Tailoring the topology of ZIF-67 metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) adsorbents to capture humic acids.

Chlorination is a versatile technique to combat water-borne pathogens. Over the last years, there has been continued research interest to abate the formation of chlorinated disinfection by-products (DBPs). To prevent hazardous DBPs in drinking water, it is decided to diminish organic precursors, among which humic acids (HA) resulting from the decomposition and transformation of biomass. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) such as zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have recently received tremendous attention in water purification. Herein, customized ZIF-67 MOFs possessing various physicochemical properties were prepared by changing the cobalt source. The HA removal by ZIF-67-Cl, ZIF-67-OAc, ZIF-67-NO3, and ZIF-67-SO4 were 85.6%, 68.9%, 86.1%, and 87.4%, respectively, evidently affected by the specific surface area. HA uptake by ZIF-67-SO4 indicated a removal efficiency beyond 90% in 4  90% after 60 min mixing the solution with 0.3 g L-1 ZIF-67-SO4. Notably, an acceptable removal performance (∼72.3%) was obtained even at HA concentrations up to 100 mg L-1. The equilibrium data fitted well with the isotherm models in the order of Langmuir> Hill > BET> Khan > Redlich-Peterson> Jovanovic> Freundlich > and Temkin. The maximum adsorption capacity qm for HA uptake by ZIF-67-SO4 was 175.89 mg g-1, well above the majority of adsorbents. The pseudo-first-order model described the rate of HA adsorption by time. In conclusion, ZIF-67-SO4 presented promising adsorptive properties against HA. Further studies would be needed to minimize cobalt leaching from the ZIF-67-SO4 structure and improve its reusability safely, to ensure its effectiveness and the economy of adsorption system.

Technological solutions to landfill management: Towards recovery of biomethane and carbon neutrality.

Inadequate landfill management poses risks to the environment and human health, necessitating action. Poorly designed and operated landfills release harmful gases, contaminate water, and deplete resources. Aligning landfill management with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) reveals its crucial role in achieving various targets. Urgent transformation of landfill practices is necessary to address challenges like climate change, carbon neutrality, food security, and resource recovery. The scientific community recognizes landfill management's impact on climate change, evidenced by in over 191 published articles (1998-2023). This article presents emerging solutions for sustainable landfill management, including physico-chemical, oxidation, and biological treatments. Each technology is evaluated for practical applications. The article emphasizes landfill management's global significance in pursuing carbon neutrality, prioritizing resource recovery over end-of-pipe treatments. It is important to note that minimizing water, chemical, and energy inputs in nutrient recovery is crucial for achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. Water reuse, energy recovery, and material selection during manufacturing are vital. The potential of water technologies for recovering macro-nutrients from landfill leachate is explored, considering feasibility factors. Integrated waste management approaches, such as recycling and composting, reduce waste and minimize environmental impact. It is conclusively evident that the water technologies not only facilitate the purification of leachate but also enable the recovery of valuable substances such as ammonium, heavy metals, nutrients, and salts. This recovery process holds economic benefits, while the conversion of CH4 and hydrogen into bioenergy and power generation through microbial fuel cells further enhances its potential. Future research should focus on sustainable and cost-effective treatment technologies for landfill leachate. Improving landfill management can mitigate the adverse environmental and health effects of inadequate waste disposal.

MXenes Antibacterial Properties and Applications: A Review and Perspective.

The mutations of bacteria due to the excessive use of antibiotics, and generation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have made the development of new antibacterial compounds a necessity. MXenes have emerged as biocompatible transition metal carbide structures with extensive biomedical applications. This is related to the MXenes' unique combination of properties, including multifarious elemental compositions, 2D-layered structure, large surface area, abundant surface terminations, and excellent photothermal and photoelectronic properties. The focus of this review is the antibacterial application of MXenes, which has attracted the attention of researchers since 2016. A quick overview of the synthesis strategies of MXenes is provided and then summarizes the effect of various factors (including structural properties, optical properties, surface charges, flake size, and dispersibility) on the biocidal activity of MXenes. The main mechanisms for deactivating bacteria by MXenes are discussed in detail including rupturing of the bacterial membrane by sharp edges of MXenes nanoflakes, generating the reactive oxygen species (ROS), and photothermal deactivating of bacteria. Hybridization of MXenes with other organic and inorganic materials can result in materials with improved biocidal activities for different applications such as wound dressings and water purification. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of MXene nanomaterials as biocidal agents are presented.

Methods for biomaterials printing: A short review and perspective.

Printing technologies have opened larger windows of innovation and creativity to biomaterials engineers by providing them with the ability to fabricate complex shapes in a reasonable time, cost, and weight. However, there has always been a trouble with function adjusting in printing technologies in view of the multiplicity of materials and apparatus parameters. 3D printing, also known as additive manufacturing, revolutionized biomaterials engineering by the conversion of a digital subject into a printed object (implants, scaffolds, or diagnostics and drug delivery devices/systems).Inspired by the lessons learned from 3D printing, the concept of 4D printing (better called shape-morphing fabrication) was conceptualized and put into practice to reply on the need for responsiveness of the printed platforms to a stimulus (light, pH, temperature, voltage, humidity, etc.) in a programmable manner. Later, the next milestone in printing technology was reached by 5D printing, by which the desired objects could be printed from five axes compared to the upward one-point printing by 3D printers. 5D printers use ≈20-30% fewer materials comparatively, enabling the printing of curved surfaces. Nevertheless, all bioprinters need a bio-ink with qualified characteristics for the biomedical applications. Thus, we discussed briefly the cell viability, scaffold biomimicry, scaffold biodegradation and affordability.

Wastewater reuse in agriculture: Prospects and challenges.

Sustainable water recycling and wastewater reuse are urgent nowadays considering water scarcity and increased water consumption through human activities. In 2015, United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 6 (UN SDG6) highlighted the necessity of recycling wastewater to guarantee water availability for individuals. Currently, wastewater irrigation (WWI) of crops and agricultural land appears essential. The present work overviews the quality of treated wastewater in terms of soil microbial activities, and discusses challenges and benefits of WWI in line with wastewater reuse in agriculture and aquaculture irrigation. Combined conventional-advanced wastewater treatment processes are specifically deliberated, considering the harmful impacts on human health arising from WWI originating from reuse of contaminated water (salts, organic pollutants, toxic metals, and microbial pathogens i.e., viruses and bacteria). The comprehensive literature survey revealed that, in addition to the increased levels of pathogen and microbial threats to human wellbeing, poorly-treated wastewater results in plant and soil contamination with toxic organic/inorganic chemicals, and microbial pathogens. The impact of long-term emerging pollutants like plastic nanoparticles should also be established in further studies, with the development of standardized analytical techniques for such hazardous chemicals. Likewise, the reliable, long-term and extensive judgment on heavy metals threat to human beings's health should be explored in future investigations.

Green and Sustainable Membranes: A review.

Membranes are ubiquitous tools for modern water treatment technology that critically eliminate hazardous materials such as organic, inorganic, heavy metals, and biomedical pollutants. Nowadays, nano-membranes are of particular interest for myriad applications such as water treatment, desalination, ion exchange, ion concentration control, and several kinds of biomedical applications. However, this state-of-the-art technology suffers from some drawbacks, e.g., toxicity and fouling of contaminants, which makes the synthesis of green and sustainable membranes indeed safety-threatening. Typically, sustainability, non-toxicity, performance optimization, and commercialization are concerns centered on manufacturing green synthesized membranes. Thus, critical issues related to toxicity, biosafety, and mechanistic aspects of green-synthesized nano-membranes have to be systematically and comprehensively reviewed and discussed. Herein we evaluate various aspects of green nano-membranes in terms of their synthesis, characterization, recycling, and commercialization aspects. Nanomaterials intended for nano-membrane development are classified in view of their chemistry/synthesis, advantages, and limitations. Indeed, attaining prominent adsorption capacity and selectivity in green-synthesized nano-membranes requires multi-objective optimization of a number of materials and manufacturing parameters. In addition, the efficacy and removal performance of green nano-membranes are analyzed theoretically and experimentally to provide researchers and manufacturers with a comprehensive image of green nano-membrane efficiency under real environmental conditions.

Clickable Polysaccharides for Biomedical Applications: A Comprehensive Review.

Recent advances in materials science and engineering highlight the importance of designing sophisticated biomaterials with well-defined architectures and tunable properties for emerging biomedical applications. Click chemistry, a powerful method allowing specific and controllable bioorthogonal reactions, has revolutionized our ability to make complex molecular structures with a high level of specificity, selectivity, and yield under mild conditions. These features combined with minimal byproduct formation have enabled the design of a wide range of macromolecular architectures from quick and versatile click reactions. Furthermore, copper-free click chemistry has resulted in a change of paradigm, allowing researchers to perform highly selective chemical reactions in biological environments to further understand the structure and function of cells. In living systems, introducing clickable groups into biomolecules such as polysaccharides (PSA) has been explored as a general approach to conduct medicinal chemistry and potentially help solve healthcare needs. De novo biosynthetic pathways for chemical synthesis have also been exploited and optimized to perform PSA-based bioconjugation inside living cells without interfering with their native processes or functions. This strategy obviates the need for laborious and costly chemical reactions which normally require extensive and time-consuming purification steps. Using these approaches, various PSA-based macromolecules have been manufactured as building blocks for the design of novel biomaterials. Clickable PSA provides a powerful and versatile toolbox for biomaterials scientists and will increasingly play a crucial role in the biomedical field. Specifically, bioclick reactions with PSA have been leveraged for the design of advanced drug delivery systems and minimally invasive injectable hydrogels. In this review article, we have outlined the key aspects and breadth of PSA-derived bioclick reactions as a powerful and versatile toolbox to design advanced polymeric biomaterials for biomedical applications such as molecular imaging, drug delivery, and tissue engineering. Additionally, we have also discussed the past achievements, present developments, and recent trends of clickable PSA-based biomaterials such as 3D printing, as well as their challenges, clinical translatability, and future perspectives.

Advanced Delivery Systems Based on Lysine or Lysine Polymers.

Polylysine and materials that integrate lysine form promising drug delivery platforms. As a cationic macromolecule, a polylysine polymer electrostatically interacts with cells and is efficiently internalized, thereby enabling intracellular delivery. Although polylysine is intrinsically pH-responsive, the conjugation with different functional groups imparts smart, stimuli-responsive traits by adding pH-, temperature-, hypoxia-, redox-, and enzyme-responsive features for enhanced delivery of therapeutic agents. Because of such characteristics, polylysine has been used to deliver various cargos such as small-molecule drugs, genes, proteins, and imaging agents. Furthermore, modifying contrast agents with polylysine has been shown to improve performance, including increasing cellular uptake and stability. In this review, the use of lysine residues, peptides, and polymers in various drug delivery systems has been discussed comprehensively to provide insight into the design and robust manufacturing of lysine-based delivery platforms.

Theoretical Encapsulation of Fluorouracil (5-FU) Anti-Cancer Chemotherapy Drug into Carbon Nanotubes (CNT) and Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNT).

INTRODUCTION: Chemotherapy with anti-cancer drugs is considered the most common approach for killing cancer cells in the human body. However, some barriers such as toxicity and side effects would limit its usage. In this regard, nano-based drug delivery systems have emerged as cost-effective and efficient for sustained and targeted drug delivery. Nanotubes such as carbon nanotubes (CNT) and boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) are promising nanocarriers that provide the cargo with a large inner volume for encapsulation. However, understanding the insertion process of the anti-cancer drugs into the nanotubes and demonstrating drug-nanotube interactions starts with theoretical analysis. METHODS: First, interactions parameters of the atoms of 5-FU were quantified from the DREIDING force field. Second, the storage capacity of BNNT (8,8) was simulated to count the number of drugs 5-FU encapsulated inside the cavity of the nanotubes. In terms of the encapsulation process of the one drug 5-FU into nanotubes, it was clarified that the drug 5-FU was more rapidly adsorbed into the cavity of the BNNT compared with the CNT due to the higher van der Waals (vdW) interaction energy between the drug and the BNNT. RESULTS: The obtained values of free energy confirmed that the encapsulation process of the drug inside the CNT and BNNT occurred spontaneously with the free energies of -14 and -25 kcal·mol-1, respectively. DISCUSSION: However, the lower value of the free energy in the system containing the BNNT unraveled more stability of the encapsulated drug inside the cavity of the BNNT comparing the system having CNT. The encapsulation of Fluorouracil (5-FU) anti-cancer chemotherapy drug (commercial name: Adrucil®) into CNT (8,8) and BNNT (8,8) with the length of 20 Å in an aqueous solution was discussed herein applying molecular dynamics (MD) simulation.

Engineering the niche for hair regeneration - A critical review.

Recent progress in hair follicle regeneration and alopecia treatment necessitates revisiting the concepts and approaches. In this sense, there is a need for shedding light on the clinical and surgical therapies benefitting from nanobiomedicine. From this perspective, this review attempts to recognize requirements upon which new hair therapies are grounded; to underline shortcomings and opportunities associated with recent advanced strategies for hair regeneration; and most critically to look over hair regeneration from nanomaterials and pluripotent stem cell standpoint. It is noteworthy that nanotechnology is able to illuminate a novel path for reprogramming cells and controlled differentiation to achieve the desired performance. Undoubtedly, this strategy needs further advancement and a lot of critical questions have yet to be answered. Herein, we introduce the salient features, the hurdles that must be overcome, the hopes, and practical constraints to engineer stem cell niches for hair follicle regeneration.

Flame Retardant Epoxy Composites on the Road of Innovation: An Analysis with Flame Retardancy Index for Future Development.

Nowadays, epoxy composites are elements of engineering materials and systems. Although they are known as versatile materials, epoxy resins suffer from high flammability. In this sense, flame retardancy analysis has been recognized as an undeniable requirement for developing future generations of epoxy-based systems. A considerable proportion of the literature on epoxy composites has been devoted to the use of phosphorus-based additives. Nevertheless, innovative flame retardants have coincidentally been under investigation to meet market requirements. This review paper attempts to give an overview of the research on flame retardant epoxy composites by classification of literature in terms of phosphorus (P), non-phosphorus (NP), and combinations of P/NP additives. A comprehensive set of data on cone calorimetry measurements applied on P-, NP-, and P/NP-incorporated epoxy systems was collected and treated. The performance of epoxy composites was qualitatively discussed as Poor, Good, and Excellent cases identified and distinguished by the use of the universal Flame Retardancy Index (FRI). Moreover, evaluations were rechecked by considering the UL-94 test data in four groups as V0, V1, V2, and nonrated (NR). The dimensionless FRI allowed for comparison between flame retardancy performances of epoxy composites. The results of this survey can pave the way for future innovations in developing flame-retardant additives for epoxy.

A new prospect in magnetic nanoparticle-based cancer therapy: Taking credit from mathematical tissue-mimicking phantom brain models.

Distribution patterns/performance of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) was visualized by computer simulation and experimental validation on agarose gel tissue-mimicking phantom (AGTMP) models. The geometry of a complex three-dimensional mathematical phantom model of a cancer tumor was examined by tomography imaging. The capability of mathematical model to predict distribution patterns/performance in AGTMP model was captured. The temperature profile vs. hyperthermia duration was obtained by solving bio-heat equations for four different MNPs distribution patterns and correlated with cell death rate. The outcomes indicated that bio-heat model was able to predict temperature profile throughout the tissue model with a reasonable precision, to be applied for complex tissue geometries. The simulation results on the cancer tumor model shed light on the effectiveness of the studied parameters.

Controlled grafting of vinylic monomers on polyolefins: a robust mathematical modeling approach.

Experimental and mathematical modeling analyses were used for controlling melt free-radical grafting of vinylic monomers on polyolefins and, thereby, reducing the disturbance of undesired cross-linking of polyolefins. Response surface, desirability function, and artificial intelligence methodologies were blended to modeling/optimization of grafting reaction in terms of vinylic monomer content, peroxide initiator concentration, and melt-processing time. An in-house code was developed based on artificial neural network that learns and mimics processing torque and grafting of glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) typical vinylic monomer on high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Application of response surface and desirability function enabled concurrent optimization of processing torque and GMA grafting on HDPE, through which we quantified for the first time competition between parallel reactions taking place during melt processing: (i) desirable grafting of GMA on HDPE; (ii) undesirable cross-linking of HDPE. The proposed robust mathematical modeling approach can precisely learn the behavior of grafting reaction of vinylic monomers on polyolefins and be placed into practice in finding exact operating condition needed for efficient grafting of reactive monomers on polyolefins.

Conductive hydrogels based on tragacanth and silk fibroin containing dopamine functionalized carboxyl-capped aniline pentamer: Merging hemostasis, antibacterial, and anti-oxidant properties into a multifunctional hydrogel for burn wound healing.

Hydrogels possessing both conductive characteristics and notable antibacterial and antioxidant properties hold considerable significance within the realm of wound healing and recovery. The object of current study is the development of conductive hydrogels with antibacterial and antioxidant properties, emphasizing their potential for effective wound healing, especially in treating third-degree burns. For this purpose, various conductive hydrogels are developed based on tragacanth and silk fibroin, with variable dopamine functionalized carboxyl-capped aniline pentamer (CAP@DA). The FTIR analysis confirms that the CAP powder was successfully synthesized and modified with DA. The results show that the incorporation of CAP@DA into hydrogels can increase the porosity and swellability of the hydrogels. Additionally, the mechanical and viscoelastic properties of the hydrogels are also improved. The release of vancomycin from the hydrogels is sustained over time, and the hydrogels are effective in inhibiting the growth of Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). In vitro cell studies of the hydrogels show that all hydrogels are biocompatible and support cell attachment. The hydrogels' tissue adhesiveness yielded a satisfactory hemostatic outcome in a rat-liver injury model. The third-degree burn was created on the dorsal back paravertebral region of the rats and then grafted with hydrogels. The burn was monitored for 3, 7, and 14 days to evaluate the efficacy of the hydrogel in promoting wound healing. The hydrogels revealed treatment effect, resulting in enhancements in wound closure, dermal collagen matrix production, new blood formation, and anti-inflammatory properties. Better results were obtained for hydrogel with increasing CAP@DA. In summary, the multifunctional conducive hydrogel, featuring potent antibacterial properties, markedly facilitated the wound regeneration process.

Metal-organic framework (MOF)/C-dots and covalent organic framework (COF)/C-dots hybrid nanocomposites: Fabrications and applications in sensing, medical, environmental, and energy sectors.

Developing new hybrid materials is critical for addressing the current needs of the world in various fields, such as energy, sensing, health, hygiene, and others. C-dots are a member of the carbon nanomaterial family with numerous applications. Aggregation is one of the barriers to the performance of C-dots, which causes luminescence quenching, surface area decreases, etc. To improve the performance of C-dots, numerous matrices including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), covalent-organic frameworks (COFs), and polymers have been composited with C-dots. The porous crystalline structures, which are constituents of metal nodes and organic linkers (MOFs) or covalently attached organic units (COFs) provide privileged features such as high specific surface area, tunable structures, and pore diameters, modifiable surface, high thermal, mechanical, and chemical stabilities. Also, the MOFs and COFs protect the C-dots from the environment. Therefore, MOF/C-dots and COF/C-dots composites combine their features while retaining topological properties and improving performances. In this review, we first compare MOFs with COFs as matrices for C-dots. Then, the recent progress in developing hybrid MOFs/C-dots and COFs/C-dots composites has been discussed and their applications in various fields have been explained briefly.

Fire-Retardant Flexible Foamed Polyurethane (PU)-Based Composites: Armed and Charmed Ground Tire Rubber (GTR) Particles.

Inadequate fire resistance of polymers raises questions about their advanced applications. Flexible polyurethane (PU) foams have myriad applications but inherently suffer from very high flammability. Because of the dependency of the ultimate properties (mechanical and damping performance) of PU foams on their cellular structure, reinforcement of PU with additives brings about further concerns. Though they are highly flammable and known for their environmental consequences, rubber wastes are desired from a circularity standpoint, which can also improve the mechanical properties of PU foams. In this work, melamine cyanurate (MC), melamine polyphosphate (MPP), and ammonium polyphosphate (APP) are used as well-known flame retardants (FRs) to develop highly fire-retardant ground tire rubber (GTR) particles for flexible PU foams. Analysis of the burning behavior of the resulting PU/GTR composites revealed that the armed GTR particles endowed PU with reduced flammability expressed by over 30% increase in limiting oxygen index, 50% drop in peak heat release rate, as well as reduced smoke generation. The Flame Retardancy Index (FRI) was used to classify and label PU/GTR composites such that the amount of GTR was found to be more important than that of FR type. The wide range of FRI (0.94-7.56), taking Poor to Good performance labels, was indicative of the sensitivity of flame retardancy to the hybridization of FR with GTR components, a feature of practicality. The results are promising for fire protection requirements in buildings; however, the flammability reduction was achieved at the expense of mechanical and thermal insulation performance.

Tailor-Made Polysaccharides for Biomedical Applications.

Polysaccharides (PSAs) are carbohydrate-based macromolecules widely used in the biomedical field, either in their pure form or in blends/nanocomposites with other materials. The relationship between structure, properties, and functions has inspired scientists to design multifunctional PSAs for various biomedical applications by incorporating unique molecular structures and targeted bulk properties. Multiple strategies, such as conjugation, grafting, cross-linking, and functionalization, have been explored to control their mechanical properties, electrical conductivity, hydrophilicity, degradability, rheological features, and stimuli-responsiveness. For instance, custom-made PSAs are known for their worldwide biomedical applications in tissue engineering, drug/gene delivery, and regenerative medicine. Furthermore, the remarkable advancements in supramolecular engineering and chemistry have paved the way for mission-oriented biomaterial synthesis and the fabrication of customized biomaterials. These materials can synergistically combine the benefits of biology and chemistry to tackle important biomedical questions. Herein, we categorize and summarize PSAs based on their synthesis methods, and explore the main strategies used to customize their chemical structures. We then highlight various properties of PSAs using practical examples. Lastly, we thoroughly describe the biomedical applications of tailor-made PSAs, along with their current existing challenges and potential future directions.

Advancements in Aptamer-Driven DNA Nanostructures for Precision Drug Delivery.

DNA nanostructures exhibit versatile geometries and possess sophisticated capabilities not found in other nanomaterials. They serve as customizable nanoplatforms for orchestrating the spatial arrangement of molecular components, such as biomolecules, antibodies, or synthetic nanomaterials. This is achieved by incorporating oligonucleotides into the design of the nanostructure. In the realm of drug delivery to cancer cells, there is a growing interest in active targeting assays to enhance efficacy and selectivity. The active targeting approach involves a "key-lock" mechanism where the carrier, through its ligand, recognizes specific receptors on tumor cells, facilitating the release of drugs. Various DNA nanostructures, including DNA origami, Tetrahedral, nanoflower, cruciform, nanostar, nanocentipede, and nanococklebur, can traverse the lipid layer of the cell membrane, allowing cargo delivery to the nucleus. Aptamers, easily formed in vitro, are recognized for their targeted delivery capabilities due to their high selectivity for specific targets and low immunogenicity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in the formation and modification of aptamer-modified DNA nanostructures within drug delivery systems.

Microplastics in water resources: Global pollution circle, possible technological solutions, legislations, and future horizon.

Beneath the surface of our ecosystems, microplastics (MPs) silently loom as a significant threat. These minuscule pollutants, invisible to the naked eye, wreak havoc on living organisms and disrupt the delicate balance of our environment. As we delve into a trove of data and reports, a troubling narrative unfolds: MPs pose a grave risk to both health and food chains with their diverse compositions and chemical characteristics. Nevertheless, the peril extends further. MPs infiltrate the environment and intertwine with other pollutants. Worldwide, microplastic levels fluctuate dramatically, ranging from 0.001 to 140 particles.m-3 in water and 0.2 to 8766 particles.g-1 in sediment, painting a stark picture of pervasive pollution. Coastal and marine ecosystems bear the brunt, with each organism laden with thousands of microplastic particles. MPs possess a remarkable ability to absorb a plethora of contaminants, and their environmental behavior is influenced by factors such as molecular weight and pH. Reported adsorption capacities of MPs vary greatly, spanning from 0.001 to 12,700 µg·g-1. These distressing figures serve as a clarion call, demanding immediate action and heightened environmental consciousness. Legislation, innovation, and sustainable practices stand as indispensable defenses against this encroaching menace. Grasping the intricate interplay between microplastics and pollutants is paramount, guiding us toward effective mitigation strategies and preserving our health ecosystems.

Hydrochar as a bio-based adsorbent for heavy metals removal: A review of production processes, adsorption mechanisms, kinetic models, regeneration and reusability.

The spread of heavy metals throughout the ecosystem has extremely endangered human health, animals, plants, and natural resources. Hydrochar has emerged as a promising adsorbent for removal of heavy metals from water and wastewater. Hydrochar, obtained from hydrothermal carbonization of biomass, owns unique physical and chemical properties that are highly potent in capturing heavy metals via surface complexation, electrostatic interactions, and ion exchange mechanisms. This review focuses on removing heavy metals by hydrochar adsorbents from water bodies. The article discusses factors affecting the adsorption capacity of hydrochars, such as contact time, pH, initial metal concentration, temperature, and competing ions. Literature on optimization approaches such as surface modification, composite development, and hybrid systems are reviewed to enlighten mechanisms undertaking the efficiency of hydrochars in heavy metals removal from wastewater. The review also addresses challenges such as hydrochar regeneration and reusability, alongside potential issues related to its disposal and metal leaching. Integration with current water purification methods and the significance of ongoing research and initiatives promoting hydrochar-based technologies were also outlined. The article concludes that combining hydrochar with modern technologies such as nanotechnology and advanced oxidation techniques holds promise for improving heavy metal remediation. Overall, this comprehensive analysis provides valuable insights to guide future studies and foster the development of effective, affordable, and environmentally friendly heavy metal removal technologies to ensure the attainment of safer drinking water for communities worldwide.