Electrospun microcrystalline cellulose/chitosan porous composite nanofibrous membranes modified by non-thermal plasma for gaseous formaldehyde adsorption.

To develop a green and facile adsorbent for removing indoor polluted formaldehyde (HCHO) gas, the biomass porous nanofibrous membranes (BPNMs) derived from microcrystalline cellulose/chitosan were fabricated by electrospinning. The enhanced chemical adsorption sites with diverse oxygen (O) and nitrogen (N)-containing functional groups were introduced on the surface of BPNMs by non-thermal plasma modification under carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen (N2) atmospheres. The average nanofiber diameters of nanofibrous membranes and their nanomechanical elastic modulus and hardness values decreased from 341 nm to 175-317 nm and from 2.00 GPa and 0.25 GPa to 1.70 GPa and 0.21 GPa, respectively, after plasma activation. The plasma-activated nanofibers showed superior hydrophilicity (WCA = 0°) and higher crystallinity than that of the control. The optimal HCHO adsorption capacity (134.16 mg g-1) of BPNMs was achieved under a N2 atmosphere at a plasma power of 30 W and for 3 min, which was 62.42 % higher compared with the control. Pyrrolic N, pyridinic N, CO and O-C=O were the most significant O and N-containing functional groups for the improved chemical adsorption of the BPNMs. The adsorption mechanism involved a synergistic combination of physical and chemical adsorption. This study provides a novel strategy that combines clean plasma activation with electrospinning to efficiently remove gaseous HCHO.

Relationship between energy consumption, economic growth and environmental pollution in China.

In recent days, many emerging nations facing severe environmental pollution problems. In order to overcome the environmental problems, many new methods and strategies have been built and some advance sources of energies were also utilized in order to overcome such issues but by using such sources, many challenges were faced. In order to find best possible solutions of such issues, this paper was aimed to minimize the gap of research by examining the effect on economic development of energy expenditure and environmental pollution and by means of finding the casual relationship between them because it has been observed that with development of economy, environmental issues always increase. Effects of both traditional and modern energies was analyzed in this research. Several explanatory variables will be used: Renewable energy consumption, CO2 emission, economic GDP. Environmental pollution will be taken as the mediating factor that influence this association between energy utilization as well as economic development. Present study was based on the economy of China. ARDL regression model was applied in this research to increase the time series econometrics when non-stationary value demonstrated the co-integration and it is also effective for both stationary and non-stationary time series. At the end, some advanced methods of production were discussed that can be used in this era of industry 4.0. By proper implementation of such processes, many economic and environmental benefits can be achieved.

Has China's Pilot Emissions Trading Scheme Influenced the Carbon Intensity of Output?

China launched the pilot construction of the carbon emission trading scheme (ETS) in 2011. The pilots have been running for many years. Does ETS significantly restrain the increase of carbon emission intensity? Based on China's panel data for provinces and industries, this paper uses the policy assessment method to evaluate the inhibition by ETS of carbon emission intensity. The assessment scope includes six provincial pilots and pilot industries covered by ETS. The results show that ETS has significant suppression of carbon emission intensity only in Beijing and Guangdong. There is no significant impact on the carbon emission intensity of Tianjin, Shanghai, Chongqing, and Hubei. Through the carbon emission intensity inhibition analysis of the industries covered by ETS from Beijing and Chongqing, the results of the production and supply of electric power, steam and hot water, petroleum processing and coking in Beijing have a significant impact on the ETS. Only the smelting and pressing of ferrous metals in Chongqing has a significant impact on the ETS.