Remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic chemicals using stabilized nanoparticles: Lessons from the past two decades

▪ Overviewed evolution and environmental applications of stabilized nanoparticles. ▪ Reviewed theories on particle stabilization for enhanced reactivity/deliverability. ▪ Examined various in situ remediation technologies based on stabilized nanoparticles. ▪ Summarized knowledge on transport of stabilized nanoparticles in porous media. ▪ Identified key knowledge gaps and future research needs on stabilized nanoparticles. Due to improved soil deliverability and high reactivity, stabilized nanoparticles have been studied for nearly two decades for in situ remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated with organic pollutants. While large amounts of bench- and field-scale experimental data have demonstrated the potential of the innovative technology, extensive research results have also unveiled various merits and constraints associated different soil characteristics, types of nanoparticles and particle stabilization techniques. Overall, this work aims to critically overview the fundamental principles on particle stabilization, and the evolution and some recent developments of stabilized nanoparticles for degradation of organic contaminants in soil and groundwater. The specific objectives are to: 1) overview fundamental mechanisms in nanoparticle stabilization; 2) summarize key applications of stabilized nanoparticles for in situ remediation of soil and groundwater contaminated by legacy and emerging organic chemicals; 3) update the latest knowledge on the transport and fate of stabilized nanoparticles; 4) examine the merits and constraints of stabilized nanoparticles in environmental remediation applications; and 5) identify the knowledge gaps and future research needs pertaining to stabilized nanoparticles for remediation of contaminated soil and groundwater. Per instructions of this invited special issue, this review is focused on contributions from our group (one of the pioneers in the subject field), which, however, is supplemented by important relevant works by others. The knowledge gained is expected to further advance the science and technology in the environmental applications of stabilized nanoparticles.     

接种比例对酒糟与餐厨垃圾混合厌氧发酵产沼气的影响

采用酒糟与餐厨垃圾作为混合发酵物料,并接种消化污泥进行厌氧干式发酵,比较接种比例(inoculum to substrate ratios,ISRs)(VS质量比)分别为0.5、0.8、1.0、2.0时的甲烷产率和产量、体系VFA、碱度、游离氨等指标。结果表明:接种比例的提高可有效提高甲烷产生速率,缩短发酵周期,减弱较高浓度VFA引起的抑制作用。当ISRs=1.0时产甲烷效果较好,累计产甲烷率为222.58mL/g,VS去除率达83.4%,继续增加接种比例对发酵效果影响不显著。此外,试验中适宜的VFA/碱度值为0.3～1.2,过大或过小都有可能抑制产甲烷过程。     

Influencing factors and degradation products of antipyrine chlorination in water with free chlorine

Owing to its low cost, free chlorine is one of the most common disinfectants for wastewater and drinking water treatment. However, the formation of disinfection byproducts has been found to occur after free chlorine disinfection in recent decades. Antipyrine (ANT), an anti-inflammatory analgesic, has been frequently detected in the aquatic environment. In this work, the removal efficiency of ANT by free chlorine oxidation in ultrapure water was investigated with batch experiments. The influencing factors on the removal of ANT were explored at initial concentrations of ANT from 0.04 to 0.64 mg/L, free chlorine dosage from 0.30 to 1.31 mg/L, and pH from 1.5 to 9.0. The main degradation products were identified by solid phase extraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The results showed that ANT reacted rapidly with free chlorine in ultrapure water systems and up to 90.6% removal efficiency of ANT was achieved after 25 sec (initial free chlorine 1 mg/L, ANT 0.5 mg/L, pH 7.0). Higher oxidant dosage, lower ANT initial concentration and low pH favor the ANT removal. The main degradation product in ANT chlorination was a monochlorine substitution product (4-chloro-1,2-dihydro- 1,5-dimethyl-2-phenyl-3H-pyrazol-3-one), which can be further chlorinated by free chlorine. In addition, the total organic carbon result indicated that ANT is difficult to be mineralized using chlorine.     

绿化植物对城市空气悬浮颗粒物消减效应的研究进展

空气颗粒物对城市环境质量和人群健康的影响越来越受到社会各界的关注和重视,绿化植物能通过捕获、滞留和吸收等各种方式对空气颗粒物起到消减作用.本文在对绿化植物对空气颗粒物消减机制阐述的基础上,比较分析了不同形态特征和生态习性的绿化植物以及不同配置结构的城市绿地对空气颗粒物的消减差异,最后对未来的研究方向进行了展望.     

福建与台湾地震台网测定震级偏差浅析

选用福建地震台网"十五"观测系统正式运行以来记录的台湾地区M L≥3.0地震资料,计算了福建与台湾地震台网测定震级平均偏差、相关系数及拟合方程,并分析了震级差异形成原因。结果表明,福建地震台网测定台湾及其邻近海域的震级偏低,3.0≤M L<4.5,偏差量为0.80,M L≥4.5,偏差量为0.46;量规函数偏小是造成震级偏低的主要原因。     

南海游泳动物重金属含量特征及风险评价

以2019年夏季采自南海的11种游泳动物为研究对象,测定分析其体内重金属（Cu、Pb、Zn、Cd、Cr、As和Hg）的含量,并评估了上述重金属的污染状况和健康风险。结果显示,7种重金属在生物体中的含量,均符合国内相关污染评价标准。单因子污染指数均值依次为Zn>Cr>As>Hg>Pb>Cd>Cu,虽然个别物种的部分元素达到轻度或中度污染水平,但生物体内7种重金属的综合污染评价均属于无污染状态。健康风险评估结果表明,其膳食暴露风险、非致癌与致癌风险都较低。研究结果表明,南海夏季游泳动物体内重金属含量较低,几乎不存在人类食用健康风险。     

Phosphorus removal from sediments by Potamogeton crispus: New high-resolution in-situ evidence for rhizosphere assimilation and oxidization-induced retention

Macrophytes are usually chosen for phytoremediation tools to remove P in eutrophic aquatic ecosystems, but the lack of test methods hinders the understanding of removal mechanism and application. In this study, we used the novel technologies combined of Diffusive gradients in thin films (DGT), Planar optode (PO), and Non-invasive micro-test technology (NMT) to explore P dynamics in water-sediment continuum and rhizosphere of Potamogeton crispus over time. Results of the high-resolution in situ measurement showed that labile P(LP_DGT) fluxes at the surficial sediment significantly decreased from approximate 120, 140, and 200 pg/ (cm²?sec) via 30 days incubation period to 17, 40, and 56 pg/(cm²?sec) via that of 15 days. Obvious synchronous increase of LP_DGT was not detected in overlying water, suggesting the intense assimilation of dissolve reactive P via root over time. PO measurement indicated that O₂ concentration around the rhizosphere remarkably increased and radially diffused into deeper sediment until 100% saturation along with the root stretch downwards. NMT detection of roots showed the obvious O₂ inflow into root tissue with the uppermost flux of 30 pmol/(cm²?sec) from surroundings via aerenchyma on different treatment conditions. Different from previous reports, gradually saturating O₂ concentrations around the rhizosphere was principally driven by O₂ penetration through interspace attributing to root stretch downward rather than root O₂ leakage. Increased O₂ concentrations in deep sediment over time finally induced the oxidization of labile Fe(II) into Fe(III) bound P and local P immobilization.     

Assessing the factors impacting the bioaccessibility of mercury (Hg) in rice consumption by an in-vitro method

Mercury (Hg) in rice is drawing mounting concern since methylmercury (MeHg) was found capable of accumulating in rice. In-vitro bioaccessibility is a feasible and reliable method to assess the health effects of Hg in rice and has been utilized in a number of studies. This study was done to investigate the impact of cultivar, planting location, and cooking on the total mercury (THg) and MeHg bioaccessibility of rice, for which multiple statistical analysis methods were used to analyze the significance of their effects. The THg concentrations of rice samples taken from non-Hg contaminated areas of China were all below 15 ng/g and their MeHg concentrations were below 2 ng/g. Cooking could significantly reduce the MeHg bioaccessibility of rice because the MeHg was mainly combined with protein and the protein will be denatured during the cooking process, and then the denatured MeHg is difficult to be dissolved into the liquid phase. Indica- and japonica-type rice cultivars did not show significant differentiation in either the concentration of Hg or its bioaccessibility. However, the glutinous rice type differed significantly from the above rice types, and it showed greater bioaccessibility of THg and MeHg due to its distinct protein contents and starch properties. Planting location can affect the Hg concentration in rice and THg bioaccessibility but has a limited impact on MeHg bioaccessibility. Based on these results, two macro factors (rice cultivar, planting location) are presumed to impact Hg bioaccessibility by how they affect micro factors (i.e., Hg forms).     

Influence of dissolved organic matter on methylmercury transformation during aerobic composting of municipal sewage sludge under different C/N ratios

Current knowledge about the transformation of total mercury and methylmercury (MeHg) in aerobic composting process is limited. In this study, the composition and transformation of mercury and dissovled organic matter (DOM) in aerobic composting process of municipal sewage sludge were were comprehensively characterized, and the differences among the three C/N ratio (20, 26 and 30) were investigated. The main form of mercury in C/N 20 and 26 was organo-chelated Hg (F3, 46%-60%); while the main form of mercury in C/N 30 was mercuric sulfide (F5, 64%-70%). The main component of DOM in C/N 20 and 26 were tyrosine-like substance (C1, 53%-76%) while the main fractions in C/N 30 were tyrosine-like substance (C1, 28%-37%) and fulvic-like substance (C2, 17%-39%). The mercury and DOM varied significantly during the 9 days composting process. Compared to C/N 20 and 26, C/N 30 produced the less MeHg after aerobic composting process, with values of 658% (C/N 20), 1400% (C/N 26) and 139% (C/N 30) of the initial, respectively. Meanwhile, C/N 30 produced the best compost showed greater degree of DOM molecular condensation and humification. Hg fraction had been altered by DOM, as indicated by a significant correlation between mercury species and DOM components. Notably, C/N 30 should be used as an appropriate C/N ratio to control the methylation processes of mercury and degration of DOM.     

Sulfur-driven methylmercury production in paddies continues following soil oxidation

Methylmercury (MeHg) production in paddy soils and its accumulation in rice raise global concerns since rice consumption has been identified as an important pathway of human exposure to MeHg. Sulfur (S) amendment via fertilization has been reported to facilitate Hg methylation in paddy soils under anaerobic conditions, while the dynamic of S-amendment induced MeHg production in soils with increasing redox potential remains unclear. This critical gap hinders a comprehensive understanding of Hg biogeochemistry in rice paddy system which is characterized by the fluctuation of redox potential. Here, we conducted soil incubation experiments to explore MeHg production in slow-oxidizing paddy soils amended with different species of S and doses of sulfate. Results show that the elevated redox potential (1) increased MeHg concentrations by 10.9%−35.2%, which were mainly attributed to the re-oxidation of other S species to sulfate and thus the elevated abundance of sulfate-reducing bacteria, and (2) increased MeHg phytoavailability by up to 75% due to the reductions in acid volatile sulfide (AVS) that strongly binds MeHg in soils. Results obtained from this study call for attention to the increased MeHg production and phytoavailability in paddy soils under elevated redox potentials due to water management, which might aggravate the MeHg production induced by S fertilization and thus enhance MeHg accumulation in rice.