Fe-modified fly ash/cotton stalk biochar composites for efficient removal of phosphate in water: mechanisms and green-reuse potential.

Excessive phosphate content input into natural water can lead to the waste of resource and eutrophication. Biochar is a kind of low-cost adsorbent. However, its adsorption capacity for phosphate is low.

Arsenic adsorption by carboxylate and amino modified polystyrene micro- and nanoplastics: kinetics and mechanisms.

We investigated adsorption characteristics of As(III) and As(V) onto two different functionalized polystyrene (PS) microplastics (MPs). Our results show that there is the potential for PS MPs to adsorb both As(III) and As(V). Using a particle size of 80-82 nm, maximum As(III) and As(V) adsorption capacities of 0.

Effects of microplastics on arsenic uptake and distribution in rice seedlings.

The potential of microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) to act as a carrier for heavy metals derived from the environment is of rising concern to the health of global ecosystems. Here, we investigated the effects of particle size of polystyrene micro/nano plastics on the uptake, accumulation, and toxicity of As in rice seedlings in a hydroponic system. Significant differences in As uptake and accumulation in different plant tissue were observed between the plants co-exposed to 82 nm NPs + As and 200 nm MPs + As.

Insights into the interaction mechanism of ofloxacin and functionalized nano-polystyrene.

Nano-plastics (NPs), an emerging contaminant in the environment, have a larger specific surface area and can act as a carrier of other contaminants. Thus, insights into the interaction mechanisms between NPs and other pollutants are crucial for the assessment of environmental impacts of NPs in the ecosystems. In this study, the interaction mechanism between NPs and ofloxacin (OFL) were investigated via kinetics, fluorescence quenching, and two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS).

Benthic Biofilm Bacterial Communities and Their Linkage with Water-Soluble Organic Matter in Effluent Receivers.

Benthic biofilms are pioneering microbial aggregates responding to effluent discharge from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). However, knowledge of the characteristics and linkage of bacterial communities and water-soluble organic matter (WSOM) of benthic biofilms in effluent-receiving rivers remains unknown. Here, we investigated the quality of WSOM and the evolution of bacterial communities in benthic biofilm to evaluate the ecological impacts of effluent discharge on a representative receiving water.

Phytoextraction, accumulation, and toxicological effects of 1-tetradecyl-3-methylimidazolium ionic liquid in ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).

Ionic liquids are widely used in many fields due to their extremely tunable nature and exceptional properties. The extensive application of ionic liquids raises great concerns regarding their bioaccumulation potential and adverse effects on organisms. Green plants have a great potential for uptake of persistent xenobiotics from aquatic and terrestrial environment.

Adsorption of ciprofloxacin to functionalized nano-sized polystyrene plastic: Kinetics, thermochemistry and toxicity.

Plastic debris is ubiquitous in aquatic systems and has been proven vehicles for the transport of various pollutants including trace organic compounds. Nanoplastics have large specific surface area and hydrophobic characteristics and therefore are capable of adsorbing other organic or inorganic chemicals from the environment. Antibiotics, as another class of emerging contaminants, have raised significant research concern in recent years as they pose threats to the ecosytems and human health.

Concentration- and nutrient-dependent cellular responses of microalgae Chlorella pyrenoidosa to perfluorooctanoic acid.

Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), an emerging and persistent pollutant, could cause toxicity effects on aquatic organisms. However, this was generally assessed under high exposure concentrations of PFOA and nutrient-enriched conditions, which was not accordant with the actual environments. Therefore, to comprehensively understand the toxicity effects of PFOA on aquatic organisms, the cellular responses of microalgae, Chlorella pyrenoidosa, to PFOA under different concentrations (≤ 1.

Alkyl chain length affecting uptake of imidazolium based ionic liquids by ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).

Imidazolium based ionic liquids (ILs) have been extensively used in the various industrial fields, however, the dependence of their structure on toxicity and bioavailability by plants is not clear. Thus, in this study, uptake of imidazolium based ILs with different alkyl chain lengths (e.g.

Synthesis of FeO nanocomposites for efficient separation of ultra-small oil droplets from hexadecane-water emulsions.

Eco-friendliness and low cost are critical when investigating new oil-water separation agents with high separation efficiencies for the treatment of emulsified oily wastewater in industrial applications, including crude oil exploitation. Treatment methods specifically suited to wastewater containing ultra-small oil droplets are lacking and urgently required. This study investigated the one-pot synthesis of humic acid and polydimethyldiallylammonium chloride coated FeO nanoparticles.

Mixture toxicity and uptake of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide and cadmium co-contaminants in water by perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.).

Ionic liquids, a kind of emerging and persistent organic contaminants, always coexist with heavy metals in aquatic and terrestrial environments. However, the feasibility of phytoremediation to remove ionic liquids and heavy metals co-contaminants is still unclear. Thus, in this study, the hydroponic experiment was conducted to investigate the combined effect of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide ([Cmim]Br) and cadmium (Cd) on growth and physiological indictors of perennial ryegrass, together with their uptake and translocation by plants.

Uptake and accumulation of imidazolium ionic liquids in rice seedlings: Impacts of alkyl chain length.

The uptake and accumulation of three imidazolium ionic liquids with different alkyl chain lengths ([Cmin]Br, [Cmin]Br, [Cmin]Br) in rice seedlings were investigated. All three different ILs were primarily accumulated in roots, while only a little amount of ILs were translocated and accumulated in stems and leaves. Accumulation and transportation of ILs in rice depend on the concentration and the alkyl chain length of ILs.

Uptake, accumulation and metabolization of 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bromide by ryegrass from water: Prospects for phytoremediation.

The unique properties of ionic liquids make them attractive for a wide range of industrial applications, which makes it easy to be released into the environment and cause water or soil pollution. Phytoremediation of organic contaminants is a safe and important process for removing persistent pollutants from the environment. However, due to they are very chemically stable and potentially toxic to plants, whether they can be removed, assimilated and metabolized by plants remains unknown during phytoremediation process.

Structural response of humic acid upon binding with lead: A spectroscopic insight.

Lead (Pb) is a widespread heavy metal that can cause damage to the ecosystem, and the ubiquitously existing dissolved organic matter (DOM) can significantly affect the environmental behavior of Pb. The present work explores the interaction process of Pb with humic acid (HA) through integration of synchronous fluorescence and log-transformed UV-vis absorption spectroscopy coupled with spectral slope calculation and two-dimensional correlation analyses. The spectral slope calculation results show that the carboxylic and phenolic groups in HA were the predominant binding sites to Pb, and the interaction process was highly dependent on solution pH.

Microbial fuel cell driving electrokinetic remediation of toxic metal contaminated soils.

An investigation of the feasibility of in-situ electrokinetic remediation for toxic metal contaminated soil driven by microbial fuel cell (MFC) is presented. Results revealed that the weak electricity generated from MFC could power the electrokinetic remediation effectively. The metal removal efficiency and its influence on soil physiological properties were also investigated.

Bioelectrochemical Chromium(VI) Removal in Plant-Microbial Fuel Cells.

Plant-microbial fuel cell (PMFC) is a renewable and sustainable energy technology that generates electricity with living plants. However, little information is available regarding the application of PMFC for the remediation of heavy metal contaminated water or soil. In this study, the potential for the removal of heavy metal Cr(VI) using PMFC was evaluated, and the performance of the PMFC at various initial Cr(VI) contents was investigated.

FTIR and synchronous fluorescence heterospectral two-dimensional correlation analyses on the binding characteristics of copper onto dissolved organic matter.

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is known to form strong complexes with heavy metals and thus governs the distribution, toxicity, bioavailability, and ultimate fate of heavy metals in the environment. The relevant aspects of metal-organic interactions remain unclear because the metal binding functionalities in DOM are substantially nonuniform and the availability of the models is limited. In this work, two-dimensional correlation spectroscopy (2DCOS) integrated with synchronous fluorescence and infrared absorption spectroscopy was used to explore the binding process of copper to DOM.

Copper release from copper nanoparticles in the presence of natural organic matter.

Copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) are widely used and inevitably released into aqueous environments, causing ecological and health risks. Ubiquitous natural organic matter (NOM) might affect the copper release behaviors from CuNPs and their toxicity. This work aims to elucidate how NOM affects copper release from CuNPs, with a focus on the impacts of NOM properties and the NOM-CuNPs interaction mechanism.