UV/H2O2 oxidation of tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate: Intermediate products, degradation pathway and toxicity evaluation

Tri(2-chloroethyl) phosphate (TCEP) with the initial concentration of 5 mg/L was degraded by UV/H₂O₂ oxidation process. The removal rate of TCEP in the UV/H₂O₂ system was 89.1% with the production of Cl^? and PO₄^3? of 0.23 and 0.64 mg/L. The removal rate of total organic carbon of the reaction was 48.8% and the pH reached 3.3 after the reaction. The oxidative degradation process of TCEP in the UV/H₂O₂ system obeyed the first order kinetic reaction with the apparent rate constant of 0.0025 min^?1 (R²=0.9788). The intermediate products were isolated and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometer. The addition reaction of HO? and H₂O and the oxidation reaction with H₂O₂ were found during the degradation pathway of 5 mg/L TCEP in the UV/H₂O₂ system. For the first time, environment risk was estimated via the “ecological structure activity relationships” program and acute and chronic toxicity changes of intermediate products were pointed out. The luminescence inhibition rate of photobacterium was used to evaluate the acute toxicity of intermediate products. The results showed that the toxicity of the intermediate products increased with the increase of reaction time, which may be due to the production of chlorine compounds. Some measures should be introduced to the UV/H₂O₂ system to remove the highly toxic Cl-containing compounds, such as a nanofiltration or reverse osmosis unit.     

Responses of nitrification performance, triclosan resistome and diversity of microbes to continuous triclosan stress in activated sludge system

Triclosan(TCS) is commonly found in wastewater treatment plants,which often affects biological treatment processes.The responses of nitrification,antibiotic resistome and microbial community under different TCS concentrations in activated sludge system were evaluated in this study.The experiment was conducted in a sequencing batch reactor(SBR)for 240 days.Quantitative PCR results demonstrated that the abundance of ammonium oxidizing bacteria could be temporarily inhibited by 1 mg/L TCS and then gradually recovered.And the abundances of nitrite oxidizing bacteria(NOB) under 2.5 and 4 mg/L TCS were three orders of magnitude lower than that of seed sludge,which accounted for partial nitrification.When the addition of TCS was stopped,the abundance of NOB increased.The mass balance experiments of TCS demonstrated that the primary removal pathway of TCS changed from adsorption to biodegradation as TCS was continuously added into the SBR system.Moreover,TCS increased the abundance of mexB,indicating the efflux pump might be the main TCS-resistance mechanism.As a response to TCS,bacteria could secrete more protein(PN) than polysaccharide.Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix revealed that tryptophan PN-like substances might be the main component in PN to resist TCS.High-throughput sequencing found that the relative abundances of Paracoccus,Pseudoxanthomonas and Thauera increased,which could secrete extracellular polymeric substances(EPS).And Sphingopyxis might be the main TCS-degrading bacteria.Overall,TCS could cause partial nitrification and increase the relative abundances of EPS-secreting bacteria and TCS-degrading bacteria.     

Ozone pollution characteristics and sensitivity analysis using an observation-based model in Nanjing, Yangtze River Delta Region of China

Ground-level ozone (O₃) has become a critical pollutant impeding air quality improvement in Yangtze River Delta region of China. In this study, we present O₃ pollution characteristics based on one-year online measurements during 2016 at an urban site in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Then, the sensitivity of O₃ to its precursors during 2 O₃ pollution episodes in August was analyzed using a box model based on observation (OBM). The relative incremental reactivity (RIR) of hydrocarbons was larger than other precursors, suggesting that hydrocarbons played the dominant role in O₃ formation. The RIR values for NO_X ranged from –0.41%/% to 0.19%/%. The O₃ sensitivity was also analyzed based on relationship of simulated O₃ production rates with reductions of VOC and NO_X derived from scenario analyses. Simulation results illustrate that O₃ formation was between VOCs-limited and transition regime. Xylenes and light alkenes were found to be key species in O₃ formation according to RIR values, and their sources were determined using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. Paints and solvent use was the largest contributor to xylenes (54%), while petrochemical industry was the most important source to propene (82%). Discussions on VOCs and NO_X reduction schemes suggest that the 5% O₃ control goal can be achieved by reducing VOCs by 20%. To obtain 10% O₃ control goal, VOCs need to be reduced by 30% with VOCs/NO_X larger than 3:1.     

On-going nitrification in chloraminated drinking water distribution system (DWDS) is conditioned by hydraulics and disinfection strategies

Within the drinking water distribution system (DWDS) using chloramine as disinfectant, nitrification caused by nitrifying bacteria is increasingly becoming a concern as it poses a great challenge for maintaining water quality. To investigate efficient control strategies, operational conditions including hydraulic regimes and disinfectant scenarios were controlled within a flow cell experimental facility. Two test phases were conducted to investigate the effects on the extent of nitrification of three flow rates (Q = 2, 6, and 10 L/min) and four disinfection scenarios (total Cl₂=1 mg/L, Cl₂/NH₃-N=3:1; total Cl₂=1 mg/L, Cl₂/NH₃-N=5:1; total Cl₂=5 mg/L, Cl₂/NH₃-N=3:1; and total Cl₂=5 mg/L, Cl₂/NH₃-N=5:1). Physico-chemical parameters and nitrification indicators were monitored during the tests. The characteristics of biofilm extracellular polymetric substance (EPS) were evaluated after the experiment. The main results from the study indicate that nitrification is affected by hydraulic conditions and the process tends to be severe when the fluid flow transforms from laminar to turbulent (2300<Re<4000). Increasing disinfectant concentration and optimizing Cl₂/NH₃-N mass ratio were found to inhibit nitrification to some extend when the system was running at turbulent condition (Q = 10 L/min, Re = 5535). EPS extracted from biofilm that was established at the flow rate of 6 L/min had greater carbohydrate/protein ratio. Furthermore, several nitrification indicators were evaluated for their prediction efficiency and the results suggest that the change of nitrite, together with total organic carbon (TOC) and turbidity can indicate nitrification potential efficiently.     

Metabolomic modulations in a freshwater microbial community exposed to the fungicide azoxystrobin

An effective broad-spectrum fungicide, azoxystrobin (AZ), has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems, potentially affecting the growth of aquatic microorganisms. In the present study, the eukaryotic alga Monoraphidium sp. and the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena sp. were exposed to AZ for 7 days. Our results showed that 0.2–0.5 mg/L concentrations of AZ slightly inhibited the growth of Monoraphidium sp. but stimulated Pseudanabaena sp. growth. Meanwhile, AZ treatment effectively increased the secretion of total organic carbon (TOC) in the culture media of the two species, and this phenomenon was also found in a freshwater microcosm experiment (containing the natural microbial community). We attempted to assess the effect of AZ on the function of aquatic microbial communities through metabolomic analysis and further explore the potential risks of this compound. The metabonomic profiles of the microcosm indicated that the most varied metabolites after AZ treatment were related to the citrate cycle (TCA), fatty acid biosynthesis and purine metabolism. We thereby inferred that the microbial community increased extracellular secretions by adjusting metabolic pathways, which might be a stress response to reduce AZ toxicity. Our results provide an important theoretical basis for further study of fungicide stress responses in aquatic microcosm microbial communities, as well as a good start for further explorations of AZ detoxification mechanisms, which will be valuable for the evaluation of AZ environmental risk.     

保定市大气污染特征和潜在输送源分析

保定市是京津冀地区重要城市之一.为了解保定市大气污染物质量浓度特征和潜在输送源,对保定市国控点2017年1月1日-12月31日PM₁₀、PM_2.5、SO₂、NO₂、O₃、CO等常规大气污染物数据进行分析,并利用TrajStat后向轨迹模型进行区域传输研究.结果表明:①ρ（PM₁₀）、ρ（PM_2.5）、ρ（SO₂）、ρ（NO₂）分别为（138±96）（84±66）（29±23）和（50±24）μg/m3,与2016年相比分别下降5.9%、9.1%、25.5%和13.1%;ρ（CO）较2016年下降了14.0%;ρ（O₃）较2016年增长了25.2%.ρ（PM₁₀）、ρ（PM_2.5）、ρ（NO₂）和ρ（O₃）分别超过GB 3095-2012《环境空气质量标准》二级标准限值的0.97、1.40、0.25和0.34倍,ρ（SO₂）和ρ（CO）未超标.②除ρ（O₃）外,其他污染物质量浓度均呈冬季最高、夏季最低的季节性特征,其中,冬季PM_2.5污染最为严重,春季PM_2.5~10（粗颗粒物）污染严重.③空气质量模型源解析结果显示,保定市ρ（PM_2.5）约60.0%~70.0%来自本地污染源排放.后向轨迹结果表明,在外来区域传输影响中,保定市主要受到西北方向气团（占比为21.7%~60.0%）远距离传输和正南方向气团（占比为34.8%~50.5%）近距离传输的影响.④PSCF（潜在源贡献因子分析法）和CWT（浓度权重轨迹分析法）分析表明,除保定市及周边区县本地污染贡献外,位于太行山东麓沿线西南传输通道的邯郸市、邢台市、石家庄市是影响保定市PM_2.5的主要潜在源区.研究显示,PM_2.5为保定市大气中的主要污染物,并呈冬季高、夏季低的变化特征,其主要来自西北远距离输送和南部近距离传输.      

废旧阴极-赤泥协同处理烧结熟料的溶出性能

采用XRF,ICP-MS,XRD及SEM-EDS检测手段,研究了废旧阴极-赤泥高温协同处理所得熟料的溶出性能.结果表明,Na₂CO₃浓度,温度,时间及液固比因素对Al₂O₃,Na₂O溶出率TFe₂O₃的富集效果的影响趋势一致.最适宜溶出条件为：Na₂CO₃ 30g/L,温度50℃,时间30min,液固比8.该条件下,熟料中Al₂O₃和Na₂O溶出率分别高达为87.41%和92.51%;相应的SiO₂和CaO溶出率仅为3.02%和0.36%,铁矿物几乎不溶.溶出渣中的TFe₂O₃含量从熟料中23.64%提高到39.89%,研究表明溶出工艺同步实现了熟料中铝、钠的回收和铁的富集.再者,处理后溶出渣较熟料减量近16%（以铝和钠溶出率测算）,且属于非危险性废物.     

组配改良剂联合硅肥对Cd污染稻田的修复效果

选取湖南省浏阳市某Cd污染稻田进行田间试验,研究组配改良剂石灰石+海泡石（LS）、基施硅肥及叶面喷施硅肥对Cd污染稻田修复效果,结果表明：（1）基施硅肥90kg/hm²和叶面喷施硅肥（0.2,0.4g/L）对土壤pH值无明显影响,添加LS（2250,4500kg/hm²）的各处理均显著提高土壤pH值（P < 0.05）.（2）基施硅肥90kg/hm²分别降低土壤交换态、毒性特征浸出（TCLP）提取态Cd含量20.0%和18.5%,叶面喷施硅肥对土壤Cd两种提取态含量无明显影响,添加LS的各处理（2250,4500kg/hm²）分别使土壤交换态、TCLP提取态Cd含量降低25.8%~49.9%、26.4%~44.5%.（3）3种单一技术措施均能明显降低水稻各部位Cd含量,但降低糙米中Cd含量的效果低于3种技术措施的组合处理;“组配改良剂LS+基施硅肥+叶面喷施硅肥”各处理（JL1F1、JL1F2、JL2F1、JL2F2）使水稻糙米中Cd含量降低25.6%~70.5%.（4）“组配改良剂LS+基施硅肥+叶面喷施硅肥”的组合技术处理能显著降低土壤中Cd的有效性,显著降低水稻各部位中Cd含量,其中JL2F2处理效果最佳,能使对照糙米Cd含量从0.66mg/kg降低到0.19mg/kg,实现中重度Cd污染稻田的水稻安全生产.     

基于最大熵模型的福建省红树林潜在适生区评估

本研究利用生物气候、地形、底质类型、海温等环境因子和红树林分布数据建立了福建省红树林分布模型,基于最大熵方法分析了福建省沿岸红树林潜在适生区的空间分布.根据模型输出结果对福建省红树林的生境适宜性进行了评估,识别了影响红树林分布的关键环境因子及其适生值区间,并通过空间叠加分析获取了福建省红树林保护与修复的优先区与空缺区域.结果表明,影响福建省红树林适生区分布格局的主要环境因子包括海表温度、气温和降水等,福建省红树林潜在适生区主要位于沙埕港-三沙湾-兴化湾沿岸、泉州湾-厦门湾-九龙江口沿岸、漳江口-东山湾沿岸等地,其中最优适生区面积约为91km².全省共识别出8处红树林保护与修复的优先区域,现存红树林保护率约为64.4%,保护修复空缺主要出现在沙埕港、三沙湾、罗源湾、福清湾等处,研究结论可为未来福建省红树林保护和修复行动提供科学参考.     

沈阳市郊区环境空气中醛酮类化合物的污染特征与来源分析

为探究沈阳市郊区环境空气中醛酮类化合物的污染特征,于2017年8月24日—9月2日采用2,4-二硝基苯肼固相吸附/高效液相色谱方法对沈阳市郊区醛酮类化合物进行观测分析,利用美国环境保护局推荐的人体健康风险评价方法对部分有毒有害醛酮类化合物的人体健康风险进行了评价,并利用比值法对醛酮类化合物的来源进行了初步分析.结果表明:醛酮类化合物质量浓度日均值范围为23.16~38.38 μg/m3;质量浓度最高的4种醛酮类化合物依次是丙酮、甲醛、正丁醛和乙醛,其质量浓度日均值的平均值分别为8.71、5.90、5.48和2.95 μg/m3.对·OH消耗速率(L_OH)贡献较大的醛酮类化合物物种是正丁醛、甲醛和乙醛,臭氧生成潜势贡献(OFP)较大的醛酮类化合物物种是甲醛、正丁醛和乙醛,在研究区影响醛酮类化合物光化学反应活性的物种主要是甲醛、乙醛和正丁醛.研究区观测期间,环境空气中甲醛和乙醛的致癌性风险值分别为1.18×10-5和5.91×10-6,对暴露人群存在潜在的致癌风险;乙醛的非致癌风险值为0.05,对暴露人群不存在非致癌风险.在研究区的一次臭氧轻度污染过程期间,环境空气中的甲醛和乙醛受天然源排放的挥发性有机物二次转化的影响减弱,甲醛、乙醛和丙酮受到炼焦工业和机动车等人为源排放的影响增强,而正丁醛主要受当地精细化工产业排放的影响.研究显示,沈阳市应加大对炼焦工业、精细化工和机动车来源排放醛酮类化合物的管制,以降低环境空气中活性醛酮类化合物及有毒有害醛酮类化合物的浓度.