CO2 fluxes near a forest edge: a numerical study

In contrast with recent advances on the dynamics of the flow at a forest edge, few studies have considered its role on scalar transport and, in particular, on CO2 transfer. The present study addresses the influence of the abrupt roughness change on forest atmosphere CO2 exchange and contrasts the concentration and flux fields against those of a uniform forested surface. We use an atmospheric boundary layer two-equation closure model that accounts for the flow dynamics and vertical divergence of CO2 sources/sinks within a plant canopy. This paper characterizes the spatial variation of CO2 fluxes as a function of both sources/sinks distribution and the vertical structure of the canopy. Results suggest that the ground source plays a major role in the formation of wave-like vertical CO2 flux behavior downwind of a forest edge, despite the fact that the contribution of foliage sources/sinks changes monotonously. Such a variation is caused by scalar advection in the trunk space and reveals itself as a decrease or increase in vertical fluxes over the forest relative to carbon dioxide exchange of the underlying forest. The effect was more pronounced in model forests where the leaf area is concentrated in the upper part of the canopy. These results can be useful both for interpretation of existing measurements of net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) from flux towers in limited fetch conditions and in planning future CO2 transport experiments.     

Biopolymer-supported TiO2 as a sustainable photocatalyst for wastewater treatment: a review

The rising water pollution by pesticides, pharmaceuticals and dyes is a major health issue calling for advanced remediation methods such as photocatalysis with titanium dioxide (TiO₂), yet the use of TiO₂ displays issues of aggregation, mass loss, recovery, and reusability. These issues have been recently solved by synthesizing biopolymer-supported photocatalysts using cheap, biodegradable and safe biopolymers such as chitosan, alginate, cellulose, cyclodextrin, guar gum and starch. Here we review biopolymer-supported TiO₂ photocatalysts for the removal of organic compounds, with focus on preparation methods, photo and chemical stability, reusability, and adsorptive capacity. We discuss applications of immobilized photocatalysts at the industrial scale.

     

Nocturnal accumulation of CO2 underneath a tropical forest canopy along a topographical gradient

Flux measurements of carbon dioxide and water vapor above tropical rain forests are often difficult to interpret because the terrain is usually complex. This complexity induces heterogeneity in the surface but also affects lateral movement of carbon dioxide (CO2) not readily detected by the eddy covariance systems. This study describes such variability using measurements of CO2 along vertical profiles and along a toposequence in a tropical rain forest near Manaus, Brazil. Seasonal and diurnal variation was recorded, with atmospheric CO2 concentration maxima around dawn, generally higher CO2 build-up in the dry season and stronger daytime CO2 drawdown in the wet season. This variation was reflected all along the toposequence, but the slope and valley bottom accumulated clearly more CO2 than the plateaus, depending on atmospheric stability. Particularly during stable nights, accumulation was along lines of equal altitude, suggesting that large amounts of CO2 are stored in the valleys of the landscape. Flushing of this store only occurs during mid-morning, when stored CO2 may well be partly transported back to the plateaus. It is clear that, for proper interpretation of tower fluxes in such complex and actively respiring terrain, the horizontal variability of storage needs to be taken into account not only during the night but also during the mornings.     

Fe—C微电解法＋H2O2组合工艺处理对氯硝基苯废水

利用废铁屑对对氯硝基苯废水进行预处理 ,可以使废水中的对氯硝基苯转化为氨基氯苯 ,然后在废水中加入H2 O2 ,使H2 O2 与废水中的Fe2 + 构成Fenton试剂 ,反应生产OH·自由基 ,OH·自由基具有强烈的氧化性 ,将氨基氯苯和对氯硝基苯中的苯环打开 ,形成断链 ,再进一步将其矿化分解     

Chemical synthesis of 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one: a natural antifungal biosynthesized by Trichoderma spp.

Trichoderma spp. biosynthesize 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PP), a natural antifungal pyrone which could be used as biological control agent (BCA). Unfortunately, biotechnical processes are limited by inhibition of biomass at high concentration of 6-PP. We report herein a new easy synthesis of this natural pyrone, using readily available starting materials. This synthesis, compatible with a large production scale, permit to obtain overweight amounts of 6-PP that in biotechnological routes.     

Chemical synthesis of 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one: a natural antifungal biosynthesized by Trichoderma spp.

Trichoderma spp. biosynthesize 6-pentyl-2H-pyran-2-one (6-PP), a natural antifungal pyrone which could be used as biological control agent (BCA). Unfortunately, biotechnical processes are limited by inhibition of biomass at high concentration of 6-PP. We report herein a new easy synthesis of this natural pyrone, using readily available starting materials. This synthesis, compatible with a large production scale, permit to obtain overweight amounts of 6-PP that in biotechnological routes.     

RANS-based simulation of transverse turbulent mixing in a 2D geometry

Although transverse mixing is a significant process in river engineering when dealing with the discharge of pollutants from point sources or the mixing of tributary inflows, no theoretical basis exists for the prediction of its rate, which is indeed based upon the results of experimental works carried on in laboratory channels or in streams and rivers. The paper presents the preliminary results of a numerical study undertaken to simulate the transverse mixing of a steady-state point source of a tracer in a two-dimensional rectangular geometry, which is expected to reproduce a shallow flow. This geometry is that of Lau and Krishnappan (J Hydraul Div 13(HY10):1173–1189, 1977), who collected turbulent mixing data for a shallow flow. In the numerical study an approach based on the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations was applied, where the closure problem was solved by using turbulent viscosity concept. Particularly, the classical two-equations k–? model was used. Two methods were applied to the model results to evaluate the turbulent transverse mixing coefficient. The effect on transverse mixing of a grid located upstream the tracer source was also studied. Numerical results were generally higher than the experimental data. This overestimation could be explained considering the hypothesis of isotropic turbulence underlying the k–? model, which can lead to large turbulent viscosities and rate of mixing. However, RANS-based results may still be considered acceptable also providing the large uncertainties associated with literature predictive equations.     

Biopolymer-based membranes from polysaccharides for CO2 separation: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - The application of natural biopolymers such as polysaccharides for the fabrication of bio-based membranes has recently attracted attention for CO2...     

Higher CO2 absorption using a new class of calcium hydroxide (Ca(OH)2) nanoparticles

Environmental Chemistry Letters - With rising atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations globally, there is an urgent need for highly efficient CO2 capture technologies. This report introduces...     

Preparation and characterization of a new TiO2/SiO2 composite catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of indigo carmin

The TiO₂/SiO₂ composite was prepared by means of the SiO₂-particle-entrapment method. The FTIR data showed the presence of Si–O–Ti stretching vibration band at 970 cm⁻¹ in the TiO₂/SiO₂ composite, suggesting a reaction between TiO₂ and silica on the TiO₂ particle surface during the silicagel formation around the TiO₂ particles. The photocatalytic efficiency of TiO₂ immobilized in silicagel was compared with that of the conventional TiO₂ Degussa P25 catalyst. For this purpose, the degradation of indigo carmin (IC) dye was used as model molecule in the tests. The effect of operational parameters such as catalyst loading and dye concentration on the photocatalytic degradation of the model dye was investigated. The rate of degradation increased with increasing catalyst loading, and when the concentration of the dye decreases.     

Modelling forest management within a global vegetation model—Part 2: Model validation from a tree to a continental scale

The construction of a new forest management module (FMM) within the ORCHIDEE global vegetation model (GVM) allows a realistic simulation of biomass changes during the life cycle of a forest, which makes many biomass datasets suitable as validation data for the coupled ORCHIDEE-FM GVM. This study uses three datasets to validate ORCHIDEE-FM at different temporal and spatial scales: permanent monitoring plots, yield tables, and the French national inventory data. The last dataset has sufficient geospatial coverage to allow a novel type of validation: inventory plots can be used to produce continuous maps that can be compared to continuous simulations for regional trends in standing volumes and volume increments. ORCHIDEE-FM performs better than simple statistical models for stand-level variables, which include tree density, basal area, standing volume, average circumference and height, when management intensity and initial conditions are known: model efficiency is improved by an average of 0.11, and its average bias does not exceed 25%. The performance of the model is less satisfying for tree-level variables, including extreme circumferences, tree circumference distribution and competition indices, or when management and initial conditions are unknown. At the regional level, when climate forcing is accurate for precipitation, ORCHIDEE-FM is able to reproduce most productivity patterns in France, such as the local lows of needleleaves in the Parisian basin and of broadleaves in south-central France. The simulation of water stress effects on biomass in the Mediterranean region, however, remains problematic, as does the simulation of the wood increment for coniferous trees. These pitfalls pertain to the general ORCHIDEE model rather than to the FMM. Overall, with an average bias seldom exceeding 40%, the performance of ORCHIDEE-FM is deemed reliable to use it as a new modelling tool in the study of the effects of interactions between forest management and climate on biomass stocks of forests across a range of scales from plot to country.     

Bimetallic atomic site catalysts for CO2 reduction reactions: a review

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Carbon neutral becomes one of the most important environmental goals due to the excessive emission of CO2. The reduction of CO2 into valuable chemicals or fuels is...     

BDE47对Neuro-2a细胞毒性效应及作用机制

探讨2,2',4,4'-四溴联苯醚(2,2',4,4'-tetrabromodiphenylether,BDE 47)对神经细胞Neuro-2a的毒性影响及机制。将Neuro-2a细胞暴露于浓度为6.25、12.5、25、50、100μmol·L-1的BDE 47,采用MTT法检测细胞存活率、荧光探针DCFH-DA检测细胞活性氧生成量、吖啶橙检测溶酶体膜通透性、罗丹明123检测细胞线粒体膜电位、Annexin V-FITC检测细胞凋亡、Western blot检测组织蛋白酶B(Cathespin B)表达。结果显示,与对照组相比,12.5、25、50、100μmol·L~(-1)BDE 47显著降低Neuro-2a细胞存活率和细胞线粒体膜电位(P0.05);6.25、12.5、25、50、100μmol·L~(-1)BDE 47显著诱导活性氧含量升高(P0.05),增加Neuro-2a细胞溶酶体膜通透性(P0.05),诱导Neuro-2a细胞凋亡(P0.05),升高Cathespin B蛋白表达(P0.05)。结果表明,BDE 47可能通过介导溶酶体-活性氧-线粒体环路,诱导Neuro-2a细胞凋亡。     

Environmental pollutants and type 2 diabetes: a review of human studies

The incidence of diabetes has increased dramatically in recent decades and become one of the leading health problems worldwide. Lifestyle and dietary changes alone cannot account for the dramatic rise of diabetes, while an increasing number of publications have reported the possible relationships between exposure to environmental pollutants and risk of diabetes. In the present review, our objective was to summarize the human studies on environmental pollutants, which includes persistent organic pollutants, pesticides (not on the Stockholm Convention list), bisphenol A, and phthalates, and the risk of diabetes. Currently published results suggest a positive relationship between certain persistent organic pollutants (dichlorodiphenyldichloroethene, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane, hexachlorobenzene, and polychlorinated biphenyls) and bisphenol A exposure and risk of diabetes. For pyrethroids, organophosphates, carbamates, and phthalates, there are insufficient studies to reach conclusions and therefore more studies, especially prospective studies, are needed along with in vivo and in vitro studies to understand the underlying mechanisms.     

2D brine sewage after impinging on a shallow sea free surface

We consider the problem of the vertically upwards disposal of heavy brine sewage from a two-dimensional diffuser in a lighter, homogeneous, motionless and shallow ambient sea. The rejected high salinity water of seawater desalination plants for urban and agricultural uses is such a case of a two dimensional fountain. The disposal of brine sewage produces a negative buoyant jet due to its initial momentum, which impinges on the free surface, spreads laterally on it and then sinks downwards, because of the negative buoyancy. Laboratory experiments and dimensional considerations are used in this paper in order to investigate the spreading behavior (width) of the vertical fountain which impinges on the free surface of the shallow ambient fluid. The experimental results have been used to derive an equation relating the width at the free surface with the initial parameters of the flow. In addition, the experimentally measured dilution of the heavier brine sewage on the recipient’s surface is compared with the dilution which was calculated by a numerical simulation of a well-known commercial software package, CORJET (a CORMIX sub model).     

新型纳米CeO2催化类Fenton降解盐酸四环素

本研究分别以NaOH和NH_3·H_2O为矿化剂,Ce(NO_3)_3·6H_2O为铈源,采用水热法成功制备两种新型纳米二氧化铈材料(CeO_2-Na与CeO_2-N).XRD、FESEM、Raman和EPR等表征手段以及非均相类Fenton降解盐酸四环素(TCH)性能分析结果表明,与CeO_2-N相比,纳米CeO_2-Na催化剂具有更大的比表面积和更高的表面氧空位浓度,其对TCH的催化性能也优于CeO_2-N.在TCH初始浓度为100 mg·L~(-1),催化剂投加量为0.7 g·L~(-1)和H_2O_2投加量为10 mmol·L~(-1)的条件下,CeO_2-Na/H_2O_2/TCH体系对TCH的去除率达86%,通过简单的热处理可以恢复催化剂的催化活性.TCH的降解机理研究表明,该非均相催化体系中起主要作用的是O~-_2·自由基.本研究为纳米氧化铈催化剂的制备及其非均相类Fenton的应用提供一定的技术和理论参考.     

一株脱硫菌的鉴定及其对H2S的降解能力

取污水处理厂有生物活性的污泥,经富集培养、分离纯化得到1株脱硫活性较高的菌株CTD843-T-3,将其载入生物滴滤塔中对H2S进行连续脱硫反应.当最佳反应温度为30℃、pH为6.0、H2S进口浓度为500～3000mg·m-3时,菌株对H2S的去除率可保持在92％以上,H2S最高负荷率可达6.5g·m-3·h-1.通过形态生理特征和16SrDNA序列分析对CTD843-T-3进行鉴定,结果表明该菌株为椭球状,大小为0.4～0.6μm,为革兰阴性菌,属假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas sp.).     

Habitat type determines herbivory controls over CO2 fluxes in a warmer Arctic

High-latitude ecosystems store large amounts of carbon (C); however, the C storage of these ecosystems is under threat from both climate warming and increased levels of herbivory. In this study we examined the combined role of herbivores and climate warming as drivers of CO2 fluxes in two typical high-latitude habitats (mesic heath and wet meadow). We hypothesized that both herbivory and climate warming would reduce the C sink strength of Arctic tundra through their combined effects on plant biomass and gross ecosystem photosynthesis and on decomposition rates and the abiotic environment. To test this hypothesis we employed experimental warming (via International Tundra Experiment [ITEX] chambers) and grazing (via captive Barnacle Geese) in a three-year factorial field experiment. Ecosystem CO2 fluxes (net ecosystem exchange of CO2, ecosystem respiration, and gross ecosystem photosynthesis) were measured in all treatments at varying intensity over the three growing seasons to capture the impact of the treatments on a range of temporal scales (diurnal, seasonal, and interannual). Grazing and warming treatments had markedly different effects on CO2 fluxes in the two tundra habitats. Grazing caused a strong reduction in CO2 assimilation in the wet meadow, while warming reduced CO2 efflux from the mesic heath. Treatment effects on net ecosystem exchange largely derived from the modification of gross ecosystem photosynthesis rather than ecosystem respiration. In this study we have demonstrated that on the habitat scale, grazing by geese is a strong driver of net ecosystem exchange of CO2, with the potential to reduce the CO2 sink strength of Arctic ecosystems. Our results highlight that the large reduction in plant biomass due to goose grazing in the Arctic noted in several studies can alter the C balance of wet tundra ecosystems. We conclude that herbivory will modulate direct climate warming responses of Arctic tundra with implications for the ecosystem C balance; however, the magnitude and direction of the response will be habitat-specific.     

重金属铜离子抗性菌株的筛选和吸附性能

从四川红原地区土壤中分离纯化得到对重金属铜离子(Cu2+)具有良好抗性的菌株YS-22,经16S rDNA序列比对鉴定该菌为克雷伯氏菌属(Klebsiella)中的产酸克雷伯氏菌(K.oxytoca).利用该菌进行生物吸附研究,结果显示其对水体中的重金属Cu2+具有良好的吸附性能,吸附行为能很好地符合pseudo二级动力学模型和Langmuir等温吸附模型,不同的培养条件以及菌体所处的不同生长时期会影响菌体的吸附效果,PGY培养基培养达到生长指数期时菌体用于吸附效果最好.最佳吸附pH值为5.30,吸附迅速,约60 min即可达到吸附平衡,最大单位吸附量达到117.6mg g-1干重菌体.研究表明该菌株作为一种生物吸附剂用于去除废水中的重金属铜污染具有一定的实际应用价值.     

Effects of oxygen,mannitol and ammonium concentrations on nitrogenase [C2H2] activity in a marine skeletal carbonate sand

Following a lag of 3 to 18 h, acetylene reduction in mannitol-amended sand systems proceeded at approximately constant and high rates for periods up to 4 days. Carbon dioxide production and O₂ consumption were low in these systems in comparison to similar systems additionally amended with ammonium, indicating N-limitation of growth in the former. Thus, long-term acetylene assays of mannitol-amended sand and suspensions from the sand incubated at various partial pressures of oxygen could be used to characterize the O₂-sensitivity of the N₂-fixing bacterial population as a whole, in batch-type systems with a minimal degree of enrichment or change in pO₂ during the course of the assays. Results of various studies suggested that aerobic or microaerophilic N₂-fixing bacteria were absent or scarce in the sand, and that nitrogenase activity occurring in aerobically incubated systems occurred in anaerobic microenvironments. Hydrogen stimulated acetylene-reducing activity, but the time course differed from that of mannitol-supported activity, and proceeded with shorter lags in systems incubated at 0.2 and 0.05 atm O₂ than in systems incubated anaerobically. Efficiency of N₂ fixation [C₂H₂] increased with decreasing initial mannitol concentration. For sand washed with seawater to remove native combined inorganic nitrogen, and amended with 0.015% mannitol, 374 μmoles added NH₄-N/kg wet sand caused almost complete repression of nitrogenase activity, while concentrations as low as 12 μmoles added NH₄-N/kg wet sand appeared to cause at least partial repression of nitrogenase activity. Some implications of these results for the existence of anaerobic microenvironments in the cavities of skeletal carbonates, and for N₂-fixation in the seagrass rhizosphere are discussed.