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Jurga A, Ratkiewicz K, Wdowikowska A, Reda M, Janicka M, Chohura P, Janiak K. Urine and grey water based liquid fertilizer - Production and the response of plants. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 331:117248. [PMID: 36652879 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2023.117248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 12/21/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Plant cultivation is a key aspect of future long-distance space missions, and the creation of an efficient food system will not be possible without it. The production of fertilizer in space is based on the recovery of water and nutrients from wastewater, such as urine and grey water. In this study, the fertilizer production process was conducted in an aerobic, activated sludge reactor, where nitrification and the process of carbon removal take place. Treated streams have three potential factors that could affect the plants growth in a hydroponic system (anionic surfactants, nutrients deficiencies, high salinity). The effect of these factors was examined for two hydroponic configurations. Their influence on lettuce yield, quality parameters and stress response were investigated and compared to the control cultivation. The results showed that the main cause of a decrease (up to 24%) in the yield productivity of plants grown on nitrified urine and grey water is oxidative stress originated from a deficiency of elements, not from used anionic surfactant. Enrichment with nutrients resulted in the restoration of proper protein synthesis and an increase in the activity of antioxidant enzymes, which was positively reflected in the qualitative and quantitative parameters of the enriched cultivation (fresh leaves mass equal to 103% of the control). Results also show that Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate (SMCT) surfactant itself after biological treatment used in plant cultivation has no negative effects reflected in lettuce yield or quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Jurga
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland.
| | - Krzysztof Ratkiewicz
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Wdowikowska
- Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wrocław, Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Reda
- Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wrocław, Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Janicka
- Department of Plant Molecular Physiology, Faculty of Biological Science, University of Wrocław, Kanonia 6/8, 50-328, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Piotr Chohura
- Faculty of Life Science and Technology, Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences, St. C. K. Norwida 27, 50-375, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Kamil Janiak
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland; Wroclaw Municipal Water and Sewage Company, Na Grobli 19, 50-421, Wroclaw, Poland
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Zhang B, Long B, Cheng Y, Wu J, Zhang L, Zeng Y, Zeng M, Huang S. Rapid domestication of autotrophic nitrifying granular sludge and its stability during long-term operation. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2021; 42:2587-2598. [PMID: 31869275 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2019.1707881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2019] [Accepted: 12/14/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The nitrifying granular sludge process is a prospective technology for the efficient treatment of rare earth mine wastewater in southern Jiangxi, China. However, the long formation time of nitrifying granular sludge greatly restricted its application. In the present study, nitrifying granules were domesticated in a pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor by using heterotrophic granular sludge as carriers and adding exogenous nitrifying bacteria concentrate. According to variations of granular properties and ammonia removal, autotrophic nitrifying granules were successfully domesticated within 38 days using the strategy. It was found that the process involved secondary nucleation and microbial community evolution of the seed heterotrophic granules, and Nitrosomonas replaced most heterotrophic bacteria and became the dominant species with the largest relative abundance. During the subsequent 168 days of operation, the domesticated autotrophic nitrifying granules were stable, and their structures were denser than those of the inoculated granules. The ammonia nitrogen removal rate of the reactor was greater than 90% for a long period of time, and persistent partial nitrification was once achieved. However, severe fluctuation of influent ammonia nitrogen during the 120th to 206th day significantly inhibited the activity of nitrifying bacteria, which gradually led to the decrease of the ammonia nitrogen removal rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binchao Zhang
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Bei Long
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Junfeng Wu
- Henan Province Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Rehabilitation Technology, Pingdingshan, People's Republic of China
| | - Linan Zhang
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Yu Zeng
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Minjing Zeng
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Sinong Huang
- School of Architectural and Surveying & Mapping Engineering, Jiangxi University of Science and Technology, Ganzhou, People's Republic of China
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Janiak K, Jurga A, Wizimirska A, Miodoński S, Muszyński-Huhajło M, Ratkiewicz K, Zięba B. Urine nitrification robustness for application in space: Effect of high salinity and the response to extreme free ammonia concentrations. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2021; 279:111610. [PMID: 33223353 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2020.111610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 09/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Urine nitrification is one of the possibilities for the future recovery of water and elements for soilless crop production in space systems. The start-up of artificial urine nitrification was conducted for over 85 days in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Two free ammonia (FA) incidents occurred, which gave the opportunity to demonstrate the impressive ability of nitrifiers to resist temporary inhibition by FA without long lasting adverse effects. The failures led to very high FA concentrations of 280 and 84 gN-NH3/m3, respectively. Sludge was exposed to FA for 19 and 27 h. It was possible to restore nitrification with simple remedy actions (dilution and pH restoration). No inhibitory effects on the nitrification rate were seen after implementation of the remedy actions and the nitrification rate increased considerably (up to 300% of the pre-failure value) due to decrease in salinity. After a few days of normal operation and salt concentration, the nitrification rate returned to the pre-failure values in both cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kamil Janiak
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland; Wroclaw Municipal Water and Sewage Company, Na Grobli 14/16 50-421, Wrocław, Poland.
| | - Anna Jurga
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Anna Wizimirska
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Stanisław Miodoński
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Mateusz Muszyński-Huhajło
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Krzysztof Ratkiewicz
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Bartosz Zięba
- Faculty of Environmental Engineering, Wroclaw University of Science and Technology, Wybrzeże Wyspiańskiego 27, 50-370, Wroclaw, Poland
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Christiaens ME, De Paepe J, Ilgrande C, De Vrieze J, Barys J, Teirlinck P, Meerbergen K, Lievens B, Boon N, Clauwaert P, Vlaeminck SE. Urine nitrification with a synthetic microbial community. Syst Appl Microbiol 2019; 42:126021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.syapm.2019.126021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2019] [Accepted: 08/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
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Huang P, Mukherji ST, Wu S, Muller J, Goel R. Fate of 17β-Estradiol as a model estrogen in source separated urine during integrated chemical P recovery and treatment using partial nitritation-anammox process. WATER RESEARCH 2016; 103:500-509. [PMID: 27566951 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2016.07.044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 07/19/2016] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Recently, research on source separation followed by the treatment of urine and/or resource recovery from human urine has shown promise as an emerging management strategy. Despite contributing only 1% of the total volume of wastewater, human urine contributes about 80% of the nitrogen, 70% of the potassium, and up to 50% of the total phosphorus in wastewater. It is also a known fact that many of the micropollutants, especially selected estrogens, get into municipal wastewater through urine excretion. In this research, we investigated the fate of 17β-estradiol (E2) as a model estrogen during struvite precipitation from synthetic urine followed by the treatment of urine using a partial nitritation-anammox (PN/A) system. Single-stage and two-stage suspended growth PN/A configurations were used to remove the nitrogen in urine after struvite precipitation. The results showed an almost 95% phosphorous and 5% nitrogen recovery/removal from the synthetic urine due to struvite precipitation. The single and two stage PN/A processes were able to remove around 50% and 75% of ammonia and nitrogen present in the post struvite urine solution, respectively. After struvite precipitation, more than 95% of the E2 remained in solution and the transformation of E2 to E1 happened during urine storage. Most of the E2 removal that occurred during the PN/A process was due to sorption on the biomass and biodegradation (transformation of E2 to E1, and slow degradation of E1 to other metabolites). These results demonstrate that a combination of chemical and biological unit processes will be needed to recover and manage nutrients in source separated urine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei Huang
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, 110 South Campus Drive, MCE 2000, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sachiyo T Mukherji
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, 110 South Campus Drive, MCE 2000, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Sha Wu
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, 110 South Campus Drive, MCE 2000, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - James Muller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Utah, 315 South 1400 East, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Ramesh Goel
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Utah, 110 South Campus Drive, MCE 2000, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA.
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Coppens J, Lindeboom R, Muys M, Coessens W, Alloul A, Meerbergen K, Lievens B, Clauwaert P, Boon N, Vlaeminck SE. Nitrification and microalgae cultivation for two-stage biological nutrient valorization from source separated urine. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2016; 211:41-50. [PMID: 26998796 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2016.03.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2015] [Revised: 02/26/2016] [Accepted: 03/01/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Urine contains the majority of nutrients in urban wastewaters and is an ideal nutrient recovery target. In this study, stabilization of real undiluted urine through nitrification and subsequent microalgae cultivation were explored as strategy for biological nutrient recovery. A nitrifying inoculum screening revealed a commercial aquaculture inoculum to have the highest halotolerance. This inoculum was compared with municipal activated sludge for the start-up of two nitrification membrane bioreactors. Complete nitrification of undiluted urine was achieved in both systems at a conductivity of 75mScm(-1) and loading rate above 450mgNL(-1)d(-1). The halotolerant inoculum shortened the start-up time with 54%. Nitrite oxidizers showed faster salt adaptation and Nitrobacter spp. became the dominant nitrite oxidizers. Nitrified urine as growth medium for Arthrospira platensis demonstrated superior growth compared to untreated urine and resulted in a high protein content of 62%. This two-stage strategy is therefore a promising approach for biological nutrient recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joeri Coppens
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Ralph Lindeboom
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Maarten Muys
- Research Group of Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Wout Coessens
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Abbas Alloul
- Research Group of Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium
| | - Ken Meerbergen
- Technologiecluster Bioengineering Technologie, KU Leuven, Jan De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Bart Lievens
- Technologiecluster Bioengineering Technologie, KU Leuven, Jan De Nayerlaan 5, 2860 Sint-Katelijne-Waver, Belgium
| | - Peter Clauwaert
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Nico Boon
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium
| | - Siegfried E Vlaeminck
- Laboratory of Microbial Ecology and Technology (LabMET), Ghent University, Coupure Links 653, 9000 Gent, Belgium; Research Group of Sustainable Energy, Air and Water Technology, University of Antwerp, Groenenborgerlaan 171, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium.
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Xu K, Li J, Zheng M, Zhang C, Xie T, Wang C. The precipitation of magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate for P and K recovery from synthetic urine. WATER RESEARCH 2015; 80:71-79. [PMID: 25996754 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2015.05.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 04/29/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
Nutrients recovery from urine to close the nutrient loop is one of the most attractive benefits of source separation in wastewater management. The current study presents an investigation of the thermodynamic modeling of the recovery of P and K from synthetic urine via the precipitation of magnesium potassium phosphate hexahydrate (MPP). Experimental results show that maximum recovery efficiencies of P and K reached 99% and 33%, respectively, when the precipitation process was initiated only through adding dissolvable Mg compound source. pH level and molar ratio of Mg:P were key factors determining the nutrient recovery efficiencies. Precipitation equilibrium of MPP and magnesium sodium phosphate heptahydrate (MSP) was confirmed via precipitates analysis using a Scanning Electron Microscope/Energy Dispersive Spectrometer and an X-ray Diffractometer. Then, the standard solubility products of MPP and MSP in the synthetic urine were estimated to be 10(-12.2 ± 0.0.253) and 10(-11.6 ± 0.253), respectively. The thermodynamic model formulated on chemical software PHREEQC could well fit the experimental results via comparing the simulated and measured concentrations of K and P in equilibrium. Precipitation potentials of three struvite-type compounds were calculated through thermodynamic modeling. Magnesium ammonium phosphate hexahydrate (MAP) has a much higher tendency to precipitate than MPP and MSP in normal urine while MSP was the main inhibitor of MPP in ammonium-removed urine. To optimize the K recovery, ammonium should be removed prior as much as possible and an alternative alkaline compound should be explored for pH adjustment rather than NaOH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kangning Xu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Beijing Forestry University, Beijing 100083, PR China; School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China; Beijing Key Lab for Source Control Technology of Water Pollution, Beijing 100083, PR China.
| | - Jiyun Li
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Min Zheng
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Chi Zhang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Tao Xie
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
| | - Chengwen Wang
- School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, PR China
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Rocktäschel T, Klarmann C, Ochoa J, Boisson P, Sørensen K, Horn H. Influence of the granulation grade on the concentration of suspended solids in the effluent of a pilot scale sequencing batch reactor operated with aerobic granular sludge. Sep Purif Technol 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2015.01.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
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Lv X, Shao M, Li J, Xie C. Nitrate removal with lateral flow sulphur autotrophic denitrification reactor. ENVIRONMENTAL TECHNOLOGY 2014; 35:2692-2697. [PMID: 25176303 DOI: 10.1080/09593330.2014.918660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
An innovative lateral flow sulphur autotrophic denitrification (LFSAD) reactor was developed in this study; the treatment performance was evaluated and compared with traditional sulphur/limestone autotrophic denitrification (SLAD) reactor. Results showed that nitrite accumulation in the LFSAD reactor was less than 1.0 mg/L during the whole operation. Denitrification rate increased with the increased initial alkalinity and was approaching saturation when initial alkalinity exceeded 2.5 times the theoretical value. Higher influent nitrate concentration could facilitate nitrate removal capacity. In addition, denitrification efficiency could be promoted under an appropriate reflux ratio, and the highest nitrate removal percentage was achieved under reflux ratio of 200%, increased by 23.8% than that without reflux. Running resistance was only about 1/9 of that in SLAD reactor with equal amount of nitrate removed, which was the prominent excellence of the new reactor. In short, this study indicated that the developed reactor was feasible for nitrate removal from waters with lower concentrations, including contaminated surface water, groundwater or secondary effluent of municipal wastewater treatment with fairly low running resistance. The innovation in reactor design in this study may bring forth new ideas of reactor development of sulphur autotrophic denitrification for nitrate-contaminated water treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaomei Lv
- a Environmental Science and Engineering Center , Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School , Shenzhen , Guangdong 518055 , People's Republic of China
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Sun FY, Dong WY, Shao MF, Lv XM, Li J, Peng LY, Wang HJ. Aerobic methane oxidation coupled to denitrification in a membrane biofilm reactor: treatment performance and the effect of oxygen ventilation. BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY 2013; 145:2-9. [PMID: 23582221 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2013.03.115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2012] [Revised: 03/15/2013] [Accepted: 03/16/2013] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Aerobic methane-oxidation coupled to denitrification (AME-D) process was successfully achieved in a membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR). PVDF membrane was employed to supply the methane and oxygen for biofilm, which was coexistence of methanotrophs and denitrifier. With a feeding NO3(-)-N of 30 mg/L, up to 97% nitrate could be removed stably. The oxygen ventilation modes impacted the denitrification performance remarkably, resulting in different nitrate removal efficiencies and biofilm microorganism distribution. The biofilm sludge showed a high resistance to the DO inhibition, mainly due to the co-existing methanotroph being capable of utilizing oxygen perferentially within biofilm, and create an anoxic micro-environment. The denitrification of both nitrate and nitrite by biofilm sludge conformed to the Monod equation, and the maximum specific nitrate utilization rate (k) ranged from 1.55 to 1.78 NO3(-)-N/g VSS-d. The research findings should be significant to understand the considerable potential of MBfR as a bioprocess for denitrification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei-yun Sun
- ShenZhen Key Laboratory of Water Resource Application and Environmental Pollution Control, Harbin Institute of Technology Shenzhen Graduate School, Shenzhen 518055, China.
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