Tunable High Entropy Lanthanide Oxide Microspheres via Confined Electroprecipitation in Emulsion Droplet Scaffolds.

Emergent high entropy nanomaterials and their associated complex surface structure hold promise to unlock unique catalytic intermediate pathways and photonic/plasmonic interactions; however, synthetic strategies to tune the size, morphological, and stoichiometric properties remain limited. This work demonstrates a confined electro-precipitation mechanism for the formation of tunable, high-entropy oxide microspheres within emulsion droplet scaffolds. This mechanism complements a traditional confined electrodeposition mechanism and explains the previously observed anomalous formation of thermodynamically unfavorable particles, including lanthanide species.

Critical metal geochemistry in groundwaters influenced by dredged material.

This study investigated critical metal (CM) geochemistry including rare earth elements (REEs), Co, Ni, and Mn in groundwaters below and surrounding two dredged material placement facilities (DMPFs). Metal concentrations are elevated at both sites, spanning several orders of magnitude. The highest CM concentrations measured exceed many environments considered as aqueous resources (Co and Ni > 1 mg L, REEs > 3 mg L).

Separation and identification of microplastics in marine organisms by TGA-FTIR-GC/MS: A case study of mussels from coastal China.

Microplastics are ubiquitous in the marine environment but characterizing them in marine organisms is challenging. Herein we describe a method to detect, identify, and quantify microplastics in marine mussels (Mytilus edulis) using thermal gravimetric analysis - Fourier Transform infrared spectroscopy - gas chromatography mass spectrometry (TGA-FTIR-GC/MS) after extracting and isolating the microplastics using chemical digestion, density separation, and filtration. Combining the three instrumental techniques adds discriminatory power as temperature profiles, chromatograms, and vibrational and mass spectra differ among common plastics.

Occurrence of Microplastic Pollution at Oyster Reefs and Other Coastal Sites in the Mississippi Sound, USA: Impacts of Freshwater Inflows from Flooding.

Much of the seafood that humans consume comes from estuaries and coastal areas where microplastics (MPs) accumulate, due in part to continual input and degradation of plastic litter from rivers and runoff. As filter feeders, oysters () are especially vulnerable to MP pollution. In this study, we assessed MP pollution in water at oyster reefs along the Mississippi Gulf Coast when: (1) historic flooding of the Mississippi River caused the Bonnet Carré Spillway to remain open for a record period of time causing major freshwater intrusion to the area and deleterious impacts on the species and (2) the spillway was closed, and normal salinity conditions resumed.

Single-Pot Method for the Collection and Preparation of Natural Water for Microplastic Analyses: Microplastics in the Mississippi River System during and after Historic Flooding.

We describe a simple single-pot method for collection and preparation of natural water for microplastic analyses. The method prepares samples in the same vessel (mason jars) that they are collected in right up until the microplastics are transferred onto filters or spectroscopic windows for analyses. The method minimized contamination, degradation, and losses, while increasing recoveries and throughput when compared with conventional sieving.

Exposure to mixtures of mercury, cadmium, lead, and arsenic alters the disposition of single metals in tissues of Wistar rats.

Humans throughout the world are exposed regularly to mixtures of environmental toxicants. Four of the most common heavy metal toxicants in the environment are mercury (Hg), cadmium (Cd), lead (Pb), and arsenic (As). Numerous studies have assessed the effects and disposition of individual metals in organ systems; however, humans are usually exposed to mixtures of toxicants or metals rather than to a single toxicant.

Adaption and use of a quadcopter for targeted sampling of gaseous mercury in the atmosphere.

We modified a popular and inexpensive quadcopter to collect gaseous mercury (Hg) on gold-coated quartz cartridges, and analyzed the traps using cold vapor atomic fluorescence spectrometry. Flight times averaged 16 min, limited by battery life, and yielded > 5 pg of Hg, well above the limit of detection (< 0.2 pg).