Burnout-derived tire wear particles (B-TWPs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), such as tetracycline (TC), commonly coexist in aquatic systems. However, the nature of their interactions is complex and poorly understood. Therefore, this study investigated the synergistic effects of surface functional components and spontaneously released active factors from TWPs on the photodegradation of TC. Notably, B-TWPs significantly enhanced the transformation of TC, increasing the apparent degradation efficiency from 5.67

Soil meso- and micro-fauna are key components of forest soil ecosystems, but the effects of converting natural forests to monoculture or mixed plantations on their communities remain unclear. This study compared soil meso- and micro-fauna communities in monoculture (broad-leaved and coniferous) and mixed plantations converted from secondary forests in Northeast China. Results showed that monocultures significantly altered faunal community composition and reduced diversity, whereas mixed plantations maintained similar abundance and diversity to secondary forests. For instance, broadleaf monocultures exhibited a 15–23% lower Shannon–Wiener diversity index, while coniferous monocultures displayed a 28–35% reduction in soil faunal abundance. Notably, different taxonomic groups responded inconsistently to stand type conversion: Oribatida (58.8–72.5% of total individuals) varied significantly among stands (p < 0.001), whereas Collembola (18.8–31.4%) was more affected by season. The community composition was significantly correlated with understory plant diversity/coverage and soil C/N ratio, while α-diversity was mainly driven by total nitrogen. Our findings reveal that mixed plantations, instead of monocultures, are more effective for soil biodiversity conservation, which offers sustainable strategies for forest management.

Wheat produces unbranched inflorescences (spikes) composed of smaller inflorescences (spikelets) as their fundamental building units. The spikelet number per spike (SNS) is a major determinant of grain yield and the gene networks that regulate this trait are the focus of this review. Spikelet development starts with the transition of the shoot apical meristem into an inflorescence meristem (IM) that produces lateral spikelet meristems (SMs). The rate at which SMs are produced and the timing of the IM transition into a terminal spikelet (IM→TS) determine the final SNS. These two traits are regulated by genes expressed in the IM (e.g. meristem identity genes), as well as by the amount of FLOWERING LOCUS T1 (florigen) transported from leaves to developing spikes. Spikelet number can also be increased by the production of spikes with supernumerary spikelets (SS) or branch-like structures that resemble small spikes. Mutations that promote a reversion from SM to IM identity can induce the formation of SS or branches. Initial efforts to incorporate these mutations into commercial wheat varieties have faced trade-offs in fertility and grain weight, which will require additional research and breeding efforts. Meanwhile, genes and allele combinations that increase SNS without affecting the number of spikelets per node have been identified and are being deployed in wheat breeding programs. Recent spatial transcriptomics, single-cell analyses, and multi-omics studies of wheat spike development are accelerating the discovery of new genes affecting SNS and enhancing our ability to engineer more productive wheat spikes.

The addition of solid carbon sources has become an important approach for treating wastewater with a low C/N ratio. Agricultural wastes and biodegradable polymers are important solid carbon-source materials. To address the trade-offs between fast-but-polluting agricultural wastes and stable-but-costly biodegradable polymers, this study developed a composite carbon source. Screening of eight agricultural wastes and four polymeric carbon-source products identified corn husk, rice straw, and a commercial polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) product as candidates for composite preparation based on their carbon-release behavior, endogenous N and P release, and nitrogen-removal performance. The optimal composite, CH2 (corn husk/PHA = 2:1, w/w), achieved >99% NO₃⁻-N removal within 120h and 85.72% total nitrogen (TN) removal at 168h, outperforming the best rice straw-based composite, RS3. After the 168-h batch test, CH2 retained a porous framework and exhibited distinct microbial community shifts involving Firmicutes and Proteobacteria, together with a higher predicted representation of denitrification-related functions and a more compact microbial co-occurrence network. These material and microbial responses were consistent with the superior nitrogen-removal performance of CH2. Overall, CH2 achieved the most favorable balance among rapid nitrate removal, high TN removal, carbon-release behavior, and short-term structural retention, identifying it as the most promising composite for further evaluation in aquaculture wastewater treatment.

Soil microorganisms play important roles in shaping soil nutrient cycling processes. Microorganisms enter dormancy, an important process that affects soil carbon and nitrogen cycling during the subsequent growing season, in winter. However, the microbial functional potential for nutrient cycling in soils in winter remains largely unknown. The productivity of black locust decreases after two or three clear-cuttings, which influences the soil nutrient content. Thus, in this study, we selected non-clear-cut, once clear-cut and twice clear-cut black locust stands in Mount Tai. Despite notable changes in the microbial biomass C and C/N ratio (p < 0.05), the 16S and 18S gene copy numbers did not significantly change with increasing number of clear-cut treatments (p > 0.05). In terms of the C cycle, the abundance levels of most functional genes involved in carbon degradation, carbon fixation, and methane oxidation increased with increasing number of clear-cuts, suggesting that clearcutting accelerated the C cycle in soil. With respect to the N cycle, the abundance levels of most functional genes related to denitrification increased with increasing number of clear-cuts, suggesting that clear-cutting also accelerated the N cycle. The soil carbon and nitrogen cycles are influenced mainly by soil and root properties and soil enzyme activity. Partial least squares path modelling (PLS-PM) revealed that changes in the soil carbon and nitrogen cycles were directly affected by soil characteristics (soil enzymes, soil nutrient content, and soil fungal and bacterial copies) and indirectly affected by plant-related effects (soil enzymes). These findings indicate that in clear-cut plantations, soil and root properties may influence soil carbon and nitrogen cycling. This study demonstrates that winter clear-cutting accelerates soil C/N cycling through gene-specific microbial responses mediated by soil-root feedbacks, thus revealing clear-cutting-related ecological risks for plantation management.

Anaerobic mono-digestion of municipal organic wastes (MOW) is often constrained by acidification or recalcitrance. This study investigated the ternary co-digestion of food waste (FW), fallen leaves (FL), and sewage sludge (SS) to unlock synergistic potentials. Kinetic analysis in batch assays showed that the ternary mixture (FW:FL: SS = 3:1:2) achieved the highest Co-digestion Performance Index (CPI) of 1.98. Statistical analysis revealed that within the optimal C/N window, while buffering capacity and C/N ratio are intrinsically linked through substrate supplementation, the degree of synergy was more directly sensitive to the resulting buffering capacity (evidenced by a stabilized FOS/TAC ratio) than to the exact C/N ratio. FL and SS provided essential alkalinity, successfully mitigating the acidification failure typical of FW mono-digestion. High-throughput sequencing unveiled a distinct ecological reconfiguration: Firmicutes and Bacteroidota were associated with accelerated hydrolysis, while syntrophy between Synergistota and Chloroflexi likely maintained thermodynamic equilibrium by preventing hydrogen partial pressure buildup. Furthermore, functional redundancy between the substrate-versatile Methanosarcina (r-strategist) and the acetoclastic Methanothrix (K-strategist) facilitated high methanogenic efficiency during periods of high acidogenic fluxes. Translating these insights into engineering practice, our results validate that once the feed mixture falls within the broad optimal C/N window (10-30), continuous stoichiometric balancing becomes practically unnecessary. Instead, prioritizing the standard FOS/TAC ratio serves as a sufficient, single-parameter control strategy, offering a highly practical alternative to complex multi-variable management for the integrated valorization of urban waste streams.

To investigate the effects of long-term continuous rotary tillage incorporation (RT) on Fraxinus chinensis Roxb. plantations, this study compared 7- and 15-year-old stands subjected to RT since afforestation with their non-tilled counterparts (CK). Results demonstrated that RT significantly enhanced tree growth by synergistically improving soil nutrient availability, physical properties, and microbial community structure and function: (1) Compared with CK, RT increased diameter at breast height (DBH) by 28.89% in 7-year-old stands and 22.58% in 15-year-old stands, and tree height by 19.51% in 7-year-old stands and 25.00% in 15-year-old stands; (2) RT increased contents of soil organic carbon (SOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP), rearranged the distribution patterns of soil particulate organic carbon (POC) and mineral-associated organic carbon (MAOC), and reduced soil bulk density (BD) and soil water content (SWC); (3) RT regulated microbial diversity, co-occurrence networks, and carbohydrate-degrading gene abundances, with more prominent effects in 15-year-old stands. This tillage practice is feasible and effective, and thus is recommended for application in F. chinensis plantation management, providing a scientific basis for refined and sustainable plantation management.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are a major source of microplastic pollution, particularly due to toxic additives like N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenyl-p-phenylenediamine (6PPD) and its transformation product, 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q). However, the mechanisms governing 6PPD transformation in TWPs are not yet fully understood. This study investigates photo-aging of TWPs as solid waste under simulated road conditions, focusing on how reclaimed water versus rainwater influences aging and 6PPD/6PPD-Q release. Sunlight and road exposure altered TWPs properties, characterized by surface fragmentation, increased hydrophilicity, and oxygen-containing functional groups. Following three weeks of aging in reclaimed water, the carbonyl index (CI) and hydroxyl index (HI) increased by 323.75% and 72.82%, respectively. The surface O/C ratio rose from 0.149 in pristine TWPs to 0.207 in the reclaimed water group and 0.161 in the rainwater group. This oxidation process was also accompanied by an increased abundance of reactive oxygen species. Under reclaimed water aging conditions, the concentrations of O2•-, 1O2, and •OH increased significantly by 82.95%, 33.72%, and 6.69%, respectively. Leaching experiments revealed a gradual decrease in 6PPD concentration during aging, accompanied by a significant increase in its conversion product 6PPD-Q. Pearson analysis revealed strong positive correlations between 6PPD-Q formation and C=O (r = 0.65, p = 0.003), O2•- (r = 0.44, p = 0.031), and •OH (r = 0.65, p = 0.01). These findings indicate that tire wear solid waste management is highly sensitive to external conditions, with reclaimed water in road cleaning promoting 6PPD-Q formation. This underscores the need to reassess water reuse practices in urban maintenance to mitigate hazardous emissions.

Bisphenol A (BPA), a pervasive endocrine-disrupting compound (EDC), threatens microbial nitrogen cycling, yet its mechanisms in disrupting aerobic denitrification remain poorly defined. This study elucidates the inhibitory effects of BPA on Pseudomonas stutzeri HD4-1. Dose-dependent suppression was evident: nitrate reduction rates decreased by 33%-95% at ≥ 1 mg L-1 BPA, accompanied by nitrite accumulation (54.7-78.3 mg L-1) and exponential N2O emission (76.7 mg L-1, 147-fold increase). Mechanistically, BPA induced oxidative stress (ROS: 152.6%-225.6% of control), cytomembrane damage (LDH release: 125.6%-232.1%), and metalloenzyme inactivation (N2OR activity inhibition: 94.5%-96.4%). Concurrent transcriptional repression-notably of nosZ (2.8-9.3-fold suppression)-impaired N2O reduction, compounded by 33%-77% declines in electron transport system activity (ETSA), exacerbating metabolic bottlenecks. Gene inhibition hierarchy (nosZ > cnorB > nirS > napA) mirrored preferential failure of terminal denitrification steps. The insight into effect mechanism of BPA on aerobic denitrification is of particular significance to provide its ecological risk assessment in aquatic ecosystems and upgrade nitrogen removal process in EDC-containing wastewater treatment plant.

Tomato(Solanum lycopersicum L.)is an herbaceous annual belonging to the genus Solanum in the family Solanaceae,native to South America.Protected cultivation has significantly increased annual tomato yields(Zhang et al.,2024;Lou et al.,2025).Balancing quality and yield improvement has therefore become essential to meeting market needs(Gao et al.,2023).Numerous studies on protected tomato production highlight the effectiveness of mulch cultivation(Dhaliwal et al.,2016).

Tire wear particles (TWPs), as a significant component of microplastics (MPs) pollution, pose a potential threat to agricultural ecosystems, yet the interactive effects of concentration and aging processes remain unclear. This study investigated the impacts of pristine (P-TWPs) and ultraviolet-aged (A-TWPs) TWPs at concentrations of 0, 125, and 875 mg/kg on wheat growth and soil properties through pot experiments. Results showed that UV aging reduced the mean particle size of TWPs from 82.9 mu m to 34.9 mu m and increased the carbonyl index from 0.33 to 0.82. Low-concentration P-TWPs (125 mg/kg) significantly inhibited wheat germination and catalase activity, while high-concentration P-TWPs (875 mg/kg) partially alleviated toxicity. A-TWPs further restored germination performance and increased plant height. Aged TWPs improved the rhizosphere environment by enhancing soil organic matter and cation exchange capacity, synergistically inducing higher superoxide dismutase activity and reducing oxidative damage. The study reveals that TWPs' toxicity to wheat follows a non-monotonic pattern: inhibition at low concentration, partial recovery at high concentration, and toxicity attenuation after aging, with surface oxidation and reduced particle size being key mechanisms for toxicity mitigation. These findings elucidate how changes in TWP surface properties disrupt crops, highlighting the need to investigate their longterm fate in soil-plant systems and potential transmission through the food chain.

Analyses of regional carbon stock dynamics, particularly of spatial and temporal dynamics and their relationship with land use transitions, play a key role in the management of terrestrial ecosystem functions and the optimization of land resource allocation. This study focuses on Shandong Province, an important ecological security barrier along the eastern coast of China, to explore carbon stock changes and how land use modifications contributed to the chrono-spatial distribution of carbon stocks from 1990 to 2020, with additional forecasts up to 2040. Based on Natural Variation Conditions, Ecological Variation Conditions, and the City’s Variation Conditions, the results indicate a downward trend in carbon stocks across Shandong Province, from 2661.87 × 106 t in 1990 to 2380.02 × 106 t in 2020. Carbon stocks exhibit a highly uneven spatial distribution, with concentrations being notably higher in the central and eastern regions. Cities are classified based on their carbon stock level: high carbon stock cities (Linyi, Weifang, Yantai), large carbon stock cities (Jinan, Jining, Qingdao, Dezhou, Binzhou, Liaocheng, Taian, Zibo, Dongying), and cities with general carbon stock levels (Weihai, Rizhao, Zaozhuang). The major driver of carbon stock decline is the conversion of ecological lands into urban areas, with cultivated lands and forests being the primary carbon storage contributors. Projections suggest that under the City’s Variation Conditions, carbon stocks will decrease from 2380.02 × 106 t in 2020 to 1654.16 × 106 t by 2040, while Carbon stocks will rise from 2380.02 × 106 t to 2430.56 × 106 t under the Ecological Variation Conditions. A significant disparity in carbon sink potential is found across cities, which are divided into high carbon sink potential cities (Yantai, Dezhou, Weifang, Qingdao, Jinan), large carbon sink potential cities (Binzhou, Weihai, Zibo, Liaocheng, Dongying, Linyi, Taian, Rizhao, Zaozhuang), and general potential cities (Jining, Heze). The insights gained from this study are essential for promoting the conservation of regional terrestrial ecosystems, directing land use policy development, and supporting sustainable development initiatives in Shandong Province.

This study reveals the synergistic mechanism whereby roadway manganese oxides and dry-wet cycling accelerate N-(1,3-dimethylbutyl)-N'-phenylenediamine (6PPD) oxidation to toxic 6PPD-quinone (6PPD-Q) in tire wear particles (TWPs). Three Mn-loading strategies (Mn²⁺ adsorption, MnOx coating, in-situ δ-MnO₂ synthesis) coupled with simulated dry-wet cycles (12 h cycle: 10 h drying + 2 h rain spray) demonstrated that in-situ MnOx-loaded TWPs (4.2 mg MnOx/g) achieved the highest 6PPD-Q yield (3.48 mg/L), following sigmoidal kinetics (R² = 0.999). Key mechanisms include: 1) Wet phase: Mn(III) (↑650 %) and triple excited states of dissolved organic matter (³DOM*) in water films mediated O₂•⁻ generation, attacking 6PPD to form 6PPD-OO•, which converted to 6PPD-Q via proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET); 2) Dry phase: Environmental Persistent Free Radicals (EPFRs) accumulated (g-factor shift: 2.0031 to 2.0041) and pre-activated Mn sites (Mn(III)* ↑ 90.29 %); 3) Rewetting phase: Dissolved Mn(II)/Fe²⁺ triggered Fenton-like reactions, generating •OH (5.0 × 10⁹ spins/μL) to oxidize 6PPD. Scavenger experiments confirmed ROS (•OH/O₂•⁻) as critical bridges for Mn catalysis (6PPD-Q yield ↓ 90 %). Fulvic acid (FA) derivatives prolonged 6PPD-Q half-life to 53.7 h via quinone complexation, enhancing environmental persistence. This study provides a climate-mineral regulation strategy for source control of 6PPD-Q, highlighting the critical need to manage roadway Mn-containing materials and dry-wet cycling impacts to mitigate aquatic ecosystem risks.

Mainstream partial nitritation/anammox (PN/A) is recognized as a promising method for sustainable nitrogen removal from wastewater. However, its practical implementation remains challenging to date. In this study, a full-scale mainstream partial-nitritation activated sludge system, coupled with an anammox fixed-film (PN-AF) process, has been developed to treat municipal wastewater. The process was initiated by inoculating fixed biofilm with a mature anammox consortium sourced from a side-stream PN/A. The integrated application of chemical inhibition and ecological niche selection was practically implemented in engineering for the first time, enabling the PN-AF process to achieve two years of continuous operation within a wide temperature range (11.6–28.9 °C). The average total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency was 91.8 ± 4.6 %, with an average effluent TN concentration of 4.5 ± 2.3 mg/L and a nitrogen removal rate of 0.072 ± 0.01 kg N·m−3·d−1. Molecular analysis revealed a remarkably high relative abundance of Candidatus Brocadia (17.87 %), accompanied by an eight times higher activity of anammox than that of denitrification. Overall, this work presents a reliable mainstream partial nitritation/anammox process for sustainable wastewater treatment.

As emerging microplastic pollutants, tire wear particles (TWPs) have unclear photochemical impacts on aquatic nitrogen cycles. This study investigated how three types of TWPs-mechanically generated via rolling (R-TWPs), sliding (S-TWPs), and low-temperature crushing (C-TWPs)-and their aged counterparts (AC-, AR-, AS-TWPs) influenced nitrate reduction in periphytic biofilms. Aging in lake water altered the surface properties of TWPs: AC- and AR-TWPs accumulated inorganic ions and organic coatings, while AS-TWPs facilitated microbial colonization. Aged TWPs exhibited enhanced electron exchange capacity (EEC) and elevated levels of environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs). However, neither fresh nor aged TWPs altered nitrate removal, denitrification gene abundance (nirK, nirS), or microbial community structure in a dose-dependent manner; their impacts showed no simple correlation with EEC or EPFRs. Under illumination, TWPs acted as electron shuttles, transferring photogenerated electrons. Quenching hydroxyl radicals (·OH) revealed a strong positive correlation between EEC (specifically, electron donating and accepting capacities) and nitrate removal rates (r = 0.928-0.957, p < 0.01). Variance partitioning analysis identified EPFRs as promoters (contribution: 0.16) and ·OH as inhibitors (contribution: -0.18) of denitrification. At concentrations of 1.0-50.0 mg L-1 over 7 days, TWPs exerted paradoxical effects on urban river nitrogen cycling. This paradox arose from synergistic interactions between surface-active components (e.g., carbon black, zinc oxide) and photosensitive moieties (e.g., EPFRs, redox functional groups). This work highlights the dual role of photoactive TWPs in modulating aquatic nitrogen cycles and underscores the necessity of evaluating their photochemical reactivity and oxidative stress effects when assessing microplastic pollution in urban water systems.

The widespread use of plastic food contact materials has raised concerns about human microplastics (MPs) exposure. This study systematically investigates the release of MPs from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyamide (PA) sachets under simulated culinary conditions. We found that the release is significantly influenced by the immersion medium, soaking duration, and polymer type. A multi-method quantitative approach, incorporating total organic carbon (TOC) analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Ultraviolet-visible spectrophotometry (UV-Vis), was employed to quantify the release. The maximum concentration of TOC leached reached 6.33 mg L-1 for PET and 15.19 mg L-1 for PA. SEM analysis showed particle release was dominated by submicron particles (<1 mu m) at 10(8) particles mL(-1), two orders of magnitude above micron-sized particles (>1 mu m). Prolonged soaking enhanced MP release, with a boiling 5 % salt solution inducing the highest yield, followed by boiling 1 % oily water and 100 degrees C pure water. Mechanistic insights suggest that salt ions act catalytically, while oil modifies surface properties and elevates the boiling point, jointly promoting MPs liberation. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy and SEM revealed corresponding compositional and morphological alterations in the plastics. Given their differential stability, PET is recommended over PA for high-salt/oil applications. This work provides key insights for designing safer plastic sachets and a theoretical basis for the industry.

Tire wear particles (TWPs), a critical vector of radical-mediated toxicity in microplastic pollution, exhibit dynamic formation and transformation of transient (TFRs) and environmentally persistent free radicals (EPFRs) regulated by aging pathways. This study investigates TFRs-EPFRs interplay on three TWPs types (sliding friction-generated S-TWPs, rolling friction-generated R-TWPs, low-temperature crushing-generated C-TWPs) under simulated aging (Pure Water, UV, Fenton, UV-Fenton). Key findings show UV-Fenton treatment amplifies EPFRs abundance in S-TWPs by 1.4-fold (1.782 x 10(21) spins/g). TFRs form via UV-induced PAHs excitation and transition metal-catalyzed Fenton reactions, while EPFRs stabilize through ZnO anchoring ([ZnOsurface - center dot O-2(-)]), metal-ligand coordination ([Fe3+ - R]center dot(-)), and carbon black-mediated TFRs conversion. S-TWPs' heightened reactivity stems from post-aging surface area (0.416 m(2)/g) and enriched metal-PAHs complexes. This study highlights aging-induced radical risks of TWPs, particularly S-TWPs, providing insights for traffic-related microplastic pollution management. Synopsis: Knowledge about free radicals in TWPs is limited. This study reveals transient and persistent free radicals on TWPs due to UV excitation and transition metal catalysis, and mutual transformations.

As a pivotal source of non-exhaust microplastic pollution in the automotive industry, tire wear particles (TWPs) remain an area of research in its infancy regarding their migration mechanisms and environmental influences. This study delves into the migration characteristics of TWPs within saturated quartz sand media, with a particular emphasis on the regulatory effects of diverse aging scenarios—encompassing pure water, lake water, bacterial mixtures, and simulated soil solutions—alongside pH fluctuations. Our findings unveil that the aging process profoundly reshapes the physicochemical properties of TWPs, encompassing surface morphology, elemental composition, crystal structure, functional group characteristics, as well as surface potential and wettability. Notably, TWPs aged in a mixed bacterial solution (M-TWPs) exhibit a dramatic increase in specific surface area, ranging from 59 to 2038 times that of their unaged counterparts (U-TWPs). Consequently, the maximum penetration ratio of M-TWPs at neutral pH (7.0) soars to 0.89, marking a 2.4-fold enhancement compared to U-TWPs (0.37). This results from bacterial attachment and metabolites roughen TWPs' surface, cause fractures, enhance charge, and increase hydrophilicity, boosting migration. Crucially, pH governs TWPs' migration by modulating surface charges and electrostatic interactions with quartz sand. Alkaline conditions (pH=10) reduce electrostatic adsorption, increasing migration efficiency, while acidic environments (pH=4) enhance adsorption, decreasing migration. Additionally, material exchange during migration subtly affects filtrate pH and redox potential, highlighting the complexity of TWPs' environmental interactions. Our findings deepen the understanding of TWPs' environmental behavior and provide a foundation for assessing their migration paths and ecological effects, informing future research and risk management strategies.

Tire wear particles (TWPs) are abundant in wastewater, yet their photoelectrochemical roles in biogeochemical processes are poorly understood. This knowledge gap is critical, as their surface reactivity, influenced by generation mode, may significantly impact microbial nitrogen transformations in activated sludge. This study investigates how surface-active components in TWPs from rolling, sliding, and cryogenic crushing affect nitrate removal in activated sludge. Sliding-derived TWPs (S-TWPs) contained more reactive components-environmental persistent free radicals (EPFRs), transition metals, and carbon black-with enriched redox groups, yielding higher electron exchange capacity (EEC=31.6[O/C], R²=0.97) than rolling TWPs and cryogenically crushed TWPs counterparts. At environmentally relevant concentrations (0.1 mg/L), all TWPs exposure groups exhibited no significant impact on nitrate removal efficiency in activated sludge compared to the control (p < 0.05). At 10 mg/L, all TWPs enhanced nitrate removal (96.8 % for S-TWPs vs. 78.3 % control). Through three-electrode systems and statistical modeling (Pearson /Variance Partition Analysis), improvements were linked to synergies between TWPs' photoelectrochemical traits (EEC/EPFRs) and extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), particularly humic acid-mediated electron transfer. EPS bridged electrons from TWPs (photo-generated electrons/EEC) to denitrifying bacteria, boosting nitrate reduction while suppressing nitrite accumulation. These findings reveal how TWPs surface reactivity heterogeneity governs redox interactions with microbial matrices, advancing strategies to leverage particulate pollutants' environmental chemistry for optimized nitrogen cycling and urban aquatic ecosystem management.