AI Article Synopsis

  • Microgels are essential in ocean processes like element cycling, microbial ecology, and pollutant transport.
  • Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from marine microbes are a key source of microgels and can bind to hydrophobic pollutants.
  • The review examines how the interaction between EPS and different pollutants affects their transport and distribution in marine environments.

Article Abstract

Microgels play critical roles in a variety of processes in the ocean, including element cycling, particle interactions, microbial ecology, food web dynamics, air-sea exchange, and pollutant distribution and transport. Exopolymeric substances (EPS) from various marine microbes are one of the major sources for marine microgels. Due to their amphiphilic nature, many types of pollutants, especially hydrophobic ones, have been found to preferentially associate with marine microgels. The interactions between pollutants and microgels can significantly impact the transport, sedimentation, distribution, and the ultimate fate of these pollutants in the ocean. This review on marine gels focuses on the discussion of the interactions between gel-forming EPS and pollutants, such as oil and other hydrophobic pollutants, nanoparticles, and metal ions.

Download full-text PDF

Source
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8293255PMC
http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/gels7030083DOI Listing

Publication Analysis

Top Keywords

hydrophobic pollutants
8
pollutants microgels
8
marine microgels
8
pollutants
6
marine
5
marine gel
4
interactions
4
gel interactions
4
interactions hydrophilic
4
hydrophilic hydrophobic
4

Similar Publications

Identification of plant-based spilled oils using direct analysis in real-time-time-of-flight mass spectrometry with hydrophobic paper sampling.

Environ Monit Assess

January 2025

Science and Technology Branch, Pacific Environmental Science Centre, Environment and Climate Change Canada, Pacific and Yukon Laboratory for Environmental Testing, North Vancouver, BC, Canada.

Spilled plant-based oils behave very differently in comparison to petroleum oils and require different clean-up measures. They do not evaporate, disperse, dissolve, or emulsify to a significant degree but can polymerize and form an impermeable cap on sediment, smothering benthic media and resulting in an immediate impact on the wildlife community. The current study explored the application of rapid up-to-date direct analysis in real time (DART) with high-resolution mass spectrometry for plant-based oil typing.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Molecular Mechanisms of Humic Acid in Inhibiting Silica Scaling during Membrane Distillation.

Environ Sci Technol

January 2025

Shandong Key Laboratory of Water Pollution Control and Resource Reuse, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, P. R. China.

Membrane distillation (MD) efficiently desalinizes and treats high-salinity water as well as addresses the challenges in handling concentrated brines and wastewater. However, silica scaling impeded the effectiveness of MD for treating hypersaline water and wastewater. Herein, the effects of humic acid (HA) on silica scaling behavior during MD are systematically investigated.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The discharge of oil-laden wastewater from industrial processes and the frequent occurrence of oil spills pose severe threats to the ecological environment and human health. Membrane materials with special wettability have garnered attention for their ability to achieve efficient oil-water separation by leveraging the differences in wettability at the oil-water interface. These materials are characterized by their simplicity, energy efficiency, environmental friendliness, and reusability.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Transformation fate of bisphenol A in aerobic denitrifying cultures and its coercive mechanism on the nitrogen transformation pathway.

Environ Res

January 2025

State Key Laboratory of Marine Pollution and Department of Chemistry, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Kowloon, Hong Kong 999077, China; School of Energy and Environment, City University of Hong Kong, Tat Chee Avenue, Hong Kong Kowloon, 999077, China. Electronic address:

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a commonly used endocrine-disrupting chemical found in high levels in wastewater worldwide. Aerobic denitrification is a promising alternative to conventional nitrogen removal processes. However, the effects of BPA on this novel nitrogen removal process have rarely been reported.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Leveraging almost hydrophobic PVDF membrane and in-situ ozonation in O/UF/BAC system for superior anti-fouling and rejection performance in drinking water treatment.

Water Res

January 2025

State Key Joint Laboratory of Environment Simulation and Pollution Control, School of Environment, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China. Electronic address:

The almost hydrophobic PVDF membrane (PVDF matrix) commonly exhibited excellent performance in pollutant rejection but with poor anti-fouling performance. This study intended to develop the rejection performance and enhance anti-fouling of the PVDF membrane in an O/UF/BAC system for high quality water production through leveraging the advantages of in-situ ozonation and the nature of the PVDF membrane. Reduced density gradient (RDG) analysis demonstrated that the PVDF membrane exhibited excellent ozone resistance by reducing hydrogen bonds and electrostatic interactions between the membrane surface and ozone.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Want AI Summaries of new PubMed Abstracts delivered to your In-box?

Enter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!