New approaches to characterizing urban air particles in central London

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Zinc and lead sequestration in an impacted wetland system

The fate and bioavailability of pollutant metals is important to the long-term health of freshwater wetland systems, particularly in areas with elevated background levels of trace metals. Precipitation of some authigenic mineral phases in wetland sediments can potentially limit metal bioavailability through sequestration in low-solubility compounds, such as metal sulfides. Zinc and Pb concentrations were analyzed in water, plant and sediment samples taken from a metal-contaminated wetland in Chicago, IL, USA in order to assess metal fate and bioavailability, while X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) studies were conducted to determine zinc speciation in the wetland sediments. The results showed sequestration of metal into the pond sediments, most likely in iron precipitate phases. In surface sediments, re-release of Zn and Pb into pore waters was correlated with microbial iron reduction, while the presence of sulfide in anoxic pore waters corresponded to decreased dissolved concentrations of both elements. Analysis of extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) data confirmed that sulfide compounds dominated zinc speciation throughout the sediment. Uptake of trace metals in Phragmites plants was limited primarily to plant roots, while concentrations of both Pb and Zn in aquatic vegetation were significantly elevated, representing a potential bioaccumulation hazard.     

High resolution proton NMR spectroscopy of human amniotic fluid

Human amniotic fluid (HAF) is a dynamic system whose characteristics depend on continuous interchanges between fetal and maternal circulations. HAF reflects not only the environment of the fetus but may also provide information about fetal development or pathology. The concentration of HAF constituents varies with gestational age and pathological states. The number of the compounds currently implicated in fetal developmental pathology are relatively few. Currently used assay methods are not adequate to totally explain or predict the complex biochemistry of the fetus. The purpose of this work was to investigate HAF with NMR spectroscopy. In the present study HAF was obtained from 47 women undergoing routine amniocentesis. Cells were separated for karyological analysis and the supernatant was acid-extracted, lyophilized and re-suspended in D₂0 resulting in a concentration increase over native fluid. ¹H NMR spectra were obtained at 360 MHz and 60 MHz. Eighteen compounds including several amino acids, were identified using parallel reference and standard addition protocols. NMR spectroscopy detected compounds of known clinical importance including glucose, leucine, isoleucine, lactate and creatinine. In conclusion, we have demonstrated that a number of physiologically relevant compounds are readily observable in HAF using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. This technique can currently provide valuable information regarding HAF composition and has the potential of being used in vivo in the future.     

~(57)Fe Mssbauer spectroscopic study on the barks of several three species grown in Lanzhou, China

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The enhancement of photodegradation efficiency using Pt–TiO2 catalyst

This study investigates the mechanism of photosensitization and the recombination of excited electron–hole pairs affected by depositing platinum (Pt) on the surface of titanium dioxide (TiO₂). A new catalyst of Pt–TiO₂ was prepared by a photoreduction process. Being model reactions, the photocatalytic oxidation of methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO) in aqueous solutions using the Pt–TiO₂ catalyst was carried out under either UV or visible light irradiation. The experimental results indicate that an optimal content of 0.75%Pt–TiO₂ achieves the best photocatalytic performance of MB and MO degradation and that the Pt–TiO₂ catalyst can be sensitized by visible light. The interaction of Pt and TiO₂ was investigated by means of UV–Vis absorption spectra, photoluminescence emission spectra, and X-ray photoelectron emission spectroscopy. The Pt⁰, Pt²⁺ and Pt⁴⁺ species existing on the surface of Pt–TiO₂, and the Ti³⁺ species existing in its lattice may form a defect energy level. The Pt impurities, including Pt, Pt(OH)₂, and PtO₂, and the defect energy level absorb visible light more efficiently in comparison with the pure TiO₂ and hinder the recombination rate of excited electron–hole pairs.     

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1和Shewanella putrefaciens对V(V)的还原及其影响因素

在实验室模拟培养条件下,研究Shewanella oneidensis MR-1和Shewanella putrefaciens在厌氧体系中对V（V）的耐性试验,探讨在不同的V（V）浓度、接菌量、pH值和不同蒽醌-2,6-二磺酸（AQDS）浓度下对V（V）还原的影响,并通过扫描电镜（SEM）和X射线光电子能谱（XPS）进行表征.结果表明V（V）浓度低于10mg/L时对S.oneidensis MR-1和S.putrefaciens的生长影响较小,V（V）浓度超过20mg/L则会抑制其生长和V（V）的还原;随着接菌量的增加,2种微生物对V（V）的还原能力逐渐增强;2种微生物最适生长pH值均为7.0左右,弱碱性环境下2种微生物对V（V）的还原率高于弱酸性环境;添加1mmol/L AQDS会加快2种微生物对V（V）的还原.菌株培养3d后通过SEM分析,S.oneidensis MR-1和S.putrefaciens进行V（V）还原的同时也伴有少量的吸附作用.利用XPS能谱分析表明S.oneidensis MR-1和S.putrefaciens将V（V）还原为V（IV）.     

Observations of N2O5 and NO3 at a suburban environment in Yangtze river delta in China: Estimating heterogeneous N2O5 uptake coefficients

The nitrate radical (NO₃) and dinitrogen pentoxide (N₂O₅) play an important role in the nocturnal atmosphere chemistry. Observations of NO₃ radicals and N₂O₅ were performed in a semirural ground site at Tai'Zhou in polluted southern China using cavity ring down spectroscopy (CRDS) from 23 May to 15 June 2018. The observed NO₃ and N₂O₅ concentrations were relatively low, with 1 min average value of 4.4 ± 2.2 and 26.0 ± 35.7 pptV, respectively. The N₂O₅ uptake coefficient was determined to be from 0.027 to 0.107 based on steady state lifetime method. Fast N₂O₅ hydrolysis was the largest contributor to the loss of NO₃ and contributed to substantial nitrate formation, with an average value of 14.83 ± 6.01 µg/m³. Further analysis shows that the N₂O₅ heterogeneous reactions dominated the nocturnal NO_x loss and the nocturnal NO_x loss rate is 0.14 ± 0.02 over this region.     

Shewanella oneidensis MR-1对Cr(VI)的还原及其影响因素

在实验室纯培养条件下,探讨厌氧体系中Shewanella oneidensis MR-1对Cr（VI）的还原能力,采用扫描电镜（SEM）-能谱（EDS）、X射线光电子能谱（XPS）等方法进行表征.结果表明,S.oneidensis MR-1介导下不同浓度Cr（VI）的生物转化与微生物对铬的耐受特性密切相关,低浓度Cr（VI）对其生长影响不大,高浓度时细菌生长则受到抑制,进而抑制Cr（VI）的还原率;菌株对Cr（VI）的还原作用随着接种菌悬液量的增加而增强;菌株最适生长pH值为中性,弱碱性环境比酸性环境更有利于菌株对Cr（VI）的还原;增加Fe（Ⅲ）的量会加快Cr（VI）完全还原的速率.通过SEM-EDS和XPS分析,在对Cr（VI）进行处理5d后,菌体表面有Cr（VI）和Cr（Ⅲ）两种形态存在,证实S.oneidensis MR-1在对Cr（VI）进行还原的同时也伴有少量的吸附作用.微生物还原为环境中Cr（VI）的去除以及解毒提供了一种有效的方法.     

The degradation of gel-spun poly(β-hydroxybutyrate) “wool”

The apparent biodegradability and biocompatibility of the microbially produced polyester, poly(-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB), has been the focus of much research by a number of authors with regard to its potential for use in packaging and medical implantation devices. PHB has recently been produced by gel-spinning into a novel form, with one possible application being as a wound scaffolding device, designed to support and protect a wound against further damage while promoting healing by encouraging cellular growth on and within the device from the wound surface. This new nonwoven form combines a large volume with a low mass, has an appearance similar to that of cotton wool, and has been called wool because of this similarity. The hydrolytic degradation of this wool was investigated in an accelerated model of pH 10.6 and temperature 70°C. It was determined that the PHB wool gradually collapsed during degradation. The surface area-to-volume ratio was concluded to be a primary influencing factor. Degradation was characterized by a reduction in the glass transition temperatures and melting points and a fusion enthalpy peak of maximum crystallinity, (88%), which coincided with the point of matrix collapse.