Multilevel investigation of the ecotoxicological effects of sewage sludge biochar on the earthworm Eisenia fetida.

The ecological risks of sewage sludge biochar (SSB) after land use is still not truly reflected. Herein, the ecological risks of SSB prepared at different temperature were investigated using the earthworm E. fetida as a model organism from the perspectives of organismal, tissue, cellular, and molecular level.

Catalytic pyrolysis of liquor-industry waste: Product and mechanism analysis.

The effects of three catalysts, namely Ni/γ-AlO, Fe/γ-AlO, and Mg/γ-AlO, on the three-phase products of liquor-industry waste pyrolysis were investigated in this study. Results indicated that the catalytic performance of Ni/γ-AlO outperformed those of Fe/γ-AlO and Mg/γ-AlO significantly. The application of Ni/γ-AlO facilitated the reformation of pyrolysis volatiles, leading to increased yields of H (174.

A novel magnetic sludge biochar was prepared by making full use of internal iron in sludge combining KMnO-NaOH modification to enhance the adsorption of Pb (Ⅱ), Cu (Ⅱ) and Cd (Ⅱ).

This study synthesized novel magnetic biochar (PCMN600) by KMnO-NaOH combined modification using iron-containing pharmaceutical sludge to remove toxic metals from wastewater effectively. Various characterization experiments of engineered biochar showed that the modification process introduced ultrafine MnO particles on the carbon surface and resulted in higher BET surface area and porosity along with more oxygen-containing surface functional groups. Batch adsorption studies indicated that the maximum adsorption capacities of PCMN600 for Pb, Cu and Cd were 181.

Synthesis of two nitrogen-doped carbon quantum dots to construct fluorescence probes for sensitive Hg detection with dual signal output.

The rapid and sensitive detection of heavy metal ions is of great importance in food safety and for the environment. Therefore, two novel probes, M-CQDs and P-CQDs, based on carbon quantum dots were utilized to detect Hg based on fluorescence resonance energy transfer and photoinduced electron transfer mechanisms. The M-CQDs were prepared from folic acid and -phenylenediamine (mPDA) using a hydrothermal method.

Spectroscopic fingerprints profiling the polysaccharide/protein/humic architecture of stratified extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in activated sludge.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), with a stratified structure including tightly-bound EPS (TB-EPS), loosely-bound EPS (LB-EPS), and soluble EPS (S-EPS) surrounding the microbial cells, are known to vitally affect the physicochemical and biological functions of activated sludge in wastewater treatment. Polysaccharides (PS), proteins (PN), and humic acids (HA) are key components of EPS but their roles in constructing the multi-layer architecture are still unclear. This study explored the EPS characteristics in relation to the components using spectroscopic fingerprinting techniques.

Rapid biodegradation of atrazine by a novel ZY and its effects on soil native microbial community dynamic.

An atrazine-utilizing bacterium, designated as ZY, was isolated from agricultural soil and identified as . The ZY demonstrated a significant degradation capacity of atrazine, with the degradation efficiency of 12.5 mg L h in liquid media (at pH 7, 30°C, and the atrazine level of 100 mg L).

Kill two birds with one stone: The management of hazardous waste and the preparation of efficient adsorbents for Pb(II) were realized by the pyrolysis of penicillin mycelial dreg.

The penicillin industry produces a large amount of penicillin mycelial dreg (PMD), potentially causing severe environmental problems without proper treatment and disposal. To achieve the goals of PMD management, the present work explored the potential of PMD as a novel feedstock to produce biochar with very high adsorption performance. PMD was pyrolyzed at 400-800 °C to prepare biochars (PMD-BCs), and the physical and chemical properties were characterized using various methods.

Revisiting the Surface Energy Parameters of Standard Test Liquids with a Corrected Contact Angle Method over Rough Surfaces.

Interfacial free energy is a quantitative basis for explaining and predicting interfacial behavior that is ubiquitous in nature. The contact angle (CA) method can determine the surface free energy (γ) as well as Lifshitz-van der Waals (γ) and Lewis acid/base (γ/γ) components of a solid material from its CAs with a set of known test liquids according to the extended Young-Dupré equation. However, the reliability of the "known" parameters of the test liquids is questioned due to the long-neglected surface roughness effect during calibration of the liquids.

Transformation and stabilization of heavy metals during pyrolysis of organic and inorganic-dominated sewage sludges and their mechanisms.

Improperdisposal of sludge will release heavy metals contained in sludge into soils or waters which could further move through the food chain, posing a risk to human health. Understanding the transformation and stabilization of heavy metals (HMs) during pyrolysis is of great value for safe disposal of sludge. Herein, municipal sewage sludge (MSS, organic-dominated) and pharmacy sludge (PS, inorganic-dominated) were pyrolyzed to investigate the effects of organic and inorganic components and temperature on the stabilization of HMs in sludges.

Three-dimensional graphene/amino-functionalized metal-organic framework for simultaneous electrochemical detection of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II).

Trace detection of multiple toxic heavy metals is a very important and difficult problem, conveniently, sensitively, and reliably. In this work, we developed an innovative electrochemical sensor for simultaneously detected heavy metal ions (Cd, Hg, Cu, and Pb). In order to detect trace amounts of Cd(II), Pb(II), Cu(II), and Hg(II) in food quickly, accurately, and at low cost, this study used electrochemical reduction to prepare a screen-printed electrode (3DGO) modified with 3DGO and UiO-66-NH composite nanomaterials (UiO-66-NH/SPCE).

Pyrolysis of penicillin fermentation residue and sludge to produce biochar: Antibiotic resistance genes destruction and biochar application in the adsorption of penicillin in water.

A process of antibiotic fermentation residue and sludge pyrolysis to produce biochar was proposed, with antibiotic resistance genes destruction and biochar application in the adsorption of penicillin in water. The results showed that the β-lactam resistance genes were completely destroyed during pyrolysis. The prepared biochar from antibiotic fermentation residues (AFRB) and sludge (AFSB) at 800 °C and 600 °C had a good adsorption effect on the low concentration penicillin in water, with removal efficiencies of 93.

Magnetic porous biochar with nanostructure surface derived from penicillin fermentation dregs pyrolysis with KFeO activation: Characterization and application in penicillin adsorption.

Magnetic porous biochars (MC, MC) with nanostructure on surfaces were prepared from penicillin fermentation dregs by pyrolysis with KFeO activation and used in penicillin adsorption. MC and MC had high BET surface areas of 672 and 735 m/g, respectively; mainly be attributed to the activation of KFeO as well as acid pickling. Saturation magnetizations of MC and MC were 75.

Role of shear stress in biological aerated filter with nanobubble aeration: Performance, biofilm structure and microbial community.

This study comprehensively investigated the role of shear stress in a biological aerated filter under nanobubble aeration with the operation of an internal reflux and mechanical bubbling, where nanobubbles provide an opportunity to separately assess the effect of the hydraulic shear stress and aeration on the properties of the biofilms. Shear stress optimized the oxygen distribution, which improved the dissolved oxygen of the effluent three- and four-fold through reflux and mechanical bubbling, respectively. Proper shear stress enhanced the spatial development of the biofilms and promoted the activity and stability of nanobubble-aerated biofilms, achieving a sufficient contaminant removal efficiency that meets the local standard.

Comparison of pyrolysis process, various fractions and potential soil applications between sewage sludge-based biochars and lignocellulose-based biochars.

To deeply assess the feasibility of sewage sludge-based biochars for use in soil applications, this review compared sewage sludge-based biochars (SSBBs) with lignocellulose-based biochars (LCBBs) in terms of their pyrolysis processes, various fractions and potential soil applications. Based on the reviewed literature, significant differences between the components of SSBB and LCBB result in different pyrolysis behavior. In terms of the fractions of biochars, obvious differences were confirmed to exist in the carbon content, surface functional groups, types of ash fractions and contents of potential toxic elements (PTEs).

Preparation of porous biochar based on pharmaceutical sludge activated by NaOH and its application in the adsorption of tetracycline.

In this study, two different kinds of pharmaceutical sludge activated by NaOH were used to prepare biochar. The characteristics of biochar prepared by impregnation method and dry mixing method were analyzed, including N adsorption-desorption isotherms, surface functional group analysis and micromorphological observation. The results showed that the biochar prepared by impregnation method had more micropores, while that prepared by dry mixing activation method had more mesopores.

Effect of nanobubble application on performance and structural characteristics of microbial aggregates.

Herein an investigation on the performance and structural properties with aspects of stability, composition, functional group, and three-dimensional distribution were approached to evaluate the influence of nanobubble aeration to the two most common microbial aggregates, activated sludge and biofilm. This study found that applying nanobubble effectively provided extra oxygen for microbial aggregates and achieved a 10.58% improvement in total nitrogen removal.

The characteristics of pharmaceutical sludge-derived biochar and its application for the adsorption of tetracycline.

In this study, the specific surface area, pore structure, surface functional groups and microstructure of the biochar derived from the pyrolysis of pharmaceutical sludge are analyzed. The results showed that the pyrolysis temperature had a great influence on the properties of sludge-based biochar (SBB), and the specific surface area of the SBB first increased and then decreased with an increase in the pyrolysis temperature. The maximum specific surface area was 214.

Analysis of the complexation behaviors of Cu(II) with DOM from sludge-based biochars and agricultural soil: Effect of pyrolysis temperature.

Pyrolysis temperature is one of the important factors that affect the structure and composition of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (DOM), which may impact interaction between biochar-derived DOM and Cu(II). Moreover, soil application of biochars pyrolyzed at different temperatures is supposed to cause different complexation behaviors between soils-derived DOM and Cu(II). However, little is known about these aspects.

Biofilm characteristics, microbial community structure and function of an up-flow anaerobic filter-biological aerated filter (UAF-BAF) driven by COD/N ratio.

The biofilm characteristics, microbial community structure and function in a lab-scale up-flow anaerobic filter-biological aerated filter (UAF-BAF) driven by COD/N ratio were investigated. Results showed that the TN removal rate of system reduced from 68.7% to 50.

Mass transfer of nanobubble aeration and its effect on biofilm growth: Microbial activity and structural properties.

It is necessary to improve the performance and reduce the aeration cost is of wastewater treatment by aerobic biofilm systems. Nanobubble aeration is supposed to be a promising method to achieve these goals. Compared with coarse bubbles, dissolved oxygen profiling showed that the nanobubbles provided more oxygen to biofilms, offering superior oxygen supply capacity and 1.

Integrated effects of temperature and COD/N on an up-flow anaerobic filter-biological aerated filter: Performance, biofilm characteristics and microbial community.

The integrated effects of temperature and COD/N ratio on performance, biofilm characteristics and microbial community in up-flow anaerobic filter-biological aerated filters (UAF-BAFs) were investigated. Results indicated that the UAF-BAF system could achieve excellent COD, NH-N and TN removal, in which effluent quality well met the Class 1A standard. Biofilm physicochemical characteristics showed that the biomass, biofilm thickness and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) content in the UAF-BAFs reduced with the decrease in COD/N ratio, but were enhanced under low temperature.

Pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and evolved gas determination of chrome-tanned sludge by thermogravimetry-Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and pyrolysis gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.

The pyrolysis characteristics, kinetics, and evolved gas analysis of chrome-tanned sludge were investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (TG-FTIR) and pyrolysis with gas chromatography and mass spectrometric detection (Py-GC/MS). Friedman, Flynn-Wall-Ozawa (FWO), Kissinger-Akahira-Sunose (KAS) methods were used to calculate kinetic parameters in the kinetic study. The chrome-tanned sludge contained 7600 mg kg Cr in the form of CrOOH and 41,400 mg kg S in the form of S.

Feasibility of sludge-based biochar for soil remediation: Characteristics and safety performance of heavy metals influenced by pyrolysis temperatures.

Sludge-based biochars (SBB) were prepared to evaluate their physiochemical properties and safety performance for the possible application in soil amendments in this study. SBB were produced at the temperatures ranging from 300 to 900 °C at 200 °C intervals. Both the solid fraction and the soluble organic fraction of SBB were analyzed.

Effect of silver nanoparticles on an integrated fixed-film activated sludge-sequencing batch reactor: Performance and community structure.

The effects of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) on reactor performance, extracellular polymeric substances composition and microbial community structure and function in integrated fixed-film activated sludge-sequencing batch reactors (IFAS-SBRs) were investigated. Results showed that the addition of AgNPs from 0.1 to 10 mg/L exhibited no significant effects on nutrient removal.