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Alamin M, Hara-Yamamura H, Hata A, Zhao B, Ihara M, Tanaka H, Watanabe T, Honda R. Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 by biological nutrient removal and disinfection processes in full-scale wastewater treatment plants. Sci Total Environ 2023; 895:165097. [PMID: 37356766 PMCID: PMC10290167 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.165097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2023] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/27/2023]
Abstract
Detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater poses people's concerns regarding the potential risk in water bodies receiving wastewater treatment effluent, despite the infectious risk of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater being speculated to be low. Unlike well-studied nonenveloped viruses, SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is present abundantly in both solid and liquid fractions of wastewater. Reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in past studies were likely underestimated, as SARS-CoV-2 in influent wastewater were quantified in either solid or liquid fraction only. The objectives of this study were (i) to clarify the reduction in SARS-CoV-2 RNA during biological nutrient removal and disinfection processes in full-scale WWTPs, considering the SARS-CoV-2 present in both solid and liquid fractions of wastewater, and (ii) to evaluate applicability of pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) as a performance indicator for reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs. Accordingly, large amount of SARS-CoV-2 RNA were partitioned in the solid fraction of influent wastewater for composite sampling than grab sampling. When SARS-CoV-2 RNA in the both solid and liquid fractions were considered, log reduction values (LRVs) of SARS-CoV-2 during step-feed multistage biological nitrogen removal (SM-BNR) and enhanced biological phosphorus removal (EBPR) processes ranged between>2.1-4.4 log and did not differ significantly from those in conventional activated sludge (CAS). The LRVs of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in disinfection processes by ozonation and chlorination did not differ significantly. PMMoV is a promising performance indicator to secure reduction of SARS-CoV-2 in WWTPs, because of its higher persistence in wastewater treatment processes and abundance at a detectable concentration even in the final effluent after disinfection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md Alamin
- Graduate School of Natural Science and Technology, Kanazawa University, Japan
| | | | - Akihiko Hata
- Department of Environmental and Civil Engineering, Toyama Prefectural University, Japan
| | - Bo Zhao
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan; College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China
| | - Masaru Ihara
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan; Faculty of Agriculture and Marine Science, Kochi University, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Tanaka
- Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan
| | | | - Ryo Honda
- Faculty of Geosciences and Civil Engineering, Kanazawa University, Japan; Research Center for Environmental Quality Management, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Japan.
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Shi C, Zeng RG, Hao LT, Hao XD, Li J. Extracting compositional blocks of alginate-like extracellular polymers (ALE) from conventional activated sludge (CAS). Sci Total Environ 2023; 867:161371. [PMID: 36610622 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.161371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2022] [Revised: 12/29/2022] [Accepted: 12/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
As a highly added value material, alginate-like extracellular polymers (ALE) can be extracted from extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) from aerobic granular sludge (AGS). In fact, conventional activated sludge (CAS) also contains a certain amount of ALE. As CAS is widely used everywhere, waste activated sludge (WAS) from CAS is huge in its absolute amount. Although the ALE property of CAS was identified not so good as that from AGS, the mechanisms remains unclear. For this reason, it is necessary to unravel the chemically compositional blocks of ALE. Referring to natural alginate, ALE can be separated into three compositional blocks: GGL, GML and MML (like units containing guluronate or mannuronate), associated with other compositions including protein (PN), polysaccharide (PS), phosphorus (P), humic acid (HA). With real WAS from CAS, ALE was extracted and three blocks were separated: GGL = 54 %, GML = 42 % and MML = 4 % in weight, which is similar to the previous study. Moreover, the GGL blocks in CAS were obviously lower than AGS, down to by 1/3-1/2. And the GML and MML blocks in CAS were much higher than AGS, by more than 1/2. Different compositional blocks of ALE in AGS and CAS should be the reason forming different properties in applications. For this reason, a further study will be initiated to dispense/reorganize three blocks of ALE from CAS for expanding its potential applications, based on the compositional blocks of ALE from AGS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Shi
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Run-Gen Zeng
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Li-Ting Hao
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Xiao-Di Hao
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China.
| | - Ji Li
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies, Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
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Hang Z, Li Z, Zhu Y, Zhang J, Yang F, Zhang T. A new approach to evaluate and improve the stability of aerobic sludge systems based on maintenance coefficient. J Environ Manage 2021; 296:113192. [PMID: 34252857 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Stability is a key issue of wastewater treatment plants using either aerobic granular (AGS) or conventional activated sludge (CAS). The two forms of aerobic sludge were cultivated under different conditions to study the main factors affecting their stability. It was found that maintenance coefficient (m) describing the fraction of non-growth energy of granules increased significantly when the system became more stable during processes with the enhancement of granulation and the periodic short-term shock load. The yield coefficient (YH) was the main factor affecting the m value, and the inhibition in YH value was able to promote the maintenance potential according to the kinetic equation. Therefore, strategies that promote the maintenance coefficient could be applied to improve the stability of sludge systems, including inhibiting the yield rate and taking periodic short-term shock. Evaluation of stability based on the maintenance coefficient is a promising tool for ensuring the stable operation of wastewater treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhenyu Hang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Zhihua Li
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China.
| | - Yuanmo Zhu
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Key Laboratory of Northwest Water Resource, Environment and Ecology, MOE, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China; Shaanxi Key Laboratory of Environmental Engineering, Xi'an University of Architecture and Technology, Xi'an, 710055, China
| | - Tianyu Zhang
- Department of Mathematical Sciences, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717-2400, USA
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Li J, Hao X, Gan W, van Loosdrecht MCM, Wu Y. Recovery of extracellular biopolymers from conventional activated sludge: Potential, characteristics and limitation. Water Res 2021; 205:117706. [PMID: 34600231 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2021.117706] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 09/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) are biopolymers that can be recovered from excess sludge, which could contribute to a more sustainable wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) operation. An example is alginate like extracellular polymers (ALE) contained in the biopolymers could be a potential resource with a highly-added value. EPS extraction for ALE from aerobic granules sludge (AGS) has already been well studied and applied in the Netherlands. On the other hand, there is little attention to the recovery of biopolymers from conventional activated sludge (CAS). In this study, flocculent sludge from eight CAS-WWTPs in China was collected and their EPS/biopolymers were extracted to investigate their recovery potential, chemical & physical properties and limiting factors. The results revealed that the biopolymers extracted and purified from CAS ranged from 90 to 190 mg/g VSS. The compositional characteristics of the biopolymers were observed by FT-IR, 3D-EEM and UV-Visible spectra, demonstrating some differences in the composition and property of the biopolymers from the different WWTPs. The biopolymers had a similarity of about 60% to a commercial alginate with respect to chemical functional groups and the alginate equivalent was >400 mg/g biopolymers. Moreover, the biopolymers consisted of poly (guluronic acid) blocks (20%-30%) and poly (guluronic acid-mannuronic acid) blocks (8%-28%), and the ionic hydrogel formation tests indicated that condensed beads were immediately formed once the drops of the biopolymers came in contact with CaCl2 solution. These results demonstrated that the biopolymers extracted had a relatively high gel-forming capacity and might also have a potential application as commercial biopolymers. Furthermore, the factors influencing the biopolymers' formation such as influent substrate, nutrient content and microbial community and the related mechanisms were investigated. Among them, increasing soluble organics (SCOD) content and low nutrient content (C/N/P) in the influent could promote the biopolymers' formation. Also, different bacteria in BNR processes might have positive or negative effects on the biopolymers' formation. In conclusion, the diversity and abundance of bacteria were identified to be a crucial and decisive factor controlling biopolymers' extraction and composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ji Li
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Xiaodi Hao
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Wei Gan
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
| | - Mark C M van Loosdrecht
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China; Dept. of Biotechnology, Delft University of Technology, van der Maasweg 9, 2629 HZ Delft, the Netherlands
| | - Yuanyuan Wu
- Sino-Dutch R&D Centre for Future Wastewater Treatment Technologies/Beijing Advanced Innovation Centre of Future Urban Design, Beijing University of Civil Engineering & Architecture, Beijing 100044, PR China
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Karaolia P, Vasileiadis S, G Michael S, G Karpouzas D, Fatta-Kassinos D. Shotgun metagenomics assessment of the resistome, mobilome, pathogen dynamics and their ecological control modes in full-scale urban wastewater treatment plants. J Hazard Mater 2021; 418:126387. [PMID: 34329002 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.126387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2021] [Revised: 06/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 05/28/2023]
Abstract
The conventional activated sludge (CAS) process has limited capacity to remove pathogenic microorganisms and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), compared to membrane bioreactors (MBRs). However, the full extent of pathogenic microbial fraction, resistome (antibiotic and biocide resistance genes, ARGs and BRGs) and mobilome (mobile genetic elements, MGE) of urban wastewater treatment plant (UWTP) influents and effluents remains unknown. Thus, the fate of putative pathogenic bacteria, ARGs and potential co-occurrence patterns with BRGs, MGEs and bacterial-predatory microorganisms was determined in two full-scale UWTPs, a MBR and a CAS system, using shotgun metagenomics. Both UWTPs significantly reduced the BOD5 (99.4-99.9%), COD (97.6-99.4%) and TSS (98.9-99.9%). MBR was more effective in reducing the abundance and diversity of pathogen-containing taxa, with 4 and 30 taxa enriched in MBR and CAS effluents, respectively. MBR treatment favored resistance genes associated with triclosan, whereas CAS effluents contained ARGs associated with antibiotics of clinical importance. Correlations between putative pathogenic bacteria, ARG/BRGs/MGEs and bacterial-predatory microorganisms suggested that: (i) opportunistic pathogens (Clostridia, Nocardia) may acquire ARGs against first-line treatments and (ii) bacteriophages may act as a biogenic mechanism of pathogen removal. These findings reinforce the MBR capacity to retain pathogenic components, hence reducing potential health risks associated with treated wastewater reuse.
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Affiliation(s)
- Popi Karaolia
- Nireas-International Water Research Centre, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia, CY 1678, Cyprus
| | - Sotirios Vasileiadis
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis Campus, Larissa, GR 41500, Greece
| | - Stella G Michael
- Nireas-International Water Research Centre, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia, CY 1678, Cyprus; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia, CY 1678, Cyprus
| | - Dimitrios G Karpouzas
- Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Laboratory of Plant and Environmental Biotechnology, University of Thessaly, Viopolis Campus, Larissa, GR 41500, Greece.
| | - Despo Fatta-Kassinos
- Nireas-International Water Research Centre, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia, CY 1678, Cyprus; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Cyprus, P.O. Box 20537, Nicosia, CY 1678, Cyprus.
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Tran NH, Gin KYH. Occurrence and removal of pharmaceuticals, hormones, personal care products, and endocrine disrupters in a full-scale water reclamation plant. Sci Total Environ 2017; 599-600:1503-1516. [PMID: 28531959 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.05.097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2017] [Revised: 05/11/2017] [Accepted: 05/11/2017] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
This study provided the first comprehensive data on the occurrence and removal of twenty-five target emerging contaminants (ECs) in a full-scale water reclamation plant (WRP) in the Southeast Asian region. Nineteen out of the twenty-five ECs were ubiquitously detected in raw influent samples. Concentrations of the detected ECs in raw influent samples ranged substantially from 44.3 to 124,966ng/L, depending upon the compound and sampling date. The elimination of ECs in full-scale conventional activated sludge (CAS) and membrane bioreactor (MBR) systems at a local WRP was evaluated and compared. Several ECs, such as acetaminophen, atenolol, fenoprofen, indomethacin, ibuprofen, and oxybenzone, exhibited excellent removal efficiencies (>90%) in biological wastewater treatment processes, while some of the investigated compounds (carbamazepine, crotamiton, diclofenac, and iopamidol) appeared to be persistent in the both CAS and MBR systems. Field-based monitoring results showed that MBR outperformed CAS in the elimination of most target ECs. The relationship between molecular characteristics of ECs (i.e. physicochemical properties and structural features) and their removal efficiencies during biological wastewater treatment was also elucidated. Excellent removal efficiencies (>90%) were often noted for ECs with the sole presence of electron donating groups (i.e. phenolic [OH], amine [NH2], methoxy [OCH3], phenoxy [OC6H5], or alkyl groups). Conversely, ECs with the absence of electron donating groups or the predominance of strong electron withdrawing groups (e.g. halogenated, carbonyl, carboxyl, and sulfonamide) tended to show poor removal efficiencies (<30%) in biological wastewater treatment processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Han Tran
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, #02-01, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore.
| | - Karina Yew-Hoong Gin
- NUS Environmental Research Institute, National University of Singapore, T-Lab Building, #02-01, 5A Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117411, Singapore; Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Singapore, 1 Engineering Drive 2, Singapore 117576, Singapore.
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