Chinese Journal of Environmental Engineering•2026•DOI: 10.12030/j.cjee.202506005
The escalating generation of medical waste, driven by healthcare expansion and frequent medical activities, poses significant environmental and public health risks. Under the framework of ecological civilization, China is developing a comprehensive policy system for medical waste treatment and disposal, yet the current framework remains nascent and exhibits inconsistencies between national and local policies. This study systematically analyzes the status of national and local policies from 2003 to 2024, collecting 413 policy documents (166 from national ministries and 247 from provincial governments). The analysis examines temporal evolution, regional distribution, and policy focus, alongside the influence of medical waste output, treatment technologies, facility infrastructure, and major epidemic responses. Findings reveal distinct policy phases: initial self-disposal, exploratory management, foundational system building, and rapid development. Regional disparities are pronounced, with eastern coastal areas showing more advanced policies due to greater technical and financial resources. The surge in medical waste, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, underscores the need for enhanced regulatory guidance. Non-incineration technologies are gaining traction for their environmental and cost benefits, and facility coverage has improved but remains uneven. The study proposes five policy principles to foster technological innovation and industrial upgrading, ensuring safe medical waste management and environmental protection.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025101101
Acetamiprid, a representative neonicotinoid insecticide, persists in soil and water, posing ecological risks. This study evaluated its transgenerational toxicity in Caenorhabditis elegans exposed to 1, 10, and 100 μg·L−1. Direct exposure (F0) caused neurobehavioral abnormalities, with head swing frequency significantly increased by 23.86% even at 1.0 μg·L−1, correlating with disrupted acetylcholinesterase and γ-aminobutyric acid. Reproduction, development, metabolism, and intestinal barrier were impaired, with reactive oxygen species elevated by 30.42%–48.28%, indicating oxidative stress as a mechanism. Effects transmitted to unexposed T1–T3 generations: at 1.0 μg·L−1, body width inhibition persisted to T2; fat accumulation and intestinal permeability effects intensified with concentration. Among oxidative stress biomarkers, superoxide dismutase showed highest sensitivity and transgenerational persistence. This study reveals multidimensional transgenerational toxicity, informing soil ecological risk assessment of neonicotinoids.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2024112101
The biological reduction of Cr(VI) to less hazardous Cr(III) is a promising strategy for remediating Cr(VI)-contaminated sites. Both biochar and riboflavin can act as electron shuttles to accelerate this bioreduction process, yet their combined effects remain poorly understood. Using Shewanella oneidensis MR-1 as a model reducing bacterium, we investigated the joint influence of biochar (average particle size 28.85 μm) and riboflavin at high (1 mmol·L−1) and low concentrations on Cr(VI) bioreduction. Individually, biochar and high-concentration riboflavin enhanced indirect electron transfer, accelerating Cr(VI) removal. However, when combined, the fast-phase reaction rate (rf0) did not significantly improve compared to single amendments. The combined action factor revealed an antagonistic inhibition between biochar and riboflavin. Mechanistically, high-concentration riboflavin saturated biochar's adsorption sites (equilibrium concentration 0.96±0.04 mmol·L−1), hindering biochar's role as an electron conduit. With a bacterial density of 3.4×10^7 cells·mL−1, the inter-bacterial distance (30.87 μm) exceeded biochar's particle size, and the per-cell riboflavin concentration (2.9×10−2 pmol·cell−1) was sufficient for riboflavin to dominate as the primary electron shuttle, while biochar's surface became coated, reducing its efficacy. These findings reveal the complex interplay between biochar and soluble organic matter in Cr(VI) bioreduction, underscoring the need to consider such antagonistic effects when designing bioremediation strategies for multi-component contaminated environments.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-3485-0
Aqueous Zn-ion batteries (AZIBs) are promising for next-generation energy storage due to high safety and low cost, but their practical use is limited by Zn dendrite growth and side reactions. An ideal anode/electrolyte interphase should block water contact while enabling fast Zn2+ transport, yet conventional thick interphases increase ionic resistance and polarization. Here, we report a hydrophobic yet ultrathin (~5 nm) polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) artificial interphase fabricated via conformal coating. The oxygen-rich PDMS layer selectively coordinates Zn2+ while its superhydrophobicity excludes water, and the ultrathin nature enables rapid Zn2+ conduction, enhancing the Zn2+ transference number by 2.28-fold. This synergistic design suppresses dendrites and mitigates hydrogen evolution. The PDMS-modified anode achieves 99.9% Coulombic efficiency over 3500 cycles, 880-hour symmetrical cell operation at 60% depth of discharge, and 2500-cycle full-cell endurance under lean Zn conditions (N/P ratio 5.7). Proof-of-concept pouch cells sustain 1400 cycles with a 0.01% decay rate. This molecular-scale interphase strategy provides a feasible pathway toward practical AZIB implementation.
Environmental Chemistry•2026•DOI: 10.7524/j.issn.0254-6108.2025022801
Paddy soils are a major source of agricultural methane (CH4) emissions. Biochar is widely applied to paddy soils, while dissolved organic matter (DOM) is ubiquitous; both can regulate CH4 emissions by mediating electron transfer processes, yet their synergistic mechanisms remain unclear. This study investigated the individual and combined effects of biochar and the DOM model compound anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS) on CH4 emissions from paddy soil during incubation. Biochar amendment increased DOM concentration and accelerated extracellular electron transfer, resulting in a maximum cumulative CH4 emission of (66.23±16.20) μmol, four-fold higher than the control (15.14±0.18) μmol. In contrast, AQDS addition markedly suppressed CH4 accumulation to (1.04±0.09) μmol, attributed to sulfate introduction as a competitive electron acceptor, despite enhanced electron exchange. The combined biochar-AQDS treatment yielded intermediate CH4 accumulation of (12.71±0.32) μmol. Although DOM availability increased, sulfate-driven electron competition inhibited methanogens, and the combined treatment favored the acetoclastic methanogenesis pathway, which produces less CH4 per unit acetate, resulting in lower emissions than biochar alone but higher than AQDS alone, indicating an additive effect. These findings elucidate the mechanisms by which biochar and DOM jointly regulate CH4 emissions from paddy soils, providing a theoretical basis for agricultural management.
SCIENCE CHINA Materials•2026•DOI: 10.1007/s40843-025-4144-y
Developing efficient strategies for electrically manipulating two-dimensional magnetism at room temperature is a key challenge in contemporary spintronics. In this study, we demonstrate giant electromechanical control over the magnetism of the room-temperature van der Waals ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2 by integrating it with the ferroelectric α-In2Se3. Modest gate voltages lead to an almost complete suppression of the coercive field by 96.5%, corresponding to a remarkable peak modulation sensitivity of ~8.1 mT V−1, which stands out among existing van der Waals magnetoelectric systems. Importantly, this substantial magnetoelectric response is predominantly unaffected by voltage polarity, as both positive and negative gate voltages induce similar magnetic modulation effects. To elucidate the underlying mechanism, we tracked the voltage-induced Raman spectral changes, revealing a peak shift of 1.7 cm−1 that accurately represents an effective in-plane tensile strain of ~1.42% under an equivalent bias, demonstrating polarity independence as well. The synchronized magnetic response and strain variation unequivocally indicate that the induced tensile strain serves as the fundamental physical driver behind the magnetic modulation. Additionally, density functional theory calculations corroborate that the reduction in magnetic anisotropy induced by tensile strain results in a decrease in the coercive field. Our work establishes a novel and efficient approach for achieving voltage control of magnetism at room temperature in van der Waals multiferroic heterostructures, highlighting their significant potential for applications in ultra-low-power magnetic logic and sensing technologies.
Journal of Fuel Chemistry and Technology•2026•DOI: 10.1016/S1872-5813(26)60668-8
A series of Co-based molecular sieve catalysts with varying Si/Al ratios was synthesized via impregnation. Microstructural properties of Co active sites were characterized by XRD, TEM, Raman, H2-TPR, Py-FTIR, and XPS. Results indicate that surface Co species predominantly exist as CoOx nanoclusters and isolated Co2+, with the latter exhibiting superior N2O decomposition activity. Decreasing the Si/Al ratio of the MFI zeolite promotes the formation of isolated Co2+ active sites, thereby enhancing catalytic performance. Compared to Co/S-1 (pure silica support), the Co/HZ60 catalyst (low Si/Al ratio ZSM-5) lowers the temperature for complete N2O decomposition by 80 °C and demonstrates excellent resistance to O2 and NO. The strong interaction between the zeolite framework and Co2+ inhibits oxidation to Co3+, improving N2O adsorption and activation. This work provides a rational design strategy for efficient and stable Co-based catalysts for N2O abatement in industrial tail gases.