Anthropogenic contaminants in freshwater from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region

This study aimed to evaluate the presence of ultraviolet filters (UV-Fs), benzotriazoles, pyrethroids and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in freshwater and wastewater from the northern Antarctic Peninsula region. All water samples analyzed contained UV-Fs residues and high concentrations were detected in anthropogenic impacted sites (< LOD up to 1300 ng/L). Likewise, benzotriazoles were detected in all water samples (< LOQ–920 ng/L). Regarding suspended particulate matter, almost all UV-Fs and all benzotriazoles were measured at concentrations ranging from < LOQ to 33 µg/g dry weight. Pyrethroids were also detected (< LOQ–250 ng/L) and their presence implies the existence of a gateway to the Antarctica Peninsula from other regions. The data confirmed the presence of PFASs (< LOD–7500 ng/L) in this area, in agreement with previous studies. In light of these results, extended monitoring in Antarctica should be carried out to perform a reliable environmental risk assessment leading to propose recommendations to minimize the anthropic impact.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (10.1007/s13280-020-01404-x) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

强化生物除磷系统中胞外聚合物的特性

胞外聚合物(EPS)在生物除磷过程中具有蓄磷能力,为进一步明确生物除磷系统中的EPS特性,以不具有明显除磷能力的全程好氧活性污泥系统(R1)的EPS作为对比,考察了具有良好除磷效果的厌氧/好氧交替下的强化生物除磷系统(R2)中EPS的理化特性.结果表明,相对于R1中的EPS主成分在一个周期内的不固定,R2中的蛋白质含量一直明显高于多糖含量;两者的主要荧光物质均为类蛋白质和类富里酸,但在好氧末期R2中类蛋白质的荧光强度高于R1; R1的EPS中Ca2+> Mg2+,而在R2中, Mg2+>Ca2+,同时R1中的Ca2+含量平均值为8.67mg/gMLSS,大于R2中Ca2+的平均值2.40mg/gMLSS;在好氧末期,R2中的TP为21.65mg/gMLSS,明显高于R1中的TP含量(13.83mg/g-MLSS).此外,R1和R2的zeta电位平均值分别为-36mV和-25mV.由此可见, EBPR系统中的EPS具有与全程好氧活性污泥中的EPS不同的特征.     

基于Meta分析的全氟化合物对鱼类生态毒性效应

全氟及多氟化合物（PFAS）是难降解的有机污染物,具有普遍存在、生物蓄积和生物学毒性效应等特点.为探讨PFAS对鱼类的生物毒性效应,综述了64篇文献,通过Meta分析合并效应值探讨鱼类暴露于PFAS对其功能性状的毒性,为PFAS的毒性评估提供参考,有利于PFAS污染的优先控制管理.结果表明：①在研究的12种功能性状中,鱼类的7类功能性状易感,毒性响应顺序为畸形（lnRR=-2.5599）、发育（lnRR=-0.4103）、细胞损伤（lnRR=-0.3962）、生殖（lnRR=-0.3724）、甲状腺水平（lnRR=-0.2492）、生长（lnRR=-0.2194）和生存（lnRR=-0.2192）;②鱼类性别和所处发育阶段显著影响PFAS的水生毒性,PFAS易对雌鱼产生不良影响（lnRR=-0.1628）,且胚胎期鱼类的生理功能受PFAS影响最显著（lnRR=-0.3553）;③研究涉及的PFAS共13种,其中具有磺酸盐基团的PFAS和长链PFAS更易对鱼类的功能性状产生不良影响（P<0.05）;④现有数据揭示PFAS在中低浓度（0.01~10 mg ·L^-1）下易对鱼类产生急性毒性（P<0.05）.     

膜分离腐殖质前后晚期渗滤液可生化性的变化

晚期渗滤液由于含有大量难降解有机物腐殖质,可生化性差,较难处理。采用特定分子量的超滤膜对晚期渗滤液中的腐殖质进行有效的分离,研究了膜分离腐殖质前后渗滤液的可生化性的变化：渗滤液中腐殖质类物质去除率为90．7％,BOD5/COD值提高了6倍,可生物降解的有机物在总有机物中所占比率提高了约4倍。结果表明,分离腐殖质可提高渗滤液的可生化性。     

Interaction and combined toxicity of microplastics and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in aquatic environment

● Adsorption of PFASs on MPs and its mechanisms are critically reviewed. ● MPs could alter the transport and transformation of PFASs in aquatic environments. ● Combined toxicity of MPs and PFASs at organismal and molecular levels is discussed. Microplastics (MPs) are recognized as vectors for the transport of organic contaminants in aquatic environments in addition to their own adverse effects on aquatic organisms. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widely present in aquatic environments due to their widespread applications, and thus coexist with MPs. Therefore, we focus on the interaction of MPs and PFASs and related combined toxicity in aquatic environments in this work. The adsorption of PFASs on MPs is critically reviewed, and new mechanisms such as halogen bonding, π-π interaction, cation-π interactions, and micelle formation are proposed. Moreover, the effect of MPs on the transport and transformation of PFASs in aquatic environments is discussed. Based on four typical aquatic organisms (shellfish, Daphnia, algae, and fish), the toxicity of MPs and/or PFASs at the organismal or molecular levels is also evaluated and summarized. Finally, challenges and research perspectives are proposed, and the roles of the shapes and aging process of MPs on PFAS biogeochemical processes and toxicity, especially on PFAS substitutes, are recommended for further investigation. This review provides a better understanding of the interactions and toxic effects of coexisting MPs and PFASs in aquatic environments.     

沱江流域典型及新兴全氟/多氟化合物的污染特征及来源解析

为研究沱江流域表层水中全氟/多氟化合物（PFASs）的污染特征和来源,采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱（UPLC-MS/MS）分析了沱江48个表层水样中的PFASs.结果表明,沱江流域水体中ρ（ΣPFASs）为12.5~3789 ng·L^-1,其中全氟辛烷羧酸（PFOA）为最主要污染组分,ρ（PFOA）为9.97~3764 ng·L^-1,占比高达73.6%~99.8%,说明传统PFASs仍是沱江流域主要的PFASs.所涉新兴PFASs检出率最高的为F-53B,检出率达100%,F-53B已在沱江流域被广泛使用.沱江流域浓度最高的新兴PFASs为6：2氟调聚磺酸（6：2 FTS）［nd~27.3 ng·L^-1,平均值为（9.12±7.70） ng·L^-1］,与国内外其它河流相比,处于较高污染水平.工业园区附近采样点的PFASs污染水平较高,其次为沱江下游的泸州河段,说明氟工业园区排放和人类日常生产活动是造成沱江流域PFASs污染的主要影响因素.最后,通过估算得出,沱江流域水相向长江排放的PFASs通量为353 kg·a^-1,其中排放通量最高组分为PFOA （348 kg·a^-1）,可为沱江流域PFASs管控提供基础数据.     

挂膜方法对生物膜特性及生化尾水深度处理的影响

为探索低浓度生化尾水生物深度处理的快速挂膜方法,采用4种方法（投加壳聚糖法、投加铁离子法、接种排泥法和自然挂膜法）进行挂膜,考察其对生物膜主要特性（生物膜量MLSS、胞外聚合物（EPS））和废水处理效果的影响.结果表明：在挂膜期间,投加壳聚糖法有利于生物膜量、EPS迅速增加,两者平均含量达到4种方法中的最大值,分别为（9.26 ±3.30） mg/cm³和（42.51 ±33.49） mg/（gSS）,但其生物膜活性f值最低,污染物的去除效果不是最佳;投加铁离子成膜时,生物膜特性稳定,活性高,污染物去除效果最佳,COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N、TP去除率分别较快稳定在（66.13 ±2.30）%、（92.03 ±7.72）%和（62.75 ±4.41）%;接种排泥法的生物膜量、EPS均含量、污染物去除效果比投加壳聚糖、铁离子法稍低;自然挂膜法前期对污染物去除率低,稳定时间较长,除TP外,COD_Cr、NH₄⁺-N去除率在挂膜后期与投加壳聚糖法、接种排泥法相差不大.综合地看,投加铁离子法,虽然生物膜量、EPS含量略低于投加壳聚糖法,但生物膜活性高、污染去除效果好,是低浓度尾水挂膜的最佳方法.     

Effects of alkalinity on interaction between EPS and hydroxy-aluminum with different speciation in wastewater sludge conditioning with aluminum based inorganic polymer flocculant

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) form a stable gel-like structure to combine with water molecules through steric hindrance, making the mechanical dewatering of wastewater sludge considerably difficult. Coagulation/flocculation has been widely applied in improving the sludge dewatering performance, while sludge properties (organic fraction and solution chemistry conditions) are highly changeable and have important effects on sludge flocculation process. In this work, the alkalinity effects on sludge conditioning with hydroxy-aluminum were comprehensively investigated, and the interaction mechanisms between EPS and hydroxy-aluminum with different speciation were unraveled. The results showed that the effectiveness of hydroxy-aluminum conditioning gradually deteriorated with increase in alkalinity. Meanwhile, the polymeric hydroxy-aluminum (Al₁₃) and highly polymerized hydroxy-aluminum (Al₃₀) were hydrolysed and converted into amorphous aluminum hydroxide (Al(OH)₃), which changed the flocculation mechanism from charge neutralization and complexing adsorption to hydrogen bond interaction. Additionally, both Al₁₃ and Al₃₀ showed higher binding capacity for proteins and polysaccharides in EPS than monomeric aluminum and Al(OH)₃. Al₁₃ and Al₃₀ coagulation changed the secondary structure of proteins in EPS, which caused a gelation reaction to increase molecular hydrophobicity of proteins and consequently sludge dewaterability. This study provided a guidance for optimizing the hydroxy-aluminum flocculation conditioning of sludge with high solution alkalinity.     

A preliminary study on pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in fine particles in the Beibu Gulf Region of China

The pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in fine particles (PM_2.5) in spring were studied in the Beibu Gulf Region of China, 68 samples of PM_2.5 were collected at Weizhou Island in Beihai City from March 12 to April 17, 2015. The Anionic Surfactant Substances (ASS) and Cationic Surfactant Substances (CSS) in the samples were analyzed using Byethyl Violet Spectrophotometry and Disulfide Blue Spectrophotometry, respectively. Combined with the data from backward trajectory simulation, the effects of air pollutants from remote transport on the pollution characteristics of surfactant substances in PM_2.5 in the Beibu Gulf Region were analyzed and discussed. The results showed that the daily mean concentrations of ASS and CSS in spring in the Beibu Gulf Region were 165.20 pmol/m³ and 8.05pmol/m³, and the variation ranges were 23.21–452.55 pmol/m³ and 0.65–31.31 pmol/m³, accounting for 1.82‰ ± 1.65‰ and 0.12‰ ± 0.11‰ of the mass concentration of PM_2.5, respectively. These concentrations were lower than those in comparable regions around the world. There was no clear correlation between the concentrations of ASS and CSS in PM_2.5 and the mass concentrations of PM_2.5. Tourism and air transport had a positive contribution on the concentrations of ASS. The concentration of surfactant substances in PM_2.5 was significantly impacted by wind speed and wind direction. Atmospheric temperature, air pressure and precipitation had little effect on the concentrations of surfactant substances. Surfactant substances in PM_2.5 significantly impacted visibility. Results also showed that the main sources of surfactant substances were from the southern China and Southeast Asia.     

Quantifying the electron-donating and -accepting capacities of wastewater for evaluating and optimizing biological wastewater treatment processes

Biological processes have been widely used for the treatment of both domestic and industrial wastewaters. In such biological processes, pollutants are converted into pollution-free substances by microorganisms through oxidation-reduction reactions. Thus, how to quantify the internal oxidation-reduction properties wastewaters and seek out targeted countermeasures is essential to understand, operate, and optimize biological wastewater treatment systems. So far, no such approach is available yet. In this work, a novel concept of electron neutralization-based evaluation is proposed to describe the internal oxidation-reduction properties of wastewater. Pollutants in wastewater are defined as electron donor substances (EDSs) or electron acceptor substances (EASs), which could give or accept electrons, respectively. With such an electron neutralization concept, several parameters, i.e., electron residual concentration (R), economy-related index (E and E_r), and economical evaluation index (Y and Y_r), are defined. Then, these parameters are used to evaluate the performance and economic aspects of currently applied wastewater treatment processes and even optimize systems. Three case studies demonstrate that the proposed concept could be effectively used to reduce wastewater treatment costs, assess energy recovery, and evaluate process performance. Therefore, a new, simple, and reliable methodology is established to describe the oxidation-reduction properties of wastewater and assess the biological wastewater treatment processes.