Junxin Liu

Surface modification of coconut shell based activated carbon for the improvement of hydrophobic VOC removal

In this study, coconut shell based carbons were chemically treated by ammonia, sodium hydroxide, nitric acid, sulphuric acid, and phosphoric acid to determine suitable modification for improving adsorption ability of hydrophobic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on granular activated carbons (GAC). The saturated adsorption capacities of o-xylene, a hydrophobic volatile organic compound, were measured and adsorption effects of the original and modified activated carbons were compared. Results showed that GAC modified by alkalis had better o-xylene adsorption capacity. Uptake amount was enhanced by 26.5% and reduced by 21.6% after modification by NH(3)H(2)O and H(2)SO(4), respectively. Compared with the original, GAC modified by acid had less adsorption capacity. Both SEM/EDAX and BET were used to identify the structural characteristics of the tested GAC, while IR spectroscopy and Boehms titration were applied to analysis the surface functional groups. Relationships between physicochemical characteristics of GAC and their adsorption performances demonstrated that o-xylene adsorption capacity was related to surface area, pore volume, and functional groups of the GAC surface. Removing surface oxygen groups, which constitute the source of surface acidity, and reducing hydrophilic carbon surface favors adsorption capacity of hydrophobic VOCs on carbons. The performances of modified GACs were also investigated in the purification of gases containing complex components (o-xylene and steam) in the stream.

Enhancing simultaneous electricity production and reduction of sewage sludge in two-chamber MFC by aerobic sludge digestion and sludge pretreatments.

Batch tests were conducted to enhancing simultaneous electricity production and reduction of sewage sludge in two-chamber MFC by aerobic sludge digestion in cathode chamber and sludge pretreatments (sterilization and base pretreatment) prior to sludge addition to anode chamber, respectively. During the stable stage, The voltage outputs and power densities of MFC increased from 0.28-0.31 V to 17.3-21.2 mW/m(2) to 0.41-0.43 V and 36.8-40.1 mW/m(2), respectively, when aerobic sludge digestion occurred in the cathode chamber. When the sludge added to the anode chamber was sterilized or base pretreated, the voltage outputs and power densities of MFC increased from 0.30-0.32 V and 19.9-22.6 mW/m(2) (raw sludge) to 0.34-0.36 V and 25.5-28.6 mW/m(2) (sterilized sludge), 0.41-0.43 V and 37.1-40.8 mW/m(2) (base pretreated sludge), respectively. At the end of the test, the total suspended solids (TSS) and volatile suspended solids (VSS) reduction of sludge in the anode chambers increased from 33.9% and 36.8% to 34.5% and 38.7% with aerobic sludge digestion in the cathode chamber, respectively; while, those (TSS and VSS reduction) with sludge pretreatments prior to the sludge addition to the anode chambers increased from 25.1% and 22.8% (raw sludge) to 32.8% and 34.6% (sterilized sludge), and 25.5% and 26.7% (base pretreated sludge), respectively. The experimental results illuminated both aerobic sludge digestion in the cathode chamber and sludge pretreatments (sterilization and base pretreatment) prior to sludge addition to the anode chamber could enhance simultaneous electricity production from sludge and sludge reduction.

Biodegradation of malathion by Acinetobacter johnsonii MA19 and optimization of cometabolism substrates

To enhance the removal efficiency of malathion in the wastewater from organophosphate pesticide mill, a bacterium, Acinetobacter johnsonii MA19, that could degrade malathion with cometabolism was isolated from malathion-polluted soil samples using enrichment culture techniques. Four kinds of additional compounds, sodium succinate, sodium acetate, glucose, and fructose were tested to choose a favorite carbon source for the cometabolism of strain MA19. The results showed that sodium succinate and sodium acetate could promote malathion biodegradation and cell growth. The investigation results of the effects of sodium succinate concentrations on the malathion biodegradation indicated that the more sodium succinate supplied resulted in quick degradation of malathion and fast cells multiplied. Zero-order kinetic model was appropriate to describe the malathion biodegradation when the concentration of sodium succinate was more than 0.5144 g/L. The degradation rate constant (K) reached the maximum value of 3.5837 mg/(L x h) when the mass ratio of sodium succinate to malathion was 128.6 mg/mg. The aquatic toxicity of the malathion was evaluated using the test organism, Limnodrilus hoffmeisteri. The data obtained suggested that the toxicity of malathion could be ignored after 84 h biodegradation. Our result demonstrates the potential for using bacterium A. johnsonii MA19 for malathion biodegradation and environmental bioremediation when some suitable conventional carbon sources are supplied.

Occurrence and removal of organic micropollutants in the treatment of landfill leachate by combined anaerobic-membrane bioreactor technology.

Organic micropollutants, with high toxicity and environmental concern, are present in the landfill leachate at much lower levels than total organic constituents (chemical oxygen demand (COD), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), or total organic carbon (TOC)), and few has been known for their behaviors in different treatment processes. In this study, occurrence and removal of 17 organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and technical 4-nonylphenol (4-NP) in landfill leachate in a combined anaerobic-membrane bioreactor (MBR) were investigated. Chemical analyses were performed in leachates sampled from different treatment processes, using solid-phase extraction and gas chromatography with electron capture detector and mass spectrometry. Concentrations of OCPs, PAHs, and 4-NP in the raw leachate were detected within the range from ND (not detected) to 595.2 ng/L, which were as low as only 10(-7)-10(-5) percentage of TOC (at the concentration of 2,962 mg/L). The removal of 4-NP was mainly established in the MBR process, in agreement with removals of COD, BOD, and TOC. However, the removals of OCPs and PAHs were different, mainly achieved in the anaerobic process. High removal efficiencies of both total organic constituents and organic micropollutants could be achieved by the combined anaerobic-MBR technology. The removal efficiencies of total organic constituents were in the order of BOD (99%) > COD (89%) > TOC (87%), whereas the removal efficiencies of investigated organic micropollutants were as follows: OCPs (94%) > 4-NP (77%) > PAHs (59%).

Effect of sludge retention time on sludge characteristics and membrane fouling of membrane bioreactor.

Three identical membrane bioreactors (MBRs) were operated over 2 years at different sludge retention time (SRT) of 10 d, 40 d and no sludge withdrawal (NS), to elucidate and quantify the effect of SRT on the sludge characteristics and membrane fouling. The hydraulic retention times of these MBRs were controlled at 12 h. With increasing SRT, the sludge concentrations in the MBRs increased, whereas the ratio of volatile suspended solid to the total solid decreased, and the size of sludge granule diminished in the meantime. A higher sludge concentration at long SRT could maintain a better organic removal efficiency, and a longer SRT was propitious to the growth of nitrifiers. The performance of these MBRs for the removal of COD and NH4+-N did not change much with different SRTs. However, the bioactivity decreased as SRT increase. The measurement of specific oxygen uptake rates (SOUR) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probes testified that SOUR and the proportion of the bacteria-specific probe EUB338 in all DAPI-stainable bacteria decreased with increasing SRT. The concentrations of total organic carbon, protein, polysaccharides and soluble extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) in the mixed liquor supernatant also decreased with increasing SRT. The membrane fouling rate was higher at shorter SRT, and the highest fouling rate appeared at a SRT of 10 d. Both the sludge cake layer and gel layer had contribution to the fouling resistance, but the relative contribution of the gel layer decreased as SRT increase.

Effect of H2O2 dosing strategy on sludge pretreatment by microwave-H2O2 advanced oxidation process

Considering characteristics of breaking down H(2)O(2) into water and molecular oxygen by catalase in waste activated sludge (WAS), the effect of H(2)O(2) dosing strategy on sludge pretreatment by the advanced oxidation process (AOP) of microwave-H(2)O(2) was investigated by batch experiments for optimizing H(2)O(2) dosage. Results showed that the catalase in sludge was active at the low temperature range between 15 degrees C and 45 degrees C, and gradually lost activity from 60 degrees C to 80 degrees C. Therefore, the H(2)O(2) was dosed at 80 degrees C, to which the waste activated sludge was first heated by the microwave (MW), and then the sludge dosed with H(2)O(2) was continuously heated till 100 degrees C by the microwave. Results at different H(2)O(2) dosages showed that the higher the H(2)O(2) dosing ratio was, the more the SCOD and total organic carbon (TOC) were released into the supernatant, and the optimum range of H(2)O(2)/TCOD ratio should be between 0.1 and 1.0. The percentages of consumed H(2)O(2) in the AOP of microwave and H(2)O(2) treating the WAS were 25.38%, 22.53%, 14.82%, 13.61% and 19.63% at different H(2)O(2)/TCOD dosing ratios of 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, respectively. Along with the increasing H(2)O(2)/TCOD ratio, the contents of TCOD on particles, soluble substances and mineralization increased and the TCOD distribution on solids decreased.

Distribution and composition of extracellular polymeric substances in membrane-aerated biofilm

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are one of the main components of the biofilm and perform important functions in the biofilm system. In this study, two membrane-aerated biofilms (MABs) were developed for the thin and thick biofilms under different surface loading rates (SLRs). Supplies of oxygen and substrates in the MAB were from two opposite directions. This counter diffusion of nutrients resulted in a different growth environment, in contrast to conventional biofilms receiving both oxygen and substrates from the same side. The compositions, distributions and physicochemical properties (solubility and bindability) of EPS in the MABs of different thicknesses under different SLRs were studied. The effect of dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration within the MAB on EPS properties and distribution was investigated. Experimental results showed the different biofilm thicknesses produced substantially different profiles of EPS composition and distribution. Soluble proteins were more dominant than soluble polysaccharides in the inner aerobic layer of the biofilms; in contrast, bound proteins were greater than bound polysaccharides in the outer anoxic or anaerobic layer of the biofilms. The biofilm-EPS matrix consisted mainly of bound EPS. Bound EPS exhibited a hump-shaped profile with the highest content occurring in an intermediate region in the thin MAB and relatively more uniformly in the one half of the biofilm close to the membrane side and then declined towards the biofilm-liquid interface in the thick MAB. The profiles of soluble EPS presented a similar declining trend from the membrane towards the outer region in both thin and thick MABs. The study suggested that not only EPS composition but also EPS distribution and properties (solubility and bindability) played a crucial role in controlling the cohesiveness and maintaining the structural stability and stratification of the MABs.

Control factors of partial nitritation for landfill leachate treatment

Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (ANAMMOX) technology has potential technical superiority and economical efficiency for the nitrogen removal from landfill leachate, which contains high-strength ammonium nitrogen (NH4(+)-N) and refractory organics. To complete the ANAMMOX process, a preceding partial nitritation step to produce the appropriate ratio of nitrite/ammonium is a key stage. The objective of this study was to determine the optimal conditions to acquire constant partial nitritation for landfill leachate treatment, and a bench scale fixed bed bio-film reactor was used in this study to investigate the effects of the running factors on the partial nitritation. The results showed that both the dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration and the ammonium volumetric loading rate (N(v)) had effects on the partial nitritation. In the controlling conditions with a temperature of 30 +/- 1 degrees C, N(v) of 0.2-1.0 kg NH4(+)-N/(m3 x d), and DO concentration of 0.8-2.3 mg/L, the steady partial nitritation was achieved as follows: more than 94% partial nitritation efficiency (nitrite as the main product), 60%-74% NH4(+)-N removal efficiency, and NO2(-)-N/NH4(+)-N ratio (concentration ratio) of 1.0-1.4 in the effluent. The impact of temperature was related to N(v) at certain DO concentration, and the temperature range of 25-30 degrees C was suitable for treating high strength ammonium leachate. Ammonium-oxidizing bacteria could be acclimated to higher FA (free ammonium) in the range of 122-224 mg/L. According to the denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis analysis result of the bio-film in the reactor, there were 25 kinds of 16S rRNA gene fragments, which indicated that abundant microbial communities existed in the bio-film, although high concentrations of ammonium and FA may inhibit the growth of the nitrite-oxidizing bacteria and other microorganisms in the reactor.

Biological hydrogen production from sterilized sewage sludge by anaerobic self-fermentation

Due to richness in proteins and carbohydrates, the sewage sludge produced from the wastewater treatment processes is becoming a potential substrate for biological hydrogen production. In this study, sterilized sludge was employed to produce hydrogen by batch anaerobic self-fermentation without any extra-feeds and extra-seeds. Sterilization can screen hydrogen-producing microorganisms from sludge microflora and release organic materials from microbial cells of sludge. Experimental results suggested that sterilization could accelerate and increase the hydrogen production of sewage sludge in the anaerobic self-fermentation, and the biogas did not contain methane. The hydrogen yield was increased from 0.35 mL H(2)/g VS (raw sludge) to 16.26 m LH(2)/g VS (sterilized sludge). Although sterilization could fully inhibit the activity of methanogens in the sludge, the hydrogen consumption still occurred in the anaerobic self-fermentation of sterilized sludge due to the existence of other hydrogen-consuming actions. The decrease of pH in the anaerobic self-fermentation of sterilized sludge was very lower (from 6.81 to 6.56) because NH(4)(+) produced by degradation of proteins could neutralize organic acids produced in the process. The soluble chemical oxygen demand (SCOD) increase of sterilized sludge was higher than that of raw sludge. Volatile fatty acids (VFA) were the important by-products and acetate was the major composition. The hydrogen fermentation of carbohydrates was the major source of hydrogen production.

Sludge reduction with Tubificidae and the impact on the performance of the wastewater treatment process.

To reduce excess sludge, a Tubificidae reactor was combined with an integrated oxidation ditch with vertical circle (IODVC), and a new integrated system was developed for wastewater treatment. A pilot-scale of this integrated system was tested to investigate the sludge reduction with Tubificidae and the impact on effluent quality and sludge production. The dominant worm was Branchnria Sowerbyi in the Tubificidae reactor after inoculation of Branchnria Sowerbyi and Limnodrilns sp., and the maximal volume density of wet Tubificidae in vessels of the Tubificidae reactor was 17600 g/m3. Two operational modes, treating the excess sludge (first mode) and the returned sludge (second mode) of IODVC by the Tubificidae reactor, were used in this experiment. The results showed that the excess sludge reduction rate was 46.4% in the first mode, and the average sludge yield of the integrated system was 6.19 x 10(-5) kg SS/kg COD in the second mode. Though the sludge returned to IODVC via the Tubificidae reactor, it had little impact on the effluent quality and the sludge characteristics of the IODVC. No new type of recalcitrant substance in the supernatant was discharged into the environment when the sludge was treated by Tubificidae. The experimental results also indicated that no significant changes occurred on the viscosity, specific resistance, and the floc size distribution of the sludge.