An improved GC-ECD method for measuring atmospheric N2O

Gas chromatography equipped with an electron capture detector (GC-ECD) has been widely used for measuring atmospheric N2O,but nonlinear response and the influence of atmospheric CO2 have been recognized as defects for quantification.An original GCECD method using N 2 as carrier gas was improved by introducing a small flow rate of CO2 makeup gas into the ECD,which could well remedy the above defects.The N2O signal of the improved method was 4-fold higher than that of the original method and the relative standard deviation was reduced from > 1% to 0.31%.N2O concentrations with different CO2 concentrations (172.2×10-6-1722×10-6mol/mol) measured by the improved GC-ECD method were in line with the actual N2O concentrations.However,the N2O concentrations detected by the original method were largely biased with a variation range of-4.5%～7%.The N2O fluxes between an agricultural field and the atmosphere measured by the original method were greatly overestimated in comparison with those measured by the improved method.Good linear correlation (R2=0.9996) between the response of the improved ECD and N2O concentrations (93×10-9-1966×10-9mol/mol) indicated that atmospheric N2O could be accurately quantified via a single standard gas.Atmospheric N2O concentrations comparatively measured by the improved method and a high precision GC-ECD method were in good agreement.     

Efficient visible light photo-Fenton-like degradation of organic pollutants using in situ surface-modified BiFeO3 as a catalyst

The visible light photo-Fenton-like catalytic performance of BiFeO₃ nanoparticles was investigated using Methyl Violet (MV), Rhodamine B (RhB) and phenol as probes. Under optimum conditions, the pseudo first-order rate constant (k) was determined to be 2.21×10^-2, 5.56×10^-2 and 2.01×10^-2 min^-1 for the degradation of MV (30 μmol/L), RhB (10 μmol/L) and phenol (3 mmol/L), respectively, in the BiFeO₃-H₂O₂-visible light (Vis) system. The introduction of visible light irradiation increased the k values of MV, RhB and phenol degradation 3.47, 1.95 and 2.07 times in comparison with those in dark. Generally, the k values in the BiFeO₃-H₂O₂-Vis system were accelerated by increasing BiFeO₃ load and H₂O₂ concentration, but decreased with increasing initial pollutant concentration. To further enhance the degradation of pollutants at high concentrations, BiFeO₃ was modified with the addition of surface modifiers. The addition of ethylenediamineteraacetic acid (EDTA, 0.4 mmol/L) increased the k value of MV degradation (60 μmol/L) from 1.01×10^-2 min^-1 in the BiFeO₃-H₂O₂-Vis system to 1.30 min^-1 in the EDTA-BiFeO₃-H₂O₂-Vis system by a factor of 128. This suggests that in situ surface modification can enable BiFeO₃ nano-particles to be a promising visible light photo-Fenton-like catalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants.     

Effects of nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations on the bioaccumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers by Prorocentrum donghaiense

The growth, cellular total lipids, bioaccumulation amount, and bioaccumulation factors (BAFs) of 2,4,4 ′ -tribromodiphenyl ether (BDE28), 2,2 ′ ,4,4 ′ -tetrabromodiphenyl ether (BDE47), and 2,2 ′ ,4,4 ′ ,5-pentabromodiphenyl ether (BDE99) in a semi-continuous culture of Prorocentrum donghaiense were studied in relation to nitrate (0, 128, and 512 μmol/L) and phosphate (0, 8, and 32 μmol/L) concentrations. The BDE28, BDE47, and BDE99 content per cell under 0 μmol N/L were 3.77 × 10 6 , 3.95 × 10 6 , and 4.32 × 10 6 ng/cell, respectively, which were significantly higher than those under 128 and 512 μmol N/L. A nearly 5-fold increase in polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) content per algal cell was found between 0 and 8 μmol P/L and between 8 and 32 μmol P/L. With increasing N and P concentrations, the PBDE content per volume of algal culture and the accumulation percentage of available PBDEs declined slightly. The BAFs for the PBDEs based on lipids showed that the logBAF lip under 0 μmol N/L was higher than those under 128 and 512 μmol N/L. The logBAF lip under 0 μmol P/L was higher than that under 8 μmol P/L but lower than that under 32 μmol P/L. Correlation analysis indicated a significant negative correlation between nutrient concentration and cellular total lipids, as well as the PBDE content per cell. The results indicate that different N and P concentrations change the total lipids content of P. donghaiense, thereby resulting in varying PBDE accumulation.     

Sensitivity of green and blue-green algae to methyl tert-butyl ether

The toxicity of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) to Chlorella ellipsoidea and Aphanizomenon flos-aquae was tested and assessed for a 15-d incubation with concentrations of MTBE from high (2.00×104 mg/L) to low (2 mg/L). The results showed that the toxicity was low when the concentration of MTBE was in the range 1.00×104-2.00×104 mg/L (the greatest inhibition of growth-rate was 70%-71%, occurred during the day 1-5). Low concentrations (2-500 mg/L) stimulated algal growth up to the greatest effect of 85%-200% w...     

生物传感细胞ADP1_pWHlux在水环境急性毒性检测中的应用

针对天然发光菌和以模式微生物为宿主构建的生物传感细胞在急性毒性检测应用中对测试条件要求苛刻等适用性问题,本研究将1株基因工程构建的生物传感细胞不动杆菌ADP1_p WHlux应用于急性毒性检测,建立检测方法,考察其灵敏度及检测范围.结果表明,ADP1_p WHlux发光受急性毒物的抑制,毒物剂量与发光抑制存在剂量效应关系.在4 mg·L-1Hg Cl2诱导下仅5 min可作出响应,暴露30~60 min后可以给出较为准确的结果.对Hg Cl2的检出限可达0.04 mg·L-1.对我国生活饮用水卫生标准的指标中Be2+、Ba2+、Cu2+、Ni2+检出效果明显,对Be2+、Ba2+、Cu2+的检测范围均在0.025~250 mg·L-1,对Ni2+的检测范围在0.002 5~250 mg·L-1,对Pb2+、Br O-3、Cl O-2的检出限均在0.002 5 mg·L-1,对Cl O-3检出限为0.025mg·L-1.采用ADP1_p WHlux生物传感细胞检测方法对北京市清河水环境急性毒性进行评价,表明ADP1_p WHlux生物传感细胞检测方法可用于污染水样检测.     

Preparation, characterization and application of CuCrO2/ZnO photocatalysts for the reduction of Cr(VI)

The delafossite CuCrO₂ elaborated by sol-gel from 40 nm diameter colloid is optically active in the visible region. It is characterized physically and photoelectrochemically. The microstructure is fairly homogenous with a mean crystallite size of ca. 2 μm. The optical gap (1.30 eV), determined from the diffuse reflectance, is well suited to the sunlight spectrum. The Mott Schottky plot is characteristic of P-type conductivity with a flat band potential of -0.26 V_SCE. As application, the photoreduction of chromate is successfully achieved in air-equilibrated suspension CuCrO₂/ZnO (1/1). CuCrO₂ is photoactivated by visible light and the electrons in the conduction band (-1.34 V_SCE) are injected to ZnO. In the presence of salicylic acid, a conversion of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) of 57% is obtained under optimal conditions (pH 3 at 25℃, 5×10^-4 mol/L) because of the HCrO₄^- dark adsorption onto ZnO (4HCrO₄^- + 3C₇H₆O₃ + 18O₂ + 16H⁺ → 4Cr³⁺ + 21CO₂ + 19H₂O, ΔG⁰ = -557 kcal/mol). Prolonged illumination is accompanied by a deceleration in the photoactivity owing to the competitive water reduction, an issue of energetic concern. The hetero-system exhibits self sensitization for hydrogen production with an evolution rate of 149 μmol/(hr·g).     

Observed levels and trends of gaseous SO2 and HNO3 at Mt. Waliguan, China: Results from 1997 to 2009

Long-term measurements of SO2 and HNO3,particularly those from the background sites,are rarely reported.We present for the first time the long-term measurements of SO2 and HNO3 at Waliguan(WLG),the only global baseline station in the back-land of the Eurasian Continent.The concentrations of SO2 and HNO3 were observed at WLG from 1997 to 2009.The observed annual mean concentrations of SO2 and HNO3 at WLG were 1.28±0.41 and 0.22±0.19μg/m3,respectively.The HNO3 concentrations were much higher in warmer seasons than in colder seasons,while the SO2 concentrations showed a nearly reversed seasonal pattern.In most months,the concentration of HNO3 was significantly correlated with that of SO2,suggesting that some common factors influence the variations of both gases and the precursors of HNO3 may partially be from the SO2-emitting sources.The SO2 concentration had a very significant(P < 0.0001) decreasing trend(-0.2μg/(m3·yr)) in 1997-2002,but a significant(P < 0.05) increasing trend(+0.06 μg/(m 3 ·yr)) in 2003-2009.The HNO3 concentration showed no statistically significant trend during 1997-2009.While the decrease of SO2 in 1997-2002 agrees with the trend of global SO2 emissions,the increase in 2003-2009 is not consistent with the decreasing trends in many other regions over the world.Trajectory analysis suggests that the airmasses from the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau and the Takla Makan Desert regions contributed significantly to the increasing trends of SO2 and HNO3 at WLG in 2003-2009,with a rate of +0.13μg/(m3·yr) and +0.007μg/(m3·yr),respectively.     

Determination of paraquat in water samples using a sensitive fluorescent probe titration method

Paraquat (PQ), a nonselective herbicide, is non-fluorescent in aqueous solutions. Thus, its determination through direct fluorescent methods is not feasible. The supramolecular inclusion interaction of PQ with cucurbit[7]uril was studied by a fluorescent probe titration method. Significant quenching of the fluorescence intensity of the cucurbit[7]uril-coptisine fluorescent probe was observed with the addition of PQ. A new fluorescent probe titration method with high selectivity and sensitivity at the ng/mL level was developed to determine PQ in aqueous solutions with good precision and accuracy based on the significant quenching of the supramolecular complex fluorescence intensity. The proposed method was successfully used in the determination of PQ in lake water, tap water, well water, and ditch water in an agricultural area, with recoveries of 96.73% to 105.77%. The fluorescence quenching values (ΔF) showed a good linear relationship with PQ concentrations from 1.0×10^-8 to 1.2× 10^-5 mol/L with a detection limit of 3.35×10^-9 mol/L. In addition, the interaction models of the supramolecular complexes formed between the host and the guest were established using theoretical calculations. The interaction mechanism between the cucurbit[7]uril and PQ was confirmed by ¹H NMR spectroscopy.     

Environmental chamber study of the photochemical reaction of ethyl methyl sulfide and Nox

A series of experiments were conducted in a self-made smog chamber at 300 ± 1 K and 1.01×105 Pa to simulate the photochemical reaction of ethyl methyl sulfide (EMS) and NOx. The results show that the higher the initial concentration of EMS, the more ozone is generated in the simulative reactions. It is found that the light intensity plays a very important role in the evaluation of ozone formation potential for EMS. The parameters of d(O3-NO) and IR (incremental reactivity) were used to quantify the potential of EMS on ozone formation. The obtained maximum IR values in this paper for the five simulative reactions were 1.55×10-2, 0.99×10-2, 1.36×10-2, 2.47×10-2, and 1.65×10-2, respectively. Comparison between the results we obtained here and the results we obtained before for di-tert-butyl peroxide and acetylene was made and it showed that the potential reactivity of EMS on ozone formation is at a relatively low level.     

Temporal and spatial changes in nutrients and chlorophyll-a in a shallow lake, Lake Chaohu, China: An 11-year investigation

Temporal and spatial changes of total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP) and chlorophyll-a (Chl-a) in a shallow lake, Lake Chaohu, China, were investigated using monthly monitoring data from 2001 through 2011. The results showed that the annual mean concentration ranges of TN, TP, and Chl-a were 0.08-14.60 mg/L, 0.02-1.08 mg/L, and 0.10-465.90 μg/L, respectively. Our data showed that Lake Chaohu was highly eutrophic and that water quality showed no substantial improvement during 2001 through 2011. The mean concentrations of TP, TN and Chl-a in the western lake were significantly higher than in the eastern lake, which indicates a spatial distribution of the three water parameters. The annual mean ratio of TN:TP by weight ranged from 10 to 20, indicating that phosphorus was the limiting nutrient in this lake. A similar seasonality variation for TP and Chl-a was observed. Riverine TP and NH₄⁺ loading from eight major tributaries were in the range of 1.56×10⁴-5.47×10⁴ and 0.19×10⁴-0.51×10⁴ tons/yr over 2002-2011, respectively, and exceeded the water environmental capability of the two nutrients in the lake by a factor of 3-6. Thus reduction of nutrient loading in the sub-watershed and tributaries would be essential for the restoration of Lake Chaohu.     

微生物全细胞传感器在重金属生物可利用度监测中的研究进展

传统的物理化学方法主要用于测定环境重金属的总量,微生物全细胞传感器可以对土壤及水体环境的重金属生物可利用度进行监测.此外,微生物全细胞传感器还具有操作简单、快速、经济的特点,适用于污染事件的应急监测.微生物全细胞传感器的生物学元件主要由MerR、ArsR、RS等家族的金属调控蛋白和gfp、lux、luc等报告基因组成.调控蛋白、报告基因与微生物全细胞传感器的灵敏度、特异性和监测特点有关.受pH、金属螯合物及检测条件等因素的影响,不同的环境条件下的重金属生物可利用度是不同的.增加重金属在微生物细胞内的累积,进行调控蛋白的分子生物学改造,优化检测条件是提高传感器灵敏度、特异性和准确性的可行方案.实现污染物的原位和在线监测是微生物全细胞传感器的主要发展方向.     

Profile of the culturable microbiome capable of producing acyl-homoserine lactone in the tobacco phyllosphere

Bacterial populations coexisting in the phyllosphere niche have important effects on plant health. Quorum sensing (QS) allows bacteria to communicate via diffusible signal molecules, but QS-dependent behaviors in phyllosphere bacterial populations are poorly understood. We investigate the dense and diverse N-acyl-homoserine lactone (AHL)-producing phyllosphere bacteria living on tobacco leaf surfaces via a culture-dependent method and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Our results indicated that approximately 7.9%-11.7% of the culturable leaf-associated bacteria have the ability to produce AHL based on the assays using whole-cell biosensors. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene assigned the AHL-producing strains to two phylogenetic groups, with Gammaproteobacteria (93%) as the predominant group, followed by Alphaproteobacteria. All of the AHL-producing Alphaproteobacteria were affiliated with the genus Rhizobium, whereas the AHL-producing bacteria belonging to the Gammaproteobacteria mainly fell within the genera Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Pantoea and Serratia. The bioassays of supernatant extracts revealed that a portion of the strains have a remarkable AHL profile for AHL induction activity using the two different biosensors, and one compound in the active extract of a representative isolate, NTL223, corresponded to 3-oxo-hexanoyl-homoserine lactone. A large population size and diversity of bacteria capable of AHL-driven QS were found to cohabit on leaves, implying that cross-communication based AHL-type QS may be common in the phyllosphere. Furthermore, this study provides a general snapshot of a potential valuable application of AHL-producing bacteria inhabiting leaves for their presumable ecological roles in the phyllosphere.     

Occurrence and infection risk of waterborne pathogens in Wanzhou watershed of the Three Gorges Reservoir, China

The Three Gorges Reservoir (TGR), formed by China’s Yangtze Three Gorges Project, is the largest lake in the world, but there is too little information available about fecal contamination and waterborne pathogen impacts on this aquatic ecosystem. During two successive 1-year study periods (July 2009 to July 2011), the water quality in Wanzhou watershed of the TGR was tested with regard to the presence of fecal indicators and pathogens. According to Chinese and World Health Organization water quality standards, water quality in the mainstream was good but poor in backwater areas. Salmonella, Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC), Giardia and Cryptosporidium were detected in the watershed. Prevalence and concentrations of the pathogens in the mainstream were lower than those in backwater areas. The estimated risk of infection with Salmonella, EHEC, Cryptosporidium, and Giardia per exposure event ranged from 2.9 × 10 -7 to 1.68 × 10-5 , 7.04 × 10-10 to 2.36 × 10-7 , 5.39 × 10-6 to 1.25 × 10-4 and 0 to 1.2 × 10-3 , respectively, for occupational divers and recreational swimmers exposed to the waters. The estimated risk of infection at exposure to the 95% upper confidence limit concentrations of Salmonella, Cryptosporidium and Giardia may be up to 2.62 × 10-5 , 2.55 × 10-4 and 2.86 × 10-3 , respectively. This study provides useful information for the residents, health care workers and managers to improve the safety of surface water and reduce the risk of fecal contamination in the TGR.     

Kinetics and mechanisms of p-nitrophenol biodegradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa HS-D38

The kinetics and mecswithhanisms of p-nitrophenol (PNP) biodegradation by Pseudomonas aeruginosa HS-D38 were investigated. PNP could be used by HS-D38 strain as the sole carbon, nitrogen and energy sources, and PNP was mineralized at the maximum concentration of 500 mg/L within 24 h in an mineral salt medium (MSM). The analytical results indicated that the biodegradation of PNP fit the first order kinetics model. The rate constant k_PNP is 2.039 × 10⁻²/h in MSM medium, K_PNP+N is 3.603 × 10⁻²/h with the addition of ammonium chloride and K_PNP+C is 9.74 × 10⁻³/h with additional glucose. The addition of ammonium chloride increased the degradation of PNP. On the contrary, the addition of glucose inhibited and delayed the biodegradation of PNP. Chemical analysis results by thin-layer chromatography (TLC), UV-Vis spectroscopy and gas chromatography (GC) techniques suggested that PNP was converted to hydroquinone (HQ) and further degraded via 1,2,4-benzenetriol (1,2,4-BT) pathway.     

Characterization of Methylocystis strain JTA1 isolated from aged refuse and its tolerance to chloroform

To accelerate the efficiency of methane biodegradation in landfills,a Gram-negative,rod-shaped,non-motile,non-spore-forming bacterium,JTA1,which can utilize methane as well as acetate,was isolated from the Laogang MSW landfills,Shanghai,China.Strain JTA1 was a member of genus Methylocystis on the basis of 16S rRNA and pmoA gene sequence similarity.The maximum specific cell growth rates(μmax=0.042 hr-1,R2=0.995) was derived through Boltzmann simulation,and the apparent half-saturation constants(Km(app)=7.08mmol/L,R2=0.982) was calculated according to Michaelis-Menton hyperbolic model,indicating that Methylocystis strain JTA1 had higher-affinity potential for methane oxidation than other reported methanotrophs.By way of adding the strain JTA1 culture,the methane consumption of aged refuse reached 115mL,almost two times of control experiment.In addition,high tolerance of Methylocystis strain JTA1 to chloroform could facilitate the methane oxidation of aged refuse bio-covers.At the chloroform concentration of 50mg/L,the methane-oxidation rate of bio-cover reached 0.114mL/(day·g),much higher than the highest rate,0.0135mL/(day·g),of reported bio-covers.In conclusion,strain JTA1 opens up a new possibility for environmental biotechnology,such as soil or landfills bioremediation and wastewater decontamination.     

Degradation of dichloromethane by an isolated strain Pandoraea pnomenusa and its performance in a biotrickling filter

A strain Pandoraea pnomenusa LX-1 that uses dichloromethane(DCM) as sole carbon and energy source has been isolated and identified in our laboratory. The optimum aerobic biodegradation of DCM in batch culture was evaluated by response surface methodology. Maximum biodegradation(5.35 mg/(L·hr)) was achieved under cultivation at 32.8°C, pH 7.3, and 0.66% NaCl. The growth and biodegradation processes were well fitted by Haldane's kinetic model, yielding maximum specific growth and degradation rates of 0.133 hr-1and 0.856 hr-1, respectively. The microorganism efficiently degraded a mixture of DCM and coexisting components(benzene, toluene and chlorobenzene). The carbon recovery(52.80%–94.59%) indicated that the targets were predominantly mineralized and incorporated into cell materials. Electron acceptors increased the DCM biodegradation rate in the following order: mixed oxygen iron sulfate nitrate. The highest dechlorination rate was 0.365 mg Cl-/(hr·mg biomass), obtained in the presence of mixed electron acceptors. Removal was achieved in a continuous biotrickling filter at 56%–85% efficiency, with a mineralization rate of 75.2%. Molecular biology techniques revealed the predominant strain as P. pnomenusa LX-1. These results clearly demonstrated the effectiveness of strain LX-1 in treating DCM-containing industrial effluents. As such, the strain is a strong candidate for remediation of DCM coexisting with other organic compounds.     

Nitrous oxide emissions from black soils with different pH

N₂O fluxes as a function of incubation time from soil with different available N contents and pH were determined. Cumulative carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions were measured to indicate soil respiration. A 144-hr incubation experiment was conducted in a slightly acidic agricultural soil (pH_H2O 5.33) after the pH was adjusted to four different values (3.65, 5.00, 6.90 and 8.55). The experiments consisted of a control without added N, and with NH₄⁺-N and NO₃^--N fertilization. The results showed that soil pH contributed significantly to N₂O flux from the soils. There were higher N₂O emissions in the period 0-12 hr in the four pH treatments, especially those enhanced with N-fertilization. The cumulative N₂O-N emission reached a maximum at pH 8.55 and was stimulated by NO₃^--N fertilization (70.4 μg/kg). The minimum emissions appeared at pH 3.65 and were not stimulated by NO₃^--N or NH₄⁺-N fertilization. Soil respiration increased significantly due to N-fertilization. Soil respiration increased positively with soil pH (R² = 0.98, P < 0.01). The lowest CO₂-C emission (30.2 mg/kg) was presented in pH 3.65 soils without N-fertilization. The highest CO₂-C emissions appeared in the pH 8.55 soils for NH₄⁺-N fertilization (199 mg/kg). These findings suggested that N₂O emissions and soil respiration were significantly influenced by low pH, which strongly inhibits soil microbial nitrification and denitrification activities. The content of NO₃^--N in soil significantly and positively affected the N₂O emissions through denitrification.     

Physiological cellular responses and adaptations of Rhodococcus erythropolis IBBPo1 to toxic organic solvents

A new Gram-positive bacterium, Rhodococcus erythropolis IBBPo1（KF059972.1） was isolated from a crude oil-contaminated soil sample by enrichment culture method. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 was able to tolerate a wide range of toxic compounds, such as antibiotics（800–1000 μg/mL）,synthetic surfactants（50–200 μg/mL）, and organic solvents（40%–100%）. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 showed good tolerance to both alkanes（cyclohexane, n-hexane, n-decane） and aromatics（toluene, styrene, ethylbenzene） with logPOW（logarithm of the partition coefficient of the solvent in octanol–water mixture） values between 2.64 and 5.98. However, alkanes were less toxic for R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells, compared with aromatics. The high organic solvent tolerance of R. erythropolis IBBPo1 could be due to the presence in their large genome of some catabolic（alkB, alkB1, todC1, todM, xylM）, transporter（HAE1） and trehalose-6-phosphate synthase（otsA1, KF059973.1） genes. Numerous and complex physiological cellular responses and adaptations involved in organic solvent tolerance were revealed in R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells exposed 1 and 24 hr to 1% organic solvents. R. erythropolis IBBPo1 cells adapt to 1% organic solvents by changing surface hydrophobicity, morphology and their metabolic fingerprinting.Considerable modifications in otsA1 gene sequence were also observed in cells exposed to organic solvents（except ethylbenzene）.     

Photodegradation of new herbicide HW-02 in organic solvents

HW-02 is a new organophosphates herbicide which is discovered and developed in China. The kinetics and mechanism of HW- 02 photodegradation in the organic solvents were studied at 25°C under the irradiation of ultraviolet light. The results showed that photochemical reaction of HW-02 in organic solvents such as n-hexane, methanol, dimethyl benzene and acetone under UV light could be well described by the first kinetic equation, and the photodegradation efficiency decreased with a order of n-hexane methanol xylene acetone. The photodegradation efficiency constant of HW-02 in n-hexane, methanol, xylene and acetone were 4.951 × 10 2 , 3.253 × 10 2 , 2.377 × 10 2 and 1.628 × 10 2 min 1 , and the corresponding half-lives were 13.99, 21.20, 29.15 and 42.56 min, respectively. By separation and identification of photoproducts using GC-MS, it could be concluded that HW-02 was photolyzed through ester cleavage, photo-dechlorination and photoisomerization of the molecule itself.     

Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B bymicrowave-assisted hydrothermal synthesized N-doped titanate nanotubes

Microwave-induced nitrogen-doped titanate nanotubes（NTNTs） were characterized by transmission electron microscopy（TEM）, X-ray diffraction（XRD）, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy（XPS）, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy（FT-IR）, Zeta potential analysis,specific surface area（SBET）, and UV-Visible spectroscopy. TEM results indicate that NTNTs retain a tubular structure with a crystalline multiwall and have a length of several hundred nanometers after nitrogen doping. XRD findings demonstrate that the crystalline structure of NTNTs was dominated by anatase, which is favored for photocatalytic application. The Ti-O-N linkage observed in the XPS N 1s spectrum is mainly responsible for narrowing the band gap and eventually enhancing the visible light photoactivity. FT-IR results demonstrated the existence of H3O＋, which could be excited by photo-generated holes to form hydroxyl radicals and degrade environmental pollutants. After sintering at 350°C, the UV-Vis absorbance edges of NTNTs significantly shift to the visible-light region, which indicates N atom doping into the nanotubes. Photocatalytic degradation of Rhodamine B（RhB） via NTNTs show good efficiency, with pseudo first-order kinetic model rate constants of 3.7 × 10-3, 2.4 × 10-3and 8.0 × 10-4sec-1at pH 3, 7, and 11, respectively.