An investigation of changes in water quality throughout the drinking water production/distribution chain using toxicological and fluorescence analyses

Changes in water quality from source water to finished water and tap water at two conventional drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were monitored.Beside the routine water quality testing,Caenorhabditis elegans-based toxicity assays and the fluorescence excitation–emission matrices technique were also applied.Both DWTPs supplied drinking water that met government standards.Under current test conditions,both the investigated finished water and tap water samples exhibited stronger lethal,genotoxic and reprotoxic potential than the relative source water sample,and the tap water sample was more lethal but tended to be less genotoxic than the corresponding finished water sample.Meanwhile,the nearly complete removal of tryptophan-like substances and newly generated tyrosine-like substances were observed after the treatment of drinking water,and humic-like substances were identified in the tap water.Based on these findings,toxic pollutants,including genotoxic/reproductive toxicants,are produced in the drinking water treatment and/or distribution processes.Moreover,further studies are needed to clarify the potentially important roles of tyrosine-like and humic-like substances in mediating drinking water toxicity and to identify the potential sources of these contaminants.Additionally,tryptophan-like fluorescence may be adopted as a useful parameter to monitor the treatment performance of DWTPs.Our observations provided insights into the importance of utilizing biotoxicity assays and fluorescence spectroscopy as tools to complement the routine evaluation of drinking water.     

Density functional theory (DFT) studies of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts

Based on density functional theory (DFT) and basic structure models, the chemical reactions on the surface of vanadium-titanium based selective catalytic reduction (SCR) denitrification catalysts were summarized. Reasonable structural models (non-periodic and periodic structural models) are the basis of density functional calculations. A periodic structure model was more appropriate to represent the catalyst surface, and its theoretical calculation results were more comparable with the experimental results than a non-periodic model. It is generally believed that the SCR mechanism where NH₃ and NO react to produce N₂ and H₂O follows an Eley-Rideal type mechanism. NH₂NO was found to be an important intermediate in the SCR reaction, with multiple production routes. Simultaneously, the effects of H₂O, SO₂ and metal on SCR catalysts were also summarized.     

Metabolomic modulations in a freshwater microbial community exposed to the fungicide azoxystrobin

An effective broad-spectrum fungicide, azoxystrobin (AZ), has been widely detected in aquatic ecosystems, potentially affecting the growth of aquatic microorganisms. In the present study, the eukaryotic alga Monoraphidium sp. and the cyanobacterium Pseudanabaena sp. were exposed to AZ for 7 days. Our results showed that 0.2–0.5 mg/L concentrations of AZ slightly inhibited the growth of Monoraphidium sp. but stimulated Pseudanabaena sp. growth. Meanwhile, AZ treatment effectively increased the secretion of total organic carbon (TOC) in the culture media of the two species, and this phenomenon was also found in a freshwater microcosm experiment (containing the natural microbial community). We attempted to assess the effect of AZ on the function of aquatic microbial communities through metabolomic analysis and further explore the potential risks of this compound. The metabonomic profiles of the microcosm indicated that the most varied metabolites after AZ treatment were related to the citrate cycle (TCA), fatty acid biosynthesis and purine metabolism. We thereby inferred that the microbial community increased extracellular secretions by adjusting metabolic pathways, which might be a stress response to reduce AZ toxicity. Our results provide an important theoretical basis for further study of fungicide stress responses in aquatic microcosm microbial communities, as well as a good start for further explorations of AZ detoxification mechanisms, which will be valuable for the evaluation of AZ environmental risk.     

Analytical methods and environmental processes of nanoplastics

The degradation of plastic debris may result in the generation of nanoplastics (NPs). Their high specific surface area for the sorption of organic pollutions and toxic heavy metals and possible transfer between organisms at different nutrient levels make the study of NPs an urgent priority. However, there is very limited understanding on the occurrence, distribution, abundant, and fate of NPs in the environment, partially due to the lack of suitable techniques for the separation and identification of NPs from complex environmental matrices. In this review, we first overviewed the state-of-the-art methods for the extraction, separation, identification and quantification of NPs in the environment. Some of them have been successfully applied for the field determination of NPs, while some are borrowed from the detection of microplastics or engineered nanomaterials. Then the possible fate and transport of NPs in the environment are thoroughly described. Although great efforts have been made during the recent years, large knowledge gaps still exist, such as the relatively high detection limit of existing method failing to detect ultralow masses of NPs in the environment, and spherical polystyrene NP models failing to represent the various compositions of NPs with different irregular shapes, which needs further investigation.     

综合生态修复系统治理城市河道富营养化

以河道富营养化治理为研究对象,通过引清入河、水下种植沉水植物、混养鲢鳙等水生动物,并应用原位修复装置等形成1个相互配合的综合生态修复系统,对河道富营养化进行治理。于2017年8月-2018年7月,对5个采样点河道水体富营养化指标进行测量,结果表明:河道水体中总氮（TN）浓度、总磷（TP）浓度、高锰酸钾盐（COD_{M n}）、氨氮（NH₃-N）浓度显著下降,水体透明度明显提升。这说明采用综合生态修复系统治理城市河道治理风险低、治理效果佳,可以推广使用。     

UASB启动运行特征及互营丙酸氧化菌定量分析

为揭示升流式厌氧污泥床（UASB）反应器启动运行效能与互营丙酸降解菌群数量之间的关系,以稀释的玉米淀粉生产废水为底物,考察了UASB启动期的运行特征,并采用实时荧光定量PCR技术（qPCR）分析了互营丙酸降解菌群（丙酸氧化菌和产甲烷菌）的演替规律.结果表明,在进水COD 2000mg/L和水力停留时间（HRT）24h条件下,经过38d的连续运行,COD去除率达到了91.9%.当HRT分阶段缩短至8h时,比产甲烷速率达到了315LCH₄/（kg COD·d）,且形成了沉降性能良好的颗粒污泥.qPCR检测结果表明,至少有5种已鉴定的丙酸氧化菌存在于UASB反应器中.Pelotomaculum propionicum为接种污泥中的主要丙酸氧化菌,约占检测到丙酸氧化菌总数的45.7%.它的数量随着HRT缩短不断减少.而Syntrophobacter sulfatireducens和S.wolinii的数量随着HRT缩短不断增加,并在启动完成时达到最大值,分别为1.3×10³,5.5×10³个16S rRNA基因拷贝数/ng DNA,演替成为成熟颗粒污泥中的优势丙酸氧化菌群.Methanobacterium和Methanosarcina为接种污泥中的主要氢营养型产甲烷菌和乙酸营养型产甲烷菌,其数量随着HRT的缩短而逐渐减少,而Methanospirillum和Methanosaeta的数量随HRT的缩短逐渐增加,成为成熟颗粒污泥中的优势产甲烷菌群.     

长江经济带水质目标管理平台总体设计

为强化长江经济带资源整合与共享,集成统一规范的大数据平台,基于“十一五”“十二五”国家水体污染控制与治理科技重大专项数据和模型库资源,以面向服务的架构(SOA)和模块化设计为支撑,遵循“五横两纵四统一”的平台架构设计思路,应用大数据挖掘、云计算等现代信息技术,构建长江经济带水质目标管理平台.平台基于长江经济带水生态环境功能分区,兼顾不同类别水质目标管理技术的协调性、衔接性和适应性,对水质目标管理相关信息进行跟踪、模拟、分析和三维可视化表达,在水生态环境功能分区管理、数据汇交与信息共享、容量总量管理、风险评估与预警等方面实现业务化运行,实现全景式水质达标形势研判、一体化风险联防联控.平台已在国家长江生态环境保护修复联合研究中心进行业务化运行,将有效提升长江经济带水环境综合管理能力,同时可为其他重要流域水质目标管理提供信息化工作参考.      

Can a low-carbon development path achieve win-win development: evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Low-carbon pilot (LCP) policy aims to not only achieve economic development but also address climate change problems in China. With a...     

Evaluating national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement and economic competitiveness of fuel cell electric long-haul trucks

This study explored the national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement along major United States (US) interstate highway corridors to support the deployment of fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) for the national long-haul trucking fleet. Given the long-haul trucking shipment demand in 2025 projected by the Freight Analysis Framework, locations and capacities of hydrogen stations were identified for inter-zone freight flows, and the total daily refueling demand was estimated for intra-zone flows for each FAF zone. Based on the infrastructure deployment results, we conducted an economic feasibility analysis of FCETs by evaluating the total ownership cost. We found that when the FCET penetration is relatively high (e.g., 10% penetration), FCETs become more competitive in terms of fuel cost and idling cost and could be economic viable if the incremental vehicle cost is reduced to meet the near-term FCET technology cost targets and the liquefaction cost is reduced to an optimal case. We also observed that the station cost depends on regional factors, particularly regional demand, which is used to determine station capacity. Thus, one possible strategy for station roll-out is to have early investment in target regions where station costs are expected to be relatively low such as the Pacific and West South Central regions.

     

沈阳市农村生活污水处理设施有机废弃物归趋

采用实地观察法、文献调查法对沈阳市农村生活污水处理设施基本状况进行研究分析。结果显示:沈阳市已建成农村生活污水处理设施297处,有机废弃物产生量(干重)约为:剩余污泥637 t/a、湿地植物废弃物169 t/a。