Plasmonic silver/silver oxide nanoparticles anchored bismuth vanadate as a novel visible-light ternary photocatalyst for degrading pharmaceutical micropollutants

The degradation of pharmaceutical micropollutants is an intensifying environmental problem and synthesis of efficient photocatalysts for this purpose is one of the foremost challenges worldwide. Therefore, this study was conducted to develop novel plasmonic Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposite photocatalysts by simple precipitation and thermal decomposition methods, which could exhibit higher photocatalytic activity for mineralized pharmaceutical micropollutants. Among the different treatments, the best performance was observed for the Ag/Ag₂O/BiVO₄ nanocomposites (5 wt.%; 10 min's visible light irradiation) which exhibited 6.57 times higher photodegradation rate than the pure BiVO₄. Further, the effects of different influencing factors on the photodegradation system of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) were investigated and the feasibility for its practical application was explored through the specific light sources, water source and cycle experiments. The mechanistic study demonstrated that the photogenerated holes (h⁺), superoxide radicals (?O₂^?) and hydroxyl radicals (?OH) participated in TC-HCl removal process, which is different from the pure BiVO₄ reaction system. Hence, the present work can provide a new approach for the formation of novel plasmonic photocatalysts with high photoactivity and can act as effective practical application for environmental remediation.     

Optimal range of plug-in electric vehicles in Beijing and Shanghai

Both China’s national subsidy policies for plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) purchasers and passenger cars corporate average fuel consumption and new vehicle credit regulation (dual-credit policy) favor long-range 300+ km battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and 80+ km plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs). However, these electric vehicles tend to have lower energy efficiency and higher purchase and operation costs. Vehicle with larger batteries can also be less equitable because the subsidies are often provided to more expensive vehicles and wealthier owners. This study takes advantage of a novel dataset of daily driving data from 39,854 conventional gasoline vehicles in Beijing and 4999 PHEVs in Shanghai to determine the optimal range of BEVs and PHEVs within their respective cities. We simulate a model to explore ranges with which PEVs emit less GHGs than that of a baseline hybrid and conventional gasoline vehicle while ensuring that all daily travel demands are met. Our findings indicate that in both cities, the optimal ranges to balance cost and travel demand for BEVs are 350 km or less and for PHEVs are 60 km or less in Beijing and 80 km or less in Shanghai. We also find that to minimize carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, the ranges are even lower 10 km in Beijing and 30 km in Shanghai. Our study suggests that instead of encouraging long-range PEVs, governments should subsidize PEV models with shorter ranges. Parallel efforts should also be made to both increase renewable energy over fossil fuels and expand charging facilities. Although individual mobility demand varies, the government could reduce occasional long-distance driving by subsidizing alternative transportation choices. Providing week-long driving trials to consumers before their purchases may help decrease the demand of very long range PEVs by alleviating the range anxiety through a learning process.

     

浅议贵州水电开发与生态环境保护

贵州的水能资源储量丰富,水能蕴藏量1874千瓦,列全国第六位,开发潜力巨大。开发水电不仅能充分地利用贵州丰富的水资源,同时水电还具有防洪、灌溉、供水、旅游等综合效益,对促进贵州省经济社会的可持续发展具有重要作用;但另一方面水电开发可能会给生态环境造成负面的影响,水土流失、下游水质恶化、水电开发区生态平衡的失调等。因此,水电开发者只有坚持水电开发建设与生态环境保护相协调发展的战略思想,水电开发才能在贵州走得更久。     

约翰内斯堡工艺的工程实践

通过监测城市污水处理厂约翰内斯堡工艺脱氮除磷各处理单元实际运行情况,分析该工艺实际运行效果,探讨该工艺中溶解氧(DO)、污泥龄(SRT)、碳源等因素对系统脱氮除磷效果的影响。     

Quantifying the adsorption and uptake of CuO nanoparticles by wheat root based on chemical extractions

This study screened out eluants for efficiently desorbing metal nanoparticles from plant root surface, and distinguished the proportions of CuO-nanoparticles uptake and adsorption.     

Humic acid and metal ions accelerating the dechlorination of 4-chlorobiphenyl by nanoscale zero-valent iron

Transformation of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) by zero-valent iron represents one of the latest innovative technologies for environmental remediation. The dechlorination of 4-chlorobiphenyl (4-ClBP) by nanoscale zero-valent iron (NZVI) in the presence of humic acid or metal ions was investigated. The results showed that the dechlorination of 4-ClBP by NZVI increased with decreased solution pH. When the initial pH value was 4.0, 5.5, 6.8, and 9.0, the dechlorination efficiencies of 4-ClBP after 48 hr were 53.8%, 47.8%, 35.7%, and 35.6%, respectively. The presence of humic acid inhibited the reduction of 4-ClBP in the first 4 hr, and then significantly accelerated the dechlorination by reaching 86.3% in 48 hr. Divalent metal ions, Co2+, Cu2+, and Ni2+, were reduced and formed bimetals with NZVI, thereby enhanced the dechlorination of 4-ClBP. The dechlorination percentages of 4-ClBP in the presence of 0.1 mmol/L Co2+, Cu2+ and Ni2+ were 66.1%, 66.0% and 64.6% in 48 hr, and then increased to 67.9%, 71.3% and 73.5%, after 96 hr respectively. The dechlorination kinetics of 4-ClBP by the NZVI in all cases followed pseudo-first order model. The results provide a basis for better understanding of the dechlorination mechanisms of PCBs in real environment.     

Effects of simulated acid rain on root growth of Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba saplings planted in acidified soil

Results from pot culture (with one-year old Cunninghamia lanceolata and Schima superba) are described. It was found that the biomass production and elongation of C. lanceolata was seriously inhibited at pH 2.0 rain, but for S. superba, was not affected markedly. When pH values of experimental rain were higher than 2.0, the root growth of both species was not adversely affected. Aluminium had already accumulated to some degrees in the roots of both trees, and started to affect the root growth of C. lanceolata at pH 2.0 rain. The soil chemistry was also examined. Increased acidity of experimental rain increased the leaching of Ca and Mg. The Al/Ca mol ratio increased from 0.3 to 0.9 in top soil, and in rhizosphere to 1.5 when the pH values of simulated acid rain were 4.5 to 2.0. In this experiment, NO3- fertilization effect was discovered.     

Experimental study on radon exhalation behavior of heap leaching uranium ore column with dilute sulfuric acid

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - In order to study the radon release behavior when heap leaching uranium ores with dilute sulfuric acid, unleached uranium ores from a uranium mine in...     

Environmental sustainability analysis of dairy bedding regeneration system based on emergy evaluation and life cycle assessment methods

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - Dairy farm bedding can be produced by composting technology using dairy manure, which offers advantages in terms of cost, availability, and economic...     

负载β-环糊精的矿物和生物炭对甲基橙的吸附性能

采用HCl溶液对沸石（F0）、蛭石（ZH0）、秸秆（J0）和棕榈生物炭（Z0）进行活化预处理,以环氧氯丙烷为交联剂,将β-环糊精（β-CD）负载到原始材料上,制备了4种新型吸附材料F2、ZH2、J2和Z2。采用FTIR、元素分析、SEM和TG等技术对吸附材料进行了表征,探讨了其对甲基橙的吸附性能。表征结果显示,β-CD被成功地负载到沸石、蛭石、秸秆生物炭和棕榈生物炭上。吸附实验结果表明：负载β-CD后的4种材料对甲基橙的平衡吸附量大小顺序为J2> F2> ZH2> Z2;溶液pH和吸附温度的提高可有效提升4种材料对甲基橙的吸附能力。吸附动力学和热力学研究表明,4种材料对甲基橙的吸附过程中物理吸附起着主导作用,且更趋向于单分子层吸附。4种材料均具有良好的重复使用性能。