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Pattern recognition, also called "array sensing," is a recognition strategy with a wide and expandable analysis range, based on high-throughput analysis data. In this work, we constructed a sensor array for the identification of targets including bacterial pathogens and proteins by using FAM-labeled DNA probes and 2D nanosheet materials. We designed an ordered and extendible DNA library for the collection of recognition probes. Unlike traditional DNA probes with random and massive sequences, our DNA library was constructed following a 5-digit binary number (00000–11111, 0 = CCC, and 1 = TTT), and especially, 8 special symmetry sequences were chosen from the library. Two different nanosheet materials were used as the quencher. When targets were added, the interaction between DNA and the nanosheets was competitively affected, and as a result, the fluorescence signal changed accordingly. Finally, by using our fluorescent sensor array, 17 bacteria and 8 proteins were precisely recognized. We believe that our work has provided a simple and valuable strategy for the improvement of the recognition range and discrimination precision for the development of pattern recognition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

All kinds of soil conditioners have been used to improve soil quality. The application of many traditional soil conditioners was limited by single performance. In this study, a novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner was prepared based on Arabic gum, gelatin, chitosan and β-cyclodextrin. Arabic gum and gelatin (AG-GL) microspheric carriers, which could load ferrous sulfate (FS), were synthesized via complex coagulation method. The AG-GL(FS) microspheres were covered by chitosan quaternary ammonium salt (CQAS) through single coagulation method. And β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was used as the outermost shell to improve chemical stability of the soil conditioner by saturated solution method. Finally, the novel multifunctional microspheric soil conditioner AG-GL/CQAS/β-CD-FS was obtained and characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analyzer, polarizing microscope, scanning electron microscope and particle size analyzer. The novel soil conditioner shows good nutrient slowly-releasing, water retention, heavy metal ions adsorption and antibacterial performances with the particle size of 14–17 μm and high thermal decomposition temperature, which has the potential application in improving soil quality. • Natural materials were used to prepare microspheres for improving soil quality. • Microspheres achieved the controlled-release purpose with crosslinking structure. • Microspheres showed good antioxidation, adsorption and antibacterial properties. • Special structure of microspheres enhanced chemical stability of soil conditioner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Silicon is a promising anode material for high-capacity Li-ion batteries (LIBs). However, its insulating property and large volume change during the lithiation/delithiation process result in poor cycling stability and in pulverization of Si. In this work, glucose-derived carbon-coated Si nanoparticles (C–Si NPs) are in conjunction with crumpled graphene (cGr) particles by a spray-drying method to prepare a novel composite (C–Si/cGr) material. The prepared C–Si NPs are uniformly embedded in the ridges of the cGr particles. The carbon layer of C–Si can make a good contact with the graphene sheet, resulting in enhanced electrical conductivity and fast charge transfer. In addition, the unique crumpled structure of the cGr can buffer the large volume change upon cycling process and facilitate the diffusion of electrolyte into the composite material. When employed as an anode electrode of LIBs, the C–Si/cGr composites deliver enhanced electrochemical performance, including stable cycling with a discharge capacity of 790 mAh·g−1 after 100 cycles and a rate capability of 654 mAh·g−1 at 2C. The synergistic effect of the carbon layer coating of Si NPs and the crumpled structure of the cGr particles results in a composite with improved the electrochemical performance, which is likely related to its high electrical conductivity and good mechanical stability of composite material. • Novel composite (C–Si/cGr) of carbon-coated Si nanoparticles and crumpled graphene was successfully prepared. • The prepared carbon-coated Si NPs are uniformly embedded in the ridges of crumpled graphene particles. • The unique morphology of the C–Si/cGr composite can buffer the large volume change of Si upon cycling process. • The C–Si/cGr composite delivers enhanced electrochemical performance, including stable cycling and a rate capability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A novel technology for simultaneous soil SMZ degradation and N supply was developed. • The technology involves FB-catalyzed oxidation combined with UHP application. • Pot test confirmed FB-UHP is a promising technology for agricultural soil remediation. This study developed a novel remediation technology based on urea-hydrogen peroxide (UHP) activated by a synthesized Fe-impregnated biochar (FB). The technology can simultaneously degrade sulfamethoxazole (SMZ) and supply nitrogen nutrition in cropland soil. Experimental results showed that 97.56% of SMZ was removed in the FB-UHP system within 24 h, whereas 7.12% and 14.65% were removed in the individual application of FB and UHP. Chemical probe and scavenger test results demonstrated that SMZ degradation mainly occurred through oxidation of hydroxyl radicals generated from the activation of UHP by FB. The effects of FB pyrolysis temperature, initial pH, and reaction temperature were investigated. The combination of UHP and FB led to efficient SMZ degradation at a wide pH range of 2–10. Catalytic durability test results showed that FB exhibited good stability even after four uses. A soil column leaching experiment showed that the addition of FB-UHP reduced the SMZ leaching from the soil by 95.06%, increased the nitrogen content on surface soil by approximately 2.5 times, and decreased the nitrogen leaching by 97.57%. Early-stage seedling growth bioassay confirmed that FB-UHP significantly enhanced the SMZ degradation, increased the soil nitrogen content, and improved the lettuce plant growth. Therefore, application of FB-activated UHP is a promising technology for agricultural soil remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pd decorated TiO 2 nanocrystal with exposed (001) facets was synthesized via solvothermal hydrolysis combining photoreduction deposition route, which exhibited a great enhancement in activity and stability of photocatalytic selective alcohol oxidations under UV light irradiation in aqueous medium. The superior activity of Pd decorated TiO 2 nanocrystal with exposed (001) facets was attributed to the synergistic promoting effects of the following factors: firstly, the exposed (001) facets with higher surface energy facilitated the activation of reactant molecules and the photocatalytic oxidation; secondly, the increased oxygen vacancies and enhanced O 2 adsorption on (001) facets could trap photoelectrons and thus, inhibit their recombination with holes; thirdly, the decoration with Pd nanoparticles effectively reduce the photocharge recombination rate by capturing photoelectrons. Meanwhile, this photocatalyst displayed excellent durability owning to the strong Pd-TiO 2 interaction against deactivation caused by either Pd leaching or Pd aggregation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice hull biochar modified by ZnS nanocrystals (RBZ) was developed as an efficient absorbent for the removal of Cu(II) in aqueous solution. Response surface methodology (RSM) was applied for modeling and optimizing the performance of RBZ. The maximum adsorption capacity of RBZ toward Cu(II) through the Langmuir model fitting was 248.98 mg g−1, which was four times larger than that of rice hull biochar (RB). The adsorption kinetics of Cu(II) and XPS analysis revealed that the chemisorption process played the leading role when using RBZ. Through competition ions study, Pb(II), Cd(II), or Ca(II) can slightly reduce the adsorption of Cu(II). According to the Box Behnken design method, the analysis of variance results showed that the pH and adsorbent dosage had significant effects on the predicted responses of adsorption capacity and removal efficiency. When using the optimum conditions, pH 6, temperature 27 °C, and dosage 0.20 mg mL−1 for removing Cu(II) in solution, the maximum adsorption capacity and relatively higher removal efficiency could be obtained through the 3D response surface plots. The results demonstrated that RSM is feasible to achieve optimal conditions for adsorption capacity and removal efficiency simultaneously toward heavy metals from aqueous medium, and the interaction between them when using the biochar/ZnS composite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

In this study, thermo-sensitive magnetic cationic hydrogel (TSMCH) based on (3-acrylamidopropyl) trimethyl ammonium chloride (APTMACl) and N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAm) was synthesized by free radical copolymerization. The TSMCH was characterized with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermal gravimetric analysis, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive x-ray, vibrating sample magnetometer, and zeta potential, and employed as adsorbent for adsorbing reactive red (RR) dye. Effects of molar ratios of APTMACl to NIPAm on the adsorption capacity of TSMCH were studied, and the results showed that a maximum adsorption capacity (1428.57 mg RR g−1TSMCH) had been achieved when the molar ratio of APTMACl to NIPAm was 1:1. The adsorption isotherm of RR was well fitted by the Langmuir isotherm equation. TSMCH had good selectivity for adsorbing RR. Solution pH hardly affected the adsorption of RR on the TSMCH. The adsorption amount of RR increased with the increase of temperature. The adsorption–desorption of TSMCH was evaluated in three circles and a high regeneration rate was demonstrated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel fluid loss additive (FLA) was synthesized using 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane sulphonic acid, acrylic acid, N,N-dimethyl acrylamide and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone by aqueous solution polymerization. TGA spectrum indicated that the decomposition temperature of FLA was higher than 330°C. The fluid loss testing showed that the FLA had an outstanding property of reducing fluid loss at 203°C in salt water cement slurry and the amount of fluid loss was controlled about 100 mL when FLA dosage was 1.0%. Cement slurry with 0.1-1.5% FLA kept stable thickening time. A better performance of FLA was found in fresh water cement slurry than in salt water cement slurry. [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]

[Display omitted] • The catalyst with Co/Mg molar ratio of 1/200 rapidly activated PMS to remove CQP. • CoO nanoparticles were wrapped by MgO in catalyst, limiting cobalt ion leaching. • MgO accelerated the formation of Co-OH complex and redox cycle of Co2+- Co3+- Co2+. • Activation mechanism of PMS by the catalyst was analyzed in depth. Cobalt oxide could be used to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for removal of contaminants, while its use was restricted due to low catalytic activity by limited active sites and the risk of cobalt ion leaching. This study investigated chloroquine phosphate (CQP) degradation by Co-Mg mixed metal oxides with highly dispersed minute quantities of CoO nanoparticles to activate PMS. It was demonstrated that the Co/Mg optimal molar ratio of catalyst was 1/200, and by characterization of catalysts and their effects on degradation of CQP, CoO nanoparticles could be widely dispersed and wrapped by MgO support. In the catalyst/PMS system, degradation of CQP could accelerate with the increase of catalyst dosage, PMS concentration and temperature and the addition of C l - , H P O 4 2 - and H 2 P O 4 - , but decrease with the addition of Mg2+, N O 3 - , H C O 3 - and nature organic matter (NOM). By quenching experiments of active radicals, it was illustrated that S O 4 · - and O 2 · - made more significant contributions than H O · in this system for CQP degradation. The activation mechanism of PMS by the catalyst with good repeatability and stability was explained that MgO could effectively adsorb hydroxy groups, promoting the formation of Co-OH complex and accelerating the redox cycle of Co2+- Co3+- Co2+ in the catalyst. The strong interaction between CoO and MgO prevented cobalt ion leaching and enhanced catalyst activity over the wide pH range (5–10). And proposed intermediates and degradation pathways of CQP were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The catalyst with optimized Cu/Mg molar ratio rapidly activated PMS to remove TAP. • MgO wrapped CuO nanoparticles in the catalyst and limited copper ion leaching. • MgO promoted the formation of Cu-OH complex and redox cycle of Cu+-Cu2+-Cu+. • Activation mechanism of PMS and degradation pathways of TAP were proposed. Copper-base catalysts with high load content of CuO were commonly utilized to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for removal of contaminants but limited catalytic efficiency and increased risk of copper ion leaching restricted their use. In this paper, Cu-Mg mixed metal oxides with highly dispersed minute quantities of CuO were successfully prepared by one-pot synthesis for efficiently activating PMS to remove thiamphenicol (TAP), which was economical and environmentally friendly. The catalytic activities of catalysts with different molar ratios of Cu and Mg for PMS and their characteristics were evaluated, illustrating the optimal molar ratio of Cu and Mg (1:15, named CuMg-MMO) in the catalyst. For the CuMg-MMO catalyst, MgO widely dispersed and wrapped CuO nanoparticles, minimized the copper ion leaching and promoted the generation of Cu-OH complex and non-radical species. In the CuMg-MMO/PMS system, the influence factors for TAP degradation were analyzed, including different systems, catalyst dosages, PMS concentrations, temperatures, initial pH values, TAP concentrations, anions (N O 3 - , H C O 3 - , C l - , H P O 4 2 - and H 2 P O 4 -) and natural organic matter (NOM) concentrations. Under the optimal conditions (i.e., [catalyst]: 75 mg/L, [PMS]: 0.3 mM, temperature: 30 °C and initial pH: 6.5), TAP removal efficiency obtained by this system was 99.9%. S O 4 · - , · O 2 - and 1O 2 played more important roles than H O · in TAP degradation. Four successive repeated experiments indicated that CuMg-MMO possessed good reusability and stability. PMS decomposition, mineralization of TAP, the activation mechanism of PMS and possible degradation pathways of TAP were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic cationic hydrogel (MCH) was synthesized, and its removal efficiency and mechanisms in regard to natural organic matter (NOM, represented by humic acid and fulvic acid) from the aqueous environment were studied. The effects of time, adsorbent dosage, initial pH, ionic strength, background ions, and NOM types were also investigated. MCH was characterized and found to have a strong magnetic character, yielding an extra advantage for recycling and reuse. Batch studies showed that the removal of Aldrich humic acid (AHA) by MCH was effective. The main mechanism for the removal of NOM is believed to be due to electrostatic interaction. NOM with larger molecular weight tended to be preferentially removed. Solutions with low pH, high ionic strength, and background electrolytes containing calcium, sulfate and bicarbonate were unfavorable for AHA removal. The adsorption–desorption of MCH was evaluated in three cycles, and demonstrated high regeneration rates. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of hardness (Ca2+) and alkalinity (HCO3 −) on arsenic(V) removal from humic acid (HA)-deficient and HA-rich groundwater by zero-valent iron (Fe0) were investigated using batch experiments. Arsenic, in general, is removed from groundwater possibly by adsorption and co-precipitation with the iron corrosion products. However, in the co-presence of HCO3 − and Ca2+, the removal rate of arsenic increased with increasing concentrations of either Ca2+ or HCO3 −. It was observed that the removal of arsenic was significantly enhanced by the formation of CaCO3 as a nucleation seed for the growth of large iron (hydr)oxide particles. In the co-existence of Ca2+, HCO3 − and HA, the presence of HA diminished the positive role of Ca2+ due to the formation of Fe-humate complexes in solution and delaying of the formation of CaCO3. As a result, the formation of the large iron (hydr)oxide particles was inhibited in the earlier stage which, in turn, affected the removal of arsenic. However, after the formation of CaCO3 and the subsequent growth of such particles, the presence of large iron (hydr)oxide particles resulted in the rapid removing of arsenic and Fe-humate by adsorption and/or co-precipitation. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The interactions of co-present Cr(VI) and As(V), and the influences of humic acid and bicarbonate in the process of Cr(VI) and As(V) removal by Fe0 were investigated in a batch setting using simulated groundwater with 5mM NaCl, 1mM Na2SO4, and 0.8mM CaCl2 as background electrolytes at an initial pH value of 7. Cr(VI) and As(V) were observed to be subject to different impacts induced by co-existing As(V) or Cr(VI), humic acid and bicarbonate, originating from their distinct removal mechanisms by Fe0. Cr(VI) removal is a reduction-dominated process, whereas As(V) removal principally involves adsorption onto iron corrosion products. Experimental results showed that Cr(VI) removal was not affected by the presence of As(V) and humic acid. However, As(V) removal appeared to be inhibited by co-present Cr(VI). When the Cr(VI) concentration was 2, 5, and 10mg/L, in the absence of humic acid and bicarbonate, As(V) removal rate constants were decreased by 27.9%, 49.0%, and 61.2%, respectively, which probably resulted from competition between Cr(VI) and As(V) for adsorption sites of the iron corrosion products. Furthermore, the presence of humic acid significantly varied As(V) removal kinetics by delaying the formation and aggregation of iron hydroxides due to the formation of soluble Fe¿humate complexes and stably dispersed fine iron hydroxides colloids. In the presence of bicarbonate, both Cr(VI) and As(V) removal was increased and the inhibitory effect of Cr(VI) on As(V) removal was suppressed, resulting from the buffering effects and the promoted iron corrosion induced by bicarbonate, and the formation of CaCO3 in solution, which enhanced As(V) adsorption. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The influences of various geochemical constituents, such as humic acid, HCO3 −, and Ca2+, on Cr(VI) removal by zero-valent iron (Fe0) were investigated in a batch setting. The collective impacts of humic acid, HCO3 −, and Ca2+ on the Cr(VI) reduction process by Fe0 appeared to significantly differ from their individual impacts. Humic acid introduced a marginal influence on Fe0 reactivity toward Cr(VI) reduction, whereas HCO3 − greatly enhanced Cr(VI) removal by maintaining the solution pH near neutral. The Cr(VI) reduction rate constants (k obs ) were increased by 37.8% and 78.3%, respectively, with 2 mM and 6 mM HCO3 − in solutions where humic acid and Ca2+ were absent. Singly present Ca2+ did not show a significant impact to Cr(VI) reduction. However, probably due to the formation of passivating CaCO3, further addition of Ca2+ to HCO3 − containing solutions resulted in a decrease of k obs compared to solutions containing HCO3 − alone. Ca2+ enhanced humic acid adsorption led to a minor decrease of Cr(VI) reduction rates. In Ca2+-free solutions, humic acid increased the amount of total dissolved iron to 25 mg/l due to the formation of soluble Fe-humate complexes and stably dispersed fine Fe (oxy)hydroxide colloids, which appeared to suppress iron precipitation. In contrast, the coexistence of humic acid and Ca2+ significantly promoted the aggregation of Fe (oxy)hydroxides, with which humic acid co-aggregated and co-precipitated. These aggregates would progressively be deposited on Fe0 surfaces and impose long-term impacts on the permeability of PRBs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of humic acid (HA) on As(V) removal by zero-valent iron (Fe0) from groundwater, associated with corrosion products analyses, were investigated using batch experiments. It was found that arsenic was rapidly removed from groundwater possibly due to its adsorption and co-precipitation with the corrosion products of Fe0. The removal rate of arsenic by Fe0 was inhibited in the presence of HA probably because of the formation of soluble Fe-humate in groundwater which hindered the production of iron precipitates. A longer reaction time was then required for arsenic removal. Such an influence of HA on arsenic removal increased with increasing HA concentration from 5 to 25mgL−1. The binding capacity of HA for dissolved Fe was estimated to be about 0.75mg Femg−1 HA. When the complexation of HA with dissolved Fe was saturated, further corrosion of Fe0 would produce precipitates, which significantly accelerated the removal of arsenic from groundwater via adsorption and co-precipitation with the corrosion products. Iron (hydr)oxides such as maghemite, lepidocrocite, and magnetite were characterized by XRD analyses as the corrosion products, while As(V) was found on the surface of these corrosion products as detected by fourier transform infrared spectrometry and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Adsorption of anionic surfactant (sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate, SDBS) and nonionic surfactant (an alcohol ethoxylates with 12 carbons and 9 oxyethyl groups, A12E9) mixtures, widely used as the major constituents of synthetic detergents in China and become the most common pollutants in the environment, on soils was conducted to investigate the behavior of mixed surfactants in soils. The effects of addition order and mixing ratios of two surfactants, associated with pH and ion strength in solutions, on adsorptions were considered. The results show that saturated adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils decreased respectively when A12E9 was added into soils firstly compared with that secondly, possibly resulting from the screening of A12E9 to part adsorption sites on soils and the hydrocarbon chain–chain interactions between SDBS and A12E9. The adsorption of SDBS and A12E9 on soils was enhanced each other at pre-plateau region of isotherms. At plateau region of isotherms, the adsorption of SDBS on soils decreased with the increase of molar fraction of A12E9 in mixed surfactant solutions, while that of A12E9 increased except the molar ratio of SDBS to A12E9 0.0:1.0. With the increase of pH in mixed surfactant solutions, adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils decreased, respectively. The reduction of ion strength in soils resulted in the decrease of adsorption amount of SDBS and A12E9 on soils, respectively. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

[Display omitted] • The peptides decorated g-C 3 N 4 hybrids were synthesized for enhanced photocatalytic activities. • The R-CN composite demonstrated excellent photocatalytic hydrogen under the visible light. • The strained heptazine planes in the g-C 3 N 4 structure is formed by the peptide deposition. • The electron redistribution and delocalization in the R-CN composite lead the band gap reduction. This work demonstrated the synthesis of peptides decorated porous g-C 3 N 4 hybrids (R-CN) for the enhanced photocatalytic H 2 production, where the 14-mer peptides were effectively deposited on g-C 3 N 4 nanosheets by electrostatic interaction. The prepared R-CN hybrid composite shows the enhanced visible light absorption due to the modulation of electronic structures of g-C 3 N 4 by the interaction between peptides and g-C 3 N 4. Therefore, the R-CN hybrid composite demonstrated the excellent photocatalytic H 2 production with yield of 2018 μmol·g−1·h−1 under the visible light irradiation, which is 14-time higher than that of pristine g-C 3 N 4. The theoretical study shows that the strained heptazine planes in the g-C 3 N 4 structure is formed in the R-CN hybrid composites by the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged amine group of peptides and the negatively charged edge N atom of g-C 3 N 4. Thus, the electron redistribution and delocalization in the R-CN composite lead the band gap reduction, build-in electrical field and electronic modulation. Therefore, the R-CN composites shows the enhanced charge separation and the optimized free energy of reaction intermediates for the excellent photocatalytic activities. These results are confirmed from the experimental measurements and the MD and DFT computations study. This work provides an effective strategy to design biomaterial-based metal-free photocatalysts for H 2 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract 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 MgATP2− were used to monitor the in vivo Pi and MgATP2− 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. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • N-TiO 2 /Fe 3 O 4 @SiO 2 (NTFS) nanophotocatalyst can be taken up by Arabidopsis root and transported to plant leaves. • NTFS did not cause any changes in the lipids, pectins, proteins, cellulose, hemicellulose, and carbohydrates. • NTFS did not alter the morphology and biomass of Arabidopsis. • The energy physiology of Arabidopsis was not affected by NTFS. [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]

The design and synthesis of photocatalytic materials and their application in environmental pollution control and resource recycling have been reported in many literatures. However, most photocatalytic materials contain transition metal ions, and the environmental risks of leaching 1imit the application of catalytic materials. Silicon carbide (SiC), as the representative of the third generation of semiconductor materials, has a good potential application prospect in environmental pollution prevention because of Is characteristics such as no transition metal ions, high temperature and acid-alkali resistance, strong stability and so on. In recent years, some literatures have reported the synthesis, modification and application of SiC as photocatalyst n environment and resource recycling -fields. However, few temperatures have reviewed the application progress of SiC photocatalyst. In view of the above situation, the progress in the -field of SiC photocatalysis application in recent years was reviewed in tins paper, including synthesis method, doping medication and application, and the prospects of the photocatalyst system were also prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The practical application of aqueous zinc‐ion batteries (AZIBs) is significantly limited by poor reversibility and stability of the Zn anode. Here, the first time addition of trace organic gamma butyrolactone (GBL) is reported to a typical ZnSO4 electrolyte to controllably manipulate the electrolyte structure and interface. Judiciously combined experimental characterization and theoretical computation confirm that the GBL additive weakens the bonding strength between Zn2+ ion and solvated H2O and rearranges the "Zn2+−H2O−SO42– GBL" bonding network to reduce water activity and suppress corrosion and side products. The GBL molecules preferentially absorb on the surface of the Zn anode to give a uniform and compact Zn deposition. As a result, the Zn anode is boosted to run over 3105 cycles (6210 h) with average Coulombic efficiency of 99.93% under 1 mA cm–2 and 1 mAh cm–2, and exhibit stable cycling for 1170 h under harsh testing conditions of 10 mA cm–2 and 10 mAh cm–2. Additionally, the Zn–MnO2 full cells using the ZnSO4–GBL electrolyte exhibit a high capacity of 287 mAh g–1 at 0.5 A g–1 and good capacity retention of 87% following 400 cycles. These findings will be of immediate benefit to design low cost AZIBs for clean energy storage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • It was firstly demonstrated that the synergistic activation of PMS by MoS 2 @PANI and Cu(II). • High removal rate of sulfathiazole (≥85 %) achieved within a wide range of pH (3–10) in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS. • H O ∙ , Cu(Ⅲ) and 1 O 2 were generated in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS, while SO 4 ∙ - was negligible. • Compared with Fe(II), Cu(II) improved reusability and applicability of MoS 2 @PANI in activation of PMS. • The absorption of Cu(II) on MoS 2 @PANI improved the stability of MoS 2 @PANI. This paper synergistically combined MoS 2 @PANI (coating MoS 2 on polyaniline (PANI)) with Cu(II) to obtain effective activation of PMS in a wide range of pH (3–10). The removal rate of sulfathiazole (ST) in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS (98 %) in 60 min was higher than in Cu(II)/PMS (50 %) and MoS 2 @PANI/PMS (70 %). Besides, the PMS consumption rate was 100 % within 30 min in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS. Different concentrations of Cl - and HCO 3 - promoted the degradation of ST in varying degrees. And NO 3 - slightly inhibited the degradation of ST (removal rate more than 84 %). Notably, Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS could remove more than 80 % ST in different water bodies. The special structure of MoS 2 @PANI increased many activity sites of Mo(IV) to promote the cycle of Cu(II)/Cu(I) for activating PMS which generated H O ∙ , Cu(III) and 1 O 2. Twenty-seven degradation intermediates were identified and four possible degradation paths of ST were proposed. Moreover, Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS possessed a good non-selectivity for various organic pollutants. After three consecutive cycles, the removal rate still retained more than 90 % in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS system. Compared with Fe(II), MoS 2 @PANI was more stable in Cu(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS. The synergy of Cu and Mo broke the limitation of PMS activation under environmental aquatic conditions. Given that Cu(II) widely existed in wastewater, the new research strategy increased the application scope for homogeneous PMS activation with inherently Cu(II) in wastewater in environmental remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, Z-scheme Cr2O3–Fe3O4/C hetero-nanostructure polyhedra are prepared using the amine-functionalized metal–organic framework NH2-MIL-101(Fe) as the precursor through a simple hydrothermal method and impregnation–calcination route. Systematic characterization was conducted on the phase structure, morphology, optical/electrochemical properties and the photocatalytic performance exhibited by the magnetic Cr2O3–Fe3O4/C samples. As observed from the results, Congo red (CR) degradation rates of the magnetic polyhedron-like Cr2O3–Fe3O4/C hetero-nanostructures under visible light are found to be nearly 1.86 and 1.21 times higher than those achieved by Cr2O3 and Fe3O4/C samples, respectively. Complying with the results achieved by the active specie tests, superoxide radicals could be the major active species in the CR photocatalytic degradation due to graphite carbon with high conductivity. On this basis, a model Z-scheme photogenerated carrier transfer system was developed. In the present paper, an approach for developing and designing Z-scheme hetero-nanostructure photocatalysts for purifying wastewater is presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• MgO wrapped CoO nanoparticles in bimetallic oxides and limited cobalt ion leaching. • Optimal Co/Mg molar ratio was found in bimetallic oxides for degradation of BPA. • Activation mechanism of PMS and degradation pathways of BPA were proposed. Cobalt oxide (CoO) could activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to remove pollutants but the catalytic performance was restricted by limited active sites and it was with risk of harmful cobalt ion leaching. In order to solve these problems, bimetallic oxides with package structure were researched by dispersing CoO nanoparticles on a stable support (magnesium oxide, MgO) via simple one-step coprecipitation method. Co-Mg bimetallic oxides with minute quantities of CoO and highly dispersed structure could efficiently activate PMS for degradation of bisphenol A (BPA). The catalytic properties of catalysts with different molar ratios of Co and Mg were evaluated. The optimal molar ratio (0.075:15) of Co and Mg was found in the Co-Mg bimetallic oxides, which could maximize its catalytic performance for PMS in a wide pH range. Influences of different systems, catalyst dosages, PMS concentrations, temperatures, initial pH values and mineralization rates were researched for BPA degradation. And the oxidation capacities to remove BPA in the different aqueous matrices were evaluated for the catalyst/PMS system. The addition of anions and nature organic matter (NOM) showed that there existed positive ( C l - and H 2 P O 4 -) and negative ( N O 3 - , H C O 3 - , H P O 4 2 - and NOM) effects for BPA degradation. Additionally, main reactive radicals were certified by quenching experiments. Four successive experiments and evaluation of concentration of cobalt ion leaching illustrated good stability of the catalyst, which was related with its package structure. Finally, activation mechanism of PMS, proposed degradation pathways of BPA and acute toxicity of degradation intermediates of BPA were analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for separation and purification applications under harsh conditions has grown strongly in recent years. Silicon carbide (SiC) ceramic membranes have broad prospects in this aspect due to their unique characteristics, but its pore size control is a crucial problem. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop simple and feasible methods for precise control of the pore size of SiC membranes to improve membrane selectivity and expand their application range. This review describes the pore formation process in the preparation of SiC membranes, focusing on the selection of SiC particles, sintering temperature, sacrificial template, sintering aids, oxidation process and other factors affecting the pore size and analysis. Finally, the control of SiC membrane pore size is summarized and the outlook is proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • This study introduces a novel method for enhancing oil-water separation in high-temperature condensate. • The process resulted in a unique membrane with adjustable pores, hydrophilic-oleophobic properties, and remarkable stability. • After eight cycles, the adapted membrane achieves over 99.00 %, which highlights a commendable reusability. • Under the extreme conditions, the coated membrane performs exceptionally well, indicating versatile potential. • SiC ceramic membranes are poised to broaden their use in water treatment, gas separation, and biotechnology. The primary objective of this research is to improve the efficiency of separating oil and water within the challenging environment of high-temperature condensate. This will be achieved through the innovative approach of surface modifying silicon carbide (SiC) membranes with polyethyleneimine (PEI). To begin, different concentrations of PEI aqueous solutions are formulated by mixing PEI with ultrapure water. Following this, a SiC ceramic membrane undergoes modification through immersion in the solution. This process yields a tailored separation membrane with hydrophilic and oleophobic properties, adjustable pore size, robust physicochemical stability, and surface anti-fouling attributes. This achievement stems from precise regulation of the reaction duration during the meticulous process. Notably, in the context of separating diesel-in-water emulsions across varying concentrations, the adapted membrane demonstrates an extraordinary separation efficiency surpassing 99.00 %. Additionally, it demonstrates impressive resilience against oil fouling, further highlighting its effectiveness. The membrane showcases commendable reusability, sustaining an oil interception rate that exceeds 99.00 % even after undergoing eight consecutive cycles. Furthermore, the coated membrane exhibits exceptional performance even in challenging conditions, including high salinity, extreme pH levels, and temperatures reaching up to 100 °C. At the same time, the membrane demonstrates outstanding mechanical properties. The findings from this study illustrate the promising real-world applications of this groundbreaking oil–water separation membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Z-scheme heterostructure photocatalysts for the transfer and separation efficiency of carriers are increasingly popular. CdS nanoparticle decorated three-dimensional (3D) flower-like Zn3(PO4)2 nanostructures were prepared through a simple hydrothermal route and precipitation methods. The CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 heteronanostructures were characterized through X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), UV-visible light spectroscopy (UV-vis), photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy and photoelectrochemical measurements. The results showed that the three-dimensional flower-like structure of Zn3(PO4)2 composed of two-dimensional nanoplates and CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 heteronanostructures was obtained. The results of the Mott–Schottky measurements and the active species trapping experiments suggested that a Z-scheme system between the CdS nanoparticles and Zn3(PO4)2 nanoplates was formed. Meanwhile, the CdS/Zn3(PO4)2 heteronanostructures exhibited much higher photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB under visible light, and that of the CdS/Zn3(PO4)2-13 heteronanostructure with excellent photocatalytic stability is nearly 3.04 times higher than that of pure Zn3(PO4)2 nanostructures. [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]

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 NiWO4/WO3 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 NiWO4/WO3 effectively reduces the transfer resistance of photogenerated carriers and improves the separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. The degradation rates of NiWO4/WO3-4 Z-scheme heterojunction microspheres to MB dye are 1.8 and 3.2 times higher than that of pure WO3·2H2O and WO3 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the application of RNA interference (RNAi) is rapidly developing in GMO technology, accurate and sensitive detection of functional RNA molecules was urgently needed, for the safety and functional assessment of RNAi crops. In this work, we developed an electrochemical biosensor for transgene-derived long RNA based on a poly-adenine (polyA) DNA capture probe. The polyA self-assembling monolayer (SAM) provided enhanced interface stability and optimized surface density for the subsequent hybridization of the long RNA molecule. A multiple reporter probe system (MRP) containing 12 reporter probes (RPs) and 2 spacers was applied to open the complex molecular secondary structure and hybridize with the long RNA, with the critical assistance of dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO). By using 3 addressable RPs, structural recognition was performed among long stem-loop RNA, long dsRNA (no loop), and siRNA. Excellent selectivity was achieved when the extracted total RNA samples were directly analyzed. When reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) technology was combined, the sensitivity was improved to 10 aM. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first electrochemical biosensor with the excellent capability of quantification and structural analysis of the long RNA of the RNAi GMO. Our work shows great potential in a wide range of RNAi GMO samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This work successfully synthesized magnetic FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S through a facile method with efficient peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to eliminate sulfachloropyridazine (SCP) in water, in which 97.56% of SCP was removed in 30 min with activating only 0.2 mM PMS. Factors such as calcination temperature, the addition amount of WS 2 in FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S, molar ratio of Cu/Fe in FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S, catalyst dosage, solution pH, inorganic anions and natural organic matters（NOM）were investigated. It was found that in FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S at 1:2 possessed the best catalytic performance for PMS. FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S performed well in a wide pH range (3–9) and the effect was better under acidic conditions. A high catalyst dosage could supply more catalytic active sites for PMS activation and encourage the production of reactive oxygen species. Anions (HCO 3 −and HPO 4 2−) and NOM significantly inhibited SCP degradation, whereas Cl− had only a tiny inhibitory impact. In addition, H 2 PO 4 − and NO 3 − demonstrated duality in the degradation of SCP. The oxidation process was dominated by non free radical oxidation by 1O 2 rather than free radicals oxidation by HO⋅ and SO 4 •−. Three SCP degradation pathways—SO 2 extrusion, S-N bond cleavage and hydroxylation were proposed according to intermediate products analysis. The mechanism was found that the introduction of W improved the dual metals cycles of Fe3+/Fe2+ and Cu+/Cu2+ which could efficiently promote PMS activation. In addition, the magnetic FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S was easy to separate after reaction, which had great application potential in the water treatment. [Display omitted] • PMS could be activated at a rapid rate in the FeWO 4 /Cu 2 S-3/PMS system. • The involvement of Fe2+-Fe3+ and Cu2+-Cu+ redox cycles during PMS activation process. • Radical and non-radical pathways were participated in SCP degradation. • SCP could be removed almost completely with activating only 0.2 mM PMS in 30 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The adsorbents were synthesized based on the "bridge joint" effect of iron ions. • The adsorbents are suitable for a wide pH range when removing As(III)/As(V). • The addition of Fe(II) can't promote the adsorption of As(III)/As(V). • The prepared CNC-PEI-Fe(III) expended the application of CNC. 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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fulvic acid (FA), as one type of soil conditioner, can enhance drought tolerance, improve nutrient ingestion, stabilize pH values of soil, and reduce fertilizer extracting behaviors. Moreover, it shows a good effect on increasing the permissiveness of plants to various environments, and the stress of salinity and drought is included. Therefore, it can be used as an ideal soil conditioner. In order to extend its effect, it may be loaded into the core-shell polymer microspheres. In this study, FA was added to calcium carbonate (CaCO 3) microspheres, potassium alginate (PAL) and chitosan (CS) were assembled outside. Thus, PAL/CS/FA-CaCO 3 microspheres were prepared using layer-by-layer self-assembly methods. The surface morphology, encapsulation efficiency and in vitro drug release characteristics were investigated. It was revealed that PAL/CS/FA-CaCO 3 microspheres were formed with a particle size distribution between 2 and 6 μm due to self-assembly between PAL and CS. Drug release behavior analysis exhibited the sustained release processes were delayed to varying degrees due to different degradation degrees of CaCO 3 microspheres at different pH values. Results also illustrated that these microspheres had a high loading capacity for FA, and possessed good biodegradability. Thus, PAL/CS/FA-CaCO 3 microspheres exhibited promise for future applications compared with that of traditional soil conditioners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditionally, zeolite membranes were prepared using oven heating which usually resulted in lengthy synthesis time and thick membrane. Previous result indicated that oil-bath heating can significantly reduce the synthesis time and membrane thickness of SAPO-34 membrane due to the elimination of thermal-lag. SSZ-13 membrane was prepared using oil-bath heating method. Significant reduction on synthesis time (from 2 to 6 d to 2 h) and membrane thickness (from 5 to 10 μm–1.5 μm) were realized, which is the result of enhanced nucleation and crystallization from ultrafast heat transfer of oil-bath heating. Template removal was realized with an optimized rapid thermal processing method (O-RTP). Outstanding CO 2 -CH 4 separation performance was obtained. The high permeance mainly comes from the thinner membrane. The high selectivity can be attributed to O-RTP, which strengthened the bonding between zeolite crystals and minimized thermal exposure time. The combination of oil-bath heating and O-RTP led to high performance SSZ-13 membrane. • Oil-bath heating led to much reduced synthesis time and membrane thickness. • Optimized rapid thermal processing reduced the formation of defects and facilitated template removal. • Highest CO 2 permeance and decent CO 2 -CH 4 selectivity achieved. • Combination of oil-bath heating and rapid thermal processing led to fast synthesis of high performance CHA membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intermediate volatility organic compounds (IVOCs) in outdoor air have been reported in recent years with focus on characterizing IVOCs and their contributions to the formation of secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Little has been studied on the different behaviors of IVOCs in particulate matter (PM) dominated winter pollution weather and ozone (O 3) dominated summer pollution weather. In this study, we collected and analyzed outdoor airborne IVOCs in an urban location in Shanghai during PM dominated pollution events in winter (ten samples) and O 3 dominated pollution events in summer (22 samples). IVOCs were categorized into n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and unspeciated complex mixture (UCM) that includes unspeciated branched alkanes (b-alkanes) and other unidentified IVOCs. In winter samples total IVOCs concentrations were up to 114 μg/m3 and UCM IVOCs accounted for 91% ± 3%, while in summer samples total IVOCs concentrations were only up to 17.2 μg/m3 and UCM accounted for 69% ± 14%. The average concentration of primary IVOCs which are directly from emission sources, was 35.1 ± 16.1 μg/m3 and 4.0 ± 2.2 μg/m3 in winter and summer, respectively. IVOCs were found to have statistically significant positive correlations with PM (PM 2.5 , PM 10) but not with O 3 in both winter and summer samples. Statistically significantly inverse relationships between O 3 and C 12 C 14 n-alkanes and between O 3 and two to three rings PAHs in summer samples were observed, indicating that these relatively more volatile IVOCs might be actively involved in atmospheric photochemical reactions in the atmosphere in summer. Our study revealed different behaviors of IVOCs in winter and summer pollution events in Shanghai; however, more research is needed to better understand the contribution of IVOCs to SOA, and the underlying photochemical reactions of IVOCs during O 3 dominated air pollution events. Image 1 • Behaviors of ambient IVOCs in particulate matter driven winter pollution and ozone driven summer pollution weathers are very different. • Mass percentage of different groups of IVOCs with different vapor pressure ranges vary randomly in summer compared with that in winter. • Concentrations of relatively more volatile components of IVOCs have inverse correlation with O 3 in summer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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. [Display omitted] • A composite permeable material based on ball-milled sulfide iron-copper bimetals was optimally prepared for Cr(VI) removal. • Preparation parameters of composite permeable material had significant effects on its permeability and hardness. • High permeability of composite permeable material was beneficial for Cr(VI) reduction following pseudo-first order kinetics. • The removal of Cr(VI) by a composite permeable material with low permeability follows pseudo-second order kinetics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Photocatalytic redox reactions occur on the surface of the catalyst, and therefore the surface properties of the photocatalyst are vital for efficient catalytic reactions. Bi 2 MoO 6 surface co-doped with Ni2+ and Ti4+ ions was fabricated through an incipient-wetness impregnation technology and calcination method. The influence of Ni2+ and Ti4+ co-doping with different concentrations on the crystal structure, morphology, and optical properties of Bi 2 MoO 6 were investigated by different instrumental methods, and the characterization results confirm that the surface of Bi 2 MoO 6 was doped with Ni2+ and Ti4+ ions. Under visible-light irradiation, the effects of Ni2+ and Ti4+ surface co-doping on the photocatalytic activity of Bi 2 MoO 6 were evaluated by the degradation of rhodamine B, with the results suggesting Ni2+ and Ti4+ co-doping increases visible-light absorption by Bi 2 MoO 6 and promotes the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. With optimum Ni2+ and Ti4+ co-doping, Bi 2 MoO 6 surface co-doped with 0.18% Ni2+ and 0.192% Ti4+ exhibits the greatest photocatalytic activity and stability in the degradation of rhodamine B. Graphical abstract Bi 2 MoO 6 surface co-doped with Ni2+ and Ti4+ ions was fabricated through an incipient-wetness impregnation technology and calcination method. Surface co-doping of Ni2+ and Ti4+ obviously increased visible-light absorption by Bi 2 MoO 6 and promoted the separation of photogenerated charge carriers. Bi 2 MoO 6 surface co-doped with 0.18% Ni2+ and 0.192% Ti4+ exhibits the greatest photocatalytic activity and stability in the degradation of rhodamine B. Image 1 Highlights • Ni/Ti/Bi 2 MoO 6 was fabricated through incipient-wetness impregnation. • Surface co-doping with Ni2+ and Ti4+ increased the photocatalytic activity of Bi 2 MoO 6. • The amount of Ni2+ and Ti4+ surface co-doping affects the catalytic activity of Bi 2 MoO 6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract All-silica DDR zeolite membrane has great potential for CO 2 -CH 4 separation because of its suitable pore size, great stability and insensitivity to moisture. However, the long synthesis time and tough template removal created great challenges for the synthesis of high quality DDR zeolite membrane. All-silica DDR zeolite membrane was prepared on porous ceramic tubes with microwave-aided hydrothermal synthesis. Template removal of DDR membranes was studied with rapid thermal processing and low temperature calcination under ozone environment. Compared with traditional hydrothermal synthesis, microwave heating significantly accelerated the crystallization kinetics of DDR membranes by reducing the synthesis time from 2 to 6 d to 1 h. Membrane thickness was also reduced from ~5 µm to less than 1.5 µm. These improvements can be attributed to the fast and homogeneous heating from microwave heating, which resulted into fast nucleation and crystallization as well as smaller crystals and thinner membrane. Template removal by rapid thermal processing was not successful for DDR membranes which could be the result of high thermal stress at high calcination temperature. Low temperature calcination under ozone environment can remove template molecules effectively without generating defects, which can be ascribed to small thermal stress at low calcination temperature. Outstanding CO 2 -CH 4 separation performance was obtained, with CO 2 permeance of 4.7 × 10-7 mol/(m2 s Pa) and CO 2 -CH 4 selectivity of 190 at 0.14 MPa pressure drop. The high separation permeance is the synergy of optimized seeding, microwave-aided synthesis and mild template removal under ozone environment. Highlights • Fast synthesis of thin all-silica DDR zeolite membrane realized with microwave aided hydrothermal synthesis. • Effective template removal obtained with low temperature calcinations under ozone environment. • Outstanding CO 2 -CH 4 separation performance and great stability. • Synergy of microwave synthesis and ozone calcinations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Steam and power systems (SPS), which provide utility stream to process industries, are significant contributors of energy consumption and greenhouse gases emissions. Within an SPS, the configurations of driving devices have significant impacts on the steam balance, energy efficiency, and economic costs. As process industries are working towards the goal of carbon neutrality, optimizing the configurations of driving devices has the potential to reduce carbon emissions from an SPS. However, not much attention has been paid in the past to explore the methodology and effects of optimizing driving devices in an SPS. This study proposes a mixed-integer linear programming model for the new design and revamping of an SPS under carbon neutral challenges. Taking multiple production scenarios, equipment performance characteristics, and carbon emissions into consideration simultaneously, the model can generate optimal configurations of driving devices and determine the corresponding operating parameters of the system as well. A case study based on a real refinery has been developed to demonstrate the feasibility of applying the proposed model to the design of driving devices configuration. The results prove that design optimization remains an effective means to achieve significant carbon emission reduction at minimum economic cost for an SPS. [Display omitted] • A new MILP model is developed to optimize driver configurations in steam system. • Impact of carbon tax is exploited with multiple production scenarios. • Part-load efficiency characteristics models are introduced for key equipment. • Achieve significant carbon emissions reduction by driver configuration optimization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstracts A facile solution deposition method using the etched Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons as the substrates has been successfully demonstrated for tailoring Ag/Cu 2 O heterostructures with excellent reproducibility, and Ag nanoparticles have been deposited on the surface of different Cu 2 O particles including freshly prepared Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons, the etched Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons, Cu 2 O cube assemblies and Cu 2 O octahedron assemblies. The obtained tailoring Ag/Cu 2 O heterostructures prepared by the etched Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons exhibits enhanced photocatalytic activity for the degradation of MB solution under visible-light irradiation, and the photocatalytic activity of tailoring Ag/Cu 2 O heterostructures was 3.1 and 5.7 times higher than those of the etched Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons and bare Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons. The enhanced photocatalytic activity of tailoring Ag/Cu 2 O heterostructures can be attributed to tailoring surface of Cu 2 O truncated octahedrons, the enhancement of UV–vis absorbance spectra and electron sink effect due to Ag nanoparticle deposition. The facilely prepared tailoring Ag/Cu 2 O heterostructure products are promising materials in fields such as photocatalytic and optoelectronic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The MoS 2 @PANI/PMS with trace Fe(II) system degraded nearly 100 % of TAP in 15 min. • The cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II) was greatly accelerated by MoS 2 @PANI. • The degradation of TAP was effective in a wide pH range of 3 to 9. • SO 4 · - , H O · , O 2 · - and 1O 2 were identified in the Fe(II)/MoS 2 @PANI/PMS system. • Possible degradation pathways and product toxicity of TAP were proposed. Fe(II) displayed a great potential in peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation to remove pollutants but was limited by the cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II) in the process. To solve this problem, different percentages of flower-like MoS 2 nanosheets were successfully coated on the surface of polyaniline (PANI) nanotubes named as MoS 2 @PANI-X(1, 2, 3) activating PMS efficiently with trace Fe(II) to remove thiamphenicol (TAP), in which MoS 2 @PANI-2 with 92.6% of MoS 2 was the best by removing 99% TAP within 15 min. Notably, the used trace Fe(II) concentration (2 μM) was environmentally friendly because it was far lower than the allowable limit (0.3 mg/L) in standard for drinking water by WHO. With the increase of PMS concentration (0.1–2.0 mM), k PMS increased from 0.083 to 0.118 min−1 and then decreased to 0.098 min−1.When MoS 2 @PANI-2 dosage increased from 10 to 50 mg/L, k M o S 2 @ P A N I - 2 increased from 0.068 to 0.558 min−1. However, N O 3 - , C l - , H P O 4 2 - , H C O 3 - , H 2 P O 4 - and natural organic matter inhibited the degradation of TAP in varying degrees. The special structure of MoS 2 @PANI increased many activity sites of Mo(IV) to promote the cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II) for sustainable and effective activating PMS which generated SO 4 · - , H O · , O 2 · - and 1O 2 to achieve high removal rate of TAP in a wide range of pH (3–9) (>93%). Twenty-two degradation intermediates were identified and three possible degradation paths of TAP were proposed. Overall, this study provided a novel strategy to remove antibiotics by overcoming the limiting cycle of Fe(III)/Fe(II) in the peroxymonosulfate activation process, which had a great application in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Modification methods of durable substrates to improve the binding stability of MOFs are summarized. • Engineering strategies for incorporating MOFs with substrates are particularly presented. • Applications of various MOFs-incorporated durable substrates in water treatment are outlined. • Future perspective and directions on the development of MOFs/durable substrates are pointed out. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) have attracted extensive attention as a new class of porous materials with diverse active sites for adsorption, separation, catalysis and so on. Combining MOFs with convenient substrates has become a research hot spot in the field of water treatment in recent years. However, traditional polymer-based MOFs composites have stability problems such as heat resistance, acid/alkali resistance and poor resistance to oxidation, which limit their application. Therefore, it becomes crucial to combine water-stable MOFs with porous durable substrates. This paper reviews the latest research progress in this area, the superiorities of durable substrates is firstly introduced from the perspective of structure and species, then the methods for preparing MOFs on substrates are discussed, and the modification methods to improve the binding stability of MOFs to durable substrates are analyzed in depth. In particular, this review innovatively summarizes the engineering strategies for MOFs incorporated with substrates, including the controllable distribution of MOFs on substrates, the regulation of MOFs morphology and size, the regulation of surface wettability and the design of synergistic effects. Their water treatment applications comprising adsorption, oil–water separation, catalytic degradation and desalination are also introduced. Finally, insights and prospects for future challenges are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO 2 with an enhanced photocatalytic activity was biomineralized using a lysozyme (LYZ)–polystyrene (PS) biotemplate. We present a novel and green biomineralization route for TiO 2 particles to increase the photodegradation efficiency of rhodamine B (RhB) under visible light irradiation. The LYZ–PS template was constructed via a facile passive adsorption process under an ambient environment. The electrostatic interaction between PS and LYZ allowed LYZ–PS as a rigid template to function as a nucleation core to induce the biomineralization of TiO 2 particles. The LYZ–PS template not only enabled the empty structure in the particles during calcination but also provided a higher nitrogen content in the final TiO 2 photocatalyst. The LYZ–PS templated TiO 2 exhibited improved photocatalytic activity with au. 98% degradation of RhB after 80 min under solar light irradiation. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can be attributed to the synergetic effect of morphology, crystallinity and band gap. [Display omitted] • Lysozyme (LYZ)–polystyrene (PS) template was prepared by passive adsorption method. • LYZ–PS template function as a nucleation core to induce the TiO 2 biomineralization. • LYZ–PS tailored the morphology and crystallinity of TiO 2 and provided nitrogen source. • LYZ–PS–TiO 2 exhibited enhanced photodegradation efficiency on RhB under visible light. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrodeionization (EDI) is essential for producing ultrapure water in power plants and high-tech industries. Compared with the traditional ion exchange process, EDI does not require high-pollution resin regeneration by acid and alkali reagents. However, the process is markedly energy-intensive, and thus it is crucial to reduce the energy consumption. The reduction may be achieved by optimizing the operating conditions and module design. Previous mathematical models of the EDI process have been based on the mass transfer mechanism of ion removal. However, the water dissociation reactions, which are crucial for the energy efficiency of ion removal and thus EDI optimization, have rarely been considered. In particular, the design of EDI modules has not been studied. In this study, the water dissociation reactions in the EDI model were considered to simulate the ion removal process and energy consumption. In addition, the design variables of the equipment configuration and the operating conditions of an industrial-scale EDI module were optimized to reduce the energy consumption via nonlinear programming. The results show that the energy consumption of the current industrial EDI operation can be reduced by 22.4% when only the operating conditions are optimized. Furthermore, the optimization of the design and operation, based on the annual cost, will lead to a 50.4% decrease in the annual cost. The developed modeling and optimization method will play a critical role in an energy-saving operation and low-cost design of the EDI process. [Display omitted] • Modeling and optimization of ultrapure water production by electrodeionization. • A mechanism model including water dissociation for the electrodeionization process. • High accuracy and applicability for simulating the product water quality. • Quantifying the critical current to avoid the energy waste of fixed excess current. • Simultaneous optimization of design and operation to save energy by 50.4%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]