The recovery of biopolymers, particularly alginate-like extracellular polymers, from municipal sludge represents a promising step toward sustainable sludge treatment practices. Originating from wastewater plants in complexly polluted environments, alginate-like extracellular polymers carry potential environmental risks concerning their reuse. This study employs ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry to investigate the distribution coefficients and occurrence of alginate-like extracellular polymers and sulfamethoxazole. Results demonstrate a negative distribution coefficient, suggesting an inhibitory effect on sulfamethoxazole dissolution. The ethanol-extracted alginate-like extracellular polymers exhibits higher sulfamethoxazole levels (approximately 52%) than those obtained via dialysis extraction. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix analysis and adsorption studies indicate the absence of tyrosine-like substances in the alginate-like extracellular polymers, unlike in other extracellular polymeric substances. This absence diminishes hydrophobic interactions, highlighting that electrostatic interactions play a more important role. These insights are crucial for understanding the adsorption behavior of alginate-like extracellular polymers and optimizing their large-scale extraction processes.

中文翻译：

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剩余污泥藻酸盐类胞外聚合物中磺胺甲恶唑的存在及机制


从城市污泥中回收生物聚合物，特别是藻酸盐类细胞外聚合物，代表着朝着可持续污泥处理实践迈出了有希望的一步。类藻酸盐细胞外聚合物源自复杂污染环境中的废水处理厂，其再利用具有潜在的环境风险。本研究采用超高效液相色谱-串联质谱法研究藻酸盐类细胞外聚合物和磺胺甲恶唑的分配系数和出现情况。结果显示负分配系数，表明对磺胺甲恶唑溶出有抑制作用。乙醇提取的藻酸盐样细胞外聚合物比通过透析提取获得的细胞外聚合物表现出更高的磺胺甲恶唑水平（约 52%）。三维激发发射矩阵分析和吸附研究表明，与其他细胞外聚合物不同，藻酸盐类细胞外聚合物中不存在酪氨酸类物质。这种缺失减少了疏水相互作用，凸显了静电相互作用发挥着更重要的作用。这些见解对于了解藻酸盐类细胞外聚合物的吸附行为和优化其大规模提取过程至关重要。