Facile fabrication of dolomite-doped biochar/bentonite for effective removal of phosphate from complex wastewaters

● Dolomite-doped biochar/bentonite was synthesized for phosphate removal. ● DO/BB exhibited a high phosphate adsorption capacity in complex water environments. ● PVC membrane incorporated with DO/BB can capture low concentration phosphate. ● Electrostatic interaction, complexation and precipitation are main mechanisms. The removal of phosphate from wastewater using traditional biological or precipitation methods is a huge challenge. The use of high-performance adsorbents has been shown to address this problem. In this study, a novel composite adsorbent, composed of dolomite-doped biochar and bentonite (DO/BB), was first synthesized via co-pyrolysis. The combination of initial phosphate concentration of 100 mg/L and 1.6 g/L of DO/BB exhibited a high phosphate-adsorption capacity of 62 mg/g with a removal efficiency of 99.8%. It was also stable in complex water environments with various levels of solution pH, coexisting anions, high salinity, and humic acid. With this new composite, the phosphate concentration of the actual domestic sewage decreased from 9 mg/L to less than 1 mg/L, and the total nitrogen and chemical oxygen demand also decreased effectively. Further, the cross-flow treatment using a PVC membrane loaded with DO/BB (PVC-DO/BB), decreased the phosphate concentration from 1 to 0.08 mg/L, suggesting outstanding separation of phosphate pollutants via a combination of adsorption and separation. In addition, the removal of phosphate by the PVC-DO/BB membrane using NaOH solution as an eluent was almost 90% after 5 cycles. The kinetic, isotherm and XPS analysis before and after adsorption suggested that adsorption via a combination of electrostatic interaction, complexation and precipitation contributed to the excellent separation by the as-obtained membranes.     

Simple fabrication of carboxymethyl cellulose and κ-carrageenan composite aerogel with efficient performance in removal of fluoroquinolone antibiotics from water

● A composite aerogel was simply obtained to remove various fluoroquinolones (FQs). ● The structural and textural properties of this composite aerogel are improved. ● Its adsorption capacity was improved at a low content of coexisting Cu²⁺ or Fe³⁺ ion. ● Two substructural analogs of FQs are compared to explore the adsorption mechanisms. ● This aerogel after saturated adsorption can be reused directly for Cu²⁺ adsorption. 3D composite aerogels (CMC-CG) composed of carboxymethyl cellulose and κ-carrageenan were designed and fabricated using the one-pot synthesis technique. The optimized CMC-CG showed a good mechanical property and a high swelling ratio due to its superior textural properties with a proper chemically cross-linked interpenetrating network structure. CMC-CG was utilized for the removal of various fluoroquinolones (FQs) from water and exhibited high adsorption performance because of effective electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding interactions. Ciprofloxacin (CIP), a popular FQ, was used as the representative. The optimized CMC-CG had a theoretically maximal CIP uptake of approximately 1.271 mmol/g at the pH of 5.0. The adsorption capacity of CMC-CG was improved in the presence of some cations, Cu²⁺ and Fe³⁺ ions, at a low concentration through the bridging effect but was reduced at a high concentration. The investigation of adsorption mechanisms, based on the adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamic study, Fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses before and after adsorption, and changes in the adsorption performance of CMC-CG toward two molecular probes, further indicated that electrostatic attraction was the dominant interaction rather than hydrogen bonding in this adsorption. CMC-CG after saturated adsorption of CIP could be easily regenerated using a dilute NaCl aqueous solution and reused efficiently. Moreover, the disused aerogel could still be reused as a new adsorbent for effective adsorption of Cu²⁺ ion. Overall, this study suggested the promising applications of this composite aerogel as an eco-friendly, cost-effective, and recyclable adsorbent for the efficient removal of FQs from water.     

Electro-conductive crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube nanofiltration membrane for electro-enhanced removal of bisphenol A

● A crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube NF membrane was fabricated. ● Electro-assistance enhanced the removal rate of the NF membrane for bisphenol A. ● Intermittent voltage-assistance can achieve nearly 100% removal of bisphenol A. ● Membrane adsorption–electro-oxidation process is feasible for micropollutant removal. Nanofiltration (NF) has attracted increasing attention for wastewater treatment and potable water purification. However, the high-efficiency removal of micropollutants by NF membranes is a critical challenge. Owing to the adsorption and subsequent diffusion, some weakly charged or uncharged micropollutants, such as bisphenol A (BPA), can pass through NF membranes, resulting in low removal rates. Herein, an effective strategy is proposed to enhance the BPA removal efficiency of a crosslinked polyaniline/carbon nanotube NF membrane by coupling the membrane with electro-assistance. The membrane exhibited a 31.9% removal rate for 5 mg/L BPA with a permeance of 6.8 L/(m²·h·bar), while the removal rate was significantly improved to 98.1% after applying a voltage of 2.0 V to the membrane. Furthermore, when BPA coexisted with humic acid, the membrane maintained 94% removal of total organic carbon and nearly 100% removal of BPA at 2.0 V over the entire filtration period. Compared to continuous voltage applied to the membrane, an intermittent voltage (2.0 V for 0.5 h with an interval of 3.5 h) could achieve comparable BPA removal efficiency, because of the combined effect of membrane adsorption and subsequent electrochemical oxidation. Density functional theory calculations and BPA oxidation process analyses suggested that BPA was adsorbed by two main interactions: π–π and hydrogen-bond interactions. The adsorbed BPA was further electro-degraded into small organic acids or mineralized to CO₂ and H₂O. This work demonstrates that NF membranes coupled with electro-assistance are feasible for improving the removal of weakly charged or uncharged micropollutants.     

Ozonation of aromatic monomer compounds in water: factors determining reaction outcomes

● p- CNB and IBP were selected, to explore factors determining ozonation outcomes. ● •OH contributed only 50 % to IBP removal, compared to the 90 % for p -CNB removal. ● IBP achieved fewer TOC removal and more by-product types and quantities. ● A longer ring-opening distance existed during the degradation of IBP. ● Multiple positions on both branches of IBP were attacked, consuming more oxidants. For aromatic monomer compounds (AMCs), ozonation outcomes were usually predicted by the substituents of the benzene ring based on the electron inductive effect. However, the predicted results were occasionally unreliable for complex substituents, and other factors caused concern. In this study, p-chloronitrobenzene (p-CNB) and ibuprofen (IBP) were selected for ozonation. According to the electron inductive theory, p-CNB should be less oxidizable, but the opposite was true. The higher rates of p-CNB were due to various sources of assistance. First, the hydroxyl radical (•OH) contributed 90 % to p-CNB removal at pH 7.0, while its contribution to IBP removal was 50 %. Other contributions came from molecular O₃ oxidation. Second, p-CNB achieved 40 % of the total organic carbon (TOC) removal and fewer by-product types and quantities, when compared to the results for IBP. Third, the oxidation of p-CNB started with hydroxyl substitution reactions on the benzene ring; then, the ring opened. However, IBP was initially oxidized mainly on the butane branched chain, with a chain-shortening process occurring before the ring opened. Finally, the degradation pathway of p-CNB was single and consumed fewer oxidants. However, both branches of IBP were attacked simultaneously, and three degradation pathways that relied on more oxidants were proposed. All of these factors were determinants of the rapid removal of p-CNB.     

Mechanism of ball milled activated carbon in improving the desalination performance of flow- and fixed-electrode in capacitive deionization desalination

● BACs were used in electrode material for both fixed and flowing electrodes. ● ASAR of FCDI and MCDI was improved by 134% and 17%, respectively. ● ENRS of FCDI and MCDI was improved by 21% and 53%. ● The mechanism of improving desalination performance was analyzed in detail. Capacitive deionization (CDI) is a novel electrochemical water-treatment technology. The electrode material is an important factor in determining the ion separation efficiency. Activated carbon (AC) is extensively used as an electrode material; however, there are still many deficiencies in commercial AC. We adopted a simple processing method, ball milling, to produce ball milled AC (BAC) to improve the physical and electrochemical properties of the original AC and desalination efficiency. The BAC was characterized in detail and used for membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) and flow-electrode capacitive deionization (FCDI) electrode materials. After ball milling, the BAC obtained excellent pore structures and favorable surfaces for ion adsorption, which reduced electron transfer resistance and ion migration resistance in the electrodes. The optimal ball-milling time was 10 h. However, the improved effects of BAC as fixed electrodes and flow electrodes are different and the related mechanisms are discussed in detail. The average salt adsorption rates (ASAR) of FCDI and MCDI were improved by 134% and 17%, respectively, and the energy-normalized removal salt (ENRS) were enhanced by 21% and 53%, respectively. We believe that simple, low-cost, and environmentally friendly BAC has great potential for practical engineering applications of FCDI and MCDI.     

Adsorption behavior of imidacloprid pesticide on polar microplastics under environmental conditions: critical role of photo-aging

● Small molecular chains formed on photo-aged polylactic acid microplastics (MPs). ● Oxygen-containing functional groups generated on photo-aged polyamide MPs. ● Photo-aging has the opposite influence on the imidacloprid adsorption on two MPs. ● Electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonds were the main mechanisms. ● High pH value and low ionic strength increase the adsorption capacity. The photo-aging behavior of microplastics (MPs) in natural environment has become a global concern. The ultraviolet radiation has enough energy to change the polymer structure and physical-chemical properties of MPs. Less attention has focused on the interactions of the photo-aged polar and biodegradable MPs with organic pollutants. This work investigated the structural properties of aged polar polyamide (PA) MPs and biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) MPs exposed to ultraviolet irradiation and their adsorption behavior and mechanism for neonicotinoid insecticide imidacloprid (IMI). The results showed that the MPs had extensive changes in surface morphology and chemical properties after photo-aging. The C–N bond of PA MPs was disrupted to form more carbonyl groups. The oxygen-containing functional groups on the surface of aged PLA MPs were broken and generated relatively smaller molecules. The adsorption capacity of IMI on PA MPs decreased by 19.2 %, while the adsorption capacity of IMI on PLA MPs increased by 41.2 % after photo-aging. This depended on the natural structure of the MPs and their ability to absorb ultraviolet light. The electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonds, van der Waals interactions, and polar-polar interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms of IMI on MPs. High initial solution pH and low ionic strength favored the adsorption of IMI by altering charge distribution on the MPs surface. The formation of the humic acid-IMI complexes decreased the concentration of IMI in the water phase and further decreased the adsorption on MPs. These results are enlightening for a scientific comprehension of the environmental behavior of the polar MPs.     

Control strategies for disinfection byproducts by ion exchange resin,nanofiltration and their sequential combination

● Effects of AER adsorption and NF on DBP precursors, DBPs, and TOX were examined. ● A treatment approach of resin adsorption followed by nanofiltration was developed. ● Both DOC and Br⁻ could be effectively removed by the sequential approach. ● DBPs, TOX, and cytotoxicity were significantly reduced by the sequential approach. Disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are emerging pollutants in drinking water with high health risks. Precursor reduction before disinfection is an effective strategy to control the formation of DBPs. In this study, three types of anion exchange resins (AERs) and two types of nanofiltration (NF) membranes were tested for their control effects on DBP precursors, DBPs, and total organic halogen (TOX). The results showed that, for AER adsorption, the removal efficiencies of DBP precursors, DBPs, and TOX increased with the increase of resin dose, and the strong basic macroporous anion exchange resin (M500MB) had the highest removal efficiencies. For NF, the highest removal efficiencies were achieved at an operating pressure of 4 bar, and the membrane (NF90) with a smaller molecular weight cut-off, had a better control efficiency. However, AER adsorption was inefficient in removing dissolved organic carbon (DOC); NF was inefficient in removing Br⁻ resulting in insufficient control of Br-DBPs. Accordingly, a sequential approach of AER (M500MB) adsorption followed by NF (NF90) was developed to enhance the control efficiency of DBPs. Compared with single AER adsorption and single NF, the sequential approach further increased the removal efficiencies of DOC by 19.4%–101.9%, coupled with the high Br⁻ removal efficiency of 92%, and thus improved the reduction of cyclic DBPs and TOX by 3.5%–4.9%, and 2.4%–8.4%, respectively; the sequential approach also reduced the cytotoxicity of the water sample by 66.4%.     

Penicillin fermentation residue biochar as a high-performance electrode for membrane capacitive deionization

● We have provided an activated method to remove the toxicity of antibiotic residue. ● PFRB can greatly improve the salt adsorption capacity of MCDI. ● The hierarchical porous and abundant O/N-doped played the key role for the high-capacity desalination. ● A new field of reuse of penicillin fermentation residue has been developed. Membrane capacitive deionization (MCDI) is an efficient desalination technology for brine. Penicillin fermentation residue biochar (PFRB) possesses a hierarchical porous and O/N-doped structure which could serve as a high-capacity desalination electrode in the MCDI system. Under optimal conditions (electrode weight, voltage, and concentration) and a carbonization temperature of 700 °C, the maximum salt adsorption capacity of the electrode can reach 26.4 mg/g, which is higher than that of most carbon electrodes. Furthermore, the electrochemical properties of the PFRB electrode were characterized through cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) with a maximum specific capacitance of 212.18 F/g. Finally, biotoxicity tests have showed that PFRB was non-biotoxin against luminescent bacteria and the MCDI system with the PFRB electrode remained stable even after 27 adsorption–desorption cycles. This study provides a novel way to recycle penicillin residue and an electrode that can achieve excellent desalination.     

Genome-resolved metagenomic analysis reveals different functional potentials of multiple Candidatus Brocadia species in a full-scale swine wastewater treatment system

● Four Ca. Brocadia species were observed during the spontaneously enrichment. ● Novel anammox species SW510 and SW773 dominated the full-scale ecosystem. ● Urease and cyanase genes were detected in the new anammox genomes. ● Functional differentiation potentially facilitated co-occurrence of anammox species. The increasing application of anammox processes suggests their enormous potential for nitrogen removal in wastewater treatment facilities. However, the functional potentials and ecological differentiation of cooccurring anammox species in complex ecosystems have not been well elucidated. Herein, by utilizing functional reconstruction and comparative genome analysis, we deciphered the cooccurring mechanisms of four Candidatus Brocadia species that were spontaneously enriched in a full-scale swine wastewater treatment system. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that species SW172 and SW745 were closely related to Ca. Brocadia caroliniensis and Ca. Brocadia sapporoensis, respectively, whereas the dominant species SW510 and SW773, with a total average abundance of 34.1%, were classified as novel species of the genus Ca. Brocadia. Functional reconstruction revealed that the novel species SW510 can encode both cytochrome cd₁-type nitrite reductase and hydroxylamine oxidase for nitrite reduction. In contrast, the detected respiratory pentaheme cytochrome c nitrite reductase and acetate kinase genes suggested that SW773 likely reduced nitrite to ammonium with acetate as a carbon source. Intriguingly, the presence of genes encoding urease and cyanase indicated that both novel species can use diverse organic nitrogen compounds in addition to ammonia and nitrite as substrates. Taken together, the recovery and comparative analysis of these anammox genomes expand our understanding of the functional differentiation and cooccurrence of the genus Ca. Brocadia in wastewater treatment systems.     

Highly efficient and selective removal of phosphate from wastewater of sea cucumber aquaculture for microalgae culture using a new adsorption-membrane separation-coordinated strategy

● A new adsorption-membrane separation strategy is used for phosphate removal. ● PVC/Zr-BT shows a selective adsorption ability to low-concentration phosphate. ● Low concentration of P below 0.05 mg/L was achieved in actual wastewater treatment. ● Algal biomass production served as a demonstration of phosphorus recycling. Enhanced phosphorus treatment and recovery has been continuously pursued due to the stringent wastewater discharge regulations and a phosphate supply shortage. Here, a new adsorption-membrane separation strategy was developed for rational reutilization of phosphate from sea cucumber aquaculture wastewater using a Zr-modified-bentonite filled polyvinyl chloride membrane. The as-obtained polyvinyl chloride/Zr-modified-bentonite membrane was highly permeability (940 L/(m²·h)), 1–2 times higher than those reported in other studies, and its adsorption capacity was high (20.6 mg/g) when the phosphate concentration in water was low (5 mg/L). It remained stable under various conditions, such as different pH, initial phosphate concentrations, and the presence of different ions after 24 h of adsorption in a cross-flow filtration system. The total phosphorus and phosphate removal rate reached 91.5% and 95.9%, respectively, after the membrane was used to treat sea cucumber aquaculture wastewater for 24 h and no other water quality parameters had been changed. After the purification process, the utilization of the membrane as a new source of phosphorus in the phosphorus-free f/2 medium experiments indicated the high cultivability of economic microalgae Phaeodactylum tricornutum FACHB-863 and 1.2 times more chlorophyll a was present than in f/2 medium. The biomass and lipid content of the microalgae in the two different media were similar. The innovative polyvinyl chloride/Zr-modified-bentonite membrane used for phosphorus removal and recovery is an important instrument to establish the groundwork for both the treatment of low concentration phosphate from wastewater as well as the reuse of enriched phosphorus in required fields.     

Passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB): An effective configuration to enhance hydraulic performance

● A novel PRB configuration based on passive convergent flow effect was proposed. ● A 2D finite-difference hydrodynamic model, PRB-Flow, was developed. ● PC-PRB can significantly enhance the hydraulic capture capacity of PRB. ● The PRB geometric dimensions and materials cost are effectively reduced. ● The dominant influential factor of the PC-PRB capture width is pipe length, L_p. A novel permeable reactive barrier (PRB) configuration, the so-called passive convergence-permeable reactive barrier (PC-PRB), is proposed to overcome several shortcomings of traditional PRB configurations, such as high dependency to site hydrogeological characteristics and plume size. The PC-PRB is designed to make the plume converge towards the PRB due to the passive hydraulic decompression-convergent flow effect. The corresponding passive groundwater convergence (PC) system is deployed upstream of the PRB system, which consists of passive wells, water pipes, and a buffer layer. A two-dimensional (2D) finite-difference hydrodynamic code, entitled PRB-Flow, is developed to examine the hydraulic performance parameters (i.e., capture width (W) and residence time (t)) of PC-PRB. It is proved that the horizontal 2D capture width (W_h) and vertical 2D capture depth (W_v) of the PC-PRB remarkably increase compared to that of the continuous reactive barrier (C-PRB). The aforementioned relative growth values in order are greater than 50% and 25% in this case study. Therefore, the PRB geometric dimensions as well as the materials cost required for the same plume treatment lessens. The sensitivity analysis reveals that the dominant factors influencing the hydraulic performance of the PC-PRB are the water pipe length (L_p), PRB length (L_PRB), passive well height (H_w), and PRB height (H_PRB). The discrepancy between the W_h of PC-PRB and that of the C-PRB (i.e., ΔW_h) has a low correlation with PRB parameters and mainly depends on L_p, which could dramatically simplify the PC-PRB design procedure. Generally, the proposed PC-PRB exhibits an effective PRB configuration to enhance hydraulic performance.     

Bacteria inactivation by sulfate radical: progress and non-negligible disinfection by-products

● Status of inactivation of pathogenic microorganisms by SO₄^•− is reviewed. ● Mechanism of SO₄^•− disinfection is outlined. ● Possible generation of DBPs during disinfection using SO₄^•− is discussed. ● Possible problems and challenges of using SO₄^•− for disinfection are presented. Sulfate radicals have been increasingly used for the pathogen inactivation due to their strong redox ability and high selectivity for electron-rich species in the last decade. The application of sulfate radicals in water disinfection has become a very promising technology. However, there is currently a lack of reviews of sulfate radicals inactivated pathogenic microorganisms. At the same time, less attention has been paid to disinfection by-products produced by the use of sulfate radicals to inactivate microorganisms. This paper begins with a brief overview of sulfate radicals’ properties. Then, the progress in water disinfection by sulfate radicals is summarized. The mechanism and inactivation kinetics of inactivating microorganisms are briefly described. After that, the disinfection by-products produced by reactions of sulfate radicals with chlorine, bromine, iodide ions and organic halogens in water are also discussed. In response to these possible challenges, this article concludes with some specific solutions and future research directions.     

Frontier science and challenges on offshore carbon storage

● The main direct seal up carbon options and challenges are reviewed. ● Ocean-based CO₂ replacement for CH₄/oil exploitation is presented. ● Scale-advantage of offshore CCS hub is discussed. Carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology is an imperative, strategic, and constitutive method to considerably reduce anthropogenic CO₂ emissions and alleviate climate change issues. The ocean is the largest active carbon bank and an essential energy source on the Earth’s surface. Compared to oceanic nature-based carbon dioxide removal (CDR), carbon capture from point sources with ocean storage is more appropriate for solving short-term climate change problems. This review focuses on the recent state-of-the-art developments in offshore carbon storage. It first discusses the current status and development prospects of CCS, associated with the challenges and uncertainties of oceanic nature-based CDR. The second section outlines the mechanisms, sites, advantages, and ecologic hazards of direct offshore CO₂ injection. The third section emphasizes the mechanisms, schemes, influencing factors, and recovery efficiency of ocean-based CO₂-CH₄ replacement and CO₂-enhanced oil recovery are reviewed. In addition, this review discusses the economic aspects of offshore CCS and the preponderance of offshore CCS hubs. Finally, the upsides, limitations, and prospects for further investigation of offshore CO₂ storage are presented.     

Recent advances in special morphologic photocatalysts for NOx removal

● Systematic information of recent progress in photocatalytic NO _x removal is provided. ● The photocatalysts with special morphologies are reviewed and discussed. ● The morphology and photocatalytic NO _x removal performance is related. The significant increase of NO_x concentration causes severe damages to environment and human health. Light-driven photocatalytic technique affords an ideal solution for the removal of NO_x at ambient conditions. To enhance the performance of NO_x removal, 1D, 2D and 3D photocatalysts have been constructed as the light absorption and the separation of charge carriers can be manipulated through controlling the morphology of the photocatalyst. Related works mainly focused on the construction and modification of special morphologic photocatalyst, including element doping, heterostructure constructing, crystal facet exposing, defect sites introducing and so on. Moreover, the excellent performance of the photocatalytic NO_x removal creates great awareness of the application, which has promising practical applications in NO_x removal by paint (removing NO_x indoor and outdoor) and pavement (degrading vehicle exhausts). For these considerations, recent advances in special morphologic photocatalysts for NO_x removal was summarized and commented in this review. The purpose is to provide insights into understanding the relationship between morphology and photocatalytic performance, meanwhile, to promote the application of photocatalytic technology in NO_x degradation.     

Mechanistic insights into the selective photocatalytic degradation of dyes over TiO2/ZSM-11

● TiO₂/ZSM-11 was prepared by a facile solid state dispersion method. ● Mechanism for photocatalytic degradation of dyes was investigated. ● Both experimental and MD simulations were conducted. ● Chemisorption instead of electrostatic interaction played a critical role. Photocatalytic degradation is a promising way to eliminate dye contaminants. In this work, a series of TiO₂/ZSM-11 (TZ) nanocomposites were prepared using a facile solid state dispersion method. Methyl orange (MO), methylene blue (MB), and rhodamine B (RhB) were intentionally chosen as target substrates in the photocatalytic degradation reactions. Compared to pristine TiO₂, negative effect was observed on MO degradation while promoted kinetics were collected on MB and RhB over TZ composites. Moreover, a much higher photocatalytic rate was interestingly achieved on RhB than MB, which indicated that a new factor has to be included other than the widely accepted electrostatic interaction mechanism to fully understand the selective photodegradation reactions. Systematic characterizations showed that TiO₂ and ZSM-11 physically mixed and maintained both the whole framework and local structure without chemical interaction. The different trends observed in surface area and the photo-absorption ability of TZ composites with reaction performance further excluded both as the promotion mechanism. Instead, adsorption energies predicted by molecular dynamics simulations suggested that differences in the adsorption strength played a critical role. This work provided a deep mechanistic understanding of the selective photocatalytic degradation of dyes reactions, which helps to rationally design highly efficient photocatalysts.     

Electrocatalytic biofilm reactor for effective and energy-efficient azo dye degradation: the synergistic effect of MnOx/Ti flow-through anode and biofilm on the cathode

● MnO _x /Ti flow-through anode was coupled with the biofilm-attached cathode in ECBR. ● ECBR was able to enhance the azo dye removal and reduce the energy consumption. ● Mn^IV=O generated on the electrified MnO _x /Ti anode catalyzed the azo dye oxidation. ● Aerobic heterotrophic bacteria on the cathode degraded azo dye intermediate products. ● Biodegradation of intermediate products was stimulated under the electric field. Dyeing wastewater treatment remains a challenge. Although effective, the in-series process using electrochemical oxidation as the pre- or post-treatment of biodegradation is long. This study proposes a compact dual-chamber electrocatalytic biofilm reactor (ECBR) to complete azo dye decolorization and mineralization in a single unit via anodic oxidation on a MnO_x/Ti flow-through anode followed by cathodic biodegradation on carbon felts. Compared with the electrocatalytic reactor with a stainless-steel cathode (ECR-SS) and the biofilm reactor (BR), the ECBR increased the chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal efficiency by 24 % and 31 % (600 mg/L Acid Orange 7 as the feed, current of 6 mA), respectively. The COD removal efficiency of the ECBR was even higher than the sum of those of ECR-SS and BR. The ECBR also reduced the energy consumption (3.07 kWh/kg COD) by approximately half compared with ECR-SS. The advantages of the ECBR in azo dye removal were attributed to the synergistic effect of the MnO_x/Ti flow-through anode and cathodic biofilms. Catalyzed by Mn^IV=O generated on the MnO_x/Ti anode under a low applied current, azo dyes were oxidized and decolored. The intermediate products with improved biodegradability were further mineralized by the cathodic aerobic heterotrophic bacteria (non-electrochemically active) under the stimulation of the applied current. Taking advantage of the mutual interactions among the electricity, anode, and bacteria, this study provides a novel and compact process for the effective and energy-efficient treatment of azo dye wastewater.     

Differences in distributions,assembly mechanisms,and putative interactions of AOB and NOB at a large spatial scale

● Nitrifiers in WWTP were investigated at large spatial scale. ● AOB populations varied greatly but NOB populations were similar among cities. ● Drift dominated both AOB and NOB assembling processes. ● DO did not show a significant effect on NOB. ● NOB tended to cooperate with AOB and non-nitrifying microorganisms. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) play crucial roles in removing nitrogen from sewage in wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) to protect water resources. However, the differences in ecological properties and putative interactions of AOB and NOB in WWTPs at a large spatial scale remain unclear. Hence, 132 activated sludge (AS) samples collected from 11 cities across China were studied by utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequencing technology. Results indicated that Nitrosomonas and Nitrosospira accounted for similar ratios of the AOB community and might play nearly equal roles in ammonia oxidation in AS. However, Nitrospira greatly outnumbered other NOB genera, with proportions varying from 94.7% to 99.9% of the NOB community in all WWTPs. Similar compositions and, hence, a low distance–decay turnover rate of NOB (0.035) across China were observed. This scenario might have partly resulted from the high proportions of homogenizing dispersal (~13%). Additionally, drift presented dominant roles in AOB and NOB assembling mechanisms (85.2% and 81.6% for AOB and NOB, respectively). The partial Mantel test illustrated that sludge retention time and temperature were the primary environmental factors affecting AOB and NOB communities. Network results showed that NOB played a leading role in maintaining module structures and node connections in AS. Moreover, most links between NOB and other microorganisms were positive, indicating that NOB were involved in complex symbioses with bacteria in AS.     

Property-performance relationship of core-shell structured black TiO2 photocatalyst for environmental remediation

● Properties and performance relationship of CSBT photocatalyst were investigated. ● Properties of CSBT were controlled by simply manipulating glycerol content. ● Performance was linked to semiconducting and physicochemical properties. ● CSBT (W:G ratio 9:1) had better performance with lower energy consumption. ● Phenols were reduced by 48.30% at a cost of $2.4127 per unit volume of effluent. Understanding the relationship between the properties and performance of black titanium dioxide with core-shell structure (CSBT) for environmental remediation is crucial for improving its prospects in practical applications. In this study, CSBT was synthesized using a glycerol-assisted sol-gel approach. The effect of different water-to-glycerol ratios (W:G = 1:0, 9:1, 2:1, and 1:1) on the semiconducting and physicochemical properties of CSBT was investigated. The effectiveness of CSBT in removing phenolic compounds (PHCs) from real agro-industrial wastewater was studied. The CSBT synthesized with a W:G ratio of 9:1 has optimized properties for enhanced removal of PHCs. It has a distinct core-shell structure and an appropriate amount of Ti³⁺ cations (11.18%), which play a crucial role in enhancing the performance of CSBT. When exposed to visible light, the CSBT performed better: 48.30% of PHCs were removed after 180 min, compared to only 21.95% for TiO₂ without core-shell structure. The CSBT consumed only 45.5235 kWh/m³ of electrical energy per order of magnitude and cost $2.4127 per unit volume of treated agro-industrial wastewater. Under the conditions tested, the CSBT demonstrated exceptional stability and reusability. The CSBT showed promising results in the treatment of phenols-containing agro-industrial wastewater.     

The impact of different voltage application modes on biodegradation of chloramphenicol and shift of microbial community structure

● Presented coupled system enhanced biodegradation of antibiotic chloramphenicol. ● HRT and electrical stimulation modes were key influencing factors. ● Electrical stimulation had little effect on the chloramphenicol metabolic pathway. ● Microbial community structure varied with the voltage application mode. Exoelectrogenic biofilms have received considerable attention for their ability to enhance electron transfer between contaminants and electrodes in bioelectrochemical systems. In this study, we constructed anaerobic-aerobic-coupled upflow bioelectrochemical reactors (AO-UBERs) with different voltage application modes, voltages and hydraulic retention times (HRTs). In addition, we evaluated their capacity to remove chloramphenicol (CAP). AO-UBER can effectively mineralize CAP and its metabolites through electrical stimulation when an appropriate voltage is applied. The CAP removal efficiencies were ~81.1%±6.1% (intermittent voltage application mode) and 75.2%±4.6% (continuous voltage application mode) under 0.5 V supply voltage, which were ~21.5% and 15.6% greater than those in the control system without voltage applied, respectively. The removal efficiency is mainly attributed to the anaerobic chamber. High-throughput sequencing combined with catabolic pathway analysis indicated that electrical stimulation selectively enriched Megasphaera, Janthinobacterium, Pseudomonas, Emticicia, Zoogloea, Cloacibacterium and Cetobacterium, which are capable of denitrification, dechlorination and benzene ring cleavage, respectively. This study shows that under the intermittent voltage application mode, AO-UBERs are highly promising for treating antibiotic-contaminated wastewater.     

Technologies for pollutant removal and resource recovery from blackwater: a review

● Blackwater is the main source of organics and nutrients in domestic wastewater. ● Various treatment methods can be applied for resource recovery from blackwater. ● Blackwater treatment systems of high integration and efficiency are the future trend. ● More research is needed for the practical use of blackwater treatment systems. Blackwater (BW), consisting of feces, urine, flushing water and toilet paper, makes up an important portion of domestic wastewater. The improper disposal of BW may lead to environmental pollution and disease transmission, threatening the sustainable development of the world. Rich in nutrients and organic matter, BW could be treated for resource recovery and reuse through various approaches. Aimed at providing guidance for the future development of BW treatment and resource recovery, this paper presented a literature review of BWs produced in different countries and types of toilets, including their physiochemical characteristics, and current treatment and resource recovery strategies. The degradation and utilization of carbon (C), nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) within BW are underlined. The performance of different systems was classified and summarized. Among all the treating systems, biological and ecological systems have been long and widely applied for BW treatment, showing their universality and operability in nutrients and energy recovery, but they are either slow or ineffective in removal of some refractory pollutants. Novel processes, especially advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), are becoming increasingly extensively studied in BW treatment because of their high efficiency, especially for the removal of micropollutants and pathogens. This review could serve as an instructive guidance for the design and optimization of BW treatment technologies, aiming to help in the fulfilment of sustainable human excreta management.