Biodegradation Behaviors of Poly(p-dioxanone) in Different Environment Media

This work was aimed at researching the aerobic biodegradation of poly(p-dioxanone) (PPDO), a novel kind of degradable polymer material, by simulating real-life conditions in a laboratory-scale test, specified by the standard methods based on two biodegradation environments, composting and aqueous media. To measure and describe the biodegradability of PPDO, not only had carbon dioxide produced by respiratory metabolism of microorganism been measured, which determines the ultimate aerobic biodegradability of chemical compounds, but also the detailed results of biodegradation were further characterized by monitoring physical, chemical and thermal properties changes of test materials at different incubation times in the two media, confirmed by using the appropriate analytical techniques. Scanning electron microscopy was used to observe the surface morphology, and the thermal performance of PPDO was characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The changes of molecular weight were detected by intrinsic viscosity ([η]) and gel permeation chromatography, and the variations of the molecular structure were monitored by the nuclear magnetic resonance and FT-IR. The results show that PPDO has outstanding character of biodegradation and may be more adapted for biodegrading in liquid medium than in composting.     

Volcano-related materials in concretes: a comprehensive review

Massive volcano-related materials (VRMs) erupted from volcanoes bring the impacts to natural environment and humanity health worldwide, which include generally volcanic ash (VA), volcanic pumice (VP), volcanic tuff (VT), etc. Considering the pozzolanic activities and mechanical characters of these materials, civil engineers propose to use them in low carbon/cement and environment-friendly concrete industries as supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) or artificial/natural aggregates. The utilization of VRMs in concretes has attracted increasing and pressing attentions from research community. Through a literature review, this paper presents comprehensively the properties of VRMs and VRM concretes (VRMCs), including the physical and chemical properties of raw VRMs and VRMCs, and the fresh, microstructural and mechanical properties of VRMCs. Besides, considering environmental impacts and the development of long-term properties, the durability and stability properties of VRMCs also are summarized in this paper. The former focuses on the resistance properties of VRMCs when subjected to aggressive environmental impacts such as chloride, sulfate, seawater, and freezing–thawing. The latter mainly includes the fatigue, creep, heat-insulating, and expansion properties of VRMCs. This study will be helpful to promote the sustainability in concrete industries, protect natural environment, and reduce the impacts of volcano disaster. Based on this review, some main conclusions are discussed and important recommendations regarding future research on the application of VRMs in concrete industries are provided.     

Insight into metal binding properties of biochar-derived DOM using EEM-PARAFAC and differential absorption spectra combined with two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - A large amount of biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM) will be released into the environment with biochars application into repairing...     

Markers of oxidative stress and toxicant exposure among young waterpipe smokers in the USA

Waterpipe (aka hookah) tobacco smokers are exposed to toxicants that can lead to oxidative DNA and RNA damage, a precursor to chronic disease formation. This study assessed toxicant exposure and biomarkers of DNA [8-oxo-7, 8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG)] and RNA [8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGuo)] oxidative damage during smoking of flavored and non-flavored waterpipe tobacco. Thirty waterpipe smokers completed two counterbalanced 2-h lab waterpipe smoking sessions (flavored vs. non-flavored waterpipe tobacco). Urinary concentrations of 8-oxodG and 8-oxoGuo and expired carbon monoxide (eCO) were measured before and after the smoking sessions. A significant increase in the urinary concentrations of 8-oxodG (from 2.12 ± 0.83 to 2.35 ± 0.91 ng/mg creatinine, p = 0.024) and 8-oxoGuo (from 2.96 ± 0.84 to 3.45 ± 0.76 ng/mg creatinine, p = 0.003) were observed after smoking the non-flavored and flavored waterpipe tobacco, respectively. Our results also showed that the mean ± SD of eCO increased significantly after smoking the flavored (from 1.3 ± 1.1 to 20.3 ± 23.6 ppm, p < 0.001) and non-flavored waterpipe tobacco (from 1.8 ± 1.2 to 24.5 ± 26.1 ppm, p < 0.001). There were no significant differences in the means of 8-oxodG (p = 0.576), 8-oxoGuo (p = 0.108), and eCO (p = 0.170) between the flavored and non-flavored tobacco sessions. Smoking non-flavored and flavored waterpipe tobacco leads to oxidative stress and toxicant exposure. Our findings add to the existing evidence about the adverse effects of waterpipe tobacco smoking (WTS) and the need for strong policies to inform and protect young people from the risks of WTS.

     

Nitrogen removal performance and bacterial communities in zeolite trickling filter under different influent C/N ratios

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this study, the degradation performance of nutrients in zeolite trickling filter (ZTF) with different influent C/N ratios and aeration conditions...     

Removal of SO2 from smelting flue gas by using copper tailings with MnSO4: factors optimization by response surface methodology

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The abatement of SO2 and the utilization of copper tailings are identified as two attention-attracting environmental issues in the copper smelter. In...     

NO2 catalytic formation,consumption, and efflux in various types of diesel particulate filter

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The high NO2/NOX ratio in the after-treatment system is beneficial to its performance and achieved by NO catalytic conversion in diesel oxidation...     

山东省临沂市土壤有机氯农药滴滴涕残留量与空间分布特征

通过对临沂市全区表层土壤每36 km2进行样品收集,测试分析了DDTs、Org C、N等指标,主要研究了区域表层土壤DDTs的残留现状、组成和来源、影响因素、空间分布和环境质量特征.结果表明,调查区表层土壤中DDTs检出率为71.75%,平均含量为0.035μg·g-1;检出样品中p,p'-DDT和p,p'-DDE为主要残留物,平均残留分别为0.033μg·g-1和0.010μg·g-1,分别占检出样的60.99%和34.62%.DDTs降解率指示区域58%表层土壤为新近输入区,新近输入区在调查区中南部分布尤为明显;而p,p'-DDD/p,p'-DDE指示区域DDTs降解以氧化环境为主,o,p'-DDT/p,p'-DDT指示71.37%区域土壤DDTs输入可能与工业级DDTs有关.相关分析表明,影响土壤DDTs分布的外在因素包括土壤Org C、N、C和p H等指标,且DDTs中p,p'-DDT组分占比越高,影响越明显.DDTs的空间分布具明显点源特征,市县周围均出现明显浓集中心,中南部部分区域浓度明显较高.全区DDTs土壤环境质量污染程度较低,主要以一二类土壤为主,分别占78.95%和21.05%.     

Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极-空气阴极电催化降解染料废水

为解决电化学法处理高盐染料废水存在的能耗大、成本高等问题,分别采用溶胶-凝胶法和辊压法制备Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极和空气阴极,构建了Ti/SnO_2-Sb阳极-空气阴极双极体系(TSSA-ADC)。甲基橙(MO)作为高盐染料废水的典型污染物,考察了电流强度、MO浓度、电解液浓度和初始p H对TSSA-ADC体系和TSSA单阳极体系降解MO的影响。结果表明:与TSSA单阳极体系相比,TSSA-ADC体系具有更好的抗有机负荷冲击、抗盐分冲击、抗酸碱波动能力,能够维护酸碱平衡防止硬度离子结垢。最佳反应条件为电流强度为0.030 A,电解液浓度为3%,MO浓度为100 mg/L,初始pH=6。以MO去除率达到98%为基准,TSSA-ADC体系比TSSA体系可节能74.26%。     

Electrochemical and spectroscopic characteristics of dissolved organic matter in a forest soil profile

Dissolved organic matter （DOM） represents one of the most mobile and reactive organic compounds in ecosystem and plays an important role in the fate and transport of soil organic pollutants, nutrient cycling and more importantly global climate change. Electrochemical methods were first employed to evaluate DOM redox properties, and spectroscopic approaches were utilized to obtain information concerning its composition and structure. DOM was extracted from a forest soil profile with five horizons. Differential pulse voltammetry indicated that there were more redox-active moieties in the DOM from upper horizons than in that from lower horizons. Cyclic voltammetry further showed that these moieties were reversible in electron transfer. Chronoamperometry was employed to quantify the electron transfer capacity of DOM, including electron acceptor capacity and electron donor capacity, both of which decreased sharply with increasing depth. FT-IR, UV-Vis and fluorescence spectra results suggested that DOM from the upper horizons was enriched with aromatic and humic structures while that from the lower horizons was rich in aliphatic carbon, which supported the findings obtained by electrochemical approaches. Electrochemical approaches combined with spectroscopic methods were applied to evaluate the characteristics of DOM extracted along a forest soil profile. The electrochemical properties of DOM, which can be rapidly and simply obtained, provide insight into the migration and transformation of DOM along a soil profile and will aid in better understanding of the biogeochemical role of DOM in natural environments.