Chemical formation and source apportionment of PM2.5 at an urban site at the southern foot of the Taihang mountains

The region along the Taihang Mountains in the North China Plain (NCP) is characterized by serious fine particle pollution. To clarify the formation mechanism and controlling factors, an observational study was conducted to investigate the physical and chemical properties of the fine particulate matter in Jiaozuo city, China. Mass concentrations of the water-soluble ions (WSIs) in PM_2.5 and gaseous pollutant precursors were measured on an hourly basis from December 1, 2017, to February 27, 2018. The positive matrix factorization (PMF) method and the FLEXible PARTicle (FLEXPART) model were employed to identify the sources of PM_2.5. The results showed that the average mass concentration of PM_2.5 was 111 μg/m³ during the observation period. Among the major WSIs, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium (SNA) constituted 62% of the total PM_2.5 mass, and NO₃^? ranked the highest with an average contribution of 24.6%. NH₄⁺ was abundant in most cases in Jiaozuo. According to chemical balance analysis, SO₄^2?, NO₃^?, and Cl^? might be present in the form of (NH₄)₂SO₄, NH₄NO₃, NH₄Cl, and KCl. The liquid-phase oxidation of SO₂ and NO₂ was severe during the haze period. The relative humidity and pH were the key factors influencing SO₄^2- formation. We found that NO₃^? mainly stemmed from homogeneous gas-phase reactions in the daytime and originated from the hydrolysis of N₂O₅ in the nighttime, which was inconsistent with previous studies. The PMF model identified five sources of PM_2.5: secondary origin (37.8%), vehicular emissions (34.7%), biomass burning (11.5%), coal combustion (9.4%), and crustal dust (6.6%).     

An integrated chemical mass balance and source emission inventory model for the source apportionment of PM2.5 in typical coastal areas

The source apportionment of PM_2.5 is essential for pollution prevention.In view of the weaknesses of individual models,we proposed an integrated chemical mass balancesource emission inventory(CMB-SEI) model to acquire more accurate results.First,the SEI of secondary component precursors(SO₂,NO_x,NH₃,and VOCs) was compiled to acquire the emission ratios of these sources for the precursors.Then,a regular CMB simulation was executed to obtain the contribut...     

Variability of PM2.5 and O3 concentrations and their driving forces over Chinese megacities during 2018-2020

Recently,air pollution especially?ne particulate matters (PM_2.5) and ozone (O₃) has become a severe issue in China.In this study,we?rst characterized the temporal trends of PM_2.5and O₃for Beijing,Guangzhou,Shanghai,and Wuhan respectively during 2018-2020.The annual mean PM_2.5has decreased by 7.82%-33.92%,while O₃concentration showed insigni?cant variations by-6.77%-4.65%during 2018-2020.The generalized additive models (GAMs) were ...     

PM2.5 chemical composition and health risks by inhalation near a chemical complex

Particulate matter (PM_2.5) samples were collected in the vicinity of an industrial chemical pole and analysed for organic and elemental carbon (OC and EC), 47 trace elements and around 150 organic constituents. On average, OC and EC accounted for 25.2% and 11.4% of the PM_2.5 mass, respectively. Organic compounds comprised polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), alkylated PAHs, anhydrosugars, phenolics, aromatic ketones, glycerol derivatives, aliphatic alcohols, sterols, and carboxyl groups, including aromatic, carboxylic and dicarboxylic acids. Enrichment factors > 100 were obtained for Pb, Cd, Zn, Cu, Sn, B, Se, Bi, Sb and Mo, showing the contribution of industrial emissions and nearby major roads. Principal component analysis revealed that vehicle, industrial and biomass burning emissions accounted for 66%, 11% and 9%, respectively, of the total PM_2.5-bound PAHs. Some of the detected organic constituents are likely associated with plasticiser ingredients and thermal stabilisers used in the manufacture of PVC and other plastics in the industrial complex. Photooxidation products of both anthropogenic (e.g., toluene) and biogenic (e.g., isoprene and pinenes) precursors were also observed. It was estimated that biomass burning accounted for 13.8% of the PM_2.5 concentrations and that secondary OC represented 37.6% of the total OC. The lifetime cancer risk from inhalation exposure to PM_2.5-bound PAHs was found to be negligible, but it exceeded the threshold of 10⁻⁶ for metal(loi)s, mainly due to Cr and As.     

Synergetic PM2.5 and O3 control strategy for the Yangtze River Delta, China

PM_2.5 concentrations have dramatically reduced in key regions of China during the period 2013–2017, while O₃ has increased. Hence there is an urgent demand to develop a synergetic regional PM_2.5 and O₃ control strategy. This study develops an emission-to-concentration response surface model and proposes a synergetic pathway for PM_2.5 and O₃ control in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD) based on the framework of the Air Benefit and Cost and Attainment Assessment System (ABaCAS). Results suggest that the regional emissions of NOx, SO₂, NH₃, VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and primary PM_2.5 should be reduced by 18%, 23%, 14%, 17% and 33% compared with 2017 to achieve 25% and 5% decreases of PM_2.5 and O₃ in 2025, and that the emission reduction ratios will need to be 50%, 26%, 28%, 28% and 55% to attain the National Ambient Air Quality Standard. To effectively reduce the O₃ pollution in the central and eastern YRD, VOCs controls need to be strengthened to reduce O₃ by 5%, and then NOx reduction should be accelerated for air quality attainment. Meanwhile, control of primary PM_2.5 emissions shall be prioritized to address the severe PM_2.5 pollution in the northern YRD. For most cities in the YRD, the VOCs emission reduction ratio should be higher than that for NOx in Spring and Autumn. NOx control should be increased in summer rather than winter when a strong VOC-limited regime occurs. Besides, regarding the emission control of industrial processes, on-road vehicle and residential sources shall be prioritized and the joint control area should be enlarged to include Shandong, Jiangxi and Hubei Province for effective O₃ control.     

Progressively narrow the gap of PM2.5 pollution characteristics at urban and suburban sites in a megacity of Sichuan Basin, China

Nowadays, the fine particle pollution is still severe in some megacities of China, especially in the Sichuan Basin, southwestern China. In order to understand the causes, sources, and impacts of fine particles, we collected PM_2.5 samples and analyzed their chemical composition in typical months from July 2018 to May 2019 at an urban and a suburban (background) site of Chengdu, a megacity in this region. The daily average concentrations of PM_2.5 ranged from 5.6-102.3 µg/m³ and 4.3-110.4 µg/m³ at each site. Secondary inorganics and organic matters were the major components in PM_2.5 at both sites. The proportion of nitrate in PM_2.5 has exceeded sulfate and become the primary inorganic component. SO₂ was easier to transform into sulfate in urban areas because of Mn-catalytic heterogeneous reactions. In contrast, NO₂ was easily converted in suburbs with high aerosol water content. Furthermore, organic carbon in urban was much greater than that in rural, other than elemental carbon. Element Cr and As were the key cancer risk drivers. The main sources of PM_2.5 in urban and suburban areas were all secondary aerosols (42.9%, 32.1%), combustion (16.0%, 25.2%) and vehicle emission (15.2%, 19.2%). From clean period to pollution period, the contributions from combustion and secondary aerosols increased markedly. In addition to tightening vehicle controls, urban areas need to restrict emissions from steel smelters, and suburbs need to minimize coal and biomass combustion in autumn and winter.     

Cause of PM2.5 pollution during the 2016-2017 heating season in Beijing, Tianjin, and Langfang, China

To investigate the cause of fine particulate matter(particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 um,PM2.5) pollution in the heating season in the North China Plain(specifically Beijing,Tianjin,and Langfang),water-soluble ions and carbonaceous components in PM_2.5were simultaneously measured by online instruments with 1-hr resolution,from November 15,2016 to March 15,2017.The results showed extreme severity of PM_2.5 pollution on a regional scale.Secondary inorganic io...     

Atmospheric oxidizing capacity in autumn Beijing: Analysis of the O3 and PM2.5 episodes based on observation-based model

Atmospheric oxidizing capacity (AOC) is the fundamental driving factors of chemistry process (e.g., the formation of ozone (O₃) and secondary organic aerosols (SOA)) in the troposphere. However, accurate quantification of AOC still remains uncertainty. In this study, a comprehensive field campaign was conducted during autumn 2019 in downtown of Beijing, where O₃ and PM_2.5 episodes had been experienced successively. The observation-based model (OBM) is used to quantify the AOC at O₃ and PM_2.5 episodes. The strong intensity of AOC is found at O₃ and PM_2.5 episodes, and hydroxyl radical (OH) is the dominating daytime oxidant for both episodes. The photolysis of O₃ is main source of OH at O₃ episode; the photolysis of nitrous acid (HONO) and formaldehyde (HCHO) plays important role in OH formation at PM_2.5 episode. The radicals loss routines vary according to precursor pollutants, resulting in different types of air pollution. O₃ budgets and sensitivity analysis indicates that O₃ production is transition regime (both VOC and NO_x-limited) at O₃ episode. The heterogeneous reaction of hydroperoxy radicals (HO₂) on aerosol surfaces has significant influence on OH and O₃ production rates. The HO₂ uptake coefficient (γHO₂) is the determining factor and required accurate measurement in real atmospheric environment. Our findings could provide the important bases for coordinated control of PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution.     

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5/PM1.0) in Beijing, China: Variations and chemical compositions as well as sources

Particulate matter (i.e., PM_1.0 and PM_2.5), considered as the key atmospheric pollutants, exerts negative effects on visibility, global climate, and human health by associated chemical compositions. However, our understanding of PM and its chemical compositions in Beijing under the current atmospheric environment is still not complete after witnessing marked alleviation during 2013–2017. Continuous measurements can be crucial for further air quality improvement by better characterizing PM pollution and chemical compositions in Beijing. Here, we conducted simultaneous measurements on PM in Beijing during 2018–2019. Results indicate that annual mean PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 concentrations were 35.49 ± 18.61 µg/m³ and 66.58 ± 60.17 µg/m³, showing a positive response to emission controls. The contribution of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium (SNA) played an enhanced role with elevated PM loading and acted as the main contributors to pollution episodes. Discrepancies observed among chemical species between PM_1.0 and PM_2.5 in spring suggest that sand particles trend to accumulate in the range of 1–2.5 µm. Pollution episodes occurred accompanied with southerly clusters and high formation of SNA by heterogeneous reactions in summer and winter, respectively. Results from positive matrix factorization (PMF) combined with potential source contribution function (PSCF) models showed that potential areas were seasonal dependent, secondary and vehicular sources became much more important compared with previous studies in Beijing. Our study presented a continuous investigation on PM and sources origins in Beijing, which provides a better understanding for further emission control as well as a reference for other cities in developing countries.     

Chemical characterization and source identification of PM2.5 in Luoyang after the clean air actions

Luoyang is a typical heavy industrial city in China, with a coal-dominated energy structure and serious air pollution. Following the implementation of the clean air actions, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed. A comprehensive study of PM_2.5 was conducted from October 16, 2019 to January 23, 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of previous control measures and further to provide theory basis for more effective policies in the future. Results showed that the aerosol pollution in Luoyang in autumn and winter is still serious with the average concentration of 91.1 μg/m³, although a large reduction (46.9%) since 2014. With the contribution of nitrate increased from 12.5% to 25.1% and sulfate decreased from 16.7% to 11.2%, aerosol pollution has changed from sulfate-dominate to nitrate-dominate. High NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio and the increasing of NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio with the aggravation of pollution indicating vehicle exhaust playing an increasingly important role in PM_2.5 pollution in Luoyang, especially in the haze processes. Secondary inorganic ions contributed significantly to the enhancement of PM_2.5 during the pollution period. The high value of Cl⁻/Na⁺ and EC concentration indicate coal combustion in Luoyang is still serious. The top three contributor sources were secondary inorganic aerosols (33.3%), coal combustion (13.6%), and industrial emissions (13.4%). Close-range transport from the western and northeastern directions were more important factors in air pollution in Luoyang during the sampling period. It is necessary to strengthen the control of coal combustion and reduce vehicle emissions in future policies.     

Source apportionment of PM2.5 and visibility in Jinan, China

Atmospheric extinction is impacted by the chemical composition of particles. To better understand the chemical composition of PM_2.5 (particles with diameters of less than 2.5 μm) and its relationship with extinction, one-month sampling campaigns were carried out in four different seasons from 2013 to 2014 in Jinan, China. The seasonal average concentrations of PM_2.5 were 120.9 (autumn), 156.6 (winter), 102.5 (spring), and 111.8 μg/m³ (summer). The reconstructed PM_2.5 chemical composition showed that sulfate, nitrate, chlorine salt, organic matter (OM), mineral dust, elemental carbon (EC) and others accounted for 25%, 14%, 2%, 24%, 22%, 3% and 10%, respectively. The relationship between the chemical composition of PM_2.5 and visibility was reconstructed by the IMPROVE method, and ammonium sulfate, ammonium nitrate, OM and EC dominated the visibility. Seven main sources were resolved for PM_2.5, including secondary particles, coal combustion, biomass burning, industry, motor vehicle exhaust, soil dust and cooking, which accounted for 37%, 21%, 13%, 13%, 12%, 3% and 1%, respectively. The contributions of different sources to visibility were similar to those to PM_2.5. With increasing severity of air pollution, the contributions of secondary particles and coal combustion increased, while the contribution of motor vehicle exhaust decreased. The results showed that coal combustion and biomass burning were still the main sources of air pollution in Jinan.     

Investigation of PM2.5 pollution during COVID-19 pandemic in Guangzhou, China

The COVID-19 pandemic has raised awareness about various environmental issues,including PM_2.5 pollution.Here,PM_2.5 pollution during the COVID-19 lockdown was traced and analyzed to clarify the sources and factors influencing PM_2.5 in Guangzhou,with an emphasis on heavy pollution.The lockdown led to large reductions in industrial and traffic emissions,which significantly reduced PM_2.5 concentrations in Guangzhou.Interestingly,the trend of PM_2.5     

Modeling study on the roles of the deposition and transport of PM2.5 in air quality changes over central-eastern China

The role of PM_2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameters ≤ 2.5 µm) deposition in air quality changes over China remains unclear. By using the three-year (2013, 2015, and 2017) simulation results of the WRF/CUACE v1.0 model from a previous work (Zhang et al., 2021), a non-linear relationship between the deposition of PM_2.5 and anthropogenic emissions over central-eastern China in cold seasons as well as in different life stages of haze events was unraveled. PM_2.5 deposition is spatially distributed differently from PM_2.5 concentrations and anthropogenic emissions over China. The North China Plain (NCP) is typically characterized by higher anthropogenic emissions compared to southern China, such as the middle-low reaches of Yangtze River (MLYR), which includes parts of the Yangtze River Delta and the Midwest. However, PM_2.5 deposition in the NCP is significantly lower than that in the MLYR region, suggesting that in addition to meteorology and emissions, lower deposition is another important factor in the increase in haze levels. Regional transport of pollution in central-eastern China acts as a moderator of pollution levels in different regions, for example by bringing pollution from the NCP to the MLYR region in cold seasons. It was found that in typical haze events the deposition flux of PM_2.5 during the removal stages is substantially higher than that in accumulation stages, with most of the PM_2.5 being transported southward and deposited to the MLYR and Sichuan Basin region, corresponding to a latitude range of about 24°N-31°N.     

Zn2+ loading as a critical contributor to the circ_0008553-mediated oxidative stress and inflammation in response to PM2.5 exposures

Inflammation is a major adverse outcome induced by inhaled particulate matter with a diameter of ≤ 2.5 µm (PM_2.5), and a critical trigger of most PM_2.5 exposure-associated diseases. However, the key molecular events regulating the PM_2.5-induced airway inflammation are yet to be elucidated. Considering the critical role of circular RNAs (circRNAs) in regulating inflammation, we predicted 11 circRNAs that may be involved in the PM_2.5-induced airway inflammation using three previously reported miRNAs through the starBase website. A novel circRNA circ_0008553 was identified to be responsible for the PM_2.5-activated inflammatory response in human bronchial epithelial cells (16HBE) via inducing oxidative stress. Using a combinatorial model PM_2.5 library, we found that the synergistic effect of the insoluble core and loaded Zn²⁺ ions at environmentally relevant concentrations was the major contributor to the upregulation of circ_0008553 and subsequent induction of oxidative stress and inflammation in response to PM_2.5 exposures. Our findings provided new insight into the intervention of PM_2.5-induced adverse outcomes.     

Chemical characteristics and source apportionment of PM2.5 in a petrochemical city: Implications for primary and secondary carbonaceous component

To study the pollution features and underlying mechanism of PM_2.5 in Luoyang, a typical developing urban site in the central plain of China, 303 PM_2.5 samples were collected from April 16 to December 29, 2015 to analyze the elements, water soluble inorganic ions, organic carbon and elemental carbon. The annual mean concentration of PM_2.5 was 142.3 μg/m³, and 75% of the daily PM_2.5 concentrations exceeded the 75 μg/m³. The secondary inorganic ions, organic matter and mineral dust were the most abundant species, accounting for 39.6%, 19.2% and 9.3% of the total mass concentration, respectively. But the major chemical components showed clear seasonal dependence. SO₄^2? was most abundant specie in spring and summer, which related to intensive photochemical reaction under high O₃ concentration. In contrast, the secondary organic carbon and ammonium while primary organic carbon and ammonium significantly contributed to haze formation in autumn and winter, respectively. This indicated that the collaboration effect of secondary inorganic aerosols and carbonaceous matters result in heavy haze in autumn and winter. Six main sources were identified by positive matrix factorization model: industrial emission, combustion sources, traffic emission, mineral dust, oil combustion and secondary sulfate, with the annual contribution of 24%, 20%, 24%, 4%, 5% and 23%, respectively. The potential source contribution function analysis pointed that the contribution of the local and short-range regional transportation had significant impact. This result highlighted that local primary carbonaceous and precursor of secondary carbonaceous mitigation would be key to reduce PM_2.5 and O₃ during heavy haze episodes in winter and autumn.     

Characteristics of PM2.5 pollution in Beijing after the improvement of air quality

Following the implementation of the strictest clean air policies to date in Beijing, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed over the past few years. To improve pollution reduction policies and subsequent air quality further, it is necessary to explore the changes in PM_2.5 over time. In this study, over one year (2017–2018) field study based on filter sampling (TH-150C; Wuhan Tianhong, China) was conducted in Fengtai District, Beijing, revealed that the annual average PM_2.5 concentration (64.8 ± 43.1 μg/m³) was significantly lower than in previous years and the highest PM_2.5 concentration occurred in spring (84.4 ± 59.9 μg/m³). Secondary nitrate was the largest source and accounted for 25.7% of the measured PM_2.5. Vehicular emission, the second largest source (17.6%), deserves more attention when considering the increase in the number of motor vehicles and its contribution to gaseous pollutants. In addition, the contribution from coal combustion to PM_2.5 decreased significantly. During weekends, the contribution from EC and NO₃^? increased whereas the contributions from SO₄^2?, OM, and trace elements decreased, compared with weekdays. During the period of residential heating, PM_2.5 mass decreased by 23.1%, compared with non-heating period, while the contributions from coal combustion and vehicular emission, and related species increased. With the aggravation of pollution, the contribution of vehicular emission and secondary sulfate increased and then decreased, while the contribution of NO₃^? and secondary nitrate continued to increase, and accounted for 34.0% and 57.5% of the PM_2.5 during the heavily polluted days, respectively.     

Studies on relationships between air pollutants and allergenicity of Humulus Scandens pollen collected from different areas of Shanghai

Pollen pollution and allergy are becoming prominent issues in China.However,few studies on pollinosis have been reported.As an allergen in the atmosphere,allergenic Humulus scandens pollen was collected from four districts of Shanghai,including Wusong(WS),Jiading(KD),Xujiahui(XJH) and Songjiang(SJ).The mass concentrations of SO₂,NO₂,O₃,PM₁₀,and PM_2.5(particulate matter with air dynamic diameter less than 10 and 2.5 um,respectively) near the ...     

PM2.5 and water-soluble inorganic ion concentrations decreased faster in urban than rural areas in China

We investigated variations of PM_2.5 and water-soluble inorganic ions chemical characteristics at nine urban and rural sites in China using ground-based observations. From 2015 to 2019, mean PM_2.5 concentration across all sites decreased by 41.9 µg/m³ with a decline of 46% at urban sites and 28% at rural sites, where secondary inorganic aerosol (SIAs) contributed to 21% (urban sites) and 17% (rural sites) of the decreased PM_2.5. SIAs concentrations underwent a decline at urban locations, while sulfate (SO₄^2–), nitrate (NO₃^–), and ammonium (NH₄⁺) decreased by 49.5%, 31.3% and 31.6%, respectively. However, only SO₄^2– decreased at rural sites, NO₃^– increased by 21% and NH₄⁺ decreased slightly. Those changes contributed to an overall SIAs increase in 2019. Higher molar ratios of NO₃^– to SO₄^2– and NH₄⁺ to SO₄^2– were observed at urban sites than rural sites, being highest in the heavily polluted days. Mean molar ratios of NH₃/NH_x were higher in 2019 than 2015 at both urban and rural sites, implying increasing NH_x remained as free NH₃. Our observations indicated a slower transition from sulfate-driven to nitrate-driven aerosol pollution and less efficient control of NO_x than SO₂ related aerosol formation in rural regions than urban regions. Moreover, the common factor at urban and rural sites appears to be a combination of lower SO₄^2– levels and an increasing fraction of NO₃^– to PM_2.5 under NH₄⁺-rich conditions. Our findings imply that synchronous reduction in NO_x and NH₃ emissions especially rural areas would be effective to mitigate NO₃^–-driven aerosol pollution.     

Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM2.5 separators commonly used in China

PM_(2.5) separator directly affects the accuracy of PM_(2.5) sampling.The specification testing and evaluation for PM_(2.5) separator is particularly important,especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate.In this study,first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM_(2.5) separators.A uniform mixing chamber was developed to make particles mix completely.The aerosol concentration relative standard deviations of three test points at the same horizontal chamber position were less than 0.57%,and the particle size distribution obeyed logarithmic normal distribution with an R~2 of 0.996.The flow rate deviation between the measurement and the set point flow rate agreed to within ± 1.0% in the range of -40 to 50℃.Secondly,the separation,flow and loading characteristics of three cyclone separators(VSCC-A,SCC-A and SCC112) were evaluated using this system.The results showed that the 50% cutoff sizes(D_(50)) of the three cyclones were 2.48,2.47 and 2.44 μm when worked at the manufacturer's recommended flow rates,respectively.The geometric standard deviation(GSD) of the capture efficiency of VSCCA was 1.23,showed a slightly sharper than SCC-A(GSD = 1.27),while the SCC112 did not meet the relevant indicator(GSD = 1.2 ± 0.1) with a GSD = 1.44.The flow rate and loading test had a great effect on D_(50),while the GSD remained almost the same as before.In addition,the maintenance frequency under different air pollution conditions of the cyclones was summarized according to the loading test.     

Effects of chemical modification on physicochemical properties and adsorption behavior of sludge-based activated carbon

This study aimed to explore the adsorption performance of sludge-based activated carbon (SBC) towards dissolved organic matters (DOMs) removal from sewage, and investigated the modification effect of different types of chemicals on the structure of synthesized SBC. Waste activated sludge (WAS) was used as a carbon source, and HCl, HNO₃, and NaOH were used as different types of chemicals to modify the SBC. With the aid of chemical activation, the modified SBC showed higher adsorption performances on DOMs removal with maximum adsorption of 29.05 mg/g and second-order constant (k) of 0.1367 (L/mol/sec) due to the surface elution of ash and minerals by chemicals. The surface elemental composition of MSBC suggested that the content of C-C and C-O functional groups on the surface of modified sludge-based activated carbon (MSBC) played an important role on the adsorption capacities of MSBC towards DOMs removal in sewage. Additionally, the residual molecular weight of DOMs in sewage was investigated using a 3-dimension fluorescence excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) and high-performance size exclusion chromatography (HP-SEC). Results showed that the chemical modification significantly improved the adsorption capacity of MSBC on humic acids (HA) and aromatic proteins (APN), and both of NaOH-MSBC and HCl-MSBC were effective for a wide range of different AMW DOMs removal from sewage, while the HNO₃-MSBC exhibited poorly on AMW organics of 2,617 Da and 409 Da due to the reducing content of macropore. In brief, this study provides reference values for the impact of the chemicals of the activation stage before the SBCs application.