CleanMat最新文献

The growth of the economy and technological advancement has led to an increased demand for energy and the transportation of raw materials for the production of fuels, chemicals, and petroleum products. However, this increased activity has also resulted in an elevated risk of oil-related disasters, which can have devastating consequences for the environment and local communities. More than 1700 oil spills have occurred, including severe spills such as the Deepwater Horizon spill in 2010, which released 134 million gallons. However, technological developments and restrictions have resulted in a significant reduction in spills. Oil spills happened in aquatic and terrestrial environments providing numerous impacts on wildlife and public health. Existing literature may have limited scope or depth; therefore, this review addresses the literature gap by discussing the strengths and limitations of current and emerging technologies for detecting, cleaning, and restoring oil-contaminated marine and soil sites. Booms, skimmers, chemical agents (dispersants), and in situ burning are generally used for oil spill remediation. Other than conventional methods, numerous novel approaches including adsorbents (e.g., aerogels, carbon nanotubes, and other sorbents) and modified materials have been developed. For detection purposes, collaboration remote sensing and artificial intelligence are used as new emerging technologies. Modified oil adsorbents such as aerogels, sponges, and carbon nanotubes demonstrated high sorption capacity (> 100 g/g) for oil removal. Despite the challenges such as transport, high production cost, and toxicity, these emerging technologies have the potential to improve the effectiveness of oil spill remediation in the future. The materials with hybrid properties should be developed and more real-scale tests should be tested to mitigate limitations in practical scenarios of developing novel sorbent modifications like nanoparticles and aerogels.

The widespread use of PFAS in nonstick cookware, hydrophobic textiles, stain-resistant fabrics, cosmetics, and floor coverings has led to their persistent presence in wastewater streams, posing significant human health and ecological risks. Exposure to PFAS is linked to adverse reproductive outcomes and elevated blood pressure in pregnant individuals, and it negatively impacts aquatic ecosystems, particularly algal populations and microbial communities. This evaluation focuses on biochar's efficacy and cost-efficiency in removing PFAS from water, highlighting its potential as a sustainable remediation method. Biochar's high microporous volumes (0.1–1.0 cm³/g), aromaticity, and surface oxygen-containing functional groups make it effective for PFAS adsorption. Various biochar production methods, such as pyrolysis of biomass waste, and innovative modification techniques like acid treatment, ball milling, and metal nanoparticle incorporation are explored to enhance PFAS adsorption capacity. The mechanisms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of PFAS adsorption onto biochar are examined, providing insights into molecular-level interactions and adsorption isotherms. Furthermore, machine learning models are utilized to understand the impact of processing parameters on PFAS removal efficiency. The review also presents toxicological studies on the harmful effects of PFAS exposure on organisms and humans, emphasizing the urgent need for effective remediation strategies. Ultimately, the potential of biochar-based approaches in treating PFAS-contaminated water is underscored by optimizing its physicochemical properties through innovative production and modification methods, along with predictive modeling of adsorption behavior.

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is an antibiotic widely used for the treatment of several diseases, especially respiratory and urinary. Due to its widespread use, its presence in the environment has been on the rise. This study discusses the degradation of the antibiotic SMX through the ozonation process. SMX is preferentially degraded by the direct action of O₃ on the molecule, starting by breaking the double bonds in the aromatic ring. Through ozonation it is possible to obtain complete SMX degradation within 10 min, but the mineralization of the solution is not achieved, reaching total organic carbon removal efficiencies of 5%–60%, depending on the reaction time. Factors such as the presence of organic matter (OM) and the pH of the solution interfere with the degradation of SMX. The OM acts as a radical scavenger, decreasing the efficiency of degradation, while the pH interferes with the decomposition of O₃ into radicals and the dissolution of the oxidant in the medium, in addition to influencing the state of ionization of the SMX making it more or less prone to reactions. In general, most other remediation processes are carried out on a laboratory scale. To increase the level of these processes to a full scale, more pilot-scale studies are needed. In addition, it is necessary to focus on the practice of reusing materials, avoiding the generation of secondary pollution, and increasing the useful life of the material. The review also discusses the reaction mechanisms, intermediate compounds formed, mineralization of the solution, and factors that influence the process, which can help in making decisions for future studies to be carried out in the area. Prospects in the research area revolve around using metal–organic frameworks as molecular imprinting technology to modify heterogeneous catalysts, integration of external energy, bimetallic systems, and evaluation of deactivation mechanisms.

Current epoxy thermosets are facing various challenges such as resource scarcity, environmental concern, and limited functionalities. Here, we present a novel solvent free approach to fabricate multifunctional carbon nanotubes (CNTs) reinforced biobased and recyclable epoxy thermoset composites through precuring in an internal mixer followed by curing in an oven. The epoxy matrix, a covalent adaptable network (CAN) based on dynamic imine bonds, was synthesized from entirely biobased feedstocks, including glycerol triglycidyl ether, vanillin, and 1,10-diaminodecane. The shear force during precuring facilitated dispersion of CNTs in CAN matrix, allowing for high CNTs loading (up to 20 wt%). The well-dispersed CNTs not only reinforced mechanical properties of CAN but also introduced new functionalities like electrical conductivity, electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding capacity, and Joule heating performance. The composite with 20% CNTs exhibited a tensile strength and Young's modulus of 78.1 MPa and 3.07 GPa, respectively, marking a 34.2% and 63.6% improvement over pristine CAN. It also demonstrated a high electrical conductivity of 35.3 S/m, resulting in a remarkable EMI shielding effectiveness (22.8 dB) and excellent Joule heating performance (reaching 131.7°C at 27 V input). Furthermore, these composites are thermally and chemically recyclable due to dynamic imine bonds, promoting sustainability and circular economy.