10 May 2026, Volume 52 Issue 5
  
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  • YE Yanyan, HE yuqian, CHENG Xiquan
    2026, 52(5): 1-8.
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    Freshwater resources are globally scarce, and desalination technology—where freshwater is derived via salt removal—serves as a key approach to addressing the freshwater crisis. Solar-driven interfacial evaporation technology has attracted widespread attention due to its low energy consumption and cost-effectiveness. In particular, photothermal membranes—characterized by simple preparation, diverse types, and high scalability—can efficiently facilitate seawater evaporation, emerging as a promising solution to freshwater scarcity. This paper discusses the selection of photothermal conversion materials, describes the preparation methods of photothermal membranes, and summarizes the key factors influencing photothermal membrane performance. In addition, it outlines the development prospects and current challenges of photothermal membranes for seawater desalination, aiming to lay a foundation for their large-scale implementation.
  • WANG Jing, JIA Lele, WANG Chunsheng, ZHAO Yingying, LI Jianyuan, LIU Jie, ZHAO Jingmin, JI Zhiyong
    2026, 52(5): 9-16.
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    For selective electrodialysis concentration of liquid salts, surface modification of cation exchange membranes was achieved using tannic acid/polyethyleneimine (TA/PEI) deposition and interfacial polymerization, enabling scaled-up production of monovalent cation exchange membranes (MCEMs). Using the fabricated MCEMs, the effects of current density, feed-to-concentrate volume ratio, and initial salt concentration on NaCl concentration, energy consumption during concentration were investigated. Process parameters for two-stage selective electrodialysis (SED) were optimized to achieve high-selectivity, low-energy salt concentration. Results indicate that under conditions of 40 mA/cm2 current density, 1:30 feed-toconcentrate volume ratio, and 50 g/L initial NaCl concentration, the two-stage SED process yields NaCl solutions exceeding 180 g/L concentration with specific energy consumption below 210 kWh/t NaCl. Using a simulated brine system, the separation and concentration performance of MCEMs was compared with that of commercial cation exchange membranes (CEMs). The liquid salt produced by MCEMs concentration showed a 2.4-fold and 1.6-fold increase in Na+/Mg2+ and Na+/Ca2+ molar ratios, respectively, compared to the feed solution. The liquid salt exhibited higher purity with similar energy consumption.
  • XU Hui, LI Shen, LI Chengcheng, ZHANG Mingxin, HUANG Wei
    2026, 52(5): 17-22.
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    Multistage solar distillers achieve very high solar energy efficiency by reusing latent heat, and they show great potential in wastewater treatment and seawater desalination. However, salt crystallization remains the key challenge hindering the performance and long-term stable operation of evaporators. This study presents a water-salt co-production multistage solar distiller, in which the evaporation zone and crystallization zone are compartmentalized through a functional decoupling design based on the Marangoni effect, enabling efficient water-salt co-production. The localized ion concentration increase during evaporation is driven by the Marangoni concentration effect to accumulate and crystallize at the extended end, thus ensuring continuous and stable evaporation performance. Benefiting from this design, under one sun illumination, when treating a 7wt% high-salinity solution, the eight-stage solar distiller achieves an evaporation rate of 2.92 kg/(m2·h) and a salt collection rate of 1.2 kg/(m2·d). This research provides a new direction and practical experience for the development of high-performance and long-term stable seawater desalination devices, and holds great potential for promoting the application of seawater desalination technology.
  • YANG Xin, LIU Xuyang, YANG Xingtao, WANG Jun, LI Ke, ZHANG Weijun
    2026, 52(5): 23-29.
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    The jellyfish bloom period presents a challenge for seawater desalination pretreatment due to intensified membrane fouling. Traditional organic membranes suffer from short operational lifespans and insufficient anti-fouling capabilities. To ensure the stability of seawater desalination reverse osmosis feed water quantity and quality during jellyfish blooms, this study systematically evaluates the performance of domestic ceramic ultrafiltration membranes during jellyfish blooms. A comparative analysis of their water production efficiency and cleaning optimization strategies under constant pressure/constant flow modes was conducted. Results indicate that under constant pressure mode, the ceramic membrane performs excellently at low pressure (0.05 MPa), with an initial water flux of 233 L·m⁻²·h⁻¹ prior to the jellyfish bloom, 2.4 times that of organic membranes, and its stable operating time extends to 180 minutes, 3 times that of organic membranes. After the bloom, its operating time remains 3.2 times longer than that of the organic membrane. However, under high pressure (0.15 MPa) or high flux (7 m³/h) conditions, the ceramic membrane's water production turbidity exceeds the limit, requiring dynamic transmembrane pressure adjustment for optimized operation. In the constant pressure and constant flow mode, the ceramic membrane performs significantly better than the organic membrane at a flux of 5 m³/h, with a noticeably increase in cumulative water production per unit membrane area within a single operating cycle. The cleaning optimization orthogonal experiment shows that the alkali soaking time is the key parameter affecting cleaning efficiency. It should be prioritized for optimization while simultaneously adjusting the sodium hypochlorite flux, acid soaking time, and alkali dosing flux. This study provides theoretical support for the seawater desalination pretreatment process during jellyfish blooms and offers a practical demonstration of the application of domestic ceramic membranes in seawater desalination pretreatment.
  • SU Huichao, YIN Lihui, XUE Xidong, ZHAO Heli
    2026, 52(5): 30-34.
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    The development trend of reverse osmosis desalination plants has shifted toward extra-large or even mega-scale projects, necessitating the design and adoption of large membrane modules. In this work, the effects of membrane type, dimensions, and operating conditions on the performance of two membrane systems (16-inch and 8-inch) were investigated via software simulations. It was found that membrane element type played a significant role in determining system performance, while temperature and recovery rate had a greater impact on energy consumption, and the 16-inch membrane system proved more energy-efficient. Furthermore, the 16-inch membrane system was more cost-effective, as it required less land and investment and offered good layout flexibility. The optimal number of membrane elements was 5→9. With the expansion of desalination plant scale, it is anticipated that energy consumption and costs will decrease.
  • XUE Xidong, FENG Tao, PAN Chunyou, WANG Ming, WANG Kening
    2026, 52(5): 35-39.
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    Considering the significant variations in seawater salinity and temperature in estuarine areas, this study proposes a wide-regulation, high-pressure feedwater supply process for reverse osmosis seawater desalination. The process was designed based on a series configuration of two high-pressure pumps. The seasonal impact on operational pressure was studied using reverse osmosis simulation software. Additionally, the overall efficiency of a single high-pressure pump versus the series two pumps was compared and analyzed based on the pump performance data. An optimization analysis was conducted to determine the optimal head combination for the series connection of the two high-pressure pumps. Furthermore, an economic analysis was performed from the perspectives of capital investment and power consumption during operation. The results indicated that seawater temperature was higher in summer and lower in winter, while salinity decreased during the rainy season and increased during the dry season. Correspondingly, operating pressure was lower in summer and higher in winter. The overall efficiency of the series high-pressure pumps turned to be notably higher than that of a single high-pressure pump. Under simulated operating conditions, the optimal head combination for the two-pump series configuration was determined to be "450 m + 150 m", with overall efficiency ranging between 77.5% and 81.5%, about 5% higher than that of a single high-pressure pump. This configuration reduces average power consumption by approximately 124.3 kW, resulting in annual electricity cost savings of about 762,000 yuan. The payback period for the additional capital investment was estimated to be approximately one year.
  • GAO Ruiying, HUANG baolin, ZHANG Ying, LIN Jianzhong
    2026, 52(5): 40-45.
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    With the rapid development of economy and society and a growing population, water scarcity has become increasingly severe. Large-scale membrane-based seawater desalination will be a key direction for future industrial development. Desalinated water produced by membrane processes typically has low levels of minerals, hardness, alkalinity, and pH, which can pose risks to pipeline systems and human health if directly introduced into distribution networks; therefore, mineralization post-treatment is essential. Based on data collection and research, key indicators, water quality standards, and requirements for desalinated product water were provided; the process principles, flowcharts, and operational parameters of lime dosing dissolution and limestone dissolution technologies were introduced; typical application cases were collected, the principles for determining water quality parameters, the advantages and disadvantages of two typical post-treatment processes, and the main factors influencing process selection were analyzed and summarized. The analysis indicates that the scale of post-treatment process is closely related to the requirements of product water quality. For calcium hardness and total alkalinity, based on economic considerations, it is recommended to take lower values within the recommended range. Dosing dissolution and limestone dissolution are currently the two most commonly used mineralization post-treatment methods. The choice between them depends on factors such as the availability of raw materials, investment and operational costs, and the complexity of operation and maintenance. The optimal process should be determined through comparative analysis for each specific project. This study aims to provide reference for the design of post-treatment processes in future large-scale seawater desalination projects.
  • LI Hongyan, HE Qinya, XIA Jun, LUO Quandong, ZHANG Xijian
    2026, 52(5): 46-50.
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    To promote the localization of energy recovery devices (ERDs) in reverse osmosis (RO) seawater desalination systems, this study presents a comparative analysis of the operational performance between domestic motor-driven IPX-66 and imported hydraulic-driven PX-Q300 rotary pressure-exchange ERDs in a large-scale desalination plant that has been in operation for over five years. Based on long-term operational data from 2024, key indicators such as energy recovery efficiency, specific energy consumption, mixing ratio, and equipment stability were evaluated. Results show that the corrected effective energy recovery efficiency of the domestic IPX-66 reaches 90.82% (with motor power included), slightly higher than the 90.70% of the imported PX-Q300. The mixing ratio is ≤2.0%, significantly lower than the 4.0% of the imported device. The specific energy consumption of the SWRO system equipped with IPX-66 is 1.67 kWh/m³, 1.2% lower than that of the PX-Q300 system (1.69 kWh/m³), with zero rotor jamming incidents recorded. The study confirms the technical feasibility and operational reliability of domestic ERDs in large-scale engineering applications, providing a viable alternative to imported products. In response to the limitations in existing standards HY/T 108-2008 and GB/T 30299-2013 regarding efficiency definitions, this paper proposes the concepts of "corrected apparent efficiency" and "corrected effective efficiency", offering a more accurate method for evaluating real-world energy recovery performance.
  • CHEN Xin, HUANG Minmin, WU Yaqin, DU Yueying, XU Jin, BAO Jing
    2026, 52(5): 51-55.
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    To alleviate freshwater scarcity in Oran, Algeria (located in North Africa), a novel membrane-based seawater desalination project with a capacity of 300 000 m3/d has been constructed. This project incorporates the largest-scale shutter filter process employed in seawater desalination pretreatment, with a daily treatment capacity of 680 000 tons. Operational data demonstrate that the shutter filter effectively removes suspended solids and colloids from raw seawater, with the effluent turbidity consistently maintained below 0.5 NTU and the SDI15 (Silt Density Index, 15-minute) kept below 3. These performance metrics fully meet the feedwater quality requirements for the subsequent reverse osmosis (RO) system. Furthermore, the shutter filter process significantly reduces residual chlorine concentrations in the water, resulting in a more than 60% reduction in the dosage of reducing agents. This study provides practical insights and a case reference for the design and application of shutter filter technology in large-scale seawater desalination projects.
  • SUN Ruize, ZHANG Meng, YU Qiuchen, CHEN Yuchao, ZHANG Wenjie, LI Haixiang
    2026, 52(5): 56-63.
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    Global climate change, amid its severe outlook, has driven the wastewater treatment sector to pursue low-carbon solutions. Traditional biological nitrogen removal technologies confront challenges, primarily stemming from high carbon consumption and substantial greenhouse gas emissions. Theoretically, mixotrophic denitrification technologies offer the potential to fulfill three critical objectives: deep nitrogen removal from wastewater, effective carbon emission reduction, and low-cost operation. This review summarizes the principles, development trends, nitrogen removal efficiency, and key functional microorganisms of mixotrophic denitrification technologies, categorized by their substrates (sulfur, anaerobic ammonia oxidation, hydrogen, and denitrifying anaerobic methane oxidation). Furthermore, it elaborates on the carbon reduction potential and action mechanisms of mixotrophic denitrification in the wastewater treatment sector, while clarifying the opportunities and key challenges it entails. Finally, future research directions are proposed to address bottlenecks in the scaling-up of these technologies for engineering applications, offering critical insights to accelerate their practical deployment.
  • QIN Minghao, WANG Yuxin, ZHENG Xiang, XU Huifang
    2026, 52(5): 64-71.
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    This study retrieves 143,938 valid patent families in the field of water treatment from the PatentSight database under the perspective of SDG 6.3, analyzes the layout of patent families through statistical methods, and utilizes the patent asset index theory to analyze the global competition landscape in the field of water treatment technology. It also examines the global technological innovation trends in water treatment from an SDG 6.3 perspective through technical clustering. The study finds that: 1) The number of patent families in this field has been steadily increasing globally, with China leading in the number of valid patent families, totaling 110 755, followed closely by the United States, South Korea, and Japan;2) The United States leads the world in the number of international patent families laid out, having a broader scope of protection and influence on the international level; most of the patent families laid out by China are only domestically focused, and their international layout needs to be strengthened;3) China's vast number of valid patent families is the main reason for its patent asset index ranking first globally. However, there is room for further improvement in the quality of China's patent families; Australia, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and Canada occupy positions in the top ten of the patent asset index with high-quality patent portfolios and relatively fewer patent families;4) In China, the main types of patent right holders laying out high-quality patent portfolios are universities and research institutions, while in the United States, Japan, South Korea, and Germany, they are primarily enterprises;5) The global innovation trend in water treatment technology shows both consistency and diversity, allowing China to adopt varied innovation strategies for different types of technological fields.
  • GUAN Yingbing, TANG Chao, WANG Xiao, MA Baoqiang, ZHU Peibing, ZHANG Puji
    2026, 52(5): 72-81.
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    Emerging contaminants (ECs) are characterized by environmental persistence, bioaccumulation, and potential biological toxicity. Their wide distribution and potential risks in water environments have drawn significant attention. Developing efficient methods for removing ECs from water has become a research hotspot and frontier direction in the environmental field. Constructed wetlands (CWs), as a low-cost and ecologically efficient water treatment system, have been gradually applied to the removal of ECs from wastewater. This paper elaborates on the sources, environmental occurrence characteristics, and migration, transformation, and removal mechanisms of four common types of ECs, including microplastics/nanoplastics (MPs/NPs) endocrine-disrupting compounds (EDCs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), and persistent organic pollutants (POPs), in CWs. It also analyzes the roles played by key components such as substrate, microorganisms, and plants in CWs in removing these four common types of ECs. The intrinsic key mechanisms for removing these four common types of ECs are summarized, including substrate interception and adsorption, microbial adsorption and degradation, plant root absorption and stem transfer, and animal feeding and disturbance. The factors influencing the removal of emerging contaminants (ECs) by constructed wetlands (CWs) are summarized, with a focus on the characteristics of ECs, wetland types, plant species, substrate materials, and microbial communities. Finally, the enhancement strategies for improving the removal efficiency of ECs in water using CW treatment systems are discussed, along with a brief introduction to future research prospects for the efficient removal of ECs by CWs. This aims to provide reference and insights for further developing feasible, innovative, and highly effective methods for EC removal.
  • QIAN Sicheng, LI Huaizheng
    2026, 52(5): 82-88.
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    In recent years, excessive nitrogen and phosphorus inputs into rivers have led to frequent cyanobacterial blooms, posing serious threats to aquatic ecosystems and drinking water safety. In this study, Microcystis aeruginosa was selected as the target organism. Based on conventional ultrasonic algae control, a coupled technology integrating ultrasound with micro-nano bubbles was proposed to achieve low-energy and high-efficiency algal inhibition. Single-cycle and dual-cycle ultrasonic experiments were conducted under energy densities ranging from 0.21 to 2.52 J/mL to systematically evaluate algal inhibition performance and optimize operational parameters.The results showed that micro-nano bubbles significantly enhanced the long-term inhibitory effect of ultrasound and effectively delayed algal regrowth. Under a single-cycle treatment at an energy density of 0.63 J/mL, the algal removal rate reached 47.15%, with an energy efficiency value of 74.84 mL/J. When a dual-cycle strategy was applied (total energy density of 1.26 J/mL), the removal rate further increased to 69.47%, while maintaining a relatively high energy efficiency of 55.13 mL/J. Mechanistic analysis indicated that micro-nano bubbles primarily enhanced ultrasonic algal inhibition through intensified mechanical effects, such as shear forces and micro-jets, whereas no significant promotion of chemical effects associated with hydroxyl radical generation was observed.Overall, the coupled ultrasound-micro-nano bubble process achieves a favorable balance between algal inhibition efficiency and energy consumption at moderate energy levels. The incorporation of a dual-cycle strategy further improves the persistence of algal control. In addition, typical operating conditions were validated using field-collected algal water samples, achieving a maximum algal removal efficiency of 81% ~ 95%. Based on these results, an integrated ultrasonic-micro/nano bubble coupled treatment vessel was proposed, and its energy consumption and operational cost were preliminarily evaluated, indicating the potential feasibility of this technology for engineering applications.
  • XU Ming, AN Mingyang, ZHU Yunxiang, SHEN Xiaoxiao, WU Haisuo, CHEN Pengli
    2026, 52(5): 89-94.
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    This study constructed a coupled constructed wetland-microbial electrolysis cell system (ECW) to investigate its treatment performance and response mechanisms for the emerging contaminant florfenicol (FF) in aquaculture wastewater. By applying FF stress at two concentrations, 50 μg/L (low concentration) and 1 mg/L (high concentration), and using a conventional constructed wetland (CW) as the control, a 150-day operation was conducted. The results showed that the ECW system exhibited strong process resilience, achieving a maximum COD removal efficiency of 99.64%, while the NO3--N removal efficiency increased by 18.06% compared to the CW system. Meanwhile, the emission fluxes of N2O and CO2 were reduced by 11.36% and 12.95%, respectively.For the target contaminant FF, the removal efficiencies of ECW1 (87.45%) and ECW2 (91.71%) were significantly higher than those of the control group, with improvements of 24.52% and 6.70%, respectively. Microbial analysis revealed that the ECW system enriched key functional phyla such as Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, and Actinobacteriota, thereby optimizing microbial community structure and effectively buffering the inhibitory effects of FF stress. This study demonstrates that ECW exhibits synergistic effects in enhancing nitrogen removal and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, providing theoretical support for the advanced treatment of antibiotic-containing wastewater and carbon emission reduction.
  • WANG Xiaojuan, TAO Lu, WANG Xinyan, ZHANG Weizheng, GAO Xueli
    2026, 52(5): 95-99.
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    The SBE-β-CD ion transport channel was introduced into the electro-nanofiltration membrane by interfacial polymerization, and the resulting membrane was used for electrodialysis instead of traditional ion exchange membrane to achieve efficient separation of Li+/Mg2+. By characterizing the morphology and structure of nanofiltration membranes and conducting electrodialysis tests, it was demonstrated that the introduction of SBE-β-CD significantly altered the microstructures and physicochemical properties of the membrane, thereby affecting its separation performance. Within the appropriate concentration range, the size sieving effect of the separation layer and the strong host-guest complexation effect of SBE-β-CD on Mg2+ endowed the membrane with excellent separation ability. The hydrophilic-hydrophobic phase structure and sulfonic acid groups of SBE-β-CD accelerated the transport of Li+, effectively reducing the membrane surface resistance. The optimum performance was obtained at 2.0 wt% SBE-β-CD concentration (${{J}_{L{{i}^{+}}}}$=3.83×10-8 mol/(cm2∙s)、$P_{M{{g}^{2+}}}^{L{{i}^{+}}}$=6.00).
  • GUO Xiaofeng, LIU Lei*, GUO Shuai, LI Huidong
    2026, 52(5): 100-107.
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    Recent years have seen persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOP) have been extensively employed for the removal of organic pollutants from wastewater. Perovskites are considered ideal persulfate catalysts due to their low cost, simple preparation, and good stability. However, their limited continuous electron transfer capacity leads to slow conversion of metal redox pairs, which restricts the activation efficiency of peroxymonosulfate (PMS). This study successfully constructed a novel LaCoO3/La2O3 catalysts via electrospinning technology for activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade typical organic pollutants, which are characterized by high specific surface area, heterostructure, and abundant oxygen vacancies. Through structural characterization and catalytic performance tests, this PMS catalysts achieved a degradation efficiency of 98.9% within 10 minutes for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation, with the reaction kinetic rate (0.454 min-1) 1.6 times higher than that of pure LaCoO3. Moreover, the degradation efficiency remained above 95.0% after five consecutive recycling runs. Simultaneously, LaCoO3/La2O3 exhibited excellent degradation performance toward various organic pollutants, including tetracycline hydrochloride (TC), methylene blue (MB), and ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN). Mechanism studies revealed that the catalytic the pollutant degradation process proceeds primarily via a non-radical pathway dominated by singlet oxygen (1O2), accompanied by a synergistic contribution of radical species, which demonstrates notable advantages of the electrospun heterostructured PMS catalyst in efficient and consistent activation of degradation of organic pollutants.
  • WEN Xin, HAI Yuyan, MA Rui, DUAN Yawei, LIU Shuqin, XIONG Rihua
    2026, 52(5): 108-113.
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    Reverse osmosis (RO) technology has been extensively applied in water treatment owing to its high separation efficiency and absence of phase change during operation. As the core component of RO systems, RO membranes directly determine process performance. In this study, domestic RO membrane A and imported RO membrane B were selected for comparative analysis under identical application conditions. Their separation performance and anti-fouling properties were systematically tested and analyzed via characterization techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), atomic force microscopy (AFM), zeta potential measurement, contact angle (CA) analysis, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Specifically, the membranes' surface morphology, roughness, electronegativity, hydrophilicity, and surface functional group content were evaluated. Results indicate that domestic membrane A exhibits a higher flux than imported membrane B, while their rejection rates are comparable. However, imported membrane B demonstrates superior anti-fouling performance relative to domestic membrane A. Notably, domestic membrane A possesses higher hydrophilicity, electronegativity, roughness, and mechanical strength compared to imported membrane B. In contrast, the surface of imported membrane B contains a greater variety of acyl chloride and amine groups than that of domestic membrane A. This study provides valuable insights for advancing domestic RO membrane technology by elucidating the performance and structural differences between domestic and imported membranes.
  • JIA Huiling, ZHANG Cuiling, LIN Xidan, SHANG Zhidong, HE Yichen
    2026, 52(5): 114-119.
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    To achieve efficient treatment of Direct Black 22 in printing and dyeing wastewater, the inorganic flocculant polysilicate aluminum magnesium (PSAM) was prepared via a composite copolymerization method. Single-factor experiments were used to optimize the preparation conditions of PSAM. Subsequently, PSAM was combined with cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) to fabricate the polysilicate aluminum magnesium-cationic polyacrylamide (PSAM-CPAM) flocculant. This study investigated the effects of the PSAM-CPAM blending ratio, dosage, and coexisting ions on the removal of Direct black 22. The structures of PSAM and PSAM-CPAM flocs were characterized using fractal dimension analysis, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and the flocculation mechanisms of PSAM and PSAM-CPAM were explored. Results showed that the optimal preparation conditions for PSAM-CPAM are as follows: molar ratio of n(Mg + Al) : n(Si) = 1:1, n(Mg) : n(Al) = 1:4, pH = 4, temperature = 20 °C, polymerization time = 2.5 h, and mass ratio of m(PSAM) : m(CPAM) = 5:5. Under these conditions, the removal rate of Direct Black 22 by PSAM-CPAM reached 96.58%, which is 15.37% higher than that by PSAM alone. The surface of PSAM-CPAM flocs exhibited a rough, irregular network structure with a compact morphology and strong adhesion. FTIR spectra of PSAM-CPAM flocs showed characteristic absorption peaks of both PSAM and CPAM, indicating that PSAM-CPAM flocs are products of interactions between PSAM and CPAM. A larger fractal dimension of the flocs corresponded to a denser structure and better settling performance. Additionally, coexisting substances such as Fe3+, CO32-, HCO3-, and H2PO4- had adverse effects on the removal of Direct black 22.
  • GONG Enhui, WU Daoji
    2026, 52(5): 120-127.
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    Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), owing to their high stability and bioaccumulation potential, have become typical micropollutants in aquatic environments, necessitating efficient removal technologies. In this study, four commercial nanofiltration (NF) membranes (EQC, NF90, NF30, NF270) were systematically evaluated for their PFAS removal performance and underlying mechanisms. The membranes were characterized by SEM, AFM, FTIR, and XPS to analyze structural and chemical properties, while contact angle and zeta potential measurements were used to assess hydrophilicity and surface charge. PEG rejection tests were further conducted to determine MWCO and pore size distribution. The results showed that PFAS rejection efficiencies followed the order EQC>NF30>NF270>NF90. A strong positive correlation between PFAS molecular weight and rejection confirmed size exclusion as the dominant mechanism, while surface charge and hydrophilicity played synergistic roles in short-chain PFAS removal. The EQC membrane, due to its smaller pore size and moderate surface properties, exhibited the highest removal efficiency while demonstrating excellent antifouling characteristics, thereby showing strong potential for engineering applications. This study provides insights into the mechanisms of PFAS rejection by NF membranes and offers guidance for membrane material optimization and practical water treatment applications.
  • YANG Xianyi, MO Yayuan, LIAO Tingping, CHEN Qiuyi
    2026, 52(5): 128-135.
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    A green sodium alginate/polyethyleneimine composite membrane (SA/PEI membrane) was synthesized by double cross-linking sodium alginate and polyethyleneimine as raw materials. The adsorption properties of the SA/PEI membrane for Mo(VI) were investigated through batch adsorption experiments, focusing on factors such as initial pH, adsorption kinetics, adsorption isotherms, adsorption thermodynamics, cyclic regeneration stability and coexisting ion experiments. Additionally, the physicochemical properties and adsorption mechanism of the SA/PEI membrane were analyzed using characterization techniques including FTIR, SEM-EDS, and XPS. The results indicated that the SA/PEI membrane exhibited optimal Mo(VI) adsorption at pH 3. The Langmuir adsorption model and the proposed secondary kinetic model can well describe the adsorption of Mo(Ⅵ) on the SA/PEI membrane, indicating that the adsorption is in the form of monomolecular layer adsorption and the adsorption rate is mainly controlled by chemical reaction. The maximum adsorption capacity was found to be 358.692 mg/g. Based on the FTIR and XPS characterization results, the adsorption of Mo(VI) on the SA/PEI membrane primarily occurs through electrostatic attraction and coordination reactions. This study presents an environmentally friendly method with high removal efficiency and excellent adsorption capacity for the treatment of molybdenum ions in water.
  • ZHU Jie, WANG Jiahong
    2026, 52(5): 136-144.
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    In order to prepare ozone oxidation catalysts with convenient recycling, simple method, high activity and stability, a copper-based catalyst (ACF-Cu) was prepared by one-step electrode-position method. The optimal conditions for its preparation and characterization by SEM, XRD, Raman and XPS were investigated, and the catalytic activity and stability of the catalyst in the degradation of Sulfamethazine (SMT) were also investigated, and the catalytic ozone oxidation degradation mechanism was explored. The results show that the optimal conditions for catalyst preparation are: Cu2+ concentration of 2 mmol/L, electrodeposition voltage of 5 V, and electro-deposition time of 5 min are the optimal conditions for catalyst preparation. The characteristic peaks belonging to Cu and Cu oxides can be observed by SEM, XRD, Raman and XPS, which proves that Cu was successfully loaded onto CF. The materials prepared under the optimal conditions showed 89.82% degradation efficiency and 57.69% mineralization of SMT after 10 min of reaction. The optimal reaction conditions 5.4 g/L catalyst dosing, 30 mL/min ozone flow rate, and initial pH 7.0. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy and quenching experiments demonstrate that ·OH, ·O2-, and 1O2 are present in the reaction system and participate in the reaction. The SMT and SMT intermediates were detected by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LS-MC), and four degradation pathways was described. Meanwhile, the catalyst cycling test showed that the degradation efficiency of the CF-Cu catalyst cycled for five times decreased from 84.71% to 77.99%, it has excellent catalytic stability and reusability.
  • AO Xiang, SONG Chenhao, CHEN Yubao, ZHANG Wei*
    2026, 52(5): 145-151.
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    This study investigates the enhancement mechanism of biochar prepared by steam explosion pretreatment for [Cr(VI)] removal from wastewater. Using discarded tobacco stalks as the raw material, response surface methodology (RSM) was employed to optimize the steam explosion conditions. Results indicated that the resulting biochar (designated as QBBC-5) exhibited the optimal Cr(VI) removal performance under the optimized conditions: steam explosion pressure = 0.5 MPa, pressure maintenance time = 5 min, pyrolysis temperature=500 ℃ , pyrolysis holding time = 3 h, and heating rate = 15 ℃/min. Compared with biochar prepared without steam explosion pretreatment, QBBC-5 achieved a Cr(VI) removal rate exceeding 90% under the following conditions: pH = 2, biochar dosage > 0.1 g, adsorption temperature=35 ℃, and adsorption time > 200 min. Characterizations via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) revealed that steam explosion significantly improved the pore structure and specific surface area of the biochar, endowing it with superior multilayer adsorption performance. Adsorption isotherm and thermodynamic analyses suggested that the adsorption process was non-spontaneous, endothermic, and accompanied by a reduction in entropy. This study provides novel insights and technical references for the resource utilization of discarded tobacco stalks and the treatment of Cr(VI)-contaminated wastewater.
  • WANG Man, CHEN Juanjuan, DAI Shiyu, ZHONG Chongjun, CHEN Gong
    2026, 52(5): 152-158.
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    Against the backdrop of the advancing "Dual Carbon" strategy, underground wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have become critical components in the low-carbon transformation of urban environmental infrastructure. Comprehensive performance evaluation and optimization of different treatment processes are therefore essential. This study conducted a systematic multi-objective comparison of three mainstream processes—AAO with high-efficiency sedimentation tank, AAOAO with V-type filter, and AAOA with MBR—implemented in two typical underground WWTPs in southern China, assessing their treatment efficiency, operational cost, and carbon emission intensity. The results reveal distinct characteristics of each process: the AAOAO + V-type filter process demonstrated advantages in nitrogen removal efficiency, operational economy , and carbon emission intensity . The AAO + high-efficiency sedimentation tank exhibited strong phosphorus removal capability but higher sludge production. The MBR process showed significant benefits in terms of compact footprint and stable control of effluent suspended solids; however, its higher energy and chemical consumption led to increased operational cost and carbon emission intensity. Process selection should involve multi-dimensional trade-offs considering site constraints, energy and resource limitations, and low-carbon objectives. Furthermore, this study proposes tailored improvement strategies focusing on operational resilience, energy mix optimization, and carbon source management, providing theoretical and technical support for process selection and low-carbon operation of WWTPs.
  • ZENG Junhan, JI Xiaopeng, LI Yong, PENG Wang, HE Qiuhong, PANG Weiliang
    2026, 52(5): 159-164.
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    Pilot-scale structural modification was conducted on the cyclone sedimentation tank of a sewage treatment plant to investigate changes in sand removal performance before and after the modification. Long-term sampling and monitoring were performed for key indicators (influent and effluent total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), and sand content) of the cyclone sedimentation tank, supplemented by sediment particle size analysis and actual sand output data from the on-site sand-water separator, to systematically evaluate the sand removal performance of the tank pre- and post-modification. Results showed that the average particle size of effluent sand from the modified cyclone sedimentation tank was smaller than that before modification, decreasing from 73.23 µm to 61.74 µm—significantly enhancing the removal efficiency of large-sized sand particles. After modification, the cyclone sedimentation tank reduced the influent TSS concentration from 476.0 mg/L to 416.5 mg/L, with the sand removal rate increasing by 3.6%. The on-site actual sand output increased remarkably, with a cumulative removal of 2 539.83 kg of sand and sediment in July. This effectively reduced the loss of sand particles to subsequent treatment stage equipment, lowering the maintenance costs of the sewage treatment plant. This study provides a technical reference for improving the sand removal efficiency of cyclone sedimentation tanks in municipal sewage treatment plants.