Freeze-Thaw Cycle-Enhanced Transformation of Iodide to Organoiodine Compounds in the Presence of Natural Organic Matter and Fe(III).

The formation of organoiodine compounds (OICs) is of great interest in the natural iodine cycle as well as water treatment processes. Herein, we report a pathway of OIC formation that reactive iodine (RI) and OICs are produced from iodide oxidation in the presence of Fe(III) and natural organic matter (NOM) in frozen solution, whereas their production is insignificant in aqueous solution. Moreover, thawing the frozen solution induces the further production of OICs.

Cr(VI) Formation via Oxyhalide-Induced Oxidative Dissolution of Chromium Oxide/Hydroxide in Aqueous and Frozen Solution.

The oxidative dissolution of Cr(III) species (CrO and Cr(OH)) by oxyhalide species, which produces hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), was studied in aqueous and frozen solution. The oxyhalide-induced oxidation of Cr(III) in frozen solution showed a different trend from that in aqueous solution. Cr(VI) production was higher in frozen than aqueous solution with hypochlorous acid (HOCl) and bromate (BrO) but suppressed in frozen solution with hypobromous acid (HOBr) and periodate (IO).

Entangled iodine and hydrogen peroxide formation in ice.

Ice-core records show that anthropogenic pollution has increased the global atmospheric concentrations of hydrogen peroxide and iodine since the mid-20th century. Here, for the first time, we demonstrate a highly efficient mechanism that synergistically produces them in icy water conditions. This reaction is aided by a key intermediate IOH, formed by an I ion with a dissolved O in acidic icy water, which produces both I as well as OH radicals.

Halide-induced dissolution of lead(IV) oxide in frozen solution.

The dark dissolution behavior of plattnerite (ß-PbO) was investigated in frozen solutions containing halide ions and compared with those in aqueous solution. The amount of dissolved lead in the frozen solutions varied depending on the solution pH and the kind and concentration of halide ions. The presence of bromide and iodide ions enhanced the dissolution of lead in the aqueous phase, whereas the effect of chloride was insignificant.

Abiotic Formation of Humic-Like Substances through Freezing-Accelerated Reaction of Phenolic Compounds and Nitrite.

A previously unknown abiotic humification pathway which is highly accelerated in frozen solution containing phenolic compounds and nitrite was investigated and proposed. The production of humic-like acids (HLA) and fulvic-like acids (FLA) was observed in the frozen solution (-20 °C) whereas it was negligible in aqueous solution (20 °C). Inorganic nitrogen was transformed into organic nitrogen during the humification process.

The effects of particle-induced oxidative damage from exposure to airborne fine particulate matter components in the vicinity of landfill sites on Hong Kong.

The physical, chemical and bioreactivity characteristics of fine particulate matter (PM) collected near (<1 km) two landfill sites and downwind urban sites were investigated. The PM concentrations were significantly higher in winter than summer. Diurnal variations of PM were recorded at both landfill sites.

Accelerated Reduction of Bromate in Frozen Solution.

Bromate is a common disinfection byproduct formed during ozonation. Reducing bromate into bromide can remove this toxic pollutant, however, not many studies have been done for its environmental fate. In this work, we demonstrate a new transformation pathway that bromate can be efficiently reduced to bromide in frozen solution in the presence of organic reductants like humic substances (HS).

Production of Molecular Iodine and Tri-iodide in the Frozen Solution of Iodide: Implication for Polar Atmosphere.

The chemistry of reactive halogens in the polar atmosphere plays important roles in ozone and mercury depletion events, oxidizing capacity, and dimethylsulfide oxidation to form cloud-condensation nuclei. Among halogen species, the sources and emission mechanisms of inorganic iodine compounds in the polar boundary layer remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that the production of tri-iodide (I3(-)) via iodide oxidation, which is negligible in aqueous solution, is significantly accelerated in frozen solution, both in the presence and the absence of solar irradiation.

Freezing-Enhanced Dissolution of Iron Oxides: Effects of Inorganic Acid Anions.

Dissolution of iron from mineral dust particles greatly depends upon the type and amount of copresent inorganic anions. In this study, we investigated the roles of sulfate, chloride, nitrate, and perchlorate on the dissolution of maghemite and lepidocrocite in ice under both dark and UV irradiation and compared the results with those of their aqueous counterparts. After 96 h of reaction, the total dissolved iron in ice (pH 3 before freezing) was higher than that in the aqueous phase (pH 3) by 6-28 times and 10-20 times under dark and UV irradiation, respectively.