Environmental Science: Nano最新文献

{"title":"Recent progresses in modification strategies of MXene-based membranes for water and wastewater treatments","authors":"Yingchao Du, Jingyu Yu, Baoliang Chen, Xiaoying Zhu","doi":"10.1039/d4en00712c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00712c","url":null,"abstract":"Membrane technology stands as a leading method for water and wastewater treatments. MXene, a type of two-dimensional material, has garnered significant interest as a promising next-generation membrane material. Its customizable pore structure, uniform pore size, and hydrophilicity make it highly suitable for membrane separation technologies. This manuscript elucidates the modification strategies employed and evaluates the performance of MXene-based membranes (MBMs). Initially, the preparation of MXene nanosheets, pivotal to membrane fabrication, is detailed. Subsequently, the fabrication methods of MBMs are presented, emphasizing filtration, coating assembly, and other fabrication techniques. Furthermore, we emphasize the modification strategies employed to enhance the performance of MBMs. These encompass the regulation of MXene nanosheets in terms of lateral size, terminal functional groups, and in-plane pores. Furthermore, adjustments are made to the membrane assembly processes, focusing on controlling interlayer spacing. This includes methods such as self-crosslinking, insertion, and the incorporation of hybrid functional layers. Additionally, surface modifications encompass the regulation of surface charge, surface wettability, and management of surface defects. Next, we delineate the key membrane applications, encompassing separation mechanisms and their promising utility. Lastly, we present the challenges and opportunities that MBMs face in the field of water purification, with the hope of providing profound insights into the design and synthesis of advanced MBMs.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142452635","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Tuning La-O adsorption sites dispersion via hydrogen bond-capping organic-inorganic copolymerization strategy for enhanced phosphate removal","authors":"Feng Xiao, Yongqi Li, Shijie Wang, Jianing Zhang, Jia Hong Pan, Dongqin Yuan, Shuoxun Dong, Yili Wang","doi":"10.1039/d4en00791c","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00791c","url":null,"abstract":"The reduction of advanced phosphate (P) levels is crucial for addressing the widespread and severe issue of aquatic eutrophication, which hinges on the development of effective adsorbents. Lanthanum (La)-based materials have been recognized as promising adsorbents for aqueous P removal. These materials are essential for overcoming the challenges posed by low P concentrations, including their inadequate chemical affinity and low utilization rate of active adsorption sites. In this study, a novel strategy for tuning the dispersion of La-O active sites was developed, utilizing hydrogen (H) bond-capping via organic-inorganic copolymerization. This approach significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of lanthanum hydroxide oligomer (LHO) copolymerized cationic hydrogel (LaCCH) from 56.9 mg/g to 70 mg/g, with consistent La content (14.7-14.9%), compared to La co-precipitated CH (La-CH). Additionally, La usage reached 308.2 mg P/g La. Fixed-bed experiments demonstrated that LaCCH effectively treated over 1098 bed volumes (BV) of synthetic wastewater (1.0 mg P/L) containing co-existing ions. Combined analyses using FTIR, Raman, and XPS confirmed that the inner-sphere complexation and formation of LaPO4·0.5H2O were key to P adsorption. TOF-SIMS and MD simulations further revealed that the pre-oligomerization strategy universally enhances the number of La-O active sites for P adsorption. In comparison to La coprecipitation, La oligomers copolymerized adsorbents significantly reduce the intermolecular hydrogen bonding effect in [La(OH)3], thereby lowering the interaction energy (Ei) between them and promoting the dispersion of La-O adsorption sites, which facilitates improved P removal.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142452002","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Europium and Calcium-Co-Doped TiO2 Nanocrystals: Tuning the Biocompatibility and Luminescent Traceability of Drosophila melanogaster","authors":"Jerusa Oliveira, Larissa Iolanda M. de Almeida, Francisco Rubens Alves dos Santos, João Paulo S. de Carvalho, Amanda Ingrid dos Santos Barbosa, Marcus Andrei R. F. da Costa, Vanessa Tomaz Maciel, Gabriela L. de Souza, Alysson N. Magalhães, Marcos V. Vermelho, Camilla Christian G. Moura, Felipe Berti Valer, Thiago Lopes Rocha, Sebastião William da Silva, Lucas Anhezini, Anielle Christine A. Silva","doi":"10.1039/d4en00458b","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00458b","url":null,"abstract":"We explored the TiO2 nanocrystals (NCs) by introducing red luminescence via europium (Eu) ion doping (TiO2:Eu). Our objective was to optimize their biocompatibility and luminescence through calcium (Ca) co-doping. To achieve this, nanomaterials were synthesized, and physical characterizations were performed by investigating the effects of the crystalline phase of TiO2 on the doping, morphology, zeta potential, hydrodynamic diameter, and photocatalytic properties. Biological assessments were conducted using in vitro assays with human osteosarcoma cells (SAOS-2) through cytotoxicity assays and in vivo assays with Drosophila melanogaster, where we evaluated the mortality rate during postembryonic development and the luminescence of nanomaterials in vivo. Our results demonstrated the successful integration of Ca ions into the TiO2:Eu crystal (TiO2:Eu:xCa) structure without the emergence of additional phases or compounds. The co-doping of Ca led to a reduction of approximately 70% in photocatalytic activity. Moreover, co-doping with Ca was not cytotoxic to SAOS-2 cells. Our in vivo analysis showed no delays in postembryonic development and no larval or pupal lethality. The larval mortality rate and pupal formation rate were comparable to the control group when Drosophila were exposed to nanomaterials at concentrations of 1 mg/mL or lower. Luminescence of the NCs was detected in confocal microscopy images, indicating the presence of NCs in the larval brain and intestines. This luminescence was observed in Europium and Calcium-Co-Doped TiO2 (TiO2:Eu:xCa). These results showed that Ca doping improved the biocompatibility and enhanced the luminescence of these materials, making them traceable in biological tissues. Therefore, our research provides valuable insights into the tailored properties of TiO2 for potential applications in various fields of biomedicine.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142451999","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Weathering Pathways Differentially Affect Colloidal Stability of Nanoplastics","authors":"Tianchi Cao, mengting Zhao, Tong Zhang, Wei Chen","doi":"10.1039/d4en00739e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00739e","url":null,"abstract":"Aggregation is the most fundamental process affecting the fate, transport, and risks of nanoplastics in aquatic environments. Weathering of nanoplastics alters their physiochemical properties and consequently, aggregation behavior. Here, we show that two weathering pathways, including UV-irradiation (the primary aging pathway in surface water) and sulfide-induced transformation (a commom process in anoxic environments) affect aggregation and colloidal stability of polystyrene (PS) nanoplastics differentially. Compared to sulfide-induced aging, UV-induced aging introduced more oxygen-containing functional groups on nanoplastic surface, even though significant amounts of O-functional groups formed during sulfide-induced aging, due to the hydroxyl radicals formed from the spontaneous oxidation of sulfide. Accordingly, UV-aged PS nanoplastics (PS-UV) exhibited a higher stability than sulfide-aged PS nanoplastics (PS-S) in a monovalent cation-dominated solution, due to enhanced electrostatic repulsion and weakened van der Waals attraction. However, stability of PS-UV was lower than that of PS-S in a divalent salt solution, due to bridging effects of divalent ions. The results underline the importance of comprehending the effects of diverse environmental weathering processes on nanoplastics hehaviors, particularly, those readily occur in anoxic environments but insufficiently investigate.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142452003","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Effective Separating of Metal Impurities from Gypsum Nanosludge: Synergism of Mechanical Force and Metal Species Regulation","authors":"Changzhou Weng, Zhengqiang Zheng, Tian Chen, Zhang Lin","doi":"10.1039/d4en00799a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00799a","url":null,"abstract":"The effective separation of metal impurities from gypsum sludges is crucial for both environmental protection and resource recovery. However, it is seriously limited by their entrapment within calcium sulfate crystal lattices. This study presented a universal strategy for metal extraction through a combined control of mechanical force and metal species regulation, which effectively separated P, Cr, As, Sr, Cd, and Hg from gypsum sludges with separating efficiencies all above 94.0%, especially for As (99.8%) and Hg (99.2%). Such exciting effect was owed to the precise control of a two-step dehydration-rehydration transformation of gypsum. The process initiated by the mechanical force reduced gypsum particle size from the microscale (~10 μm) to the nanoscale (<50 nm), which facilitated the dehydrating process of gypsum-bassanite to exclude the doped metals. In the subsequent rehydration process, the nanoparticle was also beneficial for disrupting the calcium sulfate framework of bassanite, leading to the full release of entrapped metals. Additionally, the application of species regulation agents changed the species of released metals, preventing their re-incorporation into the calcium sulfate. This approach offered a promising method for the separation and recovery of heavy metals from gypsum sludges, providing valuable insights into the treatment of heavy metal-containing solid wastes.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142452005","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Adsorption Behavior of Carbon Dots on La3+ and The Multiple Effects on The Growth of Mung Bean Seedlings under La3+ Stress","authors":"Xinanbei Liu, Xianfei Niu, Yinshuai Tian, Yue Jiang, Cheng Cheng, Ting Wang, Yiran Sun, Fang Chen, Ying Xu","doi":"10.1039/d4en00530a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00530a","url":null,"abstract":"The excessive usage of rare earth elements (REEs) as micro-fertilizers is harmful for agricultural production and environment. This study explored the potential application of carbon dots (CDs) to mitigate the effects of La contamination. The results indicate that the CDs based on citric acid (C-CDs) used can adsorb La3+ in aqueous solution system through surface carboxyl and pyrrolic-N. While no significant alteration in the total La content within mung bean seedlings was observed, the presence of C-CDs induced the conversion of La into an inactive form within the body, and significantly affected the chemical form and distribution of La in the plant body. However, with the increased concentrations, C-CDs do not effectively improve growth inhibition of seedling under the La stress but exacerbate it occurs. This may be relevant to the peroxidation damage and excess extracellular precipitates. RNA-seq results showed stronger cell wall-related synthesis under C-CDs and La co-treatment than in La treatment, which indicated the important role of cell wall in this process. Although many issues remain to be addressed, this study demonstrates that C-CDs possess distinct advantages in remediating soil La contamination without significantly impeding the plant's La absorption, thus exhibiting considerable potential for agricultural application.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142449928","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Nanozymes as a tool to boost agricultural production: from preparation to application","authors":"Kan Huang, Chengxiao Hu, Qiling Tan, Songwei Wu, Sergey Shabala, Min Yu, Xuecheng Sun","doi":"10.1039/d4en00780h","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00780h","url":null,"abstract":"Nanozymes, as an emerging class of biomimetic enzymes, not only inherit the unique properties of nanomaterials but also endow them with catalytic functions that are similar to biological enzymes. With high designability of catalytic activity and the ability to mimic the catalytic conditions and mechanisms of biological enzymes, nanozymes progressively attract significant attention in agricultural research. This research aims to provide researchers with a comprehensive overview of this emerging tool, from preparation of nanozymes to their applications in agricultural production systems. Firstly, this review systematically summarized the selection of various elements involved in nanozyme preparation, covering both metal-based and non-metal-based materials. Secondly, it outlined the mainstream chemical and environmentally friendly nanozyme synthesis technologies, critically analyzing their advantages and limitations. Thirdly, it explored the multifaceted contributions of nanozymes within the agricultural field, encompassing enhancements in crop quality and yields, augmentation of nitrogen fixation efficiency, and stimulation of microbial activity in the plant rhizosphere, as well as the improvement of agricultural crops' resilience to environmental stresses. Finally, the research discussed the main challenges faced by nanozyme research and provided forward-looking insights for future agricultural research directions. This work significantly advances understanding of the role of nanozymes in sustainable agricultural production.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142448354","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Tetraploidy and Fe2O3 nanoparticles: dual strategy to reduce the Cd-induced toxicity in rice plants by ameliorating the oxidative stress and downregulation of metal transporters","authors":"Fozia Ghouri, Munazzam Jawad Shahid, Shafaqat Ali, Humera Ashraf, Sarah Owdah Alomrani, Jingwen Liu, Mohammed Ali Alshehri, Shah Fahad, Muhammad Qasim Shahid","doi":"10.1039/d4en00470a","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00470a","url":null,"abstract":"Whole-genome doubling or polyploidy increases plants' tolerance to biotic and abiotic stress. Cadmium (Cd) damages the plant's metabolic system, leading to decreased plant development. The role of tetraploidy and iron nanoparticles (Fe NPs) in minimizing Cd toxicity in rice was investigated in this work. Diploid (E285) and tetraploid (T485) rice lines were treated with Cd (100 μM) and different doses of Fe NPs (0, 10, 25, and 50 mg L<small>⁻¹</small>). The Cd exposure substantially decreased agronomic traits (root and shoot length, shoot and root fresh weight), chlorophyll contents, and antioxidant enzyme activity and increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). The Cd toxicity effect was more pronounced in diploid rice than in tetraploid rice. The application of Fe NPs to Cd-contaminated rice plants reversed the detrimental consequences of Cd in tetraploid and diploid rice cultivars, verified by the substantial upturn in plant growth parameters, chlorophyll contents, decreased ROS, and increased levels of antioxidant enzymes. The Cd uptake was significantly reduced by tetraploidy and Fe NPs, which negatively controlled the expression patterns of Cd transporter genes (like <em>OsNRAMP2</em> and <em>OsHMA2</em>). The strongest association was seen between diploid rice and cadmium levels in seedlings. Transmission electron microscopy revealed that Cd, especially in diploid rice, caused cell structure damage that Fe NPs and tetraploidy almost repaired. This study demonstrated that tetraploidy and Fe NPs could alleviate Cd toxicity by lowering Cd accumulation, ROS, and cell damage.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142448357","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Amphiphilic Engineering of MoS2-g-C3N4 Nanocomposites into a Mangrove-Inspired Cascade System for Sustainable Drinking Water Production","authors":"Sichen Liu, Haotian Wang, Yumeng Xiao, Calatayud David G., Boyang Mao, gaoqi Zhang, Chenhui Yang, Lidong Wang, Meng Li","doi":"10.1039/d4en00633j","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00633j","url":null,"abstract":"Drinking water contamination and water shortages are seriously exacerbated by industrial wastewater discharge. However, due to the high complexity of wastewater treatment systems, effective high-concentration pollutant removal and simplified wastewater recycling remain major challenges. Inspired by mangrove interconnected purification mechanisms, a novel cascade water treatment system has been developed using MoS2-g-C3N4 (MoG), an amphiphilic material, as the main and single component to directly produce drinking water from wastewater with high efficiency. This cascade system integrates membrane filtration and solar-powered water evaporation processes to produce clean water, while also overcoming the requirement for less polluted source water that is typically required for standalone solar evaporation-based clean water production. The MoG membrane, featuring an amphiphilic platform, exhibits a high removal rate for organic and heavy metal contaminants and achieves a water flow of 966 L m-2 h-1 bar-1 and an 80% efficiency in pollutant removal. The MoG-based aerogel enables nano- and micro-channels and exhibits a clean water production rate of 1.48 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 sun irradiation. The compact cascade system for practical use can produce drinking water that meets WHO standards from heavily polluted wastewater with an average hourly water production rate of 1.39 kg m-2 h-1. Life cycle assessment confirms that the cascade system displays significant environmental profile improvement with reduced CO2 equivalent (CO2e) levels with only 1/25 of that observed in conventional water treatment systems.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439620","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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":"Engineering MXene for Electrochemical Environmental Pollutant Sensing","authors":"Muhammad Hussnain Afzal, Wajeeha Pervaiz, Muhammad Asif, Zhuo Huang, Jiawei Dai, You Xu, Jiannan Zhu, Tiansui Zhang, Zhuang Rao, Guangfang Li, Zhengyun Wang, Hongfang Liu","doi":"10.1039/d4en00255e","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/d4en00255e","url":null,"abstract":"Environmental pollutant sensing is essential to sustainable development of human health and ecosystem. MXenes as a category of two-dimensional materials consisting of nitrides and carbides have emerged as highly attractive candidates for electrochemical sensing of environmental pollutants including toxic gases, harmful volatile organic compounds, and biologically relevant components due to strong metallic conductivity, easy customization, abundant surface functional groups and large interlayer spacing. This comprehensive review firstly assesses environmental pollutant sensing mechanism and modular MXene electrode fabrication methods. Subsequently, the research progress of MXene has been summarized by comparing the performances in environmental pollutants detection. Next, how to improve electrochemical stability and selectivity of MXenes has been further discussed by different techniques. Finally, the faced challenges in this field and prospective directions for future research have been suggested by integrating emerging technologies and interdisciplinary approaches. The key objective of this review is to motivate engineers and materials scientists to consider incorporating MXenes into technologies for environmental protection, thereby fostering inventive solutions to urgent global issues.","PeriodicalId":73,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Nano","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":8.131,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142439188","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"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}