Rumana Riffat

Effect of Various Sludge Digestion Conditions on Sulfonamide, Macrolide, and Tetracycline Resistance Genes and Class I Integrons

Wastewater treatment processes are of growing interest as a potential means to limit the dissemination of antibiotic resistance. This study examines the response of nine representative antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) encoding resistance to sulfonamide (sulI, sulII), erythromycin (erm(B), erm(F)), and tetracycline (tet(O), tet(W), tet(C), tet(G), tet(X)) to various laboratory-scale sludge digestion processes. The class I integron gene (intI1) was also monitored as an indicator of horizontal gene transfer potential and multiple antibiotic resistance. Mesophilic anaerobic digestion at both 10 and 20 day solids retention times (SRTs) significantly reduced sulI, suII, tet(C), tet(G), and tet(X) with longer SRT exhibiting a greater extent of removal; however, tet(W), erm(B) and erm(F) genes increased relative to the feed. Thermophilic anaerobic digesters operating at 47 °C, 52 °C, and 59 °C performed similarly to each other and provided more effective reduction of erm(B), erm(F), tet(O), and tet(W) compared to mesophilic digestion. However, thermophilic digestion resulted in similar or poorer removal of all other ARGs and intI1. Thermal hydrolysis pretreatment drastically reduced all ARGs, but they generally rebounded during subsequent anaerobic and aerobic digestion treatments. To gain insight into potential mechanisms driving ARG behavior in the digesters, the dominant bacterial communities were compared by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. The overall results suggest that bacterial community composition of the sludge digestion process, as controlled by the physical operating characteristics, drives the distribution of ARGs present in the produced biosolids, more so than the influent ARG composition.

Characterizing denitrification kinetics at cold temperature using various carbon sources in lab-scale sequencing batch reactors.

Wastewater treatment plants in the Chesapeake Bay region are becoming more interested in external carbon sources for denitrification. This is in response to the recent regulations to remediate the Chesapeake Bay, which will limit effluent total nitrogen to near 3 mg/L for plants, thus requiring near complete elimination of inorganic nitrogen species. Since sufficient internal carbon is usually not available for complete denitrification, external carbon is needed to supplement internal sources. Of particular interest is the use of an alternate external carbon source to replace the least expensive source methanol. This study focuses on three commonly available external carbon sources: methanol, ethanol and acetate. The aim of this study was to obtain the specific denitrification rate (SDNR) of the substrates under several conditions. Sequencing batch reactors (SBRs) were set up to first grow biomass to the specified substrate while in situ SDNRs were conducted concurrently. Once the biomass was grown with the corresponding substrate, a series of ex situ SDNRs were performed using various biomass/substrate combinations to evaluate response to substrate combinations at 13 degrees C. Results from this study indicate that the SDNRs for biomass grown on methanol, ethanol and acetate were 9.2 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS/hr, 30.4 mg NO(3)-N/gVSS/hr and 31.7 mg NO(3)-N/g VSS/hr, respectively, suggesting that acetate and ethanol were equally effective external carbon sources followed by much lower SDNR using methanol. Ethanol could be used with methanol biomass with similar rates as that of methanol. Additionally, methanol was rapidly acclimated to ethanol grown biomass suggesting that the two substrates could be interchanged to grow respective populations with a minimum lag period.

Balancing yield, kinetics and cost for three external carbon sources used for suspended growth post-denitrification.

Facilities across North America are designing plants to meet stringent limit of technology (LOT) treatment for nitrogen removal. In the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States, this is in response to the Chesapeake Bay Agreement, which limit effluent total nitrogen discharges from wastewater treatment plants to between 3-5 mg/L. Since denitrification is crucial for the removal of nitrogen, maximizing this process step will result in a decrease in nutrient load to the receiving waters. Of particular interest is the use of an alternate external carbon source to replace the most commonly used carbon, methanol. Three external carbon sources were evaluated in this study including: methanol, ethanol and acetate at 13 degrees C. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relative benefits and constraints for using these three carbon types. Laboratory scale Sequencing Batch Reactors (SBRs) were set up to grow and acclimate carbon free biomass to the specified substrate while in-situ Specific Denitrification Rates (SDNRs) were conducted concurrently. The results suggest that the SDNRs for acetate (31.0 + or - 4.6 mgNO(3)-N/gVSS/hr) and ethanol (29.6 + or - 5.6 mgNO(3)-N/gVSS/hr) are higher than that for methanol (10.1 + or - 2.5 mgNO(3)-N/gVSS/hr). The yield coefficients in g COD/g COD were observed to follow a similar trend with values of 0.45 + or - 0.05 for methanol, 0.53 + or - 0.06 for ethanol and 0.66 + or - 0.06 for acetate.

Specific methanogenic activity of halophilic and mixed cultures in saline wastewater

Wastewater containing high concentrations of salt, are difficult to treat using biological treatment processes, especially anaerobic processes. Limited information is available on methanogenic activity in saline environments. The objective of this research was to investigate the activity of halophilic methanogens, digester sludge and a mixed culture of halophilic and methanogenic bacteria, at various levels of salinity, in terms of lag period and specific methanogenic activity (SMA) at two temperatures. For the halophilic bacteria at 35 °C, the initial SMA ranged from 0.46 to 0.90 g acetate/g VSSd, but decreased at higher salt concentrations. The maximum SMA varied from 1.2 to 2.08 g acetate/g VSSd. High sodium chloride concentrations had a significant adverse effect on digester sludge. At 25 °C, at salt concentrations of 30 g/l and above, the digester sludge could not acclimate even in 50 days. Little difference was observed in the maximum SMA of mixed culture and halophilic bacteria at high salt concentrations of40–50 g/l.

EFFECT OF TRACE METALS ON HALOPHILIC AND MIXED CULTURES IN ANAEROBIC TREATMENT

Trace metals are known to stimulate the activity of anaerobic methanogenic bacteria involved in the degradation of organic matter. The objective of this research was to investigate the effect of three trace metals, iron, nickel and cobalt on the activity of halophilic methanogens, digester sludge and a mixed culture of halophilic bacteria and digester sludge, at various salt concentrations. Iron slightly stimulated both initial and maximum specific methanogenic activity (SMA) of halophilic methanogens at all salt concentrations. Iron addition was also able to increase both initial and maximum SMA of the mixed culture. Iron could not stimulate either initial or maximum SMA of digester sludge at salt concentrations of more than 10 g/L. Adding cobalt showed no benefit on the initial and maximum SMA of halophilic methanogens. A slight increase in the initial SMA was observed in mixed culture when cobalt was injected to the system containing sodium concentrations of 10–30 g/L. At salt concentrations above 40 g/L, cobalt could stimulate the maximum SMA of mixed culture. No benefits were found when cobalt was added to the digester sludge at sodium concentrations higher than 20 g/L. Nickel was observed to increase the initial SMA of digester sludge at all salt concentrations, and the maximum SMA of mixed culture at salt concentrations of 30–50 g/L.

Fouling and long-term durability of an integrated forward osmosis and membrane distillation system

An integrated forward osmosis (FO) and membrane distillation (MD) system has great potential for sustainable wastewater reuse. However, the fouling and long-term durability of the system remains largely unknown. This study investigates the fouling behaviour and efficiency of cleaning procedures of FO and MD membranes used for treating domestic wastewater. Results showed that a significant decline in flux of both FO and MD membranes were observed during treatment of wastewater with organic foulants. However, shear force generated by the increased cross-flow physically removed the loosely attached foulants from the FO membrane surface and resulted in 86-88% recovery of flux by cleaning with tap water. For the MD membrane, almost no flux recovery was achieved due to adsorption of organic foulants on the hydrophobic membrane surface, thus indicating significant irreversible fouling/wetting, which may not be effectively cleaned even with chemical reagents. Long-term (10 d) tests showed consistent performance of the FO membrane by rejecting the contaminants. However, organic foulants reduced the hydrophobicity of the MD membrane, caused wetting problems and allowed contaminants to pass through. The results demonstrate that combination of the FO and MD processes can effectively reduce irreversible membrane fouling and solve the wetting problem of the MD membrane.

Efficiency of autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion under two different oxygen flow rates.

The objective of this research was to understand the influence of oxygenation at two different oxygen flow rates (0.105 and 0.210 L/L/h) on autothermal thermophilic aerobic digestion (ATAD), and on the overall performance of Dual Digestion (DD). Profile experiments on an ATAD reactor showed that a significant portion of volatile fatty acids and ammonia were produced in the first 12 h period, and both followed first order kinetics. Ammonia concentrations of ATAD effluent were 1015 mg/L and 1450 mg/L, respectively, at the two oxygenation rates. Ammonia production was not complete in the ATAD reactor at the lower oxygenation rate. However, it was sufficient to maximize volatile solids reduction in the DD process. The biological heat of oxidations were 14,300 J/g Volatile Solids (VS) removed and 15,900 J/g VS removed for the two oxygen flow rates, respectively. The ATAD step provided enhanced digestion for the DD process with higher volatile solids removal and methane yield when compared to conventional digestion.

Preliminary environmental monitoring of water quality in the Rio Grande in the Laredo-Nuevo Laredo Region.

The international border region of the Rio Grande faces severe environmental and economic challenges. Contamination and degradation of its fragile lotic environments are mainly due to stresses from rapid population growth and unchecked industrial development. This study evaluates the water quality of the Rio Grande in the area of Nuevo Laredo, Mexico and Laredo, Texas, USA, in terms of physical, chemical and bacteriological parameters, as well as total metals, organochlorine pesticides, volatile organic compounds (VOC), semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOC) and radioactivity. Surface water samples were collected at 3 sites along the river. Two additional non-river sites (potable water and residual water) were studied for a better assessment of water quality in the region. Three series of samples were taken every other day during one week (November 3 to November 8, 2005) from the five sampling sites. Levels of oil and grease in all the river samples exceeded the limits established by Mexican regulations. Concentrations of aluminum above the permissible limits for source of drinking water and for quality for protection of freshwater biota were also found in all of the river sites. A number of unregulated elements (Cd, Sr, Mg, Na, Fe, Si, Li and K) appeared in the river samples. The average concentrations of Ba and Na in the potable water samples were below the permissible limits. Ca, Sr, Mg and Si were also found but are not regulated. The majority of the organic compounds studied in both the river and in residual water samples was below detection limits. In all the potable water samples, bromodichloromethane and dibromochloromethane were found above their limit of quantitation (LOQ), but these compounds are not regulated. This preliminary study suggests the need for consistent periodic monitoring to track the environmental status of the Rio Grande.

Anaerobic Digestion at 45 C for Sludge Treatment: A Trade-off between Performances and Capability in Producing Class a Biosolids

 Abstract—Anaerobic digestion at mesophilic and thermophilic temperatures have been widely studied and evaluated for the purpose of sludge stabilization. However, limited extensive research has been conducted on anaerobic digestion in the intermediate zone of 45°C, mainly due to the notion that limited microbial activity occurs within this zone. The objectives of this research were to evaluate the performance and the capability of anaerobic digestion at 45°C in producing class A biosolids, in comparison to a mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion system operated at 35°C and 55°C, respectively. 45°C anaerobic digestion systems were not able to achieve comparable methane yield and high quality effluent as mesophilic system, though the systems produced biogas with 66.08±2.83% methane. No ammonia inhibition was observed and the digesters were able to achieve volatile solids (VS) reduction of 47.79±1.86%. Moreover, the pathogen counts were less than 1,000 MPN/g dry solids, thus, producing Class A biosolids. However, the 45°C systems suffered from high acetate accumulation, but sufficient buffering capacity was observed. Correspondingly, the dominant methanogen existed in 45°C system was thermo-tolerant acetate-utilizing methanogen of Methanosarcinaceae species.