Electricity-driven ammonia oxidation and acetate production in microbial electrosynthesis systems

• MES was constructed for simultaneous ammonia removal and acetate production. • Energy consumption was different for total nitrogen and ammonia nitrogen removal. • Energy consumption for acetate production was about 0.04 kWh/g. • Nitrate accumulation explained the difference of energy consumption. • Transport of ammonia and acetate across the membrane deteriorated the performance. Microbial electrosynthesis (MES) is an emerging technology for producing chemicals, and coupling MES to anodic waste oxidation can simultaneously increase the competitiveness and allow additional functions to be explored. In this study, MES was used for the simultaneous removal of ammonia from synthetic urine and production of acetate from CO₂. Using graphite anode, 83.2%±5.3% ammonia removal and 28.4%±9.9% total nitrogen removal was achieved, with an energy consumption of 1.32 kWh/g N for total nitrogen removal, 0.45 kWh/g N for ammonia nitrogen removal, and 0.044 kWh/g for acetate production. Using boron-doped diamond (BDD) anode, 70.9%±12.1% ammonia removal and 51.5%±11.8% total nitrogen removal was obtained, with an energy consumption of 0.84 kWh/g N for total nitrogen removal, 0.61 kWh/g N for ammonia nitrogen removal, and 0.043 kWh/g for acetate production. A difference in nitrate accumulation explained the difference of total nitrogen removal efficiencies. Transport of ammonia and acetate across the membrane deteriorated the performance of MES. These results are important for the development of novel electricity-driven technologies for chemical production and pollution removal.     

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.     

The influence of antibiotics on the anammox process — a review

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox) is one of the most promising processes for the treatment of ammonium-rich wastewater. It is more effective,...     

Lifestyle and environmental factors may induce airway and systemic inflammation in firefighters

Health status depends on multiple genetic and non-genetic factors. Nonheritable factors (such as lifestyle and environmental factors) have stronger impact on immune responses than genetic factors. Firefighters work is associated with exposure to air pollution and heat stress, as well as: extreme physical effort, mental stress, or a changed circadian rhythm, among others. All these factors can contribute to both, short-term and long-term impairment of the physical and mental health of firefighters. Increased levels of some inflammatory markers, such as pro-inflammatory cytokines or C-reactive protein (CRP) have been observed in firefighters, which can lead to local, acute inflammation that promotes a systemic inflammatory response. It is worth emphasizing that inflammation is one of the main hallmarks of cancer and also plays a key role in the development of cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. This article presents possible causes of the development of an inflammatory reaction in firefighters, with particular emphasis on airway inflammation caused by smoke exposure.

     

Assessment of groundwater vulnerability using remote sensing,susceptibility index,and WetSpass model in an arid region (Biskra,SE Algeria)

Environmental Monitoring and Assessment - Downstream water pollution resulting from anthropogenic pressures on upstream water can cause conflicts, especially in transboundary rivers basins. This...     

桉树生物炭负载绿色合成纳米零价铁去除水中Cr (Ⅵ)

以桉树叶提取物绿色合成的纳米零价铁（nZVI）为主体,使用桉树生物炭（EBC）负载,成功制备一种高效去除Cr （Ⅵ）的复合材料（EBC-nZVI）,考察单一材料和复合材料去除Cr （Ⅵ）的效果差异和循环利用潜力;并研究投加量和溶液初始pH对去除效果的影响.使用GC-MS分析合成前后提取液中成分变化,通过SEM-EDS、FTIR、XRD和XPS对材料表征,结合吸附动力学和吸附等温线实验讨论去除机制.结果表明,绿色合成过程中桉树叶提取液提供了充当还原剂和封端剂的生物分子,复合材料分散性良好并有效缓解nZVI的钝化.复合材料去除Cr （Ⅵ）的过程中EBC和nZVI表现出协同作用,在pH为3,投加量1g·L^-1条件下对100mg·L^-1的Cr （Ⅵ）溶液去除率达到99.5%以上,且具有良好的循环利用潜力.EBC-nZVI吸附过程符合准二级动力学模型和Langmuir吸附等温模型,活性位点与Cr （Ⅵ）的化学吸附过程是去除速率的主要限制因素.EBC-nZVI与Cr （Ⅵ）的反应机制是nZVI和Fe （Ⅱ）将吸附的Cr （Ⅵ）还原为Cr （Ⅲ）,然后通过表面络合、官能团吸附和共沉淀以FeOOH、Fe₂O₃、Cr （OH）₃和Cr₂O₃的形式实现去除.     

中国低碳试点城市碳排放效率时空演变与影响因素

中国提出2030年前实现碳达峰、2060年前实现碳中和的战略目标,提高碳排放效率,推动绿色低碳发展是实现“双碳”目标的重要途径。运用包含非期望产出的Super-SBM模型,测度了2003—2018年中国68个低碳试点城市的碳排放效率并分析其时空演变特征,运用面板回归模型分析城市碳排放效率的影响因素,得出以下结论：（1）低碳试点城市碳排放效率在时间上整体呈上升趋势,效率值从0.169上升至0.423,年均增长率为6.31%,仍有一定的提升空间。（2）低碳试点城市碳排放效率的区域差异呈先缩小后逐渐扩大趋势,空间上呈现“东中西”递减分布格局;从城市等级规模来看呈现“超大城市>特大城市>大城市>中等城市>小城市”特征。（3）经济发展水平、产业结构、城镇化水平、绿色技术创新与试点城市碳排放效率呈显著正相关,外资强度与碳排放效率呈显著负相关,各影响因素对三大地区和不同规模城市的作用程度存在一定的差异性。从创新投入、产业结构和区域差异化等方面提出对策建议,对促进城市绿色低碳发展和生态文明建设具有一定的借鉴意义。     

双Z型MIL-88A(Fe)/Ag3PO4/AgI光芬顿催化剂对染料的去除

以MIL-88A (Fe)为载体,通过原位沉淀法和离子交换法成功合成双Z型三元复合材料MIL-88A (Fe)/Ag₃PO₄/AgI (MAI),并将其应用于光芬顿体系中,高效去除染料废水中的罗丹明B (RhB).棒状的MIL-88A (Fe)作为载体,减少了Ag₃PO₄和AgI颗粒的团聚现象,形成的双Z型异质结减少了电子-空穴对的复合,提高了光催化活性.在催化剂为0.5g/L,初始pH值为3.0,H₂O₂浓度0.4mmol/L的条件下,20min内100mL的20mg/L的RhB可被完全降解,并且在循环5次使用后仍保持较高的催化性能.此外,自由基捕获实验和电子自旋共振实验表明h⁺,O₂^·﹣和HO^·是MAI/Vis/H₂O₂催化体系中的主要活性物质.最后,提出了MAI降解的可能机理.     

Comparison of trace metal bioavailabilities in European coastal waters using mussels from Mytilus edulis complex as biomonitors

Mussels from Mytilus edulis complex were used as biomonitors of the trace metals Fe, Mn, Pb, Zn, and Cu at 17 sampling sites to assess the relative bioavailability of metals in coastal waters around the European continent. Because accumulated metal concentrations in a given area can differ temporally, data were corrected for the effect of season before large-scale spatial comparisons were made. The highest concentration of Fe was noted in the North Sea and of Mn in the Baltic. Increased tissue concentrations of Pb were recorded in the mussels from the Bay of Biscay and the Baltic Sea. Low concentrations of metals were determined in the mussels from the Mediterranean Sea and the Northern Baltic. Relatively low geographic variations of Cu and Zn indicate that mussels are able to partially regulate accumulated body concentrations, which means Cu and Zn are, to some extent, independent of environmental concentrations.     

Fungicidal value of wood tar from pyrolysis of treated wood

The objective of the paper was to estimate the fungicidal value of wood tar extracted as a product of pyrolysis of wood previously treated with either creosote oil or CCB-type salt preservative. The effectiveness of wood treated with one of these two wood tar residuals was compared to the effectiveness of wood treated with virgin creosote oil (type WEI-B) and an untreated control. Wood was impregnated with alcohol solutions of the two extracted preservatives or virgin creosote oil and then subjected to the Coniophora puteana, Poria placenta and Coriolus versicolor fungi. The fungicidal values of the investigated preservatives were determined with the use of the short agar-block method and the aging test according to the standard EN 84. It was found that wood tar extracted by pyrolysis of old creosote-treated wood and then used to treat wood may have potential as a preservative for wood protection or as a component of preservatives.