Environmental Water Pollution Research Articles

Innovations of water pollution traceability technology with artificial intelligence

Water pollution traceability is a critical component of environmental management, essential for ensuring the safety of water supplies and maintaining ecological balance. Although many countries have established relatively mature water environment quality monitoring (WEQM) systems, these systems often face limitations such as inadequate professional sensing equipment, insufficient model stability, and high technical expertise requirements. Monitoring, early warning, and traceability of water pollution in complex watersheds remain challenging tasks. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data is driving the digital transformation of traditional WEQM systems, significantly enhancing their capabilities in digitalization, intelligence, and networking. This perspective paper examines the potential impacts of emerging technologies such as AI and big data on water environment monitoring and pollution traceability in watersheds. It identifies innovation barriers and the transformation potential of WEQM systems from various perspectives, including monitoring and early warning systems, pollution location and tracking, fingerprint spectroscopy technology, and the detection of new pollutants. This exploration aims to provide insights and inspiration for the accurate diagnosis of water pollution and the enhancement of global environmental monitoring systems.

Calcium-Based Metal-Organic Framework: Detection and Idiosyncratic Removal of Copper by Nano-Particle Deposition.

A novel calcium-based metal-organic framework (CaMOF@LSB) was designed and synthesized, exhibiting dual functionality for both selective detection and removal of Cu2+ ions from aqueous solutions. The framework's stability, including solvent and pH variations, was established with notable thermal resilience. Colorimetric Cu2+ detection (≥5 ppm) with a high capture capacity of 484.2 mg g-1 by CaMOF@LSB places this material among the few that ensure efficient colorimetric detection and high removal capabilities of Cu2+ ions. Batch adsorption experiments revealed pH-dependent behavior and competitive interactions. Langmuir and pseudo-second-order kinetics models aptly described adsorption isotherms and kinetics, respectively. Thermodynamic assessments confirmed spontaneous and endothermic adsorption. Mechanistically, nanoparticle deposition contributes to the Cu2+ uptake. CaMOF@LSB also exhibited one of the best removal behaviour of Cu2+ by means of oxide formation on the surface. Regeneration of CaMOF@LSB was achieved by simple sonication in 0.1 M aqueous NaOH solution. The recyclability was also tested up to 5 cycles, and it exhibited a small decrease in adsorption capacity observed across the cycles. This research presents a promising avenue for addressing heavy metal pollution using metal-organic frameworks, thereby offering potential applications in water purification and environmental pollution monitoring and remediation.

Environmental pollution and extreme weather conditions: insights into the effect on mental health.

Environmental pollution exposures, including air, soil, water, light, and noise pollution, are critical issues that may implicate adverse mental health outcomes. Extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and droughts, may also cause long-term severe concerns. However, the knowledge about possible psychiatric disorders associated with these exposures is currently not well disseminated. In this review, we aim to summarize the current knowledge on the impact of environmental pollution and extreme weather conditions on mental health, focusing on anxiety spectrum disorders, autism spectrum disorders, schizophrenia, and depression. In air pollution studies, increased concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, and SO2 were the most strongly associated with the exacerbation of anxiety, schizophrenia, and depression symptoms. We provide an overview of the suggested underlying pathomechanisms involved. We highlight that the pathogenesis of environmental pollution-related diseases is multifactorial, including increased oxidative stress, systematic inflammation, disruption of the blood-brain barrier, and epigenetic dysregulation. Light pollution and noise pollution were correlated with an increased risk of neurodegenerative disorders, particularly Alzheimer's disease. Moreover, the impact of soil and water pollution is discussed. Such compounds as crude oil, heavy metals, natural gas, agro-chemicals (pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers), polycyclic or polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), solvents, lead (Pb), and asbestos were associated with detrimental impact on mental health. Extreme weather conditions were linked to depression and anxiety spectrum disorders, namely PTSD. Several policy recommendations and awareness campaigns should be implemented, advocating for the advancement of high-quality urbanization, the mitigation of environmental pollution, and, consequently, the enhancement of residents' mental health.

Porosity and pore structure evolution during the weathering of black shale

Pore type and pore structure evolves systematically across continuous black shale weathering profile. However, the extend and process of pore structure change is still an enigma. In this study, we try to unveil the pore structure evolution during weathering process through studying Cambrian Hetang shales in southern China. Fourteen shale samples, from protolith zone (PZ), fractured and weathered shale zone (FWZ), and saprolite zone (SZ), were collected to elucidate how porosity and pore structure develop during black shale weathering under subtropical condition. Through low pressure argon (Ar) gas adsorption (LP-ArGA), high pressure mercury intrusion (HPMI), nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR) and field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) observation, the results reveal significant differences in physical properties and pore structures among the PZ, FWZ, and SZ samples. Specifically, compared to PZ, FWZ and SZ samples are characterized by higher clay mineral content, lower organic matter (OM), and the absence of carbonates and pyrite. Total porosity, determined through HPMI and NMR, exhibits a gradual increase from PZ (6.70 % and 6.41 %) to FWZ (20.47 % and 13.45 %) and SZ (23.22 % and 12.48 %). Ar adsorption isotherms indicate a change in pore type from predominantly ink-bottle and slit-shaped in the PZ to mainly slit-shaped in FWZ and SZ. Integrated analysis of LP-ArGA, HPMI, NMR and SEM observation suggests a substantial decrease in the contribution of micropores to total pore volume (PV) and a concurrent increase in larger pores (meso-macropores) with the increase of weathering intensity. This results in smoother surfaces of micro-transition pores but rougher surfaces of macropores. Changes in mineralogy composition during weathering play a crucial role in influencing pore structure of shales and further accelerating the release and migration of toxic elements in black shale. Our study provides the essential theoretical foundation for the remediation of soil and water environmental pollution caused by black shale weathering.

Bibliometric Analysis of Nitrogen Removal in Constructed Wetlands: Current Trends and Future Research Directions

Nitrogen pollution in water environments has reached critical levels globally, primarily stemming from agricultural runoff, industrial discharges, and untreated sewage. The excessive presence of nitrogen compounds poses a significant threat to water quality, leading to adverse impacts on ecosystems and human health. Reaching a breakthrough in the technology of constructed wetlands (CWs) for mitigating nitrogen pollution is hindered by existing knowledge gaps regarding the mechanisms involved in the removal process. Reaching this understanding, we offer a comprehensive summary of current advancements and theories in this research field. Initially, bibliometric techniques were employed to identify yearly patterns in publications and areas of research focus. Subsequently, the chosen documents underwent statistical analysis using VOSviewer_1.6.20 to determine countries’ annual productivity, significant publication years, influential authors, keyword clustering analysis, and more. Finally, a comprehensive overview is provided on the elimination of nitrogen through CWs, encompassing insights into microbial communities and structure types. This analysis aims to uncover potential strategies for optimizing the rate of nitrogen removal. Furthermore, this study elucidates the current research trend concerning the nitrogen removal performance of CWs and identifies challenges and future research directions in this field.

Remote sensing estimation of δ15NPN in the Zhanjiang Bay using Sentinel-3 OLCI data based on machine learning algorithm

Remote sensing estimation of δ15NPN in the Zhanjiang Bay using Sentinel-3 OLCI data based on machine learning algorithm

Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Tetracycline by Magnetically Separable g-C3N4-Doped Magnetite@Titanium Dioxide Heterostructured Photocatalyst

Residual drug pollutants in water environments represent a severe risk to human health, so developing a cheap, environmentally friendly, and effective photocatalyst to deal with them has become a hot topic. Herein, a magnetically separable Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 photocatalyst with a special heterojunction structure was fabricated, and its photocatalytic performance was assessed by degrading tetracycline (TC). Compared to Fe3O4@TiO2, the synthesized Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 exhibited superior TC degradation performance, which was primarily ascribed to the heterojunction formed between TiO2 and g-C3N4 and its ability to enhance the visible light absorption capacity and reduce the photoinduced electron/hole recombination rate. Moreover, a free radical capture experiment further confirmed that ·O2− and h+ are the predominant components in the TC degradation reaction. Under UV–Vis irradiation, the TC degradation rate escalated to as high as 98% within 120 min. Moreover, Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 was demonstrated to be easily recovered by magnetic separation without any notable loss even after five cycles, showing exceptional stability and reusability. These findings indicate that Fe3O4@TiO2/g-C3N4 is a promising photocatalyst for environmental remediation that may provide a sustainable approach to degrading antibiotic pollutants in wastewater.

The enhanced degradation of Bi4O5I2 photocatalyst to the various organic pollutants through the upconversion luminescence of Yb3+/Er3+

The types of pollutants in water environment are very complex, so it is very important to develop a photocatalyst that can have universal applicability to a variety of pollutants. In this study, Bi4O5I2 was modified by Yb3+ and Er3+ doping, and an efficient photocatalyst with upconversion luminescence was found. After heat treatment, the sample was transformed from BiOI to Bi4O5I2 (BI), and the crystallite size of BI was significantly reduced and the porosity increased, which provided more active sites for the photocatalytic reaction, and the photocatalytic performance of BI samples was greatly improved. Compared with Er3+ single doped samples (BIE), Yb3+ and Er3+ co-doping (BIYE) effectively promotes the photogenerated carrier migration. Under simulated sunlight, BiOI, BI, BIE and BIYE degraded 30.1%, 62.2%, 72.6% and 92.1% of RhB solution within 30 min of illumination, respectively. In addition, the degradation of MB, MO, carmine, phenol and TC by BIYE were also tested. The results show that BIYE has a good ability to degrade a variety of organic pollutants that are difficult to degrade. The results of photocurrent response test show that BIYE has a stable photocurrent response signal to near-infrared light, which means that BIYE can respond to near-infrared light. The upconversion luminescence of the sample was further investigated. The energy transfer between Yb3+ and Er3+ enhances the upconversion luminescence of Er3+, that is, the conversion of near-infrared light into visible light, which can be absorbed and utilized by Bi4O5I2 matrix. The degradation of RhB solution was tested under near-infrared conditions, and the results show that BIYE also has excellent photocatalytic ability under near-infrared light.

ZnCl2 and thiourea co-modified biochar for effectively removing quinclorac in water and soil: Mechanism and alleviating its phytotoxicity on tobacco plants

The overuse of herbicide may cause pollution in water and soil environment, affecting the growth of crops. And how to reduce herbicide residues has aroused extensive attention. In this work, a novel modified biochar (Zn/SN-BC) was prepared with reed straw as raw material, ZnCl2 and thiourea as modifiers to remove quinclorac (QC) residues in water and soil. Compared with primitive biochar, Zn/SN-BC, benefiting from higher specific surface area (766.5 m2·g−1), improved pore characteristics and abundant reactive sites (−C = O, −COOR, −C-N, −C-S, ZnS, etc), showed excellent adsorption capacity towards QC (235.9 mg·g−1), which was much higher than others reported before. According to the characterization results, it was revealed that Zn/SN-BC adsorbed QC through pore filling, hydrogen bonding, π-π conjunction, electrostatic attractions and other chemical interactions. The column leaching and pot experiments demonstrated that Zn/SN-BC could reduce QC leaching and bioavailability in soil, and effectively alleviate its phytotoxicity on tobacco plants. This study gives a new insight into the application of biochar-based materials for the treatment of herbicide residues in agricultural environments.

Is celebration of New Year and other festivals worth their environmental impact?

AbstractThe global tradition of fireworks at festivals causes significant environmental harm, including air, water, noise and light pollution, and impacts on human health. Diwali and the Chinese New Year fireworks can spike the Air Quality Index and elevate particulate matter (PM2.5) concentrations in capitals during and after celebrations. This commentary examines evidence for the detrimental effects of fireworks on the environment, human health and wildlife. Alternatives like drone displays, laser shows and eco‐friendly decorations are proposed, along with stricter regulations to curb firework impacts.

Resource utilization of MSWI fly ash supporting TiO2/BiOCl nanocomposite for enhanced photocatalytic degradation of sodium isopropyl xanthate: Mechanism and performance evaluation

The removal of organic pollutants in water environments and the resource utilization of solid waste are two pressing issues around the world. Facing the increasing pollution induced by discharge of mining effluents containing sodium isopropyl xanthate (SIPX), in this work, municipal solid waste incineration fly ash (MSWI FA) was pretreated by hydrothermal method to produce stabilized FA, which was then innovatively used as support for the construction of FA/TiO2/BiOCl nanocomposite (FTB) with promoted photocatalytic activity under visible light and natural sunlight. When the content of FA was 20 wt% and the mass ratio of TiO2 to BiOCl was 4:6, a remarkable performance for the optimal FTB (20-FTB-2) was achieved. Characterizations demonstrated that TiO2 and BiOCl uniformly dispersed on FA contributing to high surface area and broad light adsorption of FTB, which exhibits excellent adsorption capacity and light response ability. Build in electric field formed in the interface of TiO2/BiOCl heterojunction revealed by density functional theory calculations accelerated the separation of photoinduced e− and h+, leading to high efficiency for SIPX degradation. The synergetic effect combined with adsorption and photocatalytic degradation endowed 20-FTB-2 superior SIPX removal efficiency over 99% within 30 min under visible light and natural sunlight irradiation. The photocatalytic degradation pathways of SIPX were determined through theoretical calculations and characterizations, and the toxic byproduct CS2 was effectively eliminated through oxidation of •O2−. For 20-FTB-2, reusability of photocatalyst was showed by cycle tests, also the concentrations of main heavy metals (Pb, Zn, Cu, Cr, and Cd) in the liquid phases released during photocatalyst preparation process (< 1 mg/L) and photodegradation process (< 8.5 μg/L) proved the satisfactory stability with low toxicity. This work proposed a novel strategy to develop efficient and stable support-based photocatalysts by utilizing MSWI FA and realize its resource utilization.

Study on the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II) in acid mine drainage by fly ash loaded nano-FeS

Aiming at the acid mine drainage (AMD) in zinc, copper and other heavy metals treatment difficulties, severe pollution of soil and water environment and other problems. Through the ultrasonic precipitation method, this study prepared fly ash-loaded nano-FeS composites (nFeS-F). The effects of nFeS-F dosage, pH, stirring rate, reaction time and initial concentration of the solution on the adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II) were investigated. The data were fitted by Lagergren first and second-order kinetic equations, Internal diffusion equation, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and combined with SEM, TEM, FTIR, TGA, and XPS assays to reveal the mechanism of nFeS-F adsorption of Zn(II) and Cu(II). The results demonstrated that: The removal of Zn(II) and Cu(II) by nFeS-F could reach 83.36% and 70.40%, respectively (The dosage was 8 g/L, pH was 4, time was 150 min, and concentration was 100 mg/L). The adsorption process, mainly chemical adsorption, conforms to the Lagergren second-order kinetic equation (R2 = 0.9952 and 0.9932). The adsorption isotherms have a higher fitting degree with the Langmuir model (R2 = 0.9964 and 0.9966), and the adsorption is a monolayer adsorption process. This study can provide a reference for treating heavy metals in acid mine drainage and resource utilization of fly ash.

GIS platform ecological water environment pollution automatic monitoring and analysis

This paper summarizes the application of GIS platform for automatic monitoring of ecological water environmental pollution. Firstly, the function of GIS platform and its combination with environmental monitoring are briefly introduced, and then the pollution status of ecological water environment is analyzed, including the source of pollution, classification and the impact on environment and human beings. This paper focuses on the application of GIS in data collection and integration, spatial distribution analysis of pollutants, simulation and prediction of pollution diffusion, design and implementation of monitoring system, etc. Through the introduction of GIS technology, the monitoring and management of ecological water environmental pollution can be realized more effectively, which provides a strong support for environmental protection.

An innovative fast-start aerobic anode microbial fuel cell biosensor for copper ion detection

The potential of microbial fuel cells (MFCs) based biosensors for water monitoring and early warning is widely recognized. However, the electrochemically active biofilms (EABs) are typically obtained under anaerobic conditions and the formation requires a lengthy time span, which critically limits the application and advancement of the MFCs based monitoring technology. To accelerate the formation rate of EABs and thus shorten the establishment time of MFCs to better meet the needs for early warning and detection of pollutants in the actual aerobic water environment, the aerobic sludge was employed as an inoculation source to construct the MFCs sensing system in this study. It was revealed that biofilms with stable electrochemical properties could be promptly formed within 35 h, reaching a level far ahead of previous studies. Moreover, toxicity tests for copper (Cu2+) ions at concentrations of 1 mg/L, 10 mg/L, and 50 mg/L demonstrated outstanding performance with the maximum inhibition rates of 19.99%, 46.65%, and 53.02% respectively. Remarkably, the response time was found to decrease significantly with the increase of copper ion concentrations. Our results thus open up a new avenue for achieving rapid start-up of MFCs in aerobic conditions, which facilitates the applicability of MFCs based biosensing technology.

Analysis of the Current Situation of Rural Water Environment Pollution and Governance

With the development of China's economy and the improvement of people's living standards, water pollution has become increasingly serious. Based on the current situation of rural water pollution, this paper analyzes the existing problems and proposes targeted prevention and control measures to promote the sustainable development of the rural ecological environment.

Potential risk assessment and occurrence characteristic of heavy metals based on artificial neural network model along the Yangtze River Estuary, China.

Pollution from heavy metals in estuaries poses potential risks to the aquatic environment and public health. The complexity of the estuarine water environment limits the accurate understanding of its pollution prediction. Field observations were conducted at seven sampling sites along the Yangtze River Estuary (YRE) during summer, autumn, and winter 2021 to analyze the concentrations of seven heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Pb, Cu, Ni, Zn) in water and surface sediments. The order of heavy metal concentrations in water samples from highest to lowest was Zn > As > Cu > Ni > Cr > Pb > Cd, while that in surface sediments samples was Zn > Cr > As > Ni > Pb > Cu > Cd. Human health risk assessment of the heavy metals in water samples indicated a chronic and carcinogenic risk associated with As. The risks of heavy metals in surface sediments were evaluated using the geo-accumulation index (Igeo) and potential ecological risk index (RI). Among the seven heavy metals, As and Cd were highly polluted, with Cd being the main contributor to potential ecological risks. Principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to identify the sources of the different heavy metals, revealing that As originated primarily from anthropogenic emissions, while Cd was primarily from atmospheric deposition. To further analyze the influence of water quality indicators on heavy metal pollution, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was utilized. A modified model was proposed, incorporating biochemical parameters to predict the level of heavy metal pollution, achieving an accuracy of 95.1%. This accuracy was 22.5% higher than that of the traditional model and particularly effective in predicting the maximum 20% of values. Results in this paper highlight the pollution of As and Cd along the YRE, and the proposed model provides valuable information for estimating heavy metal pollution in estuarine water environments, facilitating pollution prevention efforts.

Understanding the pivotal role of ubiquitous Yellow River suspend sediment in efficiently degrading metronidazole pollutants in water environments

Sulfite-based advanced oxidation technology has received considerable attention for its application in organic pollutants elimination. However, the potential of natural sediments as effective catalysts for sulfite activation has been overlooked. This study investigates a novel process utilizing suspended sediment/sulfite (SS/S(IV)) for degradation of metronidazole (MNZ). Our results demonstrate that MNZ degradation efficiency can reach to 93.1 % within 90 min with 12.0 g SS and 2.0 mM sulfite. The influencing environmental factors, including initial pH, SS dosage, S(IV) concentration, temperature, and co-existing substances were systematically investigated. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance analyses results indicate that SO3•− is the primary active substance responsible for MNZ degradation, with involvement of SO4•−, SO5•−, and •OH. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Mössbauer spectra reveal that Fe (III)-silicates play a crucial role in activating S(IV). Furthermore, analysis of degradation intermediates and pathways of MNZ is conducted using liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry (LC -MS). The toxicity of MNZ and its intermediates were also systematically evaluated by the T.E.ST. program and wheat seeds germination test. This study offers valuable insight into the activation of sulfite by natural sediments and could contribute to the development of SS-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for the in-situ remediation of antibiotics-contaminated water environments.

Study of a New Photocatalytic Film Process Combined with a Constructed Wetland and an Analysis of Reoxygenation Pathways in a Water Body

Pollution in water environments hinders both social progress and economic development. Wastewater treatment and the sustainable use of water resources are important factors in solving this problem. In a previous study, the authors proposed a process that used photocatalytic film as a back-end treatment in a composite iron–carbon constructed wetland (WIC&amp;PF) to restore a mildly eutrophic water body. This method has strong reoxygenation effects, and can efficiently remove pollutants; these are qualities that have not been mentioned in previous studies regarding constructed wetlands. In this study, the authors further investigated the effectiveness of this process by using a photocatalytic film as a front-end treatment for a composite iron–carbon constructed wetland (PF&amp;WIC) to restore a mildly eutrophic water body. The results showed NH4+-N, TN, TP, COD, and chlorophyll a removal rates using PF&amp;WIC of 79.1 ± 6.6%, 76.8 ± 6.5%, 77.0 ± 5.4%, 77.3 ± 7.2%, and 91.7 ± 5.6%, respectively. The DO concentration of the water body increased compared with that of the effluent. The bacterial species and their abundance in the lake water also changed significantly, and photosynthetic autotrophic bacteria (Cyanobium PCC-6307) became the most dominant bacteria, and this played an important role in reoxygenating the water body. In comparing these results to those of our previous study, the removal of pollutants with PF&amp;WIC was close to that with WIC&amp;PF, but the reoxygenation effect of PF&amp;WIC on the water body was significantly worse than that of WIC&amp;PF; thus, WIC&amp;PF is the more reasonable choice for treating eutrophic water bodies.

Preparation and Application of Degradable Lignin/Poly (Vinyl Alcohol) Polymers as Urea Slow-Release Coating Materials.

The massive amount of water-soluble urea used leads to nutrient loss and environmental pollution in both water and soil. The aim of this study was to develop a novel lignin-based slow-release envelope material that has essential nitrogen and sulfur elements for plants. After the amination reaction with a hydrolysate of yak hair keratin, the coating formulation was obtained by adding different loadings (2, 5, 8, 14 wt%) of aminated lignin (AL) to 5% polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) solution. These formulations were cast into films and characterized for their structure, thermal stability, and mechanical and physicochemical properties. The results showed that the PVA-AL (8%) formulation had good physical and chemical properties in terms of water absorption and mechanical properties, and it showed good degradation in soil with 51% weight loss after 45 days. It is suitable for use as a coating material for fertilizers. Through high-pressure spraying technology, enveloped urea particles with a PVA-AL (8%) solution were obtained, which showed good morphology and slow-release performance. Compared with urea, the highest urea release was only 96.4% after 30 days, conforming to Higuchi model, Ritger-Peppas model, and second-order dynamic model. The continuous nitrogen supply of PVA-AL coated urea to Brassica napus was verified by potting experiments. Therefore, the lignin-based composite can be used as a coating material to produce a new slow-release nitrogen fertilizer for sustainable crop production.

Fabrication of molecularly imprinted carbon nanotubes integrating ionic liquids for efficient detection of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid in environmental water

It is extremely significant while challenging to accurately detect low-levels of perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid compounds (PFCAs) in environmental water. Herein, adopting perfluorotetradecanoic acid as the dummy template, selective molecularly imprinted composites (CNTs@ILs@MIPs) grafted carbon nanotubes integrating hydrophilic ionic liquids were successfully prepared via surface imprinting and dummy-template imprinting techniques. The obtained CNTs@ILs@MIPs were applied as selective extraction adsorbent for specifically extract PFCAs in environmental water coupled with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry quantification. Detailed studies were conducted on the main preparation parameters and extraction conditions. The CNTs@ILs@MIPs displayed excellent adsorptivity, and the established method exhibited low LODs (0.60–1.64 ng L−1), wide linearity with R2 above 0.9994, and satisfactory adsorption recoveries (80.5–112.5%) for seven PFCAs. This proposed method provides a new applicable approach for the detection of targeted pollutants in environmental water by utilizing the high affinity and recognition ability of molecularly imprinted carbon nanotube functional materials modified with ionic liquids.