Herein, an electrochemical (EC) system was applied as “co-catalyst” to enhance the activation of peroxymonosulfate (EC/Fe(III)/PMS) for efficient Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation. The cathodic reduction reaction can facilitate electron transfer to Fe(III) and trigger the sustainable Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle. Unexpectedly, in addition to hydroxyl radical ( • OH) and sulfate radical (SO 4 •− ), non-radicals mechanism including singlet oxygen ( 1 O 2 ) and Fe(IV) were also found involved in EC/Fe(III)/PMS system. The degradation of SMX in EC/Fe(III)/PMS system was accomplished by the collaboration of radicals and non-radicals oxidation. The generation routes and mechanisms of involved reactive oxygen species (ROS) were explored. The relative contributions of • OH, SO 4 •− , and nonradical species for the degradation of SMX were calculated to 4.75 %, 25.31 %, and 69.94 %, respectively. Besides, multiple degradation pathways of SMX were proposed by identifying the formed byproducts. The EC/Fe(III)/PMS process could efficiently degrade SMX under the influence of co-existing ions and inactivate pathogens in the wastewater. • Electrochemical system was used as a “co-catalyst” to promote the Fe(III)/Fe(II) redox cycle. • SMX is effectively degraded with a weak electrical current consumption in EC/Fe(III)/PMS system. • EC/Fe(III)/PMS system is mainly a non-radical pathway dominated by 1 O 2 and Fe(IV). • EC/Fe(III)/PMS system demonstrated the ability to simultaneously eliminate contaminants and pathogens. 

Sustainable Fe(III)/Fe(II) cycles triggered by co-catalyst of weak electrical current in Fe(III)/peroxymonosulfate system: Collaboration of radical and non-radical mechanisms

Simulation the adsorption capacity of polyvinyl alcohol/carboxymethyl cellulose based hydrogels towards methylene blue in aqueous solutions using cascade correlation neural network (CCNN) technique

Application of BiNPs/MWCNTs-PDA/GC sensor to measurement of Tl (1) and Pb (II) using stripping voltammetry.

We have studied conditions for the growth of LiNbO3〈Zn〉 crystals in the composition range ≃4.0–8.91 mol % ZnO. It has been shown that, in the composition range ≃4–6.8 mol % ZnO in the melt, compositionally and optically homogeneous LiNbO3〈Zn〉 crystals can be grown. Above 6.8 mol % ZnO, imperfect crystals consisting of two distinct phases grow. We have accurately determined threshold impurity concentrations corresponding to significant changes in LiNbO3〈Zn〉 crystallization conditions.

Growth of heavily doped LiNbO3〈Zn〉 crystals

Water pollution is a major concern for public health and a sustainable future. It is urgent to purify wastewater with effective methods to ensure a clean water supply. Most wastewater remediation techniques rely heavily on functional materials, and cost-effective materials are thus highly favorable. Of great environmental and economic significance, developing waste-derived materials for wastewater remediation has undergone explosive growth recently. Herein, the applications of waste (e.g., biowastes, electronic wastes, and industrial wastes)-derived materials for wastewater purification are comprehensively reviewed. Sophisticated strategies for turning wastes into functional materials are firstly summarized, including pyrolysis and combustion, hydrothermal synthesis, sol–gel method, co-precipitation, and ball milling. Moreover, critical experimental parameters within different design strategies are discussed. Afterward, recent applications of waste-derived functional materials in adsorption, photocatalytic degradation, electrochemical treatment, and advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are analyzed. We mainly focus on the development of efficient functional materials via regulating the internal and external characteristics of waste-derived materials, and the material’s property-performance correlation is also emphasized. Finally, the key future perspectives in the field of waste-derived materials-driven water remediation are highlighted. 

Recent advances in waste-derived functional materials for wastewater remediation

Growth and properties of Zn doped lithium niobate crystal

Novel coagulation waste-based Fe-containing carbonaceous catalyst as peroxymonosulfate activator for pollutants degradation: Role of ROS and electron transfer pathway.

Growth and properties of RE : Zn : LiNbO3 crystals

Sustainable strategy for lignocellulosic crop wastes reduction by Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (mealworm) and potential use of mealworm frass as a fertilizer

In the last few decades, anthraquinone and its derivatives (AQs) have been intensively applied to electrochemical, textile and dye, and photovoltaic industries. This has increased the levels of AQs in the natural environment and threatens human health. To remove AQs from the aqueous phase and recover these multi-functional molecules, a binary magnetic adsorbent, reduced graphene/Fe3O4 (rGO/Fe3O4), was synthesized via a hydrothermal method. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), Raman spectra, and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were then used to characterize the samples. The adsorption capacities of rGO/Fe3O4 to AQs were investigated by selecting anthraquinone-2-sulfonate (AQ2S) as a model molecule. The adsorption process followed the Langmuir adsorption isotherm and the second-order kinetics. The regeneration of adsorbents and the recycling of AQ2S and solvent were simultaneously achieved by Soxhlet extraction and rotary evaporation. These results confirm the high adsorption efficiency of rGO/Fe3O4 for removing AQs from water and provide a promising approach to recover the valuable molecules from the aqueous phase.

Mei-Xi Li

Papers

Growth and properties of Zn doped lithium niobate crystal

Novel coagulation waste-based Fe-containing carbonaceous catalyst as peroxymonosulfate activator for pollutants degradation: Role of ROS and electron transfer pathway.

Growth and properties of RE : Zn : LiNbO3 crystals

Sustainable strategy for lignocellulosic crop wastes reduction by Tenebrio molitor Linnaeus (mealworm) and potential use of mealworm frass as a fertilizer

Fabrication of rGO/Fe3O4 Magnetic Composite for the Adsorption of Anthraquinone-2-Sulfonate in Water Phase