Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs)-associated protobiofilm: A neglected contributor to biofouling during membrane filtration

• Bacteria could easily and quickly attached onto TEP to form protobiofilms. • TEP-protobiofilm facilitate the transport of bacteria to membrane surface. • More significant flux decline was observed in the presence of TEP-protobiofilms. • Membrane fouling shows higher sensitivity to protobiofilm not to bacteria level. Transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs) are a class of transparent gel-like polysaccharides, which have been widely detected in almost every kind of feed water to membrane systems, including freshwater, seawater and wastewater. Although TEP have been thought to be related to the membrane fouling, little information is currently available for their influential mechanisms and the pertinence to biofouling development. The present study, thus, aims to explore the impact of TEPs on biofouling development during ultrafiltration. TEP samples were inoculated with bacteria for several hours before filtration and the formation of “protobiofilm” (pre-colonized TEP by bacteria) was examined and its influence on biofouling was determined. It was observed that the bacteria can easily and quickly attach onto TEPs and form protobiofilms. Ultrafiltration experiments further revealed that TEP-protobiofilms served as carriers which facilitated and accelerated transport of bacteria to membrane surface, leading to rapid development of biofouling on the ultrafiltration membrane surfaces. Moreover, compared to the feed water containing independent bacteria and TEPs, more flux decline was observed with TEP-protobiofilms. Consequently, it appeared from this study that TEP-protobiofilms play a vital role in the development of membrane biofouling, but unfortunately, this phenomenon has been often overlooked in the literature. Obviously, these findings in turn may also challenge the current understanding of organic fouling and biofouling as membrane fouling caused by TEP-protobiofilm is a combination of both. It is expected that this study might promote further research in general membrane fouling mechanisms and the development of an effective mitigation strategy.     

2010—2019年台州市市区降水化学组成特征及变化趋势

为了解台州市市区大气降水化学成分组成特征及变化规律,对2010—2019年台州市市区降水监测数据进行了统计分析。结果表明:2010—2019年降水样品pH为4.20～4.84夏高冬低,强酸性降水频率下降显著,电导率平均值为3.16 mS/cm。SO_4~(2-)和NO_3~-是降水中最主要的阴离子,NH_4~+和Ca~(2+)是降水中最主要的阳离子。Ca~(2+)浓度在2018年开始有所抬升,SO_4~(2-)和NO_3~-浓度整体呈波动下降趋势。SO_4~(2-)与NO_3~-浓度比均值为1.50,呈下降趋势,同大气中SO_2与NO_2的质量浓度比变化趋势基本一致。SO_4~(2-)和NO_3~-相关性显著,Cl~-、Na~+及Mg~(2+)三者之间具有较好相关性。降水与气态污染物相关性不大,对颗粒物有明显冲刷去除作用。SO_2和NO_x的排放量显著下降,酸雨污染呈现改善过程。     

加速溶剂萃取-固相萃取-高效液相色谱/三重四级杆质谱法测定土壤中6种喹诺酮类抗生素残留

为测定污染土壤中的6种低残留喹诺酮类抗生素(氧氟沙星、培氟沙星、恩诺沙星、环丙沙星、诺氟沙星、恶喹酸),全面优化了一种联合加速溶剂萃取(ASE)、固相萃取(SPE)和高效液相色谱/三重四级杆质谱(HPLC/MSMS) 3种检测技术的分析方法。样品采用甲醇和0.1 mol/L EDTA-McIlvaine缓冲液(1∶1)进行加速溶剂萃取,经Bond Elut Plexa型HLB固相萃取小柱富集纯化,土壤中6种喹诺酮类抗生素的基质效应因子控制在0.84～1.04。在0.2～100.0μg/L(以恶喹酸计)质量浓度范围内,目标化合物的线性关系良好(r0.999),6种目标化合物的检出限为0.09～0.75μg/kg,加标回收率为60.9%～89.9%。该方法自动化程度和准确度较高,可极大程度地降低基质效应,提高测定方法的灵敏度,适用于土壤中喹诺酮类抗生素残留的检测。     

阳澄湖水源中典型嗅味物质测定与来源分析

以阳澄湖水源为研究对象,采用固相微萃取-气质联用法测定水中2-甲基异莰醇(2-MIB)、土臭素(GSM)、2,4,6-三氯苯甲醚(2,4,6-TAC)、2,3,4-三氯苯甲醚(2,3,4-TAC)、2,3,6-三氯苯甲醚(2,3,6-TAC)、2-异丙基-3甲氧基吡嗪(IPMP)、2-异丁基-3甲氧基吡嗪(IBMP)、β-环柠檬醛、β-紫罗兰酮、异氟尔酮等10种典型嗅味物质,并分析可能的来源藻类.以2018年1月-12月阳澄湖水源中优势藻种为基础,建立以上述嗅味物质为变量的多元线性回归模型.结果表明,水源中2-MIB、GSM、β-环柠檬醛、β-紫罗兰酮、异氟尔酮5种嗅味物质与直链藻、针杆藻、鱼腥藻、色球藻、颤藻、微囊藻、束丝藻7种藻类有较强的相关性.     

Remediation of arsenic contaminated soil by sulfidated zero-valent iron

• Sulfidation significantly enhanced As(V) immobilization in soil by zerovalent iron. • S-ZVI promoted the conversion of exchangeable As to less mobile Fe-Mn bound As. • Column test further confirmed the feasibility of sulfidated ZVI on As retention. • S-ZVI amendment and magnetic separation markedly reduced TCLP leachability of As. In this study, the influences of sulfidation on zero-valent iron (ZVI) performance toward As(V) immobilization in soil were systemically investigated. It was found that, compared to unamended ZVI, sulfidated ZVI (S-ZVI) is more favorable to immobilize As(V) in soil and promote the conversion of water soluble As to less mobile Fe-Mn bound As. Specifically, under the optimal S/Fe molar ratio of 0.05, almost all of the leached As could be sequestrated by>0.5 wt.% S-ZVI within 3 h. Although the presence of HA could decrease the desorption of As from soil, HA inhibited the reactivity of S-ZVI to a greater extent. Column experiments further proved the feasibility of applying S-ZVI on soil As(V) immobilization. More importantly, to achieve a good As retention performance, S-ZVI should be fully mixed with soil or located on the downstream side of As migration. The test simulating the flooding conditions in rice culture revealed there was also a good long-term stability of soil As(V) after S-ZVI remediation, where only 0.7% of As was desorbed after 30 days of incubation. Magnetic separation was employed to separate the immobilized As(V) from soil after S-ZVI amendment, where the separation efficiency was found to be dependent of the iron dosage, liquid to soil ratio, and reaction time. Toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) tests revealed that the leachability of As from soil was significantly reduced after the S-ZVI amendment and magnetic separation treatment. All these findings provided some insights into the remediation of As(V)-polluted soil by ZVI.     

The performance of nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes under variable initial Fe/N ratios: The fate of nitrogen and iron species

•Bacterially-mediated coupled N and Fe processes examined in incubation experiments. •NO₃⁻ reduction was considerably inhibited as initial Fe/N ratio increased. •The maximum production of N₂ occurred at an initial Fe/N molar ratio of 6. •Fe minerals produced at Fe/N ratios of 1–2 were mainly easily reducible oxides. The Fe/N ratio is an important control on nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes that occur both in the aquatic environment and in wastewater treatment systems. The response of nitrate reduction, Fe oxidation, and mineral production to different initial Fe/N molar ratios in the presence of Paracoccus denitrificans was investigated in 132 h incubation experiments. A decrease in the nitrate reduction rate at 12 h occurred as the Fe/N ratio increased. Accumulated nitrite concentration at Fe/N ratios of 2–10 peaked at 12–84 h, and then decreased continuously to less than 0.1 mmol/L at the end of incubation. N₂O emission was promoted by high Fe/N ratios. Maximum production of N₂ occurred at a Fe/N ratio of 6, in parallel with the highest mole proportion of N₂ resulting from the reduction of nitrate (81.2%). XRD analysis and sequential extraction demonstrated that the main Fe minerals obtained from Fe(II) oxidation were easily reducible oxides such as ferrihydrite (at Fe/N ratios of 1–2), and easily reducible oxides and reducible oxides (at Fe/N ratios of 3–10). The results suggest that Fe/N ratio potentially plays a critical role in regulating N₂, N₂O emissions and Fe mineral formation in nitrate-reducing Fe(II) oxidation processes.     

南京市典型地区大气多环芳烃污染特征及健康风险评价

采用气相色谱-质谱法,于2016年9月和12月对南京市2个典型地区大气中16种多环芳烃(PAHs)的质量浓度进行分析,并开展了PAHs组成特征、来源解析及人体健康风险评价研究。结果表明,工业区(六合区)和生活区(江宁区)大气(气态和可吸入颗粒态)中16种PAHs的质量浓度分别为914.82和712.27 ng/m~3,苯并[a]芘毒性等效浓度分别为274.1和309.84 ng/m~3,且呈现冬季高、秋季低的特征。比值法源解析结果表明,燃煤污染是六合区PAHs污染主要来源,而江宁区主要表现为交通污染。人体健康风险评价结果表明,六合区和江宁区人群通过大气吸入PAHs的超额致癌风险分别为5.17×10~(-5)和5.85×10~(-5),均略高于可接受水平10~(-6)。     

达州市城区环境空气质量变化趋势及CMAQ模型预报分析

利用Spearman秩相关系数法、污染日历图、浓度分析法和CMAQ预测模型研究了达州市城区2015—2019年空气质量状况。结果表明:2015—2019年,达州市城区O_3浓度变化趋势为显著上升(P0.05),季度变化明显,8月易发生因O_3超标导致的轻度污染状况;CO年均值变化趋势为显著降低(P0.05);NO_2年均值呈上升趋势,但尚未达到显著水平(P0.05);SO_2、PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)年均值呈下降趋势,但变化趋势不明显(P0.05)。2019年,1月和12月污染最重,PM_(2.5)超标是主因,PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)年均值达标形势严峻,全年一半以上天数的PM_(2.5)浓度超过年均值二级标准限值,PM_(10)也近半;NO_2年均值达标形势严峻,全年212 d超过年均值二级标准限值。CMAQ模型对不同污染指标的预测准确率不同,预测PM_(2.5)浓度、首要污染物和空气质量等级时的准确率不及人工预测,预测AQI时的准确率高于人工预测,更多污染指标的预测比较还有待进一步研究。     

Spatial analysis of resources and environmental carrying capacity in Iran

Urbanization and mass movement of the population from rural areas and small cities to megacities have led to environmental, economic, and social problems in Iran. In dealing with these challenges, assessing resource and environmental carrying capacity (RECC) is considered an effective method to leverage space and capital to achieve sustainable development. This study aimed to rank the provincial RECC in Iran. Toward this purpose, environmental indices were generated from remotely sensed and statistical census data. Then, the provinces were scored in terms of environmental, economic, and infrastructural carrying capacities, and RECC using the mean variance analysis method. Results demonstrated that in most areas, there is no relationship between economic and infrastructural capacities and development. Statistically, a correlation coefficient of −0.53 between economic and environmental carrying capacities indicated excessive use of environmental capacities. Moreover, the spatial distribution pattern of environmental, economic, and infrastructural carrying capacity was entirely heterogeneous between the provinces; there was a northeast–southwest pattern in terms of infrastructural capacity and an economic pattern from north to south. The distribution pattern of RECC is most consistent with the environmental capacity, pointing at the high weight of the indicators of the RECC model. In conclusion, this research offers a new vision for policymakers and provides a theoretical and applicable framework for implementing sustainable strategies in land-use planning. It is recommended that the RECC concept and tools can be used not only for planning but also for measuring the efficiency of spatial development programs and establishing land balances in the region.     

Efficient removal of Cr(VI) by a 3D Z-scheme TiO2-ZnxCd1-xS graphene aerogel via synergy of adsorption and photocatalysis under visible light

Efficient and robust photocatalysts for environmental pollutants removal with outstanding stability have great significance. Herein, we report a kind of three dimensional (3D) photocatalyst presented as Z-scheme heterojunction, which combining TiO 2 and Zn x Cd 1- x S with graphene aerogel to contrast TiO 2 -Zn x Cd 1- x S graphene aerogel (TSGA, x = 0.5) through a moderate hydrothermal process. The as-prepared Z-scheme TSGA was used to remove aqueous Cr(VI) via a synergistic effect of adsorption and visible light photocatalysis. The adsorption equilibrium can be reached about 40 min, then after about 30 min irradiation under visible light (wavelength ( λ) > 420 nm) the removal rate of Cr(VI) almost reached 100%, which is much better than the performance of pristine TiO 2 and Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S, as well as TiO 2 graphene aerogel (TGA) and Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S graphene aerogel (SGA). The virulent Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) with hypotoxicity after photocatalysis on TSGA, meanwhile the as-synthesized TSGA presented a good stability and reusability. The reduced graphene oxide (rGO) sheets between TiO 2 and Zn 0.5 Cd 0.5 S played a role as charge transfer mediator, promoting the photoinduced electrons transfer and photocatalysis ability of TSGA was enhanced significantly. Hence,such photocatalyst exhibits a potential application on removing heavy metals with high efficiency and stability from polluted aqueous environment.