Article
Chemistry, Physical
M. N. Subramaniam, P. S. Goh, W. J. Lau, A. F. Ismail
Summary: Visible light-activated photocatalytic degradation using boron-doped titania nanotubes showed enhanced photoactivity in degrading bio-based polymeric color pigments under visible light irradiation. Doping with 0.5 M boric acid resulted in the optimal degradation of lignin and tannic acid within 240 min, with an increased diameter and surface negativity of the nanotubes. The study also identified OH- and ·O-2(-) radicals as the major reactive species responsible for the degradation process.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2021)
Article
Energy & Fuels
I. Neelakanta Reddy, Jaesool Shim, Cheolho Bai
Summary: In this study, V2O5-Fe2O3 heterostructures were synthesized and their stability and optical properties in a photochemical environment were investigated. The results showed that the V2O5-Fe2O3 heterostructures exhibited higher light absorption and photocurrent density, as well as lower charge-transfer resistance and Tafel slope. However, a significant decrease in photocurrent density was observed after prolonged immersion, which could be attributed to the shrinkage of active sites in the photoanode and increased charge-transfer resistance.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENERGY RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chadrasekhar Loka, Kee-Sun Lee
Summary: Ag-Ag2O-ZnO nanocomposite with localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) and p-n heterojunction structure was synthesized by hydrothermal process, which effectively improved the photocatalytic efficiency and suppressed the recombination of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. The nanocomposite exhibited excellent photocatalytic activity and achieved high degradation efficiency for different dyes under visible-light irradiation.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Aijun Huang, Haijuan Zhan, Meng Wen, Yao Zhou, Shuxian Bi, Wanyi Liu, Feng Li
Summary: Metal ion doping is a widely used method to improve the photocatalytic performance of semiconductor materials. In this study, a high-efficiency modified NaTaO3 perovskite catalyst was synthesized using metal ion doping, and various analysis and testing techniques were used to analyze its structural properties. The results show that the introduction of different metals has different effects on the structure and properties of NaTaO3, with Ce improving electron transport performance and the Ce-modified perovskite showing high efficiency in the photocatalytic degradation of dyes.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Guanlong Wang, Wenxin Bi, Qunmei Zhang, Xiaoli Dong, Xiufang Zhang
Summary: Hydrothermal carbonation carbon (HTCC) is a promising alternative for photocatalytic removal of contaminants from water. In this study, a unique photosensitization-like mechanism was found on Fe modified HTCC (Fe-HTCC) for effective removal of organic pollutants.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Pejman Hajipour, Abdoulmajid Eslami, Abbas Bahrami, Afrouzossadat Hosseini-Abari, Fateme Yousef Saber, Roshanak Mohammadi, Maryam Yazdan Mehr
Summary: This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of photoactive TiO2/CuO nanocomposites for simultaneous antibacterial applications and photocatalytic removal of Amoxicilline from wastewaters. Results show that CuO loading plays a crucial role in enhancing the photocatalytic activity and antibacterial characteristics of the samples. The synthesized TiO2/CuO nanocomposites show potential for both antibacterial and photocatalytic applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fahimeh Ansari, Saeed Sheibani, Marcos Fernandez-Garcia
Summary: Cu2O-CuO/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts were successfully fabricated on Cu wire through chemical-thermal oxidation and sol-gel process. The nanocomposites exhibited visible light activity, delayed electron-hole recombination, and high degradation efficiency. They also demonstrated the unique features of easy separation and good stability.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Fahimeh Ansari, Saeed Sheibani, Marcos Fernandez-Garcia
Summary: Cu2O-CuO/TiO2 nanocomposite photocatalysts were successfully fabricated on Cu wire via chemical-thermal oxidation and sol-gel process. The nanocomposite contained multiple components including Cu2O, CuO, Cu, and TiO2, with band gap energies ranging from 1.72-1.96 eV, demonstrating good activity under visible light.
JOURNAL OF ALLOYS AND COMPOUNDS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xingyun Jin, Xiaolong Tang, Huan Li, Xiaoqian Tang, Jianzhang Li, Junbo Zhong, Shulin Zhang, Dongge Ma
Summary: In this study, distillers' grains biochar (DGBC) obtained from the distillers' grains produced in Chinese Baijiu brewing was used to modify BiOCl. The resulting DGBC/BiOCl composite photocatalysts exhibited enhanced visible light-driven catalytic performance. The presence of DGBC was found to affect the crystal growth and microscopic morphology of BiOCl, leading to the introduction of more oxygen vacancies (OVs) in the composite. Among various photocatalysts tested, the 0.75-DGBC/BiOCl catalyst showed the highest efficiency for the removal of rhodamine B (RhB), tetracycline (TC) and Cr (VI), which can be attributed to the rich OVs introduced by the DGBC modification and the higher separation rate of photoexcited carriers.
JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL AND ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Jiufu Chen, Qi Yang, Junbo Zhong, Jianzhang Li, Clemens Burda
Summary: The surface modification of BiOBr photocatalysts with C-60 significantly enhances their photocatalytic activity, leading to higher specific surface area and improved photo-induced carrier distribution and migration. The synergistic interaction between C-60 and BiOBr results in increased oxygen vacancies concentration, facilitating the formation of active free radicals and boosting the photocatalytic performance.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunyan Yang, Peng Wang, Jianing Li, Qiao Wang, Peng Xu, Shijie You, Qingzhu Zheng, Guangshan Zhang
Summary: The Fe(III)-TiO2/PVDF composite ultrafiltration membrane demonstrates high efficiency in BPA degradation and antifouling performance, with hole (h(+)) and O-center dot(2)- identified as the active species in the photocatalytic system. The membrane also shows high permeation flux and water flux recovery rate, excellent durability, and reusability, making it a promising option for membrane filtration technology.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Pengfei Zhou, Yanbai Shen, Sikai Zhao, Yunshuang Chen, Shuling Gao, Wenbao Liu, Dezhou Wei
Summary: Novel ternary heterogeneous MoS2/TiO2/clinoptilolite (MTC) nanocomposites with hierarchical structure were successfully synthesized via a moderate hydrothermal route, showing enhanced photodegradation activity towards xanthates under visible light. The degradation mechanism was found to follow a pseudo-first-order model, with superoxide radical anions identified as the dominant active species in the reaction system. The study proposes a promising application prospect for mineral-based photocatalysts in treating flotation wastewater.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Ziyu Yao, Huajun Sun, Yunlong Hu, Xiaofang Liu, Yong Zhang
Summary: In this study, a direct Z-scheme photocatalytic system was successfully constructed by integrating black phosphorus quantum dots (BPQDs) on the surface of BiOBr thin film, leading to enhanced degradation activity for methyl violet (MV) and tetracycline hydrochloride (TC). The improved efficiency of charge separation, enhanced visible light absorption, and enlarged specific surface area were the key factors contributing to the enhanced photocatalytic performance of BPQDs/BiOBr.
JOURNAL OF MATERIOMICS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Zhengdong Xu, Huan Li, Yu Ran, Junbo Zhong, Minjiao Li, Yongbing Zhu
Summary: BiOCl has attracted increasing attention as a typical Bi-based photocatalyst due to its advantages. However, its poor response to visible light and high recombination rate of charge pairs hinder its application. Coupling carbon quantum dots (CQDs) with BiOCl to form heterostructures has been proven to enhance BiOCl's photoactivity. In this study, CQDs/OVs-BiOCl heterostructures were fabricated using water hyacinth powder as a raw material. The modified BiOCl showed improved photoelectric and photocatalytic properties compared to the reference BiOCl. The results demonstrate the potential of CQDs/OVs-BiOCl for practical applications.
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lorenzo Lombardi, Alessandro Kovtun, Sebastiano Mantovani, Giulio Bertuzzi, Laura Favaretto, Cristian Bettini, Vincenzo Palermo, Manuela Melucci, Marco Bandini
Summary: This methodology involves environmentally friendly covalent functionalization of reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanosheets with arylazo sulfones through visible-light irradiation. It allows various tagged aryl units to be conveniently accommodated on the rGO surface, with mild reaction conditions, absence of photosensitizers, functional group tolerance, and high atomic fractions. Control experiments for mechanistic elucidation (Raman analysis) and chemical nanomanipulation of the tagged rGO surfaces were also conducted.
CHEMISTRY-A EUROPEAN JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Ceramics
Zulakha Zafar, Imran Ali, Seongjun Park, Jong-Oh Kim
CERAMICS INTERNATIONAL
(2020)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zulakha Zafar, Rida Fatima, Jong-Oh Kim
Summary: The application of photocatalysis for the removal of textile dyes is influenced by various parameters related to water quality and chemicals discharge during the dying process. Water matrices play a significant role in the performance of photocatalytic processes, with the key factors being photoactivity and decantation capacity of the catalysts. The impact of different water matrices on the decolorization efficacy and removal of organic compounds has been evaluated in this study.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zulakha Zafar, Rida Fatima, Jong-Oh Kim
Summary: Fe2O3/TNT composite foil was prepared by combining anodization with the hydrothermal method, with iron particles accumulating on the surface restricting the photocatalytic reaction. XPS analysis confirmed the composition of the iron particles, and successful removal of surface accumulation of iron oxide particles with hydrochloric acid was achieved. Removal of surface accumulated iron oxide and adjusting pH in acidic medium resulted in a significant reduction of hexavalent chromium within a short period of time.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Muqiu Hu, Xin Zhao, Jinghan Gu, Lulu Qian, Zhiqing Wang, Yuanyuan Nie, Xiaoyu Han, Long An, Haiqiang Jiang
Summary: Due to its simple process, environmental friendliness, and low operating costs, biometallurgy has become a popular technology for metals recovering from low-grade ores and tailings. An optimized agar was used to isolate and grow functional bacteria, resulting in the successful isolation of six functional stains. These strains were further tested for their ability to leach metals from polymetallic sulfide tailings, with significant improvements observed when the strains were mixed together. The selection of leaching process should be based on tailings composition and target metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Saqib Hassan, Aswin Thacharodi, Anshu Priya, R. Meenatchi, Thanushree A. Hegde, R. Thangamani, Ht Nguyen, Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
Summary: An Endocrine Disrupting Chemical (EDC) is a compound that disrupts the function of the endocrine system and is found in the environment. EDCs, such as Bisphenol A and pesticides, have been shown to have negative effects on the female reproductive system. Understanding the relationship between EDCs and women's health is crucial for developing strategies to protect reproductive health and informing public policy decisions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lichang Zhou, Zhaoling Li, Boyi Cheng, Jinqi Jiang, Xinqi Bi, Zongping Wang, Guanghao Chen, Gang Guo
Summary: Thiosulfate can promote sulfur-mediated bacterial activity, inhibit glycogen accumulating organisms, and enhance denitrification efficiency. After the carbon source is reduced, the competitive ability of glycogen accumulating organisms increases, resulting in reduced sulfate reduction.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Claire E. Campbell, Devyn L. Cotter, Katherine L. Bottenhorn, Elisabeth Burnor, Hedyeh Ahmadi, W. James Gauderman, Carlos Cardenas-Iniguez, Daniel Hackman, Rob McConnell, Kiros Berhane, Joel Schwartz, Jiu-Chiuan Chen, Megan M. Herting
Summary: Recent studies have found a connection between air pollution and increased risk for behavioral problems during development. However, more longitudinal studies are needed to investigate how exposure during the transition to adolescence may affect emotional behaviors.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jing-hong Liang, Ru-yu Yang, Mei-ling Liu, Ying-qi Pu, Wen-wen Bao, Yu Zhao, Li-xin Hu, Yu-shan Zhang, Shan Huang, Nan Jiang, Xue-ya Pu, Shao-yi Huang, Guang-hui Dong, Ya-jun Chen
Summary: This study examines the association between urban Green and blue spaces (GBS) exposure and Emotion and behavior problems (EBP) in youth populations. The findings suggest that higher exposure to GBS, particularly green spaces (GS) and blue spaces (BS), is associated with a decrease in the risk of developing total difficulties in young individuals. The joint effect of GS and BS may also contribute to the decrease in EBPs.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Diego Ruiz-Sobremazas, Mario Ruiz Coca, Miguel Morales-Navas, Rocio Rodulfo-Cardenas, Caridad Lopez-Granero, Maria Teresa Colomina, Cristian Perez-Fernandez, Fernando Sanchez-Santed
Summary: Air pollution is associated with a range of health issues and gestational exposure to environmental pollutants may be linked to neurodevelopmental disorders. This study investigated the effects of oral gestational exposure to particulate matter (PM) on ultrasonic vocalizations (USV). The findings suggest that this exposure may lead to social deficits and abnormal gene expression related to neurotransmitter systems. Further research is needed to better understand the effects of air pollution on neurodevelopmental disorders and the neurotransmission systems involved.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yagmur Kabakci, Sadiye Kosar, Ozgur Dogan, Fehmi Gorkem Uctug, Osman Atilla Arikan
Summary: This study investigated the effect of electrohydrolysis pretreatment on municipal solid waste. The results showed that applying electrohydrolysis pretreatment increased methane production and reduced the time required for hydrolysis, suggesting it is a promising method to improve anaerobic digestion efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chuanwu Zhao, Yaozhong Pan, Hanyi Wu, Yu Zhu
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of industrial zones on urban heat islands using remote sensing images and a novel spectral index. The research found that the contraction or expansion of industrial zones has a significant effect on land surface temperature. The results are valuable for environmental assessment and fine management of industrial cities.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Bang Du, Zhongzhong Wang, Piet N. L. Lens, Xinmin Zhan, Guangxue Wu
Summary: This study investigated the performance, syntrophic relationships, microbial communities, and metabolic pathways of ethanol-fed reactors with different operational modes and solids retention times. The results showed that different microorganisms were enriched under different SRT conditions, and syntrophic bacteria related to methane production could be enriched under low SRT conditions.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gokulan Ravindiran, Sivarethinamohan Rajamanickam, Muralikrishnan Ramalingam, Gasim Hayder, Balamurugan Karupaiya Sathaiah, Madhava Krishna Reddy Gaddam, Senthil Kumar Muniasamy, Priya Arunkumar
Summary: The present study investigated the sustainable approach for wastewater treatment using waste algal blooms. The biochar produced by the marine algae Ulva reticulata was used to remove chromium, nickel, and zinc from aqueous solutions. The study examined the adsorbents' properties and stability using SEM/EDX, FTIR, and XRD. The results showed that the biochar had high removal efficiency for the toxic metals, and the packed bed column effectively removed the heavy metal ions. The Thomas and Adams-Bohart models were found to best fit the regression values, and desorption studies were conducted to understand the sorption and elution processes.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Vignesh Vinayagam, Kavitha Nagarasampatti Palani, Sudha Ganesh, Siddharth Rajesh, Vedha Varshini Akula, Ramapriyan Avoodaiappan, Omkar Singh Kushwaha, Arivalagan Pugazhendhi
Summary: The presence of pollutants in water contributes to global pollution and poses significant threats to humans and wildlife. Finding effective wastewater treatment techniques is crucial for reducing pollutant accumulation in the environment. This paper highlights recent advances in the electrochemical advanced oxidation method and other processes for treating pharmaceuticals, dyes, and pesticide-polluted effluents.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
M. M. M. Ahmed, Kai-Yue Chen, Fang-Yu Tsao, Yi-Cheng Hsieh, Yu-Ting Liu, Min Tzou
Summary: This study investigated the sorption of citric acid onto humic acid-iron hydr(o)xide coprecipitate (HAFHCP) and the reciprocal effects of citric acid and P sorption on HAFHCP. The results showed that citric acid could increase P availability and have an impact on P sorption.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xibo Xu, Zeqiang Wang, Xiaoning Song, Wenjie Zhan, Shuting Yang
Summary: The selection of predictor variables is crucial in building a digital mapping model for potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in soil. Traditionally, spatial and spectral parameters have been used as predictor variables, but the temporal dimension is often overlooked. This study demonstrates the value of incorporating temporal indices in the model, leading to significant performance improvements. The temporal-spatial-spectral covariate combinations used in a random forest (RF) algorithm achieve satisfactory mapping accuracy and outperform other methods.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yan Pei, Xun Liu, Mengbo Cao, Zijun Wang, Hongbing Yang
Summary: Heteroatom doping can reconfigure the electronic structure of heterogeneous catalysts, leading to the development of advanced oxidation water purification materials with superior performance and stability. In this study, a series of catalysts with different elemental doping were prepared using a simple and environmentally friendly method. The S-doped NiCo2O4 catalyst showed excellent catalytic performance for the removal of Tetracycline, with significantly increased kinetic constant and high oxidation and mineralization efficiency in a wide pH range. The degradation process was dominated by non-radical oxidation pathway after S doping, and the overall process moved towards low toxicity.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Srivalli Thimmarayan, Harshavardhan Mohan, Gaddapara Manasa, Karthi Natesan, Shanmugam Mahendran, Pavithra Muthukumar Sathya, Byung-Taek Oh, R. Ravi Kumar, Rangasamy Sigamani Gandhimathi, Arul Jayaprakash, Kamala-Kannan Seralathan
Summary: This study investigated the bacterial degradation of naphthalene (NPT) isolated from crude oil-contaminated soil. Bacillus sp. GN 3.4, a potential bacteria for NPT biodegradation, was isolated and the optimal conditions for NPT degradation were determined. The study suggests that Bacillus sp. GN 3.4 could potentially aid in bioremediation by eliminating NPT from the soil.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2024)