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Phenanthrene (Phe), a typical polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) pollutant, poses an enormous safety risk to rice-crab coculture (RC) paddy ecosystems. In this study, humic acid-modified purified attapulgite (HA-ATP) with a composite structure was successfully fabricated to adsorb PAHs released from paddy soil to overlying water in RC paddy ecosystems in Northeast China. The maximum crab bioturbation intensities for dissolved Phe and particulate Phe were 64.83nullng/L·(cm2·d) and 214.29nullng/L·(cm2·d), respectively. The highest concentration of dissolved Phe released from paddy soil to overlying water due to crab bioturbation reached 80.89nullng/L, while the corresponding concentration of particulate Phe reached 267.36nullng/L. The dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and total suspended solid (TSS) concentrations in overlying water increased correspondingly and were strongly correlated with dissolved Phe and particulate Phe concentrations, respectively (P < 0.05). When 6% HA-ATP was added to the surface layer of paddy soil, the efficiency of the adsorption of Phe release was 24.00%–36.38% for particulate Phe and 89.99%–91.91% for dissolved Phe. Because HA-ATP has a large adsorption pore size (11.33 nm) and surface area (82.41nullm2/g) as well as many HA functional groups, it provided multiple hydrophobic adsorption sites for dissolved Phe, which was conducive to competitive adsorption with DOC in the overlying water. In contrast to that adsorbed by DOC, the average proportion of dissolved Phe adsorbed by HA-ATP reached 90.55%, which reduced the dissolved Phe concentration in the overlying water. Furthermore, even though the particulate Phe was resuspended by crab bioturbation, HA-ATP immobilized particulate Phe due to its capacity to inhibit desorption, which achieved the goal of reducing the Phe concentration in the overlying water. This result was confirmed by research on the adsorption-desorption characteristics of HA-ATP. This research provides an environmentally friendly in situ remediation method for reducing agricultural environmental risks and improving rice crop quality. [Display omitted] • Modified attapulgite was prepared by hot acid modification with humic acid. • Crab bioturbation disrupted the Phe distribution balance between paddy soil and overlying water. • The adsorption efficiency of released dissolved and particulate Phe reached 91.91% and 36.38%. • HA-ATP and DOC competitively adsorbed dissolved Phe in overlying water. • HA-ATP immobilized particulate Phe in overlying water during resuspension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) are universally used in diverse fields, but the use and treatment of various commodities will adversely affect the human health. Therefore, the recovery and immobilization of AgNPs and AuNPs from wastewater has important economic and social benefits. The ordered macro-microporous ZIF-67 single crystal (SOM-ZIF-67) was prepared by double solvent-assisted strategy. It was used as an adsorbent to remove precious metal pollutants, AuNPs and AgNPs. Under the optimal experimental conditions, the adsorption process of nanoparticles on SOM-ZIF-67 conformed to the pseudo-second-order kinetics. The theoretical maximum adsorption capacity of SOM-ZIF-67 towards AgNPs and AuNPs was 1250 mg g−1 and 2000 mg g−1, respectively. Through some characterization methods, it can be inferred that the adsorption mechanism might include ion-dipole interaction, metal-ligand interaction, and hydrogen bond, chelation and ion exchange between AgNPs/AuNPs and nitrogen and oxygen atom, and reduction etc. Furthermore, the interpenetrating macropores and micropores of SOM-ZIF-67 further promoting the adsorption capacity. Meanwhile, after the adsorption, the composite material (SOM-ZIF-67@AgNPs or SOM-ZIF-67@AuNPs) was developed as a new kind of heterogeneous catalyst that had good catalytic activity and cycle catalytic performance for 4-nitrophenol in the presence of NaBH 4. At last, the adsorbent and catalyst could be regenerated. Simultaneously recycling of precious noble metal was also possible. Thus, the prepared SOM-ZIF-67 was a potential green adsorbent for the removal and recovery of precious metal nanoparticles. The secondary utilization as an effective catalyst would elaborate the sustainability of the method. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]