Perspectives and applications of nanotechnology in water treatment

Industrialization and excessive use of pesticides for boosting agricultural production have adversely affected the ecosystem, polluting natural water reserves. Remediation of contaminated water has been an area of concern with numerous techniques being applied to improve the quality of naturally available water to the level suitable for human consumption. Most of these methods, however, generate by-products that are sometimes toxic. Heterogenous photocatalysis using metal oxide nanostructures for water purification is an attractive option because no harmful by-products are created. A discussion on possible methods to engineer metal oxides for visible light photocatalysis is included to highlight the use of solar energy for water purification. Multifunctional photocatalytic membranes are considered advantageous over freely suspended nanoparticles due to the ease of its removal from the purified water. An overview of water remediation techniques is presented, highlighting innovations through nanotechnology for possible addressing of problems associated with current techniques.     

Methods to alleviate the inhibition of sludge anaerobic digestion by emerging contaminants: a review

The rising occurrence of emerging contaminants in sludges both inhibits the anaerobic digestion of sludges and induces health issues when sludges are recycled in agriculture, calling for methods to remove contaminants. Here we review emerging pollutants in wastewater treatment plants, before and after anaerobic digestion. We present their inhibitory effects and remediation methods to alleviate inhibition. Pharmaceuticals have been detected in about 50% of the sludge samples. Sewage sludge contaminants include 19% of diuretics, 16–21% of lipid-modifying agents, hydrochlorothiazide, diclofenac, furosemide, clarithromycin, atorvastatin, and carbamazepine. Levels of antibiotics, azithromycin, ciprofloxacin, and estrone range from 500 to 600 ng/g in sludges from wastewater treatment plants. Remediation methods comprise electrooxidation, ultrasonication, thermal hydrolysis, ozonation, and bioaugmentation. Fermenting the sludges with acidogenic bacteria reduces the level of emerging pollutants in the supernatant. Nonetheless, liquid digestates still contains emerging pollutants such as sunscreen octocrylene at 147 ug/L and acetaminophen at 58.6 ug/L. As a result, pretreatment of sludge containing emerging pollutants is required.

     

Recent advances in pharmaceuticals and personal care products in the surface water and sediments in China

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been regarded as an emerging problem in the surface water environment in the past few decades. In China, although related studies were initiated several years ago, an increasing number of studies on this topic have been conducted in recent years. These studies have expanded knowledge of their occurrence, behavior and associated risk in the surface water environment in China. This review compiles the most recent literature related to the studies of PPCPs in the surface water environment in China. It includes PPCP occurrence in surface water and sediments, their geographical distribution, and outcomes of the associated risk assessment. It shows that antibiotics have received much more attention in both surface water and sediments than other PPCPs. Compared to other countries; most antibiotics in the collected sediments in China showed higher contamination levels. Many more study areas have been covered in recent years; however, attention has been given to only specific areas. Environmental risk assessment based on risk quotients indicated that sulfamethoxazole presents the most significant environmental risk to relevant aquatic organisms; followed by ofloxacin, ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, 17α-ethynylestradiol, ibuprofen and diclofenac. Despite limited research on the environmental risk assessment of PPCPs in sediments, higher risks posed by PPCPs in the sediments rather than surface water were identified highlighting the need for further risk assessment of PPCPs in sediment samples.

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Heterogeneous photocatalysis for removal of microbes from water

Increasing water pollution by microbes has become a source of serious health concern across the globe. Production of potentially carcinogenic disinfection by-products has marred credibility of traditional water purification techniques like chlorination. Photocatalysis has emerged as a promising alternative technique for the disinfection of water with minimal risk of harmful by-products. The process involves a wide band gap semiconductor material which, upon irradiation of light, produces electrons and holes with high redox potential to degrade organic contaminants and microbes. In this review, we analyze the research trends in photocatalytic inactivation of water borne microorganisms. This report analyzes the major factors that affect the disinfection efficiency using this process. The discussion also includes plausible mechanisms of microbial degradation as well as a kinetic model of the inactivation process. Different approaches, like doping of semiconductors or energy band engineering or plasmon coupling, have been reported for the enhancement and utilization of ambient solar light. Photocatalysis could be a cost-effective and environmentally friendly water purification technique though further research is required to enhance its efficiency with the use of solar light.     

抗生素与三唑类杀菌剂混合物对羊角月牙藻的长期毒性相互作用研究

地表水中抗生素与农药的混合暴露及其潜在生态与健康风险受到广泛关注。然而,目前关于抗生素与农药混合毒性研究大多仅考虑急性毒性,缺乏其长期毒性相互作用的研究。以较为广泛使用的2种抗生素土霉素(OXY)、环丙沙星(CIP)和1种三唑类杀菌剂农药戊唑醇(TCZ)及其二元混合物为研究对象,以生态系统中初级生产者绿藻(羊角月牙藻)为受试生物,研究目标混合物在暴露时间为96、120、144和168 h的长期毒性相互作用。结果表明,单一物质及其混合物随暴露时间延长而毒性增大;同一暴露时间点的单一污染物毒性大小顺序为OXYTCZCIP;混合物毒性相互作用与浓度、混合物组分和暴露时间三者密切相关;混合体系的拮抗作用均出现在高浓度区域,而中、低浓度区域呈协同作用或加和作用; OXY-CIP与CIPTCZ混合体系的协同作用随着暴露时间延长而协同作用逐渐增大。研究结果对水环境中抗生素与农药复合污染生态风险评估具有重要的现实意义。     

南方典型水源地及水产养殖区抗生素的复合污染特征及生态风险

抗生素作为生长促进剂和疾病预防控制药物在水产养殖领域得到广泛应用,目前在许多环境水体中检测到不同类型的抗生素。环境中抗生素的残留问题也是目前环境研究的热点问题之一。本研究选择南方某市8个水源地和5个典型水产养殖区作为研究对象,采用固相萃取、高效液相色谱串联三重四级杆质谱联用仪方法,调查了32种常用抗生素在水体中的含量水平和空间分布特征,揭示了抗生素的来源,并对其生态风险进行了评价。水源地共检出12种抗生素,浓度范围为0.12～44.6 ng·L~(-1),以磺胺甲噁唑含量最高;水产养殖区检出14种抗生素,浓度范围为0.95～716 ng·L~(-1),以氯四环素检出浓度最高。整体上水产养殖区抗生素的浓度高于水源地。抗生素浓度与环境因子的冗余分析表明,水产养殖和生活污水排放是水体中抗生素的主要来源。对检出的13种抗生素进行生态风险评价,单一抗生素而言,环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、磺胺嘧啶、氯四环素和脱水红霉素的风险商值大于0.01而小于0.1,表现为低风险。总抗生素风险商值加和在大部分水源地大于0.01而小于0.1,表现为低风险;总抗生素风险商值加和在2个水产养殖区大于0.1,表现为中等风险,水产养殖区抗生素的长期生态风险应该引起关注。     

分子印迹技术在水环境抗生素富集中的应用进展

近年来,由于抗生素的大量使用,使得环境中抗生素的残留现象变得十分普遍.这些残留的抗生素通过多种途径进入到水环境中,会对人类健康以及水生生态系统造成危害.分子印迹技术(MIT)因其能选择性识别、有效富集和去除目标分析物,被广泛应用于水环境中抗生素的富集及检测.本文介绍了分子印迹技术的原理以及印迹聚合物的制备方法,并且总结...     

深圳铁岗水库水体中抗生素污染特征分析及生态风险评价

近年来水体中不断被检出的抗生素逐渐成为研究者关注的焦点。许多国家的河流、湖泊、地下水中均检出了抗生素残留。目前国内外关于抗生素污染特征的研究主要集中在河流、河口湾和污水处理厂等水环境中,对于抗生素在饮用水源地水体中的污染状况研究极少。利用高效液相色谱-串联质谱技术（HPLC-MS/MS）检测分析了5类典型抗生素在深圳铁岗饮用水源地型水库中的污染特征。结果表明,9种目标抗生素中,有8种在铁岗水库水体中被检出,浓度范围为1.1～203 ng·L^-1,其中,林肯霉素检出浓度最高,红霉素次之,阿莫西林未检出;入库支流抗生素污染程度普遍高于铁岗水库,其中大官陂河中抗生素质量浓度最高（277.0 ng·L^-1）,九围河次之（196.4 ng·L^-1）;枯水期抗生素浓度高于丰水期。采用风险商值法初步评价的结果表明,枯水期时料坑水中红霉素、大官陂河中磺胺甲噁唑和林肯霉素,以及丰水期时九围河中林肯霉素的生态风险商（RQ）均大于1,对生态环境具有高风险;风险简单叠加模型计算结果显示,枯水期时料坑水、塘头河、大官陂河以及丰水期时九围河中抗生素的联合毒性风险商（RQsum）均大于1,对生态环境可能会产生较高的风险。     

Tetracycline antibiotics in the environment: a review

Tetracycline antibiotics are one of the primarily antibiotics groups used for veterinary purposes, for human therapy and for agricultural purposes. Amongst the different antibiotics used, more attention is paid to tetracycline’s as it exhibits serious environmental problems including ecological risks and human health damages. Due to their extensive usage, most of the actual evidence suggests that tetracycline antibiotics are omnipresent compounds found in different ecological compartments. After medication, more than 70 % of tetracycline antibiotics are excreted and released in active form into the environment via urine and feces from humans and animals. Their highly hydrophilic character and low volatility have resulted in significant persistence in the aquatic environment. Very few studies describe the fate and toxicity of tetracycline antibiotics in the environment. Here, we review several important issues with regard to: (1) the toxicity of these compounds on aquatic and terrestrial organisms; (2) their estrogenic effects; (3) their behavior in different ecological systems and; (4) the by-products generated during water treatment. These antibiotics residues promote the development of antibiotic resistant microorganisms, which can induce adverse effect to human health by increasing the risk of certain infections. Based on recent research results, the occurrence of tetracycline antibiotics in the environment inhibits the growth of some terrestrial and aquatic species. Besides, the residual concentrations of such drugs could affect steroidogenic pathway and consequently may cause endocrine disruption of aquatic species. Most of the wastewater treatment plants are not capable of removing effectively the tetracycline antibiotics. Therefore, there is a need to develop alternative processes to remove them from waters. Advanced oxidation processes have been proposed as alternative methods to ensure higher degradation and mineralization of tetracycline antibiotics are present in waters.     

Applications of nanomaterials in water treatment and environmental remediation

Nanotechnology has revolutionized plethora of scientific and technological fields; environmental safety is no exception. One of the most promising and well- developed environmental applications of nanotechnology has been in water remediation and treatment where different nanomaterials can help purify water through different mechanisms including adsorption of heavy metals and other pollutants, removal and inactivation of patho- gens and transformation of toxic materials into less toxic compounds. For this purpose, nanomaterials have been produced in different shapes, integrated into various composites and functionalized with active components. Nanomaterials have also been incorporated in nanostructured catalytic membranes which can in turn help enhance water treatment. In this article, we have provided a succinct review of the most common and popular nanomaterials （titania, carbon nanotubes （CNTs）, zero-valent iron, dendrimers and silver nanomaterials） which are currently used in environmental remediation and particularly in water purification. The catalytic properties and functionalities of the mentioned materials have also been discussed.     

抗生素抗性基因在环境中的来源、传播扩散及生态风险

近年来,由于抗生素的滥用首先诱导动物体内产生抗生素抗性基因(antib iotic resistance genes,ARGs),从而加速了抗性基因在环境中细菌间的传播扩散.目前,抗生素抗性基因作为一类新型环境污染物,在不同环境介质中的传播、扩散可能比抗生素本身的环境危害更大.本文针对抗生素抗性基因在地表水、地下水、医疗废水、城市污水处理厂、养殖场、土壤、沉积物以及大气环境中的来源、分布、传播情况以及国内外最新研究动态进行综述.分析了抗生素抗性基因在环境中的潜在传播途径及其可能影响因素,并指出光照,厌氧,高温处理可以有效遏制抗生素抗性基因在环境中的传播和扩散.揭示了抗生素抗性基因可能造成的生态风险,针对我国对该类污染物的研究现状,提出了今后的研究重点.     

A flocculation tensor to monitor water quality using a deep learning model

The increasing quantities of polluted waters are calling for advanced purification methods. Flocculation is an essential component of the water purification process, yet flocculation is commonly not optimal due to our poor understanding of the flocculation process. In particular, there is little knowledge on the mechanisms ruling the migration of pollutants during treatment. Here we have created the first tensor diagram, a mathematical framework for the flocculation process, analyzed its properties with a deep learning model, and developed a classification scheme for its relationship with pollutants. The tensor was constructed by combining pixel matrices from a variety of floc images, each with a particular flocculation period. Changing the factors used to make flocs images, such as coagulant dose and pH, resulted in tensors, which were used to generate matrices, that is the tensor diagram. Our deep learning algorithm employed a tensor diagram to identify pollution levels. Results show tensor map attributes with over 98% of sample images correctly classified. This approach offers potential to reduce the time delay of feedback from the flocculation process with deep learning categorization based on its clustering capabilities. The advantage of the tensor data from the flocculation process improves the efficiency and speed of response for commercial water treatment.

     

3种抗生素对黑麦草种子萌发的生态毒性效应

为探明四环素、环丙沙星和磺胺嘧啶3种抗生素对黑麦草种子萌发的影响,为评价抗生素污染的生态影响提供科学依据,采用保湿培养法研究了它们对黑麦草种子萌发的影响,比较分析了抗生素的生态毒性差异和相对敏感的指标。结果表明,在种子萌发期,一定浓度范围的抗生素胁迫会引发植物种子抵抗逆境的应激反应,因此,3种抗生素在1 mg·L~(-1)处理水平下均能促进种子发芽。超过该浓度,四环素对黑麦草种子发芽仍有一定的促进作用,而环丙沙星和磺胺嘧啶则表现为抑制作用。四环素对种子发芽率的最大无作用浓度(NOEC)为5 mg·L~(-1),而环丙沙星和磺胺嘧啶对种子发芽率的NOEC为1 mg·L~(-1)。实验结束时,3种抗生素在1 mg·L~(-1)处理水平下的种子发芽率最高。3种抗生素浓度超过0.1 mg·L~(-1)时,种子根长和芽长即受到抑制,因此,它们对种子根长和芽长的NOEC均为0～0.1 mg·L~(-1)。其中,磺胺嘧啶的抑制作用最为显著。根长受到抑制的程度强于芽长。黑麦草种子萌发受3种抗生素影响程度依次为磺胺嘧啶环丙沙星四环素。     

Titanium dioxide photocatalysis for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

Heterogeneous photocatalysis using the semiconductor titanium dioxide (TiO₂) has proven to be a promising treatment technology for water purification. The effectiveness of this oxidation technology for the destruction of pharmaceuticals has also been demonstrated in numerous studies. This review highlights recent research on TiO₂ photocatalytic treatment applied to the removal of selected pharmaceuticals. The discussions are tailored based on the therapeutic drug classes as the kinetics and mechanistic aspects are compound dependent. These classes of pharmaceuticals were chosen because of their environmental prevalence and potential adverse effects. Optimal operational conditions and degradation pathways vary with different pharmaceutical compounds. The main conclusion is that the use of TiO₂ photocatalysis can be considered a state-of-the-art pharmaceutical wastewater treatment methodology. Further studies are, however, required to optimize the operating conditions for maximum degradation of multiple pharmaceuticals in wastewater under realistic conditions and on an industrial scale.     

人工湿地处理富营养化水体的效果研究

通过在北京市野生动物救护中心构建表流湿地与潜流湿地相结合的复合人工湿地处理富营养化水体,研究该复合人工湿地对总氮（TN）、总磷（TP）及水体浊度的去除效果。结果表明：人工湿地对TP的去除效果好于对TN的去除效果,经过人工湿地处理的富营养化水体,表流湿地、潜流湿地和复合人工湿地对TP的平均去除率可分别达42%、55%、60%,对TN的平均去除率分别为27%、30%、34%,对水体浊度的平均去除率分别达43%、55%、75%。复合人工湿地对TP、TN以及浊度的去除效果受水体温度和溶解氧（DO）的影响,通过相关性分析发现,TP、TN和浊度的去除量与水体中的DO水平之间存在显著的负相关性,而与水体温度有正相关性,在显著性水平为0.05的条件下,相关系数分别为-0.829、-0.767、-0.765和0.674、0.757、0.774。复合人工湿地对TP、TN及浊度的去除率高于表流湿地和潜流湿地,表明复合人工湿地具有优于表流湿地和潜流湿地的整体性功能,能有效提高人工湿地对TN、TP以及浊度的去除率。     

River water quality management model using genetic algorithm

Conventional mathematical programming methods, such as linear programming, non linear programming, dynamic programming and integer programming have been used to solve the cost optimization problem for regional wastewater treatment systems. In this study, a river water quality management model was developed through the integration of a genetic algorithm (GA). This model was applied to a river system contaminated by three determined discharge sources to achieve the water quality goals and wastewater treatment cost optimization in the river basin. The genetic algorithm solution, described the treatment plant efficiency, such that the cost of wastewater treatment for the entire river basin is minimized while the water quality constraints in each reach are satisfied. This study showed that genetic algorithm can be applied for river water quality modeling studies as an alternative to the present methods.     

Detecting Cryptosporidium parvum and Giardia lamblia by coagulation concentration and real-time PCR quantification

Rapid and sensitive pathogen detection methods are essential for the effective functioning of the water treatment industry, yet for many pathogens, effective detection and removal methods are still lacking. Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts are two of the most common waterborne pathogens currently infecting the water supply. In this study, a new method was developed for the detection of Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia lamblia cysts. The method includes multi-steps as coagulation concentration of (oo)cysts in water, the dissolution of the resulting flocs into a small volume using acid, filtration of the (oo)cysts solution, and DNA extraction, purification, and examination using real-time PCR. The method was tested using spiked tap water and reservoir water as references, and the mean recovery ranged from 19.6% to 97.6% for oocysts, and from 51.4% to 98.7% for cysts. The method is economical and convenient, and is especially suitable for relatively high turbidity surface water.     

土壤环境中四环素类抗生素残留及抗性基因污染的研究进展(Tetracycline Residues and Tetracycline Resistance Gene Pollution in Soil: A Review)

近年来,致病菌耐药性的增加和扩散已成为全世界关注的热点问题,而人类医疗和畜禽养殖业抗生素的滥用正不断加剧这一问题.众多研究表明土壤环境作为一个巨大的抗性基因储存库,在抗性微生物和抗性基因的传播中起重要的作用,具有潜在的生态与健康风险.在总结国内外最新研究基础上,对土壤环境中典型抗生素-四环素类抗生素的主要污染源以及其在土壤中的基本环境行为等进行了分析,并探讨了土壤中四环素类抗性基因的来源、迁移和扩散及分子检测手段等问题.我国作为抗生素的生产和消费大国,抗生素污染问题较其他国家更为严重,而国内相关研究才刚刚起步,迫切需要开展有关环境中抗生素和抗生素抗性基因污染的系统研究.     

从净化含银废水的水生植物残体中提取和回收白银

本文介绍了从凤眼莲等水生植物体中回收废水中白银的方法.第一种方法是将植物残体直接打捞、晒干、灰化、HNO_3浸取,氯化法沉淀直至火法冶炼(加入碳酸钠和硼砂)出银;第二种方法是将植物残体全部集中,晒干,最后由贵稀金属提炼厂专门处理.根据上述方法已成功地从净化含银废水的水生植物残体中提炼和回收白银561.7g.