Jingzhen Cui

Solid-phase photocatalytic degradation of polyethylene-goethite composite film under UV-light irradiation

A novel photodegradable polyethylene-goethite (PE-goethite) composite film was prepared by embedding the goethite into the commercial polyethylene. The degradation of PE-goethite composite films was investigated under ultraviolet light irradiation. The photodegradation activity of the PE plastic was determined by monitoring its weight loss, scanning electron microscopic (SEM) analysis and FT-IR spectroscopy. The weight of PE-goethite (1 wt%) sample steadily decreased and led to the total 16% reduction in 300 h under UV-light intensity for 1 mW/cm(2). Through SEM observation there were some cavities around the goethite powder in the composite films, but there were few changes except some surface chalking phenomenon in pure PE film. The degradation rate could be controlled by changing the concentration of goethite particles in PE plastic. The degradation of composite plastic initiated on PE-goethite interface and then extended into polymer matrix induced by the diffusion of the reactive oxygen species generated on goethite particle surface. The photocatalytic degradation mechanism of the composite films was briefly discussed.

Influence of B-permeated goethite on soil B fraction and its availability to rape seedlings (brassica napus L.)

The purpose of the study was to determine the effect of boron (B)-permeated goethite on soil B fractionation and the availability of this B fraction to rape seedlings (Brassica napus L.). For this purpose, goethite and two kinds of B-permeated goethite were synthesized and their processes in soil were simulated. Plant availability of B adsorbed or occluded on goethite was investigated with rape seedling. Results found that both ad-B-goethite and oc-B-goethite significantly increased the water soluble B (WS-B), specifically adsorbed B (SPA-B), B occluded in amorphous iron (Fe) and aluminum (A1) oxides (AMO-B) and crystalline Fe and Al oxides (CRO-B) content in the soil, compared with ordinary goethite. Also the B-permeated goethites improved B content of the rape seedling and therefore enhanced the rape shoot and root dry weight. Correlation analysis demonstrated that water soluble B (WS-B) plays the most important role in rape B uptake and accumulation, moreover the specifically adsorbed B (SPA-B), nonspecifically adsorbed B (NSA-B), amorphous Fe and A1 oxides (AMO-B) was also significant correlated with the B content or B accumulation of the rape.

Response of Soil and Plant to Boron-Doped Aluminum Hydroxide

The aims of this work are to test whether boron (B) may alleviate soil acidification and aluminum (Al) phytotoxicity to rape (Brassica napus L.) in acidic soil. The Al hydroxide that reacted with borax was called ad-B-Al hydroxide. Point of zero charge (PZC) of Al hydroxide (pH 4.86) was greater than that of ad-B-Al hydroxide (pH 4.68). Compared with the control, ad-B-Al hydroxide raised the soil pH significantly by 0.10 pH units. Rape was planted in the control soil, the soil treated with Al hydroxide, and the soil treated with ad-B-Al hydroxide. It was found that the B content of the soil and rape seedlings grown on the soil treated with ad-B-Al hydroxide was greater than the others. Biomass production of rape seedlings grown in the soil treated with ad-B-Al hydroxide was significantly increased compared to that in the others. These demonstrated that ad-B-Al hydroxide can be an important source of B for plants and alleviate acidity of acidic soils because it can decrease exchangeable acid and Al toxicity in soil significantly.

Plant Availability of Boron Adsorbed or Occulted on Goethite to Rape (Brassica napus L.) Seedling

The purpose of the study was to determine plant availability of boron (B) and relaxation of soil acid to rape seedling exhibited by B-doped goethite in acidic soil. For this purpose, two kinds of B-doped goethite were synthesized: one was goethite with adsorbed B prepared by reacting goethite with borax solution, and the other was goethite with occluded B by synthesizing goethite in the presence of boric acid. The reaction process in soil-like natural minerals of the B-doped goethite was simulated in a rhizobox culture system. Results showed that the B-doped goethite can provide available B for rape growth. Its addition on acidic soil can alleviate soil acidification by increasing soil pH and decreasing soil exchangeable acid. The observation that nutrient uptake was improved supports the view that the B-doped goethite improved soil quality, as also proved by the increase of root morphology and dry weight.

EFFECT OF BORON-DOPED GOETHITE ON SOIL ACIDITY, DIFFERENT FORMS OF MANGANESE IN RED SOIL AND THE GROWTH OF RAPE (BRASSICA NAPUS L.) SEEDLINGS

Rape (Brassica napus L.) seedling pot experiments were performed with a red soil treated with goethite which had boron (B) either adsorbed (ad-B-goethite) or occluded (oc-B-goethite). Soil acidity, different forms of manganese in the soils and different elements content of the rape seedlings were determined. It was found that the addition of boron-containing goethite to the soils resulted in increased rape growth, elevated soil pH and decreased exchangeable acidity. Compared with the control, boron-containing goethite elevated the content of exchangeable manganese (Mn) (EXC-Mn), organic matter bound Mn (OM-Mn), reducible oxide Mn (RO-Mn) and residual Mn (RES-Mn) which were difficult to use for plant. Low labile organic matter was significantly correlated with easily reducible oxide Mn (ERO-Mn) (P < 0.01) and RO-Mn (P < 0.05). Middle organic matter and soil pH was significantly (P < 0.05) correlated with RES-Mn. Stepwise regression was used to select the combination of variables that best estimates shoot and root dry weight of rape seedling. Among them, soil pH, EXC-Mn, OM-Mn, RO-Mn and RES-Mn significantly influenced the dry weight of rape seedlings. The addition of boron-containing goethite improved the uptake of iron (Fe), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), and copper (Cu) element and decreased the uptake of Mn and zinc (Zn) element in rape seedling. The results suggested that boron-containing goethite could provide a better soil acidity environment for plant growth; it was also an important agent increasing a part of manganese difficult to use for plant and reducing the activity of soil manganese, which was beneficial to altering rape seedling growth.