A metal-OH group modification strategy to prepare highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al for efficient acetone capture under humid conditions

A series of highly-hydrophobic MIL-53-Al (MIL = Materials of Institut Lavoisier) frameworks synthesized via decoration of the Al-OH groups by alkyl phosphonic acid were developed as adsorbents for removing acetone from humid gas streams. The newly prepared materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), N₂ adsorption-desorption and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). Their adsorption behaviors toward acetone vapor under dry and wet conditions were studied subsequently. Results showed that alkyl phosphonic acid was successfully grafted into MIL-53-Al skeleton through coordinating interaction with Al³⁺ generating [email protected]_x (x = 12, 14, 18). The [email protected]_x exhibited similar crystal structure and thermal stability to parent MIL-53-Al. Furthermore, the modified materials showed significantly enhanced hydrophobicity. The water vapor uptake of [email protected]₁₄ decreased by 72.55% at 75% relative humidity (RH). Dynamic adsorption experiments demonstrated that water vapor had almost no effect on the acetone adsorption performance of [email protected]₁₄. Under the condition of 90% RH, the acetone adsorption capacity of [email protected]₁₄ was 102.98% higher than that of MIL-53-Al. Notably, [email protected]₁₄ presented excellent adsorption reversibility and regeneration performance in 10 adsorption-desorption cycles. Taken together, the strategy of metal-OH group modification is an attractive way to improve the acetone adsorption performance over metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) under humid conditions. Besides, [email protected]₁₄ would be deemed as a promising candidate for capturing acetone in high moisture environment.     

Effect of multiple washing operations on the removal of potentially toxic metals from an alkaline farmland soil and the strategy for agricultural reuse

Few studies have carried out soil washing experiments using pot experiments to simulate in situ soil washing operations, particularly for alkaline soils. This study explored the effects of multiple washing operations using pot experiments on the removal efficiencies of potentially toxic metals (PTM) from alkaline farmland soil and the reuse strategy of washed soil for safe agricultural production. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of Cd, Pb, Cu, and Zn after seven washings with a mixed chelator (EDTA, GLDA, and citric acid) were 41.1%, 47.1%, 14.7%, and 26.5%, respectively, which was close to the results of the EDTA treatment. For the alkaline soil studied, the second washing with the mixed chelators most effectively removed PTM owing to the activation of them after the first washing operation. The mixed chelator more effectively increased the proportion of stable fraction of PTM and maintained soil nutrients (e.g., nitrogen content) than EDTA, indicating little disturbance of alkaline soil quality after washing with the mixed chelator. After the amendment of the washed soil, there was no visible difference in the biomass weight of crops from the soils washed with different agents, indicating that the inhibitory effect of both washing agents on plant growth was effectively alleviated. The Cd and Pb contents in Z. mays were below the threshold of Hygienical Standard for Feeds of China (GB 13078–2017) (1 and 30 mg·kg^?1). Moreover, after three cropping operations, the available concentrations of PTM in the soil washed with the mixed chelator were lower than those in the soil washed with EDTA, indicating the value and potential of agricultural reuse of alkaline farmland soil washed with the mixed chelator.

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Effect of composite amendments on physicochemical properties of copper tailings repaired by herbaceous plants

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Phytoremediation is considered to be the most environmentally friendly green restoration technology for dealing with mine waste. Adding amendments can...     

An evolutionary analysis of corruption in the process of collecting environmental tax in China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Considering the bargaining power of enterprises, this paper distinguishes between “Offering Bribes Voluntarily” (OBV) and “Offering...     

NABat: A top-down,bottom-up solution to collaborative continental-scale monitoring

Collaborative monitoring over broad scales and levels of ecological organization can inform conservation efforts necessary to address the contemporary biodiversity crisis. An important challenge to collaborative monitoring is motivating local engagement with enough buy-in from stakeholders while providing adequate top-down direction for scientific rigor, quality control, and coordination. Collaborative monitoring must reconcile this inherent tension between top-down control and bottom-up engagement. Highly mobile and cryptic taxa, such as bats, present a particularly acute challenge. Given their scale of movement, complex life histories, and rapidly expanding threats, understanding population trends of bats requires coordinated broad-scale collaborative monitoring. The North American Bat Monitoring Program (NABat) reconciles top-down, bottom-up tension with a hierarchical master sample survey design, integrated data analysis, dynamic data curation, regional monitoring hubs, and knowledge delivery through web-based infrastructure. NABat supports collaborative monitoring across spatial and organizational scales and the full annual lifecycle of bats.     

Long-term study of heavy metal pollution in the northern Hangzhou Bay of China: temporal and spatial distribution,contamination evaluation,and potential ecological risk

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Coastal ecosystem is vulnerable to heavy metal contamination. The northern Hangzhou Bay is under intensifying impact of anthropogenic activities. To...     

Characterization of a novel marine aerobic denitrifier Vibrio spp. AD2 for efficient nitrate reduction without nitrite accumulation

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Aerobic denitrifiers have the potential to reduce nitrate in polluted water under aerobic conditions. A salt-tolerant aerobic denitrifier was newly...     

北京市郊区夏季臭氧重污染特征及生成效率

为研究北京郊区夏季O₃(臭氧)重污染过程特征及O₃生成的光化学敏感性,基于2016年夏季在北京郊区开展的针对O₃及其相关污染物的强化观测试验(7月23日—8月31日,共计40 d),分析了观测期间O₃浓度[以φ(O₃)计]变化特征、O₃重污染过程主控因素与O₃敏感性化学特征.结果表明:观测期间φ(O₃)超标时有发生,最大小时φ(O₃)为151.1×10-9,其中有15 d的φ(O₃)最大8 h滑动平均值(O₃-max-8h)超过了GB 3095—2012《环境空气质量标准》二级标准限值,占观测天数的37.5%;不同O₃重污染过程成因有所不同,城市烟羽传输的污染物对郊区O₃重污染过程影响显著(观测期间臭氧重污染过程:过程1,7月27—29日;过程3,8月9—11日;过程4,8月16日;过程5,8月21—24日),区域光化学污染对郊区O₃重污染过程也有贡献(观测期间O₃重污染过程2:8月4—6日);结合后向气流轨迹进一步辅助说明了不同重污染过程中O₃的来源不同.研究还发现,观测区域存在反“周末效应”现象,说明观测区域周末受人为影响较为明显;基于观测数据计算的OPE(O₃生成效率)分析了O₃光化学敏感性表明,在有OPE值的22 d内NO_x控制区和VOCs控制区出现的概率(41%)相等,即观测区域O₃对NO_x和VOCs均敏感;此外还发现,在O₃重污染过程中光化学敏感性会随其反应进程发生改变,由NO_x控制区逐渐转变为VOCs控制区.