Pub Date : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121233
Peng Yuan, FeiFan Huang, PeiJun Li, HuiXian Tian, YuChen Zhou, Tao Li
The continuous rise in atmospheric CO2 is a major driver of global warming, creating the urgent need for negative emission technologies. Direct air capture (DAC) based on solid amine adsorbents has attracted increasing attention due to their balanced performance in capacity, cost, and scalable fabrication. However, DAC operation typically requires high gas flow rates, making low pressure drop and strong support-active phase binding critical to limiting fan energy consumption and ensuring long-term durability. To address this challenge, a four-channel micro-monolithic adsorbent was developed using an alumina ceramic support, polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the active phase, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) as a coupling agent. The results indicate that APS effectively enhances PEI dispersion and anchoring, enabling a CO2 adsorption capacity of 0.61 mmol/g, stable performance over 15 adsorption-desorption cycles, and robust tolerance to humidity (0–100 % RH) and temperatures (30–50℃). In addition, the continuous channel architecture results in a low pressure drop of only 4.9–9.8 Pa/cm at gas velocities of 0.53–1.06 m/s, corresponding to a 75.5–83.8 % reduction compared with conventional monoliths. Overall, this work provides a promising micro-monolithic adsorbent platform for scalable and energy-efficient DAC deployment.
{"title":"Monolithic adsorbent with low pressure drop and high cycling stability enabled by an anchor effect for direct air CO2 capture","authors":"Peng Yuan, FeiFan Huang, PeiJun Li, HuiXian Tian, YuChen Zhou, Tao Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121233","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121233","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The continuous rise in atmospheric CO<sub>2</sub> is a major driver of global warming, creating the urgent need for negative emission technologies. Direct air capture (DAC) based on solid amine adsorbents has attracted increasing attention due to their balanced performance in capacity, cost, and scalable fabrication. However, DAC operation typically requires high gas flow rates, making low pressure drop and strong support-active phase binding critical to limiting fan energy consumption and ensuring long-term durability. To address this challenge, a four-channel micro-monolithic adsorbent was developed using an alumina ceramic support, polyethyleneimine (PEI) as the active phase, and 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APS) as a coupling agent. The results indicate that APS effectively enhances PEI dispersion and anchoring, enabling a CO<sub>2</sub> adsorption capacity of 0.61 mmol/g, stable performance over 15 adsorption-desorption cycles, and robust tolerance to humidity (0–100 % RH) and temperatures (30–50℃). In addition, the continuous channel architecture results in a low pressure drop of only 4.9–9.8 Pa/cm at gas velocities of 0.53–1.06 m/s, corresponding to a 75.5–83.8 % reduction compared with conventional monoliths. Overall, this work provides a promising micro-monolithic adsorbent platform for scalable and energy-efficient DAC deployment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121233"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981684","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121224
Lei Fang , Jiangshi Zhang , Pengcheng Liu , Linquan Tong , Yunfei Liang , Zhongbin Zhang , Hongfu Jia , Qi Zhang , Jie Jiang
To develop an efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly wetting modification system for coal interfaces, this study investigates the wetting modification of intrinsically hydrophobic coal surfaces using CuO nanofluids with different particle sizes. By com-bining macroscopic wetting experiments with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential measurements, and molecular dy-namics simulations, an integrated and environmentally friendly nanofluid-based wetting modification framework is established to elucidate the regulation mechanisms at the coal–water interface. The results demonstrate that CuO nanoparticles can adsorb onto coal surfaces and form a stable hydrophilic layer, thereby significantly reducing interfa-cial energy and reconstructing adsorption structures as well as interfacial water behavior. CuO nanofluids markedly decrease the equilibrium contact angle of coal surfaces, with smaller particle sizes and higher concentrations being more favorable for enhancing in-terfacial spreading and adsorption. Owing to stronger interfacial energy regulation and more effective pore-scale wetting, smaller CuO nanoparticles exhibit higher interfacial activity and larger wetted areas. Stability analyses indicate that nanoparticles with small-er sizes possess superior dispersion stability due to enhanced Brownian motion, whereas the stability of the system gradually decreases with increasing particle size and concen-tration. CuO adsorption increases the negative surface charge and polarity of coal, thereby promoting the adsorption of polar molecules, with both adsorption capacity and surface coverage showing strong particle-size dependence. Molecular dynamics simula-tions further reveal that the introduction of CuO thickens the interfacial water layer, re-duces water diffusivity, promotes the transformation of free water into adsorbed water, and strengthens interfacial hydrogen-bonding and coordination structures. Importantly, water adsorption on CuO surfaces is not dominated by van der Waals interactions but is primarily governed by electrostatic interactions.
{"title":"Study on the mechanism by which CuO nanofluids regulate the interfacial wettability of coal","authors":"Lei Fang , Jiangshi Zhang , Pengcheng Liu , Linquan Tong , Yunfei Liang , Zhongbin Zhang , Hongfu Jia , Qi Zhang , Jie Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121224","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121224","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To develop an efficient, stable, and environmentally friendly wetting modification system for coal interfaces, this study investigates the wetting modification of intrinsically hydrophobic coal surfaces using CuO nanofluids with different particle sizes. By com-bining macroscopic wetting experiments with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), zeta potential measurements, and molecular dy-namics simulations, an integrated and environmentally friendly nanofluid-based wetting modification framework is established to elucidate the regulation mechanisms at the coal–water interface. The results demonstrate that CuO nanoparticles can adsorb onto coal surfaces and form a stable hydrophilic layer, thereby significantly reducing interfa-cial energy and reconstructing adsorption structures as well as interfacial water behavior. CuO nanofluids markedly decrease the equilibrium contact angle of coal surfaces, with smaller particle sizes and higher concentrations being more favorable for enhancing in-terfacial spreading and adsorption. Owing to stronger interfacial energy regulation and more effective pore-scale wetting, smaller CuO nanoparticles exhibit higher interfacial activity and larger wetted areas. Stability analyses indicate that nanoparticles with small-er sizes possess superior dispersion stability due to enhanced Brownian motion, whereas the stability of the system gradually decreases with increasing particle size and concen-tration. CuO adsorption increases the negative surface charge and polarity of coal, thereby promoting the adsorption of polar molecules, with both adsorption capacity and surface coverage showing strong particle-size dependence. Molecular dynamics simula-tions further reveal that the introduction of CuO thickens the interfacial water layer, re-duces water diffusivity, promotes the transformation of free water into adsorbed water, and strengthens interfacial hydrogen-bonding and coordination structures. Importantly, water adsorption on CuO surfaces is not dominated by van der Waals interactions but is primarily governed by electrostatic interactions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121224"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981264","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121225
Xiaodan Gu , Feng Wang , Wei Wang , Chuangchuang Gao , Yongwei Ding
Urban sewage treatment plants (STPs) are critical for pollutant control, with microbial communities governing activated sludge (AS) treatment efficiency. This study explored seasonal and process impacts on microbial dynamics and pollutant removal in two full-scale STPs over one year: FX (parallel AAO and modified UNITANK) and LJ (only modified UNITANK). All processes showed 8.73–31.04 % higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 4.91–27.90 % higher total phosphorus (TP) removal in summer than winter. NH4+ -N (≥95 %) and TN (≥77.90 %) removal remained seasonally stable. FX AAO outperformed in COD (winter: 83.92 ± 13.58 %; summer: 92.65 ± 4.44 %) and TN removal (winter: 81.34 ± 6.44 %; summer: 83.32 ± 4.16 %), while LJ modified UNITANK excelled in TP removal (winter: 89.99 ± 7.38 %; summer: 94.90 ± 5.15 %). Summer enhanced microbial diversity, with FX modified UNITANK showing the highest diversity. At the phylum level, Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, and Bacteroidota dominated. At the genus level, Saccharofermentans was stable, nitrifiers and denitrifiers were low but consistent, polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) were scarce (0.02–0.28 %), and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) were more abundant in summer (3.11–6.82 %) than winter (0.58–1.23 %), with the highest summer GAO levels observed in FX AAO. Saprospiraceae (dominant denitrifying PAO) favored FX AAO’s stable anoxic niches in winter (8.04–8.31 %) and FX modified UNITANK’s intermittent anoxic phases in summer (3.37–4.15 %). Mantel tests identified water temperature, sludge retention time, dissolved oxygen, hydraulic retention time, and influent COD loading as key drivers of microbial structure. This study advances understanding of AS microbial ecology regulation by seasons and processes, providing a basis for optimizing full-scale STP performance.
{"title":"Seasonal and process-dependent microbial dynamics drive performance variations in full-scale AAO and modified UNITANK sewage treatment systems","authors":"Xiaodan Gu , Feng Wang , Wei Wang , Chuangchuang Gao , Yongwei Ding","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121225","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121225","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Urban sewage treatment plants (STPs) are critical for pollutant control, with microbial communities governing activated sludge (AS) treatment efficiency. This study explored seasonal and process impacts on microbial dynamics and pollutant removal in two full-scale STPs over one year: FX (parallel AAO and modified UNITANK) and LJ (only modified UNITANK). All processes showed 8.73–31.04 % higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) and 4.91–27.90 % higher total phosphorus (TP) removal in summer than winter. NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup> -N (≥95 %) and TN (≥77.90 %) removal remained seasonally stable. FX AAO outperformed in COD (winter: 83.92 ± 13.58 %; summer: 92.65 ± 4.44 %) and TN removal (winter: 81.34 ± 6.44 %; summer: 83.32 ± 4.16 %), while LJ modified UNITANK excelled in TP removal (winter: 89.99 ± 7.38 %; summer: 94.90 ± 5.15 %). Summer enhanced microbial diversity, with FX modified UNITANK showing the highest diversity. At the phylum level, <em>Proteobacteria</em>, <em>Actinobacteriota</em>, and <em>Bacteroidota</em> dominated. At the genus level, <em>Saccharofermentans</em> was stable, nitrifiers and denitrifiers were low but consistent, polyphosphate-accumulating organisms (PAOs) were scarce (0.02–0.28 %), and glycogen-accumulating organisms (GAOs) were more abundant in summer (3.11–6.82 %) than winter (0.58–1.23 %), with the highest summer GAO levels observed in FX AAO. <em>Saprospiraceae</em> (dominant denitrifying PAO) favored FX AAO’s stable anoxic niches in winter (8.04–8.31 %) and FX modified UNITANK’s intermittent anoxic phases in summer (3.37–4.15 %). Mantel tests identified water temperature, sludge retention time, dissolved oxygen, hydraulic retention time, and influent COD loading as key drivers of microbial structure. This study advances understanding of AS microbial ecology regulation by seasons and processes, providing a basis for optimizing full-scale STP performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121225"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981774","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121188
Hongquan Xiang , Shiyuan Niu , De Ding , Binfeng Lin , Yu Zhang , Yongwei Zhu , Shiqiang Li , Ziyang Zhao , Jianbin Li , Zhi Huang
Sulfitation filter mud, an organic solid waste byproduct of sugar manufacturing, requires effective resource recovery strategies. Traditional composting methods for this material are characterized by low humification efficiency and prolonged processing times. This study investigated the effects of the independent and combined addition of alkali lignin (AL) and microbial agents (BL) on the humification process during sulfitation filter mud composting. The results showed that the combined addition (BA) resulted in the highest organic matter degradation rate (17.71 %) and the highest seed germination rate (141.18 %). Furthermore, the BA treatment significantly facilitated the transformation of fulvic acid (FA) into humic acid (HA). Compared to the control (CK), HA content and the HA/FA ratio increased by 42.5 % and 27.5 %, respectively. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) spectral analysis indicated that the addition of BA promoted the conversion of protein-like substances into humic substances. Metagenomic analysis showed that BA enhanced the relative abundance of Actinomycetota and Pseudomonas and strengthened the interactions among microorganisms, humic substances, and humic precursors. This research provides new insights into accelerating the humification process during composting and enhancing the humic substances content in the resulting compost.
{"title":"Co-addition of alkali lignin and microbial agents drives humic substances assembly by regulating precursor conversion and microbial metabolism in composting","authors":"Hongquan Xiang , Shiyuan Niu , De Ding , Binfeng Lin , Yu Zhang , Yongwei Zhu , Shiqiang Li , Ziyang Zhao , Jianbin Li , Zhi Huang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121188","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121188","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sulfitation filter mud, an organic solid waste byproduct of sugar manufacturing, requires effective resource recovery strategies. Traditional composting methods for this material are characterized by low humification efficiency and prolonged processing times. This study investigated the effects of the independent and combined addition of alkali lignin (AL) and microbial agents (BL) on the humification process during sulfitation filter mud composting. The results showed that the combined addition (BA) resulted in the highest organic matter degradation rate (17.71 %) and the highest seed germination rate (141.18 %). Furthermore, the BA treatment significantly facilitated the transformation of fulvic acid (FA) into humic acid (HA). Compared to the control (CK), HA content and the HA/FA ratio increased by 42.5 % and 27.5 %, respectively. Three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM) spectral analysis indicated that the addition of BA promoted the conversion of protein-like substances into humic substances. Metagenomic analysis showed that BA enhanced the relative abundance of <em>Actinomycetota</em> and <em>Pseudomonas</em> and strengthened the interactions among microorganisms, humic substances, and humic precursors. This research provides new insights into accelerating the humification process during composting and enhancing the humic substances content in the resulting compost.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121188"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981193","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121232
Nady Fathy , Zhang Xin , Xingwang Zhu
Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) into high value-added fuels and chemicals represents a promising and sustainable approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while enabling solar fuel production. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained considerable attention as catalyst supports for CO2 photoreduction due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and strong ability to enhance light absorption and charge separation. This review presents a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of CNTs-supported photocatalysts for CO2 conversion, encompassing fundamental reaction pathways, the photocatalytically relevant properties of CNTs, and diverse synthesis strategies for CNTs–photocatalyst composites incorporating metals, metal oxides, and cocatalysts. A comparative summary table highlights numerous CNTs-based systems and their performance metrics. Finally, the review outlines key challenges, strategies for improving reproducibility, and future directions for scaling up CO2 photoconversion technologies.
{"title":"Carbon nanotubes–supported photocatalysts for the reduction of CO2 into high-value products: A concise review","authors":"Nady Fathy , Zhang Xin , Xingwang Zhu","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121232","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121232","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) into high value-added fuels and chemicals represents a promising and sustainable approach to mitigating greenhouse gas emissions while enabling solar fuel production. Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained considerable attention as catalyst supports for CO<sub>2</sub> photoreduction due to their exceptional electrical conductivity, large specific surface area, tunable surface chemistry, and strong ability to enhance light absorption and charge separation. This review presents a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of CNTs-supported photocatalysts for CO<sub>2</sub> conversion, encompassing fundamental reaction pathways, the photocatalytically relevant properties of CNTs, and diverse synthesis strategies for CNTs–photocatalyst composites incorporating metals, metal oxides, and cocatalysts. A comparative summary table highlights numerous CNTs-based systems and their performance metrics. Finally, the review outlines key challenges, strategies for improving reproducibility, and future directions for scaling up CO<sub>2</sub> photoconversion technologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121232"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981285","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121267
Bingqing Shi , Dongxian Li , Xi Lin , Shule Wang , Xianzhi Meng , Yanghao Jin , Jia Wang , Jianchun Jiang
The selective conversion of plastic waste into benzene and toluene (BT) offers a promising route for producing Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs). This approach supports both carbon recycling and long-distance hydrogen storage. However, conventional catalytic pathways suffer from limited selectivity and frequent reliance on noble-metal catalysts for hydrogen-assisted deoxygenation. Here, we present a metal-free catalytic strategy that transforms Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO), an engineering thermoplastic with an aromatic-rich backbone, into high-purity BT aromatics under 0.2 MPa hydrogen pressure. A range of zeolite catalysts with varied topologies and acidities (HZSM-5, SAPO-34, USY, HSSZ-13, HZSM-11) were systematically evaluated. HZSM-5 exhibited the highest BT selectivity (>88 %) with minimal polyaromatic byproducts. Mechanistic studies reveal that moderate Brønsted acidity and medium-pore confinement in HZSM-5 play key roles. These features facilitate efficient ether bond cleavage and selective hydrogen-assisted Direct Deoxygenation (DDO) of methylated phenolic intermediates. Structure–activity correlations highlight the importance of pore architecture and acidity. Proper design promotes monoaromatic formation while suppressing side reactions. This work establishes a scalable, metal-free platform for converting oxygenated plastic waste into LOHC molecules. The strategy offers integrated solutions for plastic upcycling and clean hydrogen energy systems.
{"title":"Selective catalytic conversion of polyphenylene oxide waste into benzene and toluene for hydrogen storage via zeolite-controlled hydro-pyrolysis","authors":"Bingqing Shi , Dongxian Li , Xi Lin , Shule Wang , Xianzhi Meng , Yanghao Jin , Jia Wang , Jianchun Jiang","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121267","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121267","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The selective conversion of plastic waste into benzene and toluene (BT) offers a promising route for producing Liquid Organic Hydrogen Carriers (LOHCs). This approach supports both carbon recycling and long-distance hydrogen storage. However, conventional catalytic pathways suffer from limited selectivity and frequent reliance on noble-metal catalysts for hydrogen-assisted deoxygenation. Here, we present a metal-free catalytic strategy that transforms Polyphenylene Oxide (PPO), an engineering thermoplastic with an aromatic-rich backbone, into high-purity BT aromatics under 0.2 MPa hydrogen pressure. A range of zeolite catalysts with varied topologies and acidities (HZSM-5, SAPO-34, USY, HSSZ-13, HZSM-11) were systematically evaluated. HZSM-5 exhibited the highest BT selectivity (>88 %) with minimal polyaromatic byproducts. Mechanistic studies reveal that moderate Brønsted acidity and medium-pore confinement in HZSM-5 play key roles. These features facilitate efficient ether bond cleavage and selective hydrogen-assisted Direct Deoxygenation (DDO) of methylated phenolic intermediates. Structure–activity correlations highlight the importance of pore architecture and acidity. Proper design promotes monoaromatic formation while suppressing side reactions. This work establishes a scalable, metal-free platform for converting oxygenated plastic waste into LOHC molecules. The strategy offers integrated solutions for plastic upcycling and clean hydrogen energy systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121267"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981692","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121247
Donglang Li , Yangge Zhu , Dashi Lei , Xiaoliang Zhang , Xiyu Gao , Xiaoxing Hu , Songqing Li
Reverse flotation of gangue minerals, such as dolomite and feldspar, from apatite is a common process in phosphate ore beneficiation. However, conventional multi-stage flotation processes are often inefficient due to their complexity and high reagent consumption. This study proposes a simplified one-step flotation process utilizing a mixed anionic/cationic collector to simultaneously remove dolomite and feldspar from apatite. Flotation tests using artificial mixed minerals showed that the simultaneous removal rates of dolomite and feldspar exceeded 75 %. Zeta potential measurements, adsorption amount measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to elucidate the synergistic mechanism between the anionic and cationic collectors during flotation. Specifically, during flotation, sodium linolenic acid (SLA) and dioctyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) individually acted as the primary collectors responsible for modifying the floatability of dolomite and feldspar, respectively. When combined into a mixed collector system, they not only maintained high removal efficiency for both minerals but also exhibited a synergistic effect that enhanced collector adsorption. Moreover, the mixed collectors formed unique molecular arrangements at the gas–liquid interface, improving foam fluidity and partially eliminating the problem of amine flotation foam over-stability. This study provides novel insights into phosphate ore separation and offers valuable information for the interfacial behavior of anionic/cationic collector systems.
{"title":"Simultaneous removal of dolomite and feldspar from apatite by reverse flotation: Special selectivity of mixed anionic/cationic collectors","authors":"Donglang Li , Yangge Zhu , Dashi Lei , Xiaoliang Zhang , Xiyu Gao , Xiaoxing Hu , Songqing Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121247","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121247","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reverse flotation of gangue minerals, such as dolomite and feldspar, from apatite is a common process in phosphate ore beneficiation. However, conventional multi-stage flotation processes are often inefficient due to their complexity and high reagent consumption. This study proposes a simplified one-step flotation process utilizing a mixed anionic/cationic collector to simultaneously remove dolomite and feldspar from apatite. Flotation tests using artificial mixed minerals showed that the simultaneous removal rates of dolomite and feldspar exceeded 75 %. Zeta potential measurements, adsorption amount measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were employed to elucidate the synergistic mechanism between the anionic and cationic collectors during flotation. Specifically, during flotation, sodium linolenic acid (SLA) and dioctyldimethyl ammonium chloride (DAC) individually acted as the primary collectors responsible for modifying the floatability of dolomite and feldspar, respectively. When combined into a mixed collector system, they not only maintained high removal efficiency for both minerals but also exhibited a synergistic effect that enhanced collector adsorption. Moreover, the mixed collectors formed unique molecular arrangements at the gas–liquid interface, improving foam fluidity and partially eliminating the problem of amine flotation foam over-stability. This study provides novel insights into phosphate ore separation and offers valuable information for the interfacial behavior of anionic/cationic collector systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121247"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981552","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121227
Cuilan Huang , Yiqing Chen , Wei Su , Lini Huo , Haiyi Zhong , Peiyuan Li
The clinical treatment of wound infections continues to face multiple challenges, including bacterial resistance, excessive inflammatory responses, and impaired tissue regeneration. In this study, borax is utilized as a cross-linker to composite polyvinyl alcohol, green biomass Aloe vera gel, polydopamine, and baicalein, thereby constructing a smart responsive Aloe vera composite hydrogel (PAPB) that combines photothermal, antibacterial, and antioxidant functions. Driven by dual dynamic bonds of borate ester bonds and hydrogen bonds, this hydrogel network exhibits excellent self-healing properties, along with pH and photothermal dual responsiveness. Integrating the natural properties of Aloe vera gel, the hydrogel demonstrates favorable tissue adhesion and biocompatibility. The incorporation of polydopamine enables localized heating upon near-infrared light activation, significantly inhibiting the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Escherichia coli (E. coli). The addition of baicalein further enhances the hydrogel’s antioxidant activity, synergistically alleviating oxidative stress damage at the wound site. In vivo experiments show that the PAPB hydrogel achieves a 97.13 % wound healing rate by day 10 through downregulating inflammatory factor expression, promoting angiogenesis, and accelerating collagen deposition. This study not only provides a new strategy for developing multifunctional wound dressings with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue repair capabilities but also lays a theoretical and experimental foundation for the application of green biomass-based materials in the biomedical field.
{"title":"Multifunctional aloe vera composite hydrogel with photothermal antibacterial and antioxidant properties for infected wound healing","authors":"Cuilan Huang , Yiqing Chen , Wei Su , Lini Huo , Haiyi Zhong , Peiyuan Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121227","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121227","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The clinical treatment of wound infections continues to face multiple challenges, including bacterial resistance, excessive inflammatory responses, and impaired tissue regeneration. In this study, borax is utilized as a cross-linker to composite polyvinyl alcohol, green biomass Aloe vera gel, polydopamine, and baicalein, thereby constructing a smart responsive Aloe vera composite hydrogel (PAPB) that combines photothermal, antibacterial, and antioxidant functions. Driven by dual dynamic bonds of borate ester bonds and hydrogen bonds, this hydrogel network exhibits excellent self-healing properties, along with pH and photothermal dual responsiveness. Integrating the natural properties of Aloe vera gel, the hydrogel demonstrates favorable tissue adhesion and biocompatibility. The incorporation of polydopamine enables localized heating upon near-infrared light activation, significantly inhibiting the growth of <em>Staphylococcus aureus</em> (<em>S. aureus</em>) and <em>Escherichia coli</em> (<em>E. coli</em>). The addition of baicalein further enhances the hydrogel’s antioxidant activity, synergistically alleviating oxidative stress damage at the wound site. <em>In vivo</em> experiments show that the PAPB hydrogel achieves a 97.13 % wound healing rate by day 10 through downregulating inflammatory factor expression, promoting angiogenesis, and accelerating collagen deposition. This study not only provides a new strategy for developing multifunctional wound dressings with antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and tissue repair capabilities but also lays a theoretical and experimental foundation for the application of green biomass-based materials in the biomedical field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121227"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981772","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121254
Sercan Yıldırım , Murat Çelik , Hilal Rabia Çevik , Tuğçe Özyiğit , Bengi Uslu
The accurate and reliable detection of heavy metals is of great importance given the substantial threat posed by heavy metal contamination to food safety, public health, and ecological sustainability. Nanosheets, defined as two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, have emerged as a particularly important class of nanomaterials for enhancing electrochemical sensing platforms. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in nanosheet-based electrochemical sensors developed for the detection of heavy metals in food and environmental samples. The application of nanosheets, including MXenes, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS2), titanium dioxide (TiO2), manganese dioxide (MnO2), and zinc oxide (ZnO), in electrochemical sensing platforms is highlighted with emphasis on interfacial properties, adsorption and redox mechanisms, and structure-performance relationships. A comparative analysis is presented to elucidate the influence of intrinsic nanosheet properties, such as surface functionality, defect sites, redox activity, and interactions driven by the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle, on sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limits. The applicability of these sensors in complex real-world matrices is critically discussed, with emphasis on matrix effects, interferences, stability, regeneration, and suitability for portable and field-deployable platforms. Current challenges, including nanosheet restacking, conductivity limitations, oxidative instability, and integration constraints, are discussed, and future research directions related to hybrid material design, scalable green synthesis, device integration, and smart sensing technologies are outlined. By integrating material chemistry and surface engineering strategies, this review offers a comprehensive perspective for identifying suitable nanosheet platforms for heavy-metal sensing applications.
{"title":"Nanosheet-based materials for electrochemical determination of heavy metals: Recent advances and perspectives","authors":"Sercan Yıldırım , Murat Çelik , Hilal Rabia Çevik , Tuğçe Özyiğit , Bengi Uslu","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121254","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121254","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accurate and reliable detection of heavy metals is of great importance given the substantial threat posed by heavy metal contamination to food safety, public health, and ecological sustainability. Nanosheets, defined as two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials, have emerged as a particularly important class of nanomaterials for enhancing electrochemical sensing platforms. This review critically evaluates recent advancements in nanosheet-based electrochemical sensors developed for the detection of heavy metals in food and environmental samples. The application of nanosheets, including MXenes, metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent organic frameworks (COFs), layered double hydroxides (LDHs), molybdenum disulfide (MoS<sub>2</sub>), titanium dioxide (TiO<sub>2</sub>), manganese dioxide (MnO<sub>2</sub>), and zinc oxide (ZnO), in electrochemical sensing platforms is highlighted with emphasis on interfacial properties, adsorption and redox mechanisms, and structure-performance relationships. A comparative analysis is presented to elucidate the influence of intrinsic nanosheet properties, such as surface functionality, defect sites, redox activity, and interactions driven by the hard and soft acids and bases (HSAB) principle, on sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limits. The applicability of these sensors in complex real-world matrices is critically discussed, with emphasis on matrix effects, interferences, stability, regeneration, and suitability for portable and field-deployable platforms. Current challenges, including nanosheet restacking, conductivity limitations, oxidative instability, and integration constraints, are discussed, and future research directions related to hybrid material design, scalable green synthesis, device integration, and smart sensing technologies are outlined. By integrating material chemistry and surface engineering strategies, this review offers a comprehensive perspective for identifying suitable nanosheet platforms for heavy-metal sensing applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121254"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981198","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 : 2026-01-14DOI: 10.1016/j.jece.2026.121241
Tianfeng Wang , Yuqian Zhang , Huiping Zhou , Xiangting Shi , Yuxin Zhang , Zhenkai Li , Cheng Peng , Yonggang Wang , Dan Luo , Xuemei Zhang , Jining Zhang , Liqing Xin
This study evaluated the effectiveness of single and composite Bacillus inoculants (Bacillus methylotrophicus F-6, Bacillus velezensis T-B, and F-6/T-B) in enhancing polylactic acid (PLA) degradation during cattle manure and wheat straw composting. Results demonstrated that inoculation elevated peak composting temperature (by up to 2.2°C), accelerated organic matter degradation, and significantly enhanced urease activity (by 23.8 %-93.4 %) and nitrogen transformation. The F-6/T-B inoculant substantially modified the bacterial community, increasing the relative abundance of key PLA-degrading genera (Luteimonas, Planktosalinus, and Truepera). This shift corresponded with pronounced PLA surface cracking, ester bond cleavage, reduced thermal stability, and a marked decrease in number-average molecular weight (by up to 92.8 %). The PLA degradation rate reached 91.3 %-92.5 % by day 8 in inoculated groups, significantly surpassing the control (43.4 %). The composite inoculant (F-6/T-B) exhibited the strongest pro-degradation effect. This work confirms that Bacillus composite inoculants can synergistically enhance both composting performance and PLA biodegradation, providing a practical strategy for managing PLA waste.
{"title":"Two Bacillus strains as a composite microbial inoculant enhance degradation of polylactic acid plastics in composting","authors":"Tianfeng Wang , Yuqian Zhang , Huiping Zhou , Xiangting Shi , Yuxin Zhang , Zhenkai Li , Cheng Peng , Yonggang Wang , Dan Luo , Xuemei Zhang , Jining Zhang , Liqing Xin","doi":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121241","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jece.2026.121241","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study evaluated the effectiveness of single and composite <em>Bacillus</em> inoculants (<em>Bacillus</em> methylotrophicus F-6, <em>Bacillus</em> velezensis T-B, and F-6/T-B) in enhancing polylactic acid (PLA) degradation during cattle manure and wheat straw composting. Results demonstrated that inoculation elevated peak composting temperature (by up to 2.2°C), accelerated organic matter degradation, and significantly enhanced urease activity (by 23.8 %-93.4 %) and nitrogen transformation. The F-6/T-B inoculant substantially modified the bacterial community, increasing the relative abundance of key PLA-degrading genera (<em>Luteimonas, Planktosalinus,</em> and <em>Truepera</em>). This shift corresponded with pronounced PLA surface cracking, ester bond cleavage, reduced thermal stability, and a marked decrease in number-average molecular weight (by up to 92.8 %). The PLA degradation rate reached 91.3 %-92.5 % by day 8 in inoculated groups, significantly surpassing the control (43.4 %). The composite inoculant (F-6/T-B) exhibited the strongest pro-degradation effect. This work confirms that <em>Bacillus</em> composite inoculants can synergistically enhance both composting performance and PLA biodegradation, providing a practical strategy for managing PLA waste.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":15759,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Chemical Engineering","volume":"14 2","pages":"Article 121241"},"PeriodicalIF":7.2,"publicationDate":"2026-01-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145981268","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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