An overview on the processes and technologies for recycling cathodic active materials from spent lithium-ion batteries

This paper aims to make an overview on the current status and new tendency for recycling cathodic active materials from spent lithium-ion batteries. Firstly, it introduces several kinds of pretreatment technologies, followed by the summary of all kinds of single recycling processes mainly focusing on organic acid leaching and synergistic extraction. Then, several examples of typical combined processes and industrial recycling processes are presented in detail. Meanwhile, the advantages, disadvantages and prospect of each single process, combined process, as well as industrial recycling processes, are discussed. Finally, based on a novel acidic organic solvent, the authors briefly introduce an environmental friendly process to directly recycle and resynthesize cathodic active material LiNi_1/3Co_1/3Mn_1/3O₂ from spent lithium-ion batteries. The preliminary experimental results demonstrated the advantages of low reaction temperature, high separation efficiency and organic solvent cycling and preventing secondary pollution to the environment. This process may be used for large-scale recycling of spent lithium-ion batteries after further study.     

模拟阳光下Ag／I-TiO2光催化预处理山核桃加工废水

研究了在模拟太阳光下,采用银修饰的碘掺杂二氧化钛光催化剂（Ag／I—TiO2）对某食品厂山核桃加工废水进行光催化预处理的效果。结合x射线衍射（XRD）、比表面积分析（BET）、紫外-可见漫反射光谱（uV—Vis）的表征结果,来分析催化剂结构对于废水处理效果的影响。探讨了Ag含量、废水初始pH（pHi）和光照时间等因素对化学需氧量（COD）去除及水质可生化性（B／C）提高的影响。并得出适宜的反应参数为：3％Ag含量;pHi为6;光照时间为240min。在最佳条件下,COD去除率45％,废水B／C比由0．17上升到0．31。光催化氧化法能够有效降低山核桃加工废水的COD含量,并达到显著提高废水可生化性的目的。     

水体浊度对马来眼子菜和菹草生长的影响

研究了不同浊度(30、60和90 NTU)水体中,马来眼子菜及菹草的生长发育状况,并用水下饱和脉冲叶绿素荧光仪(Diving-PAM)测定其叶片荧光参数指标。结果表明,不同的浊度对马来眼子菜的叶片数及株高无显著影响,而对菹草的叶片数及株高生长速率有一定的影响。30 d胁迫下,浊度组马来眼子菜的最大光化学量子产量(maximum quantum yield,Fv/Fm)、光化学淬灭系数(photochemical quenching,q P)、非光化学淬灭系数(non-photochemical quenching,q N)、相对光合电子传递速率(electron transport rate,ETR)与对照组差异不显著(p>0.05),表明马来眼子菜对浑浊水体有较强的耐受能力;实验结束时,高浊度组(90 NTU)中,菹草Fv/Fm、q P、q N、ETR与对照组达到极显著差异(p<0.01),其余浊度组也相应受到影响,说明菹草的光系统II(PSII)受到破坏。该研究的成果可为沉水植物恢复研究与实践提供技术支撑。     

Aquatic predicted no-effect concentration for three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and probabilistic ecological risk assessment in Liaodong Bay of the Bohai Sea, China

Predicted no-effect concentration (PNEC) is often used in ecological risk assessment to determine low-risk concentrations for chemicals. In the present study, native marine species were selected for toxicity testing. The PNECs for three polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), specifically phenanthrene (Phe), pyrene (Pyr), and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP), were derived from chronic and acute toxicity data with log-normal statistical methods. The achieved PNECs for Phe, Pyr, and BaP were 2.33, 1.09, and 0.011 μg/L, respectively. In Jinzhou Bay and the Shuangtaizi River Estuary of Liaodong Bay in the Bohai Sea, China, the surface water concentrations of the three PAHs were analyzed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. Based on two probabilistic ecological risk assessment (PERA) methods, namely probabilistic risk quotient and joint probability curve, the potential risk of Phe, Pyr, and BaP in Jinzhou Bay and Shuangtaizi River Estuary was assessed. The same order of ecological risk (BaP > Phe > Pyr) was found by both models. Our study considered regional characteristics of marine biota during the calculation of PNECs, and the PERA methods provided probabilities of potential ecological risks of chemicals. Within the study area, further research on BaP is required due to its high potential ecological risk.     

Involvement of abscisic acid in regulating antioxidative defense systems and IAA-oxidase activity and improving adventitious rooting in mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] seedlings under cadmium stress

In vitro experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of abscisic acid (ABA) and Cd on antioxidative defense systems and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) oxidase during adventitious rooting in mung bean [Vigna radiata (L.) Wilczek] seedlings. The exogenous ABA significantly enhanced the number and fresh weight of the adventitious roots. CdCl₂ strongly inhibited adventitious rooting. Pretreatment with 10 μM ABA clearly alleviated the inhibitory effect of Cd on rooting. ABA significantly reduced superoxide dismutase (SOD), ascorbate peroxidase (APX), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) activities, as well as the levels of glutathione (GSH) and ascorbic acid (ASA) during adventitious rooting. ABA strongly increased IAA-oxidase activity during the induction (0–12 h) and expression (after 48 h) phases and increased the phenols levels. Cd treatment significantly reduced the activities of SOD, APX, POD, and IAA oxidase, as well as GSH level. Cd strongly increased ASA levels. ABA pretreatment counteracted Cd-induced alterations of certain antioxidants and antioxidative enzymes, e.g., remarkably rescued APX and POD activities, reduced the elevated SOD and CAT activities and ASA levels, and recovered the reduced GSH levels, caused by Cd stress. Thus, the physiological effects of the combination of ABA and Cd treatments were opposite of those obtained with Cd treatment alone, suggesting that ABA involved in the regulation of antioxidative defense systems and the alleviation of wounding- and Cd-induced oxidative stress.     

Probing the distribution and contamination levels of 10 trace metal/metalloids in soils near a Pb/Zn smelter in Middle China

The horizontal and vertical distribution patterns and contamination status of ten trace metal/metalloids (Ag, Bi, Co, Cr, Ge, In, Ni, Sb, Sn, Tl) in soils around one of the largest Chinese Pb–Zn smelter in Zhuzhou City, Central China, were revealed. Different soil samples were collected from 11 areas, including ten agricultural areas and one city park area, with a total of 83 surface soil samples and six soil cores obtained. Trace metal/metalloids were determined by inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry after digestion by an acid mixture of HF and HNO₃. The results showed that Ag, Bi, In, Sb, Sn, and Tl contents decreased both with the distance to the Pb–Zn smelter as well as the soil depth, hinting that these elements were mainly originated from the Pb–Zn smelting operations and were introduced into soils through atmospheric deposition. Soil Ge was influenced by the smelter at a less extent, while the distributions of Co, Cr, and Ni were roughly even among most sampling sites and soil depths, suggesting that they were primarily derived from natural sources. The contamination status, as revealed by the geo-accumulation index (I _geo), indicated that In and Ag were the most enriched elements, followed by Sb, Bi, and Sn. In general, Cr, Tl, Co, Ni, and Ge were of an uncontaminated status.     

Distribution of nutrients,heavy metals,and PAHs affected by sediment dredging in the Wujin'gang River basin flowing into Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu

This paper's survey of the pollution of the Wujin'gang River is important because it is one of the main rivers flowing into Meiliang Bay of Lake Taihu in eastern China. Trace metals (TMs) in this paper are described according to their pollution index (P _i). Cluster analysis and correlation analysis are utilized for group sites and to assess co-contamination. Toxicity effect analysis was conducted using individual sediment quality guideline quotients (SQGQs) and mean SQGQs. The results showed that sediment from the Wujin'gang River basin was affected by nutrients, heavy metals, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), which are an essential contamination source for both Meiliang Bay and Zhushan Bay of Lake Taihu. The discharge of TMs has significant correlations to total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP); however, no significant correlations were observed between the content of PAHs and TMs. Toxicity effect results show that sediment in the Wujin'gang River basin threatens sediment-dwelling organisms. The harmful effect was mainly caused by heavy metals especially Cd, Cr, Ni, and Cu. Sediment dredging is an effective way to control pollution from internal rivers especially for the pollution of TN and heavy metals in the Wujin'gang River basin.     

Remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD)-contaminated soil by Phragmites australis and rhizosphere bacteria

Experiments were conducted to assess the impact of citric acid (CA) and rhizosphere bacteria on metal uptake in Phragmites australis cultured in a spiked acid mine drainage (AMD) soil. Rhizosphere iron-oxidizing bacteria (Fe(II)OB) enhanced the formation of Fe plaque on roots, which decreased the uptake of Fe and Mn. CA inhibited the growth of Fe(II)OB, decreased the formation of metal plaque, raised the metal mobility in soil, and increased the accumulation of metals in all tissues of the reeds. The higher the CA dosage, the more metals accumulated into reeds. The total amount of metals in reeds increased from 7.8?±?0.5?×?10^?6 mol plant^?1 (Mn), 1.4?±?0.1?×?10^?3 mol plant^?1 (Fe), and 1.0?±?0.1?×?10^?4 mol plant^?1 (Al) in spiked soil without CA to 22.2?±?0.5?×?10^?6 mol plant^?1 (Mn), 3.5?±?0.06?×?10^?3 mol plant^?1 (Fe), and 5.0?±?0.2?×?10^?4 mol plant^?1 (Al) in soil added with 33.616 g C₆H₈O₇·H₂O for per kilogram soil. CA could be effective at enhancing the phytoremediation of metals from AMD-contaminated soil.     

Tree bark as a passive air sampler to indicate atmospheric polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in southeastern China

The different barks were sampled to discuss the influence of the tree species, trunk circumference, and bark thickness on the accumulation processes of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) from air into the bark. The results of different PBDE concentrations indicated that barks with a thickness of 0–3 mm collected from weeping willow, Camphor tree, and Masson pine, the trunk circumferences of which were 100 to 150 cm, were better PBDEs passive samplers. Furthermore, tree bark and the corresponding air samples were collected at Anji (AJ), Hangzhou (HZ), Shanghai (SH), and Wenling (WL) to investigate the relationship between the PBDE concentrations in bark and those in air. In addition, the significant correlation (r ²?=?0.906; P?<?0.05) indicated that atmospheric PBDEs were the principle source for the accumulation of PBDEs in the barks. In this study, the log K _BA (bark–air partition coefficient) of individual PBDE congeners at the four sites were in the range from 5.69 to 6.79. Finally, the total PBDE concentration in WL was 5 to 20 times higher than in the other three cities. The result indicated that crude household workshops contributed a heavy amount of PBDEs pollution to the environment, which had been verified by the spatial distribution of PBDEs levels in barks collected at Wenling (range, 26.53–1317.68 ng/g dw). The good correlation between the PBDE concentrations in the barks and the air samples and the variations of the PBDE concentrations in tree barks collected from different sites reflected that the bark could be used as a passive sampler to indicate the atmospheric PBDEs.