Solar-driven evaporation-adsorption for lithium extraction from seawater can improve the adsorption efficiency towards lithium ions, however, the fabrication of conventional solar-driven evaporation-adsorption materials often suffers from secondary pollution. To address these issues, this study developed a biomass-based evaporation-adsorption material PVV@VLJ-LIS by synergistically utilising multiple components of Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves, enabling the integrated coupling of interfacial evaporation and selective lithium adsorption. A freezing and salting out strategy was employed to crosslink a poly(vinyl alcohol) hydrogel and a VLJ-modified titanium-based lithium-ion sieve on the evaporator surface, thereby achieving in situ self-assembly between the organic components from the leaves and the lithium-ion sieve. VLJ endows PVV@VLJ-LIS with broadband photothermal absorption and antibacterial activity, and simultaneously promotes interfacial Li⁺ diffusion kinetics. Meanwhile, P-VLR serves as a porous supporting framework, facilitating the fixation of the lithium-ion sieve and water transport. Under 1 sun irradiation, the PVV@VLJ-LIS evaporator achieved a photothermal evaporation rate of 1.61 kg/(m²·h) with an evaporation efficiency of 80%. Under 40 °C, an initial Li⁺ concentration of 100 mg/L, and pH 12, PVV@VLJ-LIS achieved an equilibrium Li⁺ uptake of 17.472 mg/g. Relative to dark conditions, the adsorption capacity increased by 104.3%, which was attributed to the photothermally driven interfacial heating and the enhanced lithium-ion migration. In addition, the as-developed multifunctional evaporator exhibited pronounced antibacterial performance, anti-oil fouling, mechanical stability, and effective salt rejection, indicating the broad application prospects of PVV@VLJ-LIS for simultaneous lithium extraction and seawater desalination in complex seawater environments.

Mariculture tailwater, characterized by high nitrate (NO₃⁻-N) and a low carbon to nitrogen (C/N) ratio, presents a significant challenge for coastal environment protection. To address this, we developed a hybrid carrier biofilter combining pyrite and maifanite (PM) to enhance nitrogen removal performance. The PM biofilter achieved 88.98% total nitrogen (TN) removal—34.99% higher than that of a pyrite-only system. No secondary pollutants such as dissolved iron were produced during the treatment process. This enhancement was associated with synergistic effects, such as increased microbial biomass and activity, enhanced hydrophilicity and specific surface area of carriers, and elevated secretion of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), particularly tryptophan-like proteins and humic acid-like organics. Additionally, the enriched microbial communities and functional genes associated with nitrogen, sulfur, and iron metabolism further supported key biogeochemical pathways in the PM. These findings highlight the PM biofilter as a promising strategy for low C/N ratio mariculture tailwater treatment and coastal environmental management.

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are becoming increasingly widespread in terrestrial ecosystems, with growing evidence that their presence poses substantial risks to plant health. As EC-induced effects can propagate across molecular, physiological, organismal, and ecological levels, a systematic framework is needed to organize and interpret their biological consequences across scales. In this review, the Adverse Outcome Pathway (AOP) framework is employed to describe the progression of EC-induced effects in plants, from initial molecular interactions to final adverse outcomes (AOs). Major exposure routes in plant environments are first outlined, with particular attention to how uptake, translocation, biotransformation, and subcellular localization shape internal exposure, target-site availability, and potential interactions with biomacromolecular targets. The subsequent key event (KE) modules are then synthesized, linking upstream molecular and cellular perturbations to downstream physiological dysfunction and functional impairment. These mechanistic alterations are further related to plant-relevant AOs, including growth inhibition, deterioration in crop yield and quality, reduced carbon sequestration capacity, and potential broader impairment of ecosystem functioning. Current knowledge gaps are also highlighted, and the potential utility of an EC-plant AOP perspective in risk assessment and management is discussed. By integrating evidence along the AOP continuum, this review provides a mechanistic and multi-scale perspective on EC-induced plant effects and offers a scientific basis for assessing and managing EC risks in ecosystems.