Mechanism of complexation of toxic arsenate,selenate, and molybdate with hydrotalcites

Environmental Chemistry Letters - Wastewater from the uranium mining industry contains toxic arsenate (AsO43–), selenate (SeO42–), and molybdate (MoO42–) that can be removed by...     

Conversion of waste plastics into value-added carbon materials

Plastic pollution is a major environmental issue worldwide, calling for advanced methods to recycle waste plastics in the context of the circular economy. Here we review methods and strategies to convert waste plastics into value-added carbon materials, with focus on sources, properties, pretreatment of waste plastics, and on preparation of carbon materials. Pretreatment techniques include mechanical crushing, plastic stabilization and electrospinning. Carbon materials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene, carbon nanosheets, carbon spheres and porous carbon are prepared by oxygen-limited carbonization, catalytic carbonization, the template-based method, and pressure carbonization. We emphasize the conversion of polyethene terephthalate, polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, halogenated plastics, polyurethane and mixed plastics.

     

Relationship between groundwater cadmium and vicinity resident urine cadmium levels in the non-ferrous metal smelting area,China

● This study systematically examined the relationship between groundwater Cd and UCL. ● The study covered 211 UCL and sociological characteristic from nine groundwater samples. ● We found a significant positive correlation between groundwater Cd and UCL. ● Smoking status and education level also significantly affected UCL. Cadmium (Cd) has received widespread attention owing to its persistent toxicity and non-degradability. Cd in the human body is mainly absorbed from the external environment and is usually assessed using urinary Cd. Hunan Province is the heartland of the Chinese non-ferrous mining area, where several serious Cd pollution events have occurred, including high levels of Cd in the urine of residents. However, the environmental factors influencing high urinary Cd levels (UCLs) in nearby residents remain unclear. Therefore, 211 nearby residents’ UCLs and the corresponding sociological characteristics from nine groundwater samples in this area were analyzed using statistical analysis models. Groundwater Cd concentration ranged from 0.02 to 1.15 μg/L, aligning with class III of the national standard; the range of UCL of nearby residents was 0.37–36.60 μg/L, exceeding the national guideline of 0–2.5 μg/L. Groundwater Cd levels were positively correlated with the UCL (P < 0.001, correlation coefficient 95 % CI = 9.68, R² = 0.06). In addition, sociological characteristics, such as smoking status and education level, also affect UCL. All results indicate that local governments should strengthen the prevention and abatement of groundwater Cd pollution. This study is the first to systematically evaluate the relationship between groundwater Cd and UCL using internal and external environmental exposure data. These findings provide essential bases for relevant departments to reduce Cd exposure in regions where the heavy metal industry is globally prevalent.     

Insights into the electron transfer mechanisms of permanganate activation by carbon nanotube membrane for enhanced micropollutants degradation

● A CNT filter enabled effective KMnO₄ activation via facilitated electron transfer. ● Ultra-fast degradation of micropollutants were achieved in KMnO₄/CNT system. ● CNT mediated electron transfer process from electron-rich molecules to KMnO₄. ● Electron transfer dominated organic degradation. Numerous reagents have been proposed as electron sacrificers to induce the decomposition of permanganate (KMnO₄) by producing highly reactive Mn species for micropollutants degradation. However, this strategy can lead to low KMnO₄ utilization efficiency due to limitations associated with poor mass transport and high energy consumption. In the present study, we rationally designed a catalytic carbon nanotube (CNT) membrane for KMnO₄ activation toward enhanced degradation of micropollutants. The proposed flow-through system outperformed conventional batch reactor owing to the improved mass transfer via convection. Under optimal conditionals, a > 70% removal (equivalent to an oxidation flux of 2.43 mmol/(h·m²)) of 80 μmol/L sulfamethoxazole (SMX) solution can be achieved at single-pass mode. The experimental analysis and DFT studies verified that CNT could mediate direct electron transfer from organic molecules to KMnO₄, resulting in a high utilization efficiency of KMnO₄. Furthermore, the KMnO₄/CNT system had outstanding reusability and CNT could maintain a long-lasting reactivity, which served as a green strategy for the remediation of micropollutants in a sustainable manner. This study provides new insights into the electron transfer mechanisms and unveils the advantages of effective KMnO₄ utilization in the KMnO₄/CNT system for environmental remediation.     

A pyrazine based metal-organic framework for selective removal of copper from strongly acidic solutions

● pz-UiO-66 was synthesized facilely by a solvothermal method. ● Efficient capture of copper from highly acidic solution was achieved by pz-UiO-66. ● pz-UiO-66 exhibited excellent selectivity and capacity for copper capture. ● Pyrazine-N in pz-UiO-66 was shown to be the dominant adsorption site. The selective capture of copper from strongly acidic solutions is of vital importance from the perspective of sustainable development and environmental protection. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted the interest of many scholars for adsorption due to their fascinating physicochemical characteristics, including adjustable structure, strong stability and porosity. Herein, pz-UiO-66 containing a pyrazine structure is successfully synthesized for the efficient separation of copper from strongly acidic conditions. Selective copper removal at low pH values is accomplished by using this material that is not available in previously reported metal–organic frameworks. Furthermore, the material exhibits excellent adsorption capacity, with a theoretical maximum copper uptake of 247 mg/g. As proven by XPS and FT-IR analysis, the coordination of pyrazine nitrogen atoms with copper ions is the dominant adsorption mechanism of copper by pz-UiO-66. This work provides an opportunity for efficient and selective copper removal under strongly acidic conditions, and promises extensive application prospects for the removal of copper in the treatment for acid metallurgical wastewater.     

区域土地利用类型对水源水中溶解性有机物丰度和荧光组分的影响

以潮白河密云段水体为研究对象,采用三维荧光光谱法及平行因子分析解析了潮白河饮用水源中溶解性有机物(DOM)来源和荧光特性,结合方差分析探讨了不同季节和区域土地利用类型对DOM浓度和荧光组分强度的影响.结果表明,潮白河密云段水体荧光溶解性有机物(FDOM)由5种荧光组分组成,包括微生物腐殖质2种,自生酪氨酸,还原醌类和陆...     

铬离子对藻类生长的影响

利用自然光照条件,在不同铬离子质量浓度下,对5种藻类的生长进行了实验研究.研究结果表明:5种藻类在不同的光波长下,其吸收光谱存在两个最强的吸收区: 420～440 nm的蓝紫光部分和660 nm 的红光部分;在不同铬离子质量浓度0～20.63 mg·L-1范围内,5种藻类生长受到不同程度的抑制,其耐受性也尽不相同,经过分析和比较后得出5种藻类对铬的耐受性大小顺序为:微囊藻(Microcystis)＞水华鱼腥藻(Anabaena flos-aquae)＞细长聚球藻(Synechococcus elongatus)＞斜生栅藻(Scenedesmus obliquus)＞蛋白核小球藻(Chlorella pyrenoidose).     

基于3D体外培养模型的化学物质肝毒性预测研究进展

精准预测化学物质肝毒性对保护人类生命健康安全具有重要意义。为了避免动物实验固有的物种间差异性和局限性,开发和利用与人源肝脏生理功能直接相关的体外模型至关重要。三维(3D)体外细胞培养模型相比于二维(2D)模型能更好地保留肝细胞代谢功能,再现肝脏内多种细胞相互作用的复杂环境,是体外模拟肝脏生理功能的一大进步,并初步在药物毒性评估方面获得应用的同时,也被引入到环境毒理学领域用于预测环境化学物质的肝毒性。本文介绍了目前常用3D体外细胞培养模型的制备方法,综述了其在环境化学物质(纳米材料、持久性有机污染物和新型有机污染物等)肝毒性预测方面的应用现状,最后探讨了3D肝细胞体外培养模型在有害结局路径指导下开展肝毒性预测的研究与应用前景。     

釜溪河自贡城区段季节性低氧成因研究

釜溪河为沱江一级支流,在自贡城区段设有国考碳研所断面。收集碳研所断面近10年来水质自动站数据,分析溶解氧(DO)变化特征,采样调查釜溪河自贡城区段水质及河道底泥污染状况,采用相关性分析、数值模拟等,研究分析釜溪河自贡城区段溶解氧分布特征及碳研所断面季节性低氧成因。研究结果表明,碳研所断面的溶解氧质量浓度变化特征呈现春末夏初最低,白天高晚上低的特征。釜溪河碳研所断面河水耗氧类污染物质量浓度较沱江流域内其他断面高,耗氧强度较大,溶解氧质量浓度较沱江流域其他断面偏低;其次,研究河段中釜溪河污水厂以下河段受污水厂低氧水排入和金子凼堰底层低氧水下泄影响,其溶解氧水平整体较污水厂以上河段低;最后,河段底泥有机质含量较高,春夏季气温升高将导致微生物分解活性增强大量消耗溶解氧,同时,闸坝和外来水体排入的水文扰动造成污水厂以下河段水温梯度弱,表层溶解氧易受底层低氧水影响,促使断面形成季节性低氧现象。溶解氧预测模型结果也进一步证实了温度变化和垂向温度梯度弱是碳研所断面溶解氧质量浓度季节性偏低的主要因素。     

基于鱼类完整性指数的滦河流域生态系统健康评价

生物完整性指数作为评价河流健康的重要工具,对流域管理有明确的指导作用.为全面掌握滦河流域生态系统健康状况,构建F-IBI（鱼类完整性指数）,开展滦河流域生态系统健康评价.于2016年10-11月对滦河流域58个采样点收集了鱼类与环境数据,根据栖息地质量评分与水质等级来确定参考点（12个）和受损点（7个）.利用分布范围检验、敏感性分析及冗余检验对20个候选指标进行筛选,以获得构建F-IBI的核心指标.采用1、3、5赋分法对核心指标进行赋分,并计算F-IBI最终得分.利用分位数法将F-IBI划分为"健康" "亚健康" "一般" "差" "极差"5个等级.利用非参数检验对F-IBI的适用性进行校验.结果表明:①鱼类物种数、个体数、Shannon-Wiener多样性指数、底栖食性鱼类个体百分比、耐受性鱼类个体百分比、产黏性卵鱼类个体百分比、产沉性卵鱼类个体百分比、上层鱼类个体百分比和广布种鱼类个体百分比等9个指标被筛选出,其适合作为构建F-IBI的核心指标.②F-IBI计算结果表明滦河流域58个采样点中,"健康"和"亚健康"等级采样点有22个,"一般"等级采样点22个,"差"和"极差"等级采样点14个.滦河干支流上游地区健康状况较好,干流中下游及部分独流入海河流健康状况较差,这主要受到不同地区社会经济发展的影响.③Mann-Whitney U检验发现,F-IBI在参考点与非参考点之间有显著差异,栖息地综合得分随F-IBI评价等级降低而下降,在"健康"与除"亚健康"外的其他等级以及"极差"与除"差"外的其他等级之间有显著差异.研究显示,构建的F-IBI适用于滦河流域生态系统健康评价.