环境•农林最新文献

This study investigates the photocatalytic dye-removal performance of green-synthesized zinc oxide (ZnO) and silicon-modified ZnO nanomaterials for wastewater treatment. ZnO nanoparticles were prepared using Hibiscus rosa-sinensis leaf extract and subsequently modified with silicon-containing material. The synthesized materials were characterized using UV–Visible spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Photocatalytic performance was assessed against Methylene Blue, Congo Red, and Rose Bengal using freely dispersed nanoparticles and bead-supported catalyst configurations. The originality of this study lies in comparing plant-assisted ZnO and silicon-modified ZnO across different catalyst configurations and structurally distinct dyes within a common experimental approach. Nanoparticle-based catalysts exhibited higher removal performance than bead-supported systems for Methylene Blue and Rose Bengal under the investigated conditions, whereas the removal pattern for Congo Red varied with catalyst configuration. Silicon-modified ZnO nanoparticles showed the highest Methylene Blue removal, reaching approximately 94–94.4% within 30–90 min. Congo Red exhibited comparatively lower removal, which may be associated with its complex azo-containing structure and resistance to oxidative transformation. Rose Bengal showed high removal, with ZnO beads achieving 90–95%, Si–ZnO beads 84–95%, ZnO nanoparticles 92–99.9%, and Si–ZnO nanoparticles 82–95% across the tested irradiation times. The observed performance of silicon-modified ZnO may be associated with altered optical and surface characteristics and reduced particle size and agglomeration observed by SEM. Overall, the findings highlight the potential of plant-assisted ZnO-based materials for photocatalytic dye removal and the influence of catalyst modification, morphology, and dye characteristics on treatment performance.

Pharmaceutical (PAC) residues in soils and sewage sludges may occur in water-extractable forms, representing potential diffuse sources of contamination for groundwater and surface waters via leaching and runoff. Waste-derived sorbents may decrease this potentially mobile PAC fraction, while valorizing residual materials within circular-economy-based remediation. Five waste-derived sorbents (two biochars and three iron-based materials) were tested for removal and operationally defined immobilization of carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac (DCF) and fexofenadine (FEX) at environmentally relevant aqueous concentrations and controlled solid-matrix levels. Sorption was assessed in single- and multi-compound aqueous systems. The best-performing sorbents were then applied to spiked sewage sludge and soil followed by water extraction. In aqueous tests, sewage sludge biochar (BSS) showed consistently high removal (single: 97% CBZ, 92% DCF, 99.5% FEX; multi: 93% CBZ, 95% DCF, 97% FEX). Zero-valent iron grit (CH) showed compound-dependent sorption (83% CBZ, 56% DCF, 99% FEX), with improved DCF removal in the mixture (94%). Hardwood biochar (BHW) was less effective and iron sludges (R, S) showed low or partly non-evaluable performance. In sewage sludge, BSS and CH did not significantly change aqueous PAC concentrations and spike release remained high (31–63%). In soil, BSS and CH showed mean water-extractable fractions that were 53%, 27% and 66% lower for CBZ, DCF and FEX, respectively, compared with unamended spiked control, and nutrient release was altered. Overall, BSS and CH showed practical potential to decrease readily extractable PAC amounts in the tested soil under laboratory conditions, whereas sewage sludge showed stronger matrix control and may require adapted immobilization strategies.

The study explored the ecological damage in central-western China due to energy shift and coal mining's soil impact, aiming to offer theoretical and practical support for regional ecological protection and sustainable development. This paper took the Ehuobulake Coal Mine Area in Xinjiang as the research area. The orthogonal matrix factor analysis method and the common factor analysis method were jointly used to conduct a source apportionment study of heavy metals, and spatial representation was carried out in combination with geographic information technology. (1) The moisture content in the research area was in a state of strong variation, decreasing successively from Area T (26.30%), Area L (8.96%), Area B (3.43%) to Area N (3.42%). The pH was in a state of weak variation, gradually decreasing from Area N (8.43), Area B (8.14), Area T (8.06) to Area L (7.83). (2) Based on the Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF), factor 1, factor 2, factor 3 and factor 4 were judged to be transportation sources, coal mining sources, parent material sources and mixed sources respectively. Through factor analysis, factor 1, factor 2, factor 3 and factor 4 were judged to be parent material sources, transportation sources, coal mining and transportation sources and mixed sources respectively. The orthogonal matrix factor analysis method and the common factor analysis method had the same number of source factors. The qualitative interpretations of the factors were basically consistent, and the accuracy of the analysis results was high. The analysis results can provide theoretical support for the tracing of pollutants.

This study determined the levels and discharge dynamics of potentially toxic elements (PTEs) in domestic, industrial, and dairy farm (slurry) wastewaters across different timescales (daily, weekly, monthly and yearly) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. Target PTEs, such as As, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn, were quantified using Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS). Domestic, industrial, and slurry wastewater contained elevated levels of PTE, with Zn generally showing the highest concentrations, followed by Mn. The concentration patterns were Zn > Mn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > As > Co > Cd in domestic wastewater, Zn > Mn > Pb > Ni > As > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd in industrial wastewater, and Zn > Mn > Cr > Ni > Cu > As > Pb > Co > Cd in slurry wastewater. Overall, the measured PTE concentrations were within the allowable limits of Pakistan’s NEQS and USEPA guidelines; however, Cr and Mn in slurry wastewater exceeded USEPA limits. When metal discharges were compared across the monitoring period, domestic wastewater showed the highest Mn discharge (Mn > Zn > Cu > Ni > Pb > Cr > As > Co > Cd). In contrast, industrial and slurry wastewater exhibited the highest discharge of Zn, with similar discharge rankings (Zn > Mn > Pb > Ni > As > Cu > Cr > Co > Cd). Strong positive correlations between some PTEs show common contamination sources and potential co-mobilization, increasing environmental threats. According to PCA and the heat map, slurry wastewater contributed more than domestic and industrial wastewater. These findings suggest robust monitoring and advanced wastewater treatment strategies to mitigate ecological and public health hazards arising from PTEs contamination.

Landfills represent a serious ecological hazard due to leaching of contaminated water into the environment. Phytotechnologies using wetland plants have been shown as possible ecological tool to cope with the problem. In our study we investigated the chemical-physical properties of leachates from an old landfill in central Slovakia, Europe. Further, we evaluated the tolerance thresholds of duckweed (Lemna minor L.), acting as a model aquatic macrophyte, and optimized the environmental conditions, mainly the leachate dilution, pH adjustment and nutrient supplementation against the acute ecotoxicity, that represented increased levels of fluorine, cyanides, metals and high leachate pH. Among the tested variables, leachate dilution mostly contributed to plants survival. Plants benefited from higher initial amount of ammonia in the leachate, although additional nutrient supplementation further enhanced chlorophyll fluorescence and pigment accumulation, but did not support plant growth. By contrast, lowering the high alkaline pH of original matrices (pH > 9) by HCl addition did not show as useful approach for optimizing duckweed growth. Reduction of toxicity by leachate dilution was recommended as primary step towards optimizing the survival of duckweed and its possible use in phytoremediation of similarly contaminated sites.

Long-term intake of arsenic through drinking water can cause various health risks, including cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and skin disorders, and early life exposure can also impair child growth and increase mortality risks. To remove arsenic from water, several remediation technologies exist. This study was conducted to analyze the adsorption efficiency of walnut wood biochar (WBC) and its magnetic nanocomposite (Fe₃O₄@WBC) for removing As(III) from aqueous solutions. Various characterization methods, including zeta potential, XPS, FTIR, XRD, and SEM/EDS, were employed to determine the shape and surface properties. The adsorption mechanism was attributed mainly to lignin exchange and surface complexation, involving functional groups such as C-H, -OH, O-C, C = O, and Fe–O, which facilitated chemosorption. The XPS analysis confirms a redox-assisted adsorption mechanism, revealing that the toxic As(III) was partially oxidized to less mobile As(V) species (45.6 eV). Kinetic models and isotherm analyses revealed maximum adsorption capacities of 18.55 mg/g for WBC and 19.96 mg/g for Fe₃O₄@WBC at an adsorbent dosage of 2 g/L, indicating that the process followed a monolayer chemisorption pattern. Furthermore, Fe₃O₄@WBC maintained superior performance in adsorption cycles compared to WBC. Additionally, Machine learning (ML) models were developed to predict and optimize the adsorption process using key operational parameters. The ANN outperformed other models, showing the highest correlation coefficient and lowest RMSE, highlighting its ability to capture nonlinear adsorption behaviour. Moreover, Fe₃O₄@WBC demonstrated good reusability and stability across repeated cycles. Overall, this study presents an efficient regenerable adsorbent for arsenic removal and an ANN-based framework for optimizing adsorption-derived water treatment systems.

Graphical Abstract

The severe situation of coal dust disasters in mines creates an urgent demand for highly efficient wetting materials. The inherent deficiencies in the wetting performance of single-component foam dust suppressants limit their field dust suppression efficiency, and binary surfactant systems with intermolecular blending enhancement effects have become a core direction for breaking through this bottleneck and achieving efficient wetting and capture of coal dust. In this paper, four monomeric dust suppressants, namely sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), alkyl polyglucoside 0810 (APG0810), and sodium α-olefin sulfonate (AOS), were selected. Their surface tension and coal dust mass settling rate were measured to evaluate wetting capability, with foaming performance as an auxiliary indicator. A unified baseline concentration was adopted for compounding and verification, and comparative tests under multiple operating conditions were conducted based on a self-built dust suppression platform. The results showed that the wetting performance ranked in descending order as: SDBS > SDS > APG0810 > AOS. The compound system of 0.1% SDBS and 0.1% APG0810 at a volume ratio of 2:1 exhibited the most pronounced blending enhancement effect, with a maximum foam dust suppression efficiency of 89.41%, a respirable dust (RD) suppression efficiency of 80.05%, and an average total dust suppression efficiency exceeding 90% in field applications. The system performed excellently in both laboratory and field tests. This study screened out the optimal compound system and validated its dust suppression performance, providing key experimental support for the development of highly efficient foam dust suppressants.

Heterogeneous persulfate activation is promising for water treatment due to its low energy consumption, easy catalyst recovery, and wide pH applicability. However, the performance of conventional metal‑based catalysts requires further improvement. Here, the high‑entropy alloy sulfide (MoFeMnNiCo)S_1.33 was synthesized via ball milling and evaluated as a persulfate activator. The as-prepared catalyst was systematically characterized by methods such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effectiveness of (MoFeMnNiCo)S_1.33 activated persulfate in degrading organic pollutants was investigated, and the influence of various factors on the catalytic activity of the system was explored. Under the activation of persulfate by (MoFeMnNiCo)S_1.33, the degradation rate constant of AP is 0.2566 min⁻¹ (catalyst dosage = 0.2 g/L, PMS dosage = 0.3 g/L, AP = 20 mg/L, 25 ℃), which is 6.24 times that of CoS₂.

Mining wastewater and leakages into freshwater systems are a growing global concern, yet the impacts of bioleaching in open-pit mining on lake food webs and mercury dynamics remain understudied. This study examined three boreal lakes in eastern Finland: Jormasjärvi (primarily previously mining-impacted), Nuasjärvi (currently impacted), and Kiantajärvi (control). Food-web structure was analysed using stable carbon and nitrogen isotopes, while total mercury (THg) bioaccumulation in fish and biomagnification across the food web were examined using linear regressions. Jormasjärvi showed a simplified and less diverse pelagic food web. Top predators relied more on littoral resources, and key pelagic species, such as the acid-sensitive Mysis relicta, had disappeared from Jormasjärvi after mining impact. THg content in top predators were highest in Jormasjärvi where 20% of the analysed fillets exceeded mercury safety limits. On average, Jormasjärvi perch (Perca fluviatilis) over 27 cm, pikeperch (Sander lucioperca) over 40 cm and pike (Esox lucius) over 78 cm surpassed these thresholds (pike: 1.0 mg/kg; others: 0.5 mg/kg). Despite elevated THg levels, the trophic magnification slope and THg baseline in Jormasjärvi did not differ significantly from the control lake. In contrast, THg magnified fastest in Nuasjärvi where lowest THg baseline was observed, likely reflecting differences in water chemistry influencing Hg uptake. Overall, the findings suggest that bioleaching-related mining can increase Hg concentrations in top predators by altering food-web structure and energy pathways. However, Hg dynamics are highly context-dependent. The study highlights the importance of collecting baseline food-web data before mining begins to enable accurate before-and-after comparisons and better assess environmental impacts.

Stock (Matthiola incana L. ‘Pilaster White’) is an economically important ornamental species whose commercial value depends largely on vigorous vegetative growth, high floral quality, and extended vase life. Silica nanoparticles (SiO₂ NPs) and putrescine have individually been reported to improve plant growth and physiological performance through different mechanisms; however, information regarding their interactive effects in stock remains limited. Therefore, this study evaluated the individual and interactive effects of foliar-applied SiO₂ NPs and putrescine on the morphophysiological, biochemical, and vase life of stock plants. A factorial experiment based on a completely randomized design was conducted using four SiO₂ NP concentrations (0, 50, 100, and 200 mg L⁻¹) and three putrescine concentrations (0, 1.5, and 3 mM). Foliar application of SiO₂ NPs and putrescine, particularly at appropriate concentrations and combinations, improved vegetative growth, biomass accumulation, floral quality, and vase life compared with the untreated control. Among the tested combinations, 1.5 mM putrescine combined with 50 mg L⁻¹ SiO₂ NPs resulted in the greatest improvement across most evaluated traits. This treatment was associated with increased chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, total chlorophyll, carotenoid, soluble sugar, protein, and anthocyanin contents, suggesting improved photosynthetic capacity and metabolic status. Overall, the results demonstrate that the interactive effects between SiO₂ NPs and putrescine improve plant growth, floral quality, and vase life in stock under greenhouse conditions and may represent a promising biostimulant strategy for enhancing the commercial quality of ornamental plants.