Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Floc-mediated ozone microbubble enrichment enables reactive separation of dissolved organic matter","authors":"Yao Li,&nbsp;Jiyang Yao,&nbsp;Ming Tian,&nbsp;Xuan Wu,&nbsp;Pengkang Jin","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124910","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124910","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ozone microbubbles (OMBs) have been reported to enhance ozone transfer and flotation separation, but their role after incorporation into coagulant-induced flocs remains insufficiently understood. This study investigated the interaction between OMBs and Al-organic flocs during hybrid ozonation-coagulation and its effect on dissolved organic matter (DOM) removal. Humic acid (HA) was used as a model DOM compound, and natural surface water was used for evaluation. During floc formation, OMBs were captured by Al-organic flocs, producing bubble-bearing ozone microbubble flocs (OMBF). Compared with freely dispersed OMBs, OMBF altered ozone accumulation/decay behavior and elevated redox conditions in the floc-associated region. Radical-probe and apparent hydroxyl-radical analyses further indicated stronger radical-related oxidation in OMBF, especially under weakly alkaline conditions. OMBF formation coupled HA oxidation with Al-mediated capture. Ozone-induced functionalization generated or exposed oxygen-containing groups, while hydrolyzed Al species incorporated part of the transformed HA-derived organics into the floc matrix. The dominant removal pathway was pH-dependent. At pH 6-7, Al-mediated complexation, bridging and floc growth were more favorable, whereas at pH 8 stronger radical-related oxidation promoted HA functionalization and urea-sensitive weak-interaction retention. OMBF retained 2.1-2.2 times higher secondary DOC capture capacity than air microbubble flocs and removed 65.0% DOC from natural surface water. These findings show that the integrated OMBF system improves DOM removal through the coupling of floc-associated ozone reactions, Al-mediated incorporation and subsequent separation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124910"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870854","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Interfacial Depletion-Zone Engineering in MOF-Derived MoO3/Mo4O11/Cu2V2O7 Enables Efficient Photocatalytic Elimination of Imidacloprid in Real Water Matrices","authors":"Hardy Shuwanto,&nbsp;Chiu-Wen Chen,&nbsp;Cheng-Di Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124897","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124897","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A p-n heterojunction constructed of Mo-BTC MOF-derived p-type MoO₃/Mo₄O₁₁ and n-type Cu₂V₂O₇ (MOCuV) was successfully synthesized via hydrothermal and annealing methods as confirmed by morphological and structural analysis. The morphology of MOCuV as observed by SEM and TEM analysis revealed the structure of nanorods with uniformly distributed elements. MOCuV performed satisfying photocatalytic degradation of imidacloprid (IMC) with observed rate constant (k_obs= 0.041<!--> <!-->min^-1), mineralization of 93.6% within 90<!--> <!-->min of light irradiation and robust reusability of 80.2% after five-cycle photodegradation. Crucially, the catalyst demonstrated robust practical applicability in complex environmental matrices, including tap water and anthropogenically impacted water from the Houjin River (Kaohsiung, Taiwan). Despite the high chemical oxygen demand and total dissolved solids in the Houjin river, MOCuV maintained significant degradation efficiency (k_obs= 0.026<!--> <!-->min^-1), overcoming the scavenging effects of inorganic ions and natural organic matter. Mechanistic studies confirmed that the degradation is driven by multiple ROS (•OH, O₂^•-, and ¹O₂), facilitated by multi-valence Mo⁵⁺/Mo⁶⁺ and Cu²⁺/Cu⁺. This work highlights the potential of MOCuV heterojunctions for the sustainable remediation of persistent pesticides in real-world aquatic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124897"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870857","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Basalt fabric functionalized with Copper/Silver nanoparticles as a salt-tolerant solar evaporator for all-weather brackish water desalination","authors":"Dilibinuer Niyazimaimaiti,&nbsp;Ying-Lin He,&nbsp;Zhuo Chen,&nbsp;Anand Parkash,&nbsp;Jincheng Wu,&nbsp;Ghizlane Achagri,&nbsp;Chun-Hong Zhou,&nbsp;Yuan Fan,&nbsp;Wen-Rui Ma,&nbsp;Peng-Cheng Ma,&nbsp;Abudukeremu Kadier","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124891","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124891","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Solar interfacial evaporation is a sustainable approach to addressing freshwater scarcity, yet its practical deployment is limited by solar intermittency and salt fouling. Herein, an all-weather photo-electrothermal interfacial evaporator was developed using basalt fabric (BF) as a durable inorganic substrate. The device integrates a carbon-black-coated photothermal layer (CB@BF), an electrothermal layer of silver-copper nanoparticles encapsulated with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT-Ag/Cu@BF), a cotton-fabric water-transport layer, and a silicone-rubber-sealed downward vapor conduit. Under simultaneous 1 sun irradiation and an ultra-low voltage of 1.5<!--> <!-->V, the evaporator achieved evaporation rates of 8.66<!--> <!-->kg·m^-2·h^-1 for pure water, 7.69<!--> <!-->kg·m^-2·h^-1 for actual brackish water, and 5.75<!--> <!-->kg·m^-2·h^-1 for artificial seawater, while maintaining 4.25<!--> <!-->kg·m^-2·h^-1 under 10.5<!--> <!-->wt.% NaCl. The photothermal layer exhibited broadband solar absorption exceeding 99% and a solar-to-vapor conversion efficiency of 86.49%. The system demonstrated &gt;99% ion rejection and 100% antibacterial efficiency against <em>Escherichia coli</em> and <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>. Outdoor evaporation tests validated stable all-weather operation, with peak daytime and nighttime rates of 8.13 and 1.78<!--> <!-->kg·m^-2·h^-1, respectively. This low-voltage, salt-tolerant, and antibacterial evaporator offers a robust and scalable platform for decentralized brackish-water desalination.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124891"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Selective separation of copper and arsenic from actual copper smelting wastewater via sulfurization: a critical review in advantage, competition, parameter, and monitoring","authors":"Xiaolu Sun,&nbsp;Yanjun Hu,&nbsp;Yong Liu,&nbsp;Hao Jin,&nbsp;Ning Duan,&nbsp;Linhua Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124908","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124908","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Copper smelting wastewater, especially for copper smelting waste acid (CSWA) and electrolytic refining purification solution (ERPS), simultaneously contain recoverable copper and hazardous multivalent arsenic, creating a stringent requirement for Cu/As selective separation at industrial scale. This review synthesizes sulfurization-based Cu/As separation focusing on advantages, competitions, parameters, and real-time monitoring. Sulfurization is the mainstream Cu/As separation process in copper smelting wastewater due to high metal recovery, excellent selectivity under strongly acidic conditions, and moderate operational cost. Thermodynamically, selective copper precipitation is feasible due to large differences in sulfide solubility. However, Cu(Ⅱ)/As(Ⅲ) concentration gradients, thioarsenate adsorption, other metal sulfide co-precipitation, and halide interfacial effect severely interfere with the Cu/As sulfurization kinetics, intensifying sulfide precipitation/sedimentation competitions. Additionally, the critical roles of various sulfurization parameters in selective copper recovery, deep arsenic removal, and solid-liquid separation have been validated. Finally, to better address these competitions, UV-vis direct detection is employed to control key sulfurization parameters via real-time concentration monitoring. Future progress should focus on low-impurity controlled-release sulfidizing agents, interference-resistant UV-vis/machine-learning models, and integrated digital monitoring-prediction-control architectures for safer, cleaner, and more stable Cu/As selective separation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124908"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-09-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870903","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development and validation of detection method for PFAS in petroleum and petrochemical groundwater under high organic matter interference","authors":"Xingnan Zhou,&nbsp;Hui Luan,&nbsp;Tao Gu,&nbsp;Zi Long,&nbsp;Fangfang Ding,&nbsp;Kun Tong,&nbsp;Ting Cai,&nbsp;Xingwei Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124879","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124879","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To address the challenge posed by conventional Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) detection methods in petrochemical plant groundwater with high oil, salinity, and organic matter, this study developed a trace detection method integrating selective adsorption, deep purification, and anti-interference analysis, achieving accurate quantification of 18 PFAS. The approach specifically addressed technical bottlenecks in determining long-chain PFAS and mitigated matrix interference from oils. By optimizing solid-phase extraction (SPE) conditions, along with ultrasound-assisted extraction and vessel rinsing, the recoveries of 18 PFAS were significantly enhanced, with increases of 0.34–38.35% for the C₈-C₁₄ PFAS. Additionally, ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) conditions were optimized to achieve chromatographic separation of all 18 PFAS within 12<!--> <!-->minutes, significantly suppressing matrix effects and co-eluting interferences. The method demonstrated recoveries of 70.31–124.80%, intra- and inter-day relative standard deviations (RSDs) below 20%, method detection limits (MDLs) of 0.27–1.58<!--> <!-->ng/L, and method quantification limits (MQLs) of 0.81–4.74<!--> <!-->ng/L. When applied to groundwater samples from an oilfield and a refinery in China, target PFAS were successfully detected, with surrogate recoveries ranging from 71.11 to 127.51% and measured concentrations between ND and 5946.49<!--> <!-->ng/L. The predominant compounds detected were C₄-C₈ perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acids. This work provides an efficient and reliable technical framework for trace detection and source analysis of PFAS in oil-rich, high-complexity aquatic environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124879"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870913","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Human and Veterinary Pharmaceutical Compounds in Water Matrices of the Middle East and North Africa Region: A Systematic Review of their Occurrence and Treatment Techniques","authors":"Yohanna Fseha,&nbsp;Md. Maruf Mortula,&nbsp;Sameer Al-Asheh,&nbsp;Serter Atabay,&nbsp;Tarig Ali","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124858","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124858","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Human and veterinary pharmaceuticals are ubiquitous in the natural and engineered environment, posing risks to ecosystems and human health. Comprehensive information is essential to raise awareness and promote effective actions on this timely issue. Hence, with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA), this study aimed to provide a current and holistic assessment of the occurrence of pharmaceuticals present in the waters of the natural and engineered environment from 1956 to the present time in all countries within the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) and their removal, where and when applicable. Risk quotients were calculated for pharmaceuticals to assess the degree of ecological risks. In accordance with PRISMA guidelines, 159,443 publications were initially identified using various databases. These were screened and narrowed down to 154 publications based on pre-defined scientific criteria. More than 207 pharmaceuticals from 47 therapeutic groups were identified across MENA waters with the most frequently occurring being antibiotics and analgesics, including non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Out of all the water-based matrices considered, the effluents of wastewater treatment plants and lagoons had the highest concentration of pharmaceuticals with venlafaxine and diclofenac amounting to 12,500,000 and 3,981,072 ng/L, respectively. For every study identified, treatment techniques and removal efficiencies of these pharmaceuticals were also compiled, where applicable. Although conventional activated sludge reactors were most commonly reported for pharmaceuticals’ removal, they were less effective for certain pharmaceuticals than disinfection, membrane filtration and septic tanks. With this holistic review pertinent information can be provided to decision makers and the wider community.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124858"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870798","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"From deterministic to probabilistic: A back-calculation framework for health-risk-based heavy metal benchmark values in mining-affected agricultural soils","authors":"Guanghui Guo,&nbsp;Yingying Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124860","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124860","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Soil As and Cd contamination in mining-affected areas poses a significant threat to human health, necessitating the derivation of health-risk-based benchmark values. However, deriving robust benchmark values is challenging due to the multiple exposure pathways, variable soil-crop transfer capacities, and population-specific exposure parameters. To address these challenges, this study developed an integrated framework that integrated health risk assessment with back-calculation of benchmark values, incorporating dietary (maize and vegetable consumption) and non-dietary (soil ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact) exposure routes, and calibrated with region--specific bioconcentration factors. Based on 134 paired soil-crop samples in agricultural soils from southeastern Yunnan Province, China, we conducted both deterministic and probabilistic risk assessments and subsequently back-calculated health-risk-based benchmark values. Results showed that As and Cd concentrations in soils and crops from mining-affected areas were significantly higher than those in non-mining areas. Vegetable consumption contributed &gt;80% of the non-carcinogenic risk, with children being the most susceptible group. Probabilistic assessment revealed that deterministic approach underestimated the upper 15%–30% of the exposure tail. Consequently, probabilistic benchmark values (As: 2.11<!--> <!-->mg/kg; Cd: 0.24<!--> <!-->mg/kg) at the 95th population protection level were more stringent than their deterministic counterparts. This study supports refined risk management and protection of vulnerable populations in mining-affected areas.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124860"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870856","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Vivianite-based phosphorus recovery from wastewater: mechanisms of microbial reductive precipitation and advances in magnetic separation","authors":"Yunxia Zheng,&nbsp;Hao Li,&nbsp;Shengju Zhang,&nbsp;Haifeng Chen,&nbsp;Zheqin Dai,&nbsp;Guangcan Zhu,&nbsp;Hongya Geng,&nbsp;Xingang Wang,&nbsp;Hongliang Dai","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124864","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124864","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus is an essential yet non-renewable resource facing global scarcity, and its recovery from wastewater has become a critical research focus, driving the development of diverse recycling technologies. Among emerging approaches, vivianite-based phosphorus recovery has attracted increasing attention because of its compatibility with anaerobic wastewater treatment processes and its potential for efficient magnetic separation. This review systematically synthesizes current knowledge on the formation mechanisms of vivianite, with particular emphasis on microbially mediated reductive precipitation and its physicochemical pathways in wastewater systems. Building on this mechanistic understanding, the key factors governing vivianite crystallization are critically discussed together with their corresponding control strategies. In addition, the magnetic properties of vivianite are analyzed, and the performance of different magnetic separation technologies, including permanent magnet separation, high-gradient magnetic separation, and low-gradient magnetic separation, is comparatively evaluated. The review also highlights recent applications and proposes future development directions for this technology. By integrating mechanistic insights, influencing factors, and technological advancements, this analysis aims to offer new perspectives and recommendations for further research on vivianite-based phosphorus recovery from wastewater and the optimization of magnetic separation methods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124864"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870904","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Phosphate-solubilizing bacteria-loaded biochar alleviates microplastic–cadmium co-contamination by reshaping the soil phosphorus cycling network","authors":"Meng Wang,&nbsp;Yan Chen,&nbsp;Yue-Liang Meng,&nbsp;Shan-Shan Gao,&nbsp;B. Larry Li,&nbsp;Yu-Ying Li,&nbsp;Xue-Min Ren,&nbsp;Hui Han,&nbsp;Ling Liu,&nbsp;Zhao-Jin Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124813","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124813","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Phosphorus (P) is essential for soil–plant–microbe interactions. However, increasing co-contamination by heavy metals and microplastics (HMs–MPs) severely disrupts soil phosphorus cycling. Although microbial–biomaterial-based remediation has emerged as an environmentally friendly strategy for soil restoration, its performance under combined HMs–MPs stress remains largely unexplored. In this pot experiment, we investigated the effects of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB)-loaded biochar on rhizosphere microbial communities and phosphorus cycling under polyethylene (PE), cadmium (Cd), and combined PE–Cd contamination. Under combined PE–Cd contamination, PSB-loaded biochar significantly increased plant biomass, reduced Cd concentrations in plant tissues, improved soil physicochemical properties, and enhanced phosphorus availability by increasing TP, labile P, and moderately labile P fractions. Metagenomic analysis revealed that PSB-loaded biochar reshaped the rhizosphere microbial community, enriched phosphorus-cycling taxa, and increased the abundance of phosphorus-cycling genes under contaminated conditions. Among the six major phosphorus-cycling pathways, <em>Gaiella</em> was strongly associated with polyphosphate synthesis and organic phosphorus mineralization, whereas <em>Sphingomicrobium</em>, <em>Sphingomonas</em>, and <em>Luteitalea</em> were positively associated with polyphosphate degradation and phosphorus transport. Spearman correlation analysis demonstrated coordinated responses between phosphorus-cycling functional genes and dominant bacterial genera, both positively correlated with soil nutrients and crop biomass but negatively correlated with Cd contamination indicators. Mantel tests further revealed significant associations between key bacterial genera (<em>Gaiella</em> and <em>Nocardioides</em>) and soil phosphorus pools, suggesting that these taxa coordinately regulate soil remediation and crop growth. Overall, PSB-loaded biochar effectively mitigated the adverse effects of combined PE–Cd contamination by enhancing phosphorus cycling and reshaping the rhizosphere microbiome, providing a promising strategy for remediating microplastic–heavy metal co-contaminated soils.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124813"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870855","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Boosting oxidative desulfurization of fuel oil over a V2O5-Nb2O5 binary oxide heterostructure through V2O5 crystallite-size reduction and defect-associated surface modification","authors":"Lina Yang,&nbsp;Zihan Xia,&nbsp;Yuxi Liu,&nbsp;Jian Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124835","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.124835","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A V₂O₅-Nb₂O₅ binary-oxide heterostructure catalyst was synthesized by wet impregnation followed by calcination. The catalyst structure was characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, EDS mapping, N₂ adsorption-desorption, XPS, UV-Vis, Raman, and FTIR. The catalytic performance was evaluated using model oil containing dibenzothiophene in dodecane, with hydrogen peroxide as oxidant and methanol as extractant. Results reveal that the heterostructure retained the main crystalline domains of V₂O₅ and Nb₂O₅ while forming V-O-Nb interfacial linkages, decreasing the V₂O₅ crystallite size from 46.03<!--> <!-->nm to 21.83<!--> <!-->nm, and increasing the BET surface area and the proportions of defect-associated surface oxygen and surface V⁴⁺. Under optimal conditions (2<!--> <!-->wt.% catalyst, O/S molar ratio 15:1, solvent-to-oil volume ratio 1:1), V₂O₅-Nb₂O₅ achieved 97.79% desulfurization rate within 3<!--> <!-->h at room temperature. The apparent activation energies of V₂O₅-Nb₂O₅-M and V₂O₅-Nb₂O₅ were 54.8<!--> <!-->kJ<!--> <!-->mol^-1 and 39.2<!--> <!-->kJ<!--> <!-->mol^-1, respectively. The catalyst exhibited selectivity toward sulfur compounds, tolerance to olefin and aromatic interference, and high activity in real diesel. After 10 cycles, the desulfurization rate remained at 93.34% and recovered to 96.27% after regeneration. SEM, XRD, XPS, and Raman analyses suggested surface sulfone accumulation was a major cause of catalyst deactivation. Mechanistic analysis indicates V-O-Nb interfacial linkages and defect-associated oxygen sites facilitate H₂O₂ adsorption and activation, while V⁵⁺/V⁴⁺ redox cycling promotes surface peroxo intermediates and the generation of •O₂^- and •OH. These reactive species oxidize DBT to DBTO₂, which subsequently transfers into the methanol-rich phase, with a sulfur mass-balance closure of 99.85% and negligible V/Nb leaching.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 6","pages":"Article 124835"},"PeriodicalIF":7.5,"publicationDate":"2026-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148870795","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}