Nitrogen deposition alters soil chemical properties and bacterial communities in the Inner Mongolia grassland

Nitrogen deposition has dramatically altered biodiversity and ecosystem functioning on the earth; however, its effects on soil bacterial community and the underlying mechanisms of these effects have not been thoroughly examined. Changes in ecosystems caused by nitrogen deposition have traditionally been attributed to increased nitrogen content. In fact, nitrogen deposition not only leads to increased soil total N content, but also changes in the NH₄⁺-N content, NO₃^--N content and pH, as well as changes in the heterogeneity of the four indexes. The soil indexes for these four factors, their heterogeneity and even the plant community might be routes through which nitrogen deposition alters the bacterial community. Here, we describe a 6-year nitrogen addition experiment conducted in a typical steppe ecosystem to investigate the ecological mechanism by which nitrogen deposition alters bacterial abundance, diversity and composition. We found that various characteristics of the bacterial community were explained by different environmental factors. Nitrogen deposition decreased bacterial abundance that is positively related to soil pH value. In addition, nitrogen addition decreased bacterial diversity, which is negatively related to soil total N content and positively related to soil NO₃^--N heterogeneity. Finally, nitrogen addition altered bacterial composition that is significantly related to soil NH₄⁺-N content. Although nitrogen deposition significantly altered plant biomass, diversity and composition, these characteristics of plant community did not have a significant impact on processes of nitrogen deposition that led to alterations in bacterial abundance, diversity and composition. Therefore, more sensitive molecular technologies should be adopted to detect the subtle shifts of microbial community structure induced by the changes of plant community upon nitrogen deposition.     

Aerosol structure and vertical distribution in a multi-source dust region

The vertical distribution of aerosols was directly observed under various atmospheric conditions in the free troposphere using surface micro-pulse lidar (MPL4) at the Zhangye Station (39.08°N, 100.27°E) in western China in the spring of 2008. The study shows that the aerosol distribution over Zhangye can be vertically classified into upper, middle and lower layers with altitudes of 4.5 to 9 km, 2.5 to 4.5 km, and less than 2.5 km, respectively. The aerosol in the upper layer originated from the external sources at higher altitude regions, from far desert regions upwind of Zhangye or transported from higher atmospheric layers by free convection, and the altitude of this aerosol layer decreased with time; the aerosols in the middle and lower layers originated from both external and local sources. The aerosol extinction coefficients in the upper and lower layers decreased with altitude, whereas the coefficient in the middle layer changed only slightly, which suggests that aerosol mixing occurs in the middle layer. The distribution of aerosols with altitude has three features: a single peak that forms under stable atmospheric conditions, an exponential decrease with altitude that occurs under unstable atmospheric conditions, and slight change in the mixed layer. Due to the impact of the top of the atmospheric boundary layer, the diurnal variation in the aerosol extinction coefficient has a single peak, which is higher in the afternoon and lower in the morning.     

Simultaneous quantification of fifty-one odor-causing compounds in drinking water using gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry

A wide range of compounds with various structural features can cause taste and odor(TO)problems in drinking water. It would be desirable to determine all of these compounds using a simple analytical method. In this paper, a sensitive method combining liquid–liquid extraction(LLE) with gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry(GC–MS/MS)was established to simultaneously analyze 51 odor-causing compounds in drinking water,including organic sulfides, aldehydes, benzenes, phenols, ethers, esters, ketones, nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, 2-methylisoborneol and geosmin. Three deuterated analogs of target analytes, dimethyl disulfide-d6, benzaldehyde-d6 and o-cresol-3,4,5,6-d4,were used to correct the variations in recovery, and five isotope-labeled internal standards(4-chlorotoluene-d4, 1, 4-dichlorobenzene-d4, naphthalene-d8, acenaphthene-d10, phenanthrene-d10 respectively) were used prior to analysis to correct the variations arising from instrument fluctuations and injection errors. The calibration curves of the target compounds showed good linearity(R2 0.99, level = 7),and method detection limits(MDLs) below 1/10 of the odor threshold concentrations were achieved for most of the odorants(0.10–20.55 ng/L). The average recoveries of most of the analytes in tap water samples were between 70% and 120%, and the method was reproducible(RSD 20%, n = 7). Additionally, concentrations of odor-causing compounds in water samples collected from three drinking water treatment plants(DWTPs) were analyzed by this method.According to the results, dimethyl trisulfide, dimethyl disulfide and indole were considered to be the key odorants responsible for the swampy/septic odor. 2-Methylisoborneol and geosmin were detected as the main odor-causing compounds for musty/earthy odor in DWTP B.     

Application of interface material and effects of oxygen gradient on the performance of single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells (SSMFCs)

Single-chamber sediment microbial fuel cells(SSMFCs) have received considerable attention nowadays because of their unique dual-functionality of power generation and enhancement of wastewater treatment performance. Thus, scaling up or upgrading SSMFCs for enhanced and efficient performance is a highly crucial task. Therefore, in order to achieve this goal, an innovative physical technique of using interface layers with four different pore sizes embedded in the middle of SSMFCs was utilized in this study.Experimental results showed that the performance of SSMFCs employing an interface layer was improved regardless of the pore size of the interface material, compared to those without such layers. The use of an interface layer resulted in a positive and significant effect on the performance of SSMFCs because of the effective prevention of oxygen diffusion from the cathode to the anode. Nevertheless, when a smaller pore size interface was utilized, better power performance and COD degradation were observed. A maximum power density of 0.032 mW/m~2 and COD degradation of 47.3% were obtained in the case of an interface pore size of 0.28 μm. The findings in this study are of significance to promote the future practical application of SSMFCs in wastewater treatment plants.     

One-step synthesis of Cu(II) metal–organic gel as recyclable material for rapid, efficient and size selective cationic dyes adsorption

Efficient removal of non-biodegradable and hazardous dyes from wastewater remains a hot research topic. Herein, a rationally designed a Cu(Ⅱ)-based metal–organic gel(Cu-MOG) with a nanoporous 3 D network structure prepared via a simple one-step mixing method was successfully employed for the removal of cationic dyes. The Cu-MOG exhibited high efficiency, with an adsorption capacity of up to 650.32 mg/g, and rapid adsorption efficiency, with the ability to adsorb 80% of Neutral Red within 1 min. The high adsorption efficiency was attributed to its large specific surface area, which enabled it to massively bind cationic dyes through electrostatic interaction, and a nanoporous structure that promoted intra-pore diffusion. Remarkably, the Cu-MOG displayed size-selective adsorption, based on adsorption studies concerning dyes of different sizes as calculated by density functional theory. Additionally, the adsorption performance of the Cu-MOG still maintained removal efficiency of 100% after three regeneration cycles. These results suggested that the Cu-MOG could be expected to be a promising and competitive candidate to conveniently process wastewater.     

Effect of air masses motion on the rapid change of aerosols in marine atmosphere

The impact of air masses motion on marine aerosol properties was investigated using an on-board single particle mass spectrometer(SPAMS) deployed for the determination of single particle size resolved chemical composition over Southeast China Sea. Two aerosol blooms(E1 and E2) were observed during the cruise. High average particle number count occurred in E1(7320), followed by E2(5850), which was more than 100–150 times of the average particle number count during normal periods. Particles were classified as four major sources, including continental source, shipping source, marine source, and transport source based on the mass spectral similarity. Transport source was identified as those particles with high particle number count occurred only during aerosol bloom period. Three sub-types of EC-Ca, OC-Ca, and Al-rich were classified as transport source.EC-Ca was the dominant particles of the transport source, accounting for more than 70%of the total particles in aerosol bloom events. A uni-modal size distribution in the size range of 0.1–2.0 μm was observed during normal period, while a bimodal distribution with a tiny mode(0.3 μm) and a coarse mode between 0.4 and 0.6 μm was present during aerosol bloom. The variation of aerosol source is consistent with air masses back trajectories, for the reason that most of the long-range air trajectories are from the ocean,while short air trajectories originate in the continental regions, which means that air masses have a significant impact on the aerosol physical–chemical properties along their tracks.     

中国碳排放及影响因素的市域尺度分析

评估区域碳排放及其与社会经济状况的关系对于制定碳减排措施至关重要.以中国339个地级及以上城市(不含新疆部分城市和港澳台地区)为研究对象,探究了非化石能源占比、土地开发度、常住人口城镇化率、第二产业占比、人均GDP和人均建设用地面积对人均CO₂排放量的影响.通过构建模拟人均CO₂排放量的贝叶斯信念网络,识别各因素对人均CO₂排放量的全局影响;采用多尺度地理加权回归模型,分析各因素对人均CO₂排放量的局部影响.结果表明：(1)2020年,中国地级及以上城市人均CO₂排放量呈现出由南向北递增,东部沿海向内陆递减的格局.(2)从全局来看,人均CO₂排放量对各因素的敏感性从高到低依次为：人均建设用地面积>人均GDP>常住人口城镇化率>土地开发度>第二产业占比>非化石能源占比.(3)从局部来看,各因素与人均CO₂排放量的空间关系方向与全局关系一致,关系强度上存在空间异质性.(4)清洁能源、脱碳技术、土地节约集约利用...     

放射性废物处置场选址邻避效应的问题研究

结合国内外对放射性废物处置场选址邻避效应的研究成果,分析放射性废物处置场选址邻避效应的基本特性,运用比较分析法,全面分析物权分类及相应权利特性。以土地为划分依据,探讨放射性废物处置场邻避效应的法律属性,提出放射性废物处置场邻避冲突属地役权滥用的法律实质的观点。结果表明：在确认放射性废物处置场邻避问题的地役权法律属性之后,可以通过司法程序来解决邻避问题,确保放射性废物处置场及相邻土地物权的合法行使及不被滥用。从法律层面提出应对邻避问题的策略,并结合我国放射性废物处置场现状,初步探讨对我国放射性废物处置场选址的启示。     

南海湖非冰封期浮游植物群落生态特征及其与环境因子关系

分别于2017、2018年的非冰封期(5—10月)对南海湖的浮游植物群落和环境因子进行了调查。共发现浮游植物7门80属157种(含变种),其中绿藻门种数最多,其次是硅藻门和蓝藻门,时间上7月最多、10月最少,空间上呈东高西低、南高北低的趋势。浮游植物密度为23.35×10⁶～126.00×10⁶个/L,平均值为66.78×10⁶个/L。主要优势种有微小平裂藻(Merismopedia tenuissima)、水华束丝藻(Aphanizomenon flosaquae)和螺旋弓形藻(Schroederia spiralis)。南海湖水质总体处于中污染状态。冗余分析表明,TN、TP、pH和温度是影响浮游植物分布的主要环境因子,绿藻门与TN关系密切,蓝藻门与TP、温度关系密切,硅藻门与pH关系密切。     

KOH活化花生壳生物质炭对亚甲基蓝吸附性能研究

以花生壳生物质炭(P-BC)为原料,KOH为活化剂,采用化学活化法制得活化生物质炭(K-BC),通过考察对亚甲基蓝的吸附性能,研究了花生壳生物质炭的最佳活化条件,并利用N2吸附-脱附实验、SEM等对最佳活化条件下的生物质炭进行表征.结果表明,K-BC活化的最佳条件为碱炭比为1.5:1,活化温度为800℃,活化时间为90 min,此时K-BC的比表面积达到597.93 m2/g,总孔容达到0.76 cm3/g.并考察了亚甲基蓝初始浓度、pH等对K-BC吸附亚甲基蓝的影响,随着初始浓度的增加,吸附平衡时间显著延长,亚甲基蓝去除率显著降低;当pH=6时,K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附量最大;K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附动力学曲线符合伪二阶动力学模型,吸附平衡时K-BC对亚甲基蓝的吸附能力为80~149.95 mg/g.