Using the entrapped bioprocess as the pretreatment method for the drinking water treatment receiving eutrophic source water.

Control of organic matter, nutrients and disinfection byproduct formation is a major challenge for the drinking water treatment plants on Matsu Islands, Taiwan, receiving source water from the eutrophic reservoirs. A pilot entrapped biomass reactor (EBR) system was installed as the pretreatment process to reduce organic and nitrogen contents into the drinking water treatment plant. The effects of hydraulic retention time (HRT) and combination of preceding physical treatment (ultraviolet and ultrasound) on the treatment performance were further evaluated.

Entrapped biomass for removal of organics and total nitrogen from anaerobic reactor effluents.

Anaerobic processes have been applied to treat low-strength domestic wastewaters with significant energy saving. However, anaerobic process effluents must be further removed of residual organics and total nitrogen before discharge. Reported here are an aerobic entrapped bio-technology (EBT) system and an EBT coupled with activated sludge (EBT + AS) system being tested as a post-anaerobic treatment.

[Effect of comprehensive intervention of schistosomiasis control in construction workers in Poyang Lake region].

After the implementation of the comprehensive schistosomiasis control measures centering on health education for 3 years, the awareness rate of schistosomiasis control increased by 96.56% in construction workers of Dechang highway construction engineering projects in Poyang Lake region, the number of workers adopting preventive measures increased significantly, and no schistosome infection occurred. It is suggested that the comprehensive measures focusing on health education, combined with environment depollution and public administration can prevent schistosome infection effectively among construction workers.

Reduced membrane fouling in a novel bio-entrapped membrane reactor for treatment of food and beverage processing wastewater.

A novel Bio-Entrapped Membrane Reactor (BEMR) packed with bio-ball carriers was constructed and investigated for organics removal and membrane fouling by soluble microbial products (SMP). An objective was to evaluate the stability of the filtration process in membrane bioreactors through backwashing and chemical cleaning. The novel BEMR was compared to a conventional membrane bioreactor (CMBR) on performance, with both treating identical wastewater from a food and beverage processing plant.

Biodegradation and bio-sorption of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs using immobilized cell process.

In the present study, the removal mechanisms of four antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine, and trimethoprim) and four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen, and naproxen) in immobilized cell process were investigated using batch reactors. This work principally explores the individual or collective roles of biodegradation and bio-sorption as removal routes of the target pharmaceuticals and the results were validated by various experimental and analytical tools. Biodegradation and bio-sorption were found as dominant mechanisms for the drug removal, while volatilization and hydrolysis were negligible for all target pharmaceuticals.

[Study on an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica" in heavy endemic areas].

Objective: To study an intervention model of "schools without infected students with schistosoma japonica", to control and prevent students from schistosoma infection.

Methods: Twelve primary schools of four heavy endemic counties (districts) with schistosomiasis in the Poyang Lake areas were selected as the study fields, of which, ten schools were the experimental groups, and the other two schools were the control groups by cluster random sampling. All enrolment students were the target population.

[Establishment and application of school-based health promotion and intervention model of schistosomiasis in lake-type endemic area].

Objective: To establish an intervention model of school health promotion, and apply it in developing "schistosomiasis-free schools".

Methods: At the pilot stage, all students of Henghu primary school and Banshan primary school in Xinjian County of Jiangxi Province were selected as experiment group and control group, respectively. A baseline survey covered knowledge and attitude on schistosomiasis control, water contact behaviors and Schistosoma japonicum infection rate.

Removal of antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs by extended sludge age biological process.

Removal of four antibiotics (sulfamethoxazole, sulfadimethoxine, sulfamethazine and trimethoprim) and four non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (acetaminophen, ibuprofen, ketoprofen and naproxen) using extended sludge age biological process was investigated. The sludge age of the biological system was greater than 200d. Hydraulic retention time of 12h was maintained throughout the experiment.