Three-dimensionally structured MoS@biochar breaks through the bottleneck in antibiotic wastewater treatment: Greater efficiency and self-motivated oxidation pathway.

Two-dimensional (2D) MoS has been widely used to remove antibiotics. However, low selectivity for antibiotic pollutants, dependence on applied energy and oxidant, and secondary contamination are still the bottlenecks of this system for treating antibiotic wastewater. In this study, we proposed a three-dimensional (3D) material (3MoS/BMBC@MF) based on MoS and biochar with melamine sponge as the backbone.

Effects of microplastics on microbial community and greenhouse gas emission in soil: A critical review.

Microplastics (MPs) are ubiquitous in soil ecosystems and significantly impact soil microorganisms and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although some reviews have summarized their impact on greenhouse gas emissions, no systematic analysis has been conducted on how soil physicochemical and microbial properties affect these emissions. Firstly, this review details that MPs alter microbial abundance, structure, activity and gene expression, directly stimulating CO and NO emissions, though their impact on CH remains inconclusive.

Phototransformation and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM in aqueous environment: Key role of MPs structure decoded by optical and molecular signatures.

The dissolved organic matter (DOM) derived from microplastics (MPs-DOM) can be one of the photoactive components in DOM. However, information on the properties and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM during phototransformation is limited. Here, we investigated the properties and photoreactivity of MPs-DOM from polyolefins (MPs-DOM-POs), MPs-DOM derived from benzene-containing polymers (MPs-DOM-BCPs), and Suwannee River natural organic matter (SR-NOM), during a 168-hour phototransformation.

Silver and g-CN co-modified biochar (Ag-CN@BC) for enhancing photocatalytic/PDS degradation of BPA: Role of carrier and photoelectric mechanism.

Photocatalytic property of nano Ag is weak and its enhancement is important to enlarge its application. Herein, a novel strategy of constructing silver g-CN biochar composite (Ag-CN@BC) as photocatalyst is developed and its photocatalytic degradation of bisphenol A (BPA) coupled with peroxydisulfate (PDS) oxidation process is characterized. Characterization result showed that silver was evenly embedded into the g-CN structure of the nitrogen atoms format, impeding agglomeration of Ag by distributing stably on biochar.

Complete 2,4,6-trichlorophenol degradation by anaerobic sludge acclimated with 4-chlorophenol: Synergetic effect of nZVI@BMPC and sodium lactate as an external nutrient.

Ball-milled plastic char supported nano zero-valent iron (nZVI@BMPC) and their application combined with anaerobic sludge for microbial dechlorination of 2,4,6-trichlorophenol (2,4,6-TCP) were investigated. The XRD and FTIR analysis proved composition of zero valent states of iron, and the BET and SEM analysis showed that nZVI was uniformly distributed on the surface of BMPC. Successive addition of 1000 mg/L sodium lactate and nZVI@BMPC enhanced the acclamation of anaerobic sludge and resulted in the degradation of 4-CP within 80 days.

Plastic takeaway food containers may cause human intestinal damage in routine life usage: Microplastics formation and cytotoxic effect.

The microplastics and organic additives formed in routine use of plastic takeaway food containers may pose significant health risks. Thus, we collected plastic containers made of polystyrene, polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, polylactic acid and simulated two thermal usages, including hot water (I) and microwave treatments (M). Nile Red fluorescence staining was developed to improve accurate counting of microplastics with the aid of TEM and DLS analysis.

Iron and silicon modified biochar for enhancing cadmium removal from water: Unveiling the crucial role of iron-induced silicon dissolution.

The interaction mechanisms of silicon (Si) and active ingredient iron (Fe) on cadmium (Cd) removal are still unknown. Herein, the Fe/Si modified biochar (Fe/Si-BC) was synthesized to enhance Cd removal by pre-immersion of Fe and ball milling loading of Si. Detailed characterizations indicated that Fe and Si were successfully introduced into Fe/Si-BC, resulting in the formation of a new metallic silicate (CaFe(SiO)).

Self-motivated photoaging of microplastics by biochar-dissolved organic matter under different pyrolysis temperatures.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) released from biochar (BDOM) can interact with microplastics (MPs) in the environment, inevitably affecting their environmental behaviour. Information regarding the influence of BDOM on MPs during photoaging and associated variations in the MP aging mechanism remains unclear. This study evaluated the effect of BDOM on the aging of polystyrene (PS) MPs.

Pyrolysis temperature matters: Biochar-derived dissolved organic matter modulates aging behavior and biotoxicity of microplastics.

Microplastics (MPs) have emerged as a novel and highly concerning contaminant that is ubiquitous in the aqueous environment. However, the aging of MPs induced by dissolved organic matter (DOM), especially biochar-derived dissolved organic matter (BDOM), and the biological toxicity after aging are not fully understood. In this study, the effects of biochar-derived BDOMs on the photoaging and biotoxicity of MPs were investigated at different pyrolysis temperatures using micro-scale polyethylene (PE) as an example.

Minor chromium passivation of S-ZVI enhanced the long-term dechlorination performance of trichlorethylene: Effects of corrosion and passivation on the reactivity and selectivity.

The corrosion and surface passivation of sulfidized zero-valent iron (S-ZVI) by common groundwater ions and contaminants are considered to be the most challenging aspects in the application of S-ZVI for remediation of chlorinated contaminants. This study investigated the impacts of corrosive chloride (Cl) and passivation of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) on the long-term reactivity, selectivity, corrosion behavior, and physicochemical properties during the 60-day aging process of S-ZVI. Although the co-existing of Cl promoted the initial reactivity of S-ZVI, the rapid consumption of Fe° content shortened the reactive lifetime owing to the insufficient electron capacity.

Toxicity Mechanisms of Nanoplastics on Crop Growth, Interference of Phyllosphere Microbes, and Evidence for Foliar Penetration and Translocation.

Despite the increasing prevalence of atmospheric nanoplastics (NPs), there remains limited research on their phytotoxicity, foliar absorption, and translocation in plants. In this study, we aimed to fill this knowledge gap by investigating the physiological effects of tomato leaves exposed to differently charged NPs and foliar absorption and translocation of NPs. We found that positively charged NPs caused more pronounced physiological effects, including growth inhibition, increased antioxidant enzyme activity, and altered gene expression and metabolite composition and even significantly changed the structure and composition of the phyllosphere microbial community.

Effective reducing the mobility and health risk of mercury in soil under thiol-modified biochar amendment.

Soil mercury contamination poses health risks. However, effective immobilization techniques are lacking with challenges including low efficiency, limited long-term stability, susceptibility to multi-medium interference, and difficulty in controlling health risks. This study confirmed the feasibility of thiol-modified biochar, and elucidated the underlying mechanisms.

Comparative study on the toxic effects of secondary nanoplastics from biodegradable and conventional plastics on Streptomyces coelicolor M145.

Because of the excellent properties, plastics have been widely used in the past decades and caused serious environmental issues. As an excellent substitute for conventional plastics, the biodegradable plastics have attracted increasing attention. However, biodegradable plastics may produce more micro/nanoplastics in the short time compared with conventional plastics, and cause more serious ecological risks.

Electrodeposited copper enhanced removal of 2,4-dichlorophenol in batch and flow reaction in Cu@CC-PS-MFC system.

Combination of microbial fuel cell (MFC) and advanced oxidation process (AOP) is promising for pollutant removal. In this paper, Cu-loaded carbon cloth cathode by electrodeposition (Cu@CC-PS-MFC) was applied to enhance 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) degradation based on persulfate (PS) activation in microbial fuel cell. Cu exhibited a typical structure of face-centered cubic metal polyhedron on carbon cloth.

Interaction between microplastic biofilm formation and antibiotics: Effect of microplastic biofilm and its driving mechanisms on antibiotic resistance gene.

As two pollutants with similar transport pathways, microplastics (MPs) and antibiotics (ATs) inevitably co-exist in water environments, and their interaction has become a topic of intense research interest for scholars over the past few years. This paper comprehensively and systematically reviews the current interaction between MPs and ATs, in particular, the role played by biofilm developed MPs (microplastic biofilm). A summary of the formation process of microplastic biofilm and its unique microbial community structure is presented in the paper.

Tetrabromobisphenol A transformation by biochar supported post-sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron: Mechanistic insights from shell control and solvent kinetic isotope effects.

Post-sulfidated nanoscale zero-valent iron with a controlled FeS shell thickness deposited on biochar (S-nZVI/BC) was synthesized to degrade tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA). Detailed characterizations revealed that the increasing sulfidation degree altered shell thickness/morphology, S content/speciation/distribution, hydrophobicity, and electron transfer capacity. Meanwhile, the BC improved electron transfer capacity and hydrophobicity and inhibited the surface oxidation of S-nZVI.

Heavy metal stress in plants: Ways to alleviate with exogenous substances.

Accumulation and enrichment of excessive heavy metals due to industrialization and modernization not only devastate our ecosystem, but also pose a threat to the global vegetation, especially crops. To improve plant resilience against heavy metal stress (HMS), numerous exogenous substances (ESs) have been tried as the alleviating agents. After a careful and thorough review of over 150 recently published literature, 93 reported ESs and their corresponding effects on alleviating HMS, we propose that 7 underlying mechanisms of ESs be categorized in plants for: 1) improving the capacity of the antioxidant system, 2) inducing the synthesis of osmoregulatory substances, 3) enhancing the photochemical system, 4) detouring the accumulation and migration of heavy metals, 5) regulating the secretion of endogenous hormones, 6) modulating gene expressions, and 7) participating in microbe-involved regulations.

Preferential role of distinct phytochemicals in biosynthesis and antibacterial activity of silver nanoparticles.

Biosynthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by plant extracts and its antibacterial utilization has attracted great attention due to the spontaneous reducing and capping capacities of phytochemicals. However, the preferential role and mechanisms of the functional phytochemicals from different plants on AgNPs synthesis, and its catalytic and antibacterial performance remain largely unknown. This study used three widespread arbor species, including Eriobotrya japonica (EJ), Cupressus funebris (CF) and Populus (PL), as the precursors and their leaf extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents for the biosynthesis of AgNPs.