Antifungal activity and action mechanisms of yeasts isolates from citrus against Penicillium italicum.

Penicillium italicum (Blue mold) is a major postharvest disease of citrus. An alternative to controlling the disease is through the use of yeasts. The purpose of the present study was to screen effective yeast antagonists against P. italicum, isolated from soil, leaves, flowers, and citrus fruits, to assess the action mechanisms of the yeast isolates that were demonstrated to be effective for biocontrol, and to identify the most effective yeast isolates for the biocontrol of blue mold. The in vitro assays showed that six yeast strains inhibited up to 90% of the pathogen's mycelial growth. In vivo assays, evaluating the incidence of blue mold on sweet oranges, the strains ACBL-04, ACBL-05, ACBL-10 and ACBL-11 were effective, demonstrating the potential for the blue mold control when preventively applied, whereas the ACBL-08 strain showed a high potential to preventive and curative applications. Additional studies on the modes of action of these yeast strains showed that most of the evaluated yeast strains did not produce antifungal substances, in sufficient quantities to inhibit the pathogen growth. Competition for nutrients was not a biocontrol strategy used by the yeast strains. The 'killer' activity might be the main action mechanism involved in P. italicum biocontrol. This study indicated that the multiple modes of action against the pathogen presented by yeasts may explain why these strains provided P. italicum control under in vitro and in vivo conditions. However, further studies in future might be able to elucidate the 'killer' activity and its interaction with pathogen cells and the bioproduct production using Candida stellimalicola strains for control postharvest diseases.

A theoretical and practical evaluation of struvite control and recovery.

Struvite accumulation is a costly problem in many water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs) that use anaerobic digestion, causing significant labor and equipment costs and potentially impacting facility performance and permit compliance. A comprehensive study was undertaken to evaluate possible solutions to struvite control at two similar Miami-Dade County, Florida, WRRFs. Alternatives analyzed included periodic cleaning and repair of damaged piping and equipment; optimum ferric salt dosing, use of in situ scaling coupons; and engineered struvite precipitation. The effectiveness and cost of each alternative was evaluated using a newly constructed dynamic process model and a net present worth analysis. Results indicate that nutrient recovery was a potential benefit at both facilities. This study establishes a comprehensive process and specific testing protocols for evaluating struvite control alternatives.

Molecular characteristics and differences of effluent organic matter from parallel activated sludge and integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) processes.

A direct comparison between parallel activated sludge and integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) processes was performed in this study because both treatments received the same primary effluent, although differences may still remain due to different return flow rates. Modern ultrahigh resolution electrospray ionization Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry was applied to characterize the complexity of effluent organic matter (EfOM) and to evaluate both processes in their abilities to change the EfOM molecular composition. At different stages during the two processes a direct comparison of the performance and changes in molecular composition of the IFAS with those of the activated sludge was undertaken. Large differences in the molecular composition between both processes were only apparent in the early stage of the aeration cells and the first cell of the IFAS possibly due to the higher flow rate and a delay in aerobic bacterial degradation. Despite the double flow rate (0.263 m(3) s(-1)) in the IFAS reactors compared to the activated sludge, by the end of the treatment the EfOM composition of both processes were undistinguishable from each other. However, a much more complex EfOM was generated in both processes, suggesting that bacteria are responsible for an increase in molecular diversity in the effluent.

Towards more accurate design and specification of aeration systems using on-site column testing.

Fine-pore diffuser systems are selected for their potential energy efficiency, and during design their propensity for fouling and for an increase in pressure drop with time must be considered. Both fouling and pressure-drop increase cause an increase in blower power requirements. This paper presents a new approach to improve this design procedure, without altering the technical structure of the classical approach. While the administrative and bidding milestones are being carried out (i.e., in the first 6 months of the project milestones), an independent aeration team can test candidate diffusers suitable for design in an aeration column in situ. An extended fouling test in the plant's aeration tanks allows the collection of site-specific aeration performance data. These improve the accuracy of the design process, and limit the reliance on safety factors.

Oxygen transfer and uptake, nutrient removal, and energy footprint of parallel full-scale IFAS and activated sludge processes.

Integrated fixed-film activated sludge (IFAS) processes are becoming more popular for both secondary and sidestream treatment in wastewater facilities. These processes are a combination of biofilm reactors and activated sludge processes, achieved by introducing and retaining biofilm carrier media in activated sludge reactors. A full-scale train of three IFAS reactors equipped with AnoxKaldnes media and coarse-bubble aeration was tested using off-gas analysis. This was operated independently in parallel to an existing full-scale activated sludge process. Both processes achieved the same percent removal of COD and ammonia, despite the double oxygen demand on the IFAS reactors. In order to prevent kinetic limitations associated with DO diffusional gradients through the IFAS biofilm, this systems was operated at an elevated dissolved oxygen concentration, in line with the manufacturer's recommendation. Also, to avoid media coalescence on the reactor surface and promote biofilm contact with the substrate, high mixing requirements are specified. Therefore, the air flux in the IFAS reactors was much higher than that of the parallel activated sludge reactors. However, the standardized oxygen transfer efficiency in process water was almost same for both processes. In theory, when the oxygen transfer efficiency is the same, the air used per unit load removed should be the same. However, due to the high DO and mixing requirements, the IFAS reactors were characterized by elevated air flux and air use per unit load treated. This directly reflected in the relative energy footprint for aeration, which in this case was much higher for the IFAS system than activated sludge.

Fate of organic nitrogen in four biological nutrient removal wastewater treatment plants.

This study investigated the fate of nitrogen species, especially organic nitrogen, along the mainstream wastewater treatment processes in four biological nutrient removal (BNR) wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). It was found that the dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) fraction was as high as 47% of soluble nitrogen (SN) in the low-SN effluent plant, which limited the plant's capability to remove nitrogen to very low levels. A lower DON fraction was observed in high-SN effluent plants. Effluent DON concentrations from the four plants ranged from 0.5 to 2 mg N/L and did not vary significantly, even though there was a large variation in the influent organic nitrogen concentrations. Size fractionation of organic nitrogen by serial filtration through 1.2-, 0.45-, and 0.22-microm pore-sized membrane filters and the flocculation-and-filtration with zinc sulfate (ZnSO4) method was investigated. The maximum colloidal organic nitrogen (CON) fractions found were 68 and 45% in the primary effluent and final effluent, respectively. The experimental results showed that effluents after filtration through the 0.45-microm pore-sized filter contain significant colloidal fractions; hence, the constituents, including organic nitrogen, are not truly dissolved. A high CON fraction was observed in wastewater influents and was less significant in effluents. The flocculation and filtration method removed the colloidal fraction; therefore, the true DON fraction can be determined.

Organic nitrogen transformations in a 4-stage Bardenpho nitrogen removal plant and bioavailability/biodegradability of effluent DON.

Nitrogen species, specifically, the fate and occurrence of organic nitrogen (ON) within a 4-stage Bardenpho process bioreactor producing low total nitrogen (TN) effluents were investigated in this study. The results showed release of ON in primary anoxic zone and no ON release in the first aerobic zone of the process. The research included investigation of biodegradability/bioavailability of wastewater-derived effluent dissolved ON (DON). The final-effluent DON utilization was evaluated by two different bioassay protocols in the presence and absence of nitrate. About 28-57% of the effluent DON was bioavailable/biodegradable. Bioavailable (to algae and bacteria) DON (ABDON) and biodegradable (to bacteria) DON (BDON) results did not show significant differences in terms of quantity, but DON utilization rates by ABDON (0.13 day(-1)) protocol were higher than that of the BDON (0.04 day(-1)) protocol in the nitrate-removal samples. As a result, ABDON requires a shorter time to exert the bioavailable fraction due to symbiotic relationship between algae and bacteria. In the nitrate-containing samples, it appears that nitrate competes with labile DON as a nitrogen source to microorganisms in both ABDON and BDON protocols. The first order decay rate of DON in the presence of nitrate was 0.11 day(-1) and 0.02 day(-1) for ABDON and BDON, respectively.

Kinetic parameters for modeling two-step nitrification and denitrification: a case study.

The objective of this paper is to identify the importance of kinetic parameters relating to the utilization of nitrite when nitrification and denitrification are modeled as two-step processes. This is an important issue relating to modeling for design and in operation of plants achieving low effluent TN concentrations. A case study using a calibrated model of a full scale plant achieving low effluent TN is used to demonstrate the impacts of key modeling parameters on effluent predictions. The results also demonstrate the importance of full scale plant calibration based on historical data and detailed plant sampling and profiling.

Mechanism of effective nocardioform foam control measures for non-selector activated sludge systems.

Solids retention time (SRT), biological scum trapping and recycle, and the dynamic equilibrium between Nocardioform populations in the foam and the mixed liquor are the controlling factors in activated sludge foaming events caused by Nocardioform bacteria. For the operating modes described in this paper, a cured mixed liquor foaming condition (filament counts of approximately 10(5) intersections/g volatile suspended solids) was only achieved when SRT control, selective wasting, and polymer addition were in effect. Solids retention time control, with the SRT remaining below 1.5 days, and selective wasting will cure a severely foaming mixed liquor, but effects will only be observed after 3 or 4 months after implementation. The combined wastage of Nocardioform bacteria from selective wasting and SRT control can ensure long-term foam control to the operation of a pure-oxygen activated sludge system with foam-trapping features. An SRT of 0.3 days will result in the complete washout of Nocardioform bacteria from the activated sludge system, which can then operate at an SRT of 3 days free of Nocardioform. Polymer addition to mixed liquor is only effective for foam control when a large portion of the system biomass exists as a heavy layer of foam above the mixed liquor.