Effect of silica additive on the thermal stability of catalysts for NOx abatement

The aim of the plesent investigation was to study the effect of SiO₂ addition on the thermal deactivation of V₂O₅/WO₃/TiO₂ catalysts used for NOx pollution abatement. The results suggest that the degradation of the catalytic properties is strongly correlated to the structural ageing which is, in turn, mainly related to the anatase–rutile phase transformation and to the WO₃ phase segregation. The addition of SiO₂ strongly influences the temperature at which these phenomena occur. In fact, it was found that the introduction of this oxide stabilizes the material, retarding the collapse of surface area, and increases the temperature of the anatase to rutile phase transition.     

Sonocatalytic degradation of tetracycline antibiotic in aqueous solution by sonocatalysis

Tetracycline (TC), one of the most common antibiotics, is often poorly bio-degraded in conventional wastewater treatment plants. In this study, the sonocatalytic degradation of TC was investigated using TiO₂ nano-particles as catalyst. The effect of pH, initial TC concentrations, reaction times, and H₂O₂ concentrations were evaluated. The efficacy of ultrasonic irradiation alone in the removal of this pollutant was negligible but removal efficiency increased upon addition of TiO₂ up to 250 mg L^?1; increase of pH and initial TC concentration attenuated TC degradation. Addition of H₂O₂ raised the removal efficiency so that complete removal of TC was achieved within 75 min.     

Photocatalytic formation of hydrogen peroxide over highly porous illuminated ZnO and TiO2thin film

The photocatalytic formation of hydrogen peroxide over ZnO and TiO₂thin films has been investigated in aqueous phase in the presence of molecular oxygen as an electron acceptor. These films are highly porous and showed enhanced catalytic activity in the photochemical formation of hydrogen peroxide. The amount of H₂O₂formed during 2 hour light illumination is 4–6 μM and the rates of formation of hydrogen peroxide of both the films are almost comparable. The yield of hydrogen peroxide increases with the increase in irradiation time and a trend of steady state concentration of H₂O₂is observed in the case of TiO₂thin film. Photodissolution of ZnO particles is observed in some extent during the process of prolonged UV light illumination.     

五氧化二钒类Fenton降解邻苯二甲酸二乙酯的机制研究

发展了基于五氧化二钒(V_2O_5)和过氧化氢(H_2O_2)的新型类Fenton体系,探索了此体系产生羟基(·OH)的机制及降解邻苯二甲酸二乙酯(DEP)的效率;并考察了V_2O_5投加量、H_2O_2浓度,以及草酸对DEP降解的影响。结果表明,当V_2O_5投加量为0.1 g·L-1,H_2O_2浓度为2.0 mmol·L-1,反应24 h后,对DEP(25 mg·L-1)的降解率可达61.1%,增加或降低V_2O_5投加量和H_2O_2浓度均不利于DEP的降解。利用电子顺磁共振技术(Electron Paramagnetic Resonance,EPR)耦合5,5-二甲基-1-吡咯啉氮氧化物(DMPO)为捕获剂对反应体系中的主导自由基进行鉴定,发现·OH是体系降解DEP的主要活性物种,利用苯甲酸作为探针分子实现了·OH的间接定量,并初步推测了V_2O_5活化H_2O_2的过程。     

培养基对大型溞(Daphnia magna)生长、繁殖和子代的影响

大型溞(Daphnia magna)急性活动抑制试验和繁殖试验是研究和评价新化学物质对水生生物危害性的重要手段之一。由于经济合作与发展组织(Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development, OECD)测试导则推荐的Elendt M4培养基中含有的乙二胺四乙酸(EDTA)可能会影响金属离子的活性,不适合用于含有金属离子样品的毒理学测试。为选出合适的替代培养基,采用Elendt M4培养基、美国材料与试验协会(American Society for Testing and Materials, ASTM)推荐的ASTM培养基和国际标准化组织(International Organization for Standardization, ISO)推荐的ISO培养基进行大型溞繁殖试验,并收集繁殖试验中亲溞产下的非头胎幼溞进行重铬酸钾的急性活动抑制试验。结果表明,3种培养基对大型溞的生长、存活均无抑制作用,ASTM培养基和ISO培养基中大型溞的繁殖量分别为111±10和70±13,显著低于Elendt M4培养基的132±4 (P 0.05)。3种培养基中大型溞的繁殖量均能满足OECD 211-2012大型溞繁殖试验标准中繁殖量大于60的要求,但在ISO培养基中有死胎出现。重铬酸钾对Elendt M4培养基、ASTM培养基和ISO培养基中繁殖幼溞的24 h半数效应浓度(24 h-EC_(50))值分别为1.29、1.84和0.772 mg·L~(-1),均在OECD 202-2004大型溞急性活动抑制试验标准要求的0.6～2.1 mg·L~(-1)范围内,说明3种培养基中繁殖的大型溞均能用于大型溞急性活动抑制试验的标准测试中。综上所述,进行含有金属离子样品的毒理测试时,ASTM培养基和ISO培养基均可用于大型溞的短期驯养和急性活动抑制试验,ASTM培养基还可以用于长期驯养和繁殖试验。以上结果为大型溞毒性试验中试验培养基的选择提供理论依据。     

Different proxies for the reactivity of aquatic sediments towards oxygen: A model assessment

Information on benthic carbon mineralization rates is often derived from the analysis of oxygen microprofiles in sediments. To enable a direct comparison of different sediment environments, it is often desirable to characterize sediments by a single proxy that expresses their “reactivity” towards oxygen. For this, there are three commonly used proxies: the oxygen penetration depth (OPD), the oxygen flux at the sediment-water interface (DOU), and the maximum volumetric oxygen consumption rate (R_max). The OPD can be directly determined from the oxygen depth profile, while the DOU is usually obtained by a linear fit to the oxygen gradient either in diffusive boundary layer. The oxygen consumption rate R_max requires the fitting of a reactive-transport model to the data profile. This article shows that the OPD alone is a suboptimal proxy, because it shows a strong dependence on the half-saturation constant K_s, and secondly, because it is sensitive to the particular re-oxidation conditions right above the oxic-anoxic interface. Similarly, the volumetric oxygen consumption rate R_max is rather strongly dependent on the kinetic model formulation employed. To show this we fitted three different (Bouldin, Blackman and Monod) kinetics to the same oxygen data profiles. When fitting these models, the R_max values obtained differed by 20% for exactly the same oxygen profile. Accordingly, if one reports R_max values, it is crucial to specify the kinetic model alongside. Overall, DOU emerges as sediment reactivity proxy which is the least model dependent.     

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) requirement for the oxidation of crude oil in contaminated soils by a modified Fenton's reagent

The oxidation of soil organic matter (SOM) and total petroleum hydrocarbon were investigated in two soils at eight different hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentrations to determine the optimal H₂O₂ dosage for the efficient remediation of soils contaminated by crude oil with minimal SOM removal. In our study, H₂O₂ concentrations up to 1100 mM increased the SOM destruction up to 10%–15% in the two soils while no improvement of the crude oil removal efficiencies was observed. The results indicate that the destruction of SOM significantly limits the oxidation of crude oil because SOM might consume H₂O₂ more effectively than crude oil at H₂O₂ concentrations above 1100 mM. In addition, H₂O₂ concentrations higher than 1100 mM were not expected for both soils because of the extremely rapid H₂O₂ decomposition, and low H₂O₂ utilization, of both soils.     

Characterization of chemical species in universal sampler (PM2.5 and PM2.5–10) aerosols in suburban area of central Taiwan

Aerosol samples of particulate and chemical species for PM₁₀ (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters less than 10 μm) collected by Universal sampler were studied from June to August 1998 in the suburban area of central Taiwan. The ratios of PM_2.5/PM_2.5–10 displayed that the fine particles (particle size < 2.5 μm) are prevailing in the suburban site. Ion Chromatography was used to analyze for the water‐soluble ions: sulphate and nitrate in the Universal samples. Also, the collected samples were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Ca, Fe, Pb, Cu and Cr. The results indicated that the crustal elements (Ca and Fe) and resuspended matters were dominated in the coarse particulate mode while the anthropogenic elements (Cr, Pb, Cu) and sulphate components are mainly in the fine particle fraction. The results also showed that the sulphate and nitrate make the largest portion of the chemical species collected by Universal sampler (PMio). The concentrations of heavy metals in THU are generally high, owing to the higher motor vehicle and industrial density nearby. The degree of pollution from this source differs from day to day, depending on the motor vehicle density.     

铬渣污染土壤PM10和PM2.5组分中六价铬的生物可给性及健康风险评估

为获取土壤细颗粒组分中污染物的浓度及其生物可给性,分析了某铬渣污染场地土壤PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)组分中六价铬的浓度分布特征,并采用统一生物可给性测试方法(Unified Bioaccessibility Method,UBM)和呼吸吸入生物可给性测试方法(Inhalation Bioaccessibility Method,IBM) 2种体外模拟法测试了六价铬在胃、肠及肺中的生物可给性。结果显示:(1)六价铬和总铬在PM_(10)和PM_(2.5)组分中的含量大多明显低于PM_(250)组分,PM_(10)组分中六价铬和总铬的累积因子(accumulation factors,AF)分别为0.080#12.297和0.008#0.261,PM_(2.5)组分中六价铬和总铬的AF分别为0.019#5.721和0.005#0.342,相比于总铬而言,六价铬在细颗粒中的累积程度更高。较低的有机质(organic matter,OM)含量可能导致了六价铬AF的明显增加。不同组分中六价铬占总铬的比例分别为2%#17%(<250μm)、21%#98%(<10μm)和22%#82%(<2.5μm),表明在土壤细颗粒中,铬更多地以六价铬的形式存在;(2)通过UBM获取的PM_(250)组分中六价铬在胃提取阶段的生物可给性因子为0.0301%#0.9483%,平均值为0.4821%;肠阶段可给性因子为0.0018%#0.3934%,平均值为0.1578%,约为胃提取阶段的0.33倍;(3)通过IBM获取的PM_(10)组分中六价铬在肺阶段的生物可给性因子为2.52%#41.50%,平均值14.47%; PM_(2.5)组分中六价铬的生物可给性因子为2.40%#88.12%,平均值为48.86%,约为PM_(10)组分的3.38倍;(4)在考虑生物可给性条件下,六价铬产生的人体总致癌风险水平从2 430.04×10~(-6)下降至125.83×10~(-6),而且,六价铬呼吸途径产生的致癌风险水平极高,是经口摄入的5.04#176.38倍(胃)、10.92#10 198.00倍(肠),表明呼吸吸入是六价铬致癌风险最为关键的暴露途径。因此,通过测定土壤细颗粒组分中六价铬的生物可给性,能够显著提高铬渣污染土壤健康风险评估的可靠性。     

Study on particulate and metallic elements variation at daytime and nighttime period in urban atmosphere

Daily PM_2.5, PM_2.5–10 and TSP have been collected by Universal and PS‐1 sampler simultaneously at a site within Taichung between February and March 1999. The filters were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for the elemental analysis of Ca, Fe, Mn, Pb, Cu, Zn and Cr. In general, the concentration of these metallic elements are higher in fine particles than in coarse particles. On average, PM₁₀ accounted for 67% of the TSP at daytime, while at nighttime PM₁₀ accounted for only 44% of the TSP. For PM_2.5, PM₂._5–10 and TSP concentrations, there were no significant differences between day and night period. The averaged concentrations of metallic elements in PM_2.5 at daytime were all higher than that at nighttime. Ca, Fe and Zn have large and variable PM_2.5 concentrations at both daytime and nighttime. For the daytime Zn and Pb account for the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. For the nighttime, Zn and Cr make the largest portion of the heavy metal elements. The concentrations of Mn were higher on fine particulates. The trace metals Cu and Cr in Taichung are probably due to particulates emitted by Taichung Fire Power Plants transported into the sampling area by the prevailing northwesterly wind.     

Relationship between air pollutants emission patterns and concentrations

Emission patterns of NO_x and S‐compounds are analyzed to study their influence on the concentrations of SO₂, NO_x, sulphate and nitrate in the air. Air mass trajectories, emission inventories and cluster analysis are used to define the emission patterns.

The scheme that characterized most of the days is defined by low emissions from 48 hours until 18 hours before the measurements and it produces average concentrations. High concentrations are due to emission peaks. The time between these emission peaks and the measurement determines the importance of the emission peak on the concentration.     

纳米四氧化三铁吸附水中六价铬后的复合物对HEK293细胞的毒性研究

磁性纳米粒子是一种环境友好型吸附剂,广泛应用于废水中重金属的处理。目前,有不少关于纳米粒子毒性的研究,但对处理后的纳米粒子和金属的复合物的毒性却鲜有研究。本文利用纳米四氧化三铁(MNPs)吸附水中的铬离子,以人胚胎肾细胞HEK293为生物模型,通过测定细胞活力、活性氧含量以及细胞摄取量等试验,评估磁性纳米四氧化三铁吸附六价铬后的复合产物对HEK293细胞的毒性。实验结果显示:在本实验浓度和作用时间下,Cr(Ⅵ)离子能够进入细胞,产生氧化应激,并引起细胞毒性;与Cr(Ⅵ)离子相比,磁性纳米四氧化三铁吸附Cr(Ⅵ)后的修复产物MNPs/Cr(Ⅵ)对HEK293细胞无明显毒性效应,MNPs/Cr(Ⅵ)复合物在细胞内的摄取极少,只有极少数颗粒通过内吞的方式进入细胞,且没有进入细胞核内。因此,在本实验的作用浓度和时间下,利用MNPs吸附水环境中Cr(Ⅵ)后的复合物对HEK293细胞没有明显毒性,本研究为深化了解MNPs及其重金属复合物对环境的影响提供了实验依据和参考价值。     

纳米Fe3O4对小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤

纳米Fe3O4作为一种功能材料,在生物医药、生物靶向材料、微波吸收材料和高梯度磁分离器等方面应用前景广阔,其潜在的生物毒性也备受关注。为研究纳米Fe3O4对生物体可能造成的氧化损伤,以昆明小鼠为受试体,设置5、10、20和40mg·kg-14个染毒组,腹腔注射染毒7d后,测定小鼠肺组织中活性氧(reactive oxygen species,ROS)、还原型谷胱甘肽(glutathione,GSH)和丙二醛(malondialdehyde,MDA)的含量。结果显示,随着纳米Fe3O4染毒剂量的升高,肺组织ROS和MDA含量逐渐上升,GSH含量逐渐降低,各指标均呈一定的剂量-效应关系。剂量≥10mg·kg-1,肺组织ROS含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥20mg·kg-1,肺组织MDA含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05);剂量≥40mg·kg-1,肺组织GSH含量与对照组相比有显著差异(p<0.05)。研究表明,较高剂量(≥20mg·kg-1)的纳米Fe3O4颗粒材料会引起小鼠肺细胞的氧化损伤。     

Histopathology of cerebro neuronal cells in freshwater snail Bellamya bengalensis: impact on respiratory physiology,by acute poisoning of mercuric and zinc chloride

Mercuric (Hg) and zinc (Zn) chloride toxicity was investigated in cerebroneuronal cells and gills of Bellamya bengalensis using sublethal concentrations under lab conditions. Freshwater snail B. bengalensis was exposed to mean LC₅₀ concentration (1.56 ppm and 12.7 ppm) of Hg and Zn chloride, respectively. Bioaccumulation of Hg and Zn was observed in nervous and gill tissue in proportion to the time of exposure. Respiratory mechanisms and rate of oxygen consumption was depleted by both metals. Histopathological alterations in cerebro neuronal cells (giant, large, medium, and small) and gill filamental epithelia were apparent in Hg and Zn-exposed snails. Histopathology demonstrated increased cytoplasmic basophilia, extreme indentation of plasma membrane, karyolitic and eccentric nuclei, nuclear envelope with irregular size, and shrunken appearance of cerebroneuronal cells. Histologically, gill filamental epithelia showed hypertrophy, enlarged ciliated margins reduced length of cilia, nuclear dilations, thickening of basal lamina, and hemocytic accumulations in induced cells and severe loss of goblet mucus cells at the tip. Histopathology was accompanied by dysfunctioning cilia with decreased rate of respiration. Overall, neuronal impairment with damaged gill filament produced improper gaseous exchange leading to sluggish movement.     

Photodegradation of an azo dye by silver-doped nano-particulate titanium dioxide

The synthesis of silver doped nano-particulate titanium dioxide (Ag/TiO₂) using a microemulsion method and an investigation of its photocatalytic activity for the degradation of Acid Red 27 in distilled water under UV-irradiation is reported. The prepared Ag/TiO₂ is characterized using transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The size of the Ag nanoparticles is around 5–15?nm, with almost uniform distribution on the TiO₂ particles. The efficiency of the photocatalytic process is evaluated to establish the optimum conditions, found to be at 2?wt% of Ag loading on TiO₂, catalyst dosage of 400?mg?L^?1, and calcination temperature of 300°C. Complete decolorization of the dye solution on Ag/TiO₂ was observed in 20?min of UV irradiation in the optimum conditions.     

Evaluation of the levels and sources of trace elements in urban particulate matter

An assessment of air quality of Belgrade, Serbia, was performed by determining the trace element content in airborne daily PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 samples collected from a central urban area. The ambient concentrations of Zn were the highest in PM_2.5 (1,998.0 ng m⁻³). Multivariate receptor modelling (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) has been applied to determine the contribution of different sources of specific metallic components in airborne particles. The obtained results showed that vehicle traffic and fossil fuel combustion in stationary objects were the main sources of trace metals in Belgrade urban aerosols.     

Hepatic effects of yttrium oxide nanoflowers: in vitro risk evaluation

Yttrium oxide nanoflowers were prepared by a hydrothermal technique, and X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy were used to determine their structures. The cytotoxic and genotoxic potentials of aqueous dispersions of the nanoflowers to cultured primary rat hepatocytes were examined at concentrations up to 500 mg L^?1 for 72 h. Cell viability was determined by monitoring the reduction of 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, release of lactate dehydrogenase, and uptake of neutral red. Genotoxicity was assessed by the liver micronucleus assay. Exposure to Y₂O₃ nanoflowers at concentrations lower than 100 mg L^?1 did not lead to any cytotoxicity or genotoxicity. At higher concentrations (200, 400, and 500 mg L^?1), cell viability decreased and induction of micronuclei increased (400 and 500 mg L^?1).     

Decolorisation of Acid Blue 74 by ultraviolet/H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>2</Subscript>

The photodegradation of Acid blue 74 in aqueous solution employing a H₂O₂/ultraviolet system in a photochemical reactor was investigated. The kinetics of decolorization were studied by application of a kinetic model. The results show that the reaction of decolorization followed pseudo-first order kinetics. We demonstrate that there is an optimum H₂O₂ concentration, at which the rate of the decolorization reaction is maximum. Irradiation at 253.7 nm of the dye solution in the presence of H₂O₂ results in complete discoloration after ten minutes of treatment.     

中国5种土壤跳虫对重金属镍的毒性响应

为了研究镍(Ni~(2+))对不同种类跳虫的毒性效应,将曲毛裸长(Sinella curviseta)、四刺泡角(Ceratophysella duplicispinosa)、小原等节(Proisotoma minuta)、茉莉花长角(Entomobrya sp.)、符氏直棘(Orthonychiurus folsomi)5种中国优势跳虫物种,在琼脂培养基环境下分别暴露于Ni~(2+)的8个浓度组中进行24 h、72 h-LC_(50)急性毒性试验和28 d生存试验。利用Bliss法测得其5种跳虫的24 h-LC_(50)分别为52.99、35.91、33.46、23.72、13.50 g·L~(-1);72 h-LC_(50)为46.25、4.54、13.37、14.79、4.35 g·L~(-1)。在28d生存试验中得到成虫存活数量和繁殖情况。结果表明,5种跳虫中曲毛裸长对镍有较强的耐受性,茉莉花长角和小原等节次之,四刺泡角和符氏直棘较弱。符氏直棘与四刺泡角相比,随时间增加对镍的耐受性有相对增强的趋势。此外,Ni~(2+)对跳虫的毒性影响表现出阶段性的阈值效应。Ni~(2+)对5种跳虫的繁殖均有抑制作用。