Unveiling the photocatalytic marvels: Recent advances in solar heterojunctions for environmental remediation and energy harvesting.

In the quest for effective solutions to address Environ. Pollut. and meet the escalating energy demands, heterojunction photocatalysts have emerged as a captivating and versatile technology. These photocatalysts have garnered significant interest due to their wide-ranging applications, including wastewater treatment, air purification, CO2 capture, and hydrogen generation via water splitting. This technique harnesses the power of semiconductors, which are activated under light illumination, providing the necessary energy for catalytic reactions. With visible light constituting a substantial portion (46%) of the solar spectrum, the development of visible-light-driven semiconductors has become imperative. Heterojunction photocatalysts offer a promising strategy to overcome the limitations associated with activating semiconductors under visible light. In this comprehensive review, we present the recent advancements in the field of photocatalytic degradation of contaminants across diverse media, as well as the remarkable progress made in renewable energy production. Moreover, we delve into the crucial role played by various operating parameters in influencing the photocatalytic performance of heterojunction systems. Finally, we address emerging challenges and propose novel perspectives to provide valuable insights for future advancements in this dynamic research domain. By unraveling the potential of heterojunction photocatalysts, this review contributes to the broader understanding of their applications and paves the way for exciting avenues of exploration and innovation.

Native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi drive ecophysiology through phenotypic integration and functional plasticity under the Sonoran desert conditions.

Knowledge is scarce to what extent environmental drivers and native symbiotic fungi in soil induce abrupt (short-term), systemic (multiple traits), or specific (a subset of traits) shifts in C3 plants' ecophysiological/mycorrhizal responses. We cultivated an emblematic native C3 species (Capsicum annuum var. glabriusculum, "Chiltepín") to look at how the extreme heat of the Sonoran desert, sunlight regimes (low = 2, intermediate = 15, high = 46 mol m2 d-1) and density of native arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in soil (low AMF = 1% v/v, high AMF = 100% v/v), drive shifts on mycorrhizal responses through multiple functional traits (106 traits). The warming thresholds were relentlessly harsh even under intensive shade (e.g. superheat maximum thresholds reached ranged between 47-63°C), and several pivotal traits were synergistically driven by AMF (e.g. photosynthetic capacity, biomass gain/allometry, and mycorrhizal colonization traits); whereas concurrently, sunlight regimes promoted most (76%) alterations in functional acclimation traits in the short-term and opposite directions (e.g. survival, phenology, photosynthetic, carbon/nitrogen economy). Multidimensional reduction analysis suggests that the AMF promotes a synergistic impact on plants' phenotypic integration and functional plasticity in response to sunlight regimes; however, complex relationships among traits suggest that phenotypic variation determines the robustness degree of ecophysiological/mycorrhizal phenotypes between/within environments. Photosynthetic canopy surface expansion, Rubisco activity, photosynthetic nitrogen allocation, carbon gain, and differential colonization traits could be central to plants' overall ecophysiological/mycorrhizal fitness strengthening. In conclusion, we found evidence that a strong combined effect among environmental factors in which AMF are key effectors could drive important trade-offs on plants' ecophysiological/mycorrhizal fitness in the short term.

Photosynthetic light requirement near the theoretical minimum detected in Arctic microalgae.

Photosynthesis is one of the most important biological processes on Earth, providing the main source of bioavailable energy, carbon, and oxygen via the use of sunlight. Despite this importance, the minimum light level sustaining photosynthesis and net growth of primary producers in the global ocean is still unknown. Here, we present measurements from the MOSAiC field campaign in the central Arctic Ocean that reveal the resumption of photosynthetic growth and algal biomass buildup under the ice pack at a daily average irradiance of not more than 0.04 ± 0.02 µmol photons m-2 s-1 in late March. This is at least one order of magnitude lower than previous estimates (0.3-5 µmol photons m-2 s-1) and near the theoretical minimum light requirement of photosynthesis (0.01 µmol photons m-2 s-1). Our findings are based on measurements of the temporal development of the under-ice light field and concurrent measurements of both chlorophyll a concentrations and potential net primary production underneath the sea ice at 86 °N. Such low light requirements suggest that euphotic zones where photosynthesis can occur in the world's oceans may extend further in depth and time, with major implications for global productivity estimates.

Temperature and solar irradiation effects on secondary metabolism during ripening of field-grown everbearing strawberries.

The garden strawberry (Fragaria x ananassa Duch.) is cultivated and consumed worldwide because of the pleasant flavor and health-promoting phytochemicals of its false fruits. Monocrop cultivars produce fully ripe strawberries in about one month post-anthesis throughout the spring, while everbearing cultivars undergo additional strawberry production in autumn. In this work, we evaluated the impact of different season-dependent environmental conditions on the ripening program of an everbearing field-gown strawberry variety from autumn 2015 to spring 2016. We combined ad hoc sampling and environmental data collection with LC-MS-based untargeted metabolomics to dissect the effects of cumulative temperature and solar irradiation on fruit quality parameters and secondary metabolism during ripening. Different dynamics in specific sub-groups of metabolites were observed in strawberries experiencing distinct amounts of cumulative temperature and solar irradiation during spring and autumn. The integration of statistical analyses on collected data revealed that solar irradiation mainly affected fruit fresh weight and organic acid levels, whereas temperature had a more selective effect on the accumulation of specific flavonols, anthocyanins, and soluble sugar. These findings are of suitable interest to design further approaches for the study of the complex interactions among environmental conditions and ripening in strawberries grown in a real-world scenario.

A comparative study of thermal radiation model in Chinese solar greenhouse.

The performance of three widely used thermal radiation models, the P-1 model, the surface-to-surface (S2S) model and the Discrete-Ordinates (DO) model, were evaluated for simulation temperature in Chinses solar greenhouse. The thermal radiation models were evaluated by comparing the numerical results with experimental data at representative points in the CSG. For indoor rear wall, the indoor soil and indoor air, the models showed good agreement between the experimental data and the simulated results correspond to P1, S2S and DO respectively. This work provides information for simulate greenhouse temperature and use specific radiation models for the most suitable thermal environment for crop growth.

Postoperative risk assessment of post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation and the efficacy of delayed prevention following 532 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser treatment of solar lentigines: a randomized controlled study.

BACKGROUND: Although post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation (PIH) is a common adverse event following laser procedures, studies evaluating its risk remain limited. OBJECTIVE: To analyze PIH risk after 532 nm Q-switched Nd:YAG laser (QSNYL) treatment for solar lentigines and examine the efficacy of triple combination cream (TCC) for its prevention. METHODS: In this single center, investigator-blinded, randomized controlled study, participants with solar lentigo either received TCC or emollient from 2 weeks post-QSNYL treatment. The occurrence of PIH was determined by three independent and blinded dermatologists. In vivo skin measurements and sun exposure questionnaires were examined to evaluate the risk of PIH. RESULTS: A total of 28 patients with 67 solar lentigines were included in the analysis. In the control group, PIH occurred in 55.3% of the lesions. Risk factors for the occurrence of PIH were the increased erythema at weeks 2 (OR, 1.32; p = 0.035) and outdoor activity during 1-5 pm (OR, 8.10; p = 0.038). Treatment with TCC from 2 weeks post-QSNYL treatment significantly decreased the incidence of PIH (31.0% vs. 55.3%, p = 0.048). CONCLUSION: Post-laser erythema and outdoor activity at the daytime are prognostic factors for the occurrence of PIH. Administering TCC could be considered for the prevention of PIH in high-risk patients.

Interplay between polygenic risk score and solar insolation: Implication for systemic lupus erythematosus diagnosis and pathogenesis.

OBJECTIVES: This research elucidates the correlation between solar radiation insolation, polygenic risk score (PRS), and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) diagnosis, utilizing genomic, environmental, and clinical data. METHODS: We included 1,800 SLE participants and 1,800 controls from the Taiwan Precision Medicine Initiative, genotyped via the Affymetrix Genome-Wide TWB 2.0 SNP Array. The study employed a SLE-PRS tailored for individuals of Taiwanese ancestry, comprising 27 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). QGIS computed solar radiation insolation from participants' residences. We employed logistic regression to investigate the associations between SLE-PRS, solar insolation susceptibility, and SLE. Additive and multiplicative interactions were utilized to assess the interactions between solar insolation and SLE-PRS regarding the risk of SLE. RESULTS: SLE patients showed decreased solar insolation (p < 0.001). The highest decile of SLE-PRS exhibited a statistically significant lower solar insolation 1, 3, 6, and 12 months prior to diagnosis as compared to the lowest decile. Specifically, there were significant differences observed at 1 and 12 months (p = 0.025 and p = 0.004, respectively). It suggests that higher SLE-PRS correlated with reduced solar insolation tolerance. We observed an increase in SLE risk across ascending SLE-PRS percentiles exclusively in the high solar insolation group, not in the low solar insolation group. However, the interaction effect of SLE-PRS and solar insolation on SLE risk is not statistically significant. Compared to the lowest decile, the highest SLE-PRS decile showed a 10.98-fold increase in SLE risk (95 % CI, 3.773-31.952, p < 0.001). High SLE-PRS scores in conjunction with high solar insolation contribute to SLE incidence. CONCLUSIONS: Our study unveils the intertwined nature of UV insolation and polygenic risks in SLE. Future studies should explore the preventative potential of robust solar radiation protection for high-risk individuals before the disease onset.

Alterations of Matrisome Gene Expression in Naturally Aged and Photoaged Human Skin In Vivo.

The main component of human skin is a collagen-rich extracellular matrix (ECM), known as the matrisome. The matrisome is essential for maintaining the structural integrity and mechanical properties of the skin. Recently, we reported notable decreases in matrisome proteins in natural aging and photoaging human skin. This study aims to investigate the mRNA expression of the core matrisome proteins in human skin, comparing young versus aged and sun-protected versus sun-exposed skin by quantitative real-time PCR and immunostaining. Our findings reveal a notable decrease in core matrisome transcription in aged skin. The mRNA expression of the core matrisome, such as collagen 1A1 (COL1A1), decorin, and dermatopontin, is significantly reduced in aged skin compared to its young skin. Yet, the majority of collagen mRNA expression levels of aged sun-exposed skin are similar to those found in young sun-exposed skin. This discrepancy is primarily attributable to a substantial decrease in collagen transcription in young sun-exposed skin, suggesting early molecular changes in matrisome transcription due to sun exposure, which preceded the emergence of clinical signs of photoaging. These findings shed light on the mRNA transcript profile of major matrisome proteins and their alterations in naturally aged and photoaged human skin, offering valuable insights into skin matrisome biology.

Fabrication of smart sunlight window using silver vanadate nanorods (ß-AgVO3) and its effect on phytochemical properties of several agricultural species.

Silver vanadate nanorods were synthesized for the first time via co-precipitation, followed by ambient drying. X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses were utilized to investigate the structure and morphology of the nanorods. The results of these analyses confirmed the fabrication of silver vanadate nanorods. Then, to check the ability of these nanostructures to be used in the smart window, their optical properties, including the visible-ultraviolet absorption spectrum and photoluminescence (PL), were studied. The results showed that this nanostructure has maximum absorption and emission at wavelengths of 530 and 670 nm, respectively. Next, the new smart window was made with a layer of silver vanadate nanorods, and wheat, barley, millet, and beet were placed under this smart window to perform phytochemical tests. It was observed that silver vanadate nanorods could shift the green wavelength to higher wavelengths and efficiently improve the phytochemical properties of the mentioned plants.

Experimental analysis of dust's impact on solar photovoltaic system efficiency in arid environments: a case study in Southern Algeria.

The purpose of this study is to explore the effects of accumulated dust and weather conditions on the energy generated by solar photovoltaic panels in Ouargla, Algeria, between May 3 and August 3, 2023. For this experiment, two monocrystalline panels with a power output of 390 W manufactured by Zergoune Green Energy Company, as well as data-logging equipment, were used. The first panel was perfectly cleaned before starting every test and the second panel remained uncleaned. On day 90, the cleaned panel maintained an average power of 193 W, while the dusty panel exhibited a lower average power of 139 W. The greatest average reduction in efficiency, approximately 36.32%, occurred after 3 months of exposure to weather conditions. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) analysis demonstrates the existence of microscopic dust particles which prevent part of solar radiation away instead of being absorbed by the photovoltaic cells, leading to a drop in the efficiency of the PV module. The primary chemical elements found in dust are oxygen, silicon, aluminum, and magnesium.

Tailoring structural and optical properties of Cu(II)-induced MgAl2O4 nanoparticles and their response to toxic dyes under solar illumination.

Worldwide environmental challenges pose critical problems with the growth of the global economy. Addressing these issues requires the development of an eco-friendly and sustainable catalyst for degrading organic dye pollutants. In this study, copper-doped magnesium aluminates (CuxMg1-xAl2O4) with x = 0.0-0.8 were synthesized using a citrate-based combustion route. The inclusion of Cu(II) significantly impacted the structural, microstructural, optical, and photocatalytic activity of the catalyst. Rietveld analysis of X-ray diffraction powder profiles revealed single-phase spinels crystallized in the face-centered cubic unit cell with Fd 3 ¯ m space group. Chemical states of the ions, surface morphology, and elemental investigation were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, respectively. UV-visible and diffuse reflectance spectroscopies confirmed the reduction of the band gap due to Cu(II) doping, validated by first-principle investigations using the WIEN2k code. The catalyst with x = 0.8 showed higher photocatalytic efficacy (90% and 93%) for removing two azo organic dye pollutants, rhodamine B and methyl orange, respectively, within 120 min. Degradation kinetics followed a pseudo-first-order mechanism. The doped (0.8) sample was structurally and morphologically stable and reusable under visible irradiation, retaining performance after three runs. Scavenger studies confirmed hydroxyl and superoxide radicals' involvement in the degradation. This work presents an effective approach to enhancing CuxMg1-xAl2O4 catalysts' photodegradation performance, with potential applications in pharmaceuticals and wastewater remediation.

Emergency control of dinoflagellate bloom in freshwater with chlorine enhanced by solar radiation: Efficiency and mechanism.

Dinoflagellate requires a lower temperature and blooms frequently in the spring and autumn compared to regular cyanobacteria. The outbreak of dinoflagellate bloom will also lead to the death of some aquatic organisms. However, research on freshwater dinoflagellates is still lacking due to the challenges posed by classification and culture in laboratory. The removal effect and mechanism of Peridinium umbonatum (P. umbonatum, a typical dinoflagellate) were investigated using solar/chlorine in this study. The effect of simulated solar alone on the removal of algae was negligible, and chlorine alone had only a slight effect in removing algae. However, solar/chlorine showed a better removal efficiency with shoulder length reduction factor and kmax enhancement factor of 2.80 and 3.8, respectively, indicating a shorter latency period and faster inactivation rate for solar/chlorine compared to solar and chlorine alone. The removal efficiency of algae gradually increased with the chlorine dosage, but it dropped as the cell density grew. When the experimental temperature was raised to 30 °C, algal removal efficiency significantly increased, as the temperature was unsuitable for the survival of P. umbonatum. Attacks on cell membranes by chlorine and hydroxyl radicals (•OH) produced by solar/chlorine led to a decrease in cell membrane integrity, leading to a rise in intracellular reactive oxygen species and an inhibition of photosynthetic and antioxidant systems. Cell regeneration was not observed in either the chlorine or solar/chlorine systems due to severe cell damage or cysts formation. In addition, natural solar radiation was demonstrated to have the same enhancing effect as simulated solar radiation. However, the algal removal efficiency of solar/chlorine in real water was reduced compared to 119 medium, mainly due to background material in the real water substrate that consumed the oxidant or acted as shading agents.

Insight into the photodegradation of methylisothiazolinone and benzoisothiazolinone in aquatic environments.

Methylisothiazolinone (MIT) and Benzisothiazolinone (BIT) are two widely used non-oxidizing biocides of isothiazolinones. Their production and usage volume have sharply increased since the pandemic of COVID-19, inevitably leading to more release into water environment. However, their photochemical behaviors in water environment are still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated photodegradation properties of MIT and BIT in natural water under simulated sunlight. The results demonstrated that direct photolysis was mainly responsible for their photodegradation which occurred through their excited singlet states rather than triplet states. The quantum yields of MIT and BIT photodegradation were 11 - 13.6 × 10-4 and 2.43 - 5.79 × 10-4, respectively. pH had almost no effect on the photodegradation of MIT, while the photodegradation of BIT was significantly promoted under alkaline condition due to abundance of BIT in its deprotonated form (BIT-N-). Cl-, NO3- and dissolved organic matter (DOM) in natural water inhibited the photodegradation of both MIT and BIT, with the light screening effect of DOM being the most significantly inhibitory factor. The addition of other isothiazolinones, which possibly coexisted with MIT and BIT in actual condition, slightly inhibited the photodegradation of MIT and BIT. The estimated half-life under natural sunlight at a 30°N latitude was estimated to be approximately 1.1 days. The photodegradation pathways of MIT and BIT are similar, primarily initiated from the ring-opening at the N-S bond, with Frontier electron densities (FED) calculations suggesting the likelihood of oxidation and ·OH addition reactions at the O, N, and S sites. While the photodegradation products exhibited significantly reduced acute toxicity compared to their parent compounds, they nonetheless posed substantial chronic toxicity. These insights are vital for assessing the ecological impacts of MIT and BIT in aquatic environments.

Solar-driven environmental fate of chlorinated parabens in natural and engineered water systems.

Parabens are classified as emerging contaminants in global waters, and the ubiquitous emergence of their high-risk chlorinated products generated from chlorine-based wastewater disinfection has attracted increasing attention. However, rather limited information is available on their photofate after discharging into surface waters, and their degradation behavior after solar-based engineering water treatment is unclear. Herein, the reactivity of four chlorinated parabens with different photochemically produced reactive intermediates was measured. Quantitative contribution analysis in abating such compounds showed the dominance of direct photolysis in sunlit natural freshwaters. Introducing a technical solar/peroxymonosulfate (PMS) system could greatly improve the removal of chlorinated parabens. The economic analysis suggested that chlorinated parabens exhibited a minimum value of economic input as 93.41-158.04 kWh m-3 order-1 at 0.543-0.950 mM PMS. The high-resolution mass spectrometry analysis of the degradation products suggested that dechlorination, hydroxylation, and ester chain cleavage were the dominant transformation pathways during photolysis and solar/PMS treatment. Furthermore, the in silico prediction indicated severe aquatic toxicity of certain products but enhanced biodegradability. Overall, this investigation filled a knowledge gap on the reactivity of chlorinated parabens with diverse reactive transients and their quantitative contributions to the photolysis and solar/PMS treatment of emerging micropollutants in water.

A practical approach for extracting the photosystem II (PSII) contribution to near-infrared solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence.

Recent studies have indicated a good potential for using solar-induced chlorophyll fluorescence (SIF) to estimate photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. SIF can be emitted by both Photosystem I (PSI) and Photosystem II (PSII), but it is the SIF signals from PSII which are related to photosynthetic carbon fixation. However, since top-of-canopy SIF observations (SIFTOC) always contain contributions from both photosystems, to mechanistically estimate gross primary productivity (GPP) from SIF, it is essential to extract PSII SIF from SIFTOC. Based on the differences in the relative contribution of PSII across different wavelengths, we propose a practical approach for extracting PSII contribution to SIFTOC at the near-infrared (NIR) band (fPSII_760) using measurements of SIFTOC in the red and NIR spectral regions. A leaf-scale concurrent instrument was developed to assess the response of fPSII_760 under varying environments. For winter-wheat leaves, as light intensity increased from 0 to 400 µmol m-2 s-1, fPSII_760 rose from 0.6 to 0.8; with further increase in light intensity to 1800 µmol m-2 s-1, fPSII_760 consistently decreased to 0.65. There was a slight decreasing trend in fPSII_760 with rising temperatures, with values dropping from 0.65 at 15 °C to 0.61 at 40 °C. We found that variations in fPSII_760 are due to changes in the fluorescence yield of PSII, with the two having a positively proportional relationship. We also estimated canopy-scale fPSII_760 for a winter-wheat study site: fPSII_760 varied from 0.61 to 0.83, with a mean value of 0.78 during the peak growing season. A comparison with eddy covariance-derived GPP reveals that GPP estimated with dynamic fPSII_760 was more accurate than that calculated using fixed fPSII_760, with R2 increasing from 0.6 to 0.84. This study contributes to a deeper understanding of the link between SIF and photosynthetic CO2 assimilation, paving the way for more effective use of SIF to estimate GPP.

Attenuation of phenylnaphthenic acids related to oil sands process water using solar activated calcium peroxide: Influence of experimental factors, mechanistic modeling, and toxicity evaluation.

Refractory naphthenic acids (NAs) are among the primary toxic compounds in oil sands process water (OSPW), a matrix with a complex chemical composition that poses challenges to its remediation. This study evaluated the effectiveness of calcium peroxide (CaO2) combined with solar radiation (solar/CaO2) as an advanced water treatment process for degrading model NAs (1,2,3,4-tetrahydronaphthalene-2-carboxylic acid, pentanoic acid, and diphenylacetic acid) in synthetic water (STW) and provide preliminary insights in treating real OSPW. Solar light and CaO2 acted synergistically to degrade target NAs in STW (>67 of synergistic factor) following a pseudo-first-order kinetic (R2 ≥ 0.95), with an optimal CaO2 dosage of 0.1 g L-1. Inorganic ions and dissolved organic matter were found to hinder the degradation of NAs by solar/CaO2 treatment; however, the complete degradation of NAs was reached in 6.7 h of treatment. The main degradation mechanism involved the generation of hydroxyl radicals (•OH), which contributed ∼90% to the apparent degradation rate constant (K), followed by H2O2 (4-5%) and 1O2 (0-5%). The tentative transformation pathways of three NAs were proposed, confirming an open-ring reaction and resulting in short-chain fatty acid ions as final products. Furthermore, a reduction in acute microbial toxicity and genotoxic effect was observed in the treated samples, suggesting that solar/CaO2 treatment exhibits high environmental compatibility. Furthermore, the solar/CaO2 system was successfully applied as a preliminary step for real-world applications to remove natural NAs, fluorophore organic compounds, and inorganic components from OSPW, demonstrating the potential use of this technology in the advanced treatment of oil-tailing-derived NAs.

A solar-driven nanocellulose Janus aerogel with excellent floating stability and dual functions of oil-water separation and photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants.

Effective and practical cleanup of viscous crude oil spills is extremely important in real harsh marine environments. Herein, we designed a solar-driven, nanocellulose-based Janus aerogel (Janus-A) with excellent floating stability and dual function of oil-water separation and degradation of aqueous organic pollutants. Janus-A, with its amphiprotic nature, was prepared through polypyrrole (PPy) deposition, freeze-drying, octyltrichlorosilane (OTS) impregnation, TiO2 spraying on the bottom surface, and UV irradiation treatment. The photothermal conversion effect of PPy coating raised the surface temperature of aerogel to 75.8 °C within 6 min under one simulated solar irradiation, which greatly reduced the viscosity of the crude oil and increased the absorption capacity of the aerogel to 36.7 g/g. Benefiting from the balance between the buoyancy generated by the hydrophobic part and water absorption of the hydrophilic part, Janus-A showed excellent floating stability under simulated winds and waves. In addition, Janus-A exhibited high degradation efficiency for organic pollutants in water owing to the synergistic photocatalytic properties of TiO2 and PPy. These excellent performances make Janus-A ideal for integrated water-oil separation and water remediation.

Hierarchical porous structure design and water activation in hydrogels containing hyperbranched peach gum polysaccharide for efficient solar water evaporation.

Solar-powered interfacial evaporation is a developing and sustainable technique increasingly utilized in desalination and wastewater purification. This technology involves the creation of cellulose nanofiber (CNF)/polylactic acid (PLA) composite aerogels through the Pickering emulsion approach. Self-floating aero-hydrogel (E-VGP) with a hierarchical porous structure was formed on a viscous mixture containing polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), and polypyrrole (PPy) via an in-situ polymerization process. Furthermore, by modifying the hydrolysis time of PGP with a hyperbranched polyhydroxy structure, VGP hybrid hydrogels of varying microscopic molecular sizes were produced. Additionally, solar vapor generators (SVG) with diverse macroscopic structures were fabricated using molds. The V8G4-12hP0.2 hybrid hydrogel, synthesized using PGP hydrolyzed for 12 h, exhibited an evaporation enthalpy of water at 1204 J g-1. This capacity effectively activates water and enables low enthalpy evaporation. Conversely, the macrostructural design allows the cylindrical rod raised sundial-shaped structure of SVG3 to possess an expanded evaporation area, minimize energy loss, and even harness additional energy from its nonradiative side. Consequently, this micro-macrostructural design enables SVG3 to attain an exceptionally high evaporation rate of 3.13 kg m-2 h-1 under 1 Sun exposure. Moreover, SVG3 demonstrates robust water purification abilities, suggesting significant potential for application in both desalination and industrial wastewater treatment.

Synergistic photocatalytic degradation of ciprofloxacin under natural sunlight using hot dip galvanization and medical incineration waste residues.

To improve the photodegradation capacity, for the first time, a simple yet efficient photocatalyst was prepared by solely employing hot dip galvanization waste (GW) and fly ash (FA) disposed from medical waste incinerators. Impressively, the as-synthesized photocatalyst (GW-FA) in the ratio 3:1 displayed an outstanding ciprofloxacin degradation efficiency of 98.3% under natural sunlight within 60 min and possessed superior reusability. Herein, adjusting the amount of GW evidenced effective tuning of the electronic band structure and increased active sites. Detailed microscopic morphology, chemical structure, magnetic, and optical properties of GW-FA were studied by UV-DRS, FESEM-EDX, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, ESR, VSM, and AFM, which confirmed the successful fabrication of GW-FA and their outstanding ability to reduce the recombination rate. Besides, the effects of crucial experimental parameters (concentration, pH, and photocatalyst loading) on ciprofloxacin degradation were examined using RSM-BBD. Further, OH• was manifested to be the main active species for the photodegradation of ciprofloxacin. Eventually, GC-MS analysis was employed to deduce plausible photodegradation pathways, and ICP-AES analysis proved that the concentration of leached heavy metals was lower than that of the standard limits for irrigation water. This work establishes a new route for effectively reutilizing waste generated from medical waste incinerators and galvanization industries as a photocatalyst, which otherwise would be disposed in landfills.