Optimizing ozone treatment for pathogen removal and disinfection by-product control for potable reuse at pilot-scale.

Reclaimed water poses environmental and human health risks due to residual organic micropollutants and pathogens. Ozonation of reclaimed water to control pathogens and trace organics is an important step in advanced water treatment systems for potable reuse of reclaimed water. Ensuring efficient pathogen reduction while controlling disinfection byproducts remains a significant challenge to implementing ozonation in reclaimed water reuse applications. This study aimed to investigate ozonation conditions using a plug flow reactor (PFR) to achieve effective pathogen removal/inactivation while minimizing bromate and N-Nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) formation. The pilot scale study was conducted using three doses of ozone (0.7, 1.0 and 1.4 ozone/total organic carbon (O3/TOC) ratio) to determine the disinfection performance using actual reclaimed water. The disinfection efficiency was assessed by measuring total coliforms, Escherichia coli (E. coli), Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV), Tomato Brown Rugose Fruit Virus (ToBRFV) and Norovirus (HNoV). The ozone CT values ranged from 1.60 to 13.62 mg min L-1, resulting in significant reductions in pathogens and indicators. Specifically, ozone treatment led to concentration reductions of 2.46-2.89, 2.03-2.18, 0.46-1.63, 2.23-2.64 and > 4 log for total coliforms, E. coli, PMMoV, ToBRFV, and HNoV, respectively. After ozonation, concentrations of bromate and NDMA increased, reaching levels between 2.8 and 12.0 µg L-1, and 28-40.0 ng L-1, respectively, for average feed water bromide levels of 86.7 ± 1.8 µg L-1 and TOC levels of 7.2 ± 0.1 mg L-1. The increases in DBP formation were pronounced with higher ozone dosages, possibly requiring removal/control in subsequent treatment steps in some potable reuse applications.

A highly specific colorimetric fluorescent probe for rapid detection of hypobromous acid and its application in the environment.

The highly reactive hypobromous acid (HOBr), which is generated after chlorination process of tap water, acts as a precursor of toxic brominated disinfection by-products (Br-DBPs) and further reacts with organic matter. In addition, HOBr produced from the oxidation of Br- during the degradation of pollutants by peroxymonosulfate (PMS, HSO5-) can be considered as the cause of the expedited degradation of pollutants. Therefore, it is particularly important to detect HOBr level in the water environment. Resazurin was selected as a fluorescent probe for selective recognition of HOBr in the water environment. The probe exhibited excellent spectral performance and showed high sensitivity to HOBr (LOD = 515 nM). This method has a relatively ideal recovery rate for HOBr detection in environmental water samples. Furthermore, the HOBr production during the chlorination disinfection process was simulated and the HOBr generated from this process was detected by the probe. Importantly, the process of HOBr recognition by the probe is accompanied by the change of color. Based on this, the relationship between the change of color B/G value and HOBr concentration was successfully constructed. The probe was loaded on the filter paper to make a test strip, which was utilized to the detection of HOBr. Collectively, this work provided a promising and powerful method for HOBr detection in the environment.

Adsorption-coupled Fenton type reduction of bromate in water by high-yield polymer-derived ceramic-supported nano-zerovalent iron.

Nano-zerovalent iron (nZVI) is a promising material for the removal of both organic and inorganic pollutants from contaminated water. This study investigates the potential of a novel composite of nZVI on a polymer-derived supporting ceramic (nZVI-PDC) synthesized via the liquid-phase reduction method for the simultaneous adsorption and Fenton-type reduction of bromate anion (BrO3-) in water. The nZVI nanoparticles were effectively anchored onto the PDC by impregnating high-yield carbon in a ferrous sulfate solution. The PDC facilitated the uniform dispersion of nZVI nanoparticles due to its multiple active sites distributed within mesocarbon cavities. The developed nZVI-PDC composite exhibited a high specific surface area of 837 m2 g-1 and an ordered mesoporous structure with a pore volume of 0.37 cm3 g-1. As an adsorbent, the nZVI-PDC composite exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity (qe) of 842 mg g-1 and a partition coefficient (KH) of 10.2 mg g-1 µM-1, as calculated by the pseudo-second-order model. As a catalyst, the composite demonstrated a reaction kinetic rate of 43.5 µmol g-1 h-1 within 6 h at pH 4, using a dosage of 60 mg L-1 nZVI-PDC and a concentration of 0.8 mmol L-1 H2O2. Comparatively, PDC exhibited a qe of 408 mg g-1, KH of 1.67 mg g-1 µM-1, and a reaction rate of 20.8 µmol g-1 h-1, while nZVI showed a qe of 456 mg g-1, KH of 2.30 mg g-1 µM-1, and a reaction rate of 27.2 µmol g-1 h-1. The modelling indicated that the nZVI-PDC composite followed pseudo-second-order kinetics. The remarkable removal efficiency of the nZVI-PDC composite was attributed to the synergistic effects between PDC and nZVI, where PDC facilitated charge transfer, promoting Fe2+ generation and the Fe3+/Fe2+ cycle. Overall, this work introduces a promising adsorption technology for the efficient removal of BrO3- from contaminated aqueous solutions, highlighting the significant potential of the nZVI-PDC composite in water purification applications.

Suppressing Organic Bromine but Promoting Bromate: Is the Ultraviolet/Ozone Process a Double-Edged Sword for the Toxicity of Wastewater to Mammalian Cells?

Brominated byproducts and toxicity generation are critical issues for ozone application to wastewater containing bromide. This study demonstrated that ultraviolet/ozone (UV/O3, 100 mJ/cm2, 1 mg-O3/mg-DOC) reduced the cytotoxicity of wastewater from 14.2 mg of pentol/L produced by ozonation to 4.3 mg of pentol/L (1 mg/L bromide, pH 7.0). The genotoxicity was also reduced from 1.65 to 0.17 µg-4-NQO/L by UV/O3. Compared with that of O3 alone, adsorbable organic bromine was reduced from 25.8 to 5.3 µg/L by UV/O3, but bromate increased from 32.9 to 71.4 µg/L. The UV/O3 process enhanced the removal of pre-existing precursors (highly unsaturated and phenolic compounds and poly aromatic hydrocarbons), while new precursors were generated, yet the combined effect of UV/O3 on precursors did not result in a significant change in toxicity. Instead, UV radiation inhibited HOBr concentration through both rapid O3 decomposition to reduce HOBr production and decomposition of the formed HOBr, thus suppressing the AOBr formation. However, the hydroxyl radical-dominated pathway in UV/O3 led to a significant increase of bromate. Considering both organic bromine and bromate, the UV/O3 process effectively controlled both cytotoxicity and genotoxicity of wastewater to mammalian cells, even though an emphasis should be also placed on managing elevated bromate. Futhermore, other end points are needed to evaluate the toxicity outcomes of the UV/O3 process.

p-Coumaric acid pronounced protective effect against potassium bromate-induced hepatic damage in Swiss albino mice.

Potassium bromate (KBrO3) is a common dietary additive, pharmaceutical ingredient, and significant by-product of water disinfection. p-coumaric acid (PCA) is a naturally occurring nutritional polyphenolic molecule with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities. The goal of the current investigation was to examine the protective effects of p-coumaric acid against the liver damage caused by KBrO3. The five groups of animals-control, KBrO3 (100 mg/kg bw), treatment with KBrO3 along with Silymarin (100 mg/kg bw), KBrO3, followed by PCA (100 mg/bw, and 200 mg/kg bw) were randomly assigned to the animals. Mice were slaughtered, and blood and liver tissues were taken for assessment of the serum biochemical analysis for markers of liver function (alanine transaminase, aspartate transaminase, alkaline phosphatase, albumin, and protein), lipid markers and antioxidant markers (TBARS), glutathione peroxidase [GSH-Px], glutathione (GSH), and markers of hepatic oxidative stress (CAT), (SOD), as well as histological H&E stain, immunohistochemical stain iNOS, and COX-2 as markers of inflammatory cytokines. PCA protects against acute liver failure by preventing the augmentation of blood biochemical markers and lipid profiles. In mice liver tissues, KBrO3 increases lipid indicators and depletes antioxidants, leading to an increase in JNK, ERK, and p38 phosphorylation. Additionally, PCA inhibited the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines and reduced the histological alterations in KBrO3-induced hepatotoxicity. Notably, PCA effectively mitigated KBrO3-induced hepatic damage by obstructing the TNF-α/NF-kB-mediated inflammatory process signaling system. Additionally, in KBrO3-induced mice, PCA increased the intensities of hepatic glutathione (GSH), SOD, GSH-Px, catalase, and GSH activities. Collectively, we demonstrate the molecular evidence that PCA eliminated cellular inflammatory conditions, mitochondrial oxidative stress, and the TNF-α/NF-κB signaling process, thereby preventing KBrO3-induced hepatocyte damage.

Rapid detection of hypobromous acid by a tetraphenylethylene-based turn-on fluorescent AIE probe and its applications.

BACKGROUND: Similar to hypochlorous acid (HClO), hypobromous acid (HBrO) is one of the most notable reactive oxygen species (ROS). Overexpression of HBrO is linked to various diseases causing organ and tissue loss. Due to HBrO's role in the oxidation of micropollutants, real-time monitoring of HBrO in water-based systems is essential. Tetraphenylethylene (TPE)-based organic aggregation-induced emission luminophores (AIEgens) are an emerging category of fluorescent probe materials that have attracted considerable attentions. However, AIE probes are rarely applied to detect HBrO. Developing faster, more precise, and more sensitive AIE probes is thus crucial for detecting biological and environmental HBrO. RESULTS: A small molecule fluorescent probe 4-(1,2,2-triphenylvinyl)benzamidoxime (SWJT-21) was synthesized for the sensitive and selective detection of hypobromous acid (HBrO) based on aggregation-induced emission (AIE). The amidoxime unit of SWJT-21 would undergo an oxidation reaction with HBrO, leading to a structure differentiation between the probe and the product, and therefore the turn-on fluorescence by the AIE effect. The probe could recognize hypobromous acid rapidly (less than 3 s) in high aqueous phase (99 % water) with a turn-on fluorescence response. It was determined that the limit of detection for HBrO was 5.47 nM. Moreover, SWJT-21 demonstrates potential as a test strip for the detection of HBrO. SWJT-21 was also successfully used for the monitoring of HBrO in water samples and for the detection of endogenous/exogenous HBrO in living cells and zebrafish. SIGNIFICANCE: A special AIE fluorescence turn-on probe SWJT-21 based on tetraphenylethylene was designed for detecting HBrO in the environmental and biological systems. This probe has an extremely low detection limit of 5.47 nM and is able to detect HBrO in 99 % aqueous phase in less than 3 s.

Chlorite and bromate alter the conjugative transfer of antibiotic resistance genes: Co-regulation of oxidative stress and energy supply.

The widespread use of disinfectants during the global response to the 2019 coronavirus pandemic has increased the co-occurrence of disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Although DBPs pose major threats to public health globally, there is limited knowledge regarding their biological effects on ARGs. This study aimed to investigate the effects of two inorganic DBPs (chlorite and bromate) on the conjugative transfer of RP4 plasmid among Escherichia coli strains at environmentally relevant concentrations. Interestingly, the frequency of conjugative transfer was initially inhibited when the exposure time to chlorite or bromate was less than 24 h. However, this inhibition transformed into promotion when the exposure time was extended to 36 h. Short exposures to chlorite or bromate were shown to impede the electron transport chain, resulting in an ATP shortage and subsequently inhibiting conjugative transfer. Consequently, this stimulates the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and activation of the SOS response. Upon prolonged exposure, the resurgent energy supply promoted conjugative transfer. These findings offer novel and valuable insights into the effects of environmentally relevant concentrations of inorganic DBPs on the conjugative transfer of ARGs, thereby providing a theoretical basis for the management of DBPs.

Underestimated role of hydroxyl radicals for bromate formation in persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes.

In persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs), sulfate radicals (SO4•-) have been recognized to play more important roles in inducing bromate (BrO3-) formation rather than hydroxyl radicals (HO•) because of the stronger oxidation capacity of the former. However, this study reported an opposite result that HO• indeed dominated the formation of bromate instead of SO4•-. Quenching experiments were coupled with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) detection and chemical probe identification to elucidate the contributions of each radical species. The comparison of different thermal activated persulfates (PDS and PMS) demonstrated that the significant higher bromate formation in HEAT/PMS ([BrO3-]/[Br-]0 = 0.8), as compared to HEAT/PDS ([BrO3-]/[Br-]0 = 0.2), was attributable to the higher concentration of HO• radicals in HEAT/PMS. Similarly, the bromate formation in UV/PDS ([BrO3-]/[Br-]0 = 1.0), with a high concentration of HO•, further underscored the dominant role of HO•. As a result, we quantified that HO• and SO4•- radicals accounted 66.7% and 33.3% for bromate formation. This controversial result can be reconciled by considering the critical intermediate, hypobromic acid/hypobromate (HOBr/BrO-), involved in the transformation of Br- to BrO3-. HO• radicals have the chemical preference to induce the formation of HOBr/BrO- intermediates (contributing âˆ¼ 60%) relative to SO4•- radicals (contributing âˆ¼ 40%). This study highlighted the dominant role of HO• in the formation of bromate rather than SO4•- in PS-AOPs and potentially offered novel insights for reducing disinfection byproduct formation by controlling the radical species in AOPs.

Coupling of a streamlined solid-liquid extraction protocol with LC-ESI-MS/MS for the regular oversight of illegal bromate additive use: An accurate and sensitive determination method in preliminary and bakery products.

A reliable solid-liquid extraction protocol coupled with liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-tandem mass spectrometry in the negative-ion mode was developed and validated for illegal bromate determination in preliminary and bakery products. Crude and dried-treated samples were directly extracted with acetonitrile-water (4:1, v/v). Bromate was determined using a Phenomenex Synergi™ Polar reversed-phase column and MS/MS under multiple reaction monitoring. The chosen solvent efficiently extracted bromate with all applied extraction-assisting techniques (p > 0.05). Although this assay avoids cleanup procedures, matrix effect of <-11% was achieved. Rapid bromate separation in only 8 min was attained by a reversed-phase column. In both commodities, linearity range, R2, recovery%, repeatability, intermediate precision, LOD and LOQ results were 0.05-100 ng mL-1, >0.9999, 88.6-103%, 2.93-9.80% and 9.64-10.10%, 0.015 µg kg-1 and 0.05 µg kg-1, respectively. Out of 288 tested real samples, 13.9% of violations were observed. This high-sensitivity protocol offers effective oversight and consumer protection.

Identification of tyrosine brominated extracellular matrix proteins in normal and fibrotic lung tissues.

Peroxidasin (PXDN) is a secreted heme peroxidase that catalyzes the oxidative crosslinking of collagen IV within the extracellular matrix (ECM) via intermediate hypobromous acid (HOBr) synthesis from hydrogen peroxide and bromide, but recent findings have also suggested alternative ECM protein modifications by PXDN, including incorporation of bromide into tyrosine residues. In this work, we sought to identify the major target proteins for tyrosine bromination by HOBr or by PXDN-mediated oxidation in ECM from mouse teratocarcinoma PFHR9 cells. We detected 61 bromotyrosine (BrY)-containing peptides representing 23 proteins in HOBr-modified ECM from PFHR9 cells, among which laminins displayed the most prominent bromotyrosine incorporation. Moreover, we also found that laminin α1, laminin ß1, and tubulointerstitial nephritis antigen-like (TINAGL1) contained BrY in untreated PFHR9 cells, which depended on PXDN. We extended these analyses to lung tissues from both healthy mice and mice with experimental lung fibrosis, and in lung tissues obtained from human subjects. Analysis of ECM-enriched mouse lung tissue extracts showed that 83 ECM proteins were elevated in bleomycin-induced fibrosis, which included various collagens and laminins, and PXDN. Similarly, mRNA and protein expression of PXDN and laminin α/ß1 were enhanced in fibrotic mouse lung tissues, and also in mouse bone-marrow-derived macrophages or human fibroblasts stimulated with transforming growth factor ß1, a profibrotic growth factor. We identified 11 BrY-containing ECM proteins, including collagen IV α2, collagen VI α1, TINAGL1, and various laminins, in both healthy and mouse fibrotic lung tissues, although the relative extent of tyrosine bromination of laminins was not significantly increased during fibrosis. Finally, we also identified 7 BrY-containing ECM proteins in human lung tissues, again including collagen IV α2, collagen VI α1, and TINAGL1. Altogether, this work demonstrates the presence of several bromotyrosine-modified ECM proteins, likely involving PXDN, even in normal lung tissues, suggesting a potential biological function for these modifications.

In Situ Imaging of GGT and HOBr-Triggered Atherosclerotic Plaque Rupture via Activating the RunX2/Col IV Signaling Pathway.

Calcification and abnormal collagen deposition within blood vessels constitute causative factors for atherosclerotic plaque rupture, and their occurrence is intimately linked with γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) and hypobromous acid (HOBr). However, the underlying regulatory mechanisms of GGT and HOBr in plaque rupture remain unclear. Hence, we developed a dual-responsive near-infrared (NIR) fluorescent probe (BOC-H) that effectively avoids spectral crosstalk for the in situ visualization of the fluctuations in GGT and HOBr levels during atherosclerotic plaque rupture. We found that both GGT and HOBr contents increase significantly in the calcification models of cells and animals. The overexpressed GGT participated in intracellular oxygen-promoting behavior, which obviously upregulated the expression of RunX2 and Col IV by facilitating H2O2 and HOBr secretion. This process triggered calcification and abnormal collagen deposition within the plaque, which raised the risk of plaque rupture. PM2.5-induced arteriosclerotic calcification models further verified the results that GGT and HOBr accelerate plaque rupture via activation of the RunX2/Col IV signaling pathway. Moreover, the assessment of GGT and HOBr in serum samples from patients with acute myocardial infarction further confirmed the co-regulation of GGT and HOBr in the plaque rupture. Together, our studies highlight the involvement of GGT and HOBr in driving plaque rupture and offer new targets for the prevention and treatment of acute cardiovascular disease.

Possible contribution of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine to gene mutations in the kidney DNA of gpt delta rats following potassium bromate treatment.

8-Hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is well known not only as an effective biomarker of oxidative stress but also as a mutagenic DNA modification. Incorporation of dAMP at the opposite site of 8-OHdG induces G>T or A>C transversions. However, in vivo analyses of gene mutations caused by potassium bromate (KBrO3), which can induce 8-OHdG at carcinogenic target sites, showed that G>T was prominent in the small intestines of mice, but not in the kidneys of rats. Because KBrO3 was a much clearer carcinogen in the kidneys of rats, detailed analyses of gene mutations in the kidney DNA of rats treated with KBrO3 could improve our understanding of oxidative stress-mediated carcinogenesis. In the current study, site-specific reporter gene mutation assays were performed in the kidneys of gpt delta rats treated with KBrO3. Groups of 5 gpt delta rats were treated with KBrO3 at concentrations of 0, 125, 250, or 500 ppm in the drinking water for 9 weeks. At necropsy, the kidneys were macroscopically divided into the cortex and medulla. 8-OHdG levels in DNA extracted from the cortex were dramatically elevated at concentrations of 250 ppm and higher compared with those from the medulla. Cortex-specific increases in mutant frequencies in gpt and red/gam genes were found at 500 ppm. Mutation spectrum and sequence analyses of their mutants demonstrated significant elevations in A>T transversions in the gpt gene and single base deletions at guanine or adenine in the gpt or red/gam genes. While A>T transversions and single base deletions of adenine may result from the oxidized modification of adenine, the contribution of 8-OHdG to gene mutations was limited despite possible participation of the 8-OHdG repair process in guanine deletion.

Biological bromate reduction coupled with in situ gas fermentation in H2/CO2-based membrane biofilm reactor.

Bromate, a carcinogenic contaminant generated in water disinfection, presents a pressing environmental concern. While biological bromate reduction is an effective remediation approach, its implementation often necessitates the addition of organics, incurring high operational costs. This study demonstrated the efficient biological bromate reduction using H2/CO2 mixture as the feedstock. A membrane biofilm reactor (MBfR) was used for the efficient delivery of gases. Long-term reactor operation showed a high-level bromate removal efficiency of above 95 %, yielding harmless bromide as the final product. Corresponding to the short hydraulic retention time of 0.25 d, a high bromate removal rate of 4 mg Br/L/d was achieved. During the long-term operation, in situ production of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) by gas fermentation was observed, which can be regulated by controlling the gas flow. Three sets of in situ batch tests and two groups of ex situ batch tests jointly unravelled the mechanisms underpinning the efficient bromate removal, showing that the microbial bromate reduction was primarily driven by the VFAs produced from in situ gas fermentation. Microbial community analysis showed an increased abundance of Bacteroidota group from 4.0 % to 18.5 %, which is capable of performing syngas fermentation, and the presence of heterotrophic denitrifiers (e.g., Thauera and Brachymonas), which are known to perform bromate reduction. Together these results for the first time demonstrated the feasibility of using H2/CO2 mixture for bromate removal coupled with in situ VFAs production. The findings can facilitate the development of cost-effective strategies for groundwater and drinking water remediation.

Adequate nutrient intake mitigate the toxic effects of bromate on the rotifer Brachionus calyciflorus.

Bromate is receiving increased attention as a typical disinfection by-product in aquatic environments, but bromate toxicity tests on invertebrate such as Brachionus calyciflorus rotifer are inadequate. In the present study, the long-term toxicity tests on B. calyciflorus were performed during 21 days under the exposure of different bromate concentrations and two algal density conditions. Furthermore, we evaluated the feeding behaviors of the rotifers under the impact of bromate. The maximum population density of rotifers was significantly reduced at 100 and 200 mg/L bromate exposure at the two algal density conditions. However, we observed that the maximum population density and population growth rate of rotifers were higher at 3.0 × 106 cells/mL algal density than those at 1.0 × 106 cells/mL under the same conditions of bromate exposure. These results suggest that higher food density may have alleviated the negative effects of bromate on rotifers. Meanwhile, the ingestion rate at an algal density of 3.0 × 106 cells/mL was higher than that at 1.0 × 106 cells/mL. The present study provides a basic reference to comprehensively evaluate the toxic effects of bromate on aquatic organisms.

Fast detection of hypobromous acid in cells and the water environment using a lysosome-targeted fluorescent probe.

A new fluorescent probe SWJT-23 with lysosomal targeting ability for detection of hypobromous acid (HBrO) was synthesised based on the naphthalimide skeleton. This probe exhibited a fast response (within 3s), a low detection limit (1.24 nM), excellent selectivity and a high fluorescence quantum yield (Φ = 0.490). Moreover, SWJT-23 not only realized the sensitive detection of HBrO in cells and water samples, but also was fabricated as a paper-based sensor. In consequence, SWJT-23 is expected to be an efficient and powerful tool for monitoring HBrO in organisms and the environment in realistic scenarios.

A ratiometric fluorescent probe for imaging the fluctuation of HOBr during endoplasmic reticulum stress.

Endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress is closely associated with cell apoptosis, autophagy, DNA damage, metabolism, and migration. When ER stress occurs, a large number of reactive oxygen species, including hypobromous acid (HOBr), are generated. The degree of ER stress can be understood by accurately detecting the HOBr concentration in the ER. Unfortunately, no ER-targetable probes for detecting HOBr have been reported to date. To solve this problem, we developed a naphthalimide-based fluorescent probe (ER-NABr) for imaging HOBr in the ER. Upon reaction with HOBr, a red shift in the fluorescence spectrum occurs due to the difference in the molecular conjugation between the original ER-NABr and the reaction product. ER-NABr showed a fast response (within 30 s) and high selectivity towards HOBr, with a ratiometric quantitative response (5-40 µM) and high sensitivity (138 nM). With its excellent biocompatibility and remarkable ER-targetable ability, ER-NABr was successfully utilized to ratiometrically image intracellular HOBr, particularly during ER stress, which is beneficial for revealing the role of HOBr in ER-associated diseases.

Old trees bloom new flowers, lysosome targeted near-infrared fluorescent probe for ratiometric sensing of hypobromous acid in vitro and in vivo based on Nile red skeleton.

Hypobromous acid (HOBr), one of the significant reactive oxygen species (ROS) that acts as an important role in human immune system, however the increasing level of HOBr in human body can cause the disorder of eosinophils (EPO), leading to oxidative stress in organelles, and further causing a series of diseases. In this study, a ratiometric fluorescent probe DMBP based on Nile red skeleton was developed to detect HOBr specifically by the electrophilic substitution with HOBr. DMBP emits near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence at 653 nm, after reacting with HOBr, the emission wavelength of DMBP shifted blue and a new peak appeared at 520 nm, realizing a ratiometric examination of HOBr with a limit of detection of 89.00 nM. Based on its sensitive and specific response to HOBr, DMBP was applied in the visual imaging of HOBr in HepG2 cells and zebrafish. Foremost, probe DMBP has excellent lysosome targeting ability and NIR emission reduced the background interference of biological tissues, providing a potential analytical tool to further investigate the role of HOBr in lysosome.

Highly efficient reduction of bromate by vacuum UV/sulfite system.

Bromate (BrO3-), a worldwide regulated by-product after ozone disinfection, is often detected in bromide-containing water, and has a strict limit of 10 µg L-1 in potable water. BrO3- degradation by advanced reduction processes (ARPs) has gained much attention because of efficient removal and easy integration with ultraviolet disinfection (UV at 254 nm). In the vacuum UV (VUV, 185/254 nm)/sulfite system, the elimination kinetics of BrO3- increased by 9-fold and 15-fold comparing with VUV alone and UV/sulfite system. This study further demonstrated the hydrated electron (eaq-) works as the dominant species in BrO3- degradation in alkaline solution, while in the acidic solution the H• became a secondary reactive species besides eaq-. Hence, the influences of pH, sulfite concentration, dissolved gas and water matrix on effectiveness of degradation kinetics of BrO3- was explored in details. With increasing pH, the proportion of SO32- species increased and even became the major ones, which also correlated well with the kobs (min-1) of BrO3- degradation. The stability of eaq- also climbs with increasing pH, while that of H• drops significantly. Higher sulfite dosage favored a more rapid degradation of BrO3-. The presence of dissolved oxygen inhibited BrO3- removal due to the scavenging effect of O2 toward eaq- and transformed VUV/sulfite-based ARP to an advanced oxidation process (AOP), which was ineffective for BrO3- removal. BrO3- removal was inhibited to varying degrees after anions (e.g., bicarbonate (HCO3-), chloride (Cl-), nitrate (NO3-)) and humic acid (HA) being added.

Protective effects of Urtica dioica on the cerebral cortex damage induced by Potassium bromate in adult male albino rats.

Potassium bromate is used in cheese production, beer making and is also used in pharmaceutical and cosmetic. It is a proven carcinogen as it is a strong oxidizing agent that generates free radicals during xenobiotic metabolism. Urtica dioica (Ud) (from the plants' family of Urticaceae) is a plant that has long been used as a medicinal plant in many parts of the world. It has been shown to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and immunosuppressive properties. So, this study aimed to clarify the effect of Potassium bromate on the histological structure of cerebral cortex of adult male albino rats, evaluate the possible protective role of Urtica dioica. Thirty adult healthy male albino rats were divided into three groups; group I (Control group), group II (KBrO3 treated group). Group III (KBrO3 and Urtica dioica treated group).At the end of the experiment, rats in all groups were anesthetized and specimens were processed for light and electron microscope. Morphometric and statistical analyses were also performed. Nerve cells of the treated group showed irregular contours, dark nuclei, irregular nuclear envelopes, dilated RER cisternae, and mitochondria with ruptured cristae. Vacuolated neuropil was also observed. Immunohistochemically, stained sections for GFAP showed strong positive reaction in the processes of astrocytes. Recovery group showed revealed nearly the same as the histological picture as the control group. In conclusion, potassium bromate induces degenerative effects on neurons of cerebral cortex and urtica dioica provide an important neuroprotective effects against these damaging impacts through their antioxidant properties.

Evolution of the Bromate Electrolyte Composition in the Course of Its Electroreduction inside a Membrane-Electrode Assembly with a Proton-Exchange Membrane.

The passage of cathodic current through the acidized aqueous bromate solution (catholyte) leads to a negative shift of the average oxidation degree of Br atoms. It means a distribution of Br-containing species in various oxidation states between -1 and +5, which are mutually transformed via numerous protonation/deprotonation, chemical, and redox/electrochemical steps. This process is also accompanied by the change in the proton (H+) concentration, both due to the participation of H+ ions in these steps and due to the H+ flux through the cation-exchange membrane separating the cathodic and anodic compartments. Variations of the composition of the catholyte concentrations of all these components has been analyzed for various initial concentrations of sulfuric acid, cA0 (0.015-0.3 M), and two values of the total concentrations of Br atoms inside the system, ctot (0.1 or 1.0 M of Br atoms), as functions of the average Br-atom oxidation degree, x, under the condition of the thermodynamic equilibrium of the above transformations. It is shown that during the exhaustion of the redox capacity of the catholyte (x pass from 5 to -1), the pH value passes through a maximum. Its height and the corresponding average oxidation state of bromine atoms depend on the initial bromate/acid ratio. The constructed algorithm can be used to select the initial acid content in the bromate catholyte, which is optimal from the point of view of preventing the formation of liquid bromine at the maximum content of electroactive compounds.