Renjith Rajan Pillai, Radhika Panickar, Uday Vaidya, Claudiu T Lungu, Veena B Antony, Vinoy Thomas
{"title":"Organic Dusty-Misty Plasma-Assisted Modeling of Natural Fiber Adsorbent-Bed for Mn (II) and Cd (II) from Aqueous System.","authors":"Renjith Rajan Pillai, Radhika Panickar, Uday Vaidya, Claudiu T Lungu, Veena B Antony, Vinoy Thomas","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.116759","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.116759","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Heavy metal (HM) pollution poses a significant environmental risk globally, necessitating greener, efficient, and cost-effective remediation strategies. This study investigates low-temperature plasma (LTP) assisted modification of carbon and soy fibers for enhanced HM adsorption, targeting Mn (II) and Cd (II) ions in aqueous media. Carbon and soy fibers, fabricated using a wet-lay process, underwent surface modifications with plasma treatments utilizing various precursors, including 2-mercaptoethanol (MCE), ethylenediamine, acetic acid, and N-vinyl pyrrolidone (VP). Comprehensive characterization before and after plasma treatment, and post-HM adsorption, was performed using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and 3D imaging, while plasma density was assessed via Optical Emission Spectroscopy (OES). Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) was used to quantify HM removal from aqueous solutions, with MCE-modified fibers demonstrating the highest adsorption capacities (50 mg/g for Mn and 40 mg/g for Cd). Additional parameter studies highlighted optimal adsorption at 35 °C and pH 7. The findings underscore LTP's potential in enhancing HM adsorption efficiency on natural fibers, an approach with limited prior exploration. This research also addresses crucial challenges in HM remediation, such as improving adsorbent retrieval from environmental matrices and minimizing chemical waste during material processing, underscoring the method's environmental and practical significance.</p>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 3","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC12068854/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144023499","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}
Patricia García-Muñoz, Jia-Hong Pan, Francesco Parrino, Nicolas Keller
{"title":"Semiconductor photochemistry for chemical and environmental applications","authors":"Patricia García-Muñoz, Jia-Hong Pan, Francesco Parrino, Nicolas Keller","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.116941","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.116941","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 3","pages":"Article 116941"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195523","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":"Advancements in molybdenum (Mo)-based chalcogenides for photocatalytic hydrogen generation: A comprehensive review","authors":"Yanfang Zhu , Lakshita Phor , Amanpreet Singh , Yuzhen Zhao , Surjeet Chahal","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117368","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117368","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The sustainable production of hydrogen through photocatalytic water splitting has gained substantial interest, with Mo-based chalcogenides demonstrating excellent potential due to their adjustable electronic characteristics and catalytic properties. The review delivers an extensive evaluation of MoS<sub>2</sub>, MoSe<sub>2</sub>, and MoTe<sub>2</sub> along with their composite materials to determine their role in photocatalytic hydrogen evolution. This review analyzes the main advantages of Mo-based chalcogenides including efficient charge separation, and stability improvements through composite strategies that incorporate metal oxides, sulfides, graphene, and g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>. The paper critically assesses the recent progress while identifying crucial limitations of these materials and proposes potential future research directions for practical deployment. The findings show valuable contributions to clean hydrogen production since they merge materials design principles and sustainability metrics for Mo-based chalcogenide systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117368"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204069","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}
Zaining Li , Chunhui Zhang , Peidong Su , Guifeng Zhao , ZePeng Wang , YiYun Li , YanXin Li , Mengna Wang , Ping Qiao , Junqiang Guo , Rui Zhang
{"title":"The feasibility and prospects of coal mine water as a cooling medium for data centers","authors":"Zaining Li , Chunhui Zhang , Peidong Su , Guifeng Zhao , ZePeng Wang , YiYun Li , YanXin Li , Mengna Wang , Ping Qiao , Junqiang Guo , Rui Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117365","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117365","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Data centers (DCs) are projected to consume over 3 billion m³ of water annually in China by 2030, highlighting the urgency for sustainable cooling alternatives. Meanwhile, coal mine water (CMW) generation in China reached an estimated 12.96 billion m³ in 2030. This review quantitatively assesses the feasibility of substituting municipal make‑up water with treated CMW in DC liquid cooling systems across China. It evaluates water quality challenges, namely ammonia nitrogen, calcium hardness, and chloride ions, and compares conventional multistage treatment with an integrated electrochemical “short flow” process. Economic analysis indicates a CMW treatment cost of RMB 1.37/m³ versus RMB 3.87/m³ for municipal water, yielding 4.6–8.8 years payback periods. Modeling environmental benefits, showing a 93.8 % reduction in annual DC carbon emissions by lowering PUE from 1.6 to 1.2 and integrating regional wind power. This synthesis of technical, economic, and policy analyses provides a foundation for pilot implementations of CMW-based liquid cooling in China and globally.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117365"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204070","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":"Ligand-to-metal charge transfer modulation in UiO-66 metal organic frameworks for photocatalytic applications","authors":"Ying Yang, Miao Li, Long Chen, Xiaoqing Qiu","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117360","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117360","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>UiO-66 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are distinguished by their well-ordered crystalline structure, high specific surface area, and tunable pore architecture, rendering them exceptional candidates for photocatalytic applications. Ligand-to-metal charge transfer (LMCT) modulation plays a vital role in optimizing the photocatalytic efficiency of UiO-66 MOFs. Given the substantial body of research in this domain, an exhaustive review is warranted. This review comprehensively evaluates the contributions of LMCT modulation to the diverse photocatalytic applications of UiO-66 MOFs, including CO<sub>2</sub> reduction reaction (CO<sub>2</sub>RR), photodegradation, hydrogen production, nitrogen fixation, organic transformations, and hydrogen peroxide production. Emphasis is placed on strategies like defect engineering, heteroatom doping, catalyst introduction, and ligand engineering to improve LMCT efficiency. Additionally, we also discuss how LMCT modulation fosters multifunctional photocatalytic degradation, particularly in heavy metal removal and organic pollutant degradation. Furthermore, the influence of LMCT mechanism on light absorption, charge carrier dynamics, and reaction kinetics is critically analyzed. Finally, insights and perspectives on the LMCT modulation of UiO-66 MOFs for future photocatalytic applications are presented. This review advances understanding of LMCT modulation in UiO-66 MOFs, offering strategic insights for the design of advanced photocatalytic materials in energy conversion and environmental protection.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117360"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189655","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}
Saah Siaffa Martin , Lingli Zhang , Xiaomin Cen , Pei Liu , Jia Zhou , Zhongbiao Tan , Hao Shi , Xun Li
{"title":"Smart nanocomposite hydrogel for controlled bioactive delivery in environmental remediation","authors":"Saah Siaffa Martin , Lingli Zhang , Xiaomin Cen , Pei Liu , Jia Zhou , Zhongbiao Tan , Hao Shi , Xun Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117367","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117367","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional hydrophilic polymer networks, have emerged as versatile materials with transformative potential in addressing critical environmental challenges. This review aims to explore the classification, synthesis, and applications of hydrogels in sustainable environmental remediation. Our study examines advancements in hydrogel-based systems for water purification, pollutant removal, soil remediation, and nutrient delivery, highlighting the integration of bioactive compounds and innovations in smart and nanocomposite hydrogels that demonstrate significant potential for enhancing efficacy in environmental applications. Artificial intelligence plays a crucial role in optimizing hydrogel formulations. Despite their pivotal role in sustainable environmental strategies, challenges such as scalability, biodegradability, and effective delivery of bioactive compounds must be addressed. The establishment of standardized protocols and economic assessments is essential for real-world application. This review underscores that hydrogels hold immense promise for advancing global environmental sustainability-provided that existing research gaps and challenges are effectively tackled. By paving the way for multifunctional hydrogel development and long-term ecological impact evaluations through these efforts, we can harness the full potential of hydrogels to contribute significantly to global sustainability initiatives.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117367"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144204072","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}
Juan Tong , Beijia Chang , Binliang Li , YuanKun Liu , LiPeng Han , Kesheng Hu , Qi Zhao , Junqiang Yang , Keliang Shi , Xiaolin Hou
{"title":"Separation of 99Tc by ion exchange martials: A critical review","authors":"Juan Tong , Beijia Chang , Binliang Li , YuanKun Liu , LiPeng Han , Kesheng Hu , Qi Zhao , Junqiang Yang , Keliang Shi , Xiaolin Hou","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117349","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117349","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As an important long-lived fission product, <sup>99</sup>Tc poses potential risks to environmental safety and human health due to its high fission yield, high toxicity, and high mobility (existing in the form of TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup>), which can have serious consequences. The presence of technetium significantly interferes with the extraction and separation purification of key elements such as uranium, neptunium, and plutonium during the Plutonium-Uranium Recovery by Extraction (PUREX) process for treating spent fuel. Therefore, the efficient capture of technetium is crucial for the treatment and disposal of radioactive waste and for ensuring environmental safety. This review analyzes the challenges associated with the removal of <sup>99</sup>TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup> from waste liquids and introduces common methods for separating <sup>99</sup>TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup>/ReO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup> (as a surrogate of <sup>99</sup>TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup>). It focuses on recent research progress in the use of ion exchange materials for the removal of <sup>99</sup>TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup>/ReO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup> and summarizes the design and development of subsequent ion exchange materials for capturing <sup>99</sup>TcO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup>/ReO<sub>4</sub><sup>-</sup> from waste liquids. Moreover, the review explores both technical hurdles and promising research directions, contributing meaningful insights into optimizing these materials' effectiveness for radioactive wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117349"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144189656","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}
Mengying Yun , Changheng Li , Yuandong Duan , Xingjie Chi , Xuewen Zhu , Jiao Ma , Boxiong Shen , Shuo Feng , Zhikun Zhang
{"title":"Classification of bulking agents and their regulations on composting: A review","authors":"Mengying Yun , Changheng Li , Yuandong Duan , Xingjie Chi , Xuewen Zhu , Jiao Ma , Boxiong Shen , Shuo Feng , Zhikun Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>During organic waste composting, bulking agents are imperative additives to regulate physicochemical properties of fermentation materials. This paper focuses on the regulating characteristics of organic and inorganic bulking agents and systematically discusses their effects on microbial metabolism during composting. According to literature review, the physicochemical properties, e.g., moisture content, oxygen content, temperature and C/N ratio, are interrelated with bulking agents, and closely associated with microbial metabolism. Among organic bulking agents, lignocellulosic biomass, such as agricultural waste and green garden waste, are effective to optimize the moisture content and C/N ratio, construct internal voids for aeration and temperature balance. The holocellulose component also participates into microbial metabolism for heat production and nitrogen transformation. Due to the porous structure, electrical conductivity, and cation exchange capabilities, biochar is highlighted as a promising bulking agent, which interacts with essential nutrient cycles, promotes microbial development and decreases odor release during composting. In addition, inorganic bulking agents, such as zeolite and ceramsite, are also proved to significantly facilitate composting process, reduce gas emissions and boost microbial metabolism. Finally, it is recommended that further research can be conducted on the recyclable and functionalized properties of bulking agents, their application evaluation and biochemical pathway regulations during composting. This review aimed to provide a reference for future research and the application of bulking agents in composting.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117318"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144178801","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}
Min Zhang , Yingchun Yang , Dexin Ding , Feng Li , Jianhong Ma
{"title":"Insight into the correlation between swelling performance and U(VI) sorption ability of humic-like substances based hydrogel","authors":"Min Zhang , Yingchun Yang , Dexin Ding , Feng Li , Jianhong Ma","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117300","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117300","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogel materials have emerged as promising candidates for uranium-contaminated water remediation, yet the interrelationship between their hydration properties (moisture content/swelling ratio) and sorption performance remains insufficiently explored. This study synthesized a novel hydrogel (HLSs/PAM gel) using humic-like substances (HLSs) derived from spent coffee grounds and acrylamide (AM) monomer, aiming to elucidate the effects of environmental parameters on both swelling behavior and U(VI) sorption performance. Multivariate experiments results demonstrated that pH exerted a minimal impact on the swelling behavior of HLSs/PAM gel, while showed a predominant influence on sorption performance. Meanwhile, the sorption performance of U(VI) by HLSs/PAM gel showed a strong correlation with the pH value and concentration of U(VI), and the correlation between sorption performance of U(VI) and reaction time was particularly evident at concentrations exceeding 20 mg/L. These findings reveals that hydrogel structural adaptability and chemical affinity outweigh physical swelling characteristics in governing U(VI) sequestration, and which can provide critical insights for optimizing hydrogel design in radioactive wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117300"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147704","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}
Marta Marczak-Grzesik, Karolina A. Tarach, Agata Olszewska, Kamila Sobańska, Andrzej Kowalczyk, Kinga Góra-Marek
{"title":"UV-vis methodology for evaluation of adsorption of polystyrene nanoplastics by zeolite adsorbents: A case of carboxylate-modified polystyrene","authors":"Marta Marczak-Grzesik, Karolina A. Tarach, Agata Olszewska, Kamila Sobańska, Andrzej Kowalczyk, Kinga Góra-Marek","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.117306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics and nanoplastics are persistent, nonbiodegradable pollutants with potential toxic effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Their removal requires innovative technologies, and adsorption has emerged as a promising method for water purification. This study investigates the adsorption of 0.2 µm polystyrene nanoplastics using commercially available zeolites (H-USY, H-β, X, clinoptilolite). For the first time, quantitative UV-vis spectroscopy in transmission and diffuse reflectance (DR UV-vis) modes were employed to analyze the adsorption and desorption process. This novel method ensures precise, repeatable, and reliable quantification of polystyrene concentration in both solution and adsorbent, enabling an accurate assessment of sorption efficiency. With minimal sample preparation and real-time monitoring, it serves as an effective tool for evaluating sorbents in nanoplastic removal. H-USY and clinoptilolite demonstrated high adsorption performance at 100 and 200 mg·L⁻¹ , with a sorption time of 20 minutes. The adsorption capacity of H-USY ranged from 80–91 mg·L⁻¹ (100 mg·L⁻¹) and 160–166 mg·L⁻¹ (200 mg·L⁻¹), while clinoptilolite reached 80–92 mg·L⁻¹ and 170–190 mg·L⁻¹ , respectively, depending on the sorbent dose. Studies on the renewable efficiency of the zeolite adsorbents (burning off of plastic, ultrasound treatment) have shown that the material retains its high adsorption capacity after several regeneration cycles. These findings suggest that zeolite can be effectively reused, making it a sustainable option for long-term applications in nanoplastic removal. These findings highlight the potential of zeolites as efficient, regenerable adsorbents for nanoplastic removal, offering a sustainable approach to mitigating environmental pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"13 4","pages":"Article 117306"},"PeriodicalIF":7.4,"publicationDate":"2025-05-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144147593","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}