Risk of overestimating odor control performance with the removal efficiency of a single odorant: Odorant interactions during the chemical absorption.

Odor is a serious issue for municipal solid waste treatment process, and chemical absorption is a common technology for odor control. Interactions among odorants will influence the performance of chemical absorption, and they are still not fully understood. This work took the common and important odorants, including hydrogen sulfide (HS), methanethiol, propanethiol and acetaldehyde, as examples, to investigate the removal performance of mixed odorants by sodium hypochlorite (NaClO) solution at different concentrations, and interactions among the odorants.

Fabrication of a CuS-cocatalyst-supported g-CN nanosheet composite photocatalyst with improved performance in the photocatalytic reduction of CO.

Carbon dioxide (CO) is not only a greenhouse gas but also an abundant carbon resource. By using solar energy to reduce CO into high-value hydrocarbons photocatalysis, we can mitigate the greenhouse effect and enable energy recycling. In this paper, a two-step calcination process was employed to thermally exfoliate graphite-phase carbon nitride (g-CN) into ultrathin nanosheets, after which the CuS co-catalyst was loaded onto the g-CN surface using a one-step hydrothermal method.

Environmental and health impacts of reduced PM and trace metals from ship emissions under low-sulfur fuel oil policy in Shanghai, China.

Ship emissions can significantly exacerbate air pollution in coastal cities, threatening public health; however, a low-sulfur fuel oil policy, which restricts sulfur content in marine fuels, can effectively mitigate such pollution-driven challenges. This study employed a high-resolution ship emission inventory to assess the impacts of the fuel oil switch on air quality and public health in Shanghai from 2017 to 2021. Results showed a 37.

Exposed redox-active iron enables electrochemically highly selective capture and conversion of arsenic from water.

Trace amounts of highly toxic arsenic, particularly arsenite (As(III)), in urban and agricultural water present a significant challenge to ensuring water safety. Existing separation processes have significant limitations, mainly due to poor selectivity and insufficient oxidation of As(III). In this study, we introduce a redox-active iron coordination electrode with exposed iron active sites (FePc-CNTS), designed for the selective electrochemical removal and oxidation of As(III) from water.

Temperature-driven dynamics of intracellular and extracellular antibiotic resistance genes during aerobic composting: Insights from qPCR and metagenomic analysis.

The widespread use of antibiotics in animal farming has accelerated the dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Aerobic composting is an effective method for managing animal manure, yet its effects on intracellular (iARGs) and extracellular ARGs (eARGs) under different temperature regimes including control (LT), gradual increase temperature (GT), and initially enriched temperature (HT) remain unclear. This study investigated the dynamics of iARGs and eARGs across these temperature gradients during composting.

Thermodynamically Self-Assembly Hydration-Cycle Crystals for Multidimensional Off-Grid Water-Energy Nexus.

Solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) technology shows water-energy solution potential but faces industrialization barriers from substrate scalability limits. Here, a regenerative hydrated coordination scaffold (R-HCS) is presented that redefines material design by leveraging water molecules as dynamic structural directors throughout the material lifecycle. Unlike conventional hydrogel/aerogel systems requiring energy-intensive crosslinking (-ΔE = 1-2 orders of magnitude) or freeze-drying processes, R-HCS forms spontaneously through water-mediated self-assembly of calcium sulfate under ambient conditions.

Uncovering rare earth and precious metal in landfill-mined soil-like-fractions: distribution prediction, ecological risk and resource potential.

The introduction of rare earth elements (REEs) and precious metals (PMs) containing wastes in aged landfills leads to a significant pollutant and resource potential. Against this backdrop, the accumulation of REEs and PMs in soil-like-fractions (SLF) remains uncertain. This study pioneers a comprehensive analysis of the REE/PM speciation, ecological risks of REEs and economic potential of PMs in SLF.

Mechanistic elucidation of ultraviolet light and peracetic acid coupling-driven enhancements in short-chain fatty acid production from sludge: Reactive species-induced organic solubilization and microbial function regulation.

This study investigates the potential of enhancing short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production during anaerobic fermentation of waste activated sludge through ultraviolet (UV) and peracetic acid (PAA) treatment. Under optimal conditions (UV irradiation time = 60 min and PAA dosage = 0.03 g/g VSS (volatile suspended solids), UV/PAA pretreatment enhanced sludge solubility, improved the biodegradability of organic matter, and facilitated pollutant degradation.

Selective removal of organic matters from high-salinity chemical industrial wastewater: Ultrafiltration or nanofiltration?

The effective separation and treatment of high-salinity chemical industrial wastewater has become a critical issue for the chemical industry. Membrane separation technology, including ultrafiltration (UF) and nanofiltration (NF) membranes, are potential candidates for selectively separating inorganic salts and organic compounds. In this study, we investigated the selective separation performance of real high-salinity chemical industrial wastewater by a series of commercial UF (UF10k, UF5k, UF3k, and UF1k) and NF (NF270, NF90, BSY90, BSY60, BSY30) membranes.

Upcycling End-of-Life Polyvinylidene Fluoride Membranes into Reverse Osmosis Membranes for Sustainable Water Purification.

Membrane technology has been increasingly applied in water purification to address global water scarcity. However, commercial membranes inevitably reach the end-of-life (EoL) after long-term operation, which constrains the sustainability of membrane technology. Herein, we demonstrated the feasibility of upcycling real EoL poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) microfiltration (MF) membranes into reverse osmosis (RO) membranes with higher separation precision via the interfacial polymerization (IP) reaction.

PFHxA and PFHxS promote breast cancer progression in 3D culture: MEX3C-associated immune infiltration revealed by bioinformatics and machine learning.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants with widespread use and bioaccumulative potential. Short-chain PFAS such as perfluorohexanoic acid (PFHxA) and perfluorohexane sulfonate (PFHxS) have been introduced as safer alternatives to long-chain PFAS, yet their toxicological impacts remain poorly defined. In this study, we employed a 3D Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA) hydrogel model to mimic the tumor microenvironment and investigated the effects of PFHxA and PFHxS on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) progression.

Organic sulfur-driven denitrification pretreatment for enhancing autotrophic nitrogen removals from thiourea-containing wastewater: performance and microbial mechanisms.

Thiourea (CHNS) is a widely used industrial reagent and is frequently detected in both sewage and industrial wastewater. However, treating thiourea-containing wastewater remains challenging due to its toxicity, high ammonium concentration, and low C/N ratio. In this study, a novel integrated autotrophic-heterotrophic denitrification (IAHD)- completely autotrophic nitrogen removal over nitrite (CANON) process was developed.

Rheological properties of food waste and micron-scale particle strategies for enhancing mixing performance in anaerobic digestion: Insights into rheology and numerical simulation.

The rheological properties of food waste (FW) have emerged as a pivotal bottleneck impeding the stable operation and mixing performance of anaerobic digestion systems. This work systematically evaluated the rheological properties of FW and integrated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation to investigate the mixing performance of high-solid FW with micron-scale particle sizes. Results demonstrated that typical FW exhibited shear-thinning characteristics, and the rheological behavior of high-solid FW aligned with the Herschel-Bulkley model.

Solar-Induced Phototransformation of Peracetic Acid in Chromophoric Dissolved Organic Matter Solutions.

Peracetic acid (PAA) has been extensively investigated as an alternative disinfectant for water and wastewater treatments. However, the photochemical transformation of PAA in sunlit surface waters has not been previously investigated. For the first time, the photosensitized transformation of PAA was here observed in chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM)-enriched solutions under simulated solar irradiation.

Synergistic oxidation and coagulation of raw water by novel Fe(II)/sulfite process: A comparative study with peroxydisulfate and peroxymonosulfate.

Latest findings demonstrate that the oxidative Fe(II)/sulfite (Fe(II)/S(IV)) process can rapidly generate iron particles, holding potential for coagulation while simultaneously removing emerging contaminants. Herein, we first report the synergistic oxidation-coagulation treatment of RW by Fe(II)/S(IV) process, and compare with traditional Fe-based coagulation (FeSO, Fe(SO)), Fe(II)/PDS and Fe(II)/PMS processes. Results revealed that the Fe(II)/S(IV) process outperformed traditional Fe-based coagulants, Fe(II)/PDS and Fe(II)/PMS in removing turbidity, UV, and DOC.

Synergistic toxicity of DBDPE and Cd in a microcosm agrosystem: Insights into physiological, biochemical, nutrient elements and amino acid metabolic responses.

Agricultural soil contamination by flame retardants and heavy metals has become an environmental concern, with decabromodiphenyl ethane (DBDPE) and cadmium (Cd) being frequently detected in e-waste dismantling areas. While previous studies mostly focused on single-organism system or individual toxicity, the combined effects of DBDPE and Cd on agricultural ecosystems remain largely unknown. This study aimed to reveal the joint toxicity mechanisms of DBDPE and Cd by examining physiological responses, amino acid metabolism, nutrient element distribution, and DBDPE degradation pathways in this integrated system.

Biodegradation of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater using microbial consortia: Mechanisms, applications, and challenges.

Pharmaceuticals, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, have been increasingly detected in wastewater and pose substantial ecological and public health concerns due to their persistence and bioactivity. Conventional treatment processes are often insufficient for their complete removal, highlighting the need for advanced bioremediation strategies. This review critically examines the mechanisms, applications, and challenges of microbial consortia for pharmaceutical biodegradation.

Inorganic Additives Induce More Small-Sized Microplastics Releasing from Medical Face Masks.

Although previous studies have extensively explored the release of microplastics from masks, the specific influence of inorganic additives on microplastic emissions has remained unidentified. Herein, we performed a comparative analysis of medical face masks (MFMs) with calcium carbonate (CaCO) additives against those devoid of CaCO to understand their roles in microplastic release. Briefly, our investigation employed surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) to examine micro- and nanoplastic release, while the stereoscopic characterization of mixing states of additives in microplastic was accomplished through a simulated Raman scattering (SRS).

A Novel Perspective on the Instability of Mainstream Partial Nitrification: The Niche Differentiation of Nitrifying Guilds.

Short-cut biological nitrogen removal (sBNR) favors the paradigm shift toward energy-positive and carbon-neutral wastewater treatment processes. Partial nitrification (PN) is a key approach to provide nitrite for anammox or denitritation during sBNR, and its stability is the precondition for achieving robust nitrogen removal performance. However, maintaining a stable mainstream PN process has been a long-standing challenge.

Machine Learning Advancements and Strategies in Microplastic and Nanoplastic Detection.

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) present formidable global environmental challenges with serious risks to human health and ecosystem sustainability. Despite their significance, the accurate assessment of environmental MP and NP pollution remains hindered by limitations in existing detection technologies, such as low resolution, substantial data volumes, and prolonged imaging times. Machine learning (ML) provides a promising pathway to overcome these challenges by enabling efficient data processing and complex pattern recognition.

Air-water interface of microdroplet enhances photocatalytic oxidative species generation and utilization.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) generated from semiconductor photocatalysis play crucial role in environmental remediation and clean energy production. However, the efficiency is hindered by charge carrier recombination and slow reaction kinetics. In this study, we found photocatalytic micropollutants treatment, with various concentrations and in actual wastewaters, was improved with the use of water microdroplet reactors, particularly in smaller microdroplets with removal rate constant about 5-fold higher than that in bulk solution.

Dual-engineered Ni-LiMnO microsheets for sustainable lithium mining: Accelerated ion transport and robust electrochemical extraction in brine.

The surging demand for lithium in energy storage necessitates sustainable and efficient electrochemical lithium recovery from salt lakes. Herein, we develop Ni-doped LiMnO microsheets (LNMO-MS) via a green bio-templated synthesis that integrates 2D morphology engineering and Ni-doping using chitosan biopolymer as a structural guide. This dual modulation addresses intrinsic limitations of conventional LiMnO.

Achieving partial nitrification and denitrification coupled with simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (PND-SNAD) by the inhibition of sulfide to accomplish stabilized nitrogen removal.

The simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (SNAD) process is widely applied for treating high-ammonia wastewater, but its application to low-ammonia organic wastewater has been scarcely explored. In this study, a partial nitrification and denitrification coupled with simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, and denitrification (PND-SNAD) system was established to treat organic wastewater with low ammonia concentration. Experimental results revealed that sulfide at 5 mg/L selectively inhibited nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) but had little effect on ammonium-oxidizing bacteria (AOB).

Mechanistic Insights into Solar Evaporators for Enhanced Long-Term Salt Resistance of Hypersaline Brines.

To address the persistent challenge of salt accumulation and clogging in solar evaporators, a comprehensive strategy aimed at reducing salt ion concentration at the evaporation interface by minimizing flow loss (mixing loss and friction loss) is proposed. The core principle is minimizing mixing loss to enhance the water supply efficiency to the evaporation interface, while also balancing friction loss influence by taking away salt ions from the evaporation interface. Utilizing this methodology, a novel solar evaporator that includes a millimeter-scale channel at its core, surrounded by a homogenized micro-porosity structure created using the projection microstereolithography technique is developed.

Opposing Visual Impairments Induced by Structurally Similar Organophosphate Flame Retardants TPHP and CDP in Zebrafish Larvae.

Vision is the primary sensory function for most animals and is also a sensitive toxic target of environmental pollutants. A new class of organophosphate flame retardants (OPFRs) termed emerging OPFRs (eOPFRs) with limited toxicological information is rapidly developed into the substitutes of traditional OPFRs. In this study, we investigated the visual toxicity of triphenyl phosphate (TPHP, one traditional OPFR) and cresyl diphenyl phosphate (CDP, one emerging OPFR) on zebrafish larvae at environmentally relevant concentrations (3 and 30 nM).