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Knowledge of the distributions and mass balances of C, N, and P during anaerobic digestion (AD) processes serves several purposes; for instance, these values can be used to obtain reliable quantitative information on the fate of C, N, and P after AD, to understand carbon and nutrient balances, and to evaluate the contribution of AD processes to elemental cycles. In this paper, C, N, and P contents in the gas, liquid and solid phases were investigated for seven different substrates: corn straw, rice straw, wheat straw, swine manure from pigs fed feedstuff or foodstuff, cattle manure, and chicken manure. The conversion efficiency of C in a substrate into methane was found to be highest in swine manure from pigs fed foodstuff (15.8%), and greater liquid and solid stream nutrient levels were found in the swine manures and chicken manure than in the cattle manure and straws. The mass balances of C, N and P for each different substrate were distinct, but all balances were close to 100% in this study. Further study revealed that CH 4 yields and substrate lignin fitted a linear negative relationship well, and the COD/TOC, NH 4 + -N and TP concentrations in the supernatant had positive linear relationships with the proteins, TAN/proteins and potassium of substrates, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Well-defined Au/Pd/Ag nanowires (NWs) that are difficult to synthesize via pure chemical reduction method are fabricated using a facile one-pot microorganism-mediated method in the presence of hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The result showed that the formation of Au/Pd/Ag NWs were strongly dependent on the mass of Pichia pastoris cells (PPCs) and CTAB concentration of the reaction solution. The PPCs acted as templates in the formation of Au/Pd/Ag NWs, and an appropriate concentration of CTAB was favor of anisotropic growth during the NWs formation procedure. This work exhibits a novel method to fabricate multi-metallic nanostructures by combining a surfactant and microorganisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective adsorption of phosphate from a complex solution is the key step for phosphate recovery from industrial wastewater. Despite recent research progress, phosphate removal with high selectivity has been found challenging, largely due to the complicated dynamic adsorption behavior of other competing anions in the aqueous waste solution. In the present study, pyromellitic acid (PMA) intercalated layered double hydroxides ([Zn 0.68 Al 0.32 (OH) 2 ](PMA) 0.08 ·0.3H 2 O, denoted as Zn 2 Al-PMA-LDHs) were synthesized and shown to possess a high selectivity (97.41% at pH 7.0) towards phosphate in a hybrid solution containing H 2 PO 4 − , SO 4 2− , CO 3 2− , NO 3 − and Cl − . In addition, benzoic acid (BA), terephthalic acid (TA) and trimesic acid (TMA) intercalated LDHs also showed similar adsorption performance. The hydrogen bond between hydroxyl group of phosphate as the donor and oxygen of dissociated aromatic carboxyl group as the acceptor was found to play a key role in phosphate adsorption, as suggested by FT-IR and XPS analysis. This work not only presented a well performed material but also a useful method for better design of efficient LDHs for selective phosphate adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The flower-like Mn 3 O 4 /rGO composite was prepared by a facile one-step solvothermal process. • The as-prepared Mn 3 O 4 /rGO material exhibits a high specific capacitance of 947F g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and excellent capacitance retention of 88.1% after 4000 GCD cycles at 10 A g−1. • The addition of rGO effectively improved the conductivity of Mn 3 O 4 and providing more buffer space for the electrochemical reaction of Mn 3 O 4 , • The flower-like nanostructure allows for more active sites and a shorter electrolyte ion diffusion pathway. Mn 3 O 4 has attracted great interest due to its pseudocapacitive properties, low cost, and environmental friendliness. However, the low conductivity and high-volume expansion limit its application to supercapacitors. In this research, a flower-like Mn 3 O 4 /reduced graphene (rGO) electrode material was obtained by a one-step solvothermal process. The as-prepared Mn 3 O 4 /rGO electrode exhibits a high capacity of 118.375 mAh g−1 at a current density of 1 A g−1 and an excellent cycle ability of 88.1% after 4000 cycles at a current density of 10 A g−1. The high performance of the Mn 3 O 4 /rGO electrode can be attributed to the hierarchical structure and improved charge transfer capability as well as buffer space for the volume expansion by the addition of rGO. The nanoflower-like structure of Mn 3 O 4 /rGO provides a more active sites and short ion transport pathway during the redox reaction. The results provide an efficient way of improving the electrochemical performance of Mn 3 O 4 and show its great potential in SC applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Alkaline sodium phosphate buffer was used to extract phenolic compounds. [•] Phenolic-rich precipitate formed during the acidification of the extracts. [•] Proteins and carbohydrates contented in the precipitates were determined. [•] The simple preparation process indicated prospective industrial potential. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A graphene and carbon nanotube wrapped Cobalt derivatives (Gr-CNT@Co) electrode material has been prepared by annealing the complex of ZIF-67 and graphene oxide. The as-prepared Gr-CNT@Co shows an interconnected porous network, a high specific surface (253.9 m2g−1), and a high specific capacitance of 1108F g−1 with high cycling stability. Furthermore, the constructed all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor based on Gr-CNT@Co positive electrode and N-doped graphene negative electrode exhibit both a high energy density of 36.55 Wh kg−1 and a power density of 685.3 W kg−1 showing very promising potential for portable power and flexible energy storage devices applications. [Display omitted] • A graphene and carbon nanotube wrapped cobalt electrode (Gr-CNT@Co) was prepared. • The interconnected Gr-CNT@Co material shows excellent electrochemical performance. • Gr-CNT@Co//N-doped rGO all-solid-state asymmetric supercapacitor was fabricated. • The ASSC delivers a high energy density of 36.55 Wh kg−1 at 685.3 W kg−1. Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) materials attract increasing interest for their energy storage application by converting MOF into MOF derivatives. Herein, a graphene and carbon nanotube wrapped Cobalt derivatives (Gr-CNT@Co) electrode material is prepared by annealing the complex of ZIF-67 and graphene oxide. The as-prepared Gr-CNT@ Co shows an interconnected porous structure, a high specific surface (253.9 m2g−1), and a high specific capacitance of 1108F g−1 with high cycling stability. Furthermore, the constructed all-solid-state asymmetric Gr-CNT@Co// N-doped rGO device exhibits a high energy density of 36.55 Wh kg−1 at 685.3 W kg−1, as well as an excellent cycle capacitance retention (78%) after 6000 cycles at 1.5Ag−1, which shows that Gr-CNT@Co is very promising electrode material for portable energy storage devices applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pt nanoparticles (PtNPs) were biologically synthesized by reducing Na2PtCl4 with Cacumen Platycladi Extract (CPE). The effects of reaction temperature, initial Pt(II) concentration, and CPE percentage on Pt(II) conversion and the size distribution of the PtNPs were studied. The results showed that the Pt(II) conversion rate reached 95.9% and that PtNPs measuring 2.4±0.8nm were obtained under the following conditions: reaction temperature, 90°C; CPE percentage, 70%; initial Pt(II) concentration, 0.5mM; reaction time, 25h. In addition, the bioreduction of Pt(II) was attributed to reducing sugars and flavonoids rather than proteins. The elucidation of bioreductive mechanism of Pt(II) ions was achieved by investigating the changes that occurred in the reducing sugar, flavonoid and protein concentrations in the plant extract, leading to a good insight into the formation mechanism of such biosynthesized PtNPs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Levulinic acid (LA) can be cost-effectively produced from a vast array of renewable carbohydrate-containing biomaterials. LA could facilitate the commercialization of the polymer poly(hydroxybutyrate-co-hydroxyvalerate) (PHBV) and PHBV-based products as carbon substrates. Therefore, this paper focused on the production of PHBV by Ralstonia eutropha with LA for hydroxyvalerate (HV) production, which plays an important role in enhancing the thermal properties of PHBV. Accordingly, the HV content of PHBV varied from 0–40.9% at different concentrations of LA. Stimulation of cell growth and PHBV accumulation were observed when 2–6 g L−1 LA was supplied to the culture. The optimal nitrogen sources were determined to be 0.5 g L−1 ammonium chloride and 2 g L−1 casein peptone. It was determined that the optimal pH for cell growth and PHBV accumulation was 7.0. When the cultivation was performed in large scale (2 L fermenter) with a low DO concentration of 30% and a pH of 7.0, a high maximum dry cell weight of 15.53 g L−1 with a PHBV concentration of 12.61 g L−1 (53.9% HV), up to 81.2% of the dry cell weight, was obtained. The melting point of PHBV found to be decreased as the fraction of HV present in the polymer increased, which resulted in an improvement in the ductility and flexibility of the polymer. The results of this study will improve the understanding of the PHBV accumulation and production by R. eutropha and will be valuable for the industrial production of biosynthesized polymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The Bacillus cereus strain XMCr-6 was isolated from chromium-contaminated soils and was identified on the basis of biochemical characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The bacterium exhibited complete reduction of 100mgL−1 Cr(VI) within 48h under aerobic conditions. The reduction of Cr(VI) by XMCr-6 was attributed to cell debris rather than cell free extract, and the reduction mechanism was found to be enzyme-mediated. It was demonstrated that the reduced Cr(III) could bind to cells by coordination with functional groups on the bacterial surfaces while it simultaneously formed soluble Cr(III) end-products through interactions with small organic molecules. Discrete spherical Cr2O3 nanoparticles were observed on the surface of the bacterial cells after Cr(VI) reduction by XMCr-6 in the absence of an appropriate chelating chemical. Our results offer insight into bacterial Cr(VI) reduction processes and will be valuable for understanding reduction mechanisms and Cr(VI) bioremediation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Au nanowire/Pichia pastoriscell compositeswereprepared using a microorganism-mediated method, where closely packedAu nanowires (AuNWs) are synthesized at high yields in the presenceof hexadecyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) without auxiliary seeds.The initial concentrations of ascorbic acid (AA), CTAB, and tetrachloroauratetrihydrate, as well as the amount of Pichia pastoriscells (PPCs), were optimized for the formation of AuNWs. For theformation of AuNWs, Au(III) ions were initially bound by the PPCsand then reduced by AA to produce Au nanoparticles (AuNPs) via preferentialnucleation. The linear fusion of these AuNPs influenced by CTAB resultedin the formation of growing AuNWs, whereas the secondary nucleationbeyond the PPCs produced small AuNPs that were subsequently consumedthrough Ostwald ripening during the aging of AuNWs. These AuNW/PPCscomposites could be effectively used as surface-enhanced Raman scatteringsubstrates for the detection of rhodamine 6G. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biosynthesis of Ag nanoparticles (AgNPs) by Cacumen Platycladiextract was investigated. The AgNPs were characterized by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected-area electron diffraction (SAED), and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The results showed that increasing the initial AgNO3concentration at 30 or 60 °C increased the mean size and widened the size distribution of the AgNPs leading to red shift and broadening of the Surface Plasmon Resonance absorption. The conversion of silver ions was determined by atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) and to discuss the bioreductive mechanism, the reducing sugar, flavonoid, saccharide, protein contents in the extract, and the antioxidant activity were measured using 3,5-dinitrosalicylic acid colorimetric; Coomassie brilliant blue; phenol-sulfuric acid; rutin-based spectrophotometry method; and 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) free radical-scavenging assay methods. The results showed that the reducing sugars and flavonoids were mainly responsible for the bioreduction of the silver ions and their reductive capability promoted at 90 °C, leading to the formation of AgNPs (18.4 ± 4.6 nm) with narrow size distribution. Finally, the antibacterial activity of the AgNPs against E. coliand S. aureuswas assessed to determine their potential applications in silver-loaded antibacterial materials. This work provides useful technical parameters for industrialization of the biosynthetic technique and further antibacterial application of the AgNPs. Furthermore, the elucidation of bioreductive mechanism of silver ions by measuring the change of the biomolecular concentrations in plant extract exemplifies understanding the formation mechanism of such biogenic AgNPs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, we construct a hierarchical Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/Ni foam (Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF) hybrid by a facile hydrothermal synthesis followed by an electrodeposition without using any chemical binder. The as-constructed Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF exhibits an ultrahigh areal capacitance of 5.08 F cm−2 and an excellent rate capability with a capacitance retention of 73.8% at the high current density of 20 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the constructed asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) based on the Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF anode and the activated carbon (AC) cathode shows both a high power density of 986 W kg−1 and a high energy density of 47.31 Wh kg−1 with high cycling stability of 93.4% initial capacitance after 5000 cycles, demonstrating an enormous potential for the practical application in energy storage devices. [Display omitted] • A hierarchical Ni3S2/CoFe LDH/NF hybrid was constructed by a facile hydrothermal synthesis followed by an electrodeposition without using any chemical binder. • Ultrahigh areal capacitance and excellent rate capability are achieved for the Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF electrode. • The constructed ASC exhibits the outstanding energy storage performance. • This fabrication strategy could be extended to other LDH-based electrode materials. Transition metal layered double hydroxides (TM LDHs) nanosheets have stimulated tremendous research enthusiasm, which is gifted with their tunable chemical compositions, large layer distances and superior electrochemical performance. However, the small number of electroactive sites and the low electrical conductivity have restricted their applications in electrode materials. Herein, we construct a hierarchical Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/Ni foam (Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF) hybrid by a facile hydrothermal synthesis followed by an electrodeposition without using any chemical binder. The as-constructed Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF exhibits an ultrahigh areal capacitance of 5.08 F cm−2 and an excellent rate capability with a capacitance retention of 73.8% at the high current density of 20 mA cm−2. Furthermore, the constructed asymmetric supercapacitor (ASC) based on the Ni 3 S 2 /CoFe LDH/NF anode and the activated carbon (AC) cathode shows both a high power density of 986 W kg−1 and a high energy density of 47.31 Wh kg−1 with high cycling stability of 93.4% initial capacitance after 5000 cycles, demonstrating an enormous potential for the practical application in energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nickel Cobalt Hydroxide (NCH) has attracted increasing interests due to its pseudo-capacitive performance. However, its low conductivity and poor cycling performance have still restricted its practical application. Herein, we report a NCH nanosheets (NSs)/graphene/nickel foam (NCH NSs/G/NF) composite electrode prepared by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) followed by a facile hydrothermal process. No alkali, organic solvent and chemical binders were used in the preparation process. The as-prepared NCH NSs/G/NF composite electrode exhibits a significantly enhanced specific capacitance of 2854.9 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a rate performance of 2023.5F g−1 at 10 A g−1 with a retained ~81.3% initial capacitance after 3000 charging/discharging cycles at 30 A g−1. The high capacitive performance is mainly attributed to the high specific area and the significantly improved electrical conductive property by the well conductive three-dimensional network and the NCH NSs structure. The results have provided a new way for improving the capacitive performance of NCH electrode and promoting its supercapacitor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4) is a representative photocatalyst, but the photocatalytic activity is often limited because of the easy recombination and slow migration of photogenerated charges. Herein, we have successfully prepared carbon quantum dots (CQDs) functionalized g-C 3 N 4 (CCN) by a simple thermal polymerization method. Besides, the CQDs serving as a photosensitizer can enlarge the absorption range of visible light of the composite material. As a result, under the irradiation of visible light, the optimized CCN showed superior catalytic activity with a high H 2 production rate of 2321 μmol·g−1·h−1, which was almost about 7.4 times higher than that of bulk g-C 3 N 4. Based on the systematic characterization and density functional theory (DFT) calculation, it was proved that the efficiencies of the separation and transfer of photogenerated charges were enhanced by the micro-regional heterostructure of CQDs and g-C 3 N 4. [Display omitted] • Carbon quantum dots functionalized g-C 3 N 4 (CCN) was obtained by a simple thermal polymerization method. • The micro-heterojunction of CCN can significantly enhance photocatalytic activity. • The rate of H 2 evolution for CCN-10 is 2321 μmol·g−1·h−1. • The DFT theoretical calculation shows that the donor level provided by the CQDs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 and reduced graphene (rGO) are considered as promising electrode materials for the applications of supercapacitor due to their high specific capacitance and high cycle property, respectively. However, the poor conductivity of Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 and low specific capacitance of rGO have restricted their practical application. In this research, we have prepared a novel Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO composite electrode with a unique flower-like microstructure by a facile hydrothermal synthesis. The as-prepared Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO composite electrode exhibits a high capacitance of 667 Fg-1 at 1 Ag-1, which is attributed to the short pathways for rapid ionic diffusion provided by the flower-like microstructure and the addition of high-conductive rGO. Furthermore, the asymmetric solid supercapacitor (ASSC) was assembled by using the Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO and the N/S co-doped rGO electrode, which shows excellent capacitive performance with the capacitance of 68 Fg-1 at 1 Ag-1 and high energy density of 19.85 Wh kg−1 at power density of 1051 W kg−1. In addition, the device exhibits remarkable cycle stability of about 92.6% after 4000 cycles at a current density of 3 Ag-1. The results have provided an effective way for significant improving the capacitance of Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 electrode and realizing its practical application in ASSC. • A flower-like Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO electrode was prepared by a facile hydrothermal process with significantly enhanced capacitance. • The Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO electrode exhibits high capacitance due to the flower-like microstructure and the addition of rGO. • An asymmetric solid-state supercapacitor (ASSC) was constructed by using Bi 2 O 2 CO 3 /rGO and N/S co-doped rGO as electrodes. • The ASSC exhibits excellent capacitance, high energy density at high-power density and remarkable cycling stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nano-structured Ni 3 S 2 is regarded as one of the most promising supercapacitor (SC) electrode materials due to its unique heazlewoodite phase and high electronic conductivity. However, preparation of Ni 3 S 2 nanostructures with controllable chemical stoichiometry and morphology is still a challenge issue. Herein, we report a novel Ni 3 S 2 /3D graphene/nickel foam (Ni 3 S 2 /3D G/NF) composite electrode prepared by a chemical vapor deposition (CVD) followed by an electrodeposition. The as-prepared Ni 3 S 2 /3D G/NF composite electrode is stable with good chemical stoichiometry, binder-free and exhibits an excellent specific capacitance up to 2585 F/g with current density of 1 A/g,a high capacitance retention rate ~70.68% as the current density increases to 30 A/g, and a capacitance remaining ~88.9% after 5000 cycles of charge and discharge with the current density of 20 A/g. The perfect Ni 3 S 2 heazlewoodite phase and good contact between Ni 3 S 2 and the surface of 3D G/NF are believed to be responsible for the greatly improved conductivity and specific surface area of the as-prepare composite electrode. Our result has provided an effective way to significantly improve the capacitive property of Ni 3 S 2 and shown a great potential for realizing its practical SC applications. • A neural network-like Ni 3 S 2 /3D G/NF electrode was prepared by chemical vapor deposition followed by an electrodeposition. • The Ni 3 S 2 /3D G/NF electrode is stable with good chemical stoichiometry and enhanced capacitive performance. • The enhanced performance of Ni 3 S 2 /3D G/NF electrode is attributed to its perfect Ni 3 S 2 phase and high specific area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel CN nanoribbon (CNNR) assembled seaweed-like architecture has been prepared by a facile, fast (<30 min.) and green microwave synthesis. • The as-prepared seaweed-like architecture is stable and exhibits a significantly enhanced photocatalytic property for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation. • The significantly enhanced photocatalytic property of CNNR is mainly attributed to the synergistic effects of superior structure, O doping, and proper N defects. • The result has shed a light on realizing the practical application of CN and CN based photocatalysts. The photocatalytic property of graphitic carbon nitride (g-C 3 N 4 , CN) photocatalysts is hindered by its low active sites and low photo-generated electron-hole carriers transport rate. Herein, we report a novel CN nanoribbon (CNNR) assembled seaweed-like architecture by microwave synthesis using the melamine-cyanuric acid supramolecular (MCS) as the precursor. The preparation process is facile, fast (<30 min.) and green. The as-prepared CNNR is stable with a large specific area and exhibits a decreased bandgap of 2.5 eV as well as 52.2 times higher kinetic constant for Rhodamine B (RhB) degradation than that of bulk CN. The CNNR also shows highly efficient degradation for methylene blue (MB), methyl orange (MO), and tetracycline (TC). The significantly enhanced photocatalytic property of CNNR is mainly attributed to the synergistic effects of superior structure, O doping, and proper N defects. The result has shed a light on realizing the practical application of CN based photocatalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this manuscript, we report a one-step microwave-hydrothermal preparation of NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material. Compared to the conventional multi-step preparation process, the new method is green without using any chemical surfactant and the preparation time is significantly reduced from several days to only 6 h. The as-prepared NiS/rGO hybrid exhibits a low resistance of ~0.48 Ω, ultrahigh specific capacitance of 1745.67 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a high capacity retention of 451.21 F g−1 at 10 A g−1 after 3000 consecutive cycles with high reproducibility. The assembled symmetric solid-state supercapacitor (SCC) based on NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material shows a specific capacitance of 14.20 F g−1, a high energy density of 7.1 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 1836 W kg−1, demonstrating a great potential for the application in the field of energy storage devices. • A novel and high-efficiency one-step microwave-hydrothermal method was developed to prepare NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material. • The as-prepared NiS/rGO hybrid electrode exhibits an ultrahigh specific capacitance of 1745.67 F g−1 at 1 A g−1. • The assembled symmetric solid-state supercapacitor based on NiS/rGO hybrid electrode exhibits both a high energy density of 7.1 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 1836 W kg−1. • The rGO film has played an important role for improving the aggregation and conductivity of NiS nanoparticles in NiS/rGO hybrid. The NiS/reduced graphene (rGO) hybrid has recently attracted increasing interest due to its synthetic effect to improve the conductivity and volume expansion of NiS during charge-discharge cycles as well as the capacitive performance of graphene. However, the preparation of high-performance NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material is still a challenging issue due to its complex multi-step preparation process, which causes low reproducibility, long-time and large-energy consuming. Herein, we report a one-step microwave-hydrothermal preparation of NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material. Compared to the conventional multi-step preparation process, the new method is green without using any chemical surfactant and the preparation time is significantly reduced from several days to only 6 h. The as-prepared NiS/rGO hybrid exhibits a low resistance of ~0.48 Ω, ultrahigh specific capacitance of 1745.67 F g−1 at 1 A g−1 and a high capacity retention of 451.21 F g−1 at 10 A g−1 after 3000 consecutive cycles with high reproducibility. The assembled symmetric solid-state supercapacitor (SCC) based on NiS/rGO hybrid electrode material shows a specific capacitance of 14.20 F g−1, a high energy density of 7.1 Wh kg−1 and a high power density of 1836 W kg−1, demonstrating a great potential for the application in the field of energy storage devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Cu 2 O nanoparticles/Bi 2 WO 6 /reduced graphene oxide (Cu 2 O NPs/BWO/rGO) hybrid was controllable synthesized via a facile solvothermal method followed by a chemical reduction. • This novel hybrid exhibits a significantly enhanced photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance under simulated sunlight irradiation. • The enhancement of the PEC performance is mainly attributed to the synergistic effect among Cu 2 O NPs, rGO and BWO. • The results have provided a new way for the practical water splitting application of BWO. Bi 2 WO 6 (BWO) has recently received extensive interest for water splitting application due to its attractive properties of non-toxicity, high stability and narrow band gap (~2.7 eV). However, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of pure BWO is limited by the inefficiency visible light absorption, and the low electron transport efficiency. Herein we prepared a novel Cu 2 O nanoparticles/BWO/reduced graphene oxide (Cu 2 O NPs/BWO/rGO) hybrid by a facile solvothermal synthesis followed by a chemical reduction. The Cu 2 O NPs and rGO decorate homogeneously on the surface of hydrangea-like BWO. This novel hybrid exhibits a significantly enhanced PEC performance with a ~14 times high photocurrent density than that of pure BWO under simulated sunlight irradiation. This enhancement of the PEC performance is attributed to the significant improvement of coupling Cu 2 O NPs and rGO, which proves a direct Z-scheme as the main mechanism in Cu 2 O NPs/BWO, and rGO as a pivotal charge transmission bridge for the efficient photogenerated charge separation, and the increased visible light absorption. The results have provided a new way for the practical water splitting application of BWO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The short storage life of harvested rice seed is an important constraint that threatens global food security. Seed dormancy is one of the major characteristics which controls seed storage life. Elucidating it will help breeding of high-quality rice varieties. However, its mechanisms remain unclear. Taking advantage of a deep dormant rice variety FH7185, which shown only 15% germination rate of freshly harvested seeds, we analyzed its dormancy and the sensitivity to hormone treatment, then established a comprehensive proteome map of the rice seed using two-dimensional polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (2D-PAGE) and isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) of proteins in dormant and after-ripening seeds. In total, 3719 different proteins were identified and established a comprehensive proteome map of the rice seed to find quantitatively regulated proteins that played roles in seed dormancy. And, obvious accumulation was observed for a wide variety of proteins in metabolic pathways and plant hormone signal transduction. The analysis of abscisic acid (ABA) and gibberellin (GA) indicated that the deep dormancy of FH7185 was not directly affected by the content of ABA and GA. Thus, the maintenance and release of seed dormancy are not only regulated by the hormone, but also coordinated by other regulatory factors. Our results uncover the dynamic metabolic models underlying seed dormancy will lay the foundation for further study on the regulation mechanism of rice seed dormancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: With the further development of anaerobic digestion, an increasing output of anaerobically digested wastewater (ADW), which typically contained high concentrations of ammonium, phosphate, and suspended solids, was inevitable. Microalgae cultivation offered a potential waste-to-value strategy to reduce the high nutrient content in ADW and obtain high value-added microalgae. However, ADW generally contained a mass of pollutants (suspended solids, competitors, etc.), which could inhibit microalgae growth and even result in microalgae death by limiting light utilization. Thus, it is highly imperative to solve the problem by a novel modified photobioreactor for further practical applications. Results: Four microalgae species, Scenedesmus dimorphus, Scenedesmus quadricauda, Chlorella sorokiniana, and Chlorella vulgaris ESP-6, were cultivated in the membrane photobioreactor (MPBR) fed with ADW to investigate the efficiency of ammonia and phosphorus removal. The results showed that C. sorokiniana had the best performance for the removal of ammonia and phosphorus from ADW. The highest amount of C. sorokiniana biomass was 1.15 g/L, and the removal efficiency of phosphate (66.2%) peaked at an ammonia concentration of 128.5 mg/L after 9 days' incubation. Moreover, the MPBR with 0.1 μm membrane pore size had the best ammonia and phosphate removal efficiencies (43.9 and 64.9%) at an ammonia concentration of 128.5 mg/L during 9 days' incubation. Finally, the continuous multi-batch cultivation of C. sorokiniana was performed for 45 days in MPBR, and higher removal ammonia amount (18.1 mg/day) and proteins content (45.6%) were obtained than those (14.5 mg/day and 37.4%) in an normal photobioreactor. Conclusion: In this study, a novel MPBR not only eliminated the inhibitory effects of suspended solid and microorganisms, but also maintained a high microalgae concentration to obtain a high amount of ammonia and phosphate removal. The research provided a theoretical foundation for the practical application of MPBRs in various wastewater treatment schemes without pretreatment by algae, which could be used as biofuels or protein feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]