Article
Plant Sciences
Elisa Fasani, Mingai Li, Claudio Varotto, Antonella Furini, Giovanni DalCorso
Summary: Research on the interaction between plants and potentially toxic elements has mainly focused on angiosperms, while lower plant clades have been somewhat overlooked. Recent studies have shown the potential of bryophytes, pteridophytes, and gymnosperms in environmental sciences, as indicators of habitat health and elemental pollution, as well as tools for soil and water reclamation.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Chang Liu, Chao Wang, Min Chen, Huimin Hu, Qiwu Zhang
Summary: The new method of preparing Bi2O2S has proven to be effective in removing Cu2+ and Cl- simultaneously from solutions, offering a new concept for the treatment of wastewater by removing both cations and anions at the same time.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Meihua Zhao, Caiyuan Cai, Zhen Yu, Hongwei Rong, Chaosheng Zhang, Shungui Zhou
Summary: This study found that adding biochar can shorten the thermophilic phase of composting, lower the pH at maturation period, accelerate the decomposition of organic matter, and increase seed germination index. Additionally, biochar promotes the formation of components with benzene ring and the degradation of protein-like organic matters, which is correlated with the levels of DTPA-extractable heavy metals.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Joanna Jaskula, Mariusz Sojka
Summary: This study investigates the contamination of six heavy metals in the river sediments of Poland's two largest rivers, the Oder and Vistula. It provides insights into the overall characteristics, spatial distribution, pollution levels, and possible sources of heavy metals in the country. The study also assesses the potential toxic effects of the sediments and identifies the main factors influencing the distribution of heavy metals in the river sediments.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shenghui Jiang, Xin Ni, Haiyan Cheng, Guangming Zhao
Summary: We analyzed the heavy metal (Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn) content and particle size of surface sediment samples taken from 123 sites in the Bohai Strait of China. All five heavy metals showed a similar distribution in the strait, with lower concentrations in the middle and higher concentrations at the sides. The Laotieshan Channel had the lowest heavy metal content due to rapid currents. Only 1.6% of the sample sites were polluted by Cr and Cu, according to our pollution index (Pi) calculations. Few sites were polluted by heavy metals based on geo-accumulation index (Igeo) values. Pb levels were influenced by terrigenous inputs and clay adsorption, while the levels of other heavy metals (Cr, Cu, Ni, and Zn) were mainly controlled by terrigenous inputs.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cong Bao, Bei Huang, Junbo Shao, Qiang Cai, Qinglin Mu, A. J. Murk
Summary: The study evaluated the development of toxic compounds in sediment and macrobenthos species in Hangzhou bay, finding that some metal elements exceeded Chinese sediment quality guidelines, posing ecological and seafood risks. The number of benthic species showed a decreasing trend, with fewer species sensitive to contamination, while crustacea species were more tolerant to pollution.
MARINE POLLUTION BULLETIN
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Edward J. Calabrese, Evgenios Agathokleous
Summary: Accumulation of metals by plants is a key research area, with hormetic-biphasic dose-response relationships commonly observed for multiple agents in plant studies. The dose response is similar across studies, independent of plant species, endpoints, and metals, and is associated with up- and down-regulation of adaptive mechanisms in plant responses. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for understanding the qualitative and quantitative features of hormetic dose response in plant studies.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Xiongyi Miao, Yupei Hao, Hongwei Liu, Zhouqing Xie, Dan Miao, Xudong He
Summary: The study found that HMs levels in sediments in karst areas are low, but Cd and Zn concentrations in fish are significantly higher than the soil baseline. Most HMs are present in the residual fraction, with very low proportions of exchangeable fractions that could impact bioaccumulation. Some fish samples exceeded the maximum recommended limit for certain HMs. Environmental factors have a significant impact on HMs bioconversion, especially the proportions of different HM species.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Asli Baysal, Hasan Saygin
Summary: This study assessed the ecological and human health risks caused by Cr and Ni in sediments from the industrial marine area in Aydinli Bay, Istanbul, Turkey. The concentrations of Cr and Ni varied in different sampling areas and years, and their levels were correlated with pH, organic matters, and inorganic carbon. The health risk assessments indicated no adverse effects on adults. The results suggested that the contamination of Cr and Ni was lower in Aydinli Bay compared to the Marmara Sea and river connections.
STOCHASTIC ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND RISK ASSESSMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ran Wen, Xiong Yang, Shuang He, Jian Wu, Hongmei Ge, Zheng Chi, Yafei Shi, Shulian Wang, Andrea R. Gerson, Kewu Pi
Summary: Sediments play a crucial role in the storage of heavy metals in river and lake waters, and their chemical makeup influences the movement of these elements within the ecosystem. Therefore, it is essential to remediate polluted sediments for the overall health of the ecological environment. This study proposes a simple method for extracting heavy metals from contaminated sediment using horizontal electroosmosis, and investigates the effect of different washing reagents and operational parameters. Citric acid and EDTA were found to be the most effective in removing Cd and Pb, respectively. After 13 days of electrokinetic washing, the removal ratio of Cd by citric acid was 77.0%, and that of Pb by EDTA was 88.3%. The decrease in various fractions of the heavy metals upon their removal from the polluted sediment was observed.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Youping Shou, Junjie Zhao, Yuxin Zhu, Jianzhe Qiao, Zhangfeng Shen, Wei Zhang, Ning Han, Avelino Nunez-Delgado
Summary: This study evaluated the potential health and ecological risks of heavy metal pollution in surface waters and sediments in Tianjin Nangang Industrial Zone, China. The results showed that heavy metal concentrations decreased over time, with arsenic posing the main carcinogenic risk to the environment.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shan Gao, Xiong Yang, Yucheng Ding, Yihui Xia, Yumiao Song, Jiaying Liu, Kewu Pi, Andrea R. Gerson
Summary: In this study, a combination of electrokinetic and chemical immobilization was used to remediate Cd and Pb polluted river sediments. The immobilization ratios for Cd and Pb were achieved by adjusting the concentrations of the immobilization reagents and the applied voltage. The enhancement effect of the electric field is mainly due to the increased contact between the immobilization reagents and the heavy metals.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yu Yao, Jiaqi Zhao, Lingzhan Miao, Jun Hou
Summary: This study explores the effects of physical and chemical factors and heavy metals on microbial diversity, community structure, and functions of bacterial and fungal communities in a black-odorous river in Wuhu, China. The results show that urbanization has led to eutrophication in river ecosystems, with heavy metals frequently observed. The influence of physical and chemical factors and heavy metals on microbial variation varies between bacterial and fungal communities.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gunnar Berghman, Dirk Goossens
Summary: The study measured the concentrations of 13 chemical elements in urban street sediment in Leuven, Belgium, with Cu, Sb, Pb, and Zn showing the highest enrichment. Cu and Zn concentrations in Leuven exceeded those in most other cities. The Integrated Pollution Index for Leuven classified the city as very highly polluted on average.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hilal K. Al-Shidi, Hameed Sulaiman, Hassan A. Al-Reasi, Farrukh Jamil, Muhammad Aslam
Summary: The study investigated heavy metal contamination in road dust in Muscat, Oman, with Cu having the highest level among the analyzed metals. Most metals had higher concentrations in finer fractions, and the risk levels varied from strong to very strong potential. Ingestion was found to be the main exposure pathway for children and adults, with finer particles posing higher non-carcinogenic risks, especially for Cr, Pb, and Cu.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Arvin Sohrabi, Mousa Meratizaman, Shuli Liu
Summary: This paper simulates and discusses possible solutions to improve the economic and technical performances of a battery-less renewable energy-powered BWRO system under real climate conditions. The study finds that the photovoltaic-based system performs better in terms of specific energy consumption and unused energy ratio.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chunlan Pan, Xiaoyin Hu, Vishal Goyal, Theyab R. Alsenani, Salem Alkhalaf, Tamim Alkhalifah, Fahad Alturise, Hamad Almujibah, H. Elhosiny Ali
Summary: This paper introduces a novel waste heat recovery method using the hot flue gas from a ship's engine to produce liquefied hydrogen while meeting the ship's air-conditioning requirement. A comprehensive feasibility assessment is conducted and an artificial neural network with a multiobjective grey wolf optimization method is used for optimization. The findings indicate the highest mean sensitivity index of the flash temperature and the best optimization scenario for exergy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and liquefied hydrogen cost.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniele Chinello, Jan Post, Louis C. P. M. de Smet
Summary: In this study, PVDF-based anion-exchange membranes were designed to selectively separate nitrate from chloride. Experimental data showed that increasing the concentration of PVDF enhanced nitrate transport but also increased the membrane electrical resistance. The selectivity of nitrate was found to be independent of the membrane thickness and mainly driven by the increased affinity between the anion and the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Umar Noor, Muhammad Fayyaz Farid, Ammara Sharif, Amna Saleem, Zubair Nabi, Muhammad Furqan Mughal, Kiran Abbas, Toheed Ahmed
Summary: Global water scarcity is increasing, and water desalination is an important solution. Multifunctional advanced materials, such as membrane materials and solar-driven desalination, play a crucial role in water desalination. Additionally, these materials can be used for water purification, wastewater treatment, and pollutant elimination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Emrah Gumus
Summary: With growing global concerns about climate change and environmental impacts, the use of nuclear energy in naval vessels offers a cleaner and more efficient solution to reduce emissions and address water and energy supply challenges. This study explores a novel system that combines a nuclear-driven supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle with reverse osmosis cogeneration to meet the water and electricity demands in maritime operations, enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and self-sufficiency of naval vessels. The results indicate that the system has the potential to be a viable and effective solution for naval operations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dao Thi Thanh Huyen, Saikat Sinha Ray, Young -Nam Kwon
Summary: This study focuses on the modification of a commercially available polyamide thin-film composite membrane with a zwitterionic material to enhance its fouling resistance. The modified membrane shows improved salt rejection and reduced permeability compared to the pristine membrane. Fouling tests demonstrate that the modified membrane has a lower fouling ratio and higher recovery ratio. The enhanced antifouling characteristics are attributed to the improved hydrophilicity resulting from the zwitterionic brushes and the salting-in effect.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Niklas Koeller, Lukas Mankertz, Selina Finger, Christian J. Linnartz, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study presents a methodology to scale up Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) technology from lab-scale to pilot-scale systems. By increasing membrane area and using a stacking approach, the FCDI modules were successfully scaled up and achieved a salt transfer rate comparable to lab-scale systems. This provides a foundation for future assessments of energy demand and economics.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mona Gulied, Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Hyunwoong Park, Guillermo Hijos Gago, Ho Kyong Shon, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study introduces a novel hybrid system that combines direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) to facilitate seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine enrichment and selective lithium recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Zhang, Ruifeng Deng, Jiao Zhang, Lu She, Guangfeng Wei, Renyong Jia, Pengyu Xiang, Siqing Xia
Summary: A transmembrane electro-chemisorption system with authigenic acid and base was developed for enhancing ammonia recovery from strong ammonia wastewater. The system efficiently transformed ammonium into free ammonia, which was then adsorbed and recovered through transmembrane chemisorption. This system yielded pure (NH4)2SO4 product and produced valuable byproducts of pure hydrogen and oxygen. Higher applied voltage resulted in better ammonia recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alena Popova, Sandrine Boivin, Takuji Shintani, Takahiro Fujioka
Summary: This study aimed to produce a high-integrity RO membrane by forming a polyamide skin layer on a TE support layer, in order to enhance the integrity of the membrane and improve the microbiological safety of potable water reuse.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Summary: This study investigates the concept of using heat to enhance reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The effect of temperature on water permeate flux, specific energy, permeate quality, and applied operating pressures is evaluated using an analytical model. The results suggest that under specific conditions, the tradeoff between savings in mechanical pump work and thermal energy input in thermally-enhanced RO can be favorable, leading to overall energy savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiangju Si, Chenrui Xue, Shun Li, Linchao Yang, Weiwei Li, Jie Yang, Jihong Lan, Ningbo Sun
Summary: To meet the huge demand for lithium resources, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient technology for lithium recovery from salt-lake brines. In this study, a selective membrane capacitive deionization system is reported, which achieves high lithium recovery capacity and rate through the use of materials with efficient intercalated pseudo-capacitance and a high specific area porous carbon. The use of a modified thin-coated membrane allows for selective Li+ recovery, and adjusting the concentrations of Li+ and Mg2+ in the feed solution enables higher Li+/Mg2+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohamed R. Salem, R. Y. Sakr, Ghazy M. R. Assassa, Omar A. Aly
Summary: This research proposes a new method of using wasted thermal energies as an additional heating source for solar still distillation units (SSDUs) to increase productivity and reduce pollution and global warming. By testing two SSDUs, the study shows that heating airflow can raise temperatures, enhance freshwater production, and improve system thermal efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qimeng Sun, Miao Sun, Linyan Yang, Yuan Gao, Xinghai Zhou, Lihua Lyu, Chunyan Wei
Summary: This study presents an innovative design and fabrication of a fabric-based conical roll (FCR) evaporator, which enables low-temperature evaporation and achieves high evaporation efficiency with excellent thermal management ability. The evaporator has demonstrated advanced light-harvesting capability and can produce freshwater that meets drinking water standards, showing great potential for applications in desalination and sewage treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidong Zhang, Wangfang Deng, Meiyan Wu, Chao Liu, Guang Yu, Qiu Cui, Pedram Fatehi, Chunlin Xu, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, a novel polydopamine-functionalized lignin-containing pulp foam evaporator with high-efficiency desalination and multi-contaminant adsorption capabilities was designed. The foam evaporator showed excellent light absorption, water absorption, thermal conductivity, and chelation abilities, allowing for solar evaporation and contaminant adsorption synergistically. It also exhibited potential applications in metal ion concentration and contaminated seawater treatments, and demonstrated superior biodegradability compared to poly-styrene foam. This foam material holds promise for developing multifunctional photo-thermal systems for solar-driven water purification.