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MOF/AgBr composite materials were synthesized using hydrothermal and in-situ precipitation methods, and applied to simulate the photocatalytic degradation of tetracycline hydrochloride (TC-HCl) under solar irradiation. The results showed that when the AgBr doping amount was 30%, the composite material MOF/AgBr-3 exhibited high photocatalytic activity after 180 minutes of visible light irradiation, with a degradation rate of 84.50% for TC-HCl. The reaction rate constant of the composite material is approximately 0.0121/min, which is about 6.1 times that of the original AgBr, according to the fitting of first-order kinetics. The single photon excitation pathway constructed between MOF-808 and AgBr improves the efficiency of photo generated carrier transport and separation, expands the visible light response range, and achieves effective separation of holes (h+) and electrons (e-) in space. Superoxide radicals (·O-²) and hydroxyl radicals (·OH) are the main active species in photocatalytic reactions. This composite material has good stability, and after five cycles, its photodegradation ability retention rate is as high as 84.35%. The degradation pathways of TC-HCl include its own hydrolysis, deamination, demethylation, oxidation, and ring opening processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the excessive use and improper disposal of antibiotics have led to their pervasive presence in the environment, resulting in significant antibiotic pollution. To address this pressing issue, the present study synthesized nickel–iron-layered double hydroxides (NiFe-LDHs) with varying molar ratios using a hydrothermal method, employing these LDHs as catalysts for the oxidative degradation of doxycycline, with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) serving as the oxidant. X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed that the synthesized NiFe-LDHs exhibited a hexagonal crystal structure characteristic of layered double hydroxides. Experimental results demonstrated that the catalytic efficiency of NiFe-LDHs increased with both the dosage of the catalyst and the concentration of PMS, achieving a high degradation efficiency for doxycycline at a catalyst concentration of 0.5 g/L. Furthermore, the catalytic performance was notably effective across a range of pH conditions, with the highest degradation efficiency being observed at a Ni–Fe molar ratio of 3:1. The activation of PMS by NiFe-LDHs for the catalytic degradation of pollutants primarily occurs through singlet oxygen (1O2), superoxide radicals (O2−·), and sulfate radicals (SO4−·). The study also proposed three potential degradation pathways for doxycycline, indicating that the final degradation products have lower environmental toxicity. This research offers novel approaches and methodologies for the treatment of antibiotic-contaminated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Divalent metal ions co-doped nickel ferrites, MxMʹyNi1−x−yFe2O4 (x = 0.00, 0.03, and 0.05; y = 0.00, 0.03, and 0.05; M = Ca, Zn, and Mʹ = Mg, Mn), synthesis was proceeded through co-precipitation method. The characterization of prepared samples was conducted through XRD (particle size—6.16 to 20.5 nm), VSM (magnetic properties), FTIR (functional groups), FESEM–EDX (surface morphology–elemental composition), UV–visible (band gap energy), and XPS (binding energy) techniques. The synthesized samples were assessed by methyl orange (MO) dye's degradation under sunlight in batch mode. Dye removal percentage varies directly with photocatalyst dosage as well as contact time and inversely with dye's initial concentration at neutral pH. The co-doped nickel ferrite possesses higher dye removal percentage (81.65%) than pure nickel ferrite nanoparticles (70%). The photocatalyst degradation of dye is confirmed with liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry study through various intermediate products. The MO dye's degradation over prepared nanoparticles followed nonlinear pseudo-second-order with R2 = 0.97267 and the Freundlich model with R2 = 0.99744 and has qmax of 22.24 mg g−1 at ambient temperature. After use, the collection of prepared samples was done using an external magnetic field and their reusability makes them a potential material for environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The molten salt method (MSM) is an effective approach for obtaining multicomponent carbide nanopowders at low temperatures. However, the presence of impurities limits its application in the lower‐temperature domains. To address this issue, (Ta, Nb, Ti) C nanopowders are fabricated by the MSM at 1100–1400 °C, and the dual‐route synthesis mechanism is revealed. Results indicate that the synthesis temperature of pure (Ta, Nb, Ti) C nanopowders can be decreased with the addition of molten salt, which is determined by the formation and decomposition of the intermediates. During the synthesis process, the molten salt can provide the liquid‐phase environment for the combination reaction between metal powders and carbon, facilitating the formation of homogeneous and nanosized powders. Meanwhile, the molten salt reacts with impurities to generate intermediates including KTaO3 and K1.04Ti8O16 at low temperatures, which subsequently form carbides through thermal reduction. This transformation can decrease the energy barrier of the synthesis process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing instability of the global economy, supply chain shocks have become a significant concern for policymakers. Studies have demonstrated that supply chain shocks adversely influence firms' imports; however, the technological sophistication of exporting, an essential factor affecting countries' status in terms of international division of labor, has not been given sufficient attention. Using a dataset of Chinese firms over the period 2002–2013, we examine the impact of supply chain shocks caused by anti-dumping measures on the technological sophistication of exporting. We show that firms affected by such supply chain shocks experience a decline in the technological sophistication of exporting. We further demonstrate that the impact is channeled through squeezing firms' profits and impeding firms' access to technology spillovers. Moreover, we find that the negative effects are more prominent for firms in high-tech industries, firms without subsidies and those with greater financial constraints. Our conclusion deepens the understanding of supply chain shocks with policy implications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biotransformation of 6:2 fluorotelomer sulfonate (6:2 FTS) by two species of white-rot fungi, Pleurotus ostreatus (P. ostreatus) and Trametopsis cervina (T. cervina), was investigated in a sulfur-rich medium designed to stimulate production of lignin-degrading enzymes. Degradation of 6:2 FTS was observed by T. cervina over the study period of 30 d, but not by P. ostreatus. Biotransformation rates were comparable to those found in other studies investigating mixed culture degradation in non-sulfur limiting media, with approximately 50 mol% of applied 6:2 FTS removed after 30 d. Stable transformation products were short-chain perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs), including PFHxA (2.27 mol%), PFPeA (0.24 mol%), and PFBA (0.28 mol%). The main intermediate products include 5:2 sFTOH (16.3 mol%) and 5:3 FTCA (2.99 mol%), while 6:2 FTCA, 6:2 FTuCA, and 5:2 ketone were also identified at low levels. Approximately 60 mol% of detected products were assigned to the major pathway to 5:2 ketone, and 40 mol% were assigned to the minor pathway to 5:3 FTCA. The overall molar balance was found to decrease to 75 mol% by Day 30, however, was closed to near 95 mol% with a theoretical estimation for the volatile intermediates in the headspace, 5:2 ketone and 5:2 sFTOH. The different capabilities of the two white-rot fungal species for 6:2 FTS biotransformation in sulfur-rich media suggest that the enzyme processes of T. cervina to de-sulfonate 6:2 FTS may be unrelated to sulfur metabolism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Incorporating a selenium (Se) positive electrode into aluminum (Al)-ion batteries is an effective strategy for improving the overall battery performance. However, the cycling stability of Se positive electrodes has challenges due to the dissolution of intermediate reaction products. In this work, we aim to harness the advantages of Se while reducing its limitations by preparing a core–shell mesoporous carbon hollow sphere with a titanium nitride (C@TiN) host to load 63.9wt% Se as the positive electrode material for Al–Se batteries. Using the physical and chemical confinement offered by the hollow mesoporous carbon and TiN, the obtained core–shell mesoporous carbon hollow spheres coated with Se (Se@C@TiN) display superior utilization of the active material and remarkable cycling stability. As a result, Al–Se batteries equipped with the as-prepared Se@C@TiN composite positive electrodes show an initial discharge specific capacity of 377 mAh·g−1 at a current density of 1000 mA·g−1 while maintaining a discharge specific capacity of 86.0 mAh·g−1 over 200 cycles. This improved cycling performance is ascribed to the high electrical conductivity of the core–shell mesoporous carbon hollow spheres and the unique three-dimensional hierarchical architecture of Se@C@TiN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. Considered the task of forming the Master Production Shedule in the process of production management based on the MRP II standard. The object of the study is the algorithm for forming this plan for further planning of materials supply for production and the organization of production itself. Objective. Improvement of the algorithm of Master Production Shedule formation to avoid unnecessary stages of the algorithm. Method. It is proposed to improve the algorithm of the Master Production Shedule formation. It consists in simultaneously taking into account the requirements for timely delivery of products to customers, limitations regarding the capacities of the company’s work centers, and limitations regarding the duration of procurement cycles in the process of supplying materials. The MRP II standard envisages first planning the terms and quantity of product releases, and only at the next step checking the formed plan for admissibility with regard to the required time of operation of the equipment and the availability of the required materials quantity. In case of the calculated plan limitations violation, it is necessary to either plan and implement measures to overcome the specified limitations, i.e. organize additional shifts for work centers, use additional capacities, speed up the delivery of some materials, or reduce the sales plan. All these measures are associated with additional costs. In the proposed version of the planning process, this should be done only if the algorithm does not find an acceptable solution. The task of forming the Master Production Shedule, which is central to the MRP standard, is formulated by the authors as a linear programming task due to the linear nature of the specified restrictions on production capacities and materials. In particular, in the case of sufficiently severe restrictions on the work centers capacity, the plan for replenishing the remaining products from production is shifted to earlier planning intervals and only then rests against the restrictions. Several strategies are proposed for planning replenishments from the production of products stock. Results. The developed algorithms are implemented in the form of Microsoft Excel templates and are available for use in order to deepen the understanding of the MRP II standard. They are also used in the educational process. Conclusions. Approbation of the solution by the authors confirmed its workability, as well as the expediency of implementing the developed modification of the MRP II planning process into the software of leading ERP class systems suppliers. Prospects for further research may consist in a comparative analysis of the proposed options for placement of products replenishment from production, through economic evaluation of these options, as well as through simulation modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Climate warming is a hot environmental issue of global concern. As one of the major methane sinks, the process of methane oxidation coupled with denitrification (MOD) reduces the environmental impact brought by the greenhouse effect and water eutrophication. In addition, as an energy substance, methane can also improve its economic value by transforming into other liquid chemicals. Previous studies on the mechanism of the process have mainly focused on the extracellular electron transfer between species. However, in recent years, the production of intermediates influenced by different factors, and the existence of a large number of acid-producing bacteria and methanogens under anaerobic conditions, has led some researchers to pursue research into a new mechanism of the process. Moreover, the discovery of CO2 as a potential electron acceptor in products is certainly exciting, being a big opportunity under the 'carbon neutral' policy. This review looks back at the development of the MOD process and describes its functional microorganism and mechanism in detail when summarizing the types of microorganisms and intermediates at different oxygen levels, and introduces some traditional and novel biotechnologies, such as metagenomics, meta-transcriptomics, and meta-proteomics, etc., to help explore the novel mechanism of the process of MOD mediated by intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, FeS supported SBA-15 mesoporous silica catalyst (FeS@SBA-15) was synthesized successfully, characterized and first applied to persulfate (PS) activation for the degradation of imidacloprid in wastewater. The as-prepared 3.5-FeS@SBA-15 presented an impressive imidacloprid removal efficiency of 93.1% and reaction stoichiometric efficiency (RSE) of 1.82% after 5 min, ascribed to the synergetic effects of improved FeS dispersion and abundant surface sites by SBA-15. Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra and quenching experiments proved that both SO4·- and ·OH were produced in FeS@SBA-15/PS system, and SO4·- played a dominant role in the degradation process. The S2- can accelerate the cycling of Fe(III)/Fe(II) during activation and increase the steady-state concentration of Fe(II). More importantly, the constructed heterogeneous system exhibited an efficient and stable catalytic activity over a wide range of pH (3.0-9.0), temperature (283K-313K), inorganic ion (NO3-) and humic acid (1-20 mg/L). Moreover, the density functional theory calculations were conducted to predict the potential reaction sites of imidacloprid. Based on eighteen identified intermediates, four main degradation pathways were proposed: hydroxylation, dechlorination, hydrolysis, and the ring cleavage of the imidazolidine. ECOSAR analysis indicated hydroxylation and dechlorination played a key role in the detoxification of the formed compounds. These findings would provide new insights into the application of FeS@SBA-15 catalyst in wastewater treatment and the removal mechanism of imidacloprid from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red 26 was examined utilizing a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) catalyst and a UV-A light in this study. We investigated how successfully the photocatalytic approach removed Acid Red 26 from synthetic and actual municipal wastewater. Both aqueous matrices allowed for extremely high clearance rates. Wastewater degraded at a slower rate than the other matrices, this might be ascribed to the wastewater's complicated chemical composition. Using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the IPs in both synthetic and actual municipal effluent were determined. The photocatalytic degradation mechanisms of Acid Red 26 are hypothesised to comprise oxidation, dealkylation, and methoxy group cleavage based on the observed intermediate products (IPs). Using proven scavengers, we were also able to investigate the role of reactive species in the degradation process and illustrate the significance of h+ and O2• in the reaction. Chlorococcum sp. and Dunaliella tertiolecta microalgae were also utilised to assess the development of ecotoxicity. We observed low toxicity throughout the process when clean water was used as the matrix, with no production of hazardous IPs. In the case of actual municipal wastewater, there was an early rise in toxicity, which scientists believe was caused by the matrix's chemical make-up. To lower the toxicity, a heterogeneous photocatalysis was used, and at the end of the treatment, nearly full detoxification was obtained. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study performs survival analysis to evaluate duration of revived and new machinery import and the hazard ratios (HRs) of covariates related to the global financial crisis (GFC) and COVID-19 pandemic in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). The results indicate that large tariff margins decreased the possibility of disruption (HR: 0.8024) to Japanese import from ASEAN countries after revived during the COVID-19 pandemic and increased the possibility of disruption (HR: 1.0338) to Chinese import from ASEAN countries of new import during the GFC. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Gejiu region in southeast Yunnan Province was an important metal and ore production area in China as early as the Han Dynasty (202 B.C.–A.D. 220). Past archaeological investigations in this region discovered an ancient smelting site. Large numbers of smelting-related relics including lead discs, copper ingots, and smelting wastes were also excavated from the Heimajing cemetery site nearby. These discoveries suggest that the burial occupants were probably involved in ancient mining, metal smelting, and the metal production industry. An archaeometallurgical analysis of smelting-related relics was conducted. The results demonstrated that lead, copper, and different copper-base alloys were produced in the region. The chemical compositional analysis and lead isotope studies of the samples collected from the Heimajing cemetery site suggest that there was probably a production and supply system and a demand for copper-base products in the Dian Kingdom (now central Yunnan) and Jiaozhi Commandery (now northern Vietnam) through cross-regional resource allocation. The Gejiu region therefore might have had a complete industry chain on the southwest frontier of the Han Empire. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Mn 5 CeTi 5 O x showed excellent synergetic removal performance for NO and CB. • Synergistic catalysis between redox and solid acid resulted in excellent performance. • The mid-product NO 2 of NH 3 -SCR reaction was favorable for CB oxidation. • Ti doping promotes the participation of NO 2 in the CBCO reaction. The transition metal titanium-doped Mn-Ce-O x catalysts catalyst were employed to achieve synergetic removal of NO and CB at 180–220 °C. The Mn 5 CeTi 5 O x catalyst with a molar ratio of Mn/Ce/Ti = 5:1:5 exhibits excellent activity, and the NO x and CB removal efficiencies reach 96 % and 89 % at 160–220 °C, respectively. The selectivity for N 2 and CO 2 are 93 % and 78 %, respectively. The N 2 -physisorption, NH 3 -TPD, H 2 -TPR and XPS results show that Ti doping makes the catalyst possess a mesoporous structure, suitable particle sizes, and excellent redox and Lewis site properties. All of these features contribute to the observed high NO and CB removal efficiency. The synergetic removal of CB and NO over Mn 5 CeTi 5 O x results from the synergistic catalysis between the redox and the solid acid. On the one hand, in the synergistic removal process, CB and NH 3 are competitively adsorbed on the catalyst surface, resulting in a decrease in the NH 3 -SCR activity. On the other hand, the removal of NO and CB has a synergetic effect. The byproduct NO 2 produced by the NH 3 -SCR reaction promotes the oxidation of CB, which is beneficial for CB removal. Moreover, the consumption of NO 2 indirectly promotes the NH 3 -SCR reaction, which partially compensates for the decrease in the NO removal efficiency caused by competitive adsorption between NH 3 and CB. Ti doping promotes the participation of the SCR byproduct NO 2 in the CBCO reaction and promotes the formation of maleic acid, an intermediate product of CB oxidation. In summary, the Mn 5 CeTi 5 O x catalyst exhibits good activity for the synergistic removal of NO x and CB and is a promising candidate for the effective and economical removal of NO and CB during waste incineration. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hexafluoropropylene oxide tetrameric acid (HFPO-TeA) is an alternative to perfluorooctanecarboxylic acid (PFOA) and is commonly used in the production of perfluoropolymers. In this study, the performances of ozone oxidation, electrochemical oxidation, and electrocatalytic ozone techniques in the degradation of HFPO-TeA were compared. The experimental results indicated that the electrocatalytic ozone technique was best. The effects of different current densities, ozone concentrations, electrolyte types, and initial pollutant concentrations on HFPO-TeA degradation were investigated. The results showed that the ratio of HFPO-TeA degradation reached 95.9% after electrolysis for 120 ​min for an initial HFPO-TeA concentration of 100 ​mg/L, a reaction volume of 120 ​mL, an applied current density of 10 ​mA/cm2, and an ozone concentration of 20 ​mg/L. The intermediate products detected were hexafluoropropylene oxide dimeric acid [C3F7OCF(CF3)COO−], pentafluoropropionic acid [C2F5COO−], and trifluoroacetic acid [CF3COO−]. The mechanisms involved in HFPO-TeA degradation include direct electron transfer, indirect oxidation mediated by hydroxyl radicals (·OH), and ozone oxidation.

Climate warming is a hot environmental issue of global concern. As one of the major methane sinks, the process of methane oxidation coupled with denitrification (MOD) reduces the environmental impact brought by the greenhouse effect and water eutrophication. In addition, as an energy substance, methane can also improve its economic value by transforming into other liquid chemicals. Previous studies on the mechanism of the process have mainly focused on the extracellular electron transfer between species. However, in recent years, the production of intermediates influenced by different factors, and the existence of a large number of acid-producing bacteria and methanogens under anaerobic conditions, has led some researchers to pursue research into a new mechanism of the process. Moreover, the discovery of CO2 as a potential electron acceptor in products is certainly exciting, being a big opportunity under the ‘carbon neutral’ policy. This review looks back at the development of the MOD process and describes its functional microorganism and mechanism in detail when summarizing the types of microorganisms and intermediates at different oxygen levels, and introduces some traditional and novel biotechnologies, such as metagenomics, meta-transcriptomics, and meta-proteomics, etc., to help explore the novel mechanism of the process of MOD mediated by intermediates.

Copyright of Výživa a Potraviny is the property of Spolecnost pro Vyzivu and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

In this study, the experimental data were collected in a laboratory-scale batch reactor equipped with a graphite electrode as anode and an SS316 electrode as a cathode. The central composite design (CCD) was selected for evaluation of the effect of different parameters (j = 1–8 mA/cm2, initial diazinon concentration = 30–90 mg/L, pH = 3–11, and electrolysis time = 30–90 min) and their interactions on the electrochemical degradation of the diazinon. The results showed that the degradation of diazinon and removal of COD reached 87.6% and 77.81%, respectively. The kinetic studies were indicative of the suitability of the pseudo-first-order kinetic (R2 > 0.98) for the explanation of data obtained from the degradation of diazinon and removal of COD on the graphite electrode. The AOS parameters in the outlet effluent of the electrochemical process with graphite anode were increased from −0.73 to +0.58, indicating the biodegradability of the diazinon by the electrochemical system. The intermediate produced during the electro-oxidation process were diazinon, O,O-diethyl O-(4-ethylpyrimidin-2-yl) phosphorothioate, O,O-diethyl O-(pyrimidin-2-yl) phosphorothioate, O-methyl O-(pyrimidin-2-yl) O-hydrogen phosphorothioate, O-(pyrimidin-2-yl) O-hydrogen phosphonothioate, pyrimidin-2-yl hydrogen phosphonate, 1,3-dioxan-2-ol, 1λ3,3 λ3-dioxine, and ethane-1,2-diol. Finally, diazinon was completely degraded using hydroxyl radicals produced by the electrochemical process and converted into CO2 and H2O products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Analyze the impact of the carbon chain length and branch chain effect on the combustion characteristics. • Explore the types and concentration trends of low-temperature oxidation intermediates of different fuels. • Speculate the formation path of intermediate products and affect activity mechanistic. • Study the relationship between NTC stage, fuel activity and ignition timing. Bio-based oxygenated fuels offer potential as alternative fuels or additives for enhancing engine efficiency and curbing pollutant emissions. This study aims to investigate the impact of carbon chain length and branched chain structure on low-temperature combustion characteristics. Five oxygenated fuels with distinct structures, namely 2-methoxyethyl acetate (MEA), 2-ethoxyethyl acetate (EGMEA), 2-butoxyethyl acetate (BGA), Propylene glycol methyl ether acetate (PGMEA), and 3-methoxybutyl acetate (3-MTBA), were selected to examine low-temperature exothermic traits and oxidation intermediate products under varying compression ratios. The findings indicate that increasing carbon chain length enhances the low-temperature oxidation activity of fuels, while the branched chain effect inhibits this activity, impacting the occurrence and persistence of the negative temperature coefficient (NTC) stage as commonly observed with their hydrocarbon analogs. Acids and cyclic ethers, along with unique ester products in the intermediate stage, play pivotal roles in regulating the low-temperature oxidation process. Besides the ketohydroperoxide (KHP) mechanism, distinct products emerge by preserving ester groups and undergoing bond-breaking reactions at other active sites. Additionally, it is observed in the experiment that some products have selectivity towards oxidation/decomposition under the conditions in the cylinder, and the intermediate products are completely reacted before compression ignition. Mechanistically, the manipulation of carbon chain length and the branch chain effect influences the overall low-temperature oxidation activity by affecting the formation path of QOOH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Lithium and dysprosium co-doped nickel ferrite was prepared via sol gel auto-combustion method. • Tauc plot method was employed to calculate the band gap energy of the synthesized samples. • Photocatalysis experiments were carried out for panadol, methylene blue, and phenol degradation to check the efficiency of synthesized samples. • Electrochemical measurements were carried out to find the charge transfer resistance and type of semiconductor. • LNDFO@gCN has lowest charge transfer resistance and showed best catalytic efficiency. Sol-gel auto-combustion route was used for the fabrication of lithium and dysprosium co-doped nickel ferrite (LNDFO). The composite of LNDFO with gCN (LNDFO@gCN) was prepared via ultra-sonication method. The synthesized samples were tested by photodegrading organic pollutants. Different characterization techniques were employed to examine the structure, morphology, elemental composition, and bandgap of prepared photocatalysts. The optical bandgap energy of LNFO, LNDFO, and LNDFO@gCN was 2.92 eV, 2.73 eV, and 2.64 eV, respectively. LNDFO@gCN had the lowest recombination rate of charged species and greater surface area, which makes it an efficient photocatalyst. The degradation shown by LNDFO@gCN for panadol, MB, and phenol was 90.04 %, 93 %, and 89.5 % respectively. EIS and Mott-Schottky analysis revealed that the charge transfer resistance of fabricated composite was less than bare and doped samples, and they were n-type semiconductor materials. As compared to all fabricated photocatalysts, LNDFO@gCN was most efficient photocatalyst due to its high degradation ability, easy formation, and higher charge separation rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel HSAD system integrating biogas and liquid recirculation was established. • Liquid recirculation enhanced methane yield by 169% by accelerating hydrolysis. • Integration of biogas recirculation further increased methane yield by 30%. • 301.2 kWh of net electric benefit can be obtained for treating 1-ton raw materials. High-solid anaerobic digestion (HSAD) is a promising technology for treating livestock manure and agricultural waste; however, the wide application has been limited due to homogenization problems. This study established a novel HSAD system by integrating liquid and biogas recirculation (R BL), aiming to enhance the biogas conversion efficiency of high-solid substrates at low costs. Results showed that the highest methane yield was 357 mL/gVS added in the novel HSAD system (R BL), 30.7 % and 251.7 % higher than those with only liquid recirculation (R L) or with no recirculation (R No). Biogas recirculation helped enhance dissolution and degradation of organic matter, and prevented the VFAs accumulation, contributing to the enhanced methane production in the novel HSAD system. The net electric energy benefit of R BL was 301.2 kWh for treating 1-ton raw materials, suggesting the high economic feasibility of the novel HSAD system for the sustainable treatment of high-solid organic wastes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Relevance of research topic. In conditions of globalization, the economic development of a country depends a lot on its relations with the rest of the world. When using economic indicators, including the "foreign trade balance" one, their correct interpretation is of particular importance. Formulation of the problem. The research interest should be focused not only on the volume of exports and imports in monetary terms, but also on its structure. It is a question of what production (goods and services) the Bulgarian economy exports (respectively imports), as well as where it exports (from where the Bulgarian economy imports). Setting the task, the purpose of the study. This report aims to present the Bulgarian economy in its role of producer and supplier of intermediate products for the countries of the European Union. Method or methodology for conducting research. The study is based on the use of the input-output model and in particular the symmetric input-output tables provided by the World Input-Output Database. Presentation of the main material (results of work). This report presents the results of the study of volume and structure of exports of the Bulgarian economy as a producer and supplier of intermediate goods, directed to the countries of the European Union. The interactions with the following countries were analyzed: Austria, Belgium, Germany, Denmark, Spain, France, Great Britain, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, and Romania. Some of the member states of the European Union are not included. The reason for this is the lack of interactions between them and the Bulgarian economy, based on the provision of intermediate products. Conclusions according to the article. The study presents only one aspect of the foreign economic relations that take place between Bulgaria and the European Union. For the most part, the relations between Bulgaria and the other economies in the European Union are based mainly on industries related to the supply of resources. Services and products with a final degree of readiness are provided to a much lesser extent.

The photocatalytic degradation of Acid Red 26 was examined utilizing a graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) catalyst and a UV-A light in this study. We investigated how successfully the photocatalytic approach removed Acid Red 26 from synthetic and actual municipal wastewater. Both aqueous matrices allowed for extremely high clearance rates. Wastewater degraded at a slower rate than the other matrices, this might be ascribed to the wastewater’s complicated chemical composition. Using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), the IPs in both synthetic and actual municipal effluent were determined. The photocatalytic degradation mechanisms of Acid Red 26 are hypothesised to comprise oxidation, dealkylation, and methoxy group cleavage based on the observed intermediate products (IPs). Using proven scavengers, we were also able to investigate the role of reactive species in the degradation process and illustrate the significance of h+ and O2• in the reaction. Chlorococcum sp. and Dunaliella tertiolecta microalgae were also utilised to assess the development of ecotoxicity. We observed low toxicity throughout the process when clean water was used as the matrix, with no production of hazardous IPs. In the case of actual municipal wastewater, there was an early rise in toxicity, which scientists believe was caused by the matrix’s chemical make-up. To lower the toxicity, a heterogeneous photocatalysis was used, and at the end of the treatment, nearly full detoxification was obtained.

The issue of economic growth has become urgent since the country’s leadership set the task of doubling general domestic product (GDP) for the period from 2001 to 2010. We calculated the required annual growth rate and analyzed it both by year and over the past few years. The results suggest that GDP has not doubled within 10 years. Thus, it is appropriate to consider separately the pace of Russian economy on the whole and the total gross regional product (GRP) of its constituent regions. We analyzed its contradictions and disproportions restraining dynamic economic development at different levels. As a hypothesis, we assumed that the problems of the country’s economic growth mostly stem from such contradictions in the regional development. The research base was information on the volumes and dynamics of the Russian Federation GDP and GRP of its regions from 2001 to 2016, which indicate economic growth. We have assessed whether GDP and GRP dynamics was conform to the strategic guidelines of Russia’s economic development. We processed the dataset using a number of methods such as grouping, average and relative values, analysis of time series. Firstly, this processing has revealed, that the objective of doubling Russia’s GDP has not been met even over 16years (only 3.57 % was reached instead of the required average annual rates of 4.42 %). Secondly, over 16 years, the leading regions have been steadily developing whereas outsiders have become weaker, and the factors of regional development have remained unchanged. Thirdly, the analysis of the Republic of Bashkortostan case demonstrates that the existing model of regional economic growth, as well as the impact of the base effect, has reached its limits. Thus, growth rates are slowing down alongside with increasing absolute production volumes, while the ratio of intermediate and end products persists in the long term. Consequently, the regional economy lacks systemic positive structural changes, without which breakthrough economic growth is impossible. The obtained results can be used for improving the analysis and forecasting techniques of Russian regional development and forming an effective regional policy.

Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) is used in a wide range of personal care products and plastics to resist ultraviolet light, which has aroused considerable public concern due to its endocrine-disrupting effects. In this work, we systematically investigated the chemical oxidation process of BP-3 by KMnO4. The influences of several factors, such as pH, oxidant dose, temperature, coexisting water constituents, and water matrices, on BP-3 degradation efficiency were evaluated. The removal rate of 10 μM BP-3 could reach 91.3% in 2 h under the conditions of pH = 8.0, [BP-3]0:[KMnO4]0 = 1:20, and T = 25 °C, with the observed rate constant (kobs) value of 0.0202 min−1. The presence of typical anions (Cl−, NO3−, SO42−) and HA could slightly increase BP-3 removal, while HCO3− caused a relatively significant promotion of BP-3 degradation. On the basis of mass spectrometry and theoretical calculations, hydroxylation, direct oxidation, and carbon–carbon bridge bond cleavage were mainly involved in the oxidation process. Toxicity assessment revealed that the acute and chronic toxicities were reduced significantly, which suggested KMnO4 is a promising technique for BP-3 removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceftazidime was selected as target pollutant for electrochemical degradation on two most typical dimensional stable anodes Ti/PbO2–Ce and Ti/SnO2–Sb due to its broad persistence in environment. Degradation experiments were conducted through spiking 5 mg L−1 ceftazidime in real secondary effluents and evaluating the residual antibiotics or COD after 1 h and 4 h electrolysis, respectively. The morphology, composition and electrochemical characteristics of the anodes were compared and it was demonstrated that Ti/SnO2–Sb performed the highest degradation rate because of its superior hydroxyl (·OH) production capability and Ti/PbO2–Ce was regarded as the most stable anode proved by stability tests in 0.5 M aqueous H2SO4 with an anodic current density of 1.0 A. As high as 99.37% of ceftazidime degradation and 95.52% COD removal was achieved on Ti/SnO2–Sb anode under a current of 4 mA cm−1, compared with 75.15% ceftazidime degradation and 83.54% COD removal on Ti/PbO2–Ce. The effects of NaCl and humic acid (HA) in electrolyte were mainly investigated because their existence could interfere the electrochemical degradation process. The experiment results showed NaCl concentration can significantly enhance the oxidation rate with 99% removal within 5 min of treatment on Ti/SnO2–Sb anode, while humic acid concentration is a parameter that inhibited electrochemical catalyzing. Therefore, the degradation efficiency of spiked ceftazidime in real wastewater was evaluated. The last lead to the identification of intermediates during 150 min degradation process and a pathway scheme of ceftazidime was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of the modification of the TiO2 surface with F− ions on the physicochemical properties of the catalysts and efficiency in the photooxidation of gaseous molecules under atmospheric conditions and under UV irradiation was studied by IR spectroscopy. The fluorine-containing samples adsorb more water molecules than unmodified TiO2. The amount of adsorbed water increases with increasing content of surface fluoride ions. The fluorination of the TiO2 surface first leads to the substitution of the terminal OH groups by F− ions and to an increase in acidity of the bridging acidic OH groups remained on the surface. The modification also results in the structural rearrangement of the surface involving defective and surface Ti4+ sites. Fluorine modification increases the activity of TiO2 in the photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol, acetaldehyde, acetic acid, and acetone. At the same time, benzene and H2S are oxidized more rapidly on unmodified TiO2. The presence of fluorine on the TiO2 surface exerts almost no effect on the oxidation rate of chlorine-containing substrates C3H7Cl and C2H4Cl2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Inhibition effect order of cations: Cu2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+ • Inhibition effect order of anions: CO 3 2− > NO 3 − > SO 4 2− • ROS contribution rate order: •OH (72.56%) > 1O 2 (24.24%) > other ROS (3.20%) • The active sites of norfloxacin in UV/H 2 O 2 degradation were the piperazine ring and F atom • Binding free energy of DNA gyrase A: norfloxacin (-11.8 kJ/mol) > P1 (-12.8 kJ/mol) This study investigates the degradation of norfloxacin by using UV combined with hydrogen peroxide (UV/H 2 O 2) with different cations and anions. The inhibition effect order of cations for degradation of norfloxacin was Cu2+ > Ca2+ > Mg2+, attributed to the forms of the coordination compounds between norfloxacin and the cations. The inhibition effect order of anions for degradation of norfloxacin was CO 3 2− > NO 3 − > SO 4 2−, attributed to the ability and efficiency of the anions to quench ·OH or H 2 O 2. The order of the reactive oxygen species (ROS) contribution rate to the degradation of norfloxacin under UV/H 2 O 2 was ·OH (72.56%) > 1O 2 (24.24%) > other ROS (3.20%) based on the trapping experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. There were at least 8 kinds of intermediate products, with charge-to-mass ratio (m/z) of 294, 267, 333a, 333b, 347, 335, 351 and 317, which were formed by attacks at the piperazine ring and F atom active sites. The F atom was replaced with -OH via a substitution reaction, resulting in P1 (m/z = 317) formation. The inhibition effect of P1 on DNA gyrase A was stronger than that of norfloxacin due to the binding free energy (the binding free energy of P1-DNA gyrase A was -12.8457 kJ/mol, and the binding free energy of norfloxacin-DNA gyrase A was -11.8488 kJ/mol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactions of organomagnesium halides with group 13 metal halides lead to the formation of R3M type compounds (R = alkyl, aryl; M = Al, Ga, In) and are considered as the simplest methods of R3M compound syntheses. These seemingly simple reactions reveal a much more complex chemistry involving mixed magnesium‐group 13 metal compounds. To elucidate the reaction course of reactions of organomagnesium halides with group 13 metal halides, we have studied reactions of R3M with organomagnesium halides. The interaction of Et3M with R1MgX led to the formation of following products being mixtures of crystalline ionic complexes with the general composition of [Et4‐nR1nM]−[XMg (thf)5]+·(thf): [Et2.2Al(CH=CH2)1.8]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (1), [Et3Ga(CH=CH2)]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (2), [Et4Al]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (3), [Et4Ga]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (4), [Et2.9Al(C6H5)1.1]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (5), [Et2.9Ga(C6H5)1.1]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (6), [Et3.4GaMe0.6]−[IMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (7) and [Et4In]−[BrMg (thf)5]+·(thf) (8). A comparison of the production course of group 13 metal trialkyls R3M with a thermal decomposition of 1–8 products showed that reactions of MX3 with RMgX (X = Br, I; R = alkyl, aryl) yield initially intermediate ionic compounds, which must then be thermally decomposed to obtain pure R3M compounds. If group 13 metal bromides and iodides, and alkyl (aryl)magnesium bromides and iodides in thf are used, only intermediate products with the [R4M]−[XMg (thf)5]+·(thf) structure are formed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We estimate a dynamic network technology where new knowledge in the form of publications in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) is an intermediate product. Knowledge is produced in the first stage of production and is used in the second stage of production to produce a final output of real consumption, which equals gross domestic product minus investment spending on physical capital minus research and development expenditures. Knowledge also spills over between producers as it becomes disseminated. The two stages of production are linked between periods as investments in research capital and physical capital enhance future production possibilities. Our model combines several theories of production: dynamic data envelopment analysis (DEA) and two‐stage network DEA. Using pooled data on 53 countries during 1999–2012, the model estimates indicate that dynamic efficiency averages about 70%. Countries could increase final consumption by about 25% via greater technical efficiency in production and by another 5% via an optimal intertemporal reallocation of investment spending. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Being classified within the Basidiomycota, Auricularia polytricha has been proved to degrade lignocellulose, a major component of wheat bran fiber. During the fermentation of lignocellulose by A. polytricha strain, a large number of intermediate products are produced, which affect the further degradation of lignocellulose. Therefore, it is essential to analyze the fermentation intermediates for study on the degradation mechanism of wheat bran fiber. In this study, the effectiveness of fermentation of wheat bran fiber by A. polytricha strain was confirmed via scanning electron microscopy. Additionally, the results of gas chromatography–mass spectrometry indicated that the A. polytricha strain could degrade wheat bran fiber and produce several aromatic compounds, and that the number of products obtained after 7 days of fermentation was significantly lower than that after 3 days of fermentation. It has also been demonstrated that diisooctyl phthalate and 9‐octadecenamide belong to metabolites produced during the fermentation of wheat bran fiber, by culturing A. polytricha with wheat bran fiber and glucose as carbon source, respectively. Moreover, by conducting an ultraviolet wavelength scanning of the culture liquid containing vanillin fermented by A. polytricha, it has been indicated that the strain could degrade vanillin and further demonstrated that the strain has the ability to degrade wheat bran fiber. Furthermore, adding the products of wheat bran fiber fermented for 3 days by A. polytricha could improve the elasticity of the dough sheet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in soil and groundwater have garnered considerable attention owing to the significant bioaccumulation potential and toxicity. Currently, the coupling treatment method of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) with dehalogenation microorganisms is a research hotspot in the field of PBDE degradation. In this study, various systems were established within anaerobic environments, including the nZVI-only system, microorganism-only system, and the nZVI + microorganisms system. The aim was to investigate the degradation pathway of BDE-209 and elucidate the degradation mechanism within the coupled system. The results indicated that the degradation efficiency of the coupled system was better than that of the nZVI-only or microorganism-only system. Two modified nZVI (carboxymethyl cellulose and polyacrylamide) were prepared to improve the coupling degradation efficiency. CMC-nZVI showed the highest stability, and the coupled system consisting of microorganisms and CMC-nZVI showed the best degradation effect among all of the systems in this study, reaching 89.53% within 30 days. Furthermore, 22 intermediate products were detected in the coupling systems. Notably, changing the inoculation time did not significantly improve the degradation effect. The expression changes of the two reductive dehalogenase genes, e.g. TceA and Vcr , reflected the stress response and self-recovery ability of the dehalogenating bacteria, indicating such genes can be used as biomarker for evaluating the degradation performance of the coupling system. These findings provide a better understanding about the mechanism of coupling debromination process and the direction for the optimization and on-site repair of coupled systems. [Display omitted] • CMC inhibited nZVI agglomeration by providing electrostatic repulsion. • The degradation of 2 mg/L BDE-209 in Micro + CMC-nZVI reaching 89.53% within 30 days. • 22 intermediate products were detected in the coupling system. • Modification of nZVI reduced stress on the microorganisms. • Reductive dehalogenases were important for reflecting the PBDEs detoxification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The advancement of computer and communication technologies has enabled researchers to conduct and analyze the learning process of posing problems. This study investigates what learners think while posing problems as sentence integration in terms of intermediate products as well as the posed problems as the resultant product. Problem posing as sentence integration defines the arithmetic word problem structure, and posing a problem is a task to satisfy all the constraints and requirements to build a valid structure. A previous study shows that, in problem posing as sentence integration for arithmetic word problems, learners try to satisfy a relatively large number of constraints in the posed problems. In contrast, this study focuses on the violation of constraints in the intermediate products while posing problems. The result shows that learners were inclined to avoid as many violated constraints as possible throughout the problem-posing process. Although learners tend to avoid the violated constraints, naturally, they cannot avoid some mistakes. Further analysis shows that learners actually have difficulty in fulfilling particular constraints while posing the problems. Based on this analysis, it is possible to detect the difficulty of learners’ actions from the model perspective. Hence, it is possible to give accurate feedback and appropriately support the learners.

Metallic Bi modification improves the ability of photocatalysts to capture O 2 , thereby accelerating the removal of surface intermediates. • Bi-decorated TiO 2 was prepared by using a twice hydrothermal method. • Metallic Bi modification improves the ability of photocatalysts to capture O 2. • Infrared spectroscopy measurements confirm that the capture of O 2 by Bi play a positive role in the photocatalytic toluene degradation. In the photocatalytic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) degradation, the accumulation of intermediate products on the surface of catalysts could cause a decrease in activity through retarding reactant (e.g. O 2) supply to surface active sites. Herein, Bi decorated TiO 2 photocatalysts (Bi/TiO 2) for photocatalytic toluene degradation were prepared and systematically studied. It is found that metallic Bi modification improves the ability of photocatalysts to capture O 2. As a result, the activities of the Bi/TiO 2 photocatalysts are obviously higher than that of the TiO 2 for photocatalytic toluene degradation, and the productions of photogenerated reactive oxygen species (O 2 − and H 2 O 2) over the Bi/TiO 2 photocatalysts are almost equal to that over the TiO 2 despite the fact that the separation efficiency of photoinduced charge carriers is decreased after the addition of Bi. Adsorbed benzaldehyde is the main surface intermediate on the surface of the Bi/TiO 2 photocatalysts, whereas plenty of more readily oxidized aliphatic carboxylate species was monitored on the surface of the TiO 2 , which can be attributed to insufficient O 2 supply to the TiO 2 surface. This further indicates the positive role of the promoted O 2 supply by Bi in the photocatalytic toluene degradation. The present work offers a new window for addressing the catalyst deactivation in the photocatalytic VOCs degradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study was conducted to evaluate the influence of chloride ions (Cl-) on organic contaminants decolorization by the Fe0-activated persulfate process (PS/Fe0), as well as the generation of transformation products. Orange II (OII) was chosen as the target pollution. The results indicated that Cl- influenced the OII decolorization by PS/Fe0 system, resulting in the generation of chlorinecontaining by-products. OII containing Cl- solution can be efficiently decolorized by PS/Fe0 process, and the decolorization efficiencies changed depending on Cl- concentration due to the reaction between Cl- and sulfate radicals (SO4-•). The operating cost for 94% color and 64% chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal of the OII dye was estimated at 0.73 USD/m³. The chlorine-containing by-products, such as chlorobenzene, 3,5-dichloro-benzene-1,2-diol, and 2,3-dichloro-2,3-dihydro-1,4-naphthoquinone, were generated during the reaction. The results further indicated that increasing both PS concentration and temperature enhanced OII decolorization and reduced the generation of chlorine-containing intermediates. The addition of ultrasound can further decrease the generation of chlorine-containing intermediates under high-temperature conditions. The proposed pathways of decolorization of OII containing Cl- also indicated that SO4-• dominated the OII degradation, while the presence of Cl- led to the generation of chlorine-containing intermediates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

2-Chloronaphthalene (2-CN), used as an intermediate for organic synthesis, is a new type of persistent organic pollutant. In this work, the decomposition efficiency and decomposition mechanism of 2-CN by zero-valent iron (ZVI) assisted TiO2 photodecomposition were studied in aqueous medium. Under UV light intensity of 38 mW cm–2, the optimal conditions for photodecomposition at an initial concentration of 5 μmol L–1 of 2-CN were pH 3 and 0.04 g L–1 TiO2 and ZVI, as catalysts. Then, the decomposition efficiency of 2-CN reached 66 and 100% in the UV/TiO2 and UV/ZVI/TiO2 systems, respectively. Based on analysis of the primary intermediate products of 2-CN, the chlorine on 2-CN was first replaced by a hydroxyl group to form 2-hydroxynaphthalene, and then the naphthalene ring was opened and gradually demethylated to produce small molecules, such as water and carbon dioxide. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excess sulfadimethoxine (SDM) in the environment could lead to antibiotic resistance by microorganisms and may do harm to many aquatic organisms. In this work, the removal of SDM by potassium permanganate (KMnO 4) was comprehensively studied. The influence of various factors, including the pH, oxidant doses, and temperature, on SDM removal were investigated. The optimal reaction conditions were determined to be pH 5.0, T = 25 °C and [KMnO 4 ] 0 = 200 μmol L−1. Anions (Cl−, SO 4 2−, HCO 3 2−, and NO 3 −) and cations (K+, Ca2+, Mg2+, and NH 4 +) had no significant influence on the removal of SDM. However, H 2 PO 4 − improved the efficiency of SDM removal by KMnO 4. Humic acid (0–10 mg L−1) promoted the removal of SDM, which was attributed to the generation of in situ MnO 2. Meanwhile, the degradation of SDM in various water matrices was studied, and the removal order was ultrapure water > Jiuxiang river water ≈ synthetic water > secondary clarifier effluent. According to ten intermediate products identified and a frontier electron densities (FED) calculation, several pathways were proposed that involve the oxidation of amidogen, the cleavage of C S and S N bonds, and an oligomerization reaction. The predicted toxicity assessment indicated that most of the degradation products were not harmful to aquatic organisms except SDM dimers (connection by HN NH), suggesting that byproducts, such as dimers, formed during the oxidation of SDM and other sulfonamides should be taken into consideration. In sum, KMnO 4 has the potential to remove SDM from the aquatic environment. Unlabelled Image • KMnO 4 was first employed to efficiently remove SDM in aquatic environment. • The oligomers of SDM during KMnO 4 oxidation process were first discovered. • Effect of common substances in aquatic environment on removal process was studied. • Theoretical calculation was combined to the laboratory investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • [C 4 MIM]Br was completely degraded within 1 h by 150.7 Gy/min γ-irradiation. • [C 4 MIM]Br degradation fitted well to the pseudo-first-order kinetics model. • Fourteen intermediates were identified and the degradation pathways were proposed. • Radicals e aq –, OH, and H were crucial for [C 4 MIM]Br degradation. • γ-Irradiation can achieve a nearly complete detoxification of [C 4 MIM]Br. Abstract Ionic liquids (ILs) have been widely applied in chemical industry due to their unique properties. There is mounting evidence that they are toxic to various living organisms. Thus, it is crucial to develop methods to efficiently degrade and mineralize ILs to reduce their potential risks to the environment. In this work, the degradation of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([C 4 MIM]Br), an imidazolium-based IL, was investigated in aqueous solution via 60Co γ-ray irradiation. Results show that [C 4 MIM]Br could be effectively degraded by γ-ray irradiation. The irradiation-induced degradation of [C 4 MIM]Br fitted well to the pseudo-first-order kinetics model. The kinetic constant (k) increased linearly with the increase of irradiation dose rate (R2 = 0.942) and solution pH value (R2 = 0.974), and decreased with the increase of [C 4 MIM]Br concentration. Fourteen intermediates were detected using a liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry analysis. Based on these intermediate products, the degradation pathways and mechanisms of [C 4 MIM]Br were proposed. The free radicals (e.g., aqueous electron (e aq –), hydroxyl radical (OH), and hydrogen atom (H)) generated by γ-ray irradiation showed synergistic effects in the degradation and mineralization of [C 4 MIM]Br. Moreover, the toxicity assessment using C. elegans and Chlorella pyrenoidosa as model organisms demonstrates that sufficient γ-ray irradiation could effectively reduce the potential risks of [C 4 MIM]Br and its intermediates to the environment. These findings of this study may offer an efficient and environmentally friendly approach for effectively removing ILs and other persistent organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]