PMS Concentration Research Articles

Synthesis of Novel Fe-CNs-P/S Carbon Materials for Sustainable Water Treatment: Activation of Persulfate for Efficient Tetracycline Degradation

This study presents a novel Fe-CNs-P/S carbon composite material, synthesized by doping elements P and S into NH2-MIL-101 (Fe) using the carbonization method. The material’s application in sustainable water treatment was evaluated, focusing on its effectiveness in activating persulfate for pollutant degradation. The research thoroughly investigates the synthesis process, structural characteristics, and performance in degrading pollutants. The results indicate that Fe-CNs-P/S-5 with 50% P and S co-doping is higher than that of other samples, where the degradation rate of TC in 30 min is as high as 98.11% under the optimum conditions, that is temperature at 25 °C, 0.05 g/L of catalyst concentration, and 0.2 g/L of PMS concentration. The composite material demonstrates robust versatility and stability, maintaining high degradation efficiency across multiple organic pollutants, with no significant reduction in catalytic performance after four cycles. Furthermore, the free radical quenching experiments display that the singlet oxygen 1O2 is the main active species. It is demonstrated that the doping of P and S play a role in the enhancement of PMS activation over the Fe-CNs-P/S catalyst. This material demonstrates remarkable efficacy in treating a range of organic contaminants and exhibits excellent reusability, presenting a promising approach for enhancing sustainability in water treatment applications.

Insight in sulfadiazine degradation by peroxymonosulfate activated by polydopamine-derived nitrogen-doped carbon supported CoFe2O4: Co leaching inhibition and degradation enhancement

Heterogeneous catalyst-mediated sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes (SR-AOPs) showed excellent performance during antibiotics degradation. Spinel was a promising catalyst for SR-AOPs, but the secondary contamination due to metal ions leaching needed to be addressed. And the destruction of catalyst structure could lead to the reduction of catalytic activity and the difficulty of recovery. Thus, a novel nitrogen-doped carbon (NC)-supported CoFe2O4 (CoFe2O4@NC) was synthesized as the activator of PMS for sulfadiazine (SDZ) degradation under low Co leaching conditions. The consequences indicated that the CoFe2O4@NC/PMS system exhibited higher PMS decomposition efficiency and reaction stoichiometry efficiency than the bare CoFe2O4/PMS systems (CoFe2O4-180 and CoFe2O4-800), which in turn demonstrated a better SDZ removal performance. Under the condition of CoFe2O4@NC dosage 0.1 g/L, PMS concentration 0.5 mM, solution pH 6.8 and temperature 25°C, SDZ (20 mg/L) was almost completely degraded within 60 min. XPS analysis showed that the NC not only protected and stabilized CoFe2O4, but also provided additional active sites for PMS activation. During SDZ degradation, SO4•−, HO•, •O2− and 1O2 were involved in the reaction, among which SO4• and HO• made the main contribution. Meanwhile, CoFe2O4@NC could be recovered by magnetic separation, and showed great stability (Co leaching 0.852 mg/L) and reusability. In the fifth cycle experiment, 85.02 % SDZ degradation was obtained. Based on the detected intermediates (12 intermediates were identified) and DFT calculations, possible degradation pathways for SDZ in CoFe2O4@NC/PMS were proposed. The condensed dual descriptor indicated that the N7, N11, and C15 atoms on SDZ molecule were the main sites of electrophilic attack, which was consistent with the detected intermediates. The degradation of SDZ involved hydroxylation of NH2, cleavage of S−N and extrusion of SO2. This study explored the improvements made in NC support material to catalytic performance and resistance to dissolution of spinel, providing new insights for subsequent researches.

Visible-light-assisted peroxymonosulfate activation using MIL-88A(Fe)/BiOI heterojunction composite to drive charge transport for eliminating acid red 18

A novel rod-shaped MIL-88A(Fe)/BiOI heterojunction composite is fabricated by an in-suit chemical deposition method for visible-light-assisted peroxymonosulfate activation to eliminate AR18 (acid red 18). A series of x%MIL-88A(Fe)/BiOI are obtained according to the mass ratio of MIL-88A(Fe) to BiOI. Among them, 30 %MIL-88A(Fe)/BiOI could remove 97.79 % AR18 within 40 minutes. The reaction parameters on this process are investigated, such as PMS concentration, catalyst dosage, initial pH and dye concentration. The optimal conditions are determined to be [catalyst]= 1 g·L−1, [PMS]=1 mM, pH=7.02. The scavenging experiments and EPR analysis manifest that 1O2 is the main active species for AR18 degradation. In accordance with the band structure, active species, XPS, PL, EIS and photocurrent response, the Z-scheme electron transfer path of the composite catalyst is proved under 500 W (λ > 420 nm) Xenon lamp irradiation. In the end, the stability and universality of the composite catalyst in practical application are evaluated by three cyclic tests and inorganic anion experiments. This work provides valuable guidance for synthesizing efficient and stable MOF based heterojunction photocatalysts.

Unveiling electron transfer and radical transformation pathways in coupled electrocatalysis and persulfate oxidation reactions for complex pollutant removal

The degradation of multiple organic pollutants in wastewater via advanced oxidation processes might involve different radicals, of which the types and concentrations vary upon interacting with different pollutants. In this study, electrochemical activation of peroxymonosulfate (E/PMS) using advanced activated carbon cloth (ACC) as electrode was applied for simultaneous degradation of mixed pollutants, e.g., metronidazole (MNZ) and p-chloroaniline (PCA). 92.5 % of MNZ and 91.4 % of PCA can be degraded at the cathode and anode at a low current density and PMS concentration, respectively. The rate constants for the simultaneous removal of MNZ and PCA in the E/PMS/MNZ(PCA) system were 118 times and 6 times higher than those in the sole PMS system, and 2.5 times and 1.6 times higher than those in the E/Na2SO4/MNZ(PCA) system, respectively. Different electrochemical characteristics, EPR spectra and radical quenching tests verified that the degradation of MNZ and PCA in the optimal system proceeded primarily through non-radical-dominated oxidation, involving electron transfer and 1O2 effect. The system also exhibited low energy consumption (0.215 kWh/m−3·order−1), broad operational pH range, excellent removal efficiency for water matrix, and low by-products toxicity, indicating its strong potential for practical applications. The ACC, with its super stable, low cost, and electrochemical activity, make it as a promising materials applicable in the E/PMS system for degradation of multiple pollutants. The study further elucidated the mechanism of pollutant interaction with electrode materials in terms of radical and non-radical transformation, providing fundamental insight into the application of this system for treatment of complex wastewater.

Enhanced removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria and resistance genes by three-dimensional electrochemical process using MgFe2O4-loaded biochar as both particle electrode and catalyst for peroxymonosulfate activation

In this study, MgFe2O4-loaded biochar (MFBC) was used as a three-dimensional particle electrode to active peroxymonosulfate (EC/MFBC/PMS) for the removal of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) and antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). The results demonstrated that, under the conditions of 1.0 mM PMS concentration, 0.4 g/L material dosage, 5 V voltage intensity, and MFBC preparation temperature of 600 °C, the EC/MFBC600/PMS system achieved complete inactivation of E. coli DH5α within 5 min and the intracellular sul1 was reduced by 81.5 % after 30 min of the treatment. Compared to EC and PMS alone treatments, the conjugation transfer frequency of sul1 rapidly declined by 92.9 % within 2 min. The cell membrane, proteins, lipids, as well as intracellular and extracellular ARGs in E. coli DH5α were severely damaged by free radicals in solution and intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Furthermore, up-regulation was observed in genes associated with oxidative stress, SOS response and cell membrane permeability in E. coli DH5α, however, no significant changes were observed in functional genes related to gene conjugation and transfer mechanisms. This study would contribute to the underlying of PMS activation by three-dimensional particle electrode, and provide novel insights into the mechanism of ARB inactivation and ARGs degradation under PMS advanced oxidation treatment.

Short-term associations between ambient PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 and hospital admissions, length of hospital stays, and hospital expenses for patients with cardiovascular diseases in rural areas of Fuyang, East China

ABSTRACT Evidence on the impacts of PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 on the hospital admissions, length of hospital stays (LOS), and hospital expenses among patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD) is still limited in China, especially in rural areas. This study was performed in eight counties of Fuyang from 1 January 2015 to 30 June 2017. We use a three-stage time-series analysis to explore the effects of short-term exposure to PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 on hospital admissions, LOS, and hospital expenses for CVDs. An increment of 10 ug/m3 in PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 corresponded to an increment of 1.82% (95% CI: 1.34, 2.30), 0.96% (95% CI: 0.44, 1.48), and 0.79% (95% CI: 0.63%, 0.95%) in CVD hospital admissions, respectively. We observed that daily concentrations of PMs were associated with an increase in hospital admissions, LOS, and expenses for CVDs. Sustained endeavors are required to reduce air pollution so as to attenuate disease burdens from CVDs.

Degradation of Azo Dye Orange II Using BiOI/HKUST-1 Activated Persulfate under Visible Light Irradiation

Type I semiconductor heterojunction BiOI/HKUST-1 composites were prepared through a solvothermal method, with optimisation of the molar ratio and solvothermal reaction temperature. Comprehensive characterisation was conducted to assess the physical and chemical properties of the prepared materials. These composites were then evaluated for their ability to activate persulfate (PMS) and degrade high concentrations of azo dye orange II (AO7) under visible light conditions. The influence of various parameters, including catalyst dosage, PMS dosage, and initial AO7 concentration, were investigated. The AO7 degradation followed a pseudo-second order kinetic, and under visible light irradiation for 60 min, a degradation efficiency of 94.9% was achieved using a BiOI/HKUST-1 dosage of 0.2 g/L, a PMS concentration of 0.5 mmol/L, and an AO7 concentration of 200 mg/L. The degradation process involved a synergistic action of various active species, with O2−, 1O2, and h+ playing a pivotal role. Both BiOI and HKUST-1 could be excited by visible light, leading to the generation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs (e−-h+); BiOI can efficiently scavenge the generated e−, enhancing the separation rate of e−-h+ and subsequently improving the degradation efficiency of AO7. These findings highlight the excellent photocatalytic properties of BiOI/HKUST-1, making it a promising candidate for catalysing PMS to enhance the degradation of azo dyes in environmental waters.

Efficient activation of persulfate for tetracycline hydrochloride degradation by biochar prepared from corn stover doped with organic phosphorus sources

Proposed to prepare phosphorus-doped biochar catalyst materials by impregnation pyrolysis method using corn stover and different phosphorus source precursors as raw materials, and the batch-wise research revealed that the phosphorus source precursor, the doping ratio, and the pyrolysis temperature had a significant influence on the biochar properties. The biochar material Pb-C-4–600 prepared with (C4H9)3PO4 as phosphorus source precursor, 1:4 doping ratio, and pyrolysis temperature of 600 ℃ had an ID/IG = 0.914, pore size of 4.91 nm, and specific surface area of 173.9845 m²/g, which was 93.4 times higher than that of the pure biochar. The removal rate of TCH reached 99.77 % in 30 min under the reaction conditions of PMS concentration of 2 g/L, Pb-C-4–600 dosage of 1 g/L, and pH 3. Comparing the efficacy of Pb-C-4–600 and different catalysts for the degradation of TCH by activated PMS under the same reaction conditions, the degradation reaction rate of Pb-C-4–600 was 0.17663 min−1, which was 1.48 times higher than that of N-bio, 1.67 times higher than that of S-bio, and 2.64 times higher than that of B-bio, which further demonstrating the advantages of Pb-C-4–600 in similar composites. The oxidative degradation performance of other typical organic pollutants (BPA, phenol, AO7) was also good. The prominent reactive oxidizing radical in the system of Pb-C-4–600/PMS was SO4·−, and the system could adapt to a wide pH range.

Degradation of phenol by peroxymonosulfate catalyzed by cerium-doped amino-functionalized metal-organic frameworks (NH2-MIL-101 (Fe, Ce))

As an organic pollutant difficult to be degraded in water bodies, phenol is toxic even at low concentrations. Therefore, studying the degradation technology of phenol is of great significance. In order to investigate the effect of transition metal doping on the performance of oxidative degradation of phenol by the persulfate activated by metal-organic frameworks, the different doping levels of Ce were tested based on the NH2-MIL-101(Fe). Then, NH2-MIL-101(Fe,Ce) with different Fe/Ce ratios was successfully prepared by solvothermal method. They were characterized by means of XRD, SEM, TEM, XPS and FT-IR. Selecting phenol as the target pollutant, the NH2-MIL-101(Fe,Ce)/PMS system was constructed to study the degradation rate. The factors of the different temperature, initial pH, anions, Ce doping ratios, catalyst dosage and PMS concentration were investigated. The mechanism of degradation of phenol for the above system was analyzed through free radical burst test, and the metal ion dissolution of catalytic materials in simulated wastewater treatment process was monitored by ICP-OES instrument. Finally, the intermediate products of phenol in the degradation process were inferred using LC-MS method. The results showed that when the molar ratio of Ce/(Ce+Fe) was 15 %, under the same reaction conditions, NH2-MIL-101(Fe,Ce)-15 % (referred to as NM-15 %) had the highest degradation rate for phenol. After the 50 min, phenol could be almostly completely removed, with K value of 0.059 min−1. This system could achieve the efficient degradation of phenol under the range of pH values (pH=3–9). The results of the free radical burst test and the free radical trapping test showed that the dominant oxidising groups were SO4•−, •OH, •O2− and non-free radical 1O2.

Conjugating HA bundles with ZIF-8 for catalytic degradation of tetracycline and antibacterial capacity

The overused of antibiotics had led to major environmental issues and drug-resistant bacteria, which inevitably harmed the environment and public health. In this work, in order to obtain environmentally friendly bi-functional materials to combat with residual antibiotics and bacterial contamination, ZIF-8, a typical Zn based zeolitic imidazolate framework (ZnZIF) with excellent chemical stability, was conjugated to hydroxyapatite nanowire bundles (HAnBs) by a simple in-situ synthesis. The obtained ZnZIFs@HAnBs was characterized by SEM, EDS, XPS, FT-IR, XRD and BET. The effects of catalysts, catalyst dosage, TC initial concentration, PMS concentration and pH on TC degradation were investigated. Notably, ZnZIFs@HAnBs (94.0 %) exhibited excellent degradation effect of tetracycline (TC) within 15 min, which was 1.7 and 5.2 times than that of ZIF-8 (55.9 %) and HAnBs (18.1 %) under optimal conditions, respectively. Moreover, after recycling 10 times, the degradation rate still more than 86.8 %. The degradation mechanism was confirmed by free radical quenching experiment coupling with electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and the 1O2 and O2•- were the major reactive oxygen species in TC degradation. Furthermore, it presented excellent antibacterial activity (95.0 %) against E. coli and S. aureus, which was attributed to the synergistic effect of sustained release of Zn2+ and phosphate in ZnZIF@HAnBs. In summary, an eco-friendly bi-functional materials of HA nanowire bundles could be synthesized by simple strategy, and it could be applied in the fields of environmental remediation, as well as in treatment of antibiotic and bacterial pollution.

Efficiency and mechanism of phosphoric acid modified biochar loaded nanoscale zero-valent iron activated peroxymonosulfate for the degradation of bisphenol A

The degradation efficiency of bisphenol A (BPA) using sulfate radical-based advanced oxidation processes still requires further improvement. Herein, we prepared phosphoric acid-modified biochar-supported nZVI (PBC/nZVI) through liquid-phase reduction. Under optimized conditions, including a PBC/nZVI dosage of 1.2 g/L, pH 9.0, and PMS concentration of 2.0 mmol/L, the BPA degradation rate reached up to 92.66 % within 60 min with the mineralization rate of 45.5 %. The presence of Cl−, HCO3− and CO32− promoted the degradation of BPA, while NO3− had minimal effect. Conversely, H2PO4− and humic acid exhibited varying degrees of inhibition. The degradation of BPA involved four reactive oxygen species (•OH, SO4•−, O2•−, and 1O2), with 1O2 playing a prominent role. The pathways of •OH-induced oxidation and SO4•−-induced hydroxylation were identified as the mechanisms through which BPA was degraded. These findings highlighted the potential of PBC/nZVI as a rapid and efficient material for BPA degradation.

Iron complex regulated synergistic effect between the current and peroxymonosulfate enhanced ultrafast oxidation of perfluorooctanoic acid via free radical dominant electrochemical reaction

Iron complex regulated electrochemical reaction was triggered for revealing the reaction mechanism, degradation pathway, and applied potential of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). The increased PMS concentrations, electrode spacing, and current density significantly enhanced PFOA elimination, with current density exhibiting a relatively strong interdependency to PFOA complete mineralization. The synergy between PMS and electrochemical reactions greatly accelerated PFOA decomposition by promoting the generation of key reaction sites, such as those for PMS activation and electrochemical processes, under various conditions. Furthermore, density functional theory calculations confirmed that the reciprocal transformation of Fe2+ and Fe3+ complexes was feasible under the electrochemical effect, further promoting the generation of active sites. The developed electrochemical oxidation with PMS reaction (EO/PMS) system can rapidly decompose and mineralize PFOA while maintaining strong tolerance to changing water matrices and organic and inorganic ions. Overall, it holds promise for use in treating and purifying wastewater containing PFOA.

Performance and mechanism of magnetic Fe3O4@MnO2 catalyst for rapid degradation of methylene blue by activation of peroxymonosulfate

A flower ball shaped magnetic Fe3O4@MnO2 core-shell catalyst has been synthesized and the average diameter is about 135–180 nm. The Fe3O4@MnO2 (140.6 m2 g−1) showed a larger specific surface area than Fe3O4 (64.6 m2 g−1) due to the thin film like nature of MnO2. The Fe3O4@MnO2 exhibited a great degradation performance for methylene blue (MB, 20 mg L−1, pH=7) after the addition of peroxymonosulfate (PMS, 0.18 g L−1) when the dosage of Fe3O4@MnO2 is 0.3 g L−1, which reached 98% within 20 min. Additionally, the influences of catalyst dosage, PMS concentration and initial pH value of MB solution have been studied to maximize the catalytic performance of Fe3O4@MnO2. Results showed that the increase of catalyst dosage and PMS concentration have improved the degradation efficiency and reaction rate of MB. However, the effect of pH on MB removal was complex and has been analyzed. According to XPS and quenching studies, the degradation effects of free radicals produced by catalyst-activated PMS on MB followed the order 1O2> •OH> SO4•−. This research demonstrates that Fe3O4@MnO2 is an effective catalyst for the degradation of organic dye MB.

Photochemical degradation of bromocresol green dye by UV/Co2+ process via activation of peroxymonosulfate: a mechanistic approach

Abstract This study is focused on the application of the ultraviolet/peroxymonosulfate/cobaltous cation (UV/PMS/Co2+) (cobalt II ion) system for the successful degradation of bromocresol green (BCG) dye in an aqueous solution. The influences of different variables like initial PMS concentration, pH of the media, and catalyst dose in terms of BCG degradation were studied. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the UV/PMS/Co2+ system for the degradation of BCG was performed in different water systems (i.e., deionized water, tap water, and industrial wastewater). UV and UV–PMS systems alone contributed 13 and 67%, respectively, in the degradation of BCG with the kapp values of 0.006 and 0.0297 min−1, respectively. It was observed that by the incorporation of Co2+ in the UV–PMS system, the degradation of BCG was significantly increased from 67 to 98% with the corresponding increase in kapp values to 0.0931 min−1. The scavenger results revealed the SO4•- and •OH radicals are the dominant species involved in the BCG removal. The toxicity data showed that the UV/PMS/Co2+ method considerably reduced the toxicity of textile effluent. In addition, seven BCG degradation products (DPs) have been identified experimentally using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS). In conclusion, the UV/PMS/Co2+ procedure can be used to effectively cleanse and detoxify wastewater.

Degradation of tetracycline by heat/peroxymonosulfate and ultrasound/peroxymonosulfate systems: performance and kinetics.

In recent decades, water pollution caused by emerging contaminants such as pharmaceuticals, has attracted much attention. Antibiotics are commonly used pharmaceuticals, and their residue in water may accelerate the development of antibiotic resistance genes, which can produce resistance to the treatment of diseases. In this study, two energy-based systems, heat/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and ultrasound (US)/PMS were chosen to treat the typical antibiotic tetracycline (TC) in water. The influencing factors and kinetic equations of TC degradation by heat/PMS and US/PMS were investigated and the rates of TC degradation by the two systems were compared. The results showed that the optimal PMS concentration required for TC degradation in both systems was 0.3 mM, and neither system was affected by solution pH. The power of the US in the US/PMS system was as important as the temperature in the heat/PMS system because they provided activation energy. Both heat and US could activate PMS to degrade TC, and US was slightly superior with 80% TC removal under the conditions of [TC] = 20 mg/L, [PMS] = 0.3 mM, pH = 6.4, T = 20 °C, and US power = 550 W. US is considered to be more advantageous in activating PMS to degrade TC.

Degradation of humic acid by UV/PMS: process comparison, influencing factors, and degradation mechanism.

In natural water bodies, humic acid (HA), generated during the chlorination disinfection process at water treatment plants, can produce halogenated disinfection by-products, increasing the risk to drinking water safety and posing a threat to human health. Effectively removing HA from natural waters is a critical focus of environmental research. This study established a synergistic ultraviolet/peroxymonosulfate (UV/PMS) system to remove HA from water. It compared the efficacy of various UV/advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) on HA degradation, and assessed the influence of different water sources, initial pH, oxidant concentration, and anions (HCO3 -, Cl-, NO3 -) on HA degradation. The degradation mechanism of HA by the UV/PMS process was also investigated. Results showed that under the conditions of 3 mmol L-1 PMS concentration, 10 mg L-1 HA concentration, initial solution pH of 7, and a reaction time of 240 minutes, the mineralization rate of HA by UV/PMS reached 94.15%. The pseudo-first-order kinetic constant (k obs) was 0.01034 and the single-electric energy (EE/O) was 0.0157 kW h m-3, indicating superior HA removal efficiency compared to other systems. Common anions (HCO3 -, Cl-, NO3 -) in water were found to inhibit the degradation of HA, and acidic conditions were more conducive to HA removal, with the optimal pH being 3. Free radical quenching experiments showed that both sulfate radical (SO4 -˙) and hydroxyl radical (˙OH) radicals were involved in HA degradation, with SO4 -˙ being the primary oxidant and ˙OH as the auxiliary species. Analyses using 3D-excitation-emission matrix (EEM), parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), specific fluorescence index, and absorbance demonstrated that UV/PMS technology could effectively degrade HA in water. This study provides theoretical references for further research on the removal of HA and other organic substances using UV/PMS technology.

Identifying source apportionment of atmospheric particulate matter and gaseous pollutants using receptor models : A case study of Bengaluru, India

The data of Particulate matter PMs (PM2.5, PM10) and Gaseous Pollutants such as carbon monoxide (CO), methane (CH4), oxides of nitrogen (NOx: NO and NO2), non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHCs), sulfur dioxide (SO2), along with ammonia (NH3) at five different locations across Bengaluru from 1st January, 2017 to 20th March, 2018 were collected. The primary objective of this research work is to identify the sources of atmospheric particulate matter and gaseous pollutants using receptor models in Bengaluru, India. To execute this, receptor models, namely Conditional Bivariate Probability Function (CBPF) and Concentrated Weighted Trajectory (CWT) Analysis, are applied. Conditional Bivariate Probability Function (CBPF) shows that, annually, the maximum concentrations of PMs over receptor sites were detected during low wind speed (< 2 knots) along the north-east direction specifying that the long-range transport does not play an essential role in the transportation of higher concentrations of PM and their primary source region may be localized. Concentrated Weighted Trajectory (CWT) analysis shows that, seasonally, the highest air mass contribution of about 37% was noticed in summer, whereas the lowest was in the post-monsoon season (13%). The significant contribution of PM2.5 transported from long distances was during monsoon, and in the case of PM10, it was in summer. The study suggests that the long-range transport of PMs and gaseous Pollutants was not vital and was observed to be localized.

Efficient degradation of ciprofloxacin in wastewater by CuFe2O4/CuS photocatalyst activated peroxynomosulfate

In this study, CuFe2O4/CuS composite photocatalysts were successfully synthesized for the activation of peroxynomosulfate to remove ciprofloxacin from wastewater. The structural composition and morphology of the materials were analyzed by XRD, SEM, TEM, and Raman spectroscopy. The electrochemical properties of the samples were tested by an electrochemical workstation. The band gap of the samples was calculated by DFT and compared with the experimental values. The effects of different catalysts, oxidant PMS concentrations, and coexisting ions on the experiments were investigated. The reusability and stability of the photocatalysts were also investigated. The mechanism of the photocatalytic degradation process was proposed based on the free radical trapping experiment. The results show that the p-p heterojunction formed between the two contact surfaces of the CuFe2O4 nanoparticle and CuS promoted the charge transfer between the interfaces and inhibited the recombination of electrons and holes. CuFe2O4-5/CuS photocatalyst has the best catalytic activity, and the removal rate of ciprofloxacin is 93.7%. The intermediates in the degradation process were tested by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), and the molecular structure characteristics of ciprofloxacin were analyzed by combining with DFT calculations. The possible degradation pathways of pollutants were proposed. This study reveals the great potential of the photocatalyst CuFe2O4/CuS in the activation of PMS for the degradation of ciprofloxacin wastewater.

Peroxymonosulfate-assisted visible light sensitive 0D/3D Z-scheme NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 photocatalyst for effective degradation of ibuprofen in water

Herein, a 0D/3D NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 Z-scheme photocatalyst was successfully synthesized to degrade ibuprofen (IBP) in a photocatalytic system in the presence of PMS under visible light. The 5%-NiCo2O4@g-C3N4 exhibited the highest IBP degradation performance at 96% IBP removal in 60 min in the near-neutral pH range of 6 to 9. Factors such as PMS concentration, pH, catalyst dosage, IBP concentration, and temperature on IBP degradation were studied. Scavenging tests and EPR analyses confirmed the role of main reactive species, including h+, 1O2, and SO4−, in IBP degradation. The photocatalytic degradation products of IBP were more benign than the parent compound. Experiments on cyclic degradation and analyses of fresh and used photocatalysts corroborated the remarkable stability of NiCo2O4@g-C3N4. This study established a new framework for developing effective PMS photo-activator in the remediation of impaired water.

Influence of air pollution on NSTEMI incidence and acute coronary syndrome mortality - the 10-year community-level analysis including 80 million patient-years. EP-PARTICLES study

Abstract Introduction During the last years, air pollution has emerged as an important modifiable cardiovascular risk factor. Most research focused on heavy-polluted agglomerations and big cities, neglecting its influence on cardiovascular health in smaller cities and villages. Purpose The study aimed to assess the spatio-temporal trends and the influence of air pollution on the non-ST-elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) incidence and acute coronary syndrome (ACS) mortality in an urban and rural environment. Moreover, the study aimed to investigate whether there is a connection between the influence of air pollution on hospitalization and cause-specific mortality. Methods The analysis included data on 7 main air pollutants in 709 communities in Eastern Poland in 2011-2020. Mortality data were obtained from National Health Fund and daily air pollution concentrations for each community were obtained from National Public Health Institute. Time-stratified panel data Poisson regression techniques were used. The influence of each air pollutant was analysed at a single-day lag (0-6 days) and multi-day lag (0-1, 0-6, 0-30 days) and presented as an odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI) for an increase in 10 μg/m3. Results Incidence of NSTEMI was associated with exposition to benzo-a-pyrene (BaP) on all analysed lag patterns (OR 1.121, 95% CI 1.075-1.168 for lag 0, OR 1.241, 95% CI 1.169-1.317 for lag 0-30) and to particulate matter with a diameter of <10 and <2.5 μm (PM10, PM2.5), CO and NO2 on the most of analysed lag patterns (OR 1.01, 95% CI 1.005-1.015 for PM10 on lag 0, OR 1.013, 95% CI 1.007-1.02 for PM2.5 on lag 0, OR 1.017, OR 1.002, 95% CI 1.001-1.003 for CO on lag 0, 95% CI 1.007-1.028 for NO2 on lag 0). O3 and SO2 had a protective influence on NSTEMI incidence on longer lags (OR 0.984, 95% CI 0.977-0.992 for O3 on lag 0-30, OR 0.978, 95% CI 0.963-0.993 for SO2 on lag 5) Mortality due to the ACS was associated with an increase in NO2 and CO concentrations on all lag patterns (OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.02-1.04 for NO2 on lag 0, OR 1.089, 95% CI 1.068-1.11 for NO2 on lag 0-30, OR 1.003, 95% CI 1.002-1.004 for CO on lag 0, OR 1.089, 95% CI 1.068-1.11 for CO on lag 0-30). PMs concentrations had a protective effect on ACS mortality on all lag patterns (OR 0.971, 95% CI 0.966-0.976 for PM10 on lag 0, OR 0.964, 95% CI 0.958-0.971 for PM2.5 on lag 0). Conclusions An increase in most of the major air pollutants concentrations have an influence on NSTEMI incidence. Different lag patterns for air pollutants suggest various mechanisms of detrimental effect. Cause-specific mortality analysis showed the results mostly opposite to incidence analysis. It suggests that a high rate of garbage codes may prevent high-quality population analysis focusing on cause-specific mortality. The development of air quality monitoring stations and the correct use of ICD-10 diagnoses may be crucial in drawing important conclusions from environmental studies.