● Removal of cesium from radioactive wastewater is still a challenging.

Radiocesium is frequently present in radioactive wastewater, while its removal is still a challenge due to its small hydrated radius, high diffusion coefficient, and similar chemical behavior to other alkali metal elements with high background concentrations. This review summarized and analyzed the recent advances in the removal of Cs⁺ from aqueous solutions, with a particular focus on adsorption and membrane separation methods. Various inorganic, organic, and biological adsorbents have undergone assessments to determine their efficacy in the removal of cesium ions. Additionally, membrane-based separation techniques, including reverse osmosis, forward osmosis, and membrane distillation, have also shown promise in effectively separating cesium ions from radioactive wastewater. Additionally, this review summarized the main approaches, including Kurion/SARRY system + desalination system and advanced liquid processing system, implemented after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in Japan to remove radionuclides from contaminated water. Adsorption technology and membrane separation technology play a vital role in treatment of contaminated water.

● Impact of WWTP effluent discharge on ARGs in downstream waterbodies is hotspot.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has emerged as a significant challenge in human health. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs), acting as a link between human activities and the environment, create ideal conditions for the selection and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB). Unfortunately, current treatment processes are ineffective in removing ARGs, resulting in the release of large quantities of ARB and ARGs into the aquatic environment through WWTP effluents. This, in turn, leads to their dispersion and potential transmission to human through water and the food chain. To safeguard human and environmental health, it is crucial to comprehend the mechanisms by which WWTP effluent discharge influences the distribution and diffusion of ARGs in downstream waterbodies. In this study, we examine the latest researches on the antibiotic resistome in various waterbodies that have been exposed to WWTP effluent, highlighting the key influencing mechanisms. Furthermore, recommendations for future research and management strategies to control the dissemination of ARGs from WWTPs to the environment are provided, with the aim to achieve the “One Health” objective.

● The application of ML in groundwater quality assessment and prediction is reviewed.

Groundwater quality assessment and prediction (GQAP) is vital for protecting groundwater resources. Traditional GQAP methods can not adequately capture the complex relationships among attributes and have the disadvantage of being computationally demanding. Recently, the application of machine learning (ML) in GAQP (GQAPxML) has been widely studied due to ML’s reliability and efficiency. While many GQAPxML publications exist, a thorough review is missing. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the development of ML applications in the field of GQAP. First, the workflow of ML modeling is briefly introduced, as are data preparation, model development, model evaluation, and model application. Second, 299 publications related to the topic are filtered, mainly through ML modeling. Subsequently, many aspects of GQAPxML, such as publication trends, the spatial distribution of study areas, the size of data sets, and ML algorithms, are discussed from a bibliometric perspective. In addition, we review in detail the well-established applications and recent findings for several subtopics, including groundwater quality assessment, groundwater quality modeling using groundwater quality parameters, groundwater quality spatial mapping, probability estimation of exceeding the groundwater quality threshold, groundwater quality temporal prediction, and the hybrid use of ML and physics-based models. Finally, the development of GQAPxML is explored from three perspectives: data collection and preprocessing, model building and evaluation, and the broadening of model applications. This review provides a reference for environmental scientists to better understand GQAPxML and promotes the development of innovative methods and improvements in modeling quality.

● Insect damaging and penetrating plastic materials has been observed since 1950s.

Insects damaging and penetrating plastic packaged materials has been reported since the 1950s. Radical innovation breakthroughs of plastic biodegradation have been initiated since the discovery of biodegradation of plastics by Tenebrio molitor larvae in 2015 followed by Galleria mellonella in 2017. Here we review updated studies on the insect-mediated biodegradation of plastics. Plastic biodegradation by insect larvae, mainly by some species of darkling beetles (Tenebrionidae) and pyralid moths (Pyralidae) is currently a highly active and potentially transformative area of research. Over the past eight years, publications have increased explosively, including discoveries of the ability of different insect species to biodegrade plastics, biodegradation performance, and the contribution of host and microbiomes, impacts of polymer types and their physic-chemical properties, and responsible enzymes secreted by the host and gut microbes. To date, almost all major plastics including polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyurethane (PUR), and polystyrene (PS) can be biodegraded by T. molitor and ten other insect species representing the Tenebrionidae and Pyralidae families. The biodegradation processes are symbiotic reactions or performed by synergistic efforts of both host and gut-microbes to rapidly depolymerize and biodegrade plastics with hourly half-lives. The digestive ezymens and bioreagents screted by the insects play an essential role in plasatic biodegradation in certain species of Tenebrionidae and Pyralidae families. New research on the insect itself, gut microbiomes, transcriptomes, proteomes and metabolomes has evaluated the mechanisms of plastic biodegradation in insects. We conclude this review by discussing future research perspectives on insect-mediated biodegradation of plastics.

● A protocol is proposed for simultaneous oil/water separation and electricity generation.

Oily wastewater from ocean oil spills endangers marine ecosystems and human health. Therefore, developing an effective and sustainable solution for separating oil-water mixtures is urgent. Interfacial solar photothermal evaporation is a promising approach for the complete separation of two-phase mixtures using only solar energy. Herein, we report a carbonized wood-based absorber with Janus structure of comprising a hydrophobic top-layer and an oleophobic bottom-layer for simultaneous solar-driven oil-water separation and electricity generation. Under sunlight irradiation, the rapid evaporation of seawater will induce a separation of oil-water mixtures, and cause a high salt concentration region underlying the interface, while the bottom “bulk water” maintains in a low salt concentration, thus forming a salinity gradient. Electricity can be generated by salinity gradient power. Therefore, oil-water separation efficiency of > 99% and derived extra electricity power of ~0.1 W/m² is achieved under solar radiation, demonstrating the feasibility of oil-water separation and electricity production synchronously directly using solar energy. This work provides a green and cost-effective path for the separation of oil-water mixtures.

● Cr self-catalysis behaviors during Cr-initiated AOPs were described.

Chromium (Cr), as a transition metal material with multiple redox states, has exhibited the catalysis toward Fenton-like reactions over a wide pH range. Although it is not sensible to add Cr reagents as catalysts due to its toxicity, it is highly promising to remediate Cr-containing wastewater through Cr-initiated advanced oxidation processes (Cr-initiated AOPs), which are clean and low-cost. Moreover, the widely concerned Cr-complexes, considered as obstacles in the remediation process, can be effectively destroyed by AOPs. Cr self-catalysis is defined as Cr species is both substrate and catalyst. However, the full understanding of Cr self-catalysis, including the generation of intermediates Cr(IV)/Cr(V), the synergetic effects with co-existing ions, and the accumulation of toxic Cr(VI), remains a challenge for the practical application of Cr-initiated AOPs. In this review, relevant researches on Cr self-catalysis during Cr-initiated AOPs are summarized. Specifically, the Cr-Fenton-like reaction, Cr substituted materials, and Cr-sulfite reactions are explored as key mechanisms contributing to Cr self-catalysis. Moreover, Cr transformation processes, including synchronously Cr removal, Cr redox reactions, and Cr(VI) accumulation, in AOPs-based synergistic systems are systematically analyzed. Detailed approaches for the detection of active species in AOPs-based systems are also presented. The primary objective of this review is to explore the application of AOPs for Cr-containing wastewater remediation based on Cr self-catalysis, and provide fundamental insights and valuable information for future research on Cr-initiated AOPs.

● Wastewater treatment targets and processes change with demands.

The “dual-carbon” strategy promotes the development of the wastewater treatment sector and is an important tool for leading science and technology innovations. Based on the global climate change and the new policies introduced by China, this paper described the new needs for the development of wastewater treatment science and technology. It offered a retrospective analysis of the historical trajectory of scientific and technological advancements in this field. Utilizing bibliometrics, it delineated the research hotspots within wastewater treatment, notably highlighting materials genomics, artificial intelligence, and synthetic biology. Furthermore, it posited that, in the future, the field of wastewater treatment should follow the paths of technological innovations with multi-dimensional needs, such as carbon reduction, pollution reduction, health, standardisation, and intellectualisation. The purpose of this paper was to provide references and suggestions for scientific and technological innovations in the field of wastewater treatment, and to contribute to the common endeavor of moving toward a Pollution-Free Planet.

● A machine learning approach was applied to predict free chlorine residuals.

Chlorine-based disinfection is ubiquitous in conventional drinking water treatment (DWT) and serves to mitigate threats of acute microbial disease caused by pathogens that may be present in source water. An important index of disinfection efficiency is the free chlorine residual (FCR), a regulated disinfection parameter in the US that indirectly measures disinfectant power for prevention of microbial recontamination during DWT and distribution. This work demonstrates how machine learning (ML) can be implemented to improve FCR forecasting when supplied with water quality data from a real, full-scale chlorine disinfection system in Georgia, USA. More precisely, a gradient-boosting ML method (CatBoost) was developed from a full year of DWT plant-generated chlorine disinfection data, including water quality parameters (e.g., temperature, turbidity, pH) and operational process data (e.g., flowrates), to predict FCR. Four gradient-boosting models were implemented, with the highest performance achieving a coefficient of determination, R², of 0.937. Values that provide explanations using Shapley’s additive method were used to interpret the model’s results, uncovering that standard DWT operating parameters, although non-intuitive and theoretically non-causal, vastly improved prediction performance. These results provide a base case for data-driven DWT disinfection supervision and suggest process monitoring methods to provide better information to plant operators for implementation of safe chlorine dosing to maintain optimum FCR.

● Environmental health research has surged in China over the past decade

Environmental health research aims to identify environmental conditions suitable for the healthy living and reproduction of human beings. Through the interdisciplinary research bridging environmental sciences and health/medical sciences, the impacts of physical, chemical, and biological environmental factors on human health are investigated. This includes identifying environmental factors detrimental to human health, evaluating human exposure characteristics to environmental factors, clarifying causal relationships between environmental exposure and health effects, analyzing the underlying biochemical mechanisms, linking environmental factors to the onset and progression of diseases, establishing exposure-response relationships, and determining effect thresholds. Ultimately, the results of environmental health research can serve as a scientific basis for formulating environmental management strategies and guiding prevention and intervention measures at both the public and individual levels. This paper summarizes the recent advances and future perspectives of environmental health research in China, as reported by a group of Chinese scientists who recently attended a workshop in Hainan, China. While it is not intended to provide a comprehensive review of this expansive field, it offers a glimpse into the significant progress made in understanding the health impacts of environmental factors over the past decade. Looking ahead, it is imperative not only to sustain efforts in studying the health effects of traditional environmental pollution, but also to prioritize research on the health impacts of emerging pollutants and climate change.

● Water vapor’s effect on VOC adsorption in various porous carbons was investigated.

Volatile organic compounds (VOC) have been proven to cause considerable harm to both the ecological environment and human health. Anthropogenic VOC emissions are primarily generated by the industrial sector. The utilization of porous carbon as an adsorbent has emerged as an effective method for the efficient removal of VOC from industrial sources. However, during the actual production processes, VOC exhaust gases are often mixed with water vapor, which poses challenges for adsorption purification. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the remarkable advancements in various carbon materials in terms of their ability to adsorb both VOC and water vapor. Additionally, it systematically summarizes the influence of surface groups on adsorbents and the molecular properties of VOC on their adsorption by carbon materials. Furthermore, this review introduces the mechanism underlying adsorption-adsorbent interactions and discusses the construction of models for adsorbing water vapor and VOC. The challenges associated with the application of carbon materials for VOC adsorption in humid environments are also addressed. This review aims to offer theoretical and technical guidance for the effective purification of moist VOC waste gases emitted from industrial sources, thereby achieving precise control of VOC emissions.

● The VBNC pathogens were quantified for the first time in public tap water.

Viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria have been detected in source water and effluent of drinking water treatment processes, leading to significant underestimation of viable cell counts. Limited information exists on VBNC bacteria in tap water, particularly in public places. To address this gap, a comprehensive nine-month study was conducted in a major city in south-eastern China, using culture-based and quantitative PCR with propidium monoazide (PMA) dye methods. Forty-five samples were collected from five representative public places (railway station, campus, hospital, shopping mall, and institution). The findings revealed that culturable bacteria represented only 0–17.51% of the viable 16S rRNA genes, suggesting that the majority of viable bacteria existed in an uncultured or VBNC state. Notably, opportunistic pathogens such as Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Salmonella sp., and Shigella sp. were primarily detected as VBNC cells, with concentrations ranging from 1.03 × 10⁰ to 3.01 × 10³, 1.20 × 10⁰ to 1.42 × 10², 1.32 × 10⁰ to 8.82 × 10⁰, 1.00 × 10⁰ to 6.71 × 10¹, and 2.07 × 10⁰ to 1.93 × 10² cell equivalent/100 mL, respectively. Culturable P. aeruginosa was observed in tap water after prolonged stagnation, indicating potential risks associated with bacterial regrowth. Spatial and temporal factors accounted for 17.1% and 26.0%, respectively, of the variation in tap water community structure during the sampling period, as revealed by 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. This study provides quantitative insights into the occurrence of VBNC bacteria in tap water and highlights the need for more sensitive monitoring methods and microbial control techniques to enhance tap water safety in public locations.

● The safety and health of soil face global threats from widespread contamination.

Soil is a non-renewable resource, providing a majority of the world’s food and fiber while serving as a vital carbon reservoir. However, the health of soil faces global threats from human activities, particularly widespread contamination by industrial chemicals. Existing physical, chemical, and biological remediation approaches encounter challenges in preserving soil structure and function throughout the remediation process, as well as addressing the complexities of soil contamination on a regional scale. Viable solutions encompass monitoring and simulating soil processes, with a focus on utilizing big data to bridge micro-scale and macro-scale processes. Additionally, reducing pollutant emissions to soil is paramount due to the significant challenges associated with removing contaminants once they have entered the soil, coupled with the high economic costs of remediation. Further, it is imperative to implement advanced remediation technologies, such as monitored natural attenuation, and embrace holistic soil management approaches that involve regulatory frameworks, soil health indicators, and soil safety monitoring platforms. Safeguarding the enduring health and resilience of soils necessitates a blend of interdisciplinary research, technological innovation, and collaborative initiatives.

● Stable and efficient U extraction with electrical energy production was achieved.

The extraction of uranium (U) from U-bearing wastewater is of paramount importance for mitigating negative environmental impacts and recovering U resources. Microbial reduction of soluble hexavalent uranium (U(VI)) to insoluble tetravalent uranium (U(IV)) holds immense potential for this purpose, but its practical application has been impeded by the challenges associated with managing U-bacterial mixtures and the biotoxicity of U. To address these challenges, we present a novel spontaneous microbial electrochemical (SMEC) method that spatially decoupled the microbial oxidation reaction and the U(VI) reduction reaction. Our results demonstrated stable and efficient U extraction with net electrical energy production, which was achieved with both synthetic and real wastewater. U(VI) removal occurred via diffusion-controlled U(VI)-to-U(IV) reduction-precipitation at the cathode, and the U^IVO₂ deposited on the surface of the cathode contributed to the stability and durability of the abiotic U(VI) reduction. Metagenomic sequencing revealed the formation of efficient electroactive communities on the anodic biofilm and enrichment of the key functional genes and metabolic pathways involved in electron transfer, energy metabolism, the TCA cycle, and acetate metabolism, which indicated the ectopic reduction of U(VI) at the cathode. Our study represents a significant advancement in the cost-effective recovery of U from U(VI)-bearing wastewater and may open a new avenue for sustainable uranium extraction.

�?Recent advances in promising CCUS technologies are assessed.

Carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies play an essential role in achieving Net Zero Emissions targets. Considering the lack of timely reviews on the recent advancements in promising CCUS technologies, it is crucial to provide a prompt review of the CCUS advances to understand the current research gaps pertained to its industrial application. To that end, this review first summarized the developmental history of CCUS technologies and the current large-scale demonstrations. Then, based on a visually bibliometric analysis, the carbon capture remains a hotspot in the CCUS development. Noting that the materials applied in the carbon capture process determines its performance. As a result, the state-of-the-art carbon capture materials and emerging capture technologies were comprehensively summarized and discussed. Gaps between state-of-art carbon capture process and its ideal counterpart are analyzed, and insights into the research needs such as material design, process optimization, environmental impact, and technical and economic assessments are provided.

● Designing of flood passages toward inundation risk reduction was summarized.

Urban roads can be designated as surface flood passages to transport excess runoff during extreme storms, thereby preventing local flooding, which is known as the major drainage system. However, this practice poses significant risks, including human loss and property damage, due to the high flow rate and velocity carried by roads. Moreover, urban roads with low flood-resilience may significantly hamper the transportation function during severe storms, leading to dysfunction of the city. Therefore, there is an urgent need to transform risk-oriented flood passages into resilient urban road-based flood passages. This paper presents a systematic review of existing methodologies in designing a road network-based flood passage system, along with the discussion of new technologies to enhance system resilience. The study also addresses current knowledge gaps and future directions. The results indicate that flood management measures based on the urban road network should integrate accessibility assessment, lifeline and emergency planning to ensure human well-being outcomes. Furthermore, the special needs and features of vulnerable groups must be taken into serious consideration during the planning stage. In addition, a data-driven approach is recommended to facilitate real-time management and evaluate future works.

● The historical development of free nitrous acid (FNA) technologies is reviewed.

The biocidal effects of free nitrous acid (FNA) have found applications in multiple units in an urban wastewater system, including sewer networks, wastewater treatment processes, and sludge treatment processes. However, these applications are associated with chemical costs as both nitrite and acid are needed to produce FNA at the required levels. The recent discovery of novel acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers offers the possibility to produce FNA from domestic wastewater, enabling the development of next-generation FNA-based technologies capable of achieving self-sustaining FNA production. In this study, we focus on the concept of in situ FNA generation facilitated by acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers and highlight the multiple benefits it creates, after a brief review of the historical development of FNA-based technologies. We will discuss how wastewater systems can be made more energy-efficient and sustainable by leveraging the potential of acid-tolerant ammonia oxidizers.

● A three-phase catalytic system was constructed to degrade typical dyes RhB.

This study developed a novel MnFe-LDH/PMS/O₃ three-phase catalytic system to degrade the organic dye RhB, which was used to address the drawbacks of persulfate oxidation and ozonation techniques. The structure, ionic and elemental composition, specific surface area, and magnetic properties of the LDHs were investigated using a variety of physicochemical characterization tools. The results showed that MnFe-LDH had a large specific surface area, a rich crystalline phase composition, and a functional group structure. The RhB degradation rate of MnFe-LDH/PMS/O₃ was 0.34 min⁻¹, which was much higher than that of other comparative systems. RhB could be completely degraded in 10 min after optimization and had a significant effect on TOC removal. The system was found to be effective over a wide pH range. Common anions were largely unaffected and humic acid acted as an inhibitor. At the same time, the system had generally effective degradation performance for different dyes. Combined with quenching experiments and EPR, it was found that SO₄^•−, •OH, O₂^•−, and ¹O₂ all participated in the reaction, and •OH contributed more. The degradation pathway of RhB was derived by LC-MS, and the T.E.S.T. evaluation found that the toxicity of the intermediate product was significantly reduced. Finally, the stability and availability of LDHs were verified using cycling experiments and metal ion leaching. This work provides a theoretical basis and data support for the synergistic catalysis of PMS/O₃ and the deep treatment of dye wastewater.

● Magnetic Co- γ -Fe₂O₃/MoS₂ were prepared via facile hydrothermal methods.

Iron-based catalysts have been widely used to treat refractory organic pollutants in wastewater. In this paper, magnetic Co-γ-Fe₂O₃ was synthesized by a facile tartaric acid-assisted hydrothermal method, and Co-γ-Fe₂O₃/MoS₂ nanocomposite catalyst was obtained via in situ growth of MoS₂ nanosheets on Co-γ-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles. The nanocomposite catalysts were used to decompose bisphenol A (BPA) by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS). It was shown that only 0.15 g/L catalyst and 0.5 mmol/L PMS degraded 10 mg/L of BPA (99.3% within 10 min) in the pH range of 3–9. PMS was activated due to redox cycling among the pairs Co(III)/Co(II), Fe(III)/Fe(II), and Mo(VI)/Mo(IV). Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated that both radical and non-radical pathways were involved in BPA degradation, in which active radical sulfate radical and non-radical singlet oxygen were the main reactive oxygen species. Ten intermediates were identified by liquid chromatography-coupled mass spectrometry, and three possible BPA degradation pathways were proposed. The toxicity of several degradation intermediates was lower, and Co-γ-Fe₂O₃/MoS₂ exhibited excellent reusability and could be magnetically recovered.

● Simultaneous water recovery and salt separation from hypersaline brine is feasible.

The feasibility of simultaneous water recovery, salt separation and effective descaling of hypersaline brine was investigated by diisopropylamine (DIPA)-based directional solvent extraction (DSE), using diluted/concentrated seawater with initial saline concentration range of 12–237 g/L at extraction temperatures of 5 and 15 °C, respectively. The water recovery shows an obvious boundary at saline concentration of 115 g/L under dual effect of specific water extraction efficiency and extraction cycles. High Cl^– ion concentration in product water is in sharp contrast to the nearly complete removal of SO₄^2– and hardness ions, indicating that DIPA-based DSE process indeed achieved efficient separation and purification of Cl^– ion from hypersaline brines. Especially, the radical precipitation of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions in form of Mg(OH)₂ and CaCO₃ demonstrates effective descaling potential, although it leads to more DIPA residues in dewatered raffinate than product water. Moreover, an exponential correlation between the Cl^– removal efficiency and specific water extraction efficiency further reveals the intrinsic relationship of water extraction process and transfer of Cl^– ion to the product water. Overall, the study provides a novel approach for integrating the water recovery and separation of Cl^– ion from ultra-high-salinity brines with radical precipitation of Mg²⁺ and Ca²⁺ ions in one step.

● PLS-VAER is proposed for modeling of PM_2.5 concentration.

Exposure to poor indoor air conditions poses significant risks to human health, increasing morbidity and mortality rates. Soft measurement modeling is suitable for stable and accurate monitoring of air pollutants and improving air quality. Based on partial least squares (PLS), we propose an indoor air quality prediction model that utilizes variational auto-encoder regression (VAER) algorithm. To reduce the negative effects of noise, latent variables in the original data are extracted by PLS in the first step. Then, the extracted variables are used as inputs to VAER, which improve the accuracy and robustness of the model. Through comparative analysis with traditional methods, we demonstrate the superior performance of our PLS-VAER model, which exhibits improved prediction performance and stability. The root mean square error (RMSE) of PLS-VAER is reduced by 14.71%, 26.47%, and 12.50% compared to single VAER, PLS-SVR, and PLS-ANN, respectively. Additionally, the coefficient of determination (R²) of PLS-VAER improves by 13.70%, 30.09%, and 11.25% compared to single VAER, PLS-SVR, and PLS-ANN, respectively. This research offers an innovative and environmentally-friendly approach to monitor and improve indoor air quality.

● Dimethoate degraders were identified via MMI and DNA-SIP.

Microorganisms are crucial in the bioremediation of organophosphorus pesticides. However, most functional microorganisms (> 99%) are yet to be cultivated. This study applied two cultivation-independent approaches, DNA-SIP and magnetic-nanoparticle mediated isolation (MMI), to identify the functional microorganisms in degrading dimethoate in agricultural soils. MMI identified five dimethoate degraders: Pseudomonas, Bacillus, Ramlibacter, Arthrobacter, and Rhodococcus, whereas DNA-SIP identified three dimethoate degraders: Ramlibacter, Arthrobacter, and Rhodococcus. Also, MMI showed higher resolution than DNA-SIP in identifying functional microorganisms. Two organic phosphohydrolase (OPH) genes: ophC2 and ophB, were involved in dimethoate metabolism, as revealed by DNA-SIP and MMI. The degradation products of dimethoate include omethoate, O,O,S-trimethyl thiophosphorothioate, N-methyl-2-sulfanylacetamide, O,O-diethyl S-hydrogen phosphorodithioate, O,O,O-trimethyl thiophosphate, O,O,S-trimethyl thiophosphorodithioate, and O,O,O-trimethyl phosphoric. This study emphasizes the feasibility of using SIP and MMI to explore the functional dimethoate degraders, expanding our knowledge of microbial resources with cultivation-independent approaches.

● The Cd(II) adsorption capacity followed the order of PA > PLA > PP.

It has been demonstrated that microplastics (MPs) can accumulate heavy metals from the environment and transfer them into organisms via the food chain. However, adsorption and desorption capacities for biodegradable MPs relative to those for conventional MPs remain poorly understood. In this study, cadmium (Cd(II)) adsorption and desorption characteristics of polylactic acid (PLA), a typical biodegradable MP, were investigated. Two conventional MPs, i.e., polypropylene (PP) and polyamide (PA) were used for comparison. The maximum Cd(II) adsorption capacities of the MPs studied in the adsorption experiments decreased in the order PA (0.96 ± 0.07 mg/g) > PLA (0.64 ± 0.04 mg/g) > PP (0.22 ± 0.03 mg/g). The Pseudo-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isothermal model described the Cd(II) adsorption behaviors of PLA MPs well. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and two-dimensional Fourier transform infrared correlation spectroscopy analysis indicated that oxygen functional groups were the major and preferential binding sites of PLA MPs, which contributed to their high Cd(II) adsorption capacities. Simulated gastric and intestinal fluids both significantly enhanced the desorption capacities of the examined MPs. Notably, degradation of the PLA MPs during in vitro human digestion made the Cd(II) on the PLA MPs more bioaccessible (19% in the gastric phase and 62% in the intestinal phase) than Cd(II) on the PP and PA MPs. These results indicate the remarkable capacities of biodegradable MPs to accumulate Cd(II) and transfer it to the digestive system and show that biodegradable MPs might pose more severe threats to human health than conventional nonbiodegradable MPs.

● The effect modifications of urban landscape were explored at the intra-urban level.

Despite increased attention given to potential modifiers of temperature-mortality associations, evidence for variations between different urban landscape characteristics remains limited. It is in this context that in this paper effect modifications of multiple urban landscape characteristics are explored under different heatwave definitions for different age groups and gender in Hong Kong, China. Daily meteorological data and heatwave-related mortality counts from 2008 to 2017 were collected from the Hong Kong Census and Statistics Department, China. A case-only design was adopted, combined with logistic regression models to examine the modification effects of five urban landscape characteristics under six heatwave definitions. Stratified analyses were conducted to investigate age- and gender-specific effect modifications. It is found that individuals living in greener areas experienced lower levels of mortality during or immediately after heatwaves. In contrast, a higher building density and nighttime land surface temperature (LST) were associated with a higher heatwave-related mortality risk. Pronounced effect modifications of these urban landscape characteristics were observed under hotter and longer heatwaves, and in older adults (age ≥ 65 years) and males. The findings provide a scientific basis for policymakers and practitioners when considering measures for coping with hotter, longer, and more frequent heatwaves in the context of global climate change.

● A novel brain-inspired network accurately predicts sewage effluent quality.

Efficiently predicting effluent quality through data-driven analysis presents a significant advancement for consistent wastewater treatment operations. In this study, we aimed to develop an integrated method for predicting effluent COD and NH₃ levels. We employed a 200 L pilot-scale sequencing batch reactor (SBR) to gather multimodal data from urban sewage over 40 d. Then we collected data on critical parameters like COD, DO, pH, NH₃, EC, ORP, SS, and water temperature, alongside wastewater surface images, resulting in a data set of approximately 40246 points. Then we proposed a brain-inspired image and temporal fusion model integrated with a CNN-LSTM network (BITF-CL) using this data. This innovative model synergized sewage imagery with water quality data, enhancing prediction accuracy. As a result, the BITF-CL model reduced prediction error by over 23% compared to traditional methods and still performed comparably to conventional techniques even without using DO and SS sensor data. Consequently, this research presents a cost-effective and precise prediction system for sewage treatment, demonstrating the potential of brain-inspired models.

● The sequestration capacity of 610.8 g CO₂/kg was achieved for carbide slag.

Under the dual-carbon target, CO₂ mineralization through solid wastes presents a mutually beneficial approach for permanent carbon emission reduction at a low material cost, while also enabling the resource utilization of these wastes. However, despite its potential, a comprehensive understanding about the effect of industrial solid waste properties and operating parameters on the carbonation process, and the mechanism of direct aqueous carbonation is still lacking. A series of experiments were conducted to compare the carbonation performance of fly ash, steel slag, and carbide slag. Subsequently, CO₂ mineralization by carbide slag was systematically studied under various operating parameters due to its high CO₂ sequestration capacity. Results showed the reactivity of CaO and Ca(OH)₂ was higher than that of CaO·SiO₂ and 2CaO·SiO₂. Carbide slag demonstrated a sequestration capacity of 610.8 g CO₂/kg and carbonation efficiency ζ_Ca of 62.04% under the conditions of 65 °C, 1.5 MPa initial CO₂ pressure, 15 mL/g liquid-to-solid ratio, and 200 r/min stirring speed. Moreover, the formation of carbonates was confirmed through XRD, SEM-EDS, TG, and FTIR. A mechanism analysis revealed that initially, the rate of the carbonation process was primarily controlled by the mass transfer of CO₂ in the gas–liquid interface. However, the rate-determining step gradually shifted to the mass transfer of Ca²⁺ in the solid–liquid interface as the reaction time increased. This study lays the foundation for the large-scale implementation of CO₂ sequestration through carbide slag carbonation.

● Partial aging of SZVI can enhance its reactive durability toward Cr(VI).

Sulfated zero-valent iron (SZVI) has shown promising applications in wastewater treatment. However, the rapid decline in the reactivity of SZVI with time limits its real practice. To mediate this problem, partial aging was proposed to improve the reactive durability of SZVI. Taking Cr(VI) as the target contaminant, we found that the aged ZVI (AZVI) gradually lost reactivity as aging time increased from 0.5 to 2 d. Counter-intuitively, the partially aged SZVI (ASZVI) showed greater reactivity than SZVI when exposed to oxygenated water for a period ranging from 0.5 to 14 d. In addition, the ASZVI with 0.5 d of aging time (ASZVI-0.5) not only maintained reactivity in successive runs but also increased the Cr(VI) removal capacity from 9.1 mg/g by SZVI to 19.1 mg/g by ASZVI-0.5. Correlation analysis further revealed that the electron transfer from the Fe⁰ core to the shell was mediated by the conductive FeS and FeS₂ in the subshell of ASZVI. Meanwhile, the lepidocrocite and magnetite on the surface of ASZVI facilitated Cr(VI) adsorption and subsequent electron transfer for Cr(VI) reduction. Moreover, the iron (hydr)oxide shell could retain the conductive FeS and FeS₂ in the subshell, allowing ASZVI to reduce Cr(VI) efficiently and sustainably. In general, partial aging can enhance the reactive durability of ZVI when coupled with sulfidation and this synergistic effect will be beneficial to the application of SZVI-based technology for wastewater treatment.

● Sodium acetate significantly enriched the CGP synthetase-encoding gene.

In the sewage treatment process, facilitating the conversion of pollutants into value-added resources holds great potential for reducing the amount of greenhouse gas emissions and promoting economic circulation. Cyanophycin granule polypeptide (CGP), a recently discovered high value-added biopolymer present in activated sludge, has provided new avenues for the recovery of resources. However, the mechanisms that regulate CGP synthesis and the characteristics of this biopolymer in activated sludge remain unclear thus far. This study investigated the synthesis of CGP, polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA), and alginate-like exopolysaccharides (ALE) in various microbial aggregates under different carbon sources feeding conditions. Our results showed that the CGP yields was superior that of PHA and ALE when subjected to identical carbon source feeding conditions. Furthermore, biofilm was more conducive to CGP accumulation than floc sludge. Compared with glucose and methanol, sodium acetate significantly enriched the CGP synthetase-encoding gene (cphA_abundance = ~17419), resulting in the highest CGP yield (average 107.1 mg/g MLSS) in both biofilm and floc sludge. This study is the first to reported the characteristic fluorescence of CGP (Ex/Em = ~360/450 nm) caused by the aggregated luminescence of arginine on the side chains. Overall, this study highlights the potential application of CGP as a fluorescent material and offers insights into CGP recovery from activated sludge in wastewater treatment plants.

● Heterogeneous HONO reactions significantly improve HONO simulation in summer.

Substantial NO_x emission mitigation is crucial for the synergistic reduction of particulate matter and ozone (O₃) pollution in China. The traditional air quality model does not consider heterogeneous HONO chemistry, leading to uncertainties in estimating the benefits of NO_x control. Previous studies have shown that the parameterization of heterogeneous HONO formation increases both the simulated value of sulfate–nitrate–ammonium (SNA) and that of O₃, thus adding the heterogeneous reactions of HONO into air quality models inevitably leads to changes in the estimated benefits of NO_x abatement. Here we investigated the changes in SNA and O₃ concentrations from NO_x emission reduction before and after adding heterogeneous HONO reactions in the Community Multi-Scale Air Quality (CMAQ) model. Including heterogeneous HONO reactions in the simulation improved the benefits of NO_x reduction in terms of SNA control in winter. With 80% NO_x reduction, the reduction in SNA increased from 36.9% without considering heterogeneous HONO reactions to 42.8% with heterogeneous HONO chemistry. The reduction in the maximum daily 8h average (MDA8) O₃ in summer caused by NO_x reduction increased slightly from 4.7% to 5.2% after adding heterogeneous HONO reactions. The results in this study highlight the enhanced effectiveness of NO_x controls for the reduction of SNA and O₃ after considering heterogeneous HONO formation in a complex chemical ambient, demonstrating the importance of NO_x controls in reducing PM_2.5 and O₃ pollution in China.