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Why Transformative Mindsets Need to Abandon Modularity.
A unidirectional flow solar photocatalytic fuel cell (PFC) was successfully developed for the first time to offer alternative for electricity generation and simultaneous wastewater treatment. This study was focused on the synthesis of α-, δ- and β-MnO2 by wet chemical hydrothermal method for application as the cathodic catalyst in PFC. The crystallographic evolution was performed by varying the ratios of KMnO4 to MnSO4. The mechanism of the PFC with the MnO2/C as cathode was also discussed. Results showed that the catalytic activity of MnO2/C cathode was mainly predominated by their crystallographic structures which included Mn-O bond strength and tunnel size, following order of α- > δ- > β-MnO2/C. Interestingly, it was discovered that the specific surface areas (SBET) of different crystal phases did not give an impact on the PFC performance. However, the Pmax could be significantly influenced by the micropore surface area (Smicro) in the comparison among α-MnO2. Furthermore, the morphological transformation carried out by altering the hydrothermal duration demonstrated that the nanowire α-M3(24 h)/C with 11 ratio of KMnO4 and MnSO4 yielded excellent PFC performance with a Pmax of 2.8680 μW cm-2 and the lowest Rint of 700 Ω.Soil cadmium (Cd) contamination has become a massive environmental problem. Kenaf is an industrial fiber crop with high tolerance to heavy metals and could be potentially used for soil phytoremediation. However, the molecular mechanism of Cd in kenaf tolerance remains largely unknown. In the present study, using two contrasting Cd sensitive kenaf (GH and YJ), the key factors accounting for differential Cd tolerance were investigated. GH has a stronger Cd transport and accumulation ability than YJ. In addition, physiological index investigation on malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and antioxidant enzyme (SOD, POD, and CAT) activities showed GH has a stronger detoxification capacity than YJ. Furthermore, the cell ultrastructure of GH is more stable than that of YJ under Cd stress. Onalespib Transcriptome analysis revealed 2221 (689 up and 1532 down) and 3321 (2451 up and 870 down) genes were differentially expressed in GH and YJ, respectively. More DEGs (differentially expressed genes) were characterized as up-regulated in GH, indicating GH is inclined to activate gene expression to cope with cadmium stress. GO and KEGG analyses indicate that DEGs were assigned and enriched in different pathways. Plenty of critical Cd-induced DEGs such as SOD2, PODs, MT1, DTXs, NRT1, ABCs, CES, AP2/ERF, MYBs, NACs, and WRKYs were identified. The DEGs involved pathways, including antioxidant, heavy metal transport or detoxification, substance transport, plant hormone and calcium signals, ultrastructural component, and a wide range of transcription factors were suggested to play crucial roles in kenaf Cd tolerance, and accounting for the difference in Cd stress sensitivities.To promote the environmental sustainability of rural sanitation, a soil moisture controlled wastewater subsurface drip irrigation (SDI) dispersal system was field tested in the Black Belt Prairie of Alabama, USA. The soil moisture control strategy was designed to regulate wastewater disposal timing according to drain field conditions to prevent hydraulic overloading and corresponding environmental hazard. CW2D/HYDRUS simulation modeling was utilized to explore difficult-to-measure aspects of system performance. While the control system successfully adapted hydraulic loading rate to changing drain field conditions, saturated field conditions during the dormant season presented practical application challenges. The paired field experiment and simulation model demonstrate that soil biofilm growth was stimulated in the vicinity of drip emitters. Although biofilm growth is critical in maintaining adequate COD and NH4+-N removal efficiencies, the efficient removal of biodegradable COD itself by soil biofilm limits denitrification of formed NO3--N . Furthermore, stimulated soil biofilm growth can create soil clogging around drip emitters, which was discerned in the field experiment along with salt accumulation, both of which were verified by simulation. Comparable modeling of system performance in sand and clay media demonstrate that the placement of soil moisture sensors within the drain field can have pronounced impacts on system hydraulic performance, depending on the soil permeability. Overall, the soil moisture control strategy tested is shown as a viable supplemental technology to promote the environmental sustainability of rural sanitation systems.The present work investigates the feasibility of aerobic granulation for the treatment of low-medium strength domestic wastewater for long-term operation and effects of a static mixer on the properties and removal performances of the aerobic granules formed. The static mixer was installed in a sequential batch reactor to provide higher hydrodynamic shear force in enhancing the formation of the aerobic granules. Aerobic granules were successfully formed in the domestic wastewater, and the granulation treatment system was sustained for a period of 356 days without granules disintegration. Subsequent to the installation, aerobic granules with a low SVI30 of 41.37 mL/gTSS, average diameter 1.11 mm, granular strength with integrity coefficient 10.4% and regular shape with minimum filamentous outgrowth were formed. Mineral concentrations such as Fe, Mg, Ca and Na as well as composition of protein and polysaccharide in tightly bound-extracellular polymeric substance of the aerobic granules were found to be higher under the effect of the static mixer. However, no significant improvement was observed on the TCOD, NH4+-N and TSS removal performance. Good TCOD and TSS removal performance of above 85% and 90%, respectively and moderate NH4+-N removal performance of about 60% were observed throughout the study. Higher simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND) efficiency of 56% was observed after the installation of the static mixer, as compared to 21% prior. Therefore, it may be concluded that the installation of the static mixer significantly improved the properties of aerobic granules formation and SND efficiency but not the TCOD, NH4+-N and TSS removal performance.
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