Sulfur cycle as an electron mediator between carbon and nitrate in a constructed wetland microcosm

• Fe(III) accepted the most electrons from organics, followed by NO₃^‒, SO₄^2‒, and O₂. • The electrons accepted by SO₄^2‒ could be stored in the solid AVS, FeS₂-S, and S⁰. • The autotrophic denitrification driven by solid S had two-phase characteristics. • A conceptual model involving electron acceptance, storage, and donation was built. • S cycle transferred electrons between organics and NO₃^‒ with an efficiency of 15%. A constructed wetland microcosm was employed to investigate the sulfur cycle-mediated electron transfer between carbon and nitrate. Sulfate accepted electrons from organics at the average rate of 0.84 mol/(m³·d) through sulfate reduction, which accounted for 20.0% of the electron input rate. The remainder of the electrons derived from organics were accepted by dissolved oxygen (2.6%), nitrate (26.8%), and iron(III) (39.9%). The sulfide produced from sulfate reduction was transformed into acid-volatile sulfide, pyrite, and elemental sulfur, which were deposited in the substratum, storing electrons in the microcosm at the average rate of 0.52 mol/(m³·d). In the presence of nitrate, the acid-volatile and elemental sulfur were oxidized to sulfate, donating electrons at the average rate of 0.14 mol/(m³·d) and driving autotrophic denitrification at the average rate of 0.30 g N/(m³·d). The overall electron transfer efficiency of the sulfur cycle for autotrophic denitrification was 15.3%. A mass balance assessment indicated that approximately 50% of the input sulfur was discharged from the microcosm, and the remainder was removed through deposition (49%) and plant uptake (1%). Dominant sulfate-reducing (i.e., Desulfovirga, Desulforhopalus, Desulfatitalea, and Desulfatirhabdium) and sulfur-oxidizing bacteria (i.e., Thiohalobacter, Thiobacillus, Sulfuritalea, and Sulfurisoma), which jointly fulfilled a sustainable sulfur cycle, were identified. These results improved understanding of electron transfers among carbon, nitrogen, and sulfur cycles in constructed wetlands, and are of engineering significance.     

Effects of rainfall on surface environment and morphological characteristics in the Loess Plateau

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Slope failure is a one of major process that causes severe landform variation and environment variation, and slope failure has become a major hidden...     

京杭运河杭州段水体污染和细菌群落结构特征

为了解人类活动对城市河道水体污染和细菌群落的影响,选取京杭运河杭州段进行了分季节采样研究。测定了水体的环境与水质参数,分析了细菌丰度、胞外酶活性和群落结构变化。结果显示,从上游到下游,水体中高锰酸盐指数、氨氮、总氮以及细菌丰度和β-葡萄糖苷酶活性大体呈递增趋势,冬季水体总体污染水平及细菌丰度均显著高于其他季节。水体中细菌的主要种类集中在变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、拟杆菌门(Bacterioidetes)、厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)和蓝藻门(Cyanobacteria),所占比例分别为37.8%、24.3%、18.9%、10.8%和8.1%,属于黄杆菌(Flavobacterium)、厚壁菌(Firmicutes bacterium)和放线菌(Actinobacterium)的细菌是水体中大多数时间的优势细菌。限制性排序分析显示,水体细菌群落结构从上游到下游差异明显,高锰酸盐指数和总氮是关键影响因子。杭州市区由人类活动产生的污染物输入是京杭运河杭州段的主要污染源,水体细菌群落对水体污染物的变化有着明显的响应。     

白水江表层沉积物溶解性有机质荧光特性研究

为探究白水江表层沉积物溶解性有机质(DOM)荧光特性,2018年3月采集研究区深度为0～20cm的沉积物,采用三维荧光光谱技术、区域积分法和荧光指数法,确定主要荧光物质种类,并结合表层水基本参数等数据分析荧光组分的来源、转化过程与空间分布差异。结果表明:(1)白水江表层沉积物DOM以类蛋白有机物为主,其中可溶性微生物降解产物占总体荧光物质相对含量的64.56%～73.06%;各断面均出现明显的可溶性微生物降解产物荧光峰;相比上游,中、下游荧光强度逐渐增强,并出现类酪氨酸与类色氨酸荧光峰。(2)上游至下游,总荧光组分、各荧光组分含量均呈现逐渐升高的趋势。人类活动可能是造成白水江表层沉积物DOM荧光组分存在空间分异的主导因素。