A 1-dodecanethiol-based phase transfer protocol for the highly efficient extraction of noble metal ions from aqueous phase

A 1-dodecanethiol-based phase-transfer protocol is developed for the extraction of noble metal ions from aqueous solution to a hydrocarbon phase, which calls for first mixing the aqueous metal ion solution with an ethanolic solution of 1-dodecanethiol, and then extracting the coordination compounds formed between noble metal ions and 1-dodecanethiol into a non-polar organic solvent. A number of characterization techniques, including inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrate that this protocol could be applied to extract a wide variety of noble metal ions from water to dichloromethane with an efficiency of >96%, and has high selectivity for the separation of the noble metal ions from other transition metals. It is therefore an attractive alternative for the extraction of noble metals from water, soil, or waste printed circuit boards.     

Formation and speciation of disinfection byproducts during chlor(am)ination of aquarium seawater

The chemistry associated with the disinfection of aquarium seawater is more complicated than that of freshwater, therefore limited information is available on the formation and speciation of disinfection byproducts(DBPs) in marine aquaria. In this study, the effects of organic precursors, bromide(Br-) and pre-ozonation on the formation and speciation of several typical classes of DBPs, including trihalomethanes(THM4), haloacetic acids(HAAs),iodinated trihalomethanes(I-THMs), and haloacetamides(HAc Ams), were investigated during the chlorination/chloramination of aquarium seawater. Results indicate that with an increase in dissolved organic carbon concentration from 4.5 to 9.4 mg/L, the concentrations of THM4 and HAAs increased by 3.2–7.8 times under chlorination and by 1.1–2.3 times under chloramination. An increase in Br-concentration from 3 to 68 mg/L generally enhanced the formation of THM4, I-THMs and HAc Ams and increased the bromine substitution factors of all studied DBPs as well, whereas it impacted insignificantly on the yield of HAAs. Pre-ozonation with 1 mg/L O3 dose substantially reduced the formation of all studied DBPs in the subsequent chlorination and I-THMs in the subsequent chloramination. Because chloramination produces much lower amounts of DBPs than chlorination, it tends to be more suitable for disinfection of aquarium seawater.     

A screening assay for thyroid hormone signaling disruption based on thyroid hormone-response gene expression analysis in the frog Pelophylax nigromaculatus

Amphibian metamorphosis provides a wonderful model to study the thyroid hormone (TH) signaling disrupting activity of environmental chemicals, with Xenopus laevis as the most commonly used species. This study aimed to establish a rapid and sensitive screening assay based on TH-response gene expression analysis using Pelophylax nigromaculatus, a native frog species distributed widely in East Asia, especially in China. To achieve this, five candidate TH-response genes that were sensitive to T3 induction were chosen as molecular markers, and T3 induction was determined as 0.2 nmol/L T3 exposure for 48 hr. The developed assay can detect the agonistic activity of T3 with a lowest observed effective concentration of 0.001 nmol/L and EC50 at around 0.118–1.229 nmol/L, exhibiting comparable or higher sensitivity than previously reported assays. We further validated the efficiency of the developed assay by detecting the TH signaling disrupting activity of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA), a known TH signaling disruptor. In accordance with previous reports, we found a weak TH agonistic activity for TBBPA in the absence of T3, whereas a TH antagonistic activity was found for TBBPA at higher concentrations in the presence of T3, showing that the P. nigromaculatus assay is effective for detecting TH signaling disrupting activity. Importantly, we observed non-monotonic dose-dependent disrupting activity of TBBPA in the presence of T3, which is difficult to detect with in vitro reporter gene assays. Overall, the developed P. nigromaculatus assay can be used to screen TH signaling disrupting activity of environmental chemicals with high sensitivity.     

闸控河段水质浓度影响关键因子识别

由于闸门调度对河道内的水环境要素具有强烈的扰动作用,故闸控河段的水质变化过程较常规河道更为复杂。为了探析引起闸控河段水质浓度变化的主要制约因素,以槐店闸为研究对象,结合笔者进行的2次实验和其他时期的监测数据,通过偏相关分析和主成分分析的方法识别影响闸控河段水质浓度变化的关键因子,并利用多元线性回归方法分析得到闸控河段水质浓度变化与其关键因子的多元线性回归方程。经过分析初步得到,与高锰酸盐指数浓度变化率有关的关键因子为闸门开度、开启个数、高锰酸盐指数来水浓度、溶解氧含量、流速和水深;与氨氮浓度变化率有关的关键因子为闸门开度、开启个数、氨氮来水浓度、溶解氧含量和p H值。     

推进养殖污染防治,实现产业优化与环境保护双赢——对《水污染防治行动计划》的解读

针对《水污染防治行动计划》提出的畜禽养殖污染治理思路和措施,梳理了我国现阶段畜禽养殖污染防治中存在的问题,对《水污染防治行动计划》中提出的"调布局、建设施、促利用"三大举措进行了分析和解读,提出了落实《水污染防治行动计划》的几项重点工作,为地方推进畜禽养殖污染防治工作提供参考。     

实施跨界水环境补偿的探讨——对《水污染防治行动计划》中“实施跨界水环境补偿”的解读

针对《水污染防治行动计划》提出"实施跨界水环境补偿"的要求,文章总结分析了国内外已开展的水环境补偿实践情况,表明实施水环境补偿对跨界水质改善具有较好作用;从宏观层面分析了在我国推广跨界水环境补偿面临的主要困境与问题,并从政策、资金等方面提出了相关建议,为下阶段我国推广实施跨界水环境补偿提供参考。     

水稻秸秆经漆酶预处理后产沼气研究

利用秸秆产沼气是秸秆无害化处理解决环境污染问题的可行手段.本研究针对秸秆特殊结构而导致产沼气少、启动慢、利用率低等问题,采用自培养漆酶预处理水稻秸秆,提高了秸秆产气率及利用率.通过研究发现,当漆酶添加量为40 mL、发酵温度为35℃、预处理7d的条件下,秸秆的产气量最高;同时发现,金属离子的添加对沼气产量有很大影响,其中Cu2添加后产气量提高最多.另外,研究发现预处理天数为24 d的秸秆木质素纤维素降解率最高.     

BP 神经网络模型在环境气象灾害预测中的应用研究--以湖南省为例

依据环境气象数据与自然灾害统计数据,建立BP神经网络模型,对湖南主要气象灾害（洪灾、旱灾、冰冻灾）及受灾经济损失进行实例预测,将在MATLAB7软件中的仿真结果与传统的多元线性回归模型分析结果进行比较和误差分析。结果表明,BP神经网络模型在洪灾、旱灾受灾率方面的预测效果和精度优于多元回归模型,而由于冰灾训练样本不足及经济损失与输入因子的线性相关程度高,在冰灾与受灾经济损失率方面稍逊于多元回归模型。     

西南地区近14a植被覆盖变化及其与气候因子的关系

基于1999~2012年NDVI数据,结合气温和降水资料,运用GIS和RS技术,分析了西南地区近14a植被覆盖的时空变化特征及与气温、降水的关系。结果表明:(1)该区植被生长良好,各植被类型NDVI均呈显著增加趋势。空间整体表现为改善状态,改善面积远大于退化面积,严重退化区仅占1.18%。退化区分布于横断山地北部、四川盆地东部以及云贵高原中部。(2)植被覆盖变化将以良性发展为主,但强持续性的退化区和弱持续性的改善区应值得关注;强持续性的退化区主要分布在横断山地中北部、云贵高原中西部、若尔盖高原中部、四川盆地与若尔盖高原相交区域;草原强持续性的退化面积最大,针阔混交林强持续性的改善面积最大。(3)NDVI与温度存在明显的正相关关系,而与降水及干旱指数变化的关系不太明显,温度是影响该区植被变化的主要自然因素。     

2010-2013年我国柴油车黑碳排放状况分析

我国柴油车的快速增长给我国柴油车污染治理带来了极大的压力,柴油车黑碳排放的研究有益于对空气质量、人体健康和气候变化采取积极的措施。研究表明,从2010年到2013年,我国柴油车增长了23%,柴油类汽车保有量约增长了约43.3%;而我国柴油车的黑碳排放量出现先增后减的趋势,2013年我国柴油机动车的黑碳排放量约为33.33万吨,比2012年减少了2.8%;河南、河北、山东、广东和内蒙五个省(自治区)柴油机动车的黑碳排放约占全国黑碳排放的37.3%。研究结果初步显示了我国柴油车污染控制的效果。