SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-026-4217-y
Rational design and construction of effective photocatalysts is a promising way for green and sustainable chemistry, but still a great challenge. Herein, taking triphenylamine-containing aldehydes as reactants, two covalent triazine frameworks (CTFs), tris(4-formylphenyl)amine (TPA)-CTF and tris(4-formylbiphenyl)amine (TBPA)-CTF, were rationally constructed. The strong electron donor property of the triphenylamine moieties derived from the initial reactants and the strong electron acceptor nature of the in-situ formed built-in triazine rings in CTFs endowed these robust triphenylamine-based CTFs with donor-acceptor (D-A) or donor-π-acceptor (D-π-A) structure features. Photocatalytic experiments revealed that, compared with the controlled phenyl analogue CTF, 1,3,5-tri(p-formylphenyl)benzene (TFPB)-CTF, both of the triphenylamine-based CTFs exhibited superior photocatalytic activity not only in photocatalytic hydrogen peroxide generation, but also in photocatalytic aerobic oxidations of diverse organic substrates. Theoretical studies further confirmed that their enhanced photocatalytic performance should be attributed to their unique D-A or D-π-A features in the constructed triphenylamine-based CTFs. This work successfully demonstrated that rational selection of reactants containing electron donor moieties to construct CTFs should be a reliable way for the construction of effective photocatalysts for photocatalytic oxidation reactions.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112804
The rapid dissemination of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in aquatic environments poses serious threats to public health and environmental safety under the 'One Health' framework. Nanoplastics (NPs), as co-occurring pollutants, can exacerbate ARG risks by promoting horizontal gene transfer (HGT), yet the influence of different functional groups on extracellular ARG (eARG) transformation remains unclear. This study investigated the effects of carboxy-modified polystyrene NPs (PS-COOH) and amino-functionalized polystyrene NPs (PS-NH2) compared to unmodified polystyrene NPs (PS) on the transformation of the extracellular resistance plasmid IE-V1955 (carrying an ampicillin resistance gene) into Escherichia coli DH5α. Results showed that PS-COOH exposure promoted plasmid transformation similarly to PS, with effects increasing over 0.1–20 mg·L−1. Low concentrations (0.1–0.5 mg·L−1) of PS-NH2 also enhanced transformation, with stronger effects than PS-COOH at equal doses, whereas high concentrations (1–20 mg·L−1) inhibited it. Mechanistically, PS-COOH (0.1–20 mg·L−1) and low PS-NH2 induced intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS), increased cell membrane permeability, elevated the protein-to-polysaccharide ratio in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and promoted biofilm formation, thereby facilitating transformation. High PS-NH2 concentrations caused excessive ROS leading to cell lysis and formed aggregates with plasmids larger than membrane pores, blocking uptake. These findings provide a theoretical basis for assessing the combined environmental health risks of NPs and ARGs.
Journal of Environmental Engineering Technology•2026•DOI: 10.13205/j.hjgc.202604028
Accurate accounting of county-level carbon budgets and their spatio-temporal evolution is essential for formulating low-carbon development strategies tailored to each division and achieving carbon peak and neutrality goals. This study constructed a comprehensive, accurate, and unified model to measure terrestrial ecosystem carbon absorption, anthropogenic carbon emissions, and net carbon budget from 2010 to 2020 across the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps and its divisions. Results indicate: (1) Terrestrial ecosystems consistently acted as net carbon sinks, but total carbon absorption declined slowly, with carbon sequestration capacity persistently decreasing. Cultivated land, the sole carbon source, expanded rapidly into forests and grasslands. Anthropogenic carbon emissions rose steadily, with growth rates sharply decelerating after 2015, exhibiting a spatial pattern of "high in the north and east, low in the south and west." (2) Total carbon emissions/absorptions increased rapidly from 2010 to 2015, then slowed from 2015 to 2020. Energy consumption dominated, contributing over 95% of emissions in each division and 99% regionally. High-emission zones expanded eastward from the 8th Division in the Junggar Basin; by 2020, the 8th, 13th, and 6th Divisions, occupying 26.52% of the land area, carried 78.16% of net carbon emissions, marking them as high-density emission zones. (3) Carbon balance zoning in 2020 identified one carbon sink functional zone, nine low-carbon maintenance zones, and three high-carbon optimization zones, the latter concentrated in a strip in the central-eastern region covering 26.52% of the area.
Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202511076
This study investigated the altitudinal distribution and enrichment characteristics of heavy metals in the soil-plant system of the northern and southern mountains of Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau. Soil and dominant plant samples were collected from three sites along an elevation gradient from 3,650 to 4,150 m, and concentrations of Cr, Cd, Cu, Zn, Ni, As, and Pb were analyzed. Soil heavy metal concentrations ranged from 0.06 to 184.4 mg·kg−1, with all elements except Cd and Pb exceeding local background values. Plant heavy metal concentrations were within normal ranges, indicating no obvious stress. Correlation analysis revealed significant positive correlations between soil Zn and Cd, Cr and Ni, and plant Zn and Cu. Except for Cr, Cu, and Cd, plant and soil concentrations of the same element were significantly correlated. Bioconcentration factor (BCF) analysis showed that most plants had weak enrichment capacity (BCF < 1), but five species, including Ephedra sinica and Rheum likiangense, exhibited BCF > 1 for Cd, with R. likiangense showing the highest BCF of 4.01. The enrichment capacity varied with altitude and species. Potential ecological risk assessment indicated that Cd posed a relatively high risk in plants, warranting attention. This study fills a gap in understanding the spatial distribution and enrichment of heavy metals in this region, providing a scientific basis for ecological management and environmental protection.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025032704
Chlorogenic acid (CGA), a key component of the anti-COVID drug Lianhua Qingwen, is recalcitrant to biodegradation and tends to bioaccumulate, posing risks to aquatic ecosystems. Conventional water treatment methods are inadequate for its removal. This study investigated the degradation of CGA using a magnetic field coupled Fe-C activated persulfate (MF/Fe-C/PS) advanced oxidation process. The degradation efficiencies of Fe-C, PS, Fe-C/PS, and MF/Fe-C/PS systems were compared, and the dominant reactive species and their contributions were identified. The effects of initial pH, persulfate (PS) concentration, Fe-C dosage, and inorganic anions on degradation kinetics were examined, along with the degradation pathway and disinfection byproduct (DBP) formation potential. Results showed that MF/Fe-C/PS achieved 99% degradation of CGA within 60 min under optimal conditions: pH=3, PS concentration 1.5 mmol·L−1, and Fe-C dosage 0.4 g·L−1. Coexisting Cl−, Br−, and I− inhibited CGA oxidation to varying degrees, as did natural organic matter (FA and BAS). The reactive species SO4−·, ·OH, and 1O2 contributed 41.6%, 30.5%, and 27.9%, respectively. Degradation mechanisms included hydrolysis, dehydroxylation, decarboxylation, and benzene ring cleavage. Pre-oxidation by MF/Fe-C/PS significantly reduced the DBP formation potential during subsequent chlorination/chloramination. Energy per order (EE/O) analysis indicated favorable economic efficiency.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3907-0
Passive radiative cooling dissipates heat through the atmospheric transparency window (8–13 μm) into cold outer space, offering energy-free building cooling. However, its performance degrades substantially in humid environments; for instance, in Singapore, where average relative humidity is ~80%, achievable cooling power can be as low as ~20 W/m², far below the theoretical maximum of ~150 W/m² under dry conditions. Restricted sky view factor on building facades further curtails efficiency. Evaporative cooling, leveraging water's high latent heat of vaporization (~2256 J/g), provides an omnidirectional heat dissipation pathway but porous materials like hydrogels suffer from swelling, poor adhesion, and structural degradation. Here, we report a cement-based integrated cooling paint (CCP) that synergistically combines radiative and evaporative cooling. The paint utilizes a calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) porous network matrix with barium sulfate nanoparticles, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), and lithium chloride (LiCl). The optimized formulation (CCP-30) achieves high solar reflectance of ~93% in the dry state and maintains ~89% reflectance when wetted. Its high emissivity (~95%) within the atmospheric window ensures efficient radiative heat dissipation. PVA and LiCl inhibit plastic shrinkage and promote continued hydration, yielding a denser, robust microstructure. The interconnected porous structure and hygroscopic components enable passive water capture from rainfall and ambient moisture, driving sustained evaporative cooling. Field tests in Singapore showed a ~5°C lower surface temperature on CCP-coated facades compared to commercial radiative cooling paint, and an ~8°C reduction on a proximate black absorber, indicating mitigation of local heat island effects. Building energy simulations indicated 30–40% more savings in air conditioning electricity consumption. The paint is prepared via a simple one-pot method compatible with standard production, indicating excellent commercialization potential.