Metal heteroatoms significantly enhance efficacy of TiO nanomaterials in promoting hydrolysis of organophosphates: Implications for mitigating pollution of plastic additives.

Organophosphate esters (OPEs) are prevalent pollutants in the aquatic environment. OPEs are released from many sources, particularly, from the breakdown and weathering of plastic wastes, as OPEs are commonly used plastic additives. Metal oxide mineral nanoparticles play critical roles in the hydrolytic transformation of OPEs.

Protein Corona Formation on Cadmium-Bearing Nanoparticles: Important Role of Facet-Dependent Binding of Cysteine-Rich Proteins.

Cadmium-bearing nanoparticles, such as nanoparticulate cadmium selenide (CdSe) and cadmium sulfide (CdS), widely exist in the environment and originate from both natural and anthropogenic sources. Risk assessment of these nanoparticles cannot be accurate without taking into account the properties of the protein corona that is acquired by the nanoparticles upon biouptake. Here, we show that the compositions of the protein corona on CdSe/CdS nanoparticles are regulated collectively by the surface atomic arrangement of the nanoparticles and the abundance and distribution of cysteine moieties of the proteins in contact with the nanoparticles.

A state-of-the-art review of environmental behavior and potential risks of biodegradable microplastics in soil ecosystems: Comparison with conventional microplastics.

As the use of biodegradable plastics becomes increasingly widespread, their environmental behaviors and impacts warrant attention. Unlike conventional plastics, their degradability predisposes them to fragment into microplastics (MPs) more readily. These MPs subsequently enter the terrestrial environment.

Preferential association of PBDEs and PAHs with mineral particles vs. dissolved organic carbon: Implications for groundwater contamination at e-waste sites.

Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are commonly detected contaminants at e-waste recycling sites. Against the conventional wisdom that PBDEs and PAHs are highly immobile and persist primarily in shallow surface soils, increasing evidence shows that these compounds can leach into the groundwater. Herein, we compare the leachabilities of PBDEs vs.

Effects of transient flow conditions on colloid-facilitated release of decabromodiphenyl ether: Implications for contaminant mobility at e-waste recycling sites.

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are ubiquitous contaminants, especially in the soil and groundwater of contaminated sites and landfills. Notably, 2,2',3,3',4,4',5,5',6,6'-decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209), one of the most frequently and abundantly detected PBDE congeners in the environment, has recently been designated as a new pollutant subject to rigorous control in China. Colloid-facilitated transport is a key mechanism for the release of PBDEs from surface soils and their migration in the aquifer, but the effects of hydrodynamic conditions, particularly transient flow, on colloid-facilitated release of PBDEs are not well understood.

Single-Atom Iron Can Steer Atomic Hydrogen toward Selective Reductive Dechlorination: Implications for Remediation of Chlorinated Solvents-Impacted Groundwater.

Atomic hydrogen (H*) is a powerful and versatile reductant and has tremendous potential in the degradation of oxidized pollutants (e.g., chlorinated solvents).

Recent advances in stimuli-response mechanisms of nano-enabled controlled-release fertilizers and pesticides.

Nanotechnology-enabled fertilizers and pesticides, especially those capable of releasing plant nutrients or pesticide active ingredients (AIs) in a controlled manner, can effectively enhance crop nutrition and protection while minimizing the environmental impacts of agricultural activities. Herein, we review the fundamentals and recent advances in nanofertilizers and nanopesticides with controlled-release properties, enabled by nanocarriers responsive to environmental and biological stimuli, including pH change, temperature, light, redox conditions, and the presence of enzymes. For pH-responsive nanocarriers, pH change can induce structural changes or degradation of the nanocarriers or cleave the bonding between nutrients/pesticide AIs and the nanocarriers.

Preferential association of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) with soil colloids at an e-waste recycling site: Implications for risk of PAH migration to subsurface environment.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) contamination at e-waste recycling sites poses high ecological and human-health risks. Of note, PAHs in surface soils can be mobilized through colloid-facilitated transport, and may migrate into the subsurface and pollute groundwater. Here, we show that the colloids released from the soil samples at an e-waste recycling site in Tianjin, China contain high concentrations of PAHs, with total concentrations of 16 PAHs as high as 1520 ng/g dw.

Recyclable Carbon Cloth-Supported ZnO@AgPO Core-Shell Structure for Photocatalytic Degradation of Organic Dye.

The extensive use of organic dyes in industry has caused serious environmental problems, and photocatalysis is a potential solution to water pollution by organic dyes. The practical application of powdery photocatalysts is usually limited by the rapid recombination of charge carriers and difficulty in recycling. In this study, recyclable carbon cloth-supported ZnO@AgPO composite with a core-shell structure was successfully prepared by solvothermal treatment and subsequent impregnation-deposition.

Citrate-promoted dissolution of nanostructured manganese oxides: Implications for nano-enabled sustainable agriculture.

Nanostructured manganese oxides (nano-MnO) have shown great promises as versatile agrochemicals in nano-enabled sustainable agriculture, owing to the coupled benefits of controlled release of dissolved Mn, an essential nutrient needed by plants, and oxidative destruction of environmental organic pollutants. Here, we show that three δ-MnO nanomaterials consisting of nanosheet-assembled flower-like nanospheres not only exhibit greater kinetics in citrate-promoted dissolution, but also are less prone to passivation, compared with three α-MnO nanowire materials. The better performance of the δ-MnO nanomaterials can be attributed to their higher abundance of surface unsaturated Mn atoms-particularly Mn(III)-that is originated from their specific exposed facets and higher abundance of surface defects sites.

Current Methods and Prospects for Analysis and Characterization of Nanomaterials in the Environment.

Analysis and characterization of naturally occurring and engineered nanomaterials in the environment are critical for understanding their environmental behaviors and defining real exposure scenarios for environmental risk assessment. However, this is challenging primarily due to the low concentration, structural heterogeneity, and dynamic transformation of nanomaterials in complex environmental matrices. In this critical review, we first summarize sample pretreatment methods developed for separation and preconcentration of nanomaterials from environmental samples, including natural waters, wastewater, soils, sediments, and biological media.

Effects of Silver Nanoparticles on Development, Behavior, and Mitochondrial Function are Altered by Genetic Defects in Mitochondrial Dynamics.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are extensively used in consumer products and biomedical applications, thus guaranteeing both environmental and human exposures. Despite extensive research addressing AgNP safety, there are still major knowledge gaps regarding AgNP toxicity mechanisms, particularly in whole organisms. Mitochondrial dysfunction is frequently described as an important cytotoxicity mechanism for AgNPs; however, it is still unclear if mitochondria are the direct targets of AgNPs.

Key factors controlling colloids-bulk soil distribution of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) at an e-waste recycling site: Implications for PBDE mobility in subsurface environment.

Accumulation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) in surface soils at elevated concentrations is common at e-waste recycling sites. Even though highly insoluble, migration of PBDEs into the vadose zone and groundwater is possible, due to their association with soil colloids. Here, we show that upon equilibration with artificial rainwater surface and subsurface soil samples collected at an e-waste recycling site release significant quantities of colloids, with the total concentrations of 14 PBDE congeners as high as 990 ng/g dw.

Substoichiometric titanium oxide TiO exhibits greater efficiency in enhancing hydrolysis of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane than TiO nanomaterials.

Oxygen-deficient substoichiometric titanium oxides, or "titanium suboxides," are produced incidentally from coal combustion and are environmentally abundant. Additionally, titanium suboxide nanomaterials are promising new materials with likely future environmental release. How these materials may affect contaminant fate differently than stoichiometric TiO (nano)materials is largely unknown.

Enhanced Hydrolysis of -Nitrophenyl Phosphate by Iron (Hydr)oxide Nanoparticles: Roles of Exposed Facets.

Iron (hydr)oxide nanoparticles are one of the most abundant classes of naturally occurring nanoparticles and are widely used engineered nanomaterials. In the environment these nanoparticles may significantly affect contaminant fate. Using two goethite materials with different contents of exposed {021} facet and two hematite materials with predominantly exposed {001} and {100} facets, respectively, we show that exposed facets, one of the most intrinsic properties of nanocrystals, significantly affect the efficiency of iron (hydr)oxide nanoparticles in catalyzing acid-promoted hydrolysis of 4-nitrophenyl phosphate (pNPP, selected as a model organophosphorus pollutant).

Enhanced hydrolysis of 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane by multi-walled carbon nanotube/TiO nanocomposites: The synergistic effect.

Once released into the environment, engineered nanomaterials can significantly influence the transformation and fate of organic contaminants. To date, the abilities of composite nanomaterials to catalyze environmentally relevant abiotic transformation reactions of organic contaminants are largely unknown. Herein, we investigated the effects of two nanocomposites - consisting of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO) with different predominantly exposed crystal facets (i.

Hierarchical C/NiO-ZnO nanocomposite fibers with enhanced adsorption capacity for Congo red.

Wastewater containing organic dyestuff has caused worldwide concern, hence, it is imperative to develop materials to remove organic dyes from wastewater. Herein, we report the synthesis of carbon fiber-based bimetallic oxide nanocomposite with high efficiency for the adsorptive removal of Congo red (CR), a typical anionic dye. Composite nanosheets of nickel(II) oxide (NiO) and zinc oxide (ZnO) were in situ grown over electrospun carbon fibers via one-step oil bath coprecipitation and subsequent calcination in air at 350 °C.

In Situ Irradiated X-Ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy Investigation on a Direct Z-Scheme TiO /CdS Composite Film Photocatalyst.

Inspired by nature, artificial photosynthesis through the construction of direct Z-scheme photocatalysts is extensively studied for sustainable solar fuel production due to the effectiveness in enhancing photoconversion efficiency. However, there is still a lack of thorough understanding and direct evidence for the direct Z-scheme charge transfer in these photocatalysts. Herein, a recyclable direct Z-scheme composite film composed of titanium dioxide and cadmium sulfide (TiO /CdS) is prepared for high-efficiency photocatalytic carbon dioxide (CO ) reduction.

A Facile Synthesis of Ternary Nickel Iron Sulfide Nanospheres as Counter Electrode in Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells.

The incorporation of a foreign metal into a material may adjust the surface electronic structure and promote charge transfer, which then ultimately improves electrical conductivity and electrocatalytic performance because of the possible charge delocalization between the metal cations. As a result, for the first time, ternary nickel iron sulfide nanospheres have been successfully fabricated through a two-step solvothermal approach with the help of glucose (Ni Fe S /C). Subsequently, the electrochemical performance and electrocatalytic activity of Ni Fe S /C were evaluated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, Tafel polarization and cyclic voltammetry, indicating high electrical conductivity and great electrocatalytic activity.

FcγRIIB receptor-mediated apoptosis in macrophages through interplay of cadmium sulfide nanomaterials and protein corona.

Humans are likely exposed to cadmium sulfide nanomaterials (CdS NMs) due to the increasing environmental release and in vivo application of these materials, which tend to accumulate and cause toxic effects in human lungs, particularly by interrupting the physiological functions of macrophage cells. Here, we showed that protein corona played an essential role in determining cellular uptake and cytotoxicity of CdS NMs in macrophages. Protein-coated CdS NMs enhanced the expression of FcγRIIB receptors on the cell surface, and the interaction between this receptors and proteins inhibited cellular uptake of CdS NMs while triggering cell apoptosis via the AKT/Caspase 3 signaling pathway.

Hierarchical flower-like nickel(II) oxide microspheres with high adsorption capacity of Congo red in water.

Monodispersed hierarchical flower-like nickel(II) oxide (NiO) microspheres were fabricated by a facile solvothermal reaction with the assistance of ethanolamine and a subsequent calcination process. The as-synthesized samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, zeta potential measurement and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Flower-like nickel(II) hydroxide microspheres with uniform diameters of approximate 6.

Enhanced visible-light photocatalytic H-generation activity of carbon/g-CN nanocomposites prepared by two-step thermal treatment.

Photocatalytic hydrogen (H) production from water by using solar energy and a photocatalyst is a green and sustainable route to tackle the energy issues. Herein, carbon/g-CN nanocomposites were successfully synthesized via a two-step thermal treatment of urea and glucose with different ratios. As confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, a C-O-C bond was formed between carbon and g-CN, which leads to a strong interaction between carbon and g-CN.