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.     

Photodegradation of Hexafluoropropylene Oxide Trimer Acid under UV Irradiation

As a novel alternative to traditional perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), including perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), hexafluoroproplyene oxide trimer acid (HFPO-TA) has been detected worldwide in surface water. Moreover, recent researches have demonstrated that HFPO-TA has stronger bioaccumulation potential and higher hepatotoxicity than PFOA. To treat these contaminants e.g. PFOA and PFOS, some photochemical techniques by adding exogenous substances had been reported. However, there is still no report for the behavior of HFPO-TA itself under direct UV irradiation. The current study investigated the photo-transformation of HFPO-TA under UV irradiation in aqueous solution. After 72 hr photoreaction, 75% degradation ratio and 25% defluorination ratio were achieved under ambient condition. Reducing active species, i.e., hydrated electrons and active hydrogen atoms, generated from water splitting played dominant roles in degradation of HFPO-TA, which was confirmed by different effects of reaction atmospheres and quenching experiments. A possible degradation pathway was proposed based on the products identification and theoretical calculations. In general, HFPO-TA would be transformed into shorter-chain PFASs, including hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), perfluoropropionic acid (PFA) and trifluoroacetate (TFA). This research provides basic information for HFPO-TA photodegradation process and is essential to develop novel remediation techniques for HFPO-TA and other alternatives with similar structures.     

达里诺尔湖水体DOM荧光特征及其来源解析

达里诺尔湖（简称“达里湖”）是内蒙古自治区高原地区重要的生态屏障,探究达里湖水质状况及污染来源,对加强流域水环境治理、改善水环境质量具有十分重要的意义.于2018年9月及2019年6月对湖水进行采样,并通过三维荧光光谱结合PARAFAC（平行因子分析）模型,探究达里湖水体DOM（溶解性有机质）来源及其与水质的关系.结果表明:①达里湖水体中pH较高,ρ（DOC）（DOC为溶解性有机碳）、ρ（NH₄+-N）、ρ（TP）相对较高,均超过GB 3838—2002《地表水环境质量标准》Ⅴ类水质标准限值.②水体中DOM含4种荧光组分.夏季水体DOM主要分布于河流入湖口附近,其中,类腐殖质荧光组分（紫外区类富里酸和可见区类富里酸）占总组分的62.93%,类蛋白类荧光组分（类色氨酸和类酪氨酸）占总组分的36.07%;秋季水体DOM主要分布于东南侧,其中,类腐殖质荧光组分占总组分的40.52%,类蛋白类荧光组分占总组分的59.48%.③达里湖采样点荧光参数表明,达里湖DOM自生源特征较强,腐殖化程度较低.类腐殖质荧光组分与ρ（DOC）、ρ（Chla）均呈正相关,类色氨酸荧光组分与pH呈正相关,类络氨酸与ρ（DTN）、ρ（NH4+-N）、ρ（DTP）均呈正相关.研究显示,达里湖DOM具有陆源与生物源双重特性,DOM的形成与微生物、细菌、浮游生物的生命活动密切相关.      

不同制备温度下污泥生物炭对Cr(Ⅵ)的吸附特性

以城市剩余污泥为原料,于300,400,500,600 ℃温度条件下制备生物炭,通过单因素静态吸附实验探讨制备温度对生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）的影响。结果表明:在500 ℃以内随着温度上升制备的生物炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的吸附量增加,制备温度高于500 ℃后变化不明显;扫描电镜（SEM）、比表面积（BET）、傅里叶红外光谱（FTIR）表征结果显示,热解温度对生物炭表面形貌和官能团组成有显著影响;等温模型及动力学拟合结果表明,生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）为单分子层吸附、物理-化学复合吸附。热解温度对污泥制备生物炭吸附Cr（Ⅵ）的性能有显著影响,最佳制备温度为500 ℃,在此条件制备的生物炭对Cr（Ⅵ）的理论吸附量可达7.93 mg/g。     

内饰材料发射率对密封舱室热防护效率的影响

目的探究密封舱室热防护效率与其内饰材料表面发射率的关系,分析内饰材料发射率对其表面温度、舱室内温度的影响规律。方法采用自行设计的小型密封舱室和加热测量装置,对内饰材料表面及舱室内温度进行测量。结果当内饰材料发射率为0.09时,内饰表面温度为141.2℃,舱室内平均温度仅为90.8℃;内饰材料发射率为0.91时,内饰表面温度为124.4℃,舱室内平均温度为109.1℃。结论试样表面温度随材料发射率的提高而降低,舱室内部空气平均温度随材料发射率的提高而升高;试样表面温度与舱室空气平均温度的温度差随材料发射率的提高而减小;同时,相同试样表面温度与舱室平均温度的温度差随加热温度的提高而增加。     

京津冀地区钢铁行业协同减排成本-效益分析

京津冀地区是我国钢铁行业布局最集中的区域,也是大气污染治理的重点区域之一.分析京津冀地区钢铁行业各类治污手段中长期减排的成本-效益,对于选择最经济有效的减排路径、加快推动该地区大气环境质量达标意义重大.基于能源环境、环境分布、人群健康效益评价等模块构建多模型耦合方法,以2015年为基准年,以每5 a为时间节点,设计了京津冀地区钢铁行业规模-结构、规模-技术、规模-末端治理、综合减排4种协同减排情景,计算各情景下2015—2030年京津冀地区钢铁行业主要污染物(SO₂、NO_x、PM₁₀、PM_2.5、CO₂)的减排成本与效益,比较获取治污减排的最优路径方案.结果表明:①基于减排成本计算,规模-末端治理减排情景成本最低,分别为规模-结构、规模-技术减排情景投入的15.18%、23.94%;综合减排情景下治污减排潜力最大,但综合成本最高.②基于环境税效益评价方法、人群健康效益评价方法计算显示,人群健康效益评价方法计算的减排效益高于环境税效益评价方法,表明污染减排的潜在人群健康效益更高;基于两种减排效益方法,4种协同减排情景中综合减排效益分别为10.78×108、76.14×108元,高于规模-结构、规模-技术、规模-末端治理减排情景效益.③基于环境税效益评价方法,4种协同减排情景的效益-成本比表现为规模-末端治理减排情景(0.46) >规模-技术减排情景(0.24) >综合减排情景(0.15) >规模-结构减排情景(0.10);基于人群健康效益评价方法4种协同减排情景的效益-成本比依次为规模-末端治理减排情景(8.35) >综合减排情景(1.07) >规模-结构减排情景(0.57) >规模-技术减排情景(0.65),表明规模-末端治理减排情景的减排路径最优.研究显示,京津冀地区钢铁行业应基于环境质量底线目标要求,综合考虑减排潜力、减排成本与收益,以规模-末端治理为主要途径,选取协同减排的最优路径.      

Adjusting sowing date and cultivar shift improve maize adaption to climate change in China

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - This study investigates the impact of climate change on spring and summer maize (Zea mays) yield and evaluates several adaptation measures...     

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...     

Nanoencapsulation of hexavalent chromium with nanoscale zero-valent iron: High resolution chemical mapping of the passivation layer

Solid phase reactions of Cr(Ⅵ) with Fe(0) were investigated with spherical-aberration-corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy(Cs-STEM) integrated with X-ray energy-dispersive spectroscopy(XEDS). Near-atomic resolution elemental mappings of Cr(Ⅵ)–Fe(0) reactions were acquired. Experimental results show that rate and extent of Cr(Ⅵ) encapsulation are strongly dependent on the initial concentration of Cr(Ⅵ) in solution. Low Cr loading in nZⅥ(1.0 wt%) promotes the electrochemical oxidation and continuous corrosion of n ZⅥ while high Cr loading(1.0 wt%) can quickly shut down the Cr uptake. With the progress of iron oxidation and dissolution, elements of Cr and O counter-diffuse into the nanoparticles and accumulate in the core region at low levels of Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 10 mg/L). Whereas the reacted n ZⅥ is quickly coated with a newly-formed layer of 2–4 nm in the presence of concentrated Cr(Ⅵ)(e.g., 100 mg/L). The passivation structure is stable over a wide range of pH unless pH is low enough to dissolve the passivation layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS) depth profiling reconfirms that the composition of the newly-formed surface layer consists of Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxides with Cr(Ⅵ) adsorbed on the outside surface. The insoluble and insulating Fe(Ⅲ)–Cr(Ⅲ)(oxy)hydroxide layer can completely cover the n ZⅥ surface above the critical Cr loading and shield the electron transfer. Thus, the fast passivation of nZⅥ in high Cr(Ⅵ) solution is detrimental to the performance of nZⅥ for Cr(Ⅵ) treatment and remediation.     

Relationship between physicochemical properties and dewaterability of hydrothermal sludge derived from different source

Sewage sludge (SS) and deinking sludge (DS) were used to comparatively study the hydrothermal dewatering of sludge with different components. For a better overview, an insight into the relationship between physicochemical properties and dewaterability of hydrothermal sludge was provided. Results found that not all kinds of sludge were suitably conditioned by hydrothermal treatment (HT) in term of the elevation of dewaterability. Higher hydrothermal temperature tended to enhance the dewaterability of SS rather than DS, which was supported by the variation of their physicochemical properties (including water distribution, bonding energy, extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), particles size, acid functional groups and zeta potential in this study). In addition, the changes in surface morphology suggested that the reverse effect of HT on sludge dewaterability was mainly due to their dewatering behavior. For SS, the destruction of EPS structure leaded to the release of bound water, thereby strengthening sludge dewatering. Conversely, “Bridging effect” generated by lignocellulose in DS was beneficial for sludge dewatering; however, the increasing hydrothermal temperature degraded part of lignocellulose and weakened “bridging effect”, finally resulting in worse dewaterability of DS.