Lin Luo

Insight into highly efficient co-removal of p-nitrophenol and lead by nitrogen-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon: Performance and modelling

Highly efficient simultaneous removal of Pb(II) and p-nitrophenol (PNP) contamination from water was accomplished by nitrogen-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (N-Fe/OMC). The mutual effects and inner mechanisms of their adsorption onto N-Fe/OMC were systematically investigated by sole and binary systems, and thermodynamic, sorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics models. The liquid-film diffusion step might be the rate-limiting step for PNP and Pb(II). The fitting of experimental data with Temkin model indicates that the adsorption process of PNP and Pb(II) involve physisorption and chemisorption. There exist site competition and enhancement of PNP and Pb(II) on the sorption to N-Fe/OMC. Moreover, N-Fe/OMC could be regenerated effectively and recycled by using dilute NaOH and acetone. These demonstrated superior properties of N-Fe/OMC indicate that it could be applied to treatment of wastewaters containing both lead and PNP.

Modification of biochar derived from sawdust and its application in removal of tetracycline and copper from aqueous solution: Adsorption mechanism and modelling

Highly efficient simultaneous removal of Cu(II) and tetracycline (TET) from aqueous solution was accomplished by iron and zinc doped sawdust biochar (Fe/Zn-biochar). The mutual effects and inner mechanisms of their adsorption onto Fe/Zn-biochar were systematically investigated via sole and binary systems, sorption isotherm and adsorption kinetics models. The liquid-film diffusion step might be the rate-limiting step for tetracycline, the interaction of Cu(II) was more likely controlled by both intra particle diffusion model and liquid film diffusion model. The fitting of experimental data with kinetic models, Temkin model indicates that the adsorption process of tetracycline and Cu(II) involve chemisorption, and physico-chemical adsorption, respectively. There exists site competition and enhancement of Cu(II) and tetracycline on the sorption to Fe/Zn-biochar. The results of this study indicate that modification of biochar derived from sawdust shows great potential for simultaneous removal of Cu(II) and tetracycline from co-contaminated water.

Simultaneous removal of atrazine and copper using polyacrylic acid-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon from water: adsorption mechanism

Highly efficient simultaneous removal of atrazine and Cu(II) was accomplished using synthesized polyacrylic acid-functionalized magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (P-MMC) as compared to magnetic ordered mesoporous carbon (MMC) and ordered mesoporous carbon (OMC). The mutual effects and interactive mechanism of their adsorption onto P-MMC were investigated systematically by binary, preloading and thermodynamic adsorption procedures. In both binary and preloading systems, the adsorption of atrazine was inhibited to some extent by the presence of Cu(II) because of selective recognition and direct competition, but the presence of atrazine had negligible effect on Cu(II) desorption. With the coexistence of humic acid (0–20 mg L−1), both atrazine and Cu(II) sorption increased slightly in sole and binary systems. With the concentration of coexisting NaCl increasing from 0 to 100 mM, the adsorption capacity for Cu(II) slightly decreased, but as for atrazine adsorption, it decreased at first, and then increased slightly in sole and binary systems. P-MMC was applied to treat real environmental samples, and the sorption capacities for atrazine and Cu(II) in real samples were all more than 91.47% and 96.43% of those in lab ultrapure water, respectively. Finally, comprehensively considering the relatively good renewability and the superior behavior in the application to real water samples, P-MMC has potential in removal of atrazine, Cu(II) and possibly other persistent organic pollutants from wastewater.

Iron Containing Metal–Organic Frameworks: Structure, Synthesis, and Applications in Environmental Remediation

Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) with Fe content are gradually developing into an independent branch in environmental remediation, requiring economical, effective, low-toxicity strategies to the complete procedure. In this review, recent advancements in the structure, synthesis, and environmental application focusing on the mechanism are presented. The unique structure of novel design proposed specific characteristics of different iron-containing MOFs with potential innovation. Synthesis of typical MILs, NH2-MILs and MILs based materials reveal the basis and defect of the current method, indicating the optimal means for the actual requirements. The adsorption of various contamination with multiple interaction as well as the catalytic degradation over radicals or electron-hole pairs are reviewed. This review implied considerable prospects of iron-containing MOFs in the field of environment and a more comprehensive cognition into the challenges and potential improvement.

Aptamer-based biosensors for detection of lead(II) ion: a review

Lead(II) ion (Pb2+) contamination can be accumulated along the food chain and cause a serious threat to public health. Plenty of research effort has thus been devoted to the development of fast, sensitive and selective biosensors for monitoring Pb2+. Aptamer especially Pb2+ based DNAzymes (obtained from a large DNA library via in vitro selection) and DNA molecules are highly selective for a number of metal ions. Therefore, aptamer-based biosensors have been extensively studied for Pb2+ ion detection with a high sensitivity. In this review, we explain the current progress of Pb2+ aptamer-based sensors mainly in three groups: fluorescent; colorimetric; and electrochemical biosensors.

New insights into the activity of a biochar supported nanoscale zerovalent iron composite and nanoscale zero valent iron under anaerobic or aerobic conditions

In this work, to gain insight into the mechanism of p-nitrophenol (PNP) removal using the reactivity of a biochar supported nanoscale zerovalent iron composite (nZVI/biochar) and nanoscale zero valent iron (nZVI) under anaerobic or aerobic conditions, batch experiments and models were conducted. The PNP removal rate in the more acidic solutions was higher, while it was significantly suppressed at higher pH, especially at pH 9.0. The peak value of the apparent rate constants suggests that the reactivity of nZVI/biochar could be much stronger than that of nZVI under the same aeration conditions. The modified Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic model could successfully describe the PNP removal process using nZVI/biochar or nZVI. The reaction constants obtained through a Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism under different aeration conditions followed the trend nZVI/biochar (N2) > nZVI/biochar (air) > nZVI (N2) > nZVI (air), indicating that nZVI/biochar under anaerobic conditions exhibits enhanced activity for the degradation of PNP. The nZVI/biochar under anaerobic conditions has the lowest Arrhenius activation energy of PNP degradation–adsorption, suggesting that the surface interaction of eliminating PNP has a low energy barrier. In addition, TOC removal under anaerobic conditions was negligible compared with that under the aerobic system and the total number of iron ions leaching at solution pH 3.0 in the nZVI/biochar or nZVI system under air aeration conditions was much higher than that under nitrogen aeration conditions. The profiles of the intermediates formed during the PNP degradation indicated that in the anaerobic environment, reduction was the predominant step in the removal process, while the degradation of PNP could be regarded as a combination of oxidation and reduction in an aerobic environment.

Metal-free carbon materials-catalyzed sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes: A review on heterogeneous catalysts and applications

In recent years, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), especially sulfate radical based AOPs have been widely used in various fields of wastewater treatment due to their capability and adaptability in decontamination. Recently, metal-free carbon materials catalysts in sulfate radical production has been more and more concerned because these materials have been demonstrated to be promising alternatives to conventional metal-based catalysts, but the review of metal-free catalysts is rare. The present review outlines the current state of knowledge on the generation of sulfate radical using metal-free catalysts including carbon nanotubes, graphene, mesoporous carbon, activated carbon, activated carbon fiber, nanodiamond. The mechanism such as the radical pathway and non-radical pathway, and factors influencing of the activation of sulfate radical was also be revealed. Knowledge gaps and research needs have been identified, which include the perspectives on challenges related to metal-free catalyst, heterogeneous metal-free catalyst/persulfate systems and their potential in practical environmental remediation.

Modified granulation of red mud by weak gelling and its application to stabilization of Pb.

This study presents a novel modification of red mud (RM) with cementitious materials by rotary drum granulation under partial hydration. Admixtures and surfactants were applied to improve the microspore structure of red mud-based granules in order to stabilize Pb steadily. Through XRD and SEM-EDS analyses, it was demonstrated that calcite, the main alkali in RM, was partially concreted and coated. Compared to pH 12.47 for RM, the lowest pH of the granules was 10.66 implying that the release of OH(-) from hydrolysis and decomposition was decreased. Based on stabilization of Pb, influence on soil properties and forming qualities, composition of the optimum granule PSP was determined as 5% cement, 5% gypsum, 1% rice straw, and 0.1% emulsifier OP-10. Within a 90 d remediation, immobilization of ionic Pb in a 500 mg kg(-1) Pb-contaminated artificial soil was 9.85 mg kg(-1) at day 30 with 5% PSP2 as substitute. Furthermore, the reverse increase diminished as the final concentration was 11.13 mg kg(-1) while it was 14.25 mg kg(-1) by RM. The increase of residual Pb was 122.61%, which was better than the 83.92% of RM. Particularly, the highest pH in mine soil was 11.09 at day 1 with RM, but the decrease of ionic Pb was 46.26%. Meanwhile, a significant deviation from the control soil zeta-potential lasted longer and the recovery was more difficult, as compared to the granules. Therefore, a granulated modification of RM is shown to be very important when aiming at steady release of OH(-) to improve the later stabilization of Pb.

A label–free GR–5DNAzyme sensor for lead ions detection based on nanoporous gold and anionic intercalator

A label-free electrochemical sensor, based on a classic lead ions (Pb2+)-dependent GR-5DNAzyme as the catalytic unit, disodium-anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS) as DNA intercalator, and nanoporous gold (NPG) for signal amplification, was designed for sensitive and selective detection of Pb2+. Firstly, NPG modified electrode surface were employed as a platform for the immobilization of thiolated probe DNA, and then, hybridized with DNAzyme catalytic beacons. The Pb2+-induced catalytic reaction makes the substrate strand break at the cleavage sitGe irreversibly, which disturbs the formation of DNA strands. AQDS served as an indicator that intercalated into the base-pairing regions of DNAzyme, resulting in a strong electrochemical signal. In the presence of Pb2+, the complementary regions were reduced, due to the fracture of the DNA strand, resulting in the release of AQDS. And a decreased current was obtained, corresponding to Pb2+ concentration. Taking advantage of the amplification effect of NPG electrode for increasing the reaction sites of thiol modified capture probe, the proposed electrochemical biosensor could detect Pb2+ quantitatively, in the range of 1-120nM, with a limit of detection as low as 0.02nM, which is much lower than the maximum contamination level for Pb2+ in drinking water defined by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The electrochemical sensor was also used to detect Pb2+ from real water samples, and the results showed excellent agreement with the values determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectroscopy. This biosensor showed a promising potential for on-site detecting Pb2+ in aqueous environment.

Ammonia-oxidizing bacterial communities and shaping factors with different Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation regimes during agricultural waste composting

This research was conducted to determine the effects of Phanerochaete chrysosporium inoculation on the ammonia-oxidizing bacterial (AOB) communities during agricultural waste composting. AOB communities with different inoculation regimes were investigated by quantitative PCR and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis. Results showed that P. chrysosporium inoculation imposed certain stimulatory effects on the AOB amoA gene abundance. Samples with different inoculation regimes were dominated by different AOB species. Linear regression analysis indicated that the AOB community abundance had a significant positive correlation with pile pH (P < 0.05). The AOB amoA gene structure was best related to water soluble carbon (WSC) (P = 0.002, F = 14.17) and pile temperature (P = 0.04, F = 2.72). Variance partition analysis suggested that the sample property heterogeneity induced by inoculation imposed a greater impact (42.9%, P = 0.006) on the bacterial amoA gene structure than different inoculation regimes (23.6%, P = 0.022).