Articles tagged with Environmental Chemistry
Researchers have found a wide range of forever chemicals in seabirds from the remote Southern Ocean, providing evidence for long-range transport and bioaccumulation of PFAS. The study highlights the global reach of these persistent chemicals, which are not easily broken down in the environment.
A study by Duke University found potentially hazardous brominated flame retardants in firefighter turnout gear, posing risks to firefighter health. The chemicals, including decabromodiphenyl ethane, have been linked to negative health effects such as cancer, thyroid disease, and neurodevelopmental problems.
Researchers have discovered that iron oxide minerals like ferrihydrite employ different chemical strategies to grab and hold onto various types of organic molecules, making them powerful carbon traps. This study provides new insight into how these minerals in soils trap carbon for decades or centuries.
Florida Atlantic University's College of Engineering has received a $600,379 grant to advance technology targeting harmful algal blooms in Florida's waterways. The project aims to develop novel 3D-printed adsorbent materials for efficient phosphate removal.
University of Houston engineers have discovered that melatonin helps plants grow by adjusting biological processes to coincide with daily cycles. The hormone also enhances photosynthesis and improves stress tolerance in crops.
The 106th Annual Meeting of the American Meteorological Society will focus on the intersection of technology and human decision-making in weather, water, and climate sciences. The meeting will feature keynote presentations, Presidential Sessions, and named symposia highlighting key Earth science topics.
Researchers found that sea salt particles interact with urban pollution, chemically reacting to form toxic compounds. After the COVID-19 lockdown, reduced pollution allowed more naturally occurring sea salt components to persist, offering potential implications for human health and climate.
A new review finds DEET in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and drinking water worldwide, with concentrations typically falling in nanograms-per-liter to micrograms-per-liter ranges. Laboratory studies indicate that DEET can harm sensitive aquatic organisms and alter microbial communities, posing a moderate ecological risk globally.
New method detects small microplastic concentrations up to 10,000 particles per cubic meter, with drift and sinking behaviors observed. Microplastics reach sea depths via biofouling or neutral buoyancy, affecting marine environment and necessitating urgent countermeasures.
Biochar's applications in urban areas include reducing volatile organic compounds, improving cement durability, increasing crop yields, and removing heavy metals from water. However, large-scale adoption faces challenges such as standardized production methods and economic incentives.
A University of Houston scientist teams with international partners to map Antarctica's glaciers, revealing tidal movements and retreat rates up to 700 meters per year. The dataset provides the most detailed view yet of how glaciers interact with the ocean, enabling better understanding and modeling of sea-level rise.
Researchers at Duke University traced PFAS contamination to a local textile manufacturing plant in Burlington, NC. The facility was releasing solid nanoparticle PFAS precursors into the sewer system, which were then transformed into regulated forms of PFAS that current tests can detect.
Researchers have developed sustainable carbon materials that can remove harmful pollutants from water with high selectivity and reusability. These materials also show promise in energy storage, sensing, and catalysis applications.
Wiley has expanded its spectral libraries with major updates to IR, Raman, and LC-MS collections, delivering researchers enhanced capabilities for faster and more confident compound identification. The expansion brings over 9.5 million high-quality spectra, including 1 million IR spectra and 161,000 Raman spectra.
A new policy brief argues that current EU regulations fail to account for the risks of chemical mixtures, which can exceed safe levels even below individual substance limits. Scientists propose integrating a Mixture Allocation Factor into the REACH Regulation to regulate mixtures and improve protection of human health and the environment.
Researchers have developed a novel chemical conversion method for PET, bottles, textiles, and plastic waste mixtures using an inexpensive iron catalyst. The process achieves a high yield of raw materials with minimal environmental impact.
Researchers developed a biochar-based material that dramatically improves nitrate removal from agricultural soils and water, maximizing both nitrate adsorption and ammonium retention. The optimized composite achieved nitrate reduction rates as high as 71 percent and increased ammonium retention by 53 percent compared to biochar alone.
A new study reveals that rising nitrogen and rainfall in the Eurasian steppe region can significantly increase nitrous oxide emissions, a potent greenhouse gas. The research found that soil carbon and pH levels influence how efficiently microbes convert nitrous oxide into harmless nitrogen gas.
Researchers track benthic nutrient fluxes using a new device called CAROSEL, which measures nitrogen released from sediments in real-time. The findings reveal daily rhythms in oxygen fluxes and highlight the importance of understanding sediment-water interactions in managing aquatic ecosystems.
Research reveals that microorganisms in ocean hypoxic zones convert nitrate into nitrous oxide to generate energy, producing this climate-damaging gas. The study's findings suggest that organic material in these zones increases the oxygen tolerance of bacteria, allowing for more regions of nitrous oxide production.
A new study reveals that dissolved organic matter in biochar enhances the metal-binding power of biochar, offering insights for safer cleanup strategies. The research found that chemical complexation is the dominant mechanism of immobilization, with carboxyl groups serving as key binding sites.
A new study found that different types of char can raise or lower greenhouse gas emissions from northern soils. Biochar tends to increase nitrous oxide emissions, while hydrochar suppresses it and even turns the soil into a small sink.
Researchers found 'roof drainage' to be the main cause of radioactive cesium flow, with baseflow varying by air temperature. The study provides insights for improving monitoring systems and environmental management.
Researchers found that terrestrial-derived organic matter, primarily lignin, fuels microbial reactions leading to increased greenhouse gas emissions. However, as salinity increases upon approaching the sea, microbial activity slows down, reducing emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
Researchers developed a dual-breakthrough method to recycle phosphorus from sewage sludge into smart fertilizers, enhancing soil health or rapid crop growth. The innovative approach utilizes modified hydrochar with calcium or magnesium salts, controlling phosphorus release and improving its bioavailability.
A new study finds that rewetting peat soils with biochar reduces greenhouse gas emissions by up to 18% and improves crop yields. The addition of biochar further decreases emissions, while stabilizing soil carbon and promoting a diverse microbial community.
A recent study suggests that combining rewetting with biochar and iron sulphate additions can significantly slow down carbon loss from drained agricultural peat soils. This combination enhances carbon storage by suppressing soil enzymes and promoting the formation of iron-bound carbon compounds.
Researchers found that biochar improves soil health by increasing microbial diversity, capturing carbon, and enhancing nutrient cycling. Biochar acts as a long-lasting carbon sink, storing carbon for hundreds to thousands of years.
Researchers found that biochar can dramatically reduce erosion by 45% and improve soil's ability to store water, even under intense rainstorms. Biochar also improved soil structure and increased infiltration, making vineyard soils more resilient to extreme weather.
A study on C. elegans reveals that dissolved biochar affects nematode growth and physiology, with lower doses promoting development and higher doses disrupting normal functions. The findings highlight the need for careful dosing and oversight when deploying biochar in agricultural systems.
Researchers found that certain soil minerals can trap dissolved organic matter released from biochar, keeping more carbon in the soil. Low-intensity rainfall helps retain this dissolved carbon within mineral-rich soils, limiting its downward movement and loss.
A new study by Yale University researchers found that harvesting hydrogen from biomass can provide substantial greenhouse gas mitigation, offering an alternative to fossil fuels. The study suggests that incorporating bio-hydrogen into the market could lead to 1.6-2 times greater emissions reduction compared to scenarios without its use.
A two-year field study reveals that biodegradable microplastics, often considered eco-friendly, are reshaping farmfield soils in unexpected ways. Bioplastics PLA reduced stable carbon compounds by 32% while boosting microbial necromass and fungal-dominated soil ecosystems.
Researchers have developed a modified biochar made from biogas residue that can efficiently remove ammonium nitrogen from water. The potassium-permanganate-modified biochar achieved an adsorption capacity up to four times greater than unmodified biochar, making it a promising tool for environmental remediation.
A Peking University study maps the hidden life of river carbon along the upper Yangtze River, revealing how landscape, fire, and sunlight shape the global carbon cycle. The research found that organic carbon changes as it travels from the river's high-altitude headwaters to its densely populated downstream reaches.
Researchers developed a novel defluorination method that utilizes sodium dispersion to degrade PTFE and recover fluoride ion under mild conditions, achieving up to 98% fluorine recovery. The new method offers an efficient and environmentally friendly approach to PTFE recycling.
A decade-long field study reveals that biochar improves soil structure, fertility, and microbial activity, leading to higher soybean yields. Biochar also reshapes soil microbial communities, promoting beneficial groups and suppressing potential pathogens.
A new review highlights how biochar can capture and reduce nitrate contamination in groundwater, agricultural soils, and wastewater. Biochar offers the advantage of being renewable, affordable, and adaptable to different environmental conditions, with removal efficiencies above 80-90 percent in some cases.
Phosphorus-modified biochar dramatically reduces heavy metal pollution, improving soil quality and microbial communities. The innovation offers a promising approach for cleaning up contaminated farmland and securing the food supply.
A study reveals that climate-driven freeze-thaw and wet-dry cycles control the fate of heavy metals in straw-amended soils, impacting pollution risks. Climate-driven cycles influence the binding and mobility of lead in soil organic matter.
Researchers have identified chemical fossils in ancient rocks that suggest the ancestors of modern-day demosponges were among the first animals to evolve. The discovery, made by a team of MIT geochemists, builds on previous findings and provides strong evidence for the early origins of life on Earth.
A new type of biochar, phosphorus/iron-doped biochar, has been developed to address both problems at once—immobilizing toxic cadmium in soil while helping trap carbon. The study found that it significantly reduced cadmium mobility and improved carbon retention in the soil.
Researchers at Dalian University of Technology have discovered that biochar can directly degrade organic pollutants, removing up to 40% of contaminants. This breakthrough reveals biochar's hidden superpower, opening new avenues for sustainable wastewater treatment and environmental engineering.
Researchers from MANA develop a cost-effective, high-performance catalyst using green rust to support the use of sodium borohydride as a hydrogen storage material. The new catalyst achieves comparable performance to precious metal-based materials and shows excellent durability.
Biochar enhances soil life and locks away carbon for decades, even centuries. The study found that biochar works better in red soils, where its alkaline nature helps fight acidification and teams up with iron to lock in carbon.
Researchers from Universitas Gadjah Mada develop a breakthrough nanotechnology that converts plastic waste into glowing particles detecting toxic metals in drinking water with high precision and low cost. The innovation is a powerful step toward a circular economy, where waste becomes a resource for public health.
Researchers develop a novel biochar-based catalyst that transforms harmful pesticide residues into ammonium nitrogen, a nutrient essential for plant growth. The approach eliminates pesticide residues from soil while boosting lettuce growth, offering a potential tool for sustainable agriculture.
In a new study, researchers from Umeå University found that ice at minus ten degrees Celsius releases more iron from common minerals than liquid water at four degrees Celsius. Repeated freeze-thaw cycles increase dissolution, releasing organic compounds and fuelling further chemical reactions.
Researchers found that repeated freeze-thaw cycles can damage biochar and release heavy metals such as zinc, copper, and lead. Biochar made at higher production temperatures were more vulnerable to cracking and oxidation during freeze-thaw stress.
Researchers found that highly conductive biochar produces up to 69% more methane in rice soils due to faster electron transfer. The study highlights the importance of biochar's physical properties in determining its impact on greenhouse gas emissions.
A self-powered analytical device has been developed to detect toxic amines in water using electrochemiluminescence. The device generates its own voltage from liquid flow and produces light signals to indicate contamination, making water quality testing more accessible and portable.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen have developed a method to convert plastic waste into a climate solution for efficient and sustainable CO2 capture. The new material, BAETA, can absorb CO2 out of the atmosphere efficiently compared to existing carbon capture technologies.
A team of researchers developed a simulation model to clarify the influence of 4-position substitution in cyclic ketene acetals on radical ring-opening polymerization. The study found that certain monomers can produce degradable polymers, which may be used for environmentally friendly packaging and biomedical applications.
A new study found that when Hanauma Bay was closed to the public during the 2020 pandemic, the reef quickly returned to more natural levels. This led to clearer water, increased sightings of endangered Hawaiian monk seals, and more active fish populations.
A landmark review published by FAU reveals that sargassum is a rapidly growing and widely distributed marine organism. The study found that the Atlantic Ocean's sargassum biomass has increased by over 50% since the 1980s, with nitrogen content rising sharply.
Researchers in Chinese cities have found a distinct chemical regime governing the formation of secondary organic aerosols, driven by high VOC concentrations and gaseous nitrous acid. This shift is attributed to complex interactions between atmospheric environmental factors, which accelerate SOA formation and intensify regional pollution.
Researchers discovered a unique partnership between two microbes that work together as a living electrical network to consume methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The finding sheds light on how microorganisms naturally reduce methane emissions and could lead to innovative strategies to control methane release in various environments.
Researchers have found that Black Mambas accumulate heavy metals such as lead and mercury in their scales. This allows them to serve as a natural indicator of environmental pollution levels. By analyzing scale clippings from these snakes, scientists can accurately measure spatial patterns of pollution without harming the snakes.
Researchers at UC Berkeley developed a method to understand the isotope signatures of methane from different environments using CRISPR. This study can change how scientists calculate the contributions of various environmental sources to Earth's total methane budget.
A new project at FAU aims to advance water quality monitoring in Lake Okeechobee by understanding how common contaminants break down after being released into freshwater environments. The team will deploy passive sampling devices and use cutting-edge chemical analysis to predict which contaminants are forming dangerous byproducts.