Joanna Surmacz-Górska

Photocatalytic mineralization of humic acids with TiO2: Effect of pH, sulfate and chloride anions

Aims of the present work are to investigate the photomineralization of commercial humic acid in water solution.The effect of initial pH of solution and different anions (chloride, sulfate and mixture) on the photocatalytic degradation of HA with titanium dioxide in aqueous solution has been examined. The photocatalytic mineralization rate in alkaline solution is lower than in neutral and acidic solution. In our conditions no effect of chloride ions on the degradation rate is observed. The influence of the sulfate depends on its concentration in the solution. For a large concentration, we note a decrease of the mineralization rate.

R&D priorities in the field of sustainable remediation and purification of agro-industrial and municipal wastewater

This article was presented as a position paper during the Environmental Biotechnology and Microbiology Conference in Bologna, Italy in April 2012. It indicates major and emerging environmental biotechnology research and development (R&D) priorities for EU members in the field of sustainable remediation and purification of agro-industrial and municipal wastewater. The identified priorities are: anaerobic/aerobic microbial treatment, combination of photochemical and biological treatment, phytoremediation and algae-based remediation, as well as innovative technologies currently investigated, such as enzyme-based treatment, bioelectrochemical treatment and recovery of nutrients and reuse of cleaned water. State of the art, research needs and prospective development in these domains are crucially discussed. As a result, goals of the future development of bioremediation and purification processes are defined and the way to achieve them is proposed.

Oxidation of sulfamethoxazole by UVA radiation and modified Fenton reagent: toxicity and biodegradability of by-products

Improvement of sulfamethoxazole (4-amino-N-(5-methylisoxazol-3-yl)-benzenesulfonamide-SMX) biodegradability using a modified Fentons reaction has been studied. The modification consists of replacing hydrogen peroxide with atmospheric air and adding copper sulphate as a reaction promoter. Two series of experiments were carried out. The first (Series 1) was conducted using only the catalysts with aeration. In the second series (Series 2), cycles of UVA radiation and aeration were used. During UVA radiation, the removal of sulfamethoxazole proceeds less rapidly than in only aerated solution. After 1.5 h of these two processes, the SMX degradation was 23% in Series 2 and 59% in Series 1. The opposite trend was observed for mineralization and the removal of DOC was about 5% higher in Series 2 than in Series 1. The FTIR spectra of the extracts of reaction products yielded by four organic solvents of varying polarity revealed a wide diversity of functional groups in the post-reaction mixture in comparison to the extracts from sulfamethoxazole solution. Based on FTIR analysis, several oxidation products of sulfamethoxazole are proposed. Apparently, hydroxyl radicals initially attack sulphonamide bonds, resulting in the formation of sulfanilic acid and 3-amino-5-methylisoxazole. Irrespective of the reference organism used in toxicity tests, the post-reaction mixture in the Series 2 was more toxic than the post-reaction mixture in Series 1. In contrast, the biodegradability calculated as BOD(5)/DOC ratio, was higher for post-reaction mixture 2 and amounted to 0.43.

Resistance of Escherichia coli and Enterococcus spp. to selected antimicrobial agents present in municipal wastewater.

In this study, the susceptibility to erythromycin (E) and to trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT) among isolates of Enterococcus spp. and Escherichia coli was tested, respectively. Both fecal indicators were detected and isolated from raw (RW) and treated wastewater (TW) as well as from samples of activated sludge (AS) collected in a local wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Biodiversity of bacterial community in AS was also monitored using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Additionally, distribution of sul1-3 genes conferring sulfonamide resistance was tested among SXT-resistant E. coli. Simultaneously, basic physicochemical parameters and concentrations of eight antimicrobial compounds (belonging to folate pathway inhibitors and macrolides class) were analyzed in RW and TW samples. Six of the selected antimicrobial agents, namely: erythromycin, clarithromycin, trimethoprim, roxithromycin, sulfamethoxazole, and N-acetyl-sulfamethoxazole were detected in the wastewater samples. Bacterial biodiversity of AS samples were comparable with no relevant differences. Among tested Enterococcus spp., E-resistant isolates constituted 41%. SXT resistance was less prevalent in E. coli with 11% of isolates. The genes conferring resistance to sulfonamides (sul1-3) were detected in SXT-resistant E. coli of wastewater origin with similar frequencies as in other environmental compartments, including clinical ones.

The effect of temperature on the efficiency of industrial wastewater nitrification and its (geno)toxicity

Abstract The paper deals with the problem of the determination of the effects of temperature on the efficiency of the nitrification process of industrial wastewater, as well as its toxicity to the test organisms. The study on nitrification efficiency was performed using wastewater from one of Polish chemical factories. The chemical factory produces nitrogen fertilizers and various chemicals. The investigated wastewater was taken from the influent to the industrial mechanical-biological wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The WWTP guaranteed high removal efficiency of organic compounds defined as chemical oxygen demand (COD) but periodical failure of nitrification performance was noted in last years of the WWTP operation. The research aim was to establish the cause of recurring failures of nitrification process in the above mentioned WWTP. The tested wastewater was not acutely toxic to activated sludge microorganisms. However, the wastewater was genotoxic to activated sludge microorganisms and the genotoxicity was greater in winter than in spring time. Analysis of almost 3 years’ period of the WWTP operation data and laboratory batch tests showed that activated sludge from the WWTP under study is very sensitive to temperature changes and the nitrification efficiency collapses rapidly under 16°C. Additionally, it was calculated that in order to provide the stable nitrification, in winter period the sludge age (SRT) in the WWTP should be higher than 35 days.

Detection of antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater treatment plant – molecular and classical approach

Abstract Antibiotics are a group of substances potentially harmful to the environment. They can play a role in bacterial resistance transfer among pathogenic and non-pathogenic bacteria. In this experiment three representatives of medically important chemotherapeutics, confirmed to be present in high concentrations in wastewater treatment plants with HPLC analysis were used: erythromycin, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim. Erythromycin concentration in activated sludge was not higher than 20 ng L−1. N-acetylo-sulfamethoxazole concentration was 3349 ± 719 in winter and 2933 ± 429 ng L−1 in summer. Trimethoprim was present in wastewater at concentrations 400 ± 22 and 364 ± 60 ng L−1, respectively in winter and summer. Due to a wide variety of PCR-detectable resistance mechanisms towards these substances, the most common found in literature was chosen. For erythromycin: erm and mef genes, for sulfamethoxazole: sul1, sul2, sul3 genes, in the case of trimethoprim resistance dhfrA1 and dhfr14 were used in this study. The presence of resistance genes were analyzed in pure strains isolated from activated sludge and in the activated sludge sample itself. The research revealed that the value of minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) did not correspond with the expected presence of more than one resistance mechanisms. Most of the isolates possessed only one of the genes responsible for a particular chemotherapeutic resistance. It was confirmed that it is possible to monitor the presence of resistance genes directly in activated sludge using PCR. Due to the limited isolates number used in the experiment these results should be regarded as preliminary.

Photochemical Degradation of Sulfadiazine

Abstract The photochemical degradation of the sulfadiazine (SDZ) was studied. The photochemical processes used in degradation of SDZ were UV and UV/H2O2. In the experiments hydrogen peroxide was applied at different concentrations: 10 mg/dm3 (2.94*10-4 M), 100 mg/dm3 (2.94*10-3 M), 1 g/dm3 (2.94*10-2 M) and 10 g/dm3 (2.94*10-1 M). The concentrations of SDZ during the experiment were controlled by means of HPLC. The best results of sulfadiazine degradation, the 100% removal of the compound, were achieved by photolysis using UV radiation in the presence of 100 mg H2O2/dm3 (2.94*10-3 M). The determined rate constant of sulfadiazine reaction with hydroxyl radicals kOH was equal 1.98*109 M-1s-1. Streszczenie W ramach niniejszego eksperymentu przeprowadzono fotochemiczny rozkład sulfadiazyny (SDZ). Rozkład sulfadiazyny był realizowany z wykorzystaniem procesów UV oraz UV/H2O2. W badaniach użyto nadtlenek wodoru w następujących stężeniach: 10 mg/dm3 (2.94*10-4 M), 100 mg/dm3 (2.94*10-3 M), 1 g/dm3 (2.94*10-2 M) oraz 10 g/dm3 (2.94*10-1 M). Zmiany stężenia SDZ obserwowano przy wykorzystaniu HPLC. Najlepsze rezultaty rozkładu sulfadiazyny, 100% usunięcie badanej substancji, zaobserwowano w procesie fotolizy przy obecności 100 mg H2O2/dm3 (2.94*10-3 M). Stała szybkości reakcji sulfadiazyny z rodnikami hydroksylowymi kOH wynosiła 1.98*109 M-1s-1.

Polishing of Real Electroplating Wastewater in Microcosm Fill-and-Drain Constructed Wetlands

This chapter presents a study of the performance of metals removal mechanisms in microcosm fill-and-drain constructed wetlands used for polishing of real-life electroplating wastewater. Two types of columns were used in the experiment: with compost or sand bed media. All the columns were planted with common reed. The main design goal of the experimental system was to promote precipitation of metals with biogenic sulfides. The feed of the system contained mainly metals (Al, Cu, Ni, Zn), B, and cyanides. The substrate from the columns was sampled after cessation of the experiment (56 weeks) and was analyzed using a sequential extraction procedure and a scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) method. The studied columns were found to remove Al, Cu, and cyanides to a high extent, but were less efficient for other metals and B. The obtained results showed that the intended process for metals removal, which was the precipitation of metal sulfides, was responsible for binding only a minor fraction of metals. The major portion of metals was present as exchangeable or reducible fraction.

Accumulation of Metals and Boron in Phragmites australis Planted in Constructed Wetlands Polishing Real Electroplating Wastewater

The concentration of metals (Al, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Zn) and B were determined in the above- and belowground biomass of Phragmites australis collected from the microcosm constructed wetland system used for the polishing of real electroplating wastewater. Translocation factor and bioconcentration factor were determined. Pearson correlation test was used to determine correlation between metal concentration in substrate and above- and belowground parts of Phragmites australis. The obtained results suggested that Phragmites australis did not play a major role as an accumulator of metals. It was observed also that the substrate could have exerted an effect on the translocation of Ni, Cu, Zn and Mn. The analysed concentrations of metals and B in biomass were in the range or even below the concentrations reported in the literature with the exception of Ni. The aboveground biomass was found suitable as a composting input in terms of metals concentrations.

Short- and long-term orange dye effects on ammonium oxidizing and anammox bacteria activities

The effects of orange azo dye over ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and anammox bacteria activities were tested. Performed batch tests indicated that concentrations lower than 650 mgorange/L stimulated AOB activity, while anammox bacteria activity was inhibited at concentrations higher than 25 mgorange/L. Long-term performance of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) for the partial nitritation and a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) for the anammox process was tested in the presence of 50 mgorange/L. In the case of the partial nitritation process, both the biomass concentration and the specific AOB activity increased after 50 days of orange azo dye addition. Regarding the anammox process, specific activity decreased down to 58% after 12 days of operation with continuous feeding of 50 mgorange/L. However, the anammox activity was completely recovered only 54 days after stopping the dye addition in the feeding. Once the biomass was saturated the azo dye adsorption onto the biomass was insignificant in the CSTR for the partial nitritation process fed with 50 mgorange/L. However, in the SBR the absorption was determined as 6.4 mgorange/g volatile suspended solids. No biological decolorization was observed in both processes.