International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology最新文献

{"title":"Integrated aquatic phytoremediation systems for multicontaminant water treatment: mechanisms, biodiversity, and industrial valorization","authors":"A. Taouda,&nbsp;Y. Miyah,&nbsp;M. Benjelloun,&nbsp;N. El Messaoudi,&nbsp;S. Lairini","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07440-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07440-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Aquatic pollution increasingly involves complex mixtures of heavy metals (HM), organic matters (OM) such as pesticides, radionuclides, dyes, antibiotics, or industrial discharges such as landfill leachates, and tannery-derived contaminants, requiring treatment strategies capable of addressing multiple pollutant classes while minimizing environmental impacts. This review critically examines integrated aquatic phytoremediation systems by linking aquatic plant (AP) biodiversity and functional typology with contaminant-removal mechanisms, practical treatment configurations, harvested-biomass management, industrial valorization and optimization. The reviewed evidence shows that floating, emergent, and submerged APs can remove diverse contaminants through complementary processes, including phytoaccumulation, phytoextraction, rhizofiltration, phytostabilization, phytodegradation, rhizodegradation, phytotransformation, and phytovolatilization. Treatment performance is strongly governed by plant species and community composition, root–microorganism interactions, pollutant characteristics, loading conditions, pH, temperature, and hydraulic conditions. Beyond remediation, harvested aquatic biomass can support circular-economy pathways through bioenergy production, nutrient recovery, fertilizers, biomaterials, cellulose, and biochemical extraction, although contaminated biomass requires rigorous risk assessment and controlled post-harvest management. Major knowledge gaps remain in the standardization of performance metrics, long-term field validation, multicontaminant interactions, seasonal and climatic resilience, safe biomass valorization, and scale-up from laboratory studies to operational systems. Hybrid and polyculture systems offer opportunities for complementary pollutant removal but require improved understanding of interspecific competition and ecological compatibility. Future research should therefore prioritize standardized multicontaminant datasets, ecologically optimized plant assemblages, continuous sensor-based monitoring, predictive modelling, and artificial intelligence-assisted control to enable adaptive, scalable, and resource-efficient aquatic phytoremediation systems.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149034489","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Physicochemical characterization and agronomic suitability of coal ash and textile sludge from Morogoro region, Tanzania","authors":"J. Mungai,&nbsp;E. Lema,&nbsp;R. Madege,&nbsp;H. Sanga,&nbsp;F. Mabiki","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07449-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07449-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Industrialization has intensified the generation of industrial solid waste, increasing the need for effective waste management strategies to minimize risks to soil, water, and air quality. The heterogeneous composition of industrial wastes, shaped by the nature of raw materials, chemical inputs, and industrial processes, requires site-specific characterization to support environmentally sound management and sustainable reuse. This study evaluated the physicochemical properties and environmental safety of bottom coal ash and textile sludge generated by the 21st-century textile industry in Morogoro, Tanzania, to assess their potential for controlled reuse within soil management systems. For each residue type (bottom coal ash, dry textile sludge, and wet textile sludge), five subsamples were collected and homogenized to obtain representative composite samples. All analyses were performed in triplicate, and results were expressed as mean ± standard deviation. The residues exhibited alkaline pH values (8–12), moderate electrical conductivity (150–600 µS/cm), and total organic carbon contents of 2–5%. Both residues contained essential nutrients, with K (8017.2–1037.8 mg/kg) showing the highest concentration among primary macronutrients and Mg (12,633.7–11,489.4 mg/kg) the highest among secondary macronutrients across the samples. Concentrations of potentially toxic elements (Pb, Cr, Cd, Co, and Ni) remained below thresholds set by FAO and EU fertilizer regulations. Overall, the findings indicate that, following site-specific assessment and controlled application rates, coal ash and textile sludge may be safely integrated into soil fertility management frameworks, contributing to sustainable waste valorization and circular economy strategies.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986767","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Floatable lightweight concrete modified with GO/SiO2 hybrid coating for enhanced methylene blue adsorption","authors":"H. Hiep,&nbsp;V. Q. Huy,&nbsp;D. S. Duc,&nbsp;L. Belhacova,&nbsp;D. V. Quang","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07465-x","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07465-x","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>In this study, a novel floating adsorbent was fabricated by coating lightweight polystyrene-based concrete with functional SiO₂ and graphene oxide (GO)-modified SiO₂ layers. The successful deposition of the SiO₂ and GO/SiO₂ layers on lightweight concrete was indicated by SEM and FT-IR characterization, while BET measurements showed an almost twofold increase in specific surface area compared with the bare concrete support. The kinetic study using methylene blue as a model pollutant showed that the adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model. The adsorption capacity increased from 0.035 mg/cm² for the unmodified support to 0.073 mg/cm² after GO/SiO₂ coating. The equilibrium adsorption data were best described by the Langmuir model, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 0.236 mg/cm². The influence of pH and temperature on adsorption capacity was also investigated, suggesting that the presence of GO enhances surface interactions and provides more robust adsorption sites than the SiO₂ coating alone. The reusability study showed that the GO/SiO₂-coated sample retained 83.0% of its original adsorption capacity after three adsorption–desorption cycles. These results indicate that GO/SiO₂ coating on lightweight concrete is a promising method for fabricating floatable adsorbents with significantly improved performance, providing a scalable, sustainable, and easily recoverable solution for the removal of organic pollutants from open water systems.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"149034537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cyclodextrin-modified covalent organic frameworks for sustainable remediation of industrial dye pollution from wastewater","authors":"R. Yazdani,&nbsp;A. Takdastan,&nbsp;E. R. Qatrami,&nbsp;S. J. Saqanjad","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07335-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07335-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study focuses on the development of a nanostructured hybrid adsorbent, integrating a covalent organic framework with beta-cyclodextrin, for the efficient removal of dyes from wastewater. The adsorbent was synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method. Comprehensive characterization using various spectroscopic and microscopic techniques confirmed the successful synthesis and verified the elemental composition. The performance of the adsorbent was evaluated through Response Surface Methodology. Analysis of variance identified pH, adsorbent dosage, and initial concentration as critical parameters for adsorption efficiency. Under optimized conditions, the hybrid material achieved removal rates of 99.9% for methylene blue, 89.9% for methyl red, and 99.96% for tartrazine. These findings demonstrate that the hybrid possesses high adsorption capacity and excellent reusability. Given its structural stability and rapid kinetics, this nanostructured polymer serves as a highly promising candidate for sustainable wastewater treatment and the mitigation of industrial dye pollution.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"High-surface-area pomegranate-Derived biochar for metronidazole sequestration: comparative insights from artificial neural networks and response surface methodology","authors":"A. Melliti,&nbsp;J. Kofronova,&nbsp;M. Yılmaz,&nbsp;R. Vurm","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07458-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07458-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pharmaceutical pollutants such as metronidazole posed significant risks to water quality due to their persistence and limited biodegradability. In this study, a high-performance activated carbon derived from pomegranate peel waste via zinc chloride chemical activation (PZnAC) was synthesised. The resulting adsorbent exhibited a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 1202.86 m²/g and a mesoporous framework with an average pore diameter of 2.021 nm. Adsorption of metronidazole was optimised using Central Composite Design, yielding ideal conditions of 25 °C, 5 mg adsorbent, 65 mg/L initial metronidazole concentration, and pH 7, at which a maximum adsorption capacity of 86.9 mg/g was achieved. Adsorption kinetics followed a pseudo-second-order model and equilibrium data were best described by the Langmuir isotherm. Response Surface Methodology and Artificial Neural Network models were rigorously compared; the Artificial Neural Network provided superior predictive accuracy (R²= 0.998; Mean Square Error = 0.045) over Response Surface Methodology (R² = 0.991; Mean Square Error = 0.371). Fixed-bed column experiments validated continuous operation performance, and regeneration studies confirmed 53.3% removal efficiency after three adsorption–desorption cycles. These findings establish PZnAC as a low-cost, renewable, and highly effective adsorbent for pharmaceutical wastewater remediation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986329","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Chronic pesticide mixture effects and environmental risk in surface water in a tropical agroecosystem in Costa Rica","authors":"C. Salazar-Leiva,&nbsp;N. Apú,&nbsp;V. Lizano-Fallas,&nbsp;M. Méndez-Rivera,&nbsp;C. E. Rodríguez-Rodríguez","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07448-y","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07448-y","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Intensive pesticide use in tropical agricultural regions results in the frequent occurrence of pesticide mixtures in surface waters. Chronic exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of these mixtures may lead to sublethal effects in aquatic organisms that are not captured by conventional approaches. This study aimed to integrate experimental approaches with environmental risk assessment to evaluate the ecological effects of pesticide mixtures in an agricultural region of Costa Rica. Acute and chronic toxicity tests were conducted in <i>Daphnia magna</i> using two environmentally relevant pesticide mixtures identified in surface waters from Cartago. Reproductive parameters, intrinsic population growth rate, and acetylcholinesterase activity were evaluated to determine sublethal biological effects. In addition, a risk assessment was performed to identify pesticides posing the highest risk to aquatic organisms. Chronic exposure to both pesticide mixtures significantly impaired reproduction in <i>D. magna</i>, with reductions in intrinsic population growth rate of approximately 10–15%, even at concentrations below the reported no observed effect concentration values for individual pesticides. Exposure to both mixtures affected acetylcholinesterase activity, with significant inhibition observed at higher concentrations. The risk assessment identified multiple pesticides simultaneously posing chronic and acute risk to aquatic organisms: carbendazim, chlorpyrifos, cypermethrin, diazinon, diuron, ethion, linuron, and metalaxyl. These findings indicate that mixture exposure can induce biologically relevant effects that are not predicted by single-compound assessments. Integrating experimental approaches with risk assessment provides complementary evidence that improves the prediction of ecological risk associated with pesticide mixtures and supports the incorporation of mixture-oriented approaches to avoid underestimating ecological risks.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986331","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Modeling methylene blue adsorption via statistical physics with Lantana camara L. derived biochar","authors":"W. E. Jemmali,&nbsp;M. Bouzid,&nbsp;A. Ben Lamine","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07455-z","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07455-z","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigates the efficiency of biochar derived from Lantana camara L. as an adsorbent for removing methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. Two varieties of biochar, BC_L600 and BC_S600, were assessed, and their adsorption characteristics were investigated using a double-layer model based on statistical physics. Results showed that the adsorption locations on both materials can facilitate both mono- and multi-molecular bonding of MB molecules, implying a complex, non-linear adsorption mechanism. Adsorption tests conducted at different temperatures demonstrated that BC_L600 showed outstanding performance, achieving a maximum adsorption capacity of approximately 55 mg/g, underlining its potential for efficient wastewater treatment uses. Thermodynamic evaluations confirmed that the adsorption process is spontaneous and primarily governed by physical interactions, thereby reinforcing its sustainable and eco-friendly attributes. Moreover, the evaluation of Gibbs free energy and internal energy provided key insights into the thermodynamic elements affecting adsorption affinity and stability on biochar surfaces. This comprehensive analysis advances understanding of the mechanistic pathways governing dye adsorption on invasive biomass-derived adsorbents, paving the way for their optimized utilization in environmental remediation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Distribution and bioaccumulation of potentially toxic metals in water, sediments, and algal biomass of Santa Catarina Dam","authors":"J. Tabla-Hernandez,&nbsp;A. E. Hernández-Escareño,&nbsp;P. F. Rodriguez-Espinosa,&nbsp;P. Gutiérrez-Macías,&nbsp;S. Perez-Rodriguez,&nbsp;A. G. Hernandez-Ramirez,&nbsp;J. A. Alcantara-Cardenas,&nbsp;A. M. Rivas-Castillo,&nbsp;N. G. Rojas-Avelizapa,&nbsp;M. Quezada-Cruz,&nbsp;J. D. A. Loa,&nbsp;M. Baltazar-Quezada","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07438-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07438-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The Santa Catarina Dam (SCD) functions as a hydrological regulation system and a provider of key ecosystem services in Querétaro, a Mexican city that has endured rapid urbanization and industrial growth in recent decades. These pressures have increased the vulnerability of the SCD to anthropogenic pollution. In this study, an environmental assessment of the reservoir's pollution status was conducted, combining physicochemical parameters of water quality, potentially toxic metals and elements (PTME) in the water, sediment, and algal biomass. The results show an impact on water quality based on the values ​determined for COD, BOD₅, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus, which exceeded the limits established by national and international guidelines. The Overall Index Pollution (OIP) shows that the SCD water is in the range of slightly contaminated to contaminated. In sediments, the Enrichment Factor (EF) values reported a severe enrichment for Li, Zn, Pb, V, Cu, and Sr, suggesting a relevant contribution from industrial activities. The PTME levels in the algal biomass showed a high bioaccumulation of Fe, Mn, Si, Cu, Ni, and Li, according to the Bioaccumulation Factor (BF) values. Principal component analysis (PCA) shows a contribution from anthropogenic and natural sources on the water and sediment quality of the SCD. These findings support the implementation of long-term monitoring of priority contaminants, such as PTME and nutrients, as well as strengthened industrial and agricultural management to prevent further degradation of the SCD.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985359","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Solvent-dependent tannic acid modification of copper(II) oxide for cationic and anionic dye decolorization","authors":"P H Nguyen,&nbsp;N T Trieu,&nbsp;T Q Nguyen,&nbsp;H H Do,&nbsp;H T H Hoang,&nbsp;N T B Vu,&nbsp;T D Vu","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07461-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07461-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Copper(II) oxide is an attractive photocatalyst for dye-contaminated wastewater treatment, but its performance is limited by charge-carrier recombination and weak dye-surface interaction. In this study, copper(II) oxide was synthesized in ethanol, acetone, water, and dimethylformamide/water, then modified with tannic acid to tune morphology, surface charge, and interfacial properties. Structural and surface analyses confirmed phase-pure monoclinic copper(II) oxide and revealed solvent-dependent differences in particle size, dispersion, surface area, and zeta potential. The ethanol-derived tannic-acid-modified sample showed small particles of 20–40 nm, the highest surface area of 25.85 m² g⁻¹, and the most negative zeta potential, giving 90.1% methylene blue decolorization under ultraviolet C irradiation for 180 min without hydrogen peroxide. Adding hydrogen peroxide only slightly increased removal to 92.4%, indicating reduced dependence on external oxidants. The ethanol-derived sample favored cationic methylene blue removal, whereas the dimethylformamide/water-derived sample showed higher activity toward anionic Sunset Yellow and Alizarin Red S, achieving 77.1% and 85.9% decolorization, respectively. Kinetic analysis after the initial adsorption-dominated stage confirmed the highest apparent methylene blue decolorization rate for the ethanol-derived sample, and scavenger experiments identified hydroxyl radicals as the dominant reactive species. The simple precipitation-based synthesis and room-temperature tannic acid modification suggest potential applicability for dye wastewater treatment; however, recycling tests showed gradual activity loss, indicating that coating stability and possible copper or tannic acid leaching require further evaluation.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148985361","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Upcycling pharmaceutical capsules into porous activated carbon and activated carbon ash for efficient emerging contaminant removal","authors":"A. S. Giroto,&nbsp;K. Furukawa,&nbsp;B. I. M. Santos,&nbsp;C. I. Portela,&nbsp;C. Cortez,&nbsp;S. F. Valle,&nbsp;R. Borges,&nbsp;A. E. Nogueira,&nbsp;M. Gonçalves","doi":"10.1007/s13762-026-07429-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s13762-026-07429-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The management of pharmaceutical waste remains a significant challenge and presents opportunities for the development of value-added materials. In this study, discarded pharmaceutical gelatin capsules were converted into activated carbons and Ti-rich inorganic residues through sequential carbonization (700 °C), CO₂ activation (850 °C), and calcination, enabling the simultaneous valorization of both the carbonaceous and inorganic fractions of the waste. The resulting activated carbons (AC_HC and AC_SC) exhibited well-developed micro/mesoporous structures and oxygen and nitrogen-containing surface functionalities, while the inorganic residues retained Ti-containing phases derived from capsule excipients. ACSC exhibited the highest surface area (675 m² g⁻¹) and adsorption capacities toward methylene blue, acetaminophen, and bisphenol A (225, 380, and 112 mg g⁻¹, respectively). Adsorption equilibrium data were best described by the Sips and Redlich–Peterson models, indicating heterogeneous adsorption behavior and a distribution of adsorption sites. The calcined ash fractions exhibited photocatalytic activity toward methylene blue degradation under UV irradiation, with AC_HC ash achieving approximately 70% removal after 350 min. Dark adsorption control experiments demonstrated negligible methylene blue uptake by the ash materials, indicating that the observed removal under irradiation was predominantly associated with photocatalytic degradation. The results demonstrate that both the carbonaceous and inorganic fractions generated during the thermal conversion of pharmaceutical capsule waste can be further utilized as functional materials for contaminant removal, highlighting the potential of this approach as an integrated waste valorization strategy.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":589,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"23 10","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.4,"publicationDate":"2026-09-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s13762-026-07429-1.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148986385","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}