Application of an aerosol electrical mobility spectrum analyzer: Charged-particle polarity ratio measurement in the Antarctic and Arctic regions

An aerosol electrical mobility spectrum analyzer (AEMSA), developed at Hanyang University, was employed to investigate the particle charge characteristics in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The particle charge characteristics in these areas were compared with the charging state in Ansan, South Korea, located in the midlatitude, where artificial factors, such as human activity, urbanization, and traffic, might result in a higher total concentration. Furthermore, in Ansan, South Korea, the charged-particle polarity ratio was very stable and was close to 1. However, notably different particle charge characteristics were obtained in the Antarctic and Arctic regions. The imbalance between the numbers of positively and negatively charged particles was evident, resulting in more positive charges on the atmospheric particles. On average, the positively charged particle concentrations in the Antarctic and Arctic areas were 1.4 and 2.8 times higher, respectively, compared with the negatively charged particles. The developed AEMSA system and the findings of this study provide useful information on the characteristics of atmospheric aerosols in the Antarctic and Arctic regions and can be further utilized to study particle formation mechanisms.     

室内木柴燃烧排放水溶性离子粒径分布特征

基于实验室模拟燃烧和稀释通道采样系统,采用荷电低压撞击采样器采集了6种典型木柴燃烧排放的14级粒径段颗粒物.采用离子色谱分析了8种水溶性离子,获得水溶性离子的分粒径排放因子和排放特征.结果表明,Ca²⁺的排放因子呈双峰分布,在0.25~0.38和2.5~3.6μm粒径段出现峰值,分别为0.14和0.16mg/kg.其余离子的排放因子为单峰分布.NH₄⁺、NO₃^-和SO₄^2-的排放因子在0.25~0.38μm粒径段出现峰值,分别为0.41、0.58和0.84mg/kg.K⁺和Cl^-的排放因子在0.15~0.25μm内出现峰值,分别为0.89和0.99mg/kg.木柴燃烧排放总水溶性离子的质量中值粒径为（0.30±0.07）μm,各离子的质量中值粒径范围为0.24~0.44μm.PM_0.094、PM_0.94、PM_2.5和PM₁₀中水溶性离子的排放因子变化范围分别为1.04~9.33、5.00~48.87、5.46~52.00和6.14~53.68mg/kg.木柴燃烧排放颗粒物中K⁺/Cl^-、K⁺/NO₃^-、K⁺/SO₄^2-和SO₄^2-/NO₃^-比值随粒径变化而变化,其排放初始值在应用于源解析和生物质燃烧排放气溶胶传输老化研究时需引起关注.木柴燃烧排放PM₁₀中的阴阳离子当量比值为0.80±0.11,颗粒物的酸度随颗粒物粒径而改变,亚微米颗粒物和细颗粒物的酸度高于超细颗粒物和粗颗粒物的酸度.本研究对构建生物质燃烧排放分粒径水溶性离子清单,更新和改进相关气候和空气质量模型的参数设置,识别烟气传输过程中的老化具有重要意义.     

Effect of NOx and RH on the secondary organic aerosol formation from toluene photooxidation

The secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation mechanism and physicochemical properties can highly be influenced by relative humidity (RH) and NOx concentration. In this study, we performed a laboratory investigation of the SOA formation from toluene/OH photooxidation system in the presence or absence of NOx in dry and wet conditions. The chemical composition of toluene-derived SOA was measured using Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS). It was found that the mass concentration of toluene decreased with increasing RH and NOx concentration. However, the change of SOA chemistry composition (f₄₄, O/C) with increased RH was not consistent in the condition with or without NOx. The light absorption and mass absorption coefficient (MAC) of the toluene-derived SOA only increased with RH in the presence of NOx. In contrast, MAC is invariant with RH in the absence of NOx. HR-ToF-AMS results showed that, in the presence of NOx, the increased nitro-aromatic compounds and N/C ratio concurrently caused the increase of SOA light absorption and O/C in wet conditions, respectively. The relative intensity of CHON and CHO_xN family to the total nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) increased with the increasing RH, and be the major components of NOCs in wet condition. This work revealed a synergy effect of NOx and RH on SOA formation from toluene photooxidation.     

Removal of refractory organics and heavy metals in landfill leachate concentrate by peroxi-coagulation process

Landfill leachate is a complex effluent and it is difficult to deal with. Electrochemical methods have been considered as a promising alternative technology for treatment of landfill leachate with refractory organic contaminants and heavy metals. Peroxi-coagulation (PC) process with iron anode and modified graphite felt cathode was developed for efficient landfill leachate concentrate treatment. Compared to electro-Fenton (EF) and electrocoagulation (EC) processes, the PC process was more cost-effective due to the combined action of ^•OH oxidation and iron hydroxides coagulation. A maximal TOC removal of 77.2% ± 1.4% was obtained after 360 min at initial pH = 5.0 and current density of 10 mA/cm². After the PC process, concentrations of all seven heavy metals in the final effluents were below the allowable emission limits given by the present regulatory standards. The method preference for heavy metal removal was PC > EC > EF. Based on the three-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with regional integration analysis during the PC treatment, the florescence peaks of both humic acids and fulvic acids disappeared after treatment for 360 min. Decreasing trends were observed in the fluorescent regional standard volumes for aromatic protein I (31.4%), aromatic protein II (63.7%), fulvic acid-like (69.5%), soluble microbial by-product-like (75%) and humic acid-like regions (76.3%). The results indicate that comparing to the EF and EC process, the PC process provide a promising and more cost-effective alternative for the treatment of landfill leachate concentrate.     

Market‐based conservation: Aligning static theory with dynamic systems

This paper provides a broad evaluation of the implications of market‐based conservation (MBC) strategies from economic, social and ecological perspectives. After reviewing the economic theory that underlies MBC initiatives, we develop a list of approaches that have been labeled as “market‐based”, and categorize them according to the degree to which they are free‐standing markets or require the intervention of the state. A multidisciplinary critique reveals the potential problems and pitfalls of MBC are due to a lack of ability to deal with dynamic systems in the real world. The dynamics of these three systems can undermine the intended goals of MBC.     

Silica-quaternary ammonium “Fixed-Quat” nanofilm coated fiberglass mesh for water disinfection and harmful algal blooms control

Intensification of pollution loading worldwide has promoted an escalation of different types of disease-causing microorganisms, such as harmful algal blooms(HABs), instigating detrimental impacts on the quality of receiving surface waters. Formation of unwanted disinfection by-products(DBPs) resulting from conventional disinfection technologies reveals the need for the development of new sustainable alternatives. Quaternary Ammonium Compounds(QACs) are cationic surfactants widely known for their effective biocidal properties at the ppm level. In this study, a novel silica-based antimicrobial nanofilm was developed using a composite of silica-modified QAC(Fixed-Quat) and applied to a fiberglass mesh as an active surface via sol–gel technique. The synthesized Fixed-Quat nanocoating was found to be effective against E. coli with an inactivation rate of 1.3 × 10~(-3) log reduction/cm min. The Fixed-Quat coated fiberglass mesh also demonstrated successful control of Microcystis aeruginosa with more than 99% inactivation after 10 hr of exposure.The developed antimicrobial mesh was also evaluated with wild-type microalgal species collected in a water body experiencing HABs, obtaining a 97% removal efficiency. Overall,the silica-functionalized Fixed-Quat nanocoating showed promising antimicrobial properties for water disinfection and HABs control, while decreasing concerns related to DBPs formation and the possible release of toxic nanomaterials into the environment.     

Deactivation of Cu-SAPO-34 by urea-related deposits at low temperatures and the regeneration

Selective catalytic reduction(SCR) with urea catalyzed by Cu-SAPO-34 is an effective method to eliminate NO_x from diesel exhaust. However, urea-related deposits may form during cold-start and urban driving due to low exhaust temperatures. The activity of CuSAPO-34 at 175°C is significantly degraded by urea exposure, and 300°C is required for regeneration. Through in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy(DRIFTS) and temperature-programmed hydrolysis studies, the dominant stable deposit at 175°C is identified as biuret, which can be eliminated at 300°C. The urea-derived deactivation and regeneration mechanisms of Cu-SAPO-34 were compared with those of anatase-supported catalysts.     

Di-(2-ethylhexy)-phthalate在细菌及细菌-矿物复合体表面的吸附解吸行为

以土壤中分离出的邻苯二甲酸二异辛酯(DEHP)高耐性细菌(伯克霍尔德菌,Burkholderia sp.)及3种常见矿物为实验材料,研究Burkholderia sp.及其矿物复合体对DEHP的吸附解吸行为,包括吸附动力学、吸附等温曲线、pH的影响、FTIR分析等.结果显示,Burkholderia sp.能在较短时间内完成对DEHP的吸附;DEHP在细菌表面的吸附符合Langmuir等温吸附方程(R20.97);Burkholderia sp.吸附DEHP的最适pH为7.0~8.0.蒙脱石、针铁矿、高岭土及细菌对DEHP的吸附能力大小依次为:蒙脱石针铁矿伯克霍尔德菌高岭土;同时,蒙脱石-细菌复合体系对DEHP结合能力最强,而高岭土和针铁矿-细菌复合体系对DEHP的结合强度较小.FTIR分析结果表明细菌表面的蛋白质及脂质部分在DEHP吸附过程中的作用较大,而疏水性作用等是DEHP与细菌及复合体相互结合的主要作用力.这些结果都与DEHP在环境中的迁移转化行为密切相关,对评估该类化合物的环境生态风险以及控制环境污染都具有重要的指导意义.     

Numerical simulation study on air quality in aircraft cabins

Air pollution is one of the main factors that affect the air quality in aircraft cabins, and the use of different air supply modes could influence the distribution of air pollutants in cabins. Based on the traditional ceiling air supply mode used on the B737NG, this study investigated another 3 different kinds of air supply modes for comparison: luggage rack air supply mode, joint mode combining ceiling and luggage rack air supply, and joint mode combining ceiling and individual air supply. Under the above 4 air supply modes, the air velocity, temperature and distribution of air pollutants in a cabin full of passengers were studied using computational fluid dynamics (CFD), and carbon dioxide (CO₂) and formaldehyde were selected as 2 kinds of representative air pollutants. The simulation results show that the joint mode combining ceiling and individual air supply can create a more uniform distribution of air velocity and temperature, has a better effect on the removal of CO₂ and formaldehyde, and can provide better air quality in cabins than the other 3 modes.     

Molecular approaches for the detection and monitoring of microbial communities in bioaerosols: A review

Bioaerosols significantly affect atmospheric processes while they undergo long-range vertical and horizontal transport and influence atmospheric chemistry and physics and climate change. Accumulating evidence suggests that exposure to bioaerosols may cause adverse health effects, including severe disease. Studies of bioaerosols have primarily focused on their chemical composition and largely neglected their biological composition and the negative effects of biological composition on ecosystems and human health. Here, current molecular methods for the identification, quantification, and distribution of bioaerosol agents are reviewed. Modern developments in environmental microbiology technology would be favorable in elucidation of microbial temporal and spatial distribution in the atmosphere at high resolution. In addition, these provide additional supports for growing evidence that microbial diversity or composition in the bioaerosol is an indispensable environmental aspect linking with public health.