Review of the application of quantum dots in the heavy-metal detection

Heavy-metal contamination is a major concern, as excessive heavy metals produce environmental pollution, and the cumulative effects of heavy metals in vivo pose a major threat to human health. There is an urgent need for a rapid, sensitive, and efficient method for detecting heavy metals. Quantum dots (QDs) are in the category of semiconductor nanocrystals whose radii are less than or close to the exciton Bohr radius. QDs possess a potential in the biological and medical fields to function as a new type of fluorescent marker, because of their unique and tunable photophysical properties, which include broad excitation spectrum, narrow emission spectrum, tunable emission wavelengths, and negligible photobleaching. In recent years, QDs made significant progress in quantitative analysis by providing a new approach for determination of chemical content analysis. The aim of this study was to review the research progress of QD detection of heavy metals in water and consider the challenges and future outlook for QD-based sensors for heavy-metal ions.     

g-C3N4/TiO2纳米管阵列光阳极的制备及其光电催化降解邻氯硝基苯

采用阳极氧化-涂覆煅烧法成功制备了g-C₃N₄/TiO₂纳米管阵列（g-C₃N₄/TNAs）光阳极,并通过扫描电镜、X射线衍射仪、X射线光电子能谱仪、紫外可见漫反射光谱仪、光致发光光谱仪和电化学工作站等表征分析了g-C₃N₄/TNAs光阳极的形貌、晶形结构、光学特性和光电化学性能.表征结果证实,g-C₃N₄的引入通过缩小禁带宽度扩宽了TNAs的可见光响应范围,提高了光电流密度和光生电子寿命,促进了光生电子和空穴的分离.g-C₃N₄/TNAs光阳极在光电催化体系内对邻氯硝基苯（o-CNB）的降解效率高于其在光催化和电催化体系中对o-CNB的降解效率,且具有良好的稳定性和可重复性.活性物质捕获实验、电子自旋共振测试和能带结构分析表明,g-C₃N₄/TNAs光阳极中TNAs和g-C₃N₄之间存在Z型异质结相互作用机制.在光电催化体系内降解o-CNB的主要活性物质是^?O₂^-、^?OH和光生空穴,而光生电子是次要的活性物质.     

Chemical characterization and source identification of PM2.5 in Luoyang after the clean air actions

Luoyang is a typical heavy industrial city in China, with a coal-dominated energy structure and serious air pollution. Following the implementation of the clean air actions, the physicochemical characteristics and sources of PM_2.5 have changed. A comprehensive study of PM_2.5 was conducted from October 16, 2019 to January 23, 2020 to evaluate the effectiveness of previous control measures and further to provide theory basis for more effective policies in the future. Results showed that the aerosol pollution in Luoyang in autumn and winter is still serious with the average concentration of 91.1 μg/m³, although a large reduction (46.9%) since 2014. With the contribution of nitrate increased from 12.5% to 25.1% and sulfate decreased from 16.7% to 11.2%, aerosol pollution has changed from sulfate-dominate to nitrate-dominate. High NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio and the increasing of NO₃⁻/SO₄²⁻ ratio with the aggravation of pollution indicating vehicle exhaust playing an increasingly important role in PM_2.5 pollution in Luoyang, especially in the haze processes. Secondary inorganic ions contributed significantly to the enhancement of PM_2.5 during the pollution period. The high value of Cl⁻/Na⁺ and EC concentration indicate coal combustion in Luoyang is still serious. The top three contributor sources were secondary inorganic aerosols (33.3%), coal combustion (13.6%), and industrial emissions (13.4%). Close-range transport from the western and northeastern directions were more important factors in air pollution in Luoyang during the sampling period. It is necessary to strengthen the control of coal combustion and reduce vehicle emissions in future policies.     

中德环保合作的高层往来

写在前面的话．本文完成于今年早些时候，但由于刊物在5月时更换出版单位，因而文章在实效性上略有欠缺，但访谈的内容是永久而实际的问题，在当今和未来都是可资借鉴的。     

用代处置手段加强危险废物的管理

代处置是危险废物管理的强制手段，是行政代执行的具体表现形式之一。行政代执行作为一项间接强制措施，在国外立法中已被广泛采用。本文从危险废物代处置的概念、条件、要求、程序等方面进行了分析，为环保部门运用代处置措施进行危险废物管理提供参考。     

听证、环保与公众参与--访美国加州能源委员会公共顾问玛格丽特·金(Margret.J.Kim)女士

前不久。美国加利福尼亚州能源委员会公共顾问玛格丽特．金女士来华参加有关环保与公众参与会议。会议期间。我刊记者对她进行了专访。就听证、公众参与及环境保护等一系列话题进行了深入探讨。金女士在委员会主要负责环境的决策。她曾负责起草环境影响评价的有关规章制度。[编者按]     

Water quality evaluation based on improved fuzzy matter-element method

For natural water, method of water quality evaluation based on improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method is presented. Two important parts are improved, the weights determining and fuzzy membership functions. The coefficient of variation of each indicator is used to determine the weight instead of traditional calculating superscales method. On the other hand, fuzzy matter-elements are constructed, and normal membership degrees are used instead of traditional trapezoidal ones. The composite fuzzy matter-elements with associated coefficient are constructed through associated transformation. The levels of natural water quality are determined according to the principle of maximum correlation. The improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method is applied to evaluate water quality of the Luokou mainstream estuary at the first ten weeks in 2011 with the coefficient of variation method determining the weights. Water quality of Luokou mainstream estuary is dropping from level I to level II. The results of the improved evaluation method are basically the same as the official water quality. The variation coefficient method can reduce the workload, and overcome the adverse effects from abnormal values, compared with the traditional calculating superscales method. The results of improved fuzzy matter-element evaluation method are more credible than the ones of the traditional evaluation method. The improved evaluation method can use information of monitoring data more scientifically and comprehensively, and broaden a new evaluation method for water quality assessment.     

Three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model for TMDL development of Lake Fuxian, China

Lake Fuxian is the largest deep freshwater lake in China. Although its average water quality meets Class I of the China National Water Quality Standard (CNWQS), i.e., GB3838-2002, monitoring data indicate that the water quality approaches the Class II threshold in some areas. Thus it is urgent to reduce the watershed load through the total maximum daily load (TMDL) program. A three-dimensional hydrodynamic and water quality model was developed for Lake Fuxian, simulating flow circulation and pollutant fate and transport. The model development process consists of several steps, including grid generation, initial and boundary condition configurations, and model calibration processes. The model accurately reproduced the observed water surface elevation, spatiotemporal variations in temperature, and total nitrogen (TN), total phosphorus (TP), and chemical oxygen demand (COD) concentrations, suggesting a reasonable numerical representation of the prototype system for further TMDL analyses. The TMDL was calculated using two interpretations of the water quality standards for Class I of the CNWQS based on the maximum instantaneous surface and annual average surface water concentrations. Analysis of the first scenario indicated that the TN, TP and COD loads should be reduced by 66%, 68% and 57%, respectively. Water quality was the highest priority; however, local economic development and cost feasibility for load reduction can pose significant issues. In the second interpretation, the model results showed that, under the existing conditions, the average water quality meets the Class I standard and therefore load reduction is unnecessary. Future studies are needed to conduct risk and cost assessments for realistic decision-making.     

AMBBR工艺处理城市污水

通过对厌氧移动床生物膜反应器处理南方热带亚热带地区城市生活污水的试验研究,采用好氧-厌氧两个阶段进行挂膜试验以缩短挂膜时间,探讨了水力停留时间(HRT)、pH值、填料填充率对反应器处理效果的影响。试验结果表明:在HRT为12 h,进水ρ(COD)为300 mg/L,ρ(氨氮)为15 mg/L,50%的填料填充率,pH=7的工艺条件下,装置对COD去除率为51.2%,对氨氮去除率为40.8%,对TN去除率为38.1%。     

Photodegradation of amoxicillin by catalyzed Fe3+/H2O2 process

Three oxidation processes of UV-Fe³⁺(EDTA)/H₂O₂ (UV: ultraviolet light; EDTA: ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid), UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ were simultaneously investigated for the degradation of amoxicillin at pH 7.0. The results indicated that, 100% amoxicillin degradation and 81.9% chemical oxygen demand (COD_Cr) removal could be achieved in the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process. The treatment efficiency of amoxicillin and COD_Cr removal were found to decrease to 59.0% and 43.0% in the UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process; 39.6% and 31.3% in the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process. Moreover, the results of biodegradability (biological oxygen demand (BOD₅)/COD_Cr ratio) revealed that the UV-Fe³⁺ (EDTA)/H₂O₂ process was a promising strategy to degrade amoxicillin as the biodegradability of the effluent was improved to 0.45, compared with the cases of UV-Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.25) and Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ (0.10) processes. Therefore, it could be deduced that EDTA and UV light performed synergetic catalytic effect on the Fe³⁺/H₂O₂ process, enhancing the treatment efficiency. The degradation mechanisms were also investigated via UV-Vis spectra, and high performance liquid chromatography-mass spectra. The degradation pathway of amoxicillin was further proposed.