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A special issue of Nanomaterials (ISSN 2079-4991). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Nanoscience and Nanotechnology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 September 2024) | Viewed by 18663

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Le Yue

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control and School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: biological responses of nanomaterials

Dr. Feiran Chen

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Guest Editor

Institute of Environmental Processes and Pollution Control and School of Environment and Civil Engineering, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, China
Interests: environmental processes of nanomaterials

Prof. Dr. Baoshan Xing

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Guest Editor

Stockbridge School of Agriculture, College of Natural Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003, USA
Interests: environmental & soil chemistry; sorption of organic contaminants; engineered nanoparticles; biochar characterization and use

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Nanomaterials (NMs) possess unique physical, chemical, electrical, and optical properties, and are increasingly used in numerous industrial applications. Most synthesized NMs will eventually be released into the environment; thus, the soils and sediments, waters, and plants can be directly exposed to NMs. This NM exposure poses potential health risks to the ecosystem and human health. However, there is a lack of information in the detection and analysis of NMs in complex environmental matrices, as well as regarding their interactions with environment. Exploring the detection, quantification, transport, fate, and biological impacts of NMs would help optimize their performance and assess their potential risks.

This Special Issue aims to cover recent progress in the environmental analysis and environmental processes of nanomaterials. Potential topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

Sampling and analysis methods for identifying and quantifying NMs in numerous types of environmental media;
The fate of NMs in complex environmental systems;
The biological impacts of NMs and the regulation mechanisms.

We are pleased to invite the scientific community to submit manuscripts to be considered for publication in this Special Issue of Nanomaterials. Original research papers and review articles are welcome. We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Le Yue
Dr. Feiran Chen
Prof. Dr. Baoshan Xing
Guest Editors

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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. Nanomaterials is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

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Keywords

nanomaterials
environmental applications
sampling and analysis
environmental behavior
biological impacts

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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21 pages, 7013 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Degradation and Recondensation of Metal Oxide Nanoparticles in Laminar Premixed Flames

by Nadine May, Werner Baumann, Manuela Hauser, Zhiyao Yin, Klaus Peter Geigle and Dieter Stapf

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(12), 1047; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14121047 - 18 Jun 2024

Viewed by 838

Abstract

The behavior of technical nanoparticles at high temperatures was measured systematically to detect morphology changes under conditions relevant to the thermal treatment of end-of-life products containing engineered nanomaterials. The focus of this paper is on laboratory experiments, where we used a Bunsen-type burner to add titania and ceria particles to a laminar premixed flame. To evaluate the influence of temperature on particle size distributions, we used SMPS, ELPI and TEM analyses. To measure the temperature profile of the flame, we used coherent anti-Stokes Raman spectroscopy (CARS). The comprehensible data records show high temperatures by measurement and equilibrium calculation for different stoichiometries and argon admixtures. With this, we show that all technical metal oxide nanoparticle agglomerates investigated reform in flames at high temperatures. The originally large agglomerates of titania and ceria build very small nanoparticles (<10 nm/“peak 2”) at starting temperatures of <2200 K and <1475 K, respectively (ceria: T_melt = 2773 K, T_boil = 3873 K/titania: T_melt = 2116 K, T_boil = 3245 K). Since the maximum flame temperatures are below the evaporation temperature of titania and ceria, enhanced vaporization of titania and ceria in the chemically reacting flame is assumed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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15 pages, 3347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Size Effects of Copper Oxide Nanoparticles on Boosting Soybean Growth via Differentially Modulating Nitrogen Assimilation

by Yaozu Guo, Hao Li, Yi Hao, Heping Shang, Weili Jia, Anqi Liang, Xinxin Xu, Chunyang Li and Chuanxin Ma

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(9), 746; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14090746 - 25 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1415

Abstract

Nanoscale agrochemicals have been widely used in sustainable agriculture and may potentially affect the nitrogen fixation process in legume crops. The present study investigated the size-effects of copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) on nitrogen assimilation in soybean (G. max (L.) Merrill) plants, which were treated with different sizes (20 and 50 nm) of CuO NPs at low use doses (1 and 10 mg/kg) for 21 days under greenhouse conditions. The results showed that 50 nm CuO NPs significantly increased the fresh biomass more than 20 nm CuO NPs achieved at 10 mg/kg. The activities of N assimilation-associated enzymes and the contents of nitrogenous compounds, including nitrates, proteins, and amino acids, in soybean tissues were greatly increased across all the CuO NP treatments. The use doses of two sizes of CuO NPs had no impact on the Cu contents in shoots and roots but indeed increased the Cu contents in soils in a dose-dependent fashion. Overall, our findings demonstrated that both 20 and 50 nm CuO NPs could positively alter soybean growth and boost N assimilation, furthering our understanding that the application of nanoscale micro-nutrient-related agrochemicals at an optimal size and dose will greatly contribute to increasing the yield and quality of crops. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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15 pages, 3730 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Selenium Nanomaterials Enhance the Nutrients and Functional Components of Fuding Dabai Tea

by Xiaoli Zhang, Xiaona Li, Feiran Chen, Xuesong Cao, Chuanxi Wang, Liya Jiao, Le Yue and Zhenyu Wang

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(8), 681; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14080681 - 15 Apr 2024

Viewed by 1118

Abstract

Theanine, polyphenols, and caffeine not only affect the flavor of tea, but also play an important role in human health benefits. However, the specific regulatory mechanism of Se NMs on fat-reducing components is still unclear. In this study, the synthesis of fat-reducing components in Fuding Dabai (FDDB) tea was investigated. The results indicated that the 100-bud weight, theanine, EGCG, total catechin, and caffeine contents of tea buds were optimally promoted by 10 mg·L⁻¹ Se NMs in the range of 24.3%, 36.2%, 53.9%, 67.1%, and 30.9%, respectively. Mechanically, Se NMs promoted photosynthesis in tea plants, increased the soluble sugar content in tea leaves (30.3%), and provided energy for the metabolic processes, including the TCA cycle, pyruvate metabolism, amino acid metabolism, and the glutamine/glutamic acid cycle, ultimately increasing the content of amino acids and antioxidant substances (catechins) in tea buds; the relative expressions of key genes for catechin synthesis, CsPAL, CsC4H, CsCHI, CsDFR, CsANS, CsANR, CsLAR, and UGGT, were significantly upregulated by 45.1–619.1%. The expressions of theanine synthesis genes CsTs, CsGs, and CsGOGAT were upregulated by 138.8–693.7%. Moreover, Se NMs promoted more sucrose transfer to the roots, with the upregulations of CsSUT1, CsSUT2, CsSUT3, and CsSWEET1a by 125.8–560.5%. Correspondingly, Se NMs enriched the beneficial rhizosphere microbiota (Roseiarcus, Acidothermus, Acidibacter, Conexicter, and Pedosphaeraceae), enhancing the absorption and utilization of ammonium nitrogen by tea plants, contributing to the accumulation of theanine. This study provides compelling evidence supporting the application of Se NMs in promoting the lipid-reducing components of tea by enhancing its nitrogen metabolism. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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14 pages, 1345 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Maize Yield and Soil Health through the Residual Impact of Nanomaterials in Contaminated Soils to Sustain Food

by Esawy Mahmoud, Asmaa El-shahawy, Mahmoud Ibrahim, Abd El-Halim A. Abd El-Halim, Atef Abo-Ogiala, Mohamed. S. Shokr, Elsayed Said Mohamed, Nazih Y. Rebouh and Sahar Mohamed Ismail

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(4), 369; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14040369 - 16 Feb 2024

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1512

Abstract

Studying the impact of residual soil nanomaterials is a promising challenge for sustainable agricultural development to improve soil health and crop productivity. The objective of this study is to assess the long-term impacts of 50, 100, and 250 mg kg⁻¹ soil of nanobiochar (nB) and nano-water treatment residues (nWTR) on the fertility, biological activity, and yield of maize (Zea mays L.) growing in heavy metal-contaminated soils. The results showed that when nB and nWTR were added in larger quantities, the concentrations of lead (Pb), nickel (Ni), cadmium (Cd), and cobalt (Co) extracted with DTPA decreased. With the addition of nB or nWTR, it also showed a significant increase in exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity (CEC), soil fertility, soil organic matter (OM), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), and a decrease in soil salinity and sodicity. Catalase and dehydrogenase activities rose as nB addition increased, while they decreased when nWTR addition increased. In comparison to the control, the addition of nB and nWTR greatly boosted maize yield by 54.5–61.4% and 61.9–71.4%, respectively. These findings suggest that the researched nanomaterials’ residual effect provides an eco-friendly farming method to enhance the qualities of damaged soils and boost maize production. Our research suggested that adding recycling waste in the form of nanoparticles could immobilize heavy metals, improve soil characteristics, and increase the soil’s capacity for productivity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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16 pages, 6091 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Conversion of PET Bottle Waste into a Terephthalic Acid-Based Metal-Organic Framework for Removing Plastic Nanoparticles from Water

by Chingakham Chinglenthoiba, Gomathi Mahadevan, Jiawei Zuo, Thiruchelvam Prathyumnan and Suresh Valiyaveettil

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(3), 257; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14030257 - 24 Jan 2024

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2829

Abstract

Micro- and nanoparticles of plastic waste are considered emerging pollutants with significant environmental and health impacts at high concentrations or prolonged exposure time. Here we report the synthesis and characterization of a known metal-organic framework (MOF) using terephthalic acid (TPA) recovered from the hydrolysis of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottle waste. This approach adds value to the existing large amounts of bottle waste in the environment. Fully characterized zinc-TPA MOF (MOF-5) was used for the extraction and removal of engineered polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) nanoparticles from water with a high efficiency of 97% and 95%, respectively. Kinetic and isotherm models for the adsorption of polymer nanoparticles (PNPs) on the MOF surface were investigated to understand the mechanism. The Qmax for PVC and PMMA NPs were recorded as 56.65 mg/g and 33.32 mg/g, respectively. MOF-5 was characterized before and after adsorption of PNPs on the surface of MOF-5 using a range of techniques. After adsorption, the MOF-5 was successfully regenerated and reused for the adsorption and removal of PNPs, showing consistent results for five adsorption cycles with a removal rate of 83–85%. MOF-5 was characterized before and after adsorption of PNPs on the surface using a range of techniques. The MOF-5 with PNPs on the surface was successfully regenerated and reused for the adsorption and removal of polymer nanoparticles, showing consistent results for five extraction cycles. As a proof of concept, MOF-5 was also used to remove plastic particles from commercially available body scrub gel solutions. Such methods and materials are needed to mitigate the health hazards caused by emerging micro- and nanoplastic pollutants in the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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15 pages, 2721 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Metabolomics Response of Solanum melongena L. Leaves to Various Forms of Pb

by Siyu Zhang, Bing Zhao, Xuejiao Zhang, Fengchang Wu and Qing Zhao

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(22), 2911; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13222911 - 8 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1319

Abstract

Due to activities like mining and smelting, lead (Pb) enters the atmosphere in various forms in coarse and fine particles. It enters plants mainly through leaves, and goes up the food chain. In this study, PbX_n (nano-PbS, mic-PbO and PbCl₂) was applied to eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) leaves, and 379 differential metabolites were identified and analyzed in eggplant leaves using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that all three Pb treatments significantly altered the metabolite profile. Compared with nano-PbS, mic-PbO and PbCl₂ induced more identical metabolite changes. However, the alterations in metabolites related to the TCA cycle and pyrimidine metabolism, such as succinic acid, citric acid and cytidine, were specific to PbCl₂. The number of differential metabolites induced by mic-PbO and PbCl₂ was three times that of nano-PbS, even though the amount of nano-PbS absorbed by leaves was ten times that of PbO and seven times that of PbCl₂. This suggests that the metabolic response of eggplant leaves to Pb is influenced by both concentration and form. This study enhances the current understanding of plants’ metabolic response to Pb, and demonstrates that the metabolomics map provides a more comprehensive view of a plant’s response to specific metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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11 pages, 3244 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Toxic Effects of Copper Fungicides on the Development and Behavior of Zebrafish in Early-Life Stages

by Fei Gao, Zitong Yuan, Lingling Zhang, Yiyuan Peng, Kun Qian and Mingqi Zheng

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2629; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192629 - 23 Sep 2023

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1706

Abstract

Copper-based fungicides have been used to control various plant diseases for more than one hundred years and play very important roles in agriculture. Accumulation of copper in freshwater and environment pose severe threats to human health and the environment. The current study evaluated the developmental and behavioral toxicity of PEG@Cu NCs (copper nanoclusters), Kocide^® 3000 (copper hydroxide), and Cu(CH₃COO)₂ (copper acetate) to zebrafish in early-life stages. The developmental toxicity was evaluated according to the parameters of mortality, hatching rate, autonomous movement and heartbeat of embryos, and body length of larvae. The 9 dpf (days postfertilization)-LC₅₀ (50% lethal concentration) of embryonic mortality was 0.077, 0.174 or 0.088 mg/L, and the 9 dpf-EC₅₀ (effective concentration of 50% embryos hatching) of hatching rate was 0.079 mg/L, 0.21 mg/L and 0.092 mg/L when the embryos were exposed to PEG@Cu NCs, Kocide^® 3000 or Cu(CH₃COO)₂, respectively. Kocide^® 3000 and Cu(CH₃COO)₂ obviously decreased the spontaneous movements, while PEG@Cu NCs had no adverse effects on that of embryos. The reduced heartbeat can return to normal after exposure to PEG@Cu NCs for 96 h, while it cannot recover from Kocide^® 3000. In addition, Kocide^® 3000 (≥0.2 mg/L), PEG@Cu NCs and Cu(CH₃COO)₂ with 0.05 mg/L or higher concentration exhibited obvious behavioral toxicity to zebrafish larvae according to the parameters of movement distance, average velocity, absolute sinuosity, absolute turn angle and absolute angular velocity. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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17 pages, 697 KiB

Open AccessReview

Computational Nanotoxicology Models for Environmental Risk Assessment of Engineered Nanomaterials

by Weihao Tang, Xuejiao Zhang, Huixiao Hong, Jingwen Chen, Qing Zhao and Fengchang Wu

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(2), 155; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14020155 - 10 Jan 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2312

Abstract

Although engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have tremendous potential to generate technological benefits in numerous sectors, uncertainty on the risks of ENMs for human health and the environment may impede the advancement of novel materials. Traditionally, the risks of ENMs can be evaluated by experimental methods such as environmental field monitoring and animal-based toxicity testing. However, it is time-consuming, expensive, and impractical to evaluate the risk of the increasingly large number of ENMs with the experimental methods. On the contrary, with the advancement of artificial intelligence and machine learning, in silico methods have recently received more attention in the risk assessment of ENMs. This review discusses the key progress of computational nanotoxicology models for assessing the risks of ENMs, including material flow analysis models, multimedia environmental models, physiologically based toxicokinetics models, quantitative nanostructure–activity relationships, and meta-analysis. Several challenges are identified and a perspective is provided regarding how the challenges can be addressed. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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17 pages, 2556 KiB

Open AccessReview

Nano-Pesticides and Fertilizers: Solutions for Global Food Security

by Yuying Tang, Weichen Zhao, Guikai Zhu, Zhiqiang Tan, Lili Huang, Peng Zhang, Li Gao and Yukui Rui

Nanomaterials 2024, 14(1), 90; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano14010090 - 28 Dec 2023

Cited by 14 | Viewed by 4725

Abstract

Nanotechnology emerges as an important way to safeguard global food security amid the escalating challenges posed by the expansion of the global population and the impacts of climate change. The perfect fusion of this breakthrough technology with traditional agriculture promises to revolutionize the way agriculture is traditionally practiced and provide effective solutions to the myriad of challenges in agriculture. Particularly noteworthy are the applications of nano-fertilizers and pesticides in agriculture, which have become milestones in sustainable agriculture and offer lasting alternatives to traditional methods. This review meticulously explores the key role of nano-fertilizers and pesticides in advancing sustainable agriculture. By focusing on the dynamic development of nanotechnology in the field of sustainable agriculture and its ability to address the overarching issue of global food security, this review aims to shed light on the transformative potential of nanotechnology to pave the way for a more resilient and sustainable future for agriculture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental Analysis and Environmental Processes of Nanomaterials)

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