Fabrication of sulfur-based functionalized activated carbon as solid phase extraction adsorbent for selective analysis of selenite in water.

Based on the important feature of sulfur with excellent selectivity toward selenite in the presence of selenate, a simple and low-cost adsorbent of solid phase extraction known as sulfur loading activated carbon (SAC-6) was successfully prepared and applied for selenite (Se(IV)) analysis in water. Microstructure and morphological characteristics of SAC-6 had been identified by XRD, TEM, BET and FT-IR. In the static adsorption experiments, Se(IV) could be separated in a wide range of pH values (pH=3-11).

Insight study of rare earth elements in PM during five years in a Chinese inland city: Composition variations, sources, and exposure assessment.

The booming development of rare earth industry and the extensive utilization of its products accompanied by urban development have led to the accelerated accumulation of rare earth elements (REEs) as emerging pollutants in atmospheric environment. In this study, the variation of REEs in PM with urban (a non-mining city) transformation was investigated through five consecutive years of sample collection. The compositional variability and provenance contribution of REEs in PM were characterized, and the REEs exposure risks of children and adults via inhalation, ingestion and dermal absorption were also evaluated.

Efficient immobilization and detoxification of gaseous elemental mercury by nanoflower/rod WSe/halloysite composite: Performance and mechanisms.

Gaseous mercury pollution control technologies with low stability and high releasing risks always face with great challenges. Herein, we developed one halloysite nanotubes (HNTs)-supported tungsten diselenide (WSe) composite (WSe/HNTs) by one-pot solvothermal approach, curing Hg from complicated flue gas (CFG) and reducing second environment risks. WSe as a monolayer with nano-flower structure and HNTs with rod shapes in the as-prepared sorbent exhibited outstanding synergy efficiency, resulting in exceptional performance for Hg removal with high capture capacity of 30.

Decryption analysis of antimony pollution sources in PM through a multi-source isotope mixing model based on lead isotopes.

Antimony (Sb) in PM has attracted close attention as a new air pollutant due to its extensive use in daily life. The identification of antimony sources in PM by scientific methods is important to control its pollution. In this study, the Sb and other elements concentrations and Pb isotopic compositions in PM and possible pollution sources (soil, road dust, traffic emission, coal-fired fly ash, local factory emission dust and cement dust) were analyzed.

Facile fabrication of Fe/Zr binary MOFs for arsenic removal in water: High capacity, fast kinetics and good reusability.

A water-stable bimetallic Fe/Zr metal-organic framework [UiO-66(Fe/Zr)] for exceptional decontamination of arsenic in water was fabricated through a facile one-step strategy. The batch adsorption experiments revealed the excellent performances with ultrafast adsorption kinetics due to the synergistic effects of two functional centers and large surface area (498.33 m/g).

Identification of mercury species in coal combustion by-products from power plants using thermal desorption-atomic fluorescence spectrometry on-line coupling system.

Along with the environmental protection policies becoming strict in China, the air pollution control devices (especially selective catalytic reduction (SCR)) are widely equipped in coal-fired power plants. The installation and run of these devices will inevitably affect mercury (Hg) species distribution in coal fired by-products such like fly ash (FA) and gypsum. In this work, a new on-line coupling system based on atomic fluorescence spectrometry (AFS) with a home-made chromatographic workstation was successfully developed to identify Hg species through thermal programmed desorption (TPD).

Exceptional removal and immobilization of selenium species by bimetal-organic frameworks.

Binary metallic organic frameworks can always play excellent functions for pollutants removal. One binary MOFs, UiO-66(Fe/Zr)), was newly synthesized and applied to remove aquatic selenite (SeIV) and selenate (SeVI). The adsorption behaviors and mechanisms were investigated using batch experiments, spectroscopic analyses, and theoretical calculations (DFT).

Simultaneous removal of arsenate and arsenite in water using a novel functional halloysite nanotube composite.

This work aims at exploring a novel environment-friendly nanomaterial based on natural clay minerals for arsenic removal in aqueous samples. Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) were selected as the substrate with Mn oxides loaded on the surface to enhance its arsenic adsorption ability and then grafted onto the SiO-coated FeO microsphere to get a just enough magnetic performance facilitating the material's post-treatment. The prepared composite (FeO@SiO@Mn-HNTs) was extensively characterized by various instruments including Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TG), vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscope (XPS), and X-ray diffraction (XRD).

Gaseous Arsenic Capture in Flue Gas by CuCl-Modified Halloysite Nanotube Composites with High-Temperature NO and SO Resistance.

Gaseous arsenic emitted from coal combustion flue gas (CCFG) causes not only severe contamination of the environment but also the failure of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalysts in power plants. Development of inexpensive and effective adsorbents or techniques for the removal of arsenic from high-temperature CCFG is crucial. In this study, halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) at low price were modified with CuCl (CuCl-HNTs) through ultrasound assistance and applied for capturing AsO(g) in simulated flue gas (SFG).

Microwave-assisted continuous flow phytosynthesis of silver nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide composites and related visible light catalytic performance.

The creation of an environmentally friendly synthesis method for silver nanomaterials (AgNPs) is an urgent concern for sustainable nanotechnology development. In the present study, a novel straightforward and green method for the preparation of silver nanoparticle/reduced graphene oxide (AgNP/rGO) composites was successfully developed through the combination of phytosynthesis, continuous flow synthesis and microwave-assistance. Oriental persimmon (Diospyros kaki Thunb.

Electrospun metal-organic frameworks hybrid nanofiber membrane for efficient removal of As(III) and As(V) from water.

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been widely applied for pollutants removal in water. However, the powdered MOFs are always suffered from aggregation during use and difficult collection after use. These problems discount their efficiency and inhibit their reusability.

Distribution and chemical speciation of arsenic in different sized atmospheric particulate matters.

The distribution and chemical speciation of arsenic (As) in different sized atmospheric particulate matters (PMs), including total suspended particles (TSP), PM, and PM, collected from Baoding, China were analyzed. The average total mass concentrations of As in TSP, PM, and PM were 31.5, 35.

Preparation of halloysite nanotubes-encapsulated magnetic microspheres for elemental mercury removal from coal-fired flue gas.

Halloysite nanotubes (HNTs) as a natural and inexpensive clay mineral with hollow nanotubular structures, good biocompatibility and active surfaces have been ubiquitously applied in many fields. In this work, a novel multifunctional core-shell sorbent based on HNTs, CuCl-HNTs encapsulated magnetic microspheres (SiO@FeO), was successfully fabricated and applied for Hg removal from flue gas with good performance for the first time. The core-shell structure prevented the composites from aggregating but kept their magnetism, which enabled the adsorbents being easily separated for reuse by an external magnetic field.

Synergistic effects of Fe-Mn binary oxide for gaseous arsenic removal in flue gas.

High-efficient and economic sorbents are highly desired for arsenic (As) emission control in flue gas from coal-fired power plant. A series of Fe-Mn binary oxides were prepared by a facile method, and their behaviors for gaseous arsenic removal in flue gas were investigated. The binary oxide exhibited a remarkable synergistic effect for arsenic removal compared with Mn or Fe monometallic oxide.

Elimination of elemental mercury in flue gas by Arachis hypogaea Linn. shell generated activated carbon.

It is very necessary to produce bio-activated carbon for special use with easy procedure and low cost. One kind of huge surface area microporous bio-material was successfully prepared from agricultural residues (peanut shell, Arachis hypogaea Linn.) and beneficially applied to control elemental mercury (Hg) in simulated coal-fired flue gas in this study.

Fractions of arsenic and selenium in fly ash by ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction.

Sequential extraction has been validated as an effective method to assess the fractions of elements in fly ash. However, the time consumption and high labor costs limit the application of the conventional sequential extraction (CSE) for fast screening of elemental fractions in fly ash. In this study, two ultrasound-assisted sequential extraction (UASE) methods were developed for fast analysis of arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) fractions in fly ash (FA).

PM-bound potentially toxic elements (PTEs) fractions, bioavailability and health risks before and after coal limiting.

Fractions, bioavailability, health risks of fine particulate maters (PM)-bound potentially toxic elements (PTEs) (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) were investigated before and after coal limiting in Baoding city. The winter PM samples were collected at different functional areas such as residential area (RA), industrial area (IA), suburb (SB), street (ST) and Botanical Garden Park (BG) in 2016 (coal dominated year) and 2017 (gas dominated year). The fractions and bioavailability of PTEs were determined and evaluated based on BCR sequential extraction.

Comparison of arsenic fractions and health risks in PM before and after coal-gas replacement.

Coal-Gas replacement project has been implemented to decrease haze pollution in China in recent years. Airborne arsenic (As) mostly originates from coal burning processes. It is noteworthy to compare the distribution of arsenic fraction in PM before and after coal-gas replacement.

Accelerated screening of arsenic and selenium fractions and bioavailability in fly ash by microwave assistance.

Huge amounts of fly ash (FA) can be annually produced in power plants. Fly ash always contains high levels of arsenic (As) and selenium (Se) due to the preconcentration of these two elements during coal combustion process. It would be much concerned to screen their fractions and potential environmental behaviors in fly ash for beneficial use and treatment.

Fraction distribution of arsenic in different-sized atmospheric particulate matters.

The sequential extraction method was used to determine the fraction of arsenic (As) in different-sized particulate matters (PMs) (i.e., PM, PM, and total suspended particles (TSP)).

A comparative study on arsenic fractions in indoor/outdoor particulate matters: a case in Baoding, China.

The distribution and bioavailability of arsenic (As) in indoor/outdoor total suspended particulates (TSP), inhalable particulate matters (PM), and fine particulate matters (PM) in Baoding, China were investigated. The average I/O ratios for TSP, PM, and PM were 0.52, 0.

Speciation and bioaccessibility of heavy metals in PM in Baoding city, China.

The health risks and toxicity of heavy metals (HMs) in PM are not only associated with their total amounts, but also with their species and bioaccessibility. In this study, the speciation (fractions) and bioaccessibility of HMs (Pb, Cd, Cr, Cu and Zn) as well as their correlations in fine particulate matter (PM) samples from four seasons were studied. A sequential extraction procedure was applied to divide the studied HMs into four fractions: acid-soluble fraction (F1), reducible fraction (F2), oxidative fraction (F3) and residual fraction (F4).

Bioavailability/speciation of arsenic in atmospheric PM and their seasonal variation: A case study in Baoding city, China.

Arsenic (As) can be easily enriched in atmospheric particulate matters (PMs), especially in fine particulate matters (PM). In this study, thirty two PM samples were collected in four seasons in Baoding, China, where the haze pollution was very serious in recent years. The total contents, species and bioavailability of arsenic in PM samples were investigated.

Facile phyto-mediated synthesis of silver nanoparticles using Chinese winter jujube ( Mill. cv. Dongzao) extract and their antibacterial/catalytic properties.

The aqueous extract of Chinese winter jujube ( Mill. cv Dongzao) was used as reducing and capping agents for the synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) for the first time. The resulting AgNPs were characterised by UV/Visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, atomic force microscope, transmission electron microscopy, selected area electron diffraction, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR).

Establishment and characterization of arsenic trioxide resistant KB/ATO cells.

Arsenic trioxide (ATO) is used as a chemotherapeutic agent for the treatment of acute promyelocytic leukemia. However, increasing drug resistance is reducing its efficacy. Therefore, a better understanding of ATO resistance mechanism is required.