Acid-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of nanocrystalline TiO2 from titanate nanotubes: Influence of acids on the photodegradation of gaseous toluene

In order to efficiently remove volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from indoor air, onedimensional titanate nanotubes (TiNTs) were hydrothermally treated to prepare TiO₂ nanocrystals with different crystalline phases, shapes and sizes. The influences of various acids such as CH₃COOH, HNO₃, HCl, HF and H₂SO₄ used in the treatment were separately compared to optimize the performance of the TiO₂ nanocrystals. Comparedwith the strong and corrosive inorganic acids, CH₃COOH was not only safer andmore environmentally friendly, but also more efficient in promoting the photocatalytic activity of the obtained TiO₂. Itwasobserved that the anatase TiO₂ synthesized in 15 mol/L CH₃COOH solution exhibited the highest photodegradation rate of gaseous toluene (94%), exceeding that of P25 (44%) by a factor ofmore than two. The improved photocatalytic activity was attributed to the small crystallite size and surface modification by CH₃COOH. The influence of relative humidity (20%-80%) on the performance of TiO₂ nanocrystals was also studied. The anatase TiO₂ synthesized in 15 mol/L CH₃COOH solution was more tolerant tomoisture than the other TiO₂ nanocrystals and P25.     

Diversity and biogenesis contribution of sulfate-reducing bacteria in arsenic-contaminated soils from realgar deposits

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Microbial sulfate reduction, a vital mechanism for microorganisms living in anaerobic, sulfate-rich environments, is an essential aspect of the sulfur...     

Preparation of in-situ nitrogen-doped lignin-based porous carbon and its efficient adsorption of chloramphenicol in water

Porous carbon is an excellent absorbent for pollutants in water. Here, we report a breakthrough in performance of porous carbon based on lignin prepared using sodium lignosulfonate (SLS), potassium carbonate and melamine as precursor, activator and nitrogen source, respectively. A series of characterization tests confirmed that in-situ nitrogen doping greatly enhanced porous structure, resulting in a specific surface area of 2567.9 m² g^?1 and total pore volume of 1.499 cm³ g^?1, which is nearly twice that of non-nitrogen-doped porous carbon. Moreover, adsorption experiments revealed that at 303 K, the saturated adsorption capacity of chloramphenicol was as high as 713.7 mg g^?1, corresponding to an improvement of 33.7%. Further, the prepared porous carbon exhibited a strong anti-interference against metal ions and humic acid. The adsorption process was confirmed to be an endothermic reaction dominated by physical adsorption, indicating that an increase in temperature is conducive to adsorption. The results of this study show that nitrogen-doped lignin-based porous carbon prepared by in-situ doping is a promising material to significantly alleviate water pollution owing to its low cost, excellent pore structure and good adsorption properties.

     

Constructing 3D magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@SiO2@Co3O4@BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst for degrading rhodamine B

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In this work, the 3D magnetic flower-like Fe3O4@SiO2@Co3O4@BiOCl heterojunction photocatalyst was successfully prepared. The combination of BiOCl with...     

Increasing collaboration between China and India in the environmental sciences to foster global sustainability

As the two largest countries by population, China and India have pervasive effects on the ecosphere. Because of their human population size and long international boundary, they share biodiversity and the threats to it, as well as crops, pests and diseases. We ranked the two countries on a variety of environmental challenges and solutions, illustrating quantitatively their environmental footprint and the parallels between them regarding the threats to their human populations and biodiversity. Yet we show that China and India continue to have few co-authorships in environmental publications, even as their major funding for scientific research has expanded. An agenda for collaboration between China and India can start with the shared Himalaya, linking the countries’ scientists and institutions. A broader agenda can then be framed around environmental challenges that have regional patterns. Coordinated and collaborative research has the potential to improve the two countries’ environmental performance, with implications for global sustainability.     

中试条件下稻秸干法厌氧发酵搅拌方式的优化

针对秸秆类农业废弃物干法厌氧发酵过程中易产生物料分层、表面结垢以及存在“死角”等问题,通过改进横卧推流式中试厌氧反应器搅拌工艺,探索了连续运行条件下机械搅拌、前端气动搅拌和全程气动搅拌等3种单一搅拌方式对稻秸干法厌氧发酵产气规律、底物降解特性及系统稳定性的影响,并通过进一步设置不同的搅拌频次优化了机械搅拌和前端气动搅拌组合工艺,综合考察了发酵效率和能源消耗情况。结果表明,在单一搅拌工艺条件下,稻秸干法厌氧发酵40 d总产气量呈现出“机械搅拌>前端气动搅拌>全程气动搅拌”的规律,分别为75.5、66.5和61.9 m³,对应的单位VS产气量分别为441.9、389.3和362.3 L·kg⁻¹,这说明采用改进型框型叶片的机械搅拌可有效翻动物料,以促进其与发酵液的充分接触。在进一步优化“机械+前端气动”的组合搅拌工艺后发现,稻秸40 d产气量与单一机械搅拌模式较为接近,尤其是“机械搅拌(每天4次)+前端气动搅拌(每天4次)”的组合搅拌方式,单位VS产气量高达447.2 L·kg ⁻¹,纤维素和半纤维素降解率分别可达14.9%和15.1%;但从能源损耗角度来看,“机械搅拌(每天2次)+前端气动搅拌(每天4次)”的组合搅拌方式中能耗最低,仅为单一机械搅拌方式能耗的约40%。在稻秸干法厌氧发酵工程实际运行过程中,可根据厌氧发酵效率和能耗节省需求,因地制宜地选择合适的组合搅拌工艺。本研究结果可为木质纤维素类废弃物干法厌氧发酵工程中的搅拌方式改进提供参考。     

Effects of UV-modified biochar derived from phytoremediation residue on Cd bioavailability and uptake in Coriandrum sativum L. in a Cd-contaminated soil

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Biochar has been applied widely as an amendment in the remediation of contaminated soil to immobilize the heavy metals. However, the role of...     

Iodine enrichment and the underlying mechanism in deep groundwater in the Cangzhou Region,North China

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The lack of information on the origin and behavior of iodine in deep groundwater restricts the development and use of groundwater resources. To...     

Delayed association of acute particulate matter 2.5 air pollution exposure with loss of complexity in cardiac rhythm dynamics: insight from detrended fluctuation analysis

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - There is a delayed (lag 1 to 2 days) correlation between acute PM 2.5 (particulate matter <?2.5 μm in aerodynamic...