Removal Reduction Research Articles

Stormwater runoff volume reduction and pollutant removal efficiency via bioretention cell using rock wool as the media

ABSTRACT Bioretention cells have been widely used in stormwater management. Media plays an important role in stormwater runoff reduction and pollutant removal. A novel bioretention media of rock wool has been proposed, and its effect on stormwater runoff reduction was investigated via a laboratory-scale experiment. The results showed that compared with the conventional bioretention (CB) using medium sand as media, the volume capture ratio of annual rainfall (VCRAR) of the rock wool bioretention (RWB) was 2.66–5.5% higher, and the peak flow reduction rate was 2.97–11.32% higher. The removal efficiency rates of the RWB on COD, NH4+ -N, TN, and TP were 25–30%, 10–31%, 20–40%, and 5–14% higher than the CB, respectively. The removal efficiency of the RWB on botht Pb and Zn was >99%. The microbial high-throughput sequencing results showed that the RWB can provide a better breeding environment for Bacteroides and Actinobacteria, which is conducive for the removal of pollutants. The RWB had a better stormwater runoff volume reduction rate and pollutant removal efficiency than the CB, therefore, it could be used as a better media for bioretention cells to improve stormwater management efficiency by using rock wool, obtained from construction waste, as the media.

Porous biochar-driven innovative Cr(VI) reduction and resource recovery

Catalyst-mediated Cr(VI) reduction face significant challenges in by-product ion residues and catalyst cost. The development of low-cost catalysts and catalytic technologies with near-zero impurity introduction is therefore of great practical importance. This study developed a pristine biochar-mediated nanoconfinement strategy that facilitated the chemical reaction between oxalic acid (OA) and Cr(VI) with a stoichiometric ratio of 3.3:1. The method achieved the simultaneous Cr(VI) reduction and OA removal, and completed the chromium removal process with near-zero impurity introduction after a precipitation process. While traditional catalyst-mediated reduction relied on mechanisms of functional group or active sites, this study took a novel path by adopting a focus on pore size. The structure–activity relationship, and experimental design demonstrated the predominant role of porous properties in the reaction, thus proposing a nanoconfinement Cr(VI) reduction mechanism. Continuous flow results revealed a treatment capacity of 1750 mL/h for the complete removal of Cr(VI) from Cr electroplating rinse water. The effluent, precipitated with CaO, had 0.06 mg/L of total Cr and 0.56 mg/L of OA, while the precipitate, recovered as CaCr2O4, demonstrated a total Cr recovery efficiency of 90.4%. Compared to industrial Cr(VI) chemical reduction, this study minimizes impurity introduction to the catalytic system. This study explores an effective strategy for Cr(VI) reduction and Cr resource recovery using low-cost pristine biochar, and provides navigation for the removal and resource utilization of other heavy metals or radionuclides.

Sensitivity of mass flux reduction and mass removal of perfluoroalkyl substances to groundwater flow and transport parameter variability and heterogeneity

The heterogeneity of soil hydraulic (e.g., hydraulic conductivity (KS), porosity (θS)) and chemical (e.g., solid-phase adsorption (Kd)) properties complicate contaminant transport by creating spatial variability in sources of contaminant leaching. There is a knowledge gap on the effect of the interplay between these properties on the retardation and transport of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) with different properties including carbon–fluorine chain-length and functional groups even in water-saturated conditions. Breakthrough curves (BTCs) have been used to evaluate PFAS transport behavior through heterogeneous media, including arrival time, maximum concentration, and tailing behavior. Contaminant mass flux reduction (MFR) and mass removal (MR) correlations are also compared using numerical modeling herein to characterize PFAS transport through different source zones within a two-domain, heterogeneous system with comparison to homogeneous scenarios under water-saturated conditions. With heterogeneous properties, model sensitivity to KS was the highest among the other parameters and was controlled by the KS ratio between the different soils. The PFAS models in the homogeneous and heterogeneous scenarios were both sensitive to θS depending on PFAS chain length. However, long-chain PFAS were less sensitive to θS variability compared to short-chain PFAS, due to their higher Kd. The homogeneous and heterogeneous scenarios were equally sensitive to Kd variability, which was dependent on PFAS chain length.

Comparison Between Powered and Manual Toothbrushes Effectiveness for Maintaining an Optimal Oral Health Status.

This integrative literature review evaluates the effectiveness of power toothbrushes (PTBs) compared to manual toothbrushes (MTBs) across various populations, focusing on plaque removal, gingival health, calculus reduction, and stain removal. PTBs equipped with advanced technologies such as oscillating-rotating and high-frequency sonic mechanisms have been examined for their potential to enhance oral hygiene. Special attention is given to vulnerable groups, including the elderly and individuals with intellectual disabilities, to assess how PTBs meet their specific oral health needs. A comprehensive literature search was conducted in databases including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, and Google Scholar using keywords such as "power toothbrush", "electric toothbrush", "manual toothbrush", "plaque removal", "gingivitis", "calculus", "dental stains", "oral hygiene", "elderly", and "intellectual disabilities". Studies published between 2000 and 2024 were selected based on their relevance to the PTB and MTB comparison, with an emphasis on outcomes related to oral hygiene efficacy. As this review is narrative rather than systematic, it focuses on synthesizing existing knowledge without applying strict inclusion or exclusion criteria. The results indicate that PTBs generally outperform MTBs in reducing plaque, gingivitis, and stains, though the benefits for special populations are less pronounced but still significant. However, practical issues such as user experience and mechanical reliability of PTBs warrant further investigation. In conclusion, this review enhances the understanding of PTB effectiveness, guides consumer choices, and informs future technological advancements in dental care practices.

One-step electrochemical reduction and precipitation removal of Cr(VI) in acid wastewaters using amidoxime-functionalized carbon felt

One-step electrochemical reduction and precipitation removal of Cr(VI) in acid wastewaters using amidoxime-functionalized carbon felt

Experimental investigation of single slope solar still for culinary wastewater treatment

Solar still desalination (SD) offers a sustainable method for purifying contaminated water, despite its productivity limitations. This study proposes an effective treatment process for culinary wastewater (CWW), multilayer-filtered culinary wastewater (MFCWW), and borewell water. We conducted a comprehensive experimental analysis comparing key SD characteristics, including evaporative heat transfer, efficiency, productivity, exergy, and water quality parameters, across these water sources. Our findings reveal that integrating multilayer filtration with CWW significantly improves efficiency, productivity, turbidity reduction, and hardness removal compared with untreated CWW. Notably, MFCWW has emerged as the most promising modification, demonstrating enhanced solar still performance over conventional SD processes. This study highlights the potential of combining multilayer filtration with solar desalination as an innovative approach to improve water purification outcomes, particularly for culinary wastewater treatment.

Electrochemical removal of crystal violet dye from simulated wastewater by stainless steel rotating cylinder anode: COD reduction and decolorization

Crystal violet dye is a harmful organic pollutant when it exists in wastewater. It may potentially cause renal failure and respiratory issues in humans, while it is considered carcinogenic and mutagenic in aqua life. In this study, crystal violet dye was electrochemically removed from simulated wastewater using a stainless-steel rotating cylinder anode. Effects of anode rotation rate (250–500 rpm), applied current (400–750 mA), concentration of supporting electrolyte (0.3–0.6 M), and time (30–70 min) on chemical oxygen demand (COD) reduction and colour removal were studied. The experimental results were correlated by two quadratic regression models: one for COD reduction with R2 equals to 0.859, and one for colour removal with R2 equals to 0.934. Process optimization was conducted using the response surface methodology (RSM) with a rotatable central composite design CCD. The results showed that the optimum conditions for maximum COD reduction (86.89 %) and maximum colour removal (88 %) are as follows: anode rotation rate = 625 rpm, applied current = 658.568 mA, supporting electrolyte = 0.422 M and treatment time = 90 min. Generally, all the studied factors have a potential effect on the process efficiency.

Acute peritumoral brainstem hemorrhage of a clival chondrosarcoma successfully treated via endoscopic endonasal surgery: illustrative case.

Chondrosarcoma is typically a slow-growing tumor, and intratumoral hemorrhage is rare. Acute brainstem hemorrhage due to chondrosarcoma has rarely been reported. A 77-year-old man presented with the sudden onset of headache and vomiting followed by a declining level of consciousness, progressive right hemiparesis, and left ophthalmoplegia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed pontine hemorrhage and a mass in the retroclival space compressing the brainstem. Emergency endoscopic endonasal surgery was performed. Intraoperative observation revealed that a hematoma was located in the pons and subdural space around the tumor mass, suggesting that the hematoma had likely been caused by the rupture of small vessels around the pons, not by intratumoral hemorrhage. The pathological diagnosis was chondrosarcoma. The patient recovered well and underwent radiotherapy. This report describes a case of sudden neurological deterioration due to hemorrhage in a patient with chondrosarcoma of the skull base. An emergency endoscopic endonasal approach for mass reduction and hematoma removal was effective in the acute setting. This approach revealed the suspected etiology of peritumoral hemorrhage, not intratumoral hemorrhage. https://thejns.org/doi/10.3171/CASE2460.

Reduction Removal of Cr(VI) Using Oxalic Acid With MOF‐525(Fe) as Catalyst: Performance and Mechanism

ABSTRACTHexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) has attracted great considerations due to their high toxicity, teratogenicity, and carcinogenicity. In this study, four Zr‐MOFs were synthesized and used to comparative study their catalytic performances of oxalic acid (OA) for Cr(VI) removal. Results showed that the removal efficiency for Cr(VI) was reached 65.91%, 78.64%, 53.58%, and 96.32% by MOF‐525, MOF‐525(Co), MOF‐525(Zn), and MOF‐525(Fe) in the presence of OA when the initial Cr(VI) concentration was 100 mg·L−1, respectively. The single‐factor experiments for further improving the Cr(VI) removal by MOF‐525(Fe)/OA demonstrated that the optimal conditions were OA dosage of 790 mg·L−1, and MOF‐525(Fe) dosage of 500 mg·L−1 and pH of 2.0, and the MOF‐525(Fe)/OA system could be used to treat Cr(VI)‐containing wastewater at concentrations below 50 mg·L−1. Ionic strength studies indicated that Na+, K+, Mg2+, Cl−, and SO42− had little effect on the catalytic reduction of Cr(VI), while high concentrations of Ca2+ (0.10 and 0.25 mol·L−1), NO3− (0.25 mol·L−1), and PO43− (0.25 mol·L−1) had significant inhibition effects. The reusability experiments showed that the stability of MOF‐525(Fe) was excellent, and it could be used for potential applications. Based on the results of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and Electron Paramagnetic Resonance spectrometer (EPR), the possible reduction mechanism of Cr(VI) by MOF‐525(Fe)/OA system was proposed as follows: The complexation of OA with Fe3+ was first complexed to produce Fe2+ and CO2•−, then Cr(VI) was combined with Zr–O and Fe–O clusters in MOF‐525(Fe) to obtain activation energy, and the reduction ability was enhanced at the same time; finally, Cr(VI) obtained electrons from CO2•− and was sequentially reduced as Cr(V) and Cr(III).

Simultaneous removal of ammonia nitrogen, sulfamethoxazole, and antibiotic resistance genes in self-corrosion microelectrolysis-enhanced counter-diffusion biofilm system

A self-corrosion microelectrolysis (SME)-enhanced membrane-aerated biofilm reactor (eMABR) was developed for the removal of pollutants and reduction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). Fe2+ and Fe3+ formed iron oxides on the biofilm, which enhanced the adsorption and redox process. SME can induce microorganisms to secrete more extracellular proteins and up-regulate the expression of ammonia monooxygenase (AMO) (0.92 log2). AMO exposed extra binding sites (ASP-69) for antibiotics, weakening the competition between NH4+-N and sulfamethoxazole (SMX). The NH4+-N removal efficiency in the S-eMABR (adding SMX and IC) increased by 44.87 % compared to the S-MABR (adding SMX). SME increased the removal performance of SMX by approximately 1.45 times, down-regulated the expressions of sul1 (−1.69 log2) and sul2 (−1.30 log2) genes, and controlled their transfer within the genus. This study provides a novel strategy for synergistic reduction of antibiotics and ARGs, and elucidates the corresponding mechanism based on metatranscriptomic and molecular docking analyses.

Multi-criteria optimisation of subcritical wet oxidation for sludge treatment

Subcritical wet oxidation (SWO) is an environmentally-friendly solution for sewage sludge volume reduction. However, little study has comprehensively optimised SWO conditions across various aspects. This study developed a multi-objective model using genetic algorithms (GAs) to optimise SWO conditions, considering sludge deconstruction, emissions, energy balance, and resource recovery. The multi-criteria optimisation approach highlights the significant environmental benefits of SWO, including substantial sludge volume reduction and effective pollutant removal. An in-depth analysis of temperature, reaction time, and severity factor revealed their critical roles in enhancing sludge deconstruction and resource recovery efficiency. GAs predicted optimal conditions at 271 ± 2 °C and 51 ± 1 min, with confirmation experiments showing only 12% discrepancy between predicted and actual outcomes. This study provides practical insights for efficient sewage sludge treatment and sustainable wastewater management.

Synergy between Nitrogen Removal and Fermentation Bacteria Ensured Efficient Nitrogen Removal of a Mainstream Anammox System at Low Temperatures.

Simultaneous partial nitrification, anammox, denitrification, and fermentation (SNADF) is a novel process achieving simultaneous advanced sludge reduction and nitrogen removal. The influence of low temperatures on the SNADF reactor was explored to facilitate the application of mainstream anammox. When temperature decreased from 32 to 16 °C, efficient nitrogen removal was achieved, with a nitrogen removal efficiency of 81.9-94.9%. Microbial community structure analysis indicated that the abundance of Candidatus Brocadia (dominant anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AnAOB) in the system) increased from 0.03% to 0.18%. The abundances of Nitrospira and Nitrosomonas increased from 1.6% and 0.16% to 2.5% and 1.63%, respectively, resulting in an increase in the ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) to nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) abundance ratio from 0.1 to 0.64. This ensured sufficient nitrite for AnAOB, promoting nitrogen removal. In addition, Candidatus Competibacter, which plays a role in partial denitrification, was the dominant denitrification bacteria (DNB) and provided more nitrite for AnAOB, facilitating AnAOB enrichment. Based on the findings from microbial correlation network analysis, Nitrosomonas (AOB), Thauera, and Haliangium (DNB), and A4b and Saprospiraceae (fermentation bacteria), were center nodes in the networks and therefore essential for the stability of the SNADF system. Moreover, fermentation bacteria, DNB, and AOB had close connections in substrate cooperation and resistance to adverse environments; therefore, they also played important roles in maintaining stable nitrogen removal at low temperatures. This study provided new suggestions for mainstream anammox application.

Radiation reduction modification of sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic frameworks for enhanced photocatalytic chromium(VI) removal

A sp2 carbon-conjugated covalent organic framework (BDATN) was modified through γ-ray radiation reduction and subsequent acidification with hydrochloric acid to yield a novel functional COF (named rBDATN-HCl) for Cr(VI) removal. The morphology and structure of rBDATN-HCl were analyzed and identified by SEM, FTIR, XRD and solid-state 13C NMR. It is found that the active functional groups, such as hydroxyl and amide, were introduced into BDATN after radiation reduction and acidification. The prepared rBDATN-HCl demonstrates a photocatalytic reduction removal rate of Cr(VI) above 99% after 60 min of illumination with a solid-liquid ratio of 0.5 mg/mL, showing outstanding performance, which is attributed to the increase of dispersibility and adsorption sites of rBDATN-HCl. In comparison to the cBDATN-HCl synthesized with chemical reduction, rBDATN-HCl exhibits a better photoreduction performance for Cr(VI), demonstrating the advantages of radiation preparation of rBDATN-HCl. It is expected that more functionalized sp2 carbon-conjugated COFs could be obtained by this radiation-induced reduction strategy.

Effect of antihypertensive deprescribing on hospitalisation and mortality: long-term follow-up of the OPTiMISE randomised controlled trial

Deprescribing of antihypertensive medications is recommended for some older patients with low blood pressure and frailty. The OPTiMISE trial showed that this deprescribing can be achieved with no differences in blood pressure control at 3months compared with usual care. We aimed to examine effects of deprescribing on longer-term hospitalisation and mortality. This randomised controlled trial enrolled participants from 69general practices across central and southern England. Participants aged 80years or older, with systolic blood pressure less than 150mm Hg and who were receiving two or more antihypertensive medications, were randomly assigned (1:1) to antihypertensive medication reduction (removal of one antihypertensive) or usual care. General practitioners and participants were aware of the treatment allocation following randomisation but individuals responsible for analysing the data were masked to the treatment allocation throughout the study. Participants were followed up via their primary and secondary care electronic health records at least 3years after randomisation. The primary outcome was time to all-cause hospitalisation or mortality. Intention-to-treat analyses were done using Cox regression modelling. A per-protocol analysis of the primary outcome was also done, excluding participants from the intervention group who did not reduce treatment or who had medication reinstated during the initial trial 12-week follow-up period. This study is registered with the European Union Drug Regulating Authorities Clinical Trials Database (EudraCT2016-004236-38) and the ISRCTN Registry (ISRCTN97503221). Between March 20, 2017, and Sept 30, 2018, a total of 569participants were randomly assigned. Of these, 564(99%; intervention=280; control=284) were followed up for a median of 4·0years (IQR 3·7-4·3). Participants had a mean age of 84·8years (SD 3·4) at baseline and 273 (48%) were women. Medication reduction was sustained in 109participants at follow-up (51% of the 213participants alive in the intervention group). Participants in the intervention group had a larger reduction in antihypertensives than the control group (adjusted mean difference -0·35drugs [95% CI -0·52 to -0·18]). Overall, 202 (72%) participants in the intervention group and 218 (77%) participants in the control group experienced hospitalisation or mortality during follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR] 0·93 [95% CI 0·76to 1·12]). There was some evidence that the proportion of participants experiencing the primary outcome in the per-protocol population was lower in the intervention group (aHR 0·80 [0·64to 1·00]). Half of participants sustained medication reduction with no evidence of an increase in all-cause hospitalisation or mortality. These findings suggest that an antihypertensive deprescribing intervention might be safe for people aged 80years or older with controlled blood pressure taking two or more antihypertensives. British Heart Foundation and National Institute for Health and Care Research.

Reduction of antinutrients and off-flavour in kidney bean flour by acidic and alkaline reactive extrusion

The presence of antinutrients and undesirable flavours in kidney bean flour poses challenges to consumer acceptance. Although extrusion can mitigate antinutrients to some extent, its impact on reducing beany flavour in bean flour remains underexplored. This study investigated the effects of injecting acetic acid or sodium carbonate solutions at three concentration levels (0.05, 0.1, 0.15 mol/L), in conjunction with three temperature profiles (40/60/80/80/90, 40/60/80/90/110, 50/70/90/110/130 °C) and two feed moisture levels (25, 30 %), on the removal of antinutrients (condensed tannins, trypsin inhibitor activity, phytic acid, raffinose family oligosaccharides) and reduction of volatile compounds that contribute to beany flavour in whole kidney bean flour. The results showed that all concentrations of acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions effectively reduced condensed tannins compared to water, especially at 130 °C extrusion temperature. Introducing acetic acid and sodium carbonate solutions at a concentration of 0.15 mol/L led to 72 and 90 % reduction of total raffinose family oligosaccharide content, respectively, in contrast to the 17 % reduction observed with water alone. The incorporation of sodium carbonate solution reduced the total volatile compounds by 45–58 % as compared with water (23–33 %) and acetic acid (11–27 %). This reduction was primarily due to the reduction of aldehydes, alcohols, and aromatic hydrocarbons. These results indicate that injecting sodium carbonate solution during extrusion can effectively reduce antinutrients and beany flavour compounds in kidney bean flour.

Treatment of real carwash wastewater using high-efficiency and energy-saving electrocoagulation technique

This study focused on the treatment of actual wastewater from a car wash facility using electrocoagulation. The primary objective was to decrease chemical oxygen demand (COD) and eliminate turbidity by employing various electrodes such as Stainless Steel (SS) 304, Galvanized Iron (GI), and aluminum foil (α-Al) in a batch configuration. Several factors including contact time, current density, initial pH, and electrode material were examined to optimize process efficiency. The sludge generated during electrocoagulation was analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometry (SEM-EDS). The results indicated that COD removal efficiency initially decreased between 30 and 60 min before improving. The data for COD, turbidity, and total phosphate reduction aligned well with the pseudo-first-order kinetic model, with R2 values of 0.275, 0.898, and 0.522, respectively. Minor variations were observed in pH, Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Electrical Conductivity (EC), and alkalinity, while the temperature increased from 12 to 18.6 °C. Optimal removal efficiency for turbidity, total phosphate, and COD was achieved at pH = 6. The study demonstrated that higher current density resulted in enhanced COD reduction and turbidity removal. Chloride levels decreased with increasing applied current. The α-Al electrode exhibited superior performance compared to SS 304 and GI electrodes, with notable pH fluctuations during the process. UV–visible absorption spectra indicated differences in treated wastewater patterns based on the electrode utilized. SEM analysis revealed distinct characteristics of sludge produced by different electrodes. Energy and electrode consumption varied among the electrodes, with SS 304 displaying the lowest values.

Comprehensive study on pilot nitrification-sludge fermentation coupled denitrification system with extended sludge retention time

The sludge fermentation-coupled denitrification process, utilized for sludge reduction and nitrogen removal from wastewater, is frequently hindered by its hydrolysis step’s efficacy. This study addresses this limitation by extending the sludge retention time (SRT) to 120 days. As a result, the nitrate removal efficiency (NRE) of the nitrification-sludge fermentation coupled denitrification (NSFD) pilot system increased from 67.1 ± 0.2 % to 96.7 ± 0.1 %, and the sludge reduction efficiency (SRE) rose from 40.2 ± 0.5 % to 62.2 ± 0.9 %. Longer SRT enhanced predation and energy dissipation, reducing intact cells from 99.2 % to 78.0 % and decreasing particle size from 135.2 ± 4.6 μm and 19.4 ± 2.1 μm to 64.5 ± 3.5 μm and 15.5 ± 1.6 μm, respectively. It also created different niches by altering the biofilm’s adsorption capacity, with interactions between these niches driving improved performance. In conclusion, extending SRT optimized the microbial structure and enhanced the performance of the NSFD system.

Efficient removal of toxic organics and reduction of Cr(VI) to Cr(III) from tannery sludge: A comparative study of microwave pyrolysis and conventional pyrolysis

The efficient and safe treatment of tannery sludge (TS) are causing significant concern. Pyrolysis stands as a pivotal technology in the realm of sludge treatment, offering the benefits of degrading organic matters within TS while simultaneously transforming the sludge into energy and other valuable substances. In order to develop an effective pyrolysis method with good resource recovery performance, this study employs microwave pyrolysis (MP) and conventional pyrolysis (CP) at temperatures ranging from 300 to 900 °C to investigate the transformation of chromium morphology. The results indicate that TS experienced a weight loss of 43 % during the pyrolysis process, with a combined average activation energy measured at 169.58 kJ/mol. MP, due to its more uniform and efficient heating, resulted in pronounced solid degradation, leading to increased pyrolysis gases. This enhanced the removal of organics at lower temperatures and contributed to the ring opening of aromatic hydrocarbons in the high-temperature segment. MP effectively reduced Cr(VI) to Cr(III) in TS, whereas CP showed relatively ineffective reduction of Cr(VI). Furthermore, metal compounds in TS treated by both MP and CP predominantly existed in the residue as FeCr2O4 and Cr2O3 at high temperatures. This suggests that more Cr(III) was immobilized in the pyrolysis residue. This study revalues the significance of MP as a promising treatment for TS, holding the potential for resource utilization.

Enhanced antibacterial activity of poly(vinyl alcohol)‐graphene composites via graphene oxide surfactancy

AbstractThe escalating threat of bacterial infections to human health necessitates innovative antibacterial strategies and materials. Despite this need, there is still a significant demand for materials that combine high mechanical and thermal properties with biocompatibility. To address these urgent issues, our study investigates the development of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) composite with graphene flakes (GF) as fillers. The aim is to strengthen the unique properties of graphene to enhance antibacterial activity. Graphene oxide (GO) was used as a surfactant to achieve stable graphene dispersion in water, preserving its inherent properties while avoiding the drawbacks associated with common surfactants, such as property reduction and complex removal processes. In this study, the mechanical and thermal properties of PVA composites containing GO and GF are superior to those of pristine PVA. Especially, the PVA‐2 composite exhibited a notable enhancement in both tensile strength and elongation at break compared with the PVA composite, with increases of 7.8% and 15% respectively. Moreover, PVA‐2, 4, and 6 composites exhibit significant antibacterial efficacy, achieving 4.8 and 4.9 log CFU/cm2 for Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, respectively. These results indicate that the enhanced oxidative stress induced by GO as a surfactant, combined with the physical damage caused by the increased GF nanostructures. This study highlights the potential of PVA/GF/GO composites in biomedical and tissue engineering applications, providing a promising pathway for the development of new antibacterial materials.

Capturing carbon dioxide from air with charged-sorbents

Emissions reduction and greenhouse gas removal from the atmosphere are both necessary to achieve net-zero emissions and limit climate change1. There is thus a need for improved sorbents for the capture of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, a process known as direct air capture. In particular, low-cost materials that can be regenerated at low temperatures would overcome the limitations of current technologies. In this work, we introduce a new class of designer sorbent materials known as ‘charged-sorbents’. These materials are prepared through a battery-like charging process that accumulates ions in the pores of low-cost activated carbons, with the inserted ions then serving as sites for carbon dioxide adsorption. We use our charging process to accumulate reactive hydroxide ions in the pores of a carbon electrode, and find that the resulting sorbent material can rapidly capture carbon dioxide from ambient air by means of (bi)carbonate formation. Unlike traditional bulk carbonates, charged-sorbent regeneration can be achieved at low temperatures (90–100 °C) and the sorbent’s conductive nature permits direct Joule heating regeneration2,3 using renewable electricity. Given their highly tailorable pore environments and low cost, we anticipate that charged-sorbents will find numerous potential applications in chemical separations, catalysis and beyond.