Search

Continuous theta burst stimulation and intermittent theta burst stimulation are clinically popular models of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. However, they are limited by high variability between individuals in cortical excitability changes following stimulation. Although electroencephalography oscillations have been reported to modulate the cortical response to transcranial magnetic stimulation, their association remains unclear. This study aims to explore whether machine learning models based on EEG oscillation features can predict the cortical response to transcranial magnetic stimulation. Twenty-three young, healthy adults attended two randomly assigned sessions for continuous and intermittent theta burst stimulation. In each session, ten minutes of resting-state electroencephalography were recorded before delivering brain stimulation. Participants were classified as responders or non-responders based on changes in resting motor thresholds. Support vector machines and multi-layer perceptrons were used to establish predictive models of individual responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation. Among the evaluated algorithms, support vector machines achieved the best performance in discriminating responders from non-responders for intermittent theta burst stimulation (accuracy: 91.30%) and continuous theta burst stimulation (accuracy: 95.66%). The global clustering coefficient and global characteristic path length in the beta band had the greatest impact on model output. These findings suggest that EEG features can serve as markers of cortical response to transcranial magnetic stimulation. They offer insights into the association between neural oscillations and variability in individuals' responses to transcranial magnetic stimulation, aiding in the optimization of individualized protocols. ● Machine learning based on EEG was used to identify individual response to TMS. ● Combination of different EEG features contributed to the high predictive accuracy. ● These findings help understand TMS variability and optimize TMS protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Three-dimensional porous MIL-88A-Fe/gelatin aerogel (PMGA) was prepared. • The PMGA/H 2 O 2 system has dual functions of oxidation and adsorption. • Surface •OH and surface •OOH are the main oxide species of As(III). • The Fenton-like catalytic activity of PMGA originates from the exposed (1 0 0) facet. • PMGA can effectively repair the arsenic pollution in different real water samples. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered a reliable adsorbent for controlling arsenic contamination. However, developing rapid and efficient MOF adsorbents with the capability of easy recovery is still challenging. Herein, we prepared a three-dimensional porous MIL-88A-Fe/gelatin aerogel (PMGA) with macroscopic size and coupled it with H 2 O 2 to fabricate a heterogeneous catalytic oxidation adsorption system to remove As(III) in water. The green synthesis strategy of this catalyst by foaming and low-temperature carbonization not only avoided the use of toxic chemical crosslinkers but also endowed PMGA with a rich hierarchical porous structure and exposed more active sites. Thus, the PMGA/H 2 O 2 system was able to reduce the concentration of As(III) from 1106 to below 10 µg/L and simultaneously realize the complete oxidation of As(III) to As(V) in only 120 min. Meanwhile, the system exhibited an excellent saturation adsorption capacity (24.863 mg/g) for As(III), superior to most similar bio-based or iron-based materials. Quenching experiments, EPR and DFT calculations showed that the active species (surface •OOH and surface •OH) generated by the Fenton-like interaction between the exposed (1 0 0) facet of MIL-88A-Fe in PMGA and H 2 O 2 played an essential role in promoting the oxidative removal of As(III). Moreover, the reaction system could work efficiently for As(III) in a wide pH range and was hardly affected by other substances such as chlorides, sulfates, carbonates, silicates, and humic acids. Simultaneously, the fixed bed column filled with PMGA could stably and continuously treat As(III) in groundwater. Therefore, this study not only broadens the horizon for the development and design of 3D functional materials but also provides a new strategy in water purification to eliminate arsenic pollutants using Fe-MOF aerogels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Coupling of FeMnO with S(IV) improves the removal speed of As(III). • The FeMnO/S(IV) system integrates adsorption and oxidation functions. • Active Mn(III) is mainly responsible for the oxidation of As(III). • The possible activation pathway of S(IV) in the FeMnO/S(IV) system is proposed. • FeMnO has excellent stability and regeneration/recovery ability. The activation of sulfite [S(IV)] by transition metals, a new generation of advanced oxidation processes, has been widely studied for water purification. However, the application of this process to oxidize and remove arsenite [As(III)] from water through Fe-based S(IV) activation and the associated mechanisms are not fully understood. In particular, rapid removal of As(III) and secondary metal contamination have presented challenges. Herein, we develop a novel sea urchin-like magnetic Fe-Mn bimetallic oxides (FeMnO)-activated S(IV) process to address these issues. Under neutral pH, the FeMnO/S(IV) system achieved a 99.2 % removal of As(III) within only 10 min with residual arsenic concentration below 10 µg/L, and the removed As(III) was fully oxidized to arsenate [As(V)]. Additionally, FeMnO was recyclable and capable of treating actual arsenic-contaminated water. Furthermore, the oxidation mechanism of non-radical active trivalent manganese [Mn(III)] was discovered during the reaction between the FeMnO/S(IV) system and As(III). The FeMnO catalyst activated S(IV) to generate oxysulfur radicals (i.e., SO 5 •–, SO 4 •– and SO 3 •–), but they were not the primary oxidizing species for As(III). Instead, As(III) oxidation was mainly attributed to the active Mn(III) generated by the electron transfer between the FeMnO catalyst and SO 5 •– radicals. The discovery of active Mn(III) species in this work may provide a new avenue for developing novel Fe-Mn-type adsorbents to purify arsenic-contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The FeMnO x /S(IV) system has faster removal speed and higher adsorption capacity for As(III) compared to FeMnO x alone. • The As(III) (1079 µg/L) could be decreased to less than 10 µg/L within 10 min. • The SO 5 •− radicals generated by S(IV) acting as the driving force for the redox cycle between As(III) and Mn(II/III/IV). • The possible mechanism of As(III) oxidation and removal for the FeMnO x /S(IV) system was proposed. • The FeMnO x nanocellulose aerogel broadened the scope of FeMnO x /S(IV) system in engineering applications. Manganese (Mn)-containing composite metal adsorbents are very effective at removing arsenite (As(III)) from contaminated water, however, the low removal speed and oxidation efficiency have limited their further application. In this study, a nonhomogeneous catalytic oxidation–adsorption system was constructed by coupling iron–manganese composite oxide (FeMnO x) with sulfite (S(IV)) to enhance the recovery of oxidative capacity and accelerate the removal of As(III). Experimental results showed that the FeMnO x /S(IV) system decreased the As(III) concentration from 1079 to <10 µg/L within 10 min and almost completely oxidized As(III) to As(V). In contrast, FeMnO x alone removed only 82.4% of As(III) within 30 min, and 60.0% of the adsorbed As(III) was not oxidized. Meanwhile, the adsorption capacity of FeMnO x /S(IV) system for As(III) was considerably higher than that of the only-FeMnO x system (76.5 > 46.3 mg/g). The efficient and fast As(III) removal was attributed to the SO 5 •− radical generated by S(IV) acting as the driving force for the redox cycle between As(III) and Mn(II/III/IV). Several environmental factors (e.g., solution pH and inorganic anions) and the reusability and practicality of FeMnO x were systematically investigated, and the results further confirmed the superiority of the FeMnO x /S(IV) system in As(III) removal. In particular, the proposed FeMnO x nanocellulose aerogel effectively purified arsenic-contaminated groundwater using a fixed-bed column. Thus, FeMnO x –S(IV) coupling is very promising for the purification of arsenic-contaminated water bodies. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Here, we prepared a novel nanostructured Fe–Cu–Mn composite oxide (FCMO x) adsorbent using an ultrasonic coprecipitation method. The maximum adsorption capacity of As(III) and As(V) reached 158.5 and 115.2 mg/g under neutral conditions, respectively. The effects of several environmental factors (coexisting ions, solution pH, etc.) on the removal of inorganic arsenic using FCMO x were studied through batch experiments. The results showed that except for PO 4 3– and high initial pH, it was not significantly affected by ionic strength and other existing anions, implying a higher selectivity and adaptability. Combined with EPR, FTIR, and XPS analysis, we concluded that the Cu component and the reactive oxygen species (ROS) it generates played a decisive role in maintaining the stability of the redox cycle between Mn(IV)/Mn(III)/Mn(II) and enhancing the oxidation efficiency of As(III). Meanwhile, the adsorption mechanism of As(V) was mainly through the replacement of the FCMO x surface –OH to form stable inner-sphere arsenic complexes, while the removal mechanism of As(III) may involve the process of synergistic oxidation and chemisorption coupling. Additionally, the effective removal of As from the simulated As-contaminated water and its satisfactory reuse performance make FCMO x adsorbents favorable candidates for the removal of As-contaminated water in the future. [Display omitted] ● A novel FCMO x adsorbent was employed to remove As(III) and As(V) from aqueous solutions. ● The FCMO x exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity under visible-light irradiation. ● The redox cycle between Mn(II)/Mn(III)/Mn(IV) was mainly driven by the Cu component in FCMO x. ● The coupling effect of photocatalytic oxidation, chemical oxidation and adsorption enhanced the removal of As(III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: Understanding the neural mechanisms underlying stroke recovery is critical to determine effective interventions for stroke rehabilitation. This study aims to systematically explore how recovery mechanisms post‐stroke differ between individuals with different levels of functional integrity of the ipsilesional corticomotor pathway and motor function. Methods: Eighty‐one stroke survivors and 15 age‐matched healthy adults participated in this study. We used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), electroencephalography (EEG), and concurrent TMS‐EEG to investigate longitudinal neurophysiological changes post‐stroke, and their relationship with behavioral changes. Subgroup analysis was performed based on the presence of paretic motor evoked potentials and motor function. Results: Functional connectivity was increased dramatically in low‐functioning individuals without elicitable motor evoked potentials (MEPs), which showed a positive effect on motor recovery. Functional connectivity was increased gradually in higher‐functioning individuals without elicitable MEP during stroke recovery and influence from the contralesional hemisphere played a key role in motor recovery. In individuals with elicitable MEPs, negative correlations between interhemispheric functional connectivity and motor function suggest that the influence from the contralesional hemisphere may be detrimental to motor recovery. Conclusion: Our results demonstrate prominent clinical implications for individualized stroke rehabilitation based on both functional integrity of the ipsilesional corticomotor pathway and motor function. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

More than half of stroke patients experience sensory dysfunction that affects their quality of life. Previous training modalities are ineffective in improving sensory function. In contrast, non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a new promising intervention for stroke rehabilitation. The aim of this meta-analysis was to summarize the current effectiveness of NIBS in the treatment of post-stroke sensory dysfunction. Articles published in PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Chinese scientific journals full-text database (VIP), and Wanfang database from the inception to March 8, 2023 were searched. There were no restrictions on language. A total of 14 RCTs were included (combined n = 804). Moderate-quality evidence suggested that NIBS significantly improved sensory function after stroke, and significant effects were observed up to 1 year after the intervention. In subgroup analysis, treatment with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) was significantly more effective than controls for recovery of sensory function in stroke patients. Stimulation of the primary motor cortex (M1), primary somatosensory cortex (S1) or M1 + S1 stimulation sites significantly improved sensory function. NIBS for sensory dysfunction showed significant therapeutic potential in patients with different stages of stroke. No significant effects were observed in subjects with less than 10 NIBS stimulations. Significant therapeutic effects were observed with either high-frequency or low-frequency rTMS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals in water are critical global environmental problems. In particular, the anionic heavy metal chromium (Cr) has carcinogenic and genotoxic risks on human health. To this end, an ultralight and flexible nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC)/chitosan (CS) aerogel was developed only by freeze-drying combined with physical thermal cross-linking for efficient one step co-removal of Cr(VI) and Cr(III). The maximum adsorption capacity of Cr(VI) and total Cr calculated according to the Langmuir model was 197.33 and 134.12 mg/g, respectively. Even in the presence of competing soluble organics, anions and oil contaminants, the resulting NFC/CS-5 aerogels showed excellent selectivity. The aerogel exhibited outstanding mechanical integrity, remaining intact after 17 compressions in air and underwater. Meanwhile, after 5 adsorption-desorption cycles, the aerogel was easy to regenerate and maintained a high regeneration efficiency of 80.25%. Importantly, self-assembled NFC/CS-5 aerogel filter connected with the peristaltic pump could purify 752 mL of industrial wastewater with Cr(VI) pre-concentration capacity of 49.71 mg/g. XPS and FT-IR verified that electrostatic interactions, reduction and complexation acted as the main driving forces for the adsorption process. Moreover, such aerogel possessed broad application prospects for alleviating heavy metal pollution in agriculture. [Display omitted] • An ultralight & flexible nanofibrillated cellulose/chitosan aerogel was synthesized. • The maximum adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) and total Cr were 197.33 and 134.12 mg/g. • Aerogels exhibited superior antifouling, selectivity and recyclability. • Self-assembled aerogel filter could purify 752 mL of industrial wastewater. • Adsorption coupled reduction and chelation mechanism was revealed by FTIR and XPS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The over-reliance on tetracycline antibiotics (TC) in the animal husbandry and medical field has seriously affected the safety of the ecological environment. Therefore, how to effectively treat tetracycline wastewater has always been a long-term global challenge. Here, we developed a novel polyethyleneimine (PEI)/Zn-La layered double hydroxides (LDH)/cellulose acetate (CA) beads with cellular interconnected channels to strengthen the TC removal. The results of the exploration on its adsorption properties illustrated that the adsorption process exhibited a favorable correlation with the Langmuir model and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model, namely monolayer chemisorption. Among the many candidates, the maximum adsorption capacity of TC by 10 %PEI-0.8LDH/CA beads was 316.76 mg/g. Apart from that, the effects of pH, interfering species, actual water matrix and recycling on the adsorption of TC by PEI-LDH/CA beads were also analyzed to verify their superior removal capability. The potential for industrial-scale applications was expanded through fixed-bed column experiments. The proven adsorption mechanisms mainly included electrostatic interaction, complexation, hydrogen bonding, n-π EDA effect and cation-π interaction. The self-floating high-performance PEI-LDH/CA beads exploited in this work provided fundamental support for the practical application of antibiotic-based wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The highly entangled hydrogel adsorbent combines both elasticity and toughness. • The prepared hydrogel has low hysteresis and high fatigue resistance. • The hydrogel adsorbent achieves controllable swelling-deswelling. • The adsorption capacity and rate increase by >10 times. • This hydrogel adsorbent has great application potential in smart separation. Developing hydrogel adsorbents with both high mechanical property and high adsorption capacity is a big challenge. At the same time, the swelling-adsorption is in conflict. Swelling expands the polymer network and facilitates the exposure of adsorption sites and the diffusion of pollutants. On the other hand, swelling causes the hydrogel to increase in volume and soften, which increases the difficulty of operation and regeneration. Hence, we promote a method of preparation advanced hydrogel adsorbent by high entanglements and low crosslinks. The entanglements work as additional crosslinks, reducing swelling and making the hydrogel tough. Unlike crosslinks, entanglements are like springs, which are flexible and can efficiently transmit and store stress. Therefore, highly entangled hydrogel exhibits high elasticity, low hysteresis, and good fatigue resistance. Abundant carboxyl functional groups are introduced by copolymerizing acrylic acid. The carboxyl groups are not only sites for adsorbing cationic pollutants, but also a smart switch for regulation of swelling. When adsorbing pollutants, the carboxyl groups are deprotonated, and the flexible entanglements allow large swelling of the hydrogel while maintaining good rigidity, which efficiently facilitates adsorption. Compared with highly crosslinked hydrogel with similar polymer content and carboxyl abundance, the adsorption capacity and rate of highly entangled hydrogel increased by more than ten times. While regeneration, the highly entangled hydrogel de-swells efficiently under the tension of entanglements, significantly improving the operability of regeneration. This study provides a novel strategy for developing smart hydrogel adsorbent. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Elastic brushite/polyethyleneimine/nanofibrillated cellulose aerogel was developed. • The coupling of brushite and polyethyleneimine enhanced adsorption property. • PNFCA/BRU-0.2 exhibited high selectivity for Cu(II) with 332.66 mg/g. • The continuous flow purification of copper-containing wastewater was realized. • PNFCA/BRU-0.2 could block the toxicity of heavy metals to crops. To achieve efficient removal of copper(II) from heavy metal wastewater, designing an eco-friendly and low-cost adsorbent is highly desirable. Here, a novel air- and underwater shape-memory cellulose aerogel was reported via coupling brushite and polyethyleneimine (PEI)-modified nanofibrillated cellulose (NFC) for selectively adsorbing Cu(II) ions. The adsorption kinetic and isotherm studies were consistent with pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir model, indicating the removal of Cu(II) was a monolayer chemisorption process. Benefiting from the open three-dimensional (3D) framework structure and abundant exposed active sites, such compressible aerogel exhibited excellent adsorption capacity of 332.66 mg/g for Cu(II). In addition, the developed aerogel could be conveniently used as a continuous flow filter for successive purification of industrial wastewater, where the up-to-standard treatment volume was about 5.6 L. The Cu(II)-loaded aerogel could be regenerated after being eluted by 0.1 M EDTA-2Na, and its structure, shapeability and selective adsorption properties were hardly affected even after 8 consecutive cycles. Mechanistic analysis confirmed that the surface complexation, ion exchange and chemical deposition were the main driving forces for the superior adsorption performance. Finally, PNFCA/BRU could inhibit the contamination of crops by heavy metals, which was a great safeguard for wheat growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • An integrated calculation framework for anthropogenic pollution discharges was developed. • Effects of migration on anthropogenic discharges during 1980–2019 were characterized. • Population migration has positively influenced pollutant reduction from 2010 onwards. • The hotspot pollutant in urban and rural areas shifted from C to N and P, respectively. • Demographic bonus is a key factor in migration-induced pollution reduction. Unprecedented urbanization-induced population migration in China severely affects the scale and geographic distribution of anthropogenic pollutant discharge. Understanding how pollutant discharge patterns respond to population migration can help guide future efforts to maintain water sustainability. Here, based on a new calculation framework with 18 dynamic parameters designed for anthropogenic discharges, we finely tracked and visualized the effects of population migration on the spatial and temporal changes in anthropogenic discharge from 1980 to 2019 in the Minjiang River basin. The results indicate that the increasing effect of population migration on anthropogenic discharges peaked in 2002 and started to contribute to pollutant reduction from 2010 onward. The direct impact of population migration only contributes to the shift of anthropogenic discharges from rural to urban areas, while the migration bonus is the key factor leading to the reduction in anthropogenic discharges. Population migration is highly beneficial for chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction, which has contributed to a shift from COD to NH 4 + -N and total phosphorus (TP) as hotspot pollutants in the whole basin (NH 4 + -N in urban areas and TP in rural areas). Moreover, pollution reduction resulting from the demographic bonus phenomenon has remained limited only to urban areas. Since approximately 2010, the per capita amount and total amount of anthropogenic pollutant discharges in rural areas have exceeded those in urban areas; in particular, the per capita COD and TP discharges in rural areas reached four times those in urban areas. This suggests that future pollution control strategies should give more attention to rural areas and focus on the differentiation and targeting of urban and rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • SA/PEI-0.25 aerogel showed high elastic, stability and adsorption performance. • The maximum adsorption capacities of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) were 678.67 and 464.23 mg/g. • The fixed-bed continuous filtration of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) wastewater was realized. • SA/PEI-0.25 aerogel reduced the toxicity of heavy metal ions to rice. • The adsorption mechanisms of Cr(VI) and Cd(II) were investigated. Herein, an elastic polyethyleneimine/sodium alginate aerogel was designed by a one-step freeze-drying method. The 3D honeycomb-like structure endowed it excellent compressibility and plentiful exposed adsorption sites to accelerate Cr(VI) and Cd(II) adsorption. The adsorption processes matched the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, and the saturated adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) was 678.67 and 464.23 mg/g, respectively. The obtained aerogel still expressed superior removal performance for Cr(VI) and Cd(II) even in the coexistent of multiple interfering factors and maintained stable adsorption capacity at least after 5 cycles. Importantly, the elastic cylindrical aerogel (∼0.59 g) could achieve dynamic filtration of industrial wastewater containing Cr(VI) and Cd(II) in fix-bed column system with corresponding effective treatment volume of 4.47 and 3.25 L, respectively. The reasonable mechanisms for the adsorption behaviors of heavy metals on the as-prepared aerogel was investigated via FTIR, XPS and Density functional theory (DFT), which could be attributed to the surface electrostatic adsorption, chelation and reduction effects. Eventually, the ecological assessment verified that eco-friendly SA/PEI aerogel had a powerful auxiliary effect on the anti-fouling growth of rice. Overall, such novel biomass aerogel adsorbent possessed great application potential and theoretical guiding significance for the purification of heavy metal wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A functionalized carboxymethyl chitosan aerogel is explored for Cu(Ⅱ) adsorption. • The maximum capacity of PCCSA-1.0 for absorbing Cu(Ⅱ) is 175.56 mg/g. • Continuous filtration of industrial wastewater with fixed bed columns is achieved. • PCCSA-1.0 is conducive to inhibit the enrichment of Cu(Ⅱ) ions in rice. • The generated waste after adsorption is converted into a material for secondary use. Copper ions (Cu(II)) in water pose a huge threat to human health and ecosystem security. Therefore, developing eco-friendly and sustainable strategies to eliminate the toxicity risk of Cu(II) in the aqueous environment remains a great challenge. In this work, an elastic polyethyleneimine-modified carboxymethyl chitosan aerogel was developed via a freeze-drying process for the adsorption of Cu(II). The adsorption kinetic and isotherm experiments demonstrated that the adsorption process was monolayer chemisorption and the maximum adsorption capacity calculated from Langmuir model was 175.56 mg g−1. The obtained aerogels exhibited preferential selectivity for Cu(II) even when the competing cations and organics existed. Besides, about 0.93 g of aerogel realized continuous fixed-bed column filtration of industrial wastewater with an effective purification volume of 4.14 L. Mechanistic analysis via FTIR and XPS revealed that the excellent adsorption performance for Cu(II) might be attributed to the strong electrostatic force, Vander Waals' force and coordination of N/O -containing functional groups. It is worth mentioning that the adsorbed Cu(II) ions in the aerogel were converted into a reusable photocatalyst, avoiding the secondary leakage of heavy metals. This work opened a door to synthesize carboxymethyl chitosan aerogel, promising for heavy metal wastewater treatment and realizing the concept of waste utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Polyethyleneimine functionalized chitosan aerogel is prepared via a facile pathway. • PCA-3 possesses 3D network structure and reversible compressibility. • PCA-3 has superior adsorption ability to Cr(VI) with maximum capacity of 445.3 mg/g. • PCA-3 can filter 7.4 L of real Cr wastewater with a concentration of 52.88 mg L−1. • PCA-3 can reduce the accumulation of Cr(VI) in wheat roots and leaves. Here we unveiled a novel polyethyleneimine (PEI) functionalized chitosan (CS) aerogel (PCA) with three-dimensional (3D) porous network structure and superior reversible compression property and investigated its adsorption behavior toward Cr(VI). The kinetic study displayed that the adsorption of Cr(VI) ions followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating the adsorption was such as to depend on the chemical reaction between Cr(VI) ions and PCA. Notably, the maximum adsorption capacity fitted according to the Langmuir model was 445.29 mg/g, exceeding those of most previous chitosan-based adsorbents. The major reaction mechanism involving the capture and reduction of Cr(VI) has been systematically investigated based on FTIR, XPS and DFT analyses. Particularly, the fixed-bed column experiments illustrated that the effective treatment volume of PCA was 36367 mL and 7453 mL in simulated chromium wastewater and real chromium wastewater with initial concentrations of 2 mg L−1 and 52.88 mg L−1, respectively, suggesting the promising potential of PCA for large-scale practical applications. More interestingly, the current aerogel adsorbents could significantly reduce the accumulation of heavy metal ions in wheats, which meant that heavy metal wastewater had great prospects for agricultural irrigation after being treated by the aerogel of this work. In summary, this strategy could provide valuable and promising contribution towards the development of scalable and sustainable chitosan-based aerogels for Cr(VI) removal from practical wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]