J Agric Food Chem, 2002 Jul 31, 50(16), 4628 - 33 Kinetic analysis of the psychrophilic anaerobic digestion of wastewater derived from the production of proteins from extracted sunflower flour; Borja R et al.; A kinetic analysis of the anaerobic digestion process of wastewater derived from the production of protein isolates from extracted sunflower flour was carried out . The digestion was conducted in a laboratory-scale fluidized bed reactor with saponite (magnesium silicate) as support for the mediating bacteria at psychrophilic temperature (15-19 degrees C) . Soluble chemical oxygen demand (COD(s)) removal efficiencies in the range of 95.9-69.0% were achieved in the reactor at organic loading rates (OLR) of between 0.57 and 2.49 g total COD (COD(t))/L d, hydraulic retention times (HRT) of between 20.0 and 4.5 days, and average feed total COD concentration of 11.3 g/L . The yield coefficient of methane production was 0.32 L of methane (at STP) per gram of COD(t) removed . The total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) levels and the TVFA/alkalinity ratio were lower than the suggested limits for digester failure for OLR and HRT up to 2.26 g COD(t)/L d and 5.0 days, respectively . The specific rate of substrate uptake, r (g COD(s)/g VSS d), correlated with the concentration of biodegradable substrate, S (g COD(s)/L), through an equation of the Michaelis-Menten type . The maximum substrate utilization rate, k, and the Michaelis constant, K(s)(), were found to be 0.125 g COD(s)/g VSS d and 124 mg COD(s)/L, respectively . This proposed model predicted the behavior of the reactor very accurately showing deviations lower than 10% between the experimental and theoretical values of substrate uptake rates . A mass (COD(t)) balance around the reactor allowed the COD equivalent of methane volume (W(CH)4) to be obtained, which gave a value of 2.89 g COD(t)/L CH(4), which was virtually coincident with the theoretical value of 2.86 g COD(t)/L CH(4). Bioresour Technol, 2002 Aug, 84(1), 81 - 91 Recovery of dairy manure nutrients by benthic freshwater algae; Wilkie AC et al.; Harnessing solar energy to grow algal biomass on wastewater nutrients could provide a holistic solution to nutrient management problems on dairy farms . The production of algae from a portion of manure nutrients to replace high-protein feed supplements which are often imported (along with considerable nutrients) onto the farm could potentially link consumption and supply of on-farm nutrients . The objective of this research was to assess the ability of benthic freshwater algae to recover nutrients from dairy manure and to evaluate nutrient uptake rates and dry matter/crude protein yields in comparison to a conventional cropping system . Benthic algae growth chambers were operated in semi-batch mode by continuously recycling wastewater and adding manure inputs daily . Using total nitrogen (TN) loading rates of 0.64-1.03 g m(-2) d(-1), the dried algal yields were 5.3-5.5 g m(-2) d(-1) . The dried algae contained 1.5-2.1% P and 4.9-7.1% N . At a TN loading rate of 1.03 g m(-2) d(-1), algal biomass contained 7.1% N compared to only 4.9% N at a TN loading rate of 0.64 g m(-2) d(-1) . In the best case, algal biomass had a crude protein content of 44%, compared to a typical corn silage protein content of 7% . At a dry matter yield of 5.5 g m(-2) d(-1), this is equivalent to an annual N uptake rate of 1,430 kg ha(-1) yr(-1) . Compared to a conventional corn/rye rotation, such benthic algae production rates would require 26% of the land area requirements for equivalent N uptake rates and 23% of the land area requirements on a P uptake basis . Combining conventional cropping systems with an algal treatment system could facilitate more efficient crop production and farm nutrient management, allowing dairy operations to be environmentally sustainable on fewer acres. Bioresour Technol, 2002 Aug, 84(1), 1 - 5 Effectiveness of algae in the treatment of a wood-based pulp and paper industry wastewater; Tarlan E et al.; In this study, the ability of algae to treat a wood-based pulp and paper industry wastewater was investigated . Tests were performed in batch reactors seeded with a mixed culture of algae . Under different lighting and initial wastewater strength conditions, changes in COD, AOX and color contents of reactors were followed with time . Algae were found to remove up to 58% of COD, 84% of color and 80% of AOX from pulp and paper industry wastewaters . No remarkable differences were observed in COD and color when light intensity and wastewater strength were changed, while AOX removals were strongly affected . Algal species identification studies revealed that some green algae (Chlorella) and diatom species were dominant in the treatment . The study also showed that algae grew mixotrophically, while the main mechanism of color and organics removal from pulping effluents was partly metabolism and partly metabolic conversion of colored and chlorinated molecules to non-colored and non-chlorinated molecules . Adsorption onto algal biomass was not so effective. Chemosphere, 2002 Jun, 47(10), 1081 - 5 Biosorption of copper(II) from aqueous solutions by pre-treated biomass of marine algae Padina sp; Kaewsarn P; Biosorption of heavy metals can be an effective process for the removal and recovery of heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions . The biomass of marine algae has been reported to have high uptake capacities for a number of heavy metal ions . In this paper, the adsorption properties of a pre-treated biomass of marine algae Padina sp . for copper(II) were investigated . Equilibrium isotherms and kinetics were obtained from batch adsorption experiments . The biosorption capacities were solution pH dependent and the maximum capacity obtained was 0.80 mmol/g at a solution pH of about 5 . The biosorption kinetics was found to be fast, with 90% of adsorption within 15 min and equilibrium reached at 30 min . The effects of light metal ions on copper(II) uptake were studied and the presence of light metal ions did not affect copper(II) uptake significantly . Fixed-bed breakthrough curves for copper(II) removal were also obtained . This study demonstrated that the pre-treated biomass of Padina sp . could be used as an effective biosorbent for the treatment of copper(II) containing wastewater streams. Environ Pollut, 2002, 119(1), 45 - 53 Phytoremediation potential of Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis: biosorption and toxicity studies of cadmium; Rangsayator N et al.; This study examines the possibility of using Spirulina (Arthrospira) platensis TISTR 8217 to remove low concentrations of cadmium (less than 100 mg/l) from wastewater . The cyanobacteria were exposed to six different cadmium concentrations for 96 h, and the growth rate was determined using an optical density at 560 nm . The inhibiting concentration (IC50) was estimated using probit analysis . The IC50 at 24, 48, 72, and 96 h were 13.15, 16.68, 17.28, and 18.35 mg/l Cd, respectively . Cellular damage was studied under a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope . Swollen cells and fragmented filaments were observed . Cell injury increased with increasing concentrations of cadmium . Ultrastructural changes were observed in the algae exposed to cadmium concentrations both close to IC50 (14.68 mg/l) and at IC50 (18.35 mg/l) . The alterations induced by cadmium were disintegration and disorganization of thylakoid membranes, presence of large intrathylakoidal space, increase of polyphosphate bodies, and cell lysis . In addition, the cadmium adsorption by algal cells was studied . Environmental factors were found to have an effect on biosorption . The uptake of cadmium was not affected by the temperature of the solution, but the sorption was pH dependent . The optimum pH for biosorption of algal cells was 7 . The cadmium uptake process was rapid, with 78% of metal sorption completed within 5 min . The sorption data fit well to the Langmuir isotherm . The maximum adsorption capacity for S . platensis was 98.04 mg Cd per g biomass. Ann Chim, 2002 May-Jun, 92(5-6), 531 - 9 Treatment options for tannery wastewater II: integrated chemical and biological oxidation; Di Iaconi C et al.; This is the second of two papers each dealing with a specific technological option for replacing the Fenton's reagent with simpler processes for treating industrial wastewater . In particular, the paper reports the results of an investigation aimed to check, at lab scale, the effectiveness of an alternative wastewater treatment combining biological degradation and chemical oxidation with ozone . The treatment was carried out in a lab scale hybrid reactor fed with the biological stage effluent of a plant treating the wastewater of a large tanning district in Central Italy whose residual COD result still higher than the Italian COD Maximum Allowable Concentration (MAC) value (i.e., 160 mgO2/L) The results are very promising, considering that a removal efficiency of 41% (as COD) has been achieved by treating an influent characterized by a COD content fully biorefractory . In addition, the proposed treatment presents the significant advantage of no additional sludge production, as happens with commonly utilized tertiary processes (i.e . Fenton), that is characterized by high chemical sludge production. Environ Technol, 2002 Jun, 23(6), 599 - 608 Sulphate-reducing laboratory-scale high-rate anaerobic reactors for treatment of metal- and sulphate-containing mine wastewater; Tuppurainen KO et al.; Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors were used in this study to evaluate the feasibility of the sulphate-reducing, anaerobic high-rate process to treat metal- and sulphate-containing mining wastewater (MWW) . Four simultaneous reactors, inoculated with different inocula (mesophilic granular sludge from two UASB reactors, one treating sugar refinery wastewater and the other board mill wastewater) and operated with different loadings, were for 95 days fed with synthetic feed consisting of glucose and sulphate . In all reactors, 23-72% of sulphate and 12-93% of COD were removed . Subsequently, two reactors were fed with diluted MWW (zinc as the main metal) for 77 days with hydraulic retention times down to 8 hours . At the onset of the runs (until day 48), over 99.9% of zinc was removed in both reactors, after which removals fell to less than 30-80% . At the end of the runs, the highest zinc content (44 mg g(-1) TS) in the reactor sludges was 21 times higher than that in the inoculum . It cannot be concluded definitively that sulphide precipitation was the only mechanism of metal removal, for biosorption may have had a role to play in the process. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2002 Aug, 43(2), 186 - 97 Incorporation of toxicity tests into the Turkish industrial discharge monitoring systems; Sponza DT; A toxicity evaluation is an important parameter in wastewater quality and in the monitoring of discharged effluents . Some organic and inorganic compounds at toxic levels have been detected in industrial discharges, resulting in plant upsets and discharge permit violations . In some cases, even though the effluent does not exceed the chemical-specific discharge limits, the results of toxicity tests show potential toxicity . Knowledge of the toxicity of effluents can benefit treatment plant operators in optimizing plant operation, protecting receiving water quality, and establishing sewer discharge permits . In the Turkish regulations only toxicity dilution factor with fish is part of the toxicity monitoring program of permissible wastewater discharge.This study investigated the acute toxicity of pulp-paper, leather, and petrochemical industry wastewaters by traditional and enrichment toxicity tests and emphasized the importance of toxicity tests in wastewater discharge regulations . The enrichment toxicity tests are novel applications indicating whether there is potential toxicity or stimulation conditions . Different organisms were used, including bacteria (Floc and Coliform bacteria) algae (Chlorella sp.), fish (Lepistes sp.), and protozoan species (Vorticella sp.) to represent four trophic levels . The toxicity test results were compared with chemical analyses to identify the pollutants responsible for the toxicity in the effluent wastewater samples . Toxicity of the effluents could not be explained by using physicochemical analyses in five cases for the leather and four cases for the pulp-paper and petrochemical industries . The results clearly showed that the use of bioassay tests produce additional information about the toxicity potential of industrial discharges and effluents. Environ Toxicol, 2002, 17(3), 284 - 90 Direct toxicity assessment of wastewater: Baroxymeter, a portable rapid toxicity device and the industry perspective; Tzoris A et al.; Direct toxicity assessment of wastewater is becoming necessary, and new legislation may render it compulsory for the water industry . At present such assessment is performed at a laboratory away from a site, at considerable cost, and results often come too late, after a toxic event has occurred and the toxin has been released into the environment . Some of the rapid toxicity tests available today require certain conditions to function properly, or their results do not always correlate with other methods . The objective of this study was to assess a portable device, the Baroxymeter, for its suitability as an instrument to test wastewater toxicity . The way the device works is based on monitoring respiration of a bacterial culture by pressure measurements and using respiration inhibition as a toxicity alert . It has been shown that it is possible to detect toxic substances such as 3,5-dichlorophenol and bronopol within 5 min from a 1-mL sample . The benefits and future applications of the Baroxymeter as a high-throughput, cost-effective alternative for toxicity screening are discussed in this article . Environ Toxicol, 2002, 17(3), 170 - 86 Molluscan shellfish biomarker study of the Quebec, Canada, Saguenay Fjord with the soft-shell clam, Mya arenaria; Blaise C et al.; A spatial and temporal survey of six sites in the Saguenay Fjord and of one adjacent site in the St . Lawrence River estuary (Quebec, Canada) was undertaken to study the possible effects of anthropogenic contaminant input on soft-shell clam (Mya arenaria) populations . Bivalve sampling sites were selected because they reflected a range of areas representative of either no known (or apparent) pollution sources or of areas potentially influenced by different gradients and types of contamination sources . The most upstream site selected in the Saguenay Fjord, nearest to a highly populated and industrialized sector, and the most downstream site, near its mouth with the St . Lawrence River estuary, spanned a distance of some 70 km and encompassed the entire intertidal area suitable for Mya arenaria habitat . To measure effects in collected animals, we used a comprehensive battery of biomarkers composed of metallothionein-like proteins (MT), 7-ethoxyresorufin O-deethylase activity (EROD), DNA damage (DD), lipid peroxidation (LPO), vitellinlike proteins (Vn), phagocytosis (PHAG), nonspecific esterase (NspE) activity, and condition factor (weight-to-length ratio of clams) . Vn, PHAG, DD, and NspE biomarkers were assayed in hemolymph (or hemocytes), whereas others (MT, EROD, LPO) were determined in the digestive gland . Whole-tissue metal content was also quantified in clams collected in the spatial survey . The spatial survey conducted in June 1997 showed significant effects at all sites, and principal component analysis indicated in addition that the more important responses were linked to the MT, LPO, and NspE biomarkers . Clams collected from sites closest to the upstream reaches of the fjord generally displayed higher levels of tissue metals (cadmium, manganese), as well as greater responses of NspE activity, MT, LPO, and PHAG . Animals collected from sites influenced by municipal wastewaters had higher levels of Vn, suggesting the presence of environmental estrogens . The results of the temporal survey (six monthly samplings of clams at three sites from May through October, 1997) showed that the bivalve reproductive cycle (vitellogenesis and spawning) can modulate the expression of several biomarkers . Vn levels, for example, were positively correlated with DD and EROD and negatively correlated with MT, suggesting that reproduction can influence the susceptibility of clams to some contaminants . Discrimination analysis over the 6 months of sampling revealed that the mean value of the discriminant function changed significantly over time, suggesting important changes in the relative contribution of each biomarker . In short, this study has provided evidence that clam populations in the Saguenay Fjord are impacted by multiple sources of contamination whose effects can be modulated by reproduction . Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jul, 59(2-3), 353 - 60 Epub 2002 May 04. Evaluation of white-rot fungi for detoxification and decolorization of effluents from the green olive debittering process; Aggelis G et al.; Wastewater produced by the debittering process of green olives (GOW) is rich in polyphenolics and presents high chemical oxygen demand and alkalinity values . Eight white-rot fungi ( Abortiporus biennis, Dichomitus squalens, Inonotus hispidus, Irpex lacteus, Lentinus tigrinus, Panellus stipticus, Pleurotus ostreatus and Trametes hirsuta) were grown in GOW for 1 month and the reduction in total phenolics, the decolorization activity and the related enzyme activities were compared . Phenolics were efficiently reduced by P . ostreatus (52%) and A . biennis (55%), followed by P . stipticus (42%) and D . squalens (36%), but only P . ostreatus had high decolorization efficiency (49%) . Laccase activity was the highest in all of the fungi, followed by manganese-independent peroxidase (MnIP) . Substantial manganese peroxidase (MnP) activity was observed only in GOW treated with P . ostreatus and A . biennis, whereas lignin peroxidase (LiP) and veratryl alcohol oxidase (VAOx) activities were not detected . Early measurements of laccase activity were highly correlated ( r(2)=0.91) with the final reduction of total phenolics and could serve as an early indicator of the potential of white-rot fungi to efficiently reduce the amount of total phenolics in GOW . The presence of MnP was, however, required to achieve efficient decolorization . Phytotoxicity of GOW treated with a selected P . ostreatus strain did not decline despite large reductions of the phenolic content (76%) . Similarly, in GOW treated with purified laccase from Polyporus pensitius, a reduction in total phenolics which exceeded 50% was achieved; however, it was not accompanied by a decline in phytotoxicity . These results are probably related to the formation of phenoxy radicals and quinonoids, which re-polymerize in the absence of VAOx but do not lead to polymer precipitation in the treated GOW. Appl Microbiol Biotechnol, 2002 Jul, 59(2-3), 344 - 52 Epub 2002 May 15. Adaptation of anaerobic ammonium-oxidising consortium to synthetic coke-ovens wastewater; Toh SK et al.; A consortium with autotrophic anaerobic ammonium oxidising (AAAO) activity was developed from municipal sludge, and its ability to remove high ammonium concentrations in a toxic wastewater such as coke ovens wastewater is presented here . The enriched AAAO consortium was acclimatised to a synthetic coke ovens wastewater to establish anaerobic ammonium oxidation (AAO) activity . Phenol was the main carbon component of the synthetic wastewater whereby it was added stepwise from 50+/-10 to 550+/-10 mg l(-1) into an anammox enrichment medium . Ammonium-N removal was initially impaired; however, it gradually recovered . After 15 months of further selection and enrichment, the ammonium removal rate reached 62+/-2 mg NH(4)(+)-N l(-1) day(-1), i.e . 1.5 times the rate in the original AAAO reactor . The new consortium demonstrated higher ammonium and nitrite removal rates, even under phenol perturbation (up to 330+/-10 mg l(-1)) . It is therefore concluded that the AAO activity in the consortium was resistant to high phenol and has potential for treating coke-ovens wastewater. Environ Toxicol Chem, 2002 Jul, 21(7), 1490 - 6 Ecological impact and environmental fate of perfluorooctane sulfonate on the zooplankton community in indoor microcosms; Sanderson H et al.; There is presently a substantial amount of information being gathered concerning the environmental risk associated with the perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) compound . The U.S . Environmental Protection Agency (U.S . EPA) is requiring that more research be completed before making definitive decisions concerning the regulatory issues covered in the significant new use rule (18/10-2000) under the Toxic Substance Control Act . However, there are no risk assessment requirements under seminatural conditions in microcosms . The PFOS can enter, and has been found in, the aquatic environment through different pathways, including spills associated with use of fire-fighting foams containing PFOS, leaching from washing Scotchgard-treated clothes with the wastewater, leaching from various coatings, discharges as residual waste from fluorochemical production, or volatilization and transportation atmospherically . The biota is the sink of PFOS rather than the sediment or soil . The aim of this article is to determine a 35-d community no-observable-effect concentration (NOECcommunity) for freshwater zooplankton and the fate of PFOS during the course of study . The PFOS persisted in the water phase with only slight reductions over the study; only the decrease from 33.9 mg/L at day 1 to 29.8 mg/L at day 35 was significant . A 90 to 100% reduction (p < 0.01) of the total zooplankton population was found after one week of exposure to 30 mg PFOS/L and a similar reduction after two weeks at 10 mg PFOS/L . The Daphnia magna 21-d NOECsurvival of 12 mg/L has previously been found in a standard laboratory bioassay by 3M . The rank order of susceptibility for the test community was Copepoda > Cladocera > Rotifera, assuming all adverse direct effects. Environ Toxicol Chem, 2002 Jul, 21(7), 1404 - 9 Reproductive characteristics of male mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) inhabiting a small southeastern U.S . river receiving treated domestic sewage effluent; Angus RA et al.; A population of western mosquitofish (Gambusia affinis) living below a wastewater treatment plant in the vicinity of Birmingham (AL, USA) was studied for evidence of exposure to estrogens . Mosquitofish are sexually dimorphic live-bearing fish . Males have an elongated and modified anal fin, called a gonopodium, used in mating . It has been hypothesized that exposure to estrogens and/or anti-androgens in treated wastewater might inhibit the androgen-dependent development of the gonopodium . The population in this study showed no evidence of having been exposed to endocrine-disrupting chemicals . The difference in adjusted (for overall fish size via analysis of covariance) mean gonopodium length between effluent-exposed and control populations was not significant . No detectable levels of vitellogenin were observed in the blood of any of the male mosquitofish, either from the effluent-exposed or the control population . Testes and livers were weighed and examined histologically . The fish exposed to treated wastewater effluent had significantly larger adjusted mean weights for both testis and liver, but no histological changes indicating exposure to estrogens were observed. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2394 - 404 Poorly humified peat as an adsorbent for metals in wastewater; Ringqvist L et al.; Metal adsorption and surface charge determinations were performed previously on well-characterised Sphagnum and Carex peat samples . The aim of this investigation was to determine metal adsorption from complex wastewaters onto these peat samples and compare it to the adsorption onto peat granules, clinoptilolite, glauconite and a flue dust from steel production . A sulphide mine leachate, a landfill leachate and a laundry wastewater were chosen, giving a variation in pH, ionic strength, total organic carbon and concentrations of metals . Metal adsorption was determined in batch and column experiments . The wastewater composition was of great importance for metal removal efficiency, mainly due to the difference in dominating metal species . In the sulphide mine leachate, containing free metal ions, a high metal adsorption was observed onto both peat and inorganic adsorbents . In the landfill leachate the metals formed carbonate and organic complexes and a low metal removal was achieved . Contrary to the leachates, the laundry wastewater contained suspended particles . The high amount of metals removed, 80% of the Cu and 30-60% of the Zn concentration, was probably withdrawn bound to the particle fraction . The highest removal of metal ions was obtained in the sulphide mine leachate with Carex peat, removing 97-99% of the Zn and 85-100% of the Cu content . The Sphagnum peat sample removed 37-77% of the Zn and 80-100% of the Cu content . The differences found between Sphagnum and Carex peat were attributed to the original chemistry of the plant material and the habitat conditions at the time of peat formation . Generally, the combination of glauconite or clinoptilolite with the peat samples in column experiments gave a minor improvement in metal removal. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2304 - 18 Single- and multi-component adsorption of cadmium and zinc using activated carbon derived from bagasse--an agricultural waste; Mohan D et al.; The use of low-cost activated carbon derived from bagasse, an agricultural waste material, has been investigated as a replacement for the current expensive methods of removing heavy metals from wastewater . With a view to find a suitable application of the material, activated carbon has been derived, characterized and utilized for the removal of cadmium and zinc . The uptake of cadmium was found to be slightly greater than that of zinc and the sorption capacity increases with increase in temperature . The adsorption studies were carried out both in single- and multi-component systems . Adsorption data on derived carbon follows both the Freundlich and Langmuir models . The data are better fitted by the Freundlich isotherm as compared to Langmuir in both the single- and multi-component systems . Isotherms have been used to obtain the thermodynamic parameters . The kinetics of adsorption depends on the adsorbate concentration and the physical and chemical characteristics of the adsorbent . Studies were conducted to delineate the effect of temperature, initial adsorbate concentration, particle size of the adsorbent and solid-to-liquid ratio . On the basis of these studies, various parameters such as mass transfer coefficient, effective diffusion coefficient, activation energy and entropy of activation were evaluated to establish the mechanisms . It was concluded that the adsorption occurs through a film diffusion mechanism at low as well as at higher concentrations. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2297 - 303 Catalytic degradation of CH2O and C6H5CH2OH in wastewaters; Christoskova ST et al.; The heterogeneous oxidation of benzyl alcohol and formaldehyde in aqueous medium has been investigated . The catalytic oxidation of these compounds is carried out in the presence of Ni-oxide system at ambient temperature . The results show that under studied conditions, a 90% conversion of CH2O to CO2 and a complete oxidation of C6H5CH2OH to C6H5COOH is achieved . Addition of H2SO4 to adjust pH to 2 further precipitates benzoic acid . The precipitate is filtered and the resulting filtrate is free of organic substances (COD is below 10 mg O2 dm(-3)) . Based on the results obtained, a technology for purification of wastewaters containing benzyl alcohol as well as a catalytic method for degradation of CH2O in aqueous solutions have been developed. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2255 - 64 NMR spectroscopy for determination of cationic polymer concentrations; Chang LL et al.; Organic polyelectrolytes are utilized extensively in wastewater treatment, but their fate after use is poorly understood . Analytical methods used for polymer determination in less complex systems appear to fail in application to wastewater systems, contributing to the lack of knowledge . Thus, the development of 1H NMR spectroscopy is reported here for specifically quantitating certain cationic flocculant polymers in environmental samples . Proton observe frequencies of 250 or 400 MHz proton were used . A copolymer of acrylamide and acryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride was used, representative of cationic flocculant polymers possessing quaternary ammonium groups with terminal methyls that provide a sharp singlet at a chemical shift of approximately 3.06 ppm . A strong linear relationship was demonstrated between polymer concentration and either height or area of this peak . Recoveries were up to 96% at higher concentrations (250 mg/L), and were greater than when using viscosity or charge titration methods for polymer determination . Lesser recoveries at lower concentrations (70% at 5 mg/L) were attributed to adsorptive losses . The detection limit of this method was determined to be <0.5 mg/L . Use of the method was exemplified by analysis of anaerobically digested sludges for residual polymer following a range of dosages, showing the resulting isotherm. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2233 - 42 Copper and zinc adsorption onto poorly humified Sphagnum and Carex peat; Ringqvist L et al.; Peat generally has a high adsorption capacity and has been suggested as an adsorbent for metals in polluted waters . However, the adsorption potential of peat can be expected to be strongly dependent on the chemical properties of the water . In this study, the effect of pH, ionic strength (CaCl2 and NaCl concentrations), and metal concentration on Cu and Zn adsorption onto poorly humified Sphagnum and Carex peat was investigated in batch experiments using a fractional factorial experimental design . The pH value was varied between 4 and 8, the CaCl2 and NaCl concentrations between 1.2-6.2 and 0.4-43 mM, respectively, and the Cu and Zn concentrations between 0.05 and 0.5 mM . The amount of Zn adsorbed increased more with increasing pH than the amount of Cu adsorbed . The effect of NaCl/CaCl2 concentration was minor . It was found that Zn adsorption in particular, but also Cu adsorption, increased more with pH onto Carex peat than onto Sphagnum peat . In the pH interval 4-8, the removal of Zn from the solution increased from 0% to 80% using Carex peat and from 10% to 65% using Sphagnum peat as the adsorbent . The Carex peat sample decreased the Cu concentration by 80% at pH 4 and by 95% at pH 8 and for Sphagnum peat a decrease of 85% was maintained in the pH range investigated . The differences between Sphagnum and Carex peat were attributed to the habitat conditions at the time of peat formation . Carex peat has higher ash, nitrogen and sulphur concentrations, while Sphagnum peat contains a higher amount of uronic acid . In treating polluted waters with peat, a higher degree of metal removal can be expected at high pH values than at low . The removal of Cu, which has a high affinity to the peat surface, was less dependent on pH than Zn removal . Poorly humified Carex peat should be chosen in treating wastewaters high in pH. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2195 - 204 Removal of suspended solids by coagulation and foam separation using surface-active protein; Suzuki Y et al.; By using several kinds of surface-active proteins as a chemical agent that combined collector with frother, removal of suspended substances by coagulation and foam separation with dispersed air was examined . Milk casein showed the greatest capability of suspension removal, and coagulating flocs formed by clay particles and iron hydroxide were almost perfectly recovered in foam generated from the liquid, even in the case of freshwater and seawater suspension at neutral pH . In contrast, the removal efficiency was extremely low using sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) . Casein had a much greater capability for removing solids than SDS as a result of the high adsorptive activity of casein on the floc . For municipal wastewater treatment, the removal efficiency of turbidity and suspended solids was over 98% with the condition of iron coagulant (FeCl3) 20 mg-Fe/L and casein 3 mg/L and pH 5-6 . Moreover, this method proved to be an effective treatment for polluted saline water (salinity 1.5%), and the suspended solids were almost perfectly recovered in foam . Here, we show a new method for quickly removing (within 7 min) suspended solids from polluted wastewater utilizing casein and bubbles. Water Res, 2002 May, 36(9), 2167 - 72 Enhanced photo-degradation of contaminants in petroleum refinery wastewater; Stepnowski P et al.; In order to rise efficiency of the wastewater treatment in a refinery plant, several oxidation experiments were done, testing their applicability as an additional pretreatment method . The influence of treatment with low concentrations of H2O2 combined with stirring and UV light on degradation of organic compounds present in the refinery wastewater was studied . Oxidation of the total petroleum hydrocarbons occurs at relatively low concentrations of H2O2, additional UV irradiation slightly accelerates the process due to the increased formation of hydroxyl radicals . 1,2-dichloroethane and t-butyl methyl ether degrade in the similar manner and except for the lowest H2O2 concentration used (1.17 mM), the reduction after 24 h is total . The degradation rate for dichloromethane is the lowest one, depending both on hydrogen peroxide concentration and the presence of UV . Its maximum reduction of 83% was obtained using the highest applied peroxide concentration of 11.76 mM. Chemosphere, 2002 Jun, 47(9), 925 - 31 Kinetics of chemical decolorization of the azo dye C.I . Reactive Orange 96 by sulfide; Yoo ES; The mechanism of decolorization of azo dyes based on the extracellular chemical reduction with sulfide (H2S, HS-, S2-) was postulated for sulfate reducing environments . To design technical decolorization processes of textile wastewater treatment with sulfide produced by sulfate reducing bacteria (SRB), kinetics is of great significance . Batch experiments were made in order to investigate the kinetics of abiotic decolorization of the reactive mono-azo dye C.I . Reactive Orange 96 (RO 96) with sulfide, with varying pH . The decolorization of RO 96 by sulfide under the exclusion of O2 corresponded to first-order kinetics with respect to both dye and sulfide concentration . The decolorization of RO 96 with sulfide at neutral pH (7.1) was advantageous compared with that at pH for 4.1, 6.3, and 6.5 . This is attributed to an increase in the fraction of HS- of total sulfide species at neutral pH . The rate constants k for the decolorization at 37 degrees C were obtained as 0.01 for pH = 4.1, 0.06 for pH = 6.3, 0.08 for pH = 6.5, and 0.09 for pH = 7.1 in mM(-1) min(-1) . The high rate constants for sulfide at pH 6.5-7.1 support that the decolorization through SRB (i.e . by bio-sulfide) can be effective in anaerobic bacterial systems with sulfate. J Chromatogr A, 2002 May 17, 956(1-2), 215 - 20 Organic analysis by ion chromatography . 1 . Determination of aromatic amines and aromatic diisocyanates by cation-exchange chromatography with amperometric detection; Zhu Y et al.; A method has been developed for the simultaneous determination of a range of aromatic amines using cation-exchange chromatography performed on a standard ion chromatography column using d.c . amperometric detection . The analytes separated were 2,4- and 2,6-toluenediamine (2,4- and 2,6-TDA), aniline, o-toluidine, benzidine, p-chloroaniline, 4,4'-diaminodiphenyl (4,4'-DDP), m-nitroaniline and 1-naphthylamine . A Dionex CS12 column was used with gradient elution from an initial eluent of 5% CH3CN+35 mM H2SO4 to 27% CH3CN+35 mM H2SO4 (at 35 min) . Detection limits in the range 2.6-22.6 microg/l were observed for all analytes except m-nitroaniline, for which the detection limit was 201 microg/l . Linear calibrations and good precision were observed and the method was applied to the determination of benzidine, p-chloroaniline and 1-naphthylamine in wastewater samples . Further, the separation was also used (after some modification of the eluent conditions) for the determination of 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate (2,4- and 2,6-TDI) and 4,4'-methylenediphenyl diisocyanate (4,4'-MDI) after their hydrolysis to 2,4-TDA, 2,6-TDA and 4,4'-DDP . Detection limits for 2,6- and 2,4-TDI and 4,4'-MDI were 3.8, 8.2, and 11.2 microg/l, respectively . The method was applied to the determination of diisocyanates in air. J Chromatogr A, 2002 May 17, 956(1-2), 181 - 6 Determination of inorganic cations and ammonium in environmental waters by ion chromatography with a high-capacity cation-exchange column; Thomas DH et al.; While alkali and alkaline earth cations are commonly determined by using spectrometric techniques such as atomic absorption spectrometry or inductively coupled plasma, ammonium cation in the same sample must be measured separately by a wet chemical technique such as colorimetry, titrimetry, or ammonia-selective electrode . In a single 25-min run ion chromatography can determine all of the important inorganic cations including lithium, sodium, ammonium, potassium, magnesium and calcium . In this paper, we describe the use of ion chromatography with a new high-capacity cation-exchange column (the IonPac CS16), an electrolytically-generated methanesulfonic acid eluent and suppressed conductivity detection to determine dissolved alkali and alkaline earth cations and ammonium in drinking water wastewater and aqueous soil extracts . The IonPac CS16 is a high-capacity cation-exchange column that incorporates recent advances in polymer chemistry to enable trace-level determinations of cations even in high-ionic-strength matrices . We discuss the linear range, method detection limits, and analyte recoveries obtained with this column, and evaluate the effect of potential interferences on method performance during the analysis of typical environmental samples. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 Jun 15, 36(12), 2772 - 6 A study of fine particulate emissions from combustion of treated pulverized municipal sewage sludge; Seames WS et al.; Municipal sewage sludge (MSS) is formed during wastewater treatment and its processing and disposal represent one of the most environmentally challenging aspects of the wastewater treating process . One disposal option currently being considered is a process involving heat treatment (to render the sludge biologically inactive) followed by dewatering, drying, pulverizing, and combustion . This research focuses on fine particle emissions from the combustion of dried, treated, MSS, cofired with either natural gas or pulverized Ohio bituminous coal as a supplemental fuel . These fuels were burned at 13 kW in a downflow laboratory combustor designed to replicate time/temperature histories and particle concentrations typical of practical combustion units yet also sufficiently well defined aerodynamically to allow elucidation of mechanisms . Size-segregated particle size distributions were obtained by isokinetic sampling followed by dilution/quenching and passage into a Berner Low-Pressure Impactor . Major and trace elements were analyzed by flame and graphite furnace atomic absorption spectroscopy . Four particle size regions were identified: furnace vapor-phase material that formed ultrafine particles either in or just before the sampling probe, submicron-sized particles formed during the combustion process, micron-sized fine particles, and larger supermicron sized bulk fly ash particles . The fuel mix appears to influence trace metal partitioning routes and the composition of fine particulate matter in the exhaust . Cofiring of MSS with coal increases the ultrafine/submicron particle emission compared to firing coal alone . This increase in ultrafine/submicron particles is most likely due to an interaction between species derived from MSS (possibly alkali metals) and those from coal (possibly sulfur and/or chlorine) . Vapor-to-solid phase partitioning of arsenic and selenium is controlled by surface reaction with active surface sites during MSS combustion with either gas or coal . Co-combustion of MSS with the Ohio bituminous coal allows the arsenic and selenium to be reactively scavenged by calcium, thus changing the speciation of the trace metal emitted . Ohio bituminous coal alone contained insufficient calcium to accomplish this same scavenging effect. ALTEX, 2002, 19 Suppl 1, 30 - 7 Ecotoxicological assessment of surface waters: a modular approach integrating in vitro methods; Schweigert N et al.; Today ecotoxicological evaluations of surface water quality are either based on field surveys or online biomonitoring, whereas the ecotoxicological quality of wastewater is mostly determined with standardised acute toxicity tests . In this paper we present a concept for the ecotoxicological evaluation of surface waters, where mainly in vitro tests are used for the screening of water samples, presenting the first tier of a two-tiered approach . In this first tier a battery of fast and cost-efficient test-systems are used as an early warning system . Thereby, the toxic potential of water samples will be identified . This modular approach allows the exchange or addition of test-systems if necessary . If a toxic potential is identified in a water sample, this sample can be investigated more thoroughly in a second tier where organisms are used . In this paper we focus mainly on the general approach and the description of the first tier. J Environ Monit, 2002 Jun, 4(3), 458 - 61 Turbidimetric determination of chloride in different types of water using a single sequential injection analysis system; Mesquita RB et al.; A sequential injection analysis system for the turbidimetric determination of chloride in different types of water is proposed . The determination is based on the reaction of chloride with silver ions and the subsequent measurement of the turbidity caused by silver chloride precipitation . In this method, the use of toxic reagents, such as mercury thiocyanate, commonly employed in most spectrophotometric techniques for chloride determination, is avoided . The main feature of the developed system is the use of a single configuration to carry out the determination over a wide concentration range (2-400 mg L(-1)) by changing only the aspirated sample volume . This characteristic allows the determination of chloride in ground, surface and wastewaters using the same manifold . In addition, a considerable saving of precipitating reagent is achieved due to non-continuous consumption . The results obtained with the developed system were statistically indistinguishable from those of the potentiometric titration reference method . Relative standard deviations for ten consecutive injections were lower than 3.7%, with a sampling frequency of between 55 and 57 determinations per hour. Waste Manag, 2002, 22(5), 543 - 8 Agricultural solid waste for the removal of organics: adsorption of phenol from water and wastewater by palm seed coat activated carbon; Rengaraj S et al.; Adsorption studies for phenol removal from aqueous solution on activated palm seed coat carbon (PSCC) were carried out under varying experimental conditions of contact time, phenol concentration, adsorbent dose and pH . Adsorption equilibrium was reached within 3 h for phenolic concentrations 10-60 mg l(-1) . Kinetics of adsorption obeyed a first order rate equation . The percent removal remained constant over the pH range 4-9 for a phenolic concentration of 25 mg (l-1) . The equilibrium data could be described well by the Freundlich isotherm equation . The adsorption of phenol on PSCC follows the film diffusion process . A comparative study with a commercial activated carbon showed that PSCC is two times more effective than commercial activated carbon . The studies showed that the palm seed coat carbon can be used as an efficient adsorbent material for the removal of phenolics from water and wastewater. Waste Manag, 2002, 22(5), 507 - 13 Using organoclays to enhance carbon filtration; Alther G; Organoclays have found increased acceptance as pre-treatment for activated carbon adsorption systems in both groundwater and wastewater cleanup . The reason is that activated carbon tends to become quickly blinded by large organic molecules of low solubility, particularly oils . However, it is also well established that activated carbon is more efficient at low concentrations of organic contaminants than at higher ones, i.e . at less than 1 ppm . With organoclays it is exactly the opposite, they are better at removing organics at higher concentrations, above 3 ppm . Therefore it is cost effective in these applications to use two or more vessels in series, the first one filled with organoclay, the remainder with activated carbon . The economics make sense, even though the organoclay is not regenerated, because of the reduction in down time every time a carbon vessel has to be changed out . Use of organoclays increases the volume treated by carbon in many applications seven to nine fold . In the case of other organic contaminants, as the aqueous solubility increases, the efficiency decreases, except in the case of methylene chloride, which it removes at far higher efficiency then carbon . This article presents the results of a series of tests, including Kd determinations, jar tests, and mini-column tests . These tests determined the adsorption capacity and efficiency of organoclay and activated carbon for the removal of benzene, toluene, xylene and naphtalene from water . These tests were followed by adding the four compounds into one container to see if the combination of organoclay, followed by carbon, would be more efficient then each sorbent alone . The tests also compared the efficiency of organoclay versus carbon for the removal of various oils from water. Waste Manag, 2002, 22(5), 471 - 80 Peanut hull pellets as a single use sorbent for the capture of Cu(II) from wastewater; Johnson PD et al.; This paper investigates the ability of peanut hulls and peanut hull pellets to adsorb copper from dilute aqueous metal ion solutions in batch and fixed bed systems . The kinetics of copper uptake onto the media have been investigated in batch systems and the influence of pH and particle size on the rate and extent of copper capture determined . The Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm theories were determined; the Langmuir model was found to best represent the equilibrium isotherm data . In normalized kinetic tests at least 75% of copper removal occurred within the first 20 min; 92% removal was effected within the first 50 min . The rate of uptake was optimum within the pH range 5-7.5, and media capacities remained relatively constant at a pH above 4.0 . Bench-scale column studies were performed using peanut hull pellets . The overall capacity of pelletized peanut hulls was higher than for unmodified peanut hulls . Due to their demonstrated ability for Cu(II) uptake and favorable structural characteristics, pelletized peanut hulls could gain use as a low-cost, once-through biomass filter medium for copper-bearing waste streams. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(8), 2029 - 39 Three-dimensional pollutant transport model for the Pearl River Estuary; Chau KW et al.; In this paper, the development and implementation of a three-dimensional, numerical pollutant transport model, which is based on an orthogonal curvilinear coordinate system in the horizontal direction and a sigma coordinate system in the vertical direction, is delineated . An efficient as well as simple open boundary condition is employed for pollutant transport in this mathematical model . It is then applied to model the distribution and transport of Chemical Oxygen Demand in the Pearl River Estuary . The results from the numerical simulations illustrate that the transboundary or inter-boundary effects of pollutants, between the Guangdong Province and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region due to the wastewater discharged from the Pearl River Delta Region, are quite strong. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(8), 1993 - 2001 Anaerobic/aerobic treatment of coloured textile effluents using sequencing batch reactors; Shaw CB et al.; Conventional biological wastewater treatment plants do not easily degrade the dyes and polyvinyl alcohols (PVOH) in textile effluents . Results are reported on the possible advantages of anaerobic/aerobic cometabolism in sequenced redox reactors . A six phase anaerobic/aerobic sequencing laboratory scale batch reactor was developed to treat a synthetic textile effluent . The wastewater included PVOH from desizing and an azo dye (Remazol Black) . The reactor removed 66% of the applied total organic carbon (load F: M 0.15) compared to 76% from a control reactor without dye . Colour removal was 94% but dye metabolites caused reactor instability . Aromatic amines from the anaerobic breakdown of the azo dyes were not completely mineralised by the aerobic phase . Breakdown of PVOH by the reactor (20-30%) was not as good as previous reports with entirely aerobic cultures . The anaerobic cultures were able to tolerate the oxygen and methane continued to be produced but there was a deterioration in settlement. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(8), 1947 - 54 Application of catalytic wet air oxidation for the treatment of H-acid manufacturing process wastewater; Zhu W et al.; Four types of powder catalysts whose main active components are copper (Cu), cerium (Ce), cadmium (Cd) and cobalt-bismuthide (Co-Bi) are prepared with the method of the co-deposition and are evaluated through the catalytic wet air oxidation (CWAO) treatment of H-acid solution . The comparison of the efficiencies of different catalysts shows that Ce3Cu1 (3:1) catalyst is the best one . When the reaction temperature is 200 degrees C, oxygen partial pressure is 3 MPa, pH value is 12, and reaction time is 30 min, the COD removal rate is over 90% . All the H-acid is decomposed in 5 min and is oxidized into NH4+, SO4(2-) formic acid, acetic acid and other end products . The pH value can greatly affect the COD removal and the production of organic acid . CWAO process not only can get a high reaction rate, but also can oxidize the short-chain organic acid. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(8), 1927 - 38 P removal from anaerobic supernatants by struvite crystallization: long term validation and process modelling; Battistoni P et al.; In this work, a model for phosphorus crystallization in a fluidized bed reactor, able to describe the experimental results obtained during a semiscale pilot plant, is presented . In particular, the validity of the model proposed has been evenly extended with respect to a previous experiment, even at a lower contact time, and the length of each experiment has been increased, in order to verify the behaviour of the process for long term applications and to evaluate the maximum crystal growth of the system . Moreover, the state of the art of the available processes for phosphorus removal from wastewater is presented, together with a detailed review of the several models so far developed to describe the phosphorus crystallization mechanisms. Environ Technol, 2002 May, 23(5), 537 - 45 Ozonation of textile wastewater: physicochemical and phytotoxic aspects; Radetski CM et al.; The purpose of this work was to evaluate the performance of ozonation as a technique to treat textile effluents . This performance evaluation was made using physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxic endpoints (i.e . biomass growth enzyme activities - catalase and peroxidase) . After ozonation, the color absorbance (523 nm) was reduced by 80.9% and the pH decreased from 10.9 to approximately 7.5 while COD reduction reached nearly 87% . Phytotoxicity tests carried out in solution with three plant species (i.e . soybean, rice and wheat) allowed us to compare toxicity data of both, raw and ozonated effluents . The biomass (fresh weight) of the 3 plant species clearly decreases as a function of the increase in raw effluent concentration with LOEC values of 100% for rice and wheat, and 50% for soybean . Activities of catalase and peroxidase in the 3 plant species exposed to the raw textile effluent were significantly different from plant controls . The LOEC values for catalase were 6.2% (in wheat and soybean plants), and 25% (in rice plants), while for peroxidase the LOEC values were 6.2% (in rice plants), 25% (in soybean plants), and 50% (in wheat plants) . Reduction in the phytotoxicity of textile effluent samples after ozonation is likely due to the elimination of the toxic organic fraction oxidized during this process . Regarding endpoint sensitivity, our results showed that biomass endpoint was less sensitive than biochemical endpoint . In conclusion, ozonation was relatively effective in reducing physico-chemical parameters and phytotoxic effects of textile effluents . Plant enzyme assays used in this study proved to be a sensitive tool in order to determine the toxicity of industrial effluents and may be used to evaluate efficiency of established (or emergent) wastewater treatment technology. Syst Appl Microbiol, 2002 Apr, 25(1), 37 - 45 Novosphingobium hassiacum sp . nov., a new species isolated from an aerated sewage pond; Kampfer P et al.; The taxonomy of two strains W-51T and W-52 isolated from a wastewater treatment plant was investigated in a polyphasic approach . The yellow pigmented gram-negative organism contained a quinone system with mainly ubiquinone Q-10, and the polar lipid profile contained a sphingoglycolipid suggesting that both strains belonged to the the alpha-4 subclass of the Proteobacteria . The polar lipid profile consisted furthermore of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine and of minor amounts of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine . Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene supported the allocation into the genus Novosphingobium, together with the type strains of N . subterraneum, N . aromaticivorans, N . stygium, and N . capsulatum, showing similarities of 97.3%, 97.0%, 95.7% and 96.2%, respectively . This allocation was supported by the polyamine profile, which consisted mainly of spermidine . The analysis of the fatty acids revealed 2-OH 13:0, 2-OH 14:0 and 2-OH 15:0, with 2-OH 15:0 as predominant hydroxylated fatty acid . W-51T and W-52 were almost identical with respect to their phenotypic including the majority of the chemotaxonomic properties, identical in their 16S rRNA sequences, and showed 86% DNA-DNA similarity . Both strains were able to reduce nitrate and on the basis of further physiological features, a clear differentiation from all other Novosphingobium species was possible . The DNA-DNA similarities of W-51T to the type strains of N . subterraneum, N . aromaticivorans, and N . capsulatum were below 56% . For these reasons, it is proposed to create a new species with the name Novosphingobium hassiacum sp . nov. Water Sci Technol, 2002, 45(9), 309 - 15 Nutrient management for coastal zones: a case study of the nitrogen load to the Stockholm Archipelago; Scharin H; This study investigates cost-effective solutions of decreasing the nutrient load to a coastal area, using a drainage basin approach . The study is applied to the Stockholm Archipelago, a coastal area of the Baltic Sea suffering from eutrophication caused by the load of nutrients entering the area . Nitrogen is the nutrient of concern in this study since it is the limiting nutrient of the Archipelago . The main sources of nitrogen are wastewater plants, agriculture, and atmospheric depositions . The final impact of a deposition depends on the buffering capabilities it is subject to on its trajectory from the source to the recipient . This is the reason for using a recipient oriented approach, in which the focus is to reduce the final impact of a deposition . The model integrates data over hydrology, land cover, land use, and economy in order to find the optimal allocation of measures . Results indicate that in order to achieve cost effectiveness, the major part of nitrogen load reduction to the Archipelago should be done at the wastewater plants and by constructing wetlands . The minimum annual cost of reaching a 50% reduction of the load to the Archipelago was estimated to around 191 million Swedish crowns (around $19 million). Water Sci Technol, 2002, 45(9), 195 - 203 Evaluation of efficiencies of diffuse allochthonous and autochthonous nutrient input control in restoration of a highly eutrophic lake; Muhammetoglu A et al.; Mogan Lake is an important recreational area for Metropolitan Ankara-Turkey . It is a shallow eutrophic lake with a dense growth of macrophytes . The main contributors of nutrients and other pollutants to the lake are the creeks carrying the runoff water from the watershed and upland farming land, in addition to the domestic and industrial wastewater discharges from a nearby town and industries . Hydrodynamic and water quality modeling techniques were used to determine the optimum management schemes for the lake restoration and diffuse pollution control . Management scenarios were devised and tested to control allochthonous and autochthonous nutrient inputs to the lake . Phosphorus and nitrogen load reductions were the main test elements for the control of allochthonous nutrient inputs . The scenario analysis revealed that reduction of phosphorus and nitrogen loads from diffused sources will have a marginal effect on controlling eutrophication if macrophyte growth is left uncontrolled . Scenarios employing macrophyte harvesting and sediment dredging have been evaluated for autochthonous nutrient input control . Sediment dredging alone has been shown to yield the most favorable conditions for water quality improvement in Mogan Lake . Further, control of diffuse pollution was an essential final step to achieve an acceptable long-term sustainable water quality improvement in the lake. Poult Sci, 2002 Jun, 81(6), 785 - 92 Recovery and utilization of useful by-products from egg processing wastewater by electrocoagulation; Xu LJ et al.; The efficacy of a laboratory electrocoagulation (EC) system for treating egg processing plant waste-water (WW) is reported . For simulated and industrial egg processing WW, chemical oxygen demand, turbidity, and total suspended solids (TSS) were reduced 92 to 97%, 97%, and 99%, respectively, after treatment with EC . The final TSS concentration and turbidity values were 30 mg/L and 5 formazin turbidity units (FTU), respectively, similar to that of potable water standards . The recovered by-product solids had a similar pattern of essential amino acids compared to that of liquid whole egg and were comparable to the Food Agriculture Organization's essential amino acid profile for an ideal protein . The relative protein digestibilities of the recovered solids and a commercial corn meal averaged 130 and 56%, respectively, compared to liquid whole egg (set at 100%) . An economic analysis of EC indicated that this treatment is economically feasible in that a savings of approximately $425,000 per year is possible in addition to recovering the capital equipment costs after about 14 mo of operation . These findings demonstrate that EC can be successfully applied to treat egg processing plant WW, yielding a high quality water suitable for recycling and valuable by-products having a highly digestible protein and fat value. Nippon Rinsho, 2002 Jun, 60(6), 1214 - 21 {Contamination of oyster sea farm with the Norwalk virus: mechanisms and control}; Sugiyama A et al.; The Norwalk virus(NV) is widely known as a cause of nonbacterial food poisoning, infant diarrhea, and acute gastroenteritis in the winter months between November and March . While it is strongly suspected that NV that is excreted by humans flows into coastal seawaters via rivers and wastewater treatment facilities to contaminate oysters that are grown in farms in the area, light has yet to be shed on the behavior of this virus in the natural environment . We therefore conducted a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) survey of NV levels in the aquatic environment of the oyster bed area of the Shima region in Mie Prefecture, whereupon the NV was detected in marine sediment, oysters, and mule clams even during the summer months, when food poisoning is infrequent . In order to assess their similarity to human-derived strains, the detected viruses and their human-derived counterparts were subjected to genetic analysis, whereupon some of the detected viruses were found to be remarkably similar to those that were previously detected in humans infected with NV . In the interests of examining methods for decontaminating NV-contaminated oysters, we also conducted an assessment on a system of virus decontamination that focuses on seawater temperature and oyster metabolism, using Poliovirus Sabin strain . The decontamination system mentioned above was a closed loop, water circulating system, built on the same principles as those actually in use at oyster farms . Our experiment indicated that at seawater temperatures of both 10 degrees C and 20 degrees C, virus placed into the water tank was rapidly incorporated into the midgut glands of the oysters . Thereafter, when seawater irradiated with UV was circulated, the virus count in the oysters fell from 1/1,000 to 1/10,000 within 6 hours . These results indicated the utility of this system for virus decontamination, suggesting the possibility of significantly alleviating the risk of NV infection in humans by using this system to maintain the seawater temperature within the decontamination tank above a certain temperature, and to perform decontamination with an adequate water flow. FEMS Microbiol Lett, 2002 Jun 18, 212(1), 41 - 5 Effect of olive oil mill wastewater on extracellular ligninolytic enzymes produced by Phanerochaete flavido-alba; Ruiz JC et al.; Our previous results have demonstrated that Phanerochaete flavido-alba decoloration, dephenolization and detoxification of olive oil mill wastewater (OMW) were associated with changes in the ligninolytic major exoenzymes accumulated in the cultures . This paper describes the effect of the two main OMW components (monomeric aromatic compounds and a major brownish polymeric pigment), on extracellular P . flavido-alba ligninolytic enzymes . Laccase was the sole ligninolytic enzyme detected in cultures containing monomeric aromatic compounds . Laccase and an acidic manganese-dependent peroxidase (MnPA, pI<2.8) were accumulated in cultures with OMW or polymeric pigment . Also, modified manganese-dependent peroxidases were observed mainly in OMW-supplemented cultures . Laccase was more stable to the effect of OMW toxic components and was accumulated in monomeric aromatic-supplemented cultures, suggesting a more important role than manganese-dependent peroxidases in OMW detoxification . Alternatively, MnPA accumulated in cultures containing the polymeric pigment seems to be more essential than laccase for degradation of this recalcitrant macromolecule by P . flavido-alba. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 Jun 1, 36(11), 2519 - 22 UV disinfection of Giardia lamblia cysts in water; Linden KG et al.; The human and animal pathogen Giardia lamblia is a waterborne risk to public health because the cysts are ubiquitous and persistent in water and wastewater, not completely removed by physical-chemical treatment processes, and relatively resistant to chemical disinfection . Given the recently recognized efficacy of UV irradiation against Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts, the inactivation of G . lamblia cysts in buffered saline water at pH 7.3 and room temperature by near monochromatic (254 nm) UV irradiation from low-pressure mercury vapor lamps was determined using a "collimated beam" exposure system . Reduction of G . lamblia infectivity for gerbils was very rapid and extensive, reaching a detection limit of >4 log within a dose of 10 JM-2 . The ability of UV-irradiated G . lamblia cysts to repair UV-induced damage following typical drinking water and wastewater doses of 160 and 400 JM(-2) was also investigated using experimental protocols typical for bacterial and eucaryotic DNA repair under both light and dark conditions . The infectivity reduction of G . lamblia cysts at these UV doses remained unchanged after exposure to repair conditions . Therefore, no phenotypic evidence of either light or dark repair of DNA damage caused by LP UV irradiation of cysts was observed at the UV doses tested . We conclude that UV disinfection at practical doses achieves appreciable (much greater than 4 log) inactivation of G . lamblia cysts in water with no evidence of DNA repair leading to infectivity reactivation. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 Jun 1, 36(11), 2322 - 9 Occurrence and environmental behavior of the bactericide triclosan and its methyl derivative in surface waters and in wastewater; Lindstrom A et al.; The bactericide triclosan and methyl triclosan, an environmental transformation product thereof, were detected in lakes and in a river in Switzerland at concentrations of up to 74 and 2 ng L(-1), respectively . Both compounds were emitted via wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), with methyl triclosan probably being formed by biological methylation . A regional mass balance for a lake (Greifensee) indicated significant removal of triclosan by processes other than flushing . Laboratory experiments showed that triclosan in the dissociated form was rapidly decomposed in lake water when exposed to sunlight (half-life less than 1 h in August at 47 degrees latitude) . Methyl triclosan and nondissociated triclosan, however, were relatively stable toward photodegradation . Modeling these experimental data for the situation of lake Greifensee indicated that photodegradation can account for the elimination of triclosan from the lake and suggested a seasonal dependence of the concentrations (lower in summer, higher in winter), consistent with observed concentrations . Although emissions of methyl triclosan from WWTPs were only approximately 2% relative to those of triclosan, its predicted concentration relative to triclosan in the epilimnion of the lake increases to 30% in summer . Passive sampling with semipermeable membrane devices (SPMDs) indicated the presence of methyl triclosan in lakes with inputs from anthropogenic sources but not in a remote mountain lake . Surprisingly, no parent triclosan was observed in the SPMDs from these lakes . Methyl triclosan appears to be preferentially accumulated in SPMDs under the conditions in these lakes, leading to concentrations comparable to those of persistent chlorinated organic pollutants. J Air Waste Manag Assoc, 2002 Jun, 52(6), 722 - 31 Stabilization of APC residues from waste incineration with ferrous sulfate on a semi-industrial scale; Lundtorp K et al.; A stabilization method for air pollution control (APC) residues from municipal solid waste incineration (MSWI) involving mixing of the residue with water and FeSO4 has been demonstrated on a semi-industrial scale on three types of APC residues: a semidry (SD) APC residue, a fly ash (FA), and an FA mixed with sludge (FAS) from a wet flue gas cleaning system . The process was performed in batches of 165-175 kg residue . It generates a wastewater that is highly saline but has a low content of heavy metals such as Cd, Cr, and Pb . The stabilized and raw residues have been subject to a range of leaching tests: the batch leaching test, the pH-static leaching test, the availability test, and the column test . These tests showed that the stabilized residues have remarkably improved leaching properties, especially with respect to Pb but also with respect to Cd, Cu, and Zn . The release of Pb was reduced by a factor of 250-36,000. Prep Biochem Biotechnol, 2002 May, 32(2), 127 - 33 An enzymatic method for removal of phenol from industrial effluent; Singh N et al.; Phenols in an aqueous solution were removed after treatment with peroxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide . Phenols occur in wastewater of a number of industries, such as high temperature coal conversion, petroleum refining, resin and plastic, wood and dye industries, etc . It can be toxic when present at elevated levels and is known to be carcinogeneous . Thus, removal of such compound from these industrial effluents is of great importance . An enzymatic method for removal of phenols from industrial wastewater, using turnip peroxidase, has been developed . Phenol-containing industrial wastewater was treated with immobilized turnip peroxidase in the presence of hydrogen peroxide . In the reaction, a number of phenols are oxidized to form the corresponding free radicals in the presence of hydrogen peroxide as an oxidant . Free radicals polymerize to form substances that are less soluble in water than the original substances . The precipitates were removed by conventional methods and residual phenol was estimated . The present report describes the immobilization of turnip peroxidase on silica via covalent coupling, and its utility in phenol removal . A comparative study was also carried out with other immobilization techniques, viz., calcium alginate entrapment, polyacrylamide gel entrapment, etc . Peroxidase, covalently bound to silica, showed 95% removal of phenol, whereas naphthol was removed up to 99%. J Biotechnol, 2002 Aug 7, 97(2), 125 - 31 Effects of culture conditions on the production of polyhydroxyalkanoates by Azotobacter chroococcum H23 in media containing a high concentration of alpechín (wastewater from olive oil mills) as primary carbon source; Pozo C et al.; Large amounts of homopolymers containing beta-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) and copolymers containing beta-hydroxyvalerate (P{HB-co-HV}) are produced by Azotobacter chroococcum strain H23 when growing in culture media amended with alpechin (wastewater from olive oil mills) as the sole carbon source . Copolymer was formed when valerate (pentanoate) was added as a precursor to the alpechin medium, but it was not formed with the addition of propionate as a precursor . A . chroococcum formed homo- and copolymers of polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs) up to 80% of the cell dry weight, when grown on NH(4)(+)-medium supplemented with 60% (v/v) alpechin, after 48 h of incubation at 100 rev min(-1) and 30 degrees C . Production of PHAs by strain H23 using alpechin looks promising, as the use of a cheap substrate for the production of these materials is essential if bioplastics are to become competitive products. J Chromatogr A, 2002 Apr 12, 953(1-2), 79 - 87 Solid-phase microextraction coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography to determine phenolic compounds in water samples; Penalver A et al.; Solid-phase microextraction (SPME) coupled to high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) and electrochemical detection (ED) has been applied to determine 11 phenolic compounds considered priority pollutants by the US Environmental Protection Agency . 85 microm polyacrylate fibers were used to extract the analytes from the aqueous samples . Two different designs of the liquid chromatograph were compared in combination with SPME . Dynamic and static modes of desorption in both HPLC designs were compared and the variables affecting both absorption and desorption processes in SPME-HPLC were optimized . Static desorption in both HPLC systems showed better recoveries for the phenolic compounds . The performance of the SPME-HPLC-UV-ED method was evaluated with river water and wastewater samples . The method enabled the determination of phenolic compounds at low levels in these water samples. Bioresour Technol, 2002 May, 83(1), 65 - 70 An economic analysis of biomass gasification and power generation in China; Wu CZ et al.; With vast territory and abundant biomass resources China appears to have suitable conditions to develop biomass utilization technologies . As an important decentralized power technology, biomass gasification and power generation (BGPG) has a potential market in making use of biomass wastes . In spite of the relatively high cost for controlling secondary pollution by wastewater, BGPG is economically feasible and can give a financial return owing to the low price of biomass wastes and insufficient power supply at present in some regions of China . In this work, experimental data from 1 MW-scale circulating fluidized bed (CFB) BGPG plants constructed recently in China were analyzed; and it was found that the unit capital cost of BGPG is only 60-70% of coal power station and its operation cost is much lower than that of conventional power plants . However, due to the relatively low efficiency of small-scale plant, the current BGPG technology will lose its economic attraction when its capacity is smaller than 160 kW or the price of biomass is higher than 200 Yuan RMB/ton . The development of medium-scale BGPG plants, with capacity ranging from 1000 to 5000 kW, is recommended; as is the demonstration of BGPG technology in suitable enterprises (e.g . rice mill and timber mill) in developing countries where large amounts of biomass wastes are available so that biomass collection and transportation can be avoided and the operation cost can be lowered. Bioresour Technol, 2002 Jun, 83(2), 81 - 7 Growth of ornamental plants in two composts prepared from agroindustrial wastes; Garcia-Gomez A et al.; Two composts prepared from agroindustrial wastes were assayed as substrates: C1 from brewing waste (yeast and malt) plus lemon tree prunings; and C2 from the solid fraction of olive mill wastewater plus olive leaves . Sixteen substrates were prepared by combining each compost with Sphagnum peat or a commercial substrate (CS) in different proportions . The nutrients (N and K) provided by the composts, which acted as slow-release fertilisers, influenced especially the development of calendula, although the physical and physico-chemical properties such as total pore space and electrical conductivity (EC) were also relevant . On the other hand, in the salt-sensitive calceolaria hybrid, EC and chloride concentration were the main factors influencing growth . Adequate substrates for the development of calendula can be prepared by mixing C1 at up to 75% with peat or at up to 50% with CS, and C2 at up to 50% with peat or CS . For calceolaria, the substrate should have a lower proportion of compost, C1 at up to 50% and C2 at up to 25%, both mixed with peat or CS . Therefore, composts of agroindustrial origin such as these can be used as an alternative to peat and CSs for growing ornamental plants . provided the mixture contains at least 25% peat or CS. Ecotoxicol Environ Saf, 2002 May, 52(1), 46 - 56 Regulatory implications of using constructed wetlands to treat selenium-laden wastewater; Lemly AD et al.; The practice of using constructed wetlands to treat selenium-laden wastewater is gaining popularity in the United States and elsewhere . However, proponents of treatment wetlands often overlook important ecological liabilities and regulatory implications when developing new methods and applications . Their research studies typically seek to answer a basic performance question--are treatment wetlands effective in improving water quality--rather than answering an implicit safety question-are they hazardous to wildlife . Nevertheless, wetland owners are responsible for both the operational performance of treatment wetlands and the health of animals that use them . This is true even if wetlands were not created with the intent of providing wildlife habitat; the owner is still legally responsible for toxic hazards . If poisoning of fish and wildlife occurs, the owner can be prosecuted under a variety of federal and state laws, for example, the Migratory Bird Treaty Act and the Endangered Species Act . In considering this type of treatment technology it is important to document the selenium content of the wastewater, understand how it cycles and accumulates in the environment, and evaluate the threat it may pose to fish and wildlife before deciding whether or not to proceed with construction . Many of the potential hazards may not be obvious to project planners, particularly if there is no expressed intention for the wetland to provide wildlife habitat . Ecological risk assessment provides an approach to characterizing proposed treatment wetlands with respect to wildlife use, selenium contamination, and possible biological impacts . Proper application of this approach can reveal potential problems and the associated liabilities, and form the basis for selection of an environmentally sound treatment option. Sci Total Environ, 2002 Apr 22, 289(1-3), 133 - 44 An evaluation of biomarkers of reproductive function and potential contaminant effects in Florida largemouth bass ( Micropterus salmoidesfloridanus) sampled from the St . Johns River; Sepulveda MS et al.; The objective of this study was to describe and compare several reproductive parameters for Florida largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides floridanus) inhabiting the St . Johns River and exposed to different types and/or degrees of contamination . Welaka was selected as the reference site in this study because of its low urban and agricultural development, Palatka is in close proximity to a paper mill plant, the Green Cove site is influenced by marine shipping activities and Julington Creek site receives discharges of domestic wastewater and storm water runoff from recreational boating marinas . For this study, bass were sampled both prior to (September 1996) and during the spawning season (February 1997) . In order to characterize chemical exposure, bass livers were analyzed for up to 90 trace organics and 11 trace metal contaminants . Reproductive parameters measured included gonadosomatic index (GSI), histological evaluation of gonads and plasma concentrations of vitellogenin (VTG), 17beta-estradiol (E2) and 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT) . In general, the sum of organic chemicals was highest in livers from Palatka bass and bass from Green Cove and Julington Creek had higher hepatic concentrations of low molecular polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and polychlorinated biphenyls when compared to fish from Welaka . Metals were more variable across sites, with highest mean concentrations found in bass from either Julington Creek (Ag, As, Cr, Cu, Zn) or Welaka (Cd, Hg, Pb, Se, Tn) . Female bass from Palatka and Green Cove had lower concentrations of E2, VTG and lower GSI in relation to Welaka . Males from Palatka and Green Cove showed comparable declines in 11-KT in relation to males from Julington Creek and GSI were decreased only in Palatka males . These results indicate a geographical trend in reproductive effects, with changes being most pronounced at the site closest to the paper mill (Palatka) and decreasing as the St . Johns River flows downstream . Since reproductive alterations were most evident in bass sampled from the site closest to the paper mill discharge, it is possible that exposure to these effluents might explain at least some of the results reported here . However, the presence of reproductive alterations in fish sampled at a considerable distance from the mill discharge (Green Cove, 40 km) would suggest exposure to chemicals released from sources other than the paper mill plant . It is clear that additional studies are needed to evaluate the potential impact of these reproductive changes in populations of Florida largemouth bass inhabiting the St . Johns River. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2002 Mar, 23(2), 87 - 91 {Stability of HDTMA modified montmorillonite}; Yang L et al.; In order to probe the stability of organic montmorillonite, the nature montmorillonite was modified with hexadeeyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) in different cation exchange capacity (CEC) . The results of experiments showed that the stability of modified montmorillonite declined as its CEC was big and HDTMA was desorbed from 1.0 CEC modified montmorillonite . HDTMA bound to the montmorillonite surface was resistant to temperature(70 degrees C) and instable to strong ultrasonic and to vibrational intensity(180 r/min) . The result also indicated that the stability of modified montmorillonite increased to NaCl(1.8 mol/L) but decreased to CaCl2 (1.8 mol/L) and modified montmorillonite was more stable in high-pH environment(12.00) than in low-pH environment(2.06) . On the basis of the results of these studies, low CEC modified montmorillonite appeared suitable as a sorbent for wastewater chemical treatment and as carrier for wastewater biotreatment in low stir environment. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2002 Mar, 23(2), 69 - 72 {Effects of polyacrylamide on settling and separation of oil droplets in polymer flooding produced water}; Deng S et al.; The research found anion polyacrylamide (HPAM) had positive and negative effects on oil-water separation . Polymer made oily wastewater's viscosity increase and reduce rising velocity, and polymer can also increase intensity of water films between oil droplets and lengthen coalescence time of oil droplets . Those were not in favor of settling and separation for oil droplets . The positive effects on separation were that polyacrylamide had flocculating activity and made small droplets contact each other and combine into big droplets . When polymer's molecular weight was 2.72 x 10(6), and concentration was less than 800 mg/L, polymer was in favor of oil droplets settling and separation . The prime reason for oily wastewater of polymer flooding difficult to dispose was that initial median diameters of oil droplets were small . The transverse flow oil separator can intensify oil droplets combination and shorten rising time . The locale experiments showed the separator was suitable for dealing with oily wastewater of polymer flooding. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2002 Mar, 23(2), 39 - 44 {The application of nanofiltration membrane in the concentration and separation of lincomycin wastewater}; Zhu A et al.; Two spiral nanofiltration membranes, MPS-44 (1.4 m2) and DLNF2-30 (0.24 m2), were connected in series to test the concentration process of lincomycin wastewater . Results indicated when the water inflow concentration was about 200 mg/L, the lincomycin concentration can reach 2000 mg/L after being concentrated for about 10-20 times . Such concentration can reach the demand of reuse, and the concentrating time was 60-70 h . During the concentration process, the CODCr retention was always above 80%, and the lincomycin retention was always over 90%, and the lincomycin recycle rate was over 90%. Huan Jing Ke Xue, 2002 Mar, 23(2), 113 - 6 {Recovery process of nitric acid, copper and nickel in deplating wastewater}; Liu Z et al.; The recovery process of nitric acid, copper and nickel in deplating wastewater was developed by using the combined technique of distillation, solvent extraction and precipitation . The conditions of the separation of copper and nickel by solvent extraction using P507 in kerosene and stripping copper with H2SO4 were specially investigated and the optimal parameters were determined . The results of experiment indicated that the recovery ratio of nitric acid was 97.8%, and under the optimized conditions of extraction process, concentration of original effluence ranged in 15-20 mg/mL copper, 5-10 mg/mL nickel, pH 1-2, concentration of extractant was 35% (V/V), saponification degree was 60%, phase ratio was 1:1, reaction time was 2 min, temperature ranged in 20 degrees C-25 degrees C, the one stage extraction efficiency of copper was higher than 90%, the separation ratio of copper and nickel was up to 75; copper and nickel could be completely separated by a continuous countercurrent three-stage extraction . The nickel could be recovered from the water phase by precipitating with NaOH and the recovery ratio of nickel reached up to 99.9% by controlling pH in solution within 10-11 . After these treatment, the effluent could meet the national standards of wastewater discharge. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2002, 37(4), 745 - 57 Long-term effects of municipal sewage on soils and pastures; van de Graaff RH et al.; Land application of municipal wastewater is widely practised worldwide as a means of treating wastes and obtaining a benefit from the water and nutrients by growing pastures, trees, and sometimes edible crops such as vegetables, fruit and fibre, etc . Irrigation of pastures by treated and untreated sewage near Melbourne, Australia, for more than a century has increased heavy metals concentrations in the soil, but appears not to have increased their concentrations in the herbage and in animal tissues of animals grazed on these pastures . There seem to be sound reasons why this practice may be sustainable. J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng, 2002, 37(4), 499 - 507 Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in surface sediments of Donghu Lake, Wuhan, Hubei, China; Wang H et al.; Surface sediment samples from five different sites were collected in Donghu Lake, Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China during November 2000 . Over 180 organic chemicals were detected using GC-MS controlled by a Hewlett Packard Chemstation after soxhlet extraction . Derivatives of benzene, phthalate esters, PAHs, phenols, isophorone as priority pollutants or endocrine disruptors, respectively, were detected . The concentration of organic pollutants were found to be highest at the sampling site located at Southwest Donghu Lake (Shuiguo), caused most probably by the untreated wastewater discharge, average at the southern and lowest at the northern part of the lake. J Environ Sci (China), 2002 Apr, 14(2), 250 - 4 Start-up strategies of UASB reactor for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater; Zheng P et al.; Two start-up strategies of upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor for treatment of pharmaceutical wastewater were investigated . The results showed that both of them were workable . Compared with the strategy that started up the reactor directly using chloromycetin wastewater, the strategy that started up the reactor first using mixed wastewater and then using chloromycetin wastewater could save time by 23% . When the latter strategy was adopted the development of sludge activity fluctuated more largely and its final activity was lower, but the sludge grew faster in the course of start-up. J Environ Sci (China), 2002 Apr, 14(2), 245 - 9 Addition of anaerobic tanks to an oxidation ditch system to enhance removal of phosphorus from wastewater; Liu JX et al.; The oxidation ditch has been used for many years all over the world as an economic and efficient wastewater treatment technology . It can remove COD, nitrogen and a part of phosphorus efficiently . In the experiment described, a pilot scale Pasveer oxidation ditch system has been tested to investigate the removal of phosphorus from wastewater . The experimental results showed that influent total phosphorus(TP) was removed for 35%-50% . After this, two anaerobic tanks with total volume of 11 m3 were added to the system to release phosphorus . As a result, the TP removal efficiency increased by about 20% . At an anaerobic HRT of about 6 hours, a TP removal efficiency of 71% was achieved. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol, 2002 Jul, 43(1), 11 - 8 An evaluation of the use of colonized periphyton as an indicator of wastewater impact in near-coastal areas of the Gulf of Mexico; Lewis MA et al.; Receiving water impacts of point source discharges to the Gulf of Mexico are seldom reported on indigenous flora . The objective of this research was to evaluate the ability of colonized periphyton to provide this information . Water quality and biomass and pigment concentrations of the periphyton were determined at 27 stations located above and below 8 wastewater discharges . Most physicochemical parameters and concentrations of pesticides and PCBs were either unchanged or below detection in the receiving waters, which contrasted occasional increases in concentrations of several trace metals and nutrients . The response of the periphyton was specific to the wastewater, colonization station, response parameter, and colonization period . Statistically significant differences in biomass and pigment content occurred for at least one colonization station located below each of the eight outfalls . This represented a total of 18 of the 21 stations located in wastewater-impacted areas . Phytostimulation was more common than inhibition . Ash-free dry weight increased, on average, by 181% (+/- 1 SD = 123%) and chlorophyll a increased by 356% (+/- 593%) in wastewater-impacted areas . The in situ phytostimulation paralleled the stimulatory trend observed in standardized NPDES whole effluent tests conducted with cultured microalgae for four of eight wastewaters . The use of colonized periphyton as an indicator of wastewater impact was not simple . Spatial variation in response needs consideration to ensure relevancy of the results if this assessment methodology is used for near-coastal wastewater hazard evaluations. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(7), 1814 - 24 Characteristics of metal removal using carboxylated alginic acid; Jeon C et al.; Carboxylated alginic acid prepared through oxidation reaction with potassium permanganate had a high uptake capacity of 3.1 mmol/g dry mass at pH 4 and showed higher affinity to heavy metals compared to alkaline metals (Ca2+, Mg2+) in mixed metal system . The pHzpc value of the carboxylated alginic acid was 2.31, which was lower than pHzpc (2.83) of natural alginic acid . The increased number of carboxyl groups was confirmed by IR and 13C-NMR spectrum analysis, elemental analysis and carboxyl group number count . Lead adsorption by carboxylated alginic acid is an endothermic process since binding was increased as the temperature increased . When the temperature of wastewater is higher than room temperature, carboxylated alginic acid has an advantage over general adsorbents whose uptake capacity decreases as the temperature increases . Also, lead adsorbed on carboxylated alginic acid was desorbed effectively by about 80% by nitrilotriaceticacid. Water Res, 2002 Apr, 36(7), 1783 - 93 Kinetics of adsorption of Co(II) removal from water and wastewater by ion exchange resins; Rengaraj S et al.; The capacity of ion exchange resins, IRN77 and SKN1, for removal of cobalt from aqueous solution has been investigated under different conditions namely initial solution pH, initial metal-ion concentration, and contact time . The equilibrium data obtained in this study have been found to fit both the Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms . The adsorption of Co(II) on these resins follows first-order reversible kinetics . The film diffusion of Co(II) in these ion exchange resins was shown to be the main rate limiting step . The studies showed that these cation exchange resins can be used as efficient adsorbent material for the removal of Co(II) from aqueous solutions. Water Environ Res, 2002 Mar-Apr, 74(2), 200 - 9 Empirical equations for the limiting solids flux of final clarifiers; Yuen WA; Using the solids flux theory, two quantities (i.e., the dimensionless limiting solids flux {G = kGL/v(o)} and the dimensionless underflow velocity {U = FR/(Av(o))} are introduced for a final clarifier based on the Vesilind equation of sludge zone-settling velocity (v = v(o) exp{-kX}, where X is the suspended solids concentration, v(o) and k are empirical coefficients, and GL, FR, and A are the limiting solids flux, recycle flowrate, and surface area of the settling tank, respectively) . In this paper, the dimensionless limiting solids flux is shown to be a function of the dimensionless underflow velocity only and is accurately represented by empirical equations . The limiting solids flux can, thus, be easily calculated by using the empirical equations without resorting to tedious numerical procedures . Furthermore, using the dimensionless quantities (G and U), two final clarifier equations that express the relationship among suspended solids concentration, surface area of the clarifier, recycle flowrate, and wastewater flowrate are derived . Their applications to final clarifier analysis and to determining required surface area of final clarifier are illustrated. Water Environ Res, 2002 Mar-Apr, 74(2), 170 - 6 Low-strength wastewater treatment using an anaerobic baffled reactor; Manariotis D et al.; A 14.7-L, three-chamber anaerobic baffled reactor (ABR) was used to evaluate the treatment of low-strength synthetic wastewater (chemical oxygen demand {COD} of 300 to 400 mg/L) and assess process reactivation after a prolonged period of inactivity . The reactor was inoculated with anaerobic seed and start-up was immediate . At 26 degrees C and hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 24 and 12 hours, COD removal averaged 87.2 and 91.0%, respectively, and biogas yield for methane (CH4) was 0.184 and 0.102 m3 CH4/kg COD removed, respectively . The ABR was reactivated after two years without feeding . Response was prompt and removal averaged 85.3% even during the initial 10-day period . Lowering temperature to 16 degrees C did not impair removal efficiency at HRTs of 24 and 12 hours . However, biogas release decreased by 30% and apparent COD conversion to methane dropped by 24 and 31%, respectively . At the end of the study, biomass was mostly in the bottom of the reactor and had moved from the first to the second chamber, while organic stabilization was occurring essentially in the first two chambers (56.1 and 22.4%, respectively, in terms of COD). Water Environ Res, 2002 Mar-Apr, 74(2), 149 - 58 Anaerobic digestion of aircraft deicing fluid wastes: interactions and toxicity of corrosion inhibitors and surfactants; Gruden CL et al.; Corrosion inhibitors and surfactants are present in aircraft deicing fluids (ADFs) at significant concentrations (> 1% w/w) . The purpose of this research was to study the interactions of a common nonionic surfactant with the commercially significant corrosion inhibitors used in modern ADF (4- and 5-methylbenzotriazole {MeBT}), and to determine the effects of their mixture on the conventional anaerobic digestion process . In mesophilic anaerobic microcosms codigesting wastewater solids, propylene glycol, and MeBT, increasing surfactant levels resulted in enhanced MeBT sorption on digester solids . As judged by anaerobic toxicity assays, responses from digesters containing surfactant concentrations below their critical micelle concentration (CMC) suggested that low nonionic surfactant concentrations could facilitate a reduction in the apparent toxicity of MeBT . In microcosms exposed to surfactant concentrations above their CMC, no increase in MeBT solubility was observed, and the anaerobic toxicity response corresponded to control systems not containing surfactant . Direct microscopic measurements of digesting biomass using fluorescent phylogenetic probes (fluorescent in situ hybridization) revealed that members of the domain Bacteria were more sensitive to MeBT in the presence of surfactant than were members of the domain Archaea. Water Environ Res, 2002 Mar-Apr, 74(2), 136 - 41 Removal of solids and oxygen demand from aquaculture wastewater with a constructed wetland system in the start-up phase; Lin YF et al.; A pilot-scale, constructed wetland system consisting of a free water surface (FWS) and a subsurface flow (SF) wetland operated in series was set up for treating aquaculture farm wastewater . This study examined the system start-up phenomena and evaluated its performance in removing suspended solids, algae, and chemical oxygen demand (COD) under various hydraulic loading rates (1.8 to 13.5 cm/d) . The SF wetland achieved stable effluent qualities without an adaptation period, while the FWS wetland required approximately 5 months to reach consistent removal levels for suspended solids and algae . Macrophyte density was a critical factor affecting the reduction of suspended solids and chlorophyll for the FWS wetland, but not for the SF wetland . Suspended solids removals in both of the wetlands and the combined system (47 to 86%) decreased significantly as the hydraulic loading rate increased, strongly following the first-order mass-decrease equation . Phytoplankton solids (biomass and detritus) were a primary source of suspended solids in the aquaculture wastewater . Both chlorophyll reduction (76 to 95%) and COD removal (25 to 55%) in the constructed wetland system were apparently not affected by hydraulic loading . While algae died out because of limited sunlight in both wetlands, algae detritus probably still contributed fine particles that were difficult to remove from the water by either filtering or settling out . Removed suspended solids did not result in the increase of COD and nutrients, indicating that further solids stabilization occurred in the wetland system. Appl Environ Microbiol, 2002 Jun, 68(6), 2763 - 9 Involvement of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in phosphorus removal in full-scale wastewater treatment plants; Zilles JL et al.; The participation of organisms related to Rhodocyclus in full-scale enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) was investigated . By using fluorescent in situ hybridization techniques, the communities of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in two full-scale wastewater treatment plants were estimated to represent between 13 and 18% of the total bacterial population . However, the fractions of these communities that participated in polyphosphate accumulation depended on the type of treatment process evaluated . In a University of Cape Town EBPR process, the percentage of Rhodocyclus-related cells that contained polyphosphate was about 20% of the total bacterial population, but these cells represented as much as 73% of the polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) . In an aerated-anoxic EBPR process, Rhodocyclus-related PAOs were less numerous, accounting for 6% of the total bacterial population and 26% of the total PAO population . In addition, 16S ribosomal DNA sequences 99.9% similar to the sequences of Rhodocyclus-related organisms enriched in acetate-fed bench-scale EBPR reactors were recovered from both full-scale plants . These results confirmed the involvement of Rhodocyclus-related organisms in EBPR and demonstrated their importance in full-scale processes . In addition, the results revealed a significant correlation between the type of EBPR process and the PAO community. Comp Biochem Physiol C Toxicol Pharmacol, 2002 May, 132(1), 75 - 84 Vitellogenin levels in mussel hemolymph--a suitable biomarker for the exposure to estrogens? Riffeser M, Hock B. Increased vitellogenin (vtg) levels in the blood of male fish are frequently used as an indicator of estrogenic exposure . Similar responses are expected for mussels, where the concentration of vtg-like proteins has been reported to depend on estrogens . To verify the role of hemolymph during vitellogenesis of mussels, the saltwater mussel Mytilus edulis and the freshwater mussel Anodonta cygnea were exposed to 17beta-estradiol (E2) and wastewater treatment plant effluents, known for their estrogenic potential . Gel electrophoresis did not reveal any significant induction (or repression) of plasma proteins compared to control plasma . Our results do not support the hypothesis that mussel hemolymph is a carrier of estrogen-dependent major egg-yolk precursors (vtg-like proteins) . However, additional information on a 35+/-2-kDa hemolymph protein, previously reported to bind heavy metals, was obtained by high-resolution two-dimensional electrophoresis . It was resolved in a cluster of single proteins with properties that match the characteristics of a previously reported histidine-rich glycoprotein. J Am Dent Assoc, 2002 May, 133(5), 577 - 84; quiz 623-5 Laboratory evaluation of amalgam separators; Fan PL et al.; BACKGROUND: Amalgam in dental wastewater is receiving increasing scrutiny from regulators because of national, state and local initiatives to reduce or virtually eliminate the discharge of mercury and mercury-containing items into the environment . Amalgam separators are considered to be one means of reducing the amount of amalgam that dental offices discharge into sewers . The purpose of this study was to evaluate the amalgam removal efficiency of commercially available amalgam separators and the total mercury concentration in the effluent from laboratory testing . METHODS: The authors evaluated the amalgam removal efficiency of 12 amalgam separators according to International Organization for Standardization, or ISO, Standard 11143 for Amalgam Separators . Total mercury concentration in the effluent was calculated using the mass of amalgam particles larger than 1.2 micrometers and the volume of effluent, together with U.S . Environmental Protection Agency, or EPA, Method 245.1 for amalgam particles smaller than 1.2 microm . Total dissolved mercury also was determined . RESULTS: The results show that all 12 amalgam separators exceeded the ISO 11143 requirement of 95 percent amalgam removal efficiency . Statistical differences were found in the efficiencies of the separators . Both the total mercury concentration and total dissolved mercury concentration in the effluent demonstrated large variations . CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: This laboratory evaluation shows that amalgam separators removed at least 96.09 percent of the amalgam in samples with particle-size distribution as specified in ISO 11143 . Total mercury concentration and total dissolved mercury concentration in the effluent varied widely for each amalgam separator . Additional research is needed to develop test methods to evaluate the efficiency of amalgam separators in removing small amalgam particles, colloidal amalgam particles and ionic mercury in solution. Can J Microbiol, 2002 Apr, 48(4), 305 - 10 Improved method for recovery of bacteriophage from large volumes of water using negatively charged microporous filters; Scott TM et al.; Current virus-recovery procedures using negatively charged microporous filters provide an inexpensive, reliable method for the recovery and detection of enteroviruses from water and wastewater; however, adjustment of the test samples to pH 3.5 to promote enterovirus adsorption results in significant inactivation of bacteriophage and an inability to simultaneously recover them from large volumes of water using this procedure . Procedures specifically designed for the detection of bacteriophage are currently in use but generally are only effective for small volumes of water . Positively charged filters can be used to recover both enteroviruses and bacteriophage from large volumes of water at neutral pH; however, the filters are expensive . The addition of manganese chloride to test solutions at pH 3.5 prior to filtration through negatively charged Filterite filters allowed for sampling of larger volumes of water by reducing the inactivation of bacteriophage and increasing the recovery of PRD1, MS2, and naturally isolated bacteriophage by a factor of four or five when compared with recoveries from solutions without MnCl2 . This method provides an inexpensive, reliable alternative to large-volume bacteriophage recovery procedures that use positively charged filters at neutral pH. Lett Appl Microbiol, 2002, 34(6), 407 - 12 High organic loading influences the physical characteristics of aerobic sludge granules; Moy BY et al.; AIMS: The effect of high organic loading rate (OLR) on the physical characteristics of aerobic granules was studied . METHODS AND RESULTS: Two column-type sequential aerobic sludge blanket reactors were fed with either glucose or acetate as the main carbon source, and the OLR was gradually raised from 6 to 9, 12 and 15 kg chemical oxygen demand (COD) m(-3) d(-1) . Glucose-fed granules could sustain the maximum OLR tested . At a low OLR, these granules exhibited a loose fluffy morphology dominated by filamentous bacteria . At higher OLRs, these granules became irregularly shaped, with folds, crevices and depressions . In contrast, acetate-fed granules had a compact spherical morphology at OLRs of 6 and 9 kg COD m(-3) d(-1), with better settling and strength characteristics than glucose-fed granules at similar OLRs . However, acetate-fed granules could not sustain high OLRs and disintegrated when the OLR reached 9 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) . CONSLUSIONS: The compact regular microstructure of the acetate-fed granules appeared to limit mass transfer of nutrients at an OLR of 9 kg COD m(-3) d(-1) . The looser filamentous microstructure of the glucose-fed granules and the subsequent irregular morphology delayed the onset of diffusion limitation and allowed significantly higher OLRs to be attained . SIGNIFICNACE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: High organic loading rates are possible with aerobic granules . This research would be helpful in the development of aerobic granule-based systems for high-strength wastewaters. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 May 1, 36(9), 2101 - 6 Urban wastewater treatment by a nutrient film technique system with a valuable commercial plant species (Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium Trev.); Vaillant N et al.; Urban wastewater causes rapid eutrophication of natural waters and requires treatment before discharge . This is expensive and produces huge quantities of sludge . In the European Community, it will no longer be lawful to dispose of this sludge as landfill after 2005 (European Directive 91/271/CEE of May 21, 1991) . Wastewater treatment by the Chrysanthemum cinerariaefolium plants in horizontal flow was investigated using the nutrient film technique (NFT), a widely used hydroponic system in the commercial greenhouse industry . After a 48 h plant treatment, the purification efficiency was 95%, 91%, and 99% with respect to suspended solids (SS), biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5), and chemical oxygen demand (COD), and the elimination of nutrients (total nitrogen and total phosphorus) varied between 40% and 80% . SS and thus indirectly BOD5 and COD were removed by filtration and adsorption; the solids trapped in the root systems were then decomposed and mineralized . The system with 25 plants purified 30 L of wastewater in 48 h . One-hundred people communities wastewater could be treated with a 6 m2 area of production . Pyrethrin contents and chlorophyll a fluorescence of plants grown on raw urban waters were not significantly different from those grown on a standard nutrient solution. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 May 1, 36(9), 2094 - 100 Photodegradation of a ternary iron(III)-uranium(VI)-citric acid complex; Dodge CJ et al.; The mechanisms of photodegradation of binary iron- and uranium-citrate and ternary iron-uranium-citrate complexes were elucidated . Citric acid degradation products were identified by HPLC and GC, and the metal precipitates were identified by XRD and EXAFS . Photodegradation of a binuclear iron-citrate complex occurred as a result of two one-electron oxidations of citric acid with the formation of 3-oxoglutarate and two ferrous ions . The ferrous ions were reoxidized by a photo-Fenton reaction, resulting in the precipitation of iron as two-line ferrihydrite Fe(OH)3 . The citric acid in the uranium-citrate complex underwent a two-electron oxidation to acetoacetate with the concomitant reduction of U(VI) to U(IV) . The U(IV) was subsequently photooxidized in the presence of dioxygen with precipitation of uranium as the mineral schoepite (UO3 x 2H2O) . A two-step electron reduction of two ferric ions to two ferrous ions wasthe primary mechanism for photodegradation of the ternary iron-uranium-citrate complex with oxidation of citric acid to 3-oxoglutarate; reduction of uranium was not observed . The iron precipitated as ferrihydrite and the uranyl ion as a uranyl hydroxide species . These results show the potential application of photochemical treatment of wastewater and decontamination solutions containing binary and ternary iron- and uranium-citrate complexes. Environ Sci Technol, 2002 May 1, 36(9), 1899 - 906 Cross-shelf transport at Huntington Beach . Implications for the fate of sewage discharged through an offshore ocean outfall; Boehm AB et al.; In this study, we evaluate the potential for internal tides to transport wastewater effluent from the Orange County Sanitation District (OCSD) ocean outfall toward Huntington Beach . Results of plume tracking studies show that OCSD effluent occasionally moves shoreward into water less than 20 m deep . Analyses of current and temperature observations indicate cold water is regularly advected cross-shelf, in to and out of the nearshore, at both semi-diurnal and diurnal frequencies . Isotherms typically associated with the waste field near the outfall are observed just outside the Huntington Beach surf zone, where the total depth is less than 6 m, highlighting the extent of the cross-shelf transport . This advection is attributed to a mode 1 internal motion, or internal tide . On the basis of the analyses presented here, the OCSD plume cannot be ruled out as a contributor to poor bathing-water quality at Huntington Beach. J Environ Qual, 2002 May-Jun, 31(3), 917 - 25 Nitrogen contamination in the Yellow River basin of China; Xia X et al.; Nitrogen contamination is one of the most serious problems in the Yellow River of China . This study was conducted to analyze monitoring data on nitrogen contamination for the Yellow River basin in the years 1980, 1990, 1997, and 1999 . Several significant results have arisen from the study . First, in conjunction with an increase in economic indexes from the Yellow River's upper basin to its lower basin, the nitrogen concentration in the tributaries also showed an increasing trend from the upper to the lower basin, which, in turn, led to an increase in the nitrogen concentration of the mainstream from the upper to the lower reaches . Second, nitrogen in the river water in the mainstream and the tributaries of the Yellow River was attributed mainly to point sources . In spite of the fact that the ratio of point to nonpoint sources decreased from 2.7 in 1990 to 1.8 in 1997 for total inorganic nitrogen in river water at the Tongguan Station in the lower basin, point sources increased more than nonpoint sources . Third, the ammonium nitrogen and total inorganic nitrogen content of the river water increased significantly in the mainstream and the tributaries during the 1980-1999 period, a change caused by an increase in wastewater discharge and nitrogenous fertilizer application in the Yellow River catchment. J Environ Qual, 2002 May-Jun, 31(3), 896 - 903 Modeling the fate of benzo{a}pyrene in the wastewater-irrigated areas of Tianjin with a fugacity model; Wang XL et al.; A Level III fugacity model was applied to characterize the transfer processes and environmental fate of benzo{a}pyrene in wastewater-irrigated areas of Tianjin, China . The physical-chemical properties and transfer parameters of benzo{a}pyrene were used in the model an