Efficient removal for multiple pollutants via Ag2O/BiOBr heterojunction: A promoted photocatalytic process by valid electron transfer pathway

Multiple pollutants including pathogenic microorganism contaminations and emerging organic contaminations (EOCs) have shown a growing threat to the environment, especially the natural waters. However, the control and removal of pathogenic microorganism contaminations and EOCs have been greatly limited since limited knowledge of their environmental behaviors. Thus, a novel and efficient photocatalyst Ag₂O/BiOBr heterojunction was synthesized and used for removal of multiple pollutants including Escherichia coli (E. coli), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus), tetracycline and acetaminophen under visible light. The results showed that there were valid electron transfer pathways between BiOBr and Ag₂O, the main electron transfer direction was the BiOBr to Ag₂O. Photo-generated electrons were stored in Ag₂O and thus separation efficiency between holes and photo-generated electrons was obviously enhanced. Active oxygen species were highly produced and eventually end up with the high efficiency of removal of multiple pollutants. For Ag₂O/BiOBr with Ag₂O content at 3% (the best performance) under visible light, log decrease of E. coli was 7.16 (removal efficiency was 100%) in 120 min, log decrease of S. aureus was 7.23 (removal efficiency was 100%) in 160 min, C/C₀ of tetracycline was 0.06 in 180 min, C/C₀ of acetaminophen was 0.17 in 180 min. This work could provide a promising candidate in the actual contaminated natural waters for cleaning multiple pollutants.     

一种便携快速测量水中铅和镉含量的仪器-ANDalyze

快速测量污染水中重金属元素含量对于监测野外突发污染至关重要.建立了使用以生物酶（DNA酶）为原理的便捷仪器快速测定污染水中铅（Pb）和镉（Cd）元素含量的方法.使用生物酶传感器对标准溶液进行测量,根据溶液推荐和测量浓度之间的线性关系对仪器进行校准后,可测量的质量浓度范围:Pb为2~100 μg/L,Cd为0.1~1.0 mg/L.仪器可以在3~5 min内方便快速完成重金属的现场测量,使用DNA酶可以快速获得污染水中的微量金属元素含量,有利于野外重金属污染的即时测量.     

An overview of emerging pollutants in air: Method of analysis and potential public health concern from human environmental exposure

Air pollutants are perhaps the largest cause of diseases and death in the world today. Increasing urbanization and industrialization have caused an increase in number of diverse forms and types of new pollutants, which are difficult to detect and characterize due to their stench behaviour and complex sources of production. Such pollutants have been called emerging pollutants (EPs) and their list is ever increasing. Therefore, the understanding of the method of analysis and health implication of (EPs) in air is critical to providing a more robust understanding of exposure routes, regulations and mitigation. EPs in air discussed in this study are not in any way exhaustive but limited to emerging VOCs (including acrylonitrile, 1−3-butadiene, chloroform, dichloromethane, ethylene oxides, formaldehyde, toluene, trichloroethylene, 1,4-Dioxane) and metals (arsenic, manganese, and vanadium), ultrafine particles, micro- and nano- plastics, engineered nanoparticles, diesel/black carbon and bioaerosols. Occurrence, detection and health implications of these EPs in air are still unfolding due to limited monitoring studies, lack of standard methodology and regulations. To address this knowledge gap, authors conducted an in-depth review of available information. Their spatial distribution, analytical methods and health implications are discussed including the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as a potential EP in air. The study concluded with highlights of gaps in knowledge and suggestions to key areas for future research. This information is of general interest to environmental scientists and of specific interest to both health and sanitation workers and policymakers at private, government and international organizations.     

外源一氧化氮对镉胁迫下番茄幼苗叶绿体保护作用的光谱学分析

镉（Cd）是重要的重金属污染源，一氧化氮（NO）是近年来发现的一种普遍存在于生物界的信使分子，研究表明其参与了植物对Cd胁迫的应答反应调控。文章用硝普纳（SNP）作为NO供体，向番茄幼苗喷洒100mol·L^-1SNP1d后加入50mol·L^-1Cd处理7d，取完全展开叶片，提取叶绿体进行光谱学研究，分别测定了叶绿体室温吸收光谱、叶绿体低温荧光光谱和DCPIP电子传递效率等指标，研究外源NO缓解Cd对叶绿体毒性的影响。结果发现，CA对叶绿素a、叶绿素b和类胡萝b素含量都有不同程度的降低，NO处理缓解了CA的影响，使叶绿体室温吸收光谱的吸收率提高；CA导致686nm处峰（PSII）偏移4nrn，峰值降低33％，734nm处峰值降低23％，外源NO缓解了Cd对光合系统的影响，使得叶绿体低温荧光光谱在686和734nm的峰值分别仅下降17％和100o；以DCPIP为人工电子受体，Cd处理的叶绿体中DCPIP还原速率较慢，光合电子传递（H2O→DCPIP）速率降低1．5倍，外源NO处理显著缓解了Cd对电子传递链的抑制，使其光合电子传递速率恢复到对照的水平。该研究可为NO处理增强植物对Cd胁迫的抗性提供理论依据。     

Photoluminescence-Based Techniques for the Detection of Micro- and Nanoplastics

The growing numbers related to plastic pollution are impressive, with ca. 70 % of produced plastic (>350 tonnes/year) being indiscriminately wasted in the environment. The most dangerous forms of plastic pollution for biota and human health are micro- and nano-plastics (MNPs), which are ubiquitous and more bioavailable. Their elimination is extremely difficult, but the first challenge is their detection since existing protocols are unsatisfactory for microplastics and mostly absent for nanoplastics. After a discussion of the state of the art for MNPs detection, we specifically revise the techniques based on photoluminescence that represent very promising solutions for this problem. In this context, Nile Red staining is the most used strategy and we show here its pros and limitations, but we also discuss other more recent approaches, such as the use of fluorogenic probes based on perylene-bisimide and on fluorogenic hyaluronan nanogels, with the added values of biocompatibility and water solubility.     

A Stochastic Model for Transport of Particulate Matter in Air: An Asymptotic Analysis

A branching particle system with changes of size is considered as a model for transport of particulate matter in air. This type of model is motivated by problems arising in the context of air pollution. High-density fluctuation limits for the process recording the positions and sizes of the particles through time are presented. These results allow to compute approximate probabilities for the temporal and spatial concentrations of particles of given sizes (in particular the small-sized pollutant particles which pose a health hazard).     

Fractionally differenced models for water quality time series

This paper deals with the selection and evaluation of statistical techniques for use in the modeling and forecasting of water quality time series. The focus is on statistical concepts relevant to the analysis of flows and concentrations. A selection of time series procedures has been used for auditing water quality archival data, including the screening of data sets, correlation and spectrum calculations, and iterative model fitting. A summary is provided of experience with analyzing archival data on the Niagara River and the use of a fractionally differenced model.This paper is the result of a study performed for the International Joint Commission, United States and Canada. The authors gratefully acknowledge the direction and support provided by Dr. Joel L. Fisher.     

300 MW等级燃煤机组煤粉炉与循环流化床锅炉汞排放特性比较

选取某地330 MW煤粉炉(PC炉)和350 MW循环流化床锅炉(CFB)的燃煤电厂进行汞排放特性的研究。采用30B法和安大略法对两个燃煤电厂的除尘器入口、除尘器出口、脱硫塔出口和湿式电除尘器出口的烟气进行了取样和汞浓度分析,采集了入炉煤和副产物底渣、飞灰及脱硫石膏样品。通过样品中汞含量的分布,探讨了PC炉与CFB锅炉机组现有污染物控制设备对汞的协同脱除作用。结果表明,350 MW CFB电厂除尘器出口烟气平均汞浓度降低至0.43μg/m~3,布袋除尘器对汞的捕获效率达到98.9%,相应的燃烧副产物中飞灰是汞的主要富集对象。对于330 MW PC炉电厂,除尘器入口和除尘器出口烟气汞浓度均高于350 MW CFB电厂,烟气汞浓度从除尘器入口、除尘器出口到脱硫塔出口依次降低,在脱硫塔出口烟气汞浓度降低至0.42μg/m~3,静电除尘器和湿式脱硫塔对烟气汞的捕获效率分别为75.0%和22.4%,相应的产物中飞灰和脱硫石膏中汞都有一定程度的富集。     

汽油无铅化后中国儿童铅中毒现状、污染源及防治对策

汽油无铅化后,我国儿童铅中毒问题仍相当严重,群体铅中毒事件频频发生,铅中毒流行率相对较高且有回升趋势,膳食铅摄入量过高。在各类铅污染源中,燃煤铅排放已成为大气铅污染的重要贡献者,初步估算表明,2001—2005年燃煤大气铅排放总量达4.5万t,铅排放量与铅中毒率之间呈显著相关关系。预防铅中毒应切实加强环境污染的有效控制和敏感人群的定期监测,铅中毒监测亦应采取血铅测定和发铅测定双管齐下的方针。     

Development of a headspace-gas chromatography (HS-GC-PID-FID) method for the determination of VOCs in environmental aqueous matrices: Optimization, verification and elimination of matrix effect and VOC distribution on the Fortaleza Coast, Brazil

An analytical protocol combining a headspace technique with gas chromatography and detection by photoionization detector and flame ionization detector (HS-GC-PID-FID) was developed. This procedure was used to measure volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental aqueous matrices and was applied in determination of VOCs on the coast of Fortaleza, Brazil. At optimum operating conditions, analytical figures of merit such as linearity (R ranged from 0.9983 to 0.9993), repeatability (5.62 to 9.63% and 0.02 to 0.19% for the quantitative and qualitative analyses, respectively), detection limits (0.22 to 7.48 μg L⁻¹) and sensibility were estimated. This protocol favors a fast sampling/sample preparation (in situ), minimizes the use of laboratory material, eliminates the matrix effect from environmental samples, and can be applied to river, estuarine and oceanic waters. The advantage of detectors in series is that a low sensitivity in detection in one is compensated by the other. Toluene was the most abundant VOC in the studied area, with an average concentration of 1.63 μg L⁻¹. It was followed by o-xylene (1.15 μg L⁻¹), trichloroethene (1.08 μg L⁻¹), benzene (0.86 μg L⁻¹), ethylbenzene (0.74 μg L⁻¹), carbon tetrachloride (0.55 μg L⁻¹), m/p-xylene (0.48 μg L⁻¹) and tetrachloroethene (0.46 μg L⁻¹), compounds which are very commonly detected in urban runoff from most cities. The results of the VOC distribution showed that port activity was not the main source of VOCs along the Fortaleza Coast, but that the contribution from urban runoff seemed more significant.