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• The most active catalyst, featuring Pt decoration on the Ni surface, activated within the first 10 h and preserved its activity over a 48-hour aging process. • CNTs on the Pt-Ni bimetallic catalyst showed a tendency to develop and migrate towards the support, displaying an increasing number of structural defects without entirely covering the metal active sites. • In contrast, the Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst experienced the accumulation of crystalline, low-defect CNTs, which enveloped Ni active sites over time, leading to rapid deactivation. Deactivation induced by coke deposition remains the foremost challenge in using Ni-based catalysts for the production of syngas via dry reforming of methane (DRM) reaction. Herein, highly dispersed Pt-Ni/Al 2 O 3 bimetallic catalysts prepared by atomic layer deposition (ALD) displayed remarkable stability at 650 ℃ in the DRM reaction. The Pt-Ni catalysts underwent an activation process within the initial 10 h and maintained its activity without deactivation throughout the subsequent aging testing up to 48 h. In contrast, the Ni/Al 2 O 3 rapidly deactivated over time. Despite its high CH 4 conversion rates, the Pt-Ni bimetallic catalyst produced a substantial quantity of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) analogous to the Ni/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. The discrepancy in stability performance between two catalysts derived from disparities in the carbon sites and structural defects evolving over reaction time. Regarding the catalysts with Pt decoration on the Ni surface, CNTs exhibited increasing structural defects and gradually deposited on the Al 2 O 3 support without fully encapsulating the metal active sites, as evidenced by CH 4 -TPD experiments. In the case of Ni nanoparticles on Al 2 O 3 , crystalline CNTs with fewer defects accumulated, leading to rapid deactivation. These findings enhance our understanding of coke resistance in DRM catalysts and help the development of more robust bimetallic catalyst systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A molten salt assisted surface reconstruction induced orientation-growth approach is developed to synthesize 1D Cu-doped SnO 2 nanoribbon/2D SnO 2 nanosheet heterostructure. The unique structure with highly exposed surface atoms and high charge transfer efficiency are extremely desired for gas sensing, and experimental and theoretical studies reveal high sensing response (4.14-fold than pristine SnO 2), fast response and recovery rate and high selectivity at 150 °C is attributed to the construction of 1D/2D heterostructure and the two-pathway sensing mechanism. [Display omitted] • 1D/2D heterostructure was synthesized by molten salt-mediated method. • Surface reconstruction induced orientation-growth mechanism was proposed. • The novel heterostructures integrate the merits of 1D and 2D structure. • The materials exhibited superior sensing performance to H 2 S. • The sensing mechanism was proposed combing experimental results and DFT study. Multi-dimensional heterostructure with integrative dimensionality and synergic effects are intriguing, but the rational synthesis and further study into the influence of structure on the surface reaction performance are still urgent tasks. Here, we report a molten salt mediated method to synthesize 1D/2D heterostructure. Particularly, the Sn-O bonds and Cu-O bonds on the surface of materials can be destabilized due to the strong polarization of LiCl-KCl molten salt, and the newly formed CuCl species can be homogeneously dispersed in amorphous SnO x. Notably, the surface reconstruction induced orientation-growth of 1D Cu-doped SnO 2 single crystal occurs in the recrystallization process to form the 1D nanoribbon/2D nanosheet. As a proof of the concept, the unique 1D/2D heterostructure integrate the merits of fast electron transfer and numerous surface active O 2 –(ad) species, which endow it superior gas sensing performance to H 2 S. Experimental and theoretical studies reveal high sensing response (R a /R g = 132.6 to 1 ppm), fast response and recovery rate (10 s and 72 s) and high selectivity at 150 °C is attributed to the construction of 1D/2D heterostructure and the two-pathway sensing mechanism. It is believed the surface-reconstruction induced orientation-growth method in molten salt can be extended to synthesize other 1D/2D heterostructures for various applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • Flexible and robust magnesium silicate fiber membrane (MgSiFM) is prepared. • MgSiFM shows good mechanical stability with a high tensile strength of 5.10 MPa. • MgSiFM has the excellent adsorption capacity of 609.75 mg/g for methylene blue (MB). • MgSiFM could also act as a filter membrane for continuous and fast MB removal. Abstract Dye pollution in water environment is a significant threat to ecological and human health, and its removal is very important yet challenging. Magnesium silicate-based materials have proven to be good adsorbents for dye wastewater treatment. In consideration of recycling and practicability, flexible and robust magnesium silicate fiber membrane (MgSiFM) is prepared for the first time via hydrothermal reaction using electrospun flexible SiO 2 fiber membrane as silicon template. The preparation process is efficient, low cost and easy to scale-up. MgSiFM shows high tensile strength (5.52 MPa) and good mechanical stability. Moreover, the BET surface area of MgSiFM is measured as 463.4 m2/g, which is similar to the reported powdery magnesium silicate-based materials. As expected, MgSiFM shows excellent adsorption capacity of 609.75 mg/g for cationic dye methylene blue (MB) with good recyclability. In particular, unlike powdery MgSi adsorbents, MgSiFM could act as a filter membrane for continuous and fast MB removal. The filtration performance is better than commercial nylon-6 microfiltration membrane and MgSi coated electrospun polymer fiber membrane. This work demonstrates a novel and facile strategy for the preparation of flexible magnesium silicate fiber membrane, which exhibits promising potential in practical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The reduction of V4+ to V2+ in deactivated VS 2 can be restrained by B-doping. • We used in situ tests to trace the evolution of V and analyze the NRR process. • In situ engineering B-S-V bond facilitates the electron transfer from V to B. VS 2 is a promising NRR electrocatalyst, however, it remains a challenge to stabilize the V4+ active sites to retain the activity of VS 2 under long term electrolysis. Herein, we report the synthesis of boron doped VS 2 (B-VS 2) as an advanced NRR electrocatalyst with stable V4+ for efficient catalytic performance. X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) proves that B-doping virtually induces the formation of B-S-V bonding configuration in the resultant B-VS 2. Importantly, we used quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectrometer (XPS), in situ Raman and in situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra to dynamically trace the evolution of V valence state and analyze the accumulation of N N and N N species during NRR process. The significantly enhanced NRR performance of B-VS 2 is attributed to the in situ engineering B-S-V bond which can stabilize V4+ active sites by manipulating electron redistribution. Density functional theory calculations show that the newly formed B-S-V bond facilitates the electron transfer from V atoms to B atoms, in which S atoms act as the electron transfer bridges, thus generating electron-rich B sites and electron-deficient V sites. Such an electron redistribution substantially stabilizes the V4+ active sites, which suppresses the reduction of V4+ to V2+ at extremely low overpotential. This work not only provides powerful guidelines for improving the NRR performance of VS 2 based electrocatalysts, but also offers a deep understanding of relationship between the valence state of active sites and the catalytic activity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polydopamine (PDA) and MnO 2 have been proven to be promising adsorbents to capture Pb 2+ from wastewater. In this study, MnO 2 was in-situ loaded onto flexible electrospun polyacrylonitrile (PAN) fibers by the assistance of polydopamine coating (MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers) and the as-obtained MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers were utilized for the removal of Pb 2+ from water. The structure and chemical composition of MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers were characterized in detail. The results indicated that the PDA coating onto PAN fibers can’t be neglected for loading MnO 2 . This preparation of MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers could avoid the agglomeration of MnO 2 particles and make the adsorbent separate easily from the adsorption solution. The adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption process toward Pb 2+ by MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers followed pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. In comparison with PDA/PAN fibers and MnO 2 /PAN fibers, MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers showed higher Pb 2+ adsorption capacity. The maximum adsorption capacity calculated from Langmuir model was 185.19 mg/g, which is higher than most of the reported PDA or MnO 2 based Pb 2+ adsorbents. The adsorption toward Pb 2+ by MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers still maintained stability after five adsorption/desorption cycles. In addition, the fiber adsorbent could also adsorb Pb 2+ from real industrial effluent with removal efficiency above 95%. This work indicates that MnO 2 /PDA/PAN fibers have great potential to be used as effective adsorbents for practical Pb 2+ removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • La 2 (CO 3) 3 /CoFe 2 O 4 /biochar (LCB) was synthesized by a hydrothermal process. • LCB/PMS system was established to remove P(III) in one step. • LCB/PMS exhibited satisfactory removal rate of P(III) in a wide pH range. • SO 4 •- played a critical role in the oxidation process. • Different types of phosphorus could be rapidly removed by LCB/PMS. Phosphite [P(III)], an emerging eutrophication pollutant, has attracted limited attention in recent years. Owing to the higher solubility and resistance to biotransformation of P(III), oxidation of P(III) to phosphate [P(V)] is considered to be necessary to enhance P(III) removal. Herein, an efficient and regenerable magnetic La 2 (CO 3) 3 /CoFe 2 O 4 /biochar composite (LCB) was constructed through a facile one-pot hydrothermal method to treat phosphite-laden wastewater. LCB coupled with peroxymonosulfate (PMS) exhibited satisfactory P(III) removal performance through a one-step process for simultaneous oxidation and adsorption of P(III). The adsorption capacity of LCB/PMS for P(III) (71.94 mg/g) was much higher than that of LCB. LCB/PMS system showed high P(III) removal efficiency of 96.62 %, wide pH ranging from 4.0 to 9.0, and good reusability. It also worked well in the existence of anions and humic acid. The quenching experiments and electron spin resonance tests (ESR) revealed the critical role of SO 4 •- in the P(III) oxidation process. Characterization results demonstrated that electrostatic attraction and ligand exchange were responsible for P(III)/P(V) adsorption. Moreover, LCB/PMS system presented desirable performance in eliminating a series of typical organic and inorganic phosphorus. The LCB/PMS system provides a promising and sustainable technology for the purification of P(III)-contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A phosphorylated PAN-based nanofiber (P-PAN) mat is prepared by electrospinning technique followed by chemical grafting modification, which is suitable for metal adsorption due to their high adsorption capacity for metal ions. The content of phosphorous in phosphorylated PAN fibers is 5.45 mg/g. Adsorption isotherms and adsorption kinetics are used to examine the fundamental adsorption properties. It is found that the adsorption isotherms of P-PAN nanofibers toward Pb 2+ , Cu 2+ , and Ag + are fitted better with Freundlich isotherm model and the adsorption of Cd 2+ is fitted better with Langmuir isotherm model. Kinetics of the Pb 2+ , Cu 2+ , Ag + , and Cd 2+ ions adsorption are found to follow pseudo-second-order rate equation. Through the analysis of the XPS data, phosphorous and nitrogen containing functional groups play the major role in the complexation with heavy metal ions. In addition, the obtained phosphorylated PAN fibers also show high recyclable removal efficiency through the adsorption/desorption experiments. This study provides a promising adsorbent in heavy metal ions wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combined nitritation–anammox process has recently been studied extensively from an engineering perspective. However, the importance of microbial communities of this process was generally underestimated. In this study, a lab-scale nitritation–anammox sequencing batch reactor (SBR) was established and the microbial community structure was further characterized, in order to provide the comprehensive insight into the key microbial groups in one-stage nitritation–anammox system. In general, a total nitrogen removal rate of 0.18 g N g −1 VSS d −1 was obtained after 180 days when the nitrogen loading rate was 0.5 kg N m −3 d −1 (hydraulic retention time of 1 d). Flexible flocs and compact granules were both found in the system, and this morphological differences were basically caused by the different microbial compositions, that is, flocs mainly consisted of filamentous bacteria and granules dominated by anammox bacteria. Results from high-throughput sequencing analysis revealed that Proteobacteria , Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes were selected and established a stable foothold in the community over the startup period, probably driven by the availability of substrate in the influent. Apart from nitrifiers of the Proteobacteria and anammox bacteria of the Planctomycetes , members of Chloroflexi constitute a large portion (>25%), which indicate that heterotrophs ( Chloroflexi ) survived by soluble microbial products (SMP) of autotrophs should not be neglected in the autotrophic system. This study could be useful for better understanding of one-stage nitritation–anammox system, especially for the interaction between autotrophs and heterotrophs in the system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A new LNF membrane fabricated via the IP approach between resveratrol and TMC. • The membrane has a high water permeance and a satisfactory dye/salt selectivity. • The novel membrane has an impressive anti-fouling property. • The novel membrane retains stability in ethanol or acetone. A precise separation of organic dyes and inorganic salts is a prerequisite for zero liquid discharge of saline textile wastewater. The development of loose nanofiltration (LNF) membranes with customized nanoscale pores and high water permeance is expected to address this challenge. Herein, a new LNF membrane is reported, fabricated via a scalable interfacial polymerization (IP) approach between resveratrol and trimesoyl chloride (TMC) on a Kevlar substrate. The optimal resveratrol/TMC membrane exhibited an ultra-high pure water permeance (121.1 L−1 m−2h−1 bar−1), high dye rejection (99.4% for 200 ppm of Congo Red), and low salt rejection (4.2% for NaCl and 9.8% for Na 2 SO 4). The chemical compositions, surface properties, and morphologies of the LNF membranes were characterized to elucidate their structure–property-performance relationships. The homogeneous diffusion of resveratrol to the water/hexane interface and the appropriate stoichiometry of the two monomers contribute to the formation of an ultra-thin (35–45 nm) and hydrophilic composite membrane, which allows the membrane to attain a high water permeance. The LNF membrane additionally maintains excellent anti-fouling properties during filtration of organic dye solutions, primarily as a result of the high hydrophilicity, negative charge density, and smoothness of the membrane surface. Importantly, the novel LNF membrane also retains stability after washing with ethanol and acetone, owing to the cross-linked polyphenol ester and the rigid phenyl backbone of the membrane surface. These results reveal the huge potential of applying resveratrol-based LNF membranes for the treatment of saline textile wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Structurally distorted MnO 2 is obtained via a simple Ni-doping treatment. The substantially accelerated electronic and ionic transfer kinetics contribute to an enhanced Na+ storage performance for supercapacitors applications. [Display omitted] • Structure distorted MnO 2 was prepared via Ni doping. • The Ni-MnO 2 shows high specific capacity and excellent rate performance. • Ni-MnO 2 exhibits delocalized electron and accelerated ionic transport kinetics. Manganese dioxide is a typical electrode material for supercapacitor due to its high theoretical capacitance and good environmental compatibility. However, the development of MnO 2 as electrode is limited by inferior conductivity, sluggish ionic transfer kinetics and poor cycling stability. Herein, we present a structure distortion strategy via Ni doping in MnO 2 to boost its Na+ storage performance. The as-obtained Ni-MnO 2 can deliver a high specific capacity of 379F g−1 at 1 A g−1, excellent rate performance of 281F g−1 at 20 A g−1, and a significantly enhanced cycling stability. In situ Raman results verify that Ni-MnO 2 with structure distortion can achieve a promising cycling life. Density functional theory results suggest that the structure distortion can efficiently modulate electron configuration by delocalizing electron. Furthermore, the Na+ diffusion energy barrier is remarkedly decreased in Ni-MnO 2 , thus accelerating ionic transport kinetics. An asymmetric supercapacitor based on Ni-MnO 2 cathode exhibits a high energy density of 114.6 Wh kg−1 at a power density of 3600 W kg−1. This work verifies the efficiency of structure distortion strategy on the improvement of Na ion storage performance in MnO 2 , which can be extended for the optimization of other electrode materials for energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MOFs are incorporated in chitosan beads uniformly and stably. • The MOFs are synthesized from metal hydroxide(or metal oxide) in situ. • The MOF loading can be controlled by changing the metal amount in the precursor. • ZIF-8-chitosan beads exhibit the adsorption capacity of 495.04 mg/g for tetracycline. • The beads can treat ~887 bed volumes of tetracycline solution in real water sample. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have been attractive adsorbents for the treatment of antibiotic wastewater. However, in their powder form, the adsorbents suffer from the disadvantage of poor recyclability and complex operational process. Herein, we incorporated typical MOFs (ZIF-8, ZIF-67, HKUST-1, and Fe-BTC) into low-cost chitosan matrix for the tetracycline removal. Metal hydroxide(or metal oxide)/chitosan composite beads from the metal salt/chitosan solution were used as MOF precursor, which lead to the uniform and stable MOF loading into chitosan. This composition could not only shape MOFs into beads but also improve the adsorption capacity of the chitosan. As a result, ZIF-8-chitosan composite beads exhibited good adsorption performance toward antibiotic tetracycline. The adsorption processes followed pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm model. The maximum adsorption capacity could reach 495.04 mg/g, which is higher than most of the MOF-based or natural polymer-based tetracycline adsorbents. Moreover, the removal efficiency of ZIF-8-chitosan composite beads toward tetracycline was still above 90% after ten adsorption-desorption cycles. In the fixed-bed experiment, ZIF-8-chitosan column could treat ~887 bed volumes (BV) of tetracycline solution in real water sample. Both experimental characterizations and DFT calculations indicated that the adsorption mechanism involves in the electrostatic interaction, π-π stacking interaction and hydrogen-bonding interaction. This study provides a promising strategy for uniform MOF loading into the matrix and potential adsorbents for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The prominent activity of CoO depends on its unique d electronic structure. • The unpaired electrons in e g orbital of Co2+ site promote the π -feedback process from CoO to N 2. • We characterized the electronic structure of samples and analyze the reaction mechanism. Transition metal oxides (TMOs) have been emerged as efficient electrocatalysts for ammonia (NH 3) electrosynthesis. However, the relationship between the d electron configuration of TMOs and their catalytical activity needs to be deeply understood towards for electrochemical nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). Herein, we focused on illustrating the effect of orbital occupation/distribution of d electrons on the ENRR performance of Cobalt oxides by deliberately selecting CoO (with a t 2g 5e g 2 electron configuration of Co2+) and Co 2 O 3 (with a t 2g 6e g 0 electron configuration of Co3+) as modeling catalysts. Interestingly, the CoO catalyst exhibited a high ammonia yield of 33.46 μg h−1 mg cat −1 at −0.6 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (RHE) and a prominent faradic efficiency (FE) of 5.1%, which apparently outperforms the Co 2 O 3 catalyst. We used XAS, M-T and MFM to thoroughly characterize the electronic structure of the active center of the samples. Importantly, Theoretical calculations and In-situ techniques demonstrated that the unpaired electrons in e g orbital of Co2+ play crucial role in boosting the adsorption and activation of N 2 on CoO. In specific, the t 2g 5e g 2 electron configuration delivers more electron from Co2+ to N 2 and the unpaired electrons in e g orbital of Co2+ site promote surprisingly the π -feedback process from CoO to N 2 , resulting a lower hydrogenation energy barrier for N 2 activation. This work provides a deep understanding of the structure–function relationship of TMOs catalyst for ENRR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urchin-like Co 3 O 4 is deliberately designed to understand the effect of local electric fields on the performance of electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR). Simulation illustrates "lightning rod effect" occurred at the tips of U-L Co 3 O 4 , thus providing new insight into the process-enhanced reaction kinetics of N 2 fixation. [Display omitted] • The U-L Co 3 O 4 electrocatalyst exhibits remarkable selectivity and activity. • The U-L Co 3 O 4 with local electric field can induce Li+ enrichment. • The U-L Co 3 O 4 with promoted N 2 adsorption accelerates the ENRR kinetics. The electrocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (ENRR) is a potential approach to environment-friendly produce NH 3 under ambient conditions. However, the efficiency of ENRR is seriously limited by the extremely low solubility of N 2 in electrolyte and the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) under high overpotential. Herein, we demonstrate that a deliberately designed urchin-like (U-L) Co 3 O 4 electrocatalyst exhibits an enhanced ENRR performance with a promising Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 18.5 % and a high NH 3 yield of 49.1 µg h−1 mg cat −1 in 0.5 M LiClO 4. Experimental results and computational simulations prove that the high-curvature tips of U-L Co 3 O 4 can generate a strong local electric field, which is similar to the "lightning rod effect" in nature. Consequently, the engineered strong local electric field effectively induces Li+ accumulation and correspondingly results in a high local concentration of N 2 at the electrocatalyst surface. The strategy of local electric field enhanced electrochemical kinetic opens a new avenue to explore advanced electrocatalysts to promote the ENRR performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The fabricated UIO-la-CoN-rGO aerogel possesses the properties of hydrophobic, anti-corrosion, heat insulation, infrared stealth and electromagnetic wave absorption. • The UIO-la-CoN-rGO aerogel achieves high EMW absorbing performance, with reflection loss of −44.8 dB and effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB) of 7.28 GHz. • The UIO-la-CoN-rGO aerogel shows an impedance value of 1.5 × 105 Ω·cm2 after being soaked in 3.5 % aqueous NaCl for 30 d with an anti-corrosion efficiency of 99.149 %. • The introduction of heteroatoms enriches the defect sites of the materials, thus increasing the interfacial polarization and dipole polarization. In addition to having a superior electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption profile, materials of this type that are applied in complex and extreme environments must be hydrophobic, anti-corrosive, heat insulating and infrared stealth. In the described investigation, a multifunctional UIO-la-CoN-rGO aerogel that possesses all of these properties was fabricated by using a hydrothermal and freeze drying process. Lauric acid (la) is incorporated into this aerogel to enlarge pore sizes and enhance hydrophobicity of the Zr-based metal organic framework (UIO-66) component. The large interfacial and dipole polarization caused by anchoring UIO-66 nanospheres to the Co,N co-doped graphene nanosheets results in a high EMW absorbing performance, reflected in a minimum reflection loss (RL min) of −44.8 dB and a wide effective absorbing bandwidth (EAB) of 7.28 GHz. In addition, the aerogel displays high levels of hydrophobicity, anti-corrosiveness, heat insulation and infrared stealth. For example, UIO-la-CoN-rGO has a water contact angle of 142.5°and a surface temperature that remains nearly unchanged after more than 1 h at 100 ℃. Moreover, the UIO-la-CoN-rGO coating gives the aerogel an impedance value of 1.5 × 105 Ω·cm2 after being soaked in 3.5 % aqueous NaCl for 30 d, and an anti-corrosion efficiency of 99.149 %. The results of this study provide guidance for the design of multifunctional EMW absorbing materials that function in complex environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • CuFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 was prepared by secondary microwave co-precipitation. • Ferromagnetic resonance effect enhanced the oxidation property of CuFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4. • Adsorption effect of the catalyst in high-salinity environments was greatly promoted. • CuFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 enabled 100 % removal of tetracycline from mariculture wastewater. • The photo-Fenton system would not impair the healthy growth of clownfish. Superior separation of photogenerated carriers holds the key to intensive degradation of tetracycline (TC) in mariculture wastewater under natural sunlight. CuFe 2 O 4 /g-C 3 N 4 (CFO/g) was synthesized by secondary microwave co-precipitation (SMCP) based on the ferromagnetic resonance absorption effect. Under the reaction conditions of pH = 6.5, CFO/g = 0.2 g/L, [H 2 O 2 ] = 1 mM, 99.0 % TC removal was realized in 40 min. Enhanced performance for TC removal in high-salinity environments heavily relied on elevated ionic strength and rapid electron transfer of CFO/g in conjunction with high-salinity interactions. To ecologically remediate mariculture wastewater under natural sunlight, we immobilized powdered CFO/g to a ferrite magnet and devised a continuous flow reaction apparatus, incorporating the controlled injection of hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2), to achieve the 100 % TC removal and simultaneously undertake the pretreatment of other contaminants (∼70 %). Ultimately, a safety assessment demonstrated that the degradation of mariculture wastewater by the CFO/g photo-Fenton system is a reliable and efficient technology, and the growth of clownfish remained unimpaired. SMCP successfully accelerated the conversion of high-valent metal ions to low-valent ones and eased the activation barriers of H 2 O 2 , enabling various active species to execute their respective roles productively. Innovative application of microwave resonance to enhance the magnetic properties of CFO/g and to support the equilibrium conversion of elemental valence states in high-salinity environments from real wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The fabricated FeNi-MOF-rGO aerogels exhibits remarkable EMW absorption performances with strong RL and broad EAB at the thickness of 2.9 mm (−48.3 dB and 8.32 GHz) whereas the filling contents are just 5 %. • The morphology and structure of MOF are regulated by electron transfer of GO and the obtained MOF with unique strip or regular octahedral shape results in vast heterojunction interfaces. • The electron transfer was further confirmed by DFT differential density and Bader charge analysis and the interfacial polarization of the material was confirmed by finite element simulation. Graphene and its derivatives have become the star materials in the field of electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorption, and have been widely studied because of their unique structure and excellent properties. However, the high electrical conductivity of graphene-based material leads to poor impedance matching performances, so it often needs to be annealed at high temperatures, which is a intricate procedure and cause the waste of energy. Herein, we develop a convenient strategy to synthesize metal organic framework-reduced graphene oxide (MOF-rGO) aerogels through facile hydrothermal and freeze drying procedure. Firstly, the excessive electrons on graphene can be transferred to MOF, in this way, no annealing is needed. Secondly, the morphology and structure of MOF can be regulated electronically to endow the material with rich heterojunction interfaces and enhance its interfacial polarization. Thirdly, the synthesized aerogels satisfy the requirements of thin thickness, low density and light weight. The fabricated Ni-MOF-rGO and FeNi-MOF-rGO aerogels exhibit remarkable EMW absorption performances with strong reflection loss (RL) and broad effective absorption band (EAB) at the thickness of 2.4 (−47.8 dB and 7.84 GHz) and 2.9 mm (−48.3 dB and 8.32 GHz) whereas the filling contents are just 5 %. Moreover, the attenuation capacity of the fabricated aerogels are verified through the radar-section simulation and the interfacial polarization loss are confirmed by the COMSOL analogue simulation. In a word, this work provides a new afflatus and inspiration for the design of graphene-based EMW absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The composite membrane has superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity. • The composite membrane demonstrates enhanced UV cleaning capabilities. • The composite membrane achieves over 100% flux recovery rate under UV irradiation. • The composite membrane can continuously separate emulsion with excellent parameters. • The composite membrane shows superior oil resistance and durability. In the emulsion separation process, the adhesion of oil-contamination severely hampers the long-term operation of ceramic membranes, and photocatalytic membranes present a promising approach to mitigate membrane fouling and enhance membrane performance. The present study describes the fabrication of a novel Al 2 O 3 @GO-TiO 2 composite photocatalytic membrane through a two-step dip-coating method. TiO 2 particles were uniformly deposited onto the surface of the pristine membrane via a thermal coating method, while the pleated graphene oxide (GO) formed a laminar-flow-like coating through stirring-ultrasonication, ultimately being stably anchored to the composite membrane's surface by co-built connections with TiO 2. Due to the successful coating of hydrophilic groups, the composite membrane exhibited super hydrophilic-underwater superoleophobic properties to separate stable water-in-diesel emulsions with excellent permeation flux (4347.17 L∙m−2∙h−1) and oil removal rate (94.98 %). The composite membrane showed excellent oil resistance stability and durability in severe environment hydrodynamic washout and cycling tests. In addition, the combined modification of GO-TiO 2 endowed the composite membranes with strong photocatalytic ability, which made the membranes exhibit a good recovery of membrane performance in the separation of oilfield-produced water (OPW). The thick oil layer was completely removed by •OH, •O 2 – and 1O 2 generated by UV irradiation excitation. After 6 h of operation, the flux and oil removal rate of the Al 2 O 3 @GO-TiO 2 membrane were 31.91 % and 2.1 % higher than those of the Al 2 O 3 @TiO 2 membrane, demonstrating enhanced light self-cleaning performance. The exceptional oil–water separation capability coupled with its efficient photocatalytic degradation potential positions the ceramic membrane as a promising solution for treating actual OPW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Functionalized electrospun nanofibers were applied for the uranium extraction. • Hyperbranched amidoxime groups with assistant groups were grafted. • Photothermal conversion ability was also introduced into the fibers. • The nanofiber adsorbents showed good antibacterial activity. • The uranium extraction capacity reached 9.54 mg g−1 from natural seawater. Uranium extraction from natural seawater is critical to addressing the shortage of uranium resources, but it is a giant challenge. The amidoxime-based adsorbent is regarded as one of the most promising materials for uranium capture, whereas still suffers from low adsorption site utilization and poor selectivity toward U(VI) against V(V). Herein, hyperbranched amidoxime group grafted photothermal electrospun fibers (AOPEI-C-PAN fibers) were reported for highly efficient uranium extraction from seawater. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were blended into the electrospun fibers to introduce the photothermal character. Hyperbranched grafting could improve the content of the amidoxime group and bring an assistant group (the amine group). Owing to the large content of functional groups, synergetic coordination interaction and photothermal conversion ability, the novel fiber adsorbents realized a fast adsorption rate (shortening the equilibrium time to 36 h from 60 h compared with the dark condition), high uranium uptake (1738.5 mg g−1 from the Langmuir model) from the uranium spiked seawater and excellent selectivity in U/V binary system (selectivity coefficient = 85.8). Furthermore, Ag nanoparticles could also be loaded onto the CNTs to endow the fibers with antibacterial activity, thereby preventing biofouling. As a result, the uranium extraction capacity of the fiber adsorbent reached 9.54 mg g−1 after 28 days' simulated sunlight irradiation of contact with circular seawater, which is 62.0 % higher than that under dark condition. This study reveals that AOPEI-C-PAN fiber adsorbent holds great potential in practical uranium extraction applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZnCrO x spinel is prepared and mixed with SAPO-34 for syngas conversion. • Concentration of precipitant influences oxygen vacancy concentration. • Hydrogen calcination contributes to generate more oxygen vacancies. • More oxygen vacancies promote the chemisorption and conversion of CO. • A CO conversion of 43 % and a C 2 =-C 4 = selectivity of 86 % are achieved. Metal oxides play a crucial role in catalytic activity of bifunctional catalyst for directly converting syngas into light olefins. A series of ZnCr oxides were synthesized with varying concentrations of precipitant and different atmospheres of precipitate treatment via co-precipitation method. The characterization results indicate that suitable concentration of precipitant and hydrogen calcination contribute to the generation of more oxygen vacancies that can promote the chemical adsorption of CO. Density function theory calculations confirmed that the adsorption energy of CO could be decreased with increasing concentration of oxygen vacancies, and that the formation energy of oxygen vacancies was lower under the hydrogen atmosphere as compared to the oxygen atmosphere. The catalytic activity demonstrated that more oxygen vacancies promoted the chemisorption and conversion of CO. The ZnCr oxide obtained through hydrogen calcination exhibited the highest concentration of oxygen vacancy and achieved a C 2 =-C 4 = selectivity of 86 % and a CO conversion of 43 % at 4 MPa and 5400 mL g−1h−1 combined with SAPO-34 zeolite. These findings suggest that increasing oxygen vacancy concentration on the surface of metal oxides is an effective approach for designing high-performance catalysts for directly converting syngas into light olefins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Hyperbranched phosphate groups were grafted onto electrospun nanofibers. • The proton transfer process could lead to the zwitterionic structures. • The fiber adsorbents exhibited excellent adsorption performance towards UO 2 2+. • The nanofibers also showed anti-bacterial adhesion and anti-protein adhesion. • The fiber adsorbents had good potential for the uranium extraction from seawater.. The development of efficient adsorbents with anti-biofouling properties for uranium extraction from seawater is highly attractive to meet the growing demands for energy. However, traditional fiber adsorbents still suffer from the challenge of weak binding energy, low functional group density, and inefficient antifouling ability. Herein, inspired by the structures of phospholipid, the bio-inspired zwitterionic phosphate groups were created onto the electrospun nanofibers to manipulate the affinity with uranium and the anti-biofouling property. Additionally, hyperbranched grafting reaction together with thin diameters of the fibers were applied to significantly improve the available density of functional groups. The constructed hyperbranched zwitterionic phosphate groups functionalized nanofiber adsorbents (ZP-PAN fibers) exhibited high distribution coefficient k d (7.38 × 106 mL/g) and large adsorption capacity (1294.0 mg g−1) in the uranium-spiked seawater, surpassing most of reported polymeric adsorbents. ZP-PAN fibers also showed good selectivity against competitive cations and stable reusability. Owing to their zwitterionic structures, ZP-PAN fibers had satisfactory anti-adhesive ability toward bacteria and protein. Consequently, the uranium could be effectively extracted by ZP-PAN fibers from natural seawater with the extraction capacity of 8.1 mg g−1 after contacting with seawater for 15 days. This work demonstrates a new functionalization selection for nanofiber materials and provides a promising adsorbent in the practical uranium extraction from seawater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A controlled-release pesticide formulation PYR@UiO-66@HPC was successfully fabricated by encapsulating PYR within a metal–organic framework and coating with HPC. • Release experiments demonstrated that PYR@UiO-66@HPC exhibits pH/cellulase dual stimuli-responsive behavior for the intelligent delivery of pyraclostrobin. • The PYR@UiO-66@HPC exhibited an excellent fungicidal activity and a low toxicity toward non-target organisms. • The PYR@UiO-66@HPC did not affect the normal growth of the target rice crop and it had a low impact on the soil microbial community. Smart pesticides that respond to environmental stimuli can achieve the on-demand release of pesticides to control pests and diseases, thereby reducing the amount of pesticides used, and reducing the risk to the environment. In this study, a pH/cellulase dual stimuli-responsive controlled-release pesticide formulation (PYR@UiO-66@HPC) was successfully fabricated by encapsulating pyraclostrobin (PYR) and coating hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC) within a metal–organic framework (MOF, i.e., UiO-66). The obtained results demonstrated that PYR@UiO-66@HPC exhibited an excellent PYR release behavior in response to acidic and cellulase environments similar to the environment at the time of Rhizoctonia solani infestation. In addition, PYR@UiO-66@HPC exhibited a higher fungicidal activity than commercial microencapsulated formulations, and biosafety tests showed that PYR@UiO-66@HPC had less effect on non-target organisms, especially on Daphnia magna , with a toxicity of 4.6 times lower than that of PYR-TC after 48 h. Furthermore, it did not affect the normal growth of the target rice crop and had a low impact on the soil microbial community. Finally, cytotoxicity assays showed that PYR@UiO-66@HPC had little effect on cell proliferation and apoptosis in LO2 cells compared with the free PYR, thereby indicating a superior biocompatibility and an improved human safety profile. This study therefore provides a smart, eco-friendly, and sustainable strategy for the effective control of plant diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The oxidative I 2 /I 3 − in Sn-Pb perovskite is effectively eliminated to stabilize Sn2+. • The movable I− is successfully neutralized, protecting the Ag counter electrode from corrosion. • The solar cell device shows promoted photovoltage and efficiency with enhanced stability. In recent hotly researched tin–lead (Sn-Pb) mix perovskite solar cells (PSCs), the oxidation of Sn2+ is not an isolated process but accompanied by the oxidation of I− to I 2 , which are both responsible for the severe p-doping and complex defect situation. Diffusion of interstitial I further severely corrodes the metal electrode to fail the PSC. Thereby, managing the I− oxidation and meanwhile neutralizing the movable I− together with suppressing Sn2+ oxidation is quite a challenge for efficient and stable Sn-Pb PSCs. In this work, a natural reductive amino acid (DOPA) is introduced into perovskite layer to successfully inhibit the oxidation of both Sn2+ and I−, at the same time, neutralize the diffusive I− to protect the Ag electrode from corrosion. Benefiting from the improved chemistry situation, the DOPA doped PSC shows significantly promoted photovoltage and efficiency at AM1.5, with enhanced light and shelf stability. This work highlights the importance of I defects management to achieve efficient and stable Sn-Pb PSCs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thermophilic digestion usually has higher specific gas output and faster reaction rate, the temperature fluctuations of purified terephthalate (PTA) manufacturing wastewater from 45 °C to 90 °C makes PTA wastewater very suitable and favorable for thermophilic treatment. However, the startup way of thermophilic digester is very critical as unsuitable startup ways may lead to inefficiency of the system. In this study, the experimental temperatures were set at 37 °C, 43 °C and 52 °C respectively by step increase strategy in order to culture thermophilic microbial organisms involved in anaerobic TA degradation. The performance and microbial community profiles of PTA wastewater treatment system were investigated under different operational temperatures using 454-pyrosequencing approach. During the step temperature increase process, 37 °C was proved to be the most favorable operational temperature with a highest COD removal of 96.10(±1.58)%, but with undergoing 43 °C, COD removal decreased to 90.42(±2.65)%, and 52 °C seemed to be the worst as it achieved only 70.08(±5.46)% COD reduction. Step-wise temperature increase is tested not very appropriate to culture thermophilic microorganism for TA degradation as prospective. Furthermore, during startup stage, the predominant bacteria family shifted from Syntrophorhabdaceae (belonging to δ-proteobacteria) at 37 °C to Comamonadaceae (belonging to β-proteobacteria) at 43 °C and OPB95 (belonging to OP8) at 52 °C. For archaeal community, hydrogenotrophic methanogen Methanobacteriaceae was predominant at all three temperatures, and it was proved to be most abundant at 37 °C compared with the other two temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Novel cationic electrospun nanofibers (NCE fibers) were designed and synthesized. • Specific anion traps with hydrophobic microenvironment were constructed. • NCE fibers exhibited fast kinetics and high uptake for ReO 4 −. • NCE fibers showed good removal depth and satisfying selectivity toward ReO 4 −. • The column adsorption was also conducted with the treatment capacity of 1540 BV. Developing cationic adsorbents for efficient radioactive pertechnetate (99TcO 4 −) removal from water is of great significance in both nuclear fuel management and nuclear-related environmental treatment fields. However, tremendous efforts should be taken to improve the comprehensive performance of the adsorbent materials. Herein, novel cationic electrospun nanofibers were synthesized via the blending electrospinning from the branched polyethylenimine based solution and the following quaternization reaction by benzyl bromide. Consequently, abundant specific anion traps with hydrophobic microenvironment were constructed on the fibers. The obtained fiber adsorbents were systematically investigated to remove perrhenate (ReO 4 −) ions (the nonradioactive surrogate for TcO 4 −), which exhibit satisfying adsorption performance in several aspects: high adsorption capacity (943 mg g−1), fast kinetics (30 min), good removal depth (distribution coefficient = 1.1 × 106 mL g−1), large dynamic column adsorption volume (1540 bed volume), and excellent ReO 4 − capture from solution with high ionic strength or acidity/alkalinity. The adsorption performance surpassed all macroscopic shapeable adsorbents and many powdery advanced porous materials, owing to their abundant adsorption sites, tailored anion traps and macroscopic fibrous structures. Overall, this work gives a useful insight into designing novel adsorbents for effective TcO 4 −/ReO 4 − capture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Preparation of PANI-V 2 O 5 organic-inorganic superlattice structures for electromagnetic wave absorption. • Constructing molecular-level heterogeneous interfaces to enhance the interfacial polarization. • DFT calculations and finite element simulations reveal the electromagnetic wave absorption mechanism. • A remarkable effective absorption bandwidth of 6.40 GHz at 2.1 mm was obtained. Conventional strategies used to develop broadband electromagnetic wave (EMW) absorbing materials have mainly focused on multi-component hybrid materials. In these materials, attenuation of EMW absorption is achieved through strong interfacial polarization at heterogeneous interfaces. However, these interfaces have most often been on the micron scale and, therefore, they have many inherent defects. Herein, we devised a new approach in which an organic-inorganic superlattice structure composite is employed to achieve hyperpolarization loss by modulating the heterogeneous interface between a V 2 O 5 layer and PANI at the molecular scale. Amplification of interfacial polarization effects at heterogeneous interfaces between materials by exploiting large differences in physical properties between the non-conducting V 2 O 5 phase and the conducting PANI phase. Synergy between conductive losses and polarization losses is achieved by optimizing the thickness of the conductive phase PANI layer, which contributes to an effective absorption bandwidth (EAB) of 6.40 GHz at a thickness of 2.1 mm. The results of experimental and theoretical studies clearly show that the superlattice structure is responsible for the unique microwave absorption properties. Thus, the construction of heterogeneous interfaces at the molecular scale will serve as the basis for designing future broadband absorbing materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Complex permittivity was modelled with volume fraction and conductivity parameters. • Parameters were screened to design optimal electromagnetic wave absorbers. • The model was validated with microwave-reduced graphene oxide absorber. • The effective absorption bandwidth reached 6.5 GHz at 2.3 mm. Non-magnetic electromagnetic (EM) wave absorption materials are receiving research interest for their low weight, chemical stability, and outstanding absorption performance, but the understanding on how conductivity and absorber content affect the EM wave absorption performance is still empirical and qualitative. Here, the materials genome methodology was applied to EM wave absorption materials. A quantitative random network model was proposed for conduction-loss absorbers, which suggested that the complex permittivity of an EM wave absorption mixture was determined by two parameters related with volume fraction and conductivity respectively. The optimal values of these parameters were then screened. To verify the model and screening results, a microwave-reduced graphene oxide was synthesized, and an effective absorption bandwidth of 6.5 GHz at 2.3 mm and 5.7 GHz at 2.0 mm was achieved. It is concluded that materials with high porosity, high dispersivity, and semiconductor-level conductivity are favored for EM wave absorption. This study paves a new way to design conduction-type EM wave absorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ZIF-67 was fixed into zeolite beads stably with macroscopic architecture. • Co ion-exchange and organic ligand reaction were used to prepare this composites. • Zeolite@ZIF-67 composites were applied for PMS activation to degrade tetracycline. • Lower Co ion leakage and good recycling capacity were achieved. • Tetracycline was effectively removed in both static and continuous flow processes. Heterogeneous peroxymonosulfate (PMS) based advanced oxidation process has been proven as a promising method for tetracycline removal from water. Among the heterogeneous catalysts, Co based metal–organic framework (ZIF-67) is a good candidate to activate PMS in the aforementioned advanced oxidation system. However, their high metal ion leaching and fine powder form limit their practical application. Herein, zeolite bead-supported ZIF-67 was prepared through the Co ion-exchange and organic ligand reaction, which is simple, cost-efficient and recyclable. The obtained zeolite@ZIF-67 composites were employed for PMS activation to degrade tetracycline in the water. The uniform ZIF-67 loading could provide abundant catalytic sites and the results demonstrated that 93.7% of tetracycline (50 mg/L) could be removed in 60 min with high recycling stability. Intriguingly, due to the strong metal-support interaction, the Co ion leaching from the composite beads during the degradation reaction was much lower compared to pure ZIF-67 particles. In addition, zeolite@ZIF-67 composites with the microsphere form could be easily packed into the bed column to effectively remove tetracycline in a continuous flow process. The degradable mechanism and degradation pathway were comprehensively investigated by quenching experiments, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy. Overall, our work provides a novel PMS heterogeneous catalyst based on macroscopic supported MOF composites for efficient tetracycline removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Formation of (TMA) x FA 1-x Pb(PF 6) x I 3-x /FAPbI 3 heterojunction through interface ion exchange. • Strong hydrogen bonding and ion size effect stabilize the phase structure. • A champion efficiency of 21.43% was obtained with greatly enhanced device stability. Though formamidinium lead triiodide FAPbI 3 is hotly researched, it still suffers from chemical and phase instabilities, arising from inherent weak chemical bonding and easily transformed crystal configures respectively. This induces depraved opto-electronic properties and device instability, which is imperative to be solved. Here, chemical interaction enhancement in heterostructure of (TMA) x FA 1-x Pb(PF 6) x I 3-x /FAPbI 3 simultaneously improves the chemical and phase stability with preserving its inherent bandgap. Strong hydrogen bonding between PF 6 - and FA+ drastically reduces the α phase formation energy and diminishes the interface trap states. The resulting perovskite solar cells achieve improved efficiency of 21.43% compared with 19.32% of the control device. Meanwhile, ∼90% and 80% of the initial efficiency are maintained for unpacked devices after 1200 h storage (25 °C, 30% relative humidity) and 300 h maximum power point tracking (1 sun, 25 °C, N 2), outperforming the control one. This work highlights a robust interface construction method to overcome the inherent problem of FAPbI 3. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A new magnetic composite of FSNCS/SDBS was synthesized at low temperature. • FSNCS/SDBS shows excellent adsorption performance for CIP. • FSNCS/SDBS shows wide pH adaptability. • SDBS enhances CIP's adsorption by improving the surface charge of FSNCS. In this study, a novel magnetic nickel cobalt sulfide/sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (FSNCS/SDBS) adsorbent was synthesized successfully by a facile protocol and was developed to remove ciprofloxacin (CIP) for water purification. The FSNCS/SDBS adsorbent is featured with excellent CIP adsorption capacity of 625 mg·g−1 (much higher than reported most adsorbents), wide pH adaptability (little changed CIP adsorption capacity in pH 6–11), and good magnetic property. The effects of pH and ionic strength on CIP adsorption were investigated. The calculative thermodynamic parameters indicated that CIP adsorption by FSNCS/SDBS was spontaneous and exothermic. CIP adsorption followed pseudo-second-order kinetics and an isotherm best fit with the Langmuir adsorption mode. The adsorption mechanism of CIP onto FSNCS/SDBS was proposed and demonstrated, which included the electrostatic interaction, π–π interaction, coordination with metal and hydrogen bonding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The coordination of S in TAA with Pb2+ is more effective than O in AA. • The high crystallinity and efficient defects passivation are realized with TAA. • The PSC based on TAA exhibits the highest performance of 15.87% and improved stabilty. In perovskite solar cells, the Lewis acid-base additives function effectively in high crystalline perovskite film formation and defects passivation. Exploration of effective Lewis acid-base additive to prepare high quality inorganic CsPbI 2 Br perovskite films with few defects is quite imperative. Here, thioacetamide with S-donor and acetamide with O-donor as Lewis base additives are investigated. It is revealed that a high electron density on S results in better coordination ability with Pb2+ in perovskite solution, leading to form high crystallinity film with lower defect states compared with O-donor. The inorganic CsPbI 2 Br based perovskite solar cells with thioacetamide additive exhibit the best performance of 15.87% (AM 1.5, 1 sun) and good ambient stability compared with the control device and device with acetamide. This work provides guidance for choosing and designing the effective additives for perovskite solar cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Captured SO 2 reutilization and water remediation were simultaneously achieved. • An EC/CoSi/sulfite system for efficient sulfate radical production was developed. • Insights for synergy mechanism of EC/CoSi/sulfite system were provided. • Influencing factors were investigated and operating conditions were optimized. The desulfurization by-product (e.g. sulfite) treatment and water pollution are two widespread concerns, while the sulfite activation by transition metals can be adopted to solve both of them simultaneously. In this study, a silica-supported cobalt catalyst (CoSi) was used to activate sulfite for the degradation of organic pollutants in an electrochemical system (the EC/CoSi/sulfite system), which demonstrated remarkable water treatment efficiencies due to sulfate radical oxidation. The synergy mechanisms of the EC/CoSi/sulfite system were revealed. (i) The as-prepared CoSi played the dual roles as an electro-adsorbent and a catalyst for sulfite activation. (ii) The electrolytic oxygenation supported the conversion of cobalt species and the chain reactions of oxysulfur radicals. (iii) The anodic oxidation of sulfite also generated oxysulfur radicals. The influencing factors and operating parameters were investigated and optimized systematically. Moreover, the efficient degradation of highly concentrated X-3B and non-selective oxidation of various organic compounds confirmed the promising application of the EC/CoSi/sulfite system in practical water treatment. Overall, the EC/CoSi/sulfite system created new value of the industrial waste (e.g. sulfite) for further application in the environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Nanocomplex for co-delivery of CRISPR/Cas9 and paclitaxel was constructed. • The nanosystem triggered efficient gene-editing with good safety. • The gene therapy of VEGFR2 sensitized the treatment effect of paclitaxel. • The nanosystem exhibited the synergistic modulation for IL-6-IL-8/NF-κB pathway. • The nanosystem achieved significant synergistic gene-chemo HCC treatment. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR)-associated Cas9 nuclease system (CRISPR/Cas9) has become a powerful toolbox as a gene fixed-point knock-out method and hold the promising prospect for cancer therapy. However, the biological safety of the viral vectors and the instability of exogenous plasmid in blood circulation limits its application. Herein, we reported a lactobionic acid functionalized and stimuli-responsive chitosan based nanocomplex to co-deliver sgVEGFR2/Cas9 plasmid and paclitaxel for hepatoma carcinoma therapy. The genome editing efficiency of sgVEGFR2/Cas9 in the nanosystem achieved up to 38.6% of HepG2 cells in vitro and 33.4% of tumor tissues in vivo. The nanocomplex suppressed >60% VEGFR2 protein expression of HepG2 cells and inhibited hepatoma carcinoma (HCC) tumor progress by 70% on mice. In vivo study indicated the obvious tumor accumulation and the good biosafety of the nanosystem. Moreover, the gene-drug co-loaded nanoparticles stimulate anti-tumorigenic pathway of HCC by suppressing pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6/IL-8) and tumor angiogenesis-related protein (NF-κB p65) expression, which revealed the potential pathway inhibition of PTX when combined with the gene therapy for overexpression VEGFR2 on HCC cells. Overall, this strategy provided a versatile method for high efficiency CRISPR/Cas9 system delivery and showed tremendous application prospect for gene-chemo synergistic therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Multifunctional magnetic composite nanoparticles were facilely prepared. • The as-prepared FS@CS-PAA showed excellent adsorption capacities for cationic dyes. • FS@CS-PAA exhibited satisfactory removal rates for metal ions in a wide pH range. • The good adsorption ability was attributed to abundant active sites from CS-PAA. • FS@CS-PAA's good stability and reusability facilitated its practical application. Wastewater containing highly toxic, non-biodegradable and carcinogenic organic dyes and metal ions has been regarded as a severe threat to ecological environment and human health. Thus, it is of great significance to develop an effective approach to purify this kind of wastewater. Herein, novel magnetic adsorbent FS@CS-PAA was facilely prepared by coating anionic polyacrylamide-modified chitosan (CS-PAA) on the surface of silica-combined Fe 3 O 4 (FS). The morphology, structure, physic-chemical and magnetic properties of as-prepared FS@CS-PAA were fully characterized by various characterization techniques. Its adsorption behaviors towards cationic dyes and metal ions were systematically investigated in single systems, binary systems, and model wastewater. FS@CS-PAA was proved to have superior adsorption capacities of 2330.17 and 1044.06 mg g−1 respectively for crystal violet and methylene blue at 318.15 K, much higher than other reported adsorbents. Besides, FS@CS-PAA exhibited a pH-independent adsorption capability for metal ions, as demonstrated in single systems and in metal ion-dye binary systems, thus it could be used to treat a variety of metal ion wastewaters with different pH values. Moreover, FS@CS-PAA could be effectively and easily regenerated by HCl solution after the treatments of both synthetic wastewater and model wastewater. As revealed in FTIR and XPS analyses, the adsorption mechanism was mainly attributed to the electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, cation exchange and chelating effect. With its excellent adsorption capacity for cationic dyes, pH-independent adsorption capability for metal ions, easy separation ability, satisfactory stability and good reusability, FS@CS-PAA can become an ideal candidate for wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The novel, highly active, acid resistance and reusable immobilized adsorbent, 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA)-decorated chitosan-coated magnetic silica nanoparticle, has been fabricated and applied to the highly selective adsorption of uranium from a multi-ion solution. • Novel PBTCA-decorated chitosan-coated magnetic SiO 2 nanoparticles were fabricated. • A new, highly active, acid resistance, and reusable magnetic sorbent was obtained. • Coexisting ion experiments showed highly selective uranium adsorption. • CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @CS-PBTCA showed higher acid resistance than uncoated silica adsorbent. • Adsorbent binds to uranium mainly though carboxyl and phosphonic oxygen atoms in PBTCA. The separation and recovery of uranium resources from nuclear waste solutions is important for achieving uranium reuse and environmental protection. In this study, a novel adsorbent, 2-phosphonobutane-1,2,4-tricarboxylic acid (PBTCA)-decorated chitosan-coated magnetic silica nanoparticles, was fabricated and applied to the highly selective adsorption of uranium from aqueous solution. Selective sorption in a multi-ion solution (pH 4.0) containing 14 coexisting cations resulted in CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @CS-PBTCA showing an excellent uranium adsorption capacity of up to 83.16 mg g−1, which was much higher than that of ungrafted CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @CS (29.99 mg g−1). The adsorbent also exhibited higher acid resistance than uncoated silica adsorbent under pH 1.0 conditions, with CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @CS-PBTCA showing barely any iron and cobalt leaching, while CoFe 2 O 4 @CS-PBTCA showed iron and cobalt leaching amounts of 2.97 and 0.93 mg L−1, respectively. The desorption experiment used 0.2 M PBTCA (pH 1.0) as eluent, with the results showing that uranium ions were readily and rapidly desorbed. Furthermore, CoFe 2 O 4 @SiO 2 @CS-PBTCA maintained outstanding stability and adsorption performance after five reuse cycles. The mechanism for U(VI) removal was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, with the results suggesting that the adsorbent binds to uranium mainly though oxygen atoms of carboxyl groups and phosphonic groups in PBTCA. This strategy shows strong potential for developing a variety of novel, highly active, acid resistance, and reusable immobilized functional magnetic materials for effective separation of uranium from a multi-ion solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]