Jianfu Zhao

Biosorption of cadmium(II) and lead(II) ions from aqueous solutions onto dried activated sludge

The removal of heavy-metal ions from aqueous solutions by using dried activated sludge has been investigated in batch systems. Effect of solution pH, initial metal ion concentration, and temperature were determined. The results of the kinetic studies showed that the uptake processes of the two metal ions(Cd(lII) and Pb(ll)) followed the pseudo-second-order rate expression. The equilibrium data fitted very well to both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption models. The FT-IR analysis showed that the main mechanism of Cd(ll) and Pb(II) biosorption onto dried activated sludge was their binding with amide I group.

Removal of cadmium using MnO2 loaded D301 resin

MnO2 loaded weak basic anion exchange resin D301 (Anion exchange resin, macroreticular weak basic styrene) as adsorbent has been prepared and applied to the removal of cadmium. The adsorption characteristics have been investigated with respect to effect of pH, equilibrium isotherms, removal kinetic data, and interference of the coexisting ions. The results indicated that the Cd2+ could be efficiently removed using MnO2 loaded D301 resin in the pH range of 3-8 from aqueous solutions with the co-existence of high concentration of alkali and alkaline-earth metals ions. T he saturate adsorption capacity of the Cd2+ was 77.88 mg/g. Theadsorption process followed the pseudo first-order kinetics. The equilibrium data obtained in this study accorded excellently with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm.

Characteristics of sewage sludge and distribution of heavy metal in plants with amendment of sewage sludge

In order to better understand land application of sewage sludge, the characterization of heavy metals and organic pollutants were investigated in three different sewage sludges in Shanghai City, China. It was found that the total concentrations of Cd in all of sewage sludge and total concentrations of Zn in Jinshan sewage sludge, as well as those of Zn, Cu, and Ni in Taopu sludge are higher than Chinese regulation limit of pollutants for sludge to be used in agriculture. Leachability of Hg in all of studied samples and that of Cd in Taopu sewage sludge exceed the limit values of waste solid extraction standard in China legislation. Based on the characteristics for three kinds of sewage sludge, a pot experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of soil amended with Quyang sewage sludge on the accumulation of heavy metal by Begonia semperflorens-hybr; Ophiopogon japonicus (L.F.) Ker-Gaw; Loropetalum chindense-var. rubrum; Dendranthema morifolium; Viola tricolor; A ntirrhinum majus; Buxus radicans Sieb; Viburnum macrocephalum; Osmanthus fragrans Lour; Cinnamomum camphora siebold and Ligustrum lucidum ait. Results showed that 8 species of plant survived in the amended soil, and moreover they flourished as well as those cultivated in the control soil. The heavy metal concentration in plants varied with species, As, Pb, Cd and Cr concentration being the highest in the four herbaceous species studied, particularly in the roots of D. morifolium. These plants, however, did not show accumulator of As, Pb, Cd and Cr. The highest concentration of Ni and Hg was found in the roots of D. morifolium, followed by the leaves of B. semperflorens-hybr. Levels of Zn and Cu were much higher in D. morifolium than in the other plant species. D. morifolium accumulated Ni, Hg, Cu and Zn, which may contribute to the decrease of heavy metal contents in the amended soil. Treatment with sewage sludge did not significantly affect the uptake of heavy metals by the L. chindense-var. rubrum, however, it significantly affected the uptake of heavy metals by D. morifolium.

A novel nitrite biosensor based on conductometric electrode modified with cytochrome c nitrite reductase composite membrane

A conductometric biosensor for nitrite detection was developed using cytochrome c nitrite reductase (ccNiR) extracted from Desulfovibrio desulfuricans ATCC 27774 cells immobilized on a planar interdigitated electrode by cross-linking with saturated glutaraldehyde (GA) vapour in the presence of bovine serum albumin, methyl viologen (MV), Nafion, and glycerol. The configuration parameters for this biosensor, including the enzyme concentration, ccNiR/BSA ratio, MV concentration, and Nafion concentration, were optimized. Various experimental parameters, such as sodium dithionite added, working buffer solution, and temperature, were investigated with regard to their effect on the conductance response of the biosensor to nitrite. Under the optimum conditions at room temperature (about 25 degrees C), the conductometric biosensor showed a fast response to nitrite (about 10s) with a linear range of 0.2-120 microM, a sensitivity of 0.194 microS/microM [NO(2)(-)], and a detection limit of 0.05 microM. The biosensor also showed satisfactory reproducibility (relative standard deviation of 6%, n=5). The apparent Michaelis-Menten constant (K(M,app)) was 338 microM. When stored in potassium phosphate buffer (100mM, pH 7.6) at 4 degrees C, the biosensor showed good stability over 1 month. No obvious interference from other ionic species familiar in natural waters was detected. The application experiments show that the biosensor is suitable for use in real water samples.

Development of a conductometric phosphate biosensor based on tri-layer maltose phosphorylase composite films.

A conductometric biosensor for phosphate detection was developed using maltose phosphorylase (MP) from recombinant Escherichia coli immobilized on a planar interdigitated electrode by cross-linking with saturated glutaraldehyde (GA) vapour in the presence of bovine serum albumin (BSA). The process parameters for the fabrication of the mono-enzymatic sensor and various experimental variables such as the enzyme loading, time of immobilization in saturated GA vapour, working buffer solution and temperature were investigated with regard to their influence on sensitivity, detection limit, dynamic range, operational and storage stability. The biosensor can work well at the temperature between 20 degrees C and 50 degrees C, and reach 90% of steady-state conductance in about 10s. The sensor has two linear ranges, one is from 1.0 microM to 20 microM phosphate with a detection limit of 1.0 microM, and the other is between 20 microM and 400 microM phosphate. When stored in citrate buffer (0.1M, pH 6.0) at 4 degrees C, the biosensor showed good stability over two months. No obvious interference from other anionic species like SO(4)(2-), Cl(-), NO(3)(-), NO(2)(-) and HCO(3)(-) was detected. The biosensor is suitable for use in real water samples.

Effects of suspended titanium dioxide nanoparticles on cake layer formation in submerged membrane bioreactor.

Effects of the suspended titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2 NPs, 50 mg/L) on the cake layer formation in a submerged MBR were systematically investigated. With nanometer sizes, TiO2 NPs were found to aggravate membrane pore blocking but postpone cake layer fouling. TiO2 NPs showed obvious effects on the structure and the distribution of the organic and the inorganic compounds in cake layer. Concentrations of fatty acids and cholesterol in the cake layer increased due to the acute response of bacteria to the toxicity of TiO2 NPs. Line-analysis and dot map of energy-dispersive X-ray were also carried out. Since TiO2 NPs inhibited the interactions between the inorganic and the organic compounds, the inorganic compounds (especially SiO2) were prevented from depositing onto the membrane surface. Thus, the postponed cake layer fouling was due to the changing features of the complexes on the membrane surface caused by TiO2 NPs.

Effects of low-concentration Cr(VI) on the performance and the membrane fouling of a submerged membrane bioreactor in the treatment of municipal wastewater

The effects of low-concentration Cr(VI) (0.4 mgu2009l−1) on the performance of a submerged membrane bioreactor (SMBR) in the treatment of municipal wastewater, as well as membrane fouling were investigated. Compared with the SMBR for control municipal wastewater, the SMBR for Cr(VI)-containing municipal wastewater had a higher concentration of soluble microbial products (SMP) with lower molecular weights, and smaller sludge particle sizes. Furthermore, low-concentration Cr(VI) induced membrane fouling, especially irreversible membrane pore blocking, which markedly shortened the service life of the membrane.

Particle size distribution and removal by a chemical-biological flocculation process.

The particle characterization from the influent and effluent of a chemical-biological flocculation (CBF) process was studied with a laser diffraction device. Water samples from a chemically enhanced primary treatment (CEPT) process and a primary sediment tank process were also analyzed for comparison. The results showed that CBF process was not only effective for both the big size particles and small size particles removal, but also the best particle removal process in the three processes of CBF process, CEPT process, and PST process (primary sediment tanks). The results also indicated that CBF process was superior to CEPT process in the heavy metals removal. The high and non-selective removal for heavy metals might be closely related to its strong ability to eliminate small particles. Samples from different locations in CBF reactors showed that small particles were easier to aggregate into big ones and those disrupted flocs could properly flocculate again along CBF reactor because of the biological flocculation.

Efficient visible light-driven in situ photocatalytic destruction of harmful alga by worm-like N,P co-doped TiO2/expanded graphite carbon layer (NPT-EGC) floating composites

The bloom of harmful algae in water has adversely affected water quality, local economies, and human health. Efficient visible light driven floating photocatalysts, namely N,P co-doped TiO2/expanded graphite carbon layer (NPT-EGC) composites, were successfully synthesized using a sol-carbonization method, and then applied as algaecides. The synthesized photocatalysts were characterized by means of XRD, FESEM/EDS, TEM, FTIR spectroscopy, XPS, UV-vis DRS, and PL spectroscopy. The results show that the NPT-EGC composites have a worm-like structure with the N,P co-doped TiO2 particles immobilized on the surface. Among the NPT-EGC photocatalysts with different calcination temperatures, NPT-EGC450 exhibits the highest photocatalytic activity. The removal rate of the algal cells is 98.15% for NPT-EGC450 following 9 h of visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic destruction process can be divided into a rapid adsorption phase and a repeat of the cell reduction phase-lag phase. During the photocatalytic process, the algal cells were damaged as a result of photocatalysis induced oxidation and inhibition. In addition, we simulated the release of MC-LR in the photocatalytic destruction process for the algal cells. The results show that the photocatalyst can remove both the algal cells and MC-LR simultaneously with high efficiency. After three consecutive cycles, the removal rate of the algal cells is still more than 90% for NPT-EGC450, which demonstrates that the NPT-EGC photocatalyst has good reusability and stability.

Influence of secondary water supply systems on microbial community structure and opportunistic pathogen gene markers

Secondary water supply systems (SWSSs) refer to the in-building infrastructures (e.g., water storage tanks) used to supply water pressure beyond the main distribution systems. The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of SWSSs on microbial community structure and the occurrence of opportunistic pathogens, the latter of which are an emerging public health concern. Higher numbers of bacterial 16S rRNA genes, Legionella and mycobacterial gene markers were found in public building taps served by SWSSs relative to the mains, regardless of the flushing practice (Pu202f<u202f0.05). In residential buildings, genes of L.xa0pneumomhila, Acanthamoeba and Vermamoeba vermiformis were primarily detected in tanks and taps compared to the mains. Long water retention time, warm temperature and loss of disinfectant residuals promoted microbial growth and colonization of potential pathogens in SWSSs. Varied levels of microbial community shifts were found in different types of SWSSs during water transportation from the distribution main to taps, highlighting the critical role of SWSSs in shaping the drinking water microbiota. Overall, the results provided insight to factors that might aid in controlling pathogen proliferation in real-world water systems using SWSSs.