Article
Chemistry, Physical
Si -Tong Guo, Zi-Yuan Tang, Ting Liu, Ting Ouyang, Zhao-Qing Liu
Summary: In this study, a chlorine (Cl)-modified Cu2O/ZnO heterostructure photocathode (CCZO) with high CH4 faradaic efficiency (88.6%) and durability (over 5 h) is presented. The Cl ions in CCZO stabilize Cu2O against photo-corrosion and promote the hydrogenation of *CO intermediate, leading to the selective reduction of CO2 to CH4. The catalytic mechanism of CCZO in modulating the energy barrier of intermediate *CO combined with H+ is elucidated, providing a new idea for developing high selectivity and stable catalysts for CO2 reduction.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Baoling Niu, Zhiming Wang, Jianwei Wu, Junzhuo Cai, Ziwen An, Jie Sun, Yanbo Li, Shuyu Huang, Ning Lu, Qihao Xie, Guohua Zhao
Summary: A novel photoanode (Au/MIL100(Fe)/TiO2) with dual recognition functions was designed for selective group-targeting photoelectrocatalytic removal of thiol-containing heterocyclic pollutants from various aquatic systems. The specific recognition mechanism was mainly attributable to both the size screening of MIL100(Fe) toward targets and Au-S bond formed between-SH group of targets and Au of Au/MIL100(Fe)/TiO2. The study provides new guidelines for the selective group-targeting removal of toxic pollutants with characteristic functional groups from complex water matrices.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Haochen Zhang, Chunsong Li, Qi Lu, Mu-Jeng Cheng, William A. Goddard
Summary: The study explores the electrochemical conversion of light alkanes to high-value oxygenates using active intermediates from water oxidation as oxidants on single atom alloys. By controlling the potential and pH, stable oxygen atoms on the surface can facilitate the cleavage of C-H bonds, suggesting potential for efficient conversion of hydrocarbons into value-added chemicals.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Lakshika Weerasundara, Yong-Sik Ok, Jochen Bundschuh
Summary: Selective removal of arsenic is essential for increasing efficiency and reducing waste in water treatment. Various methods have been developed, but challenges remain due to the complex nature of different arsenic species and the presence of phosphate in water. Further research, including on microbiological methods, shows promise for future improvements in selective arsenic removal.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Meng Tan, Qiaoyuan Gao, Yangjie Fu, Youran Xu, Derek Hao, Bing-Jie Ni, Qi Wang
Summary: In this study, Fe-2-methylimidazole was successfully loaded onto F-doped tin oxide to create a photoanode with excellent photoelectrocatalytic performance for the simultaneous removal of phenol and Cr(VI). Optimizing the initial state and concentration of iron can further enhance the performance of the photoanode.
MATERIALS SCIENCE IN SEMICONDUCTOR PROCESSING
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xin-Yue Zhou, Ming Zhang, Zhong Liu, Jia-Hao He, Xiao-Chen Wang
Summary: In this study, a method for functionalization of pyridines was reported, which exhibits high selectivity towards trifluoromethylthio and difluoromethylthio groups. The method can be used for late-stage functionalization of pyridine drugs, resulting in the generation of new drug candidates.
JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Zhengxiang Gu, Yechuan Zhang, Xuelian Wei, Zhenyu Duan, Qiyong Gong, Kui Luo
Summary: In this study, copper-doped cobalt selenide nanosheets with selenium vacancies were developed as a robust and efficient electrocatalyst for the reduction of nitrate to ammonia. The introduction of Cu dopants and Se vacancies enhanced the electron transfer and led to the formation of electron-deficient Cu sites, accelerating the dissociation of NO3- and stabilizing the *NO2 intermediates, ultimately achieving selective catalysis in the entire NO3RR process.
ADVANCED MATERIALS
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Xing Zhi, Anthony Vasileff, Yao Zheng, Yan Jiao, Shi-Zhang Qiao
Summary: This review focuses on the important role of oxygen-bound intermediates in affecting the selectivity of CO2 reduction products, and outlines practical techniques and strategies for probing the evolution of intermediates and promoting the selectivity of electrocatalysts. The study highlights the preferred reaction pathways to certain products when regulated by oxygen-bound species, based on theoretical calculations, electrochemical measurements, and operando spectroscopy observations. The geometries of these oxygen-bound intermediates and their binding on a catalyst surface determine the breakage or preservation of C-O bonds, significantly influencing the direction of selectivity towards a final product.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jianlin Zhang, Tao Zhuang, Shanjun Liu, Shan Sun, Yongxin Wang, Xinyu Liu, Jin Wang, Rutao Liu
Summary: In this study, mesoporous CeO2 was prepared by the nanocasting method and showed superior catalytic efficiency in the ozonation of atrazine. It has the potential to effectively remove organic pollutants from water and has promising engineering applications.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chu-fan Li, Rui-tang Guo, Zhen-rui Zhang, Tong Wu, Wei-guo Pan
Summary: Converting CO2 into value-added products through photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photoelectrocatalysis is a promising solution for global environmental problems and energy crisis. Among the various semiconductor materials, Cu2O stands out due to its abundant reserves, low cost, and environmental friendliness. This review discusses the principles of CO2 reduction, pathways for the generation of different carbon products, factors influencing CO2 reduction performance, properties and optimization strategies of Cu2O-based catalysts, and their applications in CO2 reduction. It also presents the opportunities, challenges, and future research directions for Cu2O-based catalysts in the field of CO2 catalytic reduction, providing guidance for their widespread implementation in energy and environmental sectors.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ying Shang, Nan Jiang, Zhengyan Liu, Chong Li, Haoyang Sun, He Guo, Bangfa Peng, Jie Li
Summary: Studies have been conducted on the simultaneous removal of atrazine (ATZ) and chromium (Cr(VI)) using pulsed discharge plasma (PDP) coupled with Z-scheme graphene-TiO2-MnFe2O4 (GTM) photocatalyst. The results showed that GTM had a high separation efficiency of electron-hole pairs. The addition of GTM in the PDP system significantly enhanced the removal efficiencies of ATZ and Cr(VI), resulting in improved removal rates and energy efficiencies.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Suocai Ren, Huimin Yang, Dingding Zhang, Fanfan Gao, Cheng Nan, Zhifang Li, Wenjing Zhou, Nan Gao, Zhenhai Liang
Summary: Utilizing ZIF-8 as a host material and compositing it with Bi2S3 semiconductor material showed high activity and stability in the photoelectrocatalytic reduction of CO2 to formate, with a Faraday efficiency of 74.2% achieved.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Benjamin O. Orimolade, Adewale O. Oladipo, Azeez O. Idris, Feleni Usisipho, Shohreh Azizi, Malik Maaza, Sogolo L. Lebelo, Bhekie B. Mamba
Summary: In recent years, there has been a focus on making water safer and cleaner by eliminating pharmaceutical residues, particularly fluoroquinolone antibiotics, from wastewater. Electrochemical technologies, such as photoelectrocatalysis, electro-Fenton, electrocoagulation, and electrochemical oxidation, have been found to be effective in removing these pharmaceuticals from wastewater. This review discusses the recent progress in the application of these electrochemical processes for the degradation of fluoroquinolone antibiotics, highlighting their fundamentals, results, advantages, limitations, and recommendations for future improvements. It serves as a valuable resource for researchers in the selection of suitable electrochemical techniques for pharmaceutical removal from wastewater.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Esteban Landaeta, Nir I. Kadosh, Zachary D. Schultz
Summary: Plasmonic dendritic electrodes of silver and cuprous oxide (Ag/Cu2O) are used to investigate the selective photoelectroreduction mechanism of CO2 to acetate. The mechanism is supported by the basic microenvironment, the semiconductor properties of Cu2O, and the accumulation of hot electrons from the localized surface plasmon resonance of Ag nanostructure.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Min Xu, Yawen Cai, Guohe Chen, Bingfeng Li, Zhongshan Chen, Baowei Hu, Xiangke Wang
Summary: This article summarizes recent works on the selective sorption or catalytic reduction of target radionuclides using different nanomaterials, and discusses their interaction mechanisms. The sorption-photocatalytic/electrocatalytic reduction strategy is effective for in situ solidification/immobilization of radionuclides. It is found that the special functional groups and structures of nanomaterials can selectively bind radionuclides.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Zhiyong Fan, Huijie Shi, Hongying Zhao, Junzhuo Cai, Guohua Zhao
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Junzhuo Cai, Tiezheng Niu, Penghui Shi, Guohua Zhao
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Baoling Niu, Junzhuo Cai, Wenjing Song, Guohua Zhao
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Junzhuo Cai, Baoling Niu, Qihao Xie, Ning Lu, Shuyu Huang, Guohua Zhao, Jincai Zhao
Summary: This critical review focuses on the overall strategies for accurately removing highly toxic emerging pollutants in the presence of typical interferents. The main difficulties hindering the improvement of selectivity in complex matrices are analyzed, implying that it is difficult to adopt a universal approach for multiple targets and water substrates. Selective methods based on assorted principles are proposed aiming to improve the anti-interference ability.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Chang-Lian Xu, Yitong Luo, Siyu Liu, Guiyin Wang, Chao Chen, Guochun Lv, Zhang Cheng, Zhanbiao Yang, Xiaoxun Xu, Junzhuo Cai, Xiaohong Zhang, Gang Yang, Jun Wu, Shirong Zhang
Summary: This study developed a simple and environmentally friendly method to prepare specific dual superlyophobic materials to solve the problems of oily water purification, immiscible solvent separation, sensitive microreaction, and CO2 blockage. These materials can maintain their dual superoleophobicity in various oil/water systems without additional surface modifications. They can achieve separation efficiencies greater than 99.50% for oil/water mixtures even after 40 separation cycles, and over 99.25% for immiscible organic solvents after 20 cycles. The materials have also been successfully applied to separate meal waste oily water, crude oil/water, manipulate and block CO2 bubbles, and serve as a platform for microdrop manipulation/microreaction under liquid.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ning Lu, Junzhuo Cai, Baoling Niu, Ye Zhou, Guohua Zhao
Summary: It is important to give traditional photocatalysis selectivity for a class of characteristic pollutants in environmental science. Using PAEs-TiO2 as a selective photocatalyst, 302.5 μg/L of 11 phthalic esters (PAEs) were preferentially removed to 4.94 μg/L in the presence of 10 mg/L of natural organic matter via specific hydrogen bonds or cation-pi interactions. The study provides new insights into the selective photocatalysis of pollutants with similar molecular structure.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Qiuxia Lei, Mingyue Liu, Tian Yang, Min Chen, Lin Qian, Shun Mao, Junzhuo Cai, Hongying Zhao
Summary: A cathode-mediated electrochemical process was proposed for efficiently removing PFOA by in situ generation of SO4·- and HO·. The optimized ratio of SO4·- and HO· resulted in high PFOA removal and mineralization efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhiming Wang, Shaohan Xu, Junzhuo Cai, Jianjun Ma, Guohua Zhao
Summary: This paper discusses the application of photoelectrocatalysis technology and engineering in the removal of toxic organic pollutants in water systems. By analyzing the advantages of PEC, the principles and features of PEC systems are clarified, and various applications of PEC technology are further developed and discussed. The importance of PEC oxidation and toxicity studies is emphasized, and challenges and perspectives for the development of PEC techniques are proposed.
ACS ES&T ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Rong-Gui Zhu, Chang-Gui Pan, Feng-Jiao Peng, Chao-Yang Zhou, Jun-Jie Hu, Kefu Yu
Summary: This comprehensive survey investigated the occurrence, bioaccumulation, and trophic magnification of parabens and their metabolite 4-HB in a marine food web. Results showed that parabens were the predominant pollutants in marine organisms, with significant bioaccumulation from sediments. The estimated trophic magnification factor indicated biomagnification for MeP and trophic dilution for 4-HB. Overall, the risks for humans consuming marine organisms were found to be low.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Andres F. Torres-Franco, Deborah Leroy-Freitas, Cristina Martinez-Fraile, Elisa Rodriguez, Pedro A. Garcia-Encina, Raul Munoz
Summary: Anaerobic and microalgae-based technologies have emerged as sustainable alternatives for municipal wastewater treatment. However, the presence of viruses in the treated wastewater is a major concern for reuse applications. This study assessed the ability of these technologies to reduce viruses during secondary wastewater treatment. The results showed that all technologies were effective in reducing the concentration of viruses, with microalgae-based treatment exhibiting the highest potential for reducing the disinfection requirements of treated wastewater.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Young Gwang Kim, Sae Yun Kwon, Spencer J. Washburn, Scott C. Brooks, Ji Won Yoon, Lucien Besnard
Summary: The study uses Hg isotope ratios to identify the sources and exposure pathways of mercury in bivalves, finding that dissolved Hg phases in the water column are the primary source and exposure pathway to bivalves. This provides new insights into using bivalves as bioindicators for sediment quality monitoring.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hui Geng, Ying Xu, Rui Liu, Dianhai Yang, Xiaohu Dai
Summary: This study investigates the effect of cation exchange resin (CER) on the sequential recovery of hydrogen and methane from anaerobic digestion (AD) and the corresponding mechanisms. The results show that CER can simultaneously enhance the production of hydrogen and methane by promoting the solubilisation, hydrolysis, and acidification of organic matter. Additionally, CER facilitates effective contact between bacteria and organic particulates and reduces the energy barrier for mass transfer during methane production. The study also reveals changes in the microbial community structure and metagenomics during the AD process.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaojing Lin, Zhan Jin, Shunfeng Jiang, Zhiquan Wang, Suqing Wu, Ke Bei, Min Zhao, Xiangyong Zheng
Summary: Dehumidification combined with addition of absorbent resin supplement (ARS) was used to achieve rapid evaporation of non-pretreated urine, resulting in high water evaporation efficiency and nutrient recovery.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yangli Che, Chaoran Lin, Shen Li, Jiao Liu, Longhai Zhu, Shilei Yu, Nan Wang, Haoshuai Li, Mutai Bao, Yang Zhou, Tonghao Si, Rui Bao
Summary: Hydrodynamic processes play a crucial role in the transmission of sediments, microbial assembly, and organic carbon redistribution in the ocean. Through experiments and analysis, we found that hydrodynamics shape the assembly of microbial communities and control the redistribution of different sourced organic carbon, thereby influencing microbial-mediated biogeochemical transformation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chao Chen, Yu Yang, Nigel J. D. Graham, Zhenyu Li, Xingtao Yang, Zhining Wang, Nadia Farhat, Johannes S. Vrouwenvelder, Li -an Hou
Summary: The fouling of seawater reverse osmosis membranes is a persistent challenge in desalination. This study monitored the operational performance of a desalination plant for 7 years and the fouling development in different areas of membrane modules. The findings showed that operational performance declined over time and fouling mainly occurred at the feed side of the modules, with the highest microbial diversity. Keystone species like Chloroflexi and Planctomycetes played an important role in maintaining community structure and biofilm maturation. Polysaccharides, soluble microbial products, marine humic acid-like substances, and inorganic substances contributed to fouling. Overall, biofouling had a significant impact on membrane fouling after 7 years of operation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Dan Li, Jieyi Sun, Yibo Fu, Wentao Hong, Heli Wang, Qian Yang, Junhong Wu, Sen Yang, Jianhui Xu, Yunfei Zhang, Yirong Deng, Yin Zhong, Ping'an Peng
Summary: Sulfidation-oxidation treatment of magnetite (Fe3O4) enhances the production of dark center dot OH, which can efficiently degrade dissolved organic matter (DOM) and accelerate carbon cycling.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cheng Yu, Kaijun Wang, Kaiyuan Zhang, Ruiyang Liu, Pingping Zheng
Summary: This study implemented a microaerobic-aerobic configuration in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment facility and investigated the effects on sludge characteristics, pollutant removal, microbial community, and granulation mechanisms. The results showed successful transition from flocculent-activated sludge to well-defined AGS after two months of operation. The primary pathways for pollutant removal were simultaneous nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus removal. Moreover, the incorporation of internal separators induced shifts in the flow pattern, which promoted granulation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Zhe Zhang, Shaoyang Hu, Guangrong Sun, Wei Wang
Summary: Halogenated aromatic disinfection byproducts (DBPs), such as halogenated phenols, have garnered widespread attention due to their high toxicity and prevalence. This study reports on the analysis, occurrence, and cytotoxicity of a group of emerging halogenated aromatic DBPs, known as halogenated polyhydroxyphenols (HPPs), in drinking water.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shengyue Chen, Jinliang Huang, Peng Wang, Xi Tang, Zhenyu Zhang
Summary: Accurate prediction of river water quality is crucial for sustainable water management. This study introduces wavelet analysis and transfer learning techniques to assist LSTM modeling, proposing a newly coupled modeling approach that improves short-term prediction of river water quality.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Bang Du, Xinmin Zhan, Piet N. L. Lens, Yifeng Zhang, Guangxue Wu
Summary: Efficient anaerobic digestion relies on the cooperation of different microorganisms with different metabolic pathways. This study investigated the effects of different operational modes and the addition of powdered activated carbon (PAC) on ethanol metabolic pathways. The results showed that the SBR mode and the presence of CO2 facilitated ethanol metabolism towards propionate production, while the CFR mode with extended solids retention time enriched Geobacter. Adjusting operational modes and PAC addition can modulate anaerobic ethanol metabolism and enrich Geobacter.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wanfa Wang, Si-Liang Li, Jun Zhong, Yuanbi Yi, Fujun Yue, Zenglei Han, Qixin Wu, Ding He, Cong-Qiang Liu
Summary: This study compares the carbon biogeochemical processes in karst and non-karst regions within large thermal stratified river-reservoir systems. The results demonstrate that karst reservoirs have a reduced potential for carbon emissions and highlight the importance of considering geologic settings to improve accuracy in regional and global CO2 emission estimates.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chunxia Jiang, Zelong Zhao, Dong Zhu, Xiong Pan, Yuyi Yang
Summary: This study analyzed the occurrence and distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in different environmental media of the Yangtze River using metagenomics. Core resistome dominated by multidrug resistance genes was found in all samples, while rare resistome dominated by various resistance genes was more prevalent in plasmids. Specific bacteria were identified as hosts for both core and rare resistomes, with high clinical concern ARGs found in the rare resistome. Particle-associated environment provided the most ideal conditions for resistome hosts. This study provided insights into the genetic locations of ARGs and the community assembly mechanisms of ARG hosts in freshwater environments.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Yu Zhang, Yongtao He, Linchun Jia, Lei Xu, Zheng Wang, Yueling He, Ling Xiong, Xumeng Lin, Hong Chen, Gang Xue
Summary: By synergizing organic carbon source, thiosulfate, and zero-valent iron, efficient mixotrophic denitrification of oligotrophic secondary effluent can be achieved. Thiosulfate plays a vital role in promoting TN removal efficiency, while corrosion of Fe0 releases OH- to neutralize H+ from thiosulfate-driven denitrification, creating a suitable environment for denitrification. The coordination of thiosulfate and Fe0 maintains the dominance of Thiobacillus for denitrification.