Hierarchical Ag-SiO2@Fe3O4 magnetic composites for elemental mercury removal from non-ferrous metal smelting flue gas

Hierarchical Ag-SiO_2@Fe_3O_4 magnetic composites were selected for elemental mercury(Hg~0) removal from non-ferrous metal smelting flue gas in this study. Results showed that the hierarchical Ag-SiO_2@Fe_3O_4 magnetic composites had favorable Hg~0 removal ability at low temperature. Moreover, the adsorption capacity of hierarchical magnetic composite is much larger than that of pure Fe_3O_4 and SiO_2@Fe_3O_4. The Hg~0 removal efficiency reached the highest value as approximately 92% under the reaction temperature of 150°C, while the removal efficiency sharply reduced in the absence of O_2. The characterization results indicated that Ag nanoparticles grew on the surface of SiO_2@Fe_3O_4 support. The large surface area of SiO_2 supplied efficient reaction room for Hg and Ag atoms. Ag–Hg amalgam is generated on the surface of the composites. In addition, this magnetic material could be easily separated from fly ashes when adopted for treating real flue gas, and the spent materials could be regenerated using a simple thermal-desorption method.     

Dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction of silver nanoparticles in water using ionic liquid 1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate

Using the ionic liquid(IL)1-octyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate as the extractant and methanol as the dispersion solvent,a dispersive liquid–liquid microextraction method was developed to extract silver nanoparticles(AgN Ps)from environmental water samples.Parameters that influenced the extraction efficiency such as IL concentration,pH and extraction time were optimized.Under the optimized conditions,the highest extraction efficiency for AgN Ps was above 90% with an enrichment factor of 90.The extracted AgN Ps in the IL phase were identified by transmission electron microscopy and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy,and quantified by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry after microwave digestion,with a detection limit of 0.01 μg/L.The spiked recovery of AgN Ps was 84.4% with a relative standard deviation(RSD)of 3.8%(n = 6)at a spiked level of 5 μg/L,and 89.7% with a RSD of 2.2%(n = 6)at a spiked level of 300 μg/L,respectively.Commonly existed environmental ions had a very limited influence on the extraction efficiency.The developed method was successfully applied to the analysis of Ag NPs in river water,lake water,and the influent and effluent of a wastewater treatment plant,with recoveries in the range of 71.0%–90.9% at spiking levels of 0.11–4.7 μg/L.     

浙江拔茅银矿围岩蚀变及其与矿化的关系

拔茅银矿的热液蚀变以硅化(次生石英岩化)、黄铁绢英岩化、绿泥石化和碳酸盐化为主,它们在空间上具明显的带状分布.围岩蚀变过程中,岩石中矿物常量元素、成矿元素及稀土元素均发生了不同程度的变化,导致了Ag、Cu、Pb、Zn等成矿元素的活化转移和富集成矿.本文讨论了其与矿化作用之间的内在联系.     

Efficient low-temperature soot combustion by bimetallic Ag–Cu/SBA-15 catalysts

In this study, the effects of copper(Cu) additive on the catalytic performance of Ag/SBA-15 in complete soot combustion were investigated. The soot combustion performance of bimetallic Ag–Cu/SBA-15 catalysts was higher than that of monometallic Ag and Cu catalysts. The optimum catalytic performance was acquired with the 5 Ag_1-Cu_(0.1)/SBA-15 catalyst, on which the soot combustion starts at T_(ig)= 225°C with a T_(50)= 285°C. The temperature for 50% of soot combustion was lower than that of conventional Ag-based catalysts to more than 50°C(Aneggi et al., 2009). Physicochemical characterizations of the catalysts indicated that addition of Cu into Ag could form smaller bimetallic Ag–Cu nanolloy particles, downsizing the mean particle size from 3.7 nm in monometallic catalyst to 2.6 nm in bimetallic Ag–Cu catalyst. Further experiments revealed that Ag and Cu species elicited synergistic effects, subsequently increasing the content of surface active oxygen species. As a result, the structure modifications of Ag by the addition of Cu strongly intensified the catalytic performance.     

Antimicrobial activity of silver loaded MnO2 nanomaterials with different crystal phases against Escherichia coli

Silver-loaded MnO_2 nanomaterials(Ag/MnO_2),including Ag/α-MnO_2,Ag/β-MnO_2,Ag/γ-MnO_2and Ag/δ-MnO_2 nanorods,were prepared with hydrothermal and impregnation methods.The bactericidal activities of four types of Ag/MnO_2 nanomaterials against Escherichia coli were investigated and an inactivation mechanism involving Ag~+ and reactive oxygen species(ROS)was also proposed.The bactericidal activities of Ag/MnO_2 depended on the MnO_2 crystal phase.Among these nanomaterials,Ag/β~-MnO_2 showed the highest bactericidal activity.There was a 6-log decrease in E.coli survival number after treatment with Ag/β~-MnO_2 for120 min.The results of 5,5-dimethyl-l-pyrroline-N-oxide spin-trapping measurements by electron spin resonance indicate OH and O_2~- formation with addition of Ag/β-MnO_2,Ag/γ-MnO_2 or Ag/δ-MnO_2.The strongest peak of OH appeared for Ag/β-MnO_2,while no OH or ·O_2~-signal was found over Ag/α-MnO_2.Through analysis of electron spin resonance(ESR) and Ag+elution results,it could be deduced that the toxicity of Ag~+ eluted from Ag/MnO_2 nanomaterials and ROS played the main roles during the bactericidal process.Silver showed the highest dispersion on the surface of β-MnO_2,which promoted ROS formation and the increase of bactericidal activity.Experimental results also indicated that Ag/MnO_2 induced the production of intracellular ROS and disruption of the cell wall and cell membrane.     

Molecular toxicity and defense mechanisms induced by silver nanoparticles in Drosophila melanogaster

The widely use of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as antimicrobial agents gives rise to potential environmental risks. AgNPs exposure have been reported to cause toxicity in animals. Nevertheless, the known mechanisms of AgNPs toxicity are still limited. In this study, we systematically investigated the toxicity of AgNPs exposure using Drosophila melanogaster. We show here that AgNPs significantly decreased Drosophila fecundity, the third-instar larvae weight and rates of pupation and eclosion in a dose-dependent manner. AgNPs reduced fat body cell viability in MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide) assays. AgNPs caused DNA damage in hemocytes and S2 cells. Interestingly, the mRNA levels of the entire metallothionein gene family were increased under AgNPs exposure as determined by RNA-seq analysis and validated by qRT-PCR, indicating that Drosophila responded to the metal toxicity of AgNPs by producing metallothioneins for detoxification. These findings provide a better understanding of the mechanisms of AgNPs toxicity and may provide clues to effect on other organisms, including humans.     

Distribution of copper,silver and gold during thermal treatment with brominated flame retardants

The growing consumption of electric and electronic equipment results in creating an increasing amount of electronic waste. The most economically and environmentally advantageous methods for the treatment and recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment (WEEE) are the thermal techniques such as direct combustion, co-combustion with plastic wastes, pyrolysis and gasification. Nowadays, this kind of waste is mainly thermally treated in incinerators (e.g. rotary kilns) to decompose the plastics present, and to concentrate metals in bottom ash. The concentrated metals (e.g. copper, precious metals) can be supplied as a secondary raw material to metal smelters, while the pyrolysis of plastics allows the recovery of fuel gases, volatilising agents and, eventually, energy. Indeed, WEEE, such as a printed circuit boards (PCBs) usually contains brominated flame retardants (BFRs). From these materials, hydrobromic acid (HBr) is formed as a product of their thermal decomposition.In the present work, the bromination was studied of copper, silver and gold by HBr, originating from BFRs, such as Tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and Tetrabromobisphenol A-Tetrabromobisophenol A diglycidyl ether (TTDE) polymer; possible volatilization of the bromides formed was monitored using a thermo-gravimetric analyzer (TGA) and a laboratory-scale furnace for treating samples of metals and BFRs under an inert atmosphere and at a wide range of temperatures. The results obtained indicate that up to about 50% of copper and silver can evolve from sample residues in the form of volatile CuBr and AgBr above 600 and 1000 °C, respectively. The reactions occur in the molten resin phase simultaneously with the decomposition of the brominated resin. Gold is resistant to HBr and remains unchanged in the residue.     

从银铅锌废渣中回收硝酸银的研究

介绍了用灼烧、浸取、沉淀、溶转和离子交换等方法,从银铅锌废渣中直接回收硝酸银,收率可达80.12%,AgNO3纯度为99.9%。考察了试料粒度、FeCl3质量浓度、溶液酸度、固液比,反应温度及浸取时间对银浸出率的影响。     

Silver recovery as Ag0 nanoparticles from ion-exchange regenerant solution using electrolysis

Many silver(Ag)containing consumer-products(e.g.textiles)release Ag into the environment,posing ecotoxicological risks.Ag recovery mitigates environmental hazards,recycles Ag,and leads to sustainability.In the present work,Ag has been recovered as Ag~0nanoparticles from the spent solution(thiourea(TU)～0.5 mol/L pH～1.1–1.2,and Ag～550 mg/L)obtained from the regeneration of an Ag-loaded resin using a simple undivided electrolytic cell.The reclaimed regenerant solution has been recycled and reused in a closed-loop scheme over multiple cycles.The process parameters,i.e.,current(0.05 A)and stirring speed(600 r/min),have been optimized for Ag recovery of～94%and TU loss of～2%.The reclaimed regenerant solution has been shown to regenerate Ag-loaded resin samples with90%regeneration efficiency over 4 cycles of consecutive extraction and regeneration.The recovered Ag~0nanoparticles are monodisperse,consistently spherical in shape,and have a mean diameter of～6 nm with standard deviation of the Gaussian fit as～2.66 nm.     

Interaction of silver nanoparticles with mediterranean agricultural soils: Lab-controlled adsorption and desorption studies

The production of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) has increased tremendously during recent years due to their antibacterial and physicochemical properties. As a consequence, these particles are released inevitably into the environment, with soil being the main sink of disposal. Soil interactions have an effect on AgNP mobility, transport and bioavailability. To understand AgNP adsorption processes, lab-controlled kinetic studies were performed. Batch tests performed with five different Mediterranean agricultural soils showed that cation exchange capacity and electrical conductivity are the main parameters controlling the adsorption processes. The adsorption kinetics of different sized (40, 75, 100 and 200?nm) and coated (citrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and polyethyleneglycol (PEG)) AgNPs indicated that these nanoparticle properties have also an effect on the adsorption processes. To assess the mobility and bioavailability of AgNPs and to determine if their form is maintained during adsorption/desorption processes, loaded soils were submitted to leaching tests three weeks after batch adsorption studies. The DIN 38414-S4 extraction method indicated that AgNPs were strongly retained on soils, and single-particle inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry confirmed that silver particles maintained their nanoform, except for 100?nm PEG-AgNPs and 40?nm citrate-coated AgNPs. The DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) leaching test was more effective in extracting silver, but there was no presence of AgNPs in almost all of these leachates.