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Cheng X, Wu J, Yu B, Zhang M, Miao M, Mackey H, Li Y. Effects of UV light on physicochemical changes in thermoplastic polyurethanes: Mechanism and disinfection byproduct formation. CHEMOSPHERE 2024:142761. [PMID: 38969215 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142761] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2024] [Revised: 07/02/2024] [Accepted: 07/03/2024] [Indexed: 07/07/2024]
Abstract
The presence of microplastics (MPs) products and particles in the environment can significantly impact the human body. Most MPs that enter the environment also enter the water cycle. During sunlight light irradiation (especially ultraviolet (UV) part) or UV disinfection, many of these MPs, particularly those rich in surface functional groups like thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU), undergo physicochemical changes that can affect the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). This study investigates the physicochemical changes of TPU in water after exposure to UV irradiation and incubation in the dark, as well as the formation of DBPs after chlorination. The results show that TPU undergo chain breakage, oxidation, and cross-linking when exposed to UV irradiation in an aqueous system. This leads to fragmentation into smaller particles, which facilitates the synthesis of DBPs. Subsequent research has demonstrated that the TPU leaching solution produces a significantly higher DBP content than the chlorination of TPU MPs, particularly at high concentrations of CHCl3. Therefore, it is important to give greater consideration to the soluble DBP precursors released by TPU.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhua Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Jiao Wu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Bingqing Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Manhong Miao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Hamish Mackey
- Department of Civil and Natural Resources Engineering, University of Canterbury, Private Bag 4800, Christchurch 8140, New Zealand
| | - Yao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin 300350, China.
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Yu B, Zhang M, Zhao S, Miao M, Cheng X, Li Y. Influence of biodegradable plastics on the generation of disinfection byproducts in the chlorination process. CHEMOSPHERE 2024; 362:142650. [PMID: 38901703 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2024] [Revised: 06/01/2024] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 06/22/2024]
Abstract
Biodegradable plastics (BPs) have seen a continuous increase in annual production and application due to their environmentally sustainable characteristics. However, research on the formation of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) from biodegradable microplastics (BMPs) during chlorination is limited, and the effects of aqueous solution chemistry on this process have yet to be explored. Therefore, two biodegradable microplastics, polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene adipate terephthalate (PBAT), were investigated in this study to examine the changes in their physicochemical properties before and after chlorination, and the formation of DBPs under different environmental conditions. The results showed that PLA was more chlorine-responsive, and generated more DBPs. The pH converted some of the intermediates into more stable DBPs by affecting the concentration of HClO and base-catalyzed reactions, whereas ionic strength slightly reduced DBP concentration by ion adsorption and promoting the aggregation of BMPs. Finally, since PLA has a slightly greater volume of mesopores and micropores compared to PBAT, it may more effectively adsorb DBP precursors beyond natural organic matter (NOM), such as some anthropogenic pollutants, thus potentially decreasing the formation of chlorinated DBPs in surface water. This research explored the potentiality for DBP formation by BMPs under different water quality conditions during the disinfection process, which is useful for assessing the environmental hazards of BMPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingqing Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Shasha Zhao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Manhong Miao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xuhua Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Hao T, Miao M, Wang T, Xiao Y, Yu B, Zhang M, Ning X, Li Y. Physicochemical changes in microplastics and formation of DBPs under ozonation. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 327:138488. [PMID: 36963574 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.138488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2023] [Accepted: 03/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) are substances that pose a risk to both human life and the environment. Their types and production are increasing year on year, and their potential to cause environmental pollution is a worldwide concern. Conventional water treatment processes, particularly coagulation and sedimentation, are not effective at removing all MPs. It is therefore important to assess the morphological changes in the MPs, i.e., the thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) and polyethylene (PE), during ozonation and the dissolved organic carbon leaching as well as chloroform formation in the subsequent chlorination. The results show that the appearance and surface chemistry of the MPs changed during the ozonation process, most notably for TPU. The trichloromethane (CHCl3) generation during chlorination was 0.168 and 0.152 μmol/L for TPU and PE, respectively, and the ozone pretreatment significantly increased the CHCl3 yield of TPU, while it had a weak effect on PE. Additional disinfection byproducts (DBPs), including CHCl2Br, CHClBr2, and CHBr3, were produced in the presence of bromide ions in the water column, and the total amount of DBPs produced by PE, PE-O, TPU, and TPU-O was significantly increased to 0.787, 0.814, 0.931, and 1.391 μmol/L, respectively. The study provides useful information for the environmental risk assessment of two representative MPs, i.e., TPU and MPs, in disinfection procedures for drinking water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianwei Hao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Manhong Miao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Tong Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yihang Xiao
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Bingqing Yu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ning
- State Environmental Protection Key Laboratory of Odor Pollution Control, Tianjin Academy of Eco-environmental Sciences, Tianjin, 300191, China.
| | - Yao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Ni L, Hu J, Mao J, Li S, Wang H, Lu J. Effects of graphitic carbon nitride in the formation of disinfection byproducts. WATER SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY : A JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION ON WATER POLLUTION RESEARCH 2023; 87:1660-1671. [PMID: 37051789 DOI: 10.2166/wst.2023.086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Graphitic carbon nitride (CN) was a promising candidate for efficient environmental remediation in the advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). However, whether CN itself had some potential environmental risks, such as affecting the production of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) was still unknown. This study investigated the formation potential of DBPs in the presence of CN. The experimental data revealed that CN had a high potential to form DBPs, and dichloroacetonitrile (DCAN) was the most produced species during the chlorination and chloramination processes. Moreover, the effects of chlorine time, chlorine dosage, pH, and CN dosage during the chlorination process were evaluated to understand the formation pattern of DBPs. The possible mechanism of DBPs formation was deduced by analyzing the results of FTIR, Raman, and XPS before and after chlorination. Finally, the DBPs formation potential and cytotoxicity of the CN leaching solution were investigated, indicating CN could leach the precursors of DBPs and that the potential toxicity of the leaching solution increased with the extension of CN immersion time. In general, this research adds an understanding of the DBP formation of CN in water treatment systems and sheds light on CN's environmental potential risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linjie Ni
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jiaqi Hu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jie Mao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Haitao Wang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China
| | - Jinfeng Lu
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300071, China E-mail: ; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Technology for Complex Trans-Media Pollution, Tianjin 300071, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Nankai University), Ministry of Education, Tianjin 300071, China
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Egitto J, Latayan J, Pagsuyoin S, Apul O, Agar E. Towards Selective Removal of Bromide from Drinking Water Resources using Electrochemical Desalination. CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL ADVANCES 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ceja.2022.100369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/31/2022] Open
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Miao M, Liu J, Dou Y, Hao H, Cheng X, Zhang M, Li Y. Effects of microplastics on DBPs formation under the chlorination of natural organic matters. CHEMOSPHERE 2022; 296:134067. [PMID: 35216978 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.134067] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 02/19/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics have attracted extensive attention and concern because they inflict damage on human beings and the environment. When the microplastics enter the water system, they inevitably flow into the water treatment system and encounter disinfectants during the disinfection procedure. Chlorine can react with microplastics to form different kinds of disinfection byproducts (DBPs). O-containing functional groups on the surface of microplastics may play a major role in DBP formation. Without O-containing functional groups, microplastics can also form DBPs but with totally different mechanisms. Reactive oxygen species (ROS, i.e., •OH) and reactive chlorine substances (RCS, i.e., Cl• and ClO•) may attack the microplastics and form DBP precursors. With relatively low surface area and very little pore volume, microplastics cannot affect the DBP formation between Suwannee River fulvic acid (SRFA) and chlorine. When SRFA exists, microplastics with few O-containing functional groups can hardly form DBPs because of the inhibition of ROS and RCS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manhong Miao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Jinfeng Liu
- Tianjin International Engineering Consulting Group Co.,Ltd, Dongting Road 20, Hexi District, Tianjin, China
| | - Yuanyuan Dou
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Huizhi Hao
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Xuhua Cheng
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Min Zhang
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China
| | - Yao Li
- College of Environmental Science and Engineering/Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, Nankai University, Tong Yan Road 38, Tianjin, 300350, China.
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Zhao Y, Liu Y, Zhang X, Liao W. Environmental transformation of graphene oxide in the aquatic environment. CHEMOSPHERE 2021; 262:127885. [PMID: 32805658 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2020.127885] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
In recent years, research on graphene oxide (GO) has developed rapidly in both academic and industrial applications such as electronic, biosensor, drug delivery, water treatment and so forth. Based on the large amount of applications, it is anticipated that GO will inevitably find its own way to the environment, if used are not restricted to prevent their release. Environmental transformation is an important transformation process in the natural environment. In this review, we will summarize the recent developments on environmental transformation of GO in the aquatic environment. Although papers on environmental transformation of graphene-based nanomaterials can be found, a systematic picture describing photo-transformation of GO (dividing into different irradiation sources), environmental transformation of GO in the dark environmental, the environmental toxicity of GO are still lacking. Thus, it is essential to summarize how different light sources will affect the GO structure and reactive oxygen species generation in the photo-transformation process, how GO will react with various natural constituents in the aquatic environment, whether GO will toxic to different aquatic organisms and what will be the interactions between GO and the intracellular receptors in the intracellular level once GO released into the aquatic environment. This review will arouse the realization of potential risk that GO can bring to the aquatic environment and enlighten us to pay attention to behaviors of other two-dimensional GO-like nanomaterials, which have been intensively applied and studied in recent years.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingcan Zhao
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, No. 1088 Xueyuan Rd, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China; Graduate School at Shenzhen, Tsinghua University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518055, PR China.
| | - Yang Liu
- Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, NO.26, Jinjing Rd, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, NO.26, Jinjing Rd, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, PR China.
| | - Xinbo Zhang
- Joint Research Centre for Protective Infrastructure Technology and Environmental Green Bioprocess, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, NO.26, Jinjing Rd, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, PR China; Tianjin Key Laboratory of Aquatic Science and Technology, School of Environmental and Municipal Engineering, Tianjin Chengjian University, NO.26, Jinjing Rd, Xiqing District, Tianjin, 300384, PR China
| | - Wenchao Liao
- College of Health and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen Technology University, 3002 Lantian Rd, Pingshan District, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518118, PR China
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