Surface-enhanced Raman scattering of the adsorption of pesticide endosulfan on gold nanoparticles

The absorption of pesticide endosulfan on the surface of gold nanoparticles results from the formation of micrometric structures (1–10 μm) with irregular shape because of the aggregation of individual particles. Such aggregation of gold nanoparticles after absorption of pesticide shows a surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) spectrum, whose intensity depends on the concentration of endosulfan. In addition, the discoloration of the colloidal solution and a diminishing of the intensity of the surface plasmon resonance absorption from individual particles were observed by UV-visible spectroscopy. At the same time, a second band between 638 and 700 nm confirms the formation of aggregates of gold nanoparticles as the concentration of endosulfan increases. Finally, we used the SERS intensity of the S?O stretching vibration at 1239 cm^?1 from the SO₃ group as a measure of concentration of pesticide endosulfan. This method could be used to estimate the level of pollution in water by endosulfan in a simple and practical form.     

Synthesis and adsorption studies of NiO nanoparticles in the presence of H2acacen ligand,for removing Rhodamine B in wastewater treatment

Cost efficient NiO nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal production of nano-scale Ni(OH)₂, using Ni(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and NaOH as precursors, in the presence of H₂acacen ligand, followed by calcinations of the produced Ni(OH)₂. Prepared samples were then characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectra, Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). BET analysis revealed high surface area for pure nano sized NiO, averaging 176.56 m²/g and confirming its application as an efficient adsorbent. Experimental studies for Rhodamine B (RB) removal from aqueous solutions in batch systems revealed that the adsorption equilibrium was best represented by Langmuir isotherm, with the maximum monolayer capacity of 111 mg/g for RB. The kinetic data was well described by a pseudo-second-order kinetic model, having intraparticle diffusion model as a rate limiting step.     

The yen for gold

In this article, we examine whether gold could be an exchange rate hedge in Japan, using data from 1986 to 2007. In the literature on this area, most research focuses on the linear relationship—rather than the non-linear one—between gold returns and the exchange rate fluctuation of the Japanese yen. In the present paper, we use the depreciation rate of the yen as a threshold variable to distinguish between a high depreciation regime and a low depreciation (or appreciation) regime. With this specification, we build a threshold vector autoregressive model to investigate the causality between the gold return and the yen depreciation rate. We find that when the yen depreciation rate is greater than 2.62%, investing in gold could avoid the depreciation loss. Therefore, we conclude that the effectiveness of gold as an exchange rate hedge depends on the depreciation rate of the yen. This finding could benefit both the Japanese monetary authority and investors who hold Japanese yen in their portfolios.     

利用Fe3O4纳米颗粒磁分离去除水中小粒径微塑料

建立了微塑料（Microplastics,MPs）荧光定量分析方法,系统研究了Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒对水中聚苯乙烯MPs的磁性去除效果.结果表明,MPs浓度在本实验范围内（0.2~10.0mg/L）与荧光强度线性关系良好,相关系数均>0.9990,能准确测定不同粒径（100~1000nm）MPs的浓度.MPs初始浓度与Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒投加量对MPs去除效果具有影响.增加Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒的投加量能够有效提升水中MPs的去除率,当Fe₃O₄投加量为12mg/L时,去除率可达90.8%.在低Fe₃O₄投加量时,MPs去除率随着MPs初始浓度增加而显著增加,显著性水平为0.015;但在中、高Fe₃O₄投加量时,初始浓度对去除效果影响很小,显著性水平分别为0.073和0.060.Fe₃O₄纳米颗粒对MPs的附着过程能够在180min内趋于平衡,整个动力学可通过拟一级或拟二级模型进行拟合.     

磁性纳米材料吸附处理工业废水的研究进展

介绍了磁铁矿、磁赤铁矿、MFe₂O₄型铁氧体等几种常见的磁性纳米颗粒及其制备和功能化方法,综述了磁性纳米吸附剂在重金属废水、染料废水、含油废水、含酚废水吸附处理中的新研究进展.根据研究过程中所存在的问题总结并展望了磁性纳米吸附材料的未来发展趋势,在今后的研究可从吸附剂的制备优化、吸附机理、实用性和再生回用等方面展开探究,以期发挥其在实际工业废水处理中的应用潜力.     

“I Drink It Anyway and I Know I Shouldn't”: Understanding Green Consumers' Positive Evaluations of Norm-violating Non-green Products and Misleading Green Advertising

Individual and collective efforts to mitigate climate change in the form of carbon offsetting and emissions trading schemes have recently become the focus of much media attention. In this paper we explore a subset of the UK national press coverage centered on such schemes. The articles, selected from general as well as specialized business and finance newspapers, make use of gold rush, Wild West, and cowboy imagery which is rooted in deeply entrenched myths and metaphors and allows readers to make sense of very complex environmental, political, ethical, and financial issues associated with carbon mitigation. They make what appears complicated and unfamiliar, namely carbon trading and offsetting, seem less complex and more familiar. A critical discussion of this type of imagery is necessary in order to uncover and question tacit assumptions and connotations which are built into it and which might otherwise go unnoticed and unchallenged in environmental communication.     

Phase separation and regrowth of aerosol matter collected after size fractionation in an impactor

Aerosol matter in the size range <2 μm was collected in a Berner impactor and subsequently analysed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectrometry. Owing to the low electron beam energy of 5 keV (occasionally 10 keV), analysis was restricted to elements with atomic numbers 20 (Ca). Sub-micrometer aerosol matter was found to contain mostly S, O, and C as well as some K and Ca. Nitrogen appeared to escape detection, probably due to bombardment-induced sublimation of NO₃ and NH₄. During sampling at low to moderate relative humidity (<60%) the sulphur-rich fraction of the aerosol matter (most likely sulphates) regrew in the form of microcrystals with sizes up to 10 times larger than the mean aerodynamic diameter of the respective impactor stage. By contrast, when sampling during periods in course of which the relative humidity exceeded 70%, the aerosol matter regrew in the form of extended amorphous agglomerates. The aerosol deposits also contained large numbers of carbon nanoparticles, well separated from the regrown sulphate-rich matter. The nanoparticles were similar in size (20–40 nm), much smaller than the equivalent aerodynamic diameter of the impacting particles (63 nm–2 μm). Presumably, the carbon nanoparticles constituted the core of larger air-borne particles covered with sulphates (as well as with nitrates and organic carbon). The regrown microcrystals disappeared rapidly under electron bombardment at high current density, an observation that indicates high volatility at elevated temperatures. Aerosol matter collected in the size range between 1 and 2 μm contained large fractions of particles made of O, Si, P, K, and Ca (oxides). These particles were highly resistant to electron bombardment (hard) and showed little or no evidence for agglomeration or regrowth. After removing the soluble (acidic) material from the collected aerosol matter, only carbon nanoparticles and hard coarse particles were left behind. The observation of agglomerated or crystallized “soft” aerosol matter in combination with phase separation of carbon nanoparticles lends further support to the assertion that it is not possible to collect useful quantities of fine and ultrafine aerosol particles with as-suspended morphology. Some implications for health-related research are discussed.     

障碍物条件下纳米SiO2粉体抑制瓦斯爆炸特性

为了研究障碍物条件下纳米SiO_2粉体对瓦斯爆炸的抑制特性,采用自行搭建的150 mm×150 mm×500 mm可视化瓦斯爆炸试验系统,分别对不同质量浓度和粒径的纳米SiO_2粉体抑爆特性进行了试验研究。结果表明:在障碍物条件下,纳米SiO_2粉体对瓦斯爆炸具有良好的抑制效果,0.10 g/L的30 nm SiO_2粉体可使9.5%瓦斯气体的最大火焰传播速度降低35%,爆炸超压降低34%;然而,纳米SiO_2粉体并非质量浓度越大抑爆效果越好,而是存在最佳抑爆质量浓度,即随纳米SiO_2粉体质量浓度上升,其抑爆性能先增大后减小,最佳抑爆质量浓度约为0.10 g/L;此外,纳米SiO_2粉体的抑爆性能与其粒径相关,且存在最佳抑爆粒径,相同质量浓度下30 nm SiO_2粉体比15nm和50 nm SiO_2粉体的抑爆效果好。     

Gold demand and supply

Western mine production of gold has been declining in the past five years — at the same time as the price of gold has risen dramatically. Predictions of a continued high demand for gold and the current US interest in adopting some form of ‘gold standard’ have focused attention on the supply of new gold. This paper discusses the structure of gold supply and demand, the present pattern of production of new gold and the possible effect of future price changes on Western gold mine production in the 1980s.     

Effect of Nanoscale SiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> as the Fillers on the Mechanical Properties and Aging Behavior of Linear Low-Density Polyethylene/Low-Density Polyethylene Blends

Linear low-density polyethylene (LLDPE) was blended with low-density polyethylene (LDPE) at a fixed ratio (80 wt LLDPE and 20 wt %LDPE) and filled with nanoparticles of SiO₂ and TiO₂ at a ratio up to wt 5%, so as to develop the polymeric composites suitable to preparing the agricultural micro-irrigation pipes having good environmental adaptability. These compounds were blended using calcium stearate, polyethylene wax, and titanate coupling agent as the auxiliary dispersants, and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) as the toughness improver. The LLDPE/LDPE composites filled with the nanoparticles were extruded and injected to prepare the composites specimens for the performance evaluations and micro-irrigation pipe field test. The mechanical properties, thermostability, and processibility of the injected composites were investigated. The effect of heating in an oven and irradiating by ultraviolet on the mechanical properties of the composites was explored. The environmental adaptability of the micro-irrigation pipes made of the filled LLDPE/LDPE composites was evaluated making use of long-term outdoor field test in northwest China where the arid and harsh natural conditions are of great concerns. It was found that the LLDPE/LDPE blend with the LLDPE mass fraction fixed as 80% showed balanced mechanical and thermal properties and flexibility, and was suitable to be used as the basic resin matrix. The incorporation of nano-TiO₂ contributed to effectively improving the resistance to heating and ultraviolet irradiation of the composites. The composite made from 91% basic resin matrix, 6% EVA, and 3% mixed nano-SiO₂ and TiO₂, showed balanced comprehensive properties. The micro-irrigation pipes made of this filled LLDPE/LDPE composite had good environmental adaptability and service behavior in a three-year field test and were suitable to be used in arid area.