Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bridger J. Ruyle, Lara Schultes, Denise M. Akob, Cassandra R. Harris, Michelle M. Lorah, Simon Vojta, Jitka Becanova, Shelley McCann, Heidi M. Pickard, Ann Pearson, Rainer Lohmann, Chad D. Vecitis, Elsie M. Sunderland
Summary: Drinking water supplies in the US have been contaminated by PFAS in AFFF used in firefighting and fire-training activities. The C6 precursors in 3M AFFF can be transformed into PFHxS through microbial oxidation. This study provides evidence of the biotransformation of C6 sulfonamido precursors in representative microcosms, highlighting the role of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Understanding the interrelationship between precursor biotransformation and nitrogen cycling can inform site remediation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bridger J. Ruyle, Lara Schultes, Denise M. Akob, Cassandra R. Harris, Michelle M. Lorah, Simon Vojta, Jitka Becanova, Shelley McCann, Heidi M. Pickard, Ann Pearson, Rainer Lohmann, Chad D. Vecitis, Elsie M. Sunderland
Summary: Drinking water supplies in the US have been contaminated with PFAS from firefighting foams produced by 3M, which consist of C6 precursors. These precursors can be transformed through nitrification into PFHxS, a compound of regulatory concern. The study demonstrates the slow biotransformation of C6 precursors into PFHxS in microcosms, with the involvement of ammonia-oxidizing archaea and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Further understanding of the relationship between precursor biotransformation and nitrogen cycling would aid in site remediation efforts.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Md. Al Amin, Yunlong Luo, Feng Shi, Linbo Yu, Yanju Liu, Annette Nolan, Olalekan Simon Awoyemi, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Ravi Naidu, Cheng Fang
Summary: This study modified the Total Oxidable Precursor (TOP) assay to improve oxidation and conversion efficiency by adjusting the initial concentration of the target sample, increasing oxidising doses, time, temperature, etc. The modified TOP assay was used to test aqueous film-forming foams (AFFF) and a PFAS-contaminated soil extract, resulting in a significant increase in the sum concentrations of detectable PFASs. Detectable fluorotelomer sulfonate (FTS) was used as an oxidation indicator to monitor the progress of oxidation and conversion from precursor PFASs to detectable PFASs.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lara Cioni, Vladimir Nikiforov, Ana Carolina M. F. Coelho, Torkjel M. Sandanger, Dorte Herzke
Summary: This article introduces a method for analyzing overlooked oxidizable precursors in human serum. The method involves the oxidation of precursors to perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA) to assess undetected PFAS precursors in human serum. After optimization, the method can provide indications for high-throughput screening of undetected PFAA precursors in human serum.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alexandra Jaus, Peter Rhyn, Judit Valentini
Summary: A study in Switzerland found that wild fish may be a source of per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs) in the human diet. PFOS was the most abundant compound in subalpine lakes, while PFNA, PFDA, and PFUnDA dominated in high alpine fish.
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Bianca Ferreira da Silva, Juan J. Aristizabal-Henao, Joe Aufmuth, Jill Awkerman, John A. Bowden
Summary: This study monitored the presence of 51 PFAS in the Pensacola Bay System in Florida, USA, and found that PFAS distribution and concentration were higher in areas near military bases, industries, airports, and firefighting stations. The study highlights the need for more in-depth monitoring efforts to determine the regulation, management, and remediation of PFAS-containing materials and their impact on coastal systems.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicolas Macorps, Pierre Labadie, Azziz Assoumani, Francois Lestremau, Helene Budzinski
Summary: Unidentified per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are commonly found in aquatic environments, and this study aimed to estimate their contribution using the total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay. An optimized extraction method was developed to examine the distribution of targeted PFAS in French surface sediments, and the results showed that unattributed PFAS were more abundant in industrial and urban areas, with strong correlations to targeted compounds.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Andreas Androulakakis, Nikiforos Alygizakis, Georgios Gkotsis, Maria-Christina Nika, Varvara Nikolopoulou, Erasmia Bizani, Elizabeth Chadwick, Alessandra Cincinelli, Daniela Classen, Sara Danielsson, Rene W. R. J. Dekker, Guy Duke, Natalia Glowacka, Hugh A. H. Jansman, Oliver Krone, Tania Martellini, Paola Movalli, Sara Persson, Anna Roos, Emily O'Rourke, Ursula Siebert, Gabriele Treu, Nico W. van den Brink, Lee Anthony Walker, Rob Deaville, Jaroslav Slobodnik, Nikolaos S. Thomaidis
Summary: The study analyzed 65 recent specimens of terrestrial and aquatic apex predators and their potential prey from northern Europe, finding a variety of PFAS compounds present in their bodies. These substances are known for their persistence and high bioaccumulation potential.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marzieh Shojaei, Naveen Kumar, Jennifer L. Guelfo
Summary: This study evaluated AFFF and AFFF-impacted soils using two soil extraction methods, TOP assay, and SQ analysis. The results suggest that routine application of an acid extraction step in PFAS-impacted soils does not provide advantages. Suspect screening analysis of post-TOP samples identified eight classes of PFAS, some of which may have persistence in the environment and require more routine monitoring.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Cristina Cebrian-Tarancon, Jose Oliva, Miguel Angel Camara, Gonzalo L. Alonso, M. Rosario Salinas
Summary: This study introduces a method to analyze intact glycosidic aroma precursors in grapes using HPLC-DAD, a simple and inexpensive analytical technique. A total of 20 compounds were selected and identified using HPLC-qTOF-MS. The most abundant group observed were disaccharides hexose pentose and the main aglycones found were monoterpendiols.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mohamed Ateia, Dora Chiang, Michaela Cashman, Carolyn Acheson
Summary: The comprehensive characterization of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) is crucial for assessing and managing risk at contaminated sites. However, current analytical methods only measure specific PFASs, leaving out the potential thousands of PFASs used in commercial products and released into the environment. The total oxidizable precursor (TOP) assay offers a way to bridge this gap by converting unknown PFAS precursors into stable PFASs, but its application beyond academia is limited.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Klaus Roehler, Bernd Susset, Peter Grathwohl
Summary: Contamination of soils with PFAS can lead to groundwater pollution, and understanding the extent and time scales of contamination is crucial for site management. This study found that persistent PFAAs and precursors cooccur in contaminated agricultural soils. Rapid leaching of C4-C8 PFCA was observed, while leaching slowed with increasing chain-length. The results suggest that the emission of C4-C8 PFCAs from the contaminated soils may last for several decades, as indicated by production rates and precursor reservoir estimations.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Min Liu, Gabriel Munoz, Sung Vo Duy, Sebastien Sauve, Jinxia Liu
Summary: The occurrence of 93 classes of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) was investigated at AFFF-impacted sites of Canadian airports. PFAS profiles, loads, and spatial trends were site-specific, influenced by AFFF use history. Zwitterionic and cationic compounds composed a large percentage in surface soil samples but a relatively low percentage in groundwater samples. This study provides critical data to support developing new priority analyte lists and integrating TOP assay for comprehensive PFAS monitoring at AFFF-impacted sites.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Magdalena Surma, Piotr Hliwa, Katarzyna Sznajder-Katarzynska, Wieslaw Wiczkowski, Joanna Topolska, Henryk Zielinski
Summary: The study analyzed the presence of PFAS in tissues of pike and roach from two lakes in the Masurian Lake District in Poland, finding four PFAS substances above quantification limits and higher concentrations in kidneys. The findings provide insights into PFAS distribution and accumulation in biota.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bernd Goeckener, Frank Thomas Lange, Lukas Lesmeister, Emine Goekce, Hans Ulrich Dahme, Nicole Bandow, Annegret Biegel-Engler
Summary: In recent decades, the use of various per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) has increased, leading to the need for new analytical methods to comprehensively describe their contamination in soil. The total oxidisable precursor (TOP) assay, although not yet applied in the regulatory context of PFASs, can provide valuable data for detecting and characterising soil contamination. This commentary provides an overview of different approaches of the TOP assay, its advantages and disadvantages compared to other sum parameters, and the opportunities and challenges for implementing it as a regulatory tool.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES EUROPE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yongliang Chen, Masud Hassan, Md Nuruzzaman, Huiming Zhang, Ravi Naidu, Yanju Liu, Ling Wang
Summary: Adsorption is a promising remediation technology for separating organic and inorganic agrochemicals from contaminated soil and water. This study focuses on the use of iron-modified base-activated biochar (FeBBC) as a low-cost adsorbent for removing the insecticide imidacloprid from water. The FeBBC exhibits high adsorption capacity and both physical and chemical interactions contribute to the sorption process. The results demonstrate the potential of FeBBC as an effective adsorbent for removing organic contaminants.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Agronomy
Solmaz Bidast, Ahmad Golchin, Ahmad Baybordi, Amir Mohseni, Ravi Naidu
Summary: The potential of bare and carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)-coated iron oxide nanoparticles (FeONPs) for stabilising lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and cadmium (Cd) in contaminated soil was investigated. The results showed that CMC-coated FeONPs were more effective in decreasing the availability of potentially toxic elements in the soil. CMC-coated goethite was the most effective treatment for reducing Zn and Cd availability, while CMC-coated magnetite was the most effective for Pb stabilisation.
ARCHIVES OF AGRONOMY AND SOIL SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaojing Wang, Duxiong Chen, Yufei Zhou, Mingchuan Yu, Junfeng Niu
Summary: The potential risks of continuous release of anti-cancer drugs like capecitabine have gained significant attention. Understanding the removal performance and protective mechanism against emerging contaminants is crucial for wastewater treatment using anammox techniques. Capecitabine had a slight effect on nitrogen removal performance in activity experiments. Through bio-adsorption and biodegradation, up to 64-70% of capecitabine can be effectively removed. However, a concentration of 10 mg/L significantly decreased the removal efficiency of capecitabine and total nitrogen in repeated load scenarios. Metabolomic and metagenomic analyses provided insights into the biodegradation pathway and protective mechanisms of the system, including the increased presence of heterotrophic bacteria and secretion of sialic acid.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Al Amin, Yunlong Luo, Annette Nolan, Megharaj Mallavarapu, Ravi Naidu, Cheng Fang
Summary: This study investigates the degradation and conversion of PFAS in contaminated soil during the firefighting process by exposing the soil sample to high temperatures. The research finds that PFAS precursors, non-C-F bonded PFAS, PFCA, and PFSA can all be degraded under high temperature conditions. A 2D Gaussian surface is used to fit the concentration dependence of PFAS on temperature and time, providing a visual representation of the complex thermal kinetic process. This study offers a simple approach for monitoring and optimizing the thermal treatment of PFAS-contaminated soil.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yantao Li, Rahat Shabir, Mehran Rezaei Rashti, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Chengrong Chen
Summary: This research explored the potential of four cow manure compost (CMC)-based products as a rhizobial carrier. The product with 50% gypsum showed better physicochemical characteristics and the highest strain survival rate in soil. This study demonstrated the great potential of CMC-based commercial products as alternative carrier materials for rapid commercial development of inoculants.
LAND DEGRADATION & DEVELOPMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Li, Ziquan Wang, Haixia Tian, Mallavarapu Megharaj, Hanzhong Jia, Wenxiang He
Summary: This study investigated the effects of two typical lower-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), naphthalene (Nap) and anthracene (Ant), on the activity and kinetic characteristics of FDA hydrolases in six soils. The results showed that both Nap and Ant significantly inhibited the activity of FDA hydrolase, and the inhibition was influenced by soil organic matter.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
A. M. K. C. B. Aththanayake, I. V. N. Rathnayake, M. P. Deeyamulla, Mallavarapu Megharaj
Summary: Deterioration of ecosystem quality caused by toxic metals, especially hexavalent chromium, is a global issue. In this study, a bacterium called Staphylococcus edaphicus KCB02A11 showed high efficiency in removing hexavalent chromium from water within 96 hours and a wide range of concentrations (0.025-8.5 mg/L). By incorporating the isolated strain with natural substrates like hay and wood husk, 100% removal of hexavalent chromium (at 8.5 mg/L) was achieved in less than 72 hours, indicating its potential for large-scale metal removal. This study provides the first report on hexavalent chromium tolerance and removal by Staphylococcus edaphicus KCB02A11.
WORLD JOURNAL OF MICROBIOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Correction
Engineering, Environmental
Qiongfang Zhuo, Jincheng Lu, Junfeng Niu, John C. Crittenden, Gang Yu, Shoushan Wang, Bo Yang, Zefang Chen
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cheng Fang, Saianand Gopalan, Xian Zhang, Lei Xu, Junfeng Niu, Ravi Naidu
Summary: This study examines the release of microplastics from toothbrushes using Raman imaging technique and algorithms. It confirms the release of microplastics in daily lives and provides an imaging analysis approach to identify the chemical elements of microplastics.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaojing Wang, Yu Zou, Yameng Wang, Junfeng Niu, Haibo Li
Summary: This study demonstrates that the addition of 4-chlorophenol significantly inhibits the ammonia-nitrogen removal efficiency and the activity of anammox process at different concentrations. Metagenomic analysis reveals a decrease in the abundance of KEGG pathways associated with carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism with increasing 4-chlorophenol concentration. The presence of 4-chlorophenol enhances the decomposition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and bacterial debris, and partially converts 4-chlorophenol to p-nitrophenol.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cheng Fang, Yunlong Luo, Ravi Naidu
Summary: Confocal Raman imaging is capable of identifying and visualizing microplastics and nanoplastics directly. However, the diffraction limits the imaging of nanoplastics smaller than the laser spot size, which affects the image resolution. By mapping the emission intensity of the Raman signal and deconvolution, the axially transcended distribution of the imaged nanoplastic pattern can be reconstructed as a 2D Gaussian surface, allowing for the intentional selection and enhancement of weak signals, noise reduction, surface smoothing, and re-focusing. This approach has been successfully used to image microplastics and nanoplastics released from bushfire-affected face masks and water tanks, as well as to monitor burning degrees by visualizing micro- and nanoplastics. It enables effective imaging of regular-shaped micro- and nanoplastics, captures sub-diffraction limit nanoplastics, and achieves super-resolution imaging through confocal Raman.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yunlong Luo, Olalekan Awoyemi, Siyuan Liu, Junfeng Niu, Ravi Naidu, Cheng Fang
Summary: This study investigates the release of microplastic particles from ruptured air balloons using Raman imaging. It is found that each balloon explosion can potentially release tens-to-thousands of microplastics. The recommendation of using terrain mapping to scan the sample surface to avoid misleading images is also provided.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Fang, Olalekan Simon Awoyemi, Gopalan Saianand, Lei Xu, Junfeng Niu, Ravi Naidu
Summary: This study successfully identified and visualized microplastic fibers in indoor air using Raman imaging technology, providing statistical information. Air filters can serve as good indicators to monitor microplastic contamination in indoor air quality.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2024)
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Cheng Fang, Yunlong Luo, Ravi Naidu
Summary: Confocal Raman imaging can identify and visualize microplastics and nanoplastics. By using spectrum matrices and Gaussian fitting, the position and size of nanoplastics can be accurately predicted. Through the application of algorithms, confocal microscopy can break through the diffraction limit of the excitation light, enabling super-resolution Raman imaging.
ANALYTICAL METHODS
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lars odegaard Bentsen, Narada Dilp Warakagoda, Roy Stenbro, Paal Engelstad
Summary: This study investigates uncertainty modeling in wind power forecasting using different parametric and non-parametric methods. Johnson's SU distribution is found to outperform Gaussian distributions in predicting wind power. This research contributes to the literature by introducing Johnson's SU distribution as a candidate for probabilistic wind forecasting.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Liu, Qiuchen Wang, Yunhao Wen, Long Li, Xinfang Zhang, Yi Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the characteristics of process parameters in three lean gas ethane recovery processes and establishes a prediction and multiobjective optimization model for ethane recovery and system energy consumption. A new method for comparing ethane recovery processes for lean gas is proposed, and the addition of extra coolers improves the ethane recovery. The support vector regression model based on grey wolf optimization demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy, and the multiobjective multiverse optimization algorithm shows the best optimization performance and diversity in the solutions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cairong Song, Haidong Yang, Xian-Bing Meng, Pan Yang, Jianyang Cai, Hao Bao, Kangkang Xu
Summary: The paper proposes a novel deep learning-based prediction framework, aTCN-LSTM, for accurate cooling load predictions. The framework utilizes a gate-controlled multi-head temporal convolutional network and a sparse probabilistic self-attention mechanism with a bidirectional long short-term memory network to capture both temporal and long-term dependencies in the cooling load sequences. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, which can serve as an effective guide for HVAC chiller scheduling and demand management initiatives.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Chen, Xiaojing Li, Xianli Xia, Jizhou Zhang
Summary: This study uses survey data from the Loess Plateau in China to evaluate the impact of social interaction on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technology by farmers. The study finds that social interaction increases the likelihood of farmers adopting SWC, and internet use moderates this effect. The positive impact of social interaction on SWC adoption is more pronounced for farmers in larger villages and those who join cooperative societies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chenghua Zhang, Yunfei Yan, Kaiming Shen, Zongguo Xue, Jingxiang You, Yonghong Wu, Ziqiang He
Summary: This paper reports a novel method that significantly improves combustion performance, including heat transfer enhancement under steady-state conditions and adaptive stable flame regulation under velocity sudden increase.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
