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The contamination of water bodies with heavy metals (e.g. chromium and arsenic) is a major problem. Thus, the demand for effective ways of removing these toxic ions is increasing. In this study, a novel quaternary ammonium salt (QAS) was designed and synthesisedin situon the surface of silica-encapsulated iron oxide nanoparticles (SEION) to be easily separated by an external magnet. The SEION grafted with QAS (QAS-SEION) were characterised by X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and zeta potential. Adsorption experiments were conducted to evaluate the capacity of QAS-SEION for removing Cr(VI) from water. The results indicated that the adsorption of Cr(VI) on the QAS-SEION reached equilibrium within 120 min. A pseudo-second-order model was befitting to describe the kinetics of Cr(VI) adsorption. The adsorption isotherm of Cr(VI) on the QAS-SEION was observed to fit both the Langmuir isotherm equation and Freundlich isotherm equation notably well. The maximum adsorption amount calculated by the Langmuir isotherm equation was close to that obtained by experiment. Overall, QAS-SEION is a promising material for the removal of Cr(VI) from contaminated water. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

A simple approach was introduced to enhance the photostability of CuInS2@ZnS core@shell quantum dots (QDs) by doping aluminium into the ZnS shell. Aluminium in the as-prepared QDs was oxidized to Al2O3, which formed a passivation oxide layer that effectively prevents photo-degradation of QDs during long-term light irradiation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Concentrations of Cd, Pb, Zn, Cr, Cu, and Ni in soils at the Pudong International Airport (PIA) of Shanghai, China, were determined to assess the sources and potential ecological risks. Compared to the soil background values of Shanghai, 31 soil samples out of 33 were highly contaminated with Cd, and 76% were moderately contaminated by Cr, Ni, Pb, and Zn. Principal component analysis and clustering analysis indicated that Pb and Cd mainly originated from anthropogenic sources, while Zn, Cr, Ni, and Cu were mainly from natural sources. Relatively high concentrations of Cd and Pb were observed at sampling points near the landing or take-off sites or a close-by highway. Both air and highway traffic affected the quality of the soils at PIA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Complexes of C11H10N2Cu2Br3 (1) and C22H20N4Cu8I10 (2) [C22H20N4 = 1,1"‐(1,2‐ethanediyl)‐bis‐4,4′‐bipyridinium] were synthesized via the microwave‐assisted solvo‐thermal reactions of C22H20N4Br2, CuSO4·5H2O, and NaX (X = Br, I) and characterized by XRD, FTIR, and thermogravimetric analysis. The crystal structures were determined by single‐crystal X‐ray diffraction analyses. C11H10N2Cu2Br3 crystallized in the monoclinic space group C2/c (no. 15) with lattice parameters a = 24.658(3) Å, b = 6.71(9) Å, c = 17.368(9) Å, β = 98.274(1)°, V = 2847.7(1) Å3, whereas C22H20N4Cu8I10 crystallized in the monoclinic space group P21/n (no. 14) with lattice parameters a = 7.392(2) Å, b = 20.809(7) Å, c = 25.412(7) Å, β = 92.06(8) °, V = 3906.6(8) Å3. Complex 1 showed a 2D layered structure composed of [Cu4Br6]– chains connected via 1,1"‐(1,2‐ethanediyl)‐bis‐4,4′‐bipyridinium ligands. Complex 2 possessed a 3D framework, in which puckered [Cu8I10]2– layers were linked by organic ligands. The thermogravimetric analysis indicated that both two complexes were stable up to 230 °C and 170 °C, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Hierarchical self-assembled 3-D ternary Zn2GeO4 nanorods have been successfully synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. They are formed by two basic parts: a 3-D crystal base and 1-D nanorods nucleated from this base. Mechanisms of this micro/nanostructure growth are suggested to be governed by the change of concentration of ammonia and the reaction time during the self-assembly process. Good crystal lattice quality and morphology were demonstrated by XRD, SEM and TEM analyses. The micro/nanostructures are expected to be promoted in construction of micro/nano-optoelectronic devices. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

A novel, simple, and rapid method is demonstrated for measuring the pore size and pore size distribution of filtration membranes (FMs) used in aqueous applications with fluorescence probes. Because the selected fluorescent probes are mixable and have strong signals, combined with the operation of dead-end filtration, this method only requires small amounts of reagents; additionally, it is time-efficient by avoiding multiple rounds of filtration. This method detects the size of a FM pore throat (i.e., the narrowest position of a pore tunnel), which is more consistent with the actual filtration situation. The conditions, such as probe concentration, temperature, transmembrane pressure difference, and types of surfactants, have been optimized. The experimental results show that the fluorescence probe method has good accuracy and reproducibility for measuring the pore size and pore size distribution of both organic and inorganic FMs. The method is particularly suitable for rapid testing of the filtration performance (nominal pore size≥0.02 μm) of purchased or synthetic membranes in the laboratory., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer-Verlag GmbH Austria, part of Springer Nature.)

Zero-valent iron (ZVI) and modified ZVI have been investigated extensively for groundwater remediation. However, ZVI based powder was difficult to be applied directly as permeable reactive barrier (PRB) materials due to their low water permeability and usage rate. In this study, sulfide iron-copper bimetal was prepared by ball milling, which is environment-friendly without second contamination. The optimal preparation parameters of sulfide iron-copper bimetal for Cr(VI) removal were determined (Cu/Fe ratio (w/w), 0.018; FeS/Fe ratio (w/w), 0.1213; ball milling speed, 450 rpm; ball milling time, 5 h). A composite permeable material was prepared by sintering a mixture of sulfide iron-copper bimetal, sludge, and kaolin. The parameters for composite permeable material preparation including sludge content and particle size, and sintering time were optimized, which were 60%, 60-75 mesh, and 4 h, respectively. The optimal composite permeable material was characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, and FTIR. The results demonstrated preparation parameters can affect the hydraulic conductivity and hardness of composite permeable material. High sludge content, small particles size, and moderate sintering time resulted in high permeability of composite permeable material and were beneficial for Cr(VI) removal. The dominant Cr(VI) removal mechanism was reduction, and the reaction followed pseudo-first order kinetics. Conversely, low sludge content and large particle size, and long sintering time lead to low permeability of composite permeable material. Chromate removal was mainly by chemisorption following pseudo-second order kinetics. The hydraulic conductivity and hardness of the optimal composite permeable material achieved 1.732 cm/s and 50, respectively. The results of column experiments indicated that its Cr(VI) removal capacity was 0.54 mg/g, 0.39 mg/g and 0.29 mg/g at pH 5, 7 and 9, respectively. The ratio of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) on composite permeable material surface was similar under acidic and alkaline conditions. This study will provide an effective reactive material of PRB for field application., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationship that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Silicon carbide (SiC) membrane has emerged as a promising class of inorganic ceramic membranes with many advantageous attributes and has been used for a variety of industrial microfiltration (MF) processes. The state-of-the-art industrial manufacturing of SiC membranes based on the particle sintering method can only achieve an average pore size that ranges from 40 nm to a few micrometers, which is still unsatisfactory for ultrafiltration (UF) applications. Thus, the pore size control of SiC membranes remains a focus of continuing study. Herein, we provide an in situ sol-gel modification strategy to tailor the pore size of SiC membranes by a superficial deposition of SiO 2 onto the membrane surface and membrane pore channels. Our in situ sol-gel modification method is simple and effective. Furthermore, the physical characteristics and the filtration performance of the membrane can easily be controlled by the in situ reaction time. With an optimal in situ reaction time of 30 min, the average pore size of the membrane can be reduced from macropores (400 nm) to mesopores (below 20 nm), and the retention ability for 20 nm fluorescent PS microspheres can be improved from 5% to 93%; the resultant SiC/SiO 2 composite membranes are imparted with water permeance of 77 L·m -2 ·h -1 ·bar -1 , improved anti-protein-fouling properties, excellent performance, and anti-acid stabilities. Therefore, modified SiC/SiO 2 membranes based on the in situ sol-gel process have great potential as UF membranes for a variety of industrial processes.

This paper comprehensively evaluates the dynamic effects on China's environment and economy during the COVID-19 pandemic. Results show that the COVID-19 lockdown resulted in a temporary improvement in air quality. Furthermore, nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ) levels in the atmosphere in China were 36% lower than in the week after last year's Lunar New Year holiday, but this also led to an economic downturn. Moreover, the aerosol optical depth (AOD) decreased significantly. During the back-to-work period, the economy recovered and there was an increase in energy consumption, and CO 2 , NO 2 emissions sharply increased to pre-lockdown levels. In the post-lockdown period, the AOD was lower than that of the same period last year. This study can provide reference for environmental policy making, as it demonstrates to what extent the control of pollution sources can improve air quality. Precise emission reduction and regional joint prevention and control are important and effective means for the prevention and control of O 3 pollution. The health and economic benefits of COVID-19 pandemic control measures are incalculable. And this can provide an effective scientific basis and theoretical support for the prevention and control of air pollution.

Solar photovoltaics (PVs) installation would increase 20-fold by 2050; however, considerable greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are generated during the cradle-to-gate production, with spatiotemporal variances depending on the grid emission. Thus, a dynamic life cycle assessment (LCA) model was developed to assess the accumulated PV panels with a heterogeneous carbon footprint if manufactured and installed in the United States. The state-level carbon footprint of solar electricity ( CFE PV-avg ) from 2022 to 2050 was estimated using several cradle-to-gate production scenarios to account for emissions stemming from electricity generated from solar PVs. The CFE PV-avg (min 0.032, max 0.051, weighted avg. 0.040 kg CO 2 -eq/kWh) in 2050 will be significantly lower than that of the comparison benchmark (min 0.047, max 0.068, weighted avg. 0.056 kg CO 2 -eq/kWh). The proposed dynamic LCA framework is promising for planning solar PV supply chains and, ultimately, the supply chain of an entire carbon-neutral energy system to maximize the environmental benefits., Competing Interests: The authors declare no competing interests., (© 2023 The Author(s).)

Wound repair remains a huge clinical challenge, which can cause bleeding, infection, and patient death. In our current research, a bioactive, injectable, multifunctional composite hydrogel doped with nanospheres was prepared with antibacterial and angiogenesis-promoting functions for the treatment of wounds. Amino groups in ε-polylysine (ε-EPL) undergo dynamic Schiff base reaction cross-linking with oxidized hyaluronic acid (OHA), and F127 exhibits unique temperature sensitivity to form an injectable thermosensitive hydrogel (FHE10), which can form a hydrogel to cover the wound at body temperature. Nanospheres (PNs) prepared using poly (glyceryl-sebacate-acrylate) (PGSA) were loaded into hydrogels (FHE10) for promoting wound repair. The prepared FHE10 exhibited rapid gelation, good injectable abilities, and showed resistance to the flourish of Escherichia coli ( E. coli ) and Staphylococcus aureus ( S. aureus ). In vitro investigations showed that FHE10 had good hemocompatibility and cytocompatibility. FHE10@PNs exhibited good proliferation, migration, and tube formation of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) and human foreskin fibroblasts (HFF-1). Furthermore, FHE10@PNs significantly promoted reepithelialization and collagen deposition as well as micro-vascularization compared with the use of FHE10 or PNs alone, thereby accelerating the repair of wounds. In general, this study demonstrated that the multifunctional injectable composite hydrogel showed great potential in wound treatment., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2023 Luo, Sun, Rao, Zhu, Liu, Du, Chen, Jin, Jin and Chai.)

The use of antibiotics has become an indispensable part of the production and life of human society. Among them, sulfonamide antibiotics widely used in humans and animals are considered to be one of the most crucial antibiotics. However, antibiotics are difficult to degrade naturally, leading to an accumulation in the environment and a potential hazard to human health. In this paper, WS 2 as a co-catalyst could reduce trace Fe(III) to Fe(II) which exhibited a great activating ability to PS through the exposed W(IV) active sites, and formed the Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycle to degrade sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) continuously. This paper systematically discussed the degradation of SCP under different conditions in the PS/WS 2 /Fe(III) system, including the amount of WS 2 , Fe(III) concentration, PS concentration, initial pH, natural organic matter (NOM) and common anions (NO 3 - , Cl - , HCO 3 - , HPO 4 2- and H 2 PO 4 - ). The experimental results showed that PS/WS 2 /Fe(III) system possessed a strong degradation ability for SCP in a wide pH range. NO 3 - and Cl - could promote the degradation of SCP a little. HCO 3 - , HPO 4 2- and H 2 PO 4 - could significantly inhibit the degradation of SCP. The main types of free radicals that degraded SCP were explored. In addition, the stability and reusability of WS 2 were examined, and two possible degradation pathways of SCP were proposed., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The binder is an indispensable battery component that maintains the integrity of the electrode. Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is most commonly used as a binder in rechargeable batteries; however, it is associated with the toxic and expensive N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone organic solvent. Here, through the cross-linking of sodium alginate (SA) with metal cations, a high-performance hydrogel binder is developed that maintains the stability of MnO 2 cathodes in an aqueous electrolyte. Owing to the strong adhesion, high hydrophilicity, and good mechanical stability resulting from the strong bonding of Ca 2+ with SA, a commercial microsized MnO 2 cathode with a Ca-SA binder delivered a capacity above 300 mAh/g at 1 C, which was larger than those of Mn-SA and Zn-SA (∼200 mAh/g) and PVDF (∼150 mAh/g) binders, and a capacity of 250 mAh/g at 3 C for over 200 cycles. These encouraging results could unlock the enormous potential of aqueous binders for practical applications in aqueous batteries., (© 2022 Wiley-VCH GmbH.)

The manganese is successfully induced as a "bridge joint" to fabricate a new adsorbent (CNC-Mn-PEI) connecting cellulose nanocrystal (CNC) and polyethyleneimine (PEI) respectively. It was used to remove As (III) from waste water. It has been proved that the incompact CNC and PEI were successfully connected by Mn ions, which induced the formation of O-Mn-O bonds and the removal efficiency is maintained in the broad pH range of 4-8, even with the influence of NO 3 - and CO 3 2- . The CNC-Mn-PEI was characterized by Brunauer-Emmett-Telley (BET) method and the results showed that the nanoparticle of the specific surface area was 106.5753 m 2 /g, it has a significant improvement, compared with CNC-Mn-DW (0.1918 m 2 /g). The isotherm and kinetic parameters of arsenic removal on CNC-Mn-PEI were well-fitted by the Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models. The maximum adsorption capacities toward As (III) was 78.02 mg/g. After seven regeneration cycles, the removal of As (III) by the adsorbent decreased from 80.78% to 68.2%. Additionally, the hypothetical adsorption mechanism of "bridge joint" effect was established by FTIR and XPS, which provided the three activated sites from CNC-Mn-PEI can improve the arsenic removal efficiency, and providing a new stratagem for the arsenic pollution treatment., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Mn 3 O 4 powders with nanometer size are successfully synthesized by a simple one-step method via flame spray pyrolysis. The precursor droplet is generated by heating under high temperature flame with fixed flow rate, and the exothermic reaction is induced to form nanosized Mn 3 O 4 powders. When used as anode material for lithium-ion battery, the Mn 3 O 4 exhibits good cycling capacity and rate performance. It delivers a specific capacity of 1,182 mA h g -1 over 110 cycles at a current density of 200 mA g -1 , and has a high capacity of 140 mA h g -1 at 5,000 mA g -1 ., Competing Interests: The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2022 Wang, Zhao, Xie, Huang, Rao and Mao.)

The alkali digestion pretreatment method in the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) Method 3060A could underestimate the content of Cr(VI) in Cr-contaminated soils, especially for soils mixed with chromite ore processing residue (COPR), which leads to a misjudgment of the Cr(VI) level in soils after remediation, causing secondary pollution to the environment. In this study, a new pretreatment method to analyze Cr(VI) concentration in contaminated soils was established. The impacts of soil quality, particle size, alkali digestion time and the rounds of alkali digestion on Cr(VI) detection in contaminated soils was explored and the alkali digestion method was optimized. Compared with USEPA Method 3060A, the alkaline digestion time was prolonged to 6 h and multiple alkali digestion was employed until the amount of Cr(VI) in the last extraction was less than 10% of the total amount of Cr(VI). Because Cr(VI) in COPR is usually embedded in the mineral phase structure, the hydration products were dissolved and Cr(VI) was released gradually during the alkaline digestion process. The amount of Cr(VI) detected showed high correlation coefficients with the percentage of F1 (mild acid-soluble fraction), F2 (reducible fraction) and F4 (residual fraction). The Cr(VI) contents detected by the new alkaline digestion method and USEPA Method 3060A showed significant differences for soil samples mixed with COPR due to their high percentage of residual fraction. This new pretreatment method could quantify more than 90% of Cr(VI) in Cr-contaminated soils, especially those mixed with COPR, which proved to be a promising method for Cr(VI) analysis in soils, before and after remediation.

Facile and low-cost preparation are essential in the conversation of agricultural waste into biochar. In this work, nitrogen-doped biochar (NBC-350-0.1) was prepared by thermal decomposition of urea (urea/biochar = 0.1:1 mass ratio) at a low temperature of 350 °C. NBC-350-0.1 showed good performance for Pb(II) removal with the maximum adsorption capacity of 130.87 mg g -1  at 25 °C, which was five times that of pristine biochar (BC). Adsorption kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics studies indicated that the adsorption of Pb(II) by NBC-350-0.1 or BC was the homogeneous monolayer adsorption with chemical action as the rate-limiting step, and was accompanied by spontaneous endothermic. Further analysis showed that the removal of Pb(II) on NBC-350-0.1 and BC depended on the complexation with unsaturated carbon bonds and ion exchange with Ca(II). Moreover, graphitic- and pyridinic-N in NBC-350-0.1 exerted a key part in the adsorption of Pb(II). NBC-350-0.1 regenerated by NaOH exhibited excellent recycling performance keeping the original removal efficiency at 84% after five cycles. In addition, this N doping method is suitable for improving the performance of coffee grounds, sawdust, and bagasse biochar. These results would provide an idea for obtaining recyclable N-doped biochar to treat the Pb(II) polluted wastewater., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

The green treatment of dye wastewater has always been a research hotspot in the environmental field. The photocatalytic technology is considered to be a simple and effective strategy to remove dyes in wastewater. A new type of NiWO 4 /WO 3 Z-scheme heterojunction microspheres were synthesized by a simple hydrothermal method and impregnation-calcination process. The crystal structure, microscopic morphology, optical and electrochemical properties of the samples were systematically characterized. The photocatalytic activity of methylene blue (MB) was studied by visible light irradiation. The results show that the direct Z-scheme heterojunction formed by NiWO 4 /WO 3 effectively reduces the transfer resistance of photogenerated carriers and improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. The degradation rates of NiWO 4 /WO 3 -4 Z-scheme heterojunction microspheres to MB dye are 1.8 and 3.2 times higher than that of pure WO 3 ·2H 2 O and WO 3 microspheres, respectively. Combined with the Mott-Schottky curve and the active species capture experiments, a possible Z-scheme photogenerated carrier transfer mechanism is proposed. This study provides a method for the development and design of Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalysts in the field of wastewater purification.

Soil fumigation using 1,3-dichloropropene (1,3-D) and chloropicrin (CP) is an important strategy for agriculture production; however, excessive emissions can cause air pollution and possible human exposure. In this study, solar light-driven CuInS 2 /ZnS:Al-TiO 2 photocatalytic film was prepared through spin-coating on the flexible polyethylene terephthalate (PET) substrate of 0.1 mm. Using the photocatalytic film, degradation of 1,3-D was inhibited in the Pci-clor 60 formulation of 1,3-D and CP. However, the degradation of CP was accelerated in this formulation, and the half-life was shortened from 0.66 to 0.40 h. Emissions of 1,3-D from soil to the air were reduced by 97.30%, 97.17%, 47.10%, and 7.88%, for treatments of D + Film, D + C + Film, D + PET, and D, respectively. The efficiencies for reducing 1,3-D emission were significantly improved by about 1.1 and 11.3 times using the film, compared with using the PET alone and no film, respectively. Furthermore, fumigation effects on nematodes could still achieve higher than 90%. The findings provided a basis for the practical application of quantum dot films to reduce soil fumigants emissions by photocatalytic degradation.

To curb the spread of the coronavirus, China implemented lockdown policies on January 23, 2020. The resulting extreme changes in human behavior may have influenced the air pollutants concentration. However, despite these changes, hazy weather persisted in Shanghai and became a public issue. This study aims to investigate air pollutant mass concentration changes during the lockdown in Shanghai. Air pollutant mass concentration data and meteorological data during the pre-lockdown period and the level I response lockdown period were analyzed by statistical analysis and a Lagrangian particle diffusion model. The data was classified in three periods: P1 (pre-lockdown: 10 days before the Spring Festival), P2 (the first 10 days after lockdown: during the Spring Festival celebration), and P3 (the second 10 days after lockdown: after the Spring Festival). Data for the same period in 2019 were used as a reference. The results indicate that the Spring Festival holiday in 2019 resulted in a reduction in energy consumption, which led to a decrease in PM 2.5 (26.4%) and NO 2 (43.41%) mass concentration, but an increase in ozone mass concentration (31.39%) in P2 compared with P1. The integrated effect of the Spring Festival holiday and lockdown in 2020 resulted in a decrease in PM 2.5 (36.5%) and NO 2 (51.9%) mass concentrations, but an increase in ozone mass concentration (43.8%) in P2 compared with P1. After the Spring Festival, the mass concentrations of PM 2.5 , SO 2 , and NO 2 increased by 74.41%, 5.52%, and 53.28%, respectively in P3 compared with P2 in 2019. However, PM 2.5 and SO 2 concentrations in 2020 continued to decrease, by 14.74% and 4.61%, respectively, while NO 2 mass concentration increased by 7.82% in P3 compared with P2. We also found that PM 2.5 mass concentration is susceptible to regional transmission from the surrounding cities. PM 2.5 and other gaseous pollutants show different correlations in different periods, while NO 2 and O 3 always show a strong negative correlation. The principal components before the Spring Festival in 2019 were O 3 and NO 2 , and after the Spring Festival, they were PM 2.5 and CO, while the principal components before the lockdown in 2020 were PM 2.5 and CO, and during lockdown they were O 3 and NO 2 ., (© Springer Nature B.V. 2020.)

Dye-bearing wastewaters leading to the water pollution and ecological upset is a crucial issue in the textile industry. Herein, we report a facile method using two-dimensional transition metal carbides (MXenes) for the removal of the methylene blue (MB) in the water. The accordion-like V 2 CT x MXene is originally demonstrated to have high and spontaneous adsorption capacity of MB at 111.11 mg·g -1 , thrice over that of Ti 3 C 2 T x as previously reported. The wide lamellar space of V 2 CT x is certain to have large accommodation for MB. The electrostatic interaction effect and hydrogen bond between V 2 CT x and MB not only promote the efficient adsorption process but also provide the selectivity between anionic and cationic dyes. Combined with good reusability, we anticipate that the V 2 CT x MXene is a promising candidate for the removal of cationic dyes from textile-dye-bearing wastewaters.

By using the "bridge joint" effect of iron ions, cellulose nanocrystal-containing high-performance adsorbents were synthesized via coprecipitation method, which enhanced the cross-linking action of cellulose nanocrystal and polyethyleneimine. The morphology, specific surface area, surface chemistry and chemical valence of the adsorbents were characterized by SEM, FTIR, BET and XPS. According to the results, the iron ions successfully connect the two dispersed polymers together, inducing a large number of O-Fe-O bonds and, providing more adsorption active sites for the removal of seriously polluted and high-toxicity As(III)/As(V). Furthermore, the arsenic removal performance of the adsorbents was studied, and the adsorption mechanism was revealed according to the spectral characteristics of the chemical components. Of note, the synthesized iron-containing adsorbents are suitable for a wide pH range, which may offer a new application for nanocellulose in the treatment of arsenic pollution., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest None., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Information on the environmental impact of magnetic TiO 2 -based nanophotocatalysts is scarce. This study evaluated the potential effects of an innovative magnetic nanophotocatalyst N-TiO 2 /Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 (NTFS) on plants using Arabidopsis thaliana grown in a hydroponic system. NTFS was detected in the vascular tissues and mesophyll of plants, thus confirming the uptake and upwards transport of NTFS from roots to leaves. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was applied to determine compositional and structural alterations in plant tissues exposed to NTFS, or its two main components (N-TiO 2 and Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 ), at concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 mg/L, but no changes were detected in the lipids, pectins, proteins, cellulose, hemicellulose, and carbohydrates. The morphology and biomass of the plants were not affected by the NTFS or its components either. Biosensors for inorganic phosphate (Pi) and MgATP 2- were used to monitor the in vivo Pi and MgATP 2- levels in the plant cells. The results showed that NTFS and its components did not induce any adverse effects on the cytosolic Pi level or ATP synthesis, indicating the energy physiology of Arabidopsis was unaffected. In general, NTFS has inconsequential toxic effects on Arabidopsis, but can be taken up by plants, enter the food chain, and cause potential exposure and bioaccumulation in animals and human beings., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)