Rate Of Water Uptake Research Articles

Multi-plateau water adsorption of pyrene-based covalent organic frameworks for potential humidity control

Indoor air humidity significantly influences air quality, human health, and work performance. Covalent organic frameworks (COFs) have been proven effective in humidity regulation; however, challenges remain in broadening their range of humidity control. This study designs and synthesizes a series of pyrene-based crystalline COFs as humidity control materials, investigating the moisture adsorption–desorption characteristics under structural modulation. Among these, PY-3,3′-BPY-COF exhibits unique multi-step adsorption isotherms, achieving the highest water uptake capacity (1 g/g) and efficient water uptake-release cycles. Theoretical and experimental analyses reveal a linear relationship between the maximum water uptake rate and the specific surface area, while the adsorption inflection points are influenced by the water binding energy and pore size distribution. Importantly, the introduction of strong binding sites promotes multi-step adsorption phenomena, significantly enhancing the humidity control capabilities of COFs across a wide range of humidity levels. This research introduces an innovative approach for broad-spectrum indoor humidity control and reveals the fundamental relationship between the structure characteristics of COFs and their capabilities in water adsorption and release.

Manufacturing and Characterization of Polypropylene-Paper Composites for Automotive Applications

The automotive industry is under significant pressure to curb greenhouse gas emissions from their products as the negative impacts on the environment are increasingly apparent. As such, there is significant interest within the industry to develop low-carbon footprint materials. Natural fiber composites are therefore appealing due to both their decreased carbon footprint, as well as their relatively low cost, low density, and beneficial acoustic properties. This research specifically focuses on the use of paper fibers as composite reinforcements. Paper offers additional benefits over other natural fiber types in that it is globally available, does not compete with food resources, and has well-established quality control techniques. The goal of this work was to study the manufacturing of polypropylene (PP)-paper fiber composites using a hybrid wet-lay/compression molding processing. The processing parameters studied included molding temperature, molding duration, and molding pressure. Paper composites were characterized for properties including flexural strength, impact strength, and water uptake rate. An optimal set of processing parameters was identified in which cycle time and energy inputs (e.g. temperature and pressure) were minimized while retaining desired material properties.

Microbial biosurfactant-mediated green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) and exploring their role in enhancing chickpea and rice seed germination

Malnutrition is one of the greatest challenges faced by humanity, which may be addressed by improving crop productivity to ensure food security. However, extensive use of synthetic fertilizers can lead to soil fertility degradation. This study highlights the potential of combining nanotechnology with biotechnology to enhance the germination rates of commercially important crop seeds. Bacterial biosurfactant extracted from a newly isolated Klebsiella sp. strain RGUDBI03 was used as a reducing and capping agent for the synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) through a simple method. Extensive characterization of ZnO NPs through electron microscopic analysis showed well-dispersed, homogeneous NPs with a size range of 2–10 nm. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) images also revealed molecular fringes of 0.26 nm in single crystal ZnO NPs, with approximately 50% of the NPs exhibiting a size range of 2–4 nm. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results of ZnO NPs indicated the presence of (100), (002), (101), (102), (200), and (112) planes, confirming their crystalline nature. The presence of C = C–H, C = C, C–H, and C = C groups in both the bacterial biosurfactant and ZnO NPs, as depicted by Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) spectra, confirmed the function of the biosurfactant as a reducing and capping agent. The nano-primed chickpea (Cicer arietinum) and rice (Oryza sativa) seeds showed an increase in water uptake rate, 89% and 92% respectively, compared to the control (73% and 44%), leading to an enhanced germination rate of 98% and 76%, compared to their respective controls (80% and 30%) under optimized conditions. Additionally, the nano-primed seeds exhibited higher levels of α-amylase activity in both seeds (0.37 mg/g for chickpea and 2.49 mg/g for rice) compared to the control. Notably, the ZnO NP priming solution exhibited no cytotoxicity on red blood cells and earthworms (Eudrilus eugeniae), indicating their non-cytotoxic and eco-friendly nature for future field trials.

Relationship between seed coat colour and seed vigour in cowpea (Vigna unguiculata Walp (L.)

In the present study, the 25 genotypes were grouped into two seed color groups including pigmented (n = 19; black, brown, dark brown, grey, dark grey seed color) and unpigmented (n = 6; cream and white seed color) for studying the association of seed coat color with seed vigor. Despite high germination (>84%) of all genotypes in the laboratory, unpigmented genotypes recorded low (34-54%) field emergence than pigmented genotypes (52-78%). Rapid initial (30 min) rate of water uptake (-0.75**), water uptake at one hour of imbibition (-0.70**), low proportion of seed coat (0.67**), and greater electrical conductivity of seed leachate (-0.72**) was associated with low field emergence in unpigmented cowpea genotypes. No significant correlation or association was observed between field emergence and laboratory germination in the present investigation suggesting that laboratory germination can not be used for predicting field emergence in cowpea. Instead, the electrical conductivity of seed leachate could be used to predict the field emergence of cowpea.

Siloxane-based segmented poly(urethane-urea) elastomers with enhanced mechanical properties, hydrophobicity and anti-calcification based on hierarchical phase separation for potential applications of polymeric heart valve

The polymeric heart valves have attracted considerable attention for treating valvular heart diseases with favorable biocompatibility, stability and adjustable mechanical properties. However, the thrombosis, calcification, and mechanical durability in the dynamic blood environment have limited further applications. Polycarbonate (PCDL) and polysiloxane (PDMS) had high flexibility, low toxicity, excellent hydrolytic and oxidative stability and efficient biocompatibility, but PCDL was susceptible to calcification and PDMS was susceptible to protein adsorption. To solve these difficulties, PDMS and PCDL were chosen as soft segments to combine the virtues of excellent biocompatibility, hydrolytic stability, and good anti-calcification and anti-protein adsorption, and a series of PCDL-PDMS poly(urethane-urea) elastomers (PCDL-PDMS PUU) were synthesized using a two-step polymerization reaction based on the amino-terminated polydimethylsiloxane (H2N-PDMS-NH2), polycarbonate diol (PCDL) and isophorone diisocyanate. The thermodynamic incompatibility between PDMS and PCDL and hierarchical hydrogen bonds were used to construct microscopic micro-separation, enabling the combination of enhanced mechanical strength, toughness, tear resistance and biocompatibility. The effect of the molar ratio of PCDL and PDMS and hierarchical H-bonding interactions on the physical properties, biostability and biocompatibility of PCDL-PDMS PUU were investigated. It was found the PCDL-PDMS PUU could achieve relatively stable mechanical strength behavior, and the Young’s modulus and tear strengths increased with the increasing proportion of H2N-PDMS-NH2. Meanwhile, PCDL-PDMS PUU showed low water uptake rate lower than 2 %, very good anti-hydrolysis performance, low hemolysis rate of less than 2 % and low adhesion to platelet cells. What’s more, PCDL-PDMS PUU showed enhanced calcification resistance when compared with a commercial polyurethane, ElastollanTM 1180A. Therefore, the results demonstrated that PCDL-PDMS PUU elastomers showed great potential to be explored as heart valves material considering high biostability, superior biocompatibility and mechanical performances.

Synthesis and characterization of biodegradable Kraft lignin-based hydrophilic phenol formaldehyde foams

Phenol formaldehyde foams, extensively utilized in wide range of applications face challenges due to depleting petroleum resources and adverse environmental concerns. This study explores a promising shift to biobased alternatives, specifically investigating the use of Kraft lignin (KL) by replacing about 10 to 50% phenol content to synthesize open-cell hydrophilic phenolic foams. The produced foams undergo comprehensive testing to evaluate wetting properties, porosity, mechanical strength, and biodegradation potential. Remarkably, foams with a high percentage of Kraft lignin exhibit outstanding physical and wetting characteristics. Notably, substituting 50% of phenol with KL gave rise to a foam with a density of 40 kg/m3, open cell porosity of about 100%, water absorption capacity of 2100%, and an average water uptake rate of 0.9 cm3/s. Furthermore, these lignin-substituted foams display enhanced biodegradability compared with their petroleum-based counterparts. The foam with the 40% phenol substitution exhibits the highest weight loss of approximately 68% in 15 days during the biodegradation test. The biodegradation was further confirmed using scanning electron microscopy and FT-IR analysis of the degraded samples.

An Analysis of Water Infiltration in Furrow Irrigation Channels with Plants in Various Types of Soil in the Special Region of Yogyakarta Using Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method

The analysis of water infiltration channels requires significant time and cost when conducted through laboratory experiments. Alternatively, mathematical modeling followed by numerical method can be employed. The mathematical model of water infiltration in furrow irrigation channels takes the form of a boundary value problem, with the Helmholtz equation serving as the governing equation. The Dual Reciprocity Boundary Element Method (DRBEM) is a numerical method derived from the Boundary Element Method (BEM), utilized for solving partial differential equations encountered in mathematical physics and engineering. This research employs DRBEM to analyze infiltration in trapezoidal irrigation channels with root-water uptake across various homogeneous soil types prevalent in agricultural lands in each District/City of the Yogyakarta Special Region Province. The results demonstrate that DRBEM provides numerical solutions for suction potential, water content, and root water absorption for each soil type. It was found that sandy soil exhibits high water content but has a low rate of root water absorption. On the other hand, clayey soil has low water content but a higher rate of root water uptake. These findings indicate that sandy soil, such as those found in Sleman District and Yogyakarta city, are less efficient in water usage when employing the furrow irrigation system, whereas clayey soil, as found in Gunung Kidul regency, is more effective.

Water Availability and Temperature as Modifiers of Evaporative Water Loss in Tropical Frogs.

Water plays a notable role in the ecology of most terrestrial organisms due to the risks associated with water loss. Specifically, water loss in terrestrial animals happens through evaporation across respiratory tissues or the epidermis. Amphibians are ideal systems for studying how abiotic factors impact water loss since their bodies often respond quickly to environmental changes. While the effect of temperature on water loss is well known across many taxa, we are still learning how temperature in combination with humidity or water availability affects water loss. Here, we tested how standing water sources (availability) and temperature (26 and 36°C) together affect water loss in anuran amphibians using a Bayesian framework. We also present a conceptual model for considering how water availability and temperature may interact, resulting in body mass changes. After accounting for phylogenetic and time autocorrelation, we determined how different variables (water loss and uptake rates, temperature, and body size) affect body mass in three species of tropical frogs (Rhinella marina, Phyllobates terribilis, and Xenopus tropicalis). We found that all variables impacted body mass changes, with greater similarities between P. terribilis and X. tropicalis, but temperature only showed a notable effect in P. terribilis. Furthermore, we describe how the behavior of P. terribilis might affect its water budget. This study shows how organisms might manage water budgets across different environments and is important for developing models of evaporative water loss and species distributions.

Compression and hydrothermal ageing after impact of carbon fibre reinforced epoxy laminates

This paper proposes a new methodology for the assessment of seawater ageing effects on impact-damaged composite laminates. CF/Epoxy laminates which were unimpacted, and impacted at 30 J, 60 J, and 90 J by hemispherical and conical impactors were subject to 4 months hydrothermal ageing in renewed natural seawater at 60 +/-2 °C. The majority of water uptake by impacted laminates (0.05 wt% − 0.3 wt%) occurred in the first 24 h and is believed to be held in damage cavities by capillary mechanisms. The increase in diffusive water uptake rate by the matrix due to impact damage was only small, at less than 0.008 wt%.mm.hr−0,5, compared with the total diffusive water uptake rate of 0.1 wt%.mm.hr−0,5. Hydrothermal ageing reduced the residual compressive strength of pristine laminates by 25 % and impact-damaged laminates by 8 % to 16 % for impacts between 30 J and 90 J.

A simple method for evaluating the relative water uptake rate of drip‐irrigated crops

AbstractDrip irrigation is widely acknowledged for its water use efficiency, yet evaluating relative water uptake rates (RWURs, ratios between the water uptake rates and the irrigation rates) remains pivotal for effective system design and management. This article presents a novel method employing straightforward measurements of wetted soil surfaces around emitters or perpendicular to driplines, both with and without water uptake, emphasizing simplicity and practicality. The proposed method offers valuable insights into agronomic water use efficiency, facilitating the optimization of drip irrigation for both annual and perennial crops. While effective for intensively irrigated crops, the method does have limitations for smaller wetted areas and longer irrigation cycles, depending also upon a reasonable determination of the active root zone depth and the soil capillary length. Despite relying on a simplified water uptake model, the accessibility and cost‐effectiveness of the method render it a valuable tool for assessing RWURs in diverse agricultural settings, contributing to the sustainable utilization of water resources in drip irrigation.

Detection of plant cadmium toxicity by monitoring dielectric response of intact root systems on a fine timescale.

The root dielectric response was measured on a minute scale to assess its efficiency for monitoring short-term cadmium (Cd) toxicity non-destructively. Electrical capacitance (CR), dissipation factor (DR) and electrical conductance (GR) were detected during the 24 to 168 h after Cd treatment (0, 20, 50 mg Cd2+ kg-1 substrate) in potted maize, cucumber and pea. Stress was also evaluated by measuring leaf chlorophyll content, Fv/Fm and stomatal conductance (gs) in situ, and shoot and root mass and total root length after harvest. CR showed a clear diurnal pattern, reflecting the water uptake rate, and decreased significantly in response to excessive Cd due to impeded root growth, the reduced tissue permittivity caused by accelerated lignification, and root ageing. Cd exposure markedly increased DR, indicating greater conductive energy loss due to oxidative membrane damage and enhanced electrolyte leakage. GR, which was coupled with root hydraulic conductance and varied diurnally, was increased transiently by Cd toxicity due to enhanced membrane permeability, but declined thereafter owing to stress-induced leaf senescence and transpiration loss. The time series of impedance components indicated the comparatively high Cd tolerance of the applied maize and the sensitivity of pea cultivar, which was confirmed by visible shoot symptoms, repeated physiological investigations and biomass measurements. The results demonstrated the potential of single-frequency dielectric measurements to follow certain aspects of the stress response of different species on a fine timescale without plant injury. The approach can be combined with widely used plant physiological methods and could contribute to breeding crop genotypes with improved stress tolerance.

Plant water source effects on plant-soil feedback for primary succession of terrestrial ecosystems in a glacier region in China

Despite the extensive research conducted on plant-soil-water interactions, the understanding of the role of plant water sources in different plant successional stages remains limited. In this study, we employed a combination of water isotopes (δ2H and δ18O) and leaf δ13C to investigate water use patterns and leaf water use efficiency (WUE) during the growing season (May to September 2021) in Hailuogou glacier forefronts in China. Our findings revealed that surface soil water and soil nutrient gradually increased during primary succession. Dominant plant species exhibited a preference for upper soil water uptake during the peak leaf out period (June to August), while they relied more on lower soil water sources during the post-leaf out period (May) or senescence (September to October). Furthermore, plants in late successional stages showed higher rates of water uptake from uppermost soil layers. Notably, there was a significant positive correlation between the percentage of water uptake by plants and available soil water content in middle and late stages. Additionally, our results indicated a gradual decrease in WUE with progression through succession, with shallow soil moisture utilization negatively impacting overall WUE across all succession stages. Path analysis further highlighted that surface soil moisture (0– 20 cm) and middle layer nutrient availability (20– 50 cm) played crucial roles in determining WUE. Overall, this research emphasizes the critical influence of water source selection on plant succession dynamics while elucidating underlying mechanisms linking succession with plant water consumption.

Modeling and Analysis of Rice Root Water Uptake under the Dual Stresses of Drought and Waterlogging

The development of an accurate root water-uptake model is pivotal for evaluating crop evapotranspiration; understanding the combined effect of drought and waterlogging stresses; and optimizing water use efficiency, namely, crop yield [kg/ha] per unit of ET [mm]. Existing models often lack quantitative approaches to depicting crop root water uptake in scenarios of concurrent drought and waterlogging moisture stresses. Addressing this as our objective; we modified the Feddes root water-uptake model by revising the soil water potential response threshold and by introducing a novel method to calculate root water-uptake rates under simultaneous drought and waterlogging stresses. Then, we incorporated a water stress lag effect coefficient, φWs, that investigated the combined effect of historical drought and waterlogging stress events based on the assumption that the normalized influence weight of each past stress event decreases with an increase in the time interval before simulation as an exponential function of the decay rate. Further, we tested the model parameters and validated the results obtained with the modified model using data from three years (2016–2018) of rice (Oryza sativa, L) trails with pots in Bengbu, China. The modified Feddes model significantly improved precision by 9.6% on average when calculating relative transpiration rates, particularly post-stress recovery, and by 5.8% on average when simulating soil moisture fluctuations during drought periods. The root mean square error of relative transpiration was reduced by 60.8%, and soil water was reduced by 55.1%. By accounting for both the accumulated impact of past moisture stress and current moisture conditions in rice fields, the modified model will be useful in quantifying rice transpiration and rice water use efficiency in drought–waterlogging-prone areas in southern China.

Impact of air entrapment on capillary absorption in porous building materials

When the water content of a porous material is high, air entrapped in the pore space is expected to affect water transfer through the pores. To understand the effects of air entrapment on water transfer in porous building materials in the high-water-saturation region, we examined the water transfer characteristics corresponding to significantly small air entrapment effects. First, we conducted two sets of water uptake experiments. In the first experiment, using three building materials, the time evolution of the amount of water absorption was measured at a low air pressure near vacuum (several kPa). In the second experiment, the water content profile during water uptake was measured using the gamma-ray attenuation method. The experimental results showed that low air pressure accelerated the water uptake by the brick and aerated concrete specimens, whereas water uptake by the calcium silicate board specimens was not significantly affected. These differences among materials were analyzed from a pore structure viewpoint. Moreover, gamma-ray attenuation measurements confirmed that the obtained water content profile was qualitatively similar at atmospheric and low air pressures, although the low air pressure increased both the water content of the material after capillary absorption and the wetting front propagation rate. Finally, simultaneous water and air transfer calculations based on the air and liquid water balance in a material reproduced the measured water absorption rates well, confirming that air entrapment and pressure development in the pores can significantly reduce the rate of water uptake and water content after capillary absorption. The calculation results also indicated that the air pressure in a material did not significantly increase at early water uptake stages where local water content was not high, which supported the general assumption that treating the liquid-water transfer in porous building materials as a one-component flow is valid in most cases.

The sensitivity of root water uptake to cold root temperature follows species-specific upper elevational distribution limits of temperate tree species.

Physiological water stress induced by low root temperatures might contribute to species-specific climatic limits of tree distribution. We investigated the low temperature sensitivity of root water uptake and transport in seedlings of 16 European tree species which reach their natural upper elevation distribution limits at different distances to the alpine treeline. We used 2H-H2O pulse-labelling to quantify the water uptake and transport velocity from roots to leaves in seedlings exposed to constant 15°C, 7°C or 2°C root temperature, but identical aboveground temperatures between 20°C and 25°C. In all species, low root temperatures reduced the water transport rate, accompanied by reduced stem water potentials and stomatal conductance. At 7°C root temperature, the relative water uptake rates among species correlated positively with the species-specific upper elevation limits, indicating an increasingly higher sensitivity to lower root zone temperatures, the lower a species'natural elevational distribution limit. Conversely, 2°C root temperature severely inhibited water uptake in all species, irrespective of the species'thermal elevational limits. We conclude that low temperature-induced hydraulic constraints contribute to the cold distribution limits of temperate tree species and are a potential physiological cause behind the low temperature limits of plant growth in general.

Fatty acid unsaturation improves germination of upland cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) under cold stress.

The level of fatty acid unsaturation in seeds is one of the major determinants of cold germination ability, particularly in oilseeds. The presence of cis double bonds in unsaturated fatty acids creates bends that lowers their melting temperatures compared to saturated fatty acids. Unsaturated fatty acids with low melting points mobilize faster at low temperatures providing seeds with sufficient energy for germination. To investigate the effects of fatty acid unsaturation on the ability of cotton seeds to germinate under cold conditions, four recombinant inbred lines (RILs) of cotton with unique fatty acid profiles were evaluated using a set of developmental and biochemical assays at 12°C (critically low temperature), 15°C (cardinal minimum temperature) and 30°C (optimum temperature). Furthermore, whole seed lipidome profiling using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry was done to compare the lipid compositional changes at 12°C and 30°C after imbibing cotton seeds of all the six genotypes for 0 hours, 3 hours and 6 hours. The RILs with higher unsaturation/saturation ratios registered robust germination performance, lower solute leakage, and optimum water uptake rates under cold stress. Imbibition at 30°C for 8 hours before cold exposure significantly improved the germination of cold sensitive genotypes, indicating that the first few hours of water uptake are critical for cold stress. Whole seed lipidome profiling of all the genotypes specifically associated cold germination ability with higher unsaturation levels of phospholipids during early imbibition. The presence of cis double bonds in phospholipids creates kinks that maintain the fluidity of cell membranes under low temperature. Membrane flexibility under cold conditions is essential for facilitating key germination events including membrane organization and respiration. The current results highlight the importance of fatty acid composition in cold germination ability of upland cotton.

A Eutectic Mixture of Calcium Chloride Hexahydrate and Bischofite with Promising Performance for Thermochemical Energy Storage

Thermochemical energy storage using salt hydrates is a promising method for the efficient use of energy. In this study, three host matrices, expanded vermiculite, expanded clay, and expanded natural graphite were impregnated with a eutectic mixture of CaCl2·6H2O and bischofite (MgCl2·6H2O). These composites were subjected to various humidity conditions (30–70% relative humidity) at 20 °C over an extended hydration period to investigate their cyclability. It was shown that only expanded natural graphite could contain the deliquescent salt at high humidity over 50 cycles. Hence, the expanded natural graphite composites containing either CaCl2·6H2O or CaCl2·6H2O/bischofite eutectic mixture were placed in a lab-scale open packed bed reactor, providing energy densities of 150 and 120 kWh/m3 over 20 h, respectively. The eutectic composite showed slightly lower temperature lift, water uptake rate, and power output but at reduced cost. Using the eutectic mixture also decreased the composite’s dehydration temperature at which the maximum mass loss rate occurred around 16.2 °C to 62.3 °C, allowing recharge using less energy-intensive heating methods. The cost of storing 1 kWh of energy with expanded natural graphite composites is only USD 0.08 due to its stability. This research leveraging cost-effective composites with enhanced stability, reaction kinetics, and high thermal energy storage capabilities benefits renewable energy, power generation, and the building construction research communities and industries by providing a competitive alternative to sensible heat storage technologies.

Phenotyping 172 strawberry genotypes for water soaking reveals a close relationship with skin water permeance.

Water soaking is a commercially important disorder of field-grown strawberries that is exacerbated by surface wetness and high humidity. The objective was to establish the effect of genotype on susceptibility to water soaking. Three greenhouse-grown model 'collections' were used comprising a total of 172 different genotypes: (1) a segregating F2 population, (2) a collection of strawberry cultivars and breeding clones, and (3) a collection of wild Fragaria species. A standardized immersion assay was used to induce water soaking. Potential relationships between water soaking and water uptake characteristics, depth of the achene depressions, fruit firmness, cuticle mass and strain relaxation and microcracking were investigated. Further, the effect of downregulating the polygalacturonase genes (FaPG1 and FaPG2) on the susceptibility to water soaking was investigated. The collection of wild species was most susceptible to water soaking. This was followed by the collection of cultivars and breeding clones, and by the F2 population. Susceptibility to water soaking was strongly correlated with water uptake rate (mass of water, per fruit, per time). For the pooled dataset of 172 genotypes, 46% of the variability in water soaking was accounted for by the permeance of the skin to osmotic water uptake. Susceptibility to water soaking was not, or was only poorly correlated with measurements of fruit surface area or of the osmotic potential of the expressed fruit juice. The only exceptions were the wild Fragaria species which were highly variable in fruit size and also in fruit osmotic potential. For genotypes from the F2 and the wild species collections, firmer fruit were less susceptible to water soaking than softer fruit. There were no relationships between fruit firmness and susceptibility to water soaking in transgenic plants in which FaPG1 and FaPG2 were down-regulated. Susceptibility to water soaking was not related to cuticle mass per unit fruit surface area, nor to strain relaxation of the cuticle upon isolation, nor to achene position. In summary, strawberry's susceptibility to water soaking has a significant genetic component and is closely and consistently related to the skin's permeance to osmotic water uptake.

LiCl in situ decorated metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived porous carbon for efficient solar-driven atmospheric water harvesting.

Solar-powered sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) technology is a promising solution to the freshwater scarcity in arid regions. Existing adsorbent materials still face challenges in aspects such as cycling stability and adsorption kinetics and require further development. Herein, we presented a strategy for the in situ fabrication of high-performance adsorbents, lithium chloride (LiCl)-decorated metal-organic framework (MOF)-derived porous carbon sorbents (PCl), via high-temperature pyrolysis and hydrogen chloride (HCl) vapor treatment. The sorbents display high adsorption capacity across a wide range of humidity water adsorption capacities in a wide humidity range with the maximum adsorption capacity of 7.87 g g-1, and rapid response to the solar-driven process and excellent cyclic stability. The LiCl nanocrystals in PCl can be utilized efficiently and decorated within the porous framework stably, and demonstrate water adsorption at 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% RH, of 1.34, 1.69, 2.56 and 4.23 gH2O·gLiCl-1, respectively, and significantly higher water uptake and release rates than bulk LiCl. This may provide new guides for designing efficient solar-driven AWH.

How exogenous ligand enhances the efficiency of cadmium phytoextraction from soils?

Many experiments showed that exogenous ligands could enhance cadmium (Cd) phytoextraction efficiency in soils. Previous studies suggested that the dissociation and the apoplastic uptake of Cd complex could not fully explain the increase of root Cd uptake. Two hypotheses are evaluated to explain enhanced Cd uptake in the presence of ligand: i) enhanced apoplastic uptake of complex due to reduced apoplastic resistance and ii) complex internalization by membrane transporters. Resultsshow that the ligand affinity for Cd is a key characteristic determining the potential mechanism for enhanced Cd uptake. When low molecular weight organic acids are applied, the complex dissociation could generally be fast (> 10−3.3 s−1) and result in the increased Cd uptake. When hydrophilic aminopolycarboxylic acids (APCAs) are applied in experiments without water or temperature stresses to the plant, the root water uptake flux could very likely be high (> 10−7.8 dm s−1), and the strong apoplastic complex uptake could enhance the root Cd uptake. When lipophilic APCAs are applied, the strong internalization of the complex by membrane transporters could result in the increased Cd uptake if the maximum internalization rate is high (> 10−12 mol dm−2 s−1). However, the complex internalization by membrane transporters must be experimentally confirmed.