Submit to Molecules Review for Molecules Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Nano Environmental Materials II

Special Issue Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

A special issue of Molecules (ISSN 1420-3049). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Chemistry".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 October 2024) | Viewed by 12192

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Shaojun Yuan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Low-Carbon Technology & Chemical Reaction Engineering Laboratory, College of Chemical Engineering, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: nano environmental materials; adsorption; CO₂ capture; supercapacitor; supwetting surfaces for oil/water separation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Ying Liang

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Architecture and Environment, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610065, China
Interests: superwetting membrane; antibacterial membrane; stimuli-responsive membrane
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Changkun Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Shenzhen University, Shenzhen 518061, China
Interests: membranes; adsorption; water treatment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Xiaoying Liu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Environment and Resources, Chongqing Technology and Business University, Chongqing 400067, China
Interests: supercapacitor; self-assembled nanostructures
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Environmental pollution is a global risk and its magnitude is increasing day-by-day due to urbanization, heavy industrialization, and the changing lifestyles of people. In view of this, providing clean air and water and a clean environment for people is a challenging task. The advent of nanotechnology has given immense scope and opportunities for the fabrication of desired nanomaterials with large surface-to-volume ratios (and hence excellent chemical reactivities) and unique functionalities to treat pollutants. The nanomaterials play major roles in environmental remediation and are used for purposes such as the treatment of natural waters, soils, sediments, industrial and domestic waste water, mine tailings, and the polluted atmosphere. Despite the excellent progress in all types of nano-environmental materials for environmental remediation, significant challenges still remain to be addressed. Nano-environmental materials have played, and will undoubtedly continue to play, critical roles in the future developments of environmental remediation technologies.

The aim of this Special Issue is to collect state-of-the-art works on nano-environmental materials, particularly on the application of nanostructured materials and nanoscale materials for a wide range of environmental applications. In addition to original research papers, comprehensive review articles are most welcome. It is our great pleasure to invite you to submit contributions to this Special Issue.

Prof. Dr. Shaojun Yuan
Dr. Ying Liang
Dr. Changkun Liu
Dr. Xiaoying Liu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Molecules is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

nanosorbents
nanocatalysts
photocatalytic nanomaterials
MOFs-based environmental materials
graphene-based environmental materials
carbon nanotube-based environmental materials
1D nano environmental materials
2D nano environmental materials
3D nano environmental materials
nanostructured environmental materials
nanoscale environmental materials
nanocomposite environmental materials
nanomaterial-based applications for water treatment
nanomaterial-based applications for air purification
nanomaterial-based applications for soil sustainability
nanomaterial-based applications for clean energy
sustainable nanotechnology

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
e-Book format: Special Issues with more than 10 articles can be published as dedicated e-books, ensuring wide and rapid dissemination.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue polices can be found here.

Published Papers (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

14 pages, 4950 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Construction of Co-Modified MXene/PES Catalytic Membrane for Effective Separation and Degradation of Tetracycline Antibiotics in Aqueous Solutions

by Xiaojie Cheng, Xiaojun Qin, Runxue Zhao, Jiamin Chen, Xia Zheng, Ke Liu and Meixuan Xin

Molecules 2024, 29(21), 4995; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29214995 - 22 Oct 2024

Viewed by 541

Abstract

The application of antibiotics has advanced modern medicine significantly. However, the abuse and discharge of antibiotics have led to substantial antibiotic residues in water, posing great harm to natural organisms and humans. To address the problem of antibiotic degradation, this study developed a novel catalytic membrane by depositing Co catalysts onto MXene nanosheets and fabricating the polyethersulfone composite (Co@MXene/PES) using vacuum-assisted self-assembly. The dual role of MXene as both a carrier for Co atoms and an enhancer of interlayer spacing led to improved flux and catalytic degradation capabilities of the membrane. Experimental results confirmed that the Co@MXene/PES membrane effectively degraded antibiotics through peroxymonosulfate activation, achieving up to 95.51% degradation at a cobalt concentration of 0.01 mg/mL. The membrane demonstrated excellent antibacterial properties, minimal flux loss after repeated use, and robust anti-fouling performance, making it a promising solution for efficient antibiotic removal and stable water treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 9612 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Facile Synthesis of Novel Magnetic Janus Graphene Oxide for Efficient and Recyclable Demulsification of Crude Oil-in-Water Emulsion

by Yingbiao Xu, Li Cheng, Yefei Wang and Han Jia

Molecules 2024, 29(14), 3307; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29143307 - 13 Jul 2024

Viewed by 1121

Abstract

Nanoparticles have been widely applied to treat emulsion-containing wastewater in the form of chemical demulsifiers, such as SiO₂, Fe₃O₄, and graphene oxide (GO). Owing to their asymmetric structures and selective adsorption, Janus nanoparticles show greater application potential in many fields. In the present work, the novel magnetic Janus graphene oxide (MJGO) nanoparticle was successfully prepared by grafting magnetic Fe₃O₄ to the surface of the JGO, and its demulsifying ability to treat a crude oil-in-water emulsion was evaluated. The MJGO structure and its magnetic intensity were verified by Fourier-transform infrared spectra (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and magnetization saturation (MS) tests. Compared with GO and JGO, MJGO displayed the superior efficiency (>96%) to demulsify the crude oil-in-water emulsion, which can be attributed to the reduced electrostatic repulsion between MJGO and the emulsion droplets. Furthermore, the effects of pH and temperature on the demulsification performance of MJGO were also studied. Lastly, the recyclability of MJGO largely reduced the cost of demulsifiers in separating crude oil and water. The current research presents an efficient and recyclable demulsifier, which provides a new perspective for the structural design of nanomaterials and their application in the field of demulsification. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

14 pages, 6933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Molybdenum-Modified Titanium Dioxide Nanotube Arrays as an Efficient Electrode for the Electroreduction of Nitrate to Ammonia

by Huixi Chen, Wenqi Hu, Tingting Ma, Yixuan Pu, Senhao Wang, Yuan Wang and Shaojun Yuan

Molecules 2024, 29(12), 2782; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29122782 - 11 Jun 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1005

Abstract

Electrochemical nitrate reduction (NO₃⁻RR) has been recognized as a promising strategy for sustainable ammonia (NH₃) production due to its environmental friendliness and economical nature. However, the NO₃⁻RR reaction involves an eight-electron coupled proton transfer process with many by-products and low Faraday efficiency. In this work, a molybdenum oxide (MoO_x)-decorated titanium dioxide nanotube on Ti foil (Mo/TiO₂) was prepared by means of an electrodeposition and calcination process. The structure of MoO_x can be controlled by regulating the concentration of molybdate during the electrodeposition process, which can further influence the electron transfer from Ti to Mo atoms, and enhance the binding energy of intermediate species in NO₃⁻RR. The optimized Mo/TiO₂-M with more Mo(IV) sites exhibited a better activity for NO₃⁻RR. The Mo/TiO₂-M electrode delivered a NH₃ yield of 5.18 mg h⁻¹ cm⁻² at −1.7 V vs. Ag/AgCl, and exhibited a Faraday efficiency of 88.05% at −1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. In addition, the cycling test demonstrated that the Mo/TiO₂-M electrode possessed a good stability. This work not only provides an attractive electrode material, but also offers new insights into the rational design of catalysts for NO₃⁻RR. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

16 pages, 6372 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Catalytic Oxidation of Benzene over Atomic Active Site AgNi/BCN Catalysts at Room Temperature

by Xin Zuo, Lisheng Zhang, Ge Gao, Changchun Xin, Bingfeng Fu, Shejiang Liu and Hui Ding

Molecules 2024, 29(7), 1463; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29071463 - 25 Mar 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1185

Abstract

Benzene is the typical volatile organic compound (VOC) of indoor and outdoor air pollution, which harms human health and the environment. Due to the stability of their aromatic structure, the catalytic oxidation of benzene rings in an environment without an external energy input is difficult. In this study, the efficient degradation of benzene at room temperature was achieved by constructing Ag and Ni bimetallic active site catalysts (AgNi/BCN) supported on boron–carbon–nitrogen aerogel. The atomic-scale Ag and Ni are uniformly dispersed on the catalyst surface and form Ag/Ni-C/N bonds with C and N, which were conducive to the catalytic oxidation of benzene at room temperature. Further catalytic reaction mechanisms indicate that benzene reacted with ·OH to produce R·, which reacted with O₂ to regenerate ·OH. Under the strong oxidation of ·OH, benzene was oxidized to form alcohols, carboxylic acids, and eventually CO₂ and H₂O. This study not only significantly reduces the energy consumption of VOC catalytic oxidation, but also improves the safety of VOC treatment, providing new ideas for the low energy consumption and green development of VOC treatment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

15 pages, 8938 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recovering Phosphate from Complex Wastewater Using Macroporous Cryogel Composited Calcium Silicate Hydrate Nanoparticles

by Tarawee Taweekarn, Worawit Wongniramaikul, Pariyaporn Roop-o, Wanchitra Towanlong and Aree Choodum

Molecules 2024, 29(1), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules29010228 - 31 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1636

Abstract

Since currently used natural, nonrenewable phosphorus resources are estimated to be depleted in the next 30–200 years, phosphorus recovery from any phosphorus-rich residues has attracted great interest. In this study, phosphorus recovery from complex wastewater samples was investigated using continuous adsorption on cryogel column composited calcium silicate hydrate nanoparticles (CSH columns). The results showed that 99.99% of phosphate was recovered from a synthetic water sample (50 mg L⁻¹) using a 5 cm CSH column with a 5 mL min⁻¹ influent flow rate for 6 h while 82.82% and 97.58% of phosphate were recovered from household laundry wastewater (1.84 mg L⁻¹) and reverse osmosis concentrate (26.46 mg L⁻¹), respectively. The adsorption capacity decreased with an increasing flow rate but increased with increasing initial concentration and column height, and the obtained experimental data were better fitted to the Yoon–Nelson model (R² = 0.7723–0.9643) than to the Adams–Bohart model (R² = 0.6320–0.8899). The adsorption performance of phosphate was decreased 3.65 times in the presence of carbonate ions at a similar concentration, whereas no effect was obtained from nitrate and sulfate. The results demonstrate the potential of continuous-flow phosphate adsorption on the CSH column for the recovery of phosphate from complex wastewater samples. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

15 pages, 2771 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Graphene Oxide Nanosheets in Freshwater Biofilms

by Diana Matos, Salomé F. P. Almeida, Paula A. A. P. Marques, Sofia Pinto and Etelvina Figueira

Molecules 2023, 28(12), 4577; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28124577 - 6 Jun 2023

Viewed by 1353

Abstract

Graphene oxide (GO) properties make it a promising material for graphene-based applications in areas such as biomedicine, agriculture, and the environment. Thus, its production is expected to increase, reaching hundreds of tons every year. One GO final destination is freshwater bodies, possibly affecting the communities of these systems. To clarify the effect that GO may impose in freshwater communities, a fluvial biofilm scraped from submerged river stones was exposed to a range (0.1 to 20 mg/L) of GO concentrations during 96 h. With this approach, we hypothesized that GO can: (1) cause mechanical damage and morphological changes in cell biofilms; (2) interfere with the absorption of light by biofilms; (3) and generate oxidative stress, causing oxidative damage and inducing biochemical and physiological alterations. Our results showed that GO did not inflict mechanical damage. Instead, a positive effect is proposed, linked to the ability of GO to bind cations and increase the micronutrient availability to biofilms. High concentrations of GO increased photosynthetic pigment (chlorophyll a, b, and c, and carotenoids) content as a strategy to capture the available light more effectively as a response to the shading effect. A significant increase in the enzymatic (SOD and GSTs activity) and low molecular weight (lipids and carotenoids) antioxidant response was observed, that efficiently reduced oxidative stress effects, reducing the level of peroxidation, and preserving membrane integrity. Being complex entities, biofilms are more similar to environmental communities and may provide more accurate information to evaluate the impact of GO in aquatic systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

14 pages, 7997 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Lysine on the Interfacial Bonding of Epoxy Resin Cross-Linked Soy-Based Wood Adhesive

by Yunyi Liang, Yonghong Luo, Yang Wang, Tianyang Fei, Lili Dai, Daihui Zhang, Hongzhi Ma, Liping Cai and Changlei Xia

Molecules 2023, 28(3), 1391; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules28031391 - 1 Feb 2023

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2387

Abstract

Soy protein isolate (SPI) is an attractive natural material for preparing wood adhesives that has found broad application. However, poor mechanical properties and unfavorable water resistance of wood composites with SPI adhesive bonds limit its more extensive utilization. The combination of lysine (Lys) with a small molecular structure as a curing agent for modified soy-based wood adhesive allows Lys to penetrate wood pores easily and can result in better mechanical strength of soy protein-based composites, leading to the formation of strong chemical bonds between the amino acid and wood interface. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) results showed that the degree of penetration of the S/G/L-9% adhesive into the wood was significantly increased, the voids, such as ducts of wood at the bonding interface, were filled, and the interfacial bonding ability of the plywood was enhanced. Compared with the pure SPI adhesive, the corresponding wood breakage rate was boosted to 84%. The wet shear strength of the modified SPI adhesive was 0.64 MPa. When Lys and glycerol epoxy resin (GER) were added, the wet shear strength of plywood prepared by the S/G/L-9% adhesive reached 1.22 MPa, which increased by 29.8% compared with only GER (0.94 MPa). Furthermore, the resultant SPI adhesive displayed excellent thermostability. Water resistance of S/G/L-9% adhesive was further enhanced with respect to pure SPI and S/GER adhesives through curing with 9% Lys. In addition, this work provides a new and feasible strategy for the development and application of manufacturing low-cost, and renewable biobased adhesives with excellent mechanical properties, a promising alternative to traditional formaldehyde-free adhesives in the wood industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Graphical abstract

13 pages, 3176 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Novel Hydrophobic Polyvinyl-Alcohol Formaldehyde Sponges: Synthesis, Characterization, Fast and Effective Organic Solvent Uptake from Contaminated Soil Samples

by Yajvinder Saharan, Joginder Singh, Rohit Goyat, Ahmad Umar and Sheikh Akbar

Molecules 2022, 27(23), 8429; https://doi.org/10.3390/molecules27238429 - 2 Dec 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1818

Abstract

In the present research work, PVFTX-100, PVFSDS, and PVFT-80 sponges were prepared using polyvinyl-alcohol (PVA) with surfactants triton X-100/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)/Tween 80, respectively, for the removal of organic solvents from polluted soil/water samples. All three obtained sponges were further made hydrophobic using dodecyltrimethoxysilane (DTMS). The prepared sponges were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques and SEM analysis. The peaks obtained near 1050 cm⁻¹ and 790 cm⁻¹ were attributed to Si-O-C and alkyl side chain C-H stretching vibration that confirmed the formation of desired sponges. The SEM images showed the random roughness with a number of protrusions on sponge surfaces, which further played an important role in the absorption and retention of organic solvents molecules. The Sears method was chosen to calculate the surface area and pore volume of all the synthesized sponge samples. Among all three prepared sponges, the PVFTX-100 sponge showed a high pore volume and large surface area, with a maximum percentage absorption capacity of 96%, 91%, 89.9%, 85.6%, and 80 for chlorobenzene, toluene, diesel, petrol, and hexane, respectively, after eightcycles. The organic solvent uptake using PVFTX-100, PVFSDS, and PVFT-80 sponges is quite a unique and simple technology, which could be employed at a large scale for contaminated soil/water systems. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Nano Environmental Materials II)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Nano Environmental Materials II

Share This Special Issue

Special Issue Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI