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Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is an extremely poisonous cyanotoxin that poses a threat to ecosystems and human health. MC-LR has been reported as an enterotoxin. The objective of this study was to determine the effect and the mechanism of subchronic MC-LR toxicity on preexisting diet-induced colorectal damage. C57BL/6J mice were given either a regular diet or a high-fat diet (HFD) for 8 weeks. After 8 weeks of feeding, animals were supplied with vehicle or 120 μg/L MC-LR via drinking water for another 8 weeks, and their colorectal were stained with H&E to detect microstructural alterations. Compared with the CT group, the HFD and MC-LR + HFD-treatment group induced a significant weight gain in the mice. Histopathological findings showed that the HFD- and MC-LR + HFD-treatment groups caused epithelial barrier disruption and infiltration of inflammatory cells. The HFD- and MC-LR + HFD-treatment groups raised the levels of inflammation mediator factors and decreased the expression of tight junction-related factors compared to the CT group. The expression levels of p-Raf/Raf and p-ERK/ERK in the HFD- and MC-LR + HFD-treatment groups were significantly increased compared with the CT group. Additionally, treated with MC-LR + HFD, the colorectal injury was further aggravated compared with the HFD-treatment group. These findings suggest that by stimulating the Raf/ERK signaling pathway, MC-LR may cause colorectal inflammation and barrier disruption. This study suggests that MC-LR treatment may exacerbate the colorectal toxicity caused by an HFD. These findings offer unique insights into the consequences and harmful mechanisms of MC-LR and provide strategies for preventing and treating intestinal disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a frequently occurring hepatotoxic cyanotoxin produced by cyanobacterial blooms, poses a great threat to human health. However, the precise molecular mechanisms underlying MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity remain to be determined. Recent investigators found that in many human diseases circular RNAs (circRNAs) a class of endogenous non-coding RNAs played critical roles in disease outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate whether circRNAs were involved in MC-LR-mediated hepatotoxicity using human normal liver cell line (HL7702). Using high-throughput sequencing analysis data demonstrated that expression levels of 3250, 3111, 3097, 3253 circRNAs were significantly altered at concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 µM MC-LR. Expression levels of hsa_circRNA_0000657 and hsa_circRNA_0000659 were down-regulated while hsa_circRNA_0003247 and hsa_circRNA_0001535 were up-regulated in all MC-LR-exposed groups. The high-throughput sequencing results of selected circRNAs differential expression genes (DEGs) levels were verified by real-time fluorescent quantitative PCR (qRT-PCR). Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment analysis showed that the functions of circRNAs significantly altered in HL7702 cells were predominantly associated with metabolism, systems development, and protein binding. The Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway enrichment analysis data revealed that the target genes of differentially expressed circRNAs in HL7702 cells were involved in FoxO signaling pathway, protein processing in endoplasmic reticulum, Ras signaling pathway, cell cycle, PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, MAPK signaling pathway and pathways in cancer. In summary, evidence indicates that a correlation may exist between circRNAs and MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR), a cyclic heptapeptide toxin produced by cyanobacteria, was found to induce genotoxic actions in various types of cells. Some investigators reported that microcystin-LR acted as tumor initiator in the observed genotoxic action mediated by this cyanotoxin. However, the underlying mechanisms underlying MC-induced DNA damage in the human intestine epithelium cell line (NCM460) are not known. The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of 24 hr exposure to 5 or 10 µM MC-LR on intestinal DNA damage using NCM460 intestine cell line as a model. Data showed that MC-LR increased Olive tail moment (OTM) as evidenced by the comet assay, inhibited protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) activity, elevated reactive oxygen species levels (ROS) and enhanced γ-H2AX and p-p53 protein expression levels. Results indicated that MC-LR produced intestinal DNA damage by inhibiting PP2A activity, activating p53 protein and subsequently initiating excess generation of ROS. These observations suggest that MC-LR–induced intestinal DNA damage involves a complex series of events that include oxidant stress, PP2A enzymic inhibition and activation of p53 protein. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase change behaviors of organic phase change materials (PCMs) confined in porous silica matrices, which are determined by the pore characteristics as well as interfacial interactions between PCM molecules and supporting solid, are crucial to PCMs for thermal energy storage performance. In this paper, a series of shape-stabilized phase change materials (ss-PCMs) were engineered with three silica matrices as support and paraffin as PCMs through solution impregnation. These porous silica matrices serve as an ideal skeleton for shape stabilization of melted paraffin PCMs and yield desirable thermal properties of paraffin confined in silica pores. The textural and chemical properties, crystallization, interfacial interactions, and thermal properties and stability are investigated using various techniques including nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, small- and wide-angle X-ray diffraction (XRD), and scanning electron microscopy, as well as differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. The effect of the pore structure on crystallization of PCMs was studied and a novel phase change was unveiled. The phenomena of melting point depression and confinement effects are in line with theoretical thermodynamics, and the physical state of paraffin at the interfacial region in mesopore channel is analyzed considering pore geometric factors, revealing a non-melting interface layer in MCM-41. This evaluation of various silica matrices may provide important and general implications for the fundamental understanding of porous silica ss-PCMs performance with cost-effective and readily available raw materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The moisture adsorption and desorption performance of five diatomite samples with different pore structures were tested under high and low relative humidity (98% and 11% relative humidity) and constant temperatures of 20°C and 30°C. The mineral compositions and surface morphologies of diatomite samples were characterized by x-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy, respectively. The pore structure of diatomite samples were analyzed by nitrogen gas adsorption and mercury intrusion porosimetry. The relationship of pore structure and humidity control performance were analyzed and discussed. It is indicated that the humidity control performance of diatomite in general enhances as the environmental temperature increases. The Shengxian diatomite presents better humidity control performance among these five samples. According to the dynamics study, the moisture adsorption and desorption performance follow the pseudo-second-order model. The mesoporous in diatomite is vitally important for the humidity controlling. The specific surface area and mesoporous volume are the two key factors for the moisture adsorption and desorption ability. Diatomite with high specific surface area and large mesoporous volume has better humidity control performance. Moreover, the impurities could change the pore structure, then further affect the humidity control performance of diatomite. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) contamination is a worldwide environmental problem that poses a grave threat to the water ecosystem and public health. Exposure to MC-LR has been associated with the development of intestinal injury, but there are no effective treatments for MC-LR-induced intestinal disease. Probiotics are "live microorganisms that are beneficial to the health of the host when administered in sufficient quantities". It has been demonstrated that probiotics can prevent or treat a variety of human diseases; however, their ability to mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal harm has not yet been investigated. The objective of this study was to determine whether probiotics can mitigate MC-LR-induced intestinal toxicity and its underlying mechanisms. We first evaluated the pathological changes in colorectal tissues using an animal model with sub-chronic exposure to low-dose MC-LR, HE staining to assess colorectal histopathologic changes, qPCR to detect the expression levels of inflammatory factors in colorectal tissues, and WB to detect the alterations on CSF1R signaling pathway proteins in colorectal tissues. Microbial sequencing analysis and screening of fecal microorganisms differential to MC-LR treatment in mice. To investigate the role of microorganisms in MC-LR-induced colorectal injury, an in vitro model of MC-LR co-treatment with microorganisms was developed. Our findings demonstrated that MC-LR treatment induced an inflammatory response in mouse colorectal tissues, promoted the expression of inflammatory factors, activated the CSF1R signaling pathway, and significantly decreased the abundance of Lactobacillus. In a model of co-treatment with MC-LR and Lactobacillus fermentum (L. fermentum), it was discovered that L. fermentum substantially reduced the incidence of the colorectal inflammatory response induced by MC-LR and inhibited the protein expression of the CSF1R signaling pathway. This is the first study to suggest that L. fermentum inhibits the CSF1R signaling pathway to reduce the incidence of MC-LR-induced colorectal inflammation. This research may provide an excellent experimental foundation for the development of strategies for the prevention and treatment of intestinal diseases in MC-LR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three kinds of novel diatomite/ground calcium carbonate composite humidity control materials were prepared with different calcination temperatures using diatomite and ground calcium carbonate (GCC) as raw materials. The microstructure and morphology properties of samples were studied by nitrogen gas adsorption, mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP) and fractal dimensions on the basis of gas adsorption isotherms with FHH methods. Fourier transform infrared spectroscope (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to characterize the mineral composition and surface properties. Furthermore, X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermo-gravimetry and differential scanning calorimetry (TG-DSC) were used to analyze the formation mechanism of composite material. It was indicated that DG750 showed the better moisture adsorption performance. The 72 h moisture adsorbed amount of DG750 reached 11.66%, 8.81% and 8.00% at 98%RH, 85%RH and 75%RH, respectively, which improved about 0.46, 0.54 and 0.53-fold as those of diatomite. The hydrophilic calcium silicate, calcium oxide and calcium hydroxide were formed in the DG750 during the calcinations process. As compared with the raw materials, the content of mesoporous component increases in the DG750, which is in favor of capillary condensation and improving moisture adsorption ability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ground calcium carbonate (GCC) are versatile due to low cost, low energy consumption, simple processing, and environmental protection. In this study, the novel modifier JST9001 was utilized for dry modification of GCC, and then polyvinyl chloride (PVC) based composites including modified GCC particles were fabricated to examine the mechanical properties. The performance indexes of activation index, wetting contact angle and dispersion stability showed that modified GCC obtained excellent modification effect at low modifier dosage (0.50 wt%). And the XRD, FT-TR, TGA, XPS and NMR measurements indicated that the JST9001 was coated on the surface of GCC particles successfully. The mechanical properties testing results demonstrated that 0.50 wt% JST9001 modified-GCC/PVC composites displayed better bending strength, bending modulus, tensile strength, tensile modulus, and impact strength compared with other dosage JST9001 modified-GCC/PVC composites. In addition, the filling content of modified GCC can reach 60 wt% in the premise of ensuring excellent mechanical properties with bending modulus of 3266.92 MPa, bending strength of 39.89 MPa, tensile modulus of 3092.13 MPa, tensile strength of 35.49 MPa and impact strength of 71.88 MPa, realizing the high filling of the modified GCC. Moreover, the modification of GCC remarkably improved the thermal stability of PVC based composites. Overall, novel modifier has the potential to reduce the cost and improve the performance of GCC/PVC composites. [Display omitted] • Novel JST9001 modifier was used to modify GCC. • Optimal modification effect was gained at the low dosage (0.50 wt%). • The filling content of GCC can reach 60 wt% in the PVC-based composites. • The obtained PVC-based composites have good mechanical properties. • The study has potential to apply GCC in plastics and other industries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A Ca-montmorillonite was modified with DDTMA and HDTMA through direct ion exchange. [•] The prepared organoclays were characterized by XRD and BET instruments. [•] The adsorption conditions for BPA of organoclays were systematically studied. [•] The study provides a pathway for the removal of BPA from contaminated waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Taking wollastonite as raw material, aluminium sulfate and water glass as coating modifier, a new type of wollastonite coated with nano-aluminium silicate powder-materials was obtained by chemical depositing method. By modificating this powder-materials with silane and filling it in PA6, the PA6 composite materials were obtained. The modificated powder-materials were characterized by SEM, BET, XRD, EDX, and FT-IR. The mechanism of this powder-materials modificated by silane was discussed. It was shown that the surface of wollastonite was coated with nano-aluminium silicate evenly, the average grain size of aluminium silicate was 54 nm, filling 30% of this powder-materials modified by silane in PA6, the mechanical properties and the heat distortion temperature of the PA6 composites filled by it were notably enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The development and progression of NAFLD by common pollutants in water is reviewed. • Features in response to each environmental contaminant are elucidated. • The new perspective of joint toxicity of pollutants in water bodies is put forward. The global prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has been increasing rapidly in recent years, which is now estimated to be over 25%. NAFLD is one of the most common chronic liver diseases in the world. At present, with the rapid development of economy and industrialization, many chemicals are released into the environment. These chemical contaminants in the environment might cause harm to human health and result in lipid metabolism disorder during long-term exposure. Moreover, the incentive of many NAFLD cases is unknown, and the environmental risk factors of NAFLD need to be urgently identified. Hence, we focus on the impacts of several popular environmental contaminants in water environment on the development and progression of NAFLD. These contaminants mainly include microcystins (MCs), disinfection by-products (DBPs), heavy metals (HMs), dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Through analyzing a great many epidemiological and toxicological studies, we have found positive associations between NAFLD and chronic exposure to these contaminants at the environmental levels. This review may enhance the understanding of liver damage caused by environmental pollutants, which are considered as tangible environmental risk factors for NAFLD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Reductive roasting was ued to improve iron leaching from natural powder quartz. • The effect of ammonium sulphate on iron removal was systematically studied. • DFT calculations were used to investigate the activation mechanism of iron. • Si substituted by Al atoms were analyzed to illustrate the effect of iron valence. In the present work, Natural powder quartz (NPQ) ore was purified based on an integrated approach involving a reductive roasting pretreatment and acid leaching technology. The reductive thermal pretreatment was carried out through roasting in the presence of ammonium sulphate (AS). Compared with the conventional acid leaching technology, the content of iron remaining in concentrate could be reduced to below 0.3 μg·g−1 from 145.2 μg·g−1 after roasting in the presence of AS followed by acid leaching at room temperature. Thermogravimetric-mass spectrometry (TG-MS), colour responses of quartz and Density Functional Theory (DFT) were used to investigate the activation mechanism of iron by roasting with AS. It is inferred that SO 2 was acted as a reducing agent which promoted the reduction of Fe (III) to Fe (II), which would facilitate the removal of trace iron impurity from NPQ. This study gives a new insight into the activation and removal mechanism of iron impurity from NPQ by reductive action. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Diatomite decorated with BiOCl/TiO 2 was prepared for formaldehyde degradation. • Effects of key parameters on the photocatalytic performance was studied. • Optimal pH values, calcination temperature, and mass ration was confirmed. • BiOCl/TiO 2 @diatomite showed excellent performance of formaldehyde degradation. The diatomite decorated with BiOCl/TiO 2 (BiOCl/TiO 2 @diatomite) composites were prepared by supporting BiOCl/TiO 2 heterogeneous junction on the surface of diatomite with precipitation-calcination method. This work systematically studied the effects of terminal pH, calcination temperature, and TiO 2 /BiOCl ratio. Furthermore, the relationship between structure and photocatalytic performance of the composite was investigated. The results demonstrated that composite with optimized performance (84.1% formaldehyde degradation rate of 1.0 g photocatalyst) can be obtained at terminal pH of 6, calcination temperature of 500 °C, and TiO 2 /BiOCl ratio of 55/45. It is indicated that the phase structure, grain size, and porous structure can be significantly affected by the above preparation parameters. In conclusion, the formaldehyde adsorption and degradation properties can be enhanced by the construction of porous structure and heterogeneous junction of composites. Overall, BiOCl/TiO 2 @diatomite composites exhibited excellent formaldehyde degradation performance under visible light due to the multi-layer structure and the combination of TiO 2 and BiOCl on the surface of diatomite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) variant exposure poses a potential health hazard to ecosystem, animals, and humans. Previously investigators showed that autophagy plays a key role in MC-LR induced cytotoxicity immortalized murine ovarian granular KK-1 cells and rat Sertoli cells. Recently exposure to MC-LR via drinking water was reported to accumulate in mouse brain with associated adverse oxidant and inflammatory responses. However, autophagy the physiological mechanism required for cells to degrade their own impaired organelles to maintain their homeostasis has not been determined with respect to MC-LR actions on the central nervous system (CNS). Thus, the aim of this study was to examine the effects of MC-LR on autophagy using human neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells as CNS model. Data demonstrated that after treatment with 15 or 30 µmol/L MC-LR for 48 hr significantly reduced survival rate was noted in SK-N-SH cells. MC-LR increased the expression levels of autophagy-related proteins light chain 3 (LC3) II/I and p62 in SK-N-SH cells, resulting in the accumulation of LC3 and increased intracellular free calcium ion levels. Data indicated that MC-LR induced adverse effects on the CNS as evidenced by decreased cellular survival associated with inhibition of autophagy flux and consequent enhanced autophagosomes accumulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract In this study, adsorption and desorption performance of three mineral adsorbents (diatomite, clinoptilolite, and palygorskite) was investigated for abatement of six VOC with distinct physical and chemical properties and functional groups. Among the three mineral adsorbents, palygorskite exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for all the tested VOC as indicated by the adsorption breakthrough curves. Characterization of the adsorbents showed that palygorskite had the highest specific surface area and pore volume. The distinct adsorption capacities of minerals for VOC can be attributed to the difference of VOC's boiling point and polarity. Increasing the adsorption temperature and relative humidity decreased adsorption capacity of the minerals for VOC. Non-polar VOC showed more sensitivity to changes in temperature and relative humidity compared to polar VOC. Desorption performance of the mineral adsorbents was studied in 5-cycle adsorption/desorption experiments. The results indicated that the desorption purge gas has no significant impact on desorption efficiency. However, increasing desorption temperature clearly decreased the cumulative heel on the adsorbent. Moreover, non-polar VOC desorbed better from the mineral surface than polar VOC. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Adsorption capacity of VOC was affected by its boiling point and polarity. • Polar and non-polar VOC showed different adsorption under different humidity. • Desorption purge gas has no significant effect on the desorption efficiency. • Different regeneration behaviors of polar and non-polar VOC were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Natural porous minerals were used as VOCs adsorbents. • Adsorption capacity of mineral is linearly related to its specific surface area. • Models fit breakthrough curves, isotherm and kinetic processes well. • The acid stellerite could be a promising adsorbent for VOC adsorption. Abstract The abundance of natural porous minerals and their low cost make them the potential adsorbents for VOCs (volatile organic compounds). In this paper, three natural minerals (diatomite, stellerite and vitric tuff) and their corresponding acid-treated minerals were used as adsorbents. The adsorption performances of minerals were investigated by the adsorption breakthrough curves of VOCs. The results indicated that the properties of organic compounds such as boiling point and polarity and the surface area and pore volume of minerals had obvious effects on the adsorption of VOCs over minerals. Increasing adsorption temperature and relative humidity would have negative effects on the VOC adsorption of minerals. The adsorption capacity of 2-heptanone over acid stellerite decreased by 7.2% as the temperature rose from 25°C to 45°C. The adsorption capacity of acid stellerite for 2-heptanone reduced by 60.9% when relative humidity increased from 0% to 75%. Minerals were tested for five adsorption-regeneration cycles to study the reusability. Better fittings of Thomas model, pseudo-first order kinetics model, and Freundlich model were showed in fitting the adsorption. Overall, porous minerals with high specific surface area and pore volume have promising prospect in VOCs adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of microcystin-LR(MC-LR) variant a known hepatotoxin constitutes a global public health concern. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MC-LR-induced hepatotoxicity remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to investigate whether long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA) were involved in MC-LR-mediated hepatotoxicity using human normal liver cell line HL7702 to profile lncRNAs after 24 hr treatment with MC-LR. With the use of high-throughput sequencing techniques, data showed that the expression levels of 37, 33, 34, 35 lncRNA were significantly altered following exposure to 1, 2.5, 5, or 10 μM MC-LR, respectively. In particular, the expression levels of LINC00847, MIR22HG and LNC_00027 were markedly increased in all treatment groups. It is of interest that LNC_00027 was identified as a novel lncRNA. Quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) was employed to determine the differentially expressed lncRNA levels. Analysis using Gene Ontology (GO) enrichment identified the functions of target genes involved in systems development, metabolism, and protein binding. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analysis demonstrated that MC-LR exposure upregulated some important signaling pathways including pathway in cancer, PI3K-AKT signaling and MAPK pathway. In summary, data indicate that the MC-LR-induced alterations in lncRNA may be associated with hepatotoxicity and that upregulation of LINC00847, MIR22HG and LNC_00027 may play important roles in the observed MC-mediated liver damage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several studies previously demonstrated that microcystin (MC)-LR produced cytoskeletal damage, especially to actin filaments. However, the underlying mechanisms of MC-induced cytoskeletal reorganization remain to be determined. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of 5 or 10 µM MC-LR on microfilament depolarization and expression of microRNA-451a (miR-451a) which plays a crucial role in cellular processes including cell proliferation, apoptosis and tumorigenesis in HL7702 liver cells after 24 hr treatment. Data demonstrated that MC-LR increased microfilament depolarization, elevated phosphorylation levels of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK/ERK1/2) and vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein (VASP) but lowered miR-451a RNA expression levels. These molecular processes were associated with no marked changes in total protein ERK1/2. Data demonstrate that transfection with miR-451a may not be effective in the presence of MC-LR as evidenced by the inability of excess microRNA to prevent toxin-induced inhibition of threonine protein phosphatases1 (PP1) and 2A (PP2A) and microfilament reorganization in HL7702 cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel wollastonite/g-C 3 N 4 composites were synthesized via a simple calcination and acid leaching process. The as-prepared photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, HRSEM, PL, UV–vis DRS, ESR and BET. The phtotocatalytic performance of the as-synthesizedcomposites was evaluated by the photodegradation of Rhodamine B under visible light irradiation. The visible-light photocatalytic activity of the as-prepared samples is much higher than that of pure g-C 3 N 4 . The Di/Wo(H + )-4:3 sample displays the optimal photocatalytic performance towards RhB under visible light and its reaction rate constant is 6.5 times that of pure g-C 3 N 4 . Meanwhile, the Di/Wo(H + )-4:3 presents a good durability and reusability. The improved photoactivity of the Di/Wo(H + ) composite could be attributed not only to its high surface area and porosity but also to the synergistic effect of the g-C 3 N 4 and wollastonite, which can effectively promote the separation of photogenerated electron-hole pairs and consequently enhanced its photoactivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatomite-based recyclable photocatalysts containing single lanthanide doped TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized by using simple sol–gel method. Photocatalytic activities of the prepared Ce- or La- single doped TiO 2 /diatomite catalysts were estimated by the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB) under simulated sunlight irradiation. The XRD and Raman spectra shown only anatase phase of TiO 2 for the un-doped and Ce-doped samples. The TEM images revealed uniform distribution of TiO 2 NPs on the matrix, indicating that diatomite played an important role to prevent the agglomeration of TiO 2 NPs. Ce-TiO 2 /diatomite showed a red shift in UV–visible light absorption edge with enhanced absorption intensity than un-doped sample, whereas La-TiO 2 /diatomite showed a blue shift. The bandgap energy of 1.5%-Ce doped sample is as low as 2.75 eV. The XPS spectra showed the presence of both Ce 3 + and Ce 4 + oxidation states for Ce dopant. The photoluminescence spectra of the Ce-doped samples showed first decrease in the recombination centers with the maximum decrease for 1.5%-Ce doped sample and then started increase with the increasing Ce in the samples. As compared to the La-doped samples, a desired behavior was observed for the Ce-doped hybrid due to the redox Ce 4 + /Ce 3 + pairs acting as electron scavengers and localized unoccupied Ce 4 f level narrowing the band gap. The incorporation with diatomite as support of TiO 2 nanoparticles is contributed for the improved reusability and also gives a promising strategy to enable the application of nano-photocatalysts in a real wastewater remediation treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A ternary 3D "PIZZA"-like Bi 2 MoO 6 -TiO 2 /diatomite composite was synthesized. • An adsorption-photocatalysis system was constructed by the instruction of diatomite. • Excellent photocatalytic mineralization property of HCHO was obtained under visible light. • The effect of water on the mineralization of HCHO was studied via in-situ DRIFTs analysis. • The O 2 and H 2 O molecules were involved in the photocatalytic mineralization process of HCHO. The application of TiO 2 -based photocatalysts in air pollution control has attracted much attention thanks to their advantageous green and sustainable performance. However, how to improve the degradation efficiency under visible light is still challenging. Herein, we report a ternary three-dimensional "PIZZA"-like Bi 2 MoO 6 -TiO 2 /diatomite (BTD) composite with high-efficient mineralization and recycling performance towards gaseous formaldehyde (HCHO) under visible light. The high-efficient adsorption-photocatalysis collaborative system with intimate interface combination is successfully established among Bi 2 MoO 6 (BMO), TiO 2 and diatomite. The HCHO mineralization rate constant of BTD-1:2 composite is up to around 4.03 times and 2.18 times higher than those of bare BMO and binary Bi 2 MoO 6 -TiO 2 composite, respectively. It is indicated that the introduction of diatomite increases active sites and plays the vital role in the improvement of photocatalysis. In addition, the photogenerated holes (h+) and hydroxyl radical (OH) are proved to be the main active species for HCHO mineralization. Furthermore, there is a competitive adsorption relationship between water (H 2 O) molecules and HCHO molecules, and both H 2 O molecules and oxygen (O 2) molecules participated in the reaction of HCHO mineralization based on in-situ DRIFTs spectra analysis. Our work would give a new perspective on gaseous HCHO purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 nanoparticles supported on natural zeolite (TI-ZE) are prepared via a simple hydrolysis of TiCl 4 and then calcined at various temperatures. The as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analysis (BET), scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The adsorption and photocatalysis ability was evaluated towards Cr (VI) in dark or under UV light. The XRD analysis showed that the increasing temperature destroyed the original framework structure of zeolite (over 500 °C) and the anatase TiO 2 formed at 500 °C. It was found that the calcination temperature influenced the adsorption behavior and photocatalytic activity. The sample calcined at 300 °C presented the optimum adsorption performance because of its highest specific surface area, and the adsorption process followed pseudo-second-order kinetic. The maximum adsorption capacity of different samples has been calculated based on the Langmuir model. The kinetics for the photodegradation of Cr (VI) has been determined in terms of Langmuir–Hinshelwood model. The photocatalysis test indicated that the TI-ZE calcined at 500 °C remained the original zeolite structures and possessed the highest removal ratio because of its relatively larger adsorption capacity and better crystallinity of TiO 2 . Furthermore, the removal efficiency of TI-ZE-5 towards Cr (VI) was still more than 75% after five times cycling, which confirms the durability of TiO 2 /zeolite catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] TiO2 nanoparticles/diatomite composite was synthesized and characterized. [•] The composite exhibited a good photocatalytic performance in Cr (VI) reduction. [•] The photocatalyst showed good photocatalytic stability. [•] The composite is a promising material for Cr (VI) photocatalytic reduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] Wollastonite is first inorganic modified by coating nano-Mg(OH)2 and then organic modified with silane. [•] Filling 30% of this composite powder in PA6 the mechanical properties, the heat distortion temperature and oxygen index of the PA6 composites were notably enhanced. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Highlights: [•] An Arizona Ca-montmorillonites was modified with DDDMA through direct ion exchange. [•] The obtained organoclays were characterized by XRD, TEM, TG, and hot stage IES. [•] The structural geometry and thermal properties of organoclays were studied. [•] Organic SAz-2 Ca-montmorillonites showed potential prospects in the polymer industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A typical Ca-montmorillonite was modified with three surfactants through ion exchange. [•] The organoclays were characterized by XRD, TG and hot stage Raman. [•] The structural geometry and thermal properties of organoclays were analyzed. [•] The prepared organoclays show potential prospects in the environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The binary paraffin blends/opal composites as shape-stabilized phase changed materials were prepared by adsorbing binary paraffin blends into the natural porous opal. In this study, binary forms of three commercial paraffins (n-octadecane, paraffin wax and liquid paraffin) with different melting temperatures were compound together by the fusion method, and the optimum mixed proportions were determined through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Raw opal was thermally treated in order to improve the adsorption capacity of opal before using as the supporting material. The microstructure and chemical structure of the binary paraffin blends/opal composites were characterized by scanning electronic microscope (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) spectroscope. From the FT-IR analysis, there was no chemical interaction between binary paraffin blends and opal. The SEM results showed that the pore size of calcined opal among particles was improved after calcination, and the paraffin blends were well adsorbed and dispersed into the porous structure of the opal because of the capillary effect and physical surface tension forces. There was no leakage of the liquid paraffin from the composites even in the melting state. The thermal properties and thermal stability were investigated by DSC and a thermal cycling test, respectively. The DSC results showed that the phase-transition temperature and the latent heat of the PN2/calcined opal composite PCM were 24.91°C and 59.04±0.84J/g, respectively, which was suitable to be used as the indoor thermal energy storage building material. The thermal cycling test results indicated that the prepared sample was thermally reliable and chemically stable. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] TiO2/AST composite was synthesized by hydrolysis–deposition method. [•] The composite was characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, EDS, XPS, and FTIR. [•] TiO2 particles coated on AST were mixed crystal phases of rutile and anatase. [•] TiO2/AST composite showed good photocatalytic activity for the removal of Cr(VI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Herein, based on the natural attapulgite nanofibers and bismuth molybdate photocatalyst, a composite photocatalyst with a unique structure was designed and prepared via a simple solvothermal method. Compared with pure Bi 2 MoO 6 , Bi 2 MoO 6 /attapulgite had stronger formaldehyde and tetracycline treatment ability. The tetracycline oxidation reaction rate constant and formaldehyde mineralization rate using Bi 2 MoO 6 /attapulgite catalyst was 0.0109 min−1 and about 58%, respectively, which was about 1.70 times higher than that of pure Bi 2 MoO 6 , respectively. The introduction of attapulgite improved the adsorption performance of Bi 2 MoO 6 /attapulgite, increased the light-receiving area and active sites, thus ameliorated the mass transfer efficiency and photon efficiency in the reaction process. The material showed excellent reusability and environmental adaptability and has good application potential. This study proposed a high application prospect of organic waste gas and wastewater treatment technology. [Display omitted] • Attapulgite and Bi 2 MoO 6 was effectively assembled to be novel photocatalyst. • Attapulgite improves the dispersion and adsorption properties of Bi 2 MoO 6. • Mass transfer efficiency and light-receiving is the key to success. • Bi 2 MoO 6 /attapulgite has excellent performance for both tetracycline and formaldehyde. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diatomite-based X zeolite was obtained and its crystallinity, morphology, and interface properties were investigated by XRD, BET, SEM, EDS, and XRF. The obtained X zeolite possessed a unique meso-microporous structure and showed good ion exchange properties for Cu2+ and Zn2+. The pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model can best describe the adsorption kinetics and isotherms of Cu2+ and Zn2+, respectively. The maximal adsorption capacities of X zeolite for Cu2+ and Zn2+ were 146 and 195 mg/g at 323 K, respectively. Meanwhile, the adsorption process for Cu2+ and Zn2+ were chemical adsorption and ion exchange, respectively. Furthermore, the adsorption data turned out to be an endothermic and spontaneous process. Compared with other reported materials, the adsorption capacity of X zeolite synthesized from diatomite was among the highest. Therefore, it could be a promising adsorbent for the disposal of wastewater that contains metal ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The synergistic effect of natural minerals for persulfate activation were reviewed. • The mechanism of persulfate activation and contaminants degradation were summarized. • We pointed out that the major challenges and direction of mineral-based catalysts. • This review is meaningful for the high-value-added application and functional specialization of minerals. The severity of environmental pollution poses a serious threat to human health, and especially organic pollution is more complex and difficult to treat compared to heavy metal pollution. Nowadays, the persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes receive more and more attention due to high efficiency, strong controllability, easy operation, and economic competitiveness, which is generally employed for the efficient degradation of organic contaminants. Natural minerals possess the characteristics of low-cost, easy availability, environmental friendliness, non-toxic, special structural effects, etc., which have played a critical role and could be the promising alternative to traditional catalysts for persulfate activation. First, this review retrospects the research status of natural minerals and mineral-based catalysts for persulfate activation to degrade organic contaminants, i.e., pyrite, mackinawite, copper sulfide, kaolinite, and montmorillonite. Then, the mechanisms of persulfate activation by natural minerals and mineral-based catalysts to generate the reactive oxygen species including SO 4 •−, •OH, •O 2 −, 1O 2 , and surface reactive complex for contaminants degradation are systematically summarized. Finally, we discussed the further application of natural minerals in activating persulfate as well as the future research frontiers for practical environmental remediation, i.e., the synthesis and characterization of mineral-based catalysts dominated by non-radical pathway, the large-scale application of PDS with low-cost, the surface modification of mineral-based catalysts with amphiphilicity, as well as the more efficient catalysts possessing nano-restricted domain catalytic effect. The development and expansion of novel and efficient mineral-based catalysts with enhanced synergistic effects would provide new opportunities for persulfate activation in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] We have prepared three amorphous silica minerals as supports for TiO2 catalysis. [•] We characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, TEM and XPS. [•] We investigated the UV-assisted degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). [•] TiO2/DE photocatalyst exhibits better catalytic performance at different calcined temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A composite paraffin-based phase change material (PCM) was prepared by blending composite paraffin and calcined diatomite through the fusion adsorption method. In this study, raw diatomite was purified by thermal treatment in order to improve the adsorption capacity of diatomite, which acted as a carrier material to prepare shape-stabilized PCMs. Two forms of paraffin (paraffin waxes and liquid paraffin) with different melting points were blended together by the fusion method, and the optimum mixed proportion with a suitable phase-transition temperature was obtained through differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) analysis. Then the prepared composite paraffin was adsorbed in calcined diatomite. The prepared paraffin/calcined diatomite composites were characterized by the scanning electron microscope (SEM) and Fourier transformation infrared (FT-IR) analysis techniques. Thermal energy storage properties of the composite PCMs were determined by DSC method. DSC results showed that there was an optimum adsorption ratio between composite paraffin and calcined diatomite and the phase-transition temperature and the latent heat of the composite PCMs were 33.04°C and 89.54J/g, respectively. Thermal cycling test of composite PCMs showed that the prepared material is thermally reliable and chemically stable. The obtained paraffin/calcined diatomite composites have proper latent heat and melting temperatures, and show practical significance and good potential application value. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • Metakaolin, polyaniline and TiO 2 was effectively assembled to be composites. • PANI/TiO 2 /metakaolin has excellent adsorptive and photocatalytic properties. • Metakaolin contributes to the dispersion and adsorption properties toward xanthate. • The acid centers are the key to improve adsorption and photocatalytic properties. In this study, novel PANI/TiO 2 /metakaolin composite was successfully synthesized through sol–gel and in-situ polymerization. The microstructure, crystal structure, surface properties and pore structure of the ternary composites were comprehensively investigated. The influencing factors such as pH, pollutant concentration, light intensity and catalyst dosages were studied. The possible photocatalytic enhancement mechanism of the synthesized composite was proposed as well. As for the pore structure characteristics, the specific surface area and pore volume increased from 63.2 m2/g and 0.221 cm3/g to 78.0 m2/g and 0.258 cm3/g after the incorporation of PANI and metakaolin, which makes the composite materials have excellent adsorption capacity for butyl xanthate. The band gap decreased from 3.10 eV to 1.93 eV since the mediation effect of PANI. And the grain size of TiO 2 decreased from 15.3 to 10.3 nm due to the assisted dispersion of metakaolin. Under visible light irradiation, 94.8% of xanthate was removed by PANI/TiO 2 /metakaolin within 4 h. In addition, the stronger visible light absorption ability and higher photogenerated electron-hole pairs' separation efficiency of PANI/TiO 2 /metakaolin could be attributed to the successful construction of unique heterojunction structure. This study provides new insight into the combination of conducting polymer, inorganic semiconductor and natural mineral in the field of photocatalytic decontamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review explores the application of pure or optimized moisture-absorbing MOFs as coatings on heat exchanger surfaces to handle latent cooling loads through adsorptive dehumidification for energy-efficient cooling of air conditioning systems. [Display omitted] • Summary of water adsorption and optimization of MOFs for dehumidifying coatings. • Description of manufacturing and performance of MOF-coated heat exchangers (MCHEs). • Energy-efficient dehumidification and cooling of MCHE-based air conditioners. • Strategies to overcome limitations and develop MCHE-based air conditioners. The enormous energy consumption of space cooling exacerbates the global energy crisis and the environmental governance burden, in which the latent cooling load for dehumidification wastes a notable percentage (∼ 40%) of the electricity available for cooling. But encouragingly, moisture-absorbing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) coated heat exchangers in air conditioners can decouple and remove latent loads from sensible loads through adsorptive dehumidification. Given the favorable outlook, the present work performs a detailed analysis of the water adsorption of MOFs and emphasizes their optimization techniques to meet the requirements of dehumidifying coating applications. The promising manufacturing techniques of MOF-coated heat exchangers (MCHEs) were reviewed, and a preliminary framework for the selection of MOFs and coating methods was also constructed. After that, the advantageous dehumidification and latent load handling performance of MCHEs and their performance variations under different factors were summarized to guide the optimized applications. Finally, the energy-efficient dehumidification and cooling effects of MCHE-based air conditioners were demonstrated, and strategies for breaking through the limitations and further development were proposed. This timely review motivates readers to design MOFs for dehumidifying coatings and thus develop MCHE-based air conditioners to tackle the environmental pressures stemming from escalating global energy consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The catalytic membrane, which combines the physical barrier and peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/visible light (Vis)-induced catalytic oxidation functionalities while minimizing biofouling, exhibits great promise as a material for the removal of persistent organic pollutants from wastewater. In this study, three catalytic membranes composed of 2D/2D hybrid g-C 3 N 4 /kaolinite with nitrogen vacancies and modified with different iron species (γ-FeOOH nanosheets, Fe 2 O 3 quantum dots, and Fe single atoms) were prepared via vacuum filtration. Evaluation of the catalytic performance demonstrated that γ-FeOOH nanosheets-modified sample exhibited a relatively higher water flux (258.13 L m-2 h-1). In contrast, Fe single atom-modified sample achieved improved bisphenol A removal efficiency (97.39%) under the PMS/Vis synergetic system. Interestingly, the Fe 2 O 3 quantum dots-modified sample exhibited the highest rate constant based on the retention time. Furthermore, the Fe single atom-modified sample showed consistent removal of bisphenol A, reaching nearly 100% during continuous-flow operation for 180 min, while maintaining a flux of approximately 200 L m-2 h-1. Quenching experiments suggested that •O 2 −, 1O 2 , and h+ were the most important oxidizing species involved in the reaction of the three membranes. Statistical analysis indicated that variations in the average pore size of the membranes were key factors influencing the catalytic activity. Overall, this study offers an in-depth insight into the systematic and quantitative assessment of 2D/2D hybrid g-C 3 N 4 /layered clay-based catalytic membranes for wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • The catalytic performance of three iron species-based membranes for bisphenol A removal were compared. • Fe single atom modified membrane showed more superior catalytic performance. • Fe 2 O 3 quantum dots modified membrane possessed the largest rate constant. • The catalytic performance was significantly correlated with surface area and average pore size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Kaolinite was employed to regulate the diversified crystal forms of ferric hydroxide. • Kaolinite influenced the adsorption and catalysis performance of FeOOH. • α'-F/K composite exhibited the best PMS activation performance. • The XANES spectra for different types of FeOOH/kaolinite are comparatively discussed. • This study gives a deep insight into preparing mineral-based catalytic materials. The comparative study on the regulation of diversified crystal forms of ferric hydroxide for peroxymonosulfate activation is of great significance, especially for the transformation of crystals in the presence of other substances or components. Advanced characterizations like XAS and coexisting growth with kaolinite would be expected to illustrate the issues and provide more possibilities for environmental purification. Herein, this study demonstrated the collaborative preparation of different crystallized x-FeOOH (x = α, β, and γ) purebreds and kaolinite-based composites (x-F/K) (x = α', β, and γ) under hydrothermal conditions or natural oxidation by adjusting types of reducing agent in the reaction. The α'-F/K composite exhibits the largest specific surface area in comparison with other samples. Besides, the differences in pore structure and coordination environment caused by discrepant crystal forms, and preferential orientation crystallization evolution after kaolinite introduction have been proved to significantly influence the adsorption and catalysis performance of FeOOH. The present work could be beneficial for revealing the intrinsic adsorption-catalysis features of x-F/K and other similar natural oxides with multiple crystal forms. Facilitating future applications of kaolinite-based catalysts for peroxymonosulfate activation by mineral oriented induction and crystal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Preparation of FA coated with aluminum silicate (FAS) using heterogeneous nucleation method in the Al2 (SO4)3–H2O–Na2SiO3 system is described to improve its whiteness. The characteristics of FAS are discussed and analyzed based on data from SEM, BET multiple-point nitrogen adsorption method, grain size analyzer and whiteness apparatus. The results show that aluminum silicate deposited on the FA evenly. The whiteness has been increased from 49.6 to 70.2. The specific surface area has been increased from 8.6 to 51.81m2 g−1. Filling tests show that the mechanical properties and heat distortion temperature of PA6 have been increased after filled with modified FAS. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Distinctive Cr-MOF@Da composites have been constructed using chromium-based metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) and diatomite (Da). The new materials have hierarchical pore structures containing micropores, mesopores and macropores. We have synthesized various morphologies of the MOF compound Cr-MIL-101 to combine with Da in a one-pot reaction step. These distinctive hierarchical pore networks within Cr-MIL-101@Da enable exceptional adsorptive performance for a range of molecules, including hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2) and water (H2O) vapor. Selectivity for H2 or CO2 can be moderated by the morphology and composition of the Cr-MIL-101 included in the Cr-MOF@Da composite. The encapsulation and growth of Cr-MIL-101 within and on Da have resulted in excellent water retention as well as high thermal and hydrolytic stability. In some cases, Cr-MIL-101@Da composite materials have demonstrated increased thermal stability compared with that of Cr-MIL-101; for example, decomposition temperatures >340 ℃ can be achieved. Furthermore, these Cr-MIL-101@Da composites retain structural and morphological integrity after 60 cycles of repeated hydration/dehydration, and after storage for more than one year. These characteristics are difficult to achieve with many MOF materials, and thus suggest that MOF–mineral composites show high potential for practical gas storage and water vapor capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel oxygen vacancy-rich amorphous TiO 2 -BiOBr-sepiolite composite with enhanced photocatalytic removal for indoor HCHO and oxytetracycline under visible light was successfully fabricated by a facile one-pot solvothermal method. This work could provide a new insight for designing and constructing highly active photocatalysts for the practical elimination of pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) as well as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). • Novel oxygen vacancy-rich amorphous TiO 2 -BiOBr-sepiolite composite was synthesized. • The composite shows superior photodegradation efficiency towards HCHO and oxytetracycline. • The photocatalytic process is mainly governed by the photoinduced holes. • Potential mechanisms for the enhanced activity of composite were analyzed. • The plausible degradation pathway for oxytetracycline was proposed. Herein, a novel oxygen vacancy-rich amorphous TiO 2 -BiOBr-sepiolite composite was synthesized through a facile one-pot solvothermal method. Under visible light, it exhibited enhanced adsorption and photocatalytic removal activity towards gaseous formaldehyde, whose reaction rate constant is nearly 11.75, 3.44, 1.69, 2.18 and 6.27 times higher than those of amorphous TiO 2 , BiOBr, TiO 2 -BiOBr, oxygen vacancy-poor composite and P25, respectively. Moreover, it also displayed significantly improved photodegradation performance towards oxytetracycline under visible light. The improved photocatalytic activity is mainly ascribed to the synergy between the ternary heterogeneous structure and introduced oxygen vacancy, leading to the superior adsorption performance, extended visible-light adsorption scope and faster carriers' separation rate. The photogenerated holes are the dominant active species during the reaction process. Additionally, a plausible photocatalytic degradation pathway for oxytetracycline was also proposed. In general, this work provides a viable strategy of visible-light-driven photocatalyst for practical environmental remediation of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Decorating inorganic particles with core-shell structure is an attractive approach to broaden their practical application owing to the synergistic effects between inner core and outer shell. In this work, a novel rutile TiO 2 @AlPO 4 core-shell composite has been constructed via a facile one-step wet chemical deposition method. The dense and thick AlPO 4 shell can hinder direct contact between TiO 2 core and outer environment, decrease light absorption ability, suppress separation of electron-hole pairs, and accelerate electron annihilation. Such unique properties hindered the generation of reactive oxygen species, further contributing to the suppression of photoactivity. The superior dispersion stability in aqueous system of TiO 2 @AlPO 4 core-shell hybrid was attributed to its enhanced surface electronegativity. Thus-produced TiO 2 @AlPO 4 core-shell hybrid with suppressed photoactivity and enhanced dispersion stability could further increase the weather durability and prolong the life span of TiO 2 -based pigment. Overall, this study provides new insight into the mass production of multi-functional rutile TiO 2 pigments. Unlabelled Image • TiO 2 @AlPO 4 core-shell (T@AP) pigment was fabricated via a low-cost WCD method. • AP shell hindered direct contact between TiO 2 core and outer environment. • AP shell suppressed electron-hole separation and accelerated electron annihilation. • Dense and thick AP shell enhanced surface electronegativity of TiO 2 core. • T@AP showed suppressed photocatalytic activity and enhanced dispersion stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Organo-montmorillonites (NZMts) modified by binary surfactant mixtures were synthesized. • The NZMts exhibit enhanced detoxification efficiency for both AFB1 and ZER. • The adsorption enhancement mechanism of NZMts was proposed. • This study provides new insight for multifunctional mycotoxin adsorbents. To solve the problem of simultaneous adsorption of polar and weak polar mycotoxins, organo-montmorillonites modified by binary surfactant mixtures (NZMts), including polyoxyethylene ether (OP-10) and lauramidopropyl betaine (LAB-35), were synthesized for the simultaneous removal of aflatoxin B 1 (AFB 1) and zearalenone (ZER). The microstructure, interface and pore structure characteristics of NZMts were investigated through different technologies. The results show that the obtained NZMts modified by binary surfactant mixtures have different structural configurations, higher carbon content and stronger hydrophobicity compared with organo-montmorillonites modified by single surfactant. More importantly, the obtained adsorbents show significant improvements on the detoxification efficiency of both AFB 1 and ZER. The pH has less effect on the adsorption of NZMts compared with the control samples modified by single surfactant, suggesting that NZMts are more stable in different pH environments. In addition, the adsorption mechanisms of NZMts to AFB 1 and ZER were proposed based on the characterizations and adsorption isotherms. It is indicated that NZMts combines with AFB 1 mainly through the hydrophobic interaction and ion dipole action, while with ZER mainly through hydrophobic interaction. The as-received NZMts with more hydrophobic property effectively enhance the adsorption capacities of weak polar and non-polar mycotoxins, providing a new orientation for multifunctional mycotoxin adsorbents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Novel BiOCl/TiO 2 /clinoptilolite composite photocatalyst was synthesized. • BiOCl/TiO 2 /clinoptilolite displayed excellent visible photocatalytic activity. • Carrier effect and heterojunction charged for photocatalytic enhancement. • This study provides a novel idea for ternary heterojunction construction. Novel BiOCl/TiO 2 /clinoptilolite composite was prepared via a homogeneous precipitation and calcination-crystallization process in this study. Through structural design and spatial assembly, the ternary composite based on clinoptilolite layer as well as the TiO 2 nano particles and BiOCl nano sheets was successfully synthesized. The prepared composite was characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), N 2 isothermal adsorption-desorption test and electrochemical measurement, respectively. Compared with bare photocatalysts (i.e. TiO 2 and BiOCl), the composite exhibited enhanced photoactivity under visible light irradiation towards rhodamine B (RhB). Based on the pseudo-first-order kinetic constants, the photocatalytic performance of BiOCl/TiO 2 /clinoptilolite composite is around 48 and 11 times higher than that of pure TiO 2 and BiOCl, respectively. The enhanced photocatalytic properties of the composite should be attributed to the improved adsorption ability and the formation of the n -p heterojunction between BiOCl and TiO 2 , which is beneficial to establish the rapid adsorption-desorption system and promote the efficient separation of the photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The excellent visible-light-driven performance makes the BiOCl/TiO 2 /clinoptilolite composite possible to be utilized in the field of industrial wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• TiO 2 nanoparticles were rationally monodispersed on the kaolinite surface. • The composite's reaction rate constant is about 6.90 times higher than that of pure TiO 2. • The synergistic effect between kaolinite and TiO 2 charged for performance enhancement. • This study provides a promising candidate for wastewater treatment. Lamellar kaolinite supported monodispersed TiO 2 was prepared through rational design and 0D/2D structural assembly, which showed significantly improved photocatalytic performance towards ciprofloxacin. After systematic evaluation, the pseudo-first-order kinetic constant rate of TiO 2 /kaolinite composite can reach to 0.04549 min−1, which was 6.90 and 1.81 times higher than that of pure TiO 2 and P25, respectively. The nano-TiO 2 /kaolinite composite photocatalyst also displayed good reusability performance, only a slight decline occurred after four repeated experiments, which is beneficial for the large-scale application of photocatalysts. Various characterizations indicated that enhanced photocatalytic performance can be ascribed to the synergistic effect between natural kaolinite and the well distributed TiO 2 , which enhanced the light absorption ability, assisted the dispersion of pure TiO 2 , resulted in co-catalysis effect, improved the separation facilitation of photo-induced carriers and promoted the stronger adsorption capacity, etc. These merits effectively regulated the carriers' lifetime and migration velocity of the photogenerated charge carriers. Considering the excellent properties of natural kaolinite (low cost, abundance, stability, etc.), our study provides a promising candidate for effective degradation of trace amounts of pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP) or contaminants with potential high-toxic risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A porous calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) material was prepared based on opoka. • The CSH has abundant mesoporous, large specific surface area and pore volume. • CSH exhibited more excellent humidity control performance than references. • The enhanced properties should be attributed to the improved porous structure. In this work, a porous calcium silicate hydrate (CSH) humidity control material was prepared by hydrothermal synthesis with opoka (ROP) and slaked lime. The microstructures and humidity control properties of the prepared sample were characterized and analyzed in detail. Results show that CSH possesses plenty of mesoporous structures with the pore size range of 3–20 nm, which are superior to ROP. The maximum moisture adsorption capacity of CSH is about 2–3 times of ROP. The superior humidity control performance of CSH can be attributed to the increase of specific surface area and pore volume and the more reasonable and uniform pore size distribution. Moreover, CSH also exhibits good reusability within three cycles of adsorption/desorption. Furthermore, the synthesized CSH was added to an interior wall coating to test its humidity control performance in practical building materials. The result indicated that the moisture adsorption capacity of the coating with CSH in 24 h at high humidity can reach 110 g/m2, and the moisture desorption capacity can also reach 70 g/m2. The as received CSH shows excellent humidity control performance and can be used as a smart indoor humidity control material for various construction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• CuFe 2 O 4 was uniformly anchored on kaolinite to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS). • Sulfate radicals are the primary radical species in CuFe 2 O 4 /kaolinite/PMS system. • CuFe 2 O 4 /kaolinite exhibited high catalytic activity and low leaching of metal ions. • More hydroxyl groups and accessible reactive sites enhanced its catalytic activity. • Low leaching of metal is ascribed to Fe O Al bond between CuFe 2 O 4 and kaolinite. In this study, CuFe 2 O 4 /kaolinite catalysts were fabricated through a facile citrate combustion method and were evaluated for their efficiency to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) towards the destruction of bisphenol A (BPA). The prepared catalysts were systematically characterized to explore the relationship between their characteristics and catalytic activities. In general, higher specific surface area, larger pore volume, more hydroxyl groups, and more accessible reactive sites of 40%-CuFe 2 O 4 /kaolinite contributed to the greater catalytic activity in peroxymonosulfate activation for BPA degradation compared to bare CuFe 2 O 4. Monodispersed CuFe 2 O 4 nanoparticles were uniformly anchored on the surface of kaolinite with Fe O Al bond, which prevented leaching of metal ions and contributed to the excellent reusability. The sulfate radicals produced in the CuFe 2 O 4 /kaolinite/PMS system were proved as the predominant radical species through electron spin resonance (ESR) and radical quenching experiments. Based on the results of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and attenuated total reflectance – Fourier transform infrared spectra (ATR-FTIR), two main possible pathways of sulfate radicals generation were proposed: the generation and decomposition of Cu(II)-(HO)OSO 3 − (Cu(II)/Cu(III) and Cu(III)/Cu(II) redox reaction) and the oxidation of Fe(II). Moreover, the BPA degradation pathway was proposed through the identification of transformation products. This work provides an interesting insight for PMS activation by the high-efficient natural mineral-based catalysts for wastewater reclamation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel antibacterial thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) nanofiber membrane was fabricated by electrospinning with the aid of Cu-loaded NaX zeolite (CuX), which showed excellent and long-lasting antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli (E. coli). The crystalline structure, morphology and composition of the obtained NaX zeolite, CuX and CuX/TPU nanofiber membrane were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), respectively. The antibacterial activity of CuX/TPU nanofiber membrane against E. coli was investigated by inhibition zone method and plate-counting method, and it is indicated that the inactivation efficiency was increased from 58.40 to 99.85% with increasing the addition of CuX from 5 to 30% in 4 h. The result of kinetics study indicated that the disinfection process accorded with the pseudo-first-order model. The possible antibacterial mechanism was also proposed that the released Cu2+ by CuX in nanofiber membrane destroyed the cell wall and penetrated plasma membrane of E. coli. It is expected that this CuX/TPU nanofiber membrane with excellent antibacterial activity would be a promising candidate for biomedical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the adsorption of five volatile organic compounds (VOCs) on Opoka, precipitated silica, and palygorskite, to elucidate the effect of their pore size on VOCs adsorption. The adsorption capacity of these adsorbents is not only highly correlated with their surface area and pore volume, but also notably improved by the presence of micropores. The variation in adsorption capacity for different VOCs was primarily influenced by their boiling point and polarity. Palygorskite, which had the smallest total pore volume (0.357 cm3/g) but the largest micropore volume (0.043 cm3/g) among the three adsorbents, exhibited the highest adsorption capacity for all tested VOCs. Additionally, the study constructed slit pore models of palygorskite with micropores (0.5 and 1.5 nm) and mesopores (3.0 and 6.0 nm), calculated and discussed the heat of adsorption, concentration distribution, and interaction energy of VOCs adsorbed on different pore models. The results revealed that the adsorption heat, concentration distribution, total interaction energy, and van der Waals energy decrease with increasing pore size. The concentration of VOCs in 0.5 nm pore was nearly three times that in 6.0 nm pore. This work can also provide guidance for further research on using adsorbents with mixed microporous and mesoporous structures to control VOCs. [Display omitted] ● Adsorption behavior and related mechanisms of 3 adsorbents on VOCs were studied. ● The adsorption capacity was influenced by boiling points and polarities of VOCs. ● The micropores of an adsorbent can greatly improve its ability to adsorb VOCs. ● Effect of palygorskite pore size on VOCs adsorption was studied by simulation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Natural kaolinite was used to activate peroxymonosulfate for the first time. • Surface-bonded and structural hydroxyl groups are responsible for PMS activation. • Kaolinite can be continuously reused to activate PMS without recovery. • OH and SO 4 − were identified as the primary reactive species. • The H 2 PO 4 − enhanced PMS decomposition and increased atrazine degradation. Abstract In this study, natural kaolinite, an abundant, low cost, thermally and chemically stable, and easily recyclable material was evaluated for the performance to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) by the degradation of atrazine. Based on radical quenching experiments and electron spinning resonance (ESR) spectra, hydroxyl radical (OH) and sulfate radical (SO 4 −) were identified to be the primary reactive species. The effects of catalyst loading, initial reaction pH, PMS dosage, initial atrazine concentration, and the presence of inorganic ions (Cl−, NO 3 −, HCO 3 − and H 2 PO 4 −) were also investigated in this work. Interestingly, the presence of H 2 PO 4 − enhanced the degradation efficiency of atrazine via promoting the decomposition of PMS. The transformation products were detected on a quadrupole time-of-flight liquid chromatography/mass spectrometer (Q-TOF-LC-MS) and the possible degradation pathway of atrazine was proposed. Based on comprehensive characterizations of crystal phase and crystallinity, porosity and pore structure, surface morphology, functional groups, and valence state of specific elements, the catalytic ability of natural kaolinite towards PMS is attributed to the abundant surface-bonded and structural hydroxyl groups. This study provides new insights of PMS activation by natural minerals for the degradation of refractory and deleterious contaminants in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Amine functionalized opoka (OP@APTMS) were successfully fabricated via a simple method grafting with APTMS under mild reaction conditions. HCHO can be captured by the highly accessible physical and chemical adsorption sites on the OP@APTMS. The highly efficient adsorption performances for HCHO are critically attributed to the introduction of abundant amine groups on the surface of OP@APTMS. Highlights • OP@APTMS was successfully fabricated through mild reaction conditions. • OP@APTMS exhibited excellent adsorption performance towards HCHO. • The surface amine groups are favorable to the chemical adsorption of HCHO. • OP@APTMS is an excellent and safe candidate for fast removal of indoor HCHO. Abstract In this study, amine functionalized opoka (OP@APTMS) via grafting with 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (APTMS) were obtained through a mild process. The surfaces of the prepared OP@APTMS are functionalized with abundant amine groups. The OP@APTMS have been proven to be effective adsorbents for fast removal of gaseous HCHO, and its adsorption rate is three times more than that of commercial activated carbon (AC). On the other hand, the desorption rate of OP@APTMS-2.0 is extremely lower than that of AC, exhibiting its potential applications as an efficient and safe adsorbent for highly efficient removal of indoor gaseous HCHO. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]