Aerosol optical properties under different pollution levels in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of China

To clarify the aerosol hygroscopic growth and optical properties of the Pearl River Delta(PRD)region,integrated observations were conducted in Heshan City of Guangdong Province from October 19 to November 17,2014.The concentrations and chemical compositions of PM_(2.5),aerosol optical properties and meteorological parameters were measured.The mean value of PM_(2.5) increased from less than 35(excellent) to 35-75 μg/m~3(good) and then to greater than 75 μg/m~3(pollution),corresponding to mean PM_(2.5) values of 24.9,51.2,and 93.3 μg/m~3,respectively.The aerosol scattering hygroscopic growth factor(f(RH = 80%)) values were 2.0,2.12,and 2.18 for the excellent,good,and pollution levels,respectively.The atmospheric extinction coefficient(σext)and the absorption coefficient of aerosols(σ_(ap)) increased,and the single scattering albedo(SSA)decreased from the excellent to the pollution levels.For different air mass sources,under excellent and good levels,the land air mass from northern Heshan had lower f(RH) and σ_(sp) values.In addition,the mixed aerosol from the sea and coastal cities had lower f(RH) and showed that the local sources of coastal cities have higher scattering characteristics in pollution periods.     

2018年春节期间京津冀地区污染过程分析

为了解2018年春节期间京津冀地区空气污染情况,利用近地面污染物浓度数据、激光雷达组网观测数据,结合WRF气象要素、颗粒物输送通量和HYSPLIT气团轨迹综合分析污染过程.结果表明,春节期间出现3次污染过程.春节前一次污染过程,各站点PM_2.5浓度均未超过200μg/m³;除夕夜,廊坊站点PM_2.5峰值浓度达到504μg/m³,是清洁天气的26倍;年初二~初五,各站点PM_2.5始终高于120μg/m³,且污染主要聚集在500m高度以下,北京地区存在高空传输,800m处最大输送通量达939μg/（m³·s）,此次重污染过程为一次典型的区域累积和传输过程.京津冀地区处于严格管控状态时,燃放烟花爆竹期间PM_2.5峰值浓度可达无燃放时PM_2.5峰值的3.2倍.为防止春节期间重污染现象的发生,需对静稳天气下燃放烟花炮竹采取预防对策.     

二乙烯三胺五甲叉膦酸酸解磷尾矿的实验探究

为减少磷尾矿堆积带来的环境污染问题,实现磷尾矿的钙、镁、磷元素的分离,以高镁磷尾矿为原料,采用二乙烯三胺五甲叉膦酸(DTPMP)进行酸解,探究磷尾矿中主要物相在DTPMP中的分解机制,并通过单因素实验探究pH、反应时间、反应温度及投料比对磷尾矿中MgO、CaO和P_2O_5分解率的影响。实验结果表明:pH对P_2O_5的分解率影响较大,高温更有利于尾矿中镁的溶出,在pH为2. 5,反应时间为60 min,反应温度为80℃,投料比为1. 56时,MgO、CaO和P_2O_5的分解率分别达到61. 05%、38. 23%和9. 67%。     

Tuning the fill percentage in the hydrothermal synthesis process to increase catalyst performance for ozone decomposition

The performance of Ce-OMS-2 catalysts was improved by tuning the fill percentage in the hydrothermal synthesis process to increase the oxygen vacancy density. The Ce-OMS-2 samples were prepared with different fill percentages by means of a hydrothermal approach (i.e. 80%, 70%, 50% and 30%). Ce-OMS-2 with 80% fill percentage (Ce-OMS-2-80%) showed ozone conversion of 97%, and a lifetime experiment carried out for more than 20?days showed that the activity of the catalyst still remained satisfactorily high (91%). For Ce-OMS-2-80%, Mn ions in the framework as well as K ions in the tunnel sites were replaced by Ce⁴⁺, while for the others only Mn ions were replaced. O₂-TPD and H₂-TPR measurements proved that the Ce-OMS-2-80% catalyst possessed the greatest number of mobile surface oxygen species. XPS and XAFS showed that increasing the fill percentage can reduce the AOS of Mn and augment the amount of oxygen vacancies. The active sites, which accelerate the elimination of O₃, can be enriched by increasing the oxygen vacancies. These findings indicate that increasing ozone removal can be achieved by tuning the fill percentage in the hydrothermal synthesis process.     

Regulated emission characteristics of in-use LNG and diesel semi-trailer towing vehicles under real driving conditions using PEMS

On-road driving emissions of six liquefied natural gas(LNG) and diesel semi-trailer towing vehicles(STTVs) which met China Emission Standard IV and V were tested using Portable Emission Measurement System(PEMS) in northern China.Emission characteristics of these vehicles under real driving conditions were analyzed and proved that on-road emissions of heavy-duty vehicles(HDVs) were underestimated in the past.There were large differences among LNG and diesel vehicles, which also existed between China V vehicles and China IV vehicles.Emission factors showed the highest level under real driving conditions, which probably be caused by frequent acceleration, deceleration, and start-stop.NOx emission factors ranged from 2.855 to 20.939 g/km based on distance-traveled and 6.719–90.557 g/kg based on fuel consumption during whole tests, which were much higher than previous researches on chassis dynamometer.It was inferred from tests that the fuel consumption rate of the test vehicles had a strong correlation with NOx emission, and the exhaust temperature also affected the efficiency of Selected Catalytic Reduction(SCR) aftertreatment system, thus changing the NOx emission greatly.THC emission factors of LNG vehicles were 2.012–10.636 g/km, which were much higher than that of diesel vehicles(0.029–0.185 g/km).Unburned CH_4 may be an important reason for this phenomenon.Further on-road emission tests, especially CH_4 emission test should be carried out in subsequent research.In addition, the Particulate Number(PN) emission factors of diesel vehicles were at a very high level during whole tests, and Diesel Particulate Filter(DPF)should be installed to reduce PN emission.     

Influence of environmental factors on arsenic accumulation and biotransformation using the aquatic plant species Hydrilla verticillata

Hydrilla verticillata(waterthyme) has been successfully used for phytoremediation in arsenic(As) contaminated water.To evaluate the effects of environmental factors on phytoremediation,this study conducted a series of orthogonal design experiments to determine optimal conditions,including phosphorus(P),nitrogen(N),and arsenate(As(Ⅴ))concentrations and initial pH levels,for As accumulation and biotransformation using this aquatic plant species,while also analyzing As species transformation in culture media after 96-hr exposure.Analysis of variance and the signal-to-noise ratio were used to identify both the effects of these environmental factors and their optimal conditions for this purpose.Results indicated that both N and P significantly impacted accumulation,and N was essential in As species transformation.High N and intermediate P levels were critical to As accumulation and biotransformation by H.verticillata,while high N and low P levels were beneficial to As species transformation in culture media.The highest total arsenic accumulation was(197.2±17.4) μg/g dry weight when As(V) was at level 3(375μg/L),N at level 2(4 mg/L),P at level 1(0.02 mg/L),and pH at level 2(7).Although H.verticillata is highly efficient in removing As(Ⅴ) from aquatic environments,its use could be potentially harmful to both humans and the natural environment due to its release of highly toxic arsenite.For cost-effective and ecofriendly phytoremediation of As-contaminated water,both N and P are helpful in regulating As accumulation and transformation in plants.     

Hygroscopicity measurement of sodium carbonate, β-alanine and internally mixed β-alanine/Na2CO3 particles by ATR-FTIR

Water-uptakes of pure sodium carbonate(Na_2CO_3),pure β-alanine and internally mixedβ-alanine/Na_2CO_3 aerosol particles with different mole ratios are first monitored using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(ATR-FTIR) technique.For pure Na_2CO_3 aerosol particles,combining the absorptions at 877 and 1422 cm-1 with abrupt water loss shows the efflorescence relative humidity(ERH) of 62.9%–51.9%.Upon humidifying,solid Na_2CO_3 firstly absorbs water to from Na_2CO_3·H2 O crystal at 72.0% RH and then deliquesces at 84.5% RH(DRH).As for pure β-alanine particles,the crystallization takes place in the range of 42.4%–33.2% RH and becomes droplets at ～ 88.2% RH.When β-alanine is mixed with Na_2CO_3 at various mole ratios,it shows no efflorescence of Na_2CO_3 whenβ-alanine to Na_2CO_3 mole ratio(OIR) is 2:1.For 1:1 and 1:2 β-alanine/Na_2CO_3 aerosols,the ERHs of Na_2CO_3 are 51.8%–42.3% and 57.1%–42.3%,respectively.While β-alanine crystal appears from 62.7% RH for 2:1 and 59.4% RH for both 1:1 and 1:2 particles and lasts to driest state.On hydration,the DRH is 44.7%–75.2% for Na_2CO_3 with the OIR of 1:1 and 44.7%–69.0%for 1:2 mixture,and those of β-alanine are 74.8% for 2:1 mixture and 68.9% for two others.After the first dehumidification–humidification,all the water contents decrease despite of constituent fraction.And at ～ 92% RH,the remaining water contents are 92%,89% and 82%at ～ 92% RH,corresponding to OIR of 2:1,1:1 and 1:2 mixed system,respectively.     

Dynamic nano-Ag colloids cytotoxicity to and accumulation by Escherichia coli: Effects of Fe3+, ionic strength and humic acid

Released Ag ions or/and Ag particles are believed to contribute to the cytotoxicity of Ag nanomaterials, and thus, the cytotoxicity and mechanism of Ag nanomaterials should be dynamic in water due to unfixed Ag particle:Ag⁺ ratios. Our recent research found that the cytotoxicity of PVP-Ag nanoparticles is attributable to Ag particles alone in 3 hr bioassays, and shifts to both Ag particles and released Ag⁺ in 48 hr bioassays. Herein, as a continued study, the cytotoxicity and accumulation of 50 and 100 nm Ag colloids in Escherichia coli were determined dynamically. The cytotoxicity and mechanisms of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic throughout exposure and are derived from both Ag ions and particles. Ag accumulation by E. coli is derived mainly from extracellular Ag particles during the initial 12 hr of exposure, and thereafter mainly from intracellular Ag ions. Fe³⁺ accelerates the oxidative dissolution of nano-Ag colloids, which results in decreasing amounts of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Na⁺ stabilizes nano-Ag colloids, thereby decreasing the bioavailability of Ag particles and particle-related toxicity. Humic acid (HA) binds Ag⁺ to form Ag⁺-HA, decreasing ion-related toxicity and binding to the E. coli surface, decreasing particle-related toxicity. HA in complex conditions showed a stronger relative contribution to toxicity and accumulation than Na⁺ or Fe³⁺. The results highlighted the cytotoxicity and mechanism of nano-Ag colloids are dynamic and affected by environmental factors, and therefore exposure duration and water chemistry should be seriously considered in environmental and health risk assessments.     

Development of a static test apparatus for evaluating the performance of three PM2.5 separators commonly used in China

PM_(2.5) separator directly affects the accuracy of PM_(2.5) sampling.The specification testing and evaluation for PM_(2.5) separator is particularly important,especially under China's wide variation of terrain and climate.In this study,first a static test apparatus based on polydisperse aerosol was established and calibrated to evaluate the performance of the PM_(2.5) separators.A uniform mixing chamber was developed to make particles mix completely.The aerosol concentration relative standard deviations of three test points at the same horizontal chamber position were less than 0.57%,and the particle size distribution obeyed logarithmic normal distribution with an R~2 of 0.996.The flow rate deviation between the measurement and the set point flow rate agreed to within ± 1.0% in the range of -40 to 50℃.Secondly,the separation,flow and loading characteristics of three cyclone separators(VSCC-A,SCC-A and SCC112) were evaluated using this system.The results showed that the 50% cutoff sizes(D_(50)) of the three cyclones were 2.48,2.47 and 2.44 μm when worked at the manufacturer's recommended flow rates,respectively.The geometric standard deviation(GSD) of the capture efficiency of VSCCA was 1.23,showed a slightly sharper than SCC-A(GSD = 1.27),while the SCC112 did not meet the relevant indicator(GSD = 1.2 ± 0.1) with a GSD = 1.44.The flow rate and loading test had a great effect on D_(50),while the GSD remained almost the same as before.In addition,the maintenance frequency under different air pollution conditions of the cyclones was summarized according to the loading test.     

Effect of graphene oxide exposure on intestinal Wnt signaling in nematode Caenorhabditis elegans

Exposure to engineered nanomaterials(ENMs), such as graphene oxide(GO), can potentially induce the response of various molecular signaling pathways, which can mediate the protective function or the toxicity induction.Wnt signaling pathway is conserved evolutionarily in organisms.Using Caenorhabditis elegans as an in vivo assay model, we investigated the effect of GO exposure on intestinal Wnt signaling.In the intestine, GO exposure dysregulated Frizzled receptor MOM-5, Disheveled protein DSH-2, GSK-3(a component of APC complex), and two β-catenin proteins(BAR-1 and HMP-2), which mediated the induction of GO toxicity.In GO exposed nematodes, a Hox protein EGL-5 acted as a downstream target of BAR-1, and fatty acid transport ACS-22 acted as a downstream target of HMP-2.Functional analysis on HMP-2 and ACS-22 suggested that the dysregulation of these two proteins provides an important basis for the observed deficit in functional state of intestinal barrier.Our results imply the association of dysregulation in physiological and functional states of intestinal barrier with toxicity induction of GO in organisms.