Defect-modified reduced graphitic carbon nitride (RCN) enhanced oxidation performance for photocatalytic degradation of diclofenac.

Hydroxyl radicals (OH) have robust non-selective oxidizing properties to effectively degrade organic pollutants. However, graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is restricted to directly generate OH due to its intrinsic valence band. In this study, we report a facile environmental-friendly self-modification strategy to synthesize reduced graphitic carbon nitride (RCN), with nitrogen vacancies and CN functional groups.

Fluorescence regional integration combined with parallel factor analysis to quantify fluorescencent spectra for dissolved organic matter released from manure biochars.

Dissolved Organic Matter (DOM) in biochars is important to carbon dynamics and contaminant transport in soils. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) have been widely used to characterize dissolved organic matter (DOM). In this study, fluorescence regional integration (FRI) and parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC) applied to EEM allows good quantitative assessment of the composition of DOM derived from manure biochars.

A novel concept for the biodegradation mechanism of dianionic catechol with homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase: A non-proton-assisted process.

The theory of "proton-assisted process" can well explain the catalytic mechanism of homoprotocatechuate 2,3-dioxygenase (2,3-HPCD) with a monoanionic substrate (homoprotocatechuate, HPCA). Here a "non-proton-assisted process" is presented to interpret catalytic mechanism of 2,3-HPCD with a dianionic substrate (4-nitrocatechol, 4NC). The ONIOM calculation is performed to investigate the reaction pathway of a wild-type 2,3-HPCD with 4NC (H200H-4NC system).

Experimental and theoretical investigation on photodegradation mechanisms of naproxen and its photoproducts.

The photochemical degradation of the pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) has attracted increasing attention. In this study, a deep inspection of the photolysis mechanisms of naproxen and its photoproducts has been performed by employing experimental and theoretical methods. Contributions of different reactive oxygen species (ROS, such as OH, O, and O) in the photolysis reaction also have been clarified.