Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604006
High-strength sulfamethoxazole (SMX) wastewater severely inhibits anaerobic microorganisms, reducing organic degradation and methane yield. This study investigated the effects of short-chain (C6-HSL) and long-chain (C12-HSL) N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL) signaling molecules, individually and in combination, on the construction, performance, and antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) profiles of anaerobic electroactive biofilms within a microbial electrolysis cell coupled anaerobic digestion (MEC-AD) system. Compared to the control (no AHLs), SMX removal efficiency increased by 9.26%, 7.44%, and 10.67% for C6-HSL (T1), C12-HSL (T2), and combined (T3) treatments, respectively. Methane production rates rose by 20.4%, 16.9%, and 23.1% for T1, T2, and T3, respectively. AHLs promoted extracellular polymeric substance secretion, enhancing electroactive microbe attachment to the anode. Microbial community analysis revealed increased diversity and modulated key functional genera. Notably, Georgenia abundance increased by 16.77% (T1) and 36.47% (T3) but decreased by 15.99% (T2). ARG analysis showed that single AHLs elevated intI1, sul1, and sul2 abundances, whereas combined AHLs (T3) exhibited a milder response, with sul2 abundance reduced by 4.92% relative to control. This suggests synergistic AHLs suppress ARG host proliferation. This study first demonstrates that combined short- and long-chain AHLs enhance electroactive biofilm formation, maintain microbial community stability, and modulate ARG dissemination risk, offering a quorum sensing-based strategy for antibiotic wastewater treatment and risk management.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202510013
To investigate the spatiotemporal distribution of nutrients and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in Dongping Lake, a coupled hydrodynamic-water quality-ecological model was developed using Delft3D. The model simulated total nitrogen (TN), nitrate nitrogen (NO3-N), ammonia nitrogen (NH4-N), total phosphorus (TP), soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP), and Chl-a. After validation, the model systematically analyzed the spatiotemporal patterns and influencing factors, revealing nitrogen and phosphorus transformation pathways. Results showed three temporal phases: relatively stable concentrations from January to April, significant fluctuations from May to August, and gradual stabilization from September to December, with peak timing varying among indicators. Spatially, concentrations were generally higher in the south and lower in the north, but NH4-N, TP, and Chl-a exhibited reverse patterns (higher in north) during certain periods. External inputs, primarily from the Dawen River, dominated the overall distribution, while water temperature, dissolved oxygen, and hydrodynamic conditions further modulated internal variability. Nitrogen and phosphorus showed distinct fates: nitrogen was primarily removed via denitrification and anammox, whereas phosphorus tended to transform into particulate forms and remained in the lake for extended periods. These findings provide scientific support for precise water quality management in Dongping Lake.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2025•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3510-0
The activity and stability of single-atom catalysts (SACs) are intimately associated with the structure of supports. Herein, by employing a van der Waals (vdW) heterostructure support, we construct a highly active and durable Pt SAC for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). The unique support consists of monolayer MoS2 attaching on hierarchical N-doped carbon nanocages (hNCNC), on which Pt presents as individual single atoms on the hNCNC and as island-like single-atom layers on the MoS2. The optimized Pt1-MoS2/hNCNC demonstrates low overpotential (11 mV at 10 mA cm−2) and high mass activity (5.6 A mgPt−1 at −20 mV) in 0.5 M H2SO4 solution, outperforming commercial Pt/C. Impressively, the Pt1-MoS2/hNCNC exhibits improved long-term stability in proton exchange membrane water electrolyzer relative to commercial Pt/C. The excellent HER performance is attributed to the regulated electronic structure, robust interaction of Pt atoms with MoS2/hNCNC and facilitated charge transfer. This study establishes an innovative strategy to develop a highly active and durable Pt SAC using vdW heterostructure supports.