Characteristics of typical dissolved black carbons and their influence on the formation of disinfection by-products in chlor(am)ination

● The physicochemical and structural properties of DBC were characterized. ● The effects of DBC on DBPs and DBPFP generation during disinfection were evaluated. ● The DBPs and DBPFP generation during chlor(am)ination were compared. Dissolved black carbon (DBC) released from biochar can be one of the potential disinfection by-products (DBPs) precursors in the dissolved organic matter pool. However, the physiochemical and structural properties of DBC and the effects on the development of DBPs and DBP formation potential (DBPFP) during the disinfection process remain unclear. In this study, the characteristics of two kinds of DBC, namely, animal-derived DBC (poultry litter DBC, PL-DBC) and plant-derived DBC (wheat straw DBC, WS-DBC), were investigated. The effects of different kinds of DBC on the evolution of DBPs and DBPFP in chlorine and chloramine disinfection processes were compared with natural organic matter (NOM). The results showed that the total DBPs concentrations derived from PL-DBC, WS-DBC and NOM were similar during chlorination (i.e., 61.23 μg/L, 64.59 μg/L and 64.66 μg/L, respectively) and chloramination (i.e., 44.63 μg/L, 44.42 μg/L and 45.58 μg/L, respectively). The lower total DBPs and DBPFP concentrations in chloramination could be attributed to the fact that the introduction of ammonia in chloramine inhibited the breaking of the bond between the disinfectant and the active group of the precursor. Additionally, DBC presented much lower total DBPFP concentrations than NOM in both chlorination and chloramination. However, both kinds of DBC tended to form more monochloroacetic acids and haloacetamides than NOM, which could result from the higher organic strength, higher protein matter, and nitrogen-rich soluble microbial products of DBC.     

Removal Efficiency of PM10 via Ventilation with Residential Exhaust Hood and Conditions for Reducing Human Intake Fraction

Environmental Modeling & Assessment - As the number of enclosed residential buildings increases to minimize energy consumption, research on indoor air quality is becoming more important....     

A Compatible Interface of Wheat Straw/Polylactic Acid Composites Collaborative Constructed Using KH570–Nano TiO2

Journal of Polymers and the Environment - Poor interfacial compatibility between wheat straw and polylactic acid (PLA) remains a problem that directly affects the overall performance of wheat...     

Enhanced Fenton's destruction of non-aqueous phase perchloroethylene in soil systems

The Fenton's system is applied to the destruction of perchloroethylene (PCE) present as a dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) in soil slurry systems; the initial concentration of PCE was 45 times higher than its aqueous solubility. Studies were conducted in two matrices: Ottawa sand and soil from Warsaw, IN. In Ottawa sand, a 60-62% decrease in PCE concentration was observed, and Cl(-) recovery was 47-58%, whereas in Warsaw soil, a 44-49% decrease in PCE concentration and a Cl(-) recovery of 40-42% were observed after the addition of 600 mM H(2)O(2) and 10 mM dissolved iron. Significantly enhanced destruction resulted during application of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) iminodiacetic acid (HEIDA) to Warsaw soil. For example, in the absence of HEIDA in Warsaw soil, 36% PCE loss and 33% Cl(-) release were observed at 600 mM H(2)O(2) and 5 mM Fe(III), while 74% PCE loss and 63% Cl(-) release were achieved at 600 mM H(2)O(2) and 5 mM Fe(III)-HEIDA. For both soils, the catalytic activities of Fe(II) and Fe(III) were nearly equivalent. These findings clearly demonstrate that system design can be optimized with regard to process variables in Fenton's treatment of DNAPL in soils.     

Bioaugmented sulfate reduction using enriched anaerobic microflora in the presence of zero valent iron

Biological sulfate reduction was evaluated in batch and continuous reactors that were inoculated with enriched microflora cultivated from sulfate laden medium. Heterotrophic sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) principally reduced the sulphate when the chemical oxygen demand was sufficient. The heterotrophic SRB in the enriched microflora could not efficiently reduce sulphate at T<33 °C and/or pH<6.0. However, when 200 mg L(-1) of zero valent iron (ZVI) was added to the reactor, the sulphate reduction rate was increased by 15% while the inhibition of the SRB activity occurred at T<25 °C or pH<4.5, broader than those noted for non-ZVI systems. In batch tests, the autotrophic SRB reduced 95% of 1500 mg L(-1) sulphate in <50h at 15 °C when the substrate was amended with 8 gL(-1) ZVI. In continuous up-flow anaerobic multiple bed reactor tests conducted to evaluate the remediation of sulphate in acid mine runoff, ZVI enhanced the activity of SRB, resulting in a 61% reduction of 20.8 gL(-1) sulphate when the reactor was operated at 25 °C and pH 2.6 with a hydraulic remain time of 96 h.     

Transformation of 4-nonylphenol isomers during biosolids composting

4-Nonylphenol, a degradation intermediate of commercial surfactant and known endocrine disruptor, has been frequently detected at levels up to several thousand microgl(-1) in surface waters and up to several hundred mgkg(-1) (dry weight) in soil and sediment samples. Large quantities of 4-NP can be quickly sorbed by the organic rich solid phase during wastewater treatment and are concentrated in biosolids, a possible major source for 4-NP in the environment. Microbial transformation in culture studies followed different mechanisms for different 4-NP isomers, which have different estrogenic activity. Composting is a process of solid matrix transformation where biological activity is enhanced by process control. This approach has been used successfully in remediation of contaminated soils and sludges. In this study, the transformation kinetics of 4-NP and its isomers were characterized during biosolids composting. Five distinctive 4-NP isomer groups with structures relative to alpha- and beta-carbons of the alkyl chain were identified in biosolids. Composting biosolids mixed with wood shaving at a dry weight percentage ratio of 43:57 (C:N ratio of 65:1) removed 80% of the total 4-NP within two weeks. At this biosolids/wood shaving ratio (B:WS), the transformation of total 4-NP and its isomers followed second-order kinetic. Higher B:WS ratios yielded significantly slower 4-NP transformation which followed first-order kinetic. Isomers with alpha-methyl-alpha-propyl structure transformed significantly slower than those with less branched tertiary alpha-carbon and those with secondary alpha-carbon, suggesting isomer-specific degradation of 4-NP during biosolids composting.     

Effects of Combined Exposure to Formaldehyde and PM2.5 on the Brain of Balb/c Mice Asthma Model

Epidemiological studies have shown that there is a link between asthma and brain damage,but toxicological studies have not fully confirmed yet,especially the effects of asthma on the brain. In this study,at first,we explore the effects of asthma on the brain through the establishment of an allergic asthma model. Then PM_(2.5),a typical outdoor air pollutant and formaldehyde,a typical indoor air pollutant were selected to be closer to the true environment and find whether there is any synergism between them. In this study,an ovalbumin( OVA)-sensitized mice asthma model was established. 30 male Balb/c mice were randomly divided into 5 groups:( 1) saline control group,( 2) OVA-sensitized group,( 3) OVA-combined with formaldehyde exposure group,( 4) OVA-combined with PM_(2.5) exposure group,( 5) Combination of OVA,formaldehyde and PM_(2.5) exposure group. The mice were inhaled with formaldehyde or/and instilled with PM_(2.5) from day 1 to 18. The mice asthma model was developed by OVA sensitization and challenge. The mice were sensitized with OVA+Al( OH)3( 5 mg OVA and 175 mg Al( OH)3 in 30 m L saline each time) or saline( 30 m L saline each time) by intraperitoneal injection on day 1,7 and 14.This was then followed by an aerosol challenge in 1% OVA( 30 min·d~(-1)) from day 19 to 25( 7 times) using an ultrasonic nebulizer. On the 26 th day,the organ coefficient of mice brain was counted,then the contents of oxidative stress of mice brain were measured,including reactive oxygen species( ROS),glutathione( GSH) and malondialdehyde( MDA),and the concentrations of NF-κB and interleukin-1β( IL-1β) were detected by using ELISA kits.Detection of interleukin-6( IL-6) was made with immunohistochemical method. Histological assay for brain was also conducted. In our results,all the OVA treated groups showed a significant increase of ROS and a significant decrease of GSH contents when compared with the control group. Except OVA-sensitized group,other OVA treated groups also showed a significant increase of MDA contents when compared with the control group,and MDA contents of OVA-sensitized group showed significant change when compared to the combined exposure group. In ROS and GSH,combined exposure showed some joint effect compared with single exposure. When OVA was applied in combination with formaldehyde and PM_(2.5),NF-κB was activated. And all the OVA treated groups showed increased levels of IL-1β and IL-6 compared with the control group. And the combined exposure showed an aggravated effect when compared with OVA-sensitized group. Histopathological observation of the hippocampus in mice brain clearly showed the difference of eosin( EO) stained neurons in the combined exposure group compared with the control group and OVA-sensitized group. The pyramidal neurons of the mice with allergic asthma exposed to formaldehyde and/or PM_(2.5) had been reduced in number,the cells were swollen and the dendrites had disappeared. Allergic asthma can cause damage to the brain through oxidative stress. Exposure to formaldehyde and PM_(2.5) will increase the damage caused by allergic asthma to the brain,which may be mediated by oxidative stress and NF-κB activation.This promotes the release of the inflammatory factors,resulting in increased inflammation.     

A comparison study of the potential risks induced in arable land and forest soils by carcass-derived pollutants

Environmental Geochemistry and Health - Improper decisions concerning animal carcass disposal sites pose grave threats to environmental biosecurity. However, only a few studies have focused on the...     

基于多时相遥感影像的围填海动态监测与变化分析——以辽宁省部分沿海县市为例

本研究选取2016年天宫二号宽波段成像仪数据,联合1986、1996、2006年Landsat-5的历史遥感影像数据开展辽宁省部分沿海县市围填海变化监测,并分析湿地-围填海的转移关系。结果表明,1986~2016年,辽宁省部分沿海县市围填海面积持续增加,近10 a增加最多,面积为29499.73 hm2。围填海占用滩涂湿地面积各时期比较稳定,占用近海水域面积逐年上升,占用盐沼湿地面积逐年减少,围填海开发活动具有由陆地向近海转移的趋势。不同时期,湿地-围填海的转移关系有较大差异,进一步权衡不同转移类型的生态服务价值损失与经济价值增加的关系,对科学地进行围填海规划与实施具有指导意义。     

电子舌在水质检测中研究进展

水的质量控制对人们的生产生活具有十分重要的意义,但是目前水质的检测方法存在一定的局限性。仿生味觉系统(电子舌)作为一种新的快速检测手段,由于其高效低成本等诸多优点,已经在多个领域的应用上展现了十分广阔的前景。相对于食品领域,其在水质检测领域的研究与应用还较为欠缺。该文基于目前电子舌在水质检测领域的发展进行了调研,就其在水的分类、感官分析、特定指标检测以及在线监测等4个方面进行了阐述,深入分析了电子舌在水质检测领域的意义,应用价值和发展前景,并对该技术在水质检测领域未来的发展方向和突破点提出了几点思考。