Carbon nanotubes as sorbents in the analysis of pesticides

With increasing public concerns for agrochemicals and their potential movement in the ecosystem, very sensitive, selective and precise methods for the analysis of pesticides are needed. Because these substances are present usually at trace levels, the extraction and preconcentration steps are so far essential for their detection. Discoveries of novel nanomaterials with unique properties have significant impact on their use also in extraction techniques. This overview reports the recent application of carbon nanotubes in the analysis of pesticides. The largest numbers of reported applications of carbon nanotubes concern their role as a sorbent materials in solid-phase extraction and microextraction techniques.     

Spatial and seasonal variations in atrazine and metolachlor surface water concentrations in Ontario (Canada) using ELISA

Concerns regarding the impacts of pesticides on aquatic species and drinking water sources have increased demands on water quality monitoring programs; however the costs of sample analysis can be prohibitive. In this study we investigated enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as a cost-effective, high through-put method for measuring pesticide concentrations in surface waters. Seven hundred and thirty-nine samples from 158 locations throughout Ontario were analysed for atrazine and metolachlor from April to October 2007. Concentrations ranged from <0.1 to 3.91 μg L⁻¹ (median = 0.12 μg L⁻¹) for atrazine and from <0.1 to 1.83 μg L⁻¹ (median = 0.09 μg L⁻¹) for metolachlor. Peak concentrations occurred in late spring/early summer, in rural agricultural locations, and decreased over the remainder of the growing season for both herbicides. About 3% of the samples that had ELISA results occurring above the limit of quantification (0.10 μg L⁻¹) were evaluated against gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Linear regression analysis revealed a R² value of 0.88 and 0.39, for atrazine and metolachlor, respectively. ELISA tended to overestimate concentrations for atrazine and metolachlor, most likely because the ELISA kits also detect their metabolites. Atrazine data suggest that ELISA may be used complementary with GC-MS analysis to enhance the spatial and temporal resolution of a water quality monitoring study. The commercially available metolachlor ELISA kit requires further investigation. ELISA may be used to detect atrazine and metolachlor in surface water samples, but it is not recommended as a quantitative replacement for traditional analytical methods.     

Marine and farmed fish on the Polish market: comparison of the nutritive value and human exposure to PCDD/Fs and other contaminants

Chemical analyses were performed in nine fish species that are popular on the Polish market. These included Baltic fish (cod, herring, salmon), fish farmed in Poland (carp, trout), marine fish imported from China (Alaska pollock, sole), and farmed fish imported from Vietnam and China (sutchi catfish, tilapia). The nutritional composition (amino acid, micro- and macronutrients, fat-soluble vitamins - A₁, D₃, E) and certain contaminants (organochlorine pesticides, OCPs; indicator polychlorinated biphenyl, PCB₆; polychlorinated dibenzo-paradioxins and polychlorinated dibenzofurans, PCDD/Fs; dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls, dl-PCBs; organotin compounds, OCTs; dyes, malachite green and crystal violet; veterinary drug residues, nitrofurans and chloramphenicol; toxic metals, Cd, Pb, Hg) in the muscle tissues of fish were determined. It was confirmed that the fish species analyzed were excellent sources of amino acids, and were rich in phosphorous and selenium. Baltic Sea fish (salmon, herring), fish farmed in Poland (carp and trout), and tilapia were also rich in vitamin D₃.Traces of OCP, PCB₆, OCT, dyes, veterinary drug residues, and heavy metals were detected in concentrations which do not pose a threat to consumers at the current rate of fish consumption in Poland. However, the problem might arise from the content of PCDD/Fs and dl-PCBs in fatty Baltic fish. The fish species analyzed, differed in their nutritional values and degrees of contamination. We suggest that for optimum health and safety, it is advisable that consumers include a variety of different fish species in their diets.     

Aggregation and ecotoxicity of CeO₂ nanoparticles in synthetic and natural waters with variable pH, organic matter concentration and ionic strength

The influence of pH (6.0-9.0), natural organic matter (NOM) (0-10 mg C/L) and ionic strength (IS) (1.7-40 mM) on 14 nm CeO₂ NP aggregation and ecotoxicity towards the alga Pseudokirchneriella subcapitata was assessed following a central composite design. Mean NP aggregate sizes ranged between 200 and 10000 nm. Increasing pH and IS enhanced aggregation, while increasing NOM decreased mean aggregate sizes. The 48 h-E_rC20s ranged between 4.7 and 395.8 mg CeO₂/L. An equation for predicting the 48 h-E_rC20 (48 h-E_rC20 = −1626.4 × (pH) + 109.45 × (pH)² + 116.49 × ([NOM]) − 14.317 × (pH) × ([NOM]) + 6007.2) was developed. In a validation study with natural waters the predicted 48 h-E_rC20 was a factor 1.08-2.57 lower compared to the experimental values.     

Sequestration of organochlorine pesticides in soils of distinct organic carbon content

In the present study, five soil samples with organic carbon contents ranging from 0.23% to 7.1% and aged with technical dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT) and hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) for 15 months were incubated in a sealed chamber to investigate the dynamic changes of the OCP residues. The residues in the soils decreased over the incubation period and finally reached a plateau. Regression analysis showed that degradable fractions of OCPs were negatively correlated with soil organic carbon (SOC) except for α-HCH, while no correlation was found between degradation rate and SOC, which demonstrated that SOC content determines the OCP sequestration fraction in soil. Analysis of the ratio of DDT and its primary metabolites showed that, since it depends on differential sequestration among them, magnitude of (p,p′-DDE + p,p′-DDD)/p,p′-DDT is not a reliable criterion for the identification of new DDT sources.     

煤气废水中有机化合物的生物去除特征

好氧/缺氧/好氧生物处理系统是一种新型煤气废水二级处理工艺,该工艺通过改变微生物的生化环境,充分发挥各单元对有机化合物的降解功能,强化了有机化合物总体去除效果.主要采用气相色谱/质谱联用(GC/MS)测试方法,分析对比煤气废水进水及其系统各单元出水中有机化合物的成分,结合生物降解的特点,评价各单元对有机化合物的去除效果...     

一种新型铋基光催化剂的合成及其可见光催化性能

采用水热法合成铋基光催化剂Bi4VO8Br,通过X-射线粉末衍射、扫描电镜等手段对其进行表征.选择甲基橙为目标降解物来评价不同条件下合成的Bi4VO8Br在可见光下的光催化活性,发现pH 3、反应时间15 h、反应温度160℃为材料水热合成的最佳条件.考察了Bi4VO8Br在可见光及紫外光下对几种农药和增塑剂的光催化降解性能,显示了Bi4VO8Br对不易光解的含苯环有机物的可见光高活性.五氯酚的光催化过程影响因素优化结果表明,可见光和紫外光分别照射120 min和20 min,其降解率分别达到97％和99％,Bi4VO8Br表面上活性基团的捕获即空穴的氧化作用是主要反应原理.     

蚯蚓粪复配硼钼调理剂对土壤改良和茄子生长的影响作用

土壤质量决定着农产品的质量和农业生产的可持续发展,然而土壤退化成为农业生产的重要限制因素之一,施用土壤调理剂有利于减缓土壤退化的速度.该研究配制土壤调理剂,即蚯蚓粪?草菇渣?蛭石=6?3?1、钼酸钠50 g·kg?1、硼酸13.3 g·kg?1,并设5个不同的处理CK、QY-T1、QY-T2、QY-T3、QY-T4,研...     

压气机叶片用耐冲刷防腐有机涂层的制备及性能研究

目的 提高压气机叶片有机涂层的耐冲刷和防腐性能.方法 以氨基改性环氧树脂为粘接剂,通过加入高硬度Al2O3填料以及其他着色、防锈颜料,并充分分散,制备一种具有耐冲刷防腐功能的有机涂层.通过摆杆硬度测试、磨耗测试、冲刷测试、腐蚀测试及其他力学性能测试,对耐冲刷防腐有机涂层的综合性能进行评价,对比高硬度Al2O3填料含量对...     

有机酸性腐蚀品生产危险性分析

目前我国化工生产中涉及大量有机酸性腐蚀品,通过对某市化工行业调查及分析,发现有机酸性腐蚀品生产普遍,而且生产原料易燃易爆,生产过程存在火灾爆炸危险,结合具体生产工艺,采用预先危险性分析法和作业条件的危险性评价法分析生产过程危险性,从而揭示并概括有机酸性腐蚀品生产危险性.为更好地促进我国安全生产,在此基础上探讨了一些针对性的安全措施.