could also be exploited in future breeding programs for the development and introduction of climate-resilient varieties.

Recovering phosphate and energy from anaerobic sludge digested wastewater with iron-air fuel cells: Two-chamber cell versus one-chamber cell.

Anaerobic sludge digested (ASD) wastewater is widespread in wastewater treatment plants. Recovering phosphate from ASD wastewater not only removes pollutants but also solves the phosphorus deficiency problem. Iron-air fuel cells were chosen to recover phosphate and generate electricity from ASD wastewater. To optimize cell configuration, a two-chamber and a one-chamber iron-air fuel cell were set up. The phosphate removal efficiency, the vivianite yield and the electricity generation efficiency of the two fuel cells were evaluated. It turned out that the volumetric removal rate (VRR) of phosphate of the two-chamber cell was 11.60 mg P·L-1·h-1, which was about five times of that in the one-chamber cell. The phosphate recovery product vivianite was detected on the surface of the iron anodes and the calculated purities of the two-chamber fuel cell and one-chamber fuel cell were 90.6% and 58.7%, respectively. Considering the content and purity, the iron anode surface in the two-chamber fuel cell was the best point to recover phosphate. The proton exchange membrane (PEM) in the two-chamber fuel cell provided low pH conditions suitable for vivianite formation. Moreover, under the low pH condition, metal ions of Fe2+, Ca2+, Al3+ and so on were kept soluble, leading to a high conductivity. The high conductivity caused low internal resistance, which benefited the electricity generation. The total output electric power of the two-chamber fuel cell was 2.4 times that of the one-chamber fuel cell when treating 25 mL ASD wastewater (0.62 vs. 0.26 mW·h). Overall, the two-chamber fuel cell was the better choice for phosphate recovery and electricity generation from ASD wastewater. Further studies on the long-term operation of two-chamber fuel cells should be carried out.

Corrigendum to "Combined Industrial Wastewater Treatment in Anaerobic Bioreactor Post-Treated in Constructed Wetland".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/957853.].

Improvement of ferrous ion-dependent nitrate removal (FeNiR) process with chelating ferrous ion as substrate.

In order to improve the ferrous ion-dependent nitrate removal (FeNiR) process, hexametaphosphate chelated ferrous ion was used as substrate to replace the free ferrous ion. With hexametaphosphate chelated ferrous ion as substrate, the influent pH was adjusted to 6.8, and as a result a higher effluent pH (7.2) was detected. The volumetric removal rate (VRR) of nitrate kept at 0.42 ± 0.03 kg-N/(m3∙d) for 48 days and the corresponding nitrogen removal efficiency was 94.39 ± 4.57%. After 88 days of cultivation, FeNiR granules became small because of the oligotrophic substrate. The transmission electron microscope (TEM) analysis showed that less iron encrustation was formed on the surface or in the periplasm of FeNiR cells. The linear curve of the living cell percentage versus time showed that the death rate of FeNiR cells with chelated ferrous ion as substrate was much lower than that with free ferrous ion as substrate (0.4210 vs 0.9221). Without iron encrustation, both the FeNiR activity and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity of FeNiR cells kept at high level and thus the efficiency of the FeNiR reactor kept stable and high. With hexametaphosphate chelated ferrous ion as substrate, the pH in bulk liquid was high (pH = 7.2) resulting in the high FeNiR rate, and less iron encrustation was formed around cells ensuring the stability of high FeNiR rate. Therefore, using hexametaphosphate chelated ferrous ion as substrate was an efficient way to improve the FeNiR process.

Industrial wastewater treatment in internal circulation bioreactor followed by wetlands containing emergent plants and algae.

Wastewater treatment based on ecological principles is a low cost and highly desirable solution for the developing countries like Pakistan. The present study evaluated the effectiveness of biological treatment systems including Internal Circulation (IC) anaerobic bioreactor and constructed wetlands (CWs) containing macrophytes and mixed algal cultures for industrial wastewater treatment. The IC bioreactor reduced COD (52%), turbidity (89%), EC (24%) of the industrial wastewater. However, the effluents of IC bioreactor did not comply with National Environmental Quality Standards (NEQS) of Pakistan. Post-treatment of IC bioreactor effluents was accomplished in CW containing macrophytes (Arundo donax and Eichhornia crassipes) and mixed algal culture. The CWs planted with macrophytes lowered the concentrations of COD (89%) and turbidity (99%). CWs with algal biomass were not effective in further polishing the effluent. Inhibition of algal biomass growth was observed due to physicochemical characteristics of wastewater. The integrated treatment system consisting of IC bioreactor and macrophytes was found more suitable option for industrial wastewater treatment.

Corrigendum to "Natural Treatment Systems as Sustainable Ecotechnologies for the Developing Countries".

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1155/2013/796373.].

Evaluation of hydraulic characteristics of a pilot-scale air-lift internal-loop bioreactor.

Using sodium fluoride as tracer, residence time distribution technique was employed to evaluate the hydraulic characteristics of a pilot-scale Internal-Loop Airlift Bio-particle (ILAB) bioreactor that was a novel system for ammonia removal from wastewater. The results showed that the flow pattern of ILAB reactor was close to completely mixed reactor under all the tested air flow rates and liquid flow rates (with average N of 1.88). The total dead zone (TDZ) was 32.43% with biological dead zone (BDZ) of 20.66% and hydraulic dead zone (HDZ) of 8.95%. At higher air flow rates, the flow pattern of reactor approached that of completely mixed reactor (N from 2.72 to 1.54), and the increase of air flow rate gave rise to the decrease of TDZ in the reactor (from 36.24% to 23.00%). Whereas at higher liquid flow rates, the flow pattern of ILAB reactor got away from that of completely mixed reactor (N from 1.51 to 1.72), and the increase of liquid flow rate yielded a rise of TDZ in the reactor (from 28.48% to 36.84%). The study highlighted that the effect of air flow rate on flow pattern and TDZ of the reactor was greater than that of liquid flow rate.

Natural treatment systems as sustainable ecotechnologies for the developing countries.

The purpose of natural treatment systems is the re-establishment of disturbed ecosystems and their sustainability for benefits to human and nature. The working of natural treatment systems on ecological principles and their sustainability in terms of low cost, low energy consumption, and low mechanical technology is highly desirable. The current review presents pros and cons of the natural treatment systems, their performance, and recent developments to use them in the treatment of various types of wastewaters. Fast population growth and economic pressure in some developing countries compel the implementation of principles of natural treatment to protect natural environment. The employment of these principles for waste treatment not only helps in environmental cleanup but also conserves biological communities. The systems particularly suit developing countries of the world. We reviewed information on constructed wetlands, vermicomposting, role of mangroves, land treatment systems, soil-aquifer treatment, and finally aquatic systems for waste treatment. Economic cost and energy requirements to operate various kinds of natural treatment systems were also reviewed.

Combined industrial wastewater treatment in anaerobic bioreactor posttreated in constructed wetland.

Constructed wetland (CW) with monoculture of Arundo donax L. was investigated for the posttreatment of anaerobic bioreactor (ABR) treating combined industrial wastewater. Different dilutions of combined industrial wastewater (20, 40, 60, and 80) and original wastewater were fed into the ABR and then posttreated by the laboratory scale CW. The respective removal efficiencies of COD, BOD, TSS, nitrates, and ammonia were 80%, 78-82%, 91.7%, 88-92%, and 100% for original industrial wastewater treated in ABR. ABR was efficient in the removal of Ni, Pb, and Cd with removal efficiencies in the order of Cd (2.7%) > Ni (79%) > Pb (85%). Posttreatment of the ABR treated effluent was carried out in lab scale CW containing A. donax L. CW was effective in the removal of COD and various heavy metals present in ABR effluents. The posttreatment in CW resulted in reducing the metal concentrations to 1.95 mg/L, 0 mg/L, and 0.004 mg/L for Ni, Pb, and Cd which were within the permissible water quality standards for industrial effluents. The treatment strategy was effective and sustainable for the treatment of combined industrial wastewater.