Understanding microplastic aging driven by photosensitization of algal extracellular polymeric substances.

The aging of microplastics (MPs) is extremely influenced by photochemically-produced reactive intermediates (PPRIs), which are mediated by natural photosensitive substances. Algal extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) can produce PPRIs when exposed to sunlight. Nonetheless, the specific role of EPS in the aging process of MPs remains unclear.

Photocathodic Activation of Peroxymonosulfate in a Photofuel Cell: A Synergetic Signal Amplification Strategy for a Self-Powered Photoelectrochemical Sensor.

A self-powered photoelectrochemical (PEC) sensor has attracted widespread attention in the field of analysis, but it is still a challenge to enhance its response signals with rational strategies. In this work, a novel self-powered PEC sensing platform was developed for the quantitative detection of gatifloxacin (GAT) based on a photofuel cell consisting of two types of ZIF-derived ZnO/CoO heterojunctions as photoactive materials. Peroxymonosulfate (PMS) was first used as an electron acceptor coupled with a photofuel cell to develop a synergetic signal amplification strategy.

Enhanced activation of peroxymonosulfate using ternary MOFs-derived MnCoFeO for sulfamethoxazole degradation: Role of oxygen vacancies.

Herein, ternary metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)-derived MnCoFeO with different levels of oxygen vacancies (O) were designed by adjusting the doping amount of Mn and employed to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The MnCoFeO-2 with the largest O content exhibited the highest SMX degradation efficacy. Almost 100% of SMX was removed within 5 min using the MnCoFeO-2/PMS system.

Variation of effluent organic matter (EfOM) during anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (AO) wastewater treatment processes.

Here, we studied seasonal variation of effluent organic matter (EfOM), based on molecular weight distribution and fluorescent components, during the traditional anaerobic/anoxic/oxic (AO) wastewater treatment processes. Microbial community structure and effect of temperature on some isolated pure strains were analyzed to explain the related mechanism. Results showed that the anaerobic process played a key role in EfOM removal by removing building blocks, low molecular weight (LMW) neutrals, biopolymers, and protein-related substances (C4 and C5), thus determining the fate of EfOM during the AO processes.