Sustainability Science最新文献

{"title":"Metronidazole Degradation via Visible Light-Driven Z-Scheme BiTmDySbO7/BiEuO3 Heterojunction Photocatalyst","authors":"Jingfei Luan, Zhe Li, Ye Yao, Jiannong Wang, Liang Hao","doi":"10.3390/su172210024","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su172210024","url":null,"abstract":"This study presented the successful synthesis of a visible light responsive Z-scheme BiTmDySbO7/BiEuO3 heterojunction photocatalyst (BBHP) via the hydrothermal method, exhibiting outstanding removal efficiency for degrading the metronidazole (MNZ) in wastewater. The BBHP exhibited exceptional photocatalytic activity during the degradation process of the MNZ which was a widely detected pharmaceutical pollutant in aquatic environments. The key to the high photocatalytic activity of the BBHP was the formation of a Z-scheme photogenerated carrier transport channel which existed between BiTmDySbO7 and BiEuO3 within the heterojunction structure. This innovative structural design was experimentally confirmed for enhancing the separation efficiency of the photogenerated charge carriers significantly, thereby, the efficient photocatalytic activity of the BBHP was promoted. After visible light irradiation for 130 min, the BBHP achieved a removal efficiency of 99.56% for degrading MNZ and a mineralization rate of 98.11% for removing the total organic carbon (TOC) concentration. In contrast to a single photocatalyst, the removal rate of the MNZ by using the BBHP was 1.14 times that by using the BiEuO3, 1.26 times that by using the BiTmDySbO7, and 2.65 times that by using the nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-T) under visible light irradiation. The mineralization rate for removing the TOC concentration during the degradation process of the MNZ by using the BBHP was 1.17 times that by using the BiEuO3, 1.29 times that by using the BiTmDySbO7, and 2.86 times that by using the N-T under visible light irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation process of the MNZ by using the BBHP followed first-order kinetics model, concurrently, a dynamics rate constant of 0.0345 min−1 was obtained. Furthermore, the BBHP demonstrated excellent stability and durability in accordance with multiple cyclic degradation experiments. According to the capturing radicals experiments and the electron paramagnetic resonance test experiments, it was determined that the hydroxyl radicals (•OH) and the superoxide anions (•O2−) played key role during the photocatalytic degradation process of the MNZ by using the BBHP under visible light irradiation. Finally, the intermediate products that were produced during the degradation process of the MNZ were analyzed by using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometer, as a result, a potential degradation pathway for the MNZ was proposed. Overall, this study could provide valuable references for future research on composite photocatalysts and effectively maintain the safety and sustainable utilization of water resource.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 22","pages":"10024-10024"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/22/10024/pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147902667","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strategic Change Management to Sustainable Healthcare: Customer Insights from Saudi Arabia","authors":"Abdulrahman Aldogiher, Yasser Tawfik Halim","doi":"10.3390/su17229953","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17229953","url":null,"abstract":"Purpose: The research explores the impact of change management practices—leadership support, employee involvement, and regulatory compliance —on the practice of sustainable healthcare in Saudi Arabia. Operational efficiency is treated not as a management practice but as a key outcome of effective change management. The research also examines patient readiness as a mediator influencing awareness, participation, and satisfaction. Design/methodology/approach: The study used a quantitative Saudi Arabian healthcare consumer survey. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was used to analyze change management, patient readiness, and sustainable healthcare relations adoption. Findings: Findings indicate that change management plays a strong role in increasing patient adoption (β = 0.322; p = 0.083), but with large effects on awareness (β = 0.873; p < 0.001), engagement (β = 0.841; p < 0.001), and satisfaction (β = 0.881; p < 0.001), as adoption reflected through awareness, engagement, and satisfaction. Patient readiness as a mediator was significant with strong effects between change management and adoption (β = 0.571; p < 0.001). Originality/value: This research expands the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) by synthesizing it with strategic change management to predict patient readiness as a mediator of long-term adoption of healthcare in the Arab environment. Patient readiness is hypothecated as an observable behavioral construct to mediate organizational change practices—leadership, communication, and regulation—with individual adoption outcomes. The research provides theoretical and practical contributions for evidence-based healthcare policy and patient-led healthcare revolution. In addition, the study conforms with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) including SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure), and SDG 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), and shows how effective change management not only assists national healthcare reforms but also global sustainability goals.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 22","pages":"9953-9953"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/22/9953/pdf?version=1762521996","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147894485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Spatiotemporal Variations and Future Trends of Sucralose Contamination in Major Rivers of Zhejiang, China: An Emerging Concern and Sustainability Challenge","authors":"Wen Zhang, Shiyuan Ni, Zike Huang, Zhequan Wang, Zhiwei Liu","doi":"10.3390/su17229935","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17229935","url":null,"abstract":"The environmental persistence of sucralose (SUC), a recalcitrant artificial sweetener, has raised significant ecological concerns owing to its notable resistance to both thermal and biological degradation. This study focused on the eight major river basins in Zhejiang Province and used the LC-MS/MS external standard method to systematically detect the environmental occurrence of SUC. Significant spatial variations were observed. The highest concentration recorded in the river was 6.60 μg/L in the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal. In contrast, the Ou River showed almost no detectable concentration. Higher contamination levels were consistently found in urban-adjacent areas, particularly near Hangzhou metropolitan region. Distinct seasonal patterns were also identified, with peak concentrations occurring during summer months. Through the application of the seasonal Kendall trend analysis, an increasing trend was projected for seven of the eight river systems studied, with the Ou River being the sole exception. Furthermore, the accuracy of the model’s prediction results was verified by comparing the data from the 2024 experimental tests with the model’s predicted results. By comparing the data from the experimental tests in 2024 with the model’s predictions, the results showed that, except for the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, the relative deviations of the other rivers were all less than 5.00%. This indicates that the model had a high accuracy in predicting the changing trend of concentrations. This study provided fundamental data for understanding sucralose’s environmental behavior in the Yangtze River Delta watersheds, serving as a critical baseline data for ecological risk assessments and contributing to water resource sustainability. And the ecological or toxicological implications of SUC pollution require further study. Furthermore, this study developed a transferable methodological framework for monitoring artificial sweetener contamination across diverse aquatic ecosystems.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 22","pages":"9935-9935"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/22/9935/pdf?version=1762509729","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147895156","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Macropore Characteristics and Their Contribution to Sulfonamide Antibiotics Leaching in a Calcareous Farmland Entisol","authors":"Didier Ngabonziza, Chen Liu, Junfang Cui, Xinyu Liu, Zhixiang Sun, Qianqian Zheng","doi":"10.3390/su17219898","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219898","url":null,"abstract":"Preferential flow, which primarily drains via vertical and interconnected macropores under gravity, allows water and solutes to transport non-uniformly through the soil matrix. Such a feature exacerbates the leaching risk of pollutants to groundwater. However, there is still a lack of knowledge of how the soil macropores affect the migration of manure-sourced veterinary antibiotics (VAs) in agricultural soils. This study used a series of techniques, including field dye tracing experiments, measurements of soil water retention curves (SWRCs), and micro-CT scanning, to explore macropore characteristics for a typical Entisol. The leaching behavior of sulfadiazine (SDZ) and sulfamethazine (SMZ) was then investigated using undisturbed columns (15 cm ID × 20 cm) under simulated rainfall. The results revealed the great lateral diffusion ability of the soil (up to 65 cm) as compared to vertical penetration (50 cm depth) in the field. The soil was abundant in macropores with equivalent diameter > 200 µm, and the macroporosity was higher in the lower layer (40–60 cm) than the upper layers, where cultivation may lead to the fragmentation of the soil structure and the formation of more isolated pores. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) and hydrological modeling indicated a faster penetration time and greater leaching of sulfonamides with increased macropores in the soil. Such an effect was, however, strengthened under rainstorm conditions (25 mm h−1). Antibiotics leaching was strongly correlated with the mean macropore diameter (MD), compactness (CP), and connectivity (Γ) parameters and significantly affected by MD and CP (p < 0.05), particularly at a moderate rainfall intensity (11 mm h−1). This study has linked antibiotics migration with the soil structure and highlighted macropores’ contribution to their accelerated leaching, thus providing evidence for environmental risk assessments and promoting sustainable soil and water management in real scenarios of soil macropore flow.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9898-9898"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9898/pdf?version=1762423485","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147892708","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Removal of 2-Methyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-One by VUV/UV/Persulfate for Sustainable Wastewater Reclamation: Effects of Inorganic Anions on the Concentrations and Contributions of Hydroxyl Radicals and Sulfate Radicals","authors":"Yifan Zhang, Hongwei Xu, Nan Huang","doi":"10.3390/su17219882","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219882","url":null,"abstract":"The non-oxidizing antimicrobial 2-Methyl-4-Isothiazolin-3-one (MIT) poses a significant environmental risk given its frequent detection in municipal wastewater. This study showed that the combination of Vacuum UV/UV (VUV/UV) and persulfate (PDS) efficiently achieved the rapid transformation and removal of 10 μM MIT within 90 s, which is much faster than UV, UV/PDS, and VUV/UV. Increasing the PDS dosage improved MIT degradation, whereas changes in pH between 4 and 10 had little effect. Radical quenching experiments showed that 93% of the MIT oxidation was attributable to the hydroxyl radical (•OH) and the sulfate radical (SO4•−). SO4•− and •OH at concentrations of 8.6 × 10−12 M and 1.5 × 10−12 M accounted for 32% and 61% of the MIT degradation, respectively, and the greater contribution of •OH was attributed to its higher reaction rate constant with MIT compared to SO4•−. Sulfate had a negligible impact on the radical concentrations. Chloride (1 mM) reduced the SO4•− and •OH concentrations by 61% and 27%, respectively. And the SO4•− contribution to MIT degradation fell to 19%. Nitrate (5 mM) readily quenched •OH but minimally affected SO4•−. The •OH concentration decreased by 79%, reducing its contribution to 27%. Bicarbonate/carbonate (5 mM) simultaneously reduced the SO4•− and •OH by 26–30% and had little effect on their contributions. Because of the quenching effect of organic matter and inorganic anions on radicals, secondary effluent inhibited the degradation of MIT. After a 120 s treatment, the total organic carbon, UV254, and fluorescence regional integration were reduced by 5%, 8%, and 17–24%, respectively. This study provides a quantitative analysis of how inorganic ions alter the concentrations and contributions of •OH and SO4•−, elucidating the MIT removal mechanisms in VUV/UV/PDS for sustainable wastewater reclamation.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9882-9882"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9882/pdf?version=1762355767","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147905490","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Red Brick Powder-Based CoFe2O4 Nanocomposites as Heterogeneous Catalysts for Degrading Methylene Blue Through Activating Peroxymonosulfate","authors":"Chuqiao Sha, Fangkui Cheng, Shen Luo, Chao Zhou, Hong Zhang","doi":"10.3390/su17219886","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219886","url":null,"abstract":"CoFe2O4 loaded onto red brick powder (CoFe2O4@RBP) was synthesized via coprecipitation followed by post-calcination and employed as a heterogeneous catalyst to activate peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for the degradation of methylene blue (MB), thereby valorizing red brick demolition waste within a circular economy pathway and aligning the study with sustainability-oriented resource recovery. The effects of pH, PMS concentration, catalyst dosage, and coexisting substances on MB removal were systematically investigated. Complete MB removal was achieved within 30 min, and the apparent rate constant for the CoFe2O4@RBP/PMS system was 0.22 min−1—slightly lower than that of CoFe2O4/PMS—while Co leaching was markedly reduced. The process performed well across a broad pH range (3.0–9.0). EPR and radical-quenching experiments indicate that SO4•− and HO• play a minor role, whereas the Co(II)–PMS complex is primarily responsible for MB degradation; accordingly, common coexisting species (SO42−, Cl−, NO3−, humic acid) exert negligible effects. The catalyst also maintained strong durability across numerous repetitions. These results highlight a cost-efficient route to PMS activation by coupling CoFe2O4 with construction waste-derived supports.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9886-9886"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9886/pdf?version=1762357333","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147903916","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A Decade-Long Assessment of Water Quality Variability in the Yelek River Basin (Kazakhstan) Using Remote Sensing and GIS","authors":"Ainur Mussina, Aliya Aktymbayeva, Zhanara Zhanabayeva, Shamshagul Mashtayeva, Mark G. Macklin, Aina Rysmagambetova, Raushan Akhmetova, Almas Alimbay","doi":"10.3390/su17219809","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219809","url":null,"abstract":"This study investigates the seasonal variability of water quality in the Yelek River Basin, Western Kazakhstan, using data from 2010 to 2025 that combine remote sensing, GIS, and hydrochemical monitoring data. This research addresses growing pressures on river systems from both natural and anthropogenic factors. Archival records from Kazhydromet and recent field measurements were analysed for dissolved oxygen, total suspended solids (TSSs), and total dissolved solids (TDSs), while satellite indices (NDWI, NDTI) provided spatiotemporal insights into turbidity. The results show clear seasonal contrasts: total suspended solids and turbidity rise sharply during spring floods due to snowmelt and erosion; water quality declines during summer–autumn low-flow periods under intensified human influence; and partial recovery occurs in winter when ice cover stabilises flow. Dissolved oxygen consistently indicates moderate pollution, while total dissolved solids (TDSs) remains within the “clean” range. Integration of satellite data with field observations enabled the development of a turbidity model and highlighted the lower river reaches as most vulnerable, where total suspended solids exceeded permissible limits. The findings confirm the value of combining remote sensing and GIS with traditional monitoring to capture long-term river water dynamics. This approach offers practical tools for sustainable water management, informs regional environmental policies, and provides transferable insights for semi-arid transboundary basins in Central Asia.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9809-9809"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-11-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9809/pdf?version=1762242143","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147922273","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ozonation of Reverse Osmosis Concentrate from Municipal Wastewater Reclamation Processes: Ozone Demand, Molecular Weight Distribution, UV/Fluorescence Characteristics, and Microalgal Growth Potential","authors":"Yuchang Chi, Zi-Bin Xu, Nan Huang","doi":"10.3390/su17219564","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219564","url":null,"abstract":"To address the challenge of treating reverse osmosis concentrate (ROC) in municipal wastewater reclamation processes, this study systematically investigated changes in ozone demand, organic compound molecular weight distribution, UV/fluorescence characteristics, and microalgal growth potential during ozone treatment of ROC. The ROC contained fast-reacting substances and had an instantaneous ozone demand of 6.3 mg/L. The chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total organic carbon were partially removed, and the COD/five-day biochemical oxygen demand ratio increased slightly during the ozonation process. The molecular weight components shifted considerably during ozonation: the 300 Da–1000 Da components became dominant (51.6–72.3%), while the 1000 Da–4000 Da and <300 Da components were partially or completely removed. The maximum absorbance of the ROC peaked at 270 nm. At an ozone dosage of 84 mg/L, the UV254 and UV270 removal rates reached 76.9% and 86.5%, respectively. The three-dimensional fluorescence spectra showed that ozone effectively removed tryptophan-type aromatic proteins, fulvic acid-type substances, aromatic proteins, soluble microbial metabolites, and humic acid-type substances from the concentrate (84.6–88.9%), but only removed a minimal amount of the tyrosine-type aromatic protein (7.4%). The UV254 at different molecular weights and the fluorescence area integrals across regions declined rapidly initially, then slowed gradually, correlating with the rapid reaction of UV/fluorescence chromophore-containing substances in ROC. Studies on microalgal growth potential indicate that ozonation increased the maximum algal density (K) in ROC (48.9–91.7%), while ozone/coagulation effectively reduced K (35.1–76.6%). This occurs because ozone converts organic phosphonate antiscalants in ROC into more readily absorbable inorganic phosphorus, whereas ozone/coagulation effectively removes total phosphorus from water. These results can guide the safe disposal of ROC and facilitate sustainable reclamation of municipal wastewater.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9564-9564"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/17/21/9564/pdf?version=1761636586","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147915849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"The Impact of Environmental Protection Tax Towards Corporate ESG Greenwashing","authors":"Hongwen Jia, Jiayi Liu","doi":"10.3390/su17219559","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219559","url":null,"abstract":"Nowadays, with the continuous development of corporate ESG ratings, greenwashing has occurred continuously. In order to clarify the influence of the environmental protection tax (EPT) on corporate ESG greenwashing, this paper employs the implementation of the Environmental Protection Tax Law (EPTL) as a quasi-natural experiment, based on the sample data of Shanghai and Shenzhen A-share listed companies during 2015–2022. Using a Difference-in-Differences model to analyze the effect and mechanism of the EPT on corporate ESG greenwashing, we obtain the following findings: (1) The EPT can curb corporate ESG greenwashing, and this effect is more obvious in non-state-owned enterprises, non-labor-intensive enterprises, low-competitive industries, and enterprises located in the east-central region of China. (2) From a mechanistic perspective, reducing information asymmetry and promoting green transformation are two important paths. (3) Higher ESG ratings increase the inhibition of the EPT towards corporate ESG greenwashing.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9559-9559"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147887324","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Synthesis of Zirconium Catalysts Supported on Activated Carbon for Catalytic Oxidative Desulfurization of Dibenzothiophene from N-Octane","authors":"Caixia Yang, Lin Zhang, Shaocui Feng, Yan Chen, Jianmei Zou, Huijun He, Qing Zhang","doi":"10.3390/su17219483","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.3390/su17219483","url":null,"abstract":"The growing emphasis on controlling sulfur-containing compounds in fuel oils has driven the development of numerous desulfurization technologies. Among these, catalytic oxidative desulfurization (CODS) has garnered considerable research interest due to its exceptional capability to efficiently remove refractory sulfur compounds, particularly dibenzothiophene (DBT), under relatively mild reaction conditions. However, the widespread application of CODS has been hindered by the high cost and complex preparation processes of the catalysts. To enhance the practical potential of CODS, in this study, a novel Zr@AC catalyst was developed by a facile “solution impregnation + high-temperature calcination” strategy, where zirconium species were effectively supported on activated carbon. Experimental results demonstrated that under optimized conditions of 0.1 g catalyst dosage, 2.0 O/S ratio, reaction temperature 100 °C and reaction time 50 min, the Zr@AC-mediated CODS system achieved a remarkable desulfurization efficiency of 97.24% for DBT removal. The removal efficiency of DBT increased by 9.0% compared with non-catalytic systems. The characterization techniques revealed that the Zr@AC catalyst possesses a hierarchically rough surface morphology, high specific surface area, abundant active sites, and distinctive Zr-O functional groups. Kinetic analysis indicated that the oxidation process follows second-order reaction kinetics. Furthermore, the catalyst maintained over 95% desulfurization efficiency after five consecutive regeneration cycles, confirming that the prepared catalyst has the exceptional recyclability and operational stability.","PeriodicalId":49457,"journal":{"name":"Sustainability Science","volume":"17 21","pages":"9483-9483"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-10-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147881619","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}