Article
Environmental Sciences
Young-Jae Jeong, Bo-Seong Seo, Nuri Baek, Jin-Hyeob Kwak, Sang-Mo Lee, Hyun-Jin Park, Woo-Jung Choi
Summary: This study proposed methods for determining the δN-15 of multiple nitrogen species. The methods included traditional distillation, direct evaporation, and isotope mass balance equation. The accuracy and precision of the methods were evaluated through a series of experiments, and the influences of different conditions on the analysis results were assessed.
FRONTIERS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Biochemical Research Methods
Charlotte E. Bopp, Jakov Bolotin, Sarah G. Pati, Thomas B. Hofstetter
Summary: Monitoring stable oxygen isotope ratios provides insights into fundamental processes in bio(geo)chemistry and environmental sciences. However, interference from argon can lead to overestimation of oxygen isotope signatures, requiring instrumental modifications and post-measurement corrections.
ANALYTICAL AND BIOANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Huifang Zhao, Bo Meng, Guangyi Sun, Che-Jen Lin, Xinbin Feng, Jonas Sommar
Summary: The study investigated the reduction of Hg-II by oxalic acid, p-quinone, quinol, and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate (AQDS), with AQDS and oxalic acid showing the highest rate of reaction under UVB photolysis. Only the oxalate ion in oxalic acid was found to be photoactive, leading to distinguishable isotope anomalies. The reduction mediated by AQDS resulted in a large odd-MIF, indicating an enrichment of odd isotopes in the reactant.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Toby J. Boocock, Eva E. Stueken, Grant M. Bybee, Ramona Konig, Adrian J. Boyce, Julie Prytulak, Iris Buisman, Sami Mikhail
Summary: This study investigates the geochemical characteristics of nitrogen in the calc-alkaline pluton at Loch Doon, SW Scotland, and finds that the whole-rock likely inherited its N contents and δ^15N signature from the initial source composition and shows homogeneity at a pluton scale. At a mineral scale, it is found that N preferentially partitions into feldspars over mica in this system, and a large and near constant equilibrium isotope fractionation factor exists between biotite and both feldspars.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yasheng Shi, Cenyan Huang, Chuantao Huang, Huiling Zhang, Lei Tong, Qiuliang Cai, Jun He, Honghui Xu, Huan Yu, Hang Xiao
Summary: Intensive field observations were conducted on the PM2.5, gaseous pollutants, delta C-13, and delta N-15 values to evaluate the efficacy of much stricter air quality measures and emergency response strategies implemented in Hangzhou and Ningbo during the 2016 G20 Summit. The results showed that there is no pronounced differences of carbon sources between the two cities and C-3 plant combustion was the major contributor to carbon sources. Reduction of NH3 was more effective than NOx in Hangzhou and Ningbo. The study also highlighted the importance of fossil fuel combustion reduction and regional control policies for better air quality.
ATMOSPHERIC POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhenwei Yan, Na Yang, Zhou Liang, Maojun Yan, Xiaosong Zhong, Yu Zhang, Wenqi Xu, Yu Xin
Summary: Large rivers like the Yellow River play a crucial role in the cycling of dissolved organic nitrogen (DON), with DON<1kDa dominating the DON pool and correlating inversely with dissolved inorganic nitrogen (DIN). Geographical features and microbial communities are closely related in driving DON cycling, highlighting the importance of DON mineralization in carbon cycling in marginal seas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mengna Gu, Yuepeng Pan, Qian Sun, Wendell W. Walters, Linlin Song, Yunting Fang
Summary: It was previously believed that ammonia (NH3) has a short residence time in the atmosphere and cannot be transported far from its sources. However, this study found that in urban Beijing, ammonia pollution is primarily from nonagricultural emissions, particularly vehicles, rather than agricultural activities. This finding suggests that nonagricultural sources should be considered when designing a control strategy for reducing haze pollution caused by ammonia in the urban atmosphere.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Long Li, Pierre Cartigny, Kan Li
Summary: Experimental results show that roaldite can be formed under different temperature conditions, with equilibrium nitrogen isotope fractionations observed at specific temperatures, but decomposition occurs at high temperatures. Caution is needed when using nitride minerals like roaldite to trace source information.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yasheng Shi, Cai Li, Zanfang Jin, Yongqi Zhang, Jiazheng Xiao, Feili Li
Summary: The study identified the sources and formation pathways of NO3- in Ningbo, revealing seasonal variations and suggesting that mobile sources are the major contributors to NOx emissions in the area. The research also emphasized the importance of considering isotopic fractionation in source apportionment models.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Pengyan Zhang, Yu Xin, Xiaosong Zhong, Zhenwei Yan, Yuemei Jin, Maojun Yan, Tao Liu
Summary: The study reveals that the bloom-decay cycle of Ulva prolifera significantly impacts the structure and distribution of nitrogen chemical forms in the surrounding seawater. Due to the high efficiency of U. prolifera in absorbing NO3-N during growth, NO3-N predominates in the cellular DIN. Meanwhile, in the decay process, NH4-N becomes the main form of cellular DIN, releasing substantial amounts of NH4-N and DON into the ambient environment, indicating the unique role of U. prolifera as a Nitrogen-Pump.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Damanveer S. Grewal, Tao Sun, Sanath Aithala, Taylor Hough, Rajdeep Dasgupta, Laurence Y. Yeung, Edwin A. Schauble
Summary: The N-15/N-14 ratios of meteorites are important in tracing the origins of life-essential volatiles on rocky planets. The study reveals limited N isotopic fractionation during core-mantle differentiation, suggesting that the core and mantle can preserve their primitive isotopic compositions. This indicates a significant contribution of N-15-rich materials to the Earth's interior, beyond the accretion of enstatite chondrites.
GEOCHIMICA ET COSMOCHIMICA ACTA
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiuli Yan, Jin-Yu Terence Yang, Min Nina Xu, Hongjie Wang, Minhan Dai, Shuh-Ji Kao
Summary: Information on the sources and transformations of particulate organic N (PN) and dissolved organic N (DON) at the coastal interface remains insufficient due to technological difficulties and complicated features of intensive physical mixing and rapid biological activities. The study investigated the spatial distribution of concentrations and isotopic compositions of PN and DON in the Changjiang plume during the summer flood period, revealing nonconservative DON behaviors and active transformations between the DON and PN pools.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Iftkhar Ahmad, Arshiya Abbasi, Divyanshi Mangla, Saiqa Ikram
Summary: This study successfully synthesized Fe3O4@CMC-Cu nanocatalyst through the combination of hydrothermal method and in-situ deposition technique. The synthesized nanocatalyst showed exceptional capabilities in reducing various organic contaminants. The findings highlight the immense potential of this nanocatalyst for environmental remediation.
CATALYSIS COMMUNICATIONS
(2023)
Article
Limnology
Jan F. Kleint, Yannic Wellach, Moritz Schroll, Frank Keppler, Margot Isenbeck-Schroeter
Summary: Lake Willersinnweiher in Germany releases methane to the atmosphere continuously throughout the year, with intense anaerobic oxidation of methane in sediment layers. The interaction between carbon and sulfur cycling affects methane release and consumption processes in the lake. Aerobic oxidation processes in the water column act as a barrier to minimize methane release into the surface water and atmosphere.
LIMNOLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Xing Shen, Kairui Liu
Summary: In recent years, single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been successfully synthesized through various methods, demonstrating excellent catalytic activities. However, the tendency of metal atoms to agglomerate in liquid media complicates the synthesis of SACs in such environments. The synthesis of metal single-atom catalysts without strong ligand coordination is rarely reported. This study presents a straightforward synthesis of monodispersed Au atoms (Au-1) by reducing HAuCl4 in the presence of 15-crown-5. The resulting Au-1@15-crown-5 catalyst exhibits high catalytic activity in the reduction of nitrophenol and nitroaniline, outperforming both noble nanoparticles and non-precious metal catalysts due to the monodispersion of Au atoms.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Brandon C. McAdams, Jeffrey Hudson, William A. Arnold, Yu-Ping Chin
Summary: Direct electrochemical methods were used to investigate the adsorption of reduced and oxidized forms of dissolved organic matter (DOM) on iron oxides. The results showed that the adsorption of carbon-hydrogen-oxygen-sulfur (CHOS)-rich DOM decreased after electrochemical reduction, while sulfur deficient DOM showed no difference. Additionally, the reduced CHOS-rich DOM enhanced the reductive dissolution of goethite and resulted in increased fractionation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Honglong Zhang, Zhenyu Shi, Fuyi Cui, Jing Zhang, Timothy J. Strathmann
Summary: The study reveals that 1-hydroxybenzotriazole (HBT) can effectively accelerate the oxidation of bisphenol A (BPA) during treatment with permanganate (Mn(VII)). The reactive species, HBT• radical and MnO2 intermediates, play a significant role in enhancing the oxidation process. The pH conditions also influence the contributions of different reactive species.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Camille K. Amador, Daniel J. Van Hoomissen, Jiaoqin Liu, Timothy J. Strathmann, Shubham Vyas
Summary: Recent reports highlight the potential of technologies generating hydrated electrons for the destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. This study examines the kinetics and mechanisms of these technologies when reacting with ultra-short chain fluorocarboxylates. The results demonstrate a wide range of rate constants and suggest that the reduction of fluorocarboxylates by hydrated electrons occurs through divergent mechanisms.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dingxiang Wang, Jun Ma, Jing Zhang, Timothy J. Strathmann
Summary: This study compared the performance of four carbocatalysts in accelerating sulfisoxazole oxidation by permanganate and found that graphene oxide (GO) exhibited the highest catalytic performance. The permanganate-GO system also showed promising capacities to remove a broad spectrum of organic contaminants. The findings provide insights into the mechanism of the GO-catalyzed redox reaction and demonstrate GO as a simple and effective strategy for enhancing the reactivity of permanganate.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Xinlin Li, Ryther Anderson, H. Christopher Fry, Saied Md Pratik, Wenqian Xu, Subhadip Goswami, Taylor G. Allen, Jierui Yu, Sreehari Surendran Rajasree, Christopher J. Cramer, Garry Rumbles, Diego A. Gomez-Gualdron, Pravas Deria
Summary: Solar energy conversion requires materials with high potential and charge delivery ability. In this study, a semiconducting metal-organic framework (MOF) was synthesized with improved charge conductivity and optical band gap. The MOF showed stable 3D-porous structure and had a band gap of 1.57 eV. Transient absorption spectroscopy revealed long-lived photo-generated charge-transfer state.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Joanna Houska, Laura Stocco, Thomas B. Hofstetter, Urs von Gunten
Summary: Mitigation of byproducts from ozonation of dissolved organic matter (DOM), such as aldehydes and ketones, is hindered by limited knowledge of their precursors and formation pathways. In this study, the stable oxygen isotope composition of H2O2 generated simultaneously with these byproducts was investigated to gain insights into their origins. Through analyzing the 618O values of H2O2, it was found that 16O-16O bonds are preferentially broken in the intermediate Criegee ozonide formed from olefins. Additionally, different reactions and equilibria were proposed to explain the lower 18O enrichment observed in H2O2 from the ozonation of acrylic acid and phenol at pH 7. These findings provide a first step towards understanding pH-dependent H2O2 precursors in DOM.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Akash P. Bhat, William C. K. Pomerantz, William A. Arnold
Summary: The wavelength dependence of photoproduct formation and quantum yields was evaluated for fluorinated pesticides and pharmaceuticals using UV-LEDs. Quantum yields were higher for UV-C wavelengths, and did not correlate with molar absorptivity. Different major products were observed at different wavelengths, and aliphatic-CF2/CF3 products were stable under all wavelengths. The results provide guidance for selecting efficient UV-LED wavelengths and designing fluorinated compounds.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
William A. . Arnold, Arlene Blum, Jennifer Branyan, Thomas A. . Bruton, Courtney C. Carignan, Gino Cortopassi, Sandipan Datta, Jamie DeWitt, Anne-Cooper Doherty, Rolf U. Halden, Homero Harari, Erica M. Hartmann, Terry C. Hrubec, Shoba Iyer, Jonas LaPier, Dingsheng Li, Li Li, Jorge G. Muniz Ortiz, Amina Salamova, Ted Schettler, Carol F. Kwiatkowski, Ryan P. Seguin, Rebecca Sutt, Libin Xu, Guomao Zheng
Summary: Quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), widely used as antimicrobials and preservatives, have experienced increased usage during the COVID-19 pandemic. Studies show increased human exposure to QACs and their adverse environmental and health impacts, leading to the need for a reevaluation of the risks and benefits of their production, use, and disposal.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ori Soker, Shilai Hao, Brian G. Trewyn, Christopher P. Higgins, Timothy J. Strathmann
Summary: Granular activated carbon (GAC) adsorption is commonly used for treating water contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), but it requires frequent replacement and costly off-site thermal regeneration. Hydrothermal alkaline treatment (HALT) was found to effectively degrade and mineralize PFASs, enabling the regeneration of spent GAC. This method shows promise for on-site regeneration of PFAS-contaminated GAC and other adsorbent media, providing an alternative to off-site thermal regeneration practices.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY LETTERS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Thomas F. Mundhenke, Akash P. Bhat, William C. K. Pomerantz, William A. Arnold
Summary: The aqueous photolysis of pharmaceuticals with different fluorinated functional groups was studied, and the fluorine-containing products were identified using quantitative fluorine nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and mass spectrometry. The findings contribute to understanding the formation of organofluorine byproducts in the environment and determining effective water treatment processes for specific pharmaceuticals and fluorinated motifs.
ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY AND CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Stephanie M. M. Berg, Raymond M. M. Hozalski, Camilla Kuo-Dahab, CheFei Chen, Todd J. J. Elliott, Grant J. J. Goedjen, Huan He, Eric R. R. Noe, Roger G. G. Scharf, William A. A. Arnold
Summary: Advanced drinking water treatment methods, such as biological activated carbon (BAC) filtration, ozonation, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), can effectively remove trace organic contaminants. Compared to conventional methods, a pilot-scale lime-softening drinking water treatment plant using BAC alone or in combination with ozone/AOP treatment units showed improved removal of various contaminants.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Huan He, Irene Bueno, Taegyu Kim, Kristine H. Wammer, Timothy M. LaPara, Randall S. Singer, Amanda Beaudoin, William A. Arnold
Summary: This study investigated the geospatial distributions of antibiotics and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in surface waters and their associations with anthropogenic activities. The concentrations of antibiotics and ARGs were measured at 39 sites in the Twin-Cities metropolitan area in Minnesota. The results showed that the presence and concentrations of antibiotics in water samples were positively correlated with urbanization indicators and negatively correlated with undeveloped land indicators, while antibiotics in sediments exhibited a different geospatial distribution. Relative abundances of ARGs were not associated with anthropogenic factors but were inversely related to the organic content of sediments.
Correction
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emily A. Prebihalo, Anna M. Luke, Yernaidu Reddi, Christopher J. LaSalle, Vijay M. Shah, Christopher J. Cramer, Theresa M. Reineke
Summary: Correction: This study provides important theoretical guidance for the synthesis of high-performance polymer materials with special structures by the radical ring-opening polymerization of sustainably-derived thionoisochromanone.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Emily A. Prebihalo, Anna M. Luke, Yernaidu Reddi, Christopher J. LaSalle, Vijay M. Shah, Christopher J. Cramer, Theresa M. Reineke
Summary: In this study, we report the synthesis, characterization, and radical ring-opening polymerization (rROP) capabilities of thionoisochromanone (TIC), a fungi-derivable thionolactone. TIC is the first reported six-membered thionolactone that undergoes homopolymerization under free radical conditions without the need for a dormant comonomer or repeated initiation. The resulting polymer is fully degradable under mild, basic conditions.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nikola Obradovic, Prachi Joshi, Silvan Arn, Meret Aeppli, Martin H. Schroth, Michael Sander
Summary: This study provides evidence that peat particulate organic matter (POM) is present in a reduced state and can be oxidized by dissolved oxygen (DO) at the oxic-anoxic interface in peat soils, acting as a terminal electron acceptor (TEA) and potentially reducing methane emissions.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-BIOGEOSCIENCES
(2023)