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...     

武汉地区夏季和秋冬季大气污染的天气概念模型

利用2013～2019年武汉市生态环境局监测数据、L波段雷达探空资料、NCEP/NCAR逐日再分析资料,对夏季和秋冬季武汉地区污染日的大气污染特征、边界层结构、环流形势、物理量场进行研究,建立了武汉地区大气污染的天气概念模型.主要结论如下:(1)武汉市空气质量具有季节性变化特征,大气污染程度四季分布表现为冬＞秋＞春＞夏.夏季首要污染物是臭氧,冬季首要污染物是PM2.5.(2)比较挑选出的夏季清洁日和污染日的气象要素特征,污染日逆温的平均强度约为清洁日的一倍,逆温底高一般在600 m以下,空气质量一般为轻度-中度污染;静风频率(37.1％)明显高于清洁日的静风频率(2.9％);污染日平均风速小(0.8 m/s),边界层内相对湿度较低.同样比较秋冬季两类天气的气象要素特征,污染日逆温底高低、厚度小,不及清洁日的一半,不利于污染物的扩散,易出现重度污染天气.静风频率(20％)高于清洁日的静风频率(7.5％),风速小(1.6 m/s),污染日边界层内呈明显上千下湿的格局.(3)建立了夏季大气污染的天气概念模型,污染日副高偏弱位置偏东,长江流域易少雨干旱;地面我国东部大范围地区处于均压场中,武汉地区为偏东北异常小风,不利于大气污染物的扩散.(4)建立了秋冬季大气污染的天气概念模型,长江流域环流平直少波动,配合地面弱低压的天气形势和较强的逆温使得大气污染物聚集在近地面.蒙古冷高压强度偏弱,使得入侵我国的冷空气强度偏弱;武汉地区为偏北小风,对雾霾的移除和稀释扩散作用差.该研究结论可供大气污染预测预警研究和环境管理部门大气污染的联防联控参考.     

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。     

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...     

Exogenously applied oxalic acid assists in the phytoremediation of Mn by Polygonum pubescens Blume cultivated in three Mn-contaminated soils

• The OA supply significantly increased the water-extractable Mn in all soils. • All OA supply levels promoted plant growth in unexplored soil. • Low OA supply level promoted plant growth in explored and tailing soils. • OA amendment increased the Mn concentrations and total Mn in P. pubescens. • P. pubescens experienced less Mn stress in unexplored soil than in the other two soils. The current study evaluated the effects of oxalic acid (OA) application on the growth and Mn phytoremediation efficiency of Polygonum pubescens Blume cultivated in three different manganese (Mn)-contaminated soils sampled from an unexplored area (US), an explored area (ES) and a tailing area (TS) of the Ertang Mn mine, South China. The supplied levels of OA were 0 (control), 1 (low level), 3 (medium level), and 9 (high level) mmol/kg, referred to as CK, OA1, OA3 and OA9, respectively. The results revealed that the average water-extractable Mn concentrations US, ES and TS amended with OA increased by 214.13, 363.77 and 266.85%, respectively. All OA supply levels increased plant growth and Mn concentrations in US. The low OA supply level increased plant growth in ES and TS; however, contrasting results were found for the medium and high OA supply levels. Plant Mn concentrations and total Mn increased in ES and TS in response to all OA supply levels. Total Mn in the aerial parts increased by 81.18, 44.17 and 83.17% in US, ES and TS, respectively; the corresponding percentages for the whole plants were 81.53, 108.98 and 77.91%, respectively. The rate of ·O₂⁻ production and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentrations increased in response to OA amendment, especially the medium and high OA supply levels in ES and TS. In general, antioxidant enzymes might play a vital role in alleviating Mn stress in plants cultivated in US, while non-enzymatic antioxidants might be the main factor for plants cultivated in ES and TS.     

An asymmetric analysis of the impacts of energy use on carbon dioxide emissions in the G7 countries

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The foremost theme of the paper is to explore the asymmetric/symmetric impact of energy consumption on the carbon dioxide emission of G7 countries...     

Effect of Anthropogenic Factors on the Ability of Narrow-skulled Voles (Lasiopodomys gregalis) to Adapt to Captive Conditions

Russian Journal of Ecology - To test the hypothesis that animals from habitats exposed to high anthropogenic pressure are more successful in adapting to captivity, immature narrow-skulled voles...     

The application of system dynamics in different practices of a waste management system

The continuous increase in waste generation warrants global management of waste to reduce the adverse economic, social, and environmental impact of waste while achieving goals for sustainability. The complexity of waste management systems due to different waste management practices renders such systems difficult to analyze. System dynamics (SD) approach aids in conceptualizing and analyzing the structure, interactions, and mode of behavior of the complex systems. The impact of the underlying components can therefore be assessed in an integrated way while the impact of possible policies on the system can be studied to implement appropriate decisions. This review summarizes various applications of SD pertinent to the waste management practices in different countries. Practices may include waste generation, reduction, reuse/recovery, recycling, and disposal. Each study supports regional-demanding targets in environmental, social, and economic scopes such as expanding landfill life span, implementing proper disposal fee, global warming mitigation, energy generation/saving, etc. The interacting variables in the WMS are specifically determined based on the defined problem, ultimate goal, and the type of waste. Generally, population and gross domestic product can increase the waste generation. An increase in waste reduction, source separation, and recycling rate could decrease the environmental impact, but it is not necessarily profitable from an economic perspective. Incentives to separate waste and knowledge about waste management are variables that always have a positive impact on the entire system.

     

Evaluation of the technoeconomic feasibility of electrochemical hydrogen peroxide production for decentralized water treatment

• Gas diffusion electrode (GDE) is a suitable setup for practical water treatment. • Electrochemical H₂O₂ production is an economically competitive technology. • High current efficiency of H₂O₂ production was obtained with GDE at 5–400 mA/cm². • GDE maintained high stability for H₂O₂ production for ~1000 h. • Electro-generation of H₂O₂ enhances ibuprofen removal in an E-peroxone process. This study evaluated the feasibility of electrochemical hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) production with gas diffusion electrode (GDE) for decentralized water treatment. Carbon black-polytetrafluoroethylene GDEs were prepared and tested in a continuous flow electrochemical cell for H₂O₂ production from oxygen reduction. Results showed that because of the effective oxygen transfer in GDEs, the electrode maintained high apparent current efficiencies (ACEs,>80%) for H₂O₂ production over a wide current density range of 5–400 mA/cm², and H₂O₂ production rates as high as ~202 mg/h/cm² could be obtained. Long-term stability test showed that the GDE maintained high ACEs (>85%) and low energy consumption (<10 kWh/kg H₂O₂) for H₂O₂ production for 42 d (~1000 h). However, the ACEs then decreased to ~70% in the following 4 days because water flooding of GDE pores considerably impeded oxygen transport at the late stage of the trial. Based on an electrode lifetime of 46 days, the overall cost for H₂O₂ production was estimated to be ~0.88 $/kg H₂O₂, including an electricity cost of 0.61 $/kg and an electrode capital cost of 0.27 $/kg. With a 9 cm² GDE and 40 mA/cm² current density, ~2–4 mg/L of H₂O₂ could be produced on site for the electro-peroxone treatment of a 1.2 m³/d groundwater flow, which considerably enhanced ibuprofen abatement compared with ozonation alone (~43%–59% vs. 7%). These findings suggest that electrochemical H₂O₂ production with GDEs holds great promise for the development of compact treatment technologies for decentralized water treatment at a household and community level.