Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-02-08DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121693
Fanbing Yan , Abeer Abdulaziz Alsanad , Guangri Chen , Lianwei Shan , Abdul Khader Jilani Saudagar , Jagadeesh Suriyaprakash
Ferroelectric (FE) materials with their unique spontaneous polarization, hold significant promise for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. This review summarizes the fundamental physical properties of ferroelectrics, including dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic properties. It systematically explores how FE polarization enables dynamic control via external fields and the targeted design of catalytic performances. From the reaction mechanisms, the review comprehensively discusses the activation and reduction pathways of nitrogen molecules on FE catalyst surfaces, as well as the theoretical basis for how polarization modulates the adsorption energy barriers of key intermediates and the products selectivity. This review summarizes the design and application of typical catalytic agents such as defect engineering, single-atom engineering, and heterojunction engineering. Furthermore, it outlines the transformative advancements in the design of high-performance catalysts driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Finally, it offers a perspective on future development trends, emphasizing multi-field synergistic approaches.
{"title":"Polarization-driven piezocatalysis and mechanical criteria in ferroelectric materials: From conventional selection to AI-guided design","authors":"Fanbing Yan , Abeer Abdulaziz Alsanad , Guangri Chen , Lianwei Shan , Abdul Khader Jilani Saudagar , Jagadeesh Suriyaprakash","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121693","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121693","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ferroelectric (FE) materials with their unique spontaneous polarization, hold significant promise for photocatalytic nitrogen fixation. This review summarizes the fundamental physical properties of ferroelectrics, including dielectric, piezoelectric, and elastic properties. It systematically explores how FE polarization enables dynamic control via external fields and the targeted design of catalytic performances. From the reaction mechanisms, the review comprehensively discusses the activation and reduction pathways of nitrogen molecules on FE catalyst surfaces, as well as the theoretical basis for how polarization modulates the adsorption energy barriers of key intermediates and the products selectivity. This review summarizes the design and application of typical catalytic agents such as defect engineering, single-atom engineering, and heterojunction engineering. Furthermore, it outlines the transformative advancements in the design of high-performance catalysts driven by artificial intelligence (AI). Finally, it offers a perspective on future development trends, emphasizing multi-field synergistic approaches.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121693"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146170224","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121172
Ping Zhang, Xinyu Du, Keyi Chai, Jiaqi Guo, Lu Zhang, Xiaoping Su, Lianbiao Zhao
Photocatalytic semiconductor technology has attracted significant research attention due to its outstanding capability in addressing energy and environmental challenges. The traditional ammonia synthesis industry is characterized by high energy consumption, necessitating the exploration of new, environmentally sustainable methods for ammonia production. Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (pNRR) can produce NH3 under ambient conditions. This process is driven by solar energy and is noted for its zero-emission characteristics. As a representative member of the Aurivillius family, Bi2MoO6 (BMO) has attracted considerable research interest due to its economic feasibility and promising photocatalytic properties, including environmental friendliness, tunable band gap (2.5–2.8 eV), and significant visible light absorption capacity. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic performance of BMO still has considerable room for improvement. Currently, various modification strategies are employed to enhance the photocatalytic activity of BMO. This review also covers the nitrogen fixation mechanisms, structural characteristics and synthesis of BMO, as well as ammonia detection methods and sources. Finally, the report highlights the current challenges in the field and future research directions.
{"title":"Application of Bi2MoO6 materials in ammonia synthesis through photocatalytic nitrogen fixation","authors":"Ping Zhang, Xinyu Du, Keyi Chai, Jiaqi Guo, Lu Zhang, Xiaoping Su, Lianbiao Zhao","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121172","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121172","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photocatalytic semiconductor technology has attracted significant research attention due to its outstanding capability in addressing energy and environmental challenges. The traditional ammonia synthesis industry is characterized by high energy consumption, necessitating the exploration of new, environmentally sustainable methods for ammonia production. Photocatalytic nitrogen reduction reaction (pNRR) can produce NH<sub>3</sub> under ambient conditions. This process is driven by solar energy and is noted for its zero-emission characteristics. As a representative member of the Aurivillius family, Bi<sub>2</sub>MoO<sub>6</sub> (BMO) has attracted considerable research interest due to its economic feasibility and promising photocatalytic properties, including environmental friendliness, tunable band gap (2.5–2.8 eV), and significant visible light absorption capacity. Nevertheless, the photocatalytic performance of BMO still has considerable room for improvement. Currently, various modification strategies are employed to enhance the photocatalytic activity of BMO. This review also covers the nitrogen fixation mechanisms, structural characteristics and synthesis of BMO, as well as ammonia detection methods and sources. Finally, the report highlights the current challenges in the field and future research directions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121172"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981284","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Based on the bibliometric analysis, this review investigates the application of stable isotope in biological wastewater treatment in the past 20 years. Stable isotopes are mainly used for studying the removal of nitrogen conventional and emerging organic pollutants, as well as the functional mechanism of biological communities. Firstly, stable isotopes technology provides a transparent perspective for in-depth understanding of the denitrification mechanism and its influencing factors. To date, the nitrogen removal mechanism under the comprehensive action of multiple factors, the carbon source competition and allocating mode are still not clear. Stable isotopes are used for reconstructing and quantifying the nitrogen cycle process involved by eukaryotic and metazoan. Secondly, stable isotopes play an important role in investigating the degradation pathways of emerging refractory pollutants represented by persistent organic compounds, antibiotics and endocrine disruptors. It arouses the urgent need for multi-isotope combination, single-cell and quantitative stable isotope detection techniques. Thirdly, stable isotope nucleic acid probe technology is operative in understanding of the structure, function and purification mechanism of biological communities, especially the mechanism of biological predation in pollutants removal. Combining stable isotope with other cutting-edge biotechnology shows large potential in researching the greenhouse gas emission reducing pathway, pollutant removal mechanism under multiple influencing factors, complex biological community interaction, microbial food web identification and construction in wastewater treatment plants. This review is expected to provide references for the innovation of wastewater treatment technologies such as the emerging pollutants biodegradation and transformation network as well as the in-situ residual sludge reduction enhanced by predation.
{"title":"Application of stable isotopes in revealing mechanisms of pollutants biodegradation in wastewater treatment: A review","authors":"Bingqian Jiang , Xiaofeng Chen , Yonglan Tian , Shaoxia Yang , Yanbin Tong , Junfeng Niu","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121250","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121250","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Based on the bibliometric analysis, this review investigates the application of stable isotope in biological wastewater treatment in the past 20 years. Stable isotopes are mainly used for studying the removal of nitrogen conventional and emerging organic pollutants, as well as the functional mechanism of biological communities. Firstly, stable isotopes technology provides a transparent perspective for in-depth understanding of the denitrification mechanism and its influencing factors. To date, the nitrogen removal mechanism under the comprehensive action of multiple factors, the carbon source competition and allocating mode are still not clear. Stable isotopes are used for reconstructing and quantifying the nitrogen cycle process involved by eukaryotic and metazoan. Secondly, stable isotopes play an important role in investigating the degradation pathways of emerging refractory pollutants represented by persistent organic compounds, antibiotics and endocrine disruptors. It arouses the urgent need for multi-isotope combination, single-cell and quantitative stable isotope detection techniques. Thirdly, stable isotope nucleic acid probe technology is operative in understanding of the structure, function and purification mechanism of biological communities, especially the mechanism of biological predation in pollutants removal. Combining stable isotope with other cutting-edge biotechnology shows large potential in researching the greenhouse gas emission reducing pathway, pollutant removal mechanism under multiple influencing factors, complex biological community interaction, microbial food web identification and construction in wastewater treatment plants. This review is expected to provide references for the innovation of wastewater treatment technologies such as the emerging pollutants biodegradation and transformation network as well as the <em>in-situ</em> residual sludge reduction enhanced by predation.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121250"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121231
Guangrong Sun , Dongquan Li , Feiyang Huang , Han Yeong Kaw , Hainan Wu , Haibing Cong
The role of ammonia in the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) during chlorination remains debated. In this study, we systematically investigated the contribution of ammonia in generating four N-DBPs and two carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) during the chlorination of bisphenol A (BPA), while also identified novel N-DBPs using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Results revealed that ammonia significantly altered the composition of low-molecular-weight aliphatic DBPs. Specifically, haloacetonitriles (HANs) exhibited an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline, whereas haloacetamides (HAcAms), halonitromethanes (HNMs) and N-nitrosamines (NAs) showed a positive correlation with ammonia concentration. Compared with ammonia-free condition, HRMS analysis revealed 17 novel C-DBPs and 26 novel N-DBPs, which included an increased generation of aromatic N-DBPs. The integrated toxicity assessment of low-molecular-weight DBPs further indicated that overall cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in drinking water initially increased then decreased with rising ammonia concentration, peaking at 1 mg/L, while the carcinogenic risk of NAs continuously increased with ammonia concentrations. These findings highlighted the importance of controlling ammonia at reduced levels to safeguard drinking water safety.
{"title":"Non-negligible risk of nitrogenous disinfection byproducts arising from the chlorination of ammonia-containing source water","authors":"Guangrong Sun , Dongquan Li , Feiyang Huang , Han Yeong Kaw , Hainan Wu , Haibing Cong","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121231","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121231","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The role of ammonia in the formation of nitrogenous disinfection by-products (N-DBPs) during chlorination remains debated. In this study, we systematically investigated the contribution of ammonia in generating four N-DBPs and two carbonaceous DBPs (C-DBPs) during the chlorination of bisphenol A (BPA), while also identified novel N-DBPs using high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). Results revealed that ammonia significantly altered the composition of low-molecular-weight aliphatic DBPs. Specifically, haloacetonitriles (HANs) exhibited an initial increase followed by a subsequent decline, whereas haloacetamides (HAcAms), halonitromethanes (HNMs) and N-nitrosamines (NAs) showed a positive correlation with ammonia concentration. Compared with ammonia-free condition, HRMS analysis revealed 17 novel C-DBPs and 26 novel N-DBPs, which included an increased generation of aromatic N-DBPs. The integrated toxicity assessment of low-molecular-weight DBPs further indicated that overall cytotoxicity and genotoxicity in drinking water initially increased then decreased with rising ammonia concentration, peaking at 1 mg/L, while the carcinogenic risk of NAs continuously increased with ammonia concentrations. These findings highlighted the importance of controlling ammonia at reduced levels to safeguard drinking water safety.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121231"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981543","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121221
Miaomiao Zhang , Heng Zhao , Zhen Yang , Xingwei Luo
The separation of rare earth elements is a challenging task due to their similar chemical behavior. As research into rare earth separation technology has progressed, the molecular structure design of the extractant has gradually become a research focus. In this paper, the molecular system of mono-pyridine amine extractant based on positional isomerization effect was constructed by precise structural regulation, and the o/m/p substituted pyridine amine extractant system (N-o/m/pPyMChA) was prepared. The investigation into the extraction conditions, including extraction time, diluent type, pH, and extraction temperature, has concluded that N-mPyMChA exhibits the optimal extraction capacity. The underlying reason for its structural superiority was analyzed by electrostatic potential analysis. N-PyMChA exhibits separation potential for light and heavy rare earth elements, with better selectivity for the latter. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, including gas phase binding energy, Gibbs free energy in the gas phase, WBI bond order, and Mulliken charge, was utilized to reveal the selectivity of N-PyMChA towards heavy rare earth elements. The separation factor of N-mPyMChA between adjacent REEs, Er3 + and Tm3+, is 4.18. The findings of this study have yielded novel insights into the separation of rare earth elements, providing a novel approach to the field.
{"title":"Design of monopyridine amine extractant for selective heavy rare earth element extraction","authors":"Miaomiao Zhang , Heng Zhao , Zhen Yang , Xingwei Luo","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121221","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121221","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The separation of rare earth elements is a challenging task due to their similar chemical behavior. As research into rare earth separation technology has progressed, the molecular structure design of the extractant has gradually become a research focus. In this paper, the molecular system of mono-pyridine amine extractant based on positional isomerization effect was constructed by precise structural regulation, and the o/m/p substituted pyridine amine extractant system (N-o/m/pPyMChA) was prepared. The investigation into the extraction conditions, including extraction time, diluent type, pH, and extraction temperature, has concluded that N-mPyMChA exhibits the optimal extraction capacity. The underlying reason for its structural superiority was analyzed by electrostatic potential analysis. N-PyMChA exhibits separation potential for light and heavy rare earth elements, with better selectivity for the latter. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation, including gas phase binding energy, Gibbs free energy in the gas phase, WBI bond order, and Mulliken charge, was utilized to reveal the selectivity of N-PyMChA towards heavy rare earth elements. The separation factor of N-mPyMChA between adjacent REEs, Er<sup>3 +</sup> and Tm<sup>3+</sup>, is 4.18. The findings of this study have yielded novel insights into the separation of rare earth elements, providing a novel approach to the field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121221"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981549","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-12DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121183
Kai Deng , Lei Wang , Aiwen Wang , Xun Han , Lining Zhao , Yulong Zhang , Dan Ma , Fei Zheng , Sijun Dong
Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly those harbored by pathogens, pose an increasing threat to public health. Although numerous studies have investigated ARGs in Chinese lakes, the occurrence of ARGs in the littoral zones of lakes—areas particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities—remains poorly understood. In this study, high-throughput quantitative PCR was used to characterize ARGs in the littoral zone of Baiyang Lake, which is the largest shallow lake in northern China. A total of 254 related genes were detected, including 209 ARGs and 45 mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Both the relative abundances of ARGs and MGEs were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season (P < 0.05), and were higher in the tributary estuary and residential area than in the dock area and natural wetland area (P < 0.05). Network analysis revealed that wastewater discharge and animal husbandry activities are the key sources of ARGs. Water physicochemical parameters, antibiotics, and MGEs were identified as the primary positive drivers during both the wet and dry seasons. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment, enhanced human and animal husbandry waste management, and stricter regulation of antibiotic use. Overall, this work offers novel perspectives on the spatiotemporal distribution, human health risks, and driving mechanisms of ARGs in shallow lake littoral zones. They also provide a scientific basis for strengthening monitoring and implementing targeted environmental management strategies for ARG pollution.
{"title":"Spatiotemporal patterns, human health risks, and driving mechanisms of ARGs in the littoral zones of the largest shallow lake in North China","authors":"Kai Deng , Lei Wang , Aiwen Wang , Xun Han , Lining Zhao , Yulong Zhang , Dan Ma , Fei Zheng , Sijun Dong","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121183","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121183","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs), particularly those harbored by pathogens, pose an increasing threat to public health. Although numerous studies have investigated ARGs in Chinese lakes, the occurrence of ARGs in the littoral zones of lakes—areas particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic activities—remains poorly understood. In this study, high-throughput quantitative PCR was used to characterize ARGs in the littoral zone of Baiyang Lake, which is the largest shallow lake in northern China. A total of 254 related genes were detected, including 209 ARGs and 45 mobile genetic elements (MGEs). Both the relative abundances of ARGs and MGEs were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season (<em>P</em> < 0.05), and were higher in the tributary estuary and residential area than in the dock area and natural wetland area (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Network analysis revealed that wastewater discharge and animal husbandry activities are the key sources of ARGs. Water physicochemical parameters, antibiotics, and MGEs were identified as the primary positive drivers during both the wet and dry seasons. The findings underscore the urgent need for improved wastewater treatment, enhanced human and animal husbandry waste management, and stricter regulation of antibiotic use. Overall, this work offers novel perspectives on the spatiotemporal distribution, human health risks, and driving mechanisms of ARGs in shallow lake littoral zones. They also provide a scientific basis for strengthening monitoring and implementing targeted environmental management strategies for ARG pollution.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121183"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981775","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Carbon black aerosols are highly hydrophobic and remain suspended as fine particles during mixing and conveying, posing respiratory and dust explosion hazards. Acoustic agglomeration (AA) offers a pre-collection route to enlarge carbon black particles to facilitate downstream capture. This study used an integrated experimental setup to evaluate AA performance under various conditions and optimize acoustic parameters. The optimal sound pressure level was 139 dB for both the sound only and water-mist-assisted (AA+water) cases, with the corresponding most effective frequencies of 18 and 16 kHz, respectively. Dispersed water droplets in the carrier gas promoted liquid-bridge formation, yielding stable transmittance above 80 % and agglomerates with diameters near 10 μm. Tests with three surfactants were performed to assess how interfacial properties affect agglomeration and indicated that electrostatic screening can eliminate Coulombic repulsion between particles, achieving stable transmittance up to 95 %. Initial concentration tests revealed a balance between the water-mist flow rate and the carbon black feed rate. Excessive mist may cause aerosol redispersion, whereas high carbon black mass concentration enhances collisions but drives performance toward saturation via acoustic shielding. These findings provide guidance for optimizing the AA for carbon black aerosols with surfactants and lay the foundation for downstream capture design and material reuse systems.
{"title":"Surfactant-enhanced ultrasonic agglomeration of carbon black aerosols with experimental optimization","authors":"Sirui Tong , Guangxue Zhang , Ziyue Chen , Yuqi Mao , Yunchao Li , Dingkun Yuan , Jiangrong Xu , Siew Hwa Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121218","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121218","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbon black aerosols are highly hydrophobic and remain suspended as fine particles during mixing and conveying, posing respiratory and dust explosion hazards. Acoustic agglomeration (AA) offers a pre-collection route to enlarge carbon black particles to facilitate downstream capture. This study used an integrated experimental setup to evaluate AA performance under various conditions and optimize acoustic parameters. The optimal sound pressure level was 139 dB for both the sound only and water-mist-assisted (AA+water) cases, with the corresponding most effective frequencies of 18 and 16 kHz, respectively. Dispersed water droplets in the carrier gas promoted liquid-bridge formation, yielding stable transmittance above 80 % and agglomerates with diameters near 10 μm. Tests with three surfactants were performed to assess how interfacial properties affect agglomeration and indicated that electrostatic screening can eliminate Coulombic repulsion between particles, achieving stable transmittance up to 95 %. Initial concentration tests revealed a balance between the water-mist flow rate and the carbon black feed rate. Excessive mist may cause aerosol redispersion, whereas high carbon black mass concentration enhances collisions but drives performance toward saturation via acoustic shielding. These findings provide guidance for optimizing the AA for carbon black aerosols with surfactants and lay the foundation for downstream capture design and material reuse systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121218"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981773","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121266
Chengyu Ma , Yunfeng Qian , Bingbing Xing , Han Xiao , Hao Zhu , Shanshuai Chen , Wei Gao , Xin Jin , Huanyu Bao , Yunze Ruan
As a second-generation tetracycline, doxycycline (DOX) is increasingly substituting traditional tetracycline antibiotics in animal husbandry. The emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) during composting makes a substantial contribution to the ozone depletion and greenhouse effect. Nevertheless, understanding the influence of DOX residues on N₂O emissions during composting still poses a challenge. Here, this research explored the impacts of various DOX concentrations (0, 10, and 100 mg/kg) on nitrogen transformation and the emissions of N₂O during swine manure composting. The results found that high content of DOX (100 mg/kg, T2) markedly promoted N₂O emissions, which increased by 503.80 % compared with no DOX addition (CK). DOX enhanced nitrification, leading to nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) accumulation, which provided more substrate for denitrification. Metagenomic and 16S rRNA analyses revealed DOX increased the key denitrifying functional genes (norB, nirS, narG , and nirK) abundance and enriched N₂O-producing microorganisms, while suppressing the abundance of the N₂O-reducing gene nosZ and its host bacteria. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and random forest further confirmed that the increased N₂O emissions under the high DOX concentration treatment were primarily attributable to the elevated abundances of key microorganisms and the accumulation of denitrification substrates. This study elucidates the mechanistic pathways by which DOX exacerbates N₂O emissions, providing critical insights for mitigating N2O from the composting of antibiotic-contaminated manure.
{"title":"Insight into the mechanism of doxycycline promoting N2O emissions during swine manure composting","authors":"Chengyu Ma , Yunfeng Qian , Bingbing Xing , Han Xiao , Hao Zhu , Shanshuai Chen , Wei Gao , Xin Jin , Huanyu Bao , Yunze Ruan","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121266","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121266","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>As a second-generation tetracycline, doxycycline (DOX) is increasingly substituting traditional tetracycline antibiotics in animal husbandry. The emission of nitrous oxide (N₂O) during composting makes a substantial contribution to the ozone depletion and greenhouse effect. Nevertheless, understanding the influence of DOX residues on N₂O emissions during composting still poses a challenge. Here, this research explored the impacts of various DOX concentrations (0, 10, and 100 mg/kg) on nitrogen transformation and the emissions of N₂O during swine manure composting. The results found that high content of DOX (100 mg/kg, T2) markedly promoted N₂O emissions, which increased by 503.80 % compared with no DOX addition (CK). DOX enhanced nitrification, leading to nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) accumulation, which provided more substrate for denitrification. Metagenomic and 16S rRNA analyses revealed DOX increased the key denitrifying functional genes (<em>norB</em>, <em>nirS</em>, <em>n</em>arG<!--> <!-->, and <em>nirK</em>) abundance and enriched N₂O-producing microorganisms, while suppressing the abundance of the N₂O-reducing gene <em>nosZ</em> and its host bacteria. Partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and random forest further confirmed that the increased N₂O emissions under the high DOX concentration treatment were primarily attributable to the elevated abundances of key microorganisms and the accumulation of denitrification substrates. This study elucidates the mechanistic pathways by which DOX exacerbates N₂O emissions, providing critical insights for mitigating N<sub>2</sub>O from the composting of antibiotic-contaminated manure.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121266"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981545","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-13DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2025.120830
Magdeline Tze Leng Lai , Bao Lee Phoon , Kian Mun Lee , Chin Wei Lai , Mohd Rafie Johan , Supakorn Boonyuen , Joon Ching Juan
A series of Bi₂MoO₆/interlayer-expanded MoS₂ (BM-IEM) heterostructures was synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method and evaluated for visible-light-driven methylene blue (MB) photodegradation. The 3 wt% BM–IEM composite achieved the highest photocatalytic efficiency, removing 98.2 % of MB in 60 min and sustaining its photocatalytic performance through five continuous cycles. This superior enhanced activity results from the strong interfacial coupling of Bi₂MoO₆ with the expanded MoS₂ structure, thereby enlarging the interlayer spacing, increasing the surface area, and creating strong electronic coupling at the Bi–O–S–Mo interface. These features enhance light absorption, facilitate charge separation, and promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxygen-vacancy (OV) formation within the composite introduces mid-gap states that extend light responsiveness and support efficient electron transfer to adsorbed O₂, forming superoxide (•O₂⁻) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals. The photocatalytic mechanism was analyzed through radical trapping and LC-MS experiments, revealing degradation pathways involving ring-opening oxidation, hydroxylation, and N-demethylation. The results demonstrate that tailoring interlayer spacing and defect states in MoS₂-based heterojunctions provides an effective design strategy for high-performance, visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for wastewater purification.
采用两步水热法合成了一系列Bi₂MoO₆/层间膨胀MoS₂（BM-IEM）异质结构，并对其可见光降解亚甲基蓝（MB）的性能进行了评价。3 wt%的BM-IEM复合材料具有最高的光催化效率，在60 min内去除98.2% %的MB，并在连续5个循环中保持其光催化性能。这种优异的增强活性是由于Bi₂MoO₆与膨胀后的MoS₂结构发生了强的界面耦合，从而扩大了层间距，增加了表面积，并在Bi - o - s - mo界面产生了强的电子耦合。这些特性增强了光吸收，促进了电荷分离，促进了活性氧（ROS）的产生。复合材料中的氧空位（OV）形成引入了中间间隙态，延长了光响应性，并支持有效的电子转移到吸附的O₂上，形成超氧（•O₂⁻）和羟基（•OH）自由基。通过自由基捕获和LC-MS实验分析了光催化机理，揭示了开环氧化、羟基化和n -去甲基化的降解途径。结果表明，调整MoS 2基异质结的层间间距和缺陷状态为设计高性能、可见光响应的废水净化光催化剂提供了有效的策略。
{"title":"Synergistic effect of Bi₂MoO₆ and expanded MoS₂ heterostructures for highly efficient visible-light-driven environmental remediation","authors":"Magdeline Tze Leng Lai , Bao Lee Phoon , Kian Mun Lee , Chin Wei Lai , Mohd Rafie Johan , Supakorn Boonyuen , Joon Ching Juan","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.120830","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2025.120830","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A series of Bi₂MoO₆/interlayer-expanded MoS₂ (BM-IEM) heterostructures was synthesized via a two-step hydrothermal method and evaluated for visible-light-driven methylene blue (MB) photodegradation. The 3 wt% BM–IEM composite achieved the highest photocatalytic efficiency, removing 98.2 % of MB in 60 min and sustaining its photocatalytic performance through five continuous cycles. This superior enhanced activity results from the strong interfacial coupling of Bi₂MoO₆ with the expanded MoS₂ structure, thereby enlarging the interlayer spacing, increasing the surface area, and creating strong electronic coupling at the Bi–O–S–Mo interface. These features enhance light absorption, facilitate charge separation, and promote the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Oxygen-vacancy (O<sub>V</sub>) formation within the composite introduces mid-gap states that extend light responsiveness and support efficient electron transfer to adsorbed O₂, forming superoxide (•O₂⁻) and hydroxyl (•OH) radicals. The photocatalytic mechanism was analyzed through radical trapping and LC-MS experiments, revealing degradation pathways involving ring-opening oxidation, hydroxylation, and N-demethylation. The results demonstrate that tailoring interlayer spacing and defect states in MoS₂-based heterojunctions provides an effective design strategy for high-performance, visible-light-responsive photocatalysts for wastewater purification.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 120830"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981689","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-04-01Epub Date: 2026-01-15DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121256
Jiaojiao Shi , Guoqing Li , Saiyu Yuan , Zhouyang Lian , Shengwei Wang , Huiwen Zhang
Anaerobic digestion is an effective strategy for the degradation of organic matter and recovery of high value-added products. While the inhibitory effect of antibiotics such as tetracycline (TC) on anaerobic digestion is known, and though biochar-based carriers have been explored to mitigate such inhibition, the potential of hydrocha to simultaneously remove antibiotics and enhance microbial activity remains unclear. In this study, sludge-derived hydrothermal carbon prepared with rice husk (SHC-IV) was applied as a bio-carrier to enhance the anaerobic digestion performance of tetracycline(TC)-contaminated sludge. Results showed that moderate TC addition (TC100) improved methane production, with a maximum cumulative yield of 44.97 mL/g·VS, 15.89 % higher than the Raw. The incorporation of SHC-IV further enhanced hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis, with the TC50 +SHC-IV achieving the highest improvement (7.61 %) compared to TC50 alone. Microbial diversity analysis revealed that TC and SHC-IV increased Chao1 and Shannon indices, indicating enhanced microbial richness and diversity. TC addition shifted the dominant methanogen from Methanosaeta to Methanobacterium, while SHC-IV enriched Syntrophomonas and Methanosarcina, promoting syntrophic interactions and optimizing the methanogenic pathway. Furthermore, SHC-IV addition enhanced the removal of TC, with the TC50 +SHC-IV group reaching the highest removal increase of 4.93 % compared to TC50 alone. These findings demonstrate that SHC-IV not only mitigates the environmental risks of TC in sludge but also enhances anaerobic digestion performance, offering a sustainable approach for in-plant sludge hydrothermal product utilization.
{"title":"Sludge-derived hydrochar enhances anaerobic digestion of sludge with tetracycline: Focusing on synergistic mechanism and microbial response","authors":"Jiaojiao Shi , Guoqing Li , Saiyu Yuan , Zhouyang Lian , Shengwei Wang , Huiwen Zhang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121256","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121256","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Anaerobic digestion is an effective strategy for the degradation of organic matter and recovery of high value-added products. While the inhibitory effect of antibiotics such as tetracycline (TC) on anaerobic digestion is known, and though biochar-based carriers have been explored to mitigate such inhibition, the potential of hydrocha to simultaneously remove antibiotics and enhance microbial activity remains unclear. In this study, sludge-derived hydrothermal carbon prepared with rice husk (SHC-IV) was applied as a bio-carrier to enhance the anaerobic digestion performance of tetracycline(TC)-contaminated sludge. Results showed that moderate TC addition (TC100) improved methane production, with a maximum cumulative yield of 44.97 mL/g·VS, 15.89 % higher than the Raw. The incorporation of SHC-IV further enhanced hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis, with the TC50 +SHC-IV achieving the highest improvement (7.61 %) compared to TC50 alone. Microbial diversity analysis revealed that TC and SHC-IV increased Chao1 and Shannon indices, indicating enhanced microbial richness and diversity. TC addition shifted the dominant methanogen from <em>Methanosaeta</em> to <em>Methanobacterium</em>, while SHC-IV enriched <em>Syntrophomonas</em> and <em>Methanosarcina</em>, promoting syntrophic interactions and optimizing the methanogenic pathway. Furthermore, SHC-IV addition enhanced the removal of TC, with the TC50 +SHC-IV group reaching the highest removal increase of 4.93 % compared to TC50 alone. These findings demonstrate that SHC-IV not only mitigates the environmental risks of TC in sludge but also enhances anaerobic digestion performance, offering a sustainable approach for in-plant sludge hydrothermal product utilization.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121256"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981694","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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