Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jinhui Liang, Peng Gao, Benhang Li, Longfei Kang, Li Feng, Qi Han, Yongze Liu, Liqiu Zhang
Summary: This study investigated the characteristics of animal-derived dissolved black carbon (DBC) and plant-derived DBC and their effects on the development of disinfection by-products (DBPs) and DBP formation potential (DBPFP) during the disinfection process. The results showed that DBC had lower total DBPFP concentrations compared to natural organic matter (NOM), but tended to form more monochloroacetic acids and haloacetamides.
FRONTIERS OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dong Wan, Jie Wang, Tong Chen, Weiming Xiang, Steplinpaulselvin Selvinsimpson, Yong Chen
Summary: This study investigates the impact of chlorine, UV254, and ozone disinfection processes on the photosensitized degradation of contaminants. The results show that disinfection processes significantly alter the formation rate of photoinduced reactive species (RS) from dissolved organic matter (DOM) and increase the photodegradation rate constants (k(obs)) of contaminants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meng-Yuan Xu, Yi-Li Lin, Tian-Yang Zhang, Zhi Liu, Meng-Yu Li, Chen-Yan Hu, Bin Xu
Summary: Organic chloramines (OCs) have limited oxidation and sterilization ability and can be cytotoxic and genotoxic. This study investigated the degradation of OCs during UV, chlorination, and UV/chlorine processes, as well as the formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs). The results showed that UV irradiation had the highest degradation efficiency for OCs, followed by UV/chlorination and chlorination alone. pH and UV wavelength also affected the degradation and DBP formation. These findings provide a theoretical basis for effective control of OCs in drinking water.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thirawit Prasert, Yoshihiro Ishii, Futoshi Kurisu, Charongpun Musikavong, Phanwatt Phungsai
Summary: The characteristics of dissolved organic matter in the lower Phong River in Thailand were found to be influenced by domestic wastewater discharges, anthropogenic activities, and surface runoff, with differences in molecular composition observed between dry season and rainy season. Disinfection by chlorine or chlorine dioxide resulted in the formation of both chlorinated and non-chlorinated disinfection byproducts, with differences in the types and characteristics of DBPs produced by each disinfectant.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuan-yuan Ren, Cheng Liu, Zhen Cao, Cong-cong Li
Summary: The efficiency, transformation products, and mechanism of phycocyanin removal from water by simulated sunlight/Cu-decorated TiO2 photocatalyst treatment were investigated. The study found that after 360 mins of photocatalytic degradation, over 96% of phycocyanin was removed, and about 47% of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) converted into NH4+-N, NO3-, and NO2-. The main active species causing degradation was center dot OH, which contributed approximately 55.7% to the phycocyanin degradation efficiency. The degradation process involved the attack of free radicals, leading to the disintegration of chromophore group PCB and apoprotein, and subsequent breakdown of the apoprotein peptide chain into small molecules. This resulted in the release of amino acids and their derivatives into the water. The Cu-TiO2 photocatalyst reduced the formation potential of CHCl3 but increased the production of dichloroacetamide (DCAcAm) and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN).
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiating Zhao, Chuze Chen, Haoran Chen, Yaxin Guo, Xueqi Zhang, Mengting Li, Liu Cao, Yuting Wang, Tingting Gong, Lei Che, Guoying Yang, Qiming Xian
Summary: In UV-LED/chlorine process, protein-like fractions respond faster than humic-like components, and the reactive sequence of peaks for DOM follows the order: 340 nm-*240 nm-*410 nm-*205 nm-*290 nm. Compared to chlorination for 30 mins, the UV-LED/chlorine process enhances the degradation efficiency of three fluorescent components (humic-like, tryptophan-like, tyrosine-like) by 5.1%-46.1%, and significantly reduces the formation of carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) by 43.8%, but increases the formation of nitrogenous DBPs (N-DBPs) by 27.3%. Rating: 8/10
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cagri Utku Erdem, Chao Liu, Tanju Karanfil
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation and subsequent reformation of 33 different DBPs with low pressure UV light. The results showed that the photodegradation order was TOI > TOBr > TOCl, and highly UV susceptible DBPs were not impacted by the low SUVA254 background. The mass balance results indicated that dehalogenation supported by halide releases was the main photodegradation mechanism. Furthermore, the photodegradation removal effect was higher when brominated DBPs formation was high. However, subsequent use of disinfectants reformed photodegraded DBPs and increased the overall DBPs concentrations.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Haoyuan Zhang, Peng Gao, Yongze Liu, Ziwen Du, Li Feng, Liqiu Zhang
Summary: This study systematically investigated the effects of different types of nitrogen sources on the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs). It was found that organic nitrogen sources and inorganic nitrogen sources have different effects on the formation of N-DBPs. Chloramine was identified as the major nitrogen contributor to the formation of N-DBPs in the presence of multiple nitrogen sources. Moreover, environmental factors such as reaction time, pH, and bromide were found to influence the formation of N-DBPs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Boqiang Li, Fei Yang, Baiyang Chen, Juan Li, Lijuan Zhu, Wen-Tao Li
Summary: Dissolved organic nitrogen (DON) plays a key role in various processes, but detecting it at trace levels is difficult due to high method detection limits (MDL). To solve this issue, researchers isolated DON from dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN) and used vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and hydrogen peroxide to convert DON into nitrate for analysis. This method has improved analytical precision and lower MDL compared to conventional methods.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhi Liu, Bin Xu, Tian-Yang Zhang, Chen-Yan Hu, Yu-Lin Tang, Zheng-Yu Dong, Tong-Cheng Cao, Mohamed Gamal El-Din
Summary: In recent years, the combination of UV irradiation and chlor(am)ination process has been widely used in secondary water supply systems in many cities of China. The study found that DBPs formation in a UV-activated MCCS is influenced by factors such as the mass ratios of free chlorine to NH2Cl, pH values, NOM types, and Br- concentration. It was observed that DBPs formation decreased significantly as the mass ratio of free chlorine to NH2Cl changed. Additionally, DBPs formation was highest in water containing humic acid (HA) compared to fulvic acid (FA) and algal organic matter (AOM).
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Siwen Li, Yingzi Lin, Gaoqi Wang, Suiyi Zhu, Gen Liu, Chunyan Shi, Lei Chen
Summary: This study investigated the formation and toxicity changes of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in sulfamethazine (SMZ) chlorination after preoxidation using K2FeO4 and O-3. The results showed that preoxidation by K2FeO4 effectively inhibited the formation of DBPs, while preoxidation by O-3 resulted in higher DBPs formation. Both K2FeO4 and O-3 preoxidation improved SMZ removal efficiency, but also promoted the formation of highly toxic DBPs. Overall, the toxicity of DBPs formed after preoxidation was slightly higher than that of chlorination disinfection alone, but still within the safe range.
FRONTIERS IN CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qi Shi, Zhuo Chen, Hai Liu, Yun Lu, Kuixiao Li, Yulong Shi, Yu Mao, Hong-Ying Hu
Summary: This study investigated the effectiveness of different disinfection processes on bacterial inactivation and water quality parameters, finding that combined treatment scenarios were more efficient in removing bacteria and improving water quality, with a relatively low operating cost.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Mischa Juette, Mohammad Sajjad Abdighahroudi, Torsten Waldminghaus, Susanne Lackner, Holger V. . Lutze
Summary: Water disinfection is crucial for ensuring safe drinking water, particularly in the face of climate change. Chemical oxidants can form secondary oxidants during disinfection processes, which can cause additional damage to bacteria. This study reviews the complex interactions between reactive species in disinfection processes and their potential impact on disinfection effectiveness. It provides a quantitative overview of disinfection strength based on inactivation kinetics and typical exposures. The study also highlights the resistance of wild strains compared to lab-cultivated strains and discusses the role of secondary oxidants in pathogen inactivation, as well as possible defense responses of bacteria and other additional effects.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Parmila Devi, Ajay K. Dalai
Summary: The study investigated the effects of breakpoint chlorination on the formation and decay of inorganic chloramines and disinfection byproducts in chlorinated brine solutions. Results showed that environmental factors such as pH, temperature, chlorine to ammonia ratio, and natural organic matter dosage influenced the speciation and decay of chloramines. Kinetics simulations were performed to study chloramine formation and decay as a function of temperature, showing a close similarity between synthetic chlorine system and chlorinated brine solution.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xue Li, Zhijing Zhao, Zheng Qu, Xinyu Li, Zengli Zhang, Xiaojun Liang, Jingsi Chen, Jiafu Li
Summary: Disinfection by-products (DBPs) are common organic contaminants in tap water and have raised wide concern due to their toxic, cytotoxic, and carcinogenic properties. Traditional quenching agents like ascorbic acid and sodium thiosulfate can cause varying degrees of DBPs degradation, while emerging quenchers like NAC and GSH show promise as ideal chlorine quenchers for organic DBPs. Sodium sulfite has been proven to be the ideal quencher for inorganic DBPs. This comprehensive review provides insights into the effects of traditional and emerging chlorine quenchers on different types of DBPs.
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.