Optimization and application of pretreatment for the analysis of typical per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAAs) in drinking water: a systematic evaluation of filter membranes and SPE Sorbents.

The accurate detection of trace perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) in drinking water remains challenging due to nonspecific adsorption losses during pretreatment. This study systematically evaluated the adsorption behaviors of 11 PFAAs across five filtration membranes and four solid-phase extraction (SPE) sorbents to establish an optimized analytical protocol. Results demonstrated that glass fiber (GL) filters minimized PFAAs retention (94.

Augmenting water quality resilience in water distribution systems: A stress-driven model for ice slurry pigging optimisation strategy.

Pipeline cleaning is essential for maintaining water quality and safeguarding public health within water distribution networks. Although ice slurry pigging is widely adopted due to its effectiveness and environmental advantages, challenges remain in accurately quantifying cleaning efficacy and optimising maintenance intervals. This study develops a stress-driven wall material removal model calibrated using field-measured turbidity data, allowing for a comprehensive assessment of cleaning effectiveness based on post-cleaning shear resistance.

Seawater intrusion angle controls colloidal chromium migration across coastal groundwater interfaces.

The coastal mixing zone between seawater and freshwater is a critical interface for the exchange and transformation of contaminants. Despite its significance, the influence of seawater intrusion angle on contaminant transport has been largely overlooked. In this study, we combine laboratory column experiments with reactive transport modeling to investigate how varying seawater intrusion angles affect chromium (Cr) migration, particularly in colloid-facilitated forms.

Asymmetric active-site on heterogeneous single-atom alloy metallene boost fenton-like reaction for sustainable water purification.

A precise modulation of heterogeneous catalysts in structural and surface properties promises the development of more sustainable advanced oxidation water purification technologies. However, the poor catalyst stability due to covering of surface-active sites by oxidation intermediates remains a key bottleneck to their practical applications. Herein we propose a simple defect-induced in-situ single-atom anchoring strategy to overcome this challenge by creating unique asymmetric active-sites on the catalyst surface.

Molecular weight: A key factor influencing the removal efficiency of dissolved organic matter and disinfection byproducts by an aquatic plant.

The occurrence of various toxic disinfection byproducts (DBPs) in disinfected municipal effluents worldwide poses threats to aquatic ecosystems. Aquatic plants are highly effective in water purification; however, the removal of toxic DBPs by aquatic plants and the associated influencing factors remain unclear. In this study, the removal profiles of dissolved organic matter (DOM) and toxic DBPs from two municipal effluents were systematically investigated using an aquatic plant Hydrocotyle vulgaris L.

Short-chain fatty acids production from hydrothermal conversion wastewater (HTCWW): focusing on microbial community analysis.

Hydrothermal conversion (HTC) is a widely recognized method to produce biofuel and hydro-char from biomass. This study investigated the production of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) from HTC wastewater (HTCWW) through anaerobic fermentation (AF) and optimized the process conditions in both continuous stirred tank reactors (CSTR) and anaerobic sequencing batch reactors (ASBR). The highest SCFAs yield 0.

Mechanistic insights into norfloxacin removal in a novel riboflavin-mediated nanoscale zero-valent iron/peracetic acid system: Synergistic radical and non-radical pathways.

In this study, a novel riboflavin-mediated nanoscale zero-valent iron/peracetic acid system (RF/nZVI/PAA) was constructed to increase the removal of norfloxacin. Under the optimal conditions (PAA=10 mg/L, nZVI=20 mg/L, RF= 1 mg/L, and initial pH =4), complete norfloxacin removal was achieved within 30 min, accompanied by a 70 % mineralization rate. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy combined with quenching experiments quantitatively identified hydroxyl radical, carbon-centered radical, and singlet oxygen as the predominant reactive oxidative species (ROS) responsible for norfloxacin removal, with contributions of 42 %, 44 %, and 10 %, respectively.

Methionine-based insights into C-S-Fe-P transformations in anaerobic co-digestion of sludge containing iron-phosphorus compounds.

Anaerobic co-digestion of sulfur-containing organic wastes with waste-activated sludge containing iron-phosphorus compounds (FePs) was recently suggested as an environment-friendly strategy to promote phosphate release, energy recovery, and hydrogen sulfide (HS) control. Nevertheless, the mechanistic coupling between FePs speciation and the concurrent transformation of carbon, sulfur, iron, and phosphorus within this system remains to be fully elucidated. To address this knowledge gap, methionine, a typical hydrolysis product of sulfur-containing organics, and five FePs prevalent in sludge (ferric-phosphate tetrahydrate (FePO⋅4HO), ferric-phosphate dihydrate (FePO⋅2HO), vivianite (Fe(PO)·8HO), phosphate coprecipitated with Fe(III) (COP-P), and phosphate adsorption on hydrous ferric oxide (HFO-P)) were selected to elucidate C-S-Fe-P transformations in this study.

Generation of More Potent Components at Higher Temperatures Offsets Toxicity Reduction despite Reduced Mass Emissions during Biomass Burning.

Biomass burning organic aerosols (BBOAs) represent a major global health hazard. Their toxicity varies significantly due to the diversity of combustion conditions, which shape mixtures of components with differing toxic potency. We quantified component-specific contributions to intracellular reactive oxygen species generation in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed to BBOAs produced under controlled combustion conditions.

Nanoconfinement assists the selective generation of singlet oxygen to efficiently remove emerging organic contaminants in soil with a low consumption of oxidant.

The application of advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) to remove emerging organic contaminants (EOCs) in soil is a powerful and rapid soil remediation technology, but the diversity of soil components makes the contact between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pollutants limited, while the large consumption of oxidant still seriously restricts the decontamination performance in soil. Herein, a nanoconfinement strategy has been applied to encapsulate metal oxide FeO to the channels of carbon nanotube, thereby synthesizing a FeO@CNT catalyst to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the selective removal of carbamazepine (CBZ) in soil. FeO@CNT can efficiently activate PDS to oxidize CBZ in soil through a nonradical pathway dominated by singlet oxygen (O).

Adsorbed oxygen dynamics at forced convection interface in the oxygen evolution reaction.

The oxygen evolution reaction is a prevalent anodic reaction in electrocatalytic processes. Modulation of adsorbed oxygen (*O) at the electrochemical interface is an effective means to reduce the overpotential of the oxygen evolution reaction. However, the contribution of various *O conversions to the overpotential remains unclear.

Identification, occurrence, and toxicity prediction of alkylphenolic disinfection by-products in disinfected combined sewer overflows.

Disinfection is essential in managing combined sewer overflows (CSOs) to reduce pathogenic microbial hazards. Disinfection can inevitably generate disinfection by-products (DBPs), which may adversely affect aquatic organisms. However, knowledge of emerging DBPs in disinfected CSOs remains limited because their water components differ from those of regular water sources.

Defect-mediated high loading metal single-atom catalysts direct oxygen reduction reaction selectivity to HO production.

Transition metal single-atom catalysts (TM-SACs) have emerged as promising electrocatalysts for the two-electron oxygen reduction reaction (2eORR) due to their exceptional atomic utilization efficiency and tunable electronic structures. Nevertheless, the practical application of TM-SACs is constrained by their relatively low metal loading, which adversely affects their catalytic performance. Herein, we developed a universal defect-mediated strategy to fabricate TM-SACs with high metal loading.

Breaking the Forever Bonds: Interface-Enhanced Superoxide Chemistry for Efficient PFOA Degradation.

The exceptional stability of carbon-fluorine (C-F) bonds in perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) presents a fundamental challenge in environmental remediation as traditional degradation methods struggle to break these bonds under mild conditions. Here, we demonstrate that the air-water interface in microdroplets can be strategically utilized to dramatically enhance PFOA ( = 20 mg L) degradation through a simple Fe(III)-Oxalate photochemical system, achieving complete destruction with 99% defluorination within 4 h at room temperature - a rate 2 orders of magnitude faster than conventional methods. Through comprehensive spectroscopic and computational investigations, we reveal that this remarkable enhancement stems from three synergistic interfacial effects: concentrated generation of superoxide radicals (O) from earth-abundant Fe(III)-Oxalate complexes, significantly enhanced O nucleophilicity due to disrupted solvation shells, and a strong interfacial electric field that catalyzes C-F bond activation.

Elaborating PFAS characteristics for Chinese electroplating industry by target and nontarget analysis.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) have been extensively used in the electroplating globally, yet the source characterization remains inadequately quantified. This study provides a high-resolution characterization of PFAS for the Chinese electroplating industry by combining target and nontarget analysis of samples, including chrome mist suppressants, plating bath solutions, wastewater, and sludge. A total of 91 PFAS homologues, spanning 14 classes, were identified by nontarget analysis.

Size-segregated emission characteristics and associated toxicity of polycyclic aromatic compounds from agricultural machinery.

Non-road agricultural machinery (AM) emissions now exceed road vehicles as major atmospheric particulate contributors in China. Though recent changes to fuels and emission standards have been implemented, their effects on particle size-resolved chemical compositions and public health impacts remain poorly understood. This study systematically analyzed the particle size-resolved polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) chemical composition from 5 AM, evaluating the impacts of fuel type (diesel B0, biodiesel B5/B20), emission standards (stage II/III), and working status (idling, moving, working) on emission characteristics and health risks.

Fungal spore inactivation in drinking water by UV: Kinetics and mechanistic insights with transcriptomic and metabolomic analyses.

Fungal spores in drinking water distribution systems can resist chlor(am)ination and cause odor issues and health risks, posing a significant threat to drinking water safety. Conventional low-pressure mercury lamps emitting at 254 nm (UV) exhibit limited effectiveness against fungal spores. Far-ultraviolet light at 222 nm (UV) has emerged as a promising approach for efficient fungal spore inactivation.

Insights to photo-excitated HO activation in heterogeneous aerogel with asymmetric defect-engineering for PPCPs mineralization.

Photo-Fenton process produces reactive oxygen species (ROS) capable of degrading organic compounds across diverse chemical environments. However, the challenge of coupling multifunctional modules limited the attentions, which are supposed to be paid on intertwined physicochemical processes in porous heterogeneous aerogel. This study elucidated the hitherto neglected synergistic mechanisms of photo-excitated HO activation through photon-harvesting and localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) effect enhanced by defective sites (coordinatively unsaturated sites (CUS) and oxygen vacancy (V)).

Environmentally Relevant Levels of Ozone Enhance Pulmonary Colonization and Cross-Organ Translocation.

Ozone (O) is a major global air pollutant. Recent epidemiological studies have suggested links between O exposure and outbreaks of infectious diseases. However, whether environmentally relevant levels of O exacerbate the colonization and infection of airborne pathogens remains unclear.

Microplastics and Soil Greenhouse Gas Emissions: A Critical Reflection on Meta-Analyses.

Microplastics (MPs) are widespread in agricultural soils and may influence emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), though their specific impacts remain uncertain. This study utilized conventional and network meta-analysis to evaluate the effects of long-term exposure to environmentally relevant MP concentrations. Results showed that, compared with uncontaminated soil, polypropylene increased CH emissions by 2.

Genome-centric metagenomic analysis unveils the influence of temperature on the microbiome in anaerobic digestion.

Temperature plays a crucial role in shaping microbial ecosystems during anaerobic digestion. However, the specific microbial communities and their functions across a wide temperature range still remain elusive. This study employed a genome-centric metagenomic approach to explore microbial metabolic pathways and synergistic networks at temperatures of 35, 44, 53, 55, and 65 °C.

Insights into free radical and non-radical routes regulation for water cleanup.

In the field of wastewater treatment, the regulation of free radical and non-radical routes has been one of the major challenges. This study investigates the regulation of radical and non-radical oxidation pathways in the peroxymonosulfate (PMS) oxidation system by controlling the calcination temperature of carbon materials and constructing bimetallic single-atom catalysts (NC-FeMn(TA)). Density functional theory calculations and experimental tests indicate that increasing the pyridinic nitrogen content and incorporating single metal atoms in nitrogen-doped carbon materials result in a predominantly non-radical oxidation process.

Knowledge discovery and performance-energy optimization in heterogeneous catalytic ozonation via adaptive multi-task learning.

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) is a promising technology with significant potential for water treatment, but its application is limited by the optimization of performance and energy consumption. This study proposed an innovative adaptive multi-task learning (MTL) framework for performance optimization (PO), energy consumption (EC), and performance-energy balance (PEB). The PEB-MTL constructed with implicit functions and Pareto optimization achieved a multi-task balance between pseudo-first-order rate constant (k) and Electrical Energy per Order (EE/O), and could simultaneously optimize performance and energy consumption through adaptive task weighting and random perturbation-enhanced PSO algorithm.

Identification, Formation, and Toxicity of Haloimidazoles as Emerging Nitrogenous Aromatic Disinfection Byproducts in Drinking Water.

Identification of unknown disinfection byproducts (DBPs) remains a significant challenge in the supply of safe drinking water, as identified DBPs do not fully account for DBP-related adverse effects on human health. In this study, gas chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry, along with multiple identification using the electron ionization and chemical ionization sources, was employed to identify six haloimidazoles as newly nitrogenous aromatic DBPs in drinking water. These compounds include 4-chloroimidazole, 4-bromoimidazole, 2,4-dibromoimidazole, 4,5-dibromoimidazole, 2,4,5-tribromoimidazole, 4-iodoimidazole, and 4,5-diiodoimidazole.

Fully Amorphous Cerium/Carbon-Doped Manganese Oxides with Tailor-Made Pore and Electronic Properties for Superior Catalytic Ozone Decomposition.

Metal oxides are promising for catalytic ozone (O) decomposition to tackle the O pollution problem. However, reported metal oxides for O decomposition are predominantly crystalline and often suffer from low active site exposure and easy deactivation. Here, fully amorphous Ce/C-doped MnO materials with tailor-made macro-mesopores and electronic properties are developed.