Mechanism of removal and degradation characteristics of dicamba by biochar prepared from Fe-modified sludge.

The pyrolysis of excess sludge derived from wastewater treatment plants to prepare biochar can achieve the mass-reduction and harmlessness of solid waste, but it is also necessary to further explore the application prospect of these biochars as a resource for wastewater treatment. In this study, Fe-modified biochar (BC-Fe) was prepared by pyrolysis of excess sludge modified by FeCl solution. The molecular structure, elemental valence state, and composition of biochars were comprehensively investigated.

Understanding the role of cations and hydrogen bonds on the stability of aerobic granules from the perspective of the aggregation and adhesion behavior of extracellular polymeric substances.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) were essential for the granulation and stability of aerobic granular sludge (AGS). In this study, the effects of electrostatic interactions, bridging effect of divalent cations, and hydrogen bonds on the EPS-EPS and EPS-surface interaction were verified by enhancing or reducing the specific interaction with the addition of cations or urea. The size and the surface properties of EPS aggregates were investigated, the adhesion behavior and viscoelasticity of EPS were analyzed by quartz crystal microbalance with dissipation monitoring.