Effect of in situ CO mixing of cement paste on the leachability of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)).

In situ CO mixing technology is a potential technology for permanently sequestering CO during concrete manufacturing processes. Although it has been approved as a promising carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) method, its effect on the leachability of heavy metals from cementitious compounds has not yet been studied. This study focuses on the effect of in situ CO mixing of cement paste on the leaching of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)).

Effect of low temperature on abiotic and biotic nitrate reduction by zero-valent Iron.

The effect of low temperatures on abiotic and biotic nitrate (NO) reduction by zero-valent iron (ZVI) were examined at temperatures below 25 °C. The extent and rate of nitrate removal in batch ZVI reactors were determined in the presence and absence of microorganisms at 3.5, 10, 17, and 25 °C.

Different bioavailability of phenanthrene to two bacterial species and effects of trehalose lipids on the bioavailability.

Effects of trehalose lipids produced from ATCC 4277 on phenanthrene (PHE) mineralization by two soil microorganisms were investigated. Biodegradation experiments were conducted, with and without the biosurfactant, in three batch systems: water, soil, and soil-water slurry. PHE sorption to the soil did not limit the mineralization by the test microorganisms, strain R (PR) and sp.

Drying of fecal sludge in 3D laminate enclosures for urban waste management.

Laminated hydrophobic membranes have been proposed as liners for container-based sanitation systems in developing countries. The laminate allows drying of fecal sludge, which might significantly reduce the frequency of container emptying, while containing liquids and solids. While previous laboratory tests demonstrated rapid drying of fecal sludge or water retained in laminates, experiments did not assess the effects of system dimension or scale on performance.

A pilot-scale, bi-layer bioretention system with biochar and zero-valent iron for enhanced nitrate removal from stormwater.

Nitrogen (N) removal in conventional bioretention systems is highly variable owing to the low nitrate (NO) elimination efficiency. We hypothesized that amending bioretention cells with biochar and zero-valent iron (ZVI) could improve the NO removal performance. A well-instrumented, bi-layer pilot-scale bioretention cell was developed to test the hypothesis by investigating its hydrologic performance and NO removal efficacy as affected by biochar and ZVI amendments.

Transesterification of Waste Activated Sludge for Biosolids Reduction and Biodiesel Production.

  Transesterification of waste activated sludge (WAS) was evaluated as a cost-effective technique to reduce excess biosolids and recover biodiesel feedstock from activated sludge treatment processes. A laboratory-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was operated with recycling transesterification-treated WAS back to the aeration basin. Seventy percent recycling of WAS resulted in a 48% reduction of excess biosolids in comparison with a conventional SBR, which was operated in parallel as the control SBR.

Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of zero-valent iron and biochar.

The denitrification of nitrate (NO3(-)) by mixed cultures in the presence of zero-valent iron [Fe(0)] and biochar was investigated through a series of batch experiments. It was hypothesized that biochar may provide microbes with additional electrons to enhance the anaerobic biotransformation of nitrate in the presence of Fe(0) by facilitating electron transfer. When compared to the anaerobic transformation of nitrate by microbes in the presence of Fe(0) alone, the presence of biochar significantly enhanced anaerobic denitrification by microbes with Fe(0).

The short-term toxic effects of TiO₂nanoparticles toward bacteria through viability, cellular respiration, and lipid peroxidation.

To better understand the potential impacts of metal oxide nanoparticles (NPs) on Gram(+) Bacillus subtilis and Gram(-) Escherichia coli (K12) bacteria, eight different nanosized titanium dioxide (TiO2) suspensions with five different concentrations were used. Water quality parameters (pH, temperature, and ionic strength), light sources, and light intensities were also changed to achieve different environmental conditions. The photosensitive TiO2 NPs were found to be harmful to varying degrees under ambient conditions, with antibacterial activity increasing with primary particle sizes from 16 to 20 nm.

Effects of biosurfactant-producing bacteria on biodegradation and transport of phenanthrene in subsurface soil.

This study investigated the effects of surfactant-producing microorganism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa ATCC 9027, on phenanthrene (PHE) biodegradation by two different PHE-degrading bacteria (Isolate P5-2 and Pseudomonas strain R) in soil. Phenanthrene mineralization experiments were conducted with soils inoculated with one of PHE-degraders and/or the surfactant-producer. Influence of co-inoculation with the surfactant-producing bacteria on phenanthrene transport and biodegradation was also examined in soil columns.

Simultaneous removal of perchlorate and energetic compounds in munitions wastewater by zero-valent iron and perchlorate-respiring bacteria.

Ammonium perchlorate is one of the main constituents in Army's insensitive melt-pour explosive, PAX-21 in addition to RDX and 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN). The objective of this study is to develop an innovative treatment process to remove both perchlorate and energetic compounds simultaneously from PAX-21 production wastewater. It was hypothesized that the pretreatment of PAX-21 wastewater with zero-valent iron (ZVI) would convert energetic compounds to products that are more amenable for biological oxidation and that these products serve as electron donors for perchlorate-reducing bacteria.

The removal of 1,4-dioxane from polyester manufacturing process wastewater using an up-flow Biological Aerated Filter (UBAF) packed with tire chips.

1,4-Dioxane is one of the by-products from the polyester manufacturing process, which has been carelessly discharged into water bodies and is a weak human carcinogen. In this study, a laboratory-scale, up-flow biological aerated filter (UBAF), packed with tire chips, was investigated for the treatment of 1,4-dioxane. The UBAF was fed with effluent, containing an average of 31 mg/L of 1,4-dioxane, discharged from an anaerobic treatment unit at H Co.

Reduction of perchlorate by salt tolerant bacterial consortia.

Two perchlorate-reducing bacterial consortia (PRBC) were obtained by enrichment cultures from polluted marine sediments. Non-salt-tolerant PRBC (N-PRBC) was enriched without the addition of NaCl, and salt tolerant-PRBC (ST-PRBC) was enriched with 30 g-NaCl L(-1). Although the perchlorate reduction rates decreased with increasing NaCl concentration, ST-PRBC (resp.

Detoxification of PAX-21 ammunitions wastewater by zero-valent iron for microbial reduction of perchlorate.

US Army and the Department of Defense (DoD) facilities generate perchlorate (ClO(4)(-)) from munitions manufacturing and demilitarization processes. Ammonium perchlorate is one of the main constituents in Army's new main charge melt-pour energetic, PAX-21. In addition to ammonium perchlorate, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN) are the major constituents of PAX-21.

Microbial community analysis of perchlorate-reducing cultures growing on zero-valent iron.

Anaerobic microbial mixed cultures demonstrated its ability to completely remove perchlorate in the presence of zero-valent iron. In order to understand the major microbial reaction in the iron-supported culture, community analysis comprising of microbial fatty acids and polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE) techniques was performed for perchlorate reducing cultures. Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters (FAMEs) and subsequent principal component analysis (PCA) showed clear distinctions not only between iron-supported perchlorate reducing culture and seed bacteria, but also among perchlorate-reducing cultures receiving different electron donors.

Microbial treatment of high-strength perchlorate wastewater.

To treat wastewater containing high concentrations of perchlorate, a perchlorate reducing-bacterial consortium was obtained by enrichment culture grown on high-strength perchlorate (1200 mg L(-1)) feed medium, and was characterized in a sequence batch reactor (SBR) over a long-time operation. The consortium removed perchlorate in the SBR with high reduction rates (35-90 mg L(-1)h(-1)) and stable removal efficiency over 200-day operations. The maximum specific perchlorate reduction rate (qmax), half saturation constant (Ks), and optimal pH range were 0.

Thermophilic biofiltration of H2S and isolation of a thermophilic and heterotrophic H2S-degrading bacterium, Bacillus sp. TSO3.

Thermophilic biofiltration of H(2)S-containing gas was studied at 60 degrees C using polyurethane (PU) cubes and as a packing material and compost as a source of thermophilic microorganisms. The performance of biofilter was enhanced by pH control and addition of yeast extract (YE). With YE supplement and pH control, H(2)S removal efficiency remained above 95% up to an inlet concentration of 950 ppmv at a space velocity (SV) of 50h(-1) (residence time=1.

Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron.

Microbial reduction of nitrate in the presence of nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) was evaluated to assess the feasibility of employing NZVI in the biological nitrate treatment. Nitrate was completely reduced within 3d in a nanoscale Fe(0)-cell reactor, while only 50% of the nitrate was abiotically reduced over 7d at 25 degrees C. The removal rate of nitrate in the integrated NZVI-cell system was unaffected by the presence of high amounts of sulfate.

Reductive transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene, hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, and nitroglycerin by pyrite and magnetite.

Reductive transformation of 2,4,6-trinitrotoluene (TNT), hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX), and nitroglycerin (NG) by pyrite (FeS(2)) and magnetite (Fe(3)O(4)) was investigated to determine the role of Fe(II)-bearing minerals on the fate of toxic explosives in Fe/S-rich natural environment. Results from batch experiments showed that 65% of TNT and 45% of RDX were transformed from solution in the presence of pyrite under pH 7.4 buffered conditions within 32 days.

Enhanced reduction of nitrate by zero-valent iron at elevated temperatures.

Kinetics of nitrate reduction by zero-valent iron at elevated temperatures was studied through batch and column experiments. It was hypothesized that under increased solution temperatures, the zero-valent iron may accelerate the reduction of nitrate by overcoming the activation energy barrier to nitrate reduction. The results of the batch experiment showed the synergistic effects of elevated temperature (75 degrees C) and a buffered condition (pH 7.

Microbial reduction of perchlorate with zero-valent iron.

Microbial reduction of perchlorate in the presence of zero-valent iron was examined in both batch and column reactors to assess the potential of iron as the electron donor for biological perchlorate reduction process. Iron-supported mixed cultures completely removed 65 mg/L of perchlorate in batch reactors in 8 days. The removal rate was similar to that observed with hydrogen gas (5%) and acetate (173 mg/L) as electron donors.

Reduction of acrolein by elemental iron: kinetics, pH effect, and detoxification.

Acrolein is a highly toxic alpha,beta-unsaturated aldehyde that is widely used as a biocide, a cross-linking agent, and an intermediate in the chemical industry, among other applications. In this study we investigated the reductive transformation of acrolein by elemental iron and evaluated the feasibility of using iron to detoxify acrolein. At acidic and neutral pH, acrolein was transformed by iron through reduction of the C=C double bond to propionaldehyde.

Enhanced biodegradation of azo dyes using an integrated elemental iron-activated sludge system: II. Effects of physical-chemical parameters.

As part of a study to evaluate an integrated zero-valent iron (Fe(0))-biological oxidation process for treating azo dye wastewaters, we conducted batch and column experiments with the azo dye orange G to assess the effects of solution conditions on the performance of iron pretreatment. The influence of iron type and surface area, solution pH, dissolved inorganic salts, and phosphate ion on the reduction (decolorization) of orange G solution were examined. In batch experiments, increased iron surface area, decreased pH, and chloride and sulfate salts enhanced dye decolorization, whereas high pH (9.

Enhanced biodegradation of azo dyes using an integrated elemental iron-activated sludge system: I. Evaluation of system performance.

The objective of this research is to evaluate an integrated system coupling zero-valent iron (Fe(0)) and aerobic biological oxidation for the treatment of azo dye wastewater. Zero-valent (elemental) iron can reduce the azo bond, cleaving dye molecules into products that are more amenable to aerobic biological treatment processes. Azo dye reduction products, including aniline and sulfanilic acid, were shown to be readily biodegradable at concentrations up to approximately 25 mg/L.

Reductive transformation of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine, octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine, and methylenedinitramine with elemental iron.

Reductive (pre)treatment with elemental iron is a potentially useful method for degrading nitramine explosives in water and soil. In the present study, we examined the kinetics, products, and mechanisms of hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (RDX) and octahydro-1,3,5,7-tetranitro-1,3,5,7-tetrazocine (HMX) degradation with elemental iron. Both RDX and HMX were transformed with iron to formaldehyde, NH4+, N2O, and soluble products.

Zero-valent iron pretreatment for enhancing the biodegradability of RDX.

Hexahydro-1,3,5-trinitro-1,3,5-triazine (C3H6N3(NO2)3, royal demolition explosive or RDX) is a common nitramine explosive and one of the major constituents in wastewaters from ammunitions plants. The objective of this study is to investigate zero-valent iron (Fe0) pretreatment for enhancing the biodegradability of recalcitrant RDX. It was hypothesized that iron pretreatment can reductively transform RDX to products that are more amenable to biological treatment processes such as activated sludge.