Synthesis of nano-sized Ag3PW12O40/ZnO heterojunction as a photocatalyst for degradation of organic pollutants under simulated sunlight

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) and TiO2/copper (denoted as TC) composite were prepared via hydrothermal process. In the meantime, divinylbenzene (DVB) and bismaleimide (BMI) monomers were allowed to participate in in-situ radical polymerization in the presence of azobisisobutyronitrile (AIBN) initiator to afford porous polymers (abridged as PP). The as-obtained PP were mixed together with tetrabutyl titanate (TBT) and CuSO4·5H2O in vacuum to obtain PP/TC composite (denoted as PPTC) containing incorporated TC composite in the pores of PP. The as-prepared TiO2, TC, and PPTC were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, fluorescence spectrometry, and electron spin resonance spectrometry, and so on. Furthermore, their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of N,N-dimethylformamide, methyl orange, phenol, and methylene blue under the irradiation of simulated sunlight (Xe lamp light) and natural sunlight were investigated. Findings indicated that, whether under simulated sunlight or nature sunlight irradiation, PPTC exhibited much better photocatalytic performance than TiO2 and TC for the degradation of the tested organic pollutants. Particularly, it allowed N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) to be degraded by a rate of 73.7% under simulated sunlight irradiation and it retained photocatalytic activity even after six cycles of reuse, exhibiting promising potential for the removal of organic pollutants in wastewater (including industrial water, aquaculture wastewater, and domestic sewage). The desired photocatalytic performance of the as-prepared PPTC is attributed to two aspects. Namely, the incorporation of Cu2+ into the fine structure of TiO2 contributes to increasing photocatalyst activity and producing more free radical while the embedding of TC composite into the PP pores improves to the contact area between the photocatalyst and organic pollutants, and both are beneficial for improving the adsorption capacity and activity of the photocatalyst, thereby enhancing the degradation of the organic pollutants.

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Geographic variation of persistent organic pollutants in Hawaiian monk seals Monachus schauinslandi in the main Hawaiian Islands

Endangered Species Research ◽

10.3354/esr00602 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 24 (3) ◽

pp. 249-262 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

J Lopez ◽

KD Hyrenbach ◽

C Littnan ◽

GM Ylitalo

Keyword(s):

Geographic Variation ◽

Organic Pollutants ◽

Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽

Hawaiian Islands ◽

Monachus Schauinslandi ◽

Monk Seals

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Evaluating Risk After a Hazardous Waste Treatment Plant Released Persistent Organic Pollutants: Part 3, Aboriginal Health Risk and Impact

Case Studies in the Environment ◽

10.1525/cse.2018.001099 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 2 (1) ◽

pp. 1-7 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Tee L. Guidotti

Keyword(s):

Health Risk ◽

Organic Pollutants ◽

Persistent Organic Pollutants ◽

Waste Treatment ◽

Treatment Plant ◽

Aboriginal Health ◽

Treatment Center ◽

Hazardous Waste Treatment ◽

Waste Treatment Plant ◽

Health Canada

On 16 October 1996, a malfunction at the Swan Hills Special Waste Treatment Center (SHSWTC) in Alberta, Canada, released an undetermined quantity of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) into the atmosphere, including polychlorinated biphenyls, dioxins, and furans. The circumstances of exposure are detailed in Part 1, Background and Policy Issues. An ecologically based, staged health risk assessment was conducted in two parts with two levels of government as sponsors. The first, called the Swan Hills Study, is described in Part 2. A subsequent evaluation, described here in Part 3, was undertaken by Health Canada and focused exclusively on Aboriginal residents in three communities living near the lake, downwind, and downstream of the SHSWTC of the area. It was designed to isolate effects on members living a more traditional Aboriginal lifestyle. Aboriginal communities place great cultural emphasis on access to traditional lands and derive both cultural and health benefits from “country foods” such as venison (deer meat) and local fish. The suspicion of contamination of traditional lands and the food supply made risk management exceptionally difficult in this situation. The conclusion of both the Swan Hills and Lesser Slave Lake studies was that although POPs had entered the ecosystem, no effect could be demonstrated on human exposure or health outcome attributable to the incident. However, the value of this case study is in the detail of the process, not the ultimate dimensions of risk. The findings of the Lesser Slave Lake Study have not been published previously and are incomplete.

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