Impact of dissolved organic matter on the photolysis of the ionizable antibiotic norfloxacin

Norfloxacin (NOR), an ionizable antibiotic frequently used in the aquaculture industry, has aroused public concern due to its persistence, bacterial resistance, and environmental ubiquity. Therefore, we investigated the photolysis of different species of NOR and the impact of a ubiquitous component of natural water — dissolved organic matter (DOM), which has a special photochemical activity and normally acts as a sensitizer or inhibiter in the photolysis of diverse organics; furthermore, scavenging experiments combined with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) were performed to evaluate the transformation of NOR in water. The results demonstated that NOR underwent direct photolysis and self-sensitized photolysis via hydroxyl radical (·OH) and singlet oxygen (¹O₂) based on the scavenging experiments. In addition, DOM was found to influence the photolysis of different NOR species, and its impact was related to the concentration of DOM and type of NOR species. Photolysis of cationic NOR was photosensitized by DOM at low concentration, while zwitterionic and anionic NOR were photoinhibited by DOM, where quenching of UOH predominated according to EPR experiments, accompanied by possible participation of excited triplet-state NOR and ¹O₂. Photo-intermediate identification of different NOR species in solutions with/without DOM indicated that NOR underwent different photodegradation pathways including dechlorination, cleavage of the piperazine side chain and photooxidation, and DOM had little impact on the distribution but influenced the concentration evolution of photolysis intermediates. The results implied that for accurate ecological risk assessment of emerging ionizable pollutants, the impact of DOM on the environmental photochemical behavior of all dissociated species should not be ignored.     

Low-carbon transition of iron and steel industry in China: Carbon intensity, economic growth and policy intervention

As the biggest iron and steel producer in the world and one of the highest CO₂ emission sectors, China's iron and steel industry is undergoing a low-carbon transition accompanied by remarkable technological progress and investment adjustment, in response to the macroeconomic climate and policy intervention. Many drivers of the CO₂ emissions of the iron and steel industry have been explored, but the relationships between CO₂ abatement, investment and technological expenditure, and their connections with the economic growth and governmental policies in China, have not been conjointly and empirically examined. We proposed a concise conceptual model and an econometric model to investigate this crucial question. The results of regression, Granger causality test and impulse response analysis indicated that technological expenditure can significantly reduce CO₂ emissions, and that investment expansion showed a negative impact on CO₂ emission reduction. It was also argued with empirical evidence that a good economic situation favored CO₂ abatement in China's iron and steel industry, while achieving CO₂ emission reduction in this industrial sector did not necessarily threaten economic growth. This shed light on the dispute over balancing emission cutting and economic growth. Regarding the policy aspects, the year 2000 was found to be an important turning point for policy evolution and the development of the iron and steel industry in China. The subsequent command and control policies had a significant, positive effect on CO₂ abatement.     

Enhanced U(VI) bioreduction by alginate-immobilized uranium-reducing bacteria in the presence of carbon nanotubes and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate

Uranium-reducing bacteria were immobilized with sodium alginate, anthraquinone-2, 6-disulfonate (AQDS), and carbon nanotubes (CNTs). The effects of different AQDS-CNTs contents, U(IV) concentrations, and metal ions on U(IV) reduction by immobilized beads were examined. Over 97.5% U(VI) (20 mg/L) was removed in 8 hr when the beads were added to 0.7% AQDS-CNTs, which was higher than that without AQDS-CNTs. This result may be attributed to the enhanced electron transfer by AQDS and CNTs. The reduction of U(VI) occurred at initial U(VI) concentrations of 10 to 100 mg/L and increased with increasing AQDS-CNT content from 0.1% to 1%. The presence of Fe(III), Cu(II) and Mn(II) slightly increased U(VI) reduction, whereas Cr(VI), Ni(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II) significantly inhibited U(VI) reduction. After eight successive incubation-washing cycles or 8 hr of retention time (HRT) for 48 hr of continuous operation, the removal efficiency of uranium was above 90% and 92%, respectively. The results indicate that the AQDS-CNT/AL/cell beads are suitable for the treatment of uranium-containing wastewaters.     

Immobilization of lead in anthropogenic contaminated soils using phosphates with/without oxalic acid

Understanding the effects of oxalic acid(OA) on the immobilization of Pb(Ⅱ) in contaminated soils by phosphate materials, has considerable benefits for risk assessment and remediation strategies for the soil. A series of phosphate amendments with/without oxalic acid were applied to two anthropogenic contaminated soils. We investigated the immobilization of Pb(Ⅱ) by KH2PO4, phosphate rock(PR), activated phosphate rock(APR) and synthetic hydroxyapatite(HAP) at different phosphate:Pb(P:Pb) molar ratios(0, 0.6, 2.0 and 4.0) in the presence/absence of 50 mmol oxalic acid/kg soil, respectively. The effects of treatments were evaluated using single extraction with deionized water or Ca Cl2, Community Bureau of Reference(BCR) sequential extraction and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure(TCLP)methods. Our results showed that the concentration of water extractable, exchangeable and TCLP-Pb all decreased with incubation time. The concentration of water-extractable Pb after120 days was reduced by 100% when soils were amended with APR, HAP and HAP + OA, and the TCLP-Pb was 5 mg/L for the red soil at P:Pb molar ratio 4.0. Water-soluble Pb could not be detected and the TCLP-Pb was 5 mg/L at all treatments applied to the yellow-brown soil. BCR results indicated that APR was most effective, although a slight enhancement of water-soluble phosphate was detected at the P:Pb molar ratio 4.0 at the beginning of incubation. Oxalic acid activated phosphates, and so mixing insoluble phosphates with oxalic acid may be a useful strategy to improve their effectiveness in reducing Pb bioavailability.     

基于QSAR和ICE模型的磺胺类药物的水质基准研究

药物水环境污染是一个严重的环境问题,引起了人们越来越多的关注。磺胺类药物是一类广泛使用的药物。文章应用水质毒性快速检测仪测定一系列磺胺类药物的发光菌毒性,建立发光菌毒性QSAR模型,从而解决ICE模型的基准物种毒性数据缺失的问题。基于发光菌毒性测试和QSAR、ICE毒性估算方法获得更多毒性数据,初步推导了保护水生生物的磺胺类化合物的水质基准,并为建立更加具有生态统计学意义的物种敏感性分布(SSD)模型提供一定的数据支撑。同时,结合国内外水环境中磺胺类药物的暴露水平,对我国磺胺类药物的风险水平做了初步评估,其中磺胺甲恶唑、磺胺嘧啶和磺胺喹恶林的风险较高。     

模拟土壤团聚体中金属离子的吸附-还原解吸

通过高分子水凝胶包裹技术,研究了不同的团聚体模拟体系中金属离子的吸附-生物还原解吸机制。结果表明:无定形铁矿物模拟团聚体对于金属离子的吸附量高于针铁矿模拟团聚体,且交联密度1.0%包裹组金属离子吸附量小于0.3%包裹组。在希瓦氏菌的作用下,凝胶包裹的铁矿物体系中亚铁浓度先升高后下降,而铁矿物上吸附的Cu2+和Mn2+则随着生物还原作用而解吸释放;针铁矿组的解吸量低于无定形铁矿物,而交联密度高的1.0%包裹组金属离子解吸量高于0.3%包裹组。在凝胶包裹的水稻土团聚体体系中,生物还原作用同样会引起铜/镍/钴/锰离子的溶出,从而影响土壤环境中重金属污染的迁移转化。     

膨润土负载纳米铁的改性及对水中As(Ⅴ)的吸附

用十六烷基三甲基溴化铵(CTMAB)对膨润土负载纳米零价铁(Bent-n ZVI)进行表面改性,得到表面改性膨润土负载纳米铁(Bent-n ZVI)/CTMAB。通过SEM、Zeta电位和中位径d(50)分析,与膨润土(Bent)、改性膨润土(CTMAB-Bent)、Bent-n ZVI进行了对比,结果表明:相比Bent-n ZVI,(Bent-n ZVI)/CTMAB中的纳米铁颗粒更为分散且呈链状分布,d(50)仅为5.21μm,并且Zeta电位为+0.65 m V,更易静电吸引和吸附阴离子As O43-。4种材料的除砷结果亦表明其中(Bent-n ZVI)/CTMAB去除率最高,达到了93.9%。光电子能谱(XPS)分析表明(Bent-n ZVI)/CTMAB的除砷产物中只有As(Ⅴ),并不存在其还原态As(Ⅲ),说明(Bent-n ZVI)/CTMAB是通过吸附作用去除As(Ⅴ)。     

都柳江河道急流-深潭-沙(砾)滩系统水质差异研究

河流是流域生态系统的重要组成部分,河流形态结构与水质变化间关系研究可以为河流生态修复提供理论依据。河流是由急流-深潭-沙(砾)滩不断重复出现构成的系统,急流-深潭-沙(砾)滩是河流的基本结构单元,并以都柳江上、中、下游9个急流-深潭-沙(砾)滩单元为对象,测定了水质指标,分析了山区典型河道基本结构单元与水质变化之间的关系。结果表明:都柳江深潭水体中氮素浓度与pH值大于急流,其浓度分别是总氮0.97mg/L和0.87mg/L;硝酸盐氮0.60mg/L和0.56mg/L;氨氮0.22mg/L和0.20mg/L;pH8.22和8.14。而磷素、溶解氧、BOD5和COD则是深潭小于急流。其浓度分别是总磷0.0187mg/L和0.0202mg/L;正磷酸盐0.0070mg/L和0.0085mg/L;溶解氧11.93mg/L和13.50mg/L;BOD53.75mg/L和5.36mg/L;COD10.986mg/L和12.807mg/L。电导率深潭与急流相等,均为169.7μS/cm。方差分析表明,深潭与急流水体总氮和硝酸盐氮在夏季差异极显著;磷素和pH在春季差异极显著;电导率在秋季差异极显著;氨氮、溶解氧、BOD5和COD差异均不显著。研究工作显示,河流形态结构变化影响着水环境质量,急流-深潭-沙(砾)滩不断重复出现使河流水质得到改善,在河道生态修复中需要遵循河流形态结构规律以便提高河流的自净能力。     

随州市环境空气中苯系物的污染特征

2013年1月对随州市环境空气中苯系物(BTEX-苯,甲苯,乙苯和二甲苯)的质量浓度进行了监测,并分析了其变化规律及影响因素。结果表明,随州市环境空气中几种苯系物的浓度差异明显,其中苯的浓度最高,平均浓度为58.92μg/m3,甲苯、乙苯、间,对-二甲苯、邻-二甲苯的平均浓度分别为15.17、7.69、22.46、12.11μg/m3。对比发现,环境空气中苯系物的日间浓度高于夜间,工业区苯系物的浓度高于居住区和商业区。用SPSS软件对监测数据进行了分析,结果表明,溶剂的挥发和涂料喷涂行业是苯的重要来源。苯系物的浓度变化特征与交通尾气排放、化石燃料燃烧、光化学反应活动等密切相关。     

多级强化地下水修复技术对NH_4~+-N的去除机制

为解决地下水污染修复技术中PT(抽出处理)和PRB(渗透性反应墙)存在的一些不足,搭建了MET(多级强化地下水修复技术)小试装置,以NH4+-N为目标污染物,研究MET对地下水中NH4+-N的去除效果及机制.结果表明,在进水水力负荷为14.68 m3/(m2·d)、ρ(NH4+-N)为25.0 mg/L的条件下,装置连续运行45 d,NH4+-N去除率呈先降后升、平稳后再下降的趋势,平均值达90%以上.出水ρ(NH4+-N)平均值为2.0 mg/L,其中,硝化作用和微生物同化作用使ρ(NH4+-N)平均下降13.9和5.2mg/L,分别占进水ρ(NH4+-N)的54%和20%;植物作用、基质永久吸附作用和挥发作用分别使ρ(NH4+-N)下降2.9、0.7和0.7mg/L,占进水ρ(NH4+-N)的12%、3%和3%.综上,MET对地下水中NH4+-N的去除率可达90%,实现了高效去除NH4+-N的目标.