ACS ES&T engineering最新文献

{"title":"A Review of Microbial Interactions and Enhancement Strategies for Medium-Chain Fatty Acids Production from Organic Wastes","authors":"Ting Guo,&nbsp;Yuqing Liu,&nbsp;Jinlan Yu,&nbsp;Xinwei Li,&nbsp;Youpeng Chen,&nbsp;Mengjiao Gao","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00361","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00361","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs)production from organic wastevia microbial chain elongation (CE) technology represents a pivotalway toward high-value resource recovery. However, real organic wastesgenerally have complex composition, which results in intricate interspeciesinteractions in microbial consortium and affects MCFAs yield and processstability. Enhancing microbial cooperation and limiting competitionconstitute promising strategies for directing carbon flux and reducingequivalents toward the chain elongation pathway. This review providesinsights into microbial interactions within real waste-fed chain elongationsystems and summarizes key impact factors and recent research advancesconcerning the regulatory strategies for microbial cooperation. Interspeciesinteractions can be affected by organic waste compositions, microbialelectron transfer pathways, environmental conditions, and quorum-sensingcommunication systems. Major optimization strategies were systematicallyintroduced including the exogenous additions of signal molecules,supplementation of electron-transfer-mediated materials, and an advancedapproach of synthetic microbial consortia. The current review aimsto provide theoretical and technical support for enhancing the efficiencyof MCFAs’ production from real organic wastes.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2352–2370"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950771","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Copper–Sodium Lignosulfonate Antifouling-Coated Ion-Selective Electrodes for Reliable Long-Term Ammonium Monitoring toward Data-Driven Wastewater Control","authors":"Yun Zhou,&nbsp;Yinuo Yang,&nbsp;Felio Perez,&nbsp;Xiaolei Huang,&nbsp;Yuankai Huang","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00476","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00476","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Ammonium (NH₄⁺) monitoring is essentialforprocess control and effluent compliance in wastewater treatment, butconventional grab sampling provides delayed, discrete measurementsthat cannot capture rapid concentration fluctuations. Solid-stateion-selective electrodes (S-ISEs) are promising for continuous real-timemonitoring, but long-term deployment is limited by membrane biofouling.Here, we developed a Cu²⁺-sodium lignosulfonate (Cu-SLS)antifouling coating for NH₄⁺ S-ISEs that simultaneouslyreduces biofouling and improves interfacial stability. By combiningthe hydrophilic hydration effect of SLS with the antimicrobial activityof coordinated Cu²⁺, the coating provided a more stablesensing interface under wastewater-relevant conditions. A systematic3 × 3 formulation screening identified Cu0.10-SLS0.25 coatingas the optimal configuration, retaining a near-Nernstian sensitivityof 56.5 mV/dec, a response time of 5.5 s, and a detection limit of3.2 × 10^–6 M. The enhanced Cu retention ofCu0.10-SLS0.25 during aqueous exposure was consistent with strongerCu(II)-sulfonate interactions and its improved long-term sensing stability.In a 14-day real wastewater deployment, Cu0.10-SLS0.25 achieved amean absolute error of 1.24 mg/L and successfully captured a simulatedNH₄⁺ shock event on Day 11, with minimal surfacebiofouling observed by posttest SEM. These results demonstrate a practical,mechanism-guided strategy for improving the reliability of long-termNH₄⁺ monitoring in complex wastewater environments.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2606–2617"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950883","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Astragalus Membranaceus Residue-Derived Biochar Supporting Atlantibacter hermannii XJ08 for Synergistic Multimetal Immobilization and Soil Quality Improvement","authors":"Kailu Zhang,&nbsp;Jianshan Huang,&nbsp;Han Hu,&nbsp;Lixue Qiu,&nbsp;Fuxing Wu,&nbsp;Lixun Zhang","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00399","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00399","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Soil contamination by Cd and Pb posessignificant risks to ecologicalsecurity and human health. Herein, a series of modified biochar (AMBC)were synthesized from Astragalus membranaceus residues, and subsequentlyemployed as carriers of <em>Atlantibacter hermannii</em> XJ08 to construct biochar-microbe composites for soil remediation.Among the tested materials, brown sugar-modified AMBC (BS-AMBC) showedthe highest microbial loading capacity (9.2 × 10⁷ CFU·g^–1) and superior Cd and Pb adsorption performance. TheBS-AMBC@<em>A. hermannii</em> XJ08 compositeeffectively reduced DTPA-extractable Cd and Pb concentrations to 0.26mg·kg^–1 and 68 mg·kg^–1, respectively. Notably, &gt; 56% of labile fractions (water-soluble/acid-soluble)were transformed into stable oxidizable and residual forms, indicatingpersistent metal immobilization. In addition, the composite significantlyimproved soil quality, increasing soil organic matter, cation exchangecapacity, and available nitrogen/phosphorus/potassium to 22.3 g·kg^–1, 30.4 cmol·kg^–1, and 122/44.0/235mg·kg^–1, respectively. Urease, phosphatase,and dehydrogenase activities were markedly elevated by 243%, 527%,and 685%, respectively. Microbial community analysis further revealedthe enrichment of functional taxa (e.g., <em>Cytobacillus</em>) associated with heavy metal immobilization, alongside the regulationof key metabolic pathways involved in biogeochemical cycling. Thisstudy demonstrates a sustainable approach for valorizing medicinalplant residues into high-performance biochar-microbe composites, offeringan effective strategy for the ecological restoration of multimetalcontaminated soils.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2511–2523"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950627","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Redox-Active PEI/Polydopamine-Functionalized Wood for Coupled Hexavalent Chromium Adsorption–Reduction and Multicontaminant Water Purification","authors":"Kidist W. Mebrat,&nbsp;Amir Hossein Behroozi,&nbsp;Tizazu H. Mekonnen","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00434","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hierarchically structured bioderived materials with integratedinterfacial functionalities offer new opportunities for advanced waterpurification, yet coupling redox activity with selective adsorptionin macroscopic scaffolds remains challenging. Herein, we engineera multifunctional wood-based adsorbent by integrating polydopamine(PDA) and polyethylenimine (PEI) within a delignified wood (DW) framework,enabling synergistic control over surface chemistry and transportpathways. Delignification generates an interconnected porous architecturethat facilitates mass transfer, while conformal PDA deposition andPEI grafting introduce redox-active catechol groups and high-densityamine functionalities, yielding a pH-responsive, positively chargedinterface (ζ of +28 mV). Detailed mechanistic analysis was conductedonly for hexavalent chromium (Cr^VI), whereas As^V, Ni^II, and dyes were examined as proof-of-concept contaminants.Their interactions with PEI/PDA-W were interpreted based on the observedadsorption trends. The resulting material exhibits coupled adsorption–reductionbehavior toward Cr^VI, achieving ∼95% removal underacidic conditions, with spectroscopic evidence confirming partial <em>in situ</em> reduction to Cr^III mediated by PDA redoxchemistry. Adsorption follows Langmuir-type behavior (<em>q</em>_<em>m</em> = 23.3 mg/g) and pseudo-second-orderkinetics, indicating surface-controlled interactions on energeticallyuniform sites. Beyond chromium, the system demonstrates mechanism-dependentselectivity toward coexisting contaminants: arsenate removal is governedby electrostatic interactions and pH-dependent speciation, whereasnickel uptake is dominated by coordination with amine/catechol ligands.Dye adsorption further reveals structure-sensitive behavior, whereπ–π and hydrophobic interactions enable near-completeremoval of aromatic cationic dyes, while weakly interacting speciesexhibit limited uptake. This work establishes a design strategy forintegrating redox functionality and multivalent interfacial interactionswithin a hierarchical wood scaffold, providing a versatile platformfor selective and multimodal water purification.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2546–2560"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"In Situ Rapid Start-Up and Enhanced Nutrient Removal in a Coupled Partial Nitritation/Anammox and Denitratation/Anammox System: Insights into Multivariate Drivers of Process Performance","authors":"Yujie Chen,&nbsp;Gaoxuefeng Feng,&nbsp;Guangze Guo,&nbsp;Yanyan Li,&nbsp;Yu-You Li","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00377","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00377","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Anammox-based processes are energy- and cost-efficientfor wastewaternitrogen removal, but practical application is limited by unavoidablenitrate production, slow start-up, and instability under fluctuatinginfluent conditions. Here, a novel hydroxyapatite-enhanced coupledpartial nitritation and anammox (PNA) and partial denitratation andanammox (PDA) system was developed for simultaneous high-rate nutrientremoval and phosphorus recovery. Compared with a standalone PNA reactor,the integrated system increased nitrogen and phosphorus removal efficienciesfrom 77% and 76% to 91% and 85%, respectively, achieving a nitrogenremoval rate of 2.8 ± 0.2 kg N/m³/d. The reuse ofdischarged PNA sludge facilitated the operation and early establishmentof the PDA reactor, supporting rapid system development and stableperformance. Notably, anammox ultimately contributed over 95% of totalnitrogen removal, confirming highly efficient autotrophic nitrogenconversion. A trade-off between maximizing anammox contribution andoverall PDA removal efficiency was identified. Mechanistically, multivariateanalysis revealed that nitrogen species composition, reactor interactions,and carbon supply jointly governed system performance. This studydemonstrates a robust and energy-efficient integrated anammox-basedsystem and provides mechanistic and operational insights for advancednutrient removal and resource-oriented wastewater treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2476–2485"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950849","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"To What Extent Does Atmospheric Water Harvesting Influence Humidity in the Climate and Environment?","authors":"Carl Abadam,&nbsp;Anjali Mulchandani","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00532","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00532","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Atmospheric waterharvesting (AWH) captures gas-phase water vaporfrom the air, but the environmental impact of extraction has not yetbeen determined. Herein we apply a quantitative assessment to determinesustainable AWH operational capacity across micro-, meso-, and macroclimatescales, with relevance to desiccant and compressor systems. We quantifieda mass balance model comparing starting relative humidity (<em>RH</em>_{<em>start</em>}) to post-AWH relativehumidity (<em>RH</em>_<em>end</em>) forarid, temperate, and tropical climates (25%, 50%, 75% <em>RH</em>_{<em>start</em>}) as a function of the volume ofwater harvested within different buffer volumes (<em>BV</em>s) [km³] of air. The influence of an AWH device harvesting1 million gallons per day (MGD) over an area (1 × 1 km²) extending to the troposphere (10 km) results in a decrease in humidityfrom <em>RH</em>_{<em>start</em>} = 50% to <em>RH</em>_<em>end</em> = 47.8%; the same harvestspread over a <em>BV</em> 25× larger (5 × 5 ×10 km³) decreases the humidity to only <em>RH</em>_<em>end</em> = 49.9%. The magnitude of harvestingwould need to increase by 4 orders of magnitude (&gt;10,000 MGD) tocompletelyremove the humidity (<em>RH</em>_<em>end</em> = 0) in the larger <em>BV</em>. Our results are not meantto minimize the influence of moisture removal, especially on smallspatial scales. We aim to set the framework for beginning a conversationon policy and ownership rights for atmospheric water reservoirs.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2630–2639"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950617","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Electronic Waste-to-Catalyst Upcycling: Selective Lignin C–O Bond Hydrogenolysis and RCF over a Cu–Iron Oxide/P-Doped Carbon Catalyst","authors":"Arzoo Chauhan,&nbsp;Sonu Bhandari,&nbsp;Rajat Ghalta,&nbsp;Rajaram Bal,&nbsp;Rajendra Srivastava","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00534","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00534","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The development of sustainable catalysts from secondarywaste resourcesprovides an attractive strategy for addressing both electronic-wastemanagement and biomass valorization challenges. In this work, a multifunctionalheterogeneous catalyst (ML@ATP₁/CP₂-60) wasconstructed by integrating copper recovered from a discarded motherboard,toner powder-derived iron oxide, and phosphorus-doped carbon derivedfrom chitosan as a heteroatom-engineered support. Comprehensive structuraland surface characterization using XRD, Raman spectroscopy, XPS, HR-TEM,EPR, and temperature-programmed desorption analyses confirmed theformation of mixed-valence Cu species anchored on a defect-rich spineliron oxide framework with interfacial acidic sites associated withiron oxide and P–O functionalities. The catalyst exhibitedexcellent activity and selectivity for the hydrogenolysis of benzylphenyl ether, achieving complete conversion with exclusive formationof phenol and toluene via selective cleavage of the benzylic C(sp³)–O bond without aromatic ring hydrogenation. Mechanisticinvestigations, including selective poisoning experiments, revealeda cooperative dual-site pathway involving Cu-mediated hydrogen activationand adjacent acidic centers responsible for ether bond polarization.Importantly, the catalyst demonstrated effective performance in thereductive catalytic fractionation of wheat straw, affording aromaticmonomers with molecular-weight distributions comparable to those obtainedusing conventional 5 wt % Ru/C while suppressing deep aromatic hydrogenation.CHEM21 green metrics analysis confirms the near-ideal intrinsic reactionefficiency of the protocol (AE ≈ 100%, RME = 97.6%), with solventusage identified as the primary contributor to process-level massintensity. These results highlight a strategy for transforming multiplewaste streams into efficient catalytic platforms for selective ligninvalorization.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2640–2657"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950852","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Catalytic Synergistic Removal of Nitrate, Sulfate, and Trace Metals from Wet-Oxidation Denitrification Wastewater","authors":"Xin Lan,&nbsp;Jiancong Liu,&nbsp;Mingling Zheng,&nbsp;Dandan Yang,&nbsp;Suiyi Zhu,&nbsp;Yu Chen,&nbsp;Mingxin Huo","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00392","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00392","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Wet oxidation denitrification offlue gas enables ultralowNO_<em>x</em> emissions and is increasingly adoptedatcoal-fired power plants. However, the process discharges wastewaterenriched in nitrate and sulfate with minimal heavy metals. Conventionallimestone and magnesium hydroxide treatments reliably remove sulfatebut are ineffective for nitrate control. To bridge this gap, we proposea catalytic approach that selectively targets high nitrate while concurrentlyremoving sulfate and trace metals. Waste heat from the plant is recoveredto heat the wastewater, after which ferrous oxalate is dosed. Thisinitiates a catalytic cycle among oxalate, Fe²⁺, and nitrate,generating Fe³⁺ in situ while consuming H⁺.The resulting pH rise triggers a secondary crystallization–precipitationsequence wherein Fe³⁺ precipitates sulfate as jarosite,coprecipitating trace Cu and Cr and releasing H⁺ back intothe wastewater. Under optimized conditions at 95 °C, nitratewas reduced by 98% to 1.1 g/L and sulfate fell below the detectionlimit, allowing the treated wastewater to be directly reused in thewet oxidation process for flue gas purification. This approach usessimple equipment under atmospheric conditions and offers adaptiveoperational strategies for water recycling and sustainable wastewatermanagement in coal-fired power plants.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2501–2510"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950614","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Long-Term Production and Recovery of Medium-Chain Carboxylates from Source-Separated Organics","authors":"Diana Dyussekenova,&nbsp;Jasmeen K. Parmar,&nbsp;Marjan A. Ezabadi,&nbsp;Blake G. Lindner,&nbsp;Youngseck Hong,&nbsp;Jay R. Werber,&nbsp;Christopher E. Lawson","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00464","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00464","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Source-separatedorganics (SSO) are widely processed via anaerobicdigestion to produce biogas, yet alternative conversion pathways couldgenerate higher-value products. Here, we demonstrate long-term continuousproduction and recovery of medium-chain carboxylic acids (MCCAs) fromSSO via microbial chain elongation using a bench-scale anaerobic bioreactoroperated for 911 days. The bioreactor was fed with SSO samples collectedfrom two full-scale municipal organics processing facilities in Toronto,Canada, capturing facility-specific and seasonal variability in SSOcomposition. MCCA production was closely associated with the availabilityof lactate as an electron donor, which varied with SSO preprocessingoperations and outdoor collection temperatures. To mitigate productinhibition, an in-line extraction system using hollow-fiber polydimethylsiloxane(PDMS, also known as silicone polymer) membranes was integrated withthe anaerobic membrane bioreactor, providing a robust and solvent-freealternative to solvent-based extraction methods. Selective extractionreduced MCCA product inhibition when lactate availability was notlimiting, resulting in maximum MCCA yields and production rates of0.31 g MCCA g^–1 VS_feed and 0.84 g L^–1 day^–1, respectively, with notableoctanoic acid production (up to 20% of total MCCA). Acidificationof the alkaline extract produced a phase-separated MCCA-rich oil (0.88g MCCA g^–1 oil) without the addition of downstreamseparation steps. Microbial community analysis of the bioreactor revealedenrichment of putative chain-elongating bacteria, including <em>Eubacterium</em> and <em>Pseudoramibacter</em> species,while shifts in SSO feedstock microbiomes influenced substrate availabilityand product spectra. These results demonstrate the feasibility ofsustained MCCA production from municipal organic waste streams andhighlight opportunities to integrate chain elongation with existinganaerobic digestion infrastructure.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2592–2605"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950665","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Dual-Redox-Enabled Photocatalytic Degradation of PFOA over a MIL-125-NH2/rGO Composite","authors":"Xiaotie Shen,&nbsp;Ruiyi Li,&nbsp;Baoliang Chen,&nbsp;Xiaoying Zhu","doi":"10.1021/acsestengg.6c00421","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1021/acsestengg.6c00421","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The degradation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) remainedchallengingdue to the extraordinary stability of its carbon–fluorine bonds,which were resistant to conventional photocatalytic processes. Inthis work, a metal–organic framework (MOF), MIL-125-NH₂, was grown in situ on reduced graphene oxide (rGO) to formnanocomposites (RMGs), enabling rapid PFOA degradation via an integrateddual-redox pathway without the addition of sacrificial agents. UnderUV irradiation, the RMG composite achieved an 80.2% degradation ofPFOA (20 mg L^–1) within 4 h, corresponding to anapparent rate constant of 0.405 h^–1, and exhibitedcompetitive degradation productivity among reported photocatalyticsystems operating without external oxidants or sacrificial agents.PFOA degradation exhibited pronounced pH dependence with the RMG compositedelivering optimal performance at pH 5. Moreover, the RMG catalystshowed excellent stability and reusability. In natural water matrices,the RMG composite achieved approximately 70% PFOA degradation within10 h. The MOF/rGO heterojunction promoted directional charge separation,enabling photogenerated holes to trigger carbon–carbon bondcleavage and stepwise shortening of perfluorinated intermediates,while electrons were efficiently transferred to PFOA to induce hydrogen–fluorineatom exchange. Overall, this study highlights the pivotal role ofsynergistic redox integration in enabling efficient PFOA remediationin aqueous systems.</p>","PeriodicalId":7008,"journal":{"name":"ACS ES&T engineering","volume":"6 9","pages":"2524–2535"},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2026-09-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148950866","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}