Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jan 22, 2026

Tuning the Acidity of Pt/ CNTs Catalysts for Hydrodeoxygenation of Diphenyl Ether
Published on: August 17, 2019
The occurrence of polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) contamination in soil, water/sediment, and air
Zhineng Wu1, Wei Han1, Xin Yang2
1Key Laboratory of Pollution Processes and Environmental Criteria (Ministry of Education), Tianjin Key Laboratory of Environmental Remediation and Pollution Control, College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Nankai University, Tianjin, 300350, China.
Abstract:
As a kind of brominated flame retardants (BFRs), polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are extensively used in different types of electronic equipment, furniture, plastics, and textiles. PBDEs are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that may impact human health and ecosystems. Here we highlight recent findings on the occurrence, contamination status, and transport of PBDEs in soil, water/sediment, and air. Four aspects are discussed in detail: (1) sources of PBDEs to the environment; (2) occurrence and transport of PBDEs in soil; (3) PBDEs in aquatic ecosystems (water/sediment) and their water-sediment partitioning; and (4) the occurrence of PBDEs in the atmosphere and their gas-particle partitioning. Future prospects for the investigation on PBDEs occurrence are also discussed based on current scientific and practical needs.
More Related Videos
15:23Determination of Microbial Extracellular Enzyme Activity in Waters, Soils, and Sediments using High Throughput Microplate Assays
Published on: October 1, 2013
12:03Two-Dimensional Visualization and Quantification of Labile, Inorganic Plant Nutrients and Contaminants in Soil
Published on: September 1, 2020
Related Concept Videos
The Soil Ecosystem
Ethers from Alcohols: Alcohol Dehydration and Williamson Ether Synthesis
Ethers can be prepared from organic compounds by various methods. Some of them are discussed below,
Preparation of Ethers by Alcohol Dehydration
In this method, in the presence of protic acids, alcohol dehydrates to produce alkenes and ethers under different conditions. For example, in the presence of sulphuric acid, dehydration of ethanol at 413 K yields ethoxyethane, whereas it yields ethene at 443 K.
Structure and Nomenclature of Ethers
Ethers are organic compounds with an ether functional group which is characterized by an oxygen atom connected to two — identical or different — alkyl, aryl, or vinyl groups. The C–O–C linkage in dimethyl ether — the simplest ether — has an approximately tetrahedral bond angle of 110.3 degrees. The oxygen atom is sp3- hybridized, with the C–O distance being about 140 pm.
Classification of Ethers
Based on their attached substituent...
Crown Ethers
Water and Mineral Acquisition
Contaminants and Errors
Another key consideration is determining the appropriate number of samples required to...