Solids retention time modulates nutrient removal in pilot-scale anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic process: Carbon allocation patterns and microbial insights.

Anaerobic-aerobic-anoxic (AOA) process is a promising configuration to retrofit current wastewater treatment plants with intensified carbon utilization and nutrient removal, but lacks process optimization for scaling-up in real wastewater scenarios. Solids retention time (SRT) is a fundamental parameter of activated sludge process, but its roles in the AOA process remain vague. Here, we established a pilot-scale AOA process at different SRTs (10, 20, 30 d) to investigate the comprehensive responses and potential mechanisms.

Development and application of ordered membrane electrode assemblies for water electrolysis.

With the development of hydrogen energy, there has been increasing attention toward fuel cells and water electrolysis. Among them, the zero-gap membrane electrode assembly (MEA) serves as an important triple-phase reaction site that determines the performance and efficiency of the reaction system. The development of efficient and durable MEAs plays a crucial role in the development of hydrogen energy.

Microplastics footprint in nature reserves-a case study on the microplastics in the guano from Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds National Nature Reserve, China.

Bio-ingestion of microplastics poses a global threat to ecosystems, yet studies within nature reserves, crucial habitats for birds, remain scarce despite the well-documented ingestion of microplastics by avian species. Located in Jiangsu Province, China, the Yancheng Wetland Rare Birds Nature Reserve is home to diverse bird species, including many rare ones. This study aimed to assess the abundance and characteristics of microplastics in common bird species within the reserve, investigate microplastic enrichment across different species, and establish links between birds' habitat types and microplastic ingestion.

Synthesized effects of medium-term exposure to seawater acidification and microplastics on the physiology and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus.

Ocean acidification (OA) and microplastics (MPs) contamination are two results of human excises. In regions like estuarine areas, OA and MPs exposure are happening at the same time. The current research investigated the synthesized effects of OA and MPs exposure for a medium-term duration on the physiology and energy budget of the thick shell mussel Mytilus coruscus.

Mercapto-functionalized ordered mesoporous silica-modified PVDF membrane for efficiently scavenging Cd from water.

In this study, (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane (MPTMS)-modified ordered mesoporous silica (OMS) materials were prepared using a post-grifting method, with MPTMS as the organic functionalized reagent. The OMS materials were analyzed by FT-IR spectra, N sorption, and small angle X-ray scattering to evaluate their potential for scavenging Cd from water. Moreover, a (3-mercaptopropyl) triethoxysilane-functionalized ordered mesoporous silica modified polyvinylidene fluoride (MPTMS-OMS/PVDF) membrane was synthesized using the solvent phase inversion method to remediate wastewater containing heavy metal ions.

Influence of Electrolyte Concentration on Single-Molecule Sensing of Perfluorocarboxylic Acids.

Perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) are an emerging class of persistent organic pollutants. During the fabrication process, it is unavoidable to form PFCA homologs or isomers which exhibit distinct occurrence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity. The precision measurement of PFCAs is therefore of significant importance.

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Perfluorooctanoic Acid by Mesoporous SbO/TiO Heterojunctions.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a typical perfluorinated carboxylic acid, is an emerging type of permanent organic pollutants that are regulated by the Stockholm Convention. The degradation of PFOA, however, is quite challenging largely due to the ultra-high stability of C-F bonds. Compared with other techniques, photocatalytic degradation offers the potential advantages of simple operation under mild conditions as well as exceptional decomposition and defluorination efficiency.

Unidirectional/Bidirectional Electron Transfer at the Au/TiO Interface Operando Tracked by SERS Spectra from Au and TiO.

Although it is well-known that the size can influence the surface plasmon resonance property of coinage metals and the electronic state of the Mott-Schottky junction formed at the metal/semiconductor interface, insights into how the size can be exploited to optimize the photocatalytic activity and selectivity of metal/semiconductor composites are lacking. Here we utilize operando SERS spectroscopy to identify the size effect on the electron-transfer dynamics and the direction at the Au/TiO interface. This effect was characterized by the photocatalytic reduction sites of -nitrothiophenol, which were self-tracked with the SERS spectra from Au nanoparticle and inverse-opal structured TiO, respectively.

Facile Fabrication of Amorphous Molybdenum Oxide as a Sensitive and Stable SERS Substrate under Redox Treatment.

Amorphous MoO nanosheets were fabricated by the room-temperature oxidation of molybdenum powder with H O , followed by light-irradiation reduction in methanol. When applied as a substrate for surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS), these nanosheets exhibit higher sensitivity than the crystalline counterpart for a wide range of analytes. Moreover, the SERS activity remains stable on repeated oxygen insertion/extraction.

The dual reading of general conditionals: The influence of abstract versus concrete contexts.

A current main issue on conditionals is whether the meaning of general conditionals (e.g., If a card is red, then it is round) is deterministic (exceptionless) or probabilistic (exception-tolerating).