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Reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) of printing and dyeing wastewater remains as a daunting environmental issue, which is characterized by high salinity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), chroma and low biodegradability. In this study electro-oxidation process (PbO 2 /Ti electrode) coupled with oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) online monitor was applied to treat such a ROC effluent. The results show that with the increase of specific electrical charge (Q sp ), the removal efficiencies of COD, TN and chroma increased significantly at the incipience and then reached a gentle stage; the optimal total current efficiency (12.04 kWh m −3 ) was obtained with the current density of 10 mA cm −2 (Q sp , 3.0 Ah L −1 ). Meanwhile, some inorganic ions can be simultaneously removed to varying degrees. FTIR analyses indicated that the macromolecular organics were decomposed into smaller molecules. A multi-parameter linear relationship between ORP and Q sp , COD and Cl − concentration was established, which can quantitatively reflect the effect of current density, chloride ion concentration, pollutants and reaction time on the performance of the electro-oxidation system. As compared to a traditional constant-current system, the constant-ORP system developed in this study (through the back-propagation neural network [BPN] model with ORP monitoring) approximately reduced the energy cost by 24–29%. The present work is expected to provide a potential alternative in optimizing the electro-oxidation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the changes of chlorine species and proportion of organic chloramines during the chlorination process after UV irradiation pretreatment in drinking water. It was found that the UV pretreatment could enhance the percentage of organic chloramines by increasing free chlorine consumption in the chlorination of raw waters. The percentage of organic chloramines in total chlorine increased with UV intensity and irradiation time in raw waters. However, for the humic acid synthesized water, the percentage of organic chloramines increased first and then decreased with the increase of UV irradiation time. The value of SUVA declined in both raw and humic acid synthesized waters over the UV irradiation time, which indicated that the decomposition of aromatic organic matter by UV could be a contributor to the increase of free chlorine consumption and organic chloramine proportion. The percentage of organic chloramines during chlorination of raw waters after 30-min UV irradiation pretreatment varied from 20.2% to 41.8%. Total chlorine decreased obviously with the increase of nitrate concentration, but the percentage of organic chloramines increased and was linearly correlated to nitrate concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] The joint toxicity of chlorobenzenes and metals to Tetrahymena was studied by microcalorimetry. [•] The joint toxicity was evaluated by toxic unit (TU) and additional index (AI). [•] The cell surface was found the micro destruction by SEM images. [•] ATR-FTIR spectra were investigated the decay of functional groups. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] The kinetics of dinoseb chlorination can be described by a second-order model. [•] Dinoseb chlorination is subject to hydroxylation, oxidation and substitution reactions. [•] High concentrations of TCNM and CF were generated and the yields varied with Cl2/C, time and pH. [•] TCNM formation favors acid pHs during dinoseb chlorination. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Batch tests were conducted to investigate nitrite reduction in a zerovalent iron (Fe0) system under various conditions. Nitrite at 1.4mM initial concentration was slowly reduced to nitrogen gas in the first stage (days 1–6), which was mediated by an amorphous, Fe(II)-rich iron oxide coating. The second stage (days 7–14) featured a rapid reduction of nitrite to both ammonia and nitrogen gas and the formation of a more crystalline, magnetite form iron oxide coating. Water reduction by Fe0 occurred concurrently with nitrite reduction from the beginning and contributed significantly to the overall iron corrosion. Nitrite at 14mM was found to passivate the surface of Fe0 grains with respect to nitrite reduction. Adding aqueous Fe2+ significantly accelerated reduction of nitrite by Fe0 to nitrogen gas with lepidocrocite as the main iron corrosion product. Substantially, though still substoichiometrically, 0.55mol of Fe2+ were concomitantly consumed per 1.0mol nitrite reduction, indicating that Fe0 was the main electron source. In the presence of Fe2+, nitrite reduction out-competed water reduction in terms of contributing to the overall iron corrosion. Results of this study help understand complicated interactions between water reduction and nitrite reduction, the roles of surface-bound Fe2+, and the evolution of the iron corrosion coating. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Iopamidol is a commonly used iodinated X-ray contrast media in medical field, and its residue in water can react with disinfectants to form highly toxic iodinated disinfection by-products (I-DBPs). This study investigated the degradation of iopamidol and formation of DBPs, especially iodinated trihalomethanes (I-THMs), during ferrate (Fe(VI)) pre-oxidation and subsequent chlor(am)ination under raw water background. It was found that iopamidol degradation efficiency in raw water by Fe(VI) at pH 9 could reach about 80%, which was much higher than that at pH 5 and pH 7 (both about 25%). With Fe(VI) dose increasing, iopamidol removal efficiency increased obviously. During the iopamidol degradation by Fe(VI), IO 3 − was the dominant product among all the iodine species. After pre-treated by Fe(VI), yields of THM4 and I-THMs can be reduced in subsequent chlor(am)ination. Besides, pH was a crucial factor for Fe(VI) pre-oxidition controlling DBPs. With the pH increasing from 5 to 9, the yield of THM4 kept increasing in subsequent chlorination but showed the highest amount at pH 6 in subsequent chloramination. The yield of I-THMs increased first and then decreased with the increase of pH in both subsequent chlorination and chloramination. I-THM concentrations in chlorinated samples were lower than chloraminated ones under acidic conditions but became higher under neutral and alkaline conditions. The total CTI of THMs during Fe(VI)-chloramination was higher than that during Fe(VI)-chlorination under neutral condition, but sharply decreased under alkaline conditions. In summary, Fe(VI)-chloramination subsequent treatment under alkaline conditions should be an effective method for iopamidol removal and DBP control. [Display omitted] • Iopamidol removal efficiency by Fe(VI) is higher at pH > 7 than that at pH ≤ 7. • IO 3 − was a dominant iodine product during iopamidol degradation by Fe(VI). • Fe(VI)-chloramination is effective in reducing THMs under alkaline conditions. • The toxicity contribution of CHI 3 is the highest in Fe(VI)-chloramination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finding a good sorbent for phosphorus (P) recovery from the aquatic environment is critical for preventing eutrophication and providing P resources. The activated iron system (mainly consisted of zero-valent iron (ZVI), Fe 3 O 4 and Fe 2+ ) has been reported to exhibit a favorable performance towards various contaminants in wastewater, but its effect on P recovery has not been studied systematically. In this study, we used Fe 2+ -nitrate pretreatment reaction to prepare the activated iron system and then applied it to P recovery. Results show that more than 99% P was removed from water in 60 min; co-existing anions (NO 3 − , Cl − and SO 4 2− ) and natural organic matter (NOM) had little effect on P removal. The P removal capacity of activated iron system is very high compared with currently reported sorbents. Externally-supplied Fe 2+ plays an important role on P removal in the system. Regeneration study shows that the activated iron system exhibited stable P recovery ability by using 0.1 M NaOH solution. Various methods were applied to characterize the ZVI and iron corrosion, and results conclude that sorption precipitation, and co-precipitation contribute to P removal. This method will be promising and have an application potential in the field for efficient and cost-effective recovery of P with cheap microscale zero valent iron. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation kinetics, pathways and disinfection by-products (DBPs) formation of iopamidol by chlorine and chloramines were investigated in this paper. The chlorination kinetics can be well described by a second-order model. The apparent second-order rate constants of iopamidol chlorination significantly increased with solution pH. The rate constants of iopamidol with HOCl and OCl − were calculated as (1.66 ± 0.09) × 10 −3 M −1 s −1 and (0.45± 0.02) M −1 s −1 , respectively. However, the chloramination of iopamidol fitted well with third-order kinetics and the maximum of the apparent rate constant occurred at pH 7. It was inferred that the free chlorine (i.e., HOCl and OCl − ) can react with iopamidol while the combined chlorine species (i.e., NH 2 Cl and NHCl 2 ) were not reactive with iopamidol. The main intermediates during chlorination or chloramination of iopamidol were identified using ultra performance liquid chromatography - electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS), and the destruction pathways including stepwise deiodination, hydroxylation as well as chlorination were then proposed. The regular and iodinated DBPs formed during chlorination and chloramination of iopamidol were measured. It was found that iodine conversion from iopamidol to toxic iodinated DBPs distinctly increased during chloramination. The results also indicated that although chloramines were much less reactive than chlorine toward iopamidol, they led to the formation of much more toxic iodinated DBPs, especially CHI 3 . [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Combining pre-oxidation with activated carbon adsorption was explored as an ideal approach for removing iodine from water source to eliminate the formation of Iodinated trihalomethanes (I-THMs). Compared with permanganate and monochloramine, chlorine is more suitable as pre-oxidant to obtain higher active iodine species (HOI/I 2). Active iodine species adsorption using both powdered activated carbon (PAC) and granular activated carbon (GAC) can be well fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating that chemical adsorption was the dominant mechanism for HOI/I 2 adsorption. The average pore size of activated carbons was the most strongly correlated with the adsorption capacity (R2 > 0.98), followed by methylene blue (R2 > 0.76), pore volume (R2 > 0.70) and iodine number (R2 > 0.67). Moreover, three models, including intraparticle diffusion, Byod kinetic, and diffusion-chemisorption were used to illustrate the mechanisms of HOI/I 2 adsorption. Chemical adsorption was the dominant mechanism for HOI/I 2 adsorption. In summary, at the molar ratio of [NaClO] and [I−] as 1.2, pre-chloriantion time of 5 min, subsequently dosage of 15 mg/L of PAC E with 20 min adsorption can remove 79.8% iodine. In addition, the combined process can eliminate 61%–87.2% of I-THMs in the subsequent chlor(am)ination. The results indicate that pre-chlorination combined with PAC can effectively removed HOI/I 2 and attenuate I-THMs formation in the subsequent disinfection process. [Display omitted] • Optimizing prechlorination can enhance HOI/I 2 formation, facilitating subsequent adsorption. • Active iodine species (HOI/I 2) were chemically adsorpted by PACs and GACs. • HOI/I 2 adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. • Film diffusion was the rate-limiting process for HOI/I 2 adsorption on activated carbon. • Pre-chlorination with PAC adsorption can effectively remove HOI/I 2 and attenuate I-THM formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Organic chloramines (OCs) have become one of the research focuses in the field of drinking water treatment due to its limited oxidation and sterilization ability as well as potential cytotoxicity and genetic toxicity to the public. Among widespread OCs, produced by chlorinating cytosine are a typical one exists during chlorine disinfection. OCs degradation during UV, chlorination and UV/chlorine processes were systematically investigated. UV irradiation at 254 nm could effectively degrade OCs by 96.6% after 60 min, mainly because N–Cl bond had significant UV absorption at 250–280 nm leading to the generation of Cl• and HO•. Direct chlorination had poor removal of OCs with the OCs concentration increased first and then decreased as time went by. On the other hand, the removal of OCs during UV/chlorination was much higher than that during chlorination, but was worse than that during UV alone. pH had a minor effect on OCs decomposition via UV irradiation, whereas the effect was pronounced in the chlorination and UV chlorine processes. UV wavelength can affect the degradation of OCs with efficiency decreased in the order of UV 254 > UV 265 > UV 275. The total yields of disinfection by-products (DBPs) during the degradation of OCs followed UV/chlorine > UV > chlorination. CH and DCAA were the two dominant types of DBPs among detected 7 DBPs. DBPs yield followed the order of UV254 > UV265 > UV275 at pH 6.0 and 7.0. After UV 265 irradiation, DBPs yield slightly decreased by 2.4%, 3.0% and 6.6% with the pH increased from 6.0 to 9.0. The results can provide theoretical basis for effective control of OCs in drinking water. [Display omitted] • Stable organic chloramines were produced during cytosine chlorination. • UV irradiation can effectively degrade the generated organic chloramine. • The concentrations of DOC and TN in the solution were negligibly changed during chlorination. • OCs photodecay efficiency decreased in the order of 254 nm > 265 nm > 275 nm. • DBPs yield from OCs followed the order of UV/chlorine > UV > chlorination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is growing evidence suggesting the enhancement of brown carbon (BrC) in severe haze episodes. In this study, hourly measurements of BrC in PM 2.5 were conducted in Xi'an, a typical city in northwestern China during winter and summer. The absorption coefficient for methanol exacts at 365 nm (b abs365, methanol , which is typically used as a proxy of methanol-soluble BrC) in the winter sampling period was over 7 times than that in summer. The mass absorption cross-section for methanol extracts (MAC 365, methanol , normalized by b abs365, methanol to organic carbon, OC) in winter sampling period was nearly 1.5 times of that in the summer. During the winter haze days, the average b abs 365, methanol peaked at midnight and the lowest values in the morning, in contrast to high levels in afternoon and low levels at night in non haze days. Unlike the diurnal patterns in winter, summer b abs365, methanol diurnal variation presented high midday and low afternoon levels in haze days. However, in non haze days, the pattern showed high morning levels and night low levels. Haze and non haze variations of chemical species levels, b abs365, methanol , and MAC 365, methanol during winter and summer sampling time showed that the effects of atmospheric aging were complex and could either enhance or reduce light absorption of BrC. Source apportionment based on positive matrix factorization receptor model and multiple linear regressions showed that primary emission was an important contributor to BrC emissions during the winter sampling period, whereas secondary formation played an important role in summer. Daily variations of b abs365,methanol , MAC 365,methanol , OC, OC/EC during winter and summer. Image 1 • High time-resolved BrC observation during winter and summer was conducted. • Atmospheric aging can either enhance or reduce light absorption by BrC. • Primary emission and secondary formation were important contributors to BrC during winter and summer, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic solid fuels combustion produces a mass of fine particulate matter (PM 2.5). PM 2.5 -bound organics, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), oxygenated-PAHs (OPAHs), phthalate esters (PAEs) and hopanes, were quantified in indoor, outdoor and personal exposure samples collected in rural Guanzhong Basin, China. The average concentration of total quantified PAHs in personal exposure samples was 310 ± 443 ng m−3, 1.5 times of those of indoor (211 ± 120 ng m−3) and outdoor (189 ± 115 ng m−3). Similar observations were found for the OPAHs and PAEs, i.e., much higher concentrations were seen in personal exposure samples. Hopanes average personal exposure concentration (13 ± 9.7 ng m−3) was comparable to indoors (15 ± 9.7 ng m−3) and outdoors (13 ± 9.6 ng m−3). Among four common heating ways applied in Chinese dwelling, the highest exposure levels to PAHs, OPAHs and PAEs were found for indoor coal chunks stoves. Concentration under electric power was 1.2–4.5 folds lower than those with solid fuels in this study, proved to be the cleanest energy for the household heating. The exposures to PM 2.5 on cell viabilities were also investigated. The largest reduction of 70% on cell viabilities was seen for indoor coal chunks stove housewives, indicating that the emissions from coal combustion had the greatest cytotoxic effects. The results evidenced that the heating ways in rural area could greatly impact on the housewife health in northwestern China. Advanced heating technology and protection should be conducted to reduce the personal exposures to PM 2.5 from domestic solid fuel combustions. Image 1 • Domestic solid fuels emit toxic particulate-bound organics in rural northern China. • Personal exposures to PAHs, OPAHs, PAEs were ∼1.5 times of indoors and outdoors. • PM 2.5 from coal chuck stove had the maximum decline in cell viability. • Use of electricity reduced personal exposure levels to organics by 1.2–10 times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The effects of ultraviolet/persulfate (UV/PS) pretreatment on ultrafiltration (UF) membrane fouling caused by typical natural organic matter (NOM) fractions including humic acid (HA), sodium alginate (SA), and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were investigated. UF membrane fouling during the filtration of different NOM fractions after UV/PS pretreatment was compared through the evaluation of normalized membrane flux decline and membrane fouling reversibility. The fouling mitigation mechanisms were investigated through the characterization of ultraviolet absorbance (UV 254), dissolved organic matter, zeta potential, particle size distribution, fluorescence excitation-emission matrix spectra, and fitness of four classic fouling models. Furthermore, the fouled membranes were characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy. The results showed that UV/PS pretreatment significantly alleviated membrane fouling caused by HA, SA, and HA-SA-BSA mixture, and the fouling control performance improved at high PS doses. However, either UV alone or UV/PS pretreatment at low PS dose (10 mg/L) significantly aggravated BSA fouling with the normalized flux at the end of first filtration cycle being 8% and 15%, respectively. The increased particle size of BSA after UV/PS pretreatment was attributed to the formation of aggregates, which mainly accumulated in membrane pores and aggravated membrane fouling. Modeling results suggest that the mitigation of membrane fouling derived from SA and mixed organic fractions was primarily ascribed to the control of cake filtration, while the mitigation of HA fouling was attributed to the declined contribution of standard blocking. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Effects of UV/PS pretreatment on membrane fouling derived from typical organic fractions were investigated. • UV/PS significantly eased membrane fouling by HA, SA, and HA-SA-BSA mixture, rather than BSA. • Either UV radiation or UV/PS at a low PS dose (10 mg/L) caused severe BSA-based membrane fouling. • The particle size of HA, BSA, and HA-SA-BSA mixture increased after UV/PS pretreatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The degradation of acrylamide (AA) during UV/chlorine advanced oxidation process (AOP) was investigated in this study. The degradation of AA was negligible during UV irradiation alone. However, AA could be effectively degraded and mineralized during UV/chlorination due to the generation of hydroxyl radicals ( OH). The degradation kinetics of AA during UV/chlorination fitted the pseudo-first order kinetics with the rate constant between AA and OH radicals being determined as 2.11 × 10 9 M −1 s −1 . The degradation rate and mineralization of AA during UV/chlorination were significantly promoted at acidic conditions as well as increasing chlorine dosage. The volatile degradation products of AA during UV/chlorination were identified using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and the degradation pathways were then proposed accordingly. The formation of disinfection by-products (DBPs) in Milli-Q water and tap water during UV/chlorination of AA was also investigated. The DBPs included chloroform, dichloroacetonitrile, trichloroacetonitrile, 2,2-dichloroacetamide and 2,2,2-trichloroacetamide. Furthermore, the variations of AA degradation during UV/chlorination in different real water samples were evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective strategies to improve charge separation in semiconductor particles are critical for improving the photodegradation of organic pollutants at levels sufficient for environmental applications. Herein, Bi 2 MoO 6 (BMO MOF), comprising both nanoparticles (NPs) and quantum dots (QDs), was synthesized from a bismuth-based metal-organic framework (Bi-MOF) precursor. Surface defects on BMO MOF , the combination of NPs and QDs, and modified energy band edges improved photogenerated charge separation and facilitated redox reactions. When compared to BMO derived from uncoordinated Bi, the BMO MOF photocatalyst (PC) was more efficient at photodegrading tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) and ciprofloxacin (CIP), two widely-used antibiotics ubiquitous in wastewater, as well as the carcinogenic pollutant rhodamine B (RhB). BMO MOF was then loaded on the biopolymer bacterial cellulose (BC) to further enhance photocatalytic performance and facilitate the recovery of the PC after water treatment processes. The novel BMO MOF /BC photocatalytic flakes were significantly larger than pure BMO MOF , and thus easier to recuperate. Furthermore, anchoring BMO MOF on BC flakes augmented significantly the photodegradation of TCH, CIP, and RhB, mainly because hydroxyl groups in BC act as hole traps facilitating photogenerated electron-hole separation. Results obtained with BMO MOF /BC highlight promising approaches to develop optimal PCs for aqueous pollutants degradation. [Display omitted] • Bi 2 MoO 6 (BMO) was synthesized from a bismuth metal-organic framework precursor. • BMO MOF comprised nanoparticles with defects and quantum dots. • BMO MOF was anchored on large bacterial cellulose flakes easy to recover from water. • Versatile BMO MOF /BC photodegrades efficiently both persistent antibiotics and dyes. • BMO MOF /BC was stable under visible light with most pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volatile fatty acids (VFAs) are the building blocks of the chemical industry, and they are the primary contributors to the planet's organic carbon cycle. VFA production from fossil fuels (mostly petroleum) is unsustainable, pollutes the environment, and generates greenhouse gases. As a result of these issues, there is a pressing need to develop alternate sources for the long-term generation of VFAs via anaerobic digestion. The accessible feedstocks for its sustainable production, as well as the influencing parameters, are discussed in this review. The use of VFAs as a raw material to make a variety of consumer products is reviewed in order to find a solution. It also bridges the gap between traditional and advanced VFA production and utilization methods from a variety of solid and liquid waste sources for economical stability. [Display omitted] • VFA production from different solid and liquid wastes are reviewed. • Influential parameters for VFAs production are evaluated. • Economical approaches are discussed for VFA production on scaleup. • VFAs applications to produce various consumers' products are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) is a carcinogenic compound that can be removed from contaminated sites by the activity of metal-reducing bacteria. The model bacterium Geobacter sulfurreducens reduces Cr(VI) to less toxic Cr(III) and accumulates Cr ions intracellularly. However, this process is usually slow with small concentrations of Cr(VI) removed in a matter of days. Here, high-density G. sulfurreducens cultures were tested for the capacity to remove Cr(VI) readily. With an initial G. sulfurreducens density of 5.8 × 108 cells ml−1, 99.0 ± 0.8% of 100 mg l−1 Cr(VI) was removed after 20 min. With a higher starting Cr(VI) concentration of 200 mg l−1, G. sulfurreducens with a density of 11.4 × 108 cells ml−1 removed 99.0 ± 0.4% Cr(VI) after 2 h. Experiments performed with cell-free spent medium indicate that extracellular proteins are major contributors for the reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III). Furthermore, results show that most Cr(III) ions ultimately end up inside the bacterial cells where they are less susceptible to re-oxidation. The fast Cr(VI) removal rates observed with high-density G. sulfurreducens demonstrate the potential of this bacterium for bioremediation applications such as the cleaning of industrial wastewaters. Image 1 • High-density G. sulfurreducens removes 99% 100 mg l−1 toxic Cr(VI) in 20 min. • High-density G. sulfurreducens removes 99% 200 mg l−1 toxic Cr(VI) in 2 h. • Extracellular proteins are responsible for a large fraction of Cr(VI) removal. • Cr(VI) is reduced to Cr(III) by G. sulfurreducens , which ends up inside the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrolytic manganese residue (EMR) is characterized by high silicon content, and thus, is an important silicon source. While considerable research has been conducted on bioleaching EMR for silicon recovery, sufficient information is not available on the impact of specific silicate mineral structures in EMR on silicon bioleaching. In the present study, the mineral composition of EMR was determined firstly, and then the leaching effect of Paenibacillus mucilaginosus on these different silicate minerals were investigated by shake flask experiments. Results showed that the silicon in EMR was mainly composed of quartz, sericite, muscovite, biotite, olivine and rhodonite; Paenibacillus mucilaginosus had a significantly different weathering and decomposition effects on different silicate minerals. Among them, sericite, muscovite and biotite with layered structure had the most obvious silicon leaching effect, followed by rhodonite with island structure, while silicon leaching from olivine with chained structure and quartz with frame structure was much more difficult. One can roughly judge the adaptability of bioleaching of silicon in EMR using Paenibacillus mucilaginosus if the main form of silicate minerals in EMR is determined. • Paenibacillus mucilaginosus can obviously promote the leaching of silicon in EMR. • Silicon in EMR is mainly composed of quartz, sericite, muscovite, biotite, olivine and rhodonite. • Paenibacillus mucilaginosus have certain selectivity to weather the silicate minerals with different crystal structures. • Adaptability of bioleaching using Paenibacillus mucilaginosus to recycle silicon can be roughly estimated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Electrolytic Manganese Residue (EMR) was treated by EDTA-2Na/NaOH, ultrasonic etching, and hydrothermal reaction to obtain a novel nanocomposite catalyst (called N-EMR), which then was used, together with H 2 O 2 , to treat synthetic textile wastewater containing Reactive Red X–3B, Methyl Orange, Methylene blue and Acid Orange 7. Results indicated that the N-EMR had a nano-sheet structure in sizes of 100–200 nm; new iron and manganese oxides with high activity were produced. The mixture of a small amount of N-EMR (40 mg/L) and H 2 O 2 (0.4 × 10−3 M) could removal about 99% of azo dyes (at 100 mg/L in 100 mL) within 6–15 min, much faster than many advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) reported in the literature. The elucidation of the associated mechanism for azo dyes degradation indicates that azo dyes were attacked by superoxide radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and electron holes generated within system. N-EMR was found to be reusable and showed limited inhibition by co-existing anions and cations. Moreover, high removal efficiency of azo dyes could happen in the system with a wide range of pH (1–8.5) and temperatures (25–45 °C), indicating that the process developed in this study may have broad application potential in treatment of azo dyes contaminated wastewater. Image 1 • For the first time, EMR were modified as a novel nanocomposite. • The preparation method is eco-friendly and efficient. • The N-EMR + H 2 O 2 system is efficient for Azo dyes removal and mineralization. • The N-EMR is stable and reusable. • The N-EMR + H 2 O 2 system is much more efficient than conventional AOPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The formation and control of haloacetamides (HAcAms) in drinking water have raised high attention due to their high genotoxicity and cytotoxicity, especially the most cytotoxic one, diiodoacetamide (DIAcAm). In this study, the degradation of DIAcAm by UV/chlorination was investigated in terms of degradation kinetics, efficiency, influencing factors, oxidation products and toxicity evaluation. Results revealed that the degradation of DIAcAm by UV/chlorine process followed pseudo-first-order kinetics, and the rate constant between DIAcAm and OH radicals was determined as 2.8 × 109 M−1 s−1. The contribution of Cl to DIAcAm degradation by UV/chlorine oxidation was negligible. Increasing chlorine dosage and decreasing pH significantly promoted the DIAcAm degradation during UV/chlorine oxidation, but the presence of bicarbonate (HCO 3 −) and natural organic matter (NOM) inhibited it. The mass balance analysis of iodine species was also evaluated during UV/chlorine oxidation of DIAcAm. In this process, with DIAcAm decreasing from 16.0 to 0.8 μM-I in 20 min, IO 3 −, I− and HOI/I 2 increased from 0 to 6.3, 6.1 and 0.5 μM-I, respectively. The increase of CHO cell viability during DIAcAm degradation indicated that the toxicity of DIAcAm could be decreased by chlorination, UV irradiation and UV/chlorine oxidation treatments, in which UV/chlorine oxidation was more effective on toxicity reduction than chlorination and UV irradiation alone. Image 1 • UV/chlorine is more effective on DIAcAm degradation than UV and chlorination alone. • Kinetics models were established for DIAcAm degradation during UV/chlorine process. • DIAcAm degradation by UV/chlorine is remarkably affected by pH, HCO 3 − and NOM. • IO 3 −, I− and HOI/I 2 can be produced during UV/chlorine oxidation of DIAcAm. • DIAcAm toxicity can be reduced significantly by UV/chlorine oxidation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nitrobenzene (NB) is recalcitrant to microbial biodegradation due to the electron-deficient character of the nitro group (NO 2- ). Prior work has found that the reductant could enhance NB biodegradation by providing excess electron donors. However, the existing theory couldn't explain the increase-and-decrease pattern of the NB biodegradation rate with an increase in a reductant concentration. Our results suggest that the reductant affects NB biodegradation by two mechanisms: the available electron donors and the stimulation or inhibition of biomass growth, which are linked by a pseudo-first-order reaction kinetics. In addition, the results showed that directly inoculating the plain soil into the aquatic system and then allowing the synergistic effect of the organic reductant (ascorbic acid) and the substrate (peptone) enhance NB biodegradation. Employing the new method, 200 mg L -1 NB was transformed in 72 h. GC-MS analysis detected two novel intermediate metabolites, indicating that NB was degraded into aniline and further transformed into acetanilide and 9-octadecenamide before its mineralization. This study sheds light on how to exploit the synergistic effects of the availability of excess electron donors and biomass growth by controlling the reductant and a substrate in the right concentration range (e.g., ascorbic acid < 0.8 mgL -1  + peptone)., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)