Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy, Anton Lopez-Frances, Sergio Navalon, Hermenegildo Garcia
Summary: Light can enhance ozone efficiency in advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) through direct ozone photolysis or by using a photocatalyst that can be excited by UV-Vis or solar light. This review summarizes literature data on the combination of ozone and the g-C3N4 photocatalyst for water treatment. The combination shows higher efficiency than the individual treatments, attributed to the synergy between g-C3N4's efficient electron quenching by O-3 and the generation of hydroxyl radicals.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lei Chen, Shan Li, Zhi Yang, Cheng Chen, Chiheng Chu, Baoliang Chen
Summary: Researchers have designed a solid-liquid-air triphasic interface to enhance the generation of H2O2 through improved O-2 transportation. By forming a tubular confined microenvironment and Wenzel-Cassie state, O-2 can be directly transferred from air to the photocatalyst, leading to significant improvement in H2O2 formation and prevention of unwanted decomposition.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Dimitra Das, Bikram Kumar Das, Ratna Sarkar, Somnath Mukherjee, Kalyan Kumar Chattopadhyay
Summary: This study focuses on the synthesis of thermally modified graphitic carbon nitride (GCN) and its application in the photocatalytic reduction of toxic pollutants. The characterisations of the synthesised material helped to understand its structure, composition, and morphology. The GCN catalyst showed impressive stability and reusability, and statistical evaluation and first-principles calculations were conducted to further investigate its catalytic activity and reduction mechanisms.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jiaqi Meng, Xueyan Zhang, Guang Yang, Lang Qin, Yue Pan, Yihang Guo
Summary: A new method has been developed to prepare porous cyclopentadiene (CPD) unit-incorporated ultrathin nanosheets, which demonstrate remarkably enhanced visible-light photocatalytic oxidation efficiency for the treatment of organic micropollutants in wastewater.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yinghui Wang, Lizhen Liu, Tianyi Ma, Yihe Zhang, Hongwei Huang
Summary: This review provides a detailed introduction to the physicochemical properties of 2D g-C3N4 nanosheets, their synthetic strategies, and various applications in energy conversion and storage, highlighting their superior performance and design potential.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
M. Alejandra Quintana, Rafael R. Solis, M. Angeles Martin-Lara, Gabriel Blazquez, F. Monica Calero, Mario J. Munoz-Batisa
Summary: This study proposes the use of boron to modify the structure of graphitic carbon nitride, enhancing its photocatalytic activity. The choice of boron precursor affects the positions at which boron atoms replace carbon and nitrogen in the structure, leading to significant effects on photocatalytic activity. Specifically, the sample modified with NaBH4 shows the highest oxidation rate and selectivity.
SEPARATION AND PURIFICATION TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jingzhen Zhang, Junyu Lang, Yan Wei, Qian Zheng, Liyan Liu, Yun-Hang Hu, Baoxue Zhou, Congli Yuan, Mingce Long
Summary: Efficient photocatalytic production of H2O2 in pure water was achieved by decorating graphitic carbon nitride with oxidative red phosphorus, leading to significant enhancement of H2O2 generation compared to pristine GCN. The strategy of utilizing red phosphorus for promoting charge separation while suppressing H2O2 decomposition opens up a new pathway for designing highly active metal-free photocatalysts for solar-to-H2O2 conversion in pure water.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Multidisciplinary
Lifu Wu, Sai An, Yu-Fei Song
Summary: This study reports the preparation of benzaldehyde using a photocatalyst PW12-P-UCNS with high conversion and selectivity in aqueous phase at room temperature. The catalyst showed promising performance and reusability, indicating potential for practical applications. The proposed Z-scheme mechanism of the catalyzed reaction suggests the involvement of superoxide radicals and photogenerated holes as the main active species.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yelan Xiao, Yecheng Leng, Xinxin Lu, Shun-Cheung Cheng, Hao Huang, Man-Kit Tse, Jiechun Liang, Wenguang Tu, Chi-Chiu Ko, Xi Zhu, Lu Wang, Yong Zhou, Yingfang Yao, Zhigang Zou
Summary: Photocatalytic radical fluoroalkylation is an important method to prepare organofluorine compounds. This study introduces a cost-effective and recyclable heterogeneous photocatalysis using cyano-modified graphitic carbon nitride as the photocatalyst. The photocatalytic process is attributed to the long-lived triplet excited states and the strong interaction between the catalyst and substrate. Moreover, the catalyst shows high performance, wide reaction scope, and can be easily recovered and reused for multiple catalytic cycles.
JOURNAL OF CATALYSIS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Alexey Galushchinskiy, Yajun Zou, Jokotadeola Odutola, Pavle Nikacevic, Jian-Wen Shi, Nikolai Tkachenko, Nuria Lopez, Pau Farras, Oleksandr Savateev
Summary: Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) is a transition metal free semiconductor that mediates photocatalytic reactions through proton-coupled electron transfer (PCET) mechanism. The active sites for PCET are identified as the 'triangular pockets' on the edge facets of g-CN. Using excited state PCET, g-CN can selectively cleave X-H bonds with approximately 100 kcal mol(-1) bond dissociation free energy (BDFE), leading to the formation of 1,3-oxazolidine-2,4-diones.
ANGEWANDTE CHEMIE-INTERNATIONAL EDITION
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiaoya Fang, Chuanzhe Feng, Tong Li, Yanru Wang, Shanshan Zhu, Hongqiang Ren, Hui Huang
Summary: This paper reports a three-dimensional nanomaterial photocatalyst for the removal of heterocyclic drugs in water. The material shows improved removal efficiency and recyclability compared to two-dimensional nanomaterials.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Radim Skuta, Vlastimil Matejka, Krystof Foniok, Aneta Smykalova, Daniel Cvejn, Roman Gabor, Martin Kormunda, Bedrich Smetana, Vlastimil Novak, Petr Praus
Summary: The synthesis of P-doped graphitic carbon nitride (PCN) by in situ doping via co-pyrolysis of melamine and hexachlorocyclotriphosphazene (HCCP) is being investigated. The results show continuous enrichment of graphitic carbon nitride (CN) by phosphorus, which is believed to predominantly substitute carbon in the structure. PCN with 2.44 wt% of phosphorus shows the highest photodegradation activity under VIS irradiation, indicating the potential of P-doped PCN in photocatalytic applications.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Zhao Mo, Keqiang Xu, Limin Yu, Tianyu Huang, Yanhua Song, Junjie Yuan, Cheng Ding, Yucheng Lei, Huaming Li, Hui Xu
Summary: A highly active Fe-doped tubular graphitic carbon nitride (Fe-TCN) with excellent photocatalytic activity for ammonia synthesis is reported. Fe-TCN incorporates Fe species as active sites to efficiently adsorb and activate N-2 molecules on the surface, while the surface-active Fe species act as electron trap sites, significantly improving the NH3 conversion efficiency.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongyang He, Hao Yang, Dexin Jin, Jiao Qu, Xing Yuan, Ya-nan Zhang, Mingxin Huo, Willie J. G. M. Peijnenburg
Summary: Research demonstrates that by tuning reaction parameters, the synthesized g-C3N4 can achieve extremely high photocatalytic activity, outperforming P25 TiO2 and other g-C3N4-based nanocomposites with lower catalyst consumption, and requiring only short ultrasonic pretreatment for excellent performance.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xinnan Yu, Sue-Faye Ng, Lutfi Kurnianditia Putri, Lling-Lling Tan, Abdul Rahman Mohamed, Wee-Jun Ong
Summary: Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is an ideal metal-free photocatalyst for artificial photosynthesis, but its original structure suffers from limitations which can be significantly improved through defect engineering for enhanced photocatalytic activity, holding great significance for solar energy conversion advancements.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Lingxuan Yang, Yangjie Fu, Fuli Sun, Man Deng, Chao Zhang, Ningyi Li, Derek Hao, Qi Wang, Guilin Zhuang
Summary: A novel polyimide (PI) with broad-spectrum response, high photocatalytic activity, and stability under super acidic conditions was synthesized. The performance of the optimized PI (PDIAN/PTCDA) was significantly enhanced compared to the common PI, with a Cr(VI) reduction rate of 96.6% within 120 min light irradiation. The boosted performance was attributed to the strong p-p conjugation from diperylene cores, which promoted the separation and transfer of photogenerated electron-hole pairs.
JOURNAL OF COLLOID AND INTERFACE SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shuzhen Zheng, Hao Du, Lingxuan Yang, Meng Tan, Ningyi Li, Yangjie Fu, Derek Hao, Qi Wang
Summary: Z-scheme mechanism was used to enhance the photocatalytic activity. PDINH/NH2-UiO-66(Zr) (PNU) heterojunctions were prepared using a ball-milling method. The PNU-1 composite showed excellent photocatalytic activity, reducing 97% of Cr(VI) within 60 minutes of LED light illumination. The composite also exhibited high antibacterial efficiency against E. coli and S. aureus. The enhanced photocatalytic activity was attributed to the wider light absorption range, efficient charge separation, and generation of reactive species. The stability and repeatability of the composites were also demonstrated. This work provides new insights for designing efficient Z-scheme heterostructures for wastewater remediation.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Letter
Engineering, Environmental
Tianyi Luo, Wei Wei, Bing-Jie Ni
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jian-Lu Duan, Yi Han, Li-Juan Feng, Jing-Ya Ma, Xiao-Dong Sun, Xiao-Yu Liu, Fan-Shu Geng, Jia-Li Jiang, Mei-Yan Liu, Yu-Chen Sun, Pascal Peu, Bing-Jie Ni, Xian-Zheng Yuan
Summary: The inhibition of methane production in anaerobic digestion by long chain fatty acids (LCFA) is mainly caused by the limitation of VFAs conversion to methane. It was found that LCFA enhances the adhesion force between bubbles by increasing electrical double layer (EDL) repulsion and decreasing hydrophobic interactions, which leads to enhanced bubble separation from anaerobic granules and reduced bubble-bubble coalescence probability.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xuran Liu, Qing Xu, Mingting Du, Jingnan Yang, Qi Lu, Min Pan, Hua Zhong, Dongbo Wang, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: Microalgal-bacterial consortium (MBC) is an effective method for wastewater treatment with advantages in nutrient removal, resource recovery, and energy conservation. However, the insufficient and unstable carbon source in the influent limits the efficient and stable operation of the MBC sewage treatment system. In this study, a calcium peroxide-mediated anaerobic fermenter was configured to transfer MBC sludge into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) as a carbon source, alleviating the limitations and improving the performance of the sewage treatment system.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaoqing Liu, Zhijie Chen, Shun Lu, Bentuo Xu, Dongle Cheng, Wei Wei, Yansong Shen, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: Biofuels derived from biomass have shown promise as green, renewable alternatives to fossil fuels. The use of photocatalytic methods for converting biomass to biofuels offers a mild, eco-friendly, and energy-saving process. This review systematically concludes the photocatalytic processes for producing liquid and gas biofuels, emphasizing the advances in photocatalysts and discussing the factors that influence catalytic performance.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhihong Liu, Xiaoyun Yin, Bingjie Ni, Xi Chen, Fei Xie, Zhengtong Guo, Dengfei Li, Wenzong Liu, Xiuping Yue, Aijuan Zhou
Summary: This study investigates the impact of different iron sources on the recovery of hydrogen and vivianite from waste biomass. The results show that the Fe anode group achieves the highest hydrogen productivity and the highest efficiency of short-chain fatty acids utilization and phosphate removal. Additionally, electrochemically active bacteria play an important role in the recovery process.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Maoshui Zhuo, Zhijie Chen, Xiaoqing Liu, Wei Wei, Yansong Shen, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: This paper discusses the application of three catalytic processes (photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and biocatalysis) in the management of microplastic pollution, and introduces the efficiency and catalytic mechanisms of different catalysts. It also proposes the development prospects for sustainable management of microplastic pollution.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi-Lu Sun, Han-Lin Wang, Huu Hao Ngo, Wenshan Guo, Bing-Jie Ni, Xue-Ning Zhang, Wei Wei
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive methodology was developed to design and operate S0AD bioreactors, effectively managing fluctuations in nitrogen removal efficiency caused by seasonal temperature variations. By establishing a mathematical model and considering influence factors, a pilot-scale bioreactor was designed to maintain a stable effluent nitrate concentration throughout the year, resulting in a substantial reduction in excessive nitrate removal, sulfur consumption, and sulfate production.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jin Qian, Yichu Zhang, Zhijie Chen, Ran Yu, Yin Ye, Rui Ma, Kailong Li, Lingzhen Wang, Dongqi Wang, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: This study developed a sulfur-doped Fe/C catalyst (Fe@C-S) synthesized from iron metal-organic frameworks (Fe-MOFs) for the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) in degrading tetracycline (TC) in wastewater. The Fe@C-S150/PMS system exhibited a high TC removal efficiency of 91.2% within 40 minutes and a k value 3.36-fold higher than the S-free Fe@C-based PMS system. The sulfur species in the catalyst played a critical role in enhancing the catalytic performance of Fe/C-based catalysts for PMS activation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Opeyemi A. Ojelade, Sharif F. Zaman, Bing-Jie Ni
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mahdi Ebrahimi Farshchi, Negar Madadian Bozorg, Atefeh Ehsani, Hassan Aghdasinia, Zhijie Chen, Sadegh Rostamnia, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: A novel green approach has been developed to synthesize Cu-based MOF using a solvent-free mechano-synthesis method and consumed PET-derived BDC as the linker. The as-prepared CuBDC-NH2 exhibits increased adsorption capability and reduction efficiency, making it a green catalyst for the reduction of 4-NP. The plastic waste derived MOF-mediated catalytic valorization of organic pollutants opens up a new avenue for the green recycling and utilization of plastic waste.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xuecheng Li, Yufen Wang, Yanying He, Xiaomin Wang, Haixiao Guo, Tingting Zhu, Peizhe Sun, Bing-Jie Ni, Yiwen Liu
Summary: This study proposed a new technology, ultrasound-enhanced peracetic acid (PAA) pretreatment, to enhance resource recovery from anaerobic sludge fermentation. The results showed a significant increase in short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) production with the optimal condition of ultrasound-enhanced 10 mg PAA/g TSS. The ultrasound-enhanced PAA pretreatment promoted sludge disruption, organic matter release, and created soluble substances for fermentation, improving energy recovery efficiency in anaerobic fermentation.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Antonio Mineo, Alida Cosenza, Bing-Jie Ni, Giorgio Mannina
Summary: Recovering resources from wastewater treatment is crucial for transitioning the water sector from a linear to circular economy. This study investigates the effect of potassium permanganate (KMnO4) addition on VFAs production during acidogenic fermentation of waste activated sludge, showing that KMnO4 addition significantly increases VFAs yield. The results demonstrate the potential of KMnO4 as a pre-treatment method to enhance VFAs production.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lan Wu, Wei Wei, Jin Qian, Xueming Chen, Bing-Jie Ni
Summary: This study proposes a novel chain elongation-based biotechnology to convert food waste into medium chain fatty acids and long chain alcohols, aiming to improve the economic gain of anaerobic fermentation. By inoculating yeast, the necessity for externally dosing an electron donor for chain elongation was eliminated, resulting in enhanced production of medium chain fatty acids and long chain alcohols.
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Lars odegaard Bentsen, Narada Dilp Warakagoda, Roy Stenbro, Paal Engelstad
Summary: This study investigates uncertainty modeling in wind power forecasting using different parametric and non-parametric methods. Johnson's SU distribution is found to outperform Gaussian distributions in predicting wind power. This research contributes to the literature by introducing Johnson's SU distribution as a candidate for probabilistic wind forecasting.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xing Liu, Qiuchen Wang, Yunhao Wen, Long Li, Xinfang Zhang, Yi Wang
Summary: This study analyzes the characteristics of process parameters in three lean gas ethane recovery processes and establishes a prediction and multiobjective optimization model for ethane recovery and system energy consumption. A new method for comparing ethane recovery processes for lean gas is proposed, and the addition of extra coolers improves the ethane recovery. The support vector regression model based on grey wolf optimization demonstrates the highest prediction accuracy, and the multiobjective multiverse optimization algorithm shows the best optimization performance and diversity in the solutions.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Cairong Song, Haidong Yang, Xian-Bing Meng, Pan Yang, Jianyang Cai, Hao Bao, Kangkang Xu
Summary: The paper proposes a novel deep learning-based prediction framework, aTCN-LSTM, for accurate cooling load predictions. The framework utilizes a gate-controlled multi-head temporal convolutional network and a sparse probabilistic self-attention mechanism with a bidirectional long short-term memory network to capture both temporal and long-term dependencies in the cooling load sequences. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method, which can serve as an effective guide for HVAC chiller scheduling and demand management initiatives.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhe Chen, Xiaojing Li, Xianli Xia, Jizhou Zhang
Summary: This study uses survey data from the Loess Plateau in China to evaluate the impact of social interaction on the adoption of soil and water conservation (SWC) technology by farmers. The study finds that social interaction increases the likelihood of farmers adopting SWC, and internet use moderates this effect. The positive impact of social interaction on SWC adoption is more pronounced for farmers in larger villages and those who join cooperative societies.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Chenghua Zhang, Yunfei Yan, Kaiming Shen, Zongguo Xue, Jingxiang You, Yonghong Wu, Ziqiang He
Summary: This paper reports a novel method that significantly improves combustion performance, including heat transfer enhancement under steady-state conditions and adaptive stable flame regulation under velocity sudden increase.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2024)
