New Research Findings Made by USST Graduate Bi Fukun in Environmental Area

Recently, the research findings made by Bi Fukun, a postgraduate student from the School of Environment and Architecture of USST, were published in a well-known journal of environment (CAS ranking Q2, IF: 14.229).The subject of his research is “Excellent catalytic activity and water resistance of UiO-66-supported highly dispersed Pd nanoparticles for toluene catalytic oxidation”.

For many years, regional combined pollution featured by PM2.5, ozone (O3) and acid rain is increasingly becoming a prominent problem that imperils the health of human beings. Some findings have proven that Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) is the key precursor in the forming of PM2.5 and O3, which is also a significant inducement of combined air pollution. Of various solutions that remove VOCs, catalytic oxidation is widely applied due to its simple operation, low energy consumption and high water resistance without producing secondary pollutants, while the key task is to develop a better kind of catalyst with good low temperature resistance, high thermal stability, decent water resistance and ability to adapt the complex industrial exhaust. The catalyst, prepared in the research that presents high catalytic activity, stability and water resistance,  is expected to remove the volatile organic compounds of high humidity, so as to reduce the environmental pollution caused by industrial exhausts.

Bi Fukun, a student from a village of Fuyang City, Anhui province of China, graduated from Anhui Jianzhu University with a bachelor’s degree in Water Supply and Drainage. He is currently a 2018 postgraduate in the School of Environment and Architecture of USST.
The research derived from a subproject of a project group dominated by Bi Fukun’s supervisor. “I learned to conduct experiments in the laboratory by watching others’ operation during my first year in USST, and then I tried doing it by myself.” Just as Bi Fukun entered USST, Prof. Zhang Xiaodong had helped Bi to determine his basic research direction for the future research. “Professor Zhang has offered me so much guidance, advice and help to save me from unnecessary mistakes. Though I have read a large number of reference documents, still my mind can’t follow my supervisor’s in terms of flexibility,” said Bi. In the course of the whole research, Bi consistently revised his experiment plan through frequent communication with Prof. Zhang Xiaodong, and finally determined his research plan. Besides, the success of Bi’s research can’t live without the support of his schoolmates. “I have benefited enormously from my fellow apprentices, some of whom conduct researches about MOFs similar to mine.” Yang Yang, a member of the research group, often lent Bi a helping hand to make carrier materials and gave him guidance about how to operate experimental instruments and how to analyze experimental data. What’s more, Chen Jinfeng, Bi’ s senior fellow apprentice, also gave him a hand to complete some parts of the experiments and data analysis. All in all, they all played an important role in the success of Bi’ s research.
The release of the research results gives Bi Fukun great motivation for deeper exploration in his research field. He expresses his wish to work for a doctoral degree so that he can come up with more positive findings. “Think more, learn from my supervisors and senior schoolmates and make in-depth communication with my fellow apprentices. At the same time, it is of great significance to read reference documents as a valuable guidance, which is a source of creative thinking,” he also gives some personal suggestions to his junior schoolmates.