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.     

TiO2@palygorskite composite for the efficient remediation of oil spills via a dispersion-photodegradation synergy

• A novel and multi-functional clay-based oil spill remediation system was constructed. • TiO₂@PAL functions as a particulate dispersant to break oil slick into tiny droplets. • Effective dispersion leads to the direct contact of TiO₂ with oil pollutes directly. • TiO₂ loaded on PAL exhibits efficient photodegradation for oil pollutants. • TiO₂@PAL shows a typical dispersion-photocatalysis synergistic remediation. Removing spilled oil from the water surface is critically important given that oil spill accidents are a common occurrence. In this study, TiO₂@Palygorskite composite prepared by a simple coprecipitation method was used for oil spill remediation via a dispersion-photodegradation synergy. Diesel could be efficiently dispersed into small oil droplets by TiO₂@Palygorskite. These dispersed droplets had an average diameter of 20–30 mm and exhibited good time stability. The tight adsorption of TiO₂@Palygorskite on the surface of the droplets was observed in fluorescence and SEM images. As a particulate dispersant, the direct contact of TiO₂@Palygorskite with oil pollutants effectively enhanced the photodegradation efficiency of TiO₂ for oil. During the photodegradation process, •O₂⁻and •OH were detected by ESR and radical trapping experiments. The photodegradation efficiency of diesel by TiO₂@Palygorskite was enhanced by about 5 times compared with pure TiO₂ under simulated sunlight irradiation. The establishment of this new dispersion-photodegradation synergistic remediation system provides a new direction for the development of marine oil spill remediation.     

鄂西长江小流域土地利用方式对土壤团聚体稳定性的影响

探究土地利用方式对长江中游小流域土壤团聚体稳定性的影响,为鄂西地区土地合理利用与管理以及土壤结构改良提供借鉴.以下牢溪小流域5种不同土地利用方式(柏树林、蔬菜地、石坎农田、撂荒地、天然林)土壤为研究对象,对比分析各土地利用方式间土壤团聚体粒径组成及稳定性差异.结果 表明:(1)柏树林、石坎农田、撂荒地和天然林土壤团聚体以＞2 mm为优势粒级,平均为57.66％,蔬菜地以＜0.25 mm微粒径团聚体为主,均值为60.86％;(2)林地(柏树林和天然林)土壤稳定性和抗蚀性要优于农用地(石坎农田和蔬菜地),耕地撂荒提升团聚体稳定性;(3)分形维数D与破坏率PAD、可蚀性K呈正相关,与团聚体直径(MWD和GMD)和水稳性大团聚体WR0.25呈负相关,分形维数较好反映小流域土壤团聚体的稳定性和抗侵蚀性.对流域内林区的封育是提升土壤结构稳定性的最优管理方式.     

Ultrasound-assisted electrodeposition synthesis of nZVI-Pd/AC toward reductive degradation of methylene blue

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A novel composite (nZVI/Pd-AC) was prepared by loading nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) and Pd on activated carbon (AC) electrode under...     

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...     

基于GC-QTOF/MS的大气中有机污染物的非靶标筛查及半定量分析

本文借助气相色谱-四极杆飞行时间质谱仪(GC-QTOF/MS)开展了大气中有机污染物的非靶标筛查,并对识别出的特征污染物进行半定量分析.基于高分辨质谱数据库和NIST质谱数据库的匹配,样品中共识别出139种污染物,主要以多环芳烃(PAHs)及其衍生物、邻苯二甲酸酯(PAEs)为主;除此之外,还识别出多种尚未受到监管的杂环类化合物,例如苯并噻唑、四甲基哌啶酮、1-甲基-2吡咯烷酮、氧杂蒽等.识别出的有机污染物半定量浓度为288 ng·m-3,其中大气常规监测的16种PAHs的浓度是18.1 ng·m-3,仅占总浓度的6.28％.PAEs的浓度为44.6 ng·m-3,邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)的浓度最高(14.8 ng·m-3).以含氮、氧、硫为主的杂环化合物浓度是47.9 ng·m-3,其中苯并噻唑浓度最高,为9.51 ng·m-3;其次是1-甲基-2吡咯烷酮、四甲基哌啶酮、尼古丁和二苯并呋喃,浓度分别为9.22、8.78、5.11、4.15 ng·m-3.本研究展示了高分辨质谱技术在未知物识别中的优势,并对识别出的特征污染物进行了半定量分析,其结果能够为后期污染物的风险评估提供借鉴意义.     

Effects of intercropping with floricultural accumulator plants on cadmium accumulation in grapevine

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.) intercropping with floricultural cadmium (Cd) accumulator plants (Helianthus annuus L., Cosmos sulphureus Cav., Cosmos...     

Study on evolution of groundwater-lake system in typical prairie open-pit coal mine area

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Due to the drought climate and a large amount of groundwater drainage, there are widespread environmental geological problems in prairie open-pit coal mining...     

资阳市大气污染源排放清单研究

采用实地调研、资料收集等方式获得了2017年资阳市典型污染源的活动水平数据,参照城市大气污染物排放清单编制技术手册建立了基于排放因子法和物料衡算法的资阳市大气污染源排放清单,分析了主要污染物的行业排放特征和空间分布特征。结果表明,2017年资阳市SO₂、NO_X、CO、PM₁₀、PM_2.5、VOCs、NH₃总排放量分别为3.58kt、13.91kt、94.91kt、25.51kt、8.67kt、23.84kt和46.44kt。SO₂排放主要来自工业源;NOX排放主要来自移动源;CO排放主要来自工业过程及移动源;PM₁₀和PM_2.5、排放来自扬尘源和露天秸秆焚烧;VOCs主要来自溶剂使用源;NH₃主要来自农业活动。资阳市主要污染物排放分布在工业点源较为集中的雁江区和安岳县,乐至县污染物排放量相对较小。     

Synthesis of branched allylic sulfones by regioselective boron-catalysed hydrosulfonylation

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Branched allylic sulfones are scaffolds widely distributed in bioactive molecules and organic functional materials. The synthesis of allylic sulfones has been...