Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuheng Huang, Xiaoliu Huangfu, Chengxue Ma, Ziqiang Liu
Summary: Microorganisms can oxidize Mn(II) to biogenic Mn oxides through enzyme-mediated and non-enzyme-mediated processes, which are considered as the source and sink of heavy metals. Understanding the interactions between Mn(II) oxidizing microorganisms and heavy metals is important for studying microbial-mediated self-purification of water bodies.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mei Wang, Zuxin Xu, Bin Dong, Yifan Zeng, Sisi Chen, Yunhui Zhang, Yangrui Huang, Xiangjun Pei
Summary: An efficient Mn-oxidizing fungus, Cladosporium halotolerans strain XM01, showed high removal and oxidation rates of soluble Mn(II) in this study. Dynamic analysis revealed the oxidation process as the rate-limiting step. XRD and SAED characterization indicated the orderly accumulation of layers with the formation of fungal BMOs, resulting in decreased specific surface area.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ayaka Takeda, Takumi Oki, Hiroki Yokoo, Keisuke Kawamoto, Yuriko Nakano, Asumi Ochiai, Ilma Dwi Winarni, Mitsuki Kitahara, Kenta Miyoshi, Kenjin Fukuyama, Yoshiyuki Ohara, Keiko Yamaji, Toshihiko Ohnuki, Michael F. Hochella, Satoshi Utsunomiya
Summary: Biogenic manganese oxides, found in the uranium mill tailings at the Ningyotoge U mine in Japan, are crucial in sequestering radioactive radium. This study investigated the nanoscale processes of Mn oxide formation by the basidiomycete fungus Coprinopsis urticicola in the lab using electron microscopy and X-ray analysis. The results showed that Cu2+ and DPI inhibit both fungal growth and Mn oxidation, while Zn2+ has no significant effect. Mn2+ infiltrated the fungal hyphae and formed nanoscale aggregates, which eventually precipitated as fibrous nanocrystals. These findings shed light on the mechanisms of Mn oxidation by filamentous fungi in uranium mill tailings.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xinye Guo, Yankui Tang, Juanjuan Yin, Rugui Li, Binting Qin, Lu Jiang, Xuemin Chen, Zhining Huang
Summary: Benthic diatoms were investigated in a stream impacted by manganese-mining and smelting activities, revealing their distribution, abundances, diversities, and habitat preferences. Navicula, Diatoma, Nitzschia, and Gomphonema were found to be dominant diatom genera. The even distribution of diatoms on plant roots and the tolerance of diatom strains to high concentrations of manganese were observed.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Guochen Wang, Adam C. Hambly, Dan Zhao, Guan Wang, Kai Tang, Henrik R. Andersen
Summary: The present study demonstrated the efficient removal of micropollutants using suspended biogenic manganese oxides (BioMnOx) as catalysts to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS). High removal efficiencies (>80%) were achieved for selected micropollutants, particularly refractory ones such as carbamazepine (98%), diclofenac (100%), and metoprolol (81%). An inhibition effect of HCO3- on PMS activation was observed, while Cl- showed negligible effect. Radical species such as sulfate radical, hydrogen radical, and singlet oxygen were involved in the PMS activation process, with compound-specific ROS responsible for micropollutant removal. A novel BioMnOx/PMS system was established using BioMnOx-coated carriers obtained from a previously engineered moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR). This system effectively removed micropollutants such as diclofenac (91%) and sulfamethoxazole (98%), with minimal toxic effects determined by Vibrio fisheri.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Electrochemistry
Fan Yang, Yue Zheng, Xiaochun Tian, Yan Liu, Jinhua Li, Zongze Shao, Feng Zhao
Summary: The study demonstrated that Bacillus horikoshii biET1 can oxidize manganese ions into manganese oxides under oxic conditions and rapidly reduce biogenic Mn(III/IV) oxides under anoxic conditions. The redox cycling of microbial manganese metabolism is reversible and sustainable.
ELECTROCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Siyu Ding, Chen Zhu, Hajime Hojo, Hisahiro Einaga
Summary: The study investigated microwave-assisted heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of benzene using Cu-Mn spinel oxides, which showed superior activity and lower apparent activation energy under microwave heating, reducing the required reaction temperature. Transient tests revealed the high reactivity of Cu-Mn spinel oxides related to lattice oxygen on the catalyst surface, which was enhanced under microwave heating, leading to an accelerated benzene oxidation reaction. The combination of adsorption and catalytic oxidation processes efficiently decomposed benzene at low concentrations using Cu-Mn spinel oxides and zeolites.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Songyan Qin, Xiaolong Liu, Wujuan Lv, Jie Hu, Xin Huang, Lixin Zhao
Summary: This study investigates the degradation of alpha-naphthol using magnetic biogenic manganese oxides (M-BMnOx) prepared with Pseudomonas putida strain QSY-1 and magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). The study systematically examines the effects of pH, temperature, and initial alpha-naphthol concentration. Results show that the degradation rate of M-BMnOx is faster than that of biogenic manganese oxides (BMnOx), and the removal rate reaches 100% after four cycles. The analysis also reveals that M-BMnOx have superior removal efficiency compared to BMnOx, making it a promising technique for degrading high concentrations of alpha-naphthol wastewater.
BIOCHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Qin Huang, Fei Tong, Yan Gao, Jinlin Chen, Dongmei Zhou, Zhiqiang Qu, Guangping Fan, Wei Chen, Gaoling Shi
Summary: Two types of Mn-modified biochar (MBC1 and MBC2) were prepared and found to efficiently remove As(III) from solution. MBC1 showed better oxidation and adsorption capacity than MBC2. The enhanced removal was attributed to the improved physicochemical properties of the biochar due to the presence of Mn-oxides, which promoted the adsorption of arsenic species and mitigated biochar surface passivation. The oxidation of As(III) via Mn(III) and Mn(IV) resulted in the production of As(V), which could then precipitate and be re-adsorbed on the biochar surface.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Guoyan Zhao, Wenjing Wang, Linlin Zheng, Leilei Chen, Guowen Duan, Runlei Chang, Zhuo Chen, Susu Zhang, Meixue Dai, Guiwen Yang
Summary: Manganese oxides in the rhizosphere of wetland plants play a significant role in elemental cycling and pollutant removal. A novel bacterial manganese oxidase enzyme, StKatG, was identified, which showed different properties from previously reported manganese oxidases. This study provides insights into the molecular mechanism of manganese oxidation in the plant rhizosphere.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL MACROMOLECULES
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Andre Jorge Pinto, Nuria Sanchez-Pastor, Raul Santos Jorge
Summary: This study focuses on the textural, mineralogical, and chemical analysis of iron-manganese ores from a vein-hosted deposit in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, SW Portugal. The research identifies the different Fe and Mn phases present in the enriched ores, explores their chemical composition, and defines the mineral paragenetic pathway. The study demonstrates that changes in Eh/pH conditions can lead to goethite dissolution and the formation of various Mn oxides and secondary goethite through electrochemical reactions between Fe2+ and Mn4+.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mojtaba Ghiassee, Mehran Rezaei, Fereshteh Meshkani, Sajad Mobini
Summary: Mn/Co mixed powders prepared by coprecipitation method showed excellent catalytic performance in low-temperature CO oxidation, with the best performance observed at a Mn/Co molar ratio of 1:1. Incorporation of 1wt.% Pd further enhanced the catalytic activity, with the catalyst exhibiting 100% CO conversion at 80 degrees C.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dongning Wei, Jing Liu, Zirui Luo, Xiande Xie
Summary: The oxidation rates and adsorption capacity of antimonite (Sb (III)) on six different structures of manganese oxides (MnxOy) were investigated. Higher reduction potential and specific surface area favored faster Sb(III) oxidation, while Mn(III) and oxygen vacancies exhibited a synergistic effect on Sb(III) oxidation. The results provide mechanistic insight into the fate of Sb(III) in Mn-rich environments.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xiaoli Wang, Gongde Wu, Yanwen Ma
Summary: Mn-containing mixed-oxide-supported bismuth oxychloride catalysts prepared from calcined parent hydrotalcite-supported BiOCl showed enhanced catalytic performance and redox capacities compared to the hydrotalcite-supported catalysts.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yael Zvulunov, Adi Radian
Summary: Nano- and micron-sized catalysts have been discovered as efficient tools for pollutant oxidation. In this study, liquid-core encapsulation was explored as a method to improve the reaction kinetics of encapsulated catalysts. The encapsulated catalysts showed faster pollutant removal compared to suspended catalysts, and their reuse for multiple treatment cycles was demonstrated. The encapsulation technique simplifies the use of suspended catalysts and enables fast transport of substrates and transformation products.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(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.