Frequency resolution improvement by sub-bins and an inverse matrix in discrete Fourier transform.

We proposed a method to use sub-bins (SBs) and the inverse matrix to reduce the spectral leakage in discrete Fourier transform (DFT) over the conventional spectral resolution. SBs were assigned between two conventional bins. Utilizing the real signal, the process reproducing complex amplitudes at each SB was described and confirmed through simulations with the pseudo-inverse matrix. In experiments, with the 256 number of data, the frequency interval of k=107 and 108 was 4 divided by SBs. The single-peak spectrum at each SB frequency was measured clearly. Using the two signals with frequencies corresponding to two SBs within the conventional bin interval, the spectrum with two peaks was also measured. The linearity was confirmed for the input range from 0.1-5 V. The feasibility of this method to improve the frequency resolution has been shown for various optical applications.

Forward Osmosis (FO) Membrane Fouling Mitigation during the Concentration of Cows' Urine.

FO membrane fouling mitigation during the concentration of cows' urine was investigated. In particular, the effects on the permeability recovery of cleaning methods such as membrane washing with deionized (DI) water, osmotic backwash, and chemical cleaning were studied. The characterization of foulants that accumulated on the membrane surface was found to be rich in sugars and proteins. The foulants were effectively removed by de-ionized water circulation (washing) and osmotic backwash. While osmotic back was more effective, it did not fully recover the permeability of the membrane. The foulants absorbed in the membrane pores were found to be mainly composed of sugars. Soaking the membrane in a solution of NaClO enabled the removal of foulants absorbed inside the membrane. It was revealed that soaking in 1% NaClO solution for 30 min achieved the best results (83% permeability recovery), while soaking for a longer time (10 h) using 0.2% NaClO resulted in counterproductive results.

Development of Absorbent Using Amylose-Graphite Composite Electrode for Removal of Heavy Metals.

Amylose of Phragmites Australis captures heavy metals in a box consisting of sugar chains. However, its absorption rate is low in the period of the month scale. Therefore, the electrochemical driving force was used to promote the absorption rate in this research. Amylose was doped with TiO2 porous graphite electrode. The composted absorbent was characterized using XRD(X-ray diffraction), SEM (Scanning Electrode Microscopy), Raman spectroscopy, and electrochemical methods. The affinity and maximum absorption amount were calculated using the isotherm method. In this study, Pb2+, Cu2+, Cd2+, and Cr6+ were chosen to demonstrate because these heavy metals are significant pollutants in Japan's surface water. It was found that the maximum absorption was Cu2+ (56.82-mg/L) > Pb2+ (55.89-mg/L) > Cr6+ (53.97-mg/L) > Cd2+ (52.83.68-mg/L) at -0.5 V vs. Ag/AgCl. This is approximately the same order as the hydration radius of heavy metals. In other words, the absorption amounts were determined by the size of heavy metal ions. Subsequently, the mixed heavy metal standard solution was tested; the maximum absorption amount was 21.46 ± 10.03 mg/L. It was inferred that the electrochemical driving force could be shown as the ion size effect in the mixed solution. Despite there being no support for this hypothesis at this time, this study succeeded in showing that the electrochemical driving force can improve the ability of the absorbent.

Vegetative Reproduction Is More Advantageous Than Sexual Reproduction in a Canopy-Forming Clonal Macroalga under Ocean Warming Accompanied by Oligotrophication and Intensive Herbivory.

Ocean warming and the associated changes in fish herbivory have caused polarward distributional shifts in the majority of canopy-forming macroalgae that are dominant in temperate Japan, but have little effect on the alga Sargassum fusiforme. The regeneration ability of new shoots from holdfasts in this species may be advantageous in highly grazed environments. However, little is known about the factors regulating this in Sargassum species. Moreover, holdfast tolerance to high-temperature and nutrient-poor conditions during summer has rarely been evaluated. In the present study, S. fusiforme holdfast responses to the combined effects of temperature and nutrient availability were compared to those of sexually reproduced propagules. The combined effects of holdfast fragmentation and irradiance on regeneration were also evaluated. Propagule growth rate values changed from positive to negative under the combination of elevated temperature (20 °C-30 °C) and reduced nutrient availability, whereas holdfasts exhibited a positive growth rate even at 32 °C in nutrient-poor conditions. The regeneration rate increased with holdfast fragmentation (1 mm segments), but was unaffected by decreased irradiance. These results suggest that S. fusiforme holdfasts have a higher tolerance to high-temperature and nutrient-poor conditions during summer than propagules, and regenerate new shoots even if 1-mm segments remain in shaded refuges for fish herbivory avoidance.

Inactivation kinetics modeling of Escherichia coli in concentrated urine for implementing predictive environmental microbiology in sanitation safety planning.

Urine concentration (condensation) leads to the inactivation of pathogens in urine owing to a hyperosmotic environment. This study proposed an inactivation kinetic model of Escherichia coli (E. coli), a surrogate of human bacterial pathogens, in concentrated synthetic urine. The model parameters were obtained under an assumption that the inactivation rate of E. coli followed a binomial distribution, which made it possible to accurately simulate the time-course decay of E. coli in synthetic urine. The inactivation rate constant values obtained in concentrated urine samples, ammonium buffer solutions and carbonate buffer solutions indicated that the osmotic pressure was a relatively predominant cause for the inactivation of E. coli. The appropriate storage time was estimated using the approach of quantitative microbial risk assessment, which indicated that the 5-fold concentrated urine could be safely collected after 1-day storage when urea was hydrolyzed, whereas 91-hour storage was required for non-concentrated urine. The occupational risk was not negligible even with 6-month storage at 20 °C when urea was not hydrolyzed, which suggested that the urine storage styles should be clarified more minutely. The present study highlights the importance of "predictive environmental microbiology," which deals with inactivation kinetic models of microorganisms under varied environmental conditions to fully implement the hazard analysis and critical control point (HACCP) approach for the safe use of human excreta in agriculture.

Bactericidal and virucidal mechanisms in the alkaline disinfection of compost using calcium lime and ash.

In the present study, the bactericidal and virucidal mechanisms in the alkaline disinfection of compost with calcium lime and ash were investigated. Two indicator microorganisms, Escherichia coli and MS2 coliphage, were used as surrogates for enteric pathogens. The alkaline-treated compost with calcium oxide (CaO) or ash resulted primarily in damage to the outer membrane and enzyme activities of E. coli. The alkaline treatment of compost also led to the infectivity loss of the coliphage because of the partial capsid damage and RNA exteriorization due to a raised pH, which is proportional to the amount of alkaline agents added. These results indicate that the alkaline treatment of compost using calcium oxide and ash is effective and can contribute to the safe usage of compost from a mixing type dry toilet.

Effect of post-treatment conditions on the inactivation of helminth eggs (Ascaris suum) after the composting process.

Safe and appropriate disposal of human waste is a basic requirement for sanitation and protection of public health. For proper sanitation and nutrient recovery, it is necessary to ensure effective treatment methods to complete pathogen destruction in excreta prior to reuse. Composting toilets convert faeces to a reusable resource such as fertilizer or humus for organic agriculture. A composting toilet for rural Burkina Faso was created by modifying a commercial model available in Japan to improve hygiene and increase food production. The toilet has shown to result in a degraded final product, but its effectiveness for pathogen destruction was unclear due to low temperatures generated from the toilet. This study aimed to sanitize compost withdrawn from the composting toilet for food production by setting post-treatment conditions. The inactivation kinetics of Ascaris suum eggs, selected as an indicator for helminth eggs, was determined during post-treatment at different temperatures (30°C, 40°C, 50°C and 60°C) with varying moisture contents (MC) (50%, 60% and 70%). The treatment of compost in a possible additional post-treatment after the composting process was tried in the laboratory test. Inactivation of A. suum eggs was fast with greater than two log reductions achieved within 2 h for temperature 50°C and 50% MC and greater than three log reductions for temperature 60°C and 50% MC within 3 h. Statistical analysis showed the significant impact of temperature and moisture on the inactivation rates of A. suum eggs. The post-treatment can efficiently increase helminth eggs destruction prior to reuse.

Relationship between respiratory quotient, nitrification, and nitrous oxide emissions in a forced aerated composting process.

We assessed the relationship between respiratory quotient (RQ) and nitrification and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission in forced aerated composting using lab-scale reactors. Relatively high RQ values from degradation of readily degradable organics initially occurred. RQ then stabilized at slightly lower values, then decreased. Continuous emission of N2O was observed during the RQ decrease. Correlation between nitrification and N2O emission shows that the latter was triggered by nitrification. Mass balances demonstrated that the O2 consumption of nitrification (∼24.8mmol) was slightly higher than that of CO2 emission (∼20.0mmol), indicating that the RQ decrease was caused by the occurrence of nitrification. Results indicate that RQ is a useful index, which not only reflects the bioavailability of organics but also predicts the occurrence of nitrification and N2O emission in forced aerated composting.

Grey water treatment by the slanted soil system with unsorted soil media.

This study evaluated the performance of unsorted soil media in the slanted soil treatment system, in terms of removal efficiency in suspended solids (SS), chemical oxygen demand (COD), linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and Escherichia coli, and lifetime until clogging occurs. Unsorted soil performed longer lifetime until clogging than sorted fine soil. Removal of SS, COD, and LAS also performed same or better level in unsorted soil than fine soil. As reaction coefficients of COD and LAS were described as a function of the hydraulic loading rate, we can design a slanted soil system according to the expected hydraulic loading rate and the targeted level of COD or LAS in effluent. Regarding bacteria removal, unsorted soil performed sufficient reduction of E. coli for 5 weeks; however, the removal process occurred throughout all four chambers, while that of fine soil occurred in one to two chambers.

Production of slow-released nitrogen fertilizer from urine.

Human excreta, especially urine is rich in nitrogen that can be utilized for agricultural purposes, while the slow-release fertilizer allows effective utilization of nutrients in agricultural production. The direct formation of slow-release fertilizer--methylene urea--from urine was being proposed in this study. The experiments were tried to prove formation of methylene urea from human urine, and to investigate the effect of pH and salt concentration on the reaction rate. The synthetic urine and real urine were used for the urea source of the reaction. As a result, the precipitates were prepared from synthetic urine, while the small molecule fractions generated then they grew into precipitate. The nuclear magnetic resonance, infrared spectroscopy, element analyses showed the precipitates in synthetic urine were the same compound found in the urea solution, which was methylene urea. The reaction rate was high at low pH value. The reaction rate in the buffer solution was lower than the synthetic urine at the same pH, because some salts may work as a catalyst. The urea concentration reduction rate in real urine showed the same trend with synthetic urine at the same pH, while the precipitation was quite similar to methylene urea.

Photocatalytic decomposition of crotamiton over aqueous TiO(2) suspensions: determination of intermediates and the reaction pathway.

The photocatalytic degradation of crotamiton in aqueous solution using TiO(2) was investigated. To investigate the effect of initial pH, the photodegradation behaviors of three types of pharmaceuticals were compared (crotamiton, clofibric acid, sulfamethoxazole). The degradation rates of crotamiton in the pH range 3-9 were nearly equal, but those of clofibric acid and sulfamethoxazole were affected by pH. At pH>6.5, TiO(2) particles, clofibric acid and sulfamethoxazole had negative charge, therefore, the repulsive force between TiO(2) particles and anionic pharmaceuticals occurred and a low reaction rate at high pH was observed. The effect of UV intensity and TiO(2) concentration on photodegradation efficiency was also investigated. Linear and logarithmical relationships between UV intensity, TiO(2) concentration and the reaction rate constant were confirmed. Furthermore, the structures of photodegradation intermediates formed concomitantly with the disappearance of crotamiton were estimated. Seven intermediates were characterized by LC/MS/MS analyses, and it was assumed that the photocatalytic degradation of crotamiton was initiated by the attack of electrophilic hydroxyl radicals on aromatic rings and alkyl chains.

Performance evaluation of an on-site volume reduction system with synthetic urine using a water transport model.

The parameters of a model of the transport of water from a wet cloth sheet to the air, developed for deionized water, to establish design procedures of an on-site volume reduction system, were identified for high salt concentrations present in synthetic urine. The results showed that the water penetration was affected neither by the salts, urea or creatinine present in the synthetic urine nor by the salts accumulated on the surface of the vertical gauze sheet. However, the saturated vapour pressure decreased, leading to reduction in the evaporation rate, which occurred as a result of the salts accumulating on the surface of the vertical gauze sheet. Furthermore, a steady-state evaporation condition was established, illustrating salts falling back to the tank from the vertical gauze sheet. Accordingly, the existing design procedure was amended by incorporating the calculation procedure for the saturated vapour pressure using Raoult's law. Subsequently, the effective evaporation area of the vertical gauze sheet was estimated using the amended deign procedures to assess feasibility. This estimation showed that the arid, tropical, temperate and cold climates are suitable for the operation of this system, which require requires a small place at household level for 80% volume reduction of 10 L of urine per day for 12 hours' operation in the daytime.

Rational design of an on-site volume reduction system for source-separated urine.

Human urine contains nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, which can be applied as fertilizer in agriculture, replacing commercial fertilizer. However, owing to the low nutrient content of the urine, huge quantities must be transported to farmland to meet the nutrient demand of crops. This highly increases the transportation cost for the farmers. To address the transportation issue, a new on-site volume reduction system was tested at the laboratory scale based on water evaporation from vertical gauze sheets. A mathematical water transport model was proposed to evaluate the performance of the system. The mass transfer coefficient and the resistance of water flow through the sheet in the water transport model were obtained from the experiments. The results agreed with the simulated data, thereby confirming the proposed model. The model was then applied to the dry climate of southern Pakistan, having an air temperature of 30-40 degrees C and air humidity of 20-40%, for an 80% volume reduction of 10 L urine per day, which corresponds to a family of 10 members (average for a household in Pakistan). The findings revealed that the estimated size of the vertical sheet is 440-2060 cm2, which is only a small area for setting up the system at a household level.

Dissolution characteristics of cylindrical particles and tablets.

In this paper, dissolution characteristics of primary-particles and compressed tablets were investigated by experiments using a mathematical model. For the primary-particle, it was found that the dissolution rate increased with a decrease in the particle size. Assuming that primary-particles of size distribution were of cylindrical shape and that the dissolution occurs from the total external surface, an extended Nernst-Noyes-Whitney equation fitted to the experimental data well. As the influences of particle size and shape on thickness of a diffusion-boundary film were found to be quite low, the dissolution rate was considered to be affected by the specific surface area dominantly. Furthermore, the same model was applied to a compressed tablet and fitted to the data well. Though the rate constant obtained were not affected by the properties of primary-particles forming the tablet, it was found to increase with the apparent voidage which occupies the inter-particle volume of tablet diluent among less soluble particles. Consequently, an increase in the apparent voidage is presumed to accelerate penetration of water into the internal voids of the tablet. Thus, the dissolution going, the effective surface area inside the tablet is considered to be extended.

Transformation and characterisation of dissolved organic matter during the thermophilic aerobic biodegradation of faeces.

We conducted a comparison of the characteristics of dissolved organic matter (DOM) taken from the bio-toilet and other sources. A characterisation of DOM was carried out to assess the stability of the compost generated during the thermophilic and aerobic biodegradation of faeces. In addition, levels of soluble microbial products generated in the bio-toilet composting reactor were compared with those taken from other sources. The results showed that (i) the main component of DOM from the bio-toilet are solutes with molecular weight (MW)>30,000 Da (40%), whereas micromolecules (MW< 1000 Da) constituted more than 60% of the DOM from other solid samples, while liquid samples reached even more than 90%; (ii) the DOM stabilisation level in the composting reactor of the bio-toilet system was greater than that shown by DOM from other sources; (iii) stabilisation of DOM in the bio-toilet system was characterised by an increasing amount of macromolecules (MW>30,000 Da) after a decreasing trend was observed in the early stages of the biodegradation process; and (iv) net production of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in wastewater treatment plants is greater than in the bio-toilet.

Controlled release with coating layer of permeable particles.

An enhanced method was proposed for controlled release of core material using a coating layer of fine permeable particles dispersed in an impermeable wax prepared by dry-based process. A mathematical model was constructed to describe in detail the core material release by diffusion through the connected permeable particles inside the coating layer. The effective diffusivity was simulated by a random walk method taking into account the structure of the coating layer. The released characteristics were measured for the urea core particle coated with the layer of the starch permeable particles dispersed in the paraffin wax. The calculated results were in a good quantitative agreement with experimental data in all range of coating conditions. As a result, the low release rate was proven to be obtained with thicker coating layer of lower volume fraction of permeable particles. Moreover, the application of permeable particles instead of soluble ones [J. Chem. Eng. Jpn. 35 (2002) 40] resulted in significant decrease in release rate.