Removal of Algae and Algal Toxins from a Drinking Water Source Using a Two-Stage Polymeric Ultrafiltration Membrane Process.

The release of algal toxins in algae-containing water sources poses a serious threat to drinking water safety and human health. The conventional water treatment processes of water plants have a limited ability to remove algae and algal toxins, especially algal toxins with a molecular weight (MW) of less than 1000 Da. To eliminate algal pollution from a water source, a two-stage ultrafiltration (UF) process with a large polysulfone hollow fiber membrane with a MW cut-off of 200 kDa and a small aromatic polyamide roll membrane with a MW cut-off of 1 kDa were applied after a traditional sand filter in a water treatment plant. UF operation conditions, including the operating time, pressure, and membrane flux, were investigated. With an operating pressure of 0.05-0.08 MPa, the polysulfone hollow fiber membrane removed algae effectively, as the influent algal cell concentration ranged from 1-30 cells/mL but exhibited a limited removal of algal toxins. With an operating pressure of 0.3-0.4 MPa, the elimination of microcystins (MCs) reached 96.3% with the aromatic polyamide roll membrane. The operating pressure, membrane flux, and operating time were selected as the experimental factors, and the effects on the UF efficiency to remove algal toxins and biodegradable dissolved organic carbon were investigated by the response surface methodology. The model showed that the order of influence on the membrane operating efficiency was operating pressure > membrane flux > running time. The optimal UF operating conditions were an operating pressure of 0.3 MPa, a membrane flux of 17.5 L/(m2·h), and a running time of 80 min.

Photoluminescence studies of nitrogen-vacancy and silicon-vacancy centers transformation in CVD diamond.

In this study, the low-temperature micro-photoluminescence (PL) technology was employed to investigate the transformation of nitrogen-vacancy (NV), silicon-vacancy (SiV) centers in diamond crystal. Results showed that the NV and SiV luminescence were controlled by electron irradiation followed by thermal annealing. Both centers vanished together with the emergence of neutral single vacancy (GR1 center) after 200 keV electron irradiation. Interstitial related defects and vacancies were activated to diffuse by annealing (above ∼400 and 700 °C, respectively). The vacancies migrated to be captured by N and Si atoms due to the strain fields around the atoms attracted vacancies, and the NV and SiV centers appeared again in the PL spectra. In addition, compared the annealing behavior with NV center, the new emission at 639.7 nm was attributed to the nitrogen combined with carbon interstitials.

Photoluminescence Studies of Both the Neutral and Negatively Charged Nitrogen-Vacancy Center in Diamond.

In this study low temperature micro-photoluminescence technology was employed to investigate effects of the irradiation and nitrogen concentration on nitrogen-vacancy (NV) luminescence, with the photochromic and vibronic properties of the NV defects. Results showed that the NV luminescence was weakened due to recombination of self-interstitials created by electron irradiation in diamond and the vacancies within the structure of NV centers. For very pure diamond, the vacancies migrated the long distance to get trapped by N atoms only after sufficient high temperature annealing. As with the increase in nitrogen content, the migration distance of vacancies got smaller. The nitrogen also favored the formation of negatively charged NV centers with the donating electrons. Under the high-energy ultraviolet laser excitation, the photochromic property of the NV- center was also observed, though it was not stable. Besides, the NV centers showed very strong broad sidebands, and the vibrations involved one phonon with energy of ~42 meV and another with ~67 meV energy.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal synthesis of Cu/Cu2O hollow spheres with enhanced photocatalytic and gas sensing activities at room temperature.

Cu/Cu2O nano-heterostructure hollow spheres with a submicron diameter (200-500 nm) were prepared by a microwave-assisted hydrothermal method using Cu(OAc)2·H2O, PVP and ascorbic acid solution as the precursors. The morphology of the products could evolve with the hydrothermal time from solid spheres to thick-shell hollow spheres, then to thin-shell hollow spheres, and finally to nanoparticles. Moreover, the content of Cu in the products could be controlled by adjusting the hydrothermal time. The spontaneous forming of the hollow structure spheres was found to result from the Ostwald ripening effect during the low temperature (100 °C) hydrothermal reaction process. The photocatalytic degradation activities on MO under visible-light irradiation and the gas sensing activities toward the oxidizing NO2 gas of different Cu/Cu2O nano-heterostructure hollow spheres were investigated. As a result, the Cu/Cu2O nano-heterostructure hollow spheres obtained at the hydrothermal time of 30 min, with a rough/porous thin-shell structure and a Cu content of about 10.5 wt%, exhibited the best photocatalytic and gas sensing performances compared with others.

[Effects of soil acidity on Pinus resinosa seedlings photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence].

Red pine (Pinus resinosa) is one of the most important tree species for timber plantation in North America, and preliminary success has been achieved in its introduction to the mountainous area of Northeast China since 2004. In order to expand its growth area in other parts of Northeast China, a pot experiment was conducted to study the adaptability of this tree species to varying soil acidity. P. resinosa seedlings were grown in soils with different acidity (pH = 4.5, 5.5, 6.5, 7.5, and 8.0) to test the responses of their photosynthesis and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters to soil pH levels, and the appropriate soil acidity was evaluated. Dramatic responses in chlorophyll a and b contents, Pn and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters (Fo, Fm, Fv, Fv/Fm, and phi(PS II)) were detected under different soil acidity (P < 0.05), with the highest chlorophyll content and Pn under soil pH 5.5, and significantly lower chlorophyll content and Pn under soil pH 7.5 and 8.0. The chlorophyll content and Pn were 41% and 50%, and 61% and 88% higher under soil pH 5.5 than under soil pH 7.5 and 8.0. The seedlings had a significant photosynthetic inhibition under soil pH 7.5 and 8.0, but the highest Fv/Fm and phi (PS II) under soil pH 5.5. Comparing with those under soil pH 7.5 and 8.0, the Fv/Fm and phi (PS II) under soil pH 5.5 were 8% and 12%, and 22% and 35% higher, respectively. It was suggested that soil pH 5.5 was most appropriate for P. resinosa growth.