Plasmonic silver/silver oxide nanoparticles anchored bismuth vanadate as a novel visible-light ternary photocatalyst for degrading pharmaceutical micropollutants

The degradation of pharmaceutical micropollutants is an intensifying environmental problem and synthesis of efficient photocatalysts for this purpose is one of the foremost challenges worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop novel plasmonic Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposite photocatalysts by simple precipitation and thermal decomposition methods, which could exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for mineralized pharmaceutical micropollutants. Among the different treatments, the best performance was observed for the Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposites (5 wt.%; 10 min's visible light irradiation) which exhibited 6.57 times higher photodegradation rate than the pure BiVO₄. Further, the effects of different influencing factors on the photodegradation system of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) were investigated and the feasibility for its practical application was explored through the specific light sources, water source and cycle experiments. The mechanistic study demonstrated that the photogenerated holes (h⁺), superoxide radicals (?O₂^?) and hydroxyl radicals (?OH) participated in TC-HCl removal process, which is different from the pure BiVO₄ reaction system. Hence, the present work can provide a new approach for the formation of novel plasmonic photocatalysts with high photoactivity and can act as effective practical application for environmental remediation.     

Ozone pollution characteristics and sensitivity analysis using an observation-based model in Nanjing, Yangtze River Delta Region of China

Ground-level ozone (O₃) has become a critical pollutant impeding air quality improvement in Yangtze River Delta region of China. In this study, we present O₃ pollution characteristics based on one-year online measurements during 2016 at an urban site in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Then, the sensitivity of O₃ to its precursors during 2 O₃ pollution episodes in August was analyzed using a box model based on observation (OBM). The relative incremental reactivity (RIR) of hydrocarbons was larger than other precursors, suggesting that hydrocarbons played the dominant role in O₃ formation. The RIR values for NO_X ranged from –0.41%/% to 0.19%/%. The O₃ sensitivity was also analyzed based on relationship of simulated O₃ production rates with reductions of VOC and NO_X derived from scenario analyses. Simulation results illustrate that O₃ formation was between VOCs-limited and transition regime. Xylenes and light alkenes were found to be key species in O₃ formation according to RIR values, and their sources were determined using the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model. Paints and solvent use was the largest contributor to xylenes (54%), while petrochemical industry was the most important source to propene (82%). Discussions on VOCs and NO_X reduction schemes suggest that the 5% O₃ control goal can be achieved by reducing VOCs by 20%. To obtain 10% O₃ control goal, VOCs need to be reduced by 30% with VOCs/NO_X larger than 3:1.     

贵州草海湿地溶解性有机物的光谱特征及其与PFASs的相关性分析

为描述草海湿地DOM（dissolved organic matter,溶解性有机物）荧光特征,探究其对PFASs（per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances,全氟及多氟化合物）环境行为造成的影响,利用超高效液相色谱-质谱联用技术和三维荧光光谱技术,结合平行因子分析,开展DOM光谱学特性研究,分析ρ（DOM）与ρ（PFASs）的相关关系.结果表明:①草海湿地中共解析出3类4种荧光组分,分别为类腐殖酸[λ_Ex（360 nm）/λ_Em（450 nm）]、长波段腐殖质[λ_Ex（400 nm）/λ_Em（510 nm）]、类富里酸[λ_Ex（330 nm）/λ_Em（400 nm）]和类色氨酸[λ_Ex（280 nm）/λ_Em（350 nm）],贡献率分别为48.6%、23.6%、22.9%和4.9%,其中类腐殖质总贡献率高达72.2%.在农业生产和人类活动的影响下,总荧光强度大致呈现从入湖区向出湖区逐渐降低、湖心区略高的趋势.②在草海湿地表层水中共检出了12种PFASs,ρ（PFASs）为233.18 ng/L,每种平均值为19.43 ng/L,PFBA（perfluorobutanoic acid,全氟丁酸）是主要污染物;草海湿地入湖区点源影响特征明显,生活污水和农业生产用水是主要的潜在污染源.③相关性分析结果显示,各荧光组分含量均与ρ（PFBS）（potassium perfluorobutanesulfonate,全氟丁烷磺酸）负相关;类色氨酸含量与ρ（PFHpA）（perfluororoheptanoic acid,全氟庚酸）负相关,与ρ（PFTriDA）（perfluorotrideanoic acid,全氟十三酸）则显著正相关.研究显示,草海湿地水体腐殖化程度高,外源特征明显,共检出12种PFASs,初步揭示了草海湿地水环境中ρ（DOM）与ρ（PFASs）的相关关系,其受水体性质及化合物结构等差异的影响,有待进一步开展深入研究.      

Can a low-carbon development path achieve win-win development: evidence from China’s low-carbon pilot policy

Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change - Low-carbon pilot (LCP) policy aims to not only achieve economic development but also address climate change problems in China. With a...     

Evaluating national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement and economic competitiveness of fuel cell electric long-haul trucks

This study explored the national hydrogen refueling infrastructure requirement along major United States (US) interstate highway corridors to support the deployment of fuel cell electric trucks (FCETs) for the national long-haul trucking fleet. Given the long-haul trucking shipment demand in 2025 projected by the Freight Analysis Framework, locations and capacities of hydrogen stations were identified for inter-zone freight flows, and the total daily refueling demand was estimated for intra-zone flows for each FAF zone. Based on the infrastructure deployment results, we conducted an economic feasibility analysis of FCETs by evaluating the total ownership cost. We found that when the FCET penetration is relatively high (e.g., 10% penetration), FCETs become more competitive in terms of fuel cost and idling cost and could be economic viable if the incremental vehicle cost is reduced to meet the near-term FCET technology cost targets and the liquefaction cost is reduced to an optimal case. We also observed that the station cost depends on regional factors, particularly regional demand, which is used to determine station capacity. Thus, one possible strategy for station roll-out is to have early investment in target regions where station costs are expected to be relatively low such as the Pacific and West South Central regions.

     

Mercury flows in large-scale gold production and implications for Hg pollution control

Large-scale gold production(LSGP) is one of the five convention-related atmospheric mercury(Hg) emission sources in the Minamata Convention on Mercury. However, field experiments on Hg flows of the whole process of LSGP are limited. To identify the atmospheric Hg emission points and understand Hg emission characteristics of LSGP, Hg flows in two gold smelters were studied. Overall atmospheric Hg emissions accounted for 10%–17% of total Hg outputs and the Hg emission factors for all processes were 7.6–9.6 kg/ton. There were three dominant atmospheric Hg emission points in the studied gold smelters, including the exhaust gas of the roasting process, exhaust gas from the environmental fog collection stack and exhaust gas from the converter of the refining process. Atmospheric Hg emissions from the roasting process only accounted for 16%–29% of total emissions and the rest were emitted from the refining process. The overall Hg speciation profile(gaseous elemental Hg/gaseous oxidized Hg/particulate-bound Hg) for LSGP was 34.1/57.1/8.8. The dominant Hg output byproducts included waste acid, sulfuric acid and cyanide leaching residue. Total Hg outputs from these three byproducts were 80% in smelter A and 84% in smelter B. Our study indicated that previous atmospheric Hg emissions from large-scale gold production might have been overestimated.Hg emission control in LSGP is not especially urgent in China compared to other significant emission sources(e.g., cement plants). Instead, LSGP is a potential Hg release source due to the high Hg output proportions to acid and sludge.     

大豆过敏原P34蛋白基因检测技术与环境污染的关系研究

环境污染易引起大豆种植区域出现过敏原P34蛋白基因变异情况,当前蛋白基因检测方法不能满足检测需求,提出基于探针引物的大豆过敏原P34蛋白基因荧光PCR定量检测技术,针对大豆过敏原特异性基因P34蛋白基因序列进行设计;通过DNA提取、浓度测定,荧光定量PCR检测,实现大豆过敏原P34蛋白基因检测。实验结果表明,所提方法能够准确检测出包括环境污染区域在内的大豆食品过敏原P34蛋白基因成分,具有很好的应用前景,满足市场监督检测的需要。     

发光细菌生物毒性抑制率优化研究

发光细菌生物毒对水生生态环境有极大的破坏作用,为保护水体环境,提出发光细菌生物毒性抑制率优化研究。完成测试样品调制;设置菌悬液特征参数,利用pH、RLU及D600进行同步检测,完成发光细菌生物毒性重现;分析磺胺类药品于根际土壤的形态分布和生态毒性,完成发光细菌生物毒性抑制率优化研究。实验证明,三种磺胺类药品对发光细菌生物毒性的相对抑制率都小于30%,为低毒性;其中有机溶剂对发光细菌生物毒性的抑制率最大,水溶态较大,结合态最小。     

好氧颗粒污泥对有机物吸附类型的研究

为探索好氧颗粒污泥对有机物的去除机制,进行好氧颗粒污泥对有机物的吸附性能及吸附类型研究,在实验室条件下,采用动态吸附方式,利用SBAR反应器分析好氧颗粒污泥对有机物的去除情况。结果表明,好氧颗粒污泥存在初期吸附作用,最佳吸附时间为30~45 min,COD去处率60%;通过对失活前后好氧颗粒污泥对有机物吸附性能测定以及红外光谱分析,探究好氧颗粒污泥对有机物的吸附类型,表明好氧颗粒污泥对有机物的吸附是一个包含生物吸附和化学吸附的复杂过程。     

环保型民用建筑墙体节能工程施工质量监督策略研究

环保型民用建筑墙体节能工程施工的材料、设备、工艺复杂,需要进行建筑施工优化管理和质量监督,从而确保施工进度和工程质量,对环保型民用建筑墙体节能工程施工实施全过程质量控制,加强墙体施工的质量监督和管理。对建筑项目做好工程施工质量的风险预估,结合材料和设备、环境等方面的影响因素进行工程质量技术指导和风险控制。在施工过程中进行质量监督的动态过程控制,按照标准和规范,进行环保型节能建筑墙体施工质量的量化管理,使得建筑施工质量符合规范标准要求。