Here, a novel zero-valent iron-based mixing solid carbon sources (ZVI-MSCSs) embedding cellulose, poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyvalerate) and ZVI was developed to advance nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents. Leaching experiments showed that ZVI-MSCSs combine the bioavailability of carbon release components and moderate carbon release rate. When applied in constructed wetlands, ZVI-MSCSs achieved nitrate removal rates up to 97% with less than 10% fluctuation under decreasing hydraulic retention time. Mechanistic studies revealed that ZVI promoted cellulose degradation into labile organic compounds to supply more NADH and upregulating electron carriers (complex I/III and Cyt c), thereby enhancing electron transfer and denitrifying enzyme activities (NAR, NIR, NOR, and NOS). High-throughput sequencing displayed that the biological basis for enhanced nitrogen and carbon metabolism lies in the shift from Proteobacteria to Clostridioides, driving a transition to iron-carbon mixotrophic denitrification. This study provides key technical support for efficient bio-denitrification using solid carbon sources in constructed wetlands.

Tannin-based flocculants (TA) are increasingly promoted as green polymeric alternatives for cyanobacteria removal in algae-laden drinking water sources, yet their potential to influence antibiotic resistance gene (ARG) dissemination during subsequent flocculation-storage remains unclear. This study compared TA with polyaluminum chloride (PACl) to assess ARG fate in both supernatant and cyanobacteria-laden drinking water sludge throughout flocculation and 8-day storage. Results showed that TA achieved over 97% removal efficiency for both cyanobacteria and ARGs at a low dosage of 20 mg/L, outperforming PACl. Moreover, TA treatment led to markedly reduced release of microcystin-LR and dissolved organic matter (DOM) after storage. Nevertheless, elevated biomass within TA-induced flocs promoted ARG proliferation, primarily due to enhanced production of triplet-state DOM and suppression of carotenoid synthesis. Metagenomic evidence indicated elevated abundances of CAZyme genes (e.g., GH43, CE4, CE1, GH9, CE11), highlighting an increased functional potential for TA-associated polymer breakdown and consequent weakening of the floc coating after 8 days, which in turn promoted ARG escape from flocs. Meanwhile, increased motility of phycosphere-associated antibiotic-resistant bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas) promoted ARG transfer into the supernatant, accompanied by enrichment of mobile genetic elements and virulence factor genes, which collectively amplified ecological risks. These findings underscore that ARG release and dissemination should be explicitly integrated into safety assessments of TA-based cyanobacteria control, and they provide mechanistic guidance for mitigating ARG hazards in algal-affected drinking water supplies.

As a pivotal component of Earth's geochemical cycles, the nitrogen (N) cycle is exceptionally complex and crucial for maintaining environmental N dynamics. As a highly active metal, iron (Fe) is closely associated with the N cycle through biological and abiotic pathways. Notably, these interactions frequently mediate concurrent transformations of co-existing contaminants, particularly arsenic (As). Recent advances have elucidated three key Fe–N coupled microbial pathways: NO3−-reduction driven iron oxidation (NDFO), Fe-mediated dissimilatory NO3− reduction to ammonium (NH4+) (Fe-DNRA), and anaerobic NH4+ oxidation coupled with Fe(III) reduction (Feammox). These mechanisms demonstrate promising potential for As pollution mitigation in engineered systems. This review systematically synthesizes current understanding of Fe–N-As triad interactions, with particular focus on (1) mechanistic insights into Fe–N coupled biogeochemical pathways, (2) spatial–temporal patterns of As transformation mediated by these processes in critical environmental matrices (paddy soils and groundwater systems), and (3) practical applications in As remediation technologies. Furthermore, we propose novel conceptual frameworks elucidating the complex interplay within Fe–N-As ternary systems, providing critical insights for developing bioremediation strategies targeting As-contaminated environments.

The carbon-to-nitrogen (C:N) ratio constrains microbial metabolism, yet whether nutrient stoichiometry controls the differential fates of intracellular (iARGs) versus extracellular antibiotic resistance genes (eARGs) remains unknown. This study aimed to test whether C:N ratios approaching the bacterial threshold elemental ratio (TER) would maximize iARG enrichment through a dissolved organic matter (DOM)-extracellular polymeric substance (EPS)-mobile genetic element (MGE) cascade, while eARG dynamics would be governed by physicochemical processes. Cyanobacteria-bacteria co-cultures at four C:N ratios (5:1, 10:1, 20:1, 40:1) were analyzed using shotgun metagenomics, FTICR-MS, 3D-EEM, untargeted metabolomics, and EPS fractionation. C:N = 10:1 produced the highest iARG abundance (65.1 ± 17.4 TPM, mean ± SD) and a 17-fold iARG/eARG ratio, while eARG showed no significant treatment effect (Kruskal-Wallis p = 0.082, treating triplicate subsamples as observations). FTICR-MS revealed the lowest intensity-weighted O/C (0.334), most negative NOSC (-0.67), and highest molecular diversity (8029 formulas) at C:N = 10:1, indicating a uniquely reduced, aliphatic-enriched DOM pool. (Note: FTICR-MS samples were pooled from triplicate subsamples per treatment, yielding one composite per C:N level; these results are therefore descriptive and unreplicated.) EPS polysaccharide/protein ratios peaked at 2.8, correlating with iARG across treatments (ρ=0.91, p < 0.001) but inversely with eARG (ρ=-0.59, p = 0.044). Guanosine (ppGpp precursor) peaked at C:N = 10:1 (ρ=0.75 with iARG) while UDP-glucose was depleted, confirming active EPS biosynthesis. Piecewise structural equation modeling identified a pathway from C:N through DOM, EPS, and MGE to iARG (R²=0.78, Fisher's C p = 0.31), whereas eARG depended on eDNA physicochemical trapping (R²=0.41). These findings provide evidence that nutrient stoichiometry acts as a selective control on ARG partitioning, suggesting that C:N monitoring could be incorporated into eutrophic water ARG risk assessment.

Cyanobacterial blooms in hyper-eutrophic lakes are managed through nitrogen-to-phosphorus (N:P) control, yet single-axis nutrient reduction has often been insufficient to achieve sustained bloom suppression in shallow systems such as Lake Taihu, China. We hypothesised that the missing management dimension is spatial: free-living (FL, 0.22-3 µm) and particle-attached (PA, >3 µm) fractions may deploy distinct nutrient-acquisition machineries under the same bulk N:P. Native Lake Taihu assemblages were cultured at four N:P molar ratios (5, 16, 23, 40; TN fixed at 2.0 mg N L⁻¹; TP adjusted to 0.886, 0.277, 0.192, and 0.111 mg P L⁻¹, respectively) for 28 days, then sequentially filtered and analysed by 16S amplicon sequencing, shotgun metagenomics and 15-T Fourier-transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (FT-ICR-MS) of dissolved organic matter (24 paired-fraction biomass samples + 8 DOM samples). Three key findings emerged. First, FL and PA carry the genetic potential for chemically distinct phosphorus-acquisition strategies (hereafter termed the P-currency split): FL is enriched in the high-affinity inorganic-Pi transporter genes pstSCAB (dominated by Synechococcus), whereas PA carries the genetic potential to mobilise organic P via phoD and ugpQ (dominated by Bacteroidota); the PstS + Ppk1 dual-wheel hypothesis was not supported under fraction-resolved testing. Second, PA harbours the genetic potential for a consistent nitrogen-cycle hotspot across all N:P levels, with nifH enriched 1.8-5.0-fold in PA and 87% attributable to the heterotroph Porphyrobacter. Third, Synechococcus shows an apparent stoichiometric niche-shift from FL dominance at N:P = 23 (43.8%) to PA dominance at N:P = 40 (54.1%). Together, the joint N:P × fraction model explained 95.8% of community variance (Mantel r = 0.963 within PA). These findings identify the phoD-anchored Bacteroidota guild and PA-aggregate disruption as candidate fraction-resolved management levers that complement conventional nutrient reduction in shallow eutrophic lakes.

The double-layer filter cartridge with an inner cone is a promising alternative to conventional cartridges due to its high efficiency, low resistance, and easy cleaning. However, the influence of inner cone base diameter on its filtration and pulse-jet cleaning performance remains unclear. Here, numerical models for both stages were developed to compare four diameters (80, 120, 160, 200 mm) in terms of flow field structure, velocity and mass flow distribution on inner/outer surfaces, turbulence intensity, and static pressure. Results show that an excessively small diameter (80 mm) stabilizes the outer flow field but induces ”malicious competition” between the two surfaces, leading to low utilization of the inner surface and an adverse high-pressure zone inside the cone during cleaning. An excessively large diameter (200 mm) disperses the flow driving force, causing insufficient filtration and cleaning intensity. By introducing ”advantage ratio” and ”balance ratio” to quantitatively evaluate velocity uniformity, mass flow distribution, and peak static pressure, the optimal base diameter is found to be 120 mm, which achieves the best balance between filtration efficiency and cleaning effectiveness. This provides a key theoretical basis for optimizing high-performance, long-life double-layer filter cartridges.

Cyanobacterial aggregates (CA), structured communities formed by the clustering of cyanobacteria and attached bacteria, serve as critical incubators for antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). However, the ecological mechanisms and functional linkages underlying the synergistic response of CA and ARGs to eutrophic gradients remain poorly understood. In this systematic study, we profiled ARGs and CA communities across 9 eutrophic regions in Lake Taihu. At the bloom stage, CA harbored higher ARGs abundance but lower ARGs diversity than planktonic bacteria, showing a robust positive correlation (R2 = 0.439, p < 0.001) between ARGs abundance and the trophic level index (TLI). Specifically, the coupling between taxonomic composition and ARGs hosts was primarily governed by environmental selection, with species replacement emerging as the dominant process. In high-eutrophic areas (TLI > 60) dominated by Microcystis blooms, cyanobacterial proliferation significantly contributed to ARGs enrichment via vertical transfer, and transferable ARGs were widely detected among attached bacteria. Nevertheless, under light-eutrophic conditions (50 < TLI ≤ 60), where Synechococcales, Prochlorotrichales, Nostocales and Oscillatoriales prevailed, the co-occurrence of ARGs and mobile genetic elements within diverse hosts probably led to elevated ecological risk scores in CA. Moreover, the divergence in ARGs evolutionary trajectories between high- and light-eutrophic areas was strongly associated with nitrogen cycling genes within CA (R2 = 0.863, p < 0.001), as differentiated nitrogen metabolism pathways shifted from denitrification and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA) by Microcystis-associated denitrifiers to nitrogen fixation in cyanobacterial and associated diazotrophs with decreasing of TLI. This study provides critical insights into the dynamic ARGs profiles in CA and offers a novel basis for developing targeted strategies to mitigate ARGs dissemination in eutrophic lake ecosystems.

Nano-plastics (NPs) present significant environmental risks due to their small size, high reactivity, and mobility, yet their migration behavior in hyporheic zones remains poorly understood. Previous models predominantly employed one-dimensional NPs permeation in porous media that neglected critical multi-physics processes including hyporheic exchange dynamics, particle interception effects, and NPs self-settling behavior. This study pioneers an integrated modeling framework that uniquely couples overlying flow, pore water circulation, and NPs transport fields while simultaneously accounting for advection, diffusion, interception, and gravitational settling in hyporheic exchange conditions. Verified by the flume experiment, the model can accurately reflect the transport and distribution characteristics of NPs in hyporheic zone. Validated through comprehensive flume experiments, the model accurately predicts NPs distribution patterns, revealing that >90 % of NPs accumulate within the 0-8 cm sediment layer. The retention depth in the upstream face of the sand slope was slightly higher than that in the downstream face. Particle sizes and density changed NPs' migration paths in the sand slope by affecting the trapping-settling and sedimentation-suspension process, respectively. The larger particle size and higher density of NPs, the deeper NPs entered the river bed and be easier to be captured. NPs with irregular geometry (such as fibrous plastic) settle faster and migrate deeper in the sand slope. Additionally, orthogonal experimental design revealed significant interaction effects: fibrous geometry amplifies the penetration depth of large NPs compared to spherical counterparts, and irregular geometries can increase the penetration depth of low-density particles. Notably, the effect of NPs migration at low initial concentration (20 mg/L) on the riverbed characteristics such as porosity (θ) and permeability (K) can be ignored. With the increase of NPs initial concentration, the entry of NPs may cause changes in riverbed characteristics. This study is helpful to understand the migration and law of NPs during surface-groundwater exchange, and the results can provide useful information for predicting and controlling the potential risk of NPs in hyporheic zone.

A central challenge in heterogeneous peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation is achieving catalysts with highly active interfacial sites to enable both efficient pollutant degradation and environmentally safe water treatment. Herein, cooperative Co/Cu dual-atom sites were anchored on Ti3C2Tx MXene (Co/Cu-Ti3C2Tx). The optimized Co0.5/Cu0.5-Ti3C2Tx catalyst achieved 96.9% removal of the emerging contaminant acetaminophen (APAP) within 60 min via PMS activation, markedly outperforming its single-atom analogues by 21.0-58.6%. Response surface methodology (RSM) analysis indicated that the system operated efficiently under near-neutral pH and mild conditions. Quenching experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) analysis suggested that APAP degradation proceeded via a coupled mechanism involving contributions from both reactive oxygen species (predominantly •OH, •O2-, and 1O2) and high-valent metal-oxo species (HVMOS). Density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that the synergistic interaction between Co/Cu sites enhanced PMS adsorption, improved electron transfer efficiency, and accelerated the redox cycles between Co0/Co2+ and Cu+/Cu2+, thereby cooperatively promoting the activation of PMS. Based on the identification of intermediates, the degradation pathway of APAP was proposed to involve hydroxylation of the benzene ring, ring-opening, deacetylation, and ultimately oxidative degradation. The biotoxicity of the treated effluent decreased, confirming the effectiveness and environmental safety of the process. These findings advance the mechanistic understanding of bimetallic PMS activation and present a viable approach for the remediation of water containing refractory emerging contaminants.

China possesses numerous lakes characterized by diverse natural environments and uneven socioeconomic development, resulting in pronounced geographical variations among lakes located in different regions. The properties of water-extractable sediment (DOM) in lakes across distinct ecological regions exhibit significant differences. However, existing research has primarily focused on water-extractable sediment DOM in individual lakes or small-scale watersheds, with limited systematic comparisons spanning climate gradients and anthropogenic activity intensities. Therefore, sediment samples were collected from 36 lakes across four ecological lake regions in China to investigate the characteristics of water-extractable sediment DOM. We employed ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix fluorescence spectroscopy coupled with parallel factor analysis to characterize the compositional and structural features of water-extractable sediment DOM. The Mong-Xin Plateau Lakes (MPL) exhibited elevated water-extractable sediment DOM content. Both the Yun-Gui Plateau (YGP) and the Eastern Plain Lakes (EPL) showed water-extractable sediment DOM dominated by autochthonous protein-like components derived from microbial metabolism. MPL and Northeast Plain Lakes (NPL) demonstrated mixed terrestrial-autochthonous water-extractable sediment DOM characteristics. The sedimentary environmental factors, particularly dissolved organic carbon concentration, pH, and total nitrogen contributed most significantly to DOM variability. High aridity index was associated with higher proportions of humic-like DOM, possibly due to evaporative concentration effects under semi-arid conditions. Extensive grassland coverage contributed to terrestrial humic substances, while intensive agricultural activities and high population density were associated with higher proportions of autochthonous water-extractable sediment DOM, potentially reflecting increased nutrient inputs and microbial production. This research helps bridge regional knowledge fragmentation and provides critical parameters for evaluating lake water-extractable sediment DOM characteristics under climate change scenarios, thereby supporting the development of integrated watershed management strategies and water quality improvement measures.

To overcome the critical bottlenecks of conventional membrane filtration—namely, incomplete trace contaminant removal and severe fouling—a novel "separation-degradation-antifouling" PDA-TA@Fe3+-TiO2 (PTFT) catalytic membrane was engineered via the layer-by-layer assembly of a metal-phenolic network (tannic acid-Fe3+-TiO2) on a polydopamine-modified substrate. Under visible-light-driven peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation, the PTFT membrane exhibited exceptional synergistic filtration-catalytic performance. Specifically, it achieved >95% bisphenol A (BPA) degradation and 29% total organic carbon (TOC) mineralization within 60 min, while sustaining a high permeate flux of ∼140 LMH. Mechanistic elucidation revealed a multi-pathway oxidation process predominantly governed by a 1O2-dictated non-radical pathway, synergistically complemented by O, SO, •OH and h+. Benefiting from enhanced interfacial hydrophilicity and surface-charge effects, the membrane exhibited improved resistance to bovine serum albumin fouling, with a flux recovery ratio of 54.70% compared with 31.53% for pristine PVDF, and markedly reduced the number of culturable E. coli recovered from the permeate. During 6 h of continuous operation, the membrane flux decreased by only 3.5%, indicating satisfactory hydraulic stability. Impressively, when applied to real reclaimed water and extreme saline environments (up to 5 wt% salinity), the system sustained 78.3% BPA removal and efficiently degraded natural humic-like organics, demonstrating ultra-high resistance to complex interferences. This eco-friendly metal-phenolic modification strategy provides a highly promising framework for remediating complex water matrices and producing high-quality reclaimed water.

RiPP structural complexity is significantly expanded by multinuclear non-heme iron-dependent oxidative enzymes (MNIOs). Here, we characterize pseudoprobactin 1 and 2, two MNIO-modified proteins from Pseudomonas protegens Pf-5. Using MS, NMR, and X-ray crystallography, we show that the PbnBC converts precursor cysteines into 5-thiooxazoles. While the precursors feature an N-terminal signal peptide and an intramolecular disulfide, both are dispensable for catalysis. Instead, residues downstream of the target cysteines are the primary determinants of substrate recognition. Furthermore, PbnB2C2 modifies multiple sites in a strictly ordered, stepwise manner. Functionally, pseudoprobactins coordinate Cu2+, enhancing bacterial fitness under chlorite-induced oxidative stress. This work establishes 5-thiooxazole as a widespread MNIO-mediated modification, defines its biosynthetic logic, and reveals a role for MNIO-modified proteins in bacterial oxidative stress defense.

This study innovatively develops a Se/N co-coordinated Fe single-atom catalyst (FeSe-MCS) for peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation and phenol (PhOH) removal via polymerization, achieving high selectivity of high-valent metal-oxo species (HVMO) generation. The catalytic performance and mechanism were explored through experimental characterizations and theoretical calculations. The FeSe-MCS/PMS system achieved 97 % PhOH removal in 10 min (k(obs) = 1.99 min(-)(1)), 74.8 % PMS utilization efficiency, 64.2 % PhOH removal via polymerization (reducing carbon emission by 60 % vs. complete mineralization), > 92 % efficiency after 5 cycles, Fe/Se leaching < 0.001 mg/L, and sustained 90 % PhOH removal over 12 h in the continuous-flow experiment with real lake water. It is confirmed that the synergistic effect of Se/N co-coordination and nanoconfinement optimizes the electron configuration of Fe sites, promotes electron transfer to PMS, and enables selective formation of HVMO to dominate the non-radical pathway for PhOH polymerization. This work pioneers the design of Se/N coordinated single-atom catalysts with nanoconfinement, providing a novel strategy for high-selectivity HVMO pathways in PMS-based advanced oxidation processes and advancing the development of sustainable water treatment catalysts to support global 'dual carbon' goals.

Microbial community coalescence (MCC) at tributary confluences may be an overlooked driver of riverine resistome risks, particularly where high-salinity inflows reshape mainstream habitats. We combined 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing and high-throughput qPCR within a source-sink framework to compare the responses of particle-attached (PA) and free-living (FL) communities to salinity gradients and explore potential mechanisms underlying antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) transmission. Results showed that a high-salinity tributary (G2, source) entering the low-salinity mainstream (G1, source) formed an intermediate-salinity downstream reach (G3, sink), operationally defining salinity as the focal gradient. After confluence, the relative abundance of ARGs in FL communities increased 1.57-fold at the sink relative to the mainstream source, whereas ARGs abundance in PA communities remained unchanged. Source apportionment indicated nearly equal source contributions to coalesced ARGs profiles in FL communities but a strong mainstream legacy in PA communities, with mainstream contributions approximately 3-fold higher than tributary contribution. Along the salinity gradient, increasing βNTI values indicated stronger deterministic assembly in FL communities, consistent with intensified homogeneous selection. This was accompanied by simplified co-occurrence networks and enrichment of high-salinity colonizers, including NS3a_marine_group, Pseudarcicella, and NS11-12_marine_group, which were identified as putative hosts of ARGs. These community shifts paralleled resistome changes, suggesting a potential co-selection-related pattern. In contrast, PA communities appeared to be buffered by robust pre-existing interactions, which limited establishment of exogenous taxa putatively associated with ARGs and weakened community-resistome coupling, consistent with a home-field-advantage-like pattern. Collectively, salinity gradients at confluences probably partition resistome assembly by lifestyle, with FL communities functioning as dissemination-prone hubs and PA communities as retention-oriented reservoirs for ARGs.

Denitrification in suspended sediments (SPS) plays a critical role in nitrogen removal within aquatic systems, yet the influence of pollution gradients on this process remains poorly understood. This study investigated denitrification performance and microbial metabolic adaptations across SPS from pollution-defined riparian zones (20 m near-shore/L20, 40 m mid-shore/L40, 100 m far-shore/L100) in Meiliang Bay of eutrophic Lake Taihu. Results showed a clear contamination gradient: nutrients and heavy metals decreased successively from near-shore (highest) to mid-shore to far-shore (lowest). Notably, SPS in L40 had the higher N2 and N2O release rates than L20 and L100, despite intermediate pollution levels, suggesting non-linear relationships between contamination magnitude and denitrification efficiency. Compared with L20 and L100, L40 sediments exhibited superior carbon metabolism (EMP/PPP), driving elevated activities of denitrifying enzymes (NAR, NIR, NOS) and higher abundances of associated functional genes (narG, nirS, nosZ). This demonstrates that SPS denitrification is governed not simply by pollution magnitude but by pollution-driven microbial metabolic reconfiguration. This study provides novel insight into SPS-denitrification performance in lakeshore zone with different offshore distances, with critical implications for managing eutrophic and metal-contaminated aquatic ecosystems.

The intimate coupling of photocatalysis and biodegradation (ICPB) serves as a promising alternative for rapid, enhanced antibiotics removal, while the concurrent induction of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) accumulation has become a critical barrier restricting its further industrial popularization. Here, we tracked ARGs fates in an ICPB reactor treating sulfamethoxazole (SMX) over 30 days, with emphasis on how microbial succession and functional adaptation within algae-bacteria consortia shape ARG dynamics. The ICPB system removed more than 71.7% of SMX within the first 7 days, yet this early-stage performance coincided with increased abundance of sul genes and the overall resistome, likely driven by folate biosynthesis and oxidative stress responses. With prolonged operation to 30 days, total ARGs abundance declined unexpectedly, even though SMX residuals accumulated. This shift was closely associated with sustained illumination that promoted algal proliferation, particularly Cyanobacteria. In parallel, carotenoid production was markedly enhanced through activation of the ε-carotene biosynthesis pathway, which reinforced oxidative stress scavenging and relieved folate-associated selective pressure, thereby mitigating ARGs dissemination. In addition, cyanobacteria-derived photosynthate favored autotrophic metabolism within the bacterial consortium, which reduced the abundance of genes encoding energy-dependent efflux pump transporters and consequently constrained the propagation of energy-intensive ARGs. Collectively, these findings highlight a cyanobacteria-mediated route to attenuate ARGs during prolonged ICPB operation and provide guidance for designing photocatalysis-coupled cyanobacterial biofilms for sustainable wastewater treatment.

Municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are important pathways for microplastics (MPs), plastic additives, and other associated contaminants to enter receiving waters, yet their combined pollution and risks remain poorly constrained across broad geographic regions. Here, MPs and plastic additives were investigated in effluents from 46 typical WWTPs distributed across 31 provincial-level regions of China. MPs occurred in all effluents at 6.0-589.0 items L⁻¹ ; fragments dominated, 95.6% were < 1 mm, and polystyrene was the most abundant polymer. National emissions were estimated at 2.35 × 1015 particles yr-1, equivalent to 552 yr-1, with loads positively associated with served population. Sixty-four plastic additives and associated contaminants were detected at total organic concentrations of 799.54-5534.19 ng L⁻¹ . Bisphenols, phthalate esters, and organophosphate esters dominated the organic profile, contributing 58.9%, 26.5%, and 11.4%, respectively. Organic risks were driven mainly by bisphenols, whereas elevated Zn contributed to metal-related risk at some sites. Polymer-dependent co-occurrence patterns between MPs and additives indicated potential combined exposure. An ecological risk index integrating CRITIC-derived and expert-judgment weights classified all sites as moderate risk or higher. These findings provide broad geographic evidence from typical WWTPs and a tool for coordinated management of MPs, plastic additives, and associated contaminants in WWTP effluents.

Photocatalysis holds promise for eliminating pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) from water, yet its practical solar-driven application faces hurdles including low light-utilization efficiency, catalyst recovery, and complex water matrices. Herein, a floating photocatalyst was prepared by in situ growth of an In(OH)3InVO4 heterostructure on porous carbon nitride (PCN), followed by immobilization onto bacterial cellulose (denoted as In(OH)3-InVO4/PCN/BC). The composite demonstrated efficient degradation of mixed PPCPs under visible light, achieving removal efficiencies of 11.5-89.5% within 6 h, which highlighted pronounced differences among the contaminants. The performance was further validated in real surface water samples, where efficiency was modulated by the specific water matrix. A quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) model revealed that degradation kinetics were governed by the total energy and aromatic ring count of the pollutant molecules. Common water constituents, such as humic acid (HA) and inorganic anions (i.e., Cl-, SO42-, HCO3- , and H2PO4- ), exerted significant and selective influences on the removal process. Combined analysis using radical quenching, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy, density functional theory (DFT) calculations, and comparative characterization of fresh and used catalysts identified a synergistic oxidative pathway mainly mediated by superoxide radicals (& sdot;O2- ), holes (h+), and singlet oxygen (1O2), driven by complementary charge separation at the heterojunctions. This study provides a practical floating photocatalytic system and advances the mechanistic understanding of contaminant transformation in complex aquatic environments.

Lithium is a critical strategic while lithium extraction faced with challenges such as slow kinetics and high-water consumption. What's more, high salinity brine has interfering ions hindering the adsorption process. To tackle these problems, a pine stem-inspired tri-functional lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12, LTO)/ Carbonized aerogel (CA) evaporator (CA@HTO) was synthesized as the key component and integrated into polyethylene (PE) foam platform to create the tri-functional integrated solar evaporator system. On the one hand, the pine xylem-inspired designed aerogel increases water flux, and enriches local Li+ supply within aerogel micro channels. On the other, the evaporator shows over 95% solar energy harvesting efficiency to elevate local temperatures, significantly enhancing the endothermic Li+ extraction process of lithium-ion sieve (LIS) and solar steam generation. The system doubles the Li+ recovery capacity (increasing from 12.66 to 29.12 mg g(-1)) under one-sun illumination, with adsorption kinetics reaching saturation within 6 h-twice the rate observed at 280 K (typical salt-lake temperatures). What's more, the phloem-inspired structure aerogel benefits the directional salt crystallization, which is realized by system design through Marangoni effect. Outdoor solar-powered experiments confirmed the feasibility of stable lithium recovery (>12 mg g(-1)) directly from natural hypersaline salt-lake brines, coupled with self-sustaining water recycling for Li+ elution. Salt collection efficiency reaches up to 0.27 kg m(-2) h(-1). This work presents an integrated solution for sustainable multiple resources recovery with near-zero water and carbon consumption, contributing to the global target of carbon neutrality.