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Wang Y, Shi Y, Fang L, Wang Z, Wu P, Yang X, Shi X, Pi K. Characteristics and aging of microplastics in waste activated sludge under persulfate and hydrothermal co-treatment: Impact of solid content and temperature. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2024; 358:124498. [PMID: 38972564 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2024.124498] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2024] [Revised: 06/26/2024] [Accepted: 07/02/2024] [Indexed: 07/09/2024]
Abstract
Activated persulfate and hydrothermal treatment (HTT) are often employed to treat waste activated sludge, which can improve the efficiency of subsequent sludge treatment and change the distribution of pollutants in the sludge. However, the impact of sludge solid content and temperature on the occurrence and aging of microplastics (MPs) during HTT remains poorly understood. This study investigated the effects of persulfate-HTT (SPS-HTT) co-treatment on the migration, occurrence, and aging of MPs in sludge with different solid contents (2% and 5% solid content). The results indicated that SPS-HTT co-treatment triggers both the disruption of sludge flocs and the melting deformation of MPs at high temperatures, leading to variations in the increasing trend of MP concentration in the solid-liquid phase at different solid contents. 5% solid content sludge showed a weak release of MPs from the solid phase. The proportion of fiber MPs first increased and then decreased with increasing temperature, while no significant changes were observed in the color and type of MPs. Higher temperature and solid content induced the melting deformation of MPs, exacerbated the aging of polypropylene MPs, and resulted in rough surfaces, higher carbonyl index, and variations in crystallinity. Moreover, the correlation between the carbonyl index and aging indicators increased with increasing solid content. The MP-derived dissolved organic matter under HTT primarily comprised soluble microbial by-products and humic acid-like substances. These findings underscore the significance of sludge solid content in affecting the migration and aging of MPs during HTT, and offer novel insights into the application of HTT to MP management in sludge treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Yafei Shi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Health Perception and Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China.
| | - Longyu Fang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Zhipeng Wang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Pan Wu
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Health Perception and Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Xiong Yang
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Health Perception and Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
| | - Xiong Shi
- National Engineering Research Center for Ecological Environment of Yangtze River Economic Zone, China Three Gorges Corporation, Wuhan, 430014, China
| | - Kewu Pi
- School of Civil Engineering, Architecture and Environment, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Health Perception and Ecological Restoration of Rivers and Lakes, Ministry of Education, Hubei University of Technology, Wuhan, 430068, China
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2
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Wang X, Huang G, Chen Q, Pang R, Han Z, Zhu J, Xie B, Su Y, Zhou S. Entry pathways determined the effects of MPs on sludge anaerobic digestion system: The views of methane production and antibiotic resistance genes fates. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2024; 252:119061. [PMID: 38704011 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2024.119061] [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: 02/26/2024] [Revised: 04/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/30/2024] [Indexed: 05/06/2024]
Abstract
Sludge is one of the primary reservoirs of microplastics (MPs), and the effects of MPs on subsequent sludge treatment raised attention. Given the entry pathways, MPs would exhibit different properties, but the entry pathway-dependent effect of MPs on sludge treatment performance and the fates of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), another high-risk emerging contaminant, were seldom documented. Herein, MPs with two predominant entry pathways, including wastewater-derived (WW-derived) and anaerobic digestion-introduced (AD-introduced), were used to investigate the effects on AD performance and ARGs abundances. The results indicated that WW-derived MPs, namely the MPs accumulated in sludge during the wastewater treatment process, exhibited significant inhibition on methane production by 22.8%-71.6%, while the AD-introduced MPs, being introduced in the sludge AD process, slightly increased the methane yield by 4.7%-17.1%. Meanwhile, MPs were responsible for promoting transmission of target ARGs, and polyethylene terephthalate MPs (PET-MPs) showed a greater promotion effect (0.0154-0.0936) than polyamide MPs (PA-MPs) (0.0013-0.0724). Compared to size, entry pathways and types played more vital roles on MPs influences. Investigation on mechanisms based on microbial community structure revealed characteristics (aging degree and types) of MPs determined the differences of AD performance and ARGs fates. WW-derived MPs with longer aging period and higher aging degree would release toxics and decrease the activities of microorganisms, resulting in the negative impact on AD performance. However, AD-introduced MPs with short aging period exhibited marginal impacts on AD performance. Furthermore, the co-occurrent network analysis suggested that the variations of potential host bacteria induced by MPs with different types and aging degree attributed to the dissemination of ARGs. Distinctively from most previous studies, the MPs with different sizes did not show remarkable effects on AD performance and ARGs fates. Our findings benefited the understanding of realistic environmental behavior and effect of MPs with different sources.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xueting Wang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| | - Guangchen Huang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Qirui Chen
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Ruirui Pang
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Zhibang Han
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jundong Zhu
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Bing Xie
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics & Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yinglong Su
- Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Biotransformation on Organic Solid Waste, School of Ecological and Environmental Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Engineering Research Center for Nanophotonics & Advanced Instrument, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China; Shanghai Institute of Pollution Control and Ecological Security, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Shuai Zhou
- Hunan Province Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse Technology, School of Civil Engineering, University of South China, Hengyang, 421001, China.
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Sun T, Cai S, Zhang X, Wang D, Zhang W. Leaching hazards of tire wear particles in hydrothermal treatment of sludge: Exploring molecular composition, transformation mechanism, and ecological effects of tire wear particle-derived compounds. WATER RESEARCH 2024; 257:121669. [PMID: 38728786 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2024.121669] [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: 12/30/2023] [Revised: 03/31/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/12/2024]
Abstract
Tire wear particles (TWPs) are considered a significant contributor of microplastics (MPs) in the sludge during heavy rainfall events. Numerous studies have shown that hydrothermal treatment (HT) of sludge can accelerate the leaching of MP-derived compound into hydrothermal liquid, thus impairing the performance of subsequent anaerobic digestion and the quality of the hydrothermal liquid fertilizer. However, the leaching behavior of TWPs in the HT of sludge remains inadequately explored. This study examined the molecular composition of TWP-derived compounds and transformation pathways of representative tire-related additives under different hydrothermal temperatures using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) combined with mass difference analysis. The acute toxicity and phytotoxicity of TWP leachates were assessed using Vibrio qinghaiensis Q67 and rice hydroponics experiments. The results indicated that elevating the hydrothermal temperature not only amplified the leaching behavior of TWPs but also enhanced the chemical complexity of the TWP leachate. Utilizing both suspect and non-target screenings, a total of 144 compounds were identified as additives, including N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6-PDD), hexa(methoxymethyl)melamine (HMMM), dibutyl phthalate (DBP). These additives underwent various reactions, such as desaturation, acetylation, and other reactions, leading to the formation of different transformation products (TPs). Moreover, certain additives, including caprolactam and 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-4-piperidinol, demonstrated the potential to form conjugate products with amino acids or Maillard products. Meanwhile, TWP-derived compounds showed significant acute toxicity and detrimental effects on plant growth. This study systematically investigated the environmental fate of TWPs and their derived compounds during the HT of sludge, offering novel insights into the intricate interactions between the micropollutants and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in sludge.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tong Sun
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Siying Cai
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China
| | - Dongsheng Wang
- Department of environmental engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Weijun Zhang
- School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan, Hubei 430074, China; Hubei Key Laboratory of Yangtze Catchment Environmental Aquatic Science, School of Environmental Studies, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan 430074, Hubei, China; National Engineering Research Center of Industrial Wastewater Detoxication and Resource Recovery, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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4
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Chen H, Wu Y, Zou Z, Yang X, Tsang YF. Thermal hydrolysis alleviates polyethylene microplastic-induced stress in anaerobic digestion of waste activated sludge. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 470:134124. [PMID: 38565020 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134124] [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: 11/16/2023] [Revised: 03/19/2024] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics are known to negatively affect anaerobic digestion (AD) of waste activated sludge. However, whether thermal hydrolysis (TH) pretreatment alters the impact of microplastics on sludge AD remains unknown. Herein, the effect of TH on the impact of polyethylene (PE) microplastics in sludge AD was investigated. The results showed that the inhibition of methane production by PE at 100 particles/g total solids (TS) was reduced by 31.4% from 12.1% to 8.3% after TH at 170 °C for 30 min. Mechanism analysis indicated TH reduced the potential for reactive oxygen species production induced by PE, resulting in a 29.1 ± 5.5% reduction in cell viability loss. In addition, additive leaching increased as a result of rapid aging of PE microplastics by TH. Acetyl tri-n-butyl citrate (ATBC) release from PE with 10 and 100 particles/g TS increased 11.5-fold and 8.6-fold after TH to 68.2 ± 5.5 μg/L and 124.0 ± 5.1 μg/L, respectively. ATBC at 124.0 μg/L increased methane production by 21.4%. The released ATBC enriched SBR1031 and Euryarchaeota, which facilitate the degradation of proteins and promote methane production. This study reveals the overestimated impact of PE microplastics in sludge AD and provides new insights into the PE microplastics-induced impact in practical sludge treatment and anaerobic biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongbo Chen
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China.
| | - Yi Wu
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Zhiming Zou
- College of Environment and Resources, Xiangtan University, Xiangtan 411105, China
| | - Xiao Yang
- Key Laboratory of Land Surface Pattern and Simulation, Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Yiu Fai Tsang
- Department of Science and Environmental Studies, The Education University of Hong Kong, Tai Po, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, China
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5
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Li X, Liu L, Zhang X, Yang X, Niu S, Zheng Z, Dong B, Hur J, Dai X. Aging and mitigation of microplastics during sewage sludge treatments: An overview. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 922:171338. [PMID: 38428608 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171338] [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: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 02/26/2024] [Indexed: 03/03/2024]
Abstract
Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) receive large quantities of microplastics (MPs) from raw wastewater, but many MPs are trapped in the sludge. Land application of sludge is a significant source of MP pollution. Existing reviews have summarized the analysis methods of MPs in sludge and the effect of MPs on sludge treatments. However, MP aging and mitigation during sludge treatment processes are not fully reviewed. Treatment processes used to remove water, pathogenic microorganisms, and other pollutants in sewage sludge also cause surface changes and degradation in the sludge MPs, affecting the potential risk of MPs. This study integrates MP abundance and distribution in sludge and their aging and mitigation characteristics during sludge treatment processes. The abundance, composition, and distribution of sludge MPs vary significantly with WWTPs. Furthermore, MPs exhibit variable degrees of aging, including rough surfaces, enhanced adsorption potentials for pollutants, and increased leaching behavior. Various sludge treatment processes further intensify these aging characteristics. Some sludge treatments, such as hydrothermal treatment, have efficiently removed MPs from sewage sludge. It is crucial to understand the potential risk of MP aging in sludge and the degradation properties of the MP-derived products from MP degradation in-depth and develop novel MP mitigation strategies in sludge, such as combining hydrothermal treatment and biological processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Lulu Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Xiaolei Zhang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - XingFeng Yang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Shiyu Niu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Zhiyong Zheng
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, National Engineering Research Center for Urban Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Jin Hur
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, South Korea.
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, National Engineering Research Center for Urban Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
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6
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Zhang C, Dong Z, Chen Q, Lin Y, Zhou Y, Xu Q. Determination of key factors affecting biofilm formation on the aged Poly(ethylene terephthalate) during anaerobic digestion. CHEMOSPHERE 2023; 344:140435. [PMID: 37832880 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2023.140435] [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: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023]
Abstract
Biofilm formation on plastic surface is a growing concern because it can alter the plastic surface properties and exacerbate the ecological risk. Identifying key factors that affecting biofilm formation is critical for effective pollution control. In this study, the poly (ethylene terephthalate) (PET) was aged in water and air conditions with UV irradiation, then incubated in the digestate of food waste anaerobic digestion to allow biofilm formation. Surface analysis techniques, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy with attenuated total reflection (FTIR-ATR), were utilized to investigated the changes in the topography, roughness, hydrophily, and functional groups change of the PET surface during the aging process. Confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) was used to determine the distribution of microorganisms on the PET surface after incubation in the digestate. This study focused on understanding the interactions between the PET surface and biofilm to identify critical surface factors that affect biofilm formation. Results showed that the four months aging process decreased the contact angle of the PET surface from 96.92° to 76.08° and 68.97° in water and air conditions, respectively, corresponding to an increase of 44% and 70% in the surface energy. Additionally, aging in air conditions led to a rougher surface compared to water conditions. The arithmetic roughness average (Ra) of the PET-Water was 11.0 nm, comparable to that of the pristine PET, while the value of PET-Air was much higher (43.9 nm). The results further indicated that biofilm formation during anaerobic digestion was more sensitive to roughness than hydrophily. The PET surface aged in air conditions provided a more suitable environment for microbial reproduction, leading to the aggradation of living cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Zhang
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Zihang Dong
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Qindong Chen
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Yeqi Lin
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Yutong Zhou
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China
| | - Qiyong Xu
- Shenzhen Engineering Laboratory for Eco-efficient Recycled Materials, School of Environment and Energy, Peking University Shenzhen Graduate School, University Town, Xili, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, PR China.
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7
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Sun X, Anoopkumar AN, Madhavan A, Binod P, Pandey A, Sindhu R, Awasthi MK. Degradation mechanism of microplastics and potential risks during sewage sludge co-composting: A comprehensive review. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 333:122113. [PMID: 37379875 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.122113] [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: 02/23/2023] [Revised: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics (MPs) as a kind of emerging contaminants, widely exists in various kinds of medium, sewage sludge (SS) is no exception. In the sewage treatment process, a large number of microplastics will be deposited in SS. More seriously, microplastics in sewage sludge can migrate to other environmental media and threaten human health. Therefore, it is necessary to remove MPs from SS. Among the various restorations, aerobic composting is emerging as a green microplastic removal method. There are more and more reports of using aerobic compost to degrade microplastics. However, there are few reports on the degradation mechanism of MPs in aerobic composting, hindering the innovation of aerobic composting methods. Therefore, in this paper, the degradation mechanism of MPs in SS is discussed based on the environmental factors such as physical, chemical and biological factors in the composting process. In addition, this paper expounds the MPs in potential hazards, and combined with the problems in the present study were studied the outlook.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinwei Sun
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712 100, China
| | - A N Anoopkumar
- Centre for Research in Emerging Tropical Diseases (CRET-D), Department of Zoology, University of Calicut, Malappuram, Kerala, India
| | - Aravind Madhavan
- School of Biotechnology, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, Amritapuri, Kollam, 690525, Kerala, India
| | - Parameswaran Binod
- Microbial Processes and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Trivandrum, 695019, Kerala, India
| | - Ashok Pandey
- Centre for Innovation and Translational Research, CSIR- Indian Institute for Toxicology Research (CSIR-IITR), 31 MG Marg, Lucknow, 226 001, India; Centre for Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Lucknow, 226029, Uttar Pradesh, India; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, 248007, India
| | - Raveendran Sindhu
- Department of Food Technology, TKM Institute of Technology, Kollam, 691505, Kerala, India
| | - Mukesh Kumar Awasthi
- College of Natural Resources and Environment, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, 712 100, China.
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8
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Manu MK, Luo L, Kumar R, Johnravindar D, Li D, Varjani S, Zhao J, Wong J. A review on mechanistic understanding of microplastic pollution on the performance of anaerobic digestion. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 325:121426. [PMID: 36907239 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Anaerobic digestion (AD) has emerged as a promising technology for diverting the organic waste from the landfills along with the production of clean energy. AD is a microbial-driven biochemical process wherein the plethora of microbial communities participate in converting the putrescible organic matter into biogas. Nevertheless, the AD process is susceptible to the external environmental factors such as presence of physical (microplastics) and chemical (antibiotics, pesticides) pollutants. The microplastics (MPs) pollution has received recent attention due to the increasing plastic pollution in terrestrial ecosystems. This review was aimed for holistic assessment of impact of MPs pollution on AD process to develop efficient treatment technology. First, the possible pathways of MPs entry into the AD systems were critically evaluated. Further, the recent literature on the experimental studies pertaining to the impact of different types of MPs at different concentrations on the AD process was reviewed. In addition, several mechanisms such as direct exposure of MPs on the microbial cells, indirect impact of MPs through the leaching of toxic chemicals and reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation on AD process were elucidated. Besides, the risk possessed by the increase of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) after the AD process due to the MPs stress on microbial communities were discussed. Overall, this review deciphered the severity of MPs pollution on AD process at different levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- M K Manu
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Liwen Luo
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Reeti Kumar
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Davidraj Johnravindar
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Dongyi Li
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Sunita Varjani
- School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, 999077, Hong Kong; Sustainability Cluster, School of Engineering, University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, Dehradun, 248 007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Jun Zhao
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong
| | - Jonathan Wong
- Institute of Bioresource and Agriculture, Sino-Forest Applied Research Centre for Pearl River Delta Environment and Department of Biology, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong.
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9
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing-Jie Ni
- Centre for Technology in Water and Wastewater, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Technology Sydney, NSW 2007, Australia.
| | - Kevin V Thomas
- Queensland Alliance for Environmental Health Sciences (QAEHS), The University of Queensland, 20 Cornwall Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4102, Australia
| | - Eun-Ju Kim
- Water Cycle Research Center, Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST), Seoul 02792, South Korea
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10
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Yu Y, Ding Y, Zhou C, Ge S. Aging of polylactic acid microplastics during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge and its effects on heavy metals adsorption. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 216:114532. [PMID: 36243048 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2022] [Revised: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Microplastics' (MPs) aging process and environmental behavior have attracted extensive attention due to the potential long-term ecological impact. MPs enriched in sludge may accelerate aging during sludge treatment and the affecting environmental behavior, i.e., adsorption performance for pollutants. However, the related studies have not been well researched, especially for the biodegradable MPs. This study revealed the influences of hydrothermal treatment on the characteristics of polylactic acid microplastics (PLA-MPs) and the consequences on heavy metals adsorption. The changes in PLA-MPs' physiochemical properties were characterized and compared. PLA-MPs' surface became irregular, and the oxygen-containing functional groups increased through FTIR and XPS analysis. Meanwhile, the molecular weight and crystallinity of PLA-MPs decreased significantly with the rising in hydrothermal temperature. Accordingly, the adsorption capacity of PLA-MPs for Pb2+ increased from 93.97 μg g-1 for the raw PLA-MPs to 1058.03 μg g-1 for the aged PLA-MPs. Multiple adsorption kinetics and isotherms were discussed for the Pb2+ adsorption onto PLA-MPs with different aging of the PLA-MPs. The adsorption mechanisms of Pb2+ relate to electrostatic interaction and complexation. The main difference is that the adsorption for raw PLA-MPs is dominated by physical and chemical adsorption, whereas the adsorption for the aged PLA-MPs prefers chemical adsorption. In addition, we carefully evaluated the influences of pH, dissolved organic matter, and ionic strength on the PLA-MPs adsorption. The present study highlighted the significance of hydrothermal treatment on the MPs aging and the adsorption performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Yu
- School of Energy and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, PR China.
| | - Yindi Ding
- School of Energy and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, PR China
| | - Cailing Zhou
- School of Energy and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, PR China
| | - Shifu Ge
- School of Energy and Environment, MOE Key Laboratory of Environmental Medicine Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, 210096, PR China
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Li X, Wang X, Chen L, Huang X, Pan F, Liu L, Dong B, Liu H, Li H, Dai X, Hur J. Changes in physicochemical and leachate characteristics of microplastics during hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge. WATER RESEARCH 2022; 222:118876. [PMID: 35914504 DOI: 10.1016/j.watres.2022.118876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2022] [Revised: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 07/16/2022] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Sewage sludge is an important source for microplastics (MPs) entering into environment. Hydrothermal treatment has been considered a promising method for reducing MPs in sewage sludge. However, MPs degradation characteristics and mechanism during sludge hydrothermal treatment are not fully understood. In the study, three common MPs, i.e. polyethylene (PE), polystyrene (PS) and polyethylene terephthalate (PET) were used to explore the effect of hydrothermal treatment on the properties of MPs in sewage sludge. The hydrothermally-treated (HT) MPs in sludge feature more broken and rougher surfaces with higher O-containing functional groups in the sludge than those in water. The dissolved leachates from the HT MPs in the sludge show higher concentrations than the counterparts, implying that certain components in sludge serve to promote the MP degradation and leaching during hydrothermal treatment. Three model components in the sludge, including protein, carbohydrate, and SiO2, were further investigated for their individual effects on the hydrothermal degradation of MPs. Compared with those in water, the HT MPs in the protein and carbohydrate solutions show greater changes in the surface micro-morphologies and carbonyl index, and generate more leachates. However, the SiO2 solution results in similar difference in the MPs changes with the water solution, indicating that organic components of sludge play a more critical role in the enhanced MPs hydrothermal degradation than inorganic components. The HT PET leads to more pronounced changes in the physicochemical and leaching characteristics than the HT PE and PS, possibly due to more susceptible hydrolysis of the PET. Hydrothermal degradation of the MPs is found to be mainly driven by depolymerization of the polymer and leaching of the plastics additives. The findings imply that the sludge organic components significantly promote the MPs aging and degradation during hydrothermal treatment, and potential changes in the environmental risk of the treated MPs upon their subsequent land applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowei Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
| | - Xuan Wang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Lubei Chen
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Xiang Huang
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Fengying Pan
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Lulu Liu
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China
| | - Bin Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China.
| | - Hongtao Liu
- Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, PR China
| | - Hui Li
- School of Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Organic Compound Pollution Control Engineering, Ministry of Education, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, PR China.
| | - Xiaohu Dai
- State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, PR China
| | - Jin Hur
- Department of Environment and Energy, Sejong University, 209 Neungdong-ro, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 05006, South Korea
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