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[Mechanisms of removing red tide organisms by organo-clays].

We tested the influence of the preparation conditions of the quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) modified clays on their capacities to remove red tide organisms, then discussed the mechanisms of the organo-clays removing red tide organisms. Hexadecyltrimethylammonium (HDTMA) improved the capacity of clays to flocculate red tide algae, and the HDTMA in metastable state enhanced the toxicity of the clay complexes to algae. The capacities of the organo-clays correlated with the toxicity and the adsorbed amount of the QACs used in clays modification, but as the incubation time was prolonged the stability of the organo-clays was improved and the algal removal efficiencies of the clay complexes decreased. When the adsorbed HDTMA was arranged in different clays in which the spatial resistance was different, there was more HDTMA in metastable state in the three-layer montmorillonite. Because of the homo-ion effect the bivalent or trivalent metal ions induced more HDTMA in metastable state and the corresponding organo-clays had high capacities to remove red tide organisms. When the reaction temperature was 60 degrees C the adsorbed HDTMA was easily arranged on cation exchange sites, if the temperature rose or fell the metastable HDTMA would increase so that the capacity of the clays was improved.

Adsorption↗

Application of rheology for assessment and prediction of the long-term physical stability of emulsions.

This review deals with the use of rheology for assessment and prediction of the long-term physical stability of emulsions. It starts with an introduction, highlighting the importance of having accelerated test to predict emulsion stability. This is followed by a section on the stability/instability of emulsion systems, giving a brief summary of the driving force of each instability process and its prevention. The classical techniques that can be applied for assessment of creaming or sedimentation, flocculation, Ostwald ripening, coalescence and phase inversion are briefly described. This is followed by several sections on the application of rheological techniques to assess and predict each of these instabilities. This involves the use of steady state shear stress-shear rate measurements, constant stress (creep) measurements and dynamic (oscillatory) techniques. The last section gives an example of model emulsions to illustrate the correlation between the various break-down processes with the rheological characteristics of the system.

Journal Article↗

Functional and structural successions in arbitrary samples of heterotrophic bacteria during aerobic treatments of lignite-carbonization wastewater in in situ enclosures.

In situ mesocosm experiments were performed in Lake Schwelvollert (located in the district of Weissenfels, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany), an anaerobic lignite-carbonization effluent lake containing phenolic compounds and their autoxidation products (anthropogenic humic matter). In the aeration enclosure, the anaerobic Schwelvollert wastewater was aerated and in the flocculation enclosure, it was flocculated to precipitate the oxygen-trapping anthropogenic humic matter to enhance the input of oxygen by diffusion. To gain an insight into the metabolic state of the aerobic heterotrophic microbiota during the treatments, arbitrary samples of bacterial isolates were taken from a general agar medium and tested for their abilities to cleave predominant phenolic contaminants by a procedure called the isolate sample assay. In this way, successions of degradation potentials were observed in both mesocosms, with degradation abilities for meta- and para-alkylated phenols appearing before degradation abilities for ortho-substituted phenols as a common phenomenon. To examine the structure of samples, the respective isolates were characterized using the Biolog GN MicroPlate system, the random amplified polymorphic DNA nucleic acid (RAPD) fingerprinting technique, and amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Although similar functional patterns occurred in both mesocosms, the compositions and diversities of the respective bacterial communities varied significantly, even at different depths from the same enclosure, with members of the Pseudomonas RNA group I being predominant.

Aerobiosis↗

Axonal growth and glial migration from co-cultured hippocampal and septal slices into fibrin-fibronectin-containing matrix of peripheral regeneration chambers: a light and electron microscope study.

In order to investigate whether a fibrin-fibronectin-containing matrix of a peripheral regeneration chamber could promote the growth of central nervous system neurons, hippocampal and septal slices were co-cultured in the presence of this acellular substrate. In introducing the peripheral matrix into a 2-mm-long tube between hippocampal and septal slices, a spatio-temporal sequence of cell migration and axonal growth was described by light and electron microscopy. Axons were able to elongate directly into the flocculent material constituting the matrix and a possible neurite-promoting activity was implicated in this process as axonal growth was not detected in direct contact with rat plasma coagulated with calcium, or chicken plasma coagulated with thrombin, used as control matrices. However, in the 3 different substrates tested, astrocytes were able to migrate and dilated astroglial processes containing intermediate filaments were detected. Axonal processes were observed growing on the glial cell surface. GFAP-positive phagocytic cells, that could be of the same origin as astrocytes, were involved in matrix removing. Neuronal growth and glial migration arose from hippocampal and septum slices and acetylcholinesterase-containing fibers were seen in the bridging structure suggesting that cholinergic axons were able to progress to the hippocampal slice. This technique appeared to provide a model in which axonal growth and cell migration can be studied 'in vitro' in a 3-dimensional environment.

Acetylcholinesterase↗

The effect of phenol on the electrolyte flocculation of certain polymeric dispersions to thixotropic gels.

Aqueous dispersions of an acrylate-methacrylate, a water-insoluble copolymer, were prepared by a coacervation technique. Addition of sodium chloride (0.2 M) to the dispersion (10%, w/v) converted the system to a thixotropic gel which turns fluid on shaking and reverts to gel on standing. Phenol (0.03 M) inhibited the gelling effect of the electrolyte. Among the various phenolic compounds tested, phenol displayed the strongest and chlorocresol the weakest antigelling property. Sodium chloride reduced the electropotentials (index of particle-particle repulsiveness) of the polymer dispersions, while phenol increased the potentials. It is thought that the phenol solution acted as a dielectric which increased the interparticle repulsive potential, hence its antiflocculant effect.

Electrochemistry↗

Numerical simulation and experimental verification of particle coagulation dynamics for a pulsed input.

Mathematical simulation of particle coagulation dynamics was carried out using improved sectional modeling techniques for a system with a pulsed input of primary particles. The methodological improvement included the modification of the size density function based on a realistic assumption of particle size distributions, the application of a new and comprehensive curvilinear collision model, and special adjustment for the mass transfer of a doublet of particles that were very different in size. The simulation results demonstrated that the rectilinear model over-predicted the rate of particle coagulation and that the degree of over-prediction increased as the particles increased in size and the system became more heterogeneous. The coagulation rate increased remarkably as the fractal dimension of the particle aggregates decreased. The curvilinear model and the fractal scaling relationship in place of the rectilinear model and the Euclidean sizing geometry are two important modifications to the conventional Smoluchowski modeling approach. However, both modifications, rather than only one of them, should be applied together to produce more accurate and realistic simulations of coagulation dynamics. As indicated by the simulation, the importance of fluid shear rate to particle coagulation is reduced according to the curvilinear model compared to that previously described with the rectilinear model. As particles increased in size, the role of shear rate in coagulation became even less significant according to the curvilinear view of particle collisions. The results of numerical simulations in terms of the evolution of particle size distributions compared reasonably well with the observations of the jar-test coagulation experiments, which suggested the applicability of the modeling system, including the modified curvilinear-fractal approach, established in the present study.

Computer Simulation↗

Comparison of methods for rotavirus detection in water and results of a survey of Jerusalem wastewater.

Methods for the detection of viable rotaviruses and rotavirus antigen in water were developed and compared. The methods included laboratory-developed enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) with chromogenic and luminescent substrates, commercial Rotazyme and Enzygnost ELISAs, and an indirect immunofluorescent assay. Of the methods tested, the immunofluorescent assay and the Enzygnost ELISA were the most sensitive for the simian rotavirus SA-11. All of the methods were positive for human rotavirus from clinical specimens. Seeded SA-11 rotavirus was concentrated from water by absorption to and elution from Zeta Plus filters followed by organic flocculation. Interference with the assays by components of the wastewater concentrates was minimal for the ELISAs, although the undiluted organic flocs were cytotoxic for the immunofluorescent assay. A survey of Jerusalem wastewater was carried out over the course of 1 year, and samples were assayed for rotaviruses and enteroviruses. Although enteroviruses were found in almost all of the samples, all samples were negative for rotaviruses. The concentration of rotaviruses in the wastewater was thus below the detection limit of the method used.

Antigens, Viral↗

Alternate interactions of the D-galactose-specific yeast lectin Kb-CWL I with sensitive yeast strains.

In vitro growth assays with a purified D-galactose-specific lectin Kb-CWL I extracted from Kluyveromyces bulgaricus showed marked antifungal effects on 9 of 12 test strains belonging to the genera Kluyveromyces, Saccharomyces, Pichia, Candida, Rhodotorula and Schizosaccharomyces. The inhibition of growth was proportional to the lectin concentration (0.04 and 0.08 mg ml-1) in the culture medium. Under the test conditions, K. bulgaricus, K. lactis and S. bayanus were consistently agglutinated without growth inhibition. D-Galactose, the inhibitory sugar of the cell aggregation activity, did not abolish the antifungal effects of the lectin Kb-CWL I on other yeast strains tested. In C. albicans and C. tropicalis, the lectin influenced the dimorphism of these strains and stimulated germ tube formation.

Antifungal Agents↗

Approach to a two-step process of dye wastewater containing acid red B.

The treatment of simulated wastewater containing Acid Scarlet BS was tested with a two-step process that the pretreatment of Fe(II)-mediated decolorization was followed by the electrochemical oxidation with a three-phase three-dimensional electrodes. The experimental results showed that the decolorization mechanism was reductive destruction for the azo group of the dye molecular rather than flocculation or absorption and that the three-phase three-dimensional electrode can effectively reduce COD in the decolorized wastewater simultaneously by several mechanisms such as absorption, air-oxidation, anodic oxidation, cathodic electrogenerated H2O2 and so on. It was also observed that COD for the decolorized wastewater was easier removed as compared with the original dye wastewater, implying that the first and second stage act synergistically to destroy the organic pollutants.

Absorption↗

Polymer conditioning of alum sludge and discrepancies between estimates of the optimum dosage.

The paper outlines the effects of polymer conditioning on alum sludge properties, such as floc size, density, fractal dimension (DF) and rheological properties. Experimental results demonstrate that polymer conditioning of alum sludge leads to: larger floc size with a plateau reached in higher doses; higher densities associated with higher doses; increased degree of compactness; and an initial decrease followed by an increase of supernatant viscosity with continued increase in polymer dose. The secondary focus of this paper dwells on a comparison of the estimates of optimum dose using different criteria that emanate from established dewatering tests such as CST, SRF, liquid phase viscosity and modified SRF as well as a simple settlement test in terms of CML30. Alum sludge was derived from a water works treating coloured, low-turbidity raw waters.

Alum Compounds↗

Properties of flocs produced by water treatment coagulants.

Hydrolyzing coagulants are extensively used in water and wastewater treatment, often under conditions where hydroxide precipitation is important, giving "sweep flocculation". Pre-hydrolyzed coagulants, such as polyaluminium chloride (PACl) are also widely used and have several advantages over traditional additives, such as aluminium sulfate. Their action is usually discussed in terms of cationic species and charge neutralization. However, precipitation may also be important and this aspect has not been considered in detail. The present work has compared the action of alum and three commercial PACl products on model clay suspensions. The conventional jar test procedure has been used, along with measurements of settled floc volume and dynamic monitoring of floc formation and break-up by an optical technique. The latter method gives very useful information on the nature of the flocs produced and their response to different shear conditions. It is clear from the results that the PACl products form larger and stronger flocs than alum. With all coagulants floc breakage appears to be essentially irreversible. Sediment volumes are slightly lower for flocs produced by PACl than by alum, but the value is proportional to the dosage in all cases.

Alum Compounds↗

Capture of water-borne colloids in granular beds using external electric fields: improving removal of Cryptosporidium parvum.

Suboptimal coagulation in water treatment plants often results in reduced removal efficiency of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts by several orders of magnitude (J. AWWA 94(6) (2002) 97, J. AWWA 93(12) (2001) 64). The effect of external electric field on removal of C. parvum oocysts in packed granular beds was studied experimentally. A cylindrical configuration of electrodes, with granular media in the annular space was used. A negative DC potential was applied to the central electrode. No coagulants or flocculants were used and filtration was performed with and without application of an electric field to obtain improvement in removal efficiency. Results indicate that removal of C. parvum increased from 10% to 70% due to application of field in fine sand media and from 30% to 96% in MAGCHEM media. All other test particles (Kaolin and polystyrene latex microspheres) used in the study also exhibited increased removal in the presence of an electric field. Single collector efficiencies were also computed using approximate trajectory analysis, modified to account for the applied external electric field. The results of these calculations were used to qualitatively explain the trends in the experimental observations.

Animals↗

Coagulation/flocculation process and sludge conditioning in beverage industrial wastewater treatment.

Attempts were made in this study to examine the effectiveness of coagulation and flocculation process using ferric chloride and polyelectrolyte (non-ionic polyacrylamide) for the treatment of beverage industrial wastewater. Removal of organic matter (expressed as chemical oxygen demand, COD), total phosphorus (TP) and total suspended solid (TSS) using ferric chloride and organic polyelectrolyte during coagulation/flocculation process were investigated. Also, the optimum conditions for coagulation/flocculation process, such as coagulant dosage, polyelectrolyte dosage, and pH of solution were investigated using jar-test experiment. The effect of different dosages of polyelectrolyte in combination with coagulant was also studied. The results revealed that in the range of pH tested, the optimal operating pH was 9. Percentage removals of 73, 95 and 97 for COD, TP and TSS, respectively, were achieved by the addition of 300mg/L FeCl(3).6H(2)O, whereas 91, 99 and 97% removal of COD, TP and TSS, respectively, were achieved with the addition of 25mg/L polyelectrolyte to 100mg/L ferric chloride. The volume of sludge produced, when ferric chloride was used solely, was higher compared to the use of combination of polyelectrolyte and FeCl(3).6H(2)0. The combined use of coagulant and polyelectrolyte resulted in the production of sludge volume with reduction of 60% of the amount produced, when coagulant was solely used for the treatment. It can be concluded from this study that coagulation/flocculation may be a useful pre-treatment process for beverage industrial wastewater prior to biological treatment.

Acrylic Resins↗

Size analysis of industrial carbon blacks by sedimentation and flow field-flow fractionation.

Carbon black is one of the most useful particulate materials in the industrial field. Among the various physical properties of carbon black, size and size distribution are the most important properties to affect the quality of a final product. However, it is difficult to measure the exact particle size of carbon black since it suffers unavoidable interference from flocculation. In this study, the effects of various factors on the dispersion of industrial carbon blacks were investigated for the determination of size and size distribution of carbon black particles. Sedimentation and flow field-flow fractionations (FIFFF) were used to determine the size of carbon black, and their optimum analytical conditions were tested by changing surfactant, pH, ionic strength, and method of dispersion. The results showed that surfactant structure and its concentration played significant roles in dispersion stability. Carbon black was dispersed well with a nonionic surfactant with a pH of around 8 and an ionic strength of 0.003 M. The mean diameters measured from two types of FFF and photon correlation spectroscopy are in good agreement. This study demonstrates the potential of sedimentation and flow FFF for analyzing highly adsorptive industrial particles and guides for sample preparation.

Journal Article↗

Evaluating factors affecting the permeability of emulsions used to stabilize radioactive contamination from a radiological dispersal device.

Present strategies for alleviating radioactive contamination from a radiological dispersal device (RDD) or dirty bomb involve either demolishing and removing radioactive surfaces or abandoning portions of the area near the release point. In both cases, it is imperative to eliminate or reduce migration of the radioisotopes until the cleanup is complete or until the radiation has decayed back to acceptable levels. This research investigated an alternative strategy of using emulsions to stabilize radioactive particulate contamination. Emergency response personnel would coat surfaces with emulsions consisting of asphalt or tall oil pitch to prevent migration of contamination. The site can then be evaluated and cleaned up as needed. In order for this approach to be effective, the treatment must eliminate migration of the radioactive agents in the terror device. Water application is an environmental condition that could promote migration into the external environment. This research investigated the potential for water, and correspondingly contaminant, migration through two emulsions consisting of Topein, a resinous byproduct during paper manufacture. Topein C is an asphaltic-based emulsion and Topein S is a tall oil pitch, nonionic emulsion. Experiments included water adsorption/ mobilization studies, filtration tests, and image analysis of photomicrographs from an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) and a stereomicroscope. Both emulsions were effective at reducing water migration. Conductivity estimates were on the order of 10(-80) cm s(-1) for Topein C and 10(-7) cm s(-1) for Topein S. Water mobility depended on emulsion flocculation and coalescence time. Photomicrographs indicate that Topein S consisted of greater and more interconnected porosity. Dilute foams of isolated spherical gas cells formed when emulsions were applied to basic surfaces. Gas cells rose to the surface and ruptured, leaving void spaces that penetrated throughout the emulsion. These experiments indicate that emulsions may be a viable means for containing RDD residuals; however, improvements are needed for optimal performance.

Adsorption↗

Flocculant and chemical properties of a polysaccharide from Pullularia pullulans.

An extracellular polysaccharide, PP-floc, was synthesized from glucose by Pullularia pullulans (or Aureobasidium pullulans) in a pilot plant batch fermentor containing 175 liters of culture medium. At 58 h of fermentation, the concentration of PP-floc was 1.03 g/100 ml, giving a 25.8% conversion of initial glucose to polysaccharide. The flocculant activity of the culture medium increased during the fermentation process and reached its maximum at 50 h of culture age. Less PP-floc (0.33 lb/ton of slimes [approximately 149.7 g/0.907 t]) was required to give the same flocculant activity as a synthetic polymer of acrylamide, Separan NP-10 (0.5 lb/ton of slimes [approximately 226.8 g/0.907 t]), at all temperatures from 25 to 100 C. The degree of inactivation of PP-floc and Separan NP-10 at elevated temperatures was almost identical, and they were completely inactivated at about the same temperature (80 C). PP-floc also gave better compaction of slimes than Separan NP-10 at all temperatures tested. PP-floc was soluble in water and its specific optical rotation was [alpha](D) (25) + 194 degrees in water (c, 0.4). PP-floc contained 83.3% carbohydrate, 3.2% protein, and 8.1% water. Glucose was found to be the principal sugar monomer with traces (>5%) of galactose and mannose present. Structural studies on the fractions of purified polysaccharide by methylation and by periodate oxidation techniques prove that PP-floc is linear and composed of alpha-(1 --> 4) and alpha-(1 --> 6) glucopyranosyl units in the approximate ratio of 2:1. The action of pullulanase on crude PP-floc suggested the ordered arrangement of two consecutive alpha-(1 --> 4)-linked glucopyranosyl units flanked by alpha-(1 --> 6)-linked glucopyranose residues.

Carbohydrates↗

Development of environmentally superior treatment system to replace anaerobic swine lagoons in the USA.

A full-scale treatment system for swine manure was developed to eliminate discharge to surface and ground waters and contamination of soil and groundwater by nutrients and heavy metals, along with related release of ammonia, odor, and pathogens. The system greatly increased the efficiency of liquid-solid separation by polymer injection to increase solids flocculation. Nitrogen management to reduce ammonia emissions was accomplished by passing the liquid through a module where bacteria transformed ammonia into harmless nitrogen gas. Subsequent alkaline treatment of the wastewater in a phosphorus module precipitated phosphorus and killed pathogens. Treated wastewater was recycled to clean swine houses and for crop irrigation. The system was tested during one year in a 4400-head finishing farm as part of the Agreement between the Attorney General of North Carolina and swine producers Smithfield Foods, Premium Standard Farms and Frontline Farmers to replace traditional waste treatment anaerobic lagoons with environmentally superior technology. The on-farm system removed 97.6% of the suspended solids, 99.7% of BOD, 98.5% of TKN, 98.7% of soluble ammonia (NH(4)(+)-N), 95.0% of total P, 98.7% of copper and 99.0% of zinc. It also removed 97.9% of odor compounds in the liquid and reduced pathogen indicators to non-detectable levels. Based on performance obtained, it was determined that the treatment system met the Agreement's technical performance standards that define an environmentally superior technology. These findings overall showed that cleaner alternative technologies are technically and operationally feasible and that they can have significant positive impacts on the environment and the livestock industry.

Agriculture↗