Articles tagged with Environmental Chemistry
The new Wiley Registry/NIST Mass Spectral Library expands coverage to over 1.2 million spectra, enhancing the analysis of unknown chemical compounds in GC-MS workflows. This combined resource delivers high-confidence identification capabilities for leading laboratories worldwide.
A recent study reveals that marine microplastics can persist and leach chemicals from plastic additives even after fragmentation. Chemicals such as antioxidants, plasticizers, and flame retardants were detected in both microplastics and larger plastic debris collected around Japan.
Researchers at KAIST have developed a technology converting CO2 dissolved in seawater into calcium carbonate, enabling permanent storage and helping the ocean absorb more carbon dioxide. The system reduced electricity consumption by up to 54% and produced high-purity hydrogen and magnesium hydroxide.
Researchers found that polyethylene microplastics modify as they age in soil, but these changes have little effect on how they interact with various organic contaminants. The study suggests the soil itself, not the plastic, remains the main factor influencing the environmental fate of these chemicals.
A comparative review identifies how EU and US surface water monitoring architectures can strengthen surface water protection in China. The analysis suggests combining routine assessment with rapid diagnosis and long-term ecological observation to support precise and adaptive water governance.
A research team uses machine learning to regulate environmental processes, achieving precise and predictable remediation of polluted soil. This approach allows for the creation of high-performance charcoal-like substances from farm and forestry waste and polluted soil.
A Chinese research team has proposed a novel approach to separate dimethyl carbonate from methanol using a tailor-made ionic liquid and heat pump-assisted distillation. The method significantly reduces energy consumption and costs compared to traditional methods, making it an attractive solution for the chemical industry.
A new method for the controlled cleavage of carbon-carbon double bonds in alkenes has been developed using CO₂ as an oxygen donor and visible light. This process replaces traditional oxidising substances with a safer and more sustainable approach, yielding ketones and carboxylic acids.
A Yale-led team developed a new process for removing PFAS from agricultural land at a fraction of the current remediation costs. The approach involves spreading crushed rock, which accelerates PFOS removal via plant growth, followed by biochar generation to destroy both PFAS chemicals.
A study analyzing over 180 ceramic vessels from southern Brazil reveals differences in diet among Indigenous, African, and European communities. Marine resources were more prevalent among Indigenous and Afro-descendant communities, while German immigrants relied on plant-based products.
A new 'Hydrology–Environment–Ecology' framework bridges aquatic and terrestrial ecological risk assessment for lake conservation. The framework reveals significant increasing trends in both aquatic and terrestrial ecological risks from 2000 to 2019, with habitat quality identified as the key risk indicator.
Exposure to even moderate levels of multiple air pollutants during critical stages of pregnancy may increase the risk of preterm birth. The study found that a mixture of ozone and fine particulate matter posed the strongest relationship to early preterm birth.
Researchers at Lancaster University have discovered nanoplastics in remote soils of Antarctica, raising concerns about plastic pollution's global reach. The finding highlights the urgent need for reduced plastic emissions and improved waste management practices.
Researchers developed an AI framework that extracts and organizes large amounts of information about plastic chemicals from text and images. The system achieved high accuracy and completeness in extracted data, identifying 2,144 chemicals with persistence, bioaccumulation, and toxicity characteristics.
NEW Community facilitated international outreach and scholarly exchange during Goldschmidt 2026, focusing on artificial intelligence, environmental science, and sustainability. The platform presented its potential role in interdisciplinary collaboration and open scholarly communication.
Scientists at HZDR have developed two new processes to degrade PFAS: one uses hydrodynamic cavitation and the other employs cold atmospheric plasma. These methods show promise for reducing PFAS release into water bodies, a significant step towards securing Germany's drinking water supply.
Researchers develop air-stable surface electrene, BaSiN2:O, with ultralow work function and freely floating electrons. This material catalyzes ammonia synthesis under mild conditions, overcoming previous air instability limitations.
Reducing carbon dioxide concentration improves microbial production of biodegradable plastic, such as poly[(R)-3-hydroxybutyrate]. Lower CO2 levels trigger adaptive cellular responses that enhance carbon utilization efficiency.
The report provides an ecological characterisation of two contrasting habitat groups: inland peat-forming wetlands and coastal lagoons. Hydrology is identified as the dominant control on ecosystem functioning, with a persistently high water table sustaining anoxic conditions in peatlands.
A new review article proposes a gene-to-landscape framework to assess aquatic ecosystem health, predicting collapse and tipping points. The framework spans four interconnected scales, integrating molecular signals and landscape stability for early warning systems.
A global analysis of 932 observations shows that biochar delivers stronger carbon gains in nitrogen-poor soils and follows different carbon storage pathways depending on soil fertility. Biochar effectiveness varies greatly from one field to another, with the amount of nitrogen already present in soil controlling how much carbon it stores.
Researchers found that chitosan-functionalized biochar reduced plant-available arsenic by 21.1% and lowered arsenic concentrations in rice grains by 43.1%. The modified biochar continued to reduce arsenic accumulation after six months of natural aging, supporting healthier root development.
A new collaborative study has developed an electrochemical device that can pull carbon dioxide directly from the atmosphere using electricity and water-based chemistry, addressing the planet's excess CO2 problem. The technology is designed to reduce new emissions and remove CO2 that has already accumulated in the atmosphere.
New research reveals biochar's reactive chemistry can slow soil organic carbon decomposition by suppressing enzymes, particularly in acidic soils. The protective effect varies among different soils, with some biochars increasing carbon dioxide emissions.
Researchers found that anaerobic decolorization of RB5 dye by Clostridium sp. strain T4 increased acute toxicity, despite efficient color removal. The study highlights the importance of integrating subsequent aerobic or oxidative treatment to achieve further detoxification in azo dye-containing wastewater management systems.
Researchers developed a machine learning framework to account for water quality differences, enabling accurate MC-LR measurements without repeated calibration. The model achieved a Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.89 and improved analytical efficiency while reducing time, labor, and sensor consumption.
A new study published in Biochar shows that combining green manure with biochar can improve soil quality, support maize yield, and reduce dependence on nitrogen fertilizer. The research found that soil microbial diversity emerged as a central driver of improved soil quality.
A new study reveals how biochar can directly suppress destructive soil-borne pathogens like Ralstonia solanacearum, while helping rebuild a richer and more stable soil bacterial community. Biochar's reactive oxygen species profile changes with pyrolysis temperature, making it a powerful tool for precision agriculture.
The online forum will synthesize evidence from 30 years of biochar research on its interactions with soil and plants. Biochar can increase phosphorus availability, reduce plant uptake of heavy metals, build soil organic carbon, lower non-CO2 greenhouse gas emissions and improve crop yields.
Researchers found that wood frogs' adaptation to salty water increases their vulnerability to ranavirus, a common and fatal disease. The study highlights the hidden costs of survival in wildlife under environmental stress.
The ENCECO Youth Talent Program provides one-year Young Scholar Support Plan, Journal Expert Training Program, and honorary certificate to outstanding early career researchers in environmental chemistry and ecotoxicology. The program aims to foster collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the next generation of editorial talent.
A Korea University study reveals that reusable beverage systems can deliver significant environmental benefits when paired with efficient washing technologies. The research finds that automatic tumbler washers can maximize sustainability, while manually washed tumblers have the highest impacts among reusable options.
A new study reveals common properties of eumelanin and natural organic matter, two substances responsible for Earth's pigments. The research could lead to more efficient solar power cells, longer-lasting batteries, and electronics.
Researchers developed a waste-to-resource strategy using agricultural biomass to break down polyethylene microplastics. Walnut shell-derived biochar improved the photodegradation of TiO2, reducing microplastic particles by 70 micrometers in 40 hours.
A new study shows that liquid biochar mineral complex fertilizers can substantially improve pasture yield, nutrient balance and farm-level economic returns. The nitrogen-enriched formulation delivered the strongest performance, increasing pasture yield by 42.20 t ha⁻¹.
Researchers developed a new measurement method to accurately map nanoplastics in water and the environment. They found that nanoplastics in seawater did not break down in a simple pattern and were present in various sizes and depths.
A two-year study found that pairing moderate drainage with biochar may reduce methane and carbon dioxide losses from agricultural peat soils. Biochar treatment reduced cumulative carbon dioxide emissions by up to 52%, while maintaining soil carbon stores.
A study published in JAMA Network Open found that pregnant women are exposed to dozens of everyday chemicals, including phthalates and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which can impact how early a child is born or a child’s weight at birth. The research linked certain chemical exposures to earlier delivery and lower birth weight.
A two-year field experiment in subtropical China shows that combining nitrogen transformation inhibitors with biochar can reduce harmful nitrogen gas emissions while supporting tea productivity. The treatment combining biochar and dual inhibitors also increased tea yield by 6.7% and plant nitrogen uptake by 14.4%.
A new 8-year field study found that biochar's benefits in improving soil fertility and nutrient availability were short-lived, lasting only 3-5 years. Biochar application rates can affect its persistence, with moderate rates offering the best balance between effectiveness and duration.
A new study reveals that biochar reshapes microbial activity over time, transforming dissolved organic matter into more stable carbon pools. Long-term effects were increasingly controlled by soil microbes, suggesting a key role in durable soil carbon sequestration.
Dissolved black carbon's colloidal behavior can decide whether carbon and associated contaminants travel long distances or become trapped in sediments. Understanding this behavior is essential for predicting environmental risks and carbon cycling.
A new study published in Biochar reports a promising approach to address food safety and climate challenges at the same time. A titanium dioxide-loaded biochar material reduces arsenic mobilization and methane emissions in flooded paddy soil, offering a two-in-one strategy for safer rice and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
A new study found that soil fungi play a key role in supporting carbon retention and improving fertility in nutrient-poor urban soils. Biochar and compost increased soil carbon and nitrogen storage most strongly in these soils, with amendment effects up to 14.4 times greater than those observed in nutrient-rich soils.
A new review highlights the potential of biochar-immobilized microbes (BIMs) to improve soil quality, increase crop yields, and remediate pollutants. BIMs have shown strong potential to support sustainable agriculture by enhancing nutrient cycling, root development, stress tolerance, and pathogen suppression.
Researchers found that acid-modified and alkaline biochars helped reduce stress from saline-alkali soil, improving soil conditions and supporting alfalfa performance. Alkaline biochar promoted biomass growth, while acid-modified biochar improved soil chemistry and root defense in highly alkaline soils.
A new study found that biochar can lower the temperature sensitivity of nitrous oxide emissions in agricultural soil but increase it in forest soil. Researchers tested different soils and biochar treatments and found that temperature was the dominant driver of nitrous oxide emissions, while biochar acted as a secondary modulator.
A three-year field study shows that pairing biochar with arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi can improve soil health, nutrient supply, microbial diversity, and maize productivity. The treatment also increased soil water content, porosity, organic carbon, available phosphorus, and enzyme activity.
A new study reveals how combining crop straw with biochar may help soils build humic substances that are both chemically active and structurally persistent. The research found that straw and biochar do more than just add carbon to soil, reorganizing the molecular building blocks of humic acid.
Carbon Research has achieved a new milestone with a 2025 CiteScore Tracker of 19.2, reflecting growing visibility and citation performance. The journal focuses on carbonaceous materials, renewable energy, and greenhouse gases, publishing high-quality research for climate change, sustainable energy, and environmental remediation.
Long-term biochar study reveals that topsoil benefits from biochar's effect on microbial necromass carbon, with significant increase in fungal necromass carbon. In contrast, subsoil shows reduced microbial necromass carbon due to lower nitrogen availability and increased microbial nutrient mining.
Researchers at the University of Tokyo have discovered a method to quantify CO2 absorbed by cementitious materials and its atmospheric contamination using carbon isotope measurements. This breakthrough aims to improve carbon accounting and reduce greenhouse gas emissions in concrete production.
Researchers found that higher soil salinity can slow biochar's aging process, preserving its carbon content and reducing microbial activity. This study provides new insights for sustainable management of saline farmland and highlights the importance of microorganisms in shaping biochar's environmental functions.
Biochar can restore acidic tea soils, reduce toxic metal uptake, and support climate-smart cultivation. It also improves fertilizer use efficiency, supports biochemical pathways linked to tea quality, and reduces heavy metal exposure risks for consumers.
A new five-year field study suggests that pairing annual biochar amendment with water-saving irrigation can reduce methane emissions from paddy fields. Continuous biochar use maintained and strengthened methane mitigation over time, while a one-time application's effect weakened.
Researchers developed amine-functionalized biochar/cellulose acetate hybrid membranes using microalgae biomass, improving water filtration and reducing foulant adhesion. The modified membranes achieved a water flux of 169.1 L m⁻² h⁻¹ and 64.1% removal of natural organic matter.
Researchers argue that biochar's long-term carbon storage potential and its soil improvement benefits should not be conflated. The authors call for a 'designer biochar' approach, tailoring products to specific end uses rather than marketing them as universally beneficial.
Researchers found that hydrochar improves soil structure while increasing soil organic carbon, with different feedstocks showing varying benefits. The study suggests hydrochar could become a customizable amendment for climate-smart soil management.
A new study found that excavated urban soils in South Korea emit measurable amounts of CO2 and CH4, highlighting a previously overlooked climate cost. Researchers suggest simple practices like soil capping and biochar amendment could be integrated into construction workflows to mitigate these emissions.
A new study found that climate change can weaken the natural purification process in lakes, removing excess nitrogen from the water. This could have severe consequences for coastal marine ecosystems, including algal blooms and oxygen depletion.