Black-odor rivers have become a prominent environmental problem, especially for developing countries. A laboratory experiment was conducted to determine the optimum operating parameters of artificial aquatic plants (AAP) to provide a theoretical and scientific basis for their application in black-odor rivers. The purification mechanism of operating parameters for AAP was also explored at the micro-organic and genetic levels by high-throughput sequencing. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺-N) were measured in systems with different AAP lengths and pH. After 24 days, the best removal efficiencies of APP for COD and NH₄⁺-N were 90.07 and 82.40% for 100 cm and 90.70 and 91.90% for pH values of 8.0–9.0, respectively. High-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that the relative abundance of Flavobacterium in the AAP was 7.80% at 50 cm, while the proportion increased to 29.30% at 100 cm. The abundance of microorganisms improved continuously with increased length, and the ratio of Acinetobacter increased obviously at pH 8.0–9.0 relative to pH 6.0–7.0. Furthermore, the AAP were used in Qihe Artificial Wetland in Shandong Province, China. The results revealed that the average removal efficiencies of AAP for COD and NH₄⁺-N were 27.75 and 14.34%, respectively, in the artificial wetland. Therefore, AAP was beneficial to the growth of bacteria and could be used in the treatment of black-odor rivers.

In this study, the recycling of gas flow was added to oxidize mixture (toluene and xylene) in the post-plasma catalysis (PPC) system, and the MnOx catalysts using impregnation method were used to further oxidize the VOC mixture. The circulation and catalysts were of enhancement for the plasma degradation on both toluene and xylene. The improvement of CO₂ selectivity and the reduction of NO, NO₂, and O₃ were 64.4%, 92.0%, 62.2%, and 51.9%, respectively. The fresh and used catalysts were characterized for the ozone decomposition and mixture degradation in the NTP-REC-CATAL system with the 15 wt% loading amount of catalysts. The results showed that OH groups, lattice oxygen, and manganese sites were potential and significant for the catalytic ability for O₃ and mixture conversion. Aldehyde was detected from FT-IR characterization after treating, which indicates that it is the main intermediate NTP-REC-CATAL process. The air plasma was employed to reactive catalytic activity.

As the largest emitter of CO₂ emissions, the installed capacity of thermal power generation in China is facing more and more strict restrictions, since the Chinese government proposed to dissolve overcapacity and intends to solve the problem of continuous reduction in utilization rate of electricity sector. Regretfully, the impact of power-generating capacity and its utilization on carbon emissions in the power sector has not yet been addressed. In this study, we incorporate the interaction between capacity and utilization of power sector into the dynamic spatial Durbin model, and estimate the specific impact on carbon dioxide emissions from the power sector based on the panel data set of China’s provinces during 1991–2015. The results show that both installed capacity and utilization rate have positive effects on CO₂ emissions. Interestingly, the estimation coefficient of their interaction term is negative, implying that the carbon emission reduction effect derives from the conflicting performance of capacity governance and utilization efficiency. Besides, the advantage of the emerging econometric method, the dynamic spatial Durbin model (SDM) with provinces and time-period fixed effects, is that it can estimate spatial interaction effects among the provinces and neighboring provinces and decompose those effects into two parts: long-term and short-term. However, the estimates indicate that only capacity has roughly significant spatial spillovers. As a result, dissolving overcapacity of thermal power generation and a necessary interprovincial coordination will promote carbon emission reduction rather than investing in coal-fired power plants, and the power authority should turn to alternative investment in cleaner power generation technologies.

An in vitro study was conducted to evaluate the effects of thidiazuron (TDZ) growth regulator and magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles on radish (Raphanus sativus L.) under lead (Pb) stress. Effects of TDZ and MgO on seed germination, growth, biomass, total phenolics and flavonoids, antioxidant potential, and Pb phytoaccumulation in different plant parts were assessed. Nanoparticles of MgO were synthesized with leaf extract of Sageretia thea (Osbeck) plant. Thidiazuron and MgO nanoparticles were added to growth media in individual and in combinations. Lead (50 mg L⁻¹) was added to growth media. Thidiazuron and MgO nanoparticles increased plant growth, phenolic and flavonoid contents, free radical scavenging activity, and lead phytoaccumulation. The increase was highly significant in TDZ and MgO nanoparticle combination treatments (T5, T6). Treatment (T6) showed a sixfold increase in Pb accumulation (1721.73 ± 17.4 μg g⁻¹ dry biomass) as compared to control (274.29 ± 4.23 μg⁻¹g⁻¹). Total phenolic and dry biomass showed significantly positive correlation in leaves (R² = 0.73), stem (R² = 0.58), and roots (R² = 0.72). The correlation of Pb accumulation and phenolic contents was significantly positive in root (R² = 0.80), stem (R² = 0.92), and leaves (R² = 0.69). Flavonoid showed a positive correlation with dry biomass and Pb accumulation. Antioxidant activity was highly increased in leaves followed by stem and root. Findings show that TDZ in combination with MgO nanoparticles can play a significant role in secondary metabolite production and Pb phytoaccumulation.

Over the last few years, intensive agriculture has often been denounced as a source of negative effects, particularly at the environmental and health level (overexploitation of natural resources, degradation of their quality, appearance and development of several diseases, etc.). Reducing the excessive use of agricultural inputs for the protection of the environment and the preservation of human and animal health is a social requirement nowadays. Investing in more sustainable agricultural models which make it possible to reduce, or even eliminate the risks, has become urgent. A possible solution may be to resort to agroecological systems. In order to be sustainable, these new systems must be performant at the agronomic, economic, social, and environmental levels. There is a multitude of tools for assessing the sustainability of agricultural systems. These tools are inappropriate for organic and agroecological systems, and do not make it possible to measure the agroecological transition performance of farms (Trabelsi et al. Environ Sci Pollut Res 23:139–156, 2016; Trabelsi 2017). This research project aims to design a decision support tool in order to help farms throughout the agroecological transition process, to assess the performance of this transition, and to put forward improvement scenarios. Contrary to other assessment methods, ESSIMAGE (Evaluation and Simulation of Agroecological Systems) is based on both pressure and impact indicators, and takes the specificities of agricultural production systems into account. It is a dynamic tool which not only makes it possible to assess farm performance at the present moment but also to consider the future by putting forward possible alternative improvement scenarios and by simulating their consequences at a later stage. ESSIMAGE is based on the interaction of two elements: agro-environmental, social, and economic indicators, and the GIS (Geographic Information System) software. This tool has been tested as part of a CASDAR “Post-MAET Gimone” (agriculture.gouv.fr/ministere/mobilisation-collective-pour-lagroecologie.) project on the subject of “Collective mobilization for agroecology” by using farm data, most of the farms having been involved in an agro-environmental measure for the progressive reduction of phytosanitary treatments since 2008. It has made it possible to compare the agroecological performances of these farms with an optimal situation, as well as with each other. Considering the research objectives and the approaches discussed, this study is an original step in the development of agricultural management strategies in favor of agroecology.

Sediments are known to be the ultimate sink for most pollutants in the aquatic environment. In this study, the concentrations of both legacy polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and alternative halogenated flame retardants (AHFRs) were measured in sediments samples from the Vaal River catchment. The concentrations of Σ₇BDE-congeners ranged from 20 to 78 ng g⁻¹ dry weight (dw) with BDE-209, -99, and -153 as the dominant congeners. The concentrations observed ranged from 9.4–56, 4–32, and 1–10.6 ng g⁻¹ for BDE-209, -99, and -153, respectively. The concentrations of AHFRs, mainly contributed by decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) at approximately 95% of total AHFRs, ranged from 64 to 359 ng g⁻¹ dw while the concentration of polybrominated biphenyls (PBBs), mainly PBB-209, ranged from 3.3–7.1 ng g⁻¹ dw. The ratios of AHFRs to PBDEs observed in this study were 0.76, 1.17, and 7.3 for 2-ethyl-1-hexyl-2,3,4,5-tetrabromobenzoate and bis-(2-ethylhexyl)-tetrabromophthalate (EH-TBB & BEH-TEBP)/penta-BDE; 1,2-bis-(2,4,6-tribromophenoxy) ethane (BTBPE)/octa-BDE; and DBDPE/BDE209, respectively. These results indicate dominance of some AHFRs compared to PBDEs. Our results indicates that BDE-99 poses high risk (RQ > 1) while BDE-209 posed medium risk (0.1 < RQ < 1). Though the concentration of DBDPE was several orders of magnitude higher than BDE209, its ecological risk was found to be negligible (RQ < 0.01). Thus, more attention is required to regulate the input (especially the e-waste recycling sites) of brominated flame retardants into the environment.

Lignin-based activated carbon fibers (LCFK) were prepared by electrospinning method and evaluated in adsorption of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Batch adsorption experiments for various component were carried out in a fixed-bed reactor. The molecular polarity of VOCs plays a pivotal role in the monocomponent dynamic adsorption. As a result, the adsorption capacity of toluene was larger than that of methanol or acetone. In the various multicomponent atmospheres (without water), the components interact with each other and competitive adsorption phenomenon occurs, resulting in the adsorption capacity of each component decreased significantly. Also, the samples before and after adsorption were characterized via Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Boehm titration. The results reveal that methanol and acetone, controlled by physical adsorption, prefer to be adsorbed on polar groups on the surface of LCFK through the dipole–dipole interactions (i.e., van der Waals’ forces). Differently, the adsorption of toluene onto LCFK was controlled by physical and chemical processes, and the lactone groups have a positive contribution to the adsorption of toluene. It was also observed that water vapor can enhance the negative effect on the adsorption of VOCs, especially for toluene. The results from this study will be valuable for explaining the mechanisms of competitive adsorption among each component in the various multicomponent atmospheres and understanding the contribution of chemical functional groups on the surface of LCFK in the adsorption process.

Canadian goldenrod (Solidago canadensis L.) is a plant that grows in a variety of environmental conditions. It shows high capability to spread in various habitats, including fallow lands and brownfield land. The research aimed at analyzing the content of Pb and Zn in the underground (roots, rhizomes) and aboveground parts (stems, leaves, inflorences) of Solidago canadensis (SC) originating from two locations that are clearly different in terms of metal content in soil. Statistically significant differences were determined in the content of Pb and Zn in soil and particular morphological parts of the plant, depending on the sampling location. It has been shown that in the conditions of increased (compared with natural) Pb and Zn content in the soil, SC may serve as a bioaccumulator of these metals. It was determined that SC can be used as a phytostabilizer of Pb and Zn in soils heavily contaminated with these elements. The content of Zn in the aboveground parts of SC indicates that this plant can also be used for phytoextraction of soils contaminated with this metal.

Cake formed by flocs is a crucial factor to affect membrane fouling during coagulation-ultrafiltration process. To investigate the role of floc properties on cake, cake characteristics under various coagulant dosage conditions were calculated by scanning electron microscope (SEM) imaging. Results found that one SEM image with × 5000 magnification could accurately estimate cake porosity with relative error lower than 5.00% for all conditions, whereas more SEM images with × 10,000 magnification or × 20,000 magnification should be applied to calculate cake porosity precisely. This could be explained by different pore information of SEM images with various magnifications. Compared to single SEM image with × 10,000 magnification and × 20,000 magnification, single SEM image with × 5000 magnification contained the most comprehensive pore information and slightly overestimated pore area for pore smaller than 0.4 μm² due to lower resolution. To verify feasibility by SEM image evaluating cake characteristics, cake porosity calculated by SEM image and Carman-Kozeny equation were analyzed. The results showed that cake porosity estimated by these two methods were nearly the same, proving the feasibility of this method. Moreover, with the increase of coagulant dosage, cake porosity presented similar variation with floc average size, indicating that floc average size was likely to dominate cake porosity in this study. For pore characteristics, pore average characteristic length and pore average area were in accordance with floc fractal dimension, whereas pore fractal dimension and pore amount were consistent with floc average size. This gives specific information about the relation between floc properties and cake characteristics.

Alpha-cypermethrin (α-cypermethrin), an important chiral pyrethroid insecticide, is frequently detected in human samples. Because of the possible human health risks caused by α-cypermethrin, we studied dynamics, residues, and metabolism of α-cypermethrin in five common vegetables (tomato, cucumber, rape, cabbage, and pepper) on enantiomeric levels after foliar spray. α-Cypermethrin was qualified by a HP-5 column and its enantiomers could be separated by gas chromatograph (GC) using a BGB-172 chiral column. The results of degradation showed that α-cypermethrin dissipated rapidly in vegetables with half-lives being only 2.85–8.88 days. Stereoselective degradation was observed on pepper and cucumber while the two metabolites (cis-DCCA and 3-PBA) of α-cypermethrin were not detected during its dissipation in all plants. This is the first evidence of enantioselective degradation of α-cypermethrin in the five common vegetables and the results should be considered in future environmental risk and food safety evaluations.