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.     

A combined radical and non-radical oxidation processes for efficient degradation of Acid Orange 7 in the homogeneous Cu(II)/PMS system: important role of chloride

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Trace copper ion (Cu(II)) in water and wastewater can trigger peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to oxidize organic compounds, but it only works under...     

Characteristics analysis of near-field and far-field aerodynamic noise around high-speed railway bridge

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The aerodynamic noise around the high-speed railway bridge is studied by the train-bridge-flow field numerical model and theory analysis. With the...     

长江经济带数字产业化与产业数字化的耦合协调分析

数字产业化与产业数字化是数字经济的"双重向度",其耦合协调程度对于优化数字经济发展结构具有重要意义.揭示与阐述数字产业化与产业数字化的耦合机理,建立评价两者耦合协调度的理论模型,设计评价两者耦合协调状况及趋势的指标体系,运用长江经济带11省市2013～2018年的面板数据,实证分析长江经济带数字产业化与产业数字化的耦合协调度.结果表明:长江经济带数字产业化水平和产业数字化水平稳步提升,总体耦合协调度区域差异明显,存在数字产业化滞后产业数字化的趋势.从加快推进新型数字产业发展、以"新基建"助力传统产业数字化转型、为区域间数字经济协调发展和区域内数字化转型构建更好制度体系、加强数字人才培养和激励等方面,提出促进我国数字产业化与产业数字化融合发展的政策建议.     

Magnetic graphene-based nanocomposites as highly efficient absorbents for Cr(VI) removal from wastewater

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Due to the merits of their high adsorption and convenient separation, magnetic graphene-based composites have become a promising adsorbent in terms of...     

典型四环素类抗生素的预测无效应浓度和风险评估

四环素类抗生素是一类广谱抗生素,对生态环境存在潜在风险.本研究以四环素和土霉素为研究对象,根据欧盟现有化学物质风险评价技术指导文件(TGD),推导不同环境介质中四环素和土霉素的预测无效应浓度(PNEC),并采用风险商值(RQ)法对我国部分地区水质、淡水沉积物和土壤的暴露风险进行评估.结果 表明,我国水质、淡水沉积物及土壤中四环素的PNEC值分别为0.115 μg·L-1、423 μg·kg-1(湿质量)和57 μg· kg-1(湿质量);土霉素的PNEC值分别为4.93μg·L-1、1.78x104 μg·kg1(湿质量)和3.16×103μg·kg-1(湿质量).淡水沉积物风险区域主要集中在海河,土壤风险区域主要集中在山东省、四川省彭州市、辽宁省沈阳市等,部分区域点位存在潜在的生态风险.研究结论可为四环素类抗生素的生态环境风险评价提供科学依据.     

Enhanced arsenate removal from aqueous solution by Mn-doped MgAl-layered double hydroxides

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, Mn-doped MgAl-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) were successfully synthesized for efficient removal arsenate from aqueous solution. The...     

2016—2017年武汉市城区大气PM2.5污染特征及来源解析

利用2016年1月至2017年9月湖北省环境监测中心站大气复合污染自动监测站的在线监测数据，对武汉市城区PM_2.5的污染特征及主要来源进行解析。结果表明，武汉市城区PM_2.5质量浓度呈现出明显的季节差异，季节变化规律为冬季>春季>秋季>夏季。水溶性离子的主要成分SO₄^2-、NO₃^-和NH₄⁺占总离子质量浓度的82.0%。PM_2.5中阴离子相对阳离子较为亏损，颗粒整体呈碱性。夏季气态污染物的氧化程度较高且SO₂较NO₂氧化程度高。后向轨迹分析结果表明，区域传输是武汉市PM_2.5的一个重要来源，在4个典型重污染阶段，武汉市分别受到局地、东北、西北及西南方向气团传输的影响。PMF模型解析出武汉市PM_2.5五大主要来源及平均贡献率：扬尘22.0%、机动车排放27.7%、二次气溶胶21.6%、重油燃烧14.9%和生物质燃烧13.8%。     

Photochemical degradation kinetics and mechanisms of norfloxacin and oxytetracycline

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The photochemical degradation of norfloxacin (NOR) and oxytetracycline (OTC) was investigated under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. The results...     

Studies on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in two sediment cores from the huaxi reservoir,china: Assessment of levels,sources, and ecological risk

This study investigated the levels, sources and ecological risks of 16 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in two sediment cores that were collected along the Huaxi Reservoir. The spatial distributions and residue levels of the 16 priority PAHs in the sediments from the Huaxi Reservoir were analyzed for their potential ecological risk, source apportionment and contribution to the total PAH residue. The concentration level of the total PAHs (TPAHs) was in the range 1805 ng·g^?1 to 20023 ng·g^?1 based on dry weight, and the content of PAHs in the Huaxi Reservoir exhibited a gradual upward trend. The PAH congener ratios fluoranthene/(fluoranthene + pyrene) and indeno[1, 2, 3-cd]pyrene/(indeno[1, 2, 3-cd]pyrene + benzo[g, h, i]perylene) were used to identify the source. The main source of the low molecular weight PAHs was wood and coal combustion, whereas the high molecular weight PAHs were primarily from petroleum combustion sources. The results of an ecological risk assessment demonstrated that ACE poses a potential ecological risk, while FLU, NAP, ANT, BaP, DBA, PHEN and PYR can have serious ecological risks.