Development and validation of a FISH-based method for the detection and quantification of E. coli and coliform bacteria in water samples

Monitoring of microbiological contaminants in water supplies requires fast and sensitive methods for the specific detection of indicator organisms or pathogens. We developed a protocol for the simultaneous detection of E. coli and coliform bacteria based on the Fluorescence in situ Hybridization (FISH) technology. This protocol consists of two approaches. The first allows the direct detection of single E. coli and coliform bacterial cells on the filter membranes. The second approach includes incubation of the filter membranes on a nutrient agar plate and subsequent detection of the grown micro-colonies. Both approaches were validated using drinking water samples spiked with pure cultures and naturally contaminated water samples. The effects of heat, chlorine and UV disinfection were also investigated. The micro-colony approach yielded very good results for all samples and conditions tested, and thus can be thoroughly recommended for usage as an alternative method to detect E. coli and coliform bacteria in water samples. However, during this study, some limitations became visible for the single cell approach. The method cannot be applied for water samples which have been disinfected by UV irradiation. In addition, our results indicated that green fluorescent dyes are not suitable to be used with chlorine disinfected samples.     

Models for nitrification process design: one or two AOB populations?

Models for engineering design of nitrifying systems use one ammonia oxidizer biomass (AOB) state variable. A simple extension using two AOB populations allows a more accurate prediction of nitrification systems at switching process environments. These two AOB subpopulations are characterized by two different sets of kinetic parameters. Selection pressure and competition between the two functional AOB populations are determined by process conditions as demonstrated by three case studies: Case study I describes dynamics of two AOB populations showing different temperature sensitivities (modified Arrhenius term on growth and decay) when bioaugmented from the warm sidestream treatment environment to the cold mainstream and vice-versa. Case study II investigates competition between fast growing micro-strategists and k-strategists adjusted to low ammonia levels depending on the internal mixed liquor recycle rate (IMLR). Case study III shows that AOB transferred from the waste activated sludge of an SBR to the parallel continuous flow system with different decay kinetics can overgrow or coexist with the original population.     

黄河法立法问题分析

黄河是世界上最难治理的一条河流。随着黄河流域经济社会的发展,流域固有的矛盾和管理上的缺陷更为突出,通过高层次立法规范和调整行业之间、流域与区域之间以及各地区、各部门利益之间的错综复杂利益关系日益迫切。但是,对经济快速增长的追求,使得人类活动应与流域自然特性相适应的管理理念难以深入人心,立法上首先要确立的流域管理机构的地位和职责难成共识,加以立法权分配的不合理、社会法制水平的限制、理论研究的不足等因素的影响,有关方面多年呼吁的黄河法因而迟迟未进入国家立法程序。只有提高全社会对黄河法立法重要性的认识,改革立法体制,加强立法的前期研究,总结成功经验,明确立法的指导思想和原则,才能取得黄河法立法的突破。     

The effect of intermittent operation on a wind-powered membrane system for brackish water desalination

Renewable energy powered membrane systems that are directly-connected must take account of both the inherent fluctuations and the intermittency of the energy resource. In order to determine the effect of intermittent operation, a membrane system was tested with variables of (i) amplitude from 60 to 300 W and (ii) length of time with no power from 0.5 to 3 min. This was performed over one hour periods with six on/off cycles to simulate the system operating under intermittent operation for short periods of time when directly-connected to a small wind turbine. The setup used a Filmtec BW30-4040 brackish water reverse osmosis membrane with feed waters of 2,750 mg/L and 5,500 mg/L NaCl. The results showed that the membrane system produced potable water under the majority of intermittency experiments performed. There was a relatively large increase in the average salt concentration of the permeate, especially when the system was off for shorter periods of time (0.5-1 min). Longer periods of no power (1-3 min) did not have as significant an effect on the average water quality. This is important when the need for energy buffering or short term storage is considered for these systems as it shows the potential for improving the overall flux and water quality using temporary energy storage.     

Optimised photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of azo dyes using a TiO(2)/H(2)O(2)/UV process

The aim of the present study was to optimise the photocatalytic degradation of a mixture of six commercial azo dyes, by exposure to UV radiation in an aqueous solution containing TiO(2)-P25. Response surface methodology, based on a 3(2) full factorial experimental design with three replicates was employed for process optimisation with respect to two parameters: TiO(2) (0.1-0.9 g/L) and H(2)O(2) (1-100 mmol/L). The optimum conditions for photocatalytic degradation were achieved at concentrations of 0.5 g TiO(2)/L and 50 mmol H(2)O(2)/L, respectively. Dye mineralisation was confirmed by monitoring TOC, conductivity, sulfate and nitrate ions, with a sulfate ion yield of 96% under optimal reactor conditions. Complete decolorisation was attained after 240 min irradiation time for all tested azo-dyes, in a process which followed a pseudo-first kinetic order model, with a kinetic rate constant of approximately 0.018 min(-1). Based on these results, this photocatalytic process has promise as an alternative for the treatment of textile effluents.     

Artemia salina acute immobilization test: a possible tool for aquatic ecotoxicity assessment

Despite the fact that the marine crustacean Artemia salina is extensively used in ecotoxicology, there is still a lack of information about its sensitivity to commonly used chemicals. In the presented study, acute toxicity of 18 commonly used chemicals - including organic solvents, industrial chemicals, metals and inorganic compounds - to A. salina was evaluated. A. salina showed a range of sensitivities to tested chemicals. Regarding all of the investigated organics, phenolic compounds expressed the highest toxicity to A. salina. Nitrite and mercury were the most toxic inorganic substances applied in the study. On the other hand, dimethyl sulfoxide, nitrate and ammonium were the least toxic. The possibility to use A. salina for interspecies correlation was assessed by comparison of sensitivities of different organisms (bacteria, fish, crustacean) to organic compounds. Correlation between various species was observed, especially between A. salina and fish. Due to the strong relation between toxicity and the logarithm of the octanol/water partition coefficient logP(OW,) lipophilicity was found to be the main factor influencing toxicity of the chosen organic compounds. No significant correlation between toxicity to A. salina and physico-chemical parameters of metals was observed.     

Pharmaceutical residues in the Danube River Basin in Serbia - a two-year survey

Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants with damaging effects to the environment and human health. Their presence in surface and especially groundwaters is regarded as detrimental, as they can ultimately reach drinking water. The aim of this work was to monitor pharmaceutical contamination of the Danube River and its tributaries in Serbia, and to assess the potential of their passing through all natural filtrations and reaching the groundwater. A total of 70 surface and groundwater samples was collected at 38 sampling sites at the Danube in Serbia. They were taken in five sampling campaigns performed in summer and autumn of 2009 and winter, spring and autumn of 2010. Samples were analyzed using a previously developed method which includes solid-phase extraction followed by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.     

Evaluation of sewer infiltration/inflow using COD mass flux method: case study in Prague

The combined sewer system of the City of Prague, similar to other relevant locations, is strongly affected by infiltrating waters. The knowledge of their volume is one of the important parameters with respect to sewer system operation, maintenance and reconstruction. The methodology is based on the variation of diurnal chemical oxygen demand (COD) load and continuous water quality monitoring using in-line absorption spectrometry. This approach allows the identification of individual components of the diurnal wastewater hydrograph, in particular the contribution of parasitic water flow to wastewater discharge. The statistical relevance was tested using Monte Carlo simulations on a 7-year data series of flow rate. The results show that application of this methodology provides specific relevant information about individual sub-catchments within an entire sewer system, particularly in terms of absolute and relative values of I/I and structural state indicators. Processing of long-term data series gives clear information about the significance of the monitoring period length for the relevance of obtained results.     

Nitrogen and phosphorus removal of locally adapted plant species used in constructed wetlands in China

This paper assesses the nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficiency of seven plant species (Schoenoplectus lacustris, Vetiveria zizanioides, Acorus calamus, Canna indica, Zizania latifolia, Phragmites communis, and Iris pseudacorus) commonly used in constructed wetland systems in southern China. The investigation considers two aspects that are relevant to determine nutrient removal efficiency: plants' biomass production and nutrient content in water effluent. Both assessments are correlated with each other. Three different hydraulic retention times with different nutrient loads have been applied in this ex-situ trial. The plants' biomass production correlates positively with the effluent's nutrient removal efficiency. Six out of seven species reviewed produce more biomass above ground than below ground (average: 67% of dried biomass in aerial part); only I. pseudacorus produces more biomass below ground. S. lacustris, V. zizanioides, I. pseudacorus, and C. indica have performed best in terms of nutrient removal efficiency (65.6-90.2% for nitrogen; 67.7-84.6% for phosphorus).     

Process performance of dry, batch anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge: methanogenic seed mixtures

A dry, batch anaerobic digestion (DBAD) process was tested on two sewage sludge types with different methanogenic seed fractions under laboratory conditions. The aim was to indicate optimal sludge:seed mixing ratios and analyse process performance based on degradation rate and reactor-specific methane production. The attained results were compared with the performance of a liquid-state, laboratory-scale stirred reactor (SR). A mixing ratio of at least 1:1.25 (sludge:seed) yielded processes free from significant inhibitions. Further seeding increments resulted in slightly better performances, but much lower sludge fractions treated in the reactors. Compared with the SR process, the DBAD reactors produced comparable degradation rates albeit in a significantly longer process and with somewhat lower reactor-specific methane production rates. These findings indicate that the DBAD method may provide a viable alternative to liquid-state processes if sludge drying is already applied and reactor volume requirements are of importance.