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Wang J, Wu B, Zheng X, Ma J, Yu W, Chen B, Chu C. Insights into the Crystallinity-Dependent Photochemical Productions of Reactive Oxygen Species from Iron Minerals. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2024; 58:10623-10631. [PMID: 38781516 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.4c01843] [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: 05/25/2024]
Abstract
Iron minerals are widespread in earth's surface water and soil. Recent studies have revealed that under sunlight irradiation, iron minerals are photoactive on producing reactive oxygen species (ROS), a group of key species in regulating elemental cycling, microbe inactivation, and pollutant degradation. In nature, iron minerals exhibit varying crystallinity under different hydrogeological conditions. While crystallinity is a known key parameter determining the overall activity of iron minerals, the impact of iron mineral crystallinity on photochemical ROS production remains unknown. Here, we assessed the photochemical ROS production from ferrihydrites with different degrees of crystallinity. All examined ferrihydrites demonstrated photoactivity under irradiation, resulting in the generation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (•OH). The photochemical ROS production from ferrihydrites increased with decreasing ferrihydrite crystallinity. The crystallinity-dependent photochemical •OH production was primarily attributed to conduction band reduction reactions, with the reduction of O2 by conduction band electrons being the rate-limiting key process. Conversely, the crystallinity of iron minerals had a negligible influence on photon-to-electron conversion efficiency or surface Fenton-like activity. The difference in ROS productions led to a discrepant degradation efficiency of organic pollutants on iron mineral surfaces. Our study provides valuable insights into the crystallinity-dependent ROS productions from iron minerals in natural systems, emphasizing the significance of iron mineral photochemistry in natural sites with abundant lower-crystallinity iron minerals such as wetland water and surface soils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingyi Wang
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Binbin Wu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Xiaoshan Zheng
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Junye Ma
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Wanchao Yu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Baoliang Chen
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
| | - Chiheng Chu
- Department of Environmental Science, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China
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Hu X, Wang S, Feng R, Hu K. Natural organic small molecules promote the aging of plastic wastes and refractory carbon decomposition in water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 469:134043. [PMID: 38492386 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.134043] [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: 01/20/2024] [Revised: 03/05/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 03/18/2024]
Abstract
Microplastics and nanoplastics are ubiquitous in rivers and undergo environmental aging. However, the molecular mechanisms of plastic aging and the in-depth effects of aging on ecological functions remain unclear in waters. The synergies of microplastics and nanoplastics (polystyrene as an example) with natural organic small molecules (e.g., natural hyaluronic acid and vitamin C related to biological tissue decomposition) are the key to producing radicals (•OH and •C). The radicals promote the formation of bubbles on plastic surfaces and generate derivatives of plastics such as monomer and dimer styrene. Nanoplastics are easier to age than microplastics. Pristine plastics inhibit the microbial Shannon diversity index and evenness, but the opposite results are observed for aging plastics. Pristine plastics curb pectin decomposition (an indicator of plant-originated refractory carbon), but aging plastics promote pectin decomposition. Microplastics and nanoplastics undergoing aging processes enhance the carbon biogeochemical cycle. For example, the increased carbohydrate active enzyme diversity, especially the related glycoside hydrolase and functional species Pseudomonas and Clostridium, contributes to refractory carbon decomposition. Different from the well-studied toxicity and aging of plastic pollutants, this study connects plastic pollutants with biological tissue decomposition, biodiversity and climate change together in rivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Shuting Wang
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Ruihong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
| | - Kai Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China
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Wang S, Wen J, Mu L, Hu X, Feng R, Jia Y. Highly active complexes of pyrite and organic matter regulate arsenic fate. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 458:131967. [PMID: 37421861 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/10/2023]
Abstract
Arsenic (As) presents high toxicity and strong carcinogenicity, and its health risks are regulated by its oxidation state and speciation. As can form complexes with the surface of minerals or organic matter through adsorption, affecting its toxicity and bioavailability. However, the regulation effect of the interaction of coexisting minerals and organic matter on As fate remains largely unknown. Here, we discovered that minerals (e.g., pyrite) and organic matter (e.g., alanyl glutamine, AG) can form pyrite-AG complexes, promoting As(III) oxidation under simulated solar irradiation. The formation of pyrite-AG was explored in terms of the interaction of surface oxygen atoms, electron transfer and crystal surface changes. From the perspective of atoms and molecules, pyrite-AG showed more oxygen vacancies, stronger reactive oxygen species (ROS) and a higher electron transport capacity than pyrite alone. Compared with pyrite, pyrite-AG effectively promoted the conversion of highly toxic As(III) to less toxic As(V) due to the enhanced photochemical properties. Moreover, quantification and capture of ROS confirmed that hydroxyl radicals (•OH) played an important role in As(III) oxidation in the pyrite-AG and As(III) system. Our results provide previously unidentified perspectives on the effects and chemical mechanisms of highly active complexes of mineral and organic matter on As fate and provide new insights into the risk assessment and control of As pollution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Wang
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Product Safety, Key Laboratory for Environmental Factors Controlling Agro-Product Quality Safety (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Institute of Agro-Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 300191 Tianjin, China; Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 300350 Tianjin, China
| | - Jingyu Wen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Product Safety, Key Laboratory for Environmental Factors Controlling Agro-Product Quality Safety (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Institute of Agro-Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 300191 Tianjin, China
| | - Li Mu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Agro-Environment and Product Safety, Key Laboratory for Environmental Factors Controlling Agro-Product Quality Safety (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs), Institute of Agro-Environmental Protection, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, 300191 Tianjin, China.
| | - Xiangang Hu
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 300350 Tianjin, China
| | - Ruihong Feng
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 300350 Tianjin, China
| | - Yuying Jia
- Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education)/Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, 300350 Tianjin, China
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Yang H, Xu L, Li Y, Liu H, Wu X, Zhou P, Graham NJD, Yu W. Fe xO/FeNC modified activated carbon packing media for biological slow filtration to enhance the removal of dissolved organic matter in reused water. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 457:131736. [PMID: 37295334 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.131736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Revised: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 05/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The biological slow filtration reactor (BSFR) process has been found to be moderately effective for the removal of refractory dissolved organic matter (DOM) in the treatment of reused water. In this study, bench scale experiments were conducted using a mixture of landscape water and concentrated landfill leachate as feed water, to compare a novel iron oxide (FexO)/FeNC modified activated carbon (FexO@AC) packed BSFR, with a conventional activated carbon packed BSFR (AC-BSFR), operated in parallel. The results showed that the FexO@AC packed BSFR had a refractory DOM removal rate of 90%, operated at a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 10 h at room temperature for 30 weeks, while under the same conditions the removal by the AC-BSFR was only 70%. As a consequence, the treatment by the FexO@AC packed BSFR substantially reduced the formation potential of trihalomethanes, and to a less extent, haloacetic acids. The modification of FexO/FeNC media raised the conductivity and the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) efficiency of the AC media to accelerate the anaerobic digestion by consuming the electrons that are generated by anaerobic digestion itself, which lead to the marked improvement in refractory DOM removal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hankun Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Lei Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Yujuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; School of Environment and Municipal Engineering, Qingdao Technological University, Qingdao 266033, Shandong, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China; Colleges of Forestry, Northeast Forestry University, Mail Box 306, Hexing Road 26, Harbin, China
| | - Xue Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Peng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China
| | - Nigel J D Graham
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Wenzheng Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Aquatic Chemistry, Key Laboratory of Drinking Water Science and Technology, Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100085, China.
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