Article
Chemistry, Analytical
Juan Yang, Le Song, Canping Pan, Yongtao Han, Lu Kang
Summary: Kumquats, a citrus fruit with edible peel, may have pesticide residues that need to be controlled. This study found that alkaline electrolysed water, especially pH 12.5, can effectively remove pesticide residues from the surface of kumquats. A washing duration of 20 minutes yielded the best results.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Heather A. Leslie, Martin J. M. van Velzen, Sicco H. Brandsma, A. Dick Vethaak, Juan J. Garcia-Vallejo, Marja H. Lamoree
Summary: Plastic particles are widespread pollutants in the environment and food chain, and this study successfully developed a method to measure the presence of plastic particles in human blood. The study found four high production volume polymers in blood samples and demonstrated that plastic particles can be taken up by the human bloodstream.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xin Zhao, Xiaowei Ma, Boyang Chen, Yuping Shang, Malin Song
Summary: The Chinese government has set clear goals to reach carbon peak by 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality by 2060, with challenges such as increasing energy consumption, immature low-carbon technologies, and a shorter transition period compared to developed countries. The paper proposes a three-stage/four-step strategy and seven specific suggestions to help China progress towards carbon neutrality.
RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND RECYCLING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Rania Al-Tohamy, Sameh S. Ali, Fanghua Li, Kamal M. Okasha, Yehia A. -G. Mahmoud, Tamer Elsamahy, Haixin Jiao, Yinyi Fu, Jianzhong Sun
Summary: The synthetic dyes used in the textile industry cause pollution in water bodies, which has negative consequences on the environment and human health. It is important to effectively treat dye-containing wastewater using eco-friendly technologies to reduce contamination of aquatic habitats and natural water resources. This review discusses the effects of textile dyes on water bodies, aquatic flora, and human health, and compares various technologies for removing dyes from textile wastewater.
ECOTOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Mika Rantanen, Alexey Yu Karpechko, Antti Lipponen, Kalle Nordling, Otto Hyvarinen, Kimmo Ruosteenoja, Timo Vihma, Ari Laaksonen
Summary: Analyses of observations and climate simulations suggest that Arctic Amplification has been stronger than expected and underestimated in climate models. The warming in the Arctic has been nearly four times faster than the global average over the past 43 years, which is a higher ratio than previously reported. This finding indicates the urgency and severity of Arctic warming.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zhu Liu, Zhu Deng, Gang He, Hailin Wang, Xian Zhang, Jiang Lin, Ye Qi, Xi Liang
Summary: China has made significant reductions in CO2 emissions, achieving objectives outlined in Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions and Nationally Determined Contributions. However, China still faces challenges in reaching peak CO2 emissions before 2030 and achieving carbon neutrality before 2060. Achieving these goals will require increasing non-fossil energy share, deploying negative-emission technologies, promoting low-carbon development regionally, and establishing a nationwide 'green market'.
NATURE REVIEWS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Linn Persson, Bethanie M. Carney Almroth, Christopher D. Collins, Sarah Cornell, Cynthia A. de Wit, Miriam L. Diamond, Peter Fantke, Martin Hassellov, Matthew MacLeod, Morten W. Ryberg, Peter Sogaard Jorgensen, Patricia Villarrubia-Gomez, Zhanyun Wang, Michael Zwicky Hauschild
Summary: This article suggests that the safe operating space of the planetary boundary for novel entities is exceeded due to the increasing production and releases exceeding the global capacity for assessment and monitoring. Plastic pollution is highlighted as a major concern. The article presents an impact pathway from the production of novel entities to their impacts on Earth system processes and proposes several criteria for control variables. Urgent action is recommended to reduce the harm associated with exceeding the boundary by reducing the production and releases of novel entities.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Hassan Karimi-Maleh, Alireza Khataee, Fatemeh Karimi, Mehdi Baghayeri, Li Fu, Jalal Rouhi, Ceren Karaman, Onur Karaman, Rabah Boukherroub
Summary: Pt- and Pd-incorporated ZnO nanoparticles-decorated single-wall carbon nanotubes (Pt-Pd-ZnO/SWCNTs) nanocomposites were used to modify a glassy carbon electrode (GCE) for the detection of idarubicin. The morphology and structure of the nanocomposite were characterized using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) with energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The modified electrode, ds-DNA/Pt-Pd-ZnO/SWCNTs/GCE, was fabricated using a layer-by-layer modification technique and used as a voltammetric sensor for sensitive monitoring of idarubicin. The biosensor showed good performance in detecting idarubicin with a detection limit of 0.8 nM.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Hassan Karimi-Maleh, Fatemeh Karimi, Li Fu, Afsaneh L. Sanati, Marzieh Alizadeh, Ceren Karaman, Yasin Orooji
Summary: The research focused on monitoring cyanazine levels using an electrochemical strategy, synthesizing a Pt-Pd-CdO/SWCNTs composite and modifying a gold electrode for detection. The composite showed improved conductivity and lower charge-transfer resistance, allowing for monitoring of cyanazine at nanomolar concentrations. Differential pulse voltammograms indicated a linear dynamic range and detection limit, while molecular docking studies supported experimental results. The composite was successfully utilized for monitoring cyanazine in food and water samples.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Chengliang He, Youwen Pan, Yanni Ouyang, Qing Shen, Yuan Gao, Kangrong Yan, Jin Fang, Yiyao Chen, Chang-Qi Ma, Jie Min, Chunfeng Zhang, Lijian Zuo, Hongzheng Chen
Summary: Manipulating the donor:acceptor energetics is crucial for achieving balanced charge separation and recombination in organic solar cells (OSCs). In this study, a non-fullerene electron acceptor, BTP-H2, was designed and synthesized to pair with the polymer donor PM6, showing strong intermolecular interaction and near-zero highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) offset. The results demonstrated efficient charge separation and optimized energy conversion, leading to high-performance OSCs with a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 18.5% and a peak photon-to-electron response of approximately 90%.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Junmin Ge, Ling Fan, Apparao M. Rao, Jiang Zhou, Bingan Lu
Summary: Aqueous potassium-ion batteries have emerged as a more sustainable technology to complement lithium-ion counterparts. Ge et al. engineer the surface of a potassium manganese hexacyanoferrate cathode material, achieving unprecedented electrochemical performance in full K-ion cells.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Ren, Cheng Cheng, Penghui Shao, Xubiao Luo, Hui Zhang, Shaobin Wang, Xiaoguang Duan
Summary: This review discusses the use of persulfate-based nonradical oxidation processes (PS-NOPs) in wastewater purification, focusing on recent advances in nonradical electron-transfer regimes, including design of catalysts, in situ/operando characterization/analytics, and understanding the origins of electron-transfer mechanisms. The study found that persulfate is activated by a catalyst to form surface activated complexes, which interact directly or indirectly with target pollutants for oxidation.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Idrees Khan, Khalid Saeed, Ivar Zekker, Baoliang Zhang, Abdulmajeed H. Hendi, Ashfaq Ahmad, Shujaat Ahmad, Noor Zada, Hanif Ahmad, Luqman Ali Shah, Tariq Shah, Ibrahim Khan
Summary: The paper discusses the significant health issue of unavailability of clean drinking water in modern society, as well as the toxicity and environmental pollution caused by industrial dyes. By studying photodegradation technology to remove MB, efficient and environmentally friendly water treatment systems can be achieved. The photodegradation mechanism and factors affecting MB are summarized.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Shujun Yu, Hao Tang, Di Zhang, Shuqin Wang, Muqing Qiu, Gang Song, Dong Fu, Baowei Hu, Xiangke Wang
Summary: Environmental pollution has accelerated due to industrialization, leading to the need for excellent materials to remove hazardous pollutants. MXenes, as emerging transition metal nitrides, carbides, or carbonitrides, show great potential for water purification and environmental remediation. This review provides a comprehensive understanding of MXene-based nanomaterials, including their synthesis strategies, properties, removal behaviors, and interaction mechanisms with various pollutants. It also discusses the challenges and prospects of MXene-based nanomaterials in water treatment applications.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Analytical
Rupa Chakraborty, Anupama Asthana, Ajaya Kumar Singh, Bhawana Jain, Abu Bin Hasan Susan
Summary: Environmental pollution from heavy metal ions is a serious global concern. Adsorption is a low-cost and efficient method for their removal, highlighting the importance of developing affordable and readily available adsorbents.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYTICAL CHEMISTRY
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Lauren C. Jenner, Jeanette M. Rotchell, Robert T. Bennett, Michael Cowen, Vasileios Tentzeris, Laura R. Sadofsky
Summary: Airborne microplastics (MPs) have been found to have increased concentrations in areas with high human population and activity, especially indoors. This study analyzed human lung tissue samples and identified 39 MPs in 11 out of 13 samples, with an average concentration of 1.42 +/- 1.50 MP/g of tissue. The most abundant polymer types were polypropylene, polyethylene terephthalate, and resin. The study also found that MPs were present in all regions of the lung, with significantly higher levels in the lower region compared to the upper and middle regions. These findings suggest that inhalation is a route of exposure for environmental MPs.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Richard Fuller, Philip J. Landrigan, Kalpana Balakrishnan, Glynda Bathan, Stephan Bose-O'Reilly, Michael Brauer, Jack Caravanos, Tom Chiles, Aaron Cohen, Lilian Corra, Maureen Cropper, Greg Ferraro, Jill Hanna, David Hanrahan, Howard Hu, David Hunter, Gloria Janata, Rachael Kupka, Bruce Lanphear, Maureen Lichtveld, Keith Martin, Adetoun Mustapha, Ernesto Sanchez-Triana, Karti Sandilya, Laura Schaefli, Joseph Shaw, Jessica Seddon, William Suk, Martha Maria Tellez-Rojo, Chonghuai Yan
Summary: The Lancet Commission on pollution and health reported that pollution was responsible for 9 million premature deaths in 2015, making it the world's largest environmental risk factor for disease and premature death. Updated data from 2019 shows that pollution is still responsible for approximately 9 million deaths per year, with reductions in some types of pollution offset by increases in others. Despite efforts, little progress has been made in addressing pollution, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries.
LANCET PLANETARY HEALTH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Jin Cao, Dongdong Zhang, Xinyu Zhang, Zhiyuan Zeng, Jiaqian Qin, Yunhui Huang
Summary: This paper reviews the strategies of regulating Zn2+ solvation shells in electrolytes based on electrolyte engineering for dendrite-free and side reaction-suppressed aqueous zinc-ion batteries. Fruitful achievements have been made by controlling Zn2+ solvation shells through high-concentration electrolytes, deep eutectic solvents, ionic liquids, functional additives, etc.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Daliang Han, Changjun Cui, Kangyu Zhang, Zhenxing Wang, Jiachen Gao, Yong Guo, Zhicheng Zhang, Shichao Wu, Lichang Yin, Zhe Weng, Feiyu Kang, Quan-Hong Yang
Summary: Aqueous zinc batteries are safer than lithium-ion batteries, but their anodes are susceptible to dendrite failure and side reactions. The authors demonstrate a low-cost electrolyte that involves hydrate salt and organic solvent, proving to be non-flammable. The zinc battery cell delivers excellent performance even at low temperatures of -30 degrees Celsius.
NATURE SUSTAINABILITY
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Eunhee Gong, Shahzad Ali, Chaitanya B. Hiragond, Hong Soo Kim, Niket S. Powar, Dongyun Kim, Hwapyong Kim, Su-Il In
Summary: This review highlights recent advances, challenges, and potential solutions in photocatalytic production of solar fuels from CO2, including discussions on various catalysts and reaction mechanisms.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE
(2022)
