An integrated impact assessment and weighting methodology: evaluation of the environmental consequences of computer display technology substitution

Computer display technology is currently in a state of transition, as the traditional technology of cathode ray tubes is being replaced by liquid crystal display flat-panel technology. Technology substitution and process innovation require the evaluation of the trade-offs among environmental impact, cost, and engineering performance attributes. General impact assessment methodologies, decision analysis and management tools, and optimization methods commonly used in engineering cannot efficiently address the issues needed for such evaluation. The conventional Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) process often generates results that can be subject to multiple interpretations, although the advantages of the LCA concept and framework obtain wide recognition. In the present work, the LCA concept is integrated with Quality Function Deployment (QFD), a popular industrial quality management tool, which is used as the framework for the development of our integrated model. The problem of weighting is addressed by using pairwise comparison of stakeholder preferences. Thus, this paper presents a new integrated analytical approach, Integrated Industrial Ecology Function Deployment (I2-EFD), to assess the environmental behavior of alternative technologies in correlation with their performance and economic characteristics. Computer display technology is used as the case study to further develop our methodology through the modification and integration of various quality management tools (e.g., process mapping, prioritization matrix) and statistical methods (e.g., multi-attribute analysis, cluster analysis). Life cycle thinking provides the foundation for our methodology, as we utilize a published LCA report, which stopped at the characterization step, as our starting point. Further, we evaluate the validity and feasibility of our methodology by considering uncertainty and conducting sensitivity analysis.     

Bi2MoO6/纳米棒ZnO异质结对MB的可见光-压电协同降解性能研究

采用水热法合成了一系列不同负载率的Bi₂MoO₆/纳米棒ZnO复合光催化剂.通过XRD、FT-IR、SEM、TEM、XPS、UV-Vis、EPR和PL等分析技术对合成的样品进行表征.在光/超声波条件下,以亚甲基蓝（MB）为目标降解物评价其压电-光催化性能.结果表明：Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO纳米棒（BZ-0.6）的降解速率常数约为ZnO传统光催化的9.25倍,其性能提升的主要原因在于ZnO的压电效应与Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO界面形成的异质结的耦合,有效地促进了电子和空穴的分离和转移.此外,同实验条件下,循环利用5次后Bi₂MoO₆/ZnO复合光催化剂降解率仍保持良好的稳定性.     

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.     

不同施肥方式对东北旱田黑土nirK和nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构的影响及黑土保护建议

反硝化过程是土壤氮素循环的重要过程之一,与土壤氮肥损失和温室气体排放紧密相关。通过分析不同施肥方式对东北旱田黑土nirK型和nirS型反硝化细菌群落结构的影响及其与N₂O排放的关系,证实黑土中nirK型比nirS型反硝化细菌多样性丰富,且更易受土壤理化性质的影响。施入化肥会降低东北旱田黑土反硝化细菌多样性、N₂O释放量和土壤养分含量,而有机肥的施入虽然可提高土壤养分含量,但是也会显著增加土壤反硝化作用,存在潜在的负面环境效应。因此对黑土地的保护要积极推行种养结合,建立可循环农业体系;适当配施有机肥料,调节黑土微生物活力;大力完善相关制度,营造科学管理新规范,从而构建我国黑土保护的立体格局。     

南京秋冬季非难熔性亚微米颗粒物来源解析

利用Aerodyne高分辨率飞行时间气溶胶质谱仪（HR-ToF-AMS）对南京北郊秋冬季非难熔性亚微米气溶胶（NR-PM₁）的化学组分（包括有机物、硝酸盐、硫酸盐、铵盐和氯化物）和特征进行实时在线监测,并利用多元线性模型（ME-2）对其中复杂的有机物进行来源解析.观测期间,有机物、硝酸盐、硫酸盐、铵盐、氯化物对NR-PM₁的贡献分别为42%,28%,15%,13%和2%.有机物解析出6类有机气溶胶：烃类有机气溶胶（HOA）、烹饪类有机气溶胶（COA）、生物质燃烧有机气溶胶（BBOA）、高氧化有机气溶胶（MO-OOA）、低氧化有机气溶胶（LO-OOA）、液相反应生成氧化有机气溶胶（aq-OOA）,平均浓度分别占总有机气溶胶的18%,14%,19%,19%,11%和19%.通过不同污染事件的对比结果表明,本次观测期间二次气溶胶在污染时期占比会明显上升并且液相反应对二次组分的形成有显著的促进作用.     

深圳市不同区域大气CO2变化特征与来源分析

于2020年12月1日~2021年12月1日分别在深圳市大学城和路边站两点位对大气CO₂和CO浓度进行了为期1a的观测.本次观测期间内两点位大气CO₂平均浓度分别为432×10^-6和439×10^-6,均呈现了“秋冬季高、春夏季低”的季节变化特征与“昼低夜高”日变化特征,且日变化特征在早晚高峰期受到交通源排放的显著影响.此外,通过引入CO₂和CO的净变化值得到大学城和路边站两点位的ΔCO₂/ΔCO值分别为136.8~184.8、59.0~119.3,结果表明机动车排放对深圳市大气CO₂贡献突出.     

Hydrothermal-treated Pt/Al2O3 as an excellent catalyst for toluene total oxidation

The preparation of highly active supported noble metal catalysts with a low noble metal loading has always been the ultimate goal of researchers working on catalysis. Hydrothermally treated Pt/Al₂O₃ (Pt/Al₂O₃-H) exhibits better catalytic activity than that (Pt/Al₂O₃-C) treated via the conventional calcination approach. At the high space velocity of 100,000 mL/(g∙hr), the temperature that correspond to 50% toluene conversion (T₅₀) of Pt/Al₂O₃-H is 115°C lower than that of Pt/Al₂O₃-C, and the turnover frequency (TOF) value can reach 0.0756 sec⁻¹. The mechanism by which the hydrothermal approach enhances Pt/Al₂O₃ activity has been investigated. The structure associated with the high catalytic activity of Pt nanoparticles (NPs) can be retained via hydrothermal treatment. Furthermore, the support is transformed to AlO(OH) with numerous surface hydroxyl groups, which in turn can facilitate the adsorption of toluene. And the synergistic effects of Pt NPs and AlO(OH) increases the contents of Pt in oxidation state and active oxygen, which are beneficial for toluene oxidation.     

MoS2 quantum dots based MoS2/HKUST-1 composites for the highly efficient catalytic oxidation of elementary mercury

Due to the ever-tightening regulation on mercury emission in recent decades, there is an urgent need to develop novel materials for the removal of elemental mercury at coal-fired power plants. In this study, a series of MoS₂ quantum dots (QDs)-based MoS₂/HKUST-1 composite materials were prepared. It is found that MoS₂ QDs were encapsulated by HKUST-1 and enhanced the crystallinity and specific surface area of HKUST-1. The MoS₂/HKUST-1 showed excellent performance in catalytic oxidation of Hg⁰ as compared with pristine HKUST-1. It is found that surface layer of lattice oxygens is active and participates in Hg⁰ oxidation, while the consumption of surface oxygens then leads to the formation of oxygen vacancies on the surface. These vacancies are effective in the adsorption and dissociation of O₂, which subsequently participates in the oxidation of Hg⁰. Moreover, the study on the influence of commonly seen gas components, such as SO₂, NO, NH₃ and H₂O, etc., on Hg⁰ oxidation demonstrated that synergistic effects exist among these gas species. It is found that the presence of NO promotes the oxidation of Hg⁰ using oxygen as the oxidant.     

Removal of hexavalent chromium from water by Z-scheme photocatalysis using TiO2 (rutile) nanorods loaded with Au core–Cu2O shell particles

All-solid-state Z-scheme photocatalysts, containing Cu₂O, TiO₂ (rutile), and Au as the electron mediator, were prepared and applied to the reduction of Cr(VI) in aqueous solutions. The Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composites were prepared by loading Au core–Cu₂O shell hemisphere particles on TiO₂ (rutile) nanorods using a two-step photocatalytic deposition process. Under ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) light illumination, the Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composites exhibited higher photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction activities than those exhibited by single TiO₂ (rutile) and Cu₂O. In this reaction, a precipitate containing Cr, which was considered to be Cr(OH)₃, was deposited site-selectively on the Au core–Cu₂O shell particles of the composites, indicating that the reduction site of the composite was Cu₂O, and the reaction proceeded according to the Z-scheme. The Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composites also exhibited photocatalytic activity under visible light illumination. The oxidation state of Cu in the Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composite gradually changed from Cu(I) to Cu(II) during the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction. However the composite maintained its high photocatalytic performance even after oxidation. The role of Au in the Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composite was examined by comparing the properties of the Cu₂O–Au–TiO₂ composite with those of the Cu₂O–TiO₂ composite prepared via direct Cu₂O deposition on TiO₂.     

An integrative analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression in the brains of Alzheimer's disease transgenic mice after real-world PM2.5 exposure

Fine particulatematter (PM2.5) is associated with increased risks of Alzheimer’s disease (AD),yet the toxicologicalmechanisms of PM2.5 promoting AD remain unclear. In this study,wildtype and APP/PS1 transgenic mice (AD mice) were exposed to either filtered air (FA) or PM2.5 for eight weeks with a real-world exposure system in Taiyuan, China (mean PM2.5 concentration in the cage was 61 μg/m3). We found that PM2.5 exposure could remarkably aggravate AD mice’s ethological and brain ultrastructural damage, along with the elevation of the pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-α), Aβ-42 and AChE levels and the decline of ChAT levels in the brains. Based on high-throughput sequencing results, some differentially expressed (DE) mRNAs and DE miRNAs in the brains of AD mice after PM2.5 exposure were screened.Using RT-qPCR, seven DEmiRNAs (mmu-miR-193b-5p, 122b-5p, 466h-3p, 10b-5p, 1895, 384–5p, and 6412) and six genes (Pcdhgb8, Unc13b, Robo3, Prph, Pter, and Tbata) were evidenced the and verified. Two miRNA-target gene pairs (miR-125b-Pcdhgb8 pair and miR-466h-3p-IL-17Rα/TGF-βR2/Aβ-42/AChE pairs) were demonstrated that they were more related to PM2.5-induced brain injury. Results of Gene Ontology (GO) pathways and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways predicted that synaptic and postsynaptic regulation, axon guidance, Wnt, MAPK, and mTOR pathways might be the possible regulatory mechanisms associated with pathological response. These revealed that PM2.5- elevated pro-inflammatory cytokine levels and PM2.5-altered neurotransmitter levels in AD mice could be the important causes of brain damage and proposed the promising miRNA andmRNA biomarkers and potentialmiRNA-mRNA interaction networks of PM2.5-promoted AD.