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Silicon monoxide is a promising anode material of lithium-ion battery, but the poor cycling performance caused by volume expansion and inferior electrical conductivity has been criticized. In this work, graphene-like carbon layers coated SiO particles as anode materials were rationally designed and originally prepared via a layer-by-layer strategy, in which the negatively charged SiO particles was firstly covered by a layer of positively charged ferric ions, and then the sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate was adsorbed on the surface of SiO particles due to the electrostatic force. After calcination, the graphene-like carbon layers were formed on the surface of SiO particles under the catalysis of iron by adjusting the amounts of sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate. It is demonstrated that the swelling of SiO is inhibited and the electrical conductivity is enhanced by the graphene-like carbon layers. A reversible specific capacity of graphene-like carbon layers coated SiO particles can keep 699 mAh/g at a current density of 1 A/g after 700 cycles with a retention of 85%, which indicates the enhanced capacity and cycling stability of anode materials. This work might open a feasible door to practical applications for silicon monoxide as a good lithium-ion battery anode material. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, three highly efficient combination systems, including constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (CWMFC), hydrolytic sludge acidification coupling with constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (HSA-CWMFC) and hydrolytic filler acidification coupling with constructed wetland microbial fuel cell (HFA-CWMFC), were applied to the removal of pollutants from domestic sewage. The three combination systems could effectively treat domestic sewage and generate clean energy. The power generated by CWMFC, HSA-CWMFC, and HFA-CWMFC was 0.36 W/m2, 0.40 W/m2, and 0.43 W/m2, respectively. The results indicated that the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), total organic carbon (TOC), total phosphorus (TP), ammonia nitrogen (NH 3 –N), and nitrate nitrogen (NO 3 −-N) in HFA-CWMFC could achieve the optimal values of 91.01%, 90.63%, 95.35%, 86.11%, and 91.01%, respectively. In addition, HFA-CWMFC produced more organic acids than HSA-CWMFC, which was beneficial to the follow-up reaction. Through qualcomm sequencing analysis, it could be seen that Firmicutes , which could enhance power generation capacity and increase removal rates of pollutants, played an important role in HFA-CWMFC. The results demonstrated that the three combined systems had excellent application prospects for sewage treatment and energy generation. [Display omitted] ● The hydrolytic combination systems had remarkable effect on pollutants removal. ● The hydrolytic filler combination system could obviously remove pollutants. ● Microbial community in the hydrolytic filler combination system was more abundant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An ingenious strategy for the recycling of Cr(VI)-enriched sorbents is presented herein. These adsorbents, which are Zn/Al-based nanocomposites with a Zn to Al ratio of 4:1, have shown great promise as a type of “Janus material” in which they not only behave as a sorbent, but a photocatalytic function can be evolved by calcination. The Zn/Al composite sorbents were prepared via a co-precipitation method followed by calcination at 500 °C to show good removal capacity for Cr(VI) even after repeated absorption cycles. The Cr(VI)-saturated adsorbent could then be transduced to a highly crystallized Cr(VI)-containing ZnO/ZnAl 2 O 4 nanocomposite by calcination at 900 °C. It was found that the resultant Cr(VI)-containing ZnO/ZnAl 2 O 4 nanocomposites possess a photocatalytic performance that is very similar to titania P25 and not compromised by the co-localization of Cr(VI). In fact, the adsorbed Cr(VI) is sufficiently well bound to not easily release into aqueous medium, while also, it can be serendipitously photo-reduced to a less toxic valency, i.e., Cr(III), after the application of the nanocomposites as a photocatalyst. Therefore, the nanocomposites exhibit a very promising Janus-like chemical behavior as exhibited by absorption of highly toxic Cr(VI) and subsequent evolved photocatalysis and remediation of Cr(VI) to Cr(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 stable anode was successfully prepared by thermal decomposition method, and low concentration cefotaxime sodium (CFX) was degraded by green and sustainable electrocatalytic oxidation technology. The electrocatalytic activity and stability of the Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 coating electrode were studied according to the polarization curve of oxygen and chlorine evolution. The effects of current density, initial concentration, pH, electrolyte concentration, and other technological parameters on the degradation efficiency were discussed. Orthogonal experiment results indicated that when the current density was 25 mA cm−2, concentration of electrolyte was 5 mM and the pH value was 7, the best CFX removal rate of 86.33% could be obtained. The degradation efficiency of electrocatalytic oxidation was discussed through electrochemical analysis. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was used to analyze the different inlet and outlet stages before and after the degradation of CFX, and the possible degradation process was discussed. Therefore, the electrocatalytic oxidation of Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 electrode was a clean and efficient technology, which could be widely used in the treatment of CFX wastewater. [Display omitted] • SnO 2 and RuO 2 are used as dopant to DSA to the degradation of cefotaxime sodium. • Ti/SnO 2 –RuO 2 anode displays excellent stability and electrochemical activity. • ·OH and ClO− play a decisive role in the removal of cefotaxime sodium. • Cefotaxime sodium removal efficiency of 86.33% is reached. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quarry stone powder is one of the solid waste, which can create obvious environmental risks. To solve this problems, 22.2%–44.4% of cement is replaced by two types of quarry stone powder (basalt and limestone powders) in producing an environmentally-friendly ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) in this study. The material mix design is followed on the basis of the modified Andreasen and Andersen (MAA) model. Then, the impact of the quarry stone powders on fresh and hardened properties of UHPC are investigated, including flowability, compressive strength, early hydration kinetics, and durability. The results indicate that the incorporation of quarry stone powder can significantly improve the flowability, slow down the early hydration rate of cement and decrease autogenous shrinkage of UHPC during early age. Besides, the addition of quarry stone powder could decrease the strength of UHPC at 7 days, while its strength is comparable with the reference mix at 56 days. The carbon dioxide (CO 2) emissions calculation shows that application of quarry limestone powder can significantly reduce the environmental burden of UHPC, which means the produced UHPC can be treated as a green building material with advanced properties in the near future. • Quarry stone powders can be used to produce eco-friendly UHPC. • The flowability of UHPC was improved by including stone powder. • Autogenous shrinkage of UHPC can be reduced by adding quarry stone powder. • The produced UHPC with quarry stone powders has good durability. • The microstructure of the produced UHPC with quarry stone powders is dense. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]