Slight transition in Chinese atmospheric Pb isotopic fingerprinting due to increasing foreign Pb.

Atmospheric lead (Pb) pollution negatively affects human health and ecosystem, and extensive research is required to identify its sources and develop robust mitigation methods. In this study, the concentration and isotopic composition of Pb in fine particulate matter (PM) at five sites in the China's Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region were analyzed. The results showed that the Pb concentration in the BTH region declined along the northwest direction in winter owing to the East Asian monsoon.

Increase of antibiotic resistance genes via horizontal transfer in single- and two-chamber microbial electrolysis cells.

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) have been applied for antibiotic degradation but simultaneously induced antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), thus representing a risk to disseminate antibiotic resistance. However, few studies were on the potential and risk of ARGs transmission in the MECs. This work assessed conjugative transfer of ARGs under three tested conditions (voltages, cell concentration, and donor/recipient ratio) in both single- and two-chamber MECs.

Atmospheric lead pollution in a typical megacity: Evidence from lead isotopes.

Atmospheric lead (Pb) pollution has adverse health effects on humans, while the sources and atmospheric process of Pb are key scientific problems. In this study, the concentrations and isotopic composition of Pb in fine particulate matter (PM), coal and street dust samples collected from a typical megacity Beijing were analyzed to identify the sources of atmospheric Pb. Results showed that the Pb concentrations in PM were high in winter (168.

Monoclinic dibismuth tetraoxide (m-BiO) for piezocatalysis: new use for neglected materials.

Piezocatalysis is a promising approach for environmental pollutant removal. Monoclinic dibismuth tetraoxide (m-BiO) was first applied to piezocatalyze organics under ultrasonic vibration. The built-in electric field with ultrasonic stress drives the separation of holes and electrons in m-BiO.

Fluoride removal efficiencies and mechanism of schwertmannite from KMnO/MnO-Fe(II) processes.

Fluoride has an adverse effect on both the environment and industrial production. In particular, wastewater from smelting systems containing high concentrations of fluoride is a major cause of fluoride pollution. Based on the characteristics of such wastewater, a targeted and integrated method for removal fluoride using schwertmannite is proposed.

Seasonal and long-term trends of sulfate, nitrate, and ammonium in PM in Beijing: implication for air pollution control.

Particulate matter pollution in Beijing is a serious environmental problem. In response to this, the Beijing government has implemented comprehensive emission reduction measures in recent years. To assess the effectiveness of these measures, the seasonal and long-term trends in chemical compositions of PM in Beijing have been studied based on daily samples collected from July 2015 to April 2016 and literature investigation (2000-2014).

[Chemical Constitution and Carbon Isotopic Compositions of PM in the Northern Suburb of Nanjing in Spring].

PM is an important atmospheric pollution component and has a complicated composition. The chemical constitution of PM in Nanjing northern region during March 2016 was analyzed using the Dinoex ICS-3000 and ICS-2000 ion chromatograph and DRI Model 2001A thermal/optical carbon analyzer, and the carbon isotopic compositions were analyzed using EA-IRMS from Thermo Scientific in order to explore pollution behaviors and source apportionment of PM. The results showed that the mean concentration of atmospheric PM was (106.

[Sulfur Sources and Oxidation Pathways in Summer Aerosols from Nanjing Northern Suburbs Using S and O Isotopes].

The sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions of sulfate in PM were determined by EA-IRMS to study the sulfur sources and oxidation formation pathways of sulfates in PM from Nanjing northern suburbs during July 2014. The results indicated that δ S values of sulfate ranged from 1.7‰ to 4.

Gamma irradiation-induced decomposition of sulfamethoxazole in aqueous solution: the influence of additives, biological inhibitory, and degradation mechanisms.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) was decomposed by using gamma irradiation in the presence of different additives such as NO, NO, Cr(VI), 2-propanol, and tert-butanol. The results demonstrated that NO, NO, 2-propanol, and tert-butanol inhibited SMX radiolytic removal. However, there existed a synergetic effect for radiolytic removal of the mixture containing SMX and Cr(VI).

Multiple Sulfur Isotope Constraints on Sources and Formation Processes of Sulfate in Beijing PM Aerosol.

Recently air pollution is seriously threatening the health of millions of people in China. The multiple sulfur isotopic composition of sulfate in PM samples collected in Beijing is used to better constrain potential sources and formation processes of sulfate aerosol. The ΔS values of sulfate in PM show a pronounced seasonality with positive values in spring, summer and autumn and negative values in winter.

Nitrate removal, spatiotemporal communities of denitrifiers and the importance of their genetic potential for denitrification in novel denitrifying bioreactors.

Nitrate treatment performance and denitrification activity were compared between denitrifying biological filters (DNBFs) based on dewatered alum sludge (DAS) and neutralized used acid (NUA). The spatiotemporal distribution of denitrifying genes and the genetic potential associated with denitrification activity and nitrate removal in both DNBFs were also evaluated. The removal efficiency of NUA-DNBF increased by 8% compared with that of DAS-DNBF, and the former NUA-DNBF emitted higher amount of NO.

Phosphorus removal from aqueous solution in parent and aluminum-modified eggshells: thermodynamics and kinetics, adsorption mechanism, and diffusion process.

Parent and aluminum-modified eggshells were prepared and characterized with X-ray diffraction, specific surface area measurements, infrared spectroscopy, zeta potential, and scanning electron microscope, respectively. Besides, phosphorus adsorptions in these two eggshells at different temperatures and solution pH were carried out to study adsorption thermodynamics and kinetics as well as the mechanisms of phosphorus adsorption and diffusion. The results indicated that high temperature was favorable for phosphorus adsorption in parent and aluminum-modified eggshells.

[Nitrogen Removal and the Characteristics of Denitrification Bacteria Using NUA-DAS Ecofilter].

A small-scale combined ecofilter was constructed using neutralized-used acid residue (NUA) and dewatered alum sludge (DAS), and the nitrogen removal for wastewater treatment and characteristics of denitrification bacteria using the NUA-DAS ecofilter were studied. After the system was stabilized, the average removal rates of COD, TN, NO-N in the final effluents were 60%, 70% and 95%, respectively, and the range of NO-N concentration in the effluents was only 0.02-0.

[Investigations on Sulfur and Carbon Isotopic Compositions of Potential Polluted Sources in Atmospheric PM₂.₅ in Nanjing Region].

Potential pollution sources of atmospheric PM₂.₅ in Nanjing region were collected, and sulfur and carbon isotopic compositions were determined by EA-IRMS synchronously. The results showed that δ³⁴S and δ¹³C values ranged from 1.

[Radiolytic Decomposition of Ciprofloxacin Hydrochloride in Aqueous Solution Using γ Irradiation].

Effects of initial concentrations, pH values, different additives and composite pollutants on ciprofloxacin hydrochloride removal using γ irradiation were investigated. The experiments results showed γ irradiation could effectively remove ciprofloxacin hydrochloride; low initial concentration and strongly acidic condition were favorable for CIP removal using γ irradiation; the degradation of CIP was inhibited upon the addition of CO3(2-) and methanol, which indicated that the degradation of CIP might be mainly ascribed to *OH oxidation and the direct decomposition of CIP molecules induced by irradiation. BrO3- showed a synergistic effect with CIP in degradation of the composite pollutants when mixed together with CIP for γ irradiation, and the removal rates of both pollutants were improved.

[Tracing Sources of Sulfate Aerosol in Nanjing Northern Suburb Using Sulfur and Oxygen Isotopes].

Abstract: To trace the sources of sulfate contributing to atmospheric aerosol, PM2.5 samples for isotopic analysis were collected in Nanjing northern suburb during January 2014. The sulfur and oxygen isotopic compositions of sulfate from these samples were determined by EA-IRMS.

Radiolytic decomposition of ciprofloxacin using γ irradiation in aqueous solution.

Gamma irradiation-induced decomposition of ciprofloxacin (CIP) was elucidated with different additives, such as CO3 (2-), NO3 (-), NO2 (-), humic acid, methanol, 2-propanol, and tert-butanol. The results show that low initial concentration and acidic condition were favorable for CIP removal during γ irradiation. By contrast, radiolytic decomposition of CIP was inhibited with the addition of anions and organic additives.

[Characteristics and sources apportionment of OC and EC in PM1.1 from Nanjing].

The concentrations of OC and EC in PM1.1 collected from Nanshi (NS) and Nanhua (NH) in 2011 were analyzed using DRI Model 2001A Thermal Optical Carbon Analyzer. In addition, source apportionment was simultaneously evaluated.

[Size distributions of organic carbon and elemental carbon in Nanjing aerosol particles].

The concentrations and size distributions of organic carbon (OC) and elemental carbon (EC) in particles collected in Nanjing Normal University representing urban area and in Nanjing College of Chemical Technology standing for industrial area were analyzed using Model 2001A Thermal Optical Carbon Analyzer. The mass concentrations were the highest with the size below 0.43 microm in urban and industrial area.

[Stable carbon isotopic composition in PM 2.1 in Nanjing Region].

Stable carbon isotopes (delta13C) in aerosol fine particles (PM2.1) collected in Nanjing Normal University representing urban area, and in Nanjing College of Chemical Technology standing for suburban industrial area, were analyzed using EA-IRMS. Besides, sources of carbonaceous contents were studied and the pollution characteristics of total carbon (TC) were evaluated.

[Quantitative remote sensing retrieval for algae in inland waters].

Chlorophyll is a very important indictor for the eutrophication status of lake water body. Using remotely sensed data to achieve real-time dynamic monitoring of the spatial distribution of chlorophyll has great importance. This paper aims to find the best band for the hyperspectral ratio model of chlorophyll-a, and take advantage of this model to implement remote sensing retrieval of algae in Taihu Lake.

Radiation removals of low-concentration halomethanes in drinking water.

Gamma radiation induced removals of four halomethanes, with low initial concentrations in drinking water were investigated. The results show that absorbed dose and solution pH are important factors in affecting halomethanes removals. High-absorbed dose and solution pH drive halomethanes removals.

Ultrasonic irradiation-induced degradation of low-concentration bisphenol A in aqueous solution.

The treatment of bisphenol A (BPA)-contaminated water has attracted great interest recently. In this contribution, ultrasound (US) was applied to remove low-concentration BPA in aqueous solution at the frequency of 20 kHz, and the effects of ultrasonic intensity and ozone on BPA removal were evaluated for the first time. Considering the coexistence of halomethanes and BPA in chlorinated drinking water, BPA was degraded under US in the presence of CCl(4).

Degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol by combining sonolysis and different additives.

Based on the effects of various additives on ultrasonic degradation of 2,4-dinitrophenol (DNP) in aqueous solution, the degradation mechanisms and reaction kinetics of DNP in different processes were proposed. The results showed that some additives, such as CuO, CCl(4), O(3), NaCl and KI, were favorable for DNP sonochemical degradation. On the contrary, DNP degradation efficiency was restrained by Na(2)CO(3), indicating that OH radicals oxidation played an important role in DNP ultrasonic removal.