The interactions of paracetamol, caffeine and metazachlor with humic acids studied using surface plasmon resonance imaging.

The transport of micropollutants through soil is, inter alia, largely influenced by their interaction with humic acids (HAs). As chemically complex carbon molecules, HAs make part of natural organic matter and play a significant role in the retention of micropollutants in the environment. This study examines the interactions of pH-dependent HA fractions with metazachlor, paracetamol, and caffeine, using the surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRi) method.

Backscattering of Li+ ions from MoS2: Probing charge transfer through experiment and theory.

We present a combined experimental and theoretical study of charge exchange dynamics in low-energy Li+ collisions with a MoS2 surface, focusing on the neutralization of backscattered projectiles. Using low-energy ion scattering, we measure charge-state-resolved time-of-flight spectra for incident energies between 2.5 and 8.

Beneficial effects of micro-electrolysis process in the treatment of TDI wastewater: experimental study and engineering analysis.

Wastewater generated during toluene diisocyanate (TDI) production contains significant levels of nitrobenzenes (NBs), necessitating preliminary treatment to mitigate biotoxicity and improve biodegradability. Micro-electrolysis has been demonstrated to be an effective method for the degradation of NBs. Combined with Fenton oxidation and biochemical treatment, it has the potential to achieve stable compliance with wastewater standards during TDI production.

Two-Dimensional Metals Over, Inside, or Beneath Templates.

Two-dimensional (2D) metals have drawn great attention because of their extraordinary properties, especially in applications that favor van der Waals interaction. The development of advanced characterization tools has facilitated the understanding of formation or growth mechanisms of 2D metals. In this perspective, we discuss 5 common approaches to obtaining 2D metals, including, (top down) van der Waals squeezing and selective extraction, and (bottom up) electron beam-induced growth, self-assembly, and graphene-templated wet chemistry growth.

Efficient removal of beta-blockers from water using fluorinated covalent organic polymers: Insights into sigmoidal adsorption behavior and environmental applications.

In this research, fluorinated covalent organic polymer (FCOP) was synthesized and evaluated as a novel adsorbent for removing atenolol (ATL) and metoprolol (MTL), two widely prescribed beta-blockers frequently found in water environments. FCOP demonstrated rapid adsorption, achieving removal efficiencies of 67.26 % for MTL and 70.

Protist genomics: key to understanding eukaryotic evolution.

All eukaryotes other than animals, plants, and fungi are protists. Protists are highly diverse and found in nearly all environments, with key roles in planetary health and biogeochemical cycles. They represent the majority of eukaryotic diversity, making them essential for understanding eukaryotic evolution.

Kinetic modeling of dairy phages inactivation under UV-C irradiation.

The inactivation of sixteen dairy phages was tested as a function of time in a laboratory scale reactor, under near UV-C radiation (λ = 254 nm). Unlike previous studies focusing on liquid suspensions, this work specifically examines phage inactivation on dry surfaces, mimicking industrial environments where bioaerosols and contaminated surfaces contribute to phage dissemination. Moreover, most of the tested phages were isolated in our country and have not been studied using this technology yet.

Impact of Tire-Derived Microplastics on Microbiological Activity of Aerobic Granular Sludge.

In recent years, there has been an increase in the emission of tire wear particle (TWP) microplastics from wastewater treatment plants into the environment. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of TWPs in wastewater flowing into a biological reactor on the transcription of the gene and the key genes responsible for nitrogen metabolism, , and , in aerobic granular sludge. The laboratory experiment was carried out in sequencing aerobic granular sludge reactors operated in an 8 h cycle into which TWP microplastics were introduced with municipal wastewater at a dose of 50-500 mg TWPs/L.

Miscanthus phytotechnology of Cu- or Zn-spiked soils supported by contaminated Miscanthus biochar-is this a viable option for valorization?

Different agricultural practices can be beneficial in Miscanthus × giganteus (M × g) phytotechnology applied to post-military and post-mining lands. However, only limited research has focused on supportive treatments using biochar produced from M × g waste. Indeed, when M × g phytotechnology is applied to contaminated soil, the biochar produced through the pyrolysis of the obtained biomass is contaminated, raising concerns about its further application.

Retraction notice to "A hybrid nanocomposite based on CuFe layered double hydroxide coated graphene oxide for photocatalytic degradation of trimethoprim" [Chemosphere 322 (2023) 138243].

This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier Policy on Article Withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies/article-withdrawal).

Influence of vapothermal and hydrothermal pre-treatment on anaerobic degradability of lignocellulosic biomass.

This study compares the biogas potential of solid common reed residues after undergoing vapothermal and hydrothermal pre-treatment, accompanied by a compositional and structural biomass characterization. In a pre-test series, a design of experiments approach was used to determine the influence of the initial biomass water content during vapothermal pre-treatment on the biogas yield. In the main test series, common reed was pre-treated hydrothermally (i.

Energy-Related Assessment of a Hemicellulose-First Concept-Debottlenecking of a Hydrothermal Wheat Straw Biorefinery.

A hemicellulose-first approach can offer advantages for biorefineries utilizing wheat straw as it combines lignocellulose fractionation and potentially higher added value from pentose-based hemicellulose. Therefore, a tailored hydrothermal concept for the production of xylooligosaccharides and xylan was investigated. The focus was on assessing the energy requirements and potential improvements based on experimental results.

Highly stable lithium metal anodes enabled by bimetallic metal-organic frameworks derivatives-modified carbon cloth.

Lithium (Li) metal anodes hold great promise for next-generation secondary batteries with high energy density. Unfortunately, several problems such as Li dendrite growth, low Coulombic efficiency and poor cycle life hinder the commercialization of Li metal anodes. Herein, we design a highly lithiophilic carbon cloth host modified with Sn-doped zinc oxide (ZnO) (ZnSn-CC) directly derived from a bimetallic ZnSn metal-organic framework (ZnSn-MOF), which boosts uniform Li plating/stripping during charge-discharge and effectively protects the Li metal anode.

Aspects of Fe-Incorporation into CaTiO-SrTiO Perovskites and Their Catalytic Application for Ammonia SCO/SCR.

Perovskite materials in the CaTiO-SrTiO system doped with different amounts of iron (1, 2 and 5 mol.%) and various Ca/Sr ratios were prepared by the modified citrate method. Additionally, the materials with 0.

Efficiency and process development for microbial biomass production using oxic bioelectrosynthesis.

Autotrophic microbial electrosynthesis (MES) processes are mainly based on organisms that rely on carbon dioxide (CO) as an electron acceptor and typically have low biomass yields. However, there are few data on the process and efficiencies of oxic MES (OMES). In this study, we used the knallgas bacterium Kyrpidia spormannii to investigate biomass formation and energy efficiency of cathode-dependent growth.

Arsenic and Heavy Metals in Soils and Plants near Sulfide Mines: Implications for Phytoremediation and Phytomanagement.

The accumulation of heavy metals (i.e., As, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) in soils and native plant species near copper, nickel, and pyrite mines in Vietnam was assessed.

Tailoring the Li Intercalation Energy of Carbon Nanocage Anodes Via Atomic Al-Doping for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries.

Graphitic carbon materials are widely used in lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their stability and high conductivity. However, graphite anodes have low specific capacity and degrade over time, limiting their application. To meet advanced energy storage needs, high-performance graphitic carbon materials are required.

Biosynthesis of ZnO nanoparticles using aqueous extracts of and : characterization and assessment of their antioxidant, antibacterial, and photocatalytic properties.

Chemical syntheses of nanoparticles that release toxic substances into the environment rarely meet the strict requirements of green chemistry principles. Instead, green synthesis of nanoparticles using plant extracts brings a safe, rapid, and effective process, contributing to solving environmental pollution problems. Here, we report the green synthesis of multifunctional ZnO nanoparticles (ZnONPs) using aqueous extracts of leaves and fruits.

Plastic Pollution in Paradise: Analyzing Plastic Litter on Malta's Beaches and Assessing the Release of Potentially Toxic Elements.

This study investigates plastic litter on two beaches in Malta, Golden Bay and Rivera Beach, with a focus on plastic abundance, characteristics, sources, and the influence of human activity on pollution levels. Conducted in March 2023 during the low-tourist season, 13 sediment samples were collected from a depth of 5 cm using a systematic square sampling method. Plastic litter was quantified and sorted by size, shape, color, and polymer type, and concentrations of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) were measured (Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn, and Fe via ICP-OES).

Monomolecular Membrane-Assisted Growth of Antimony Halide Perovskite/MoS Van der Waals Epitaxial Heterojunctions with Long-Lived Interlayer Exciton.

Epitaxial growth stands as a key method for integrating semiconductors into heterostructures, offering a potent avenue to explore the electronic and optoelectronic characteristics of cutting-edge materials, such as transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD) and perovskites. Nevertheless, the layer-by-layer growth atop TMD materials confronts a substantial energy barrier, impeding the adsorption and nucleation of perovskite atoms on the 2D surface. Here, we epitaxially grown an inorganic lead-free perovskite on TMD and formed van der Waals (vdW) heterojunctions.

Correlation of methane production with physiological traits in IMS 101 grown with methylphosphonate at different temperatures.

The diazotrophic cyanobacterium has been recognized as a potentially significant contributor to aerobic methane generation via several mechanisms including the utilization of methylphophonate (MPn) as a source of phosphorus. Currently, there is no information about how environmental factors regulate methane production by . Here, we grew IMS101 at five temperatures ranging from 16 to 31°C, and found that its methane production rates increased with rising temperatures to peak (1.

Titanium-Immobilized Layered HUS-7 Silicate as a Catalyst for Photocatalytic CO Reduction.

Utilizing photocatalytic CO reduction presents a promising avenue for combating climate change and curbing greenhouse gas emissions. However, maximizing its potential hinges on the development of materials that not only enhance efficiency but also ensure process stability. Here, we introduce Hiroshima University Silicate-7 (HUS-7) with immobilized Ti species as a standout contender.