Environmental impact of emerging contaminants from battery waste: A mini review

Application of ANN and RSM for Rhodamine B and Safranine-O Decolorization on Zinc-Carbon Battery Waste Derived Ag/CoFe-LDH/rGO Catalyst

The present work is first aimed at recovering graphite from carbon rods of waste zinc-carbon (Zn-C) batteries for applications such as wastewater treatment, in order to contribute to the development of a sustainable environment. Then, a composite material, cobalt-iron layered double hydroxide combination with reduced graphene oxide, and with subsequent Ag nanoparticles deposition via NaBH4 reduction method (Ag/CoFe-LDH/rGO) was prepared for the catalytic activity of Rhodamine B (RhB) and Safranine-O (SO) as model contaminants from aquatic media. The catalytic activity of RhB and SO by Ag/CoFe-LDH/rGO in the presence of NaBH4 was studied to model and optimize the process parameters (NaBH4 amount, reaction time, initial dye concentration (Co), and catalyst dosage) via central composite design (CCD)-response surface methodology (RSM). Also, an artificial neural network (ANN) model was developed to estimate the catalytic activity of each dye using an RSM data set. The catalytic activities of 99.54% and 99.96% were obtained for RhB and SO dyes, respectively, under the optimal conditions: NaBH4 amount 12.32 mM, reaction time 3.19 min, Co 33.46 mg/L, and catalyst dosage 1.24 mg/mL for RhB dye; NaBH4 amount 16.76 mM, reaction time 3.06 min, Co 15.10 mg/L, and catalyst dosage 1.46 mg/mL for SO dye. The optimum conditions of process parameters by ANN with gray wolf optimizer (GWO) were in good agreement with the points determined the RSM-CCD. These results demonstrate that RSM and ANN approaches can be applied practically and efficiently to maximize the catalytic activity of RhB and SO by Ag/CoFe-LDH/rGO in the existence of NaBH4. On the other hand, from the kinetic and thermodynamic studies, the positive activation enthalpy, ΔH# and the negative activation entropy, ΔS# values for each dye demonstrated that the catalytic performance was endothermic and less random at the solid/liquid interface.

Enhanced Responsivity and Photostability of Cs3Bi2I9-Based Self-Powered Photodetector via Chemical Vapor Deposition Engineering

Lead-based halide perovskites have gained significant prominence in recent years in optoelectronics and photovoltaics, owing to their exceptional optoelectronic properties. Nonetheless, the toxicity of lead (Pb) and the stability concern pose obstacles to their potential for future large-scale market development. Herein, stable lead-free Cs3Bi2I9 (CBI) films are presented with smooth and compact morphologies synthesized via chemical vapor deposition (CVD), demonstrating their application as an UV photodetector in a self-powered way. The self-powered photodetectors (SPDs) exhibit remarkable characteristics, including a responsivity of 1.57 A W-1 and an impressive specific detectivity of 3.38 × 1013 Jones under the illumination of 365 nm at zero bias. Furthermore, the SPDs exhibit a nominal decline (≈2.2%) in the photocurrent under constant illumination over 500 h, highlighting its impressive long-term operational stability. Finally, the real-time UV-detection capability of the device is demonstrated by measuring the photocurrent under various conditions, including room light and sunlight at different times. These findings offer a new platform for synthesizing stable and high-quality perovskite films, and SPDs for advancing the development of wearable and portable electronics.

First evidence of lithium toxicity in the cryptic species complex of the estuarine copepod Eurytemora affinis

The development of renewable and low-carbon energy sources means that strategic elements such as lithium (Li) are increasingly being used. The data available on the effects of Li on aquatic organisms are relatively scarce. The copepod Eurytemora affinis, widely distributed in the brackish estuarine waters of the northern hemisphere, is a species of choice in ecotoxicology but in fact constitutes a cryptic species complex, composed of at least six cryptic species. Cryptic diversity can lead to misinterpretation and alter the reproducibility of routine ecotoxicological tests. In the present study, two cryptic species of the E. affinis complex from the Seine (European clade) and the St. Lawrence (North-Atlantic clade) estuaries were used to assess Li toxicity and to compare their differential sensitivity. Larvae were exposed to different concentrations of Li (0.4, 4.39, 35.36 and 80.83 mg L-1) under semi-static conditions for 96 h. Larval development stages were determined and log-logistic functions were fitted to evaluate mortality (LC50) and growth (EC50) parameters. After 96 h of exposure, the results showed that the European and North-Atlantic clades had LC50 values of 55.33 and 67.81 mg L-1 and EC50 values of 28.94 and 41.45 mg L-1, respectively. A moderate difference in sensitivity to Li between the European and North-Atlantic clades of the E. affinis complex was observed. Thus, the cryptic species diversity should be considered using E. affinis to avoid bias in the interpretation of the data. Despite environmental concentrations of Li are expected to increase over the next years, EC50 and LC50 found for E. affinis cryptic species are largely higher than Li environmental concentrations to provoke extreme effects.

Blockchain-enabled architecture for lead acid battery circularity

Widespread use of lead acid batteries (LABs) is resulting in the generation of million tons of battery waste, globally. LAB waste contains critical and hazardous materials, which have detrimental effects on the environment and human health. In recent times, recycling of the LABs has become efficient but the collection of batteries in developing countries is not efficient, which led to the non-professional treatment and recycling of these batteries in the informal sector. This paper proposes a blockchain-enabled architecture for LAB circularity, which ensures authentic, traceable and transparent system for collection and treatment of batteries. The stakeholders-battery manufacturers, distributors, retailers, users, and validators (governments, domain experts, third party experts, etc.)-are integrated in the circular loop through a blockchain network. A mobile application user interface is provided to all the stakeholders for the ease of adoption. The batteries manufactured and supplied in a geographical region as well as the recycled materials at the battery end-of-life are traced authentically. This architecture is expected to be useful for the battery manufacturers to improve their extended producer responsibility and support responsible consumption and production.

Energy harvesting from fuel cell bicycles for home DC grids using soft switched DC-DC converter

Fuel cell vehicles (FCVs) are gaining significance due to their potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and dependence on fossil fuels. Their efficient fuel cell cycle makes them ideal for last-mile transportation, offering zero emissions and longer range compared to battery electric vehicles. Additionally, the generation of electricity through fuel cell stacks is becoming increasingly popular, providing a clean energy source for various applications. This paper focuses on utilizing the energy from fuel cycle bicycles when it's not in use and feeding it into the home DC grid. To achieve this, a dual-phase DC to DC converter is proposed to boost stack voltage and integrate with the 24 V DC home grid system. The converter design is simulated using the PSIM platform and tested in a hardware-in-the-loop (HIL) environment with real-time simulation capabilities.

Use of Perfluorochemicals in Li-Air Batteries: A Critical Review

As lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries approach their theoretical limits, alternative energy storage systems that can power technology with greater energy demands must be realized. Li-metal batteries, particularly Li-air batteries (LABs), are considered a promising energy storage candidate due to their inherent lightweight and energy-dense properties. Unfortunately, LAB practicality remains hindered by inadequate oxygen solubility and diffusion rates within the electrolyte, both which are fundamental for LAB operation. Due to exceptionally high oxygen solubilities, perfluorochemicals (PFCs) have been investigated as a promising solution to this issue. Although PFCs have been reported to enhance LAB performance and longevity when implemented within the cathodic regions of LABs in several studies, the influence of this class of compounds on other components of the battery (including the anode and the electrolyte) is also highly important. This paper reviews the use of PFCs in LABs to date and discusses the performance enhancements resulting from their implementation. We identify and discuss future prospects and emerging research directions for the use of PFCs into LAB design, in the effort toward realization of high-performing LAB technologies.

Zinc-Carbon Battery Recycling for Investigating Carbon Materials for Supercapacitor Applications

In this paper, carbon materials, including graphene nanosheets and carbon nanoparticles, were prepared from spent zinc-carbon batteries by the following two simple methods: electrochemical exfoliation and ultrasonication. Here, graphene nanosheets were synthesized by electrochemical exfoliation in 0.5 M H2SO4 by using a direct current power supply with two carbon rods from spent zinc-carbon batteries. Carbon nanoparticles were prepared by fast ultrasonication in a low-cost, green solution of DI water and ethanol. Graphene nanosheets in this study have high quality, large scale, and good electrochemical ability, while carbon nanoparticles have a unique nanosize and a good specific surface area. These carbon materials were applied for electrochemical measurements for supercapacitor studies and showed excellent stability at different temperatures. Moreover, electric double-layer capacitor devices based on graphene nanosheets and carbon nanoparticles were also used in electrochemical studies with strong stability and good electrochemical capability.

Harnessing Green Electricity from Food: A Split Black Gram-Based Triboelectric Nanogenerator for a Self-Powered Autonomous Lighting System and Portable Electronics

Triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) represent a promising solution to mounting environmental concerns associated with battery disposal amid the escalating demand for portable electronics. However, prevailing TENG fabrication predominantly relies on nonbiodegradable, nonbiocompatible, and synthetic materials, posing a grave ecological threat. To mitigate this, there is a pressing need to develop eco-friendly and green TENGs leveraging sustainable, naturally occurring materials. This study pioneers the use of split black gram (SBG) as a tribo-positive material for TENGs. SBG's effectiveness as a tribo-positive material stems from its abundance of oxygen-containing functional groups, as confirmed by FTIR analysis, facilitating electron donation during the triboelectric process. SBG offers compelling advantages, including widespread availability, cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and hydrophobic and adhesive properties due to its richness in starch and protein, positioning it as an optimal choice for eco-conscious TENG manufacturing. The fabrication process of an SBG-TENG is not only economical and facile but also solvent-free, requiring no specialized tools. Demonstrating commendable performance, the SBG-TENG achieves a maximum power density of 15.36 μW/cm2 at 1 MΩ, with an open circuit voltage of 84 V and short circuit current of 28 μA, comparable to recent studies. In practical applications, the SBG-TENG seamlessly integrates with LEDs and portable electronic devices via a full bridge rectifier, successfully powering them postcapacitor charging. Moreover, an autonomous lighting system is developed by embedding the SBG-TENG in a foot mat, enabling wireless light control through human stepping on the mat, introducing power-saving functionality for residential and office environments. In essence, the introduction of the SBG-TENG not only delivers cost-effectiveness but also minimizes the environmental impact by harnessing sustainable energy from food sources.

Ecotoxicological effects of leachate from e-cigarettes and e-liquid on the performance of perennial ryegrass (Loliumperenne)

Once littered, disposable e-cigarettes present a complex type of waste in the environment. They typically contain a lithium battery, electronics to produce vapour and remnant e-liquid, all of which could leach into the environment. The effects of littered e-cigarettes are not well understood, and they have not been tested in terrestrial ecosystems. To address this, an experiment was set up to assess how leachate from e-cigarettes with or without a battery, but also e-liquid on its own can alter fundamental physical characteristics of Lolium perenne (perennial ryegrass) when irrigated with contaminated water. After 31 days, shoot length of L. perenne was not measurably affected, but the biomass was significantly reduced by 30% when e-liquid, and 24% when leachate from intact e-cigarettes was present compared to control plants. Plants grown with leachate or e-liquid displayed a significant level of early senescence of leaf apices, and the chlorophyll content was increased. Furthermore, root biomass was significantly less (29-46%) compared to the control. Leachate from used disposable e-cigarettes can affect the performance of plants when entering the soil ecosystem, therefore stricter regulations are needed to prevent this new type of electronic litter from becoming more widespread.

Exploring microgel adsorption: synthesis, classification, and pollutant removal dynamics

Microgels have gained significant importance for the removal of pollutants owing to their stimulus-responsive behavior, high stability, and reusable capacity. However, despite these advantages, several hurdles need to be overcome to fully maximize their potential as effective adsorbents for eradicating various contaminants from the environment, such as metallic cations, organic compounds, anions, harmful gases, and dyes. Therefore, a critical review on the adsorption of pollutants by microgels is needed. In this regard, this review presents the latest developments in the adsorptive properties of microgels. The synthetic methods, architectural structures, and stimulus-responsive behavior of microgels are explained in detail. In addition, this review explores various factors that directly influence the adsorption of pollutants by microgels, such as pH, feed composition, content of pollutants, content of comonomers, agitation time, temperature, microgel dose, nature of both adsorbates (pollutants) and adsorbents (microgels), nature of the medium, and ionic strength. Various adsorption isotherms are also explored together with the kinetic aspects of the adsorption process to provide a comprehensive understanding.

Life cycle assessment of a LiFePO4 cylindrical battery

Reduction of the environmental impact, energy efficiency and optimization of material resources are basic aspects in the design and sizing of a battery. The objective of this study was to identify and characterize the environmental impact associated with the life cycle of a 7.47 Wh 18,650 cylindrical single-cell LiFePO4 battery. Life cycle assessment (LCA), the SimaPro 9.1 software package, the Ecoinvent 3.5 database and the ReCiPe 2016 impact assessment method were used for this purpose. Environmental impacts were modelled and quantified using the dual midpoint-endpoint approach and the "cradle-to-gate" model. The results showed the electrodes to be the battery components with the highest environmental impact (41.36% of the total), with the negative electrode being the most unfavourable (29.8 mPt). The ageing, calibration and testing process (53.97 mPt) accounts for 97.21% of the total impact associated with the production process's consumption of energy, and 41.20% of the total impact associated with the battery. This new knowledge will allow a more detailed view of the environmental impact of cylindrical cell LiFePO4 batteries, favouring the identification of critical points to enhance their sustainable production.

A novel process for multi-stage continuous selective leaching of lithium from industrial-grade complicated lithium-ion battery waste

Lithium-ion batteries are widely used in fields such as electric vehicles, portable electronic devices, energy storage systems, and medical equipment, and their indispensable and irreplaceable characteristics are highly regarded. However, extensive disposal of lithium-ion batteries occurs due to severe electrochemical property degradation. These waste batteries, as high-grade secondary resources, have become exceedingly valuable, especially given their lithium content far exceeding the mineable grade from conventional mining processes. Recovering this lithium not only contributes to the circular utilization of resources but also yields substantial economic benefits. This paper presents an innovative method that directly and selectively leaches lithium from industrial-grade composite lithium-ion battery waste. Unlike conventional methods, which require the separation of cathode active materials from other components, this method directly acts on complicated mixed powders, achieving a high leaching rate of lithium and exceptional leaching selectivity (Li extraction rate is higher than 96 %, while the extractions of iron, copper, aluminum, nickel, cobalt, and manganese are all lower than 1 %). Furthermore, a multi-stage continuous leaching process has been developed, enabling efficient selective leaching and enrichment of lithium from industrial-grade mixed waste materials. This method is suitable for various compositions of industrial lithium-ion battery waste and has demonstrated excellent industrial prospects in mini-pilot industrial experiments. Additionally, the paper investigates the washing, purification, and precipitation processes, resulting in a high-concentration and high-purity lithium-rich solution after four-stage washing and two-stage purification. And battery-grade lithium carbonate can be obtained after precipitation. Moreover, the economic evaluation calculations confirm that this method is profitable and feasible. This new method offers advantages such as high leaching rates, excellent selectivity, a streamlined process, low costs, wide applicability, environmental friendliness, and feasibility for industrialization. It represents efficient and sustainable technology with promising applications.

Heavy metal resistance in the Yanomami and Tunapuco microbiome

BACKGROUND

The Amazon Region hosts invaluable and unique biodiversity as well as mineral resources. Consequently, large illegal and artisanal gold mining areas exist in indigenous territories. Mercury has been used in gold mining, and some has been released into the environment and atmosphere, primarily affecting indigenous people such as the Yanomami. In addition, other heavy metals have been associated with gold mining and other metal-dispersing activities in the region.

OBJECTIVE

Investigate the gut microbiome of two semi-isolated groups from the Amazon, focusing on metal resistance.

METHODS

Metagenomic data from the Yanomami and Tunapuco gut microbiome were assembled into contigs, and their putative proteins were searched against a database of metal resistance proteins.

FINDINGS

Proteins associated with mercury resistance were exclusive in the Yanomami, while proteins associated with silver resistance were exclusive in the Tunapuco. Both groups share 77 non-redundant metal resistance (MR) proteins, mostly associated with multi-MR and operons with potential resistance to arsenic, nickel, zinc, copper, copper/silver, and cobalt/nickel. Although both groups harbour operons related to copper resistance, only the Tunapuco group had the pco operon.

CONCLUSION

The Yanomami and Tunapuco gut microbiome shows that these people have been exposed directly or indirectly to distinct scenarios concerning heavy metals.

Trace metals with heavy consequences on bees: A comprehensive review

The pervasiveness of human imprint on Earth is alarming and most animal species, including bees (Hymenoptera: Apoidea: Anthophila), must cope with several stressors. Recently, exposure to trace metals and metalloids (TMM) has drawn attention and has been suggested as a threat for bee populations. In this review, we aimed at bringing together all the studies (n = 59), both in laboratories and in natura, that assessed the effects of TMM on bees. After a brief comment on semantics, we listed the potential routes of exposure to soluble and insoluble (i.e. nanoparticle) TMM, and the threat posed by metallophyte plants. Then, we reviewed the studies that addressed whether bees could detect and avoid TMM in their environment, as well as the ways bee detoxify these xenobiotics. Afterwards, we listed the impacts TMM have on bees at the community, individual, physiological, histological and microbial levels. We discussed around the interspecific variations among bees, as well as around the simultaneous exposure to TMM. Finally, we highlighted that bees are likely exposed to TMM in combination or with other stressors, such as pesticides and parasites. Overall, we showed that most studies focussed on the domesticated western honey bee and mainly addressed lethal effects. Because TMM are widespread in the environment and have been shown to result in detrimental consequences, evaluating their lethal and sublethal effects on bees, including non-Apis species, warrants further investigations.

Evolution fate of battery chemistry during efficient discharging processing of spent lithium-ion batteries

Residual electricity in spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) may cause safety issues during their dismantling and shredding in pretreatment processes. However, the migration and transformation of pollutants generated from spent LIBs during discharging were rarely reported, which is critical for prevention of pollution risk and facilitation of discharging efficiency. Herein, this work is focused on the evolution fate of battery chemistry during discharging processing. Here, migration of metal ions inside battery, galvanic corrosion on surface of battery and chemical evolution outside battery were investigated to attain the comprehensive understanding of discharging process. Firstly, efficient and complete discharging can be achieved using 5 wt% CuSO4 as discharging medium, which mainly drive the migration of Li, instead of transition metals, from anode to cathode, resulting in enrichment of Li in cathode material. Besides, different degrees of galvanic corrosion phenomena on surface of spent LIBs can be discovered in different electrolyte solutions, involving with the corrosion of Al or Fe shells and resulting in the leakage of organic electrolytes inside battery into electrolyte solution. The detailed characterization results of the composition of solute indicate that hydroxide precipitates liberated from corroded shell and organic pollutants are their main existence states.

Recent Advances in Batteryless NFC Sensors for Chemical Sensing and Biosensing

This article reviews the recent advances in the field of batteryless near-field communication (NFC) sensors for chemical sensing and biosensing. The commercial availability of low-cost commercial NFC integrated circuits (ICs) and their massive integration in smartphones, used as readers and cloud interfaces, have aroused great interest in new batteryless NFC sensors. The fact that coil antennas are not importantly affected by the body compared with other wireless sensors based on far-field communications makes this technology suitable for future wearable point-of-care testing (PoCT) devices. This review first compares energy harvesting based on NFC to other energy-harvesting technologies. Next, some practical recommendations for designing and tuning NFC-based tags are described. Power transfer is key because in most cases, the energy harvested has to be stable for several seconds and not contaminated by undesired signals. For this reason, the effect of the dimensions of the coils and the conductivity on the wireless power transfer is thoroughly discussed. In the last part of the review, the state of the art in NFC-based chemical and biosensors is presented. NFC-based tags (or sensor tags) are mainly based on commercial or custom NFC ICs, which are used to harvest the energy from the RF field generated by the smartphone to power the electronics. Low-consumption colorimeters and potentiostats can be integrated into these NFC tags, opening the door to the integration of chemical sensors and biosensors, which can be harvested and read from a smartphone. The smartphone is also used to upload the acquired information to the cloud to facilitate the internet of medical things (IoMT) paradigm. Finally, several chipless sensors recently proposed in the literature as a low-cost alternative for chemical applications are discussed.

Shearing-enhanced mechanical exfoliation with mild-temperature pretreatment for cathode active material recovery from spent LIBs

The conventional approaches for recovering valuable metals from spent lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) suffer from heavy dependence on chemical reagents, high energy consumption, and low recovery efficiencies. In this study, we developed a shearing-enhanced mechanical exfoliation combined with mild-temperature pretreatment (SMEMP) method. The method achieves high-efficiency exfoliation of the cathode active materials that remain strongly adhered to polyvinylidene fluoride after it melts during mild pretreatment. The pretreatment temperature was decreased from 500-550 °C to 250 °C, the duration was decreased to 1/4-1/6 of the traditional pretreatment duration, and the exfoliation efficiency and product purity reached 96.88% and 99.93%, respectively. Despite the weakening thermal stress, the cathode materials could be exfoliated by strengthened shear forces. Compared with other traditional methods, the superiority of this method in temperature reduction and energy saving was established. The proposed SMEMP method is environmentally friendly and economical, and it offers a new route for the recovery of cathode active materials from spent LIBs.

Are Lithium batteries so eco-friendly? Ecotoxicological impacts of Lithium in estuarine bivalves

Lithium (Li) is now widely used in green energies/clean technologies, although its inefficient recycling and treatment means it is an emerging contaminant in aquatic systems. Bivalves, such as clams, are considered good bioindicators of pollution, hence we evaluated the biochemical effects of Li in the clam Venerupis corrugata. Clams were exposed (14 days) to an increasing Li gradient (0, 200, 400, 800µg/L). Bioconcentration capacity tended to decrease with increasing Li exposure possibly due to efforts to eliminate Li from the cells, to avert damage. No influences on the clams' metabolic capacity and protein content were observed. Antioxidant and detoxification defences were activated, especially at 400 and 800µg/L of Li, avoiding lipid damage while protein injuries were observed at higher concentrations. Furthermore, a loss of redox balance was observed. This study highlights the importance of preventing and regulating Li discharges into the environment, avoiding adverse consequences to aquatic ecosystems.

Are the consequences of lithium in marine clams enhanced by climate change?

Coastal areas, such as estuaries and coastal lagoons, are among the most endangered aquatic ecosystems due to the intense anthropogenic activities occurring in their vicinity. These areas are highly threatened by climate change-related factors as well as pollution, especially due to their limited water exchange. Ocean warming and extreme weather events, such as marine heatwaves and rainy periods, are some of the consequences of climate change, inducing alterations in the abiotic parameters of seawater, namely temperature and salinity, which may affect the organisms as well as the behaviour of some pollutants present in water. Lithium (Li) is an element widely used in several industries, especially in the production of batteries for electronic gadgets and electric vehicles. The demand for its exploitation has been growing drastically and is predicted a large increase in the coming years. Inefficient recycling, treatment and disposal results in the release of Li into the aquatic systems, the consequences of which are poorly understood, especially in the context of climate change. Considering that a limited number of studies exist about the impacts of Li on marine species, the present study aimed to assess the effects of temperature rise and salinity changes on the impacts of Li in clams (Venerupis corrugata) collected from the Ria de Aveiro (coastal lagoon, Portugal). Clams were exposed for 14 days to 0 μg/L of Li and 200 μg/L of Li, both conditions under different climate scenarios: 3 different salinities (20, 30 and 40) at 17 °C (control temperature); and 2 different temperatures (17 and 21 °C) at salinity 30 (control salinity). Bioconcentration capacity and biochemical alterations regarding metabolism and oxidative stress were investigated. Salinity variations had a higher impact on biochemical responses than temperature increase, even when combined with Li. The combination of Li with low salinity (20) was the most stressful treatment, provoking increased metabolism and activation of detoxification defences, suggesting possible imbalances in coastal ecosystems in response to Li pollution under extreme weather events. These findings may ultimately contribute to implement environmentally protective actions to mitigate Li contamination and preserve marine life.

Warmer water, high light intensity, lithium and microplastics: Dangerous environmental combinations to zooplankton and Global Health?

Nowadays there is a high concern about the combined effects of global warming and emerging environmental contaminants with significant increasing trends of use, such as lithium (Li) and microplastics (MPs), both on wildlife and human health. Therefore, the effects of high light intensity (26,000 lx) or warmer water temperature (25 °C) on the long-term toxicity of Li and mixtures of Li and MPs (Li-MPs mixtures) were investigated using model populations of the freshwater zooplankton species Daphnia magna. Three 21-day bioassays were done in the laboratory at the following water temperatures and light intensities: (i) 20 °C/10830 lx; (ii) 20 °C/26000 lx (high light intensity); (iii) 25 °C/10830 lx (warmer temperature). Based on the 21-day EC50s on reproduction, high light intensity increased the reproductive toxicity of Li and Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.3 fold; warmer temperature increased the toxicity of Li by ~1.2 fold, and the toxicity of Li-MPs mixtures by ~1.4 fold based on the concentration of Li, and by ~2 fold based on the concentrations of MPs. At high light intensity, Li (0.04 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.04 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced the population fitness by 32 % and 41 %, respectively. Warmer temperature, Li (0.05 mg/L) and Li-MPs mixtures (0.05 Li + 0.09 MPs mg/L) reduced it by 63 % and 71 %, respectively. At warmer temperature or high light intensity, higher concentrations of Li and Li-MPs mixtures lead to population extinction. Based on the population growth rate and using data of bioassays with MPs alone done simultaneously, Li and MPs interactions were antagonistic or synergistic depending on the scenario. High light intensity and chemical stress generally acted synergistically. Warmer temperature and chemical stress always acted synergistically. These findings highlight the threats of long-term exposure to Li and Li-MPs mixtures to freshwater zooplankton and Global Health in a warmer world.

ZnO recovered from spent alkaline batteries as antimicrobial additive for waterborne paints

Biocides are employed to prevent biodeterioration in waterborne paints. In the present study, we used zinc oxide nanoparticles (obtained from spent alkaline batteries) as biocide for indoor waterborne paint at 1.5% of the total solid content in paint. Two different zinc oxides synthesized from spent alkaline batteries, which showed photocatalyst activity, were employed as an antimicrobial agents. After leaching the anode of alkaline batteries, zinc was precipitated from the leachate liquor by introducing oxalic acid (O-ZnO) or sodium carbonate (C-ZnO). The antimicrobial properties of the prepared oxides were tested against Staphylococcus aureus (bacteria), Chaetomium globosum, and Aspergillus fumigatus (fungi) using agar well diffusion method. C-ZnO inhibited the growth of all the strains studied and presented enhanced activity than O-ZnO. The better performance as antimicrobial agent of C-ZnO compared to O-ZnO was attributed to its lower crystallite size, higher amount of oxygen monovacancies, and to its lower band gap energy. The oxide with the best performance in antimicrobial activity, C-ZnO, was employed for the formulation of waterborne acrylic paints. It was observed that 1.5% C-ZnO improved the antifungal properties and antibacterial properties compared to the control sample.

Kinetics of Ion-Exchange Extraction of Lithium from Aqueous Solutions by Protonated Potassium Polytitanates

In this work, protonated forms of potassium polytitanate were obtained by treating the precursor in HCl solution at pH 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0, 6.0, or 7.0. The synthesized materials were studied using XRD, FTIR, and XRF. The ion-exchange properties were studied using a LiCl solution with a concentration of C(Li+) = 0.01 mol/L. It was shown that extraction of lithium by potassium polytitanates is dependent on their protonation degree. It has been established that the samples with the highest degree of protonation obtained at pH = 2.0 and 3.0 have the highest efficiency in the ion-exchange extraction of Li+ ions from an aqueous solution. For determination of exchange ion rates and the mechanism of the ion-exchange process, pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order models as well as the Weber–Morris intraparticle diffusion model, were employed. Experimental data with their participation are in good agreement with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The calculated kinetic parameters were qe = 0.47–0.52 mmol/g and k2 = 0.25–0.43, depending on the protonation degree of potassium polytitanate. The obtained experimental and calculated values of the sorption capacity were compared with the cation-exchange capacity of materials studied. According to the kinetics study, the mechanism of lithium adsorption by potassium polytitanates with a higher protonation degree is the ion-exchange chemical reaction. Low-cost protonated potassium polytitanates are promising to extract Li+ ions from aqueous solutions with a low concentration, as confirmed by the analysis of the results.

Proactive approach to minimize lithium pollution

With the advancements in lithium-ion battery technology, lithium has been extensively used in many electronic products. Lithium usage is expected to increase in the coming decades. Elevated levels of lithium in the environments, including source water and biota, have been recently reported. Lithium can cause soil dispersion and aggerate swelling and can be readily taken up by plants and filter-feeders, potentially causing toxicity to plants, organisms, and human. As learnt from the reactive approach of the Clean Water Act, many emerging pollutants have not been recognized until they have been widespread and reached dangerous levels in the environments. Aftermath cleanup costs are huge, and many of these damages are irreversible. To avoid lithium being the next global contaminant of emerging concern, environmental agencies shall implement proactive regulation and education soon.

Battery wastewater induces nephrotoxicity via disordering the mitochondrial dynamics

The rapid development of new energy battery enterprises manifolds the obsolete and scrapped batteries which are considered serious concern for the environment and ecology. Increasing trend of recycling batteries waste is public hazard throughout the world. The batteries wastes affect the various body systems but exact toxicological mechanism of battery wastewater is still unexplored. The present study was designed to observe the toxicological effects of batteries wastes on kidney functional dynamics. In this experiment, a total of 20 male mice were randomly divided into two groups including control and treatment (battery wastewater) group. The control group was provided the normal saline while the battery wastewater group were provided battery waste-water for a period of 21 days. The isolated kidneys were processed for histopathological analysis, biochemical assays, mRNA and protein estimation. The results showed that battery wastewater provision increased the mitochondrial division-related genes and proteins (Drp1, MFF, Fis1) and decreased the expression level of fusion-related nuclear proteins (MFN1, MFN2, OPA1) in kidneys. Moreover, the battery wastewater exposure significantly up-regulated the autophagy (PINK, Parkin, mTOR, ATG5, LC3-b, p62) and apoptosis (Bax, Cytc, APAF1, P53, Caspase3, Caspase8) related mRNA and proteins levels in kidneys. However, down-regulation of mRNA and proteins levels of Bcl2 and Beclin1 were also observed in kidneys after batteries wastes exposure. In conclusion, it is evident that the battery wastewater leads to renal apoptosis and autophagy by disrupting the mitochondrial dynamics in mice kidneys.

Triangular Intuitionistic Fuzzy Aggregating and Ranking Function Approach for the Rating of Battery ‘End-of-Life’ Handling Alternatives

The increased adoption of intermittent renewable sources in the energy sector has also increased the use of battery storage systems. However, the negative impact which the improper disposal of batteries has on the environment has stirred debates on its sustainability. To ensure the proper disposal of battery waste, there is a need to identify and rank the most preferred battery ‘end-of-life’ handling alternatives. This paper focuses on identifying the most preferred ‘end-of-life’ handling alternatives for batteries using a modified triangular intuitionistic fuzzy aggregating and ranking function (TIFARF) model. To test the proposed modified TIFARF model, opinions from experts in the Nigerian renewable energy sector were collected, and the results show that the most preferred alternative is incineration, with a closeness coefficient of 0.130, while the least preferred alternative is recycling, whose closeness coefficient is 0.112. The results are an indication of a lack of facilities needed for the proper recycling of battery remains after their lifetime; if adequate facilities are available, the opinion of experts may be biased towards other alternatives. Future studies should focus on more battery ‘end-of-life’ handling alternatives and on countries with adequate facilities that can be used to manage batteries at the end of their lifespan.

Gut microbiota disturbance exaggerates battery wastewater-induced hepatotoxicity through a gut-liver axis

As the primary source of electricity for various devices, batteries are important contributors to the overall electronic waste generated; and are widely considered a source of highly ecotoxic pollutants. Material leakage in battery manufacturing has not been completely solved, and the elucidation of the toxic mechanisms of battery wastewater exposure is needed. We demonstrated that battery waste exposure disrupted the intestinal flora and aggravated hepatotoxicity via the gut-liver axis. Under battery waste exposure, colon epithelium suffered physiological damage, and gene and protein expression levels related to gut barrier function (ZO-1, claudin-1, and Occludin) were significantly downregulated. Meanwhile, battery waste reduced the richness and diversity of the flora, causing metabolites produced by intestinal microbes to enter the gut-liver axis. Gut microbial dysbiosis impaired mitochondrial respiratory function in liver tissue cells, and mitophagy, apoptosis, and the disorder of glycolipids and amino acid metabolism were induced in hosts exposed to battery toxins. Altogether, these results provided novel insights into the underlying mechanisms of battery wastewater-related hepatotoxicity induced by gut microbiota via the gut-liver axis, which has public health implications where humans and animals are exposed to industrial toxins generated by uncontained battery disposal.