Environmental Technology & Innovation最新文献

It is argument on whether straw removal present a safer alternative compared to straw return or not where in paddy fields contaminated with cadmium (Cd). The objective of this study was to evaluate the impacts of varying levels of straw and roots removal on Cd uptake and accumulation, as well as on the growth of rice, Cd availability of soil at different growth stages, and the safety and nutritional value of brown rice were subject to assessment as well. A field experiment was conducted wherein rice straw and roots were returned into the paddy field, serving as the control group (CK). The findings revealed that the removal of straw and roots resulted in a decline in the availability of Cd in soil and the accumulation and uptake of Cd by rice plant. At the maturation stage of rice, the soil available Cd content and brown rice Cd content was significantly reduced by 40.39% and24.79 % under the treatment where 100 % of rice straw and roots were removed. Moreover, there was a significant decline of 66.54 % and 76.35 % in dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and Cd concentrations respectively within soil pore water. This suggests that one crucial factor contributing to decreased Cd accumulation is the diminished complexation between DOC and Cd resulting from straw removal treatments. The removal of straw and roots had minimal impact on the nutritional components of brown rice, including essential amino acids. After the removal of straw and roots from the field, there was a reduction in hazard quotient (HQ) for rice consumers of varying genders and ages in the region by 17.71–24.95 %, leading to a decrease in local ecological risk level from medium to slight. Therefore, the implementation of strategies such as removing straw and roots could potentially lead to successful outcomes in reducing rice Cd uptake in paddy fields contaminated with this metallic element.

Some oleaginous yeasts have the ability to produce microbial oils from alternative carbon sources, such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). Nevertheless, there is still a lack of information about the possible effects that media nutrients have on yeast metabolisms when using SCFAs. For instance, inorganic phosphate (PO₄^3-) has been reported to promote yeast growth in literature but its chelating effect over other elements such as calcium (Ca²⁺) is often not considered in fermentation processes while limitation of nitrogen is probably the most studied. Attending at the need to better understand the role of PO₄^3-, this work assessed the lipid production capacity of Yarrowia lipolytica ACA DC 50109, both in synthetic and real SCFAs-rich media, at different SCFAs concentrations and PO₄^3-:Ca²⁺ ratios. Reducing PO₄^3-:Ca²⁺ ratio was identified to be an important factor to improve yeast growth, reaching the highest lipid content (52.7 ± 0.9 % w/w) and lipid yield (0.31 ± 0.01 w/w) in media without PO₄^3-. These results demonstrated the importance of Ca²⁺ availability in the medium and nutrients interactions in yeast growth that are often underestimated.

The present study reports the development of a biodegradable mask by combined usage of Lessonia nigrescens(a species of brown algae), Rhizoclonium riparium (a cryptogenic macroalga), and Aloe vera (a succulent plant). The proposed face mask is comprised of three stacked layers: an inner hydrophilic layer containing macroalgae, an intermediate layer coated with microalgae extracts, and an outer hydrophobic layer reinforced with Aloe vera and hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HDTMS). Experimental investigations confirmed that using seaweed derivatives and Aloe vera plant-based bioactive compounds as coating agents ensures chemical and thermal resilience and can be reused after washing. The ensuring topographic and chemical configurations were characterized through scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The surface wettability of the material was tested by the water contact angle. The resultant facemask products exhibit remarkable water repellency, stain resistance, antimicrobial and antifungal performance against pathogens. Our results suggest that the proposed eco-friendly technique for developing facemask surfaces with inherent antimicrobial and antifungal features might be attractive to personal protective equipment manufacturers and environmental material engineering investigators. The proposed mask offers improved water and aerosol repellency, increased air permeability, and enhanced skin-friendliness compared to masks currently available in the market. Additionally, this innovative mask is suitable for use during mass infections and is designed to be worn for extended periods without causing skin irritation or breathing problems. However, if these features are indeed present in the newly manufactured masks, they could offer significant advantages in terms of protection and comfort in a variety of situations, including outbreaks.

Composting is a major method to produce organic fertilizers, and the variation in antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) during composting is crucial for the safe utilization of mature compost. The effects of different bulking agents (cellulose-rich cornstalk and lignin-rich garden waste) on ARGs variations during swine manure composting were investigated. The results showed that composting thermophilic could effectively reduce ARGs (58–61 %), whereas ARGs rebounded and were enriched with decreasing temperature during the maturation stage. Compared to their initial abundance, ARGs were enriched 6.97 times (cornstalk) and 22.27 times (garden waste) during the maturation period. The ARGs enrichment mechanism in swine manure composting differed for cornstalk and garden waste amendments. The cornstalk was used as the bulking agent, the selective pressure of continuous high temperature resulted in the proliferation of spore-forming bacteria (Bacillus, Sporosarcina and Psychrobacillus), which are potential host bacteria of ARGs and cause ARGs enrichment through vertical gene proliferation. In the garden waste treatment, the enriched ARGs in the final compost were related to horizontal gene transfer mediated by mobile genetic elements (intl1), with the primary potential host bacteria being Bacillus, Saccharomonospora, and Caldicoprobacter. The types of enriched ARGs were consistent across different bulking agents composting process, and the risk genes enriched in the final mature compost included ermB, ermF, sul1, sul2, tetO, and tetX.

This study developed a novel TiO₂-biochar composite as a modifier for functional asphalt coatings, achieving dual objectives of reducing VOCs emissions and mitigating cytotoxicity. The composite enhanced the softening point of the asphalt by approximately 6℃, reduced penetration and increased viscosity, thereby improving thermal stability and deformation resistance. Headspace-gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis confirmed an over 80 % reduction in VOC emissions, significantly reducing the release of harmful compounds like alkanes, cycloalkanes, and aromatic hydrocarbons, with the TiO₂-biochar modified and UV-exposed (TUBC) demonstrating the most pronounced effect. In vitro assays with human bronchial epithelial (BEAS-2B) cells showed the composite's cytotoxicity mitigation, with TUBC maintaining higher cell viability. The composite reduced ROS levels and the expression of cytotoxicity-associated biomarkers, suggesting a decrease in oxidative stress and inflammation. The high adsorption capacity of the composite and its photocatalytic degradation under UV light were identified as the key mechanisms for VOCs reduction. These findings collectively establish the TiO₂-biochar composite as a promising solution for asphalt for greener and safer asphalt applications, with potential for global environmental and health benefits. Future work will focus on further optimization and field validation to facilitate the adoption of this technology in infrastructure development worldwide.

This study investigated the Ceftriaxone (CFT) degradation by photocatalytic process using AgCuFe₂O₄@MWCNT/ZnO as novel nanophotocatalyst. Firstly, the catalyst was prepared by microwave-assisted chemical coprecipitation method as a simple, fast, and green procedure with high efficiency. FESEM, EDS, Mapping, Line scan, FTIR, XRD, BET, DRS, PL, TGA, and VSM analyzes was carried out to identify the characteristics of the AgCuFe₂O₄@MWCNT/ZnO. The effect of key operational parameters for CFT photodegradation including solution pH, catalyst dosage, CFT concentration, and irradiation time was elaborated. Under optimal photocatalytic conditions (pH 7, 5 mg/L of CFT concentration, catalyst dosage of 0.24 g/L, and 60 minutes of irradiation) removal efficiency reached 90.1 % in synthetic samples and 75 % in real wastewater samples. ^•OH and ^•O₂^– are the dominant generated reactive oxygen species in the process. The kinetic study of the process revealed that the CFT degradation process followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic and Langmuir-Hinshelwood models with k_c = 0.412 mg/L.min and k_L-H =0.053 L/mg. Photocatalytic process indicated a powerful ability for mineralization of CFT (85.31 % of COD degradation). After four catalyst recovery cycles, the CFT degradation efficiency was achieved by 58.14 %, demonstrating the catalyst's recovery capability and chemical stability. The results of toxicity assessment using lettuce and basil seeds germination indicated a significant detoxification of CFT-containing effluent compared to the untreated CFT-containing wastewater. This study offers AgCuFe₂O₄@MWCNT/ZnO as effective, stable, and competitive catalyst for hastening and enhancing the photocatalytic process to mitigate environmentally related pollutants of high concern.

Cadmium (Cd) pollution in paddy fields is becoming a great threat to the ecosystem. Phytoremediation with hyper-accumulating plants is an economic strategy to attenuate the hazards of Cd in the paddy fields. However, its Cd-removing efficiency remains to be improved. In this study, we prepared the moss-derived biochars by heating the dried moss bodies and investigated their effect on plant growth, Cd removal, and rhizosphere microbiome compositions. The biochars promoted the growth of the two remediation plants, i.e., Solanum nigrum and Echinochloa crus-galli, and improved Cd removal from paddy fields, leading to the increase in Cd-removing rate from 11 % to 15 % to 23–35 % after 60 days. Furthermore, the biochars increased the number of rhizosphere bacteria from 2.26 to 2.76×10⁶ cell/g soil to 3.89–4.78×10⁶ cell/g soil, together with soil organic matters from 18.3 mg/kg to 24.5 mg/kg for Solanum nigrum, and from 18.0 mg/kg to 21.1 mg/kg for Echinochloa crus-galli on day 30. Consistently, the activity of urease, acid phosphatase, and catalase increased to 1.18–1.29 times, 1.26–1.32 times and 1.13–1.18 times, respectively. Bacterial community analysis further showed the biochars increased both the abundance-based coverage estimator index and the Simpson index, implying the increased bacterial diversity induced by the biochars. Moreover, biochars strongly changes the bacterial compositions, leading to the increased abundance in Microbacteriaceae, Alcaligenaceae, Acidimicrobiales, Rhizobiales, etc., most of which are involved in stress tolerance and biofilm formation. This study provides new information on the positive effect of biochars on phytoremediation and implies the important role of rhizosphere microbiome remodeling in pollutant removal.

We have measured ²³⁶U/²³⁸U and ²³⁵U/²³⁸U values in JMS-1 (geochemical reference material of Tokyo Bay sediments) and coastal seawater using a multi-collector inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer (MC-ICP-MS) equipped with both the retarding potential quadrupole lens and desolvating nebuliser system. For the accurate measurement of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U values (e.g., in the range of 10⁻⁹), mass spectrometric interferences on ²³⁶U isotope from both the peak tailing of ²³⁸U and polyatomic ion of ²³⁵UH were carefully corrected. With the sequential extraction experiments for JMS-1, whose U isotopic signatures were characteristic of isotopically-depleted U with industrial uses, authigenic U was extracted into a soluble fraction, and lithogenic U and anthropogenic U were gathered in an insoluble fraction. The anthropogenic U is likely to have been provided in insoluble forms and have deposited on the bay floor. Absence in differences of ²³⁶U/²³⁸U and ²³⁵U/²³⁸U values for seawater observed between inside and outside Tokyo Bay implies the negligibly small contribution of the anthropogenic U to U in the seawater. The data obtained here demonstrate the effective reduction of the interferences on ²³⁶U and the versatility of the isotopic signatures of U as an effective tracer for environmental circulation of U in nature.

Soil microbial biomass stoichiometry homeostasis is essential for microorganism survival and ecosystem stability. Despite its importance, research on soil microbial homeostasis in Natural World Heritage Sites (NWHS) is lacking. This study analyzed ecological stoichiometry and microbial homeostasis in surface (0–20 cm) and subsurface (20–40 cm) soils across various vegetation types in Fanjing Mountain, an NWHS in China. The objective was to explore microbial homeostasis in relation to soil ecological stoichiometry and identify key influencing factors. Results indicated that microbial biomass stoichiometry in surface soil is higher than in subsurface soil for 5 vegetation types, mirroring nutrient stoichiometry but contrasting enzyme stoichiometry. Vector length (VL) suggests higher C limitation in subsurface soil for all vegetation types, while vector angle (VA) shows P limitation in surface soil of certain types and N limitation in subsurface soil across all types. Random forest analysis revealed that the microbial carbon-nitrogen ratio (MB C/N) was mainly contributed by C/N (14.11 %), SOC (12.31 %), pH (10.52 %), NH₄⁺-N, SWC, NO₃^--N in the surface soil, and NO₃^--N (15.74 %), altitude, SWC, SOC, C/N in the subsurface soil, whereas for the microbial carbon-phosphorus ratio (MB C/P), altitude (12.16 %), SWC (9.86 %), and AP were the main contributing factors in the surface soil, and in the subsurface soil, altitude (10.49 %), C/P, SWC, SOC, and TP. This study provides insights into ecological stoichiometry, homeostasis, and nutrient limitations in Fanjing Mountain, aiding vegetation nutrient balance management in NWHS.

Utilization of effective and economical nanoparticles/nanocomposite materials in civil engineering is still remaining a significant challenge in current research arena. In this study, microbial-induced precipitation was formulated for integration of white cement mortar to enhance efficiency and evaluate its potential applications in antibacterial and photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue. Hexagonal wurtzite structure of synthesized ZnO exhibited high crystallinity with significant contribution of hydration product after 28days analysis. Morphology of produced material showed less homogeneity with high densification and morphology altered from needles-like structure to tube with the integration of adsorbent ratio from ZnO-0 to 2.5, presented all the required chemical components in EDXS analysis. The water absorption rate in sample slurry of ZnO-2.5 exhibited significant reduction of 52.75 % compared to baseline water absorption rate of 12.71 % in commercial ZnO and contact angle was noted higher as 89.54°, which indicates hydrophilic character of material. The highest compressive strength of sample ZnO-2.5 was noted 508.89 kgf/cm² in 28days of wet curing method, indicated the effective gel formation of calcium silicate in samples. Maximum methylene blue dye degradation recorded 79.95 % in case of using ZnO-2.5, which showed another influential character with excellent efficiency. In addition, prepared sample has shown almost complete bactericidal efficiency under simulated sunlight. Compared to commercial white cement mortar, biological white cement mortar can save NT$149,531 per cubic meter at industrial scale. Therefore, results indicate that microbial-induced zinc precipitation incorporated using hydrothermal preparation of biological white cement mortar improves the surface properties for applications and reduces its cost of study.