Photochemical Transformation and Catalytic Activity of Dissolved Black Nitrogen Released from Environmental Black Carbon

Environ Sci Technol. 2021 May 4;55(9):6476-6484. doi: 10.1021/acs.est.1c00392. Epub 2021 Apr 12.

Abstract

Biomass combustion results in the formation and wide distribution of black carbon (BC) in soils, wherein the dissolved fractions are among the most active components. Although the presence of dissolved black nitrogen (DBN) in BC has been identified, its environmental behavior and implication are not understood. This study investigated the photochemical transformation and catalytic activity of DBN under simulated solar irradiation. DBN is more easily transformed than dissolved BC due to its photoactive heteroaromatic N structure, and the half-life of DBN produced at 500 °C (8.6 h) is two times shorter than that of the dissolved BC counterpart (23 h). Meanwhile, solar irradiation is favorable for the homoaggregation of DBN. During irradiation, DBN generates not only reactive oxygen species (e.g., 1O2, O2-, and OH) but also reactive nitrogen species (mainly ON), which account for its higher photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A than dissolved BC. These findings shed new light on the impact of heteroatoms on the phototransformation and activity of BC as well as cycling of N in terrestrial systems.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen*
  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Soil
  • Soot* / analysis

Substances

  • Reactive Oxygen Species
  • Soil
  • Soot
  • Carbon
  • Nitrogen