Pub Date : 2026-05-03DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2026.2635428
Stanislav Obruca, Martin Koller, Petr Sedlacek, Ines Fritz, Pavlina Guziurova
Biodegradable polyesters (BPEs) are increasingly being promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, particularly in applications where biodegradability offers an advantage because material retrieval is impractical or impossible. Agriculture is a typical example of such applications. However, the growing interest in BPEs has also raised legitimate concerns regarding potential environmental side effects, especially the formation and fate of biodegradable microparticles (“microbioplastics”) in soils. This review critically examines the current understanding of the degradation mechanisms, ecological interactions, and environmental implications of BPEs under soil conditions. Evidence suggests that, at environmentally and agriculturally realistic loading rates, most effects on soil properties are transient and comparable to those induced by natural biodegradable organic inputs such as lignocellulose. Fragmentation of and biofilm formation on BPEs, often interpreted as adverse effects, are in fact inherent stages of microbial degradation and carbon cycling. Overall, assessing the impact of BPEs on soil ecosystems remains a highly relevant and rapidly evolving research area, requiring adherence to sound scientific principles, realistic exposure scenarios, and standardized methodologies. Integrating microplastic characterization and temporal analyses into future certification and testing frameworks will strengthen the scientific foundation for evaluating the environmental safety of these materials and support their responsible implementation in sustainable agriculture and soil management.
{"title":"Biodegradable polyesters in soil—Real environmental hazard or just a storm in a teacup?","authors":"Stanislav Obruca, Martin Koller, Petr Sedlacek, Ines Fritz, Pavlina Guziurova","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2026.2635428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2026.2635428","url":null,"abstract":"Biodegradable polyesters (BPEs) are increasingly being promoted as sustainable alternatives to conventional plastics, particularly in applications where biodegradability offers an advantage because material retrieval is impractical or impossible. Agriculture is a typical example of such applications. However, the growing interest in BPEs has also raised legitimate concerns regarding potential environmental side effects, especially the formation and fate of biodegradable microparticles (“microbioplastics”) in soils. This review critically examines the current understanding of the degradation mechanisms, ecological interactions, and environmental implications of BPEs under soil conditions. Evidence suggests that, at environmentally and agriculturally realistic loading rates, most effects on soil properties are transient and comparable to those induced by natural biodegradable organic inputs such as lignocellulose. Fragmentation of and biofilm formation on BPEs, often interpreted as adverse effects, are in fact inherent stages of microbial degradation and carbon cycling. Overall, assessing the impact of BPEs on soil ecosystems remains a highly relevant and rapidly evolving research area, requiring adherence to sound scientific principles, realistic exposure scenarios, and standardized methodologies. Integrating microplastic characterization and temporal analyses into future certification and testing frameworks will strengthen the scientific foundation for evaluating the environmental safety of these materials and support their responsible implementation in sustainable agriculture and soil management.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"306 1","pages":"1-23"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147501773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), as a breakthrough low-carbon nitrogen removal technology, is energy-efficient and cost-effective for treating high-ammonium, low C/N wastewaters. However, excessive concentrations of ammonium (NH4+) and nitrite (NO2−), especially in the form of free ammonia (FA) and free nitrous acid (FNA), exert strong biotoxic effects on anammox bacteria (AnAOB) and severely hinder the wide application of the anammox process. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate high-nitrogen inhibition in anammox systems, focusing on impacts on nitrogen removal performance and sludge properties. From molecular–cellular–ecological perspectives, this work systematically elucidates the inhibition and response mechanisms under high-nitrogen stress, covering membrane structure, key enzymes and functional genes, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and microbial community. In addition, we explore the roles of coexisting organics and microbial interactions in system-level responses. To mitigate high-nitrogen inhibition, a series of effective recovery strategies are summarized, including biomass intervention management, process parameter optimization, and exogenous additive supplementation. Finally, we propose biological enhancement measures based on the enrichment of Ca. Kuenenia to improve anammox tolerance. This review bridges microbial insights and engineering applications to advance the broader implementation of anammox-based systems in full-scale wastewater treatment.
{"title":"Deciphering high-nitrogen inhibition in anammox systems: From microbial insights to engineering applications","authors":"Junye Shen, Xin Yin, Yuheng Zhu, Wenqi Li, Mabruk Adams, Bing-Jie Ni, Chongjun Chen","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2026.2635434","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2026.2635434","url":null,"abstract":"Anaerobic ammonium oxidation (anammox), as a breakthrough low-carbon nitrogen removal technology, is energy-efficient and cost-effective for treating high-ammonium, low C/N wastewaters. However, excessive concentrations of ammonium (NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>) and nitrite (NO<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>), especially in the form of free ammonia (FA) and free nitrous acid (FNA), exert strong biotoxic effects on anammox bacteria (AnAOB) and severely hinder the wide application of the anammox process. In this review, we comprehensively evaluate high-nitrogen inhibition in anammox systems, focusing on impacts on nitrogen removal performance and sludge properties. From molecular–cellular–ecological perspectives, this work systematically elucidates the inhibition and response mechanisms under high-nitrogen stress, covering membrane structure, key enzymes and functional genes, extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and microbial community. In addition, we explore the roles of coexisting organics and microbial interactions in system-level responses. To mitigate high-nitrogen inhibition, a series of effective recovery strategies are summarized, including biomass intervention management, process parameter optimization, and exogenous additive supplementation. Finally, we propose biological enhancement measures based on the enrichment of <i>Ca. Kuenenia</i> to improve anammox tolerance. This review bridges microbial insights and engineering applications to advance the broader implementation of anammox-based systems in full-scale wastewater treatment.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"57 1","pages":"1-26"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-05-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147501774","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Global greenhouse effect and the increase of CO2 concentration in the atmosphere make harmful cyanobacterial blooms occur frequently. Understanding the inherent laws and influencing factors of cyanobacterial blooms is the key to hinder their development and maturity. Previous studies have focused on limiting the development of cyanobacteria by changing external environmental factors, ignoring the internal factors among microorganisms in the cyanobacteria bloom. Based on the ecological regulation strategies aimed at regulating the life activities of cyanobacteria and the succession of cyanobacterial blooms, we discuss the non-negligible role of quorum sensing in the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. The promotion effect of QS on the growth and development and competitive advantage phenotype of pure cyanobacteria was analyzed, and the potential influence of QS as an internal driving force for community succession of cyanobacteria was reasonably speculated. Although there are few studies on the regulation of QS as a control strategy for algal blooms. Here, we provide detailed information on the possible effects of QS on cyanobacteria and on the actual cyanobacterial bloom community, and the importance of QS in the formation of cyanobacterial blooms was emphasized. In addition, the previous studies on cyanobacterial QS are critically analyzed, the puzzling problems in these studies are put forward, and more perfect suggestions for future work are provided.
{"title":"Invisible microbial language in cyanobacterial blooms should not be overlooked: The potential impact of quorum sensing for cyanobacteria community","authors":"Zhexi Liu, Haoliang Pang, Yanling Gu, Xia Wang, Aixin Chen, Wei Zhang, Si Liu, Wenjuan He, Jinhui Huang","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2604697","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2604697","url":null,"abstract":"Global greenhouse effect and the increase of CO<sub>2</sub> concentration in the atmosphere make harmful cyanobacterial blooms occur frequently. Understanding the inherent laws and influencing factors of cyanobacterial blooms is the key to hinder their development and maturity. Previous studies have focused on limiting the development of cyanobacteria by changing external environmental factors, ignoring the internal factors among microorganisms in the cyanobacteria bloom. Based on the ecological regulation strategies aimed at regulating the life activities of cyanobacteria and the succession of cyanobacterial blooms, we discuss the non-negligible role of quorum sensing in the formation of cyanobacterial blooms. The promotion effect of QS on the growth and development and competitive advantage phenotype of pure cyanobacteria was analyzed, and the potential influence of QS as an internal driving force for community succession of cyanobacteria was reasonably speculated. Although there are few studies on the regulation of QS as a control strategy for algal blooms. Here, we provide detailed information on the possible effects of QS on cyanobacteria and on the actual cyanobacterial bloom community, and the importance of QS in the formation of cyanobacterial blooms was emphasized. In addition, the previous studies on cyanobacterial QS are critically analyzed, the puzzling problems in these studies are put forward, and more perfect suggestions for future work are provided.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"5 1","pages":"351-373"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147384100","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Pub Date : 2026-04-03DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2601659
Qingyan Wang, Ru Zhang, Yajing Cai, Junpei Ye, Guangming Zhang, Jun Chen, Panyue Zhang
Chain elongation is an emerging bioprocess for converting diverse organic wastes into medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs) with high economic value and applications in fuels, antimicrobials, and food additives. This review integrates recent progress on metabolic mechanisms, microbial ecology, and process engineering strategies that promote efficient MCC synthesis. The effects of strict anaerobic and microaerobic conditions on ethanol- and lactate- driven reverse β oxidation are examined, alongside key enzymes and genes. The contributions of isolated bacterial strains, fungi, and open-culture system are compared, with emphasis on syntrophic interactions and substrate conversion efficiency. Process stability and competition pathways, as well as enhancements in interspecies electron transfer, are discussed carefully. In-line product extraction, particularly hollow fiber membrane liquid-liquid extraction, is highlighted for alleviating product inhibition. In the future, chain elongation can be further developed for waste valorization in a circular bioeconomy.
{"title":"A critical review of the chain elongation for biomass resource recovery: Mechanisms, advances, and challenges","authors":"Qingyan Wang, Ru Zhang, Yajing Cai, Junpei Ye, Guangming Zhang, Jun Chen, Panyue Zhang","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2601659","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2601659","url":null,"abstract":"Chain elongation is an emerging bioprocess for converting diverse organic wastes into medium-chain carboxylates (MCCs) with high economic value and applications in fuels, antimicrobials, and food additives. This review integrates recent progress on metabolic mechanisms, microbial ecology, and process engineering strategies that promote efficient MCC synthesis. The effects of strict anaerobic and microaerobic conditions on ethanol- and lactate- driven reverse β oxidation are examined, alongside key enzymes and genes. The contributions of isolated bacterial strains, fungi, and open-culture system are compared, with emphasis on syntrophic interactions and substrate conversion efficiency. Process stability and competition pathways, as well as enhancements in interspecies electron transfer, are discussed carefully. In-line product extraction, particularly hollow fiber membrane liquid-liquid extraction, is highlighted for alleviating product inhibition. In the future, chain elongation can be further developed for waste valorization in a circular bioeconomy.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"79 1","pages":"333-350"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147383911","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-19DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2585891
Narmin Garazade, John Nightingale, Paul Kay, Gamze Varank, Laura J. Carter
Amending soils with biosolids or animal manures enhances nutrient availability, while wastewater irrigation enhances crop productivity in water-scarce regions. However, the application of these practices can introduce biologically active pharmaceuticals into agricultural soils, where they can be transformed into persistent and potentially more toxic products. In this review, we synthesize existing knowledge on the occurrence, fate, and behavior of pharmaceutical transformation products and metabolites in soil and plant systems. We summarize detection of specific transformation products in soils and edible plant tissues, analyze and assess their persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation, and quantify their mobility and uptake in comparison to parent compounds. We also evaluate the limited data on toxicological effects to ecosystems and human health, and explicitly note the substantial knowledge gaps in the literature on field-based studies. In summary, this synthesis of findings in soil and plants emphasizes the need to incorporate pharmaceutical transformation products and metabolites into risk assessments to protect food safety and agricultural sustainability.
{"title":"Pharmaceuticals and their transformation products in agroecosystems: Threats to plant–soil sustainability","authors":"Narmin Garazade, John Nightingale, Paul Kay, Gamze Varank, Laura J. Carter","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2585891","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2585891","url":null,"abstract":"Amending soils with biosolids or animal manures enhances nutrient availability, while wastewater irrigation enhances crop productivity in water-scarce regions. However, the application of these practices can introduce biologically active pharmaceuticals into agricultural soils, where they can be transformed into persistent and potentially more toxic products. In this review, we synthesize existing knowledge on the occurrence, fate, and behavior of pharmaceutical transformation products and metabolites in soil and plant systems. We summarize detection of specific transformation products in soils and edible plant tissues, analyze and assess their persistence in the environment and bioaccumulation, and quantify their mobility and uptake in comparison to parent compounds. We also evaluate the limited data on toxicological effects to ecosystems and human health, and explicitly note the substantial knowledge gaps in the literature on field-based studies. In summary, this synthesis of findings in soil and plants emphasizes the need to incorporate pharmaceutical transformation products and metabolites into risk assessments to protect food safety and agricultural sustainability.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"42 1","pages":"1-31"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138306","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-19DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2599462
Yanzeng Li, Hong Wang, Shiyu Liu, Zhou Chen, Yu Hua, Xiaohu Dai
Microbially driven anaerobic digestion (AD) is a key technology for energy recovery from biowaste. As critical regulators of microbial communication, quorum sensing (QS) and quorum quenching (QQ) impact AD by shaping microbial community structure and coordinating trophic-level metabolic interactions. However, their underlying mechanisms remain a “black box”, posing a significant barrier to process optimization and engineered control. This review deciphers the QS and QQ regulatory mechanisms in AD, focusing on signaling networks, environmental responsiveness, and microbial ecological functions. As current studies on QS/QQ in full-scale AD remain scarce, this review primarily draws on data from laboratory-scale reactors. First, we systematically mapped signaling molecule distribution in both liquid and solid phases across 21 anaerobic digesters, revealing that solid-phase matrices generally served as hotspots for acyl-homoserine lactone accumulation. Subsequently, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the transduction cascades of QS and QQ were dissected, including signal recognition, transmission, and interception. Furthermore, the dynamic responses of QS to environmental factors were comprehensively evaluated, together with their strong associations with microbial ecological functions and process stability. The regulatory roles of QS/QQ in extracellular polymeric substances synthesis, microbial spatial organization, metabolic pathway optimization, system robustness, and antibiotic resistance gene dissemination were also reviewed. Finally, challenges and prospects were discussed, including elucidating diverse signaling molecules roles, mapping QS/QQ signaling to metabolic pathways, and assessing long-term stability and ecological risks of QS/QQ strategies in engineering. This review offers a strategic reference for precisely regulating microbial metabolic networks and mitigating ecological risks in anaerobic digesters via signal transduction.
{"title":"Deciphering quorum sensing and quorum quenching regulatory mechanisms in anaerobic digesters: Signaling networks, environmental responses, and microbial ecological functions","authors":"Yanzeng Li, Hong Wang, Shiyu Liu, Zhou Chen, Yu Hua, Xiaohu Dai","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2599462","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2599462","url":null,"abstract":"Microbially driven anaerobic digestion (AD) is a key technology for energy recovery from biowaste. As critical regulators of microbial communication, quorum sensing (QS) and quorum quenching (QQ) impact AD by shaping microbial community structure and coordinating trophic-level metabolic interactions. However, their underlying mechanisms remain a “black box”, posing a significant barrier to process optimization and engineered control. This review deciphers the QS and QQ regulatory mechanisms in AD, focusing on signaling networks, environmental responsiveness, and microbial ecological functions. As current studies on QS/QQ in full-scale AD remain scarce, this review primarily draws on data from laboratory-scale reactors. First, we systematically mapped signaling molecule distribution in both liquid and solid phases across 21 anaerobic digesters, revealing that solid-phase matrices generally served as hotspots for acyl-homoserine lactone accumulation. Subsequently, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the transduction cascades of QS and QQ were dissected, including signal recognition, transmission, and interception. Furthermore, the dynamic responses of QS to environmental factors were comprehensively evaluated, together with their strong associations with microbial ecological functions and process stability. The regulatory roles of QS/QQ in extracellular polymeric substances synthesis, microbial spatial organization, metabolic pathway optimization, system robustness, and antibiotic resistance gene dissemination were also reviewed. Finally, challenges and prospects were discussed, including elucidating diverse signaling molecules roles, mapping QS/QQ signaling to metabolic pathways, and assessing long-term stability and ecological risks of QS/QQ strategies in engineering. This review offers a strategic reference for precisely regulating microbial metabolic networks and mitigating ecological risks in anaerobic digesters <i>via</i> signal transduction.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"1 1","pages":"1-33"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146138307","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Pub Date : 2026-03-04DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2599458
Seong-Bo Kim, Jae-Yoon Sung, Sang-Jae Lee, Dong-Woo Lee
Carbohydrates are essential nutrients that serve as primary energy sources and structural components in living organisms. However, excessive consumption of conventional sugars has been increasingly linked to global health burdens such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, as well as environmental concerns including greenhouse gas emissions. d-Tagatose, a naturally occurring rare sugar, has attracted considerable attention due to its low caloric value, prebiotic effects, and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. Recent breakthroughs in targeted chemo-enzymatic synthesis, combined with directed evolution and systems metabolic engineering, have enabled more efficient and scalable production routes. Concurrently, the valorization of agricultural and food processing wastes as alternative raw materials aligns with circular bioeconomy principles and enhances sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent technical advances, benefits, and ongoing challenges in d-tagatose production. We also highlight emerging strategies to facilitate commercialization and position d-tagatose as a cornerstone of the next generation of health-promoting sweeteners.
{"title":"Sustainable bioprocessing strategies for scalable d-tagatose production: From enzyme engineering to industrial implementation","authors":"Seong-Bo Kim, Jae-Yoon Sung, Sang-Jae Lee, Dong-Woo Lee","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2599458","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2599458","url":null,"abstract":"Carbohydrates are essential nutrients that serve as primary energy sources and structural components in living organisms. However, excessive consumption of conventional sugars has been increasingly linked to global health burdens such as obesity, diabetes, and metabolic disorders, as well as environmental concerns including greenhouse gas emissions. <span><span>d</span></span>-Tagatose, a naturally occurring rare sugar, has attracted considerable attention due to its low caloric value, prebiotic effects, and anti-obesity and anti-diabetic properties. Recent breakthroughs in targeted chemo-enzymatic synthesis, combined with directed evolution and systems metabolic engineering, have enabled more efficient and scalable production routes. Concurrently, the valorization of agricultural and food processing wastes as alternative raw materials aligns with circular bioeconomy principles and enhances sustainability. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent technical advances, benefits, and ongoing challenges in <span>d</span>-tagatose production. We also highlight emerging strategies to facilitate commercialization and position <span>d</span>-tagatose as a cornerstone of the next generation of health-promoting sweeteners.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"40 1","pages":"246-268"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-03-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146098353","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
The accumulation of nitrates in water bodies caused by human activities poses a serious threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNO3RR), as a promising green process, can convert nitrate (NO3−) into high-value ammonia (NH3), achieving the goal of “turning waste into resources”. However, eNO3RR is a significantly complex process involving multiple influencing factors. Herein, we critically review the fundamental principles of NO3− reduction and selective NH3 synthesis in eNO3RR. The cathode engineering design for the NH3 generation by eNO3RR is systematically summarized, including a comparative analysis of precursor materials, such as precious metals, transition metals, and nonmetals. Moreover, the critical roles of reactor configuration, initial NO3- concentration, pH conditions, and competitive ions in determining the selectivity and yield of NH3 from NO3− reduction are thoroughly analyzed. This review also evaluates the research on efficient and compatible ammonia recovery technologies, addressing the core post-reaction processing gap in the field. Finally, techno-economic assessments and key challenges of eNO3RR are synthesized to examine the industrial potential and further implementation prospects.
{"title":"Electrochemical nitrate reduction for sustainable nitrogen and resource cycles: Progress and prospects","authors":"Zhenzhou Li, Jiawei Liang, Yifan Dai, Shihao Fu, Jialong Chen, Yunyang Sun, Jinlong Wang, Han Zhang, Daliang Xu, Jiaxuan Yang, Heng Liang","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2596054","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2596054","url":null,"abstract":"The accumulation of nitrates in water bodies caused by human activities poses a serious threat to human health and aquatic ecosystems. Electrocatalytic nitrate reduction reaction (eNO<sub>3</sub>RR), as a promising green process, can convert nitrate (NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>) into high-value ammonia (NH<sub>3</sub>), achieving the goal of “turning waste into resources”. However, eNO<sub>3</sub>RR is a significantly complex process involving multiple influencing factors. Herein, we critically review the fundamental principles of NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction and selective NH<sub>3</sub> synthesis in eNO<sub>3</sub>RR. The cathode engineering design for the NH<sub>3</sub> generation by eNO<sub>3</sub>RR is systematically summarized, including a comparative analysis of precursor materials, such as precious metals, transition metals, and nonmetals. Moreover, the critical roles of reactor configuration, initial NO<sub>3</sub><sup>-</sup> concentration, pH conditions, and competitive ions in determining the selectivity and yield of NH<sub>3</sub> from NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup> reduction are thoroughly analyzed. This review also evaluates the research on efficient and compatible ammonia recovery technologies, addressing the core post-reaction processing gap in the field. Finally, techno-economic assessments and key challenges of eNO<sub>3</sub>RR are synthesized to examine the industrial potential and further implementation prospects.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"38 1","pages":"195-220"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145995674","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Plastic mulch films improve crop microclimate and yield but generate persistent residues and microplastics (MPs), posing ecological risks. Despite this, systematic reviews on the life-cycle fate of mulch films from application to residues remain limited. This review summarizes mulch film classification, physicochemical and microbial degradation mechanisms, migration fate factors, and impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, highlighting mulch film characteristics and soil properties as most important factors. Some key conclusions include: (1) film mulching alters soil hydrothermal conditions and gas exchange, thereby restructuring microbial activities; (2) residues and MPs modify soil structure, create new niches, and rewire functional gene networks, ultimately regulating soil carbon and nitrogen cycling; (3) the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during mulch film degradation can enhance organic matter decomposition and nitrogen utilization. Critical research gaps remain, particularly in long-term field assessments and under multi-stressor scenarios. This review provides an integrative perspective on the environmental fate and functional impacts of mulch films, thereby advocating the development of sustainable mulching practices and risk control in agroecosystems.
{"title":"Environmental fate and effects of mulch films on agricultural soil: A systematic review from application to residual impact","authors":"Ziyi Shao, Ke-Qing Xiao, Mingkang Jin, Siyu Chen, Yuxin Huo, Yong-Guan Zhu","doi":"10.1080/10643389.2025.2580771","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2025.2580771","url":null,"abstract":"Plastic mulch films improve crop microclimate and yield but generate persistent residues and microplastics (MPs), posing ecological risks. Despite this, systematic reviews on the life-cycle fate of mulch films from application to residues remain limited. This review summarizes mulch film classification, physicochemical and microbial degradation mechanisms, migration fate factors, and impacts on soil carbon and nitrogen cycling, highlighting mulch film characteristics and soil properties as most important factors. Some key conclusions include: (1) film mulching alters soil hydrothermal conditions and gas exchange, thereby restructuring microbial activities; (2) residues and MPs modify soil structure, create new niches, and rewire functional gene networks, ultimately regulating soil carbon and nitrogen cycling; (3) the release of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) during mulch film degradation can enhance organic matter decomposition and nitrogen utilization. Critical research gaps remain, particularly in long-term field assessments and under multi-stressor scenarios. This review provides an integrative perspective on the environmental fate and functional impacts of mulch films, thereby advocating the development of sustainable mulching practices and risk control in agroecosystems.","PeriodicalId":10823,"journal":{"name":"Critical Reviews in Environmental Science and Technology","volume":"226 1","pages":"43-66"},"PeriodicalIF":12.6,"publicationDate":"2026-01-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145728885","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"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}
Pub Date : 2026-01-17DOI: 10.1080/10643389.2025.2585932
Zhen-Yu Qiang, Gang Li, Daniel Menezes-Blackburn, Zhao-Feng Yuan, Tida Ge, Yvan Capowiez, Dong-Xing Guan
The drilosphere, encompassing soil zones influenced by earthworm activities, represents a crucial biogeochemical hotspot for phosphorus (P) cycling and soil health. While earthworms are recognized for their positive impacts on soil P dynamics through feeding, burrowing, and casting activities, comprehensive understanding of P cycling mechanisms within the drilosphere and their relative importance across different soil environments remains limited. This review synthesized recent advances through four interconnected domains. First, we examined drilosphere formation and characteristics, revealing how earthworm ecosystem engineering creates distinct biogeochemical zones through burrow construction, mucus secretion, and cast deposition. Second, we analyzed P transformation mechanisms within the drilosphere, documenting how burrowing and casting pathways mobilize P through competitive adsorption, enzymatic mineralization, and microbial regulation. Third, we characterized the drilosphere’s contribution to terrestrial P cycling, demonstrating distinctive outward P diffusion patterns compared to rhizosphere inward movement and examining ecosystem-scale impacts. Fourth, we discussed emerging imaging techniques that offer unprecedented opportunities to visualize drilosphere P dynamics, though systematic applications remain limited. Our analysis identified critical research frontiers in micro-interfacial characterizations, biogeographical patterns, climate change impacts, and agricultural applications, providing a framework for advancing sustainable soil management strategies that leverage earthworm-mediated P mobilization.
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