Remediation Of Polluted Water Research Articles

N, S co-doped porous carbon derived from waste medical masks to support LaFexCo1-xO3 as highly effective peroxymonosulfate catalysts for degradation of tetracycline

N and S co-doped porous carbon was prepared by decorating the waste disposable medical masks (WDMM) with thioacetamide (TAA) as the N/S source and then carbonizing at high temperature, which was subsequently incorporated Co-doped LaFeO3 to obtain NSC@LaFexCo1-xO3 catalysts. The resulting catalysts were used to construct an advanced oxidation process (AOP) based on activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) to degrade tetracycline (TC) in water. The physicochemical properties of the as-obtained catalysts were characterized and environmental factors affecting the catalytic performances of NSC@LaFexCo1-xO3/PMS were systematically investigated. The results showed that N and S co-doped porous carbon derived from thioacetamide (TAA)-functionalized WDMM at high temperature could be used as good support for LaFexCo1-xO3. The synergistic effects between N/S co-doped carbon and polyvalent metals (Co2+/Co3+ and Fe3+/Fe2+) endowed NSC@LaFexCo1-xO3 with enhanced catalytic performances, in which nearly 100% of TC could be removed by NSC@LaFe0.95Co0.05O3/PMS system within 10 min under the conditions of 0.2 g/L of catalyst dose, 2.5 mmol/L of PMS concentration and 10 mg/L of initial TC concentration. Furthermore, the constructed NSC@LaFe0.95Co0.05O3/PMS system exhibited a wider pH adaptability (3.0 ∼ 10.0), good salt resistance and reusability as well as high mineralization. The mechanisms and possible pathways of TC degradation by NSC@LaFe0.95Co0.05O3/PMS system were proposed and the ecotoxicity of TC and its intermediates was also evaluated. This study demonstrated the feasible transformation of waste masks into porous carbon with high added value for water pollution control and remediation, accomplishing the dual purposes of recycling and resource utilization of waste masks and protecting the environment.

Graphene-based aerogel for efficient oil sorption and water pollution remediation

In the past few years, there has been a notable rise in the release of industrial waste oil, frequent oil spills at sea, and a significant escalation in the severity of water pollution. This issue has garnered global attention and is now recognised as a widespread concern. Hence, there is a pressing demand for an oil-absorbing material exhibiting high oil-absorption capabilities and robust mechanical properties. This study introduces a new aerogel characterised by a three-dimensional hierarchical pore size structure derived from natural corn stalk powder and graphene oxide (GO). The developed aerogel demonstrated notable sorption capacity ranging from 70.6 to 131.0 g/g, along with excellent compressibility and high elasticity. These properties enable effective oil-water separation and selective sorption. This study introduces a novel approach to treating agricultural waste and presents a straightforward, environmentally friendly, cost-effective method for synthesising high-performance graphene-based oil-absorbing agents.

A Comprehensive Review on Lignin Based Electrospun Nanomaterials as Suitable Adsorbents for Remediation of Detrimental Water and Air Pollutants

A Comprehensive Review on Lignin Based Electrospun Nanomaterials as Suitable Adsorbents for Remediation of Detrimental Water and Air Pollutants

Thermal modified sediments photocatalyst: A new strategy using waste to treat waste for tetracycline degradation and transformation product-associated risks

Sediment (SM) is composed of multiple components and exhibits a complex surface morphology, enabling it to adsorb water pollutants and result in sediment pollution. It is noted that SM can convert into material for reuse after calcination to decompose the adsorbed organic pollutants, which remains efficient photocatalytic performance. Our research demonstrates that SM-raw degrades 61.4 % of tetracycline (TC) within 240 min, and after adding Peroxysulphate (PDS) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), the SM-350 (calcined at 350 °C) and the SM-250 (calcined at 250 °C) could remove 94.7 % and 95.7 %. Quenching experiments reveal that •O2−,1O2, and h+ primarily contribute to TC degradation in SM-350/PDS and SM-250/H2O2 systems. In addition, the SM samples maintained good degradation performance after five consecutive cycles. Additionally, the possible pathway of TC degradation and its product risk assessment was established to verify the toxicity of the intermediate products gradually decreased. In conclusion, this study offers a novel insight into the potential of SM as a cost-effective photocatalyst for the effective remediation of sediment and water pollution, but also plays an important role in environmental governance as a new strategy of “waste to treat waste”.

Oil/water separation with hydrophobic/oleophilic silica-shelled cellulose aerogels

In this work, hydrophobic/oleophilic cellulose/SiO2 aerogels are prepared by coating cellulose aerogels which are prepared from freeze-drying aqueous cellulose solutions with a layer of silica shell and then hydrophobizing the surface by reacting with vaporized methyltrimethoxylsilane. With the cellulose content in the aqueous solution increases from 0.5% to 1.25%, the density of the cellulose/SiO2 aerogel increases from 28.92 mg/cm3 to 34.83 mg/cm3, and the porosity decreases from 90.2% to 84.48%. The structure and composition of cellulose/SiO2 aerogel are analyzed with SEM, FT-IR, XPS, and TGA. The surface wettability investigation indicates that the prepared cellulose/SiO2 aerogels have excellent hydrophobicity and oleophilicity, with a water contact angle up to 143° and an oil contact angle down to 0°. The results of oil absorption experiments show that the absorption capacity of the aerogels for oils and organic solvents is 16∼40 times their own mass. In addition, as the aerogels are hydrophobic/oleophilic, they demonstrate good oil-selective absorption performance in oil/water mixture. Moreover, experimental results in oil absorption under high temperature conditions and acidic/basic conditions indicate that the aerogels have exceptional resilience towards arduous conditions. These advantages render them a viable option for remediation of water pollution resulted from oil contamination.

Numerical Simulation of the Solute Migration Regulated by Vertical Cutoff Wall based on FEFLOW

Cutoff wall has been widely used in desalination of coastal aquifers in many coastal regions and remediation of industrial waste water pollution. In recent years, the excessive exploitation of resources in the coastal brine distribution area leads to the salinization of deep soil. At the same time, the mine water pollution caused by improper discharge of industrial waste water into the abandoned mining area is a new form of pollution in Shandong, China. However, due to the complex geological conditions of abandoned mining areas, loose collapse of overlying strata in roadway and gob layer, it is difficult to prevent and control groundwater pollution in deep gob layer. It is a major difficulty in practical engineering to evaluate the cutoff interception performance of vertical cutoff wall on the pollution of gob layer in such mining areas and optimize cutoff interception measures. In this paper, a typical polluted abandoned mining area in Shandong, China is taken as an example, and COD is used as the main simulation factor for numerical simulation. The numerical simulation results show that in the process of groundwater pollution control, the cutoff wall with appropriate thickness and hydraulic conductivity can effectively block the diffusion of solute. The horizontal transport of solute can be significantly weakened when the thickness of the cutoff wall is 90 cm and the hydraulic conductivity is 1.0×10-4 m/d. Compared with increasing the thickness, reducing the hydraulic conductivity of the cutoff wall is more effective in controlling the migration of solute in the site. When the hydraulic conductivity is reduced by an order of magnitude, the diffusion range of solute is reduced by 19.74% compared to before. Therefore, priority should be given to reducing the hydraulic conductivity of the cutoff wall in order to optimize its influence on pollutant migration.

RECENT PROGRESS IN THE SYNTHESIS AND PHOTOCATALYTIC DEGRADATION OF ORGANIC POLLUTANTS BY GRAPHENE-BASED TiO2 NANOCOMPOSITE: A REVIEW

Numerous sustainable water processing techniques have been widely investigated and are capable of boosting the quality of water. Among these techniques, photonanocatalysis has stood tall with great promises in the last few decades. Nonetheless, a major challenge in the environmental remediation of photocatalyst technology is to develop an ideal photocatalyst that must have excellent photocatalytic efficiency, large specific surface area, maximum harvesting of solar energy, high durability and recyclability. Due to their stability, low toxicity, low cost and superhydrophilicity TiO2 has been used by researchers as an efficient photocatalyst for the degradation of organic pollutants. Unfortunately, it suffers greatly due to its high band gap with 3.2[Formula: see text]eV, insufficient visible light response, fast photogenerated electrons and holes recombination rate and serious agglomeration. Keeping these views, the present review highlights the principal results of studies on current practical synthesis and photocatalytic activity of graphene-based TiO2 nanocomposite materials for the treatment of water. The amalgamation of graphene oxide (GO) and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) with nanoscale TiO2 particles results in synergistic properties thereby tuning and increasing the functionality of the composite. In this regard, the review also addressed the progress and insight into graphene-based TiO2 nanocomposite in photocatalytic removal of organic pollutants including basis mechanism, possible key strategies of the composite, and an overview of how to elevate efficacy. Finally, brief challenges and future perspectives in this field are also presented. Indeed, this work illustrated that graphene-based TiO2 composite nanomaterials can be a green signal in the future of photocatalysis targeting water pollution remediation.

Advanced cellulose-based hydrogel TiO2 catalyst composites for efficient photocatalytic degradation of organic dye methylene blue

Sustainable cellulose-based hydrogels are used in medicine and environmental science. Hydrogels’ porosity makes them excellent adsorbents and stable substrates for immobilizing photocatalysts to remove organic dyes. Despite their potential, the implementation of hydrogels for this purpose is still limited due to their high synthesis temperature and low cellulose content. To overcome these challenges, this study develops cellulose-based hydrogels, which have a high cellulose content and can be easily synthesized under ambient conditions. Containing a higher cellulose concentration than previous hydrogels, the synthesized hydrogels are more stable and can be reused numerous times in treatment operations. The hydrogel properties were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction and thermal analysis. Scanning electronic microscopy revealed that TiO2 nanoparticles were homogeneously distributed throughout the hydrogel's matrices. In addition, transparent hydrogels allow light to pass through, making them suitable substrates to remove organic dye. The results showed that the hydrogel with TiO2 was able to degrade nearly 90% of organic dye within 180 min. Furthermore, the hydrogel with the embedded catalyst exhibits the potential for reusability with a regeneration efficiency of 80.01% after five runs. These findings suggest that this novel hydrogel is a promising candidate for water pollution remediation.

The complete chloroplast genome sequence of Hydrocotyle vulgaris L. (Araliaceae)

Hydrocotyle vulgaris is a perennial wetland clonal plant in the Araliaceae family, which was introduced to China as an ornamental plant in the 1990s. Although H. vulgaris is now considered a potential invasiveness species in China, it also plays a significant role in the remediation of water pollution. Here, we reported its complete chloroplast genome and analyzed the basic characteristics. The chloroplast genome was 153,165 bp in length, including a pair of inverted repeat (IR) regions of 25,072 bp separated by a large single-copy (LSC) region of 84,291 bp and a small single-copy (SSC) region of 18,730 bp. The H. vulgaris chloroplast genome contained 132 predicted genes, and its overall GC content was 37.60%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that H. vulgaris was closely related to H. verticillata. The H. vulgaris chloroplast genome presented in this study will lay a foundation for further genetic and genomic studies of the genus Hydrocotyle.

Ball-milled biochar-modified zero-valent aluminum activates peroxodisulfate for phenol degradation: Enhancement of catalysis by membrane-breaking effect

Zero-valent aluminum (ZVAl) is a potential activator for peroxodisulfate (PDS), yet the dense oxide film on its surface hampers electron transfer for the O−O bond cleavage of PDS. We synthesized zero-valent aluminum-biochar (BM-ZVAl@BC) composites through ball milling, which effectively disrupted the native oxide layer on BM-ZVAl@BC. Within the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system, biochar (BC) not only suppressed the rapid oxidation of BM-ZVAl@BC but also enhanced the dispersion and electron transfer rate of ZVAl, thereby improving the overall catalytic efficiency. Consequently, the phenol removal efficacy in the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system was notably improved. Optimal catalytic performance of the prepared BM-ZVAl@BC was achieved at a charcoal-to‑aluminum mass ratio of 2:1, resulting in 95.7 % phenol removal after 180 min. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis revealed that both free radicals (SO4•−, •OH, and O2•−) and non-radical species (1O2) contributed to phenol degradation, with SO4•− and •OH playing predominant roles. In summary, the BM-ZVAl@BC/PDS system represented an effective and promising technology for the remediation of phenolic water pollutants.

Eco-friendly LEDs radiation-assisted photocatalytic mineralization of toxic azure B dye using Bi2MoZnO7 nanocomposite

The present time nanocomposites show highly improved photocatalytic performance in water pollution remediation technology. Herein, BMZ (Bi2MoZnO7) nanocomposite photocatalyst has been synthesized via the co-precipitation method. The structural and morphological studies were interpreted by analytical techniques including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analyses. The accomplishment of photocatalysis was determined by the mineralization of toxic azure B dye using a light-emitting diode (LED) as a source of radiation. The characterization studies revealed that the average particle size of BMZ nanocomposite was 28 nm with a flake-like structure having a smooth surface. An EDX spectrum shows the characteristic peaks of Bi, Mo, Zn, and O elements. The parameters such as pH, dye concentration, catalyst weight, reusability of photocatalyst, Fenton’s reagent, CO2, COD, NO3− and SO42− evaluation, and N2 and O2 purging were studied for optimum conditions. Fenton’s reagent test is one of the green approaches in which OH is generated that is utilized for the degradation of toxic azure B dye. The photocatalytic degradation in Fe2+/H2O2/BMZ/Azure B system, high value of the rate constant was recorded as compared to the experiments, performed without BMZ nanocomposite photocatalyst. The eco-friendly LEDs irradiation was applied as a light source material throughout the experiment. The 98 % degradation of toxic azure B dye was observed in 120 min with the highest rate constant (k = 6.1 × 10−4 s−1) in LEDs irradiation.

Biogenic synthesis of reduced graphene oxide and investigation of adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics parameters for water pollution remediation

Biogenic synthesis of reduced graphene oxide and investigation of adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics parameters for water pollution remediation

Application of artificial wetland technology in Miyun Reservoir water management

In recent years, with the increasing attention to environmental pollution, water quality management has become an important part of protecting water resources and maintaining ecological balance. And as an important means of water pollution remediation, artificial wetlands have gradually received widespread attention. Miyun Reservoir, as an important drinking water source in Beijing, is particularly important for water quality management. As an ecological restoration technology, artificial wetland has significant water quality improvement effect by simulating and improving the function of natural wetland. Therefore, artificial wetland has important scientific research and practical significance in the water management of Miyun Reservoir. In this paper, we will discuss the application of artificial wetland in water management of Miyun Reservoir, and summarise the results and conclusions of the study, highlight the impact and significance of the study, and look forward to the future research direction. By exploring the application of artificial wetlands in reservoir water management, it is expected to provide scientific basis and technical support for water resource management departments and decision makers, and contribute to the improvement of water quality and ecological restoration of Miyun Reservoir.

Investigating dual-functional Al-doped stannic oxide nanorods towards photodegradation of real industry wastes and dye-sensitized solar cell application: An experimental and theoretical interpretation

In this work, we demonstrate a uniquely designed Tin (IV) Oxide (SnO2)-based nanomaterials for energy and environmental applications. Here, the Al-doped SnO2 nanorods (NR) at various concentrations ranging from 3 wt% to 9 wt% carried out following facile co-precipitation technique which induced synergic structural, optical and electrical properties in resulting products. Further, the Al-incorporation induced considerable changes to the structural, optical, and electrical characteristics turning SnO2 nanorods to Al-SnO2 nanocubes (NCs). Resulting changes from nanorod to nanocubes were closely monitored using various characterization techniques, which were then effectively utilized for photocatalytic degradation of important textile industry dyes, encompassing both cationic (MB, CV) and anionic (EBT) types. Optimal Al-doped SnO2 NC (6 wt%) demonstrated significant degradation efficiencies for organic pollutant and textile industry effluents under direct sunlight exposure. On the other hand, combination of optical and electrical properties was utilized in dye-sensitive solar cells (DSSCs) to achieve noteworthy efficiency of 6.33%, surpassing that of previous reported SnO2-based nanostructures. These exceptional performance nanomaterials can be attributed to the optimized morphology of the nanocubes and the reduction of the band gap from 3.24 eV to 2.75 eV facilitated by the introduction of aluminum dopant. Furthermore, synergic combination has also improved visible light excitation, substantially decreased resistance to charge carrier transfer phenomenon, improved the charge carrier concentration, as well as considerably decreased the electron/hole recombination rate. Therefore, presence of Al in SnO2 nanostructure has considerably improved the opto-electrical properties that were interpreted following theoretical studies. Therefore, study gives simple nanomaterials having both the photodegradation and dye-sensitive solar cell (DSSC) performance of the SnO2 nanostructure, as a cost-effective energy conversion and water pollution remediation tool for the near future.

In-situ optical water quality monitoring sensors—applications, challenges, and future opportunities

Water quality issues remain a major cause of global water insecurity, and real-time low-cost monitoring solutions are central to the remediation and management of water pollution. Optical sensors, based on fluorescence, absorbance, scattering and reflectance-based principles, provide effective water quality monitoring (WQM) solutions. However, substantial challenges remain to their wider adoption across scales and environments amid cost and calibration-related concerns. This review discusses the current and future challenges in optical water quality monitoring based on multi-peak fluorescence, full-spectrum absorbance, light-scattering and remotely sensed surface reflectance. We highlight that fluorescence-based sensors can detect relatively low concentrations of aromatic compounds (e.g., proteins and humic acids) and quantify and trace organic pollution (e.g., sewage or industrial effluents). Conversely, absorbance-based sensors (Ultraviolet-Visible-Infra-red, UV-VIS-IR) are suitable for monitoring a wider range of physiochemical variables (e.g., nitrate, dissolved organic carbon and turbidity). Despite being accurate under optimal conditions, measuring fluorescence and absorbance can be demanding in dynamic environments due to ambient temperature and turbidity effects. Scattering-based turbidity sensors provide a detailed understanding of sediment transport and, in conjunction, improve the accuracy of fluorescence and absorbance measurements. Recent advances in micro-sensing components such as mini-spectrometers and light emitting diodes (LEDs), and deep computing provide exciting prospects of in-situ full-spectrum analysis of fluorescence (excitation-emission matrices) and absorbance for improved understanding of interferants to reduce the signal-to-noise ratio, improve detection accuracies of existing pollutants, and enable detection of newer contaminants. We examine the applications combining in-situ spectroscopy and remotely sensed reflectance for scaling Optical WQM in large rivers, lakes and marine bodies to scale from point observations to large water bodies and monitor algal blooms, sediment load, water temperature and oil spills. Lastly, we provide an overview of future applications of optical techniques in detecting emerging contaminants in treated and natural waters. We advocate for greater synergy between industry, academia and public policy for effective pollution control and water management.

Copper nanoclusters-doped novel carrier with synergistic adsorption-catalytic active sites to enable high-performance dye removal

Enhancing the synergistic interplay between adsorption and catalytic oxidation to amplify Fenton-like effects remains a pivotal challenge in advancing water pollution remediation strategies. In this study, a suite of novel carriers (SH) composed of silica (SiO2) and hydroxyapatite (HAp) in different ratios were synthesized through an amalgamation of the sol–gel and co-precipitation techniques. Notably, various forms of copper (Cu) species, including Cu2+ ions and Cu nanoclusters (Cu NCs), could be stably incorporated onto the SH surface via meticulous loading and doping techniques. This approach has engendered a new class of Fenton-like catalysts (Cu NCs-SH1-5) characterized by robust acid-base tolerance stability and remarkable recyclability. Compared with the previously reported Cu NCs-HAp, this catalyst with lower Cu species content could achieve better performance in adsorbing and degrading dyes under the aid of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). The catalyst's dual action sites, specifically the adsorption sites (SiOH, POH, slit pores) and catalytic centers (multivalent Cu species), had clear division of labor and collaborate with each other. Further, reactive oxygen species (ROS) identification and astute electrochemical testing have unveiled the mechanism underpinning the cooperative degradation of dyes by three types of ROS, spawned through electron transfer between the Fenton-like catalyst (Cu NCs-SH) and H2O2. From these insights, the mechanism of synergistic adsorption-catalytic removal was proposed.

A multi-scale computational investigation of cationic dye interaction with rutile TiO2: An interconnected simulation approach

Metal oxides have increasingly been employed for water pollution remediation. In the present investigation, the adsorptive characteristics of three cationic dyes, rhodamine B (RB), safranin O (SO), and methylene blue (MB), on the (110) surface of rutile titanium dioxide in an aqueous milieu were scrutinized. Utilizing Density Functional Theory (DFT), the reactivity of these organic compounds was evaluated by computing parameters such as molecular frontier orbital energies, energy gap (ΔEgap), electronegativity (χ), chemical hardness (η), chemical softness (σ), electrophilicity (ω), nucleophilicity, electron transfer fraction (ΔN), and Fukui indices. Findings demonstrated that RB exhibited superior reactivity and adsorptive capacity in comparison to MB and SO. Self-Consistent Charge Density-Functional Tight-Binding (SCC-DFTB) simulations revealed that RB engaged in the most potent interactions with the TiO2(110) surface, with interaction energies following the sequence RB (−1.12 eV) > MB (−1.07 eV) > SO (−1.01 eV). Furthermore, the most energetically favorable adsorption configurations for these dyes were elucidated through Molecular Dynamics (MD) simulations. Adsorption energies calculated via MD simulations corroborated that the TiO2 (110) surface possessed high adsorptive capabilities for these cationic dyes, particularly a stronger affinity for RB. The study provides comprehensive insights into the molecular-level interactions between cationic dyes and rutile TiO2, thereby contributing valuable information for the optimization of metal oxide-based water pollution treatment technologies.

Preparation of Ti4O7/h‐BN self‐supported ceramic photoelectrode and its photoelectrocatalytic performance for water purification

AbstractThe construction of high‐efficiency self‐supported ceramic photoelectrode based on ideal semiconductor materials is essential for achieving effective degradation of pollutants by photoelectrocatalysis (PEC) technology. Herein, a Ti4O7/h‐BN composite ceramic photoelectrode with a unique microstructure was fabricated by a step‐by‐step calcination process and used in PEC water pollution remediation. The PEC activity of Ti4O7 ceramic photoelectrode could be enhanced by introducing hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) nanoparticles on the surface. The most optimized Ti4O7/h‐BN photoelectrode exhibited the decolorization rate of active brilliant blue KN‐R at about 97.79% in 30 min. The PEC activities could remain stable during five degradation cycles. The excellent photoelectrocatalytic performance of Ti4O7/h‐BN ceramic photoelectrode could be attributed to the low Tafel slope, low charge transfer resistance, large electrochemical active area, and excellent photo‐generated carrier separation efficiency. A type‐II heterojunction was formed between the Ti4O7 and h‐BN, which caused more effective carrier separation and enhanced the generation of dominant active species •O2− and h+. This work provided a mature synthesis strategy of Ti4O7/h‐BN self‐supported ceramic photoelectrodes with excellent practical application prospects to achieve superior PEC performance for water purification.

Thiol-functionalized cellulose for mercury polluted water remediation: Synthesis and study of the adsorption properties

Mercury pollution poses a global health threat due to its high toxicity, especially in seafood where it accumulates through various pathways. Developing effective and affordable technologies for mercury removal from water is crucial. Adsorption stands out as a promising method, but creating low-cost materials with high selectivity and capacity for mercury adsorption is challenging.Here we show a sustainable method to synthesize low-cost sulfhydrylated cellulose with ethylene sulfide functionalities bonded glucose units. Thiol-functionalized cellulose exhibits exceptional adsorption capacity (1325 mg g−1) and selectivity for Hg(II) over other heavy metals (Co, Cu, Zn, Pb) and common cations (Ca++, Mg++) found in natural waters. It performs efficiently across a wide pH range and different aqueous matrices, including wastewater, and can be regenerated and reused multiple times without significant loss of performance. This approach offers a promising solution for addressing mercury contamination in water sources.

Chinese yam-derived aerogel as a versatile platform for efficient freshwater production and pollution remediation

Water scarcity and pollution have become major obstacles to sustainable global development. The development of a versatile platform that can simultaneously produce clean water and remediate pollutants from water is highly desirable but still difficult to realize. Herein, to address this challenge, we have developed a CY@PPy@Ag aerogel with excellent photothermal and photocatalytic capabilities through a freeze-drying process, followed by polypyrrole coating and Ag deposition. The excellent characteristics, including broad-spectrum light absorption (97.2%), localization of converted heat, rapid water transport, and porous open microchannels, enabled it to act as an advanced solar evaporator for efficient and continuous steam generation without salt crystallization. Moreover, the high evaporation rate (1.51 kg m−2 h−1) was maintained even in high concentrations of brine and real seawater. Taking advantage of its enhanced photocatalytic performance, organic dyes in water could be rapidly and completely decomposed by the CY@PPy@Ag aerogel under solar irradiation, and this photodegradation process was significantly accelerated with the help of NaBH4. This work is expected to provide a one-stone-two-birds strategy to simultaneously achieve clean water harvesting and pollution remediation, which holds great promise in the fields of solar energy harvesting, wastewater treatment, and seawater desalination.