Odorous sediments containing volatile organic sulfur compounds (VOSCs) are a common issue in shallow water reservoirs globally. Volatile organic sulfur compounds are a typical class of malodorous substances that have attracted widespread attention due to their pungent odors and extremely low odor thresholds. The insufficient hydrodynamic conditions in the reservoir area lead to the accumulation of pollutants in the sediment, where biochemical reactions occur at the sediment–water interface, serving as a significant source of foul-smelling substances in the water body. This study analyzed sediment samples from 10 locations across a shallow water reservoir using flavor profile analysis, an electronic nose, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The predominant odor types were earthy/musty and putrid/septic, with key odorants being VOSCs, 2-methylisoborneol, and geosmin. The results revealed VOSCs from organic matter account for up to 96.7% of odor activity. More importantly, concentrations and release fluxes of VOSCs consistently decrease along the water flow direction from dam regions to tail regions. This trend matches organic matter accumulation patterns in shallow reservoirs and highlights dam areas as hotspots for malodorous sediment. The generalized spatial distribution pattern and identification of key malodorous compounds establish a basis for understanding and managing odor issues in shallow freshwater reservoir sediments.

A novel strain capable of fully utilizing p-nitrophenol (PNP) as the sole carbon source under high-salinity conditions was isolated from the sediments of wastewater discharged from an aquaculture company. The identification of the strain as Bordetella sp. was confirmed by analyzing its morphological, physiological, and biochemical traits in conjunction with its 16S rDNA sequence. Furthermore, pantothenic acid, serving as a carbon source for co-metabolites, could significantly enhance the biodegradation process of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. Under the optimal growth conditions at a temperature of 30 °C, pH of 8.0, aeration of 0.32 m³·(m³·min)⁻¹ and salinity of 3% (NaCl, w/v), the degradation rate of 350 mg·L⁻¹ PNP increased from 60.8% to 85.9% within 72 h after adding 30 mg·L⁻¹ of pantothenic acid to a 12-liter bioreactor. The intermediate products from the degradation process, analyzed via GC/MS, were determined to be hydroquinone, which suggests that the degradation pathway of the bacterium for PNP involves the breakdown of hydroquinone. Benefits have been derived from the microorganism’s tolerance to high salinity and high PNP concentrations, coupled with its superior PNP degradation performance, offering new insights and a research basis for the efficient biological treatment of high-salinity PNP wastewater.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are promising candidates for many applications, particularly catalysis. However, the development of highly active MOFs with controlled defective structures and components still remains a significant challenge. Herein, we report a new and versatile CVD-induced corrosion strategy for the reconstruction of defective Fe-MOFs through persulfate gasification. Strong confined interactions between guests and Fe nodes realized the reconstruction of the crystal structure and allowed the introduction of a heteroatom. With this novel approach, a uniform dispersion of defects and a perfect metallic/heteroatom interface were obtained. This simultaneous structural engineering method that could utilize SO₂ emissions successfully led MIL-53(Fe) to exhibit superior activity for photocatalytic oxidation (TOFs as high as 2.287 h⁻¹). DFT calculations coupled with experimental evidence revealed that the performance was triggered by the synergistic catalysis of abundant sulfur and oxygen vacancies on the defective (100) crystal face. This unique “waste-to-treasure” approach significantly boosts catalytic efficiency while harnessing valuable resource from waste gas, offering a practical pathway for advanced oxidation.

To address the slow growth rate of photosynthetic bacteria (PSB), this study introduces pantothenic acid as a biological enhancing factor. The effects of pantothenic acid on PSB proliferation and its effectiveness in treating high-concentration ammonia–nitrogen wastewater were systematically evaluated. Additionally, the effects of different culture conditions, including dark aeration, darkness, light exposure, and light aeration, on PSB growth were investigated. The results show that optimal PSB growth was achieved with 20 mg/L of pantothenic acid; however, higher concentrations of pantothenic acid inhibited bacterial growth. The addition of pantothenic acid also significantly enhanced the performance of PSB in treating high-concentration organic wastewater, increasing the removal rates of COD, ammonia nitrogen, total phosphorus, and total nitrogen to 43.0%, 94.0%, 49.7%, and 51.0%, respectively. Furthermore, a synergistic effect between dark aeration and light exposure was observed. When the time of light and dark aeration was set at 1:1, the highest PSB yield was recorded, and the removal efficiencies of COD, ammonia nitrogen, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus increased to 71.4%, 95.3%, 57.1%, and 74.7%, respectively. Through the introduction of pantothenic acid and optimization of culture mode, the rapid growth of PSB and highly efficient treatment of organic wastewater were achieved, providing a new approach for advanced wastewater treatment and resource utilization.

Tidal dynamics substantially govern nearshore circulation patterns. The discharge of sewage at different tidal stages may have a significant impact on the dilution of pollutants. However, discussions on tidal phase sewage discharge strategy are still rare. This study focuses on the narrow tidal passage in the Ningbo-Zhoushan sea area, which receives a large amount of coastal wastewater, but the role of the unique hydrodynamic processes in the dilution of pollutants in this region remains unclear. By using a combination of on-site measurements and the FVCOM-dye simulation method, the scenario of high-concentration sewage retention in the tidal passage was demonstrated. The coastal residual circulation formed by strong tidal currents confined over 78% of the tracers within a 3 km range near the shore, and a subsurface dye accumulation zone emerged along the 25–50 m isobaths. Monsoon transitions regulated pollution plumes, inducing 5–8% seasonal variability in pollution footprints controlled by wind-tide-stratification interplay. The tidal phase discharge strategy was revealed to be highly effective in this study; both submerged discharge in deep-water zones and intermittent discharge strategies implemented in shallow-water zones significantly reduce the spatial coverage of high-concentration sewage plumes. Our findings highlight the importance of formulating discharge strategies based on tidal phases in typical narrow and deep tidal passages.