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The ecological impacts of micro(nano)plastics (MNPs) have attracted attention worldwide because of their global occurrence, persistence, and environmental risks. Increasing evidence shows that MNPs can affect soil nutrient cycling, but the latest advances on this topic have not systematically reviewed. Here, we aim to present the state of knowledge about the effects of MNPs on soil nutrient cycling, particularly of C, N, and P. Using the latest data, the present review mainly focuses on three aspects, including (1) the effects and underlying mechanisms of MNPs on soil nutrient cycling, particularly of C, N and P, (2) the factors influencing the effects of MNPs on soil nutrient cycling, and (3) the knowledge gaps and future directions. We conclude that MNPs can alter soil nutrient cycling via mediating soil nutrient availability, soil enzyme activities, functional microbial communities, and their potential ecological functions. Furthermore, the effects of MNPs vary with MNPs characteristics (i.e., polymeric type, size, dosage, and shape), chemical additives, soil physicochemical conditions, and soil biota. Considering the complexity of MNP-soil interactions, multi-scale experiments using environmental relevant MNPs are required to shed light on the effects of MNPs on soil nutrients. By learning how MNPs influence soil nutrients cycles, this review can guide policy and management decisions to safeguard soil health and ensure sustainable agriculture and land use practices. [Display omitted] • MNPs retard essential nutrient recycling by impeding soil health. • Additives in MNPs affect soil nutrient availability, microbial biomass and activity. • MNPs can directly influence soil nutrient cycling through physicochemical processes. • MNPs in soil contribute to the emissions of greenhouse gases. • Polymer type, shape, dose, and size target the varied soil's responses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a novel amphiphilic flocculant TP-ADL was synthesized using acrylamide, methacryloxyethyltrimethyl ammonium chloride and lauryl acrylate as monomers through UV-light-initiating template copolymerization technology. Copolymerization conditions were optimized towards higher intrinsic viscosity and conversion rate. The Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) analysis confirms the functional groups composition in TP-ADL, and the thermogravimetric (TGA) analysis indicates its good thermal stability. Furthermore, the detailed 1H NMR and TGA analysis confirms the microblock structure in polymer chain. The amphiphilic rheological characteristics of copolymer were detected according to apparent viscosity. TP-ADL displayed superior flocculation efficiency towards oily wastewater in terms of oil and turbidity removal rate, and zeta potential. The median floc size (d50) and fractal dimension (Df) results indicate a large and compact floc structure. The synergistic effect between cationic microblock structure and inter-molecular hydrophobic association is the main reason for the better treatment efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, a novel chitosan-based magnetic adsorbent [poly(2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate) grafted magnetic chitosan microspheres, GMCMs] was synthesized by graft polymerization of (2-(dimethylamino)ethyl methacrylate on the surface of magnetic chitosan microspheres (MCMs). The as-prepared GMCMs exhibited significantly enhanced adsorption capacity towards anionic dyes (e.g., Acid Green 25 and Reactive Blue 19) compared with MCMs. It is due to the fact that the abundant tertiary amine groups of the grafted polymer protonated at low pH and the polymer chains stretched as a result of electrostatic repulsions and chain-solvent interactions. The stretched polymer chains provided a variety of adsorption sites, which efficiently adsorbed dyes through electrostatic interactions and hydrogen bonding. While, in alkaline conditions, the tertiary amine groups were deprotonated and the polymer chains collapsed due to hydrophobic interactions, which facilitated the regeneration of the dye-loaded GMCMs at high pH. The regenerated GMCMs showed excellent adsorption performance even after five adsorption–desorption cycles. Besides, the GMCMs could be rapidly separated from aqueous solutions under an external magnetic field. Therefore, the GMCMs materials bear great application potentials in water treatment owing to its high adsorption capacity, pH-responsiveness, facile regeneration and good reusability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weak interaction between flocculants and oil is a main bottleneck in the treatment of oil-containing wastewater. To solve this problem, a novel flocculant PAB with cationic micro-block structure and hydrophobic groups of benzene rings was synthesized by ultrasound initiated polymerization technique and applied to remove turbidity and oil from water. To avoid unnecessary addition of reagents in traditional template and micellar copolymerization, surface-active monomer benzyl(methacryloyloxyethyl)dimethylammonium chloride (BMDAC) with self-assembly ability in aqueous solution was employed to synthesize flocculants. The critical association concentration of BMDAC measured by conductivity and surface tension methods was 0.014 mol·L −1 . The results of reactivity ratio, statistical analysis of sequence-length distribution and 1 H NMR provided evidence for the synthesis of copolymer with cationic micro-block. In addition, the apparent viscosity measurement indicated that PAB had an obvious hydrophobic association property. Finally, flocculation tests demonstrated that flocculation performance was greatly improved by adding PAB and the removal rate of oil and turbidity both reached the maximum (87.5% and 92%) at dosage of 40 mg·L −1 and pH of 7.0. Flocculation mechanism investigation demonstrated that the cooperation of charge neutralization, adsorption bridging, and hydrophobic association effect played an important role. The formed flocs by PAB was large, compact, difficult to break, and easy to regrow because of the enhanced interaction between flocculants and oil. In summary, this study can provide important reference in the design of organic flocculants in oily wastewater treatment applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Modified natural polymer flocculants has been the focus of research in environmental engineering field. Natural large molecular compound, chitosan (CTS) with many functional amino and hydroxyl groups can be easily modified to enhance its original functions. This work presents an environmentally friendly chitosan-based cationic polyacrylamide flocculants (CTS-g-PAMA) with enhanced function of sterilization and flocculation. CTS-g-PAMA was synthesized through Ultraviolet (UV)-initiated copolymerization. Structure characterization of FTIR, 1 H NMR, XRD and UV spectrum confirmed the successful grafting of AM and MAPTAC. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis results showed that CTS-g-PAMA exhibited a porous structure with a prodigious surface area. CTS-g-PAMA was then applied to treat a series of simulated waste water containing kaolin or Escherichia coli . Flocculation tests indicated that CTS-g-PAMA not only showed excellent flocculation effect but also showed high sterilization capability. A series of ONP concentration measurement tests through UV spectra analysis and 3D EEM analysis of suspension before and after flocculation were conducted to study sterilization mechanism, and results revealed the sterilization effect of CTS-g-PAMA was essentially bactericidal, not just antibacterial. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flocculation as the core technology of sludge pretreatment can improve the dewatering performance of sludge that enables to reduce the cost of sludge transportation and the subsequent disposal costs. Therefore, synthesis of high-efficiency and economic flocculant is remarkably desired in this field. This study presents a cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) flocculant with microblock structure synthesized through ultraviolet (UV)-initiated template copolymerization by using acrylamide (AM) and methacrylamido propyl trimethyl ammonium chloride (MAPTAC) as monomers, sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) as template, and 2,2'-azobis [2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride (VA-044) as photoinitiator. The microblock structure of the CPAM was observed through nuclear magnetic resonance ( 1 H NMR and 13 C NMR) spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. Furthermore, thermogravimetric/differential scanning calorimetry (TG/DSC) analysis was used to evaluate its thermal decomposition property. The copolymerization mechanism was investigated through the determination of the binding constant M K and study on polymerization kinetics. Results showed that the copolymerization was conducted in accordance with the I (ZIP) template polymerization mechanism, and revealed the coexistence of bimolecular termination free-radical reaction and mono-radical termination in the polymerization process. Results of sludge dewatering tests indicated the superior flocculation performance of microblock flocculant than random distributed CPAM. The residual turbidity, filter cake moisture content, and specific resistance to filtration reached 9.37 NTU, 68.01%, and 6.24 (10 12 m kg −1 ), respectively, at 40 mg L −1 of template poly(AM-MAPTAC) and pH 6.0. Furthermore, all flocculant except commercial CPAM showed a wide scope of pH application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PO43- and SiO32- are often used as modifier to improve stability and aggregating ability of the iron-base coagulants, however, there are few reports about their detailed comparison between the coagulation performance and mechanisms. In this study, three coagulants—polyferric phosphoric sulfate (PFPS), polysilicon ferric sulfate (PFSS), and polyferric sulfate (PFS) were synthesized; their structure and morphology were characterized by Fourier transformed infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and Scanning electron microscope (SEM). Alkali titration and Ferron species analysis were employed to investigate the hydrolysis performance and species distribution. Jar test was conducted to measure their coagulation behaviors at different dosage, pH, and temperatures in which the flocs properties were measured. The results showed that a number of new compounds were formed due to the presence of PO43- and SiO32-. Moreover, PFPS and PFSS had similar level in Fea as well as Feb. Among them, PFPS produced more multi-core iron atoms polymer and content of Feb, and the formed flocs were larger and denser. It exhibited superior coagulation performance in terms of turbidity reduction, UV254 removal and residual ferric concentration. Jar test and floc breakage/regrowth experiments indicated other than charge neutrality, the dominated mechanism involved in PFSS was the adsorption between polysilicic acid and solution particle, while PFPS was sweeping, entrapment/adsorption resulting from larger polymer colloid of Fe-P chemistry bond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of the cationic surfactant (cationic cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide, CTAB) on the improvement of the sludge dewaterability using the cationic flocculant (cationic polyacrylamide, CPAM) were analyzed. Residual turbidity of supernatant, dry solid (DS) content, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), specific resistance to filtration (SRF), zeta potential, floc size, and settling rate were investigated, respectively. The result showed that the CTAB positively affected the sludge conditioning and dewatering. Compared to not using surfactant, the DS and the settling rate increased by 8%–21.2% and 9.2%–15.1%, respectively, at 40 mg·L−1 CPAM, 10×10−3 mg·L−1 CTAB, and pH 3. The residual turbidities of the supernatant and SRF were reduced by 14.6%–31.1% and 6.9%–7.8% compared with turbidities and SRF without surfactant. Furthermore, the release of sludge EPS, the increases in size of the sludge flocs, and the sludge settling rate were found to be the main reasons for the CTAB improvement of sludge dewatering performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights: [•] A novel cationic flocculant P(AM–DAC–BA) was synthesized and characterized. [•] P(AM–DAC–BA) was synthesized through ultraviolet (UV) initiation. [•] P(AM–DAC–BA) prepared in quartz reactor was porous structure. [•] Comparison between quartz reactor and glass reactor was well studied. [•] P(AM–DAC–BA) was efficient in the dewatering of the textile sewage sludge. [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]

Abstract: Recent advance on the application of the composite coagulant in the coagulation–flocculation process has attracted a widespread interest. Previous research has demonstrated that iron-based composite coagulant could enhance the performance of the coagulation–flocculation. In this research, results of an experimental study using polymeric aluminum ferric sulfate (PAFS) as a modified coagulation reagent for treating wastewater was presented. The structure and morphology of PAFS were investigated using some conventional methods, and response surface method (RSM) was employed to optimized the coagulation–flocculation process while the evaluation of treatment efficiency was determined by measuring both the reduction of turbidity and chemical oxygen demand (COD). In addition, parameters affecting coagulation–flocculation behavior such as coagulant dosage, wastewater initial pH, were also examined. The results showed the structure of PAFS as a non-stoichiometric basic iron sulfate salt taking the shape of a compact network and exhibited better coagulation–flocculation performance when the species distribution of (Fe–Al)a, (Fe–Al)b and (Fe–Al)c in PAFS were 37.4%, 3.79% and 59.08%, respectively. Compared with PFS, PAFS showed a superior flocculation performance with the maximum COD removal efficiency of 83.6% and the lowest residual turbidity of 0.96NTU at the coagulant dosage of 45mg/L. In the coagulation–flocculation process, the adsorption-bridging and charge neutralization mechanisms played an important role in colloidal destabilization and aggregation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Magnetic separation technology is an efficient and feasible way to achieve rapid recovery of adsorbents, thus, the use of magnetic adsorbents has attracted the attention of many researchers. However, currently reported magnetic adsorbents have limited adsorption capacity due to insufficient adsorption sites and reactive groups. In this work, a novel magnetic chitosan-based amphiphilic adsorbent (PFSC) was synthesized by using UV-light irradiation method to combine with acryloyloxyethyl dimethylbenzyl ammonium chloride (AO), a molecule containing benzyl groups. PFSC and its precursors were carefully characterized, and their adsorption performances for the removal of anionic dyes were explored. The characterization results showed that the magnetic copolymers with a type of microsphere structure were successfully synthesized. Moreover, PFSC exhibited superior adsorption efficiency and pH resistance compared to those of an unmodified chitosan-based magnetic adsorbent (FSC). The maximum adsorption capacities of PFSC towards orange II (OG), acid red 88 (AE) and red amaranth (RM) were 955.0, 1075.8 and 567.5 mg/g at pH 3.0, respectively. The adsorption kinetics and isotherms of PFSC were consistent with that of a pseudo-second order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model. In addition, adsorption-desorption experiments showed that PFSC could be rapidly separated and efficiently recycled even after 4 uses. More importantly, the FTIR and XPS results revealed that electrostatic adsorption and π-π stacking interactions were the main adsorption mechanisms for the PFSC-enhanced removal of anionic dyes. [Display omitted] • The chitosan-based amphiphilic magnetic copolymer was successfully synthesized by the UV-light initiated method. • The novel magnetic copolymer can be easily separated from solution by magnetic force. • The enhanced electrostatic adsorption and π-π stacking effect played an important role in the removal of anionic dyes. • The novel magnetic copolymer can be reused by simple acid-alkali adjustment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The solid-liquid separation ability of adsorbents is of great significance for improving the recovery efficiency and reducing the cost. Herein, a novel floating-magnetically responsive silica adsorbent (FMSA) was prepared and applied to the adsorption of cationic dyes from aqueous solution. FMSA with self-floating and magnetic response properties exhibited great solid-liquid separation ability and adsorption performance for cationic dyes. According to the Langmuir model, the theoretical saturated adsorption capacity of FMSA for Basic Blue 7 (BB-7) and Crystal Violet (CV) reached 1632.55 mg g−1 and 1587.23 mg g−1, respectively. Thermodynamic experiments manifested that the adsorption was a spontaneous endothermic process with increasing entropy. After 5 adsorption-desorption processes, FMSA's adsorption capacity for BB-7 and CV remained above 80%, indicating that it has satisfactory stability and reusability. Furthermore, the pH effect, isotherm, kinetics, ion interference experiments and characterization analysis manifested that the adsorption was mainly chemical adsorption with an ion exchange process. This research aims to bring some inspiration for the combined use of floating separation and magnetic separation to achieve more flexible, efficient and energy-saving solid-liquid separation. [Display omitted] • A floating-magnetically responsive silica adsorbent was successfully developed. • Obtained adsorbent has both self-floating ability and magnetic response properties. • FMSA showed great reusability and resistance to ion interference. • BB-7 and CV were efficiently removed in a wide pH range. • Powerful electrostatic interaction and ion exchange ensure efficient adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• mpg -C 3 N 4 was fabricated by the sol–gel template method. • mpg -C 3 N 4 showed excellent adsorption capacities and high selectivity towards thorium. • The maximum adsorption capacity of mpg -C 3 N 4/r=1.0 was more than three times of g -C 3 N 4. • It displayed good stability and reusability after five-adsorption–desorption cycle. • Adsorbent binds to thorium mainly controlled by the coordination of amine group. Selective separation of thorium resources from aqueous solutions is an ideal strategy for recovering or removing radioactive ions, as well as reducing potential human health and environmental risks. In this study, an effective adsorbent, mesoporous graphite carbon nitride (mpg -C 3 N 4), was synthesized by a simple thermal condensation using a sacrificial LUDOX HS-40 colloidal silica as template and applied to the selective adsorption of thorium ions from the multi-ion solutions. The results of competitive experiments illustrated that mpg -C 3 N 4/r exhibited higher selectivity and efficiency for Th(IV) over other 14 co-existing cations, with the maximum selective adsorption capacities of Th(IV) reaching to 108.18 mg g−1 for mpg -C 3 N 4/r=1.0 which is more than g -C 3 N 4 (36.64 mg g−1) at pH 4.0. The interaction of Th(IV) with mpg -C 3 N 4/r=1.0 and g -C 3 N 4 were performed using batch processing, the adsorption isotherm was well conformed to the Langmuir adsorption model, and the maximum adsorption capacity of thorium at pH 4.0 and 298 K was calculated to be 196.08 mg g−1 which is more than three times of g -C 3 N 4 (60.60 mg g−1). Also, the results of adsorption experiments on monazite leachate showed that mpg -C 3 N 4/r=1.0 can be successfully used as an attractive adsorbent with the high adsorption efficiency (93.53%) of thorium. This work could broaden insights into the tailored design and synthesis of mesoporous adsorbents for the selective adsorption of thorium in multi-ion solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to deal with the increasingly serious water pollution caused by dye wastewater, a novel sulfonic acid-modified polyacrylamide magnetic composite (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS)) was facilely prepared by crosslink reaction. The physicochemical properties and adsorption performances of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) were systematically studied by different characterization techniques and a series of batch experiments, respectively. It was found that the adsorption capacities of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) towards cationic dyes crystal violet (CV) and methylene blue (MB) were largely enhanced than those of silica-coated Fe 3 O 4 (Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2) and maintained at relatively high levels in a wide pH range, due to the three-dimensional network structure and abundant functional groups of modified polyacrylamide. Besides, owing to the introduction of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 , Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) presented a unique magnetic property that helped it to be rapidly separated from water in a magnetic field. The maximum adsorption capacities of Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) were 2106.37 mg g−1 for CV removal and 1462.34 mg g−1 for MB removal at 298.15 K, much higher than those of other reported magnetic composites. Furthermore, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) was effectively regenerated with HCl solution and the regeneration rates were higher than 97% and 80% for CV and MB removal after five adsorption-desorption cycles, respectively. With its excellent adsorption capacity, wide pH applicability, high separation speed, and satisfactory regeneration ability, Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) was expected to become a promising adsorbent in the purification of cationic dye wastewater. Unlabelled Image • Novel PAM-based magnetic composite was facilely prepared by crosslink reaction. • Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 /P(AM-AMPS) presented a wide pH applicability for cationic dyes removal. • The maximum adsorption capacities were 2106 mg g−1 for CV and 1462 mg g−1 for MB. • The superior adsorption ability was attributed to multiple adsorption mechanisms. • Unique magnetism and good reusability facilitated its practical application. [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]

• Amphiphilic CPAM was fabricated through ultrasonic initiated template polymerization. • Comparative characterizations confirmed the microblock structure and amphiphilicity. • Template copolymerization met bimolecular termination of free radical polymerization. • The effect of NaPAA followed template polymerization I (ZIP) mechanism. • Cationic microblocks produced stronger flocs to form more permeable filter cakes. Flocculation is an important pretreatment technique for sludge dewatering, the performance of employed flocculants is the key factor determine the flocculation efficiency. Herein, an amphiphilic cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) with microblock structure was synthesized through template copolymerization initiated by ultrasonic. The chemical components and cationic microblock structure of copolymers were confirmed through comparative characterization by Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H NMR) spectrum. The copolymerization mechanism was investigated through kinetics study and association coefficient (K M) determination. The results indicated that the reaction followed free radical copolymerization and terminated mainly through bimolecular termination. The pre-adsorption between acryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium chloride (DAC) and sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA) before reaction confirmed the template polymerization met the type I (ZIP) mechanism. Cationic microblocks and hydrophobic association together contributed to the optimal dewaterability (FCMC=67.2 %, SRF=3.84×1012 m·kg−1) using TP(AM-DAC-LA). Hydrophobic association enhanced bridging and sweeping effect to promote the floc size growth. Cationic microblocks produced compacter flocs with stronger mechanical strength through enhanced charge neutralization and patching effects, which acted as skeletons to make filter cakes less compressible and more permeable in mechanical dewatering. This work developed a highly effective flocculant for sludge dewatering, the synthesis and working mechanism of which were also given. [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]

Natural polymeric flocculants as sludge conditioners have received great attention due to their non-toxic and biodegradable advantages. However, the application of amphiphilic natural flocculants as sludge conditioners is rarely reported. In this work, the novel chitosan-based flocculants (CS-g-PAO) with amphiphilic structure were synthesized by ultraviolet light initiated method for the enhancement of sludge dewatering performance. The solubility of CS-g-PAO was significantly improved in a wide pH range (2.0–10.0). Various characterization methods were used to investigate the structure, thermal stability and surface morphology of copolymers, suggesting the successful synthesis of CS-g-PAO. In dewatering experiments, CS-g-PAO showed superior dewatering performance, and filter cake moisture content could be decreased to 77.98% from 95.14%. Moreover, the results of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) components indicated that hydrophobic effect of CS-g-PAO was beneficial to remove the protein in S-EPS and TB-EPS, which had the crucial influence on dewatering performance. Furthermore, the dewatering mechanism was discussed based on the effects of zeta potential, apparent viscosity, surface tension and flocs structure on dewaterability. Results revealed that CS-g-PAO had strong hydrophobic association effect and surface activity. In addition, enhanced charge neutralization and hydrophobic interaction played a synergetic role in improving the dewaterability of CS-g-PAO. Image 1 • A novel chitosan-based flocculant with amphiphilic structure was synthesized. • The water solubility of the amphiphilic flocculant was improved in a wide pH range. • The amphiphilic flocculant showed superior dewatering efficiency under low dosage. • All results confirmed the role of charge neutralization and hydrophobic attraction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The relationship between coagulation-flocculation and sterilization was emphasized. • Two flocculants played the different roles in drinking water treatment. • The synergistic effect of two coagulants for sterilization was confirmed by Contour Method. • Sterilization mechanism and kinetics of flocculants were revealed for the first time. • Sterilization was divided into two processes, rapidly adsorbing and slowly killing. In this study, the relationship between coagulation-flocculation and sterilization was studied using two conventional flocculants, polyaluminum chloride (PAC) and poly dimethyl diallyl ammonium chloride (PDMDAAC). Simulated wastewater containing kaolin and Escherichia coli was prepared. The bacterial removal rates of PAC and PDMDAAC under the same dosage are 46.3% and 19.5%, respectively. Which is far less than that of combined flocculants (94% bacterial removal rate). The synergistic effect of two flocculants was proved by contour method. β-Galactosidase activity, extracellular polysaccharides release, bacterial respiration activity and the activity of triphenyl tetrazolium chloride (TTC) dehydrogenase were investigated to clarify the sterilization kinetics and mechanisms. Two flocculants play the different roles in the treatment. PAC plays role of coagulation, charge neutralization, but PDMDAAC with quaternary ammonium groups is responsible for flocculation to form big flocs, which further enhances its contact with E. coli and contributes to sterilization. Sterilization by flocculants is divided into two processes, rapidly adsorbing and slowly killing, since the respiratory activity of E. coli in flocs gradually decreases with increasing contact time. The increase of flocculant dosage overcomes the hindrance of the secretion of extracellular polysaccharide polymers originating from E. coli to coagulation and sterilization. Sterilization of flocculant should be fully considered in drinking water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater containing dyes poses a severe threat to human health and to environmental safety. Hence, finding an effective way to treat this wastewater has attracted wide attentions. In this study, quaternary ammonium group-rich magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs), Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -MPS-g-DAC (FSMD), were facilely prepared by grafting polymerization and served as a cationic adsorbent to remove anionic dye Orange G from aqueous solutions. Being compared with Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 -MPS MNPs, the adsorption capacity of FSMD MNPs was notably enhanced and it could be maintained in a high level under a wide solution pH range. The dependency on pH and the sensitivity to ionic strength indicated that the main adsorption mechanism was the electrostatic interaction. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, and the adsorption isotherms were well described with the Langmuir model. According to the thermodynamic analysis, the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic. FSMD MNPs were proved to have advantages of fast adsorption rate, high adsorption capacity, easy separation ability under external magnetic field, and satisfactory reusability, therefore they can be applied in the removal of anionic dyes from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The removal of methylene blue (MB) from wastewater has attracted global concerns. In this study, polymer-functionalized magnetic nanoparticles for MB removal, Fe3O4@SiO2-MPS-g-AA-AMPS (FSMAA), were successfully synthesized by grafting acrylic acid (AA) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPS) on the surface of vinyl-modified Fe3O4@SiO2. With various characterization techniques, it was confirmed that the obtained FSMAA had a core–shell structure, a good magnetic property, and plenty of functional groups on its surface. MB adsorption experiments showed that the adsorption capacity of FSMAA was notably enhanced as the grafted monomer concentration and solution pH were increased. The adsorption kinetic data and isothermal data were well described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir model, respectively. The maximum adsorption capacity of FSMAA was 421.9 mg g−1 with grafted monomer concentration at 2.0 mol L−1 and solution pH at 9, much higher than those of other adsorbents stated in previous literatures. Based on XPS analysis, surface adsorption mechanism between FSMAA and MB was electrostatic interaction, hydrogen bonding, and hydrophobic interaction. Furthermore, FSMAA was effectively regenerated by acid pickling, and the remaining adsorption capacity was more than 60% after eight adsorption–regeneration cycles. All the results demonstrated the self-made FSMAA was a desirable adsorbent to remove MB from wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Poly(lactic acid) has been extensively investigated in the biomedical field because of its good biocompatibility and biodegradability. As an important method of poly(lactic acid) synthesis, metal complex-catalyzed ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of lactide can achieve a controllable lactide polymerization through the selection of appropriate ligands and metals. In this study, a novel metal (LTi–O)2 complex was synthesized and structurally characterized. (LTi–O)2 showed a relatively high catalytic activity and controllability of Poly(D, L-lactide) (PDLLA) molecular weights (polydispersity index of 1.02–1.22) in the ROP of D,L-lactide. The kinetic equation of D,L-LA ROP catalyzed by (LTi–O)2 could be expressed as–d[M]/dt = k[M]2[(LTi–O)2]1, and the reaction activation energy was 95.67 kJ·mol−1. Physical/chemical properties and biocompatibility evaluation results showed that PDLLA obtained through the (LTi–O)2-catalyzed ROP of D,L- lactide exhibited a good degradation performance and excellent biocompatibility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the ultrasonic (US)-initiated template copolymerization was employed to synthesize a novel cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) characterized by a microblock structure using dimethyldiallylammonium chloride (DMDAAC) and acrylamide (AM) as monomers, and sodium polyacrylate (NaPAA) as template. The polymers structure property was analyzed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), 1 H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy ( 1 H NMR) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results showed that a novel cationic microblock structure was successfully synthesized in the template copolymer of DMDAAC and AM (TPADM). Meanwhile, the analysis result of association constant (M K ) provided powerful support for a I Zip-up (ZIP) template polymerization mechanism and the formation of the microblock structure. The factors affecting the polymerization were investigated, including ultrasonic power, ultrasonic time, monomer concentration, initiator concentration, m AM :m DMDAAC and n NaPAA :n DMDAAC . The sludge dewatering performance of the polymers was evaluated in terms of specific resistance to filtration (SRF), filter cake moisture content (FCMC), floc size (d 50 ) and fractal dimension (D f ). Flocculation mechanism was also analyzed and discussed. The sludge dewatering results revealed that the polymer with the novel microblock structure showed a more excellent flocculation performance than those with randomly distributed cationic units. A desirable flocculation performance with a SRF of 4.5 × 10 12  m kg −1 , FCMC of 73.1%, d 50 of 439.156 µm and D f of 1.490 were obtained at pH of 7.0, dosage of 40 mg L −1 and the molecular weight of 5.0 × 10 6  Da. The cationic microblock extremely enhanced the polymer charge neutralization and bridging ability, thus obtaining the excellent sludge dewatering performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three-dimensional Ti-Sn/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes were prepared for the efficient degradation of chloramphenicol (CAP) in wastewater. To observe the surface morphology and structural characteristics of the Ti-Sn/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray fluorescence, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction were used for characterization. Parameters affecting the degradation efficiency and energy consumption of the Ti-Sn/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes, such as conductivity, initial pH of wastewater, current density, air flow, and initial CAP concentration (100 mg·L −1 ), were examined. Results showed that the optimal conditions were 0.1 A current intensity, 1.0 L·min −1 air flow, 6000 μS·cm −1 conductivity, and pH 6. More than 70% of CAP was degraded under the optimal conditions. Based on the reaction intermediate products identified, a possible pathway for the electrochemical oxidation of CAP by the Ti-Sn/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes was proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a template polymer with anionic microblock structure was successfully synthesized through ultrasonic initiated template copolymerization (USTP) by using sodium allylsulfonate (SAS) and acrylamide (AM) as monomers, poly diallyl dimethyl ammonium chloride (polyDADMAC) as template, and 2,2′-azobis [2-(2-imidazolin-2-yl) propane] dihydrochloride (VA-044) as initiator. The anionic polyacrylamide (APAM-T) flocculant was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) was conducted to measure the elemental composition. The results of XPS and 1H NMR spectroscopy analysis indicated the existence of anionic microblock structure in APAM-T. Besides, the copolymerization was revealed to follow the self-assembly mechanism by analyzing the association constant (K M). The flocculation performance was evaluated by turbidity and zeta potential in the flocculation tests. The results indicated that the APAM-T with microblock structure enhanced the charge neutralization and bridging adsorption capacity, thus improving the flocculation performance. In the floc particle size distribution and fragmentation and reflocculation experiments, the floc corresponding to APAM-T had the strongest regeneration ability after fragmentation, which further confirmed the criticality of the microblock structure in enhancing the flocculation performance. Compared with existing studies, this study not only demonstrated a novel synthesis method, but also found that the microblock structure could significantly improve its treatment efficiency and effectiveness, providing a new theoretical basis and practical application path for wastewater treatment technology. [Display omitted] • Anionic polyacrylamide with regular microblock structure was synthesized. • The reactivity and copolymerization degree were enhanced by microblock structure. • The turbidity removal of APAM-T for hematite wastewater could reach 98.22 %. • The charge neutralization and bridging adsorption capacity of APAM-T were enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The dewatering performance and fractal characteristics of alum sludge from a drinking-water treatment plant were investigated in this study. Variations in residual turbidity of supernatant, dry solid content (DS), specific resistance to filtration (SRF), floc size, fractal dimension, and zeta potential were analyzed. Sludge dewatering efficiency was evaluated by measuring both DS and SRF. Results showed that the optimum sludge dewatering efficiency was achieved at 16 mg∙L-1 flocculant dosage and pH 7. Under these conditions, the maximum DS was 54.6%, and the minimum SRF was 0.61 × 1010 m∙kg-1. Floc-size measurements demonstrated that high flocculant dosage significantly improved floc size. Correlation analysis further revealed a strong correlation between fractal dimension and floc size after flocculation. A strong correlation also existed between floc size and zeta potential, and flocculants with a higher cationic degree had a larger correlation coefficient between floc size and zeta potential. In the flocculation process, the main flocculation mechanisms involved adsorption bridging under an acidic condition, and a combination between charge neutralization and adsorption-bridging interaction under neutral and alkaline conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, the novel hollow mesoporous coagulant was prepared by chitosan-polydopamine coating and permanganate loading into silica nanoparticles for investigating the simultaneous enrichment and degradation of diclofenac sodium (DCFS) combined with ultraviolet irradiation. The enrichment kinetic of DCFS was explained well with pseudo-second-order model, indicating the exist of hydrogen bonding. Based on the correlation coefficients, the enriched isotherms were fitted by models which accorded with the BET > Freundlich > Langmuir sequence. The result showed that, in addition to the coagulant and DCFS, there were aromatic stackings among DCFS molecules. Due to both effects of which, the DCFS enrichment could be realized significantly in the range of pH 4.0–9.0. It was degraded at the copresence of ultraviolet and permanganate released from coagulant in acidic aqueous medium. The release mechanism was simulated through Korsmayer-Peppas model, implying case-II transport and Fickian diffusion. Additionally, Mn (V) and •OH radicals were vital in the DCFS degradation process. The coagulant could be reloaded at least ten times and that from each cycle was used directly for DCFS removal for six times without rinse process, which provided a potential application in environmental remediation. [Display omitted] • The enrichment and degradation of diclofenac sodium were realized simultaneously. • Hydrogen bonding and aromatic stacking play an important role in enrichment process. • The active radicals generated in the removal process were confirmed to be.•OH and Mn(V) • The hollow mesoporous coagulant could be reloaded with permanganates at least ten cycles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • PVA/PSSNa semi-IPN@Ni foam removes 95.17% CIP and 99.20% Ni(II) from wastewater. • Satisfactory adsorption occurs under neutral to slightly acidic pH (3–7). • In the binary system, Ni(II) greatly affects CIP adsorption, while CIP slightly affects Ni(II). • The interactive term of Ni(II) concentration and pH notably affects the CIP removal. • Removal of CIP and Ni(II) is most affected by their own concentration and pH. The coexistence of antibiotics and heavy metals in wastewater notably influences their adsorption removal behavior. However, the synergistic and antagonistic characteristics and mechanisms of their co-adsorption remain unclear. A novel adsorbent, PVA/PSSNa semi-IPN@Ni foam, was synthesized and applied to study its features and mechanisms in the single and binary systems of ciprofloxacin (CIP) and Ni(II). Exceptional removal efficiencies of 95.17 % for CIP and 99.20 % for Ni(II) were achieved. The interactive effects between CIP and Ni(II) were comprehensively explored through adsorption capacity ratio (Rq) and response surface methodology. Mechanistic insights were obtained through NaCl charge shielding experiments, substructure analog molecule probes experiments, theory calculations, as well as FTIR and XPS characterizations. The outcomes suggest that in the single system of CIP, the adsorption mechanisms include electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, and π-π interactions. In the single system of Ni(II), mechanisms include electrostatic attraction and coordination. In the binary system of CIP + Ni(II), low Ni(II) concentrations facilitate CIP adsorption through coordination and bridging, whereas high Ni(II) concentrations let to competition for adsorption sites. Interestingly, the presence of CIP had minimal impact on Ni(II), exhibiting only a slight synergistic effect. These findings highlight the PVA/PSSNa semi-IPN@Ni foam as a hopeful candidate for removing CIP and Ni(II) from wastewater, and contribute to a deeper comprehension of synergistic and antagonistic mechanisms in the binary system involving CIP and Ni(II). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Combining PM and 3D electrode process showed a remarkable synergy for DCF removal. • GAC and organic contaminants promoted the conversion of MnO 2 and PM to Mn(III) aq. • GAC act as a mediator transferring electrons from organic contaminants to PM. • Mn(III) aq and colloidal MnO 2 mainly contributed to ECs removal. • GAC particles exhibited a stable catalytic performance after 10 cycles. Currently, the electro-activated permanganate (PM) process, as one of the reactive manganese species (RMnS)-based advanced oxidation processes, has shown great potential for environmental remediation. However, the activation efficiency of PM in the electro-activated PM (E-PM) process is limited due to the poor mass transfer and electron transfer efficiency in the two-dimensional (2D) process. In this study, to overcome these drawbacks, granular activated carbon (GAC) was introduced as particle electrodes, establishing an efficient three-dimensional (3D) electrode process (E-GAC-PM), which promoted the generation of RMnS. Comparative experiments exhibited the significant synergy between PM and the 3D electrode process, resulting in the highest diclofenac (DCF) removal (90.2 %) with the lowest energy consumption. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and Tafel curve showed that the addition of GAC greatly attenuated the electrochemical impedance, facilitating the activation of PM. Further studies revealed that GAC can serve as an electron mediator, transferring electrons from contaminants to PM, thereby generating Mn2+ and promoting Mn(III) aq formation. Meanwhile, in-situ generated Mn2+ can also be oxidized by the anode and particle electrodes into Mn(III) aq. Besides, the in-situ generated MnO 2 facilitates the performance via oxidation and catalysis effects. Under the protection of the electric field, GAC showed a relatively stable performance which could be regenerated and maintain active after 10 cycles. All these results demonstrated that the E-GAC-PM process was an efficient, energy-saving, and sustainable method for refractory organic contaminants removal, which showed potential for practical application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • A novel enhanced As(III) removal process, MIL-53(Fe)/sulfite, was developed. • As(III) removal was through a combination of oxidation and adsorption. • As(III) oxidation relied on the powerful Fe(IV) and SO 4 •− generated from SO 5 •−. • Oxidation product As(V) was adsorbed by forming monodentate complexes. • Procedure to realize the purification of real arsenic-spiked water was proposed. Iron based metal–organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) have garnered international interest as a novel and promising category of adsorbent materials for the elimination of arsenic from neutral waters. Nevertheless, their practical implementation is constrained by their inadequate adsorption capacity for aqueous arsenite (As(III)), a prevalent arsenic species found in acidic environments such as acid mine drainage. Herein, a novel oxidation-adsorption process to effectively purify As(III)-contaminated water is constructed by combining the MIL-53(Fe) of high acid resistance with sulfite (S(IV)). Notably, the adsorption capacity of the MIL-53(Fe)/S(IV) process for As(III) at pH 3.5 reached 86.4 mg g−1, surpassing the values achieved by MIL-53(Fe) alone by 21.6 times for As(III) and 1.62 times for As(V) (oxidized As(III)). During the oxidation process, MIL-53(Fe) effectively activated S(IV), leading to the formation of the crucial intermediate SO 5 •−, which then underwent two distinct pathways to respectively generate Fe(IV) and SO 4 •−, accounting for rapid oxidation of As(III). In the adsorption process, the S(IV) activation (i.e., complexation and electron transfer) on the MIL-53(Fe) surface created additional adsorption sites by dredging the pores and altering the electron cloud distribution within the adsorbent. Furthermore, As(V) trended to form monodentate complexes with surface Fe (e.g., Fe O As bond) in the MIL-53(Fe)/S(IV) process. Notably, this oxidative removal process demonstrated reliable performance in complex water matrices and practical arsenic-contaminated waters. Overall, this study presents a promising strategy to enhance the efficacy of Fe-MOFs for the removal of As(III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • ACF cathode exhibits excellent performance in PAA activation for SMX elimination. • ACF could maintain persistent catalytic ability under a cathodic electric field. • •OH generated from ACF cathode plays the dominant role in organics degradation. • Degradation intermediates of SMX are harmless to the aquatic ecology. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) based on peracetic acid (PAA) could generate various radicals with low by-product generation, making them a vital technology in the remediation of organic pollution. Maintaining the activity and continuous operation of catalytic systems in water treatment processes was a highly challenging research topic. Herein, the electrochemical process with an activated carbon fiber (E-ACF) cathode was devised to boost the activation of PAA (E-ACF-PAA) for persistent elimination of organics. Compared to other commonly used electrodes, the ACF cathode displayed superior PAA activation ability and higher sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal. The applied cathodic electric field could protect ACF from PAA oxidation, maintaining its long-term catalytic ability over 50 cycles. Based on radical quenching studies, the EPR test, and the estimation of radical contribution, the E-ACF-PAA process was identified as a radical dominant system. Importantly, isolated chamber experiments proved that PAA was mainly decomposed on the cathode to produce hydroxyl radicals (OH) for SMX degradation, while the anode played a negligible role. According to toxicity prediction and algae growth tests, the degradation products were harmless to the aquatic ecology. Remarkably, continuous flow experiments over a 24 h and different water matrix tests have also proven applicability in practical scenarios. This work provided novel insights into the electrochemical activation of PAA and further expanded the potential applications of PAA-based AOPs in the remediation of organic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the rapidly increased discharges of various complex dyeing wastewaters, adsorbents are required to own more properties such as cost-effectiveness, amphoteric ability, and rapid solid-liquid separation ability, to treat dyeing wastewaters. A multi-functional adsorbent was synthesized by co-grafting m-phenylenediamine and sodium allyl sulfonate on the surface of a low-cost base-material: hollow glass microsphere (HGM). Characterization results indicated the surface roughness and –Si–OH groups of HGM were increased by NaOH corrosion; functional groups such as aromatic-rings, –NH 2 , and –HSO 3 − were grafted on the surface of HGM. The synthesized adsorbent showed amphoteric attraction abilities for anionic acid green 25 and cationic basic fuchsin dyes. Kinetics and isotherms studies suggested the PSO model and Langmuir model were most satisfactory for adsorption processes, the theoretical maximum adsorption capacities for acid green 25 and basic fuchsin reached 454.55 and 588.24 mg g−1, respectively. The mechanism investigations indicated the electrostatic attraction, π-π stacking, and hydrogen bonds were the potential interaction forces between dyes and adsorbents. The synthesized material owns self-floating ability due to the hollow structure of HGM, over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at water surface via the self-floating process in 12 min, which was beneficial to the solid-liquid separation process and the reuse of adsorbents. The technologies developed by these research efforts can serve as templates for synthesizing multi-functional adsorbents for complex wastewaters decontaminations. [Display omitted] • First demonstration of an amphoteric self-floating adsorbent. • The adsorption capacities of anionic/cationic dyes reached 454.55/588.24 mg g−1. • Electrostatic force, π-π stacking, hydrogen bond were dominant adsorption mechanisms. • Over 95.7% of adsorbents were collected at the water surface within 12 min. • The multi-functional adsorbent is beneficial for cleaner production of dyeing goods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The catalyst possessed excellent separation ability and recyclability. • HSM-N-Cu/S(IV) system could effectively oxidize As(III) at circumneutral pH. • SO 4 − was suggested as the reactive oxidant responsible for As(III) oxidation. • The apparent reaction rate constant of SO 4 − production reached 1.81 ± 0.12 M−1 s−1. • k value of SO 5 −+As(III) → As(IV) + SO 5 2− was first calculated as 2.6 × 106 M−1 s−1. In heterogeneous reactions, efficient solid–liquid separation of catalyst from water after oxidation is a significant approach to reduce possible secondary pollution of aquatic environments. In this work, a hollow-structured self-floating copper-loaded catalyst (HSM-N-Cu) was fabricated using copper ammonia complexes and hollow glass microsphere as the copper source and supporter, respectively. The SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, and XRD characterization results suggested ideal specific surface area and stability of HSM-N-Cu. The prepared HSM-N-Cu in conjunction with sulfite have been successfully applied for As(III) oxidation in near-neutral conditions. In general, HSM-N-Cu effectively activating S(IV) process involved Cu(II)/Cu(I) conversion and chain reactions of oxysulfur radicals, where the S(IV) acted as a complexing ligand to Cu(II) surface and precursor of oxysulfur radicals. SO 4 − was verified as the dominant contributor to As(III) oxidation, the apparent reaction rate constant (k obs ') for SO 4 − generation was 1.81 ± 0.12 M−1 s−1, and the reaction rate constant (k 12) of SO 5 − + As(III) → As(IV) + SO 5 2− was first calculated as 2.6 × 106 M−1 s−1 by kinetic study. The apparent activation energy (E a) was 48.6 ± 0.1 kJ mol−1 at 100 mg L−1 HSM-N-Cu. Additionally, self-floating HSM-N-Cu could be easily separated, and its great stability was proven after six-cycle test. Furthermore, the HSM-N-Cu/S(IV) system can work effectively in broad range of geochemical conditions. In summary, the established process is feasible for remediation of As(III)-contaminated water, the collection of self-floating catalysts by surface separation from water provides a new idea to reduce secondary pollution of water by catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dye wastewater, represented by reactive blue 19 (RB19), severely threatens the aquatic ecological environment and human health, such that an efficient RB19 wastewater treatment technology should be urgently developed. Based on manganese ion-mediated electrochemistry, PMS was introduced to develop a novel electrocatalytic system (E-Mn(II)-PMS) that can efficiently remove and degrade RB19. The synergistic effect between E, Mn(II), and PMS was verified in this study through comparative experiments of a wide variety of systems. The removal efficiency of RB19 reached 95.1% in 50 min under reasonable power consumption (3.29 kWh/m3). Moreover, the effects exerted by different operating conditions (e.g., initial pH, current density, RB19 concentration, Mn(II) concentration, as well as PMS concentration) and water matrix on the degradation efficiency of RB19 were explored through single factor experiments. The active oxidation species (ROS) and their contribution rate for the degrading and removing RB19 were studied through quenching experiments, EPR experiments, TMT-15 metal capture experiments, as well as PP complexation experiments. The role played by non-free radicals took on critical significance in the oxidation removal of RB19, which comprised direct electro oxidation, Mn(III) oxidation, and 1O 2 oxidation. The enhancement effect of free radicals (SO 4 ·− and HO∙) was not sufficiently significant, with a low degree of contribution. The oxidation effect of the anode facilitated the conversion of Mn (II) to Mn (III), which was employed in PMS for expediting the production of 1O 2. The reduction effect of the cathode blocked the production of Mn (IV) as a side reaction, such that the continuous circulation of manganese ions between divalent and trivalent was promoted. Meanwhile, the cathode reacted with PMS to generate a small part of SO 4 ·− and HO∙. In addition, the reaction active site of RB19 was predicted, and a possible degradation pathway was proposed in accordance with the mass spectrometry results and the DFT calculation. As revealed by the results of the QSAR analysis and the plant culture experiments, the biological toxicity of RB19 was markedly reduced after the sample was administrated with E-Mn(II)-PMS. E-Mn(II)-PMS-mediated electrochemical technology displays several advantages (e.g., high efficiency, low consumption, recyclability, wide pH window, and strong applicability) while showing promising market development and utilization for treating dye wastewater. [Display omitted] • E-Mn(II)-PMS is high efficient on RB19 removal with low energy consumption. • E, Mn(II) exerts a good synergistic effect with PMS. • The cathode's reduction effect blocks the generation of the side reaction. • The 1O 2 makes huge contribution and mainly comes from SO 5 ·− in E-Mn(II)-PMS. • E-Mn(II)-PMS significantly decreases the biological toxicity of RB19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Abundant electron-rich Co centers generated by Mg doping enhanced PMS activation. • MCO@PES membrane/PMS system achieved instant contaminants elimination. • The highly accessible SO 4 −, OH, and 1O 2 were the responsible reactive species. • Catalyst recovery and enhanced mass transfer in membrane provided the application value. The practical application of heterogeneous Fenton-like processes in wastewater treatment is limited by inadequate catalyst recovery and limited mass transfer in traditional batch mode. Consequently, a catalytic membrane composed of inert magnesium (Mg)-doped Co 3 O 4 spinel (MCO) was crafted to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the elimination of organic contaminants. The incorporation of the less electronegative Mg induced electronic polarization on the MCO surface, resulting in the generation of sufficient electron-rich Co centers, thereby amplifying its electron-donating properties in PMS activation and enhancing the inherent catalytic activity of the spinel. Regarding the catalytic membrane, the stacked porous structure of the MCO layer achieved reactive sites exposure, mass transfer enhancement, and reactive species availability. Remarkably, the MCO@polyethersulfone (PES) membrane/PMS system instantaneously activated PMS, displaying an elimination kinetic constant of 0.039 ms−1 for tetracycline. The MCO@PES membrane exhibited exceptional catalytic performance and stability in long-term operational studies. Mechanistic investigations elucidated that the highly accessible SO 4 −, OH, and 1O 2 within the catalytic membrane facilitated the immediate elimination of contaminants. This study serves as a valuable reference for the application of transition metal spinel-based catalytic membranes in wastewater treatment. [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]

In this study, red mud was used as the main raw material to prepare polyaluminum-ferric chloride (PCFA) with high added value. The effects of the liquid–solid ratio, reaction temperature, reaction time, hydrochloric acid concentration during acid leaching, polymerization time, OH−/Fe molar ratio, and polymerization temperature on the preparation of PCFA were investigated and determined by conducting single-factor optimization experiments under optimal preparation conditions. Characterization results show that the surface of the PCFA flocculant has compact and dense porosity and a dense sheet-like structure, and PCFA contains hydroxyl-bridged iron–aluminum polymers. When the settling time was 30 min, the stirring intensity was 200 rpm; the initial concentration of Nano-titanium dioxide（TiO 2 -NPs） was 30 mg·L−1; the pH value was 7.0; the dosage of PCFA was 25 mg·L−1, and the optimum removal rates of TiO 2 -NPs and turbidity were 84.8% and 81.3%, respectively. The flocs produced by PCFA treatment of TiO 2 -NPs were large and dense. Under optimal flocculation conditions, the average particle size of PCFA-TiO 2 -NP flocs was 2.98 µm, and the fractal dimension was 1.66. Based on the abovementioned flocculation experimental data, a Grey correlation method was established to evaluate the degree of correlation among factors such as ionic strength, settling time, stirring strength, kaolin concentration, initial concentration, reaction pH value, and dosage and the performance of PCFA coagulation to remove TiO 2 -NP-containing wastewater. In the reaction system of the PCFA coagulation of TiO 2 -NPs, the dosage is the most important factor. [Display omitted] • Red mud was used as the main raw material to prepare composite coagulant. • The flocculation and removal performance of nanoparticle were comprehensively explored. • The optimum removal rates of TiO 2 -NPs and turbidity were 84.8% and 81.3%, respectively. • A Grey correlation method was established to evaluate the degree of correlation among factors. • This study provides guidance for the utilization of red mud and the removal of nanoparticle s. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, an advanced oxidation process with E/Ce(IV) synergistic PMS (E/Ce(IV)/PMS) was established for the efficient removal of Reactive Blue 19 (RB19). The catalytic oxidation performance of different coupling systems was examined and the synergistic effect of E/Ce(IV) with PMS in the system was substantiated. The oxidative removal of RB19 in E/Ce(IV)/PMS was excellent, achieving a removal efficiency of 94.47% and a reasonable power consumption (EE/O value was 3.27 kWh·m−3). The effect of pH, current density, Ce(IV) concentration, PMS concentration, initial RB19 concentration and water matrix on the removal efficiency of RB19 were explored. Additionally, quenching and EPR experiments showed that the solution contains different radicals such as SO 4 ·−, HO∙ and 1O 2 , where 1O 2 and SO 4 ·− played key roles, but HO∙ just acted a weaker role. Ce ion trapping experiment confirmed that Ce(IV) was involved in the reaction process and played a major role (29.91%). RB19 was subject to three possible degradation pathways, and the intermediate products displayed well biochemical properties. To conclude, the degradation mechanism of RB19 was explored and discussed. In the presence of current, E/Ce(IV)/PMS performed a rapid Ce(IV)/Ce(III) cycle, continuously generating strong catalytic oxidation Ce(IV), The reactive radicals derived from the decomposition of PMS, in conjunction with Ce(IV) and direct electro-oxidation, efficiently destroyed the molecular structure of RB19 and showed an efficient removal rate. [Display omitted] • E/Ce(IV)/PMS is removal and low energy consumption. • E/Ce(IV)/PMS has an efficient pH self-regulation function. • The 1O 2 is mainly generated from SO 5 ·− in E/Ce(IV)/PMS. • E/Ce(IV)/PMS evidently reduces the biological toxicity of RB19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes were prepared and employed for the degradation of oxytetracycline (OTC) by three-dimensional electrocatalytic technology. Factors associated with the preparation of Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrodes were investigated. The effects of initial concentration, conductivity, pH value, aeration intensity, current density, plate spacing, and particle electrode dosage on OTC removal were studied. The removal rate of OTC and total organic carbon were achieved approximately 92.0% and 41.0% under the optimal operating condition, respectively. In addition, Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrode was analyzed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscope (SEM), energy dispersive spectrum analysis (EDX), X-Ray Fluorescence Spectrometer (XRF), and X Ray Diffraction analysis (XRD), which indicated that a significant amount of TiO 2 , SnO 2 , and Sb 2 O 3 were formed on the surface of Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrode. It was also observed that the primary function of Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrode in the three-dimensional electrode electrolysis process is the strong oxidizing function of ·OH for degrading OTC. Consequently, the analysis of degradation products of oxytetracycline (OTC) demonstrates. In addition, the results and conclusions of this study provide a methodological basis and engineering practice basis for removing the low concentration of antibiotics in water. Image 1 • Sodium alginate embedding method is used for preparing Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrode. • Possible degradation mechanism of oxytetracycline is investigated and discussed. • Ti-Sn-Sb/γ-Al 2 O 3 particle electrode shows excellent electrocatalytic oxidation capacity. • It has positive significance for removing low concentration antibiotics in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Cobalt ion is an environmental contaminant in general. But interestingly, it can also be used to degrade some refractory organic contaminants in water by mediated electrochemical oxidation process (MEOP) based on Co (III). MEOP is a very promising technology, and it can recycling use the mediator ions, Co (III), to degrade refractory organic contaminants in water. However, previous studies for this technology mainly conducted in strong acidic medium, the oxidation ability of this process for emerging contaminants near neutral pH condition was still unclear. Therefore, this study evaluated the emerging contaminants removal and mineralization efficiency of the MEOP-Co (III) around neutral pH, and investigated systematically the influence of series of operating parameters, including initial Co (II) concentration, current density, initial pH, electrolyte, and anions. Results from these studies indicated that the MEOP-Co (III) had a fairly good contaminants removal and mineralization ability for sulfamethoxazole, tetracycline, carbamazepine, diclofenac, and phenol at neutral pH. Besides, no radical was detected in MEOP-Co (III), and the main oxidizing substance was Co (III) ions, which was generated on anode surface. The addition of C O 3 2 − / H C O 3 − could weaken the oxidation ability of MEOP-Co (III), while C l − and P O 4 3 − could enhance the system's oxidation ability. Moreover, a reasonable energy consumption was achieved in MEOP-Co (III), and the highest electric energy per order (EE/O) value was 2.4 kWh·m−3 in this study. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • In MEOP-Co (III), Co (III) ions could be electrogenerated on anode near neutral pH. • The in situ generated Co (III) ions demonstrated a reasonable oxidation. • Cobalt ions could be reused during the decomposition of contaminants. • Reasonable energy consumption was achieved in MEOP-Co (III). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The synthesized adsorbents captured 94.18 mg g−1 of Co2+ and 62.56 mg g−1 of Ni2+. • <1% of lithium was lost in the cathode leachate during the separation process. • The dominant capture mechanism conversed from physical to chemical adsorption. • The N atoms on the adsorbents were the effective chemical adsorption sites. • Particle movement track in water was predictable via the proposed equation. The effectiveness of lithium recovery determines the future use of the devices powered by lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) under lithium resource shortages. Selective separation of Co2+/Ni2+ from the cathode leachate of LIBs is a key step to reduce the lithium loss in the recovery progress. This study reported a hollow structured self-floating adsorbent synthesized by co-grafting of (3-Aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) and ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) on hollow glass microsphere (HGM) for selective capture of Co2+/Ni2+ from LIBs cathode leachate. The introduction of the N atom of APTES was crucial for bridging the inorganic HGM and organic EDTA. The organic component of the synthesized adsorbent accounted for 12.82%, which was responsible for the Co2+/Ni2+ adsorptions. Physic- and chemic-adsorptions were the ordinal mechanisms during the three-stages divided adsorption progress. The negative –COO− groups promoted the electrostatic attraction between metal ions and the adsorbents. The N atoms of EDTA were the effective adsorption sites for Co2+ and Ni2+ ions, resulting in chemical chelation of the metal ions with adsorbents followed by ion exchanges of Na+ and Ca2+. The adsorbents captured 94.18 mg g−1 of Co2+ and 62.56 mg g−1 of Ni2+ with a < 1% lithium loss in the LIBs cathode leachate. The self-flotation process of the adsorbent was non-linearly fitted by our original equation for predicting its movement track for further solid–liquid separation. This research proposed a new strategy for the selective adsorption of Co2+/Ni2+ from LIBs cathode leachate with limited lithium loss. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co–Zn–N–C catalyst (MCZC) with neighboring Co and Zn pairs anchored on hollow carbon nitride was constructed by the direct etching of zeolitic imidazolate frameworks assembled with Co and Zn. Adequate characterizations and density functional theory (DFT) studies confirmed the successful construction of non-bonding Co and Zn pairs with enhanced electron transfer on Co sites by adjacent Zn sites. Based on the synergy of adjacent Co and Zn atom pairs, the MCZC/Perxymosulfate (PMS) system achieved 99.6% Tetracycline (TC) degradation in 24 min with a mineralization rate of 55.8% and PMS decomposition efficiency of 73.1%. DFT calculation based on the Fukui index identified the sites susceptible to attack by the active species. TC degradation pathways could be inferred, and reduced toxicity of intermediates was observed. This work provides new insights into the design of MOF-derived bimetallic catalysts and the importance of the interaction between adjacent metal active sites to catalytic performance. [Display omitted] • Co, Zn doped hollow carbon nitride catalyst was synthesized by etching Co 0.5 Zn 0.5 -ZIF. • Co sites were highly activated by adjacent Zn atoms via non-bonding interaction. • MCZC/PMS system achieved efficient tetracycline degradation and risk control. • The unique structure provides MCZC catalyst with high stability and low metal leaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Treatment of a persistent organic pollutant, carbamazepine (CBZ), in aqueous solution by a novel and sustainable method, Electro-activated carbon fiber-peroxydisulfate (E-ACF-PDS), was investigated and compared with ACF adsorption, Peroxydisulfate (PDS), ACF-peroxydisulfate (ACF-PDS), E-Pt (Pt-plating titanium as cathode in electrolysis), E-ACF (ACF as cathode in electrolysis), and Electro-Pt-peroxydisulfate (E-Pt-PDS) processes, respectively. The removal rate of CBZ by E-ACF-PDS was 98.78% in 30 min, which was much higher than that of the others. Besides, several tests were performed to investigate the role of operational conditions (pH, peroxydisulfate concentration, electrode potential, temperature, and water matrix) in E-ACF-PDS process. Moreover, it is worth noting that even after recycling ACF for 100 times, the removal rate of CBZ in 30 min decreased only slightly from 98.78% to 97.35% in E-ACF-PDS process. In addition, the surface functional groups, FTIR spectrum, Raman spectrum, BET surface area, micropore volume, and SEM images of ACF before and after long time service were investigated and the results revealed that the ACF could maintain the original features in E-ACF-PDS process even after 100 cycles, while the ACF alone was seriously damaged in ACF-PDS process after 50 cycles. These results suggested that the E-ACF-PDS process could remarkably enhance the removal of CBZ in aqueous solution due to the simultaneous adsorption of contaminants and the increase in the generation of active radicals on ACF. The electrons on cathode could inhibit the destruction of ACF caused by chemical oxidation such as sulfate radicals, hydroxyl radicals, and peroxydisulfate. Therefore, the E-ACF-PDS process may provide an effective and sustainable approach to water treatment for the elimination of contaminants of emerging concern in water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • Promoted removal of arsenic by ZIF-67/sulfite than ZIF-67 is achieved. • Fast As(III) removal is through an integration of oxidation and adsorption. • SO 4 − is responsible for As(III) oxidation in solution and on catalyst surface. • The sulfite activation by ZIF-67 provides extra sites for As(III,V) adsorption. • Operating parameters of ZIF-67/sulfite system for arsenic removal are optimized. Elimination of As(III) from water has gotten more attention in comparison with As(V) due to its higher mobility and toxicity. In this work, we provide an effective method by integrating a cobalt-based metal–organic framework ZIF-67 and sulfite (S(IV)) to purify As(III)-laden water. The coupled oxidation with adsorption process (i.e., As(III) removal by ZIF-67/S(IV)) surpasses a divided preoxidation-adsorption process (i.e., As(V) removal by ZIF-67) for arsenic removal from the multi-component water containing various coexisting anions. Herein, the mechanism investigation corroborated that the S(IV) plays dual roles as a complexing ligand and a precursor of oxysulfur radicals. The enhanced As(III) removal is attributed to the S(IV) activation on the ZIF-67 surface via various reactions (e.g., surface complexation and intramolecular electron transfer), which not only generates SO 4 − radicals for rapid oxidation of As(III) to As(V), but also provides more adsorption sites for the immobilization of the oxidized product (As(V)). Furthermore, the combined process can rapidly treat arsenic in the realistic contaminated water from 242 to 7 μg L−1 within 15 min, directly meeting the provisional maximum contaminant level (<10 μg L−1). Overall, the proposed work may aid the rational design of S(IV) mediated oxidation-adsorption process to remove arsenic from a variety of contaminated waters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Environmentally friendly magnetic sodium alginate beads with glutaraldehyde cross-linking catalyzed by acetic acid-hydrochloric acid were successfully designed (FSSi@SA), and the magnetic bio-sorbents after amide reaction (FSSi@SA-sula) were utilized to absorb fluoroquinolone antibiotics in water. After amidation, FSSi@SA-sula exhibited strong pH adaptability (pH = 6.0–12.0). Langmuir and pseudo-first-order models can better describe the isotherm and kinetic process well, respectively. Under the optimization conditions with pH = 7 and temperature of 318.15 K, the maximum adsorption capacities of FSSi@SA-sula on the third-generation FQs ciprofloxacin (CIP) and the fourth-generation FQs moxifloxacin (MOX) respectively reached 365.66 and 149.57 mg g−1. The thermodynamics research indicated that the as-prepared FSSi@SA-sula is spontaneous and feasible. And after five adsorption cycles, the loss of adsorption capacity was less than 20% for both CIP and MOX, demonstrating the fine reusability and stability of the designed magnetic bio-sorbent. This study provides some ideas for facile synthesis of acid-catalyzed sodium alginate-glutaraldehyde cross-linking, which has promising applications in grafting various types of groups onto the retained carboxyl groups of sodium alginate spheres for the various contaminants removal in wastewater. [Display omitted] • FSSi@SA-sula beads were prepared by acid-catalyzed glutaraldehyde cross-linking. • FSSi@SA-sula showed excellent adsorption and reusability for CIP and MOX. • Langmuir and pseudo-first-order models better fitted adsorption process. • The mechanisms include electrostatic interactions, hydrogen bonding and n-π EDA. • Provided new ideas for facile synthesis of functional sodium alginate adsorbents. [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]

Reactive red 2 (RR2) azo dye wastewater poses a serious hazard to the water environment health, so using a novel and efficient Electro- Ce(III) (E− Ce(III)) process takes on a critical significance in treating RR2 dye wastewater. In this study, the effects of a variety of single-factor conditions on RR2 removal efficiency were evaluated in depth. The results indicated that the optimal experimental conditions are as reaction temperature of 25 °C, Na 2 SO 4 concentration of 25 mM, Ce(III) concentration of 0.3 mM, pH of 4.0, and current density of 40.0 mA/cm2. When the RR2 dye wastewater was treated for 40 min under the optimal experimental conditions, a high removal rate of 99.8% for RR2 was obtained. It is suggested that the background ion PO 4 3− in the dye wastewater inhibits the E-Ce (III) process, whereas Cl- facilitates this process. Moreover, the yield of Ce(IV) increases with the increase of the current density. At the current density of 40.0 mA/cm2, a reasonable energy consumption of 3.85 kW h/gTOC for the process was obtained after the 3-h treatment. The effects of different degradation processes (including Direct Electrooxidation (DEO), single Ce(III), and E-Ce (III)) on RR2 removal efficiency and TOC change were compared. The types of oxidizing substances in the E-Ce (III) process were detected, and the mechanism of RR2 oxidative degradation in the E-Ce (III) process was summarized. The result suggests that the E-Ce (III) process has low power consumption. Meanwhile, in the E-Ce (III) process, free reactive Ce(IV) with strong oxidation is continuously generated, RR2 can be efficiently degraded. And the continuous cycle transformation between Ce(III) and Ce(IV) maintains the strong oxidation of the process. The contribution of free reactive Ce(IV) and DEO to RR2 degradation was obtained as 58.8% and 39.8%, respectively. The combined effect of Ce(IV) and DEO played a major role in the E-Ce (III) process, while ·OH exhibited a relatively weak effect (nearly 1.4%). RR2 was comprised of 13 major intermediates, and the biodegradability of wastewater was improved significantly after treatment, thus facilitating the further mineralization and biodegradation of the products. The E− Ce(III) process is novel, efficient, and environment-friendly, and has a large market application space, suggesting that it can be applied as an efficient, economic, and sustainable water treatment process. [Display omitted] • Electro- Ce(III) showed excellent RR2 removal efficiency of 99.8%. • There is a significant synergistic effect between direct electrochemical oxidation and cerium oxidation alone. • In E-Ce (III) process, DEO (39.8%), Ce(IV) oxidation (58.8%), and ·OH (1.4%) all contribute to the removal of RR2. • RR2 is degraded into13 different intermediate substances and has three possible degradation pathways. • The BOD/COD ratio can reach 0.54, and hence the biodegradability of RR2 is effectively enhanced. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The residual antibiotics in the environment will pose a threat to the environment and human health. Thus, it is imperative to develop a smart water treatment material to remove and detect antibiotics from aqueous environment simultaneously. In this study, magnetic Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam was synthesized by liquid phase vulcanization method to in-situ load Cu–Ni–S nanostructures on the surface of Ni foam. The novelty of this material is the combination of adsorption-flocculation technology and semi-quantitative detection technology. Batch experiments showed that Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam has a high removal rate of norfloxacin (NOR) (96.92%), wide pH adaptability (pH = 4.0–10.0) and strong ion interference resistance (0.1–100 mmol/L). According to the Langmuir isotherm, the removal capacity can reach 417.4 mg/g at 25 °C, which is much higher than that of other water treatment agents reported in most studies. Characterization analysis indicated that the main removal mechanisms are surface complexation, cation bridging, electrostatic attraction, precipitation and flocculation. Transmission FTIR detection experiments showed that NOR on Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam has easily recognizable FTIR fingerprints; the intensity of characteristic peaks roughly reflects the concentration information of NOR to some extent. This semi-quantitative detection method, requiring simple operation without the fabrication of KBr tablet, has a wide linear range (5–100 mg/L) and a low limit of detection (4.6 mg/L). Therefore, Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam can be used for simultaneous removal and semi-quantitative detection of NOR in wastewater. It has potential application value in wastewater treatment and water quality monitoring. [Display omitted] • The one pot synthesized Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam could remove and detect NOR simultaneously. • Both adsorption and flocculation, induced by ligand-promoted dissolution, were involved in the removal process. • The Cu–Ni–S@Ni foam performed high removal capacity (417.4 mg/g at 25 °C) for NOR. • A semi-quantitative detection method based on transmission FTIR was developed without the fabrication of KBr tablet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]