Photovoltaic driven carrier-facilitated membrane process enables efficient and low-carbon recovery of spent lithium ion batteries.

The increasing production of lithium ion batteries (LIBs) necessitates the development of green and sustainable technologies for their recycling. Unfortunately, most of the recycling technologies used are always associated with high energy and chemical reagents consumption, posing a great risk to the environment. Herein, we propose a photovoltaic driven carrier-facilitated electrodialytic membrane process for low carbon recovery of spent ternary LIBs.

Microplastics and soil microbiomes.

Microplastics, small particles that are released from plastics as they degrade, are ubiquitous and increasing in amount in most environments, including the soil. Here, we review the impacts of microplastics on the structure and activity of soil microbiomes and their key ecosystem functions. We then discuss how soil microbiomes regulate the environmental behavior of microplastics, such as enhancing pollutant adsorption and promoting degradation.

Unraveling the co-catalytic mechanism in Fenton-like reaction with diatomic Fe/Mo catalysts: Accelerating the Fe(Ⅱ)/Fe(Ⅲ) conversion and PAA efficient activation.

This study attempts to address the technical challenge of poor valence cycling and low activation efficiency of Fe-based catalysts in peracetic acid (PAA)-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for organic micropollutant treatment. The successful synthesis of the Mo doped Fe-based catalyst (FeMo@CN) achieved efficient PAA activation and rapid degradation of organic micropollutants. Mechanistic studies showed that both radical pathway (•OH and CHCOOO•) and non-radical pathway (O) synergistically contributed to bisphenol A (BPA) degradation.

The influence of mixed solvents on the morphology of ε-CL-20 crystal.

Context: CL-20 (especially the ε-crystal form) is a high-energy density explosive, but the preparation of centimeter-sized ε-CL-20 crystals is complex, which limits the study of its properties and mechanisms. Since crystal morphology can significantly affect the performance and sensitivity of energetic materials, this study combines MD simulation and experimental techniques to study and examine the differences in ε-CL-20 crystal habit as well as the interplay between the principal growing crystal planes of ε-CL-20 and the mixed solvent molecules. The findings reveal that according to the AE model, ε-CL-20 consists of (0 1 1), (1 1 0), (1 0 -1), (1 1 -1), (0 0 2), (0 2 1), and (1 0 1) seven independent surfaces under vacuum, and the (0 1 1) surface is the most important growth surface.

Sustainable synthesis of Ce-La loaded ontoCitrus limonfor phosphate removal: Performance and regeneration studies.

Efficient phosphate (P) treatment and resource recovery from water are crucial environmental challenges in water pollution management. In this study, a bimetallic La-Ce nanoparticle Citrus limon residue-based biosorbent was developed through a solvothermal synthesis method, using fruit waste as the raw material. This research work revealed that the surface of the agricultural waste became rough and uniformly layered through La and Ce after modification.

Heterotriphase crystalline-amorphous cobalt boride catalysts: accelerating surface reconstruction for efficient alkaline seawater OER.

We report crystalline CoB and CoB (c-CoB and c-CoB)-involved amorphous CoB (a-CoB) hollow-microspheres (CoB) for enhanced OER performance in alkaline seawater electrolytes. MOF-derived transition metal borides (CoB) possess excellent crystalline-amorphous interfaces, synergistically enhancing charge transfer kinetics and active-site accessibility. Electrochemical analysis reveals a low overpotential of 232 mV at 10 mA cm in 1.

In Situ Adsorption of a Lewis Base Triggers Selective Seawater Oxidation Based on the Lattice Oxygen-Mediated Mechanism.

During seawater electrolysis, the anodic oxygen evolution reaction (OER) is invariably confronted with an inescapable challenge: side reactions instigated by chloride ions and the poisoning of catalytically active sites. To address this, we put forward a strategy of doping high-valence metal Mo into Ni(OH) to achieve high selectivity and activity of the OER in alkaline seawater. In situ characterization, along with theoretical calculations, demonstrates that Lewis bases (MoO) are generated through Mo dissolution within the catalyst and subsequently adsorbed in situ on the catalyst surface.

Exploring the influence factors and operating mechanisms of age-friendly communities in urban fringe areas from the resilience perspective: a case study in Shangjie Township, Southeast China.

Introduction: The development of age-friendly communities (AFC) is a key initiative in response to the active ageing strategy proposed by World Health Organization. Urban fringe communities (UFC) are characterized by distinctive features such as intricate built environments and heterogeneous resident populations, and these characteristics pose a great challenge to the promotion of age-friendliness in these areas.

Methods: This study combines field surveys and spatial analysis to reveal the age-friendliness in different types of UFC in Shangjie Township, southeastern China.

Stabilizing NiFe active sites using a high-valent Lewis acid for selective seawater oxidation.

Seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production harnesses renewable energy sources, contributing to sustainable development. However, competing anodic reactions, such as the chloride oxidation reaction (ClOR), can adversely affect the activity and stability of the oxygen evolution reaction (OER). In this study, we propose a strategy that significantly enhances the OER activity and selectivity of NiFe-layered double hydroxides (LDHs) by incorporating chromium (Cr) (Cr-NiFeLDHs).

Maximizing volatile fatty acid yields from sewage sludge: Electrodialysis with bipolar membranes enhanced fermentation driven by heat-alkali pretreatment and pH optimization.

The recovery of volatile fatty acids (VFAs) from waste-activated sludge (WAS) is crucial for sustainable bio-based systems; however, low substrate degradability limits this process. This study combines heat-alkali pretreatment, NaSiO buffering for pH stabilization, and electrodialysis with bipolar membranes (EDBM) to enhance VFAs production and alkali recovery. Semi-continuous fermentation with ultrafiltration pretreatment achieved a maximum VFAs yield of 8.

Research on Comparative Marine Atmospheric Corrosion Behavior of AZ31 Magnesium Alloy in South China Sea.

In this study, the atmospheric corrosion behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy exposed in Sanya and Nansha for one year was investigated. While existing studies have characterized marine corrosion of magnesium alloys, the synergistic corrosion mechanisms under extreme tropical marine conditions (simultaneous high Cl, rainfall, and temperature fluctuations) remain poorly understood-particularly regarding dynamic corrosion-product evolution. The corrosion characteristics and behavior of AZ31 magnesium alloy exposed in Sanya and Nansha were evaluated using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, electrochemical measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and weight loss tests.

Atomic-level mechanistic insights into singlet oxygen-dominated oxidation: Deciphering the pivotal role of Cu-N active sites for selective contaminant degradation.

Sulfonamide antibiotics are highly toxic, persistent, and environmentally hazardous, necessitating effective remediation technologies for their removal from aquatic systems. Singlet oxygen (O), a selective and pH-tolerant reactive species, has emerged as a key oxidant in persulfate-based advanced oxidation processes (PS-AOPs). Herein, the systematic and novel pathway formation for the O on single Cu atom during PS-AOPs was elucidated.

Asymmetric Cobalt Single-Atom Catalysts with Engineered Hydrophobic Microenvironment: A Reaction-Transport Coupled Strategy for Efficient Methyl Oleate Epoxidation.

The depletion of fossil resources and the urgent demand for biodegradable alternatives drive innovations in transforming renewable vegetable oils into high-value chemicals. Despite substantial progress in epoxidized vegetable oils (EVOs) as green alternatives to petrochemicals, this process remains hindered by low activity and/or selectivity. Herein, we present an effective strategy coupling intrinsically active asymmetric single-atom Co-N-O sites with an engineered hydrophobic microenvironment to overcome these challenges in methyl oleate epoxidation, a model reaction for vegetable oil conversion.

Temporal trends of antibiotic resistance in culturable bacteria reveal the role of potential pathogens as pioneering carriers and resistance accumulators.

Understanding the occurrence and temporal trends of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) within bacteria is crucial for controlling and predicting the proliferation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. However, gaps remain in understanding the long-term trends across different bacterial species and in assessing related health risks. We collected 22,360 bacterial complete genome sequences with collection time and compiled a temporal dataset of ARGs in culturable bacteria.

Comammox-based simultaneous nitrification and denitrification in mainstream membrane-aerated biofilm reactor - A modeling study.

This study applied a novel complete ammonium oxidation (comammox)-inclusive biological nitrogen removal (BNR) model to simulate total nitrogen (TN) removal and nitrous oxide (NO) production in mainstream membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (MABR) performing simultaneous nitrification and denitrification (SND). The results were compared with those from a conventional comammox-exclusive BNR model under the same operational conditions. The findings revealed that the MABR involving the functionality of comammox bacteria capable of two-step nitrification demonstrated superior TN removal performance compared to the MABR performing the conventional ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB)-based SND.

Biochar and hydroxyapatite enhance both phytoextraction and phytostabilization of a heavily Cd-polluted soil using sweet sorghum.

Sweet sorghum has a high tolerance to toxic metals, but its response to soil amendments in Cd-polluted soils remains underexplored. Here, we compared the effects of biochar and hydroxyapatite (HAP) at different doses (0, 0.5%, and 1%, w/w) on the growth, mineral nutrition, stress tolerance, and phytoremediation efficiency of sweet sorghum grown in an agricultural soil heavily polluted by Cd (20.

High-Density Atomically Dispersed Copper Sites with Close Distances on Ultrathin N-Doped Carbon Nanosheets as an Efficient Oxygen Reduction Catalyst.

Atomically dispersed, non-noble-metal catalysts represent promising alternatives to costly platinum-group electrocatalysts, yet precise control over metal site proximity remains challenging. Herein, we report the synthesis of ultrathin (∼1.5 nm) N-doped carbon nanosheets decorated with densely packed single-atom copper sites (Cu SAs/N-CS), achieved via controlled pyrolysis of a Cu-1-1,2,4-triazole complex precursor.

Arsenic bioavailability and transformation from As(V)-sorbed aluminum oxides: The influence of Fe(III) and human gut microbiota.

Minerals control on the oral bioavailability of arsenic (As) in soil has been evidenced in human health risk assessments. However, little is known about the metabolism of soil mineral-associated As by human gut microbiota. This study evaluated the relative bioavailability (RBA) and bioaccessibility of As in As(V)-sorbed Aluminum (Al) oxides (α-AlO and γ-AlO), affected by gut microbiota and Fe(III).

Bioinspired, robust, flame retardant separator towards advanced safety lithium-sulfur batteries.

Microporous polyethylene (PE) membranes are commonly used separators in lithium-sulfur (LiS) batteries. However, these membranes suffer from severe shrinkage at high temperatures and exhibit limited physical barrier capability against polysulfides, which leads to significant shuttle effects, resulting in capacity decay and safety hazards. In the present study, we report a facile strategy to construct a coral-like CaCO composite functional layer on the PE separator surface using a polydopamine (PDA)-assisted in situ liquid-phase growth technique.

Enrichment and Kinetic Profiling of Nitrospira nitrosa Culture Reveal Mechanisms Underlying Its Prevalence in Wastewater Treatment Systems.

The discovery of comammox bacteria has revolutionized our understanding of nitrification, challenging the conventional paradigm that this process is mediated by two distinct microbial groups. Although comammox bacteria, particularly Nitrospira nitrosa, are prevalent with significant activities in wastewater treatment systems, their physiological and biochemical properties, particularly growth substrates-based kinetics, are yet to be fully disclosed. To this end, we first attempted to enrich N.

Enabling an ultraefficient lithium-selective construction through electric field-assisted ion control.

Membranes with precise ion transport behaviors are regarded as an alternative for lithium (Li) extraction from water streams. Current membranes demonstrate limited viability due to the lack of efficient Li-selective architectures. We propose an electric field-assisted ion control hypothesis in reinforcing ultraefficient Li-selective membranes, in which an ionized zeolitic imidazolate framework layer (Q-PEI@ZIF) is constructed via polyethylenimine (PEI) in situ confinement conversion and subsequent quaternization of 2,3-epoxypropyl trimethyl ammonium chloride.

Mechanism-Guided Thermoelectric Strategies for Smart Fire Prevention.

Fire prevention and early warning systems are essential to minimize fire risks. Thermoelectric (TE) materials that convert temperature gradients into electrical signals offer a promising pathway for designing self-powered fire-warning technologies and devices; however, their practical applications are often impeded by their low output power, inefficient charge transport, and poor interfacial compatibility. Despite several relevant reviews focusing on material types, it has remained underexplored from a mechanism-driven perspective to enhance the fire prevention performance of TE strategies to date.

Experimental Evaluation and Thermodynamic Analysis of Magnetic FeO@La-Zr-MOFs for Highly Efficient Fluoride and Phosphate Removal.

Phosphate and fluoride ions are common water pollutants whose presence and excessive discharge cause potential hazards to the environment and human health. MOF materials commonly used to remove phosphate and fluoride ions are usually in powder form, with low recovery during regeneration. Herein, to address these issues, FeO@La-Zr-MOFs magnetic composites for phosphate and fluoride removal were fabricated by means of the hydrothermal method.

Multistage Optimizing Optical Limiting by Introducing Platinum Species in Metal-Porphyrinic Framework Thin Films.

Designing multimechanistic composite materials to overcome the boundedness of individual optical limiting (OL) materials is extremely important but remains challenging. Herein, the Pt species decorated metal-porphyrinic framework thin film was first fabricated by impregnating the ZnTCPP(H) MOF thin film with the KPtCl precursor and HCHO reduction approach and serves as an effective OL device. The resulting Pt NPs@ZnTCPP(Pt) thin film synergistically combines the nonlinear optical (NLO) properties of metallic/organic nanostructures and exhibits strong OL performance with a giant nonlinear absorption coefficient (6.

Relationship between antibiotic resistance genes and microbiome in the Arctic marine sediments.

The global dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) presents a significant threat to public health and ecosystems. The Arctic has been contaminated with ARGs due to the global spread of ARGs. However, the remote nature of the Arctic need a comprehensive characterization of the diversity and distribution of ARGs.