The Cd immobilization mechanisms in paddy soil through ureolysis-based microbial induced carbonate precipitation: Emphasis on the coexisting cations and metatranscriptome analysis

Microbial induced carbonate precipitation (MICP) can immobilize metals and reduce their bioavailability. However, little is known about the immobilization mechanism of Cd in the presence of soil cations and the triggered gene expression and metabolic pathways in paddy soil. Thus, microcosmic experiments were conducted to study the fractionation transformation of Cd and metatranscriptome analysis. Results showed that bioavailable Cd decreased from 0.62 to 0.29 mg/kg after 330 d due to the MICP immobilization. This was ascribed to the increase in carbonate bound, Fe-Mn oxides bound, and residual Cd. The underlying immobilization mechanisms could be attributed to the formation of insoluble Cd-containing precipitates, the complexation and lattice substitution with carbonate and Fe, Mn and Al (hydr)oxides, and the adsorption on functional group on extracellular polymers of cell. During the MICP immobilization process, up-regulated differential expression urease genes were significantly enriched in the paddy soil, corresponding to the arginine biosynthesis, purine metabolism and atrazine degradation. The metabolic pathway of bacterial chemotaxis, flagellum assembly, and peptidoglycan biosynthesis and the expression of cadA gene related to Cd excretion enhanced Cd resistance of soil microbiome. Therefore, this study provided new insights into the immobilization mechanisms of Cd in paddy soils through ureolysis-based MICP process.

Remarkably efficient removal of toxic bromate from drinking water with a porphyrin-viologen covalent organic framework

The presence of carcinogenic bromate (BrO₃⁻) in drinking water became a global concern and efforts towards its removal mainly focused on addressing the source. Herein, we rationally designed a porphyrin-based covalent organic framework (PV-COF) with a cationic surface to provide electrostatic interactions and a porphyrin core to induce hydrogen bonding interactions for the efficient removal of BrO₃⁻ from water. Through H-bonding and electrostatic interactions, PV-COF exhibited an exceptional bromate removal efficiency (maximum adsorption capacity, Q_max: 203.8 mg g⁻¹) with the fastest uptake rate (k_ads) of 191.45 g mg⁻¹ min⁻¹. The bromate concentration was reduced to far below the allowed concentration in drinking water (10 ppb) within 20 minutes. We studied the relationship between bromate adsorption and COF surface modification by metalation of the porphyrinic core or neutralization of the viologen linkers by chemical reduction. The bromate adsorption mechanism was studied by EDAX mapping and molecular simulations, and it was found that ion exchange and hydrogen bonding formation drive the adsorption. Importantly, PV-COF could be easily recycled several times without compromising its adsorption efficiency.

A cationic COF removes carcinogenic bromate with a remarkable rate constant of 191.45 g mg⁻¹ min⁻¹.

Preparation of MgAlFe-LDHs as a deicer corrosion inhibitor to reduce corrosion of chloride ions in deicing salts

This material consists of a double hydroxide consisting of Mg, Al, Fe in a 9:2:1 M ratios, which was synthesised by hydrothermal method under constant pH conditions. The products were calcined at 500 °C for use as a deicing corrosion inhibitor, which breaks through the problem that the traditional corrosion inhibitor itself doesn't have the capability of deicing. The raw material of Al and Fe was extracted from the red mud by acid leaching. Characterization by XRD, FTIR, BET, XPS, SEM and TEM revealed that the interlaminar structure of the collapsed double-layered hydroxide material after high temperature calcination was regained by adsorbing Cl^-. Cl^- was filled between the layers of double hydroxide and existed by chemical adsorption. By measuring the freezing point of mixed deicing salt and the ability to melt snow and deicing, the freezing point of the inhibitor was found. When the solution concentration was 40 wt%, the freezing point of the mixed deicing salt reached -27.6 °C. Corrosion inhibitors can reduce the amount of CaCl₂ when used in combination with anhydrous CaCl₂. In addition, the determination of the corrosion rate of carbon steel and the resistance to salt freezing of concrete has revealed that the corrosion inhibitor can adsorb Cl^- and reduce the content of free Cl^- at low temperatures. Therefore, corrosion inhibitor plays a significant role in reducing the amount of Cl^- used, the corrosion rate of carbon steel, and the salt-freezing resistance of concrete.

Fe(ii) and Mn(ii) removal by Ca(ii)–manganite (γ-MnOOH)-modified red mud granules in water

In this study, a material (DLRMG) was synthesized by modifying Ca²⁺ and manganite (γ-MnOOH) on red mud granules (RMG), which were the main raw materials derived from industrial alumina. Moreover, a series of experiments were conducted on the adsorption of Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺ in underground water. The prepared samples were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), zeta potential analysis, BET and scanning electron microscopy (SEM); the concentration of the effluent was found to be of acceptable standard after the treatment. DLRMG continued to treat fluoride wastewater even after the saturated adsorption of Fe²⁺ and Mn²⁺, and the results clearly showed that the treatment was effective. Overall, the problems of red mud stockpile and pollution in China would be effectively controlled by DLRMG.

The use of the waste of aluminum industry to prepare effective polluted materials for the treatment of underground water.

Fe-Ti/Fe (II)-loading on ceramic filter materials for residual chlorine removal from drinking water

Ceramic filter material was prepared with silicon dioxide (SiO₂), which was recovered from red mud and then modified with Fe (II) and Fe-Ti bimetal oxide. Ceramic filter material can be used to reduce the content of residual chlorine from drinking water. The results showed that after a two-step leaching process with 3 M hydrochloric acid (HCl) and 90% sulfuric acid (H₂SO₄), the recovery of SiO₂ exceeded 80%. Fe (II)/Fe-Ti bimetal oxide, with a high adsorption capacity of residual chlorine, was prepared using a 3:1 M ratio of Fe/Ti and a concentration of 0.4 mol/L Fe²⁺. According to the zeta-potential, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) analysis, Fe (II) and Fe-Ti bimetal oxide altered the zeta potential and structural properties of the ceramic filter material. There was a synergistic interaction between Fe and Ti in which FeOTi bonds on the material surface and hydroxyl groups provided the active sites for adsorption. Through a redox reaction, Fe (II) transfers hypochlorite to chloride, and FeOTiCl bonds were formed after adsorption.

Reduction of Bromate by Cobalt-Impregnated Biochar Fabricated via Pyrolysis of Lignin Using CO2 as a Reaction Medium

In this study, pyrolysis of lignin impregnated with cobalt (Co) was conducted to fabricate a Co-biochar (i.e., Co/lignin biochar) for use as a catalyst for bromate (BrO₃^-) reduction. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) was employed as a reaction medium in the pyrolysis to induce desired effects associated with CO₂; (1) the enhanced thermal cracking of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) evolved from the thermal degradation of biomass, and (2) the direct reaction between CO₂ and VOCs, which resulted in the enhanced generation of syngas (i.e., H₂ and CO). This study placed main emphases on three parts: (1) the role of impregnated Co in pyrolysis of lignin in the presence of CO₂, (2) the characterization of Co/lignin biochar, and (3) evaluation of catalytic capability of Co-lignin biochar in BrO₃^- reduction. The findings from the pyrolysis experiments strongly evidenced that the desired CO₂ effects were strengthened due to catalytic effect of impregnated Co in lignin. For example, the enhanced generation of syngas from pyrolysis of Coimpregnated lignin in CO₂ was more significant than the case without Co impregnation. Moreover, pyrolysis of Coimpregnated lignin in CO₂ led to production of biochar of which surface area (599 m² g^-1) is nearly 100 times greater than the biochar produced in N₂ (6.6 m² g^-1). Co/lignin biochar produced in CO₂ also showed a great performance in catalyzing BrO₃^- reduction as compared to the biochar produced in N₂.