Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent, mobile, and toxic pollutants whose remediation in water remains a major environmental challenge, and most reported photocatalytic systems still rely on ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, chemical reductants, or sacrificial reagents. Here we report amine-functionalised indium sulfide (Am-In2S3) nanoplates in which the formation of In-N surface bonds induces a Burstein-Moss shift of the conduction band and generates indium vacancies that trap photogenerated charges, together enabling efficient visible-light activity in a sulfide host. The same surface chemistry raises the isoelectric point from 2.33 to 8.91 and increases adsorption of sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS), a representative aromatic PFAS, by approximately fivefold, coupling electrostatic capture and photocatalytic turnover at the same active sites. Under visible-light irradiation (>420 nm), Am-In2S3 achieves 98.2% OBS removal within 90 min and 81.9% total organic carbon (TOC) removal within 2 h without UV, peroxide, or sacrificial agents; defluorination reaches 21.7% over 8 h, indicating substantial but incomplete mineralisation. Density functional theory calculations, electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy, and radical-quenching experiments support a frontier-molecular-orbital-directed dual-site mechanism: electrophilic photogenerated holes attack the electron-rich HOMO localised on the benzenesulfonate head group, while nucleophilic electrons and superoxide radicals attack the electron-poor LUMO on the perfluoroalkyl chain, driving concerted H/F exchange and carbon-chain shortening. Am-In2S3 retains activity across diverse water matrices and in a floating-sponge continuous-flow reactor (400 cm2) under natural sunlight, sustaining >96% OBS removal at solar irradiances of 0.56-0.75 kW m-2. The work positions Burstein-Moss band engineering of sulfide photocatalysts as a route to solar-driven degradation of aromatic PFAS and informs the development of materials for sustainable treatment of persistent organic pollutants.

Glaciers are critical freshwater reservoirs, yet their vulnerability to emerging contaminants remains poorly understood. Here, we investigated metal nanoparticles (MNPs) in snowpacks and runoffs from five glaciers of the southern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, revealing widespread presence, with Ti NPs and Al NPs predominating (up to 6983 and 111.5 ng L-1, respectively). Single-particle analysis shows downstream accumulation and size enlargement of MNPs in glacial runoffs, significantly correlated with hydrodynamic conditions, underscoring the role of runoff dynamics in shaping MNP transport and retention. Laboratory experiments indicate that environmentally relevant concentrations of individual or combined MNPs did not significantly inhibit Chlorella sp. growth, whereas exposure to Ti NPs at around 15-fold the maximum detected concentration causes marked growth inhibition, suggesting current levels may be approaching a potential ecological risk threshold. Our study provides comprehensive insight into the occurrence, fate, and ecological risk of human-derived MNPs in remote glacier environments, highlighting the importance of global strategies to safeguard high-altitude freshwater resources and ecosystem health from emerging contaminants.

The rapid expansion of lithium-ion battery (LIB) production has led to a substantial increase in the generation of solid waste, which poses potential environmental risks. However, the environmental behavior and potential adverse effects of lithium (Li)-derived solid waste remain poorly understood. This study systematically compared leaching behavior and toxicity of Li ores, tailings, and slags from ore-based Li extraction industries. The results revealed distinct physicochemical properties across the materials, with slags exhibiting significantly higher levels of toxic elements. Notably, thallium (Tl) leaching from slags reached 13-14 μg/L (pH 3-8), exceeding drinking water standards by 6.5 to 7 times, while beryllium (Be) release from tailings at pH 3 exceeded the safety limit by a factor of three. The leaching mechanisms differed substantially: ores and tailings exhibited strong pH dependence, whereas slag leaching was pH-independent for key elements across the pH range of 3 to 8. Toxicity assessments showed that slag leachate induced complete mortality in zebrafish embryos, while all leachates caused significant developmental abnormalities, including reduced heart rate and body length. These findings underscore the need for waste-specific management strategies, with slags requiring impermeable containment due to their persistent leaching properties and high toxicity potential, providing essential insights for the environmentally sound disposal of Li processing wastes.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) resist most remediation technologies because of their exceptionally inert carbon-fluorine bonds. Here we report a visible-light Z-scheme photocatalyst composed of CuInS2 quantum dots anchored on BiOCl nanoplates (CuInS2/BiOCl) that overcomes this barrier. Femtosecond transient absorption, steady-state spectroscopy and theoretical calculations show that an internal electric field steers photo-generated electrons (e-) migrating to CuInS2 and holes (h+) to BiOCl, maximizing their redox potentials for simultaneous carbon-fluorine scission and carbon chain breakage, respectively. Computations revealed that benzene sulfonic acid and carbon fluoride groups on sodium p-perfluorous nonenoxybenzenesulfonate (OBS) are susceptible to electrophilic attack by h+ and nucleophilic attack by e-, respectively. Under ultraviolet irradiation, the heterojunction achieves 75.8% defluorination and 76.8% total organic carbon removal of OBS within 8 h, with universal applicability for efficient degradation of 17 representative PFAS mixtures. Continuous-flow tests driven by natural sunlight achieve >96% OBS removal in 10 h, confirming system scalability. Toxicity assays indicate negligible hazardous effects of the residual. The work reports a sunlight-powered and flow-compatible photocatalytic platform for sustained PFAS decontamination, opening a sustainable route for 'forever chemical' abatement in water.

Quantitative characterization of nanoparticle (NP)-cell interactions by aquatic organisms remains analytically challenging due to the rapid, heterogeneous, and dynamic nature of NP-cell processes. In this study, we presented a label-free, real-time analytical methodology that facilitated high-temporal-resolution analysis of NP-cell interactions in Tetrahymena thermophila by mass cytometry (CyTOF). By utilizing 88Sr as a cellular fingerprint marker of T. thermophila, we achieved subsecond detection resolution of NP-cell interaction signals under continuous monitoring conditions. The interaction kinetics of NPs, evaluated using I0/T1/2 were significantly dependent on temporal resolution, with values obtained at high temporal resolution being approximately 2-fold higher than those derived from low-resolution sampling. This strategy reduced information loss by 39% compared to long-interval sampling. Furthermore, a distinct subpopulation exhibiting high NPs-associated signals was identified, with its proportion increasing from 1.4 ± 0.3 to 9.3 ± 0.5% over 10 h, which provided a quantitative basis for targeted characterization of functionally distinct cellular states at the single-cell level. Overall, this method achieved continuous, high-resolution, and high-throughput quantification of NP-cell interaction dynamics, providing an analytical framework for investigating time-dependent NP behavior at the single-cell level.

Metal nanoparticle (MNP)-added face masks are increasingly marketed as washable antimicrobial products, yet their potential to release metals and MNPs during use and disposal remains poorly understood. In this study, three types of commercially available masks incorporating MNPs (Ag-, Cu-, and Pt-masks) were obtained to characterize their metal composition and to evaluate the release of metals and MNPs under simulated leaching conditions using ultrapure water and a simulated detergent solution. Apart from Pt, As, and Cd, all masks contained measurable Ag, Cu, Cr, Ni, Pb, and Sb, indicating the widespread incorporation of multiple metals during fabrication. These metals and their corresponding MNPs were subsequently detected in the leachates. Although higher metal contents in the masks often resulted in greater leachate concentrations, the proportion of released metals did not consistently correspond to their initial in-mask abundance. The significant correlation observed between Cu NPs and Pb NPs in Cu-mask leachates suggests shared release pathways or coupled mobilization processes. Prolonged immersion further contributed to increased particle size and broader size distribution of Ag NPs and Cu NPs. Single-particle analysis showed that, compared with ultrapure water, the detergent promoted a more pronounced release of most metals and facilitated the initial desorption of relatively larger nanoparticles. These findings demonstrate that improperly discarded masks can serve as a non-negligible source of metal and MNP contamination, underscoring the need for strengthened environmental risk assessment and supporting the development of improved regulatory oversight and end-of-life management strategies.

Tire additives (TAs) are of growing concern due to their widespread occurrence and potential toxicity. However, the role of driving scenarios in modulating their release remains poorly understood. This study examined a broad range of TAs in road dust collected from two typical urban road scenarios in China. A total of 138 TAs were detected, including 14 compounds reported in road dusts for the first time. Driving scenarios strongly influenced the TA concentrations and composition. On urban roads, crossroads (characterized by frequent braking, turning, and stop-and-go traffic) exhibited higher TA concentrations (median: 5.46 & times; 104 ng/g) than straight road segments (median: 3.57 & times; 104 ng/g). Vulcanization accelerators (VAs) and antioxidants (AOs) served as sensitive tracers of TA release across different driving scenarios. Importantly, TA accumulation in road dust was also governed by physicochemical properties, with lower molecular weights, stronger hydrophobicity, and higher organic carbon affinity associated with elevated concentrations. Preliminary exposure assessment indicated elevated TA exposure risk among children residing near crossroads. These findings indicate that driving scenarios are likely important factors influencing the accumulation of traffic-related TAs and highlight the potential need for scenario-specific mitigation strategies.

Abstract Direct electron transfer (ETP) during peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation enables selective, matrix-resistant organic contaminants oxidation, yet its precise control over competing radical pathways remains elusive. Here we report a nano-island-like single-atom catalyst- carbon nitride islands immobilize cobalt single atoms on reduced graphene oxide (CoN 3 C/rGO)- that leverages an island-sea architecture to direct PMS activation toward ETP. Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) analyses show an rGO induced elevation of the Co d -band center and a sharpened d z2 orbital near the Fermi level, promoting directional hybridization with PMS p orbitals and suppressing antibonding occupation. Consequently, CoN 3 C/rGO/PMS degrade bisphenol A (BPA) completely within 5 min, with ~94% contribution from ETP. Furthermore, catalytic membrane coatings enable stable 100 h continuous operation in diverse real water matrices with minimal Co leaching. Our results demonstrate a design principle-orbital-level modulation via island-sea architectures to reconcile activity and selectivity in Fenton-like systems and advance translating practical water treatment technologies based on single-atom electronic control.

Organophosphorus compounds have drawn concern because of their wide environmental occurrence and potential risks. Dithiophosphates are a class of organophosphorus compounds with broad industrial relevance, yet data on their environmental occurrence remain scarce. Nontarget and suspect screening analyses, guided by the characteristics of both fragmentation patterns and molecular composition, were employed to probe dithiophosphates in dust from automotive repair shops. A total of 30 dithiophosphates were tentatively identified, including 11 dialkyl dithiophosphates, 16 dithiophosphate derivatives, and 3 dialkyl dithiophosphate-substituted carboxylic acids and esters. A total of 19 dithiophosphates were detected in >50% of the dust samples from automotive repair shops. Dialkyl dithiophosphates were detected at considerable levels, and bis(2-ethylhexyl)dithiophosphate contributed about 41% of the total instrumental response within the dialkyl dithiophosphate group, with a median concentration of 4.30 & times; 10(3) ng/g. Automotive repair shops represent typical sites of dithiophosphate contamination, where concentrations are generally significantly higher than those in surrounding buildings. Computational cheminformatics indicated that dialkyl dithiophosphates may exhibit activity toward the blood-brain barrier and nutritional toxicity end points, and analogues with 10 or more carbon atoms in their alkyl groups show potential for bioaccumulation. The detection of dithiophosphates in the environment broadens the spectrum of known organophosphorus pollutants and highlights potential risks from their industrial use.

With the increasing release of tire wear particles, environmental exposure to tire additives and their transformation products (TATPs) has grown substantially; however, their risks remain poorly characterized and potentially underestimated. Dust samples from six driving training modules across 20 driving schools in Qingdao, China, were analyzed to investigate TATPs and their behavioral drivers. A total of 124 TATPs (median: 1.31 & times; 104 ng/g) were detected, including 12 newly reported compounds. Antioxidants (median: 7.03 & times; 103 ng/g) dominated, followed by plasticizers (median: 4.14 & times; 103 ng/g) and vulcanization accelerators (median: 1.27 & times; 103 ng/g). TATP concentrations varied significantly across training modules, with quarter turning modules showing the highest levels (median: 3.47 & times; 104 ng/g) and straight driving modules the lowest (median: 4.69 & times; 103 ng/g). Random forest and nonlinear models identified training module type as the key driver, with TATP enrichment increasing with driving intensity. These modules serve as proxies for urban traffic behavior, capturing fundamental tire-road interaction regimes. Integrating persistence, bioaccumulation, toxicity, and exposure, two high-priority and 20 medium-priority pollutants were identified. Overall, these results underscore the critical role of driving behavior in regulating TATP emissions and provide a basis for prioritizing high-risk pollutants in nonexhaust traffic pollution management.

Personal hygiene products often contain various chemical additives to ensure their functionality and quality, but concerns persist regarding the potential harmful effects of their usage. In this work, a pilot study was conducted to characterize the chemical components in disposable sanitary pads and paper diapers by screening for a total of 92 chemicals, including synthetic antioxidants (AOs), organophosphate esters (OPEs), and phthalate esters (PAEs). Significantly higher concentrations of AOs (median for sanitary pads: 3.25 × 105 ng/g, median for diapers: 2.25 × 105 ng/g) were observed compared to OPEs (median for sanitary pads: 1.51 × 103 ng/g, median for diapers: 803 ng/g) and PAEs (median for sanitary pads: 526 ng/g, median for diapers: 439 ng/g). This is the first investigation to highlight the high levels of AOs and OPEs in personal hygiene products, raising concerns about the human exposure risk. Based on median concentrations, the daily dermal intake of individual chemicals via personal hygiene products was preliminarily estimated to range from 0.01 to 2.18 × 10³ ng/kg bw/day. A preliminary hazard screening indicated that non-carcinogenic risks were low for sanitary pads but exceeded the threshold of risk concern (hazard index > 1) for some paper diaper samples, primarily driven by certain AOs [e.g., octyl-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxyphenyl)propionate (AO1135) and 2,4-di-tert-butyl-phenol (DBP)] rather than OPEs and PAEs. Notably, a primary exposure pathway for the previously detected DBP for menstruating women may be dermal contact with sanitary pads (potentially contributing up to 40.8% of total exposure). These findings reveal the high complexity of chemicals in personal hygiene products and expand our knowledge of their potential health risks.

Due to their extensive application in various industrial and daily products, organophosphate esters (OPEs) have been widely detected in the global aquatic environment, where they pose potential threats to aquatic plants. However, despite the crucial role of plants in aquatic ecosystems, no comprehensive review regarding the interactions between OPEs and aquatic plants has been reported yet. In this review, the properties, application, aquatic environmental occurrence, uptake, metabolism, and toxic effects of OPEs in aquatic plants are clearly summarized. OPEs have been widely detected in the global aquatic environment, with ng/L to μg/L concentration ranges reported for various water samples and ng/g to μg/g concentrations for sediment samples. Tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate, tris(1-chloro-2-propyl) phosphate, tris(2-butoxyethyl) phosphate, and tris(2-ethylhexyl) phosphate are common dominant congeners in various aquatic environmental matrices. Surface water generally displays higher OPE levels than groundwater and seawater. Aquatic plants exhibit promising OPE uptake capacities, and tris(2-chloropropyl) phosphate removal efficiencies of up to 97.9 % have been reported. After their uptake in aquatic plants, OPEs are translocated to various tissues and organs, where diverse transformations occur via phase Ⅰ and phase Ⅱ metabolic processes. The exposure of aquatic plants to OPEs induces numerous toxic responses, including growth inhibition, photosynthesis disruption, structural integrity damage, and oxidative stress due to perturbation of complex regulatory networks. Finally, this review points out the urgent need for investigations into the sources, transport pathways, and bioremediation of traditional and novel OPEs in the aquatic environment.

The gut microbiota plays a pivotal role in metabolizing exogenous compounds, profoundly influencing their bioavailability and biological effects. With the increasing prevalence of environmental contamination, understanding the gut microbiota's role in transforming pollutants and the underlying mechanisms is essential for assessing the associated environmental and health risks. Here, we review the current knowledge on gut microbiota-mediated transformation reaction, with a focus on the identification of transformation products using advanced predictive tools and mass spectrometry. We highlight the integration of multi-omics approaches─including genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics─to unravel the mechanisms underlying these processes. Furthermore, we examine the roles of gut microbiota in pollutant bioaccumulation and their interplay with the host in pollutant metabolism and excretion, emphasizing the multifaceted contributions of gut microbiota to pollutant processing and their impacts on host health. Lastly, we identify critical knowledge gaps and emphasize the need for further research to advance our understanding of microbiota-mediated transformations and their broader implications for host physiology, environmental health, and pollution management.

The widespread use of bisphenols (BPs) in consumer products has raised significant concerns regarding their environmental fate and potential health impacts. The metabolic processes and transformation products (TPs) of BPs in vivo play a crucial role in determining their toxicological effects, with the gut microbiota serving as a key factor. However, studies on transformation of BPs by GM are scarce. In this study, we investigated the transformation of 21 BPs by six human gut bacterial strains in vitro. Among these, bisphenol A-glycerol methacrylate (Bis-GMA) was significantly transformed by different bacteria, and eight species-specific TPs were identified, including acetylated, ester-hydrolyzed, and palmitoylated products. In vivo studies further confirmed that Bis-GMA was converted into bisphenol A bis (2,3-dihydroxypropyl) ether (Bis-HPPP), the same product identified in vitro. Bis-HPPP exhibited a lower cytotoxicity than Bis-GMA in cytotoxicity assays. Furthermore, compared to Bis-HPPP, Bis-GMA induced more severe damage to human intestinal organoid function, including effects on apoptosis, cell proliferation, and the expression of key biomarkers. Overall, our findings provide valuable insights into the species-specific transformation of environmental contaminants by a human GM, highlighting the important role of microbial transformation in modulating toxicity of environmental pollutants.

Aquatic organisms are inevitably exposed to metallic nanoparticles (NPs) in natural environments, leading to potential harm, ecological disruption, and environmental pollution concerns. Importantly, the size of NPs plays a critical role in influencing their uptake by these organisms. Utilizing mass cytometry, we investigated the internalization characteristics of different-sized gold NPs (AuNPs) in an unicellular ciliate Tetrahymena thermophila, under a low exposure concentration of 1 ngmL-1. This investigation, conducted at both the population and single-cell levels, revealed that the size of AuNPs significantly affected their uptake by T. thermophila cells. The average mass of intracellular AuNPs peaked at 0.5 h and subsequently decreased, attributed to the efflux of AuNPs or cell proliferation. Larger AuNPs resulted in a lower average intracellular AuNPs mass and a smaller proportion of T. thermophila cells accumulating AuNPs (Au-positive (AuP) T. thermophila). However, when exposed to larger AuNPs, the AuPT. thermophila cells had a higher AuNPs mass and volumetric concentration factors compared to their exposure to smaller AuNPs. After exposure, while most AuPT. thermophila cells had intracellular Au content below 2.41 × 10-15 g cell-1, the small groups of T. thermophila cells that accumulated higher mass of AuNPs may be the ones more susceptible to the effects of AuNPs exposure. Additionally, we developed a three-dimensional fitting surface model to depict the relationship among exposure time, AuNP size, and intracellular AuNPs mass in individual T. thermophila cells. This study enhances our understanding of size-specific NPs accumulation in unicellular organisms and provides valuable insights for ecological risk assessment of different sized NPs.

The extensive use of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in industrial and consumer products poses health risks due to their toxicity. Computational toxicology approaches, particularly quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models are essential for predicting PFAS bioactivity. However, established QSAR models including machine learning-based ones with traditional molecular descriptors such as constitutional, topological, and geometric descriptors, have limited predictive capability and interpretability. Herein, we proposed a novel machine learning approach that leverages quantitative molecular surface analysis (QMSA) of molecular electrostatic potential. Using QMSA descriptors, five machine learning models (e.g., random forest) achieved outstanding performance, with best accuracy of 0.950 ± 0.017, AUC-ROC of 0.938 ± 0.012, F1-score of 0.734 ± 0.024, and MCC of 0.684 ± 0.111 for five targets (tyrosyl-DNA phosphodiesterase 1 in the absence/presence of camptothecin, ATXN2 protein, transcription factor SMAD3, and transcription factor NRF2), which outperform previously reported models. SHAP analyses revealed that estimated density, molecular volume, positive surface area, and nonpolar surface area were the most important descriptors. These descriptors were deeply involved in PFAS binding to target proteins via non-covalent interactions as evidenced by molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulations. Our results demonstrated that QMSA descriptors-based machine learning models are capable of predicting PFAS toxicity with extraordinary performance and interpretability. This study provides a novel machine learning framework for the high-throughput and cost-effective screening of high-risk emerging PFAS in aquatic environments. By identifying the contaminants that should be prioritized for regulation and treatment among the growing number of PFAS, our work aids in water quality monitoring and risk assessment, and guides decision-making in aquatic environmental management. Furthermore, this work enhances our understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved in PFAS bioactivity.

Organophosphorus pollutants have raised increasing concern in aquatic environments due to their widespread use and toxicological effects. While some organophosphate pollutants have been extensively studied, quaternary phosphonium compounds (QPCs) represent a class of emerging contaminants receiving limited attention. This study investigated the occurrence, removal efficiency, and discharge of QPCs in a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Northern China, which receives wastewater from a chemical park containing a QPC manufacturing factory. A total of 16 QPCs were detected in this study. Concentrations of ΣQPCs in the WWTP influent and effluent were 464 ± 34 ng/L and 212 ± 30 ng/L, respectively. The WWTP achieved moderate removal efficiencies for QPCs (45-78 %), primarily through adsorption and advanced oxidation processes. QPCs were detected in surface water (1.76-138 ng/L) and sediment (1.13-2.14 × 103 ng/g) of a river receiving the WWTP effluent. Notably, two of these QPCs were identified in the environment for the first time. Mass balance analysis indicated that the WWTP effluent was the major source of QPCs to the receiving river, accounting for 84 % of the total load. Risk quotient assessments in the river indicated moderate ecological risks to fish and daphnia, largely attributable to long-chain QPCs and (methoxymethyl)triphenylphosphonium. Overall, the detection of these QPCs significantly expands our understanding of organophosphorus pollutants, highlighting the need for increased attention to their occurrence and toxicity in aquatic environments.

The removal of highly toxic arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) contaminants in water by adsorption presents a great challenge worldwide. Conventional adsorbents exhibit insufficient efficacy for removing pentavalent oxyanions, As(V) and Sb(V), which are predominant compared with the trivalent species, As(III) and Sb(III), in surface waters. Here, we synthesized a novel composite adsorbent, amine-functionalized polystyrene resin loaded with nano TiO2 (AmPSd-Ti). The mm-scale spheres showed outstanding adsorption capacities for As(III), As(V), Sb(III), and Sb(V) at 73.85, 153.29, 86.80, and 123.71 mg/g, respectively. AmPSd-Ti exhibited selective adsorption for As and Sb in the presence of Cl-, NO3-, SO42-, and F-. As and Sb were adsorbed by the nano-sized TiO2 confined in the porous resin via forming inner-sphere complexes. The protonated amine groups enhanced the adsorption of As(V) and Sb(V) by electrostatic attraction and hydrogen bonding, which was confirmed by experimental results and molecular dynamics simulations. Fixed-bed column tests showed breakthrough curves with adsorption capacities of 1.38 mg/g (6600 BV) and 6.65 mg/g (1260 BV) upon treating real As-contaminated groundwater and Sbcontaminated industrial wastewater. Our study highlights a feasible strategy by incorporating inorganic metal oxides into organic polymers to achieve highly efficient removal of As and Sb in real-world scenarios. (c) 2025 Published by Elsevier B.V. on behalf of Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

The photocatalytic reduction of highly toxic and soluble U(VI) to low toxic and insoluble U(IV) represents an environmentally friendly and efficient approach for uranium extraction. However, the application of photo-catalytic U(VI) reduction is limited by low efficiency and challenges in recovering powder catalysts. In this study, we develop magnetically recyclable photocatalysts by integrating Fe3O4 particles with in-situ grown ZnIn2S4/ CdS Z-scheme heterojunctions (FO@ZIS/CS). Without adding any sacrificial agents, about 100 % of U(VI) in 50-mL aqueous solution (20 mg/L) is reduced by FO@ZIS/CS within 30-min visible light irradiation, which is 2.8 times higher than that of pristine ZnIn2S4 (36 %). The remarkable performance is attributed to the Z-scheme heterojunction formed between ZnIn2S4 and CdS, which promotes charge separation and preserves strong redox capabilities. Comprehensive experiments and theoretical simulations reveal that Sand In atoms on ZnIn2S4 (110) facets act as the active species for the U(VI) adsorption and reduction. Moreover, the FO@ZIS/CS photocatalyst maintains high U(VI) reduction efficiency in complex water matrices. The used FO@ZIS/CS and the adsorbed U (IV) can be easily recovered by an external magnetic field. This work offers a practical strategy for reducing and extracting U(VI) from mining wastewater, achieving both environmental remediation and resource recycling objectives.