Publications by authors named "Li-Zong Chen"

The efficient removal of 2-Methylisoborneol (2-MIB), a typical odour component, in water treatment plants (WTPs), poses a great challenge to conventional water treatment technology due to its chemical stability. In this study, the combination of ultraviolet light-emitting diode (UV-LED) and chlorine (UV-LED/chlorine) was exploited for 2-MIB removal, and the role of ultraviolet (UV) wavelength was investigated systematically. The results showed that UV or chlorination alone did not degrade 2-MIB effectively, and the UV/chlorine process could degrade 2-MIB efficiently, following the pseudo-first-order kinetic model.

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Covalent organic frameworks with tunable porous crystallinity and outstanding stability have recently exhibited fascinating pretreatment performance as solid-phase microextraction coatings. In this report, a β-ketoenamine-linked covalent organic framework (TpPa-1) was successfully constructed through a Schiff-base-type reaction between 1,3,5-triformylphloroglucinol (Tp) and para-phenylenediamine (Pa-1). A TpPa-1 coating was then fabricated on a stainless-steel fiber for capturing trace synthetic musks.

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LiAl hydrotalcite-like compound (LiAl HTlc) was synthesized via a hydrothermal method and used to adsorb Cu and Zn for investigating the adsorption characteristics of heavy metal cations. The X-Raydiffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) characterizations revealed the interconnecting flower-like layered structure of LiAl HTlc. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of Cu and Zn on LiAl HTlc agreed with the pseudo-second-order model and the Langmuir model at a given sorbent concentration (C), respectively.

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Disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water can pose a health risk to humans. In this work, a new nitrogen-rich covalent organic frameworks (TpTt-COFs) was synthesized and applied firstly as a novel solid-phase extraction (SPE) trapping media for four ultra-trace levels of DBPs in drinking water samples. Under the optimal conditions, these DBPs were absorbed on a SPE cartridge; then, the DBPs were eluted with the optimized volume of eluent.

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High-performance capturing polar phenoxycarboxylic acids herbicides (PCAs) from water samples remains a great challenge because PCAs form salt easily and dissolve. Polyphenylene-based conjugated microporous polymers (PP-CMPs), a fascinating type of polymers, bear π-conjugation over 3D polyphenylene scaffolds, inherent micropore, and large surface area, which are essential for capturing trace PCAs in complex samples. This work developed a novel approach to quantify trace PCAs using PP-CMPs as an efficient dispersive solid-phase extraction (d-SPE) adsorbent.

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Background: We sought to determine the association between chronic pain and participating in routine health screening in a low socioeconomic-status (SES) rental-flat community in Singapore. In Singapore, ≥ 85% own homes; public rental flats are reserved for those with low-income.

Methods: Chronic pain was defined as pain ≥ 3 months.

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Purpose: . The authors sought to determine the prevalence of chronic pain in a low socioeconomic-status rental-flat community in Singapore and its associations. In Singapore, ≥85% own homes; public rental flats are reserved for the low-income.

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Background: In Singapore, subsidized primary care is provided by centralized polyclinics; since 2000, policies have allowed lower-income Singaporeans to utilize subsidies at private general-practitioner (GP) clinics. We sought to determine whether proximity to primary care, subsidised primary care, or having regular primary care associated with health screening participation in a low socioeconomic-status public rental-flat community in Singapore.

Methods: From 2009-2014, residents in five public rental-flat enclaves (N = 936) and neighboring owner-occupied precincts (N = 1060) were assessed for participation in cardiovascular and cancer screening.

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In recent years, bamboo charcoal, a new kind of material with special microporous and biological characteristics, has attracted great attention in many application fields. In this paper, the potential of bamboo charcoal to act as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) adsorbent for the enrichment of the environmental pollutant perfluorooctanoic acid, which is one of the newest types of persistent organic pollutants in the environment, has been investigated. Important factors that may influence the enrichment efficiency--such as the eluent and its volume, the flow rate of the sample, the pH of the sample and the sample volume--were investigated and optimized in detail.

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