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The large-batch application of lithium ion batteries leads to the mass production of spent batteries. So the enhancement of disposal ability of spent lithium ion batteries is becoming very urgent. This study proposes an integrated process to handle bulk spent lithium manganese (LiMn 2 O 4 ) batteries to in situ recycle high value-added products without any additives. By mechanical separation, the mixed electrode materials mainly including binder, graphite and LiMn 2 O 4 are firstly obtained from spent batteries. Then, the reaction characteristics for the oxygen-free roasting of mixed electrode materials are analyzed. And the results show that mixed electrode materials can be in situ converted into manganese oxide (MnO) and lithium carbonate (Li 2 CO 3 ) at 1073 K for 45 min. In this process, the binder is evaporated and decomposed into gaseous products which can be collected to avoid disposal cost. Finally, 91.30% of Li resource as Li 2 CO 3 is leached from roasted powders by water and then high value-added Li 2 CO 3 crystals are further gained by evaporating the filter liquid. The filter residues are burned in air to remove the graphite and the final residues as manganous-manganic oxide (Mn 3 O 4 ) is obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel and efficient process for the production of 1,2-propylene glycol with high productivity and high selectivity from biomass-derived lactic acid over CuO was investigated. As a result, CuO exhibited a high catalytic activity while Zn acted as a reductant for the conversion of lactic acid to 1,2-propylene glycol. Among the various reaction parameters, such as catalysts, reductants, temperature, water filling and reaction time we investigated, a 93% yield of 1,2-propylene glycol in the presence of 0.83 mmol lactic acid, 5 mmol CuO and 30 mmol Zn with 35% water filling at 250 °C for 2 h was achieved. In addition, a carbon balance at optimum reaction conditions by TOC indicated that approximately 99% lactic acid was converted into liquid products in the transformation. In situ formed hydrogen by the oxidation of Zn in water is effective for the transformation compared to added gases hydrogen. The proposed mechanism for the conversion of lactic acid to 1,2-propylene glycol over CuO is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Di (2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP) is a widely used plasticizer, also known as a developmental toxicant, but its neurobehavioral toxicity remains elusive. This study evaluated the neurobehavioral toxicity and its possible mechanism in larval zebrafish. Embryos at gastrula period (~6 h post fertilization, hpf) were exposure to DEHP (0, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 mg/L) for 7 days. Spontaneous tail movement in embryos and swimming activity in larvae were monitored. Alterations in the mRNA expression of genes involved in dopamine signaling and apoptosis pathway were assessed. In situ apoptotic cells were assessed by Acridine orange staining, and oxidative damage were measured using enzymatic assay. The behavior results showed that DEHP inhibited spontaneous tail movement and decreased locomotor activities in the light/dark behavioral test. Meanwhile, behavioral changes were accompanied by increased apoptosis and malondialdehyde (MDA) content, decreased superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and dopamine (DA) content, and perturbed the expression of genes associated with the synthesis (th), reuptake (dat) and metabolism (mao) of DA, with dopamine receptors (DRs), and with the apoptosis pathway (p53, bax, bcl2, caspase-3, caspase-8, caspase-9). The findings will help to illuminate the possible neurobehavioral toxicity mechanisms of organism exposure to DEHP. [Display omitted] • Zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were exposure to Di-(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate (DEHP). • DEHP was developmentally toxic to zebrafish in early life stage. • DEHP-induced neurotoxicity characterized by tail coiling inhibition and hypoactivity. • Dopamine signaling was associated with DEHP-induced neurobehavioral toxicity. • DEHP induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in zebrafish larvae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A targeted extraction technology for recycling lithium from spent lithium transition metal oxides (LTMO) type batteries is developed in this paper. The chlorinating technology with ammonium chloride as the only additive is employed and controlled to selectively extract lithium. High lithium extraction rate with a low selectivity was first obtained at non-controlled chlorinating conditions. During this process, it was found that the reducing driving force (RDF) played a vital role in metals extraction. Once RDF was controlled at a low level, lithium elements could be targetedly extracted out while other metal elements still remained in the residues. The results showed that 91.73% lithium elements were leached out with a selectivity of 90.04% at the optimal conditions. Further, the mechanism was proposed to explain the release behavior of metals from cathode materials from the perspective of extracting driving force. These principles also offer inspiration for metal selective extraction fields such as metallurgy and recovery of complex systems including multiple metals. ga1 • Chlorination conversion is controlled to realized the targeted extraction of lithium. • Metal release behavior is studied from the perspective of extracting driving force. • High Li recovery and selectivity rate is gained by controlled chlorination technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wet leaching has been commonly applied to separate metals out from spent lithium ion batteries (LIBs), and large volumes of chemicals including acids and additives are required to reach high metal separation efficiencies. To reduce heavy use of chemicals for metal separation becomes significant in cleaner production. We propose a dry-phase process as chlorination conversion for separating metals from spent LIBs with low-stoichiometric amounts of additive. With ammonium chloride (NH 4 Cl) as the only additive, high metal separating efficiencies are achieved. Based on theoretical analysis and experimental investigation, it was found that chlorination conversion was promoted in a relatively closed environment and the suitable reaction temperature was between 623 K and 800 K. By parameter optimization, nearly 100% extracting efficiencies of Li and Co were achieved at 673 K for 20 min with the mass ratio of w(LiCoO 2)/w(NH 4 Cl) as 1:2 under air atmosphere. Furthermore, the reaction mechanism was described as a two-step process which could be illustrated as the dry-extraction of LiCoO 2. Finally, an acid-free approach was developed to realize the efficient metal extraction from cathode materials of spent LIBs. Image 1 • An acid-free process for metal separation from spent lithium ion battery is proposed. • High metal separating efficiency is obtained with NH 4 Cl as the only additive. • A dry-extraction mechanism is proposed to explain the metal separation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) has been reported to be widely distributed in the environment and wildlife with persistence. PFOS has various biological toxicity, especially disturbing the endocrine system. However, few studies have systematically evaluated its effect on sexual behaviors alteration and reproduction-related genes. This study was performed to assess the effect of PFOS exposure on sexual behaviors and genes in hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal–liver (HPGL) axis in adult zebrafish. Male adult zebrafish were exposed to PFOS (0, 2, 20, and 200 μg/L) and 5 μg/L estradiol (E 2) continuously for 21 days. Sexual behaviors were analyzed by zebrafish behavior tracking system and the mRNA levels of HPGL-related genes was detected by RT-qPCR. Body weight of the fish was increased in 2, 200 μg/L PFOS and E 2 groups, and body length was increased with exposure to 2 μg/L PFOS and E 2. The hepatic-somatic index was decreased significantly after 2 and 20 μg/L PFOS treatments. Highest PFOS (200 μg/L) and E 2 exposure impaired standard zebrafish sexual behaviors significantly such as chasing , nose-tail and tail-touching. In brains, the genes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor (GnRHr) were down-regulated with exposure to PFOS with linear trend and E 2 exposure, and follicle-stimulating hormone and luteinizing hormone were also down-regulated with exposure to 20 and 200 μg/L PFOS. In livers, the genes vitellogenin 1 and 3 were upregulated with some concentrations of PFOS and E 2 , but estrogenic receptor α, β2 were upregulated in any concentration of PFOS and E 2. In testes, the expressions of follicle-stimulating hormone receptor, luteinizing hormone receptor, and androgen receptor genes were all significantly down-regulated with any exposure concentration of PFOS and E 2. PFOS may alter the zebrafish reproductive system by disrupting endocrine activity and impairing sexual behaviors. Image 1 • PFOS exposure (200 μg/L) impaired standard zebrafish sexual behaviors significantly. • Gene transcriptions in HPGL axis of zebrafish were systematically evaluated. • Zebrafish testis are more sensitive than brains and livers after exposure to PFOS. • PFOS alters the zebrafish reproductive system by disrupting endocrine activity. Exposure to PFOS of male zebrafish for 21 days led to impaired sexual behaviors (chasing , nose-tail and tail-touching) and changes in expression of genes on the HPGL axis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recycling valuable metals from the batteries has aroused much attention recently. However, the elimination of residual electricity is often neglected, and NaCl-discharging is commonly used to release residual electricity from spent LIBs without consideration of the environmental impacts. In this paper, experimental studies are carried out in different solutions to investigate the discharge efficiency and environmental impacts. The results show that the discharge rate is much slow only by water electrolysis, and the discharge rate can be greatly improved with the participation of solution ions in the discharge process. Besides, the high discharge efficiency always results in high risks of environment pollution. MnSO 4 solution with a mild discharge rate is proved as a choice to reduce galvanic corrosion and avoid organic leakage. Therein, the isolation layer was in-situ formed to avoid oxygen corrosion. Finally, the O 2 -control mechanism is proposed to explain the cleaner process of battery discharge in MnSO 4 solution. Image 1 • Battery discharge in salt solution is more than a simple short-circuit process. • High discharge efficiency always results in high risks of environment pollution. • An in-situ protection way is applied to mildly and environmentally discharge battery. • The O 2 -control mechanism is proposed to explain the battery discharge process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As one of the most common endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), bisphenol A (BPA) is a threat to aquatic ecosystems. Despite a rich literature addressing the adverse effects of BPA on various systems in fish models, the potential impact of parental BPA exposure on offspring pharyngeal cartilage development is poorly understood. Adult zebrafish (F0) were exposed to BPA (1.0 μM) or control for 7 days. Eggs (F1) were collected and exposed to BPA (control, 0.05, 0.1, 1, 10 μM) until 120 h post-fertilization. Histomorphometrical essay was used to quantitatively and qualitatively assess the effects of BPA on pharyngeal cartilage development. RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) was used to discover differentially expressed genes (DEGs), and KEGG pathway and GO enrichment analysis were performed to interpret functional ontology. Parental BPA exposure affected hatchability and heart rates of F1 progeny. By pathology analysis, parental BPA exposure caused craniofacial deformity, characterized by wider angles of cartilage elements, disrupted pharyngeal chondrocytes and promoted apoptosis and elongation of head length. RNA-seq suggested that many DEGs were involved in multiple biological processes and signaling pathways; defense responses, reactive oxygen species metabolic process, apoptosis, p53 signaling pathway and MAPK signaling pathway were closely associated with the toxicity of parental BPA exposure. Parental BPA exposure affected chondrogenesis in the viscerocranium of zebrafish offspring and led to global transcriptomic changes involved in apoptosis, hyperplasia and oxidative stress. These newly identified gene expression patterns, pathways and gene networks of zebrafish eleutheroembryos after early-life waterborne BPA exposure, may lead to severe and permanent morphological and functional consequences. Image 1 • The transgenerational effects were studied in progeny of adult fish exposed to BPA. • BPA affected hatchability and heart rates of offspring embryo-larvae. • Parental BPA exposure caused pharyngeal cartilage malformation of F1 progeny. • Parental BPA exposure induced global transcriptomic changes in eleutheroembryos. • 5 KEGG pathways were identified to be involved in response to parental BPA exposure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]