Microwave-assisted atmospheric alkaline leaching process and leaching kinetics of rare earth melt electrolysis slag.

This study focuses on the difficulty of converting fluorinated rare earth elements into hydroxylated rare earth elements in rare earth melt electrolysis slag (RMES) and proposes the use of a microwave-assisted atmospheric alkaline leaching method for the treatment of RMES. The leaching behavior of RMES under microwave-assisted atmospheric alkaline leaching was studied, and the optimal reaction conditions were determined. Under the conditions of a reaction temperature of 150 °C, initial NaOH concentration of 60 %, NaOH-to-slag mass ratio of 4:1, microwave power of 700 W, reaction time of 120 min, and stirring speed of 300 r/min, the conversion rate of fluorinated rare earths reached 99.

Age structure and body size of two Tibetan toad () populations from different elevations in China.

Understanding how age and body size vary across elevations can provide insights into the evolution of life-history traits in animals. In the present study, we compared the demographic (using skeletochronology) and morphological traits of the Tibetan toad () between two populations from different elevational habitats (2650 vs. 3930 m).

Using artificial intelligence to rapidly identify microplastics pollution and predict microplastics environmental behaviors.

With the massive release of microplastics (MPs) into the environment, research related to MPs is advancing rapidly. Effective research methods are necessary to identify the chemical composition, shape, distribution, and environmental impacts of MPs. In recent years, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven machine learning methods have demonstrated excellent performance in analyzing MPs in soil and water.

Synthesis of porous carbon derived from coal tar residue via bimetallic salt activation for effective and selective adsorption of thallium(I).

As a highly toxic rare metal, the removal of thallium (Tl) from wastewater has been widely investigated, and adsorption is considered one of the most promising treatment technologies for Tl-containing contaminated water because of its cost-effectiveness, convenience, and high efficacy. In this work, coal tar residue (CTR)-based porous carbon was synthesized through KFeO activation, and applied in adsorbing Tl(I). KFeO could synergistically produce porosity and load iron oxide on the produced porous carbon surface because of the catalytic cracking and oxidative etching during the activation of CTR.

Grinding siderite with ferric sulfate to generate an active ferrous source for Cr(VI) reduction.

Activated siderite, endowed with excellent properties, was simply prepared by co-grinding with Fe sulfate to enhance its high reducing ability for Cr(VI). Batch experiments were conducted to investigate the main affecting parameters, such as material ratio, pH, temperature, etc. The removal of Cr(VI) by activated siderite was completed within 4 h of the reaction.

Distribution of mercury and methylmercury in aquacultured fish in special waters formed by coal mining subsidence.

In China, fence net aquaculture practices have been established in some subsidence waters that have been formed in coal mining subsidence areas. Within this dynamic ecological context, diverse fish species grow continuously until being harvested at the culmination of their production cycle. The purpose of this study was to investigate diverse factors influencing the bioavailability and distribution of mercury (Hg) and methylmercury (MeHg), which have high physiological toxicity in fish, in the Guqiao coal mining subsidence area in Huainan, China.

Defluorination of monofluorinated alkane by Rhodococcus sp. NJF-7 isolated from soil.

Microbial degradation of fluorinated compounds raised significant attention because of their widespread distribution and potential environmental impacts. Here, we report a bacterial isolate, Rhodococcus sp. NJF-7 capable of defluorinating monofluorinated medium-chain length alkanes.

The effect of extracellular polymeric substances on MICP solidifying rare earth slags and stabilizing Th and U.

Microbially induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) has been used to cure rare earth slags (RES) containing radionuclides (e.g. Th and U) and heavy metals with favorable results.

Optimizing ciprofloxacin removal through regulations of trophic modes and FNA levels in a moving bed biofilm reactor performing sidestream partial nitritation.

The performance of partial nitritation (PN)-moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) in removal of antibiotics in the sidestream wastewater has not been investigated so far. In this work, the removal of ciprofloxacin was assessed under varying free nitrous acid (FNA) levels and different trophic modes. For the first time, a positive correlation was observed between ciprofloxacin removal and FNA levels, either in the autotrophic PN-MBBR or in the mixotrophic PN-MBBR, mainly ascribed to the FNA-stimulating effect on heterotrophic bacteria (HB)-induced biodegradation.

Genomic and Phenotypic Adaptations of Rattus tanezumi to Cold Limit Its Further Northward Expansion and Range Overlap with R. norvegicus.

Global climate change has led to shifts in the distribution ranges of many terrestrial species, promoting their migration from lower altitudes or latitudes to higher ones. Meanwhile, successful invaders have developed genetic adaptations enabling the colonization of new environments. Over the past 40 years, Rattus tanezumi (RT) has expanded into northern China (Northwest and North China) from its southern origins.

Elements characteristics and potential environmental risk assessment of jarosite residue and arsenic sulfide residue based on geochemical and mineralogical analysis.

The waste slag known as jarosite residue (JR) and arsenic sulfide residue (ASR) were produced following the creation of zinc by hydrometallurgical procedures. The increasing annual zinc mining has led to growing pressure to dispose of the resulting JR and ASR from zinc smelting, making it crucial to assess their environmental impact and feasibility for utilization. The main components, distribution characteristics of elements, and potential environmental risks of zinc smelting wastes are studied through toxicity leaching tests, sequential extraction procedures, and various characterization technologies such as XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDS.

In situ activation of peroxymonosulfate with bioelectricity for sulfamethoxazole sustainable removal.

Conventional electrochemical activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) is not very cost-effective and practical by the excessive input of energy. The electricity generated by photosynthetic microalgae fuel cells (MFCs) is utilized to activate PMS, which would achieve the combination of green bioelectricity and advanced oxidation processes for sustainable pollutants degradation. In this study, a novel dual-chamber of MFCs was constructed by using microalgae as anode electron donor and PMS as cathode electron acceptor, which was operating under both close-circuit and open-circuit conditions.

Recent advances and prospects of neonicotinoid insecticides removal from aquatic environments using biochar: Adsorption and degradation mechanisms.

In recent years, neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs), representing a new era of pest control, have increasingly replaced traditional classes such as organophosphorus compounds, carbamates, and pyrethroids due to their precise targeting and broad-spectrum efficacy. However, the high water solubility of NNIs has led to their pervasion in aquatic ecosystems, raising concerns about potential risks to non-target organisms and human health. Therefore, there is an urgent need for research on remediating NNI contamination in aquatic environments.

Investigating the distribution of microplastics in soils from e-waste dismantling sites and their adsorption of heavy metals.

Microplastics are characterized by strong hydrophobicity, large specific surface area. In addition to the pollutant they contain, the heavy metals adsorbed on the surface of microplastics can migrate or be transformed with them into the environmental medium, which is potentially harmful to humans. The distribution characteristics of microplastics in contaminated soil at the e-waste dismantling site were studied.

Emerging trends to replace pesticides with nanomaterials: Recent experiences and future perspectives for ecofriendly environment.

Despite the widespread usage to safeguard crops and manage pests, pesticides have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. The necessity to find sustainable agricultural techniques and meet the growing demand for food production has spurred the quest for pesticide substitutes other than traditional ones. The unique qualities of nanotechnology, including its high surface area-to-volume ratio, controlled release, and better stability, have made it a promising choice for pest management.

Response of bacterial ecological and functional properties to anthropogenic interventions during maturation of mine sand soil.

Soil formation is a complex process that starts from the biological development. The ecological principles and biological function in soil are of great importance, whereas their response to anthropogenic intervention has been poorly understood. In this study, a 150-day microcosmic experiment was conducted with the addition of sludge and/or fermented wood chips (FWC) to promote the soil maturation.

Effect of Population Density on Personality of Crayfish ().

Personality is widely observed in animals and has important ecological and evolutionary implications. In addition to being heritable, personality traits are also influenced by the environment. Population density commonly affects animal behavior, but the way in which it shapes animal personality remains largely unknown.

Consistent Individual Differences Drive Collective Movements in a Tibetan Macaque Group.

Collective movement has emerged as a key area of interest in animal behavior. While individual differences are often viewed as a potential threat to group cohesion, growing evidence suggests that these differences can actually influence an animal's behavior as an initiator or follower during collective movements, thereby driving the group's movement and decision-making processes. To resolve the divergence, we asked how personality can affect the dynamics of collective movements in one group of free-ranging Tibetan macaques () in Huangshan, China.

A picture of pharmaceutical pollution in landfill leachates: Occurrence, regional differences and influencing factors.

Municipal solid waste (MSW) landfill sites have been identified as a significant source of pharmaceuticals in the environment because unused or expired pharmaceuticals are discarded into MSW, which eventually percolate into leachates. However, the contamination of pharmaceuticals in landfill leachate in China is not comprehensively understood. Previous research into factors influencing pharmaceutical concentrations focused on a limited number and type of target pollutants or restricted study area.

Manganese sulfide-sulfur and limestone autotrophic denitrification system for deep and efficient nitrate removal: Feasibility, performance and mechanism.

Despite the great potential of sulfur-based autotrophic denitrification, an improvement in nitrate removal rate is still needed. This study used the desulfurized products of Mn ore to develop the MnS-S-limestone autotrophic denitrification system (MSLAD). The feasibility of MSLAD for denitrification was explored and the possible mechanism was proposed.

Paracoccus benzoatiresistens sp. nov., a benzoate resistance and selenite reduction bacterium isolated from wetland.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, pale orange, rod-shaped strain EF6, was isolated from a natural wetland reserve in Hebei province, China. The strain grew at 25-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5-9 (optimum, pH 7), and in the presence of 1.0-4.

Complete long-term monitoring of greenhouse gas emissions from a full-scale industrial wastewater treatment plant with different cover configurations.

The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), consisting mainly of methane (CH) and nitrous oxide (NO), have been constantly increasing and become a non-negligible contributor towards carbon neutrality. The precise evaluation of plant-specific GHG emissions, however, remains challenging. The current assessment approach is based on the product of influent load and emission factor (EF), of which the latter is quite often a single value with huge uncertainty.