Review
Engineering, Environmental
He Guo, Yawen Wang, Liuni Liao, Zhen Li, Shijia Pan, Chengdong Puyang, Yingying Su, Ying Zhang, Tiecheng Wang, Jingyu Ren, Jie Li
Summary: This review discusses the application of discharge plasma technology in soil remediation, emphasizing its significance in effectively degrading organic pollutants and preventing secondary pollution. Various aspects such as the discharge structure, influencing factors, presence of catalysts, degradation efficiency, and mechanism were analyzed and summarized. Perspectives on the challenges and opportunities in the use of discharge plasma technology for soil remediation were intensively emphasized.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yuuki Silveira Miura, Jan Mulder, Valentina Zivanovic, Ronan Courtney, Gudny Okkenhaug
Summary: In this study, the effects of gypsum and local organic waste as amendments to non-weathered bauxite residue (BR) were assessed. The addition of gypsum reduced the exchangeable sodium percentage (ESP), while the addition of organic waste had smaller effects on ESP. The leachate pH of the amended BR ranged from 8.7 to 9.4, while the pH of the unamended BR was 10.3. Gypsum and organic waste amendments improved the chemical properties of BR, but the rehabilitation goals for pH and ESP were not achieved.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Juliette O'Keeffe, Joseph Akunna
Summary: This study provides a simple and cost-effective method for assessing the risks of organic pollutants in waste materials. The results showed little variability in dissolved organic carbon levels in primary sludges from different wastewater treatment plants, but significant differences in secondary sludges. Treated biosolids leached less dissolved organic carbon but had higher proportions of persistent or poorly biodegradable dissolved organic carbon.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sha Qiu, Wenqing Cao, Zhiguo Chen, Yiyun Liu, Jingpeng Song, Rong Zhang, He Bai
Summary: The study found that disodium Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) has the best lead removal ability and increases soil permeability. By optimizing experimental conditions and conducting leaching treatment on soil, the results showed changes in soil pores and specific surface area after leaching.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Aadil Bathla, Sherif A. Younis, Bonamali Pal, Ki-Hyun Kim
Summary: This review discusses the basic principle of BDS-based photocatalysis and focuses on the impact of bimetallic nanostructure doped MOFs (BDM). The photocatalytic performance of BDM for various target species is evaluated, different synthesis approaches are discussed, and new challenges and future research prospects are highlighted to advance BDM-based photocatalytic systems.
APPLIED MATERIALS TODAY
(2021)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Salim Boulkhessaim, Amel Gacem, Samreen Heena Khan, Abdelfattah Amari, Virendra Kumar Yadav, Hamed N. Harharah, Abubakr M. Elkhaleefa, Krishna Kumar Yadav, Sami-ullah Rather, Hyun-Jo Ahn, Byong-Hun Jeon
Summary: This review discusses the use of nanotechnology for the remediation of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). It emphasizes the importance of nanocatalysis, nanofiltration, and nanoadsorption processes. Nanoparticles such as clays, zinc oxide, and iron oxide have shown high efficiency in removing POPs. Nanofiltration and ultrafiltration have also shown potential in POPs remediation. Future research will address the cost issue of nanotechnology and make it a sustainable solution for POPs.
Review
Chemistry, Applied
Herbert Musarurwa, Nikita Tawanda Tavengwa
Summary: This review provides a comprehensive overview of the advances in the application of chitosan/MOF composites as versatile adsorbents for environmental pollutants. It highlights their excellent adsorptive properties, easy regeneration, and recycling capabilities. The challenges and future prospects associated with the use of these composites are also discussed in detail.
CARBOHYDRATE POLYMERS
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Zhuangzhuang Wang, Yuan Li, Qiang Cheng, Xiaotian Wang, Junting Wang, Gaoke Zhang
Summary: This review introduces Sb-based photocatalysts and their applications in the degradation of organic pollutants. The photocatalytic reaction mechanism and preparation methods are first introduced, followed by a comprehensive summary of different modification methods to enhance their photocatalytic degradation efficiency. The relationship between the photocatalytic degradation mechanism and electronic structures is revealed through density functional theory calculations.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiangwei Tang, Rongdi Tang, Sheng Xiong, Jiangfu Zheng, Ling Li, Zhanpeng Zhou, Daoxin Gong, Yaocheng Deng, Long Su, Chanjuan Liao
Summary: Natural minerals are an effective and environmentally friendly option for photocatalytic degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. They have a large specific surface area, provide more active centers, and adsorb pollutants for concentrated catalysis. Utilizing natural minerals is significant for the degradation of water pollutants.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Ze-Chang Gou, Min-Jie Lu, Xiao-Yu Cui, Xi-Qing Wang, Mei-Yi Jiang, Ya-Shuo Wang, Zi-Qi Wang, Xiao-Xiao Yu, Shan-Shan Tang, Guang Chen, Ying-Jie Su
Summary: In this study, we evaluated the biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol using crude laccase produced by Myrothecium verrucaria. Atmospheric and room temperature plasma technology was used to increase laccase production. Our findings show the feasibility of the use of corn stover in laccase production by M. verrucaria mutant and the subsequent biodegradation of 2-chlorophenol using crude laccase. The biodegradation rate of 2-chlorophenol using crude laccase was 97.13%.
BIOPROCESS AND BIOSYSTEMS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Aoxue Mei, Zijun Xu, Xiyuan Wang, Yuying Liu, Jiao Chen, Jingbiao Fan, Qingdong Shi
Summary: In recent years, carbon quantum dots (CQDs) have gained significant attention for their non-toxicity, sustainability, excellent photostability, and intrinsic photoluminescence properties. CQDs have shown promise in visible-light-driven photocatalysis due to their excellent electron transfer characteristics and high light capture efficiency. This review discusses recent research on CQDs-based photocatalysts, focusing on their ability to remove environmental pollutants and degradation mechanisms, as well as improvements in their catalytic response to visible light. The construction of composite materials based on CQD characteristics and the potential applications of CQD-based photocatalysts for efficient utilization of visible light are also discussed.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shujun Yu, Hao Tang, Di Zhang, Shuqin Wang, Muqing Qiu, Gang Song, Dong Fu, Baowei Hu, Xiangke Wang
Summary: Environmental pollution has accelerated due to industrialization, leading to the need for excellent materials to remove hazardous pollutants. MXenes, as emerging transition metal nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides, show great potential for water purification and environmental remediation. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of MXene-based nanomaterials, including their synthesis strategies, properties, removal behaviors, and interaction mechanisms with various pollutants. It also discusses the challenges and prospects of MXene-based nanomaterials in water treatment applications.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Na Zhang, Shuangshuang Peng, Zhiyu Liu, Ye Li, Ju Huang, Jing Li, Hongri Wan, Shuai Zhou, Zhaojian Gao, Teng Chen
Summary: In this study, magnetic Fe3O4@PDA nanocomposites decorated with silver nanoparticles (Ag NPs) were successfully synthesized. The Fe3O4 nanoparticles were modified by dopamine to form a poly dopamine (PDA) shell, which in-situ reduced silver ammonium ions to decorate Ag NPs on the surface. The resulting Fe3O4@PDA-Ag nanocomposites showed excellent catalytic activity, magnetic recyclability, and antimicrobial performance, making them a promising candidate for wastewater remediation.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Jaspreet Kaur, Paramdeep Kaur, Twinkle Garg, Vinod Kumar, Kulbhushan Tikoo, Bhupender Singh, Christian Paulik, Anupama Kaushik, Sonal Singhal, Sonal Singhal
Summary: Highly fluorescent carbon dots (TCDs) were synthesized using Tulsi Leaves and anchored on NiFe2O4 (NF) nanoparticles via a hydrothermal method, producing smart magnetically retrievable fluorescent nanohybrids (NFTCDs) for the first time. NFTCDs were capable of accurately detecting and efficiently degrading hazardous contaminants in aqueous samples through a photo-Fenton degradation mechanism. The NFTCDs-based platform demonstrated reliable quantification of toxic substances in real samples, with recyclability up to four cycles. This work presents a novel NFTCDs nanohybrid as an intelligent platform for synchronized monitoring and removal of deleterious contaminants, ensuring human safety.
SUSTAINABLE MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Kien A. Vu, Catherine N. Mulligan
Summary: This study explored the use of a biosurfactant foam/nanoparticle mixture for remediating oil-contaminated soil. The results showed that the mixture effectively removed oil contaminants, with a maximum treatment efficiency of 67%. The stability of the foam was influenced by the foam quality, biosurfactant concentration, and nanoparticle dosage.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Medicinal
Federico Cerri, Francesco Saliu, Davide Maggioni, Simone Montano, Davide Seveso, Silvia Lavorano, Luca Zoia, Fabio Gosetti, Marina Lasagni, Marco Orlandi, Orazio Taglialatela-Scafati, Paolo Galli
Summary: This review provides an updated overview of the compounds isolated from the octocoral family Alcyoniidae that exhibit potential cytotoxic activity. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyl-2H-tetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay was used to evaluate the bioactive compounds in vitro. The study found several compounds with stronger cytotoxicity than their positive control, and their mechanism of action remains to be investigated further.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Stefano Dugheri, Nicola Mucci, Donato Squillaci, Elisabetta Bucaletti, Giovanni Cappelli, Lucia Trevisani, Cecile Valsecchi, Viviana Consonni, Fabio Gosetti, Davide Ballabio, Giulio Arcangeli
Summary: Antineoplastic drugs, known for their severe toxic effects, require sensitive monitoring methods to address surface contaminations within preparation and administration units. An orthogonal normal phase analysis method has been developed to complement the limitations of the more common reversed-phase methods, and has shown promise in reliable relationship evaluation between chromatographic retention and chemical-structural features of the drugs under analysis.
Article
Plant Sciences
Silvana Alfei, Debora Caviglia, Susanna Penco, Guendalina Zuccari, Fabio Gosetti
Summary: The study found that 4-HBA was not present in the mixture when AOCA was prepared from CA, invalidating previous reports. Through TLC, UHPLC-MS/MS, UV-Vis, and ATR-FTIR analyses, the absence of 4-HBA in the mixture was confirmed. Principal components analysis of the ATR-FTIR spectral data established strong structural differences between 4-HBA and AOCA. While the antiviral effects of AOCA against HSV-2 were confirmed, a commercial sample of 4-HBA was completely inactive.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Viviana Consonni, Fabio Gosetti, Veronica Termopoli, Roberto Todeschini, Cecile Valsecchi, Davide Ballabio
Summary: This study utilized a large LC-MS/MS dataset to predict molecular fingerprints and retrieve the structure of unknown compounds using deep learning methods. The effects of data sparseness and different data curing and dimensionality reduction strategies on the accuracy were evaluated.
Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Veronica Termopoli, Viviana Consonni, Davide Ballabio, Roberto Todeschini, Marco Orlandi, Fabio Gosetti
Summary: This study investigated the photodegradation of the antidepressant escitalopram in water, considering the presence of nitrate and bicarbonate. Nitrate was found to significantly affect the degradation. Several transformation products were identified, and the degradation pathway and mechanism were proposed. The method was successfully applied to analyze surface water samples, and the toxicological profile and environmental behavior of the transformation products were computationally evaluated.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Fabio Gosetti, Viviana Consonni, Davide Ballabio, Marco Emilio Orlandi, Angelo Amodio, Maria Valeria Picci, Marco Visentin, Veronica Termopoli
Summary: According to the 2021 World Drug Report, there are approximately 275 million drug users and 36 million people suffering from addiction worldwide, leading to a flourishing illicit drug market. In Italy, a significant number of people (30,083) were reported for violating the Italian Law D.P.R. 309/1990. However, the forensic laboratories in Italy face challenges in completing drug analyses quickly, causing delays in the reporting process for sentencing. To address this issue, a UHPLC-MS/MS-based platform was developed at the University of Milano-Bicocca, which enables law enforcement authorities to manage street seizures and generate accurate reports efficiently.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Marco Monti, Elena Perin, Eleonora Conterosito, Umberto Romagnolli, Bruno Muscato, Marco Girotto, Maria Teresa Scrivani, Valentina Gianotti
Summary: This study presents an innovative extrusion process for stripping organic contaminants from plastic fuel tanks of vehicles. The process successfully removes the contaminants, allowing the material to be effectively recycled for applications requiring enhanced performance. An in-depth analytic approach was used to identify the different processing conditions and organic contaminants present in the material. This research contributes to reducing the environmental impact of end-of-life vehicles.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Arianna Crosta, Beatrice De Felice, Diego Antonioli, Riccardo Chiarcos, Elena Perin, Marco Aldo Ortenzi, Stefano Gazzotti, Roberto Sergio Azzoni, Davide Fugazza, Valentina Gianotti, Michele Laus, Guglielmina Diolaiuti, Francesca Pittino, Andrea Franzetti, Roberto Ambrosini, Marco Parolini
Summary: The study investigated the presence and distribution of microplastics (MPs) on three glaciers in the Central Alps, Northern Italy. The results showed that MPs mainly came from local contamination and long-range transport, and did not accumulate at the glacier snout.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Edoardo Podda, Diego Antonioli, Gianluca Croce, Valentina Gianotti, Katia Sparnacci, Riccardo Chiarcos, Michele Laus
Summary: Physically crosslinked hydrogels with hydrophilic and hydrophobic domains are prepared by micellar polymerization using polyacrylamide (Aam) and polyoctadecylacrylate (C18A) blocks. Branching chains are created using a multifunctional monomer divinylbenzene (DVB). The influence of polymer composition and the amount of the branching agent on material properties are evaluated. These hydrogels exhibit self-healing behavior and shape memory characteristics.
MACROMOLECULAR CHEMISTRY AND PHYSICS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eleonora Conterosito, Valentina Toson, Enrico Boccaleri, Diego Antonioli, Marco Milanesio, Luca Palin, Claudia Barolo, Nadia Barbero, Simone Galliano, Valentina Gianotti
Summary: Low-cost photoactive hybrid materials for light management, based on neutral organic molecules intercalated into saponite, were prepared and characterized. TPBI was chosen as an organic host dye for its potential application as a downconverter in silicon or dye-sensitized photovoltaic modules. The neutral molecule was intercalated using a trojan horse approach, with the help of a cationic surfactant, to prevent aggregation. The obtained material was characterized using spectroscopic, diffractometric, and microscopic techniques. The intercalation, stability, and interactions of the dye were assessed by TGA-GC-MS. Finally, this material was used to prepare a photoactive polymer with desired optical properties.
Article
Pharmacology & Pharmacy
Aldo Arrais, Elisa Bona, Valeria Todeschini, Alice Caramaschi, Nadia Massa, Maddalena Roncoli, Alessia Minervi, Elena Perin, Valentina Gianotti
Summary: Misuse of antibiotics has led to antimicrobial resistance, and using essential oils extracted from plants, such as thyme oil, in tablet form may be an effective and safe strategy to combat this problem. The inclusion of thyme oil in cyclodextrins enhances its efficacy and makes it more effective against biofilm-producing microorganisms. Moreover, this approach is environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Correction
Plant Sciences
Silvana Alfei, Debora Caviglia, Susanna Penco, Guendalina Zuccari, Fabio Gosetti
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Veronica Termopoli, Maurizio Piergiovanni, Davide Ballabio, Viviana Consonni, Emmanuel Cruz Munoz, Fabio Gosetti
Summary: Membrane introduction mass spectrometry (MIMS) is a direct mass spectrometry technique that allows online monitoring and rapid quantification of trace levels of compounds in complex matrices without extensive sample preparation steps and chromatographic separation. It uses a thin, semi-permeable, and selective membrane to pre-concentrate analytes based on their physicochemical properties, and transfers them directly to the mass spectrometer using different acceptor phases.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Viviana Maria Ospina, Riccardo Chiarcos, Diego Antonioli, Valentina Gianotti, Michele Laus, Stefano Kuschlan, Claudia Wiemer, Michele Perego
Summary: Monodisperse polypeptoids were prepared through submonomer synthesis, with defect insertion to improve solubility. Polypeptoid brushes were prepared at high temperature, allowing precise control of brush thickness. Ashing the polypeptoid brushes removed the chains while preserving the dopant atoms.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Riccardo Chiarcos, Diego Antonioli, Valentina Gianotti, Michele Laus, Gianmarco Munao, Giuseppe Milano, Antonio De Nicola, Michele Perego
Summary: In this study, two copolymers were thermally grafted from melt to a silicon wafer, and it was observed that the lower molecular weight component of the blend preferentially grafted to the polymeric brush layer. The enrichment of short chains in the brush layer was found to be independent of time. Molecular dynamics simulations supported this observation, providing insights for further investigation and control of brush layer characteristics.
