Global Challenges最新文献

{"title":"A Ray of Hope: Gamma Radiation for Microplastic Remediation (Global Challenges 6/2025)","authors":"Dhanalakshmi Vadivel,&nbsp;Claudio Casella,&nbsp;Adriana Laca,&nbsp;Mario Díaz,&nbsp;Daniele Dondi","doi":"10.1002/gch2.70010","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.70010","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The cover image is based on the article A Ray of Hope: Gamma Radiation for Microplastic Remediation by Dhanalakshmi Vadivel etal. https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500117\u0000 \u0000 <figure>\u0000 <div><picture>\u0000 <source></source></picture><p></p>\u0000 </div>\u0000 </figure></p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.70010","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256242","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Random Access Memory (RAM) Contacts Waste Catalyzes Organic Reactions","authors":"Daniel Pérez de los Cobos-Pérez,&nbsp;Marta Mon,&nbsp;Antonio Leyva-Pérez","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500069","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500069","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The direct utilization of metals from electronic waste (e-waste) in catalysis is a barely explored concept that, however, should be feasible for reactions where the catalytically active species can be formed in situ from the e-waste metal pieces. This approach circumvents any capture or isolation of particular metals, thus saving additional treatments (extractions, neutralization, separations, washings, …) and valorizing the e-waste in its own. Here, it is shown that a metallic contact (≈1 mg) of a computer´s random-access memory (RAM) catalyzes a variety of organic reactions in high yields. For instance, one RAM contact catalyzes the one-pot esterification-hydration reaction between acyl chlorides, propargyl alcohols, and water, at room temperature in 93–99% yields with turnover frequencies &gt;0.5 million per hour. In this way, &gt;50 kg of organic products could be prepared with just the RAM contacts discarded per year in the Institute´s recycling bin. These results open the way to directly use e-waste in catalysis for organic synthesis.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500069","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255886","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Ray of Hope: Gamma Radiation for Microplastic Remediation","authors":"Dhanalakshmi Vadivel,&nbsp;Claudio Casella,&nbsp;Adriana Laca,&nbsp;Mario Díaz,&nbsp;Daniele Dondi","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500117","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500117","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) generate sewage sludge, which retains ≈95% of the microplastics (MPs) processed in wastewater. The literature describes sewage sludges with MP concentrations ranging between 400 and 170,000 particles kg⁻¹ (dry weight) and when this sludge is applied to land, MPs spread into the environment. As a possible treatment for sewage sludge, this study aims to evaluate the effect of gamma-rays on the degradation of sludge MPs. The MPs utilized in the experiments are obtained from secondary sewage sludge provided by a municipal treatment facility and they are physic-chemically characterized (size, shape, composition). MPs are exposed to gamma radiation (γ-irradiation) at different time intervals and total doses to study the response process in sewage sludge. In particular, they are treated with γ-irradiation using cobalt-60 (⁶⁰Co) at doses ranging from 0 to 116 kGy. In this study, MP degradation can be achieved with a maximum degradation percentage of almost 70%. Concerning the specific degradation, research results show that both MP forms exhibit the same 35% degradation rate. This study not only advances the knowledge of how γ-irradiation affects MPs, but it also opens a new approach to fight against the global problem of environmental MPs.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500117","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256066","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Correction to “New Insight into Mercury Removal from Fish Meat Using a Single-Component Solution Containing Cysteine”","authors":"Przemysław Strachowski,&nbsp;Geeta Mandava,&nbsp;Johan Lundqvist,&nbsp;Romain Bordes,&nbsp;Mehdi Abdollahi","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500170","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500170","url":null,"abstract":"&lt;p&gt;&lt;i&gt;Global Challenges&lt;/i&gt; &lt;b&gt;2024&lt;/b&gt;, &lt;i&gt;8&lt;/i&gt;, 2400161&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;DOI: 10.1002/gch2.202400161&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;The error was due to the publication of material based on outdated “production data.” As a result, the published work did not include the section on effect-based bioassays, which led to the omission of two full subsections describing the applied methods and the results, as well as the corresponding descriptions in the abstract and conclusion. The article should include:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;b&gt;In abstract&lt;/b&gt;: Additional last sentence “Based on the effect-based in vitro screening, no relevant negative effects of the presented method on the safety of purified fish for humans are revealed.”&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Two additional paragraphs:&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;2.6 Effect-Based Screening Fish and Sauce&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;To evaluate the risk that the investigated process could contaminate the fish with potentially health-hazardous compounds, an initial screening was performed with effect-based methods in vitro. Fresh tuna was steamed, divided into portions, placed in 100 mL jars with 45 g of fish and 50 mL (the 1.2 wt.% cysteine solution), and then stored for two months. In parallel, two control samples were prepared: a) fish that was steamed and placed in jars but without the extracting solution and b) fish that was steamed and immediately frozen awaiting analysis (−80 °C). Following storage, the fish meat and the sauce were analyzed separately. Effect-based methods in cultured mammalian cells were used to evaluate if there were compounds in the fish meat or the sauce that could activate a number of human health-relevant toxicity endpoints. The fish meat was extracted using either a water-based extraction or a methanol-based extraction procedure. Extraction procedures are described in the Supporting Information. The sauce was added directly into the cell culture medium at an exposure concentration of 1%. A detailed methods description, including cell culture conditions, is presented in the Supporting Information. The applied in vitro assays are based on reporter gene technology, where the gene expression of a reporter protein is under the regulation of a DNA sequence that is responsive to the class of hazardous chemicals that are to be analyzed. Cell viability was monitored during all experiments, using the MTS assay, to ensure that analyses were conducted under non-cytotoxic conditions. The samples were analyzed for estrogenic or androgenic effects, oxidative stress, and the potential to induce the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR). A cell viability of &gt;80% of the control cells was regarded as non-cytotoxic.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;3.4 Effect-Based Evaluation of Potential Contamination by Developed Process&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Fish meat that had been in contact with the cysteine solution was extracted and analyzed using in vitro bioassays to investigate if the developed process had contaminated the fish with any bioactive compounds. As controls, fish meat was stored in the same type of container but without the solution as was used, as well","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500170","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256060","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis, Characterization, Photo/Electrocatalytic Activity, and Corrosion Behavior of Ag2S/PANI Composite Layered TiO2 Nanotubes Coated on Ti Foil","authors":"Derya Birhan,&nbsp;Derya Tekin,&nbsp;Burak Dikici,&nbsp;Taner Tekin,&nbsp;Hakan Kızıltaş","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500011","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500011","url":null,"abstract":"<p>In this study, the photo/electrocatalytic and electrochemical properties of the composite structure formed by coating silver sulfide (Ag₂S) and polyaniline (PANI) on titanium nanotubes are investigated. Titanium nanotubes (TiO₂ NTs) are synthesized on the surface of titanium (Ti) sheets using the anodization method. Ag₂S is deposited on the surface of TiO₂ NTs through the successive ionic layer adsorption and reaction (SILAR) method, while PANI is coated via the chemical oxidative polymerization technique. SEM-EDS, XRD, FTIR, and electrochemical measurements are used to characterize the prepared nanotubes. The corrosion inhibitor performance of TiO₂ NTs is investigated by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and potentiodynamic polarization (PDS) measurements. EIS measurements showed that the PANI layer decreased the resistance of the photoanodes, while the Ag₂S coating increased the resistance compared to PANI. It is determined that the semicircles in the Nyquist curves drawn using EIS measurements are formed due to the Warburg resistance in the low-frequency region and the high-frequency region caused by the charge transfer resistance. Corrosion parameters are measured using Tafel fitting curves. Overall, TiO₂ NTs grown by anodization effectively prevented the corrosion of the Ti photoelectrode, and the corrosion rate is calculated at 0.013 mm/year (mpy). In electrocatalytic (EC), photocatalytic (PC), and photoelectrocatalytic (PEC) activity experiments, PANI/Ag₂S/TiO₂ NT photoelectrode removed 13.775%, 37.71%, and 61.075% of methylene blue (MB) within 120 min under UV light irradiation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500011","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256215","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable Hydrogen Production, a Review of Methods, Types, Applications, Challenges, and Future Perspectives","authors":"Sajid Ali Ansari,&nbsp;Mir Waqas Alam,&nbsp;Neetu Dhanda,&nbsp;Misbah Sehar Abbasi,&nbsp;Mais Emad Ahmed,&nbsp;Alanoud bader alrashidi,&nbsp;Amani Mubarak Al-Farhan,&nbsp;Buzuayehu Abebe","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500086","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500086","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hydrogen is promising as an innovative energy vector beyond its conventional role and receiving international identification as a feasible fuel source. This review provides a concise examination of current advances in hydrogen production techniques employing renewable and conventional energy sources, as well as important difficulties in hydrogen production. Wind and solar are the two most promising sustainable energy sources for hydrogen manufacturing. The hydrogen production from renewable sources generated from undeveloped or other waste flows increases the affordability and flexibility of semi-centralized and distributed reforming while emitting no net or fewer greenhouse gases. Water electrolysis apparatus powered by wind energy or off-grid solar can also used in distant places away from the framework. Every hydrogen-producing technology presents technological obstacles. These obstacles include conversion efficiency, feedstock type, and the requirement to safely integrate the production of hydrogen systems with storage and purification technology.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500086","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Assessing Groundwater Potential in the Ziway Lake Watershed Using Geographical Information System, Analytic Hierarchy Process, and Drinking Water Quality Index","authors":"Tariku Takele,&nbsp;Abraham Mechal,&nbsp;Berihu Abadi Berhe","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202400354","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400354","url":null,"abstract":"<p>This study investigates the groundwater potential zones in the Ziway Lake watershed of Ethiopia's rift valley using a GIS-based multi-criteria decision analysis within the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). Environmental factors, including recharge, lithology, elevation, lineament density, and drainage density, are analyzed. The soil and water assessment tool (SWAT) model is applied to estimate groundwater recharge for the watershed. The performance of the SWAT model, evaluated based on observed streamflow at Katar and Meki stations, demonstrates good performance during the calibration and validation phases. The watershed's groundwater potential is classified as Very low (18.01%), Low (17.62%), Moderate (12.05%), High (28.34%), and Very High (23.98%). Groundwater potential zones are integrated with drinking water quality index zones using GIS, showing that (39.72%) of very high and high potential areas have good to excellent water quality. Results show that over half of the watershed has moderate to very high groundwater potential, identifying critical areas for sustainable water management. The findings provide useful guidance for identifying key areas for groundwater exploration and conservation, offering a practical approach that can be applied to other regions to ensure sustainable management.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202400354","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255853","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Controlled Ascent Rate Enhances Autophagy and Mitigates Acute Lung Injury in Rats Exposed to High-Altitude Hypoxia by Inhibiting Oxidative Stress and Inflammation","authors":"Kairui Huang,&nbsp;Wenhui Shi,&nbsp;Jiajia Li,&nbsp;Xiaoyan Ma,&nbsp;Jiangwei Liu","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202400362","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202400362","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The gradual ascent strategy, an effective measure to prevent acute mountain sickness by enabling the body to adapt to high–altitude hypoxia, has an unclear mechanism. This study explores controlled ascent rates' effects on autophagy, oxidative stress, inflammation, and lung injury in rats exposed to high-altitude hypoxia, hypothesizing that gradual ascent can activate autophagy, reduce oxidative stress and inflammation, and improve lung injury. 70 male Sprague-Dawley rats are divided into seven groups, including a normal control group and high-altitude hypoxia for 24, 72, and 120 h, with or without controlled ascent rates. Lung tissues are analyzed for the wet-to-dry weight ratio, histopathology, inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress markers, and autophagy-related protein expression. Results show that controlled ascent rates reduced lung injury, oxidative stress, and inflammation in rats exposed to high-altitude hypoxia while increasing autophagy. This study indicates that gradual ascent can be an effective strategy for reducing lung injury in high-altitude areas by regulating autophagy and reducing oxidative stress and inflammation.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202400362","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255851","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of the Effects of Brominated Perylenediimide and Perylene Tetraester Modified G-C₃N₄ S-Scheme Nanocomposites on the Photocatalytic Degradation of Anionic and Cationic Dyes and Herbicide","authors":"Erkan Aksoy,&nbsp;Emre Alp","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500100","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500100","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Metal-free g-C₃N₄ (graphitic carbon nitride) is a promising candidate for the next-generation visible light-responsive photocatalyst; however, the recombination and transfer of the photogenerated charge carriers restrict its photocatalytic performances. The exfoliated g-C₃N₄ sensitized with brominated perylenediimide (dBrPDI) and perylene tetraester (dBrPTE) enhances the photocatalytic performance due to improved charge separation, light absorption, charge transfer and, thereby, overall efficiency in pollutant degradation. The g-C₃N₄/dBrPTE hybrid composite exhibits the fastest photocatalytic degradation against rhodamine B (RhB) pollutants. The g-C₃N₄/dBrPTE hybrid composite degrades RhB with a 2.34-fold improvement over pure g-C₃N₄, while the g-C₃N₄/dBrPDI hybrid composite degrades with a 1.56-fold increase over pure g-C₃N₄. The g-C3N4/dBrPDI hybrid composite shows the highest photocatalytic efficiency against methyl orange (MO) pollutants. The g-C₃N₄/dBrPDI hybrid composite degrades MO with a 2.25-fold improvement over pure g-C₃N₄, while the g-C₃N₄/dBrPTE hybrid composite degrades with a 1.8-fold increase over pure g-C₃N₄. Unlike MO and RhB, the perylene dye sensitization does not enhance the photocatalytic degradation of 2,4-dichloro phenoxy acetic acid (2,4-D) and no sustained increase in efficiency is not observed. Overall, these results suggest that photocatalytic efficiency depends not only on the sensitized photocatalyst material but also on the interaction between the sensitized photocatalyst and the chemical and ionic properties of the pollutants in the aquatic media.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500100","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144255852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Waste to Wealth: Electrochemical Innovations in Hydrogen Production From Industrial Wastewater","authors":"Tesfaye Alamirew Dessie,&nbsp;Lemlem Seyoum Seifu,&nbsp;Woldesenbet Bafe Dilebo","doi":"10.1002/gch2.202500043","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.202500043","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The increasing demand for energy and the environmental challenges posed by fossil fuel consumption prompts the exploration of clean and sustainable energy solutions. This review article focuses on the innovative approach of generating energy through the electrolysis of wastewater, which not only facilitates clean energy production but also aids in wastewater treatment. Significant advancements in electrooxidation processes for the sustainable production of hydrogen and other valuable chemicals are highlighted. This article specifically analyzes the techno-economic aspects of electrooxidation for small molecules, including alcohol, amine, hydrazine, iodine, and urea, within the framework of wastewater treatment. Cost estimations for hydrogen and value-added products derived from the oxidation reactions are presented, with production costs calculated at $6.37, $6.06, $2.68, $5.69, and $10.69 per kilogram of H₂, respectively. However, the costs associated with alcohol oxidation reactions and urea oxidation reactions are deemed unfeasible. An analysis of profitability reveals that the oxidation processes for iodine, hydrazine, and amine wastewater generate revenue profits of 28%, 16%, and 6%, respectively.</p>","PeriodicalId":12646,"journal":{"name":"Global Challenges","volume":"9 6","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":4.4,"publicationDate":"2025-04-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1002/gch2.202500043","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144256536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"综合性期刊","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}