Efficient photocatalysis of tetracycline hydrochloride(TC-HCl) from pharmaceutical wastewater using AgCl/ZnO/g-C_(3)N_(4) composite under visible light: Process and mechanisms

AgCl/ZnO/g-C_(3)N_(4), a visible light activated ternary composite catalyst, was prepared by combining calcination, hydrothermal reaction and in-situ deposition processes to treat/photocatalyse tetracycline hydrochloride(TC-HCl) from pharmaceutical wastewater under visible light. The morphological, structural, electrical, and optical features of the novel photocatalyst were characterized using scanning electron microscopy(SEM), UV-visible light absorption spectrum(UV–Vis DRS), X-ray diffractometer(XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy(XPS), and transient photocurrent techniques. All analyses confirmed that the formation of heterojunctions between AgCl/ZnO and g-C_(3)N_(4)significantly increase electron-hole transfer and separation compared to pure ZnO and g-C_(3)N_(4). Thus, AgCl/ZnO/g-C_(3)N_(4)could exhibit superior photocatalytic activity during TC-HCl assays(over 90% removal) under visible light irradiation. The composite could maintain its photocatalytic stability even after four consecutive reaction cycles. Hydrogen peroxide(H_(2)O_(2)) and superoxide radical(·O_(2)) contributed more than holes(h+) and hydroxyl radicals(·OH) to the degradation process as showed by trapping experiments. Liquid chromatograph-mass spectrometer(LC-MS) was used for the representation of the TC-HCl potential degradation pathway. The applicability and the treatment potential of AgCl/ZnO/gC_(3)N_(4)against actual pharmaceutical wastewater showed that the composite can achieve removal efficiencies of 81.7%, 71.4% and 69.0% for TC-HCl, chemical oxygen demand(COD) and total organic carbon(TOC) respectively. AgCl/ZnO/g-C_(3)N_(4)can be a prospective key photocatalyst in the field of degradation of persistent, hardly-degradable pollutants, from industrial wastewater and not only.

FULL TIME-SPACE GOVERNANCE STRATEGY AND TECHNOLOGY FOR CROPLAND NON-POINT POLLUTION CONTROL IN CHINA

Ensuring food safety while reducing agricultural non-point source pollution is quite challenging,especially in developing and underdeveloped countries.Effective systematic strategies and comprehensive technologies need to be developed for agricultural non-point source pollution control at the watershed scale to improve surface water quality.In this review,a proposal is made for a full time-space governance strategy that prioritizes source management followed by endpoint water pollution control.The 4R chain technology system is specifically reviewed,including source reduction,process retention,nutrient reuse and water restoration.The 4R chain technology system with the full time-space governance strategy was applied at the scale of an administrative village and proved to be a feasible solution for reducing agricultural non-point source pollution in China.In the future,a monitoring system needs to be established to trace N and P transport.Additionally,new smart fertilizer and intelligent equipment need to be developed,and relevant governance standards and supportive policies need to be set to enhance the efficacy of agricultural non-point source pollution control.

Unraveling natural aging-induced properties change of sludge-derived hydrochar and enhanced cadmium sorption site heterogeneity

Hydrochar has potential applications in soil improvement and heavy metal remediation.Hydrochar would undergo the process of aging when introduced into the soil,altering its properties.However,recent studies have focused mainly on the artificial aging of hydrochar,which could not reveal the cumulative effect of multiple environmental factors.Therefore,the periodical monitoring of the property and sorption behavior of hydrochar after amending soils is necessary to better understand the multifaceted mechanisms associated with the natural aging of hydrochar.This study selected the sludge-derived hydrochar(SLHC)as a typical hydrochar and applied a 16-month rice-wheat-rice rotation to mimic the natural aging of hydrochar,focusing on changing properties and cadmium(Cd)sorption and literature contrast between aging strategies and biochar types.The porosity,O abundance,and ash content of 16-month aged SLHC increased by 37%,47%,and 8.5%,respectively,facilitating Cd sorption due to surface complexation,pore sorption,and precipitation.The sorption percentage of Cd to SLHC was in the range of 11-14%for SLHC-A0 and increased to 17-31%for SLHC-A4 and 20-32%for SLHC-A16 after natural aging.The natural aging of SLHC induced by ash content played an essential role in Cd sorption site heterogeneity.Linear regression analysis showed that aging strategies on sorption behavior significantly differed between biochars.Thus,studies involving natural aging with multiple environmental factors are preferred over those involving chemical or biological aging.Future studies should continue to explore the mechanisms of natural aging-induced heavy metal sorption between hydrochar and pyrochar.These results improve insights to appraise the potential of SLHC as soil amendments to alleviate the adverse effects of heavy metal contamination and provide an essential basis for researchers and staff in soil management and environmental prevention.

Raw material of water-washed hydrochar was critical for the mitigation of GHGI in infertile paddy soil:a column experiment

Water washing is a meaningful method to improve the surface’characteristic of hydrochar produced using hydrothermal carbonization and minimize the negative effect on crop growth.However,the greenhouse effect resulting from water-washed hydrochar application was unclear in agricultural ecosystems.Hence,the effect of water-washed hydrochar on methane and nitrous oxide emissions was analyzed in an infertile paddy soil based on a soil-column experiment.Sawdust-derived hydro-char(WSH)and wheat straw-derived hydrochar(WWH)after water washing were selected and applied with low(5‰,w/w;8.5 t ha^(−1))or high addition rate(15‰,w/w;25.5 t ha^(−1)).The study indicated that water-washed hydrochar could increase the grain yield;the difference between WWH with 5‰application rate and CKU treatments was significant.WSH signifi-cantly decreased CH4 and N2O emissions in comparison with WWH addition treatments.For the same material,there were trends in reducing greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions at low application rate,although the differences were not significant.Compared with all treatments,WSH with 5‰application rate achieved the lowest seasonal emissions for both GHGs.The mcrA gene was the critical factor affecting CH4 emission;soil NO_(3)^(−)-N concentration and the copy numbers of nirK,nirS,and nosZ jointly affected N2O emissions.Benefits from the high yield and low global warming potential,GHG emission intensity(GHGI)at low application rate was lower than at high application rate for WSH.Overall,the response of GHG emissions to water-washed hydrochar varies with the derived feedstock;WSH is a good additive for the mitigation of GHGI.