Performance characteristics of PM10 samplers under calm air conditions

The size range of airborne particles that is closely related to specific deposition regions in the human respiratory tract and excess lung burden of these deposited particles is associated with disease. Size-selective sampling, therefore, needs to be performed to assess the related health risks. Performance criteria applied to these samplers must be well characterized in order to provide accurate and reliable results. The PM10 samplers that have been used in place of the total suspended particulate samplers for the collection of ambient air particles are more relevant to potential inhalation hazards. In order to be certified, a PM10 sampler must meet reliable performance specifications, primarily the aerosol penetration test with liquid and solid particles in a wind tunnel (wind speeds of 2, 8, and 24 km/hr). This testing is intended to assure reasonable accuracy in aerosol measurements. However, the sampler performance under calm air conditions has not been well studied. In the present study, the sampling heads of three devices--the Harvard impactor, the Personal Environmental Monitor (PEM), and the Sierra Andersen model 241 dichotomous sampler PM10 inlet head--were tested for aerosol separation efficiency. With the consideration of bias and imprecision of the measurements, five specimens of each type of sampler were chosen for performance testing, repeating the tests 5 times for each specimen. An ultrasonic atomizing nozzle was used to nebulize potassium sodium tartrate tetrahydrate and dioctyl phthalate particles as the solid and liquid challenge aerosols, respectively. The aerosol number concentrations and size distributions upstream and downstream of the samplers were measured by using an aerosizer calibrated against a settling velocity chamber. The results showed that among the samplers tested, the dichotomous sampler PM10 inlet head had the best fit to the PM10 convention, while the other two samplers not only appeared to have a steeper separation-curve slope but also had significant particle bounce when challenged with solid particles. Analysis of variance also confirmed the superiority of the dichotomous samplers. Surface-coating with oil or grease greatly reduced the problem of particle bounce.     

Synthesis of Li-doped bismuth oxide nanoplates,Co nanoparticles modification,and good photocatalytic activity toward organic pollutants

Abstract

Lithium-doped bismuth oxide nanoplates with the thickness of 50–150?nm and tetragonal bismuth oxide, monoclinic lithium bismuthate phases have been synthesized via a simple hydrothermal process using lithium acetate and sodium bismuthate as the raw materials. Cobalt nanoparticles modified lithium-doped bismuth oxide nanoplates hybrids were obtained by an in situ photo-deposition route. The cobalt nanoparticles-modified nanoplates hybrids display significantly enhanced photocatalytic activity toward gentian violet compared with the nanoplates. Gentian violet solution can be totally degraded by the hybrids within 60?min under ultraviolet–visible light irradiation. The superior photocatalytic activity of the cobalt nanoparticles modified nanoplates hybrids originates from the superior charge transfer capacity and the energy band structure of the hybrids. The excellent photocatalytic performance makes the cobalt nanoparticles modified nanoplates hybrids a promising candidate as the photocatalyst for wastewater treatment.     

Exploring the abundance and influencing factors of antimicrobial resistance genes in manure plasmidome from swine farms

Plasmids play a critical role in the dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs), however, a systematical understanding of ARGs originated from plasmids in swine production is currently lacking. Herein, quantitative polymerase chain reaction was applied to determine the prevalence of ten ARGs and the class1 integron gene intI1 of plasmid source in swine manure from 44 farms in Sichuan, Hubei and Hebei provinces, China. All assayed ARGs were observed in plasmid DNA samples, and the average absolute abundance of aac(6’)-Ib-cr, bla_NDM, bla_CTX-M, optrA, ermB, floR, mcr-1, qnrS, tetM, sul1 and intI1 were 7.09, 2.90, 4.67, 6.62, 7.55, 7.14, 4.08, 4.85, 7.16, 7.11 and 8.07 of 10 log copies/gram, respectively. IntI1 showed a high correlation (r > 0.8, P < 0.01) with the abundance of aac(6’)-Ib-cr and sul1 in swine manure. Moreover, the farm scale (i.e., herd population) and geographical location were not found to be critical factors influencing the absolute abundance of ARGs of plasmid DNA in swine farms. However, the concentrations of florfenicol, Cu, Zn, Fe, total phosphorus (TP) and total potassium (TK) demonstrated a significant correlation with the abundance of several ARGs. Particularly, Cu and Zn had high correlations with optrA and bla_CTX-M, respectively. Our results demonstrated that antibiotics, heavy metals and environmental nutrients are likely jointly contributing to the long-term persistence of ARGs in swine production. This study provides insights into the abundance and influencing factors of ARGs from swine manure, which is of significance for assessing and reducing the public health risks in livestock production.     

大弹涂鱼(Boleophthalmus Pectinirostris)作为放射性核素指示物的研究

以大弹涂鱼为对象,模拟其两栖生活的环境,采用示踪法并用S-80智能多道分析器与Ge(Li)探头研究了大弹涂鱼的整体及其组织器官对~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs、~(65)Zn、~(60)Co的富集与排出.探讨了其积累量、残留量与海水中核素浓度的相关性,推荐性腺、肌肉、头部作为监测海洋中~(137)Cs、~(134)Cs、~(65)Zn、~(60)Co污染的生物指示物.     

Role of interfacial electron transfer reactions on sulfamethoxazole degradation by reduced nontronite activating H2O2

It has been documented that organic contaminants can be degraded by hydroxyl radicals ( • OH) produced by the activation of H₂ O₂ by Fe(II)-bearing clay. However, the interfacial electron transfer reactions between structural Fe(II) and H 2 O 2 for • OH generation and its effects on contaminant remediation are unclear. In this study, we first investigated the relation between • OH generation sites and sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation by activating H₂O₂ using nontronite with different reduction extents. SMX (5.2–16.9 μmol/L) degradation first increased and then decreased with an increase in the reduction extent of nontronite from 22% to 62%, while the • OH production increased continually. Passivization treatment of edge sites and structural variation results revealed that interfacial electron transfer reactions between Fe(II) and H 2 O 2 occur at both the edge and basal plane. The enhancement on basal plane interfacial electron transfer reactions in a high reduction extent rNAu-2 leads to the enhancement on utilization efficiencies of structural Fe(II) and H 2 O 2 for • OH generation.However, the • OH produced at the basal planes is less efficient in oxidizing SMX than that of at edge sites. Oxidation of SMX could be sustainable in the H 2 O 2 /rNAu-2 system through chemically reduction. The results of this study show the importance role of • OH generation sites on antibiotic degradation and provide guidance and potential strategies for antibiotic degradation by Fe(II)-bearing clay minerals in H 2 O 2 -based treatments.     

林南仓矿煤低温氧化动力学实验研究

为了研究林南仓矿煤的低温氧化的动力学特性,选取来自不同煤层和采区的3个煤样为实验煤样。通过工业分析和元素分析确定了煤的种类为中高挥发分烟煤,自燃等级为Ⅱ类自燃。分析热重实验结果将低温氧化过程分为失重阶段和增重阶段,确定两阶段为一级化学反应,随着反应深入氧化所需的能量增加。升温氧化实验过程中气体的质量浓度和种类随温度升高而增加,利用电子自旋共振波谱仪研究不同氧化温度下煤中自由基的数量,结果显示自由基浓度出现先减小后增加的趋势。从宏观和微观两个角度提出随着反应程度的加深反应所需能量以及气体产物和自由基数量之间的关系,进一步揭示煤自燃的发展进程。     

二级出水中溶解性有机物亲疏水性对超滤膜污染的影响

利用相对分子质量分布、三维荧光光谱仪及红外光谱仪等方法研究了城市污水二级出水中溶解性有机物亲疏水性对超滤膜污染的影响。结果表明:城市污水二级出水中疏水性酸占42.8%,过渡亲水性酸占19.1%,亲水性有机物占38.1%;水中疏水性酸、过渡亲水性酸和亲水性有机物分别使膜通量减小32.8%、29.9%和18.6%,膜阻力增大106.6%、92.2%和58.6%;过渡亲水性酸为蛋白质类,相对分子质量主要在4000~30000 Da;亲水性有机物为脂肪类,主要集中在6 000 Da以下;疏水性酸物质为腐殖酸类,主要集中在4 000 Da以下,其中疏水性酸物质更容易引起超滤膜污染。     

查干湖汇水区面源污染风险识别及管控

面源污染是我国流域面临的主要水环境问题,为了识别面源污染高风险区和潜在风险路径,实现流域水环境保护,以查干湖水质目标为约束条件,构建4类关键“源”景观.选取高程、坡度、土地利用类型、污染强度、距居民点距离、距公路距离、距铁路距离、距水体距离等8个评价因子构建阻力面,对查干湖汇水区面源污染风险区和风险路径进行识别,提出管控分区和治理措施.结果表明:①查干湖汇水区关键“源”景观有4类,分别为面源污染单位面积高负荷区、坡度>3°区域、污染传输通道和临湖区域,面积共126.33 km2.②查干湖汇水区面源污染高风险区即面源污染重点管控区,占汇水区总面积的27.10%,主要位于乾安灌区有字泡区域、查干湖及周边泡沼沿岸.区内现有耕地不再增加,同时对坡度较大的区域退耕还湿、退耕还草,并设置污染降解设施.③查干湖汇水区面源污染较高风险区即面源污染一般管控区,占汇水区总面积的20.23%.该区鼓励开展有机农业,发展生态旅游.④查干湖北岸和东南岸、库里泡周边设置一定宽度的植被缓冲带,汇水区设置生态降解渠道333.41 km,生态湿地节点9个.研究显示,污染排放强度是查干湖汇水区面源污染风险的主要威胁因素,需要重点加强查干湖汇水区乾安灌区有字泡、湖区北岸及东南岸的面源污染管控.      

Polar organic tracers in PM2.5 aerosols from an inland background area in Southwest China: Correlations between secondary organic aerosol tracers and source apportionment

PM_(2.5) aerosol samples were collected over 12 hr and 24 hr intervals in an inland background area, Gongga Mountain National Nature Reserve(hereafter shortened to Gongga), during the summer of 2011. Polar organic tracers, inorganic ions and meteorological data were measured. The purpose of this work was to investigate the variation patterns, formation and sources of the secondary organic aerosol tracers in the studied atmosphere. The average concentrations of isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, β-caryophyllinic acid, sugars, sugar alcohols and anhydrosugars were 88.6 ± 106.1, 3.6 ± 5.7,0.13 ± 0.30, 13.6 ± 13.1, 31.9 ± 31.4 and 14.8 ± 10.7 ng/m3 respectively in all aerosol samples.The aged α-pinene second organic aerosol(SOA) tracers(i.e., 3-hydroxyglutraric acid(3 HGA), 3-hydroxy-2,2-dimethylglutaric acid(HDMGA), 3-acetylpentandioic acid(APDA) and 3-methyl-1,2,3-butanetricarboxylic acid(MBTCA)) correlated significantly with each other in the 24 hr PM2.5 aerosol samples, indicating that OH· is the major factor controlling the formation of these α-pinene SOA tracers. Using the positive matrix factorization(PMF) model and the tracer-based source apportionment method, we calculated that isoprene oxidation products, α-pinene oxidation products, sesquiterpene oxidation products, biomass burning, fungi spores and anthropogenic SOA accounted for 21.9% ± 5.5%, 8.4% ± 2.1%, 3.0% ± 0.7%, 5.2% ± 5.3%, 5.0% ± 6.2% and 31.4% ± 7.8% of organic carbon respectively during the sampling period.     

Degradation of sulfonamides and formation of trihalomethanes by chlorination after pre-oxidation with Fe(Ⅵ)

Sulfonamides are used in human therapy,animal husbandry and agriculture but are not easily biodegradable,and are often detected in surface water.Sulfamethazine(SMZ) and sulfadiazine(SDZ) are two widely used sulfonamide antibiotics that are used heavily in agriculture.In this study,they were degraded in an aqueous system by chlorination after pre-oxidation with ferrate(VI)(FeVIO42-,Fe(VI)),an environmentally friendly oxidation technique that has been shown to be effective in degrading various organics.The kinetics of the degradation were determined as a function of Fe(VI)(0–1.5 mg/L),free chlorine(0–1.8 mg/L) and temperature(15–35°C).According to the experimental results,SMZ chlorination followed second-order kinetics with increasing Fe(VI) dosage,and the effect of the initial free chlorine concentration on the reaction kinetics with pre-oxidation by Fe(VI) fitted a pseudo-first order model.The rate constants of SDZ and SMZ chlorination at different temperatures were related to the Arrhenius equation.Fe(VI) could reduce the levels of THMs formed and the toxicity of the sulfonamide degradation systems with Fe(VI) doses of 0.5–1.5 mg/L,which provides a reference for ensuring water quality in drinking water systems.