Plant litter decomposition is a critical step in the formation of soil organic matter, the mineralization of organic nutrients, and the carbon balance in terrestrial ecosystems. Biotic decomposition in mesic ecosystems is generally negatively correlated with the concentration of lignin, a group of complex aromatic polymers present in plant cell walls that is recalcitrant to enzymatic degradatio...

A novel CeO2 nanorod/g-C3N4/N-rGO ternary composite was synthesized using a simple ultrasonic-heat treatment method for application in the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants under the irradiation of visible light. This material shows superior photocatalytic activity compared with pure g-C3N4 and CeO2 nanorods, and the photodegradation rate of RhB is up to 2.1-fold higher than that...

The aim of this study was to entrap the lipophilic ultraviolet absorber, octyl methoxycinnamate in microcapsuels to enhance its application. A complex coacervation method was established. Through the appearance of encapsulated glass beads prepared with different wall materials, gelatin and sodium polyphosphate were selected as wall materials because of dense structure and less adhesion. The eff...

CeO2 /TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures are synthesized via a cost-effective hydrothermal method. The as-prepared nanocomposites consist of CeO2 nanoparticles assembled on the rough surface of TiO2 nanobelts. In comparison with P25 TiO2 colloids, surface-coarsened TiO2 nanobelts, and CeO2 nanoparticles, the CeO2 /TiO2 nanobelt heterostructures exhibit a markedly enhanced photocatalytic activity in...

RSM is a powerful tool for optimizing photocatalytic processes. The BWO-GO photocatalysts have been successfully synthesized via inorganic-salt-assisted hydrothermal method. XRD, TEM, FESEM, HRTEM and STEM are used to characterize BWO-GO heterojunction. UV-vis, PL, ESR and radical scavenger experiments are used to explore the photocatalysis mechanism. The photocatalysts are evaluated by TC phot...

The role of photodegradation, an abiotic process, has been largely overlooked during straw decomposition in mesic ecosystems. We investigated the mass loss and chemical structures of straw decomposition in response to elevated UV-B radiation with or without soil contact over a 12-month litterbag experiment. Wheat and maize straw samples with and without soil contact were exposed to three radiat...

The pharmaceutical drug diclofenac (2-[(2,6-dichlorophenyl)amino]benzeneacetic acid) was detected in rivers and lakes in Switzerland. The data strongly suggest inputs of diclofenac from human medical use via wastewater treatment plants. Interestingly, the concentrations in a major tributary to a lake (Greifensee) were significantly higher (up to 370 ng/L) than those in the outflow of this lake ...

High intensity light emitting diodes (LEDs) are being studied as possible light sources for the phototherapy of neonatal jaundice, as they can emit high intensity light of narrow wavelength band in the blue region of the visible light spectrum corresponding to the spectrum of maximal bilirubin absorption. We developed a prototype blue gallium nitride LED phototherapy unit with high intensity, a...

The study was taken up with the objective to synthesize graphene-zinc oxide nano particles (NPs) nanocomposite (Gr@ZnO-Nc) via In-situ synthesis method. The structural, optical, thermal, electrical and photocatalytic properties of the synthesized Gr@ZnO-Nc were studied. The characterization data confirmed that the ZnO NPs were successfully incorporated into the graphene sheets. Further, TGA/DTA...

Binary and ternary hybrid systems of ZnO possessing nanoparticle and nanorod morphologies on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) and rGO with Au nanoparticles are explored as photocatalysts and a comparative study of their photodegradation performance is presented. Various preparation methods such as solution phase and hydrothermal routes have been employed to produce rGO-ZnO hybrids and rGO-Au-ZnO hy...