Cathodic bacterial community structure applying the different co-substrates for reductive decolorization of Alizarin Yellow R.

Selective enrichment of cathodic bacterial community was investigated during reductive decolorization of AYR fedding with glucose or acetate as co-substrates in biocathode. A clear distinction of phylotype structures were observed between glucose-fed and acetate-fed biocathodes. In glucose-fed biocathode, Citrobacter (29.2%), Enterococcus (14.7%) and Alkaliflexus (9.2%) were predominant, and while, in acetate-fed biocathode, Acinetobacter (17.8%) and Achromobacter (6.4%) were dominant. Some electroactive or reductive decolorization genera, like Pseudomonas, Delftia and Dechloromonas were commonly enriched. Both of the higher AYR decolorization rate (k(AYR)=0.46) and p-phenylenediamine (PPD) generation rate (k(PPD)=0.38) were obtained fed with glucose than acetate (k(AYR)=0.18; k(PPD)=0.16). The electrochemical behavior analysis represented a total resistance in glucose-fed condition was about 73.2% lower than acetate-fed condition. The different co-substrate types, resulted in alteration of structure, richness and composition of bacterial communities, which significantly impacted the performances and electrochemical behaviors during reductive decolorization of azo dyes in biocathode.

A horizontal plug-flow baffled bioelectrocatalyzed reactor for the reductive decolorization of Alizarin Yellow R.

An application-oriented membrane-free, continuous plug-flow baffled bioelectrocatalyzed reactor (PFB-BER), was designed and testified for the decolorization of Alizarin Yellow R. Decolorization efficiency (DE) with an external power source of 0.5 V was higher than without electrolysis, i.e. 93.4% versus 73.6% (HRT of 24 h). Product formation efficiencies of p-phenylenediamine and 5-aminosalicylic acid were above 95% and 50%, respectively. When HRT decreased to 8 h and 4 h, DE reduced to 69.9% and 44.9%, respectively. An additional electrode assembly improved DE to 96.4% (HRT of 8 h) and 80% (HRT of 4 h), while energy consumption (HRT of 4 h) was lower than that of HRT of 12 h with single electrode assembly under comparable DE. The PFB-BER with higher removal capacity, lower internal resistance and energy consumption provides a new solution to treat the high loading azo dye-containing wastewaters.

Significant enhancement in the thermoelectric performance of a bismuth telluride nanocompound through brief fabrication procedures.

A binary BiTe nanocompound for thermoelectric applications was prepared via a water-based chemical reaction under atmospheric conditions. We attempted to increase the carrier mobility of the nanocompound by adopting a post-thermal treatment consisting of calcination and reduction at different temperatures. We also tried to control the carrier density of the compound by adjusting the stoichiometry of the atomic constituents. We measured other transport properties (i.e., electrical resistivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity) and observed how these properties were affected by both the carrier mobility and the carrier density. We derived the thermoelectric performance, as captured by the figure of merit (ZT), from the transport properties and discussed the effect of such properties on the ZT value. The nanocompound exhibited a very competent ZT value (0.91 at 100 °C), which is one of the best thermoelectric performances of chemically synthesized BiTe materials.

Simultaneous methanogenesis and denitrification of aniline wastewater by using anaerobic-aerobic biofilm system with recirculation.

Wastewater containing highly concentrated nitrogenous and aromatic compounds, such as aniline, is difficult to degrade and very toxic to microorganisms, especially to nitrifier. In order to remove both carbon and nitrogen from aniline wastewater, recently two biofilm reactors equipped with anaerobic-aerobic cycle and internal recirculation have demonstrated some potential in treating the wastewater. In such system, ammonification, methanogenesis and denitrification reactions occurred simultaneously in one anaerobic reactor, followed by COD removal and nitrification in the aerobic reactor. The effect of recirculation ratio on COD and nitrogen removal using such reactor arrangement was therefore investigated in the present work. The results showed that recirculation had little impact on the overall COD removal or denitrification activity in the anaerobic reactor at any tested ratio, 96-98% of overall COD removal efficiency was achieved with a final effluent COD value below 200mg/L. But nitrification and TN removal were strongly affected by recirculation. The nitrification rate reached a maximum of 0.48 kg N/(m(3)d) at recirculation ratio of 1 and complete nitrification was achieved at the recirculation ratios over 2. TN removal efficiency increased continuously and a sharp reduction of sludge production in the system was observed with increasing recirculation.

Simultaneous removal of COD and ammonium from landfill leachate using an anaerobic-aerobic moving-bed biofilm reactor system.

The performance of a moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) system with an anaerobic-aerobic arrangement was investigated to treat landfill leachate for simultaneous removal of COD and ammonium. It was found that the anaerobic MBBR played a major role in COD removal due to methanogenesis, and the aerobic MBBR acted as COD-polishing and ammonium removal step. The contribution of the anaerobic MBBR to total COD removal efficiency reached 91% at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 4.08 kgCOD/(m3d), and gradually decreased to 86% when feed OLR was increased to 15.70 kgCOD/(m3d). Because of the complementary function of the aerobic reactor, the total COD removal efficiency of the system had a slight decrease from 94% to 92% even though the feed OLR was increased from 4.08 to 15.70 kgCOD/(m3d). Hydraulic retention time (HRT) had a significant effect on NH+4-N removal; more than 97% of the total NH+4-N removal efficiency could be achieved when the HRT of the aerobic MBBR was more than 1.25 days. The anaerobic-aerobic system had a strong tolerance to shock loading. A decrease in COD removal efficiency of only 7% was observed when the OLR was increased by four times and shock duration was 24 h, and the system could recover the original removal efficiency in 3 days. The average sludge yield of the anaerobic reactor was estimated to be 0.0538 gVSS/gCOD rem.

Treatment of pesticide wastewater by moving-bed biofilm reactor combined with Fenton-coagulation pretreatment.

In order to treat pesticide wastewater having high chemical oxygen demand (COD) value and poor biodegradability, Fenton-coagulation process was first used to reduce COD and improve biodegradability and then was followed by biological treatment. Optimal experimental conditions for the Fenton process were determined to be Fe(2+) concentration of 40 mmol/L and H(2)O(2) dose of 97 mmol/L at initial pH 3. The interaction mechanism of organophosphorous pesticide and hydroxyl radicals was suggested to be the breakage of the P=S double bond and formation of sulfate ions and various organic intermediates, followed by formation of phosphate and consequent oxidation of intermediates. For the subsequent biological treatment, 3.2g/L Ca(OH)(2) was added to adjust the pH and further coagulate the pollutants. The COD value could be evidently decreased from 33,700 to 9300 mg/L and the ratio of biological oxygen demand (BOD(5)) to COD of the wastewater was enhanced to over 0.47 by Fenton oxidation and coagulation. The pre-treated wastewater was then subjected to biological oxidation by using moving-bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) inside which tube chip type bio-carriers were fluidized upon air bubbling. Higher than 85% of COD removal efficiency could be achieved when the bio-carrier volume fraction was kept more than 20% by feeding the pretreated wastewater containing 3000 mg/L of inlet COD at one day of hydraulic retention time (HRT), but a noticeable decrease in the COD removal efficiency when the carrier volume was decreased down to 10%, only 72% was observed. With the improvement of biodegradability by using Fenton pretreatment, also due to the high concentration of biomass and high biofilm activity using the fluidizing bio-carriers, high removal efficiency and stable operation could be achieved in the biological process even at a high COD loading of 37.5 gCOD/(m(2)carrierday).

Kinetics study on photochemical oxidation of polyacrylamide by ozone combined with hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation.

An investigation on the process of ozone combined with hydrogen peroxide and ultraviolet radiation has been carried out in order to establish the kinetics for photochemical oxidation of polyacrylamide (PAM) in aqueous solution. Effects of operating parameters, including initial PAM concentration, dosages of ozone and hydrogen peroxide, UV radiation and pH value on the photochemical oxidation of PAM, have been studied. There was an increase in photochemical oxidation rate of PAM with increasing of dosages of O3, H2O2 and ultraviolet radiation. Upon increasing of the initial PAM concentration, the photochemical oxidation rate of PAM decreased. Slight effect of pH value on the photochemical oxidation rate of PAM was observed in the experiments. The kinetics equation for the photochemical oxidation of PAM by the system has been established.

Photocatalytic degradation of toluene using a novel flow reactor with Fe-doped TiO2 catalyst on porous nickel sheets.

A novel continuous-flow photocatalytic reactor was designed to decompose toluene by using porous nickel sheets that were coated with a Fe-doped TiO2 catalyst. While locating the UV lamp at the central axis, the catalyst sheets were located along the inner wall and positioned vertically with an equal space of 50 mm along the reactor. This geometry ensures better use of UV light, and a zigzag flow pattern of gas between the vertically located sheets provides for better mass transfer. The X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and electric field-induced surface photovoltage spectra characterizations showed that Fe3+ ions were embedded effectively and distributed evenly throughout the TiO2 crystal lattice and an optimum molar ratio of Fe:Ti was 0.007. The reactor was used to investigate the factors that affect toluene degradation. The results showed that inlet toluene concentration, relative humidity and gas flow rate significantly affect toluene decomposition. The conversion decreases as inlet concentration increases. Degradation efficiencies of more than 95% can be achieved provided that the toluene concentration is kept below 3200 mg/m3. The conversion is affected little when oxygen content exceeds 21%. The optimal relative humidity is 25%. From the experimental data, a rate constant k of 131 mg/(m3.min) and Langmuir adsorption coefficient K of 0.0175 m3/mg were obtained.

Simultaneous removal of ethyl acetate and toluene in air streams using compost-based biofilters.

Biofitration was successfully applied to treat air streams containing a mixture of ethyl acetate and toluene. The experiment was performed by two identical bench-scale biofilters, which were acclimated by ethyl acetate and toluene, respectively. During a 3 month steady-state performance, the two biofilters showed equivalent elimination capacity (EC) for toluene (50 g/m(3) bed/h of pure toluene). However, the biofilter acclimated with ethyl acetate showed a much higher EC for ethyl acetate (400 g/m(3) bed/h of pure ethyl acetate) than that acclimated with toluene (250 g/m(3) bed/h). The concurrent biofiltration of toluene was inhibited by the presence of ethyl acetate. The results also showed that more nitrogen and phosphorus were consumed in the process of the biofiltration of toluene compared with the treatment of ethyl acetate. After the 3 month experiment, the pH of the media treating ethyl acetate dropped from 6.71 to 5.50, whereas the pH of the media treating toluene increased from 6.71 to 7.08.

Removal of sulfur fumes by metal sulfide sorbents.

Removal of sulfur by a transition metal is studied at temperatures of 300-350 degrees C. Among various metal sulfides tested, only metal sulfides of iron, cobalt, and nickel can remove sulfur fumes as they are transformed into disulfides in the presence of sulfur vapor. The disulfide form can be regenerated into FeS, Co9S8, and Ni3S2, respectively, using hydrogen gas at 350-400 degrees C. These two reactions of deep sulfidation with sulfur and reduction with hydrogen can be utilized for the removal of sulfur fumes in a process stream and an emission gas.

Long-term operation of a biofilter for simultaneous removal of H2S and NH3.

Simultaneous removal of NH3 and H2S was investigated using two types of biofilters--one packed with wood chips and the other with granular activated carbon (GAC). Experimental tests and measurements included analyses of removal efficiency (RE), metabolic products, and results of long-term operation (around 240 days). The REs for NH3 and H2S were 92 and 99.9%, respectively, before deactivation. After deactivation, the RE for NH3 and H2S were decreased to 30-50% and 75%, respectively. The activity of nitrifying bacteria was inhibited by high concentrations of H2S (over 200 ppm) but recovered gradually after H2S addition was ceased. However, the Thiobacillus thioparus as sulfur oxidizing bacteria did not show inhibition at the NH3 concentration under 150-ppm conditions. The deactivation of the biofilter was caused by metabolic products [elemental sulfur and (NH4)2SO4] accumulating on the packing materials during the extended operation. The removal capacities for NH3 and H2S were 6.0-8.0 and 45-75 mg N, S/L/hr, respectively.