Biotoxicity evaluation of zinc oxide nanoparticles on bacterial performance of activated sludge at COD,nitrogen, and phosphorus reduction

• ZnO-NP disrupted metabolic/catabolic balance of bacteria by affecting DHA activity. • ZnO-NPs toxicity was related to Zn²⁺ ion, interaction with cell and ROS generation. • Exposure to ZnO-NPs resulted in changed bacterial community structure at sludge. • The change in the EPS content was observed during exposure to ZnO-NPs. The unique properties and growing usage of zinc oxide nanoparticles increase their release in municipal wastewater treatment plants. Therefore, these nanoparticles, by interacting with microorganisms, can fail the suitable functioning of biological systems in treatment plants. For this reason, research into the toxicity of ZnO is urgent. In the present study, the toxicity mechanism of ZnO-NPs towards microbial communities central to granular activated sludge (GAS) performance was assessed over 120-day exposure. The results demonstrate that the biotoxicity of ZnO-NPs is dependent upon its dosage, exposure time, and the extent of reactive oxygen species (ROS) production. Furthermore, GAS performance and the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content were significantly reduced at 50 mg/L ZnO-NPs. This exposure led to decreases in the activity of ammonia monooxygenase (25.2%) and nitrate reductase (11.9%) activity. The Field emission scanning electron microscopy images confirmed that ZnO-NPs were able to disrupt the cell membrane integrity and lead to cell/bacterial death via intracellular ROS generation which was confirmed by the Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy analysis. After exposure to the NPs, the bacterial community composition shifted to one dominated by Gram-positive bacteria. The results of this study could help to develop environmental standards and regulations for NPs applications and emissions.     

Influence of extracellular polymeric substances from activated sludge on the aggregation kinetics of silver and silver sulfide nanoparticles

• The NPs aggregation in the electrolyte solution is consistent with the DLVO theory. • In NaNO₃ and low Ca(NO₃)₂, EPS alleviates the NPs aggregation by steric repulsion. • In high Ca(NO₃)₂, EPS accelerates the NPs aggregation by exopolysaccharide bridging. • Ag₂S NPs have stronger stability compared with Cit-Ag NPs in aqueous systems. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in activated sludge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) could affect interactions between nanoparticles and alter their migration behavior. The influence mechanisms of silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) and silver sulfide nanoparticles (Ag₂S NPs) aggregated by active EPS sludge were studied in monovalent or divalent cation solutions. The aggregation behaviors of the NPs without EPS followed the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory. The counterions aggravated the aggregation of both NPs, and the divalent cation had a strong neutralizing effect due to the decrease in electrostatic repulsive force. Through extended DLVO (EDLVO) model analysis, in NaNO₃ and low-concentration Ca(NO₃)₂ (<10 mmol/L) solutions, EPS could alleviate the aggregation behaviors of Cit-Ag NPs and Ag₂S NPs due to the enhancement of steric repulsive forces. At high concentrations of Ca(NO₃)₂ (10‒100 mmol/L), exopolysaccharide macromolecules could promote the aggregation of Cit-Ag NPs and Ag₂S NPs by interparticle bridging. As the final transformation form of Ag NPs in water environments, Ag₂S NPs had better stability, possibly due to their small van der Waals forces and their strong steric repulsive forces. It is essential to elucidate the surface mechanisms between EPS and NPs to understand the different fates of metal-based and metal-sulfide NPs in WWTP systems.     

预浓缩-GC/MS测定空气中的27种ODS和HFCs

优化预浓缩仪二级冷阱温度和柱温箱初始温度,建立了预浓缩-气相色谱 /质谱联用(GC/MS)技术测定空气中27种消耗臭氧层物(ODS)和氢氟烃(HFCs)的分析方法。结果表明,27种ODS和HFCs峰形良好,分离度较好,校准曲线相对响应因子标准偏差为1.7%~15.9%,方法检出限为0.016~0.172 μg/m³。空白加标样品连续测定6次的相对标准偏差为0.9%~13.4%,回收率为70.4%~116%。基体加标样品连续测定6次的相对标准偏差为1.0%~7.8%,回收率为94.3%~108%。实验楼周边的环境空气以及实验室内部工作环境空气均检出不同浓度的ODS和HFCs,该方法适用于空气中ODS和HFCs的测定。     

Role of competition in phytoplankton population for the occurrence and control of plankton bloom in the presence of environmental fluctuations

Termination of harmful algal blooms (HABs) and coexistence of phytoplankton–zooplankton populations are of great importance to human health, ecosystem, environment, tourism and fisheries. In this paper, we propose a three component model consisting of non-toxic phytoplankton (NTP), toxin producing phytoplankton (TPP) and zooplankton (Z). The growth of zooplankton species is assume to reduce due to toxic chemicals released by TPP population. We have extended the model proposed by Chattopadhyay et al. [Chattopadhyay, J., Sarkar, R.R., Pal, S., 2004. Mathematical modelling of harmful algal blooms supported by experimental findings. Ecol. Comp. 1, 225–235] by including competition terms between TPP and NTP. We observe the effect of competition factors both in the presence and absence of the environmental fluctuation. From our field as well as model analysis we observe that competition helps in the coexistence of the species, but if the effect of competition is very high on the TPP population, it results in planktonic bloom. It is shown that the coexistence equilibrium loses its stability when the competition coefficient crosses a critical value and resulting Hopf-bifurcation around the positive equilibrium depicting oscillations phenomena of the populations.     

液相色谱-串联质谱法同时测定污水中10种精神活性物质

建立了采用液相色谱-串联质谱法(LC-MS/MS)同时测定污水中10种精神活性物质的分析方法。污水样品经甲酸与甲酸铵调节pH后,加入氘代内标混匀,离心并过滤膜后可直接上样分析。研究表明,在1~250 ng/L的线性范围内,10种精神活性物质的线性相关系数均大于0.992,定量限均低于0.5 ng/L。在3个加标水平下,10种精神活性物质的加标回收率为87.2%~114%,相对标准偏差为0.53%~3.60%(n=3)。将该方法应用于某区域10份生活污水样品的检测,在3份水样中检出吗啡、甲基苯丙胺、氯胺酮等精神活性物质,对应的质量浓度范围分别为3.41~9.55、0.90~1.63、1.06~1.78 ng/L。与经固相萃取前处理后的分析方法相比,该方法可在10 min内完成分离和检测的全过程,具有简单、快速、节约的优点,可用于污水样品中10种痕量水平精神活性物质的定量分析。     

生物反应器填埋场初期的重金属释放行为

以库容10万m³的生物反应器填埋单元1.5年的渗滤液水质监测结果为依据,研究了该填埋单元初期的重金属释放行为.结果表明,渗滤液低pH值和高溶解性有机物(DOM)含量使渗滤液中的重金属浓度超过标准限值;但随着填埋层进入稳定产甲烷化阶段,重金属浓度显著下降,渗滤液中的腐殖质是影响此阶段重金属迁移的重要媒介.渗滤液中悬浮性固体、DOM分子量分级测试和VisualMinteq模型模拟计算结果表明,渗滤液中的重金属主要以与有机物,特别是以与腐殖质结合的形态存在.预测填埋单元内重金属的溶出过程可持续数百年.     

全球地表水中全氟和多氟烷基化合物污染特征演替

综述了全氟和多氟烷基化合物（PFASs）在国内外地表水环境中的空间分布及污染特征,总结归纳了PFASs的来源和特征变化趋势。针对地表水中PFASs的监测种类、监测技术及风险评估等方面存在的问题,提出未来需加强日常监测,重点加强对水环境中新型PFASs的关注;针对流域中不同种类PFASs建立高特异性、高灵敏度监测新技术;筛选适合的水生生物作为环境污染指示物以应用于新污染物的评估等建议。为今后我国地表水环境 PFASs污染的现状调查及治理工作提供确实可行的科学参考。     

Effect of some heavy metals and soil humic substances on the phytochelatin production in wild plants from silver mine areas of Guanajuato, Mexico

Phytochelatins (PCs) were determined in the wild plants, focusing on their relationship with the levels of heavy metals and humic substances (HS) in soil. Ricinus communis and Tithonia diversifolia were collected from several sites in Guanajuato city (Mexico), which had long been the silver and gold mining center. The analysis of PCs in root extracts was carried out by liquid chromatography (derivatization with monobromobimane). Total Ag, Cd, Cu and Pb in plant roots and in soil samples, as well as soil HS were determined. The association of metals with HS in soils was evaluated by size exclusion chromatography (SEC) with UV and ICP-MS detection. The results obtained revealed the induction of PCs in R. communis but not in T. diversifolia. The levels of Cd and Pb in plant roots presented strong positive correlation with PC-2 (r = 0.9395, p = 0.005; r = 0.9573, p = 0.003, respectively), indicating that these two metals promote PCs induction in R. communis. On the other hand, the inverse correlation was found between soil HS and metal levels in roots of R. communis (Cu > Pb > Cd > Ag), in agreement with the decreasing affinity of these metals to HS. Importantly, the inverse correlation between soil HS and plant PC-2 was observed (r = −0.7825, p = 0.066). These results suggest that metals strongly bound to HS could be less bioavailable to plants, which in turn would limit their role in the induction of PCs. Indeed, the SEC elution profiles showed Pb but not Cd association with HS and the correlation between metal in soil and PC-2 in plant was statistically significant only for Cd (r = 0.7857, p = 0.064). Based on these results it is proposed that the role of heavy metals in PCs induction would depend on their uptake by R. communis, which apparently is controlled by the association of metals with soil HS. This work provides further evidence on the role of environmental conditions in the accumulation of heavy metals and phytochelatin production in plants.     

Humic substances

GOAL, SCOPE AND BACKGROUND: Freshwater bodies which chemistry is dominated by dissolved humic substances (HS) seem to be the major type on Earth, due to huge non-calcareous geological formations in the Northern Hemisphere and in the tropics. Based on the paradigm of the inertness of being organic, direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms are mostly neglected. However, dissolved organic carbon, the majority of which being HS, are natural environmental chemicals and should therefore directly interact with organisms. Major results that widened our perspective on humic substance ecology come from experiments with the compost nematode, Caenorhabditis elegans, which behaved contradictorily to textbook knowledge and provoked an in-depth re-consideration of some paradigms. APPROACH: To overcome old paradigms on HS and their potential interactions with organisms, we reviewed recent international literature, as well as 'grey' literature. We also include results from own ongoing studies. RESULTS: This review focuses on direct interactions of dissolved HS with freshwater organisms and disregards indirect effects, such as under-water light quenching. Instead we show with some macrophyte and algal species that HS adversely interfere with photosynthesis and growth, whereby closely related algal species show different response patterns. In addition to this, HS suppress cyanobacteria more than eukaryotic algae. Quinones in the HS appear to be the effective structure. Furthermore, HS can modulate the offspring numbers in the nematode C. elegans and cause feminization of fish and amphibians--they possess hormone-like properties. The ecological consequences of this potential remain obscure at present. HS also have the potential to act as chemical attractants as shown with C. elegans and exert a mild chemical stress upon aquatic organisms in many ways: induction of molecular chaperons (stress proteins), induction and modulation of biotransformation and anti-oxidant enzymes. Furthermore, they produce an oxidative stress with lipidperoxidation as one clear symptom or even stress defense strategy. Stronger chemical stresses by HS may even lead to teratogenic effects as shown with fish embryos; all physiological responses to HS-mediated stress require energy, which were compensated on the expense of yolk as shown with zebra fish embryos. One Finnish field survey supports the view of a strong chemical stress, as the weight yield in fish species decreases with increasing HS content in the lakes. DISCUSSION: HS exert a variety of stress symptoms in aquatic and compost organisms. According to current paradigms of ecotoxicology, these symptoms have to be considered adverse, because their compensation consumes energy which is deducted from the main metabolism. However, the nematode C. elegans looks actively for such stressful environments, and this behavior is only understandable in the light of new paradigms of aging mechanisms, particularly the Green Theory of Aging. In this respect, we discuss the mild HS-mediated stress to aquatic and compost organisms. New empirical findings with HS themselves and HS building blocks appear to be consistent with this emerging paradigm and show that the individual lifespan may be expanded. At present the ecological consequences of these findings remain obscure. However, a multiple-stress resistance may be acquired which improves the individual fitness in a fluctuating environment. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that dissolved HS have to be considered abiotic ecological driving forces, somewhat less obvious than temperature, nutrients, or light. PERSPECTIVES: The understanding of the ecological control by dissolved humic substances is still fragmentary and needs to be studied in more details.     

软/硬质悬浮填料对MBR中EPS的影响

以聚丙烯无纺布为膜组件,向浸渍式膜生物反应器(MBR)中分别投加硬/软质悬浮填料处理人工废水.分析测定EPS、SVI、膜污染阻力及跨膜压力的变化,采用统计分析方法研究了软/硬质悬浮填料对MBR中EPS及SVI的影响;通过扫描电镜(SEM)分析,表征添加软/硬质悬浮填料膜表面的污染状况.结果表明,添加软/硬质悬浮填料膜组件表面滤饼中的溶解性EPSS和结合性EPSB与膜污染阻力的皮尔逊相关系数(rp)分别为0.929～ 0.984和0.798～0.853,EPSS与膜污染阻力之间表现出更强的相关性,EPSS对膜污染阻力的贡献大于EPSB.添加软/硬质悬浮填料MBR污泥混合液的EPS与SVI的皮尔逊系数(rp)分别为0.895和0.798,呈现明显的正相关性.SEM分析也表明,添加软质填料的膜表面污泥覆盖程度大于硬质填料的膜表面,但膜内部的污泥沉积量明显低于硬质填料.与软质悬浮填料相比,硬质悬浮填料能导致MBR污泥混合液的SVI和EPS含量增大,增加膜污染速率和不可逆膜污染阻力,软质悬浮填料具有更好的控制膜不可逆污染的效能.