Marine oil spills cause significant pollution to the global environment. Dispersants are frequently used in such spills to break down the oil slick into smaller droplets, facilitating the biodegradation of the oil. Herein, Janus nanosheets (JNs) were used as a new particulate dispersant, which could act synergistically with bacteria in seawater to remediate marine oil spill pollution efficiently. The JNs not only possessed amphiphilic properties and low toxicity but also demonstrated exceptional emulsification capabilities for oil, synergistically enhancing the remediation process alongside oil-degrading bacteria. Due to the inherent constraints on interfacial rotation and multilayer steric hindrance at the diesel–water interface, the emulsion created by JNs remained highly stable, maintaining a small oil droplet size even after a month. Significantly, the JNs enabled the binding of negatively charged oil-degrading bacteria through electrostatic interactions. Following their combination, the JNs effectively transported bacteria directly to the surface of the oil droplets through the influence of sea waves. This cooperative treatment system not only enhanced the oil's dispersibility but also markedly augmented the biodegradation of the oil when compared to the use of bacteria alone. At a diesel concentration of 6 mL L−1 and a JN concentration of 0.3 g L−1, the bacterial biodegradation of diesel was reduced from 5 days to 3 days, and the diesel biodegradation rate increased from 70% to 85%. These findings underscore the remarkable capacity of JNs to effectively emulsify oil and enhance bacterial oil degradation in seawater.

Studies on the transformation of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) based on relevant environmental exposure scenarios are scarce. In this context, we investigated the use of Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) grids to expose minute amounts of ZnO and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) to artificial and natural aqueous media and follow their transformation using scanning transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. Short-term experiments conducted with inorganic sulfides confirmed the potential of using TEM grids to monitor the transformation of ENMs at the single particle level. After 30 min, Ag NPs transformed into Ag-sulfides, with Ag : S ratios ≈ 2 : 1, while ZnO NPs showed little evidence of Zn-sulfides precipitation after 6 hours. Ag NPs and ZnO NPs were also exposed to depth-dependent pore water concentration gradients in freshwater sediment columns. After three days and four weeks, all the Ag NPs observed were transformed into Ag-sulfides with various morphologies and Ag : S ratios (1 ≤ Ag/S ≤ 2), depending on the depth and duration of the exposure. Furthermore, a depth-dependent transformation was observed for ZnO NPs. At low sulfide concentration, in the first millimeters below the water–sediment interface, ZnO NPs were completely transformed into ZnS harboring empty shell structures, together with smaller particles in their vicinity. By contrast, ZnO cores persisted in the deeper layers, indicating that ZnO NPs dissolution was inhibited at high sulfide concentrations. Our results demonstrate the advantage of experimental and analytical strategies adapted to study the transformation of ENMs under environmentally relevant conditions, to unravel transformation rates and products not yet considered in risk assessment studies.

MAX phases are versatile materials with unique metallic and ceramic properties, utilized in aerospace, nuclear engineering, and high-temperature applications. A comprehensive assessment of the potential hazards and toxicity mechanisms is essential to ensure the safe utilization of these nanomaterials. In light of this, our study investigates the toxicity of two nano-sized MAX phases, Ti2AlC and Ti3AlC2, to provide fundamental data for implementing the safe-by-design (SbD) approach. Cytotoxicity, genotoxicity, and ecotoxicity screening assays were conducted to identify environmental health and safety issues associated with these materials. The comparison with graphene oxide served as a reference nanomaterial in all toxicity tests. At a concentration of 1 mg L−1, MAX phases showed approximately 20% cytotoxicity and a significant increase in DNA strand break marker and IL-6 level in BEAS-2B cells. However, at the same concentration, no significant toxicity was observed in C. elegans and zebrafish embryos. Overall, MAX phases exhibited non-negligible toxicity, with genotoxicity being the most notable endpoint. This study fills the knowledge gap between the prospective use of MAX phases in the biomedical field and their influence on the environment and human health. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating the potential hazards associated with nano-sized MAX phases and provide valuable insights for the implementation of SbD during their research, development, and design phases.

Non-radical oxidation triggered by hollow MOF-derived carbon in persulfate-based AOPs shows potential for antibiotic wastewater remediation. However, the inherent relationship between the hollow structure and catalytic activity and the evolution mechanism involving the transformation from solid structures into hollow frameworks is not clear. Considering this, herein, hollow ZIF-8-derived carbon (HZC) was fabricated via TA etching and carbonization for the activation of PDS. The results indicated that HZC-800 exhibited an excellent antibiotic removal performance through electron-transfer mediated non-radical oxidation. Characterization studies revealed the key role of graphitic N in the catalytic reaction, which was linearly correlated with the kinetic constant (k) and a high graphitic N content enhanced the degradation of antibiotics. Further analysis suggested that the evolution mechanism from an ROS-dominated process in solid ZIF-8-derived carbon (ZC-800)/PDS to electron-transfer oxidation in HZC-800/PDS originated from the transformation into a hollow structure. Compared to solid ZC-800, hollow HZC-800 with a higher graphitic N and lower electron-withdrawing O group content exhibited an enhanced electron conductivity and was more conducive to PDS adsorption and forming activated PDS* for electron-transfer non-radical oxidation, reducing the direct activation of PDS into ROS. HZC-800 with a larger porosity and more defects facilitated the mass diffusion for antibiotic removal with great practicality. This study provides a new insight into the evolution mechanism for the transformation from solid structures into hollow structures and designing carbon catalysts for wastewater treatment.

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are used in materials for the construction, automotive, and aerospace industries. Workers and consumers are exposed to these materials via inhalation. Existing recommended exposure limits are based on MWCNT exposures that do not take into account more realistic co-exposures. Our goal was to understand how a common allergen, house dust mite extract, interacts with pristine MWCNTs and lung fluid proteins. We used gel electrophoresis, western blotting, and proteomics to characterize the composition of the allergen corona formed from house dust mite extract on the surface of MWCNTs. We found that the corona is dominated by der p 2, a protein associated with human allergic responses to house dust mites. Der p 2 remains adsorbed on the surface of the MWCNTs following subsequent exposures to lung fluid proteins. The high concentration of der p 2, localized on surface of MWCNTs, has important implications for house dust mite-induced allergies and asthma. This research provides a detailed characterization of the complex house dust mite-lung fluid protein coronas for future cellular and in vivo studies. These studies will help to address the molecular and biochemical mechanisms underlying the exacerbation of allergic lung disease by nanomaterials.

Conventional wastewater treatment has been found to be ineffective at fully removing various antiviral drugs and emerging pollutants from wastewater. As an advanced oxidation process, heterogeneous photocatalysis is promising for detoxifying such water pollutants due to its mild operating conditions and efficiency. In this study, we explore the oxidative phase transition from bismuth iodide to bismuth oxyiodides by altering the temperature and time of thermal treatment. The influence of the temperature change from 350 °C to 450 °C on the phase transition from bismuth iodide to bismuth oxyiodides is more pronounced compared with the impact of time. This results in the formation of different bismuth oxyiodide crystalline phases with varying optoelectronic properties and photocatalytic activity. The effect of the bismuth iodide-to-bismuth oxyiodide phase transition on the efficiency of the photocatalytic removal of nitazoxanide is investigated in this study. The significant role of the BiOI/Bi4O5I2 heterostructure is established in facilitating the rapid photocatalytic degradation of nitazoxanide, with respective rate constants of k1 (0.051 min−1) and k2 (4.225 mg g−1 min−1) obtained for the photocatalyst sample thermally treated at 375 °C for 1 h. Trapping experiments provide evidence that photoexcited holes and hydroxyl radicals play a crucial role in the photocatalytic degradation of nitazoxanide. The photodegradation of nitazoxanide in aqueous solution over crystalline bismuth (oxy)iodide proceeds via hydrolysis into acetylsalicylic acid and the respective aminonitrothiazol, followed by the deacetylation and decarboxylation processes. Molecular dynamics simulation confirms that the high photocatalytic activity of BiOI/Bi4O5I2 is correlated to the higher adsorption energy due to the formation of a network of close contacts (<3.5 Å) between nitazoxanide molecules and iodine atoms.

Pine wilt disease (PWD) is an infestation caused by pine wood nematodes (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), and has caused significant disruption to forest ecosystems worldwide. Trunk injection is effective in controlling PWD, but the long-term use of abamectin (AVM) and other drugs in large quantities has caused resistance problems, and the annual trunk injections have caused some damage to the trunks themselves. In order to reduce drug resistance and damage to the tree trunks, in this study, dendritic mesoporous silica nanoparticles (DMSNs) were prepared by using a “one-pot” method, which is the easiest to industrialise, and AVM@DMSNs nano-pesticides with a uniform particle size, high loading efficiency (80.2%) and sustained release were prepared by physical adsorption. And cellular uptake and toxicity experiments were carried out on sf9 cells, and the results showed that the nano DMSNs could be enriched on sf9 cells and had good inhibition of cellular activity. The lethality of the nano-pesticides AVM@DMSNs and AVM on PWN was investigated using the insect dip method. The results showed that the corrected mortality rate of AVM@DMSNs was significantly higher than that of free AVM within 72 h. In addition, AVM@DMSNs compounded with a plant essential oil bark penetrant could be applied locally outside the bark and penetrate the drug into the tree to achieve the purpose of injury-free drug delivery, which could effectively reduce the damage of perforation injection on the tree and provide a new way for the control of forest pests.

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Graphitic carbon nitride (g-CN) possesses properties that make it suitable for various applications, including photocatalysis, carbon dioxide reduction, sensing, water-splitting, and nitrogen fixation. To overcome performance limitations arising from limited visible-light absorption and rapid recombination of photo-induced charge carriers, we employ heteroatom doping in a minimally impactful manner. Boron as a dopant is chosen due to its electron deficiency compared to carbon and nitrogen, enabling the replacement of either element in the g-CN backbone and influencing the optical properties of boron-doped carbon nitride (BCN). Our investigation reveals that the replacement of carbon atoms by boron within the g-CN framework influences the BCN's optical bandgap, 1.67 eV to 2.52 eV, and effectively modulates electron–hole recombination. Further, using different synthesis approaches and boron precursors results in vastly different material morphology. The boron-doping-induced structural defects lead to bandgap energy reduction. However, we find that this reduction does not correlate with the suppression of electron–hole recombination. In addition to studying physicochemical properties that underline BCN functional performance across a wide range of energy and environmental applications, we compare the environmental impacts across the multiple BCN syntheses. This assessment encompasses a comparison across nine TRACI midpoint impact categories, such as global warming potential, human health impacts from carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic substances, and ecotoxicity. Our life cycle impact assessment results demonstrate that electricity is the major contributor to the overall impacts of BCN synthesis, regardless of the synthesis technique used. Further, we propose a MAPS (Material Properties and Sustainability) evaluation approach that simultaneously considers physicochemical properties and sustainability metrics to gain valuable insights into designing minimally impactful, high-performing carbon nitride materials.

Tighter regulations on exhaust emission limits require more effective catalysts and here advanced materials (AdMa) play an increasingly important role. Perovskite-based catalysts are among the promising candidates. However, like other automotive catalysts, they contain metal elements of potential concern like nickel, cobalt and noble metals; hence, their likelihood to be released and their fate under environmentally relevant conditions must be assessed at the early stages of material development, so as to align with the goals of the EU Chemical Strategy for Sustainability. The aim of this study is to provide insights into the dissolution and agglomeration behaviour of perovskites in aqueous media with different ionic strengths and salt contents, as well as the influence of the presence of natural organic matter (NOM). The current OECD guidance document and testing guidelines (GD 318 and TG 318, respectively) for nanomaterial testing were applied to three different perovskite AdMa with a lanthanum–cobalt–nickel (LaCoNi) structure with and without doping with palladium or platinum. These tests resulted in a range of practical insights into the feasibility of this methodological cross-over as well as evidence on transferability and applicability to other case studies. Our findings rank the dissolution kinetics of these perovskites to lie between the two reference nanomaterials ZnO and BaSO4. Dissolution rates were found to be, respectively, for ZnO NM110, LaCoNi, and BaSO4 NM220: 0.13, 0.041, and 0.013 μg m−2 s. The ionic strength of the media used in this study did not seem to impact the overall leachable amount of metals (% w/w); however, we found that metal release was mostly incongruent and metal specific i.e., a lower lanthanum ratio with respect to either cobalt or nickel. The presence of NOM increased the dissolution of both benchmark materials; however, no strong influence on dissolution was observed for the perovskite materials. The dispersion stability of perovskites in solution was substantially increased by the presence of NOM and decreased by increased hardness in the test media. Finally, this study provides methodological insights and practical recommendations for testing the dissolution and dispersion stability in different media relevant for ecotoxicological testing and environmental risk assessment.

Radioiodine is of great concern owing to its high mobility in the environment and long-term radiotoxicity, and effective techniques for the simultaneous removal of iodide (I−) and iodate (IO3−) from aqueous solutions remain a significant challenge. Here, Ag@polypyrrole core–shell nanoparticles (Ag@PPy) were synthesized in situ and constructed by synergistic enrichment and immobilization as a desirable iodine nano-adsorbent. Its performance benefits from the ability for anions to be pre-enriched on the surface of Ag@PPy via electrostatic force through the positively charged polypyrrole with nitrogen-containing groups and then immobilized in the core–shell nanostructure with nanosilver as a reactive center. These efforts gave rise to Ag@PPy exhibiting an ultrahigh iodide adsorption capacity (788.7 mg g−1) and desirable iodate uptake capacity (133.9 mg g−1). More importantly, in the low-concentration region, Ag@PPy is able to almost completely remove I− and IO3− from aqueous solution even in the presence of competitive anions such as Cl−, SO42−, NO3− and CO32−, with a distribution coefficient Kd of up to 3.90 × 105 and 2.30 × 105 mL g−1, respectively. Unexpectedly, this core–shell nanostructure endows silver-based materials with high stability under acid–base conditions, and reduces the leaching rate approximately 10-fold compared to silver powder at near-neutral pH. This work highlights the feasibility of using Ag-containing nanomaterials to separate radioiodine from liquid environments.

Green synthesized titanium dioxide nanoparticles (g-TiO2 NPs) have aroused widespread interest in agriculture. Nevertheless, whether they are safer than chemically synthesized TiO2 NPs (c-TiO2 NPs) remains to be demonstrated. Herein, the photosynthetic response of Lactuca sativa L. was evaluated by foliar spraying of 10, 100, 250, and 500 mg L−1 c-TiO2 NPs or g-TiO2 NPs. Results indicated that NPs interfered with nutrient accumulation and the cellular redox state, and all treatments displayed inhibition of growth except the 10 mg L−1 g-TiO2 NP group. Photosynthetic parameters and FTIR analysis revealed that NP stress on photosynthesis was also manifested by lower photosystem activity (500 mg L−1) and disrupted Calvin cycle metabolism, but carbohydrates and proteins were more sensitive to c-TiO2 NPs and g-TiO2 NPs, respectively. Notably, both NPs promoted photosynthetic electron transfer (≤250 mg L−1), thus alleviating detrimental effects due to suppressed ATPase and Rubisco activity, thylakoid lysis, and chloroplast autophagy. Differently, chloroplasts were more responsive to ultraviolet (non-directly utilizable) and visible light under c-TiO2 NP treatment, which facilitated the Hill reaction while posing a photo-oxidative risk to plants. In contrast, g-TiO2 NPs were less phytotoxic, as evidenced by higher NADPH, ATPase activity, chlorophyll, and photosynthetic efficiency, and less chloroplast damage, where 10 mg L−1 g-TiO2 NPs effectively activated the plant defense system and improved light capture and conversion. Collectively, g-TiO2 NPs showed lower phytotoxicity by modulating energy conversion processes in chloroplasts, which provided a cutting-edge research perspective for the application of nanopesticides.

Among other environmental issues, air pollution has become an increasing concern. Notably, particulate matter (PM) with a diameter of less than 2.5 micrometers (PM2.5) poses a serious risk to both the environment and public health, necessitating the development of effective, user-friendly, and adaptable prevention and treatment tools. In this study, we introduce a new reusable air filter that can be easily cleaned and captures PM2.5 with significant efficiency. A highly stable network of silver nanowires covered by sheets of graphene oxide were sequentially deposited on nylon fabric by dip coating, followed by 15 min of annealing at 120 °C. The fabricated filter not only removes PM2.5 with high efficiency (greater than 98.7%) but also demonstrates stable reusability. Moreover, the silver nanowires have long-term stability because the graphene oxide layer prevents oxidization in the air. Overall, this research demonstrates the potential of high-performance PM capture devices using simple materials and production methods.

Creating a high-efficiency heterojunction with enhanced photocatalytic properties is considered a promising approach to wastewater decontamination. Herein, Sapindus mukorossi seed extract was used to act as capping and reducing agent due to the presence of saponins and polyphenols during the synthesis of ZnO and CeO2 nanoparticles. Sharp PXRD peaks confirmed that the spherical nanocomposite had great crystallinity and purity. The CeO2@ZnO nanocomposite efficiently removes eriochrome black T (EBT) dye (98%) and endosulfan (ES) pesticide (96%). In addition to improved redox capacity, the heterojunction system exhibits quick transfer, long lifetime of photoinduced charge carriers, high-efficiency separation, and long-lived charge carriers. The band gap of ZnO observed was 3.1 eV and that of CeO2 was 2.8 eV which decreased after doping to 2.6 eV which showed the Z-scheme of CeO2@ZnO nanoparticles. The flow of electrons and holes followed the unique Z-scheme heterojunction mechanism between hierarchical ZnO and CeO2 which produced active radical species. First-order kinetics followed by initial Langmuir adsorption constituted the degradation process. From experiments using different radical quenchers (t-BuOH, p-BZQ, Na2EDTA), it was concluded that peroxide radical plays a significant role in the degradation of toxic EBT and ES. The green-fabricated nanocomposite also showed excellent efficiency in the degradation of ES and EBT pollutants in actual wastewater samples. LC-MS analysis confirmed the formation of safer metabolites after the degradation of both pollutants. This study offers a fresh and green methodology for building Z-scheme heterojunctions of modified ZnO in photocatalysis application.

Despite laws prohibiting its usage, butyltin (TBT) is a legacy pollutant and an antifouling agent that is still prevalent in marine systems and has been shown to have negative effects on the ecosystem. The purpose of this study is to fill a vacuum in the literature by determining whether nanoplastics (NPs, <1000 nm) can carry TBT, which might provide a new TBT exposure pathway to marine organisms. Adsorption capacity was modelled using nanopolystyrene (PS-NP) with three particle sizes spanning the nano-range (40, 485 and 765 nm). Kinetics and thermodynamics of TBT adsorption by PS-NP were explored within natural sea water (32 psu), brackish water (16 psu), artificial sea water (32 psu), and a sodium monophosphate/diphosphate buffer (pH 8, 0.1 M). Elemental analysis, following adsorption experiments, was completed by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry and microwave plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy. Between 78 and 99% of the total TBT adsorption occurred within the first 0–6 hours of mixing. Freundlich isotherm models provided the most accurate fit to experimental data for each water and polystyrene particle matrix (R2 values between 0.9086 and 0.9970), suggesting that the system underwent non-ideal or multilayer adsorption. The greatest capacity for adsorption was observed with the smallest plastic particles (49.5–85.6% (m/m)) and within the brackish water matrix (40.0–85.6% (m/m)). This suggests that the adsorption capacity increases with decreasing particle size and salinity, highlighting that nanoplastics have greater potential to act as a vector for the transportation of TBT over microplastics, and that adsorption is restricted by the presence of competitive salts. Distribution coefficients (KD) for TBT adsorption by PS-NP (between 193 ± 9 L g−1 and 2853 ± 291 L g−1) are consistent with the upper range of literature reported values for sediment adsorption. This suggests that PS-NPs have similar potential for TBT adsorption to naturally occurring sediment particles. When considering the differences in specific gravity between NP and sediment particles, this research highlights a concern of increased TBT mobility when bound to NPs, and the potential for TBT to become more available to surface-dwelling organisms such as those residing in tidal zones.

Wildfire causes detrimental problems to animals and plants. Nanoparticles with enzymatic activities were applied to repair the damage caused by fire and potentially degrade the produced pollutants. Kinetic studies revealed for the first time an allosteric mechanism of nanozymes. The present work aims to reveal the advantage offered by a phosphatase-like (PL) nanozyme formed by baking L-cysteine to treat mung bean sprouts affected by ashes. The size, morphology, and molecular structure of the nanozyme were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmittance electron microscopy (TEM), and FT-IR spectroscopy combined with quantum mechanical calculations. On the other hand, the morphology and structure of ash along with its interaction with the nanozyme were also studied in detail. Applying the PL nanozyme to plants affected by fire may neutralize the negative impact induced by the ash on germination, rooting, and growth. Thus, plants can grow normally.

Organic ammonium salts which are formed from heterogeneous reactions are one of the important components of nitrogen-containing organic compounds (NOCs) in the atmosphere. In order to investigate the formation process of organic ammonium salts, a gas-flow system with the diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) technique was applied to monitor the influence of a simulated illumination on the heterogeneous reactions of toluene/O3/NH3 on hematite nanoparticles. The results revealed that toluene was transformed into benzoic acid under the action of oxidants (O3 and OH radicals). The carboxylic acid was neutralized with NH3 to form ammonium benzoate. The effect of light intensities on the reaction kinetics of ammonium benzoate formation from the heterogeneous reactions was also analyzed. With an increase in the light intensity from dark to 36 mW cm−2, the reaction rates increased from (1.20 ± 0.02) × 1018 ions per g s−1 to (2.30 ± 0.09) × 1018 ions per g s−1. This induced the formation of abundant active radicals, which accelerated the conversion of toluene to ammonium benzoate on hematite nanoparticles. However, the reaction rates decreased to (1.80 ± 0.03) × 1018 ions per g s−1 as the light intensity continued to increase to 100 mW cm−2. The yield of organic ammonium salts might be reduced owing to the volatilization of ammonium benzoate at a high light intensity. Meanwhile, the initial uptake coefficient showed a similar change trend. The values of the uptake coefficient increased by 81.1% when the light intensity increased from 0 mW cm−2 to 36 mW cm−2 but decreased by 21.1% when the light intensity increased from 36 mW cm−2 to 100 mW cm−2. Our results not only propose the heterogeneous reaction kinetics of toluene/O3/NH3 on the nanoscale hematite surface under different light intensity conditions, but also provide a theoretical support for further understanding the conversion process of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) under combined atmospheric pollution.

Metals and metalloids are widely used in producing plastic materials as fillers and pigments, which can be used to track the environmental fate of real-life nanoplastics in environmental and biological systems. Therefore, this study investigated the metal and metalloids concentrations and fingerprint in real-life model nanoplastics generated from new plastic products (***) and from environmentally aged ocean plastic fragments (NPO) using single particle-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (SP-ICP-TOF-MS) and transmission electron microscopy coupled with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (TEM–EDX). The new plastic products include polypropylene straws (PPS), polyethylene terephthalate bottles (PETEB), white low-density polyethylene bags (LDPEB), and polystyrene foam shipping material (PSF). All real-life model nanoplastics contained metal and metalloids, including Si, Al, Sr, Ti, Fe, Ba, Cu, Pb, Zn, Cd, and Cr, and were depleted in rare earth elements. Nanoplastics generated from the white LDPEB were rich in Ti-bearing particles, whereas those generated from PSF were rich in Cr, Ti, and Pb. The Ti/Fe in the LDPEB nanoplastics and the Cr/Fe in the PSF nanoplastics were higher than the corresponding ratios in natural soil nanoparticles (NNPs). The Si/Al ratio in the PSF nanoplastics was higher than in the NNPs, possibly due to silica-based fillers. The elemental ratio of Si/Al, Fe/Cr, and Fe/Ni in the nanoplastics derived from ocean plastic fragments was intermediate between the nanoplastics derived from real-life plastic products and NNPs, indicating a combined contribution from pigments and fillers used in plastics and from natural sources. This study provides a method to track real-life nanoplastics in controlled laboratory studies based on nanoplastic elemental fingerprints. It expands the realm of nanoplastics that can be followed based on their metallic signatures to all kinds of nanoplastics. Additionally, this study illustrates the importance of nanoplastics as a source of metals and metal-containing nanoparticles in the environment.

While selenium nanoparticles (Se NPs) can effectively enrich crop yield and quality, the limited research on the interactions between Se NPs and soil–crop systems hinders their potential use in agriculture. Hence, the soil application of Se NPs (0 [control] and 0.5 mg kg−1) and Na2SeO3 (1.11 mg kg−1) was used to enhance rice quality and yield. The artificial neural network (ANN) approach was used to model and simulate the response of soil properties (SPs) and plant physiological activities (PPAs) under different treatments at different time stages (30, 60, 90, and 120 days). The results indicate that Se NPs can enhance photosynthesis, leading to increased yield (1.33-fold) and quality of rice (Se-enriched rice, 3.46-fold). The effects of Se NPs on rice growth and development were found to be time-dependent. Soil properties, including soil organic matter (TOC), ammonium nitrogen (NH4+), pH, redox potential (Eh), and conductivity (Ec), emerged as crucial factors influencing the observed effects. With the progression of time, plant physiological activities, including chlorophyll (Chl), net photosynthetic rate (Pn), stomatal conductance (Gs), and optimal/maximal photochemical efficiency of PS II in the dark (Fv/Fm), exhibited an increasing level of importance. Moreover, the processes of Se NPs affecting the yield and quality were distinct, with TOC being more important for rice yield and Ec being more significant for quality. Therefore, this study offers a novel approach to assess the bioavailability of Se NPs in soil–crop systems and provides valuable insights into the potential for using Se NPs to enhance rice productivity and quality. The use of model-based interpretation methods combined with experimental data allows for a more comprehensive understanding of the advantages and disadvantages of NPs in soil–plant systems and facilitates the implementation of safe design options for NPs in agriculture.

In this study, TiO2 nanocomposites immobilized with a ferrocene-containing polymer were facilely prepared according to mussel-inspired biomimetic strategy. The nanocomposites were used as heterogeneous catalysts for photocatalytic oxidation and photo-Fenton-like reactions simultaneously. Notably, mimetic wastewaters containing different organic pollutants could be treated via these synergistic photoreactions in high salinity conditions. A series of organic pollutants such as tetracyclines, bisphenol A, bisphenol S, and rhodamine B could be degraded within 30 minutes in the presence of high-concentration inorganic salts (500 mmol L−1 NaCl or NaNO3). It was possible to recycle the nanocomposites after the reactions for reuse, and the degradation efficiency was maintained stable in repeated consecutive experiments.