Article
Environmental Sciences
M. Thao Nguyen, Milo L. De Baat, Ron Van der Oost, Willie Van den Berg, Pim De Voogt
Summary: This study compared three polar passive sampling (PS) devices - Speedisk, SorbiCell, and POCIS - for effect-based water quality monitoring. Chemical analysis and bioassay responses showed that POCIS outperformed Speedisk in detecting a wider range of polar compounds, making it better suited for semi-quantitative effect-based monitoring strategies.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Beate Escher, Jordi Blanco, Josep Caixach, Dora Cserbik, Maria J. Farre, Cintia Flores, Maria Koenig, Jungeun Lee, Jo Nyffeler, Carles Planas, Paula E. Redondo-Hasselerharm, Joaquim Rovira, Josep Sanchis, Marta Schuhmacher, Cristina M. Villanueva
Summary: This study evaluated the neurotoxicity, oxidative stress response, and cytotoxicity of tap water samples in the Barcelona Metropolitan Area. It compared the measured effects of the detected chemicals with the predicted mixture effects. The results showed that non-regulated non-volatile disinfection byproducts were the main drivers of the mixture effects.
JOURNAL OF EXPOSURE SCIENCE AND ENVIRONMENTAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Simge Cankaya
Summary: In this study, the water footprint of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) was assessed before and after the addition of a water reclamation unit. The impacts of water reclamation on blue and grey water footprints were investigated. The results showed that the water footprint increased slightly after the addition of the water reclamation unit. Energy consumption and sludge treatment were identified as major contributors to the blue water footprint, while total nitrogen and total phosphorus were the most limiting pollutants for the grey water footprint. The environmental benefit of water reclamation in reducing the grey water footprint was determined to be 44%.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Yongming Shen, Hongxing Zhang, Jun Tang
Summary: This study used modeling to investigate the mechanism behind the evolution of the seasonal environment and the impact of reclamation projects on hydrodynamics, suspended sediment, and water quality in the Pearl River Estuary. The results showed that reclamation projects significantly alter the residual current fields and decrease tidal prisms, leading to changes in water exchange and material transport. The distribution of chlorophyll-a, suspended sediment, and silicate also showed variations due to altered water exchange and chlorophyll-a distribution.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Antonine Blondet, Guillaume Martin, Laurent Paulic, Marie-Helene Perrard, Philippe Durand
Summary: The study assessed the effects of different water sources on several parameters of the seminiferous epithelium using a rat seminiferous tubule culture model. The results showed varying impacts on spermatogenesis and indicated multiple mechanisms of toxicity, including endocrine-disrupting effects. Men with impaired semen parameters may have increased mortality rates, suggesting semen quality could serve as a fundamental biomarker of overall male health.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yegyun Choi, Eun-Young Jung, Woorim Lee, Sangki Choi, Heejong Son, Yunho Lee
Summary: This study monitored the occurrence and removal of bioactive chemicals in two full-scale wastewater treatment plants in Korea using in vitro bioassays as a complementary approach. The bioactivities decreased along with the treatment train of the plants, with significant removal achieved by the secondary biological treatment processes. Most of the influent and effluent bioactivities observed in this study were comparable to those reported in other wastewater treatment plants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
J. K. H. de Schepper, Y. van Oorschot, R. J. Jaspers, T. Hamers, M. H. Lamoree, P. Behnisch, H. Besselink, C. J. Houtman
Summary: A study in the Netherlands found that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely present in drinking water and surface water sources and have the potential to disrupt the thyroid hormone system. The study also showed that both chemical analysis and bioassays can be used to measure thyroid hormone-displacing activity in water samples. However, the analyzed PFAS only explained a small percentage of the measured activity, indicating that unknown compounds contribute to the majority of the observed thyroid hormone-displacing activity.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Annika Kruger, Rialet Pieters, Suranie Horn, Catherina van Zijl, Natalie Aneck-Hahn
Summary: Water is an important resource and the worsening water quality in South Africa is due to inadequate infrastructure, corruption, insufficient funds, increasing toxicants, and emerging chemicals of concern. Adding effect-based methods to water quality monitoring programs can address the limitations of chemical analysis and help protect human and animal life.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Emma Deniere, Ram Prasath Alagappan, Herman Van Langenhove, Stijn Van Hulle, Kristof Demeestere
Summary: The study found that the ozone-activated peroxymonosulfate process has a high removal efficiency for trace organic contaminants in water, especially in surface water and groundwater. Experimental results showed that hydroxyl radicals rather than sulfate radicals mainly contribute to the removal of TrOCs induced by the ozone activation process.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Marine
Hong-Xing Zhang, Yong-Ming Shen, Jun Tang
Summary: A coupled hydrodynamics-water quality model was developed to investigate the hydrodynamics and water quality changes in response to land reclamations in Bohai Bay. The simulations show that reclamations significantly impact the residual current fields and tidal prisms. The salinity isolines in the west of the bay have moved towards the open sea after reclamations from 1990 to 2006, leading to a decrease in salinity value. Furthermore, the reclamations in 2022 generate higher salinity concentrations, intensifying salinity intrusion.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Cai, Jun Wu, Jian Lu, Jianhua Wang, Cui Zhang
Summary: Rare information on the fate of microplastics in the integrated membrane system (IMS) in a full-scale wastewater treatment plant was investigated. The study found that the IMS system was more effective than conventional activated sludge system (CAS) in removing microplastics. However, small scale fiber plastics could still pass through the system and be discharged.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohammad Allouzi, Alessandra Imbrogno, Andrea Schaefer
Summary: Nanofiltration membranes can retain micropollutants to a large extent, but breakthrough and incomplete removal may occur. This study investigates the permeation of micropollutants in tight and loose membranes, focusing on the energy barriers for transport. The results show that the energy barriers for steroid hormone transport in tight membranes are entropically dominated, while the loose membranes enable partitioning at the pore entrance.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Wenqiang Zhang, Dianwei Zhang, Songjie Han, Chao Zhang, Baoqing Shan
Summary: The water quality in China's coastal areas has gradually improved since 2001. The Yellow Sea has the best water quality among the four sea areas, while the East China Sea has poor water quality. There are variations in water quality among different coastal provinces and cities, with good water quality in Hainan, Guangxi, Shandong, and other provinces and cities, but poor water quality in Shanghai, Zhejiang, and Tianjin. Terrestrial anthropogenic pollutants are the main factors influencing water quality in coastal areas. The continuous improvement of water quality in coastal areas lays a foundation for the health of blue carbon ecosystems.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Damaso Angel Rubio-Vargas, Ciro Alberto de Oliveira Ribeiro, Francisco Filipak Neto, Alessandro Lick Cordeiro, Marta Margarete Cestari, Amanda Camara de Souza, Cesar de Castro Martins, Cleber Pinto da Silva, Sandro Xavier de Campos, Juan Ramon Esquivel Garcia, Maritana Mela Prodocimo
Summary: Urban sewage is a major source of contamination in aquatic systems, impacting the health of fish. Juvenile Oreochromis niloticus are susceptible to polluted waters from Iguacu River, making them a potential indicator species for water quality assessment.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND PHARMACOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Emma Deniere, Herman Van Langenhove, Stijn W. H. Van Hulle, Kristof Demeestere
Summary: The study found that sequential ozone dosing can improve the effectiveness of the ozone-activated peroxymonosulfate process (O3/PMS) for the removal of trace organic contaminants, especially in secondary effluent. This dosing strategy increases the exposure of sulfate radicals (SO4?-), leading to higher efficiency of the process.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zoe A. Thomas, Scott Mooney, Haidee Cadd, Andy Baker, Chris Turney, Larissa Schneider, Alan Hogg, Simon Haberle, Ken Green, Laura S. Weyrich, Vilma Perez, Nicole E. Moore, Atun Zawadzki, Sarah J. Kelloway, Stuart J. Khan
Summary: The study reveals a warming trend in the Australian alpine region over the past 3500 years, with a pronounced climate anomaly between 1000 and 1600 cal yrs. BP. Vegetation shifts occurred during this warm period, characterized by a decline in alpine species and an increase in open woodland taxa, along with an increase in regional fire activity.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Frederic D. L. Leusch, Hsuan-Cheng Lu, Kushani Perera, Peta A. Neale, Shima Ziajahromi
Summary: Microplastics come in various shapes, polymer types, and sizes. The lack of a standardized approach to analyze and quantify microplastics has led to significant disparities in reported data, making it difficult to compare microplastic abundance between studies. This study introduces a mathematical approach that allows for meaningful comparisons of microplastics irrespective of size classifications. By validating the method with two datasets and re-analyzing 127 publications, a negative linear relationship between microplastic concentrations and sizes was found across different environmental matrices. This method enables researchers to compare microplastic concentrations and estimate abundance, providing a better understanding of the risks microplastics pose to organisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie Chaousis, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Colin J. Limpus, Amanda Nouwens, Liesbeth J. Weijs, Antonia Weltmeyer, Adrian Covaci, Jason P. van de Merwe
Summary: All seven species of sea turtle are facing increasing pressures from human activities that are impacting their health. Changes in blood proteins can indicate adverse health outcomes. This study examines the protein abundance in sea turtle plasma, compares protein expression between different populations, and investigates markers of contaminant exposure.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Peta A. Neale, Beate I. Escher, Milo L. De Baat, Jerome Enault, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Effect-based methods (EBMs) using in vitro bioassays and well plate-based in vivo assays are recommended for water quality monitoring. Effect-based trigger values (EBTs) have been introduced to differentiate between acceptable and unacceptable chemical water quality. These EBTs have been derived for both drinking water and surface water to protect human and ecological health.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Shiyang Huang, Jaleh Mansouri, James A. McDonald, Stuart J. Khan, Greg Leslie, Chuyang Y. Tang, Anthony G. Fane
Summary: This work proposes a new approach based on the electrospray technique to print polyamide thin-film composite membranes in a single scan. The study found that a substrate with a 4-hour polydopamine coating and a cone-jet spray at 2.5 cm spray distance showed the highest NaCl rejection at 98.1%.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Jerome Enault, Jean-Francois Loret, Peta Neale, Milo De Baat, Beate Escher, Faten Belhadj, Stephan Kools, Geertje Pronk, Frederic Leusch
Summary: In the past decade, effect-based methods (EBMs) have gained increasing attention as a water quality monitoring tool. However, their practical use has been limited to research projects despite being recommended in guideline documents. This study reviews bioanalytical data on wastewater, drinking water, and reuse to identify knowledge gaps and priorities for action. The results highlight the need for more data on various biological effects and emphasize the importance of improving wastewater treatment to protect the environment.
JOURNAL OF WATER AND HEALTH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mahshid S. Z. Farzanehsa, Guido Carvajal, John Mieog, Stuart J. Khan
Summary: Continuous online monitoring is important for ensuring reliable water quality outcomes and effective removal of microbial substances during advanced wastewater treatment processes. However, most microbial indicators cannot be continuously monitored online. This study used a combined ozonation-biological media filtration process to reduce microbial indicator concentration and developed models for predicting microbial indicator concentration changes. Machine learning algorithms were applied to identify physico-chemical predictors and their associations with microbial indicator reduction. Support vector machines (SVM) with a Gaussian kernel classifier showed superior performance in microbial removal prediction. The study provides an efficient method to predict the effectiveness of the O-3/BMF process in removing microbial indicators based on commonly measured physico-chemical parameters.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE-WATER RESEARCH & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zillur Rahman, Weijia Liu, Lara Stapleton, Nikki Kenters, Dewa A. P. Rasmika Dewi, Ori Gudes, Helen Ziochos, Stuart J. Khan, Kaye Power, Mary-Louise McLaws, Torsten Thomas
Summary: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health threat, and current surveillance programs lack monitoring outside healthcare settings. Wastewater testing can provide a simple and continuous way to survey AMR trends in the community. By monitoring wastewater in Greater Sydney, Australia, we found regular presence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E), and occasional presence of carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Our study highlights the potential of routine wastewater surveillance for understanding factors driving AMR distribution.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Peta A. . Neale, Beate I. Escher, Milo L. de Baat, Magali Dechesne, Milou M. L. Dingemans, Jerome Enault, Geertje J. Pronk, Patrick W. M. H. Smeets, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Effect-based methods (EBM) have the potential for water quality monitoring by detecting the mixture effects of chemicals, which cannot be addressed by chemical analysis alone. However, EBM has been primarily used in research rather than adopted by the water sector and regulators due to concerns about reliability and interpretation. This work aims to answer frequently asked questions about EBM and provide confidence to regulators and the water sector to encourage its application.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Md Hafiz All Hosen, Alex M. M. Sykes, Stephen A. A. Wood, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Deanne J. J. Whitworth, Susan M. Bengtson M. Nash
Summary: Cetaceans are at risk of accumulating environmental contaminants due to their longevity and high body fat. However, there is a lack of specific chemical effect data for these species. Recent advances in cetacean cell culture have allowed for the application of toxicological effect assessment approaches.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Mahshid Farzanehsa, Liam C. C. Vaughan, Arash Zamyadi, Stuart J. J. Khan
Summary: Applications of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in water and wastewater treatment have been of great interest. UV-chlorine (UV-Cl) is emerging as a potentially cost-effective alternative to UV/hydrogen peroxide (UV-H2O2), showing efficient degradation of emerging chemicals in contaminated water. UV-H2O2 does not have superiority over UV-Cl in terms of disinfection by-product (DBP) formation. However, more investigation and pilot-scale studies are needed to establish UV-Cl as a reliable alternative to UV-H2O2.
WATER AND ENVIRONMENT JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shima Ziajahromi, Hsuan-Cheng Lu, Darren Drapper, Andy Hornbuckle, Frederic D. L. Leusch
Summary: Limited research has been conducted on microplastics (MPs) and tire wear particles (TWPs) in stormwater. This study provides information on the abundance of MPs and TWPs in Australia and offers strategies to mitigate MP pollution. The results indicate that stormwater serves as a pathway for MPs, including TWPs, to enter aquatic habitats. Constructed wetlands and microlitter capture devices can effectively reduce the transport of MPs from stormwater to receiving waterways.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
H. M. Abd-ur-Rehman, V. Prodanovic, A. Deletic, S. J. Khan, J. A. McDonald, K. Zhang
Summary: Green walls provide a new and on-site method for treating and reusing greywater in urban areas. This study investigated the performance of different lightweight green wall media in removing twelve emerging contaminants from greywater. The results showed that coco coir and media mix columns achieved excellent removal of all contaminants through adsorption, with some hydrophilic contaminants also undergoing biodegradation. However, further research is needed to investigate the synergetic contribution of plants and media in removing these contaminants in long-term vegetated green wall systems.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Xuan Li, Huan Liu, Li Gao, Samendra P. Sherchan, Ting Zhou, Stuart J. Khan, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Qilin Wang
Summary: Although the COVID-19 emergency status is easing, the pandemic still affects healthcare systems globally. The use of wastewater-based epidemiology has been shown to accurately predict COVID-19-induced hospital admissions, providing early warnings for healthcare systems. This study demonstrates the potential of wastewater-based epidemiology as an effective method for predicting disease occurrence.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Dechao Chen, Muhammad Usman Zia, Fan Yang, Yuting Wang, Frederic D. L. Leusch, Nam-Trung Nguyen, Wei Zhang, Yongsheng Gao, Dongyuan Zhao, Colin L. L. Raston, Qin Li
Summary: A ligand-mediated, spatially-confined synthesis method is developed to produce high-quality carbon dots from crude bioresources. The choice of solvent plays a critical role in the formation and properties of the carbon dots. The ligand-carbon interactions and electron transfer result in the formation of uniform colloidal carbon dots with multiple emissions. These carbon dots can be easily dispersed in various solvents and fabricated into thin-film devices, making them suitable for optoelectronic applications.
ACS SUSTAINABLE CHEMISTRY & ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rong-Gui Zhu, Chang-Gui Pan, Feng-Jiao Peng, Chao-Yang Zhou, Jun-Jie Hu, Kefu Yu
Summary: This comprehensive survey investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic magnification of parabens and their metabolite 4-HB in a marine food web. Results showed that parabens were the predominant pollutants in marine organisms, with significant bioaccumulation from sediments. The estimated trophic magnification factor indicated biomagnification for MeP and trophic dilution for 4-HB. Overall, the risks for humans consuming marine organisms were found to be low.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andres F. Torres-Franco, Deborah Leroy-Freitas, Cristina Martinez-Fraile, Elisa Rodriguez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Raul Munoz
Summary: Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies have emerged as sustainable alternatives for municipal wastewater treatment. However, the presence of viruses in the treated wastewater is a major concern for reuse applications. This study assessed the ability of these technologies to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment. The results showed that all technologies were effective in reducing the concentration of viruses, with microalgae-based treatment exhibiting the highest potential for reducing the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Young Gwang Kim, Sae Yun Kwon, Spencer J. Washburn, Scott C. Brooks, Ji Won Yoon, Lucien Besnard
Summary: The study uses Hg isotope ratios to identify the sources and exposure pathways of mercury in bivalves, finding that dissolved Hg phases in the water column are the primary source and exposure pathway to bivalves. This provides new insights into using bivalves as bioindicators for sediment quality monitoring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Geng, Ying Xu, Rui Liu, Dianhai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cation exchange resin (CER) on the sequential recovery of hydrogen and methane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the corresponding mechanisms. The results show that CER can simultaneously enhance the production of hydrogen and methane by promoting the solubilisation, hydrolysis, and acidification of organic matter. Additionally, CER facilitates effective contact between bacteria and organic particulates and reduces the energy barrier for mass transfer during methane production. The study also reveals changes in the microbial community structure and metagenomics during the AD process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Lin, Zhan Jin, Shunfeng Jiang, Zhiquan Wang, Suqing Wu, Ke Bei, Min Zhao, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: Dehumidification combined with addition of absorbent resin supplement (ARS) was used to achieve rapid evaporation of non-pretreated urine, resulting in high water evaporation efficiency and nutrient recovery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangli Che, Chaoran Lin, Shen Li, Jiao Liu, Longhai Zhu, Shilei Yu, Nan Wang, Haoshuai Li, Mutai Bao, Yang Zhou, Tonghao Si, Rui Bao
Summary: Hydrodynamic processes play a crucial role in the transmission of sediments, microbial assembly, and organic carbon redistribution in the ocean. Through experiments and analysis, we found that hydrodynamics shape the assembly of microbial communities and control the redistribution of different sourced organic carbon, thereby influencing microbial-mediated biogeochemical transformation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Chen, Yu Yang, Nigel J. D. Graham, Zhenyu Li, Xingtao Yang, Zhining Wang, Nadia Farhat, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Li -an Hou
Summary: The fouling of seawater reverse osmosis membranes is a persistent challenge in desalination. This study monitored the operational performance of a desalination plant for 7 years and the fouling development in different areas of membrane modules. The findings showed that operational performance declined over time and fouling mainly occurred at the feed side of the modules, with the highest microbial diversity. Keystone species like Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes played an important role in maintaining community structure and biofilm maturation. Polysaccharides, soluble microbial products, marine humic acid-like substances, and inorganic substances contributed to fouling. Overall, biofouling had a significant impact on membrane fouling after 7 years of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dan Li, Jieyi Sun, Yibo Fu, Wentao Hong, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Junhong Wu, Sen Yang, Jianhui Xu, Yunfei Zhang, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: Sulfidation-oxidation treatment of magnetite (Fe3O4) enhances the production of dark center dot OH, which can efficiently degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerate carbon cycling.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Yu, Kaijun Wang, Kaiyuan Zhang, Ruiyang Liu, Pingping Zheng
Summary: This study implemented a microaerobic-aerobic configuration in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility and investigated the effects on sludge characteristics, pollutant removal, microbial community, and granulation mechanisms. The results showed successful transition from flocculent-activated sludge to well-defined AGS after two months of operation. The primary pathways for pollutant removal were simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Moreover, the incorporation of internal separators induced shifts in the flow pattern, which promoted granulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Zhang, Shaoyang Hu, Guangrong Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: Halogenated aromatic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as halogenated phenols, have garnered widespread attention due to their high toxicity and prevalence. This study reports on the analysis, occurrence, and cytotoxicity of a group of emerging halogenated aromatic DBPs, known as halogenated polyhydroxyphenols (HPPs), in drinking water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyue Chen, Jinliang Huang, Peng Wang, Xi Tang, Zhenyu Zhang
Summary: Accurate prediction of river water quality is crucial for sustainable water management. This study introduces wavelet analysis and transfer learning techniques to assist LSTM modeling, proposing a newly coupled modeling approach that improves short-term prediction of river water quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bang Du, Xinmin Zhan, Piet N. L. Lens, Yifeng Zhang, Guangxue Wu
Summary: Efficient anaerobic digestion relies on the cooperation of different microorganisms with different metabolic pathways. This study investigated the effects of different operational modes and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on ethanol metabolic pathways. The results showed that the SBR mode and the presence of CO2 facilitated ethanol metabolism towards propionate production, while the CFR mode with extended solids retention time enriched Geobacter. Adjusting operational modes and PAC addition can modulate anaerobic ethanol metabolism and enrich Geobacter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Jun Zhong, Yuanbi Yi, Fujun Yue, Zenglei Han, Qixin Wu, Ding He, Cong-Qiang Liu
Summary: This study compares the carbon biogeochemical processes in karst and non-karst regions within large thermal stratified river-reservoir systems. The results demonstrate that karst reservoirs have a reduced potential for carbon emissions and highlight the importance of considering geologic settings to improve accuracy in regional and global CO2 emission estimates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunxia Jiang, Zelong Zhao, Dong Zhu, Xiong Pan, Yuyi Yang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental media of the Yangtze River using metagenomics. Core resistome dominated by multidrug resistance genes was found in all samples, while rare resistome dominated by various resistance genes was more prevalent in plasmids. Specific bacteria were identified as hosts for both core and rare resistomes, with high clinical concern ARGs found in the rare resistome. Particle-associated environment provided the most ideal conditions for resistome hosts. This study provided insights into the genetic locations of ARGs and the community assembly mechanisms of ARG hosts in freshwater environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Zhang, Yongtao He, Linchun Jia, Lei Xu, Zheng Wang, Yueling He, Ling Xiong, Xumeng Lin, Hong Chen, Gang Xue
Summary: By synergizing organic carbon source, thiosulfate, and zero-valent iron, efficient mixotrophic denitrification of oligotrophic secondary effluent can be achieved. Thiosulfate plays a vital role in promoting TN removal efficiency, while corrosion of Fe0 releases OH- to neutralize H+ from thiosulfate-driven denitrification, creating a suitable environment for denitrification. The coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintains the dominance of Thiobacillus for denitrification.
