Understanding the risks of mercury sulfide nanoparticles in the environment: Formation, presence, and environmental behaviors

Mercury (Hg) could be microbially methylated to the bioaccumulative neurotoxin methylmercury (MeHg), raising health concerns. Understanding the methylation of various Hg species is thus critical in predicting the MeHg risk. Among the known Hg species, mercury sulfide (HgS) is the largest Hg reservoir in the lithosphere and has long been considered to be highly inert. However, with advances in the analytical methods of nanoparticles, HgS nanoparticles (HgS NPs) have recently been detected in various environmental matrices or organisms. Furthermore, pioneering laboratory studies have reported the high bioavailability of HgS NPs. The formation, presence, and transformation (e.g., methylation) of HgS NPs are intricately related to several environmental factors, especially dissolved organic matter (DOM). The complexity of the behavior of HgS NPs and the heterogeneity of DOM prevent us from comprehensively understanding and predicting the risk of HgS NPs. To reveal the role of HgS NPs in Hg biogeochemical cycling, research needs should focus on the following aspects: the formation pathways, the presence, and the environmental behaviors of HgS NPs impacted by the dominant influential factor of DOM. We thus summarized the latest progress in these aspects and proposed future research priorities, e.g., developing the detection techniques of HgS NPs and probing HgS NPs in various matrices, further exploring the interactions between DOM and HgS NPs. Besides, as most of the previous studies were conducted in laboratories, our current knowledge should be further refreshed through field observations, which would help to gain better insights into predicting the Hg risks in natural environment.     

Formation of sulfur oxide groups by SO2 and their roles in mercury adsorption on carbon-based materials

The presence of SO₂ display significant effect on the mercury (Hg) adsorption ability of carbon-based sorbent. Yet the adsorption and oxidation of SO₂ on carbon with oxygen group, as well as the roles of different sulfur oxide groups in Hg adsorption have heretofore been unclear. The formation of sulfur oxide groups by SO₂ and their effects on Hg adsorption on carbon was detailed examined by the density functional theory. The results show that SO₂ can be oxidized into SO₃ by oxygen group on carbon surface. Both C-SO₂ and C-SO₃ can improve Hg adsorption on carbon site, while the promotive effect of C-SO₂ is stronger than C-SO₃. Electron density difference analyses reveal that sulfur oxide groups enhance the charge transfer ability of surface unsaturated carbon atom, thereby improving Hg adsorption. The experimental results confirm that surface active groups formed by SO₂ adsorption is more active for Hg adsorption than the groups generated by SO₃.     

Mercury release behaviors of Guizhou bituminous coal during co-pyrolysis: Influence of chlorella

Co-pyrolysis of coal and seaweed can not only effectively decrease the carbon footprint but also improve the quality and output of coal pyrolysis products, however, the influence of seaweed on thermal releasing behaviors of mercury during co-pyrolysis process are still unclear. In this work, the chlorella and Guizhou bituminous coal were mixed and used to reveal the mercury release behavior during co-pyrolysis by the temperature programmed pyrolysis experiments, thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG) and thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) methods, offering a sufficient explanation on the control technology of mercury pollutants in co-pyrolysis. The results exhibited that a large amount of reducing gases such as CO, H₂ and H₂O were generated in chlorella at the temperature range of 100-500°C, which was favorable for the transformation from oxidized mercury to elemental mercury, thus remarkably increased the release of elemental mercury in the raw coal sample. The mixed chlorella also significantly lowered the decomposition temperature range (from 400-600 to 300-400°C) of pyrite-bound mercury and decreased the decomposition temperatures of the pyrite-bound mercury species. Additionally, in the co-pyrolysis about 91.82% of mercury was released into the gas phase below 400°C and was 13.77% higher than that of in individual pyrolysis of coal.     

SCR气氛下Ce-W/TiO2催化剂的脱硝协同脱汞特性

在固定床反应器上研究了反应温度和烟气组分对Ce-W/TiO₂（物质的量比Ce：W=2：1）催化剂脱硝协同脱汞活性的影响.结果表明：反应温度对该催化剂的脱硝脱汞效率影响显著,在280~400℃温度区间,脱硝效率随温度升高而升高,而脱汞效率在温度为280℃与360℃的条件下较高,360℃时兼具最好的脱硝与脱汞效率.在SCR气氛中,HCl对Hg⁰的氧化脱除有极大的促进作用,低浓度的HCl也有利于脱硝效率的提高,但HCl浓度过高对NO的脱除有抑制作用;SO₂的存在对脱硝过程可起到促进作用,对Hg⁰的氧化有抑制作用.利用BET,XRD,SEM,TPD,XRF,NH3-TPD等分析手段对反应前后催化剂进行表征,结果表明：Ce-W/TiO₂无微孔结构,活性组分CeO₂和WO₃以高度分散的形式分布于载体表面.280℃条件下部分Hg以HgCl₂的形式吸附于反应后催化剂表面,随着反应温度的升高催化剂表面吸附态的汞急剧降低.SCR气氛中的HCl与SO₂会影响催化剂表面酸性,同时增加Cl和S元素含量,进而影响该催化剂的脱硝与脱汞效率.     

Assessing the capacity of biochar to stabilize copper and lead in contaminated sediments using chemical and extraction methods

Because of its high adsorption capacity, biochar has been used to stabilize metals when remediating contaminated soils; to date, however, it has seldom been used to remediate contaminated sediment. A biochar was used as a stabilization agent to remediate Cu- and Pb-contaminated sediments, collected from three locations in or close to Beijing. The sediments were mixed with a palm sawdust gasified biochar at a range of weight ratios (2.5%, 5%, and 10%) and incubated for 10, 30, or 60?days. The performance of the different treatments and the heavy metal fractions in the sediments were assessed using four extraction methods, including diffusive gradients in thin films, the porewater concentration, a sequential extraction, and the toxicity characteristic leaching procedure. The results showed that biochar could enhance the stability of heavy metals in contaminated sediments. The degree of stability increased as both the dose of biochar and the incubation time increased. The sediment pH and the morphology of the metal crystals adsorbed onto the biochar changed as the contact time increased. Our results showed that adsorption, metal crystallization, and the pH were the main controls on the stabilization of metals in contaminated sediment by biochar.     

Distribution of methylsiloxanes in benthic mollusks from the Chinese Bohai Sea

Methylsiloxanes are a class of silicone compounds that have been widely used in various industrial processes and personal care products for several decades. This study investigated the spatial distribution of three cyclic methylsiloxanes (D4–D6) and twelve linear methylsiloxanes (L5–L16) in mollusks collected from seven cities along the Bohai Sea. D4–D6 (df?=?71%–81%) and L8–L16 (df?=?32%–40%) were frequently detectable in the mollusk samples, while L5–L7 were not found in any mollusk samples. Cyclic methylsiloxanes (D4–D6) were found in mollusks with the mean concentrations of 15.7?±?12.3?ng/g ww for D4, 24.6?±?15.8?ng/g ww for D5 and 34.0?±?23.0?ng/g ww for D6. Among the seven sampling cities, the cyclic methylsiloxanes were predominant in mollusks, with the total cyclic methylsiloxanes (sum of D4–D6, ∑ CMS) accounting for 74.2%–80.7% of the total methylsiloxanes. ∑ CMS along the coastline demonstrated a clear gradient, with the highest concentrations in mollusks at the sampling sites located in the western part of the Bohai Sea and the lowest concentrations in mollusks from cities located in the eastern part of the Bohai Sea. The biota-sediment accumulation factors for cyclic methylsiloxanes (D4–D6) and linear methylsiloxanes (L8–L16) were estimated as 0.42?±?0.06–0.53?±?0.06 and 0.13?±?0.03–0.19?±?0.05, respectively.     

Underestimation of phosphorus fraction change in the supernatant after phosphorus adsorption onto iron oxides and iron oxide–natural organic matter complexes

The phosphorus(P) fraction distribution and formation mechanism in the supernatant after P adsorption onto iron oxides and iron oxide-humic acid(HA) complexes were analyzed using the ultrafiltration method in this study.With an initial P concentration of 20 mg/L(I =0.01 mol/L and pH = 7),it was shown that the colloid(1 kDa-0.45 μm) component of P accounted for 10.6%,11.6%,6.5%,and 4.0%of remaining total P concentration in the supernatant after P adsorption onto ferrihydrite(FH),goethite(GE),ferrihydrite-humic acid complex(FH-HA),goethite-humic acid complex(GE-HA),respectively.The 1 kDa component of P was still the predominant fraction in the supernatant,and underestimated colloidal P accounted for 2.2%,55.1%,45.5%,and 38.7%of P adsorption onto the solid surface of FH,FH-HA,GE and GE-HA,respectively.Thus,the colloid P could not be neglected.Notably,it could be interpreted that Fe~(3+) hydrolysis from the adsorbents followed by the formation of colloidal hydrous ferric oxide aggregates was the main mechanism for the formation of the colloid P in the supernatant.And colloidal adsorbent particles co-existing in the supernatant were another important reason for it.Additionally,dissolve organic matter dissolved from iron oxide-HA complexes could occupy large adsorption sites of colloidal iron causing less colloid P in the supernatant.Ultimately,we believe that the findings can provide a new way to deeply interpret the geochemical cycling of P,even when considering other contaminants such as organic pollutants,heavy metal ions,and arsenate at the sediment/soil-water interface in the real environment.     

Selective elimination of chromophoric and fluorescent dissolved organic matter in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant

Effluent organic matter (EfOM) from municipal wastewater treatment plants potentially has a detrimental effect on both aquatic organisms and humans. This study evaluated the removal and transformation of chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) and fluorescent dissolved organic matter (FDOM) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant under different seasons. The results showed that bio-treatment was found to be more efficient in removing bulk DOM (in terms of dissolved organic carbon, DOC) than CDOM and FDOM, which was contrary to the disinfection process. CDOM and FDOM were selectively removed at various stages during the treatment. Typically, the low molecular weight (MW) fractions of CDOM and protein-like FDOM were more efficiently removed during bio-treatment process, whereas the humic-like FDOM exhibited comparable decreases in both bio-treatment and disinfection processes. Overall, the performance of the WWTP was weak in terms of CDOM and FDOM removal, resulting in enrichment of CDOM and FDOM in effluent. Moreover, the total removal of the bulk DOM (P < 0.05) and the protein-like FDOM (P < 0.05) displayed a significant seasonal variation, with higher removal efficiencies in summer, whereas removal of CDOM and the humic-like FDOM showed little differences between summer and winter. In all, the results provide useful information for understanding the fate and transformation of DOM, illustrating that sub-fractions of DOM could be selectively removed depending on treatment processes and seasonality.     

厌氧发酵处理红霉素菌渣的效能及红霉素降解规律研究

红霉素菌渣是宝贵的资源,但却含有少量的红霉素残留,潜在引发环境细菌耐药的风险,被国家定义为危险废物。文章采用厌氧发酵技术处理红霉素菌渣,拟借助微生物作用降低抗生素残留并制取生物燃气,文中考察了红霉素残留随厌氧发酵过程的降解规律。研究发现:中温(35℃)发酵、接种比为0.4、含固率为8%时,单位池容产气率最高,红霉素菌渣的厌氧发酵处理是可行的。此外,在发酵的10 d后,红霉素降解率达到94%以上,日相对降解率与发酵液pH相关,pH越小降解速率越大,pH越接近中性,降解越缓慢。同时得到其降解过程与厌氧发酵产气量无明显相关性。该文为红霉素菌渣安全资源化提供了基础数据。