Efficient removal and upcycling of pollutants in wastewater: a strategy for reconciling environmental pollution and resource depletion crisis

Abstract

Due to the relentless exploitation of non-renewable resources, humanity is faced with a resource depletion crisis in the coming decades and serious environmental issues. Achieving efficient removal and upcycling of pollutants (ERUP) may become a potential strategy to address these issues. Wastewater, characterized by its large production volume and fluidity, can easily cause widespread environmental pollution through natural water networks. Due to solubility constraints, pollutants in wastewater typically exhibit low concentrations and complex compositions, thereby impeding effective recovery. Therefore, achieving ERUP in wastewater is both highly significant and extremely challenging. Unlike conventional wastewater treatment strategies that are focused on removing pollutants, ERUP strategies can not only realize the efficient removal of pollutants from water but also convert pollutants into valuable and functional products. Herein, we enumerated the latest research progress on ERUP in wastewater and highlighted studies that demonstrate the simultaneous achievement of pollutant removal and the direct conversion of these contaminants into high-efficiency catalysts, hydrogen energy, electrical energy, and other high-value chemicals. Finally, we identified the problems and challenges in the development of ERUP in wastewater and outlined potential research directions for future studies.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

environmental pollution / resource depletion / upcycling / wastewater / pollutants

References

[1] DuChanois R M , Cooper N J , Lee B , Patel S K , Mazurowski L , Graedel T E , Elimelech M . Prospects of metal recovery from wastewater and brine. Nature Water, 2023, 1(1): 37–46

[2] TozerL. Water pollution ‘timebomb’ threatens global health. Nature, July 18, 2023. https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586–023-01586–023

[3] Cusick R D , Kim Y , Logan B E . Energy capture from thermolytic solutions in microbial reverse-electrodialysis cells. Science, 2012, 335(6075): 1474–1477

[4] Bi L , Chen Y P , Wang C , Su J , Pan G . Microalgae-derived cellulose/inorganic nanocomposite rattle-type microspheres as an advanced sensor for pollutant detection. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2020, 395: 125073

[5] Bi L , Luan X , Geng F L , Xu X , Chen Y P , Zhang F . Microwave-assisted synthesis of hollow microspheres with multicomponent nanocores for heavy-metal removal and magnetic sensing. ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12(41): 46779–46787

[6] Bi L , Liu J Z , Du M , Huang B , Song M Y , Jiang G B . In-situ upcycling of cadmium from wastewater into core-shell ZnS@Zn_0.58Cd_0.42S heterojunction photocatalyst for environmental purification and H₂ evolution. Chemical Engineering Journal, 2023, 454: 140258

[7] Wang S , Zhang D , Wang W , Zhong J , Feng K , Wu Z , Du B , He J , Li Z , He L . . Grave-to-cradle upcycling of Ni from electroplating wastewater to photothermal CO₂ catalysis. Nature Communications, 2022, 13(1): 5305

[8] Wang B , Xiao X , Li J , Zhang M , Jiao M , Zheng Z , Li T , Zhang Q , Zhang X , Zhou G . Sulfion oxidation assisting self-powered hydrogen production system based on efficient catalysts from spent lithium-ion batteries. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2023, 120(52): e2317174120

[9] Zheng K , Wang Y , Xiang L , Huang C , Zhang H , Li J . A dual-cycle regeneration to recover high-value and high-purity FePO₄ from real wastewater for Li-battery application. Water Research, 2023, 242: 120300

[10] Wang W , Chen J , Tse E C M . Synergy between Cu and Co in a layered double hydroxide enables close to 100% nitrate-to-ammonia selectivity. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 2023, 145(49): 26678–26687

[11] An S , Zhao Z H , Bu J , He J , Ma W , Lin J , Bai R , Shang L , Zhang J . Multi-functional formaldehyde-nitrate batteries for wastewater refining, electricity generation, and production of ammonia and formate. Angewandte Chemie International Edition, 2024, 63(11): e202318989

[12] Fu X Z , Yang Y R , Liu T , Guo Z Y , Li C X , Li H Y , Cui K P , Li W W . Biological upcycling of nickel and sulfate as electrocatalyst from electroplating wastewater. Water Research, 2024, 250: 121063

RIGHTS & PERMISSIONS

Higher Education Press