Removal of microfiber in vertical flow constructed wetlands treating greywater.

Nature-based solutions such as constructed wetlands (CW) are considered as a sustainable, green technology for greywater treatment. However, their efficiency to remove microplastics is not well-known even though greywater is considered as a significant source of microfiber pollution. In this study, the removal of fiber microplastics from greywater using a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) was investigated. For the purposes of this study, an experimental wetland was constructed, planted with the flowering plant Zantedeschia aethiopica and filled with a substrate made of sand/gravel of several sizes. The system's performance was monitored for five months during which it received real laundry wastewater. Promising results were obtained showing the significant removal of microfibers from the influent (> 95 %). Moreover, the ability of the system to remove microfibers from laundry wastewater was not significantly affected from the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) applied. The average microfibers concentration decreased from 71 ± 25 microparticles/L in the influent to 1 ± 1 microparticles/L in the effluent of VFCW when an HLR of 63.7 mm/d was applied. High removal efficiencies were also observed for COD and turbidity (93 % and 94 %, respectively). Thus, the results indicate a significant improvement in the overall quality of laundry wastewater due to the use of the VFCW.

Occurrence of pharmaceuticals in the wastewater of a Greek hospital: Combining consumption data collection and LC-QTOF-MS analysis.

In this article we applied drug consumption approach and chemical analysis in parallel to investigate the concentrations of a large number of pharmaceuticals in different streams of a General Hospital. Drugs consumption data was collected during two periods (Period 1, 2) and the predicted environmental concentrations (PECs) were estimated for the wastewater of a building housing specific medical services (Point A) and for the entire hospital (Point B). Hospital wastewater samples (HWW) samples were also collected from these points and periods and the measured environmental concentrations (MEC) were determined using UHPLC-ESI-QTOF-MS/MS. According to consumption data, the highest number of drugs was consumed in the departments of Hematology, Intensive Care Unit, Cardiology, Internal Medicine, and Oncology, while the number of active substances used in the hospital was 413 (Period 1) and 362 (Period 2). For most substances, much higher PEC and MEC values were found at the HWW of Point A indicating that on-site treatment of this stream could be examined in the future. The application of wide-scope target analysis allowed the quantification of 122 compounds, while 21 additional substances were identified using suspect screening. The highest mean concentrations in Period 1 were found for acetaminophen (1100 µg/L) and rifaximin (723 µg/L), while in Period 2 for iopromide (458 µg/L) and acyclovir (408 µg/L). Among the detected compounds, 19 metabolites were determined. Atenolol acid, 1-hydroxy-midazolam and clopidogrel carboxylic acid were quantified at concentrations much higher than parent compounds indicating the importance of metabolites' monitoring in HWW. Calculation of PEC/MEC ratio for 36 pharmaceuticals showed sufficient correlation of these values for 19 % to 33 % of the substances depending on the examined period and sampling point. The parallel collection of drugs consumption data and chemical analysis give a thorough picture of the substances present in HWW and their main sources, facilitating decision-making for their better management.

Use of green roofs for greywater treatment: Role of substrate, depth, plants, and recirculation.

This work focuses on the use of green roof as a modified shallow vertical flow constructed wetland for greywater treatment in buildings. Different design parameters such as substrate (perlite or vermiculite), substrate depth (15 cm or 25 cm), and plant species (Geranium zonale, Polygala myrtifolia or Atriplex halimus) were tested to determine optimum selection. In addition, the application of a 40% recirculation rate was applied during last month of the experiment to quantify the efficiency of pollutants removal. The experiment was conducted for a period of 12 months under typical Mediterranean climatic conditions in Lesvos island, Greece. Results showed that green roofs planted with Atriplex halimus and filled with 20 cm of vermiculite had the best COD (91%), BOD (91%), TSS (93%) and turbidity (93%) average removal efficiencies. In contrast, significant lower removals were observed when the substrate depth was decreased to 10 cm (60-75%). Green roof vegetation had significant impact on TN removal as the average TN concentration decreased from 6.5 ± 1.8 mg/L in the effluent of unplanted systems to 4.9 ± 2.7 mg/L in the effluent of green roofs planted with Atriplex halimus. The recirculation of a portion of the effluent in the influent had as a result a significant improvement of turbidity, organic matter and (especially) nitrogen removal. For example, BOD removal in green roofs planted with Atriplex halimus and filled with 20 cm of perlite increased from 76% to 92%, while TN removal in green roofs planted with the same plants and filled with 20 cm of vermiculite increased from 56% to 87%. Overall, the operation of green roofs as modified vertical unsaturated constructed wetlands seems a sustainable nature-based solution for greywater treatment and reuse in urban areas.

Converting treatment wetlands into "treatment gardens": Use of ornamental plants for greywater treatment.

Nowadays, the use of constructed wetlands for on-site greywater treatment is a very promising option. The successful application of this nature-based solution at full scale requires public acceptance, economic feasibility and the production of high-quality treated greywater. This work focuses on the use of ornamental plants as vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) vegetation for greywater treatment, aiming to improve aesthetic and acceptability of the system. The performance and economic feasibility of the proposed green technology were examined during a 2-years study. Results show that Pittosporum tobira and Hedera helix can grow in VFCW operating with greywater without any visible symptoms. These species tolerated both drought and flooding conditions, making them ideal for use not only in residential buildings but also in seasonal hotels and holiday homes. In contrast, partial defoliation of Polygala myrtifolia plants was observed during the winter period. High average removal efficiencies were observed for BOD (99%), COD (96%) and TSS (94%) in all examined VFCWs including unplanted beds. Phosphorus removal gradually decreased from 100% during first months of operation to 15% during second year of operation. In addition, total coliforms concentration reduced by 2.2 log units in the effluent of all planted systems, while lower removal efficiency was observed in the absence of plants. The mean concentration of BOD and TSS in the treated greywater met the standards for indoor reuse (<10 mg/L). Cost payback periods for the installation of the proposed technology in a multi-family building, a single house and a hotel in Greece were found 4.7, 16.6 and 2.5 years, respectively. Overall, the "treatment gardens" proposed in this study provide a technically and economically feasible solution for greywater treatment, with the additional benefit of improving the aesthetic of urban, semi-urban and touristic areas.

Pilot-scale comparison of constructed wetlands operated under high hydraulic loading rates and attached biofilm reactors for domestic wastewater treatment.

Four different pilot-scale treatment units were constructed to compare the feasibility of treating domestic wastewater in the City of Heraklio, Crete, Greece: (a) a free water surface (FWS) wetland system, (b) a horizontal subsurface flow (HSF) wetland system, (c) a rotating biological contactor (RBC), and (d) a packed bed filter (PBF). All units operated in parallel at various hydraulic loading rates (HLR) ranging from 50% to 175% of designed operating HLR. The study was conducted during an 8 month period and showed that COD removal efficiency of HSF was comparable (>75%) to that of RBC and PBF, whereas that of the FWS system was only 57%. Average nutrient removal efficiencies for FWS, HSF, RBC and PBF were 6%, 21%, 40% and 43%, respectively for total nitrogen and 21%, 39%, 41% and 42%, respectively for total phosphorus. Removals of total coliforms were lowest in FWS and PBF (1.3 log units) and higher in HSF and RBC (2.3 to 2.6 log units). HSF showed slightly lower but comparable effluent quality to that of RBC and PBF systems, but the construction cost and energy requirements for this system are significantly lower. Overall the final decision for the best non-conventional wastewater treatment system depends on the construction and operation cost, the area demand and the required quality of effluent.

Oil refinery sludge and green waste simulated windrow composting.

Oil refinery sludge (ORS) was mixed with shredded green wastes (GW) at ratios of 1:1 v/v (RI) and 1:3 v/v (RII). The mixtures, of approximately volumes of 1,020 l and 990 l respectively, were introduced in metal cubic containers of 1.0 m(3) volume, opened at the top and with small holes punctured in the bottom and the side. The containers were additionally insulated with a layer of rockwool (20 mm). The boxes were emptied, the mixtures were turned and water was added occasionally, in one to two weeks intervals, simulating a windrow composting system. Temperature, physiochemical characteristics, mineral oil and grease (MOG) concentration, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) concentration, carbon dioxide emission, methane emission and microorganisms presence were recorded either daily or every time the mixtures were turned, for a period of 120 days. RII recorded temperatures as high as 62 degrees C, reaching 56 degrees C in Day 6 and retained temperatures above 50 degrees C for more than 40 days. RI recorded its highest temperature of 53 degrees C in Day 77. The reason why the two mixtures behaved so differently can be explained by: (i) extended co-digestion phenomena by the microorganisms decomposing the GW in RII, (ii) toxic effect of ORS in RI due to the far larger amounts used (840 kg in RI in comparison with the 460 kg in RII). After Day 36 temperature increased gradually in RI and MOG and PAHs reduction was first noted. At the end of the experiment MOG concentration in RI was 57.2 mg/kg dry weight (dw) (52.1% reduction) where in RII was 34.3 mg/kg dw (62.1% reduction). Emissions of methane and carbon dioxide support the concept of the toxic effect and the delay ignition of the decomposing process in RI. In total, CO(2) and CH(4) emissions from RI were recorded to be 30.8 kg and 18.5 g, respectively, where from RII 59.6 kg of CO(2) and 6.4 g of CH(4) were emitted. An effort was made to determine the effect of temperature alone (as an abiotic treating parameter) in both mixtures. It can be supported that about least 15% of the MOG and PAHs removal.

Screening for faecal contamination in primary schools in Crete, Greece.

BACKGROUND: Hygienic conditions in primary schools are a major concern for both governmental organizations and families. Particularly, the occurrence of faecal indicators on children's hands and various school surfaces has been associated with increased risk of diarrhoeal diseases. The presence of faecal streptococci on environmental surfaces and children's hands and the possible correlation with socio-economic factors were examined. METHODS: Overall, 1956 samples from hands and 1470 samples from surfaces were collected from 20 primary schools in Heraklion, Crete, Greece. RESULTS: Faecal streptococci were found at 52.9% of children's hands and at 16.7% of other surfaces. Children, who had parents with the highest education level (>12 years), had the lowest percentage (48.8%) of faecal contamination on their hands. Furthermore, boys exhibited higher levels of hands contamination compared with girls. Among the environmental surfaces examined, the school canteen reception was the most contaminated area. CONCLUSION: High faecal contamination was detected in primary schools in the examined region. Children's hands were highly infected (52.9%), while boys exhibited higher levels of contamination. The educational level of parents correlated well with the contamination of children's hands.

Effects of treated wastewater irrigation on the establishment of young grapevines.

Irrigation with treated wastewater could produce excessive accumulations within the plant and soil, negatively affecting the yield and production quality. In addition, the presence of biological and chemical contaminants could harm the agricultural environment, as well as the health of farmers and consumers. During this work, the suitability of secondary and tertiary treated wastewater for use in young grapevines was evaluated by studying the effect of the wastewater irrigation on the soil-plant system, crop yield, fruit quality and the presence of inorganic chemical contamination (salts, elements and heavy metals), organic chemical contamination (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) and microbial contamination (E. coli, total coliforms). The results show that tertiary treated wastewater had positive impact on plant growth and yield while secondary treated wastewater had negative impact on fruit safety in comparison with tap water. Sodium levels in soils irrigated with treated wastewater increased at the end of the irrigation period while decreased during the wet season. The total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations in the soils ranged from 363 µg/kg to 374 µg/kg at the end of the experiment for all irrigation treatments applied. The use of tertiary treated wastewater was recommended for the irrigation of young grapevines as an alternative water source secured protection of environment, plant health and fruit quality.

The effect of pharmaceuticals on the kinetics of methanogenesis and acetogenesis.

In this study, the widely used anaerobic digestion model (ADM1) was used in order to simulate the inhibition of three pharmaceuticals, propranolol hydrochloride, ofloxacin and diclofenac sodium, on two groups of microorganisms, acetogens and acetoclastic methanogens, the most sensitive microorganisms groups involved in the anaerobic digestion process. The specific maximum consumption rate and saturation constant of acetate and propionate degraders were estimated through fitting the model to experimental data taken from continuous and batch experiments. A modified non-competitive inhibition function was used, and the inhibition constants were estimated using data from Batch experiments conducted at various concentrations of pharmaceuticals using enriched cultures with propionate and acetate degraders. It was found that propranolol hydrochloride was the most inhibitory pharmaceutical to both microorganisms groups.

Constructed wetlands treating highway runoff in the central Mediterranean region.

Two free water surface (FWS) and two subsurface flow (SSF) pilot-size constructed wetlands treating highway runoff (HRO) were monitored over a period of two years (September 2005-August 2007). One FWS and one SSF were designed with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 12h, named FWS12 and SSF12, respectively, with each one capable of treating a maximum HRO of 12.6 m(3) d(-1). The other couple, named FWS24 and SSF24, respectively, was designed with an HRT of 24h, with each receiving a maximum HRO of 6.3 m(3) d(-1). The influent flowed from a highway section with a total surface 2752 m(2) on the island of Crete, Greece, in the heart of the South-Central Mediterranean region. Influent and effluent were monitored for COD, TSS, total N (TN), NO(3)(-) and total P (TP) concentrations. Furthermore, removal efficiencies were examined for heavy metals (Cu, Ni, Pb, Zn) for both years, while polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAHs) were examined for the period between September 2006 and August 2007. The influent had a two-year average COD value of 101 mg l(-1), whereas the mean values for TSS, TN, N-NO(3)(-) and TP were 203, 4.30, 1.25 and 4.17 mg l(-1), respectively. For Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn the respective two-year mean influent concentrations were 56, 114, 49 and 250 microg l(-1). Mean concentration of total PAHs in runoff (summation operator PAHs, 16 compounds) were 12.01 microg l(-1). The performance among the four beds was not significantly different according to ANOVA analysis followed by Tukey test (at p<0.05) for almost all the above physicochemical parameters, suggesting that all systems performed in a similar way. All studied systems, achieved a mean of two-year removal efficiencies of 47% for COD, 89% for TSS, 49% for TN, 58% for N-NO(3)(-), 60% for TP, 47% for Cu, 23% for Ni, 33% for Pb, 61% for Zn and 59% for summation operator PAHs (16 compounds).

Boosting biogas production from sewage sludge by adding small amount of agro-industrial by-products and food waste residues.

In Greece, in many cities, wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) operate their own anaerobic digestion (AD) facility in order to treat sewage sludge rather than achieve optimum biogas production. Nowadays, there is a growing interest regarding the addition of other co-substrates in these existing facilities in order to increase gas yield from the biomass. This practice may be possible by adding small amount of co-substrates which will not affect significantly in the designed hydraulic retention time. Nonetheless, the lack of experimental data regarding this option is a serious obstacle. In this study, the effect of co-digestion sewage sludge, with small amount of agro-industrial by-products and food wastes is examined in lab-scale experiments. Specifically, co-digestion of SS and food waste (FW), grape residues (GR), crude glycerol (CG), cheese whey (CW) and sheep manure (SM), in a small ratio of 5-10% (v/v) was investigated. The effect of agro-industrial by-products and food waste residues on biogas production was investigated using one 1L and three 3L lab-scale reactors under mesophilic conditions at a 24-day hydraulic retention time. The biogas production rate reached 223, 259, 406, 572, 682 and 1751 mlbiogas/lreactor/d for 100% SS, 5% SM & 95% SS, 10% CW & 90% SS, 5% FW & 95% SS, 5% FW & 5% CG & 90% SS and 5% CG & 95% SS respectively. Depending on the co-digestion material, the average removal of total chemical oxygen demand (TCOD) ranged between 20% (5% SM & 95% SS) and 76% (5% FW & 5% CG & 90% SS). Reduction in the volatile solids ranged between 26% (5% SM & 95% SS) and 62% (5% FW & 5% CG & 90% SS) for organic loading rates between 0.8kgVSm-3d-1 and 2.0kgVSm-3d-1. Moreover, co-digestion improved biogas production from 14% (5% SM & 95% SS) to 674% (5% CG & 95% SS). This work suggests that WWTPs in Greece can increase biogas production by adding other wastes to the sewage sludge without affecting the operation of existing digesters and without requiring additional facilities.

Improving biogas production from anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge with a thermal dried mixture of food waste, cheese whey and olive mill wastewater.

Anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge and other organic wastes at a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) is a promising method for both energy and material recovery. However, transportation and storage of wastes to WWTP may be the bottleneck for the successful implementation of this technology. In case of wet wastes and wastewater it is possible to reduce their volume and as a result the transportation and storage cost by using a drying process. During this study, the optimization of biogas production from sewage sludge (SS) was attempted by co-digesting with a dried mixture of food waste, cheese whey and olive mill wastewater (FCO). A series of laboratory experiments were performed in continuously-operating reactors at 37°C, fed with thermal dried mixtures of FCO at concentrations of 3%, 5% and 7%. The overall process was designed with a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 24days. FCO addition can boost biogas yields if the mixture exceeds 3% (v/v) concentration in the feed. Any further increase of 5% FCO causes a small increase in biogas production. The reactor treating the sewage sludge produced 287ml CH4/Lreactor/d before the addition of FCO and 815ml CH4/Lreactor/d (5% v/v in the feed). The extra FCO-COD added (7% FCO v/v) to the feed did not have a negative effect on reactor performance, but seemed to have the same results. In all cases, the estimated biodegradability of mixtures was over 80%, while the VS removal was 22% for the maximum biomethane production (5% v/v). Moreover, co-digestion improved biogas production by 1.2-2.7 times.

Production of organic fertilizer from olive mill wastewater by combining solar greenhouse drying and composting.

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is generated during the production of olive oil. Its disposal is still a major environmental problem in Mediterranean countries, despite the fact that a large number of technologies have been proposed up to date. The present work examines for the first time a novel, simple and low-cost technology for OMW treatment combining solar drying and composting. In the first step, OMW was dried in a chamber inside a solar greenhouse using swine manure as a bulking agent. The mean evaporation rate was found to be 5.2 kg H2O/m2/d for a drying period of 6 months (February-August). High phenol (75%) and low nitrogen (15%) and carbon (15%) losses were recorded at the end of the solar drying process. The final product after solar drying was rich in nutrients (N: 27.8 g/kg, P: 7.3 g/kg, K: 81.6 g/kg) but still contained significant quantities of phenols (18.4 g/kg). In order to detoxify the final product, a composting process was applied as a second step with or without the use of grape marc as bulking agent. Results showed that the use of grape marc as a bulking agent at a volume ratio of 1:1 achieved a higher compost temperature profile (60 °C) than 2:1 (solar drying product: grape marc) or no use (solar drying product). The end product after the combination of solar drying and composting had the characteristics of an organic fertilizer (57% organic carbon) rich in nutrients (3.5% N, 1% P, 6.5% K) with quite low phenol content (2.9 g/kg). Finally, the use of this product for the cultivation of pepper plants approved its fertility which was found similar with commercial NPK fertilizers.

Halophytes as vertical-flow constructed wetland vegetation for domestic wastewater treatment.

Recent findings show that halophytes have the ability to accumulate salts in their tissues, making them a very interesting group of plants for domestic wastewater treatment in constructed wetlands (CWs). In that case, it might be possible to reduce the salinity of the final effluent, which is a crucial parameter for wastewater reuse in agriculture. During this study three halophytes, Atriplex halimus, Juncus acutus and Sarcocornia perennis, were tested for phyto-desalination of domestic wastewater in a vertical flow constructed wetland (VFCW) and compared with common reeds (Phragmites australis). In addition, the effect of this alternative vegetation on the overall performance of the system regarding organic matter, nutrients, boron and pathogen removal was monitored. The organic loading rate (OLR) was about 21gCOD/m2/d and the hydraulic loading rate (HLR) was 95mm/d in both cases. Promising results were obtained for A. halimus, which shows high biomass productivity and significant capability to accumulate salts, mainly Na, in its tissues. A positive effect on pathogen removal efficiency was also recorded. However, nitrogen concentration in the effluent of the VFCW planted with halophytes was found to be higher than in the effluent of the VFCW planted with reeds. Finally, no significant effect on organic matter and phosphorus removal efficiency was observed from the use of halophytes in place of reeds.

Pilot-scale anaerobic co-digestion of sewage sludge with agro-industrial by-products for increased biogas production of existing digesters at wastewater treatment plants.

Due to low degradability of dry solids, most of the digesters at wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) operate at low loading rates resulting in poor biogas yields. In this study, co-digestion of sewage sludge (SS) with olive mill wastewater (OMW), cheese whey (CW) and crude glycerol (CG) was studied in an attempt to improve biogas production of existing digesters at WWTPs. The effect of agro-industrial by-products in biogas production was investigated using a 220L pilot-scale (180L working volume) digester under mesophilic conditions (35°C) with a total feeding volume of 7.5L daily and a 24-day hydraulic retention time. The initial feed was sewage sludge and the bioreactor was operated using this feed for 40days. Each agro-industrial by-product was then added to the feed so that the reactor was fed continuously with 95% sewage sludge and 5% (v/v) of each examined agro-industrial by-product. The experiments showed that a 5% (v/v) addition of OMW, CG or CW to sewage sludge significantly increased biogas production by nearly 220%, 350% and 86% as values of 34.8±3.2L/d, 185.7±15.3L/d and 45.9±3.6L/d respectively, compared to that with sewage sludge alone (375ml daily, 5% v/v in the feed). The average removal of dissolved chemical oxygen demand (d-COD) ranged between 72 and 99% for organic loading rates between 0.9 and 1.5kgVSm-3d-1. Reduction in the volatile solids ranged between 25 and 40%. This work suggests that methane can be produced very efficiently by adding a small concentration (5%) of agro-industrial by-products and especially CG in the inlet of digesters treating sewage sludge.

Observation of an unexpected third receptor molecule in the crystal structure of human interferon-gamma receptor complex.

BACKGROUND: Molecular interactions among cytokines and cytokine receptors form the basis of many cell-signaling pathways relevant to immune function. Interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) signals through a multimeric receptor complex consisting of two different but structurally related transmembrane chains: the high-affinity receptor-binding subunit (IFN-gammaRalpha) and a species-specific accessory factor (AF-1 or IFN-gammaRbeta). In the signaling complex, the two receptors probably interact with one another through their extracellular domains. Understanding the atomic interactions of signaling complexes enhances the ability to control and alter cell signaling and also provides a greater understanding of basic biochemical processes. RESULTS: The crystal structure of the complex of human IFN-gamma with the soluble, glycosylated extracellular part of IFN-gammaRalpha has been determined at 2.9 A resolution using multiwavelength anomalous diffraction methods. In addition to the expected 2:1 complex, the crystal structure reveals the presence of a third receptor molecule not directly associated with the IFN-gamma dimer. Two distinct intermolecular contacts, involving the edge strands of the C-terminal domains, are observed between this extra receptor and the 2:1 receptor-ligand complex thereby forming a 3:1 complex. CONCLUSIONS: The observed interactions in the 2:1 complex of the high-affinity cell-surface receptor with the IFN-gamma cytokine are similar to those seen in a previously reported structure where the receptor chains were not glycosylated. The formation of beta-sheet packing interactions between pairs of IFN-gammaRalpha receptors in these crystals suggests a possible model for receptor oligomerization of Ralpha and the structurally homologous Rbeta receptors in the fully active IFN-gamma signaling complex.

Simulation of DEHP biodegradation and sorption during the anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge.

Di-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) has commonly been found in the sludge of municipal wastewater treatment plants especially during anaerobic processing. It is slowly biodegradable under anaerobic conditions. Due to its high hydrophobicity, sorption-desorption processes can be rate-limiting for the compound biodegradation. In this study, the anaerobic biodegradation of DEHP was investigated through batch kinetic experiments and dynamic transitions of a continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) fed with secondary sludge contaminated with DEHP. A widely accepted model (ADM1) was used to fit the anaerobic digestion of secondary sludge and was properly extended to account for DEHP removal, in which mass transfer processes are also involved. It was shown that DEHP removal was limited by the transfer of DEHP within the solid fraction. The criterion selected for the distinction of the two sites was whether the compound sorbed in those sites was bioavailable for biodegradation or not. Thus, the aqueous phase and the surface of the biosolids were considered as suitable sites for the compound to be bioavailable and the main bulk of the solid matrix was regarded as sites, where the compound remains "protected" against biodegradation. The model, fitted to the batch experimental data, was able to predict DEHP removal in the CSTR operated at various HRTs.

Single house on-site grey water treatment using a submerged membrane bioreactor for toilet flushing.

Wastewater recycling has been and continues to be practiced all over the world for a variety of reasons including: increasing water availability, combating water shortages and drought, and supporting environmental and public health protection. Nowadays, one of the most interesting issues for wastewater recycling is the on-site treatment and reuse of grey water. During this study the efficiency of a compact Submerged Membrane Bioreactor (SMBR) system to treat real grey water in a single house in Crete, Greece, was examined. In the study, grey water was collected from a bathtub, shower and washing machine containing significant amounts of organic matter and pathogens. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal in the system was approximately 87%. Total suspended solids (TSS) were reduced from 95mgL(-1) in the influent to 8mgL(-1) in the effluent. The efficiency of the system to reduce anionic surfactants was about 80%. Fecal and total coliforms decreased significantly using the SMBR system due to rejection, by the membrane, used in the study. Overall, the SMBR treatment produces average effluent values that would satisfy international guidelines for indoor reuse applications such as toilet flushing.

Proteomic approaches in the search for disease biomarkers.

Significant technological advances in protein chemistry, physics and computer sciences in the last two decades have greatly improved protein separation methodologies, such as electrophoresis and chromatography, and have established mass spectrometry (MS) as an indispensable tool for protein study. The goal of this review is to provide a brief overview of the recent improvements in these methodologies and present examples from their application in proteome analysis and search for disease biomarkers.

High-affinity receptor for interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), a ubiquitous protein occurring in different molecular forms on human cells: blood monocytes and eleven different cell lines have the same IFN-gamma receptor protein.

High-affinity receptors for human IFN-gamma were analyzed using 13 different cells, including blood monocytes. Scatchard analysis showed one high-affinity binding site for each cell. One cross-linked complex between IFN-gamma and the receptor was detected, although their apparent molecular masses were variable in different cells, as also confirmed in immunoblots of membrane extracts. Variations in molecular masses were abolished if N-linked glycosylation was absent. Stable tryptic fragments contained the intact binding site for IFN-gamma and antibody epitopes characteristic of the extracellular domain of the IFN-gamma receptor of Raji cells and were of different sizes only if glycosylated. In addition, Northern analysis showed the same mRNA encoding the high-affinity IFN-gamma receptor in each cell analyzed. Thus, all cells including blood monocytes express the same high-affinity IFN-gamma receptor protein. N-linked sugars may give structural stability to the IFN-gamma receptor and are unlikely to be directly involved in IFN-gamma binding.