Three novel strains capable of heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification were isolated from the landfill leachate treatment system. Based on their phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, the isolates were identified as Agrobacterium sp. LAD9, Achromobacter sp. GAD3 and Comamonas sp. GAD4, respectively. Batch tests were carried out to evaluate the growth and the ammonia removal patterns. The maximum growth rates as determined from the growth curve were 0.286, 0.228, and 0.433 h(-1) for LAD9, GAD3 and GAD4, respectively. The maximum aerobic nitrification-denitrification rate was achieved by the strain GAD4 of 0.381 mmol/l h, followed by LAD9 of 0.374 mmol/l h and GAD3 of 0.346 mmol/l h. Moreover, hydroxylamine oxidase and periplasmic nitrate reductase were successfully expressed in all the isolates. The relationship between the enzyme activities and the aerobic nitrification-denitrification rates revealed that hydroxylamine oxidation may be the rate-limiting step in the heterotrophic nitrification-aerobic denitrification process. The study results are of great significance to the wastewater treatment systems where simultaneous removal of carbon and nitrogen is desired.
By engaging a compact asymmetric single slit coated with a photorefractive polymer, surface-plasmon-polariton (SPP) generation was efficiently controlled by a pump beam. In the structure, the nonlinear light-matter interaction is enhanced because of the cavity effect, which increases the sensitivity of SPPs to the surrounding dielectric. By variation of the real part of the refractive index together with an interferometric configuration, high on/off switching ratios are achieved. Moreover, the SPP generation and modulation processes are integrated in the same asymmetric single slit, which makes the device ultracompact. Experimentally, a high on/off switching ratio of > 20 dB and phase variation of >pi were observed with the device lateral dimension of only about 2 mu m.
Multi-year inventories of carbonaceous aerosol emissions from biomass open burning at a high spatial resolution of 0.5° × 0.5° have been constructed in China using GIS methodology for the period 1990–2005. Black carbon (BC) emissions have increased by 383.03% at an annual average rate of 25.54% from 14.05 Gg in 1990 to 67.87 Gg in 2005; while organic carbon (OC) emissions have increased by 365.43% from 57.37 Gg in 1990 to 267.00 Gg in 2005. Through the estimation period, OC/BC ratio for biomass burning was averagely 4.09, suggesting that it was not the preferred control source from a climatic perspective. Spatial distribution of BC and OC emissions were similar, mainly concentrated in three northeastern provinces, central provinces of Shandong, Jiangsu, Anhui and Henan, and southern provinces of Guangxi, Guangdong, Hunan and Sichuan basin, covering 24.89% of China’s territory, but were responsible for 63.38% and 67.55% of national BC and OC emissions, respectively.
