Chemical-equilibrium-based model for describing the strength of sludge: taking hydrogen-producing sludge as an example.

A new model, based on chemical equilibrium theory, was established to evaluate the strength of sludges in biological wastewater treatment systems. The effectiveness of this model was demonstrated by the experimental results with an anaerobic hydrogen-producing sludge. The equilibrium dispersed mass concentration of the primary particles in the sludge solution was found to nonlinearly increase with the solid content and shear intensity, and could be well described by the model.

[Levels of serum interleukin-15 and the expression of T-helper lymphocyte subsets in peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis].

Objective: To study the changes of serum interleukin-15 (IL-15) levels and the expression of CD4(+)T (T-helper lymphocyte) subsets CD4(+)CD45RA(+) and CD4(+)CD45RO(+) in peripheral blood of children with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA).

Methods: The serum concentration of IL-15 was detected using ELISA in 39 children with JRA. The expressions of CD4(+)CD45RA(+)T and CD4(+)CD45RO(+)T in peripheral blood were detected by flow cytometry in 24 out of the 39 patients with JRA.

Biosorption of 2,4-dichlorophenol by immobilized white-rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium from aqueous solutions.

The fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium was immobilized in several polymer matrices: Ca-alginate, Ca-alginate-polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and pectin, and was then used as a biosorbent for removing 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) in wastewater. Immobilization of P. chrysosporium onto pectin was less efficient than that onto other matrices because of its poor mechanical strength and low adsorption efficiency.

Characterization of extracellular polymeric substances of aerobic and anaerobic sludge using three-dimensional excitation and emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy.

In this study three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy was applied to characterize the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) extracted from aerobic and anaerobic sludge in wastewater treatment. Three fluorescence peaks were identified in EEM fluorescence spectra of the EPS samples. Two peaks were attributed to the protein-like fluorophores, and the third to the humic-like fluorophores.

The role of pH in the fermentative H2 production from an acidogenic granule-based reactor.

The role of pH in the fermentative H(2) production from an upflow acidogenic granule-based reactor was investigated in this study. Experimental results show that all H(2) partial pressure, H(2) production rate and H(2) yield were pH-dependent, in the range of 2.8 x 10(4)-5.

Stability of sludge flocs under shear conditions: roles of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS).

The roles of extracellular polymer substances (EPS) in the shear stability of aerobic and anaerobic flocs were investigated. Both pH and EDTA concentration had a significant effect on the floc stability. The sludge flocs became much weaker as the solution pH increase to above 10.

Formation and instability of aerobic granules under high organic loading conditions.

The cultivation and instability of aerobic granular sludge in a sequencing batch reactor under high loading conditions were investigated. Compact bacteria-dominated aerobic granules with a mean diameter of 1 mm were formed at a chemical oxygen demand (COD) loading rate of 6.0 kg m(-3) d(-1) within 30 d.

Relationship between the extracellular polymeric substances and surface characteristics of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila.

The relationship between the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and surface characteristics of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila in its different growth phases was established. The equilibrium constant of partition (K par) and the Gibbs energies of partition (DeltaG par) between hexadecane and aqueous phases were also calculated according to the microbial adhesion to hexadecane (MATH) testing. The EPS content decreased with cultivation time at the logarithmic phase, but kept almost unchanged around 22.

Application of response surface methodology for optimization of acidogenesis of cattail by rumen cultures.

Acidogenesis of cattail using rumen cultures was carried out to produce volatile fatty acids (VFA) in this study. The influences of pH and substrate concentration on cattail degradation, VFA yield and microbial growth were investigated by using response surface methodology (RSM). Experimental results showed that a low substrate concentration and pH of 6.

Anaerobic digestion of cattail by rumen cultures.

The anaerobic digestion of aquatic plants could serve the dual roles for producing renewable energy and reducing waste. In this study, the anaerobic digestion of cattail (Typha latifolia linn), a lignocellulosic aquatic plant, by rumen microorganisms in batch cultures was investigated. At a substrate level of 12.

Preparation and characterization of visible-light-active nitrogen-doped TiO2 photocatalyst.

A visible-light photocatalyst was prepared by calcination of the hydrolysis product of Ti(SO4)2 with ammonia as precipitator. The color of this photocatalyst was vivid yellow. It could absorb light under 550 nm wavelength.

Kinetic modeling of batch hydrogen production process by mixed anaerobic cultures.

The kinetics of batch anaerobic hydrogen production by mixed anaerobic cultures was systemically investigated in this study. Unstructured models were used to describe the substrate utilization, biomass growth and product formation in the hydrogen production process. The relationship between the substrate, biomass and products were also evaluated.

Radiolytic degradation of Acid Orange 7: a mechanistic study.

Steady-state radiolysis experiments were performed to investigate the mechanisms of the radiolytic degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in aqueous solutions, which might be useful for the application of ionizing radiation for the remediation of azo-dye-laden wastewaters. The degradation products formed under various conditions were identified by using UV-Vis, HPLC, FTIR, and GC-MS analyses. With theoretical analysis and degradation products identified, the mechanisms behind the radiolytic degradation of AO7 under both oxidative and reductive conditions were elucidated.

Formation and characterization of aerobic granules in a sequencing batch reactor treating soybean-processing wastewater.

Aerobic granules were cultivated in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR) fed with soybean-processing wastewater at 25+/-1 degrees C and pH 7.0+/-0.1.

Production of extracellular polymeric substances from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila in the presence of toxic substances.

A hydrogen-producing photosynthetic bacteria strain, Rhodopseudomonas acidophila, was used to investigate the production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the presence of toxic substances and the effect of toxicants on bacterial surface characteristics. Addition of the toxic substances including Cu(II), Cr(VI), Cd(II) and 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) stimulated the production of EPS but reduced the cell dry weight. At concentrations of 30 mg l(-1) Cu(II), 40 mg l(-1) Cr(VI), 5 mg l(-1) Cd(II) and 100 mg l(-1) 2,4-DCP, the EPS content increased by 5.

Degradation of lignin in pulp mill wastewaters by white-rot fungi on biofilm.

An investigation was conducted to explore the lignin-degrading capacity of attached-growth white-rot fungi. Five white-rot fungi, Phanerochaete chrysosporium, Pleurotus ostreatus, Lentinus edodes, Trametes versicolor and S22, grown on a porous plastic media, were individually used to treat black liquor from a pulp and paper mill. Over 71% of lignin and 48% of chemical oxygen demand (COD) were removed from the wastewater.

Effects of an electric or magnetic field on the radiolytic degradation of two biorefractory contaminants.

Effects of an electric or magnetic field on the radiolytic degradation of two biorefractory contaminants, Acid Orange 7 (AO7) and nitrobenzene (NB), were evaluated in this work. A continuous DC electric current with a low density (approximately 2.8-5.

Kinetic modeling of the radiolytic degradation of Acid Orange 7 in aqueous solutions.

The degradation of Acid Orange 7 (AO7) in aqueous solutions induced by gamma-ray irradiation was investigated in terms of both the disappearance of parent molecule (decoloration) and the degree of mineralization. The disappearance of AO7 followed pseudo first-order kinetics, whereas its mineralization could be described by zero-order kinetics. The pseudo first-order degradation rate constants were found to be proportional to irradiation dose rates and the reciprocals of initial AO7 concentrations.

Kinetics and mechanisms of radiation-induced degradation of acetochlor.

The radiation-induced degradation of acetochlor was investigated in this work. In a mixed solvent composed of acetonitrile and water at a ratio of 20/80 in volume, the acetochlor degradation rate was proportional to the radiation dose rate and acetochlor concentration. The acetochlor degradation efficiency was higher under alkali conditions and lower under acidic conditions.

Inhibitory effects of butyrate on biological hydrogen production with mixed anaerobic cultures.

In this study batch experiments were conducted to investigate the inhibitory effects of butyrate addition on hydrogen production from glucose by using anaerobic mixed cultures. Experimental results showed that addition of butyrate at 4.18 and 6.

Degradation of calcium lignosulfonate using gamma-ray irradiation.

Gamma-ray irradiation was proven to be a promising means for the removal of calcium lignosulfonate (CaLS). At a dose rate of 55Gy min(-1), over 90% of CaLS was mineralized to CO(2), H(2)O and sulfates within 3-d irradiation. The degradation of CaLS with the initial CaLS concentrations ranging from 40 to 200mg l(-1) followed zero-order kinetics at the dose rates of 16-150Gy min(-1).

Thermodynamic analysis of product formation in mesophilic acidogenesis of lactose.

Thermodynamic analysis on the acidogenesis of lactose was performed to evaluate the different acidogenic patterns and mechanisms by using Gibbs free energy calculation. Batch acidogenesis of lactose was investigated by using an enriched culture at 37 degrees C, pH 5.5 and varied substrate levels.

Extraction of extracellular polymeric substances from the photosynthetic bacterium Rhodopseudomonas acidophila.

Among the four methods for extracting extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from Rhodopseudomonas acidophila (EDTA, NaOH, H(2)SO(4), heating/centrifugation), EDTA extraction was found to be the most effective. The contents of the major components of EPS from R. acidophila, i.

Degradation of nitrobenzene in wastewater by gamma-ray irradiation.

The degradation of nitrobenzene (NB) by gamma-ray irradiation was studied. The influences of dose rate and initial NB concentration were investigated in details. At a dose rate of 55 Gy/min, the degradation kinetics was pseudo-first-order at NB concentrations from 0.