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Durden L, Eckhoff K, Burdsall AC, Youn S, Andújar-Gonzalez C, Abu-Niaaj L, Magnuson M, Harper WF. Characterizing Bacillus globigii as a Bacillus anthracis surrogate for wastewater treatment studies and bioaerosol emissions. Environ Sci (Camb) 2023; 9:3458-3466. [PMID: 38516331 PMCID: PMC10953809 DOI: 10.1039/d3ew00524k] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2024]
Abstract
This study characterized Bacillus globigii (BG) as a Bacillus anthracis Sterne (BAS) surrogate for wastewater treatment-related studies of UV inactivation, adsorption onto powdered activated carbon (PAC), and bioaerosol emission. The inactivation of BG was faster than that of BAS in DI water (pseudo first-order rate constants of 0.065 and 0.016 min-1 respectively) and in PBS solution (0.030 and 0.005 min-1 respectively). BG was also removed more quickly than BAS by PAC adsorption in DI (0.07 and 0.05 min-1 respectively) and in PBS (0.09 and 0.04 min-1 respectively). In DI, BG aggregated more (P < 0.05) than BAS when the pH was 7 or greater but there were no statistically significant differences in NaCl solution. Spore aggregation was also studied with extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (XDLVO) models. Less than 1% of all spores were released as bioaerosols, and there was no significant difference (P > 0.05) in emission between BG and BAS. To the author's knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate that BG is a suitable surrogate for BAS for bioaerosol emissions, but a poor surrogate for both UV inactivation and PAC adsorption. These results can be used to understand the ability of BAS to act as a surrogate for BA Ames because of its genetic and morphological similarities with BAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leigh Durden
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Engineering Management Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Kyle Eckhoff
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Engineering Management Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Adam C Burdsall
- Water Infrastructure Protection Division, National Homeland Security Research Center, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Sungmin Youn
- Department of Civil Engineering, Marshall University, Huntington, West Virginia, USA
| | - Cindy Andújar-Gonzalez
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Engineering Management Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
| | - Lubna Abu-Niaaj
- Department of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, USA
| | - Matthew Magnuson
- Water Infrastructure Protection Division, National Homeland Security Research Center, US Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Willie F Harper
- Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Engineering Management Program, Air Force Institute of Technology, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, USA
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Schober JD, Burdsall AC, Searcy T, Hart J, Shade M, Harper WF. Hydroxyl radical-driven transformations of bisphenol A and 2,4-dinitroanisole: Experimental and computational analysis. Water Environ Res 2023; 95:e10954. [PMID: 38013168 DOI: 10.1002/wer.10954] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/02/2023] [Accepted: 11/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023]
Abstract
This study used experimental and computational analysis to investigate the advanced oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA) and 2,4-dinitroanisole (DNAN). The pseudo first-order reaction rate constants depended on the molar peroxide ratio and were between 0.13 and 0.28 min-1 for BPA and between 0.018 and 0.032 min-1 for DNAN. The kinetic differences appear to be due in part to the energy requirements for oxidation, which depended on the reaction mechanism but were typically lower for BPA than they were for DNAN. Density functional theory (DFT) was used to develop transformation pathways that included experimentally-detected byproducts. The most energetically favored pathway for BPA oxidation begins with the formation of hydroxylated derivatives, while for DNAN, the most energetically favorable degradation pathway begins with the substitution of the methoxy group. Overall, these findings demonstrate the power of combining experimental and computational tools to reveal transformation mechanisms during water treatment. PRACTITIONER POINTS: Advanced oxidation transformations for two emerging water pollutants, bisphenol A and dinitroanisole, was investigated. The observed reaction kinetics depended on molar peroxide ratio in a manner that is in keeping with previous findings. Density functional theory-based analysis revealed reaction energy requirements and degradation pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaya Das Schober
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Adam C Burdsall
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Troy Searcy
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Jeffry Hart
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Megan Shade
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
| | - Willie F Harper
- Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, Air Force Institute of Technology, Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio, USA
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Schupp DA, Burdsall AC, Silva RG, Heckman JL, Krishnan ER, Szabo JG, Magnuson M. Persistence of surrogates for high consequence viral and bacterial pathogens in a pilot-scale activated sludge treatment system. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0275482. [PMID: 36206225 PMCID: PMC9543761 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0275482] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The persistence of high consequence public health pathogens in a wastewater treatment system can significantly impact worker safety, as well as the public and downstream water bodies, particularly if the system is forced to shut down the treatment processes. This study utilizes organism viability to compare the persistence of three pathogen surrogates in wastewater using a pilot-scale activated sludge treatment (AST) system, operated to mimic treatment processes of large-scale plants. Bacillus globigii spores, surrogate for Bacillus anthracis, persisted in the AST system for at least a 50-day observation period leading to a possible steady condition far beyond the solid retention time for sludge particles. MS2 bacteriophage, surrogate for Poliovirus and other non-enveloped enteric viruses, was observed for up to 35 days after introduction, which largely and expectedly correlated to the measured solid retention time. Phi-6 bacteriophage, a surrogate for Ebola virus and other enveloped viruses, was detected for no more than 4 days after introduction, even though the AST system was operated to provide three times slower solids removal than for the other surrogates. This suggests Phi-6 is subject to inactivation under AST conditions rather than physical removal. These results may suggest similar persistence for the surrogated pathogens, leading to appropriate consequence management actions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Donald A. Schupp
- APTIM Federal Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Adam C. Burdsall
- Homeland Security and Materials Management Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | | | - John Lee Heckman
- APTIM Federal Services, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | | | - Jeffrey G. Szabo
- Homeland Security and Materials Management Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
| | - Matthew Magnuson
- Homeland Security and Materials Management Division, Center for Environmental Solutions and Emergency Response, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Cincinnati, Ohio, United States of America
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Burdsall AC, Xing Y, Cooper CW, Harper WF. Bioaerosol emissions from activated sludge basins: Characterization, release, and attenuation. Sci Total Environ 2021; 753:141852. [PMID: 32891995 PMCID: PMC7439818 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.141852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [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: 06/12/2020] [Revised: 08/15/2020] [Accepted: 08/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
This article presents a critical review of the peer-reviewed literature related to bioaerosol generation from activated sludge basins. Characterization techniques include a variety of culture- and nonculture-based techniques, each with unique features. Bioaerosols contain a variety of clinical pathogens including Staphylococcus saprophyticus, Clostridium perfringens, and Salmonella enteritidis; exposure to these microorganisms increases human health risks. Release mechanisms involve splashing and bubble burst dynamics. Larger bubbles emit more aerosol particles than smaller ones. Attenuation strategies include covering sources with lids, adjusting the method and intensity of aeration, and using free-floating carrier media. Future studies should combine culture and non-culture based methods, and expand chemical databases and spectral libraries in order to realize the full power of real-time online monitoring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C Burdsall
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Yun Xing
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Casey W Cooper
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA
| | - Willie F Harper
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH 45433, USA.
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Xing Y, Burdsall AC, Owens A, Magnuson M, Harper WF. The effect of mixing and free-floating carrier media on bioaerosol release from wastewater: a multiscale investigation with Bacillus globigii. Environ Sci (Camb) 2021; 7:10.1039/d1ew00151e. [PMID: 37850032 PMCID: PMC10581400 DOI: 10.1039/d1ew00151e] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Aeration tanks in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are significant sources of bioaerosols, which contain microbial contaminants and can travel miles from the site of origin, risking the health of operators and the general public. One potential mitigation strategy is to apply free-floating carrier media (FFCM) to suppress bioaerosol emission. This article presents a multiscale study on the effects of mixing and FFCM on bioaerosol release using Bacillus globigii spores in well-defined liquid media. Bioaerosol release, defined as percentage of spores aerosolized during a 30 minute sampling period, ranged from 6.09 × 10-7% to 0.057%, depending upon the mixing mode and intensity. Bioaerosol release increased with the intensity of aeration (rotating speed in mechanical agitation and aeration rate in diffused aeration). A surface layer of polystyrene beads reduced bioaerosol released by >92% in the bench-scale studies and >74% in the pilot-scale study. This study discovered strong correlations (R2 > 0.82) between bioaerosol release and superficial gas velocity, Froude number, and volumetric gas flow per unit liquid volume per minute. The Reynolds number was found to be poorly correlated with bioaerosol release (R2 < 0.5). This study is a significant step toward the development of predictive models for full scale systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Xing
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Adam C Burdsall
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Andrew Owens
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
| | - Matthew Magnuson
- US Environmental Protection Agency, National Homeland Security Research Center, Water Infrastructure Protection Division, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Willie F Harper
- Air Force Institute of Technology, Environmental Engineering and Science Program, Department of Systems Engineering and Management, 2950 Hobson Way, Wright-Patterson AFB, OH, 45433, USA
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