FeVO4可见光光催化降解有毒有机污染物

采用液相沉淀法制备了FeVO4光催化剂,以X射线衍射法(XRD)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)、紫外可见漫反射(UV-Vis DRS)对其进行了表征.在可见光(λ≥420 nm)照射下,研究了FeVO4活化H2O2降解染料OrangeⅡ及无色小分子2,4-二氯苯酚(DCP)的光催化活性.同时优化了光催化剂FeVO4的制备条件、探讨了光催化降解OrangeⅡ体系中H2O2浓度、FeVO4用量及pH对其降解作用的影响.结果表明,在可见光照射下,H2O2浓度为1.50×10-3 mol.L-1,FeVO4量为0.17 g.L-1,pH值为6.4时,FeVO4对OrangeⅡ光催化降解活性最好,14 h后对OrangeⅡ的矿化率达到51.6%.在光催化反应条件下,12 h后对DCP的降解率达到64.3%,表明FeVO4具有可见光催化特性.运用ESR技术跟踪测定光催化降解过程中氧化物种的变化,发现FeVO4活化H2O2产生羟基自由基(.OH),表明FeVO4的光催化降解过程主要涉及.OH的氧化历程.     

分子筛负载Fe3+可见光协助降解有机污染物

通过NaY型分子筛负载Fe3 制备异相Fenton催化剂(FeY),采用FeY在可见光(λ＞420 nm)照射下研究其降解染料罗丹明B(RhB)和2,4-二氯苯酚(DCP).通过对RhB降解过程的紫外-可见光谱、ESR和红外光谱分析,以及总有机碳量(TOC)的跟踪测定,FeY/H2O2体系在可见光照射下能有效地降解RhB,降解反应主要涉及到·OH自由基的产生和参与.RhB/FeY/H2O2体系在可见光照射下,反应270min,RhB脱色率达到100%,TOC去除率达75.6%.DCP/FeY/H2O2体系在可见光照射下,反应150min,DCP降解率达81.0%.利用酶催化反应米氏方程测定催化剂的活性,FeY催化常数Kcat=2.28×105 mol·l-1·min-1.     

钼酸铋光催化剂的制备及其光催化活性

以表面活性剂聚乙二醇(PEG6000)为模板剂,调节其用量(0、10、20、30、40 g·L-1)通过水热法制备得到Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55/Bi2MoO6纳米光催化剂,分别命名为(BMO-0、BMO-1、BMO-2、BMO-3,BMO-4).采用X-射线衍射仪(XRD),扫描电子显微镜(SEM),紫外可见漫反射(DRS UV-Vis)和比表面仪(BET)对其进行表征,结果表明,制备得到的钼酸铋为立方相Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55和单斜相Bi2MoO6的混合物,形貌为纳米片和纳米颗粒的混合体.在可见光(≥420 nm)照射下,研究了Bi3.64Mo0.36O6.55/Bi2MoO6光催化降解罗丹明B(Rhodamine B,RhB)和苯酚(phenol)的催化特性,探讨了在光催化剂制备过程中PEG6000用量对其可见光活性的影响,发现当PEG6000用量为20g·L-1时其光催化活性最好.可见光下照射2.5 h即可使RhB(1.37×10-5mol·L-1)100%脱色,光照12 h后对苯酚(1.48×10-3mol·L-1)的降解率达到35.15%.采用DPD分光光度法测定了体系中产生的双氧水(H2O2),并结合外加叔丁醇(t-butanol)、碘化钾(KI)等捕获剂试验,推测其催化机理主要为空穴氧化和超氧自由基(O·-2)协同氧化历程.     

铁锰矿类Fenton异相光催化降解有毒有机染料

选取6种天然铁锰矿石为光催化剂,以可见光(λ420nm)照射下活化H2O2降解有机染料罗丹明B(RhodamineB,RhB)为探针反应,筛选出活性较高的天然矿石(磁赤铁矿)催化降解RhB及2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-Dichlorophenol,DCP).实验表明,可见光下磁赤铁矿在pH=7.0的介质体系,H2O2浓度为3×10-3mol·l-1条件下可有效降解RhB.通过反射紫外光谱、原子吸收分光光度法、XRD初步表征了磁赤铁矿组成结构;采用紫外-可见吸收光谱(UV-vis)、红外光谱(IR)、总有机碳(TOC)测定等方法,研究了其可见光照射下对RhB光催化降解特性.结果表明,在实验条件下RhB矿化率达60%,DCP矿化率达到63.93%.利用电子自旋捕捉技术(ESR)跟踪测定RhB降解过程中氧化物种,表明催化降解过程涉及羟基自由基(·OH)氧化过程.拟定异相矿石类Fenton体系与传统均相Fenton体系相比,具有反应介质pH范围宽(3.0—7.0)、可见光激发及催化剂易得廉价等优势。     

ZnO/g-C_3N_4复合型光催化剂的制备及其光催化性能

以三聚氰胺(C_3H_6N_6)为前驱体,采用热解法合成类石墨相氮化碳(g-C_3N_4),再将其与乙酸锌[Zn(CH3COO)2·2H2O]以不同质量比复合煅烧法合成光催化剂Zn O/g-C_3N_4,并用SEM、XRD和DRS等对其进行了表征分析.以亚甲基蓝(MB)为模拟污染物,考察了Zn O/g-C_3N_4光催化剂的可见光催化性能;探究了添加不同活性物种捕获剂后对可见光催化性能的影响,进而推测了MB的降解机理.结果表明,与单纯的Zn O和g-C_3N_4相比,Zn O/g-C_3N_4复合型光催化剂的光催化性能有所提高,其中Zn O的含量为0.05wt%时光催化性能最佳,降解率能达到80%;羟基自由基(·OH)、光生空穴(h+)和超氧自由基(·O-2)是使MB有效降解的活性物种.     

可见光照射下α-FeOOH光催化降解有机污染物的研究

以α-FeOOH为光催化剂,酸性桃红(SRB)为目标化合物,研究了可见光照射下光催化剂对SRB的降解,结果表明:在可见光(λ＞420nm)照射下, SRB 浓度为1.2×10-5 mol·l-1,H2O2浓度为1.5×10-3 mol·l-1,α-FeOOH 为0.16 g·l-1,pH=7.05时,SRB的降解效果最好,红外光谱分析表明,SRB降解产物为羧酸及胺类化合物.另外,采用苯甲酸荧光分析法间接测定体系中自由基的含量,表明此光催化降解过程主要涉及·OH历程.     

μ-H_2O-桥联均相铁(Ⅲ)催化剂的合成及其对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯的降解性能

合成了μ-水桥联的双核铁(Ⅲ)配合物[Fe_2(μ-H_2O)(TS)_4(H_2O)_2]_2Cl_4·4H_2O](μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-TS)(TS=N,N'-triethylentetramine-salicylideimine;即三乙烯四胺水杨醛亚胺),并以其为催化剂、通过类Fenton反应考察了其对邻苯二甲酸二丁酯(DBP)的催化降解性质.结果表明,μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-TS在可见光条件下即可对DBP进行高效催化降解.采用UV-vis谱监测了μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)/DBP/可见光体系在加入H_2O_2前后不同时间的光谱,结果表明催化剂的活性位点可能为Fe(Ⅲ)-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)中心,形成了有利于H_2O_2活化的Fe(Ⅲ)-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-H_2O_2过渡态,使得·OH可以在可见光作用下便可产生.降解实验研究表明,在pH值3.0—8.0范围内,μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-TS的浓度为1.16—11.56μmol·L-1,H_2O_2的浓度为0.408—40.8 mmol·L-1,μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-TS/H_2O_2/可见光体系均能在5 min内对浓度为14.39—143.88μmol·L~(-1)的DBP实现近100%降解,较普通Fenton反应体系有更宽的pH适用范围.μ-H_2O-Fe(Ⅲ)-TS可循环使用,是有优异潜力的水中DBP绿色降解催化剂.     

TiO2/Li4Ti5O12/Na2Ti6O13复合催化剂的制备、表征及其光催化活性

采用反相微乳法,制备了TiO2/Li4Ti5O12/Na2Ti6O13复合催化剂,运用TG-DSC、XRD、SEM等分析方法对催化剂进行表征.在紫外光(λ=365 nm)照射下,以2,4-二氯苯酚(2,4-DCP)作为目标污染物,用P-25型TiO2作对照,研究了TiO2/Li4Ti5O12/Na2Ti6O13复合催化剂光催化降解2,4-DCP的特性.结果表明,制备的TiO2/Li4Ti5O12/Na2Ti6O13复合催化剂成带状纳米结构,其长度大于5μm,宽度约60 nm,厚度小于30 nm,结晶良好,分散性高,在紫外光照射下,50 min内对20 mg·L-1的2,4-DCP降解率达到了99.8%,表现出了比P-25型TiO2更高的光催化活性.     

Pt/BiVO_4光催化剂的制备及其光催化降解性能

采用微波法和光还原沉积法制备了一系列不同Pt含量的Pt/BiVO4光催化剂.采用X射线衍射仪(XRD)、X射线能谱仪(EDS)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、X射线光电子能谱(XPS)和紫外可见漫反射(UV-vis)对样品进行表征,并以氙灯为光源,四环素为目标污染物,对该光催化剂在可见光(λ420 nm)下的光催化降解活性进行了评价.实验结果表明,当Pt含量为2wt%时,Pt/BiVO4光催化剂在可见光照射60min条件下对四环素的降解效率达到了87.5%,明显高于纯BiVO422.7%的降解效率.沉积适量的Pt,能显著抑制光生电子与空穴的复合,提高光催化活性.     

新型高效H2-SCR尖晶石型NiFe2O4催化还原NO

采用柠檬酸配位溶胶-凝胶法制备尖晶石型复合金属氧化物NiFe2O4,以H2为还原剂,在固定床反应器中考察了该催化剂催化还原NO的性能,并借助X射线衍射(XRD)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电子显微镜(TEM)、比表面积测定(BET)、程序升温还原(TPR)和程序升温脱附(TPD)等方法对样品的晶体结构、形貌等特性进行了表征.结果表明.在空速4500 h-1,H2/NO浓度比为1,温度为400℃下,H2催化还原NO的效率可达97.8%,高H2/NO浓度比对NO转化率提升不大,高空速对其催化活性无明显影响.所制备的NiFe2O4催化剂具有典型的尖晶石结构,颗粒不规则,粒径大约为30—150 nm,并且具有良好的双官能团氧化还原性质.     

Rapid,recurring, structured survey versus bioblitz for generating biodiversity data and analysis with a multispecies abundance model

A bioblitz inexpensively and quickly generates biodiversity data, but bioblitzes are often conducted with haphazard, unreplicated sampling. Results tend to be taxonomically, geographically, or temporally biased, lack metadata, and consist of lists of observed taxa that do not enable further analyses or correction for imperfect detection. A rapid, recurring, structured survey (RRSS) uses a structured sampling design and temporal and spatial replication to survey randomly selected sites on a conservation property. We participated in a loosely structured bioblitz and a subsequent RRSS at Big Canoe Creek Nature Preserve in Springville (St. Clair County), Alabama (USA) to compare observed richness derived from the 2 survey approaches. The RRSS data structure enabled us to fit models that accounted for imperfect detection to estimate abundances, occupancy probabilities, and habitat associations. The loosely structured bioblitz data could not be used in such models. We present a new integrated multispecies abundance model that we applied to avian RRSS data. Our model extension enables estimation for the community, employs data augmentation to estimate the number of undetected species, and incorporates covariates. The RRSS generated a more comprehensive and less biased list of observed taxonomic richness than the loosely structured bioblitz (e.g., 73 vs. 45 bird species and 104 vs. 63 insect families from the RRSS vs. loosely structured bioblitz, respectively). Models fit to the RRSS data identified seasonal patterns in avian community composition and allowed for estimation of habitat–occupancy relationships for insect taxa. The RRSS protocol has potential for broad transferability as a standardized, quick, and inexpensive way to inventory biodiversity and estimate ecological parameters while providing an outreach opportunity.     

Compliance with and ecosystem function of biodiversity offsets in North American and European freshwaters

Land-use change via human development is a major driver of biodiversity loss. To reduce these impacts, billions of dollars are spent on biodiversity offsets. However, studies evaluating offset project effectiveness that examine components such as the overall compliance and function of projects remain rare. We reviewed 577 offsetting projects in freshwater ecosystems that included the metrics project size, type of aquatic system (e.g., wetland and creek), offsetting measure (e.g., enhancement, restoration, and creation), and an assessment of the projects’ compliance and functional success. Project information was obtained from scientific and government databases and gray literature. Despite considerable investment in offsetting projects, crucial problems persisted. Although compliance and function were related to each other, a high level of compliance did not guarantee a high degree of function. However, large projects relative to area had better function than small projects. Function improved when projects targeted productivity or specific ecosystem features and when multiple complementary management targets were in place. Restorative measures were more likely to achieve targets than creating entirely new ecosystems. Altogether the relationships we found highlight specific ecological processes that may help improve offsetting outcomes.     

Representation of the world's biophysical conditions by the global protected area network

Protected areas (PAs) are often implemented without consideration of already existing PAs, which is likely to cause an overrepresentation of certain biophysical conditions. We assessed the representativeness of the current PA network with regard to the world's biophysical conditions to highlight which conditions are underprotected and where these conditions are located. We overlaid terrestrial and marine PAs with information on biophysical conditions (e.g., temperature, precipitation, and elevation) and then quantified the percentage of area covered by the PA network. For 1 variable at a time in the terrestrial realm, high temperature, low precipitation, and medium and very high elevation were underrepresented. For the marine realm, low and medium sea surface temperature (SST), medium and high sea surface salinity (SSS), and the deep sea were underrepresented. Overall, protection was evenly distributed for elevation across the terrestrial realm and SST across the marine realm. For 2 variables at a time, cold and very dry terrestrial environments had mostly low protection, which was also the case for low SST and low and medium SSS across most depths for marine environments. Low protection occurred mostly in the Sahara and the Arabian Peninsula for the terrestrial realm and along the Tropic of Capricorn and toward the poles for the marine realm. Although biodiversity measures are of prime importance for the design of PA networks, highlighting biophysical gaps in current PAs adds a frequently overlooked perspective. These gaps may weaken the potential of PAs to conserve biodiversity. Thus, our results may provide useful insights for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to establish a more comprehensive global PA network.     

Quantitative composition of the defensive secretion ofBledius species (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Oxytelinae) is adapted to naturally occurring predators

Summary The adaptation of defensive secretions to their target organisms was examined for the abdominal gland secretions ofBledius furcatus, B. spectabilis andB. arenarius. Therefore the target organisms of the secretion of theseBledius species (i.e. their predators) had to be identified. At the collection sites examined these were the earwigLabidura riparia, the antCataglyphis bicolor, the flyLispe candicans, different carabids of the generaPogonus, Dichirotrichus, Dyschirius, Bembidion andCalathus and the wading birdsHaematopus ostralegus andCalidris alba. The secretion of the abdominal glands contains the toxin ptoluquinone dissolved in either-dodecalactone and 1-undecene (B. furcatus andB. spectabilis) or in octanoic acid and octyloctanoate (B. arenarius). The ratio of these solvents is species-specific. Application experiments using some of the natural insect predators (L. riparia, C. bicolor, Pogonus, Di. gustavii, Dyschirius) revealed that these solvent ratios provided a more effective deterrent than other possible ratios. Thus by combining the solvents in certain ratios, the capability of cuticular penetration and therefore the effectiveness of the defensive secretions are adapted to their natural targets.     

Democracy versus development: New urban debates

The politics of development includes subtexts of choice, as underpinned by community consensus (or lack of it), against the larger backdrop of a liberal democracy, with its intricate power structures that influence the choice of concepts and often lead to complicity rather than consent. A dilemma exists between the understanding of field-level practitioners and that of academics, whose understandings of progress differ. Progress can (and often does) imply long-term change across generations whereas development is often more a matter of crisis management and delivering tangible results to end-users. This makes it a bone of contention across political systems, irrespective of local or global dynamics. Development can emerge as a tool to be wielded for power and further political mileage at the expense of progress. Progress cannot be studied as a counterpoint to development as the sense of history is often missing in development interventions. Development tends to be piecemeal as its very logic often stems from the rationale of power. This is not to suggest, however, that development is only about politics; it is definitely more than the politics of everyday life and involves all of civil society that requires its critical and immediate attention. In this sense, it has become a priority for politicians with an underlying agenda designed to out-manouevre dissent and all statements of protest.     

A palaeo-hydrogeological model for arsenic contamination in southern and south-east Asia

An argument is presented in which areas of natural arsenic contamination of modern groundwaters throughout Asia have a common origin. Arsenic originally accumulated in oceanic ferro-manganoan sediments of the eastern Palaeo-Tethys. This was further concentrated through oceanic crustal extinction in what later became the south-east Chinese accreted mineralised terrain. Proto-Himalayan uplift of this area created the palaeo-drainage systems of the Ganges – Brahmaputra, Irrawaddy, Mekong, and Red Rivers, with consequent headwater erosion of arsenic-rich sediments. Their downstream deposition as immature and easily redistributed Neogene sandstones, silts, and iron-rich clays has created secondary and tertiary reservoirs of adsorbed and authigenic arsenic, from which the current arsenic-rich groundwaters have evolved. Considering river basins within the above palaeo-hydrogeological framework provides a basis for assessing the risk of arsenic in groundwater basins of south and south-eastern Asia.     

A framework to measure the wildness of managed large vertebrate populations

As landscapes continue to fall under human influence through habitat loss and fragmentation, fencing is increasingly being used to mitigate anthropogenic threats and enhance the commercial value of wildlife. Subsequent intensification of management potentially erodes wildness by disembodying populations from landscape-level processes, thereby disconnecting species from natural selection. Tools are needed to measure the degree to which populations of large vertebrate species in formally protected and privately owned wildlife areas are self-sustaining and free to adapt. We devised a framework to measure such wildness based on 6 attributes relating to the evolutionary and ecological dynamics of vertebrates (space, disease and parasite resistance, exposure to predation, exposure to limitations and fluctuations of food and water supply, and reproduction). For each attribute, we set empirical, species-specific thresholds between 5 wildness states based on quantifiable management interventions. We analysed data from 205 private wildlife properties with management objectives spanning ecotourism to consumptive utilization to test the framework on 6 herbivore species representing a range of conservation statuses and commercial values. Wildness scores among species differed significantly, and the proportion of populations identified as wild ranged from 12% to 84%, which indicates the tool detected site-scale differences both among populations of different species and populations of the same species under different management regimes. By quantifying wildness, this framework provides practitioners with standardized measurement units that link biodiversity with the sustainable use of wildlife. Applications include informing species management plans at local scales; standardizing the inclusion of managed populations in red-list assessments; and providing a platform for certification and regulation of wildlife-based economies. Applying this framework may help embed wildness as a normative value in policy and mitigate the shifting baseline of what it means to truly conserve a species.     

Sexual Predators,Energy Development,and Conservation in Greater Yellowstone

Abstract: In the United States, as elsewhere, a growing debate pits national energy policy and homeland security against biological conservation. In rural communities the extraction of fossil fuels is often encouraged because of the employment opportunities it offers, although the concomitant itinerant workforce is often associated with increased wildlife poaching. We explored possible positive and negative factors associated with energy extraction in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem (GYE), an area known for its national parks, intact biological diversity, and some of the New World's longest terrestrial migrations. Specifically, we asked whether counties with different economies—recreation (ski), agrarian (ranching or farming), and energy extractive (petroleum)—differed in healthcare (gauged by the abundance of hospital beds) and in the frequency of sexual predators. The absolute and relative frequency of registered sex offenders grew approximately two to three times faster in areas reliant on energy extraction. Healthcare among counties did not differ. The strong conflation of community dishevel, as reflected by in‐migrant sexual predators, and ecological decay in Greater Yellowstone is consistent with patterns seen in similar systems from Ecuador to northern Canada, where social and environmental disarray exist around energy boomtowns. In our case, that groups (albeit with different aims) mobilized campaigns to help maintain the quality of rural livelihoods by protecting open space is a positive sign that conservation can matter, especially in the face of rampant and poorly executed energy extraction projects. Our findings further suggest that the public and industry need stronger regulatory action to instill greater vigilance when and where social factors and land conversion impact biological systems.     

Cost‐effective conservation of an endangered frog under uncertainty

How should managers choose among conservation options when resources are scarce and there is uncertainty regarding the effectiveness of actions? Well‐developed tools exist for prioritizing areas for one‐time and binary actions (e.g., protect vs. not protect), but methods for prioritizing incremental or ongoing actions (such as habitat creation and maintenance) remain uncommon. We devised an approach that combines metapopulation viability and cost‐effectiveness analyses to select among alternative conservation actions while accounting for uncertainty. In our study, cost‐effectiveness is the ratio between the benefit of an action and its economic cost, where benefit is the change in metapopulation viability. We applied the approach to the case of the endangered growling grass frog (Litoria raniformis), which is threatened by urban development. We extended a Bayesian model to predict metapopulation viability under 9 urbanization and management scenarios and incorporated the full probability distribution of possible outcomes for each scenario into the cost‐effectiveness analysis. This allowed us to discern between cost‐effective alternatives that were robust to uncertainty and those with a relatively high risk of failure. We found a relatively high risk of extinction following urbanization if the only action was reservation of core habitat; habitat creation actions performed better than enhancement actions; and cost‐effectiveness ranking changed depending on the consideration of uncertainty. Our results suggest that creation and maintenance of wetlands dedicated to L. raniformis is the only cost‐effective action likely to result in a sufficiently low risk of extinction. To our knowledge we are the first study to use Bayesian metapopulation viability analysis to explicitly incorporate parametric and demographic uncertainty into a cost‐effective evaluation of conservation actions. The approach offers guidance to decision makers aiming to achieve cost‐effective conservation under uncertainty.     

Comparison of the insecticidal effects of water extracted and intact aromatic plants onAcanthoscelides obtectus,a bruchid beetle pest of kidney beans

Summary Acanthoscelides obtectus (Say) is one of the most damaging pests of kidney beans,Phaseolus vulgaris L. worldwide. However, aromatic plants from the families Lamiaceae, Lauraceae, Myrtaceae and Poaceae can protect kidney beans by direct or delayed insecticidal effect, through increased adult mortality and inhibition of beetle reproduction (both oviposition and adult emergence). The efficiency of hydrodistillated and intact plants fromThymus vulgaris andT. serpyllum, Mentha piperata, Rosmarinus officinalis, Satureia hortensis, Eucalyptus globulus, Laurus nobilis, Origanum vulgare, andCymbopogon nardus was compared. For both extracts,Origanum vulgare had the best effect. The insecticidal effect was induced by more than the essential oils because no significant difference was noticed between distilled and intact plants extract. Inhibition of reproduction was particularly important. These results suggest that lipidic as well as non lipidic, allelochemicals, such as phenolics, or non-protein amino-acids, or flavonoids may be involved in the toxicity of aromatic plants to this beetle.