The abstract is read at the publisher; the summary is JClub's.
In aerobic granular sludge, Ps-NPs binding to EPS (binding constant 4.57×10^2 L/mol) is linked to the highest Cu2+ removal efficiency of 79.27% under combined nanoplastic and copper stress.
- Why it matters: Coexisting micro/nanoplastics and heavy metals can disrupt sludge structure and treatment performance, but the EPS-mediated mechanisms and how particle size changes responses remain unclear.
- What they did: The study compared operational performance, EPS characteristics, and transcriptional responses in AGS reactors exposed to polystyrene microplastics or nanoplastics combined with Cu2+. It quantified EPS binding and assessed nitrogen removal and gene expression changes across stress stages.
- The result: Under Ps-NPs + Cu2+, ammonia nitrogen removal fell to 75.46% by the end of Stage II, while denitrification was significantly inhibited at high concentrations. Transcriptomics indicated compensation via synergistic upregulation of nitrogen metabolism genes and regulation of EPS synthesis genes to strengthen biofilm barrier function.
The findingWhy it mattersWhat they didThe result
AI summary of the abstract · may contain errors · not medical advice · read the paper.