Development of regenerative dye impregnated mesoporous silica materials for assessing exposure to ammonia

The mesostructured materials MCM-41 and SBA-15 were studied as possible supports of bromocresol green (BG) dye impregnation for the ammonia gas detection because of their large surface area, high regenerative property, and high thermal stability. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscope, and N₂ adsorption analysis were used to characterize the prepared materials. These materials could sense ammonia via visible color change from yellowish-orange to blue color. The color change process of the nanostructured materials was fully reversible during 10 cyclic tests. The results indicated that the ammonia absorption responses of the two nanostructured materials were both very sensitive, and high linear correlation and high precision were achieved. As the gaseous ammonia concentrations were 50 and 5 ppmv, the response times for the SBA-15/BG were only 1 and 5 min, respectively. Moreover, the BG dye-impregnated SBA-15 was less affected by the variation in the relative humidity. It also had faster response for the detection of NH₃, as well as lower manufacturing price as compared to that of the dye-impregnated MCM-41. Such feature enables SBA-15/BG to be a very promising material for the detection of ammonia gas.

Implications: The detector tube is a convenient ambient ammonia detection device. However, almost all the commercial detector tubes can be used once only, which not only increases the purchase cost but also produces lots of waste. In this study, we developed two sensing materials that are sensitive for repeated usage. The two mesoporous silica-based materials, MCM-41 and SBA-15, are impregnated by an organic dye of bromocresol green to induce color change behavior that can be easily observed by the naked eye, and it is concluded that dye-impregnated SBA-15/BG is a very promising material for the detection of ammonia gas.     

Background levels of Persistent Organic Pollutants in humans from Taiwan: Perfluorooctane sulfonate and perfluorooctanoic acid

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) have recently received attention due to their widespread contamination of the environment. PFOS and PFOA are stable in the environment and resistant to metabolism, hydrolysis, photolysis and biodegradation. PFOS and PFOA have been found in human blood and tissue samples from both occupationally exposed workers and the general worldwide population. This study aimed to determine the background levels of PFOS and PFOA in the Taiwanese population, investigate related factors, and compare exposure in Taiwan to that in other countries. The concentration of PFOS in the 59 serum samples collected from the general population in Taiwan ranged from 3.45 to 25.65 ng mL⁻¹ (median: 8.52), and the concentration of PFOA ranged from 1.55 to 7.69 ng mL⁻¹ (median: 3.22). There was a significant positive correlation (r = 0.51; p < 0.0001) between PFOS and PFOA concentrations. Males had higher concentrations of PFOA and PFOS than females. PFOS levels in serum increased with age. This study is the first investigation to reveal the PFOS and PFOA levels of serum samples in the general population of Taiwan. The levels of PFOS and PFOA in Taiwanese serum samples were comparable with those from other countries (PFOS: 5.0–35 ng mL⁻¹, PFOA: 1.5–10 ng mL⁻¹).     

Characteristic Study of Ambient Air Total Gaseous Mercury (TGM) Concentrations During Rainy and Non-Rainy Periods at a Traffic Site in Taiwan

This investigation studied the concentrations of ambient air total gaseous mercury (TGM) during the rainy periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site in central Taiwan from May 26 to June 16, 2014. The results were compared with those of a previous study for ambient air TGM during non-rainy daytime and nighttime periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site, which was conducted during March 21 to July 20, 2012. The observed mean concentration of ambient air TGM was 1.16 ng/m³ during the rainy periods at the Hung-Kuang traffic sampling site. The mean ambient air TGM concentrations were higher in the non-rainy sampling period in daytime than in the rainy sampling period from this study. The mean ratio of non-rainy sampling period in daytime to that of rainy sampling period for ambient air TGM were 3.15. Furthermore, the mean ambient air TGM concentrations were higher in the non-rainy sampling period in nighttime in than in the rainy sampling period for this study. The mean rations for non-rainy sampling period in nighttime to that of the rainy sampling period for ambient air TGM were 2.70. The results obtained in this study also revealed that the ambient air TGM concentrations during the rainy period had the lowest concentrations when compared with the other sampling sites in other world regions.     

基于乡镇尺度的西南重金属高背景区土壤重金属生态风险评价

西南地区土壤重金属具有天然的高背景属性,在重金属高背景区开展生态风险评价和识别重金属潜在来源具有重要意义.以往工作主要以区域尺度的调查工作为主,调查精度难以满足空间规划和自然资源管理的需求,迫切需要在乡镇尺度上进行生态风险评价.云南省宣威市热水镇是典型的碳酸盐岩覆盖区,重金属来源复杂,潜在生态风险较高.本文在热水镇采集土壤表层样品(0～20 cm)1 092件,分析表层土壤中8种重金属(Cd、 Cr、 As、 Hg、 Pb、 Cu、 Zn和Ni)含量,采用统计学、地理信息系统、地累积指数、生态风险指数和正定矩阵因子分析模型(PMF)等方法开展生态风险评价和重金属源解析.研究发现,土壤中重金属Cd、 Cr、 Cu、 Hg、 Ni和Zn含量平均值和中位数均超过云南省土壤背景值,Cd、 Cr、 Cu和Ni平均含量均超过《土壤环境质量农用地土壤污染风险管控标准》(GB 15618-2018)规定的筛选值.地累积指数结果表明,研究区表层土壤污染最严重的是Cu,其次是Cr和Cd.土壤重金属Cr、 As、 Pb、 Cu、 Zn和Ni多以残渣态存在,多来自于地质背景,生物有效性较低,Hg的潜在有效组分...     

Temperature and nutrients are significant drivers of seasonal shift in phytoplankton community from a drinking water reservoir,subtropical China

Reservoirs are an important source of water supply in many densely populated areas in southeast China. Phytoplankton plays an important role in maintaining the structure and function of these reservoir ecosystems. Understanding of seasonal succession in phytoplankton communities and its driving factors is essential for effective water quality management in drinking-water reservoirs. In this study, water samples were collected monthly at the surface layers of riverine, transitional, and lacustrine zones from May 2010 to April 2011 in Tingxi Reservoir, southeast China. The phytoplankton showed distinct seasonal shifts in community structure at both taxonomic and functional levels. Cyanophyta was the dominant group in summer, especially species of Raphidiopsis in May and Aphanizomenon in June, and cyanobacterial dominance was promoted by both warmer conditions and excessive nutrients loading. Cyanophyta was gradually replaced by Cryptophyta (e.g., Chroomonas caudata) in abundance and by Bacillariophyta (Fragilaria sp. or Synedra sp. and Melosira sp.) in biomass with decreasing temperature. It appeared that seasonal shifts in phytoplankton composition were closely related to climate, nutrient status, and hydrology in this reservoir. Our partial RDA results clearly showed that water temperature and nutrients (TN and TP) were the most critical factors driving phytoplankton community shift in the abundance and biomass data, respectively. Further, with the global warming, cyanobacterial blooms may increase in distribution, duration, and intensity. In our study, the abundance and biomass of cyanobacteria had significant and positive correlations with temperature and phosphorus. Therefore, a stricter limit on nutrient input should be a priority in watershed management to protect drinking water from the effects of cyanobacterial blooms, especially in high-temperature period.     

Measurement of Particulate Bound Mercury,Gaseous Elemental Mercury,and Reactive Gaseous Mercury Concentrations by Using an Ambient Air Mercury Collection System

In this investigation, the concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), reactive gaseous mercury (RGM) and particulate bound mercury (PBM) in ambient air were measured at the Hung Kuang (traffic) sampling site during September 27 to October 6, 2014. An ambient air mercury collection system (AAMCS) was utilized to measure simultaneously PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations in ambient air. The results thus obtained demonstrate that the mean concentrations of PBM, GEM, and RGM were 38.57 ± 11.4 (pg/m³), 17.67 ± 5.56 (ng/m³) and 10.78 ± 2.8 (pg/m³), respectively, at this traffic-sampling site. The mean GEM/PBM and GEM/RGM concentration ratios were 458 and 1639, respectively. The results obtained herein demonstrate that AAMCS can be utilized to collect three phases of mercury simultaneously. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations herein were compared with others found in Asia, America, Europe and Antarctica. The mean PBM, GEM, and RGM concentrations were found to be lowest in Asia and Antarctica. The mean PBM concentration in Europe was approximately eight times that in this investigation. The mean GEM and RGM concentrations in this study were 1.21 and 170 times those found in the United States.     

固定化条件对苯系物细胞传感器检测效果的影响

利用海藻酸钠作为包埋剂对苯系物细胞传感器Pseudomonas fluorescens A506(pTS)进行固定化处理,并对细胞浓度、固定化时间、投加量等检测因素进行了优化.固定化后的细胞与游离细胞对苯系污染物的检测效果进行对比.经过2 h固定化处理的细胞传感器,在检测时间1.5～6.0 h内,信号上升速度为游离细胞的2.26倍,信号最大值为游离细胞的2.23倍.固定化处理后的细胞生长缓慢,且浓度远低于游离细胞,说明了固定化处理后的单位细胞信号强度增加.同时,细胞浓度随着固定化时间的延长而降低.在影响因素方面,细胞浓度和固定化时间对于检测信号的影响较大.固定化后,对高浓度的苯系污染物有着更快的信号响应.     

低层通风量及逆温条件对浙江省空气质量的影响分析

利用高时空分辨率的ERA-Interim资料,结合环保局空气质量监测数据,分析了1000 m以下低层大气扩散能力和大气层结条件对浙江省大气环境质量的可能影响.结果表明：浙江省700 m以下的大气扩散能力对全省大部地区的空气质量有明显影响,部分地区700~1000 m的大气扩散能力对空气质量也有一定的影响.但位于沿海的舟山,仅300 m以下的大气扩散能力对空气质量有显著的影响.将低层大气扩散能力分别与逆温层高度、空气质量做相关性分析,结果显示通过显著性检验的影响区域和影响高度有很好的一致性,说明三者之间存在密切的联系.逆温层高度越低,低层大气扩散能力越弱,空气质量越差,严重污染天气出现时常常伴随着强度较强或贴近地面的逆温发生.浙江省大气层结大部分时间处于中性状态,当大气层结转为较稳定时,污染物不易扩散稀释,空气污染较易发生.     

Stabilization of residues obtained from the treatment of laboratory waste: Part 2--transformation of plasma vitrified slag into composites

The Sustainable Environment Research Center of National Cheng Kung University in Taiwan has set up a treatment plant to dispose of laboratory waste. In the treatment process, the residue from the incineration system and the physical and chemical system is vitrified by a plasma melting system. Part 1 of this study described the treatment path of metals during vitrification. In Part 2, plasma vitrified slag is reused by using a molding technology. Unsaturated polyester resin and glass fiber were used as the molding material and additive, respectively, in the molding process. With an appropriate mixing ratio of unsaturated polyester resin, glass fiber, and slag, the physical properties of composites improved, and the ultimate tensile strength reached 17.6 MPa. However, an excess amount of slag reduced the strength and even retarded the production of composites. Differential thermal analysis and the water bathing test results show that the composite decomposed at 80 degrees C and that it vaporized at 187 degrees C. Although the unsaturated polyester resin decomposed, the metal encapsulated in the slag did not leach out. The results show that the reuse of slag using molding technology should be taken into consideration.     

Role of sodium ions in the vitrification process: Glass matrix modification,slag structure depolymerization,and influence of metal immobilization

This study investigates the role of Na ions, a common flux, in the vitrification process. Artificial glass systems composed of Al₂O₃, CaO, and SiO₂ with various Na concentrations were melted at 1450 °C. The specimens were cooled by air cooling and water quenching and the metal mobility was evaluated using a sequential extraction procedure. The X-ray diffraction analysis and scanning electron microscopy observations showed that Na ions governed the air-cooled slag’s structure. Na ions initially depolymerized CaSiO₃-linked chains into CaSiO₃ chains, and further cut them into shorter and nonuniform ones, making the slag structure amorphous. With even more Na ions, CaSiO₃ chains were divided into single SiO₄ tetrahedrons and formed Na-related crystals (Na₂Ca₃Si₂O₈ and NaAlSiO₄). The phase distributions of Al, Cr, Cu Mn, and Ni showed that Na has a positive effect on the immobilization of heavy metals at suitable concentrations, but a negative effect when in excess amounts.

Implications:Vitrification has been widely used to treat hazardous materials. The Na-bearing additives were often used as a flux to improve the melting process. This study described the role of Na played in the vitrification process. The Na ions acted as glass modifier and depolymerize the chain structure of slag. With adequate addition amount of Na ions, the immobilization of heavy metals was improved. The results provided much information about the crystalline phase variation, metal mobility, and surface characteristics while Na serves as a flux.