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ABSTRACT Through the variable substitution and separated variable methods, this study develops a two‐dimensional (2‐D) axisymmetric diffusion analytical solution for organic pollutants in a circular‐shaped cutoff wall (CCW) system for the first time, which can more precisely and reasonably simulate the diffusion behaviors in “circular‐shaped” vertical barriers. Then, the proposed analytical solution's reasonableness is verified by comparing it with an existing analytical solution and a corresponding finite‐difference solution. Meanwhile, the comparison suggests that this solution will degrade to a 2‐D diffusion analytical solution when the pollution source radius is large enough. Furthermore, the presented analytical solution can also be simplified to a one‐dimensional axisymmetric diffusion analytical solution, or to the axisymmetric diffusion analytical solutions in a single‐layered medium. These exact analytical solutions can not only be applied to study axisymmetric diffusion behaviors under specific scenarios, but also be used to validate other complex numerical models. Last, a case study is conducted to investigate the impacts of pollution source concentration distribution, CCW horizontal thickness, and defined equivalent diffusion coefficient on the barrier performance. Overall, the proposed analytical solutions and obtained diffusion laws in this study can provide guidance for the service effect assessment and the engineering design of cutoff walls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With a view to utilize an organic photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutant under visible light irradiation, the study reports degradation of 2,4,6‐trichlorophenol (TCP) utilizing a visible light active organic photocatalyst—polyfuran (PFu), polypyrrole (PPy), and their co‐oligomers formulated in the weight ratios of PFu/PPy 20/80, 50/50, and 80/20. Comprehensive characterization of PFu, PPy, and their co‐oligomers was conducted using UV–visible spectrometry, Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM‐EDS). Under visible light irradiation, 100% of 40 ppm TCP was successfully degraded within a short duration of 30 min using 20 mg of the PFu/PPy‐50/50 catalyst. Furthermore, LCMS analysis of the degraded organic pollutant fragments provided insights into the tentative degradation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Journal of Materials Engineering / Cailiao Gongcheng is the property of Journal of Materials Engineering Editorial Office 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.)

The substitution of different types of A-site metal cations within the perovskite structure leads to a change in the catalytic activity of the resultant catalyst, which subsequently affects the overall kinetic behaviour of the degradation of organic pollutants. Hence, understanding the kinetics behaviour of the substituted perovskite catalysis is crucial for determining the reaction rates of the degradation process. This study investigates the catalytic performance and kinetic analysis of substituted MeCuFeO3 (Me = Ca, Sr, CaSr) perovskite catalysts in the oxidation of organic pollutants, namely acid orange II (AOII) dye. The highest AOII degradation was achieved by CaCuFeO3 (97 %) followed by CaSrCuFeO3 (95 %) and SrCuFeO3 (91 %) within 60 min of reaction in the presence of oxidant (H2O2). Interestingly, the AOII oxidation by CaCuFeO3 followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model while SrCuFeO3 and CaSrCuFeO3 were fitted to the BMG kinetic model. The reaction rate constant of CaCuFeO3 (k = 1.9 x 10-2 L.mg-1.min-1) was higher by a magnitude of two and three than that of CaSrCuFeO3 (k = 9.4 x 10-3 L.mg-1.min-1) and SrCuFeO3 (k = 6.3 x 10-3 L.mg-1.min-1), respectively. These results indicate that the partial substitution of Sr in the A-site of CaCuFeO3 leads to a slight deterioration in the overall catalytic performance of the oxidative degradation of AOII, which contributes to a change in the behaviour of the reaction kinetic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, type-II heterojunction WO 3 /BaTiO 3 and Z-scheme WO 3 /SrTiO 3 or WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 nanocomposite photocatalysts were constructed for photodegradation of organic pollutants in wastewater under visible light. The photocatalytic performance of three WO 3 /titanate systems were estimated. Some influencing factors such as molar ratio of WO 3 and titanates, light irradiation time, catalyst dose, and initial concentration of organic pollutants on the photocatalytic activity were investigated. The stability and reusability of three WO 3 /titanates systems were examined. Moreover, the production of some radicals in the three WO 3 /titanates photocatalytic systems was demonstrated, and the three WO 3 /titanates photocatalytic reaction mechanisms were compared. The results reveal that the configurations of WO 3 /titanates photocatalytic systems are transformed from type-II heterojunction WO 3 /BaTiO 3 with lower activity to Z-scheme WO 3 /SrTiO 3 and WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 with higher activity via the change of titanates. The WO 3 /titanate nanocomposites show higher photocatalytic activity at 3.0:1.0 M ratio of WO 3 and titanates, and WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 nanoparticles have superior photocatalytic activity. The order of photocatalytic activity is as follows: WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 > WO 3 /SrTiO 3 > WO 3 /BaTiO 3. Several organic pollutants, such as rhodamine B, methyl parathion, direct brilliant yellow-4R, and methylene blue, can be efficiently degraded using WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 under visible light, and the RhB has higher degradation rate. After four cycles, WO 3 /titanate nanocomposites still have relatively high stability and reusability. •OH plays a major role in three WO 3 /titanates photocatalytic degradation. It is expected that the Z-scheme WO 3 /Ba 0.5 Sr 0.5 TiO 3 photocatalytic technology creates a good foreground for disposing of dyes and pesticides in water and wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

Carbon nanomaterials are widely used in the treatment of water pollutants because of their structural characteristics such as large specific surface area， complex pore structure， and rich surface functional groups. This paper summarized the carbon sources and preparation methods of nanocarbon materials， analyzed the principles and influencing factors of nanostructure regulation of carbon materials， reviewed the research progress in nanocarbon adsorption of toxic pollutants in water， and put forward the bottlenecks that need to be broken through for the future industrial application of nanocarbon materials. Hydrothermal， pyrolysis and chemical vapor deposition are the common methods for the preparation of nanocarbon， and traditional carbon sources， such as sugars， petrochemicals， and biomass， can be used to obtain nanostructured carbon through the modulation of parameters such as preparation temperature and activator. Carbon nanotubes， carbon nanospheres， and nanoporous carbon have been developed for better contact with pollutants， thus exhibiting significant adsorption advantages for toxic pollutants such as phenols， benzenes， dyes， antibiotics， and heavy metal ions. In order to realize the wide application of nanocarbon adsorbent materials， further research is required to be carried out in the future on the development of green and efficient preparation process of nanocarbon， the exploration of the formation and evolution law of carbon structures， the design of macroscopic use scheme of nanocarbon， and the development of nanocarbon based composite materials.

Many wastewater treatment methods have been developed because large amounts of organic pollutants (OPs) entered into the water bodies and adsorption is one of the classic and important technologies. Recently, magnetic adsorbents have garnered extensive attention due to the high efficiency and distinctive recyclability. The control of their structures and surface properties is crucial. Here, the magnetite@carbon (Fe3O4@C) composite was prepared by coupling microreactor and pyrolysis reactor. The structures and surface properties of the Fe3O4@C were effectively adjusted by changing the pyrolysis temperature and Na2CO3 concentration. The Fe3O4@C composite prepared at 800°C of pyrolysis temperature with 1 mol·L−1 of Na2CO3 concentration has lipophilicity and the highest adsorption capacity of 92# gasoline among those adsorbents, which is as high as 7.6 g·g−1. The Fe3O4@C synthesized at 500°C with 1 mol·L−1 of Na2CO3 concentration has hydrophilicity and the highest adsorption capacity of Rhodamine B and Methyl Blue. The saturated adsorption capacities are about 166 and 301 mg·g−1, respectively. Fe3O4@C can be easily separated from wastewater and simply regenerated with less capacity loss after five cycles. The results show that the Fe3O4@C prepared by this method could be suitable for the removal of different OPs by adjusting the preparation conditions. Magnetic adsorbents Fe3O4@C were prepared by coupling microreactor and pyrolysis reactor. Structure and property of Fe3O4@C were effectively controlled by adjusting reaction parameters. Fe3O4@C composite exhibits outstanding adsorption performances for different organic pollutants. Fe3O4@C composite shows excellent recyclability and reusability. The adsorption kinetics fitted the pseudo-second-order model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current investigation introduces a novel diatomite-TiO2/ZnS photocatalyst tailored to address the challenges posed by organic dye pollution while concurrently providing antibacterial activity. The methodology commences with diatomite purification, followed by the deposition of nanoparticles forming a heterojunction system between ZnS and TiO2 on the diatomite surface, culminating in the development of the nanocomposite. Notably, the optical absorption edge of the diatomite-TiO2/ZnS nanocomposite resides within the UV light spectrum. Subsequent heat treatment at 500 °C heightens the system's responsiveness to UV radiation. The nanocomposite exhibits exceptional efficacy in the photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B dye. The optimal catalyst, DTZS 500, achieves a remarkable 98% degradation of rhodamine B within 180 min, boasting a pseudo-first-order constant of 0.03299 min−1, which is twice that of P25. Furthermore, nearly complete mineralization of organic matter is evidenced by chemical oxygen demand (COD) measurements. These superior performances are ascribed to the well-dispersed TiO2 and ZnS on the diatomite surface, the adsorption properties of diatomite, and the effective separation of photo-generated electron–hole pairs facilitated by the formation of a heterojunction system between TiO2 and ZnS. Moreover, the nanocomposite exhibits notable antibacterial effects against S. aureus, as evidenced by substantial inhibition zones measuring 38 mm in diameter. This study thus presents a promising avenue towards the provision of highly efficient and economical solutions for water treatment, encompassing both photocatalysis and bacterial disinfection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methylene blue dye (MB), prevalent in textiles like cotton, wood, and silk, raises environmental and health concerns. This study presents a successful synthesis of a Bayerite/zeolite nanocomposite powder using fumed silica by-product and aluminum nitrate. Hydrothermal exploration of factors, including duration, temperature, and Al/Si ratios, revealed that high temperature (160°C) and short duration (6h) favored optimal crystallization of bayerite/zeolite phases. Subsequently, an integrated photocatalytic adsorbent (IPA) was developed by mechanically mixing the synthesized bayerite/zeolite with TiO2, followed by calcination (500 °C, 2 h), demonstrating superior efficiency in MB photodegradation under UV–Vis light. The IPA achieved 100% degradation efficiency for 60 mg/L of MB and maintained good photostability over three cycles. The bayerite/zeolite-supported TiO2 nanocomposite exhibited the generation of positive holes (h +) and active hydroxyl radicals (OH•), showcasing its potential as a promising material for wastewater treatment applications. Highlights: • Successful synthesis of Bayerite/zeolite nanocomposite powder from fumed silica waste and aluminum nitrate. • Development of an integrated photocatalytic adsorbent (IPA) by mixing synthesized bayerite/zeolite with TiO2. • IPA demonstrated superior efficiency in Methylene Blue (MB) photodegradation under UV-Vis light • The bayerite/zeolite-supported TiO2 nanocomposite maintained good photostability over three cycles, showcasing its potential for wastewater treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The toxicity of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP) is one of the most common threats to the environment; therefore, developing a simple and sensitive analytical method to detect 4-NP is crucial. In this study, we prepared the Nd(OH)3/VSe2 nanocomposite using the simple hydrothermally assisted ultrasonication method and it was used to detect the 4-NP. Different characterization techniques were used to investigate the morphological and chemical compositions of Nd(OH)3/VSe2 nanocomposite. All of these investigations revealed that Nd(OH)3 nanoparticles were finely dispersed on the surface of the VSe2 nanosheet. The electrical conductivity of our prepared samples was evaluated by the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic technique. The CV and DPV methods were used to explore the electrochemical activity of 4-NP at the Nd(OH)3/VSe2/GCE sensor which exhibited a wide linear range (0.001 to 640 µM), low limit of detection (0.008 µM), and good sensitivity (0.41 µA µM−1 cm−2), respectively. Additionally, Nd(OH)3/VSe2/GCE sensor was tested in water samples for the detection of 4-NP, which exhibited good recovery results. The Nd(OH)3/VSe2 electrode material is a novel one for the electrochemical sensor field, and the obtained overall results also proved that our proposed material is an active material for sensor applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A metal-free, sub-stoichiometric tungsten oxide (WOX) photocatalyst has been successfully prepared by hydrogenating WO3 plasma nanoparticles at 425 °C. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicated that the photocatalyst comprised WO3 monoclinic, WO2.9, WO2.7, and WO2.0, depending on the reduction time. Their adsorption and photocatalytic activity on organic contaminants were evaluated by decomposing Rhodamine B (RhB). The prepared WOX demonstrated remarkable capabilities in decomposing 1.2 gL−1 Rhodamine B (RhB) compared to WO3 plasma NPs. WOX-120 exhibited the optimal catalytic performance, with the adsorption capacity for RhB at 174.9 mgg−1, 73 times greater than WO3 plasma NPs. WOX-60 exhibited the highest photodecomposition rate, with a k rate more than 90 times greater than that of WO3 plasma NPs. The investigation into active species in the photocatalytic reaction suggested that superoxide hydroxyl radicals (*OH) and photoinduced holes (h+) were the primary contributors. Furthermore, the photocatalytic degradation of RhB by the synthesized WOX showed improvement when Benzoquinone was introduced into the system as a scavenger, effectively capturing generated electrons and inhibiting their recombination with holes. This research showed the potential for metal-free semiconductor photocatalysts to efficiently remove various organic pollutants through adsorption and photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. Furthermore, the simple reduction process makes this material promising for large-scale catalyst and photocatalyst production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The metal intoxication and its associated adverse effects to humans have led to the research for development of water treatment technologies from pollution hazards. Therefore, development of cheaper water remediation technologies is more urgent than ever. Clays and clay minerals are naturally occurring, inexpensive, non-toxic materials possessing interesting chemical and physical properties. As a result of interesting surface properties, these have been developed as efficient absorbent in water remediation. Recently, clay–polymer nanocomposites have provided a cost-effective technological platform for removing contaminants from water. Covering research advancements from past 25 years, this review highlights the developments in clay–polymer nanocomposites and their advanced technical applications are evaluated with respect to the background and issues in remediation of toxic metals and organic compounds from water. The extensive analysis of literature survey of more than two decades suggests that future work need to highlight on advancement of green and cost-effective technologies. The development of understanding of the interaction and exchange between toxin and clay–polymer composites would provide new assembly methods of nanocomposites with functional molecules or nanomaterials need to be extended to increase the detection and extraction limit to parts per trillion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme was immobilized on Pd(II) containing polymeric microspheres by adsorption method and used for the decolourisation of Methyl Orange (MO) and Rhodamine B (RB) dyes. The synthesized microspheres were characterized by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX), Thermal Gravimetric Analysis (TGA). The effects of pH, dye concentration, temperature, and H2O2 concentration on the decolourisation of MO and RB were determined. According to the results of various parameters studied, when 2-AEPS-napht-HRP support was used, MO and RB were biodegraded to 69.72% and 80.65%, respectively, within 60 min. When 2-AEPS-napht-Pd-HRP support was used, MO and RB were biodegraded to 58.35% and 90.81%, respectively, under optimum conditions. When the reproducibility results of the immobilized supports were examined, it was observed that they remained efficient during the first five reusability cycles and even reached 65% decolourisation efficiency after the 9th reuse. The immobilized enzyme (2AEPS-npht-HRP and 2AEPS-npht-Pd-HRP) showed remarkable resistance to higher temperatures compared to the free enzyme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary heterostructured semiconducting visible light photocatalyst of the iron-doped graphitic carbon nitride/bismuth molybdate (Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6) composite was prepared by coupling with Fe-doped g-C3N4 and Bi2MoO6 particles. In the present study, a comparison of structural characteristics, optical properties, and photocatalytic degradation efficiency and activity between Fe-doped g-C3N4 particles, Bi2MoO6 particles, and Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite was investigated. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination indicate that the hydrothermal Bi2MoO6 particles have a single orthorhombic phase and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirms the formation of Fe-doped g-C3N4. The optical bandgaps of the Fe-doped g-C3N4 and Bi2MoO6 particles are 2.74 and 2.73 eV, respectively, as estimated from the Taut plots obtained from UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) spectra. This characteristic indicates that the two semiconductor materials are suitable for absorbing visible light. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph reveals the formation of the heterojunction Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite. The results of photocatalytic degradation revealed that the developed Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite photocatalyst exhibited significantly better photodegradation performance than the other two single semiconductor photocatalysts. This property can be attributed to the heterostructured nanostructure, which could effectively prevent the recombination of photogenerated carriers (electron–hole pairs) and enhance photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, cycling test showed that the Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 heterostructured photocatalyst exhibited good reproducibility and stability for organic dye photodegradation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anodic oxidation is a promising method for removing organic pollutants from water due to its high nonselectivity and effectiveness. Nevertheless, its widespread application is limited due to its low current efficiency, high energy consumption and low treatment rates. These problems may be overcome by the optimization of the process parameters, reactor design and electrode geometry, by coupling the experimental investigations with mathematical modeling. Here we review the modeling of anodic oxidation with focus on basics of this process, the competition phenomenon in real wastewater, flow cells and batch cells, historical aspects, general modeling equations, modeling with plate electrodes, modeling with porous 3-dimension electrodes and the density functional theory. Mathematical modeling can provide current, voltage and concentration distributions in the system. Mathematical modeling can also determine the effects on the performance of parameters such as diffusion layer thickness, flow velocity, applied current density, solution treatment time, initial concentration and diffusion coefficients of organic pollutants, electrode surface area, and oxidation reaction rate constant. Mathematical models allow to determine whether the limiting factor of the process is kinetics or diffusion, and to study the impact of competition of phenomena. The density functional theory provides information on probable reaction pathways and by-products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals can severely influence the mineralisation of organic pollutants in a compound-polluted environment. However, to date, no study has focused on the effects of heavy metals on the active organic pollutant-degrading microbial communities to understand the bioremediation mechanism. In this study, toluene was used as the model organic pollutant to explore the effects of soils with different levels of heavy metal pollution on organic contaminant degradation in the same area via stable isotope probing (SIP) and 16 S rRNA high-throughput sequencing. Heavy metals can seriously affect toluene biodegradation and regulate the abundance and diversity of microbial communities. SIP revealed a drastic difference in the community structure of active toluene degraders between the unpolluted and heavy metal-polluted soils. All SIP-identified degraders were assigned to nine bacterial classes, among which Alphaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Bacilli were shared by both treatments. Among all active degraders, Nitrospira, Nocardioides, Conexibacteraceae, and Singulisphaera were linked to toluene biodegradation for the first time. Notably, the type of active degrader and microbial diversity were strongly related to biodegradation efficiency, indicating their key role in toluene biodegradation. Overall, heavy metals can affect the microbial diversity and alter the functional microbial communities in soil, thereby influencing the removal efficiency of organic contaminants. Our findings provide novel insights into the biodegradation mechanism of organic pollutants in heavy metal-polluted soils and highlight the biodiversity of microbes involved in toluene biodegradation in compound-polluted environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigates the green synthesis and characterization of Calcium-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles (Ca-TiO2 NPs) for their potential application in the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light. The nanoparticles were prepared using a simple phytosynthesis method and characterized by various spectroscopic and microanalytical techniques for structural and optical properties. From UV spectroscopic result it is observed that the energy band gap of pure titanium dioxide (TiO2) is decreased from 3.1 eV to 2.52 eV, 2.45 eV and 2.35 eV for 2 %, 5 % and 9 % Ca-doped which shows the transformation from UV to Visible light absorbance. The results obtained suggested that, the introduction of calcium significantly enhanced visible light absorption, thereby extending the photocatalytic activity into the visible spectrum. In this study, the degradation potential of Ca-TiO2 NPs was assessed through the degradation of 4-Nitro phenol and Congo red organic pollutant dyes under visible light spectrum. Results show a substantial improvement in visible light degradation compared to undoped TiO2, indicating the phenomena of calcium-doped titanium dioxide nanoparticles as efficient visible light-responsive photocatalysts for environmental remediation.

The contamination of aquatic environments by organic dye contaminants in industrial wastewater has attracted widespread global attention. The heterogeneous Fenton-like process presents an attractive method for degrading dye pollutants, especially when such reactions are conducted under neutral pH. In this study, Fe2O3/MnO2 composite was employed as a novel heterogeneous catalyst for activating hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to oxidize and subsequently degrade methylene blue (MB) under neutral pH. Multiple characterization results have confirmed the presence of MnO2 and Fe2O3 as the primary phases of the synthesized compound catalyst. Degradation experiments have demonstrated that the degradation efficiency of MB approaches 100% under the conditions of H2O2 concentration of 0.30% and Fe2O3/MnO2 amount of 0.888 g/L. Furthermore, the Fe2O3/MnO2 catalyst exhibits consistent and outstanding catalytic activity within a broad pH range from 5 to 9 benefiting from the strong interface interaction in Fe2O3/MnO2. The investigation into the kinetics of the Fenton-like reaction indicates that the catalytic degradation of MB by Fe2O3/MnO2 in conjunction with H2O2 follows pseudo-first-order kinetics. Moreover, supplementary scavenging experiments have demonstrated the crucial role played by hydroxyl radicals (·OH) in the catalytic oxidation mechanism of MB. This study offers a promising catalyst for the treatment of dye-containing wastewater under neutral pH condition.

Phenol is one of the worst-damaging organic pollutants, and it produces a variety of very poisonous organic intermediates, thus it is important to find efficient ways to eliminate it. One of the promising techniques is sonoelectrochemical processing. However, the type of electrodes, removal efficiency, and process cost are the biggest challenges. The main goal of the present study is to investigate the removal of phenol by a sonoelectrochemical process with different anodes, such as graphite, stainless steel, and titanium. The best anode performance was optimized by using the Taguchi approach with an L16 orthogonal array. the degradation of phenol sonoelectrochemically was investigated with three process parameters: current density (CD) (25, 50, 75, and 100 mA/cm2), time (1, 2, 3, 4 h), and phenol concentration (100, and 200 mg/l). Signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio and analysis of variance (ANOVA) were utilized to examine the impact of each factor. The optimal conditions for phenol removal were 100 mA/cm2, 100 mg/l of phenol, and 4 hours of electrolysis. Under optimal operating conditions, the phenol removal efficiency was 80.99%. The CD was the most influential factor on phenol elimination effectiveness, while the phenol concentration had the least impact.

An illite-montmorillonite clay from Naima, IMN (Algeria) was treated via physical and chemical treatment (TIMN) and investigated for the removal of methylene blue. IMN and TIMN clays were characterized by XRD, XRF, SEM-EDS, DSC-TG, FTIR and DC electrical conductivity methods. To analyze the sorption behavior of MB on the clays, a mechanistic model for interpreting the sorption data was developed. IMN clay revealed high sorption capacity (1.925 × 10−2 kg kg−1) for MB in 60 min. The pseudo-second-order model had a very good agreement to describe the MB adsorption process. The adsorption capacities, qe,exp, of 4.327 × 10−2 and 4.914 × 10−2 kg kg−1 for IMN and TIMN, respectively, were obtained. The free energy from the D–R model from adsorbing MB using IMN and TIMN ranged from 1.581 to 0.745 × 10−3J mol−1, respectively, suggesting that the process is physisorption. Besides, the sorption process was more sensible to temperatures that increase was beyond 40 °C causing a decrease in adsorption capacity, indicating that the adsorption reaction of MB onto IMN was exothermic. The adsorption mechanism of I/M clay to remove MB was likely based on hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, cation exchange and n–π interaction. These results proved that TIMN was a promising adsorbent for removing MB from simulated wastewater. HIGHLIGHTS Natural Illite-Montmorillonite clay from Naima (IMN) and its modified form (TIMN) were successfully elaborated via physical and chemical treatments.; IMN and TIMN clays were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Fourier Transformed Infrared (FTIR), DC electrical conductivity, Scanning Electron Microscopy Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), and DSC-TG methods.; IMN and TIMN clays were explored for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye.; Up to 90 % removal of MB was achieved within 60 min by IMN and TIMN clays.; The driving factors of the adsorption process were categorized as hydrogen bonding, electrostatic attraction, cation exchange, n-π and OH−π interactions.;

It is of great significance to analyze the heavy metal speciation and identify the organic compounds in soil. By now, the most of existed methods can not be used for simultaneously analyzing metal-containing compounds and organic components, which require tedious sample preparation and offline separation processes before detection, increasing analytical errors and lengthening analysis time. Herein, based on our previous research, a novel electrochemical mass spectrometry (EC-MS) device was fabricated for online sequential qualitative detection of metal species and organics in soil without sample pretreatment. Firstly, the components were divided into four species, including water soluble, lipid soluble, insoluble and oxidable speciation, and then dissociated by extraction, reaction and electrolysis online. Ultrapure water and CH3OH were employed as eluents to extract water-soluble and lipid soluble species, respectively. EDTA-2Na (CH3OH:H2O=1:1, V/V) solution was used as reactant to dissociate insoluble speciation by chelation. For oxidable speciation, the electrolysis was applied to transform the elements into ions using EDTA-2Na as an electrolyte. Then, the dissociated components were mixed with different charged reagents to form ions for MS detection. For example, the produced inorganic metal ions reacted with EDTA-2Na in situ to form metal-EDTA chelate, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons would chelate with Ag+ to form Ag+-PAHs. For organic compounds, those were easily ionized, would be charged with CH3OH directly. Finally, the charged ions and chelates would be transferred for ESI-MS detection in real time under negative and positive ion modes, respectively. The soil sample collected from farmers’ own vegetable fields in the suburb near the roadside was analyzed by EC-MS. The results showed that the soil sample contains water-soluble Mg, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, Cu, Al, Pb, urea and various organic amines, lipid soluble carboxylic acids, insoluble Ni, Cr, Pb, and oxidable Cu, Pb. The heavy metals in the sample may come from animal and plant waste, the settlement of road dust and atmospheric suspended particles, etc. Amines may come from urine, pesticides, biological tissues, etc. And the presence of organic acids were related to organisms. It indicated the potential of EC-MS for the rapid qualitative species detection of heavy metals and organics in soil. This method can solve the problems, such as low sensitivity, long analysis time, complex pretreatment operation, large sample dosage, and complex operation process, which can provide a strong technical support for environmental assessment and environmental governance.

It is of great significance to analyze the heavy metal speciation and identify the organic compounds in soil. By now, the most of existed methods can not be used for simultaneously analyzing metal-containing compounds and organic components, which require tedious sample preparation and offline separation processes before detection, increasing analytical errors and lengthening analysis time. Herein, based on our previous research, a novel electrochemical mass spectrometry (EC-MS) device was fabricated for online sequential qualitative detection of metal species and organics in soil without sample pretreatment. Firstly, the components were divided into four species, including water soluble, lipid soluble, insoluble and oxidable speciation, and then dissociated by extraction, reaction and electrolysis online. Ultrapure water and CH3OH were employed as eluents to extract water-soluble and lipid soluble species, respectively. EDTA-2Na (CH3OH:H2O=1:1, V/V) solution was used as reactant to dissociate insoluble speciation by chelation. For oxidable speciation, the electrolysis was applied to transform the elements into ions using EDTA2Na as an electrolyte. Then, the dissociated components were mixed with different charged reagents to form ions for MS detection. For example, the produced inorganic metal ions reacted with EDTA2Na in situ to form metal-EDTA chelate, the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons would chelate with Ag+ to form Ag+ -PAHs. For organic compounds, those were easily ionized, would be charged with CH3OH directly. Finally, the charged ions and chelates would be transferred for ESI-MS detection in real time under negative and positive ion modes, respectively. The soil sample collected from farmers’ own vegetable fields in the suburb near the roadside was analyzed by EC-MS. The results showed that the soil sample contains water-soluble Mg, Cr, Ni, Zn, Co, Cu, Al, Pb, urea and various organic amines, lipid soluble carboxylic acids, insoluble Ni, Cr, Pb, and oxidable Cu, Pb. The heavy metals in the sample may come from animal and plant waste, the settlement of road dust and atmospheric suspended particles, etc. Amines may come from urine, pesticides, biological tissues, etc. And the presence of organic acids were related to organisms. It indicated the potential of EC-MS for the rapid qualitative species detection of heavy metals and organics in soil. This method can solve the problems, such as low sensitivity, long analysis time, complex pretreatment operation, large sample dosage, and complex operation process, which can provide a strong technical support for environmental assessment and environmental governance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Sediments are one of the ultimate destinies of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the environment. This study aims to investigate the distribution, source characteristics, and ecological risks of PAHs in black-odorous urban river sediments, providing support for environmental safety assessment and pollution control. Material and methods: A total of 173 surface sediment samples were collected and analyzed for 17 types of PAHs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). The sources of PAHs were identified using isomer ratio indicator analysis and a positive matrix factorization model (PMF). Furthermore, the health risks of the PAHs were assessed using the Sediment Quality Guidelines and the organic carbon normalization method. Results: The total PAH concentration ranged from 0.02 to 52 μg g−1 dry weight. PMF and isomer ratio indicators revealed that the predominant sources were petroleum and fuel combustion. The ratio of perylene to pentacyclic aromatic isomers was < 10 in 75% of the samples. Most areas posed a low risk. Conclusions: PAH concentrations exceeded those typically found in lakes and river surface sediments, ordinary industrial parks, and agricultural soils. However, no distinct spatial distribution was evident. The primary contributors were fossil, coal, and biomass fuel combustion. Moreover, the source of perylene exhibited spatial variability—natural biodiagenesis in South China and anthropogenic pyrolysis in North China. These suggest that as an index to trace the sediment footprint of large river influences, its environmental significance varied with different locations. The ecological risk assessment indicated that PAHs in most polluted urban river sediments posed low to moderate risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) concentrations in the leaves and 1-year-old branches of three common tree species growing in a middle-sized city located in a moderate climate zone were estimated. For this purpose, PAH phytoaccumulation in Platanus × acerifolia, Celtis australis, and Tilia grandifolia species from highly urbanized, traffic congested, and highly PAH-contaminated streets was compared with trees from non-contaminated parks in the same urban core. The gathered data was used to define 17 PAH profiles, identify the main PAH pollution emission sources, and determine the organ and species specificity of PAHs accumulation. Due to the direct absorption of polluted air via stomata, the leaves accumulated up to 30% more PAHs compared to the 1-year-old branches. As expected, PAH concentrations were much higher in street trees, while heavy weight PAHs (with five and six rings) were accumulated in the highest concentrations. The highest foliar Σ17 PAH concentrations were detected in street-grown C. australis, followed by P. acerifolia and T. grandifolia (502.68, 488.45, and 339.47 ng g−1 dry weight (DW), respectively). The same pattern was noted for Σ17 PAHs in branches (414.89, 327.58, and 342.99 ng g−1 DW, respectively). Thus, T. grandifolia emerged as the least effective PAH sink as it accumulated up to ~ 40% less PAHs than P. acerifolia and C. australis leaves/branches. Among the 17 tracked PAHs, benzo[a]anthracene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, and pyrene were found to have accumulated in the highest concentrations in all analyzed species irrespective of the site, and accounted for more than 50% of the total detected PAHs. Finally, a "black box" about species and organ specificity, as well as specific drivers that limit PAHs uptake capacity by trees, was opened, while this work provides insights into further PAH phytoremediation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the growing problem of water pollution caused by antibiotics, the development of photocatalysts with high photogenerated carrier separation efficiency is crucial. A high-efficiency microsphere Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 with S-scheme heterojunction was synthesized by solvothermal method and its ciprofloxacin (CIP) degradation performance were investigated under visible light. XRD, FT-IR, SEM, EDS, HRTEM and XPS results show that the photocatalytic have good crystallization, morphology and the formed a microsphere. The photocatalytic performance of Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 for CIP was superior to pure BiOCl and BiVO 4 due to the microsphere and formed heterostructure between BiOCl and BiVO 4. The influencing factors of CIP degradation by Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 were investigated, and the results showed that Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 had high degradation efficiency not only at pH 5–9, but also in the presence of inorganic Cl−, NO 3 − and metal ions. Under the optimal conditions, the degradation rate of CIP was up to 100% in 75 ​min. In addition to CIP, the Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 photocatalysts degraded other organic pollutants, such as tetracycline, oxytetracycline, chlortetracycline, ofloxacin, levofloxacin, and rhodamine B, by more than 92%. The main active species were photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide radicals (·O 2 −). In addition, possible intermediates and toxicity of intermediates were analyzed and five potential pathways for CIP degradation were proposed. [Display omitted] • Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 could efficiently photodegrade antibiotics under visible light. • The Fe/BiOCl/BiVO 4 has synergistic effect between heterojunction and Fe doping. • Degradation pathways were proposed and intermediates toxicity was analyzed. • The ecotoxicity of ciprofloxacin's intermediates was reduced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SR-AOP (sulfate radical advanced oxidation process) is a novel water treatment method able to eliminate refractory organic pollutants. Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is a novel green technology, that can effectively produce strong oxidizing sulfate radicals. This paper presents a comprehensive review of the research advancements in these fields and a critical discussion of the principal factors influencing HC-enhanced SR-AOP and the mechanisms of synergistic degradation. Furthermore, some insights into the industrial application of HC/PS are also provided. Current research shows that this technology is feasible at the laboratory stage, but its application on larger scales requires further understanding and exploration. In this review, some attention is also paid to the design of the hydrodynamic cavitation reactor and the related operating parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Inorganic Chemicals Industry is the property of Editorial Office of Inorganic Chemicals Industry 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.)

With the development of economy and increasing environmental awareness, how to effectively remove organic pollutants in wastewater is a research hotspot. Adsorption is one of the effective methods, and the adsorption material is the key factor to determine the efficiency. In this review, biomass‐derived carbon materials as adsorbents of organic pollutants and the adsorption mechanism are discussed in depth. The effects of carbonization and activation on the morphology and structure of carbon materials; the modification strategies of carbon adsorbents, the adsorption performance of biomass‐derived carbon materials for organic pollutants are described and illustrated; the future work of the biomass‐derived carbon materials is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Experimental Technology & Management is the property of Experimental Technology & Management Editorial Office 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.)

The presence of residual organic pollutants in aquaculture water contributes to water quality degradation, impacts the quality of aquatic products, and hinders the sustainable development of the aquaculture industry. The photo-Fenton oxidation technology, which integrates sunlight into the traditional Fenton reaction, has become one of the research hotspots in the field of water treatment due to its broad pH response range, high yield of reactive radicals, and efficient mineralization of organic pollutants. This paper systematically summarizes the fundamental principles underlying photo-Fenton oxidation technology, analyzes the prevalent catalysts employed in photo-Fenton oxidation system, and discusses the factors influencing the efficiency of photo-Fenton oxidation system, as well as its application in the treatment of representative emerging contaminants in water. It is pointed out that the development of novel catalysts capable of achieving on-site photochemical generation of H2O2 and enhancing the stability and recyclability of the catalyst is the key to realizing the engineering application of the photo-Fenton oxidation system, thereby offering theoretical support for the application of this technology in aquaculture water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Baghdad Science Journal is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) 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.)

The structure and properties of Bi2O3 are introduced, several modification measures such as element doping, heterojunction construction, surface modification and special morphology construction are summarized. The application of modified Bi2O3 photocatalyst in the removal of refractory organic pollutants (dye wastewater, phenols, pharmaceuticals, volatile organic compounds) was summarized. Finally, the development trend and challenges of Bi2O3 are prospected, which provides a theoretical basis for further research and industrial application of Bi2O3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, ZnO nanoparticles were successfully synthesized through a sol-gel route using zinc acetate precursor, polymer N-Vinylpyrrolidone (PVP), Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB), and Poly- Ethylene Glycol (PEG). The nanoparticles were examined with Crystal Violet (CV) dye photodegradation under UV irradiation. The addition of polymers controlled size, shape, and morphology of the particles and reduced the formation of agglomerates. The size and crystallinity of polymer/ZnO nanoparticles were analyzed using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). UV-visible spectroscopy was used to study the optical properties and bandgap of the nanoparticles, while nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms were used to analyze their pore structure and surface area. XRD showed that all the lattice constants changed and the bandgap energy declined with the addition of polymers, which can be attributed to the improvement in crystallinity of the polymer specimens. The ZnO bandgap can be tuned in the range of 3.29, 3.251, 3.275, and 3.254 eV, using pure ZnO, CTAB, PEG, and PVP, respectively. All obtained BET isotherms can be classified as type II isotherms, characteristic of nanoporous material. ZnO-pure has high photocatalytic efficiency (69.66%), which was significantly decreased after the surface of the ZnO nanoparticles was capped with PVP (43.16%), PEG (19.82%), and CTAB (14.36%). On the same surface, the catalytic activity of ZnO-PVP was improved by 28% compared to pure ZnO, with a photodegradation efficiency of 97%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding the adsorption mechanisms and interaction of dye pollutants and microplastics in natural water is vital to evaluating potential risks. This review article discusses the bibliometric analysis and the adsorption behavior of dyes to microplastics. The review also examined the impact of environmental (salinity, pH, and temperature) and physicochemical (particle size and active area) factors on dye uptake by microplastics. The maximum amount of Cyan dye adsorbed onto polyethylene microplastics was reported to be 2874.4 mg/g. Polystyrene (PS) microplastics exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for aniline (0.060 mg/g) due to its surface area of 0.7214 m2/g. In 50 % of dye uptake studies on microplastics, the equilibrium condition was reached within 24 h. However, in a few cases, equilibrium was achieved in 8 days. The desorption efficiency of malachite green in the simulated gastric fluid at high temperatures was 81.4 %. The concentration of dyes in the isotherm studies of their adsorption by microplastics varied widely (5–160 mg/L). According to the criterion of R2 > 0.95, the Langmuir isotherm demonstrates a better fit with the data in most of the studies. The lowest uptake of dyes was observed at a pH of 1.5 under the same conditions. Studies have shown that higher temperatures can increase the ability of microplastics to attract and release organic and inorganic pollutants. The potential ecological effects of ‘microplastic-dye’ on organisms and the methods for removing microplastics were investigated. This paper has provided data for the assessment of the potential risks of ‘microplastic-dye’ to aquatic organisms.

Rationale & Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of exposure to organic pollutants in adults with chronic kidney disease (CKD). Study Design: This was a cross-sectional and longitudinal analysis. Setting and Participants: Forty adults enrolled in the Chronic Renal Insufficiency Cohort (CRIC). Exposures: Exposure at baseline and longitudinally to various organic chemical pollutants. Outcomes: The outcomes were as follows: death; composite of congestive heart failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke; event-free survival from kidney failure or ≥50% decline in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR); and longitudinal trajectory of eGFR. Analytical Approach: We used high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to measure urinary concentrations of bisphenols, phthalates, organophosphate pesticides, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, melamine, and cyanuric acid at years 1, 3, and 5 after enrollment in the CRIC. Univariate and multivariable logistic regression were used to examine the association of individual compounds and classes of pollutants with the outcomes. The Cox proportional hazards model and Kaplan-Meier method were used to calculate hazard ratios and 95% CIs for each class of pollutants. Results: Median baseline eGFR and urinary protein-to-creatinine ratio were 33 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 0.58 mg/g, respectively. Of 52 compounds assayed, 30 were detectable in ≥50% of participants. Urinary chemical concentrations were comparable in patients with CKD and healthy individuals from contemporaneous National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey cohorts. Phthalates were the only class with a trend toward higher exposure in patients with CKD. There was an inverse relationship between exposure and the eGFR slopes for bisphenol F, mono-(3-carboxypropyl) phthalate, mono-benzyl phthalate, mono-[2-(carboxymethyl)hexyl] phthalate, and melamine. There were no associations between organic pollutant exposure and cardiovascular outcomes. Limitations: Small sample size, evaluation of single rather than combined exposures. Conclusions: Simultaneous measurement of multiple organic pollutants in adults with CKD is feasible. Exposure levels are comparable with healthy individuals. Select contaminants, especially in the phthalate class, may be associated with more rapid deterioration in kidney function. Plain-Language Summary: The effect of exposure to organic pollutants has not been studied in adults with chronic kidney disease. (CKD). To fill this gap, we measured the exposure to a wide range of chemicals that are found in plastics, personal care products, and food preparation. Overall, the exposure was similar to that noted in the healthy population living in the United States. Only select compounds, mainly phthalates, demonstrated a trend with a more rapid decline in kidney function. These findings provide a useful reference for future studies that aim to evaluate organic pollutant exposure in patients with CKD. This is significant because these exposures represent a modifiable risk factor for disease progression through alterations in diet or lifestyle.

The binary heterostructured semiconducting visible light photocatalyst of the iron-doped graphitic carbon nitride/bismuth molybdate (Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6) composite was prepared by coupling with Fe-doped g-C3N4 and Bi2MoO6 particles. In the present study, a comparison of structural characteristics, optical properties, and photocatalytic degradation efficiency and activity between Fe-doped g-C3N4 particles, Bi2MoO6 particles, and Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite was investigated. The results of X-ray diffraction (XRD) examination indicate that the hydrothermal Bi2MoO6 particles have a single orthorhombic phase and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis confirms the formation of Fe-doped g-C3N4. The optical bandgaps of the Fe-doped g-C3N4 and Bi2MoO6 particles are 2.74 and 2.73 eV, respectively, as estimated from the Taut plots obtained from UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) spectra. This characteristic indicates that the two semiconductor materials are suitable for absorbing visible light. The transmission electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph reveals the formation of the heterojunction Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite. The results of photocatalytic degradation revealed that the developed Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 composite photocatalyst exhibited significantly better photodegradation performance than the other two single semiconductor photocatalysts. This property can be attributed to the heterostructured nanostructure, which could effectively prevent the recombination of photogenerated carriers (electron–hole pairs) and enhance photocatalytic activity. Furthermore, cycling test showed that the Fe-g-C3N4/Bi2MoO6 heterostructured photocatalyst exhibited good reproducibility and stability for organic dye photodegradation.

The Cu-doped mesoporous silica-based particles (Cu-BMS) were prepared using an evaporation-induced self-assembly sol-gel procedure as a heterogeneous catalyst for the activation of peroxydisulfate (PDS). The formation of well-organized mesoporous structures with amorphous nature and high surface area of 286 m2/g was demonstrated. The catalytic activity of Cu-BMS in the degradation of Methylene Blue (MB) and the effects of operating parameters, including Cu-BMS dosage, initial PDS amount, initial MB concentration, temperature and initial pH, were investigated in details. The Cu-BMS demonstrated a remarkable catalytic activity (93.5% degradation efficiency within 60 min) and good stability.

Efficient biological processes are crucial for minimizing contaminant levels in aquatic environments. We present a systematic review of studies related to emerging contaminants, metabolic modes, and remediation processes associated with the genus Chlorella. Relevant studies published from 2018 to 2023 were included. The potential of Chlorella to remove organic contaminants in water bodies or wastewater in mixotrophic mode, using bioadsorption, bioaccumulation, and biodegradation, has been recognized. Among them, the Chlorella pyrenoidosa, Chlorella vulgaris and several strains of Chlorella sp. Were highlighted as it can removal various organic carbon sources. The review also reveals that phycoremediation technology with the Chlorella genus can effectively remove organic contaminants and has prospects for enhancement since high removal rates are already found with isolated or consortial species and much research can still be conducted to recognize the removal of organic molecules associated with body care products, veterinary drugs, multiple residues, new medications, cleaner products, and others.

[Display omitted] Solar-driven water evaporation is a promising technology of freshwater production to address the water scarcity. However, the photothermal material and the distilled water would be contaminated in the evaporation of wastewater including organic pollutants. In this work, MOF-derived C/TiO 2 composites (carbonized UiO-66-NH 2 (Ti)) with simultaneous photothermal and photocatalytic functions are designed for producing freshwater from sewage. With advantageous features of porous structure with large specific area, excellent sunlight absorption and super-hydrophilicity, the carbonized UiO-66-NH 2 (Ti) layer exhibits high water evaporation efficiency of 94% under 1.0 sun irradiation. Meanwhile, the layer can simultaneously decompose the organic pollutants with degradation efficiency of 92.7% in the underlying water during solar-driven water evaporation. This bifunctional material will provide a new approach for solar-driven water evaporation and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutant synergistically. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Slow pyrolysis of sewage sludge (SS) was conducted at an industrial pilot scale. • The effect of pyrolysis on 161 organic contaminants in SSs was studied. • Pyrolysis temperature of >500 °C is advised for organic contaminant removal. • Pyrolysis is suitable for SSs with moderate inorganic contaminant levels. • Industrial scale results were mostly in line with published laboratory scale data. Pyrolysis has been gaining global interest as a viable option for reducing organic contaminant levels in waste materials such as sewage sludge (SS) for their subsequent use as a soil amendment. However, publicly available knowledge on the capacity of pyrolysis to reduce the levels in SSs is mostly based on laboratory or bench scale studies. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of industrial pilot scale slow pyrolysis at two temperatures and retention times (450 °C, 1 h and 500 °C, 1.5 h) on a wide range of organic and inorganic contaminants in SSs. Pyrolysis at 500 °C decreased the concentrations of the detected per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs, by 30–93 %), brominated diphenyl ethers (BDEs; by 97–98 %) and most endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs, by 82–96 %) more efficiently than pyrolysis at 450 °C. Estrone and pharmaceuticals, with the exception of paracetamol, were removed to below quantification limits. Non-volatile inorganic contaminants concentrated to the chars (22–46 % increase). These results confirm that slow pyrolysis has the capacity to significantly reduce organic contaminant levels in SSs at an industrial scale, while content of inorganic contaminants depends mainly on the feedstock properties. Pyrolysis temperature of over 500 °C is advised to secure efficient removal of organic contaminants. However, it is anticipated that reactor design with good heat transfer and volatile removal could further improve the removal of organic contaminants from SSs. The results are especially valuable for sludge management operators planning to procure a pyrolysis plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although it is the fourth most abundant element in the Earth's crust, the bioavailability of iron is limited due to the formation of insoluble Fe(Ⅲ)(hydro)oxides under aerobic conditions. Microorganisms like bacteria, fungi and some plants have evolved mechanisms for iron acquisition, one of which is to secrete low molecular weight organic compound called siderophores. Recently, the application of siderophores in iron migration and transformation has aroused tremendous interest due to their ubiquitous presence in the surface environment. The types of siderophores and their detection methods, as well as their applications in the fields of mineral dissolution, pollution remediation, plant growth-promotion and biological control were systematically summarized. The results show that bacteria, fungi, cyanobacteria and plants can produce different types of siderophores, which take up and compete for iron from the environment through chelation. On the basis of the specific functional groups, siderophores can be qualitatively and quantitatively detected by biological and chemical methods. Siderophores can accelerate the dissolution of clay minerals and iron oxide/hydroxide minerals, and promote the biogeochemical cycle of different phases of iron in the surface environment. Siderophores can chelate a variety of heavy metal ions and promote the degradation of organic pollutants, which has great significance in the remediation of soil contaminated by heavy metal and organic matter, maintaining the good ecological function and agricultural production capacity of soil. Siderophores can also capture the nutrients required by plants and inhibit the growth of plant pathogens, play beneficial role in plant protection and growth, and effectively carry out biological control. In addition, prospects for future research trends on siderophores were included, with the aim to promote their developments in the fields of geology and environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]