Formation of sulfur oxide groups by SO2 and their roles in mercury adsorption on carbon-based materials

The presence of SO₂ display significant effect on the mercury (Hg) adsorption ability of carbon-based sorbent. Yet the adsorption and oxidation of SO₂ on carbon with oxygen group, as well as the roles of different sulfur oxide groups in Hg adsorption have heretofore been unclear. The formation of sulfur oxide groups by SO₂ and their effects on Hg adsorption on carbon was detailed examined by the density functional theory. The results show that SO₂ can be oxidized into SO₃ by oxygen group on carbon surface. Both C-SO₂ and C-SO₃ can improve Hg adsorption on carbon site, while the promotive effect of C-SO₂ is stronger than C-SO₃. Electron density difference analyses reveal that sulfur oxide groups enhance the charge transfer ability of surface unsaturated carbon atom, thereby improving Hg adsorption. The experimental results confirm that surface active groups formed by SO₂ adsorption is more active for Hg adsorption than the groups generated by SO₃.     

Mercury release behaviors of Guizhou bituminous coal during co-pyrolysis: Influence of chlorella

Co-pyrolysis of coal and seaweed can not only effectively decrease the carbon footprint but also improve the quality and output of coal pyrolysis products, however, the influence of seaweed on thermal releasing behaviors of mercury during co-pyrolysis process are still unclear. In this work, the chlorella and Guizhou bituminous coal were mixed and used to reveal the mercury release behavior during co-pyrolysis by the temperature programmed pyrolysis experiments, thermogravimetric and differential thermogravimetric analysis (TG-DTG) and thermogravimetry-mass spectrometry (TG-MS) methods, offering a sufficient explanation on the control technology of mercury pollutants in co-pyrolysis. The results exhibited that a large amount of reducing gases such as CO, H₂ and H₂O were generated in chlorella at the temperature range of 100-500°C, which was favorable for the transformation from oxidized mercury to elemental mercury, thus remarkably increased the release of elemental mercury in the raw coal sample. The mixed chlorella also significantly lowered the decomposition temperature range (from 400-600 to 300-400°C) of pyrite-bound mercury and decreased the decomposition temperatures of the pyrite-bound mercury species. Additionally, in the co-pyrolysis about 91.82% of mercury was released into the gas phase below 400°C and was 13.77% higher than that of in individual pyrolysis of coal.     

典型工程纳米材料对微藻的毒性效应研究进展

近年来,随着纳米技术的快速发展,工程纳米材料由于其良好的物理化学特性而广泛应用于各行各业。然而,在生产、使用和丢弃含有工程纳米材料产品的过程中不可避免地导致纳米材料释放到水环境中。工程纳米材料已在世界多地的水环境中被检测到,给水生态系统和人体健康带来潜在风险。由于水环境的复杂性,工程纳米材料在水体中的环境行为、毒性效应等生态风险还未得到充分的研究。本文以微藻为模型生物,总结了典型工程纳米材料,包括纳米金属、纳米氧化物、碳纳米材料以及量子点的毒性效应。探讨了工程纳米材料在水中的环境行为以及与其它污染物的复合毒性效应,讨论了工程纳米材料自身理化性质和环境因素对其毒性的影响。从生理指标和组学指标出发分析了工程纳米材料对微藻的毒性机制,并展望了工程纳米材料毒性研究的发展方向,以期为工程纳米材料的毒性评价提供一定的理论依据,促进纳米材料的绿色发展。     

Effectiveness of Disinfectants Suitable for Inactivating SARS-CoV-2 at Cold-Chain Temperature

Food and Environmental Virology - To prevent the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in cold-chain transportation in China, we developed specific cryogenic disinfectants. Carrier tests were performed against...     

厦门市生态系统供水服务量化与价值评估

突出的水污染问题严重影响生态系统供水服务,针对现有研究对水质影响和供水价值的评估考虑不足,尚无法将水质、供水服务及其价值与管理措施相联系,难以满足水资源和水环境管理的决策需求等问题,综合考虑水资源和水环境,建立了水质水量-供水服务-供水价值的联系,应用于厦门市生态系统供水服务评估并提出管理建议.采用SWAT（Soil and Water Assessment Tool）模型模拟水量,引入主要污染物超标当量和水质当量的概念评估水质,采用市场价值法和环境恢复成本法评估其价值.结果表明:2015年厦门市生态系统供水量为9.26×108 m3,供水价值量为14.82×108元,比2010年分别增加了1.77×108 m3和2.60×108元.2015年和2010年厦门市水质恶化导致供水价值量分别损失0.31×108和0.27×108元.厦门市供水服务具有较强的时空异质性和水体差异性,发掘潜力较大,受到总体下降的水质影响,建议从提升水源涵养能力和改善水质这两方面入手开展研究,以提升供水服务.该研究方法操作简单,评估结果易于比较和被决策者理解,但对经济发展程度的影响和水质定价考虑不足,在今后研究中应将地方经济发展程度纳入评估体系,并修正水污染处理成本.      

Aerosol optical properties and the mixing state of black carbon at a background mountainous site in Eastern China

In-situ measurements of aerosol optical properties were conducted at Mt. Huang from September 23 to October 28, 2012. Low averages of 82.2, 10.9, and 14.1 Mm~(-1) for scattering coefficient(σ_(sp, neph, 550)), hemispheric backscattering coefficient(σ_(hbsp, neph, 550)), and absorption coefficient(σ_(ap, 550)), respectively, were obtained. Atmospheric aging process resulted in the increase of σap, 550 but the decrease of the single scattering albedo(ω_(550)) at constant aerosol concentration. However, the proportion of non-light-absorbing components(non-BCs) was getting higher during the aging process, resulting in the increase of aerosol diameter, which also contributed to relatively higher σ_(sp, neph, 550) and ω_(550). Diurnal cycles of σ_(sp, neph, 550) and σ_(ap, 550) with high values in the morning and low values in the afternoon were observed closely related to the development of the planetary boundary layer and the mountain-valley breeze. BC mixing state, represented by the volume fraction of externally mixed BC to total BC(r), was retrieved by using the modified Mie model.The results showed r reduced from about 70% to 50% when the externally mixed non-BCs were considered. The periodical change and different diurnal patterns of r were due to the atmospheric aging and different air sources under different synoptic systems. Local biomass burning emissions were also one of the influencing factors on r. Aerosol radiative forcing for different mixing state were evaluated by a "two-layer-single-wavelength" model,showing the cooling effect of aerosols weakened with BC mixing state changing from external to core-shell mixture.     

Repeated exposure to cat urine induces complex behavioral,hormonal, and c-fos mRNA responses in Norway rats (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Rattus norvegicus</Emphasis>)

Prey species show specific adaptations that allow recognition, avoidance, and defense against predators. This study was undertaken to investigate the processing of a chronic, life-threatening stimulus to Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). One hundred forty-four Norway rats were tested by repeated presentation of cat urine for 1 h at different days in a defensive withdrawal apparatus. Rats exposed to urine for short periods showed significantly larger defensive behavioral and medial hypothalamic c-fos messenger RNA (mRNA) responses than other groups. These defensive responses habituated shortly after the presentation of cat urine. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone increased significantly when animals were repeatedly exposed to cat urine. However, the hormonal responses took longer to habituate than the behavioral and molecular responses did. We conclude that the behavioral and c-fos mRNA responses are “primed” for habituation to repeated exposures to cat urine, while the hormonal responses show “resistance.” The results support our hypothesis that the strongest anti-predator responses at three levels would occur during short-term exposure to cat urine and that these responses would subsequently disappear on prolonged exposure. This study assists understanding the way in which the different levels of defensive responses are integrated and react during chronic stress.     

Enhancement of photocatalytic efficiency by in situ fabrication of BiOBr/BiVO4 surface junctions

Surface junctions between Bi OBr and BiVO_4 were synthesized. The BiOBr/BiVO_4 with 1 wt.%of Bi OBr exhibited the highest photocatalytic activity in the degradation of Rh B under visible-light irradiation. It was found that the highly efficient adsorption of Rh B molecules via the electrostatic attraction between Br-and cationic \N(Et)_2 group played a key role for the high photocatalytic activities of BiOBr/BiVO_4. This efficient adsorption promoted the N-deethylation of Rh B and thus accelerated the photocatalytic degradation of Rh B.Moreover, the metal-to-metal charge transfer(MMCT) mechanism was proposed, which revealed the concrete path paved with Bi–O–Bi chains for the carrier migration in BiOBr/BiVO_4. The interaction between photoexcited Rh B* and the Bi~(3+) in BiVO_4 provided the driving force for the migration of photo-generated carriers along the Bi–O–Bi chains. This work has not only demonstrated the important role of efficient adsorption in the photocatalytic degradation of organic contaminants, but also developed a facile strategy to improve the efficiency of photocatalysts.     

Challenges to quantitative applications of Landsat observations for the urban thermal environment

Since the launch of its first satellite in 1972, the Landsat program has operated continuously for more than forty years. A large data archive collected by the Landsat program sig-nificantly benefits both the academic community and society. Thermal imagery from Landsat sensors, provided with relatively high spatial resolution, is suitable for monitoring urban thermal environment. Growing use of Landsat data in monitoring urban thermal environment is demonstrated by increasing publications on this subject, especially over the last decade. Urban thermal environment is usually delineated by land surface temperature (LST). However, the quantitative and accurate estimation of LST from Landsat data is still a challenge, especially for urban areas. This paper will discuss the main challenges for urban LST retrieval, including urban surface emissivity, atmospheric correction, radiometric calibration, and validation. In addition, we will discuss general challenges confronting the continuity of quantitative applications of Landsat observations. These challenges arise mainly from the scan line corrector failure of the Landsat 7 ETM + and channel differences among sensors. Based on these investigations, the concerns are to: (1) show general users the limitation and possible uncertainty of the retrieved urban LST from the single thermal channel of Landsat sensors; (2) emphasize efforts which should be done for the quantitative applications of Landsat data; and (3) understand the potential challenges for the continuity of Landsat observation (i.e., thermal infrared) for global change monitoring, while several climate data record programs being in progress.     

桂林市流动源对大气细颗粒物的贡献研究

在桂林市2013年机动车保有量数据的基础上,参考清华大学开发的中国多尺度大气污染排放清单模型(MEIC)中的排放因子,估算流动源对大气细颗粒物的贡献。结果表明:桂林市区和桂林3大区域的流动源PM_(2.5)排放量分别为71.96和118.87t;按使用的燃料来分,柴油燃料对桂林市区和桂林3大区域PM_(2.5)贡献率较大,分别为94.07%和90.44%;按机动车类型来分,桂林市区和桂林3大区域的流动源PM_(2.5)主要贡献车型均为重型载货车、大型载客车、中型载货车,3大车型PM_(2.5)贡献率之和均超过80%。