The effect of salinity on trimethoprim adsorption by activated sludge extracellular polymeric substances at trace concentration.

The saline wastewater produced in industrial activities and seawater use would flow into wastewater treatment plants and affect the characteristic of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) of activated sludge, which could potentially impact the removal of antibiotics via adsorption. Nonetheless, the effect of salinity on trimethoprim adsorption by activated sludge extracellular polymeric substances at trace concentration and the underlying mechanism remain largely unknown. In this study, the effect of salinity on the adsorption removal of a typical antibiotic, i.

Unraveling the Mechanistic Origin of High N Selectivity in Ammonia Selective Catalytic Oxidation on CuO-Based Catalyst.

NH emissions from industrial sources and possibly future energy production constitute a threat to human health because of their toxicity and participation in PM formation. Ammonia selective catalytic oxidation to N (NH-SCO) is a promising route for NH emission control, but the mechanistic origin of achieving high N selectivity remains elusive. Here we constructed a highly N-selective CuO/TiO catalyst and proposed a CuO dimer active site based on the observation of a quadratic dependence of NH-SCO reaction rate on CuO loading, ac-STEM, and thermodynamic analysis.

Reducing aerosol and ammonia emission in post-combustion CO capture: Additives as key solutions.

Advancement of the absorbent for CO capture is essential in optimizing the performance and reducing the negative environmental effects associated with this technology. Despite ammonia's promise as an absorbent, the volatility limits its practical application and creates potential environmental pollution. Therein, we assess various additives (amino acids, carbonates, and alkanolamines) for ammonia-based solvents using multi-stage circulation absorber from the viewpoints of aerosol emission, ammonia emission, and CO capture efficiency.

Potential Strategy to Control the Organic Components of Condensable Particulate Matter: A Critical Review.

More and more attention has been paid to condensable particulate matter (CPM) since its emissions have surpassed that of filterable particulate matter (FPM) with the large-scale application of ultralow-emission reform. CPM is a gaseous material in the flue stack but instantly turns into particles after leaving the stack. It is composed of inorganic and organic components.

A comprehensive exploration of characteristics and source attribution of carbonaceous aerosols in PM in an East China megacity.

A total of 84 PM (fine particulate matter) aerosol samples were collected between October 2020 and August 2021 within an urban site in Hangzhou, an East China megacity. Chemical species, such as organic carbon (OC), elemental carbon (EC), as well as char, soot, and n-alkanes, were analyzed to determine their pollution characteristics and source contributions. The mean yearly concentrations of OC, EC, char, soot, and total n-alkanes (∑n-alkane) were 8.

Bibliometric analysis of electrochemical disinfection: current status and development trend from 2002 to 2022.

The removal of waterborne pathogens from water is critical in preventing the spread of waterborne diseases. Electrochemical methods have been extensively researched and implemented for disinfection, primarily owing to their simplicity, efficiency, and eco-friendliness. Thus, it is essential to conduct a review about the research progress and hotspots on this promising technique.

The erythromycin sorption removal at environmentally relevant concentration based on molecular imprinted polymer: Performance and mechanism.

The antibiotic pollution emerged in different environments has raised a great concern. Adsorption is an effective method to solve the problem. However, conventional adsorbents are not always efficient for antibiotic removal with interferences.

Associations between hemoglobin levels and source-specific exposure to ambient fine particles among children aged <5 years in low- and middle-income countries.

Objective: We investigated associations between source-specific fine particulate matter (PM) exposure and hemoglobin levels among children in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs).

Method: 36,675 children aged < 5 years were collected in 11 LMICs during 2017. We associated child hemoglobin with 20 source-specific PM, and calculated changes in hemoglobin that could be attributed to different PM-mixture scenarios, established using real-world data from 88 Asian and African LMICs (AA-LMICs).

Biochar performance for preventing cadmium and arsenic accumulation, and the health risks associated with mustard (Brassica juncea) grown in co-contaminated soils.

Cadmium (Cd) and arsenic (As) in co-contaminated soil can enter the human body harming health via the food chain, such as vegetables. Biochar derived from waste has been used to reduce heavy metal uptake by plant, but long-term effects of biochar under Cd and As co-contaminated soil needs to be investigated. A following mustard (Brassica juncea) was grown on co-contaminated soil amended with different raw materials of biochar including biochars pyrolyzed by lignite coal (LCB), rice straw (RSB), silkworm excrement (SEB), and sugar refinery sludge (SSB).

Reducing Aerosol Emissions by Decoupled Parameter Management during the CO Capture Process in a Multi-stage Circulation Absorber.

Aerosol emissions from the CO capture process have a significant impact in terms of solvent loss and environmental pollution. Here, we propose a novel approach with multi-stage circulation for CO capture and synergistic aerosol reduction, which divides the absorption section into three circulation stages and reduces aerosol emissions through decoupled operation of the three absorption sections and the management of solvent CO loadings. Experimental results show that with the decoupled management of the liquid-gas ratio and solvent temperature in absorption sections, the aerosol mass concentration at the outlet of the 3rd absorption section can be reduced by 25.

Integrating by-products from bioenergy technology to improve the morpho-physiological growth and yield of soybean under acidic soil.

Soil acidity may negatively affect plant growth. By-products (bottom ash (BA), biochar (BC), and biogas slurry (BS)) from bioenergy technology may change the physio-chemical properties of acidic soils and affect the plant growth parameters. The current research work was carried out to determine the impact of different bioenergy by-products to enhance soybean growth and production by alleviating the effects of acidic soil.

The contradictory roles of tightly bound and loosely bound extracellular polymeric substances of activated sludge in trimethoprim adsorption process.

Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of activated sludge are a mixture of high molecular weight polymers secreted by microorganisms, which have the double structure of tightly-bound EPS (TB-EPS) in inner layer and loosely-bound EPS (LB-EPS) in outer layer. The characteristic of LB- and TB-EPS were different, which would affect their adsorption of antibiotics. However, the adsorption process of antibiotics on LB- and TB-EPS was still unclear yet.

Prediction of inlet SO concentration of wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) by operation parameters of coal-fired boiler.

Circulating fluidized bed (CFB) boilers with wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system is a popular technology for SO removal in the coal-fired thermal power plant. However, the long response time of continues emission monitoring system (CEMS) and the hardness of continuously monitoring the coal properties leads to the difficulties for controlling WFGD. It is important to build a model that is adaptable to the fluctuation of load and coal properties, which can obtain the SO concentration ahead CEMS, without relying on coal properties.

Technology development and cost analysis of multiple pollutant abatement for ultra-low emission coal-fired power plants in China.

The implementation of ultra-low emission (ULE) limits (SO: 35 mg/m, NOx: 50 mg/m, PM: 10 mg/m) promoted the development of flue gas treatment technologies in China. Pollutant control technology development for Chinese coal-fired power plants was summarized and an analysis of the applicability and cost of pollutant control technologies was conducted. Detailed data were collected from 30 ultra-low emission coal-fired units across China.

Using POI and time series Landsat data to identify and rebuilt surface mining, vegetation disturbance and land reclamation process based on Google Earth Engine.

The development of coal resources is necessary, but it has a huge negative impact on land, ecology, and the environment. With the increasing awareness of environmental protection and the requirements of related regulations, the design and practice of reclamation projects run through the mining life cycle and continue for a long time after the coal production. High-precision monitoring of mining disturbance and reclamation, quantifying the degree and time of vegetation disturbance and restoration, is of great significance to minimize the environmental effect of mining.

Observed changes in China's methane emissions linked to policy drivers.

China is set to actively reduce its methane emissions in the coming decade. A comprehensive evaluation of the current situation can provide a reference point for tracking the country's future progress. Here, using satellite and surface observations, we quantify China's methane emissions during 2010-2017.

Humic Substances Derived From Biomass Waste During Aerobic Composting and Hydrothermal Treatment: A Review.

Humic substances (HSs) occupy 80% of organic matter in soil and have been widely applied for soil remediation agents, potential battery materials, and adsorbents. Since the HS extraction rate is very low by microbial degradation in nature, artificial humification processes such as aerobic composting (AC) and hydrothermal treatment (HT) have attracted a great deal of attention as the most important strategies in HS production. This article aims to provide a state-of-the-art review on the development of conversion of biomass waste into HSs based on AC and HT for the first time in terms of mechanisms, characteristics of HSs' molecular structure, and influencing factors.

Insight into the role of different extracellular polymeric substances components on trimethoprim adsorption by activated sludge.

Adsorption is the primary mechanism of antibiotic removal in wastewater treatment plants, wherein the extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of the activated sludge play an important role. Due to their complex characteristics, the effect of EPS components on antibiotic adsorption is unknown. Therefore, in this study, the role of main components of EPS in antibiotic adsorption was explored using enzymatic treatment.

Chemical Composition and Source Apportionment of Wintertime Airborne PM in Changchun, Northeastern China.

This study presents field observations and laboratory analyses of wintertime airborne particulate matter (PM) and its chemical components in the Changchun metropolitan area, the geographical center of northeastern China. Twenty-four hour PM filter samples were collected from 23 December 2011 to 31 January 2012 at four sites in the types of traffic, residential, campus, and a near-city rural village, respectively. Daily PM concentrations ranged from 49 to 466 µg m, with an arithmetic average of 143 µg m.

Sulfate formation is dominated by manganese-catalyzed oxidation of SO on aerosol surfaces during haze events.

The formation mechanism of aerosol sulfate during wintertime haze events in China is still largely unknown. As companions, SO and transition metals are mainly emitted from coal combustion. Here, we argue that the transition metal-catalyzed oxidation of SO on aerosol surfaces could be the dominant sulfate formation pathway and investigate this hypothesis by integrating chamber experiments, numerical simulations and in-field observations.

Spatially Resolved Emission Factors to Reduce Uncertainties in Air Pollutant Emission Estimates from the Residential Sector.

The residential sector is a major source of air pollutant emission inventory uncertainties. A nationwide field emission measurement campaign was conducted in rural China to evaluate the variabilities of realistic emission factors (EFs) from indoor solid fuel combustion. For a total of 1313 burning events, the overall average EFs (±standard deviation) of PM were 8.

Electrocatalysts for direct methanol fuel cells to demonstrate China's renewable energy renewable portfolio standards within the framework of the 13th five-year plan.

A unified treatment of the renewable portfolio standards is given concerning direct methanol fuel. The current mechanism of electrocatalysis of methanol oxidation on platinum and non-platinum-containing alloys is summarized for the systematic improvement of the rate of electro-oxidation of methanol are discussed. Policy realignment under the five-year plan is discussed in length to demonstrate how policy, markets, and engineering designs contribute towards the development of model direct methanol fuel cells operational enhancement, and factors that affect critical performance parameters for commercial exploitation are summarized for catalytic formulations and cell design within the context of why this investment in technology, education, and finances is required within the global context of sustainable energy and energy independence as exposed by thirteenth the five-year plan.

Air quality improvement in response to intensified control strategies in Beijing during 2013-2019.

Beijing's air pollution has become of increasing concern in recent years. The central and municipal governments have issued a series of laws, regulations, and strategies to improve ambient air quality. The "Clean Air Action" issued in 2013 and the "Comprehensive Action" issued in 2017 largely addressed this concern.