Bioaerosol

About: Bioaerosol is a research topic. Over the lifetime, 1347 publications have been published within this topic receiving 34791 citations.

Removal of odors and VOCs in municipal solid waste comprehensive treatment plants using a novel three-stage integrated biofilter: Performance and bioaerosol emissions

Abstract: A novel three-stage integrated biofilter (TSIBF) composed of acidophilic bacteria reaction segment (ABRS), fungal reaction segment (FRS) and heterotrophic bacteria reaction segment (HBRS) was constructed for the treatment of odors and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)from municipal solid waste (MSW) comprehensive treatment plants. The performance, counts of predominant microorganisms, and bioaerosol emissions of a full-scale TSIBF system were studied. High and stable removal efficiencies of hydrogen sulfide, ammonia and VOCs could be achieved with the TSIBF system, and the emissions of culturable heterotrophic bacteria, fungi and acidophilic sulfur bacteria were relatively low. The removal efficiencies of different odors and VOCs, emissions of culturable microorganisms, and types of predominant microorganisms were different in the ABRS, FRS and HBRS due to the differences in reaction conditions and mass transfer in each segment. The emissions of bioaerosols from the TSIBF depended on the capture of microorganisms and their volatilization from the packing. The rational segmentation, filling of high-density packings and the accumulation of the predominant functional microorganisms in each segment enhanced the capture effect of the bioaerosols, thus reducing the emissions of microorganisms from the bioreactor.

Challenges and Perspectives for Biosensing of Bioaerosol Containing Pathogenic Microorganisms.

Abstract: As an important route for disease transmission, bioaerosols have received increasing attention. In the past decades, many efforts were made to facilitate the development of bioaerosol monitoring; however, there are still some important challenges in bioaerosol collection and detection. Thus, recent advances in bioaerosol collection (such as sedimentation, filtration, centrifugation, impaction, impingement, and microfluidics) and detection methods (such as culture, molecular biological assay, and immunological assay) were summarized in this review. Besides, the important challenges and perspectives for bioaerosol biosensing were also discussed.

Steady-state operation of a biofilter coupled with photocatalytic control of bacterial bioaerosol emissions

Abstract: Bioaerosols are emitted during the biological treatment of water, soil, and air pollutants. The elimination of these pollutants has become a priority due to their detrimental effects on human health. Advanced oxidation technologies have been used to control bioaerosol emissions specially to improve indoor air quality. This investigation was focused on evaluating the biofiltration of ethyl acetate vapors in terms of removal efficiency and bioaerosol emission. Also, a continuous photocatalytic process to inactivate bioaerosols emitted from the biofilter was assessed as a post-treatment. The photocatalysis was developed with ZnO and TiO2 immobilized onto Poraver glass beads. Flow cytometry (FC) coupled with fluorochromes was used to characterize and quantify bioaerosol emissions in terms of live, dead, and injured cells. Ethyl acetate removal efficiencies were maintained in a steady state with values of 100% under 60-g m−3 h−1 inlet load (IL). Biomass concentration in the biofilter reached values up to 228 mgbiomass gperlite−1 at day 56 of operation, but the spontaneous occurrence of predatory mites diminished biomass concentration by 33%. Bioaerosols emitted during the steady-state operation of the biofilter were composed mainly by bacteria (~ 94%) and in a less extent of fungal spores (0.29–6%). The most efficient photocatalytic system comprised TiO2/Poraver with 78% inactivation of bioaerosols during the first 2 h of the process, whereas the ZnO/Poraver system showed null activity (~ 0%) of inactivation. FC results show that the main mechanism of inactivation of TiO2/Poraver was cell death.

Microbial contamination level of air in animal waste utilization plants

Abstract: Objective The aim of this research was evaluation of microbial contamination of air within and in the vicinity of animal waste disposal plants. Materials and method Air samples were analyzed to determine total bacterial and fungal counts as well as microbial species composition. Measurements of climate conditions (temperature, humidity, air motion) and total dust concentration were also performed. Results Total numbers of bacteria and fungi surpassed the threshold limit values for production halls. The most abundant bacteria detected were those consisting of physiological microflora of animal dermis and mucosa. Fungal species composition proved to be most differentiated in the air beyond the plant area. Aspergillus versicolor, a pathogenic and allergenic filamentous fungus, was isolated only inside the rendering plant processing hall. Conclusions The measurement results showed a low sanitary-hygienic state of air in the plant processing halls and substantial air pollution in its immediate vicinity.