Photodegradation of amoxicillin by catalyzed Fe3+/H2O2 process

Three oxidation processes of UV-Fe³⁺(EDTA)/H₂O₂ (UV: ultraviolet light; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ were simultaneously investigated for the degradation of amoxicillin at pH 7.0. The results indicated that, 100% amoxicillin degradation and 81.9% chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr) removal could be achieved in the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process. The treatment efficiency of amoxicillin and COD_Cr removal were found to decrease to 59.0% and 43.0% in the UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process; 39.6% and 31.3% in the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process. Moreover, the results of biodegradability (biological oxygen demand (BOD₅)/COD_Cr ratio) revealed that the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process was a promising strategy to degrade amoxicillin as the biodegradability of the effluent was improved to 0.45, compared with the cases of UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.25) and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.10) processes. Therefore, it could be deduced that EDTA and UV light performed synergetic catalytic effect on the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process, enhancing the treatment efficiency. The degradation mechanisms were also investigated via UV-Vis spectra, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectra. The degradation pathway of amoxicillin was further proposed.     

Oxidative removal of acetaminophen using zero valent aluminum-acid system: Efficacy, influencing factors, and reaction mechanism

Commercial available zero valent aluminum under air-equilibrated acidic conditions (ZVAl/H⁺/air system) demonstrated an excellent capacity to remove aqueous organic compounds. Acetaminophen (ACTM), the active ingredient of the over-the-counter drug Tylenol^®, is widely present in the aquatic environment and therefore the treatment of ACTM-contaminated water calls for further research. Herein we investigated the oxidative removal of ACTM by ZVAl/H⁺/air system and the reaction mechanism. In acidic solutions (pH < 3.5), ZVAl displayed an excellent capacity to remove ACTM. More than 99% of ACTM was eliminated within 16 hr in pH 1.5 reaction solutions initially containing 2.0 g/L aluminum and 2.0 mg/L ACTM at 25 ± 1\textcelsius. Higher temperature and lower pH facilitated ACTM removal. The addition of different iron species Fe⁰, Fe²⁺ and Fe³⁺ into ZVAl/H⁺/air system dramatically accelerated the reaction likely due to the enhancing transformation of H₂O₂ to HO. via Fenton's reaction. Furthermore, the primary intermediate hydroquinone and the anions formate, acetate and nitrate, were identified and a possible reaction scheme was proposed. This work suggested that ZVAl/H⁺/air system may be potentially employed to treat ACTM-contaminated water.     

黄河源区鄂陵湖中多环芳烃的百年沉积记录

为研究黄河源区多环芳烃（PAHs）的污染历史,于2016年7月在鄂陵湖中采集了沉积物柱芯,采用²¹⁰Pb定年,利用气相色谱串联三重四级杆质谱仪（GC-MS/MS）分析了16种PAHs,运用有序聚类分析对PAHs的垂向分布进行分带,并采取主成分分析及多元线性回归定量分析了PAHs的来源.结果表明,鄂陵湖沉积柱的沉积速率为0.176cm/a,慢于青藏高原多数湖泊.总PAHs的含量为11.3~54.7ng/g,平均值为29.2ng/g,与其他高原和偏远地区湖泊沉积物相比,处于较低水平,可被视为PAHs的全球沉积物背景值.PAHs的垂向变化分为1948年以前、1948~1976和1976~2016年3个时间段,5~6环PAHs在1948~2016年间呈上升趋势,与青海省人口及大型牲畜数量显著相关,反映了鄂陵湖地区近70a来的人类活动以农牧业为主.PAHs来源分为本地源（23%）以及长距离迁移与本地混合源（77%）.本地源的垂向变化与5~6环PAHs一致,代表了青藏高原地区以牛粪饼为主要燃料的生物质燃烧源.     

连云港近岸海域2011~2016年环境变化研究

依据2011年2月~2016年1月在连云港近岸海域进行的19个季节航次海洋环境综合调查结果,分析探讨了该海域主要海水要素的季节变化趋势和相关性,结合历史资料阐述和评价了海域的营养状态水平、环境质量现状及变化趋势,对存在的环境问题进行了分析.结果表明：研究海域水质状况总体良好;水质评价结果显示无机氮（DIN）是海域内最主要的环境污染因子,且DIN含量近年来有逐渐增加的趋势,年均值已经超过二类海水水质标准;此外其他环境污染因子是活性磷酸盐（DIP）、化学需氧量（COD）和油类.调查期间研究海域处于富营养化状态,潜在富营养化分析显示氮磷比值（N/P）有逐渐增加的趋势;绝大多数季节的有机污染状况为轻度污染状态.研究结论对科学、系统的认识和评估连云港近海生态环境现状及预测未来生态环境变化趋势具有重要的参考价值,对连云港近海海洋生态环境的可持续发展具有十分重要的科学意义和实际应用价值     

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from different soil fractions by persulfate oxidation

Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from different soil fractions of contaminated soil was investigated by using activated persulfate oxidation remediation in our research. The results showed that the light fraction, which accounted for only 10% of the soil, contained 30% of the PAHs at a concentration of 4352?mg/kg. The heavy fraction contained more high-molecular-weight PAHs, and the total PAH concentration was 625?mg/kg. After being oxidized, the removal rate of PAHs was 39% in the light fraction and nearly 90% in the heavy fraction. Among the different fractions of the heavy fraction, humic acid contained the highest concentration of PAHs, and consequently, the highest removal efficiency of PAHs was also in humic acid. Compared with the light fraction, the heavy fraction has more aromatic compounds and those compounds were broken down during the oxidation process, which may be the removal mechanism involved in the oxidation of high-ring PAHs. Similarly, the enhancement of C = C bonds after oxidation can also explain the poor removal of high-ring PAHs in the light fraction. These results imply that different fractions of soil vary in composition and structure, leading to differences in the distribution and oxidation efficiencies of PAHs.     

Activity maintenance of the excised branches and a case study of NO2 exchange between the atmosphere and P. nigra branches

The efficient maintenance of the activity of excised branches is the powerful guarantee to accurately determine gas exchange flux between the detached branches of tall trees and the atmosphere. In this study, the net photosynthetic rate(NPR) of the excised branches and branches in situ were measured simultaneously by using two photosynthetic instruments to characterize the activity of the excised branches of Phyllostachys nigra. The ratio of normalized NPR of excised branches to NPR in situ was used to assess the photosynthetic activity of detached branches. Based on photosynthetic activity, an optimal hydroponics protocol for maintaining activity of excised P. nigra branches was presented:1/8 times the concentration of Gamborg B5 vitamin mixture with p H = 6. Under the best cultivation protocol, photosynthetic activity of excised P. nigra branches could be maintained more than 90% within 6 hr in the light intensity range of 200–2000 μmol/(m2·sec) and temperature range of 13.4–28.7°C. The nitrogen dioxide(NO2) flux differences between in situ and in vitro branches and the atmosphere were compared using double dynamic chambers.Based on the maintenance method of excised branches, the NO2 exchange flux between the excised P. nigra branches and the atmosphere(from-1.01 to-2.72 nmol/(m2·sec) was basically consistent with between the branches in situ and the atmosphere(from-1.12 to-3.16 nmol/(m2 sec)) within 6 hr. Therefore, this study provided a feasible protocol for in vitro measurement of gas exchange between tall trees and the atmosphere for a period of time.     

Morphology, composition, and sources of individual aerosol particles at a regional background site of the YRD, China

Aerosol samples were collected at Lin'an, a background site of Yangtze River Delta(YRD).Morphology, size, composition, and mixing state of individual aerosol particles were characterized by transmission electron microscopy(TEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDS), and the soluble ions of PM_(1.0) were studied by aerosol mass spectrometer(AMS). The daily average AMS mass concentrations of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium were about 5.8, 8.6, and 5.6 μg/m~3, respectively. Individual aerosol particles were classified into seven types: S-rich, K-rich, organic matter(OM), soot, fly ash, metal, and mineral. S-rich particles were dominant in all size bins, and 51%(by number) of S-rich particles were internally mixed with other particles. The fraction of organic coating particles was 13.7% in morning, 25.2% in afternoon, and 11% in evening, suggesting that the strong photochemical process during afternoon produced more secondary organic aerosols(SOA) on the surface of inorganic particles. Fly ash and metal particles were abundant during the day, suggesting the influence of emissions from coal-fired power plants and steel plants. The results indicate that the intense industrial emissions in the YRD significantly transported to the background areas. PM_(2.5) concentration may be lower in background air than in urban air but complex mixing state of aerosol particles indicates that the long-range transported particles substantially influenced the background air quality.     

The thermal transformation mechanism of chlorinated paraffins: An experimental and density functional theory study

The increasing production and usage of chlorinated paraffins(CPs) correspondently increase the amount of CPs that experience thermal processes. Our previous study revealed that a significant amount of medium-chain chlorinated paraffins(MCCPs), short-chain chlorinated paraffins(SCCPs) as well as aromatic and chlorinated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons(Cl-PAHs) were formed synergistically during the thermal decomposition of CP-52(a class of CP products).However, the transformation mechanisms of CP-52 to these compounds are still not very clear.This article presents a mechanistic analysis on the decomposition of CP-52 experimentally and theoretically. It was found that CP-52 initially undergoes dehydrochlorination and carbon chain cleavage and it transformed into chlorinated and unsaturated hydrocarbons. Cyclization and aromatization were the most accessible pathways at low temperatures(200–400°C), both of which produce mostly aromatic hydrocarbons. As the temperature exceeds 400°C, the hydrocarbons could decompose into small molecules, and the subsequent radical-induced reactions become the predominant pathways, leading to the formation of Cl-PAHs. The decomposition of CP-52 was investigated by using density functional theory and calculations demonstrating the feasibility and rationality of PCB and PCN formation from chlorobenzene. The results improve the understanding of the transformation processes from CP-52 to SCCPs and Cl-PAHs as well as provide data for reducing their emissions during thermal-related processes.     

2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin promotes migration ability of primary cultured rat astrocytes via aryl hydrocarbon receptor

Emerging evidence showed that 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) could induce expression of certain reactivation-associated genes in astrocytes, however, the consequent cellular effects and molecular mechanisms are still unclear. During the process of astrocyte reactivation, migration is a critical cellular event. In the present study, we employed wound-healing assay and Transwell® motility assay to explore the effects of TCDD on cell migration in primary cultured rat cortical astrocytes. We found that upon TCDD treatments at relative low concentrations (10^? 10 and/or 10^? 9?mol/L), the ability of primary astrocytes to migrate horizontally and vertically was promoted. In line with this cellular effect, the mRNA expression of two pro-migratory genes, including cell division cycle 42 (CDC42) and matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2) was induced by TCDD treatment. Dioxin exerts its toxic effects mainly through aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) pathway. So the role of AhR pathway in the pro-migratory effects of TCDD was examined using an AhR antagonist, CH223191. We found that application of CH223191 significantly reversed the pro-migratory effects of TCDD. Interestingly, the basal ability of horizontal migration as well as basal levels of CDC42 and MMP2 expression were dramatically reduced suggesting a possible physiological role of AhR in maintaining the endogenous migration ability of the primary astrocytes. These findings support the notion that dioxin promotes astrocyte reactivation at molecular and cellular levels.     

Air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the Yangtze River Delta region during 2014–2016

With rapid economic growth and urbanization, the Yangtze River Delta(YRD) region in China has experienced serious air pollution challenges. In this study, we analyzed the air pollution characteristics and their relationship with emissions and meteorology in the YRD region during 2014–2016. In recent years, the concentrations of all air pollutants, except O_3,decreased. Spatially, the PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, and CO concentrations were higher in the northern YRD region, and NO_2 and O_3 were higher in the central YRD region. Based on the number of non-attainment days(i.e., days with air quality index greater than 100), PM_(2.5) was the largest contributor to air pollution in the YRD region, followed by O_3, PM_(10), and NO_2.However, particulate matter pollution has declined gradually, while O_3 pollution worsened.Meteorological conditions mainly influenced day-to-day variations in pollutant concentrations. PM_(2.5) concentration was inversely related to wind speed, while O_3 concentration was positively correlated with temperature and negatively correlated with relative humidity.The air quality improvement in recent years was mainly attributed to emission reductions.During 2014–2016, PM_(2.5), PM_(10), SO_2, NO_x, CO, NH_3, and volatile organic compound(VOC)emissions in the YRD region were reduced by 26.3%, 29.2%, 32.4%, 8.1%, 15.9%, 4.5%, and0.3%, respectively. Regional transport also contributed to the air pollution. During regional haze periods, pollutants from North China and East China aggravated the pollution in the YRD region. Our findings suggest that emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control helped to improve the air quality in the YRD region.