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Luo P, Bai M, He Q, Peng Z, Wang L, Dong C, Qi Z, Zhang W, Zhang Y, Cai Z. A Novel Strategy to Directly Quantify Polyethylene Microplastics in PM 2.5 Based on Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography-Tandem Mass Spectrometry. Anal Chem 2023; 95:3556-3562. [PMID: 36757384 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.2c05477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/10/2023]
Abstract
The broad application of plastic products has resulted in a considerable release of microplastics (MPs) into the ecosystem. While MPs in other environmental matrices (e.g., soil and water) have been studied for a long time, the atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5)-bound MPs are rarely investigated due to the lack of an appropriate analytical approach. The prevalently used visual and spectroscopic means (e.g., optical microscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, and Raman spectroscopy) suffer from obvious drawbacks that cannot precisely detect MPs of tiny sizes and provide quantitative information. In the present study, a novel strategy that does not require sample pretreatment was developed to first effectuate accurate quantification of polyethylene MP (PE-MP) in PM2.5 based on pyrolysis-gas chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (Pyr-GC-MS/MS). It featured acceptable recoveries (97%-110%), high sensitivity (LOD = 1 pg), and qualified precisions (RSD of 3%-13%). Employing this approach, for the first time, exact atmospheric concentrations of PE-MPs in PM2.5 from megacities in North (Zhengzhou and Taiyuan) and South (Guangzhou) China were obtained, and relatively serious pollution was found in Taiyuan. The 100% sample detection rates also suggested the widespread occurrence and possible human exposure risks of PM2.5-bound PE-MPs. In brief, the new strategy could conduct direct, sensitive, and accurate quantification of PE-MP in PM2.5, favoring further studies of environmental fates, distributions, and toxicities of atmospheric MPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peiru Luo
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Mengke Bai
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Qingyun He
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Zifang Peng
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Lingyun Wang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Chuan Dong
- Institute of Environmental Science, Shanxi University, Taiyuan 030006, P. R. China
| | - Zenghua Qi
- Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Wenfen Zhang
- College of Chemistry, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.,Center of Advanced Analysis and Gene Sequencing, Key Laboratory of Molecular Sensing and Harmful Substances Detection Technology, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China
| | - Yanhao Zhang
- School of Ecology and Environment, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou 450001, P. R. China.,State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
| | - Zongwei Cai
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental and Biological Analysis, Department of Chemistry, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong SAR 999077, P. R. China
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Geng Y, Pan S, Zhang L, Qiu J, He K, Gao H, Li Z, Tian D. Phosphorus biogeochemistry regulated by carbonates in soil. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:113894. [PMID: 35868580 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/09/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Phosphates are the dominant phosphorus (P) source on Earth. The phosphates govern available P in soil, or even the complete ecosystem. The common deficiency of available P in carbonate-enriched soils suggests the tight correlation between P and C biogeochemistry, although the two elements have diverse abundance in soil. The influences of carbonates on P cycle were reviewed in this study, via both abiotic and biotic pathways. The abiotic processes at geochemical scale include element release, transport, sorption, desorption, weathering, precipitation, etc. The sorption of P on carbonate and buffering ability of carbonates were particularly addressed. Biotic factors are ascribed to various microorganisms in soil. As the most active P pool in soil, microorganisms prefer to consume abundant P, and then accumulate it in their biomass. Carbonates, however, are usually utilized by microorganisms after conversion to organic C. Meanwhile, extracellular precipitation of Ca-P phases significantly regulates the transportation of P in/out the cells. Moreover, they boost and complexify both carbonates and P turnover in soil via bioweathering and biomineralization, i.e., the intense interactions between biosphere and lithosphere. Based on this review, we proposed that carbonates may negatively affect P supply in soil system. This comprehensive review regarding the regulation by carbonates on P biogeochemistry would shed a light on predicting long-term P availability influenced by C biogeochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Geng
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China; Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Shang Pan
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China; Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Lin Zhang
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China; Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Jingjing Qiu
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China; Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Kun He
- Research Institute of Petroleum Exploration and Development, PetroChina, Beijing, 100083, China; State Key Laboratory of Petroleum Geochemistry, China National Petroleum Corporation, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Hongjian Gao
- Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China
| | - Zhen Li
- College of Resources and Environmental Sciences, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, Jiangsu, 210095, China; Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.
| | - Da Tian
- Anhui Province Key Lab of Farmland Ecological Conservation and Pollution Prevention, College of Resources and Environment, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei, 230036, China.
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Denison SB, Da Silva PD, Koester CP, Alvarez PJJ, Zygourakis K. Clays play a catalytic role in pyrolytic treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils that is enhanced by ion-exchanged transition metals. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 437:129295. [PMID: 35717817 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2022.129295] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2022] [Revised: 05/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/01/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Pyrolytic treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils offers great potential for rapid remediation without destroying soil fertility with lower energy requirements than incineration. Here, we show that clays impregnated with non-toxic transition metals (iron or copper) can be used as an amendment to decrease the required pyrolytic treatment temperature and time. Amending a weathered crude-oil contaminated soil with 10 % (by weight) of bentonite modified via ion-exchange with Fe or Cu, achieved 99 % removal of residual total petroleum hydrocarbons (TPH) at a pyrolysis temperature of 370 °C with 15-min contact time. Pyrolytic treatment of amended soils at the unprecedentedly low pyrolysis temperature of 300 °C resulted in 87 % TPH removal efficiency with Cu-bentonite and a 93 % with Fe-bentonite. We postulate that the transition metals catalyzed the pyrolysis reactions at lower onset temperatures. This hypothesis is supported by thermogravimetric analysis coupled with mass spectrometry, which revealed the release of hydrogen, methyl and propyl ion fragments (markers of pyrolytic degradation products of crude oil) at lower temperatures than those observed for unamended soil. Overall, this work shows proof of concept that metal-impregnated clays can enhance rapid pyro-catalytic treatment of crude-oil contaminated soils and encourages further work to understand the detailed reaction mechanisms and inform process design.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B Denison
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States
| | - Priscilla Dias Da Silva
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States
| | - Caroline P Koester
- Department of Chemistry, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States
| | - Pedro J J Alvarez
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States
| | - Kyriacos Zygourakis
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, United States
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