Why social values cannot be changed for the sake of conservation

The hope for creating widespread change in social values has endured among conservation professionals since early calls by Aldo Leopold for a “land ethic.” However, there has been little serious attention in conservation to the fields of investigation that address values, how they are formed, and how they change. We introduce a social–ecological systems conceptual approach in which values are seen not only as motivational goals people hold but also as ideas that are deeply embedded in society's material culture, collective behaviors, traditions, and institutions. Values define and bind groups, organizations, and societies; serve an adaptive role; and are typically stable across generations. When abrupt value changes occur, they are in response to substantial alterations in the social–ecological context. Such changes build on prior value structures and do not result in complete replacement. Given this understanding of values, we conclude that deliberate efforts to orchestrate value shifts for conservation are unlikely to be effective. Instead, there is an urgent need for research on values with a multilevel and dynamic view that can inform innovative conservation strategies for working within existing value structures. New directions facilitated by a systems approach will enhance understanding of the role values play in shaping conservation challenges and improve management of the human component of conservation.     

Photolysis of the herbicide bispyribac sodium in aqueous medium under the influence of UV and sunlight in presence or absence of sensitizers

The photolysis of a rice herbicide Bispyribac sodium (Sodium 2, 6-bis [(4, 6-dimethoxypyrimidin-2-yl) oxy] benzoate) has been studied in different aqueous medium (distilled water, pond water and Irrigation water) under the influence of UV (λ max ≥ 250 nm) and sunlight in presence or absence of sensitizers (TiO₂ and KNO₃). The study was conducted under laboratory simulated condition which made it possible to evaluate the contribution of different factors viz. source of irradiation, solvent and sensitizers towards the photolysis of bispyribac sodium. The photodegradation proceeds via first order reaction Kinetics in all the cases. Five photo metabolites (M₁-M₅) were isolated in pure form by column chromatographic method from the irradiation system under UV influenced and TiO₂ as sensitizer. From the different spectral data (IR, NMR, UV-VIS, Mass) the structure of these five metabolites were assigned as M₁ (Phenol), M₂ [2, 6-Dihydroxy benzoic acid], M₃ [2, 6-bis [(4, 6 dimethoxypyrimidin-2yl) oxy] benzoic acid], M₄ [2-(3-Hydroxy-phenoxy)-pyrimidine-4, 6-diol] and M₅ as [2,4-Dihydroxy-3, 5-dimethoxy-6-(4-methoxy pyrimidine-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid]. Moreover, another six photometabolites (M₆-M₁₁) were identified from the different irradiation system on the basis of Micromass analysis. On the basis of MS/MS data analysis, the structure of these six photometabolites were assigned as M₆ [2-(4, 6-Dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-6-hydroxy-benzoic acid], M₇ [2-Hydroxy-6-(4-hydroxy-6-methoxy-pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid], M₈ [4, 6-Dimethoxy-pyrimidin-2-ol], M₉ [6-Methoxy-pyrimidine-2, 4-diol], M₁₀ [2-Hydroxy-6-(pyrimidin-2-yloxy)-benzoic acid] and M₁₁ [2, 4, 6-Trimethoxy-pyrimidine]. The plausible Photodegradation pathways of bispyribac sodium in the present investigation were portrayed which proceeds via hydrolysis, hydrolytic cleavage, O-dealkylation, decarboxylation, dehydroxylation, O-alkylation and hydroxylation.     

Photocatalytic oxidation of monuron in the suspension of WO3 under the irradiation of UV-visible light

A comprehensive study of the degradation of monuron, one of the phenylurea herbicides, was conducted by UV-Vis/WO₃ process. It was found that hydroxyl radicals played a major role in the decay of monuron while other radicals (e.g. superoxide) and hole might also contribute to the decomposition of monuron. The oxidation path likely plays a major role in the generation of hydroxyl radicals. The effects of initial pH level, initial concentration of monuron, and inorganic oxidants on the performance of UV-Vis/WO₃ process were also investigated and optimized. Comparison between monuron decay pathways by UV-Vis/WO₃ and UV/TiO₂ was conducted. The decay mechanisms, including N-terminus demethylation, dechlorination and direct hydroxylation on benzene ring, were observed to be involved in the oxidation of monuron in these two processes. Sixteen intermediates were identified during the photodegradation of monuron and degradation pathways were proposed accordingly.     

Catalytic destruction of pentachlorobenzene in simulated flue gas by a V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalyst

Pentachlorobenzene (PeCB) in simulated flue gas was destructed by a commercial V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ catalyst in this study. The effects of reaction temperature, oxygen concentration, space velocity and some co-existing pollutants on PeCB conversion were investigated. Furthermore, a possible mechanism for the oxidation of PeCB over the vanadium oxide on the catalysts was proposed. Results show that the increase of gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) and the decrease of operating temperature both resulted in the decrease of PeCB removal over the catalyst, while the effect of the oxygen content in the range of 5-20% (v/v) on PeCB conversion was negligible. PeCB decomposition could be obviously affected by the denitration reactions under the conditions because of the positive effect of NO but negative effect of NH₃. The introduction of SO₂ caused the catalyst poisoning, probably due to the sulfur-containing species formed and deposited on the catalyst surface. The PeCB molecules were first adsorbed on the catalyst surface, and then oxidized into the non-aromatic acyclic intermediates, low chlorinated aromatics and maleic anhydride.     

Thioarsenate formation upon dissolution of orpiment and arsenopyrite

Thioarsenates were previously determined as dominant species in geothermal and mineral waters with excess sulfide. Here, we used batch leaching experiments to determine their formation upon weathering or industrial leaching of the arsenic-sulfide minerals orpiment (As₂S₃) and arsenopyrite (FeAsS) under different pH and oxygen conditions. Under acidic conditions, as expected based on their known kinetic instability at low pH, no thioarsenates formed in either of the two mineral systems. Under neutral to alkaline conditions, orpiment dissolution yielded mono-, di- and trithioarsenate which accounted for up to 43-55% of total arsenic. Thioarsenate formation upon arsenopyrite dissolution was low at neutral (4%) but significant at alkaline pH, especially under suboxic to sulfidic conditions (20-43%, mainly as monothioarsenate). In contrast to orpiment, we postulate that recombination of arsenite and sulfide in solution is of minor importance for monothioarsenate formation during alkaline arsenopyrite dissolution. We propose instead that hydroxyl physisorption lead to formation of As-OH-S surface complexes by transposition of hydroxyl anions to arsenic or iron sites. Concurrently formed ironhydroxides could provide re-sorption sites for the freshly released monothioarsenate. However, sorption experiments with goethite showed slower sorption kinetics of monothioarsenate compared to arsenite, but comparable with arsenate. The discovery that thioarsenates are released by natural weathering and industrial leaching processes and that, once they are released, have a higher mobility than the commonly-investigated species arsenite and arsenate requires future studies to consider them when assessing arsenic release in sulfidic natural or mining-impacted environments.     

超声辐射浸渍法制备Fe-Ni-Mn/Al_2O_3催化剂及性能研究

以Al2O3为载体,分别采用超声辐射浸渍法和普通浸渍方法制备Fe-Ni-Mn/Al2O3催化剂。采用BET、XRD和SEM对催化剂的理化性质和孔结构进行了分析,以模拟酸性绿B废水为研究对象考察催化剂的催化性能。实验结果表明,浸渍溶液pH值和焙烧温度显著影响催化剂的性能。与普通浸渍法相比,超声浸渍法制备的Fe-Ni-Mn/Al2O3催化剂对酸性绿B脱色反应表现出较高的催化活性。     

Fe3O4/SDS磁性纳米颗粒吸附水体中的Cd2+和Zn2+

一种新型纳米固相萃取吸附剂,由阴离子表面活性剂十二烷基磺酸钠(SDS)包裹在Fe3O4磁性纳米颗粒表面形成,用于吸附水溶液中的重金属离子。研究了吸附过程的主要影响因素(如SDS浓度、溶液pH等)以及解吸过程的最佳条件,并对其机理进行了初步的探讨。研究结果表明,共沉淀法制备的Fe3O4颗粒粒径分布均匀,平均粒径约为54 nm;SDS浓度为300 mg/L时,Fe3O4/SDS磁性纳米颗粒吸附Cd2+和Zn2+的能力最强;在一定浓度范围内,Fe3O4/SDS体系对Cd2+和Zn2+的吸附平衡数据符合Langmuir吸附等温方程,饱和吸附量分别为22.42 mg/g和13.95 mg/g。最终结果表明,Fe3O4/SDS磁性纳米颗粒具有较强磁分离能力和较好的吸附效果。     

水滑石与磷酸银可见光催化剂的活性对比研究

本文合成了具备水滑石结构(LDH)的Zn-Cr LDH、Zn-Ti LDH以及Ag3PO43种半导体光催化剂,并对它们的催化性能进行对比研究。XRD和SEM分析表明,Zn-Cr LDH、Zn-Ti LDH具有层状结构而Ag3PO4呈纳米球状结构。UV-Vis分析表明,Ag3PO4和Zn-Cr LDH能够吸收可见光(>420 nm)。在可见光照射与添加AgNO3作为电子受体的条件下,Zn-TiLDH几乎没有光催化活性,而Ag3PO4的光催化活性高于Zn-Cr LDH。Ag3PO4在光解水实验中180 min内氧气产量约1.2mL,而Zn-Cr LDH约为0.65 mL。光催化降解有机污染物实验中,在Ag3PO4催化作用下,120 min内亚甲基蓝(MB)被完全降解,在240 min内46%的对硝基酚(PNP)被降解,而Zn-Cr LDH相应的去除率分别为61%和27%。     

电解锰渣中锰的浸出条件及特征

采用水洗-酸解法回收电解锰渣中锰,探讨了清水量、酸量以及温度在不同阶段对锰浸(洗)出条件的影响,分析了回收锰的主要因素及浸出特征。实验结果表明,50 g电解锰渣经m渣∶m水=1∶10的清水水洗后,采用10%的硫酸在70℃的水浴温度下酸解2 h,Mn2+浸出量为1.673 g,回收率达到97.3%,而温度和酸度对锰离子的浸出影响明显,酸度调控可有效分离酸浸锰液中金属成分,为减少电解锰渣环境污染的同时,实现电解锰渣资源化利用。