Insights into multisource sludge distributed in the Yangtze River basin, China: Characteristics,correlation, treatment and disposal

Sludge is the by-product of wastewater treatment process. Multisource sludge can be defined as sludge from different sources. Based on the sludge properties of five typical cities in the Yangtze River basin, including Jiujiang, Wuhu, Lu’an, Zhenjiang and Wuhan, this study investigated and summarized the characteristic variations and distribution differences of multiple indicators and substances from municipal sludge, dredged sludge, and river and lake sediments. The results demonstrated pH of multisource sludge was relatively stable in the neutral range. Organic matter and water content among municipal sludge were high and varied considerably between different wastewater treatment plants. Dredged sludge had an obviously higher sand content and wider particle distribution, which could be considered for graded utilization depending on its size. The nutrients composition of river and lake sediments was usually stable and special, with lower nitrogen and phosphorus content but higher potassium levels. The sources of heavy metals and persistent organic pollutants in multisource sludge were correlated, generally much higher among municipal sludge than dredged sludge and river and lake sediments, which were the most important limitation for final land utilization. Despite various properties of multisource sludge, the final fate and destination have some overall similarities, which need to be supplemented and improved by standards and laws. The study provided a preliminary analysis of suitable technical routes for municipal sludge, dredged sludge, river and lake sediments based on their different characteristics respectively, which was of great significance for multisource sludge co-treatment and disposal in the future of China.

Whole-genome Sequencing Reveals Autooctoploidy in Chinese Sturgeon and Its Evolutionary Trajectories

The order Acipenseriformes,which includes sturgeons and paddlefishes,represents“living fossils”with complex genomes that are good models for understanding whole-genome duplication(WGD)and ploidy evolution in fishes.Here,we sequenced and assembled the first high-quality chromosome-level genome for the complex octoploid Acipenser sinensis(Chinese sturgeon),a critically endangered species that also represents a poorly understood ploidy group in Acipenseriformes.Our results show that A.sinensis is a complex autooctoploid species containing four kinds of octovalents(8n),a hexavalent(6n),two tetravalents(4n),and a divalent(2n).An analysis taking into account delayed rediploidization reveals that the octoploid genome composition of Chinese sturgeon results from two rounds of homologous WGDs,and further provides insights into the timing of its ploidy evolution.This study provides the first octoploid genome resource of Acipenseriformes for understanding ploidy compositions and evolutionary trajectories of polyploid fishes.

In-situ sludge reduction based on Mn^(2+)-catalytic ozonation conditioning:Feasibility study and microbial mechanisms

To improve the sludge conditioning efficiency without increasing the ozone dose,an in-situ sludge reduction process based on Mn^(2+)-catalytic ozonation conditioning was proposed.Using ozone conditioning alone as a control,a lab-scale sequencing batch reactor coupled with ozonated sludge recycle was evaluated for its operating performance at an ozone dose of 75 mg O_(3)/g VSS and 1.5 mmol/L Mn^(2+)addition.The results showed a 39.4%reduction in MLSS and an observed sludge yield of 0.236 kg MLSS/kg COD for the O_(3)+Mn^(2+)group compared to the O_(3)group (15.3%and 0.292 kg MLSS/kg COD),accompanied by better COD,NH_(4)^(+)-N,TN and TP removal,improved effluent SS and limited impact on excess sludge properties.Subsequently,activity tests,BIOLOG ECO microplates and 16S rRNA sequencing were applied to elucidate the changing mechanisms of Mn^(2+)-catalytic ozonation related to microbial action:(1) Dehydrogenase activity reached a higher peak.(2) Microbial utilization of total carbon sources had an elevated effect,up to approximately 18%,and metabolic levels of six carbon sources were also increased,especially for sugars and amino acids most pronounced.(3) The abundance of Defluviicoccus under the phylum Proteobacteria was enhanced to 12.0%and dominated in the sludge,they had strong hydrolytic activity and metabolic capacity.Denitrifying bacteria of the genus Ferruginibacter also showed an abundance of 7.6%,they contributed to the solubilization and reduction of sludge biomass.These results could guide researchers to further reduce ozonation conditioning costs,improve sludge management and provide theoretical support.

MOF-based materials facilitate efficient anaerobic digestion of organic wastes:integrating substrate bioavailability and microbial syntrophism

Anaerobic digestion(AD)of organic waste(OW)for methane production is generally inefficient.Supplementation of AD systems with traditional materials(e.g.,electroconductive materials)is a current focus of research and has been reported to assist methanogenesis by enhancing the productivity of microbial metabolism among syntrophic anaerobes.Unlike in the AD of organic wastewater,in which microbial cells come into direct contact with the dissolved substrate,in the complex multiphase AD system of OW,low substrate bioavailability is an inevitable obstacle to microbial syntrophism for methanogenesis.Accordingly,we propose that improving substrate bioavailability and microbial syntrophism is a powerful strategy for ensuring material-assisted efficient AD of OW.Based on the above considerations,metal-organic frameworks(MOFs),with their exceptionally high porosity,outstanding multi-functionality,and tuneable structures,have excellent potential for application in multiphase anaerobic systems of OW to integrate substrate bioavailability and microbial syntrophism and drive efficient AD.In addition,MOFs with designable and tuneable natures have great potential for use in identifying suitable materials for anaerobic systems for different types of OW via machine-learning technologies,thereby effectively enhancing methanogenesis from OW.However,the sustainable application of MOFs in AD and the corresponding environmental risks warrant further investigation.

Effect of nitrite on hydrolysis-acidification, biogas production and microbial community in semi-continuous two-phase anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge

Previous study found that the pre-treatment of sewage sludge with nitrite improves the biogas production during the mono/two-phase anaerobic digestion (AD) using batch biochemical methane potential tests.In this study,the effects of nitrite on hydrolysisacidification,biogas production,volatile solids destruction and microbial composition in semi-continuous two-phase AD of sewage sludge were investigated.The addition of nitrite promotes sludge organic matter solubilization (+484%) and VFAs production (+98.9%),and causes an increase in the VS degradation rate during the AD process (+8.7%).The comparison of biogas production from the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors with or without the addition of nitrite implies that the nitrite has no significant effect on the overall biogas production of two-phase sludge AD process.High-throughput sequencing analysis shows that the microbial communities of bacteria and archaea in two-phase AD reactors significantly changes after the addition of nitrite.Vulcanibacillus (bacteria) and Candidatus Methanofastidiosum (archaea) become the dominant genera in the acidogenic and methanogenic reactors with the nitrite respectively.These findings provide new insights about using nitrite to promote the organic matter degradation of sewage sludge in a semicontinuous two-phase AD system.

New mechanism of FA in composted sludge inducing Cu fixation on Albite in open-pit mine soil

Fulvic acid(FA),typical organic matter derived from humification process in composted sludge,possesses the potential to remediate mine soils contaminated by heavy metals.To understand the cooper(Cu)immobilizing process in open-pit mine soil induced by FA,changes of Cu speciation in mixture of open-pit mine soil and composted sludge was tracked over 180 days.It was observed that the organic-bound and residual fraction of Cu increased dramatically with the corresponding decrease of Fe/Mn oxide-bound Cu in the first 60 days,then the organic-bound fraction decreased to about its initial proportion during 60-120 days,while residual fraction still increased,and the proportion of residual Cu accounted for over85%and became stable after 120 days.To reveal the mechanism of FA inducing Cu fixation on Albite which is the main phase of soil primary ore,two groups of Cu adsorption experiments with and without FA were designed.With the addition of FA,the adsorption capacity of Cu by Albite increased by 1.55 times and the content of residual Cu in Albite increased by7.7 times.It was found that the Cu absorbed in smaller Albite particle induced by FA formed a secondary mineral——Chrysocolla,causing increase of residual fraction of Cu.These results revealed the mechanism:FA was absorbed on the surface of Albite after complexing with Cu ions in the solution,and then it induced Cu into the interlayer and pore channels of Albite.The Cu in the Albite was immobilized by forming Chrysocolla finally.

Life-cycle assessment of two sewage sludge-to-energy systems based on different sewage sludge characteristics:Energy balance and greenhouse gas-emission footprint analysis

Anaerobic digestion and incineration are widely used sewage sludge(SS)treatment and disposal approaches to recovering energy from SS,but it is difficult to select a suitable technical process from the various technologies.In this study,life-cycle assessments were adopted to compare the energy-and greenhouse gas-(GHG)emission footprints of two sludge-to-energy systems.One system uses a combination of AD with incineration(the AI system),whereas the other was simplified by direct incineration(the DI system).Comparison between three SS feedstocks(VS/TS:57.61-73.1 ds.%)revealed that the AI system consistently outperformed the DI system.The results of sensitivity analyses showed that the energy and GHG emission performances were mainly affected by VS content of the SS,AD conversion efficiency,and the energy consumption of sludge drying.Furthermore,the energy and GHG emission credit of the two systems increased remarkably with the increase in the VS content of the SS.For the high-organic-content sludge(VS/TS:55%–80%),the energy and GHG emission credit of the AI system increase with the increase of AD conversion efficiency.However,for the low organic content sludge(VS/TS:30%–55%),it has the opposite effect.In terms of energy efficiency and GHG performance,the AI system is a good choice for the treatment of high-organic-content sludge(VS/TS>55%),but DI shows superiority over AI when dealing with low organic content sludge(VS/TS<55%).