Dissipation of S-metolachlor and butachlor in agricultural soils and responses of bacterial communities: Insights from compound-specific isotope and biomolecular analyses

The soil dissipation of the widely used herbicides S-metolachlor(SM) and butachlor(BUT)was evaluated in laboratory microcosms at two environmentally relevant doses(15 and 150 μg/g) and for two agricultural soils(crop and paddy).Over 80% of SM and BUT were dissipated within 60 and 30 days,respectively,except in experiments with crop soil at 150 μg/g.Based on compound-specific isotope analysis(CSIA) and observed dissipation,biodegradation was the main process responsible for the observed decrease of SM and BUT in the paddy soil.For SM,biodegradation dominated over other dissipation processes,with changes of carbon isotope ratios(Δδ~(13)C) of up to 6.5‰ after 60 days,and concomitant production of ethane sulfonic acid(ESA) and oxanilic acid(OXA) transformation products.In crop soil experiments,biodegradation of SM occurred to a lesser extent than in paddy soil,and sorption was the main driver of apparent BUT dissipation.Sequencing of the 16 S rRNA gene showed that soil type and duration of herbicide exposure were the main determinants of bacterial community variation.In contrast,herbicide identity and spiking dose had no significant effect.In paddy soil experiments,a high(4:1,V/V) ESA to OXA ratio for SM was observed,and phylotypes assigned to anaerobic Clostridiales and sulfur reducers such as Desulfuromonadales and Syntrophobacterales were dominant for both herbicides.Crop soil microcosms,in contrast,were associated with a reverse,low(1:3,V/V)ratio of ESA to OXA for SM,and Alphaproteobacteria,Actinobacteria,and Bacillales dominated regardless of the herbicide.Our results emphasize the variability in the extent and modes of SM and BUT dissipation in agricultural soils,and in associated changes in bacterial communities.     

Nb2O5 nanowires in-situ grown on carbon fiber: A high-efficiency material for the photocatalytic reduction of Cr(VI)

Niobium oxide nanowire-deposited carbon fiber (CF) samples were prepared using a hydrothermal method with amorphous Nb₂O₅·nH₂O as precursor. The physical properties of the samples were characterized by means of numerous techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), UV–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis), N₂ adsorption–desorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The efficiency for the removal of Cr(VI) was determined. Parameters such as pH value and initial Cr(VI) concentration could influence the Cr(VI) removal efficiency or adsorption capacity of the Nb₂O₅/carbon fiber sample obtained after hydrothermal treatment at 160°C for 14 hr. The maximal Cr(VI) adsorption capacity of the Nb₂O₅ nanowire/CF sample was 115 mg/g. This Nb₂O₅/CF sample also showed excellent photocatalytic activity and stability for the reduction of Cr(VI) under UV-light irradiation: the Cr(VI) removal efficiency reached 99.9% after UV-light irradiation for 1 hr and there was no significant decrease in photocatalytic performance after the use of the sample for 10 repeated cycles. Such excellent Cr(VI) adsorption capacity and photocatalytic performance was related to its high surface area, abundant surface hydroxyl groups, and good UV-light absorption ability.     

基于模糊数学的排污权交易基准价测算模型及其应用

为了解决排污权交易基准价的制定这一排污权交易制度设计的关键问题,在对影响排污权价值的因素进行理论分析的基础上,利用模糊数学理论建立了包含人均国民生产总值、环境容量、污染物排放绩效3个影响因素的排污权价值模糊数学评价模型,结合污染物削减成本构建了排污权交易基准价测算模型.利用该套模型,建立了重庆市COD和氨氮排污权价值评价体系,计算得到重庆市人均国民生产总值、污染物环境排放量、工业污染物排放绩效等影响因素对排污权价值的权重分别为0.540、0.163和0.297,COD和氨氮排污权价值的模糊综合评价结果向量分别为（0,0.715,0.285,0,0）和（0,0.865,0.135,0,0）;根据重庆市废水COD和氨氮削减成本,测算了重庆市废水COD和氨氮的排污权交易基准价格分别为5 900和16 000元/t,处于全国排污权交易试点省市确定的基准价的中上水平.该套模型将排污权基准价测算过程中具有模糊性、不确定性的影响因素进行了定量表达,使测算结果更符合客观实际,并且具有实用价值,但在排污权价值影响因素的筛选及其量化等方面有待进一步研究.      

Carbon dioxide adsorption and cycloaddition reaction of epoxides using chitosan–graphene oxide nanocomposite as a catalyst

One of today's major challenges is to provide green materials for a cleaner environment. We have conducted studies on carbon dioxide(CO2) adsorption and conversion to valuable products by an ecofriendly approach based in chitosan/graphene oxide(CSGO) nanocomposite film. Rheological behavior indicates that the CSGO has a better solvation property than the pure chitosan. An adsorption capacity of 1.0152 mmol CO_2/g of CSGO nanocomposite at4.6 bar was observed. The catalytic behavior of the CSGO nanocomposite in the presence of tetra-n-butylammonium iodide(n-Bu4 NI) as co-catalyst was evaluated for the cycloaddition of CO_2 to epoxides, to give cyclic carbonates, in the absence of any solvent. These results strongly suggest that the CSGO nanocomposite may open new vistas towards the development of ecofriendly material for catalytic conversion and adsorption of CO_2 on industrial scale.     

超临界CO2萃取在环境样品预处理中的应用

阐述了超临界流体萃取的原理和特点，分析了温度、压力、流体流速、改性剂、络合剂等因素对萃取过程的影响，介绍了超临界CO2萃取技术的优点及其在萃取土壤中的有机污染物、非固体介质中的污染物、环境样品中的金属离子等方面的应用，对该技术的应用前景作了展望。     

气体采集袋中一氧化碳浓度与时间的关系

在不同的时间段，测定存放于普通球胆及特制的锡箔袋内的一氧化碳标准气的浓度，来春浓度值与贮存时间的关系。通过对３种一氧经碳浓度的测定，证实普通球胆采集的一氧化碳样品，应在当天进行分析；用锡箔气袋，则可保存７－１０ｄ。’     

碳高温还原解毒铬渣中CaCrO4的反应热力学研究

通过热力学分析与计算,确立了采用高温固相还原法,利用冶金废渣M作为还原剂,高温解毒铬渣中CaCrO4的还原反应.对比分析了C、CO对酸溶性CaCrO4与水溶性NazCrO4还原反应的吉布斯自由能和平衡常数变化,探讨了温度、压力对铬渣中CaCrO4还原反应的影响,升高温度、减小体系压力对CaCrO4的高温还原有利.     

Carbon and hydrogen isotope effects during sorption of organic contaminants on carbonaceous materials

Stable carbon and hydrogen isotopes can be an efficient means to validate biodegradation of organic contaminants in groundwater since it results in an isotopic fractionation. A prerequisite in applying this method in the field is the proof that other processes decreasing the contaminant concentration are conservative with respect to isotope effects. In this paper we show for carbon isotopes of halogenated hydrocarbon compounds [trichloroethene (TCE), cis-dichloroethene (c-DCE), vinylchloride (VC)] and carbon and hydrogen isotopes of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, p-xylene) that no significant fractionation occurs during equilibrium sorption onto activated carbon, lignite coke and lignite. In general, effects were in the range of the reproducibility limit of the analytical instrument (0.5 per thousand for delta13C, and 8 per thousand for delta2H). This observation was made for fractions sorbed of less than 5% to more than 95%. Also for rate-limited sorption of TCE onto activated carbon, no significant fractionation in carbon isotopes could be observed. These findings support the assumption that for these classes of compounds, sorption processes in aquifer systems are conservative with respect to isotope effects.     

Chemical composition of fine particles from incense burning in a large environmental chamber

 This study is aimed to characterize the major chemical compositions of PM_2.5 from incense burning in a large environmental chamber. Chemical analyses, including X-ray fluorescence for elemental species, ion chromatography for water soluble inorganic species (chloride, nitrate, sulfate, sodium, potassium, ammonium) and thermal/optical reflectance analysis for carbon species were carried out for combustion of three incense categories (traditional, aromatic and church incense). The average concentrations from incense burning ranged from 139.8 to 4414.7 μg m⁻³ for organic carbon (OC), and from 22.8 to 74.0 μg m⁻³ for elemental carbon (EC), respectively. The average OC and EC concentrations in PM_2.5 of three incense categories were in the order of church incense>traditional incense>aromatic incense. OC/EC ratios ranged from 7.0 to 39.1 for the traditional incense, with an average of 21.7; from 3.2 to 11.9 for the aromatic incense, with an average of 7.7. The concentrations of Cl⁻, SO₄²⁻, Na⁺ and K⁺ were highly variable. On average, the inorganic ion concentration sequence was traditional incense>church incense>aromatic incense. The profiles for elements were dominated by Na, Cl and K. In general, the major components in PM_2.5 fraction from incense burning are OC (especially OC2, OC3 and OC4), EC and K.     

Results from a pilot-scale air quality study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Twenty-one samples were collected during the dry season (26 January–28 February 2004) at 12 sites in and around Addis Ababa, Ethiopia and analyzed for particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm (PM₁₀) mass and composition. Teflon-membrane filters were analyzed for PM₁₀ mass and concentrations of 40 elements. Quartz-fiber filters were analyzed for chloride, sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium ions as well as elemental carbon (EC) and organic carbon (OC) content. Measured 24-h PM₁₀ mass concentrations were <100 and 40 μg m⁻³ at urban and suburban sites, respectively. PM₁₀ lead concentrations were <0.1 μg m⁻³ for all samples collected, an important finding because the government of Ethiopia had stopped the distribution of leaded gasoline a few months prior to this study. Mass concentrations reconstructed from chemical composition indicated that 34–66% of the PM₁₀ mass was due to geologically derived material, probably owing to the widespread presence of unpaved roads and road shoulders. At urban sites, EC and OC compounds contributed between 31% and 60% of the measured PM₁₀ while at suburban sites carbon compounds contributed between 24% and 26%. Secondary sulfate aerosols were responsible for <10% of the reconstructed mass in urban areas but as much as 15% in suburban sites, where PM₁₀ mass concentrations were lower. Non-volatile particulate nitrate, a lower limit for atmospheric nitrate, constituted <5% and 7% of PM₁₀ at the urban and suburban sites, respectively. At seven of the 12 sites, real-time PM₁₀ mass, real-time carbon monoxide (CO), and instantaneous ozone (O₃) concentrations were measured with portable nephelometers, electrochemical analyzers, and indicator test sticks, respectively. Both PM₁₀ and CO concentrations exhibited daily maxima around 7:00 and secondary peaks in the late afternoon and evening, suggesting that those pollutants were emitted during periods associated with motor-vehicle traffic, food preparation, and heating of homes. The morning concentration maxima were likely accentuated by stable atmospheric conditions associated with overnight surface temperature inversions. Ozone concentrations were measured near mid-day on filter sample collection days and were in all cases <45 parts per billion.