Compact and water flushing resistant mesh biofilms forming at short SRT disappeared naturally under extended SRT in dynamic membrane bioreactor.

Extending the solids retention time (SRT) has been demonstrated to mitigate membrane biofouling. Nevertheless, it remains an intriguing question whether the compact and water flushing resistant mesh biofilms developed at short SRT can undergo biodegradation and be removed with extended SRT. In present study, the bio-fouled mesh filter in the 10d-SRT dynamic membrane bioreactor (DMBR), with mesh surfaces and pores covered by compact and water flushing resistant biofilms exhibiting low water permeability, was reused in the 40d-SRT DMBR without any cleanings. After being reused at 40d-SRT, its flux driven by gravity occurred from the 10th day and recovered to a regular level of 36.7 L m-2·h-1 on the 27th day. Both scanning electron microscope (SEM) and confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analyses indicated that the compact mesh biofilms formed at10d-SRT biodegraded and were removed at 40d-SRT, with the residual biofilms becoming removable by water flushing. As a result, the hydraulic resistance of the bio-fouled mesh filter decreased from 4.36 × 108 to 6.97 × 107 m-1, and its flux fully recovered. The protein and polysaccharides densities in mesh-biofilms decreased from 24.4 to 9.7 mg/cm2 and from 10.7 to 0.10 mg/cm2, respectively, which probably have contributed to the disappearance of compact biofilms and the decrease in adhesion. Furthermore, the sludge and mesh-biofilms in the 40d-SRT reactor contained a higher relative abundance of dominant quorum quenching bacteria, such as Rhizobium (3.52% and 1.35%), compared to those in the 10d-SRT sludge (0.096%) and mesh biofilms (0.79%), which might have been linked to a decline in extracellular polymeric substances and, consequently, the biodegradation and disappearance of compact biofilms.

Multivariate optimization of characteristic parameters of continuous-flow system with a front buffer tank for industrial reverse osmosis concentrate treatment.

Industrial reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) was electrochemically oxidized using a continuous-flow system (CFS) with a front buffer tank. Multivariate optimization including Plackett-Burman (PBD) and central composite design based on response surface method (CCD-RSM) was implemented to investigate the effects of characteristic (e.g., recirculation ratio (R value), ratio of buffer tank and electrolytic zone (RV value)) and routine (e.g., current density (i), inflow linear velocity (v) and electrode spacing (d)) parameters. R, v values and current density significantly influenced chemical oxygen demand (COD) and NH4+-N removal and effluent active chlorine species (ACS) level, while electrode spacing and RV value had negligible effects. High chloride content of industrial ROC facilitated the generation of ACS and subsequent mass transfer, low hydraulic retention time (HRT) of electrolytic cell improved the mass transfer efficiency, and high HRT of buffer tank prolonged the reaction between the pollutants and oxidants. The significance levels of COD removal, energy efficiency, effluent ACS level and toxic byproduct level CCD-RSM models were validated by statistical test results, including higher F value than critical effect value, lower P value than 0.05, low deviation between predicted and observed values, and normal distribution of calculated residuals. The highest pollutant removal was achieved at a high R value, a high current density and a low v value; the highest energy efficiency was achieved at a high R, a low current density and a high v value; the lowest effluent ACS and toxic byproduct levels were achieved at a low R value, a low current density and a high v value. Following the multivariate optimization, the optimum parameters were decided to be v = 1.2 cm h-1, i ≥ 8 mA cm-2, d ≥ 4, RV = 10-20 and R = 1 to achieve better effluent quality (i.e., lower effluent pollutant, ACS and toxic byproduct levels).

Evaluating the impacts of biochemical processes on nitrogen dynamics in a tide gate-controlled river flowing into the South China Sea.

This study aimed to evaluate the nitrogen (N) dynamics in Lijiang River, a tide gate-controlled river flowing into South China Sea, and to quantify the biochemical processes affecting nitrate fate and transport during the closed-tide gate period. The continuous on-line water monitoring indicates a chemostatic NH4+-N pattern with respect to variable discharges in the upstream section. The survey via daily grab water sampling from July to December 2020 at four equidistant locations in the lower stretch showed that a gradual increase in NO3--N and decrease in NH4+-N concentrations occurred along the river from upstream to downstream sections and with the time from September to December (the closed-tide gate period). The mean difference between nitrification and denitrification rate peaked at 0.43 mg L-1 d-1 in October in the upper section and gradually reduced to -0.26 mg L-1 d-1 in December in the middle section, indicating the increased advantage of denitrification over nitrification with time. A gradual increase in the mean NO3--N assimilatory uptake rate with time and a decrease from upstream to downstream were also observed. These results show that the closed-tide gate promoted N biotransformation in Laingian River and significant N removal was achieved through coupled nitrification-denitrification.

Effects of waves, burial depth and material density on microplastic retention in coastal sediments.

Coastal sediments, recognized as a major sink for microplastics (MPs), are subject to frequent physical disturbances, such as wave disturbance and associated sediment dynamics. Yet it remains poorly understood how wave disturbance regulates MPs accumulation in such a dynamic environment. Here, we examined the effects of waves and their interactions with material density and burial depth on the retention of MPs in coastal sediments, through manipulative experiments in a mangrove habitat along the coast of South China. The results clearly revealed that stronger waves removed more buried MPs from the sediments. Moreover, storms can have disproportional effects on MPs retention by inducing large waves and strong sediment erosion. We also demonstrated that MPs retention generally increased linearly with growing material density and non-linearly with raised burial depth in the sediment. Overall, our findings highlight the importance of both external and internal factors in shaping MPs retention in coastal ecosystems like mangroves, which is essential to assess and predict MPs accumulation patterns as well as its impacts on ecosystem functioning of such blue carbon habitats.

Assessment of nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of the Xiashan stream, eastern Guangdong Province, China.

In this study, nutrient and heavy metal contamination in surface sediments of the Xiashan stream were investigated. Determining pollution degree of nutrient and heavy metal were the main objectives of this investigation. For this reason, the concentrations of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), seven heavy metals (Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd, Cr, Ni, Hg), and metalloid (As) were analyzed at 55 sampling sites. The mean TN concentration in surface sediments was 5.007 g/kg, while the mean TP concentration was 0.385 g/kg. Based on the sediment quality guideline (SQGs) and background values of Chinese soil and sediment, the majority of the mean TN concentrations in surface sediments were higher than their background values, while the TP concentrations were different from those observed for TN. For heavy metal concentrations in surface sediments, most of sampling stations were higher than their background values. The mean geo-accumulation (Igeo) indices for heavy metals were ranked as follows: Cd > Hg > Cu > Zn > Pb > Ni > Cr > As. The potential ecological risk index (RI) indicated heavy metal contamination level in Xiashan stream was very high ecological risk. According to Igeo and RI values, heavy metals especially Cd and Hg are influenced significantly by anthropogenic activities. Cd and Hg are not only as pollutant but also considerable contributor to ecological risk. Multivariate statistical investigations showed that there is a significant and positive correlation between Pb, As, and Cd. Cu, Ni, and Cr have similar characteristic and therefore probably originated from the same sources. Suggested by the results, it is necessary to control nitrogen and heavy metal contamination caused by human activities in the study area.

[Effects of Continuous Extreme Rainfall on Water Quality of the Dongjiang River Basin].

In order to research the impact of continuous extreme rainfall on the water quality of the Dongjiang River, which is a drinking water source, the characteristics of extreme rainfall events in the basin were analyzed for last 38 years. The impacts of these events on water quality are discussed by considering both hydrological data and water quality data. Using SWAT2012 software, a high-precision basin model was established for the flux of major pollutants during extreme rainfall and water quality. The results indicate that there were 173 extreme rainfall events in the Dongjiang River basin over the past 38 years. The annual frequency of extreme rainfall events in high-flow years was higher than in other years. During the year, rainfall was mainly affected by climate, particularly from March to September (80%), with the peak rainfall usually occurring in June. Spatially, the Zengcheng-Bolo-Huizhou-Longmen area had the highest frequency of extreme events. During the study period, rainfall was significantly positively correlated with the concentrations of cyanide, Pb, Fe, Mn, TP, and with turbidity, and the correlation coefficients for the concentrations of TP and turbidity with rainfall were relatively high. Rainfall was significantly negatively correlated with pH, conductivity, the concentration of Zn, as well as some other indicators. These observations show that water quality is affected by rainfall to some extent. Turbidity, TN, ammonia nitrogen, and TP concentrations all showed increasing trends, to different degrees, during rainstorm runoff periods. Turbidity and TP concentrations showed a significant and consistent relationship with flow rate, peaking earlier than the flow rate peak (by approximately 1 d), showing a significant initial flushing effect. The pH curve showed an opposite trend to the flow rate, forming a "V" shape, which may be affected by the rainfall, soil acidity, and confluence conditions in the upstream mountains. Ammonia nitrogen was subject to initial flushing in the early stages of extreme rainfall but was diluted by the clean rainwater; initially, ammonia nitrogen showed high values that declined during the middle and late stages. The variations in pollutant loads were consistent with that of runoff flux, and the peaks in TN, ammonia nitrogen, and TP flux appeared later than the flow peak (by approximately 1 d), thus differing from the pollutant concentration peak. The pollutant load mainly showed a significant increase during storm runoff periods. The proportion of pollutant COD, ammonia nitrogen, and TP transported by 59.48% of the runoff reached 68.42%, 54.68%, and 70.20%, respectively, demonstrating the characteristics of rapid and high-impact pollutant loads. These characteristics have a great influence on the quality of Dongjiang River drinking water and it is suggested that initial rainwater treatment should be strengthened to reduce the negative impact of rainstorm runoff periods on water quality.

Implementation of Fractal Dimension and Self-Organizing Map to Detect Toxic Effects of Toluene on Movement Tracks of Daphnia magna.

Movement behaviors of an indicator species, Daphnia magna, in response to contaminants have been implemented to monitor environmental disturbances. Complexity in movement tracks of Daphnia magna was characterized by use of fractal dimension and self-organizing map. The individual movement tracks of D. magna were continuously recorded for 24 hours before and after treatments with toluene at the concentration of 10 mg/L, respectively. The general complexity in movement tracks (10 minutes) was characterized by fractal dimension. Results showed that average fractal dimension of movement tracks was decreased from 1.62 to 1.22 after treatments. The instantaneous movement parameters of movement segments in 5 s were input into the self-organizing map to investigate the swimming pattern changes under stresses of toluene. Abnormal behaviors of D. magna are more frequently observed after treatments than before treatments. Computational methods in ecological informatics could be utilized to obtain the useful information in behavioral data of D. magna and would be further applied as an in situ monitoring tool in water environment.