Pub Date : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141400
Liujun YANG, Xianjun DENG, Renju LIU, LI Jianyang, Junyao ZHAI, Xiaoxiao MA, Shiyang YOU, HE Qinghao, Arthur K.L. LIN, Zongze SHAO, LU Hongyuan
The global accumulation of plastic waste, including polyurethane (PU), demands urgent solutions. Enzymatic depolymerization offers a viable strategy for PU waste valorization. However, the lack of reliable high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for PU-degrading enzymes has hindered progress. Conventional methods are limited by either poor substrate relevance or inadequate quantification, limiting their industrial applicability and predictive accuracy. Here, we developed a HTS assay integrating a chemically defined, synthetic poly(ethylene adipate)-based PU (PEA-PU) substrate with a sensitive fluorescence-based detection cascade. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis, PEA-PU releases adipic acid and ethylene glycol, the latter converted to resorufin via a two-enzyme system (glycerol dehydrogenase and diaphorase). This assay enables rapid quantification, molecular-level monitoring of PU degradation with high reproducibility and sensitivity. Validation using known PU-degrading enzymes (ICCM and BaCut1) demonstrated strong correlation between fluorescence-derived ethylene glycol levels and chromatographic measurements, confirming quantitative accuracy. Unlike commercial substrates, our assay establishes clear structure-activity relationships while enabling direct product quantification. Demonstrating the assay’s utility, we screened a focused library of BaCut1 variants and rapidly identified mutants with superior efficacy against both synthetic substrates and commercial PU foam. Ultimately, this work bridges the gap between high-throughput capacity and material relevance, providing a scalable pipeline to accelerate the discovery and engineering of enzymes for real-world PU plastic valorization.
{"title":"A coupled fluorescence assay for high-throughput screening of polyurethane-degrading enzymes","authors":"Liujun YANG, Xianjun DENG, Renju LIU, LI Jianyang, Junyao ZHAI, Xiaoxiao MA, Shiyang YOU, HE Qinghao, Arthur K.L. LIN, Zongze SHAO, LU Hongyuan","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141400","url":null,"abstract":"The global accumulation of plastic waste, including polyurethane (PU), demands urgent solutions. Enzymatic depolymerization offers a viable strategy for PU waste valorization. However, the lack of reliable high-throughput screening (HTS) assays for PU-degrading enzymes has hindered progress. Conventional methods are limited by either poor substrate relevance or inadequate quantification, limiting their industrial applicability and predictive accuracy. Here, we developed a HTS assay integrating a chemically defined, synthetic poly(ethylene adipate)-based PU (PEA-PU) substrate with a sensitive fluorescence-based detection cascade. Upon enzymatic hydrolysis, PEA-PU releases adipic acid and ethylene glycol, the latter converted to resorufin via a two-enzyme system (glycerol dehydrogenase and diaphorase). This assay enables rapid quantification, molecular-level monitoring of PU degradation with high reproducibility and sensitivity. Validation using known PU-degrading enzymes (ICCM and BaCut1) demonstrated strong correlation between fluorescence-derived ethylene glycol levels and chromatographic measurements, confirming quantitative accuracy. Unlike commercial substrates, our assay establishes clear structure-activity relationships while enabling direct product quantification. Demonstrating the assay’s utility, we screened a focused library of BaCut1 variants and rapidly identified mutants with superior efficacy against both synthetic substrates and commercial PU foam. Ultimately, this work bridges the gap between high-throughput capacity and material relevance, providing a scalable pipeline to accelerate the discovery and engineering of enzymes for real-world PU plastic valorization.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"30 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135412","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-07DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141389
Li Guo, Jiancheng Tang, Zhanpeng Dai, Chunyu Xiang, Jia Jia, Haijuan Wei, Dunzhu Zhaxi, Guofu Song, Shibin Liu
The primary natural attenuation pathways for decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) are anaerobic reductive debromination and aerobic oxidation, yet microbial degradation efficiency under anaerobic-aerobic alternating strategies remains poorly understood. We established consortium XH1 and systematically evaluated BDE-209 degradation over 8 weeks under various alternating conditions. The results showed that the XH1 consortium degraded BDE-209 faster under alternating anaerobic-aerobic conditions, compared with continuous aerobic or anaerobic degradation. The greatest degradation efficiency of 70% was observed in the 4:4 (anaerobic: aerobic) alternating strategy. Microbiological analyses showed that the 4:4 strategy up-regulated the expression of key dehalogenase genes (2-Haloacid dehalogenase and Haloalkane dehalogenase genes), which were suppressed by frequent redox switching in the 1:1 cycle. Degradation efficiency was found positively correlated with aerobic duration (R²=0.39, p=0.04), and the prolongation of the aerobic phase activated the dioxygenase system. The cyclic alternation strategy indicated that a lower frequency of alternation contributed to the expression of dehalogenase genes. Overall, this study combines microbial metabolic diversity with enhanced environmental adaptability by modeling natural environmental dynamics. It provides an efficient and sustainable approach for the treatment of BDE-209 contamination.
{"title":"Do anaerobic-aerobic alternating strategies regulate microbial degradation of BDE-209 in soils?","authors":"Li Guo, Jiancheng Tang, Zhanpeng Dai, Chunyu Xiang, Jia Jia, Haijuan Wei, Dunzhu Zhaxi, Guofu Song, Shibin Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141389","url":null,"abstract":"The primary natural attenuation pathways for decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) are anaerobic reductive debromination and aerobic oxidation, yet microbial degradation efficiency under anaerobic-aerobic alternating strategies remains poorly understood. We established consortium XH1 and systematically evaluated BDE-209 degradation over 8 weeks under various alternating conditions. The results showed that the XH1 consortium degraded BDE-209 faster under alternating anaerobic-aerobic conditions, compared with continuous aerobic or anaerobic degradation. The greatest degradation efficiency of 70% was observed in the 4:4 (anaerobic: aerobic) alternating strategy. Microbiological analyses showed that the 4:4 strategy up-regulated the expression of key dehalogenase genes (2-Haloacid dehalogenase and Haloalkane dehalogenase genes), which were suppressed by frequent redox switching in the 1:1 cycle. Degradation efficiency was found positively correlated with aerobic duration (<em>R²</em>=0.39, <em>p</em>=0.04), and the prolongation of the aerobic phase activated the dioxygenase system. The cyclic alternation strategy indicated that a lower frequency of alternation contributed to the expression of dehalogenase genes. Overall, this study combines microbial metabolic diversity with enhanced environmental adaptability by modeling natural environmental dynamics. It provides an efficient and sustainable approach for the treatment of BDE-209 contamination.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"43 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135234","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141386
Zhengwen Zhou, Jiawei Zhang, Zhengpeng Zhao, Shuliang Liu, Xianghong Liu, Ke Liu, Yingjun Wang, Xiaotong Xiao, Yanbin Li
{"title":"Spatiotemporal variations and burial fluxes of methylmercury in the sediments of Jiaozhou Bay","authors":"Zhengwen Zhou, Jiawei Zhang, Zhengpeng Zhao, Shuliang Liu, Xianghong Liu, Ke Liu, Yingjun Wang, Xiaotong Xiao, Yanbin Li","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141386","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141386","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"23 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135430","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141393
Frederic THEVENET, Gabriel ROSSIGNOL, S. ANGULO-MILHEM, Melanie NICOLAS, Marie VERRIELE
{"title":"Formaldehyde Releasers in Cleaning Products: Mapping an Indoor Issue","authors":"Frederic THEVENET, Gabriel ROSSIGNOL, S. ANGULO-MILHEM, Melanie NICOLAS, Marie VERRIELE","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141393","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141393","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"9 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135431","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141064
Kalyan Mahapatra, Sayanti De, Samrat Banerjee, Sujit Roy
This article has been retracted: please see Elsevier policy on article withdrawal (https://www.elsevier.com/about/policies-and-standards/article-withdrawal).
Quantitative analysis of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in biota samples has been hindered by stringent and evolving technical requirements. And conventional analytical techniques are typically constrained by inherent micrometer-scale detection limits and low-throughput workflows, thus limiting their applicability for the accurate and rapid enumeration of nanoplastics (NPs). In this study, a high-throughput analytical method for the quantitative analysis of microplastics (MPs, 3 µm polystyrene (PS) spheres in biota samples was adapted and optimized by imaging flow cytometry (IFC). Systematic optimization demonstrated that 1 µL·mL-1 Tween 20 efficiently disperses target particles, while 10 µL·mL-1 Nile Red delivers sufficient fluorescence intensity without excessive background interference. An acquisition volume of 50000 particles ensures maximal analytical stability and data reliability. Potential biological matrix interference was effectively mitigated via appropriately extending the digestion period and reducing the amount of tissue used, thereby minimizing the content of residual organic matter. Finally, a calibration curve incorporating a morphology-based correction factor effectively compensated for particle-aggregation bias, significantly improving quantitative accuracy. This method was validated through controlled exposure experiments in fish, demonstrating both feasibility and accuracy providing robust technological support for ecological risk assessments of NMPs.
{"title":"Rapid Methods for the Quantification of Ingested Nano-and Microplastics in Marine Fish by Imaging Flow Cytometry","authors":"Yuxuan Wang, Shuai Liu, Ying Yan, Yuxuan Huang, Rutian Wu, Yongyu Li, Xinhong Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141376","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141376","url":null,"abstract":"Quantitative analysis of nano- and microplastics (NMPs) in biota samples has been hindered by stringent and evolving technical requirements. And conventional analytical techniques are typically constrained by inherent micrometer-scale detection limits and low-throughput workflows, thus limiting their applicability for the accurate and rapid enumeration of nanoplastics (NPs). In this study, a high-throughput analytical method for the quantitative analysis of microplastics (MPs, 3<!-- --> <!-- -->µm polystyrene (PS) spheres in biota samples was adapted and optimized by imaging flow cytometry (IFC). Systematic optimization demonstrated that 1<!-- --> <!-- -->µL·mL<sup>-1</sup> Tween 20 efficiently disperses target particles, while 10<!-- --> <!-- -->µL·mL<sup>-1</sup> Nile Red delivers sufficient fluorescence intensity without excessive background interference. An acquisition volume of 50000 particles ensures maximal analytical stability and data reliability. Potential biological matrix interference was effectively mitigated via appropriately extending the digestion period and reducing the amount of tissue used, thereby minimizing the content of residual organic matter. Finally, a calibration curve incorporating a morphology-based correction factor effectively compensated for particle-aggregation bias, significantly improving quantitative accuracy. This method was validated through controlled exposure experiments in fish, demonstrating both feasibility and accuracy providing robust technological support for ecological risk assessments of NMPs.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"310 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135181","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-02-06DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141407
Man Yang, Zhi-Cheng Hu, Hui-Wen Liu, Wen Zhang, Yun-Yun Hao, Qin Liu, Jia-Xuan Meng, Bo Meng, Qiaoyun Huang, Baohua Gu, Yu-Rong Liu
The bioaccumulation of neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) in rice has raised global concerns due to its potential threat to human health. Organic carbon is a crucial factor influencing MeHg production in soils, as it regulates mercury bioavailability and microbial activity. However, the role of microbial-derived carbon, a critical source of soil organic matter, in regulating MeHg production remains unclear. Here, we compared the effect of microbial necromass (i.e., Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi) and plant residues on microbial mercury methylation during incubation of paddy soil. Results showed that the addition of all four types of organic matter consistently resulted in higher MeHg concentrations, with Gram-negative bacterial necromass exhibiting the most significant enhancement (2.07-5.73 folds). By combining analyses of DNA-stable isotope probing and long-read sequencing of mercury methylation genes (i.e., hgcAB), we found that the promoting effect was associated with the increased proportions of methylators with high mercury methylation potential, such as Geobacter, in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial necromass. Meanwhile, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the decomposition of microbial necromass and plant residues released more sulfur-containing compounds compared with the control, and this increased mercury bioavailability by forming complexes with mercury in the soil. These findings highlight the critical role of soil microbial-derived carbon in enhancing Hg methylation and emphasize the importance of the source of organic matter when predicting MeHg production in environments.
{"title":"Overlooked role of soil microbial-derived carbon in promoting neurotoxic methylmercury production","authors":"Man Yang, Zhi-Cheng Hu, Hui-Wen Liu, Wen Zhang, Yun-Yun Hao, Qin Liu, Jia-Xuan Meng, Bo Meng, Qiaoyun Huang, Baohua Gu, Yu-Rong Liu","doi":"10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141407","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2026.141407","url":null,"abstract":"The bioaccumulation of neurotoxic methylmercury (MeHg) in rice has raised global concerns due to its potential threat to human health. Organic carbon is a crucial factor influencing MeHg production in soils, as it regulates mercury bioavailability and microbial activity. However, the role of microbial-derived carbon, a critical source of soil organic matter, in regulating MeHg production remains unclear. Here, we compared the effect of microbial necromass (i.e., Gram-negative bacteria, Gram-positive bacteria, and fungi) and plant residues on microbial mercury methylation during incubation of paddy soil. Results showed that the addition of all four types of organic matter consistently resulted in higher MeHg concentrations, with Gram-negative bacterial necromass exhibiting the most significant enhancement (2.07-5.73 folds). By combining analyses of DNA-stable isotope probing and long-read sequencing of mercury methylation genes (i.e., <em>hgcAB</em>), we found that the promoting effect was associated with the increased proportions of methylators with high mercury methylation potential, such as <em>Geobacter</em>, in the treatment of Gram-negative bacterial necromass. Meanwhile, Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry analyses revealed that the decomposition of microbial necromass and plant residues released more sulfur-containing compounds compared with the control, and this increased mercury bioavailability by forming complexes with mercury in the soil. These findings highlight the critical role of soil microbial-derived carbon in enhancing Hg methylation and emphasize the importance of the source of organic matter when predicting MeHg production in environments.","PeriodicalId":361,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hazardous Materials","volume":"112 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":13.6,"publicationDate":"2026-02-06","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146135160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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