The role of surface functional groups of pectin and pectin-based materials on the adsorption of heavy metal ions and dyes

Integrating spectroscopic analysis and theoretical calculations to elucidate the adsorption efficiency and mechanisms of Cd, Pb, and Cu using novel carboxymethyl cellulose/pectin-based hydrogel beads

Herein, a series of novel carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC)/pectin-based hydrogel beads were synthesized with chitosan as a cross-linker. The hydrogel composites were denoted as CPC-1/2/3/4/5, with varying mass ratios of CMC, pectin, and chitosan (6:0:1, 5:1:1, 4:2:1, 3:3:1, and 2:4:1). This is a pioneering study that investigates the synergistic effects of these biopolymers in a single hydrogel system for the adsorption of heavy metals, specifically Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+. CPC-4 was identified as the optimal adsorbent, and its adsorption behavior, efficiency, and mechanisms were systematically explored. The adsorption kinetics of CPC-4 for Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ adhered to the pseudo-second-order model, while equilibrium adsorption isotherms were best described by the Langmuir model. Notably, CPC-4 achieved maximum adsorption capacities for Cd2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+ of 139.4, 270.3, and 143.6 mg/g, respectively. Spectroscopic analyses including FTIR and XPS revealed abundant oxygen- and nitrogen-bearing functional groups (carboxyl, hydroxyl, and amine) in CPC-4, which facilitated metal ion binding through complexation reactions. Density functional theory calculations demonstrated that the incorporation of chitosan significantly enhanced the interaction between CMC and pectin, identifying the coupled regions as the most favorable sites for metal adsorption, with adsorption energies of -4.03 eV for Cd, -4.59 eV for Pb, and -5.59 eV for Cu. The superior adsorption performance of CPC-4 is primarily attributed to complexation and hydrogen bonding at the cross-linked sites. In summary, this study highlights the potential of this biopolymer-based hydrogel composite as a promising new adsorbent for the effective management of heavy metal contamination in aquatic environments.

Mechanism and application of sulfhydryl-modified chitosan derivative for decontamination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) in water bodies

The accumulation of lead and cadmium in water bodies is a serious threat to environmental safety and human health, and they must be removed from wastewater. Based on this this study, a novel sulfhydryl-modified chitosan derivative (SHCS) was prepared by grafting method using chitosan as a substrate for the removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from polluted water bodies. The results showed that the SHCS derivative was a mesoporous biosorbent with a specific surface area of 0.0505 cm3/g. The adsorption kinetics of the adsorbent on the pollutants conformed to the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order models (R2 > 0.99). The adsorption isotherms all followed the Langmuir model (Pb(II): R2 = 0.9388, Cd(II): R2 = 0.9592). The maximum adsorption capacities of SHCS were 209.27 mg/g and 64.19 mg/g for Pb(II) and Cd(II), respectively. The free energy of adsorption ΔGθ < 0 indicates that the adsorption process is a spontaneous reaction, in which the adsorption of lead is an adsorptive process (ΔHθ > 0) and the adsorption of cadmium is an exothermic process (ΔHθ < 0). The addition of NaNO3 and cations (K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) did not affect the adsorption process of Pb(II) and Cd(II). The surface complexation and electrostatic attraction mechanisms controlled the decontamination of Pb(II) and Cd(II) by SHCS in water. Most importantly, the SHCS derivative was effective in removing low concentrations of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from three real wastewater samples as well as a simulated electroplating wastewater.

Quaternized cross-linked peach gum polysaccharide as an adsorbent for fast and selective removal of anionic dyes from aqueous solution

To overcome low adsorption capacity, slow adsorption rate, poor adsorption selectivity, and dissolution of peach gum polysaccharide (PGP), an amino-rich crosslinked PGP (ACPGP) was first synthesized by cross-linking highly soluble PGP. Subsequently, a cation-rich PGP (QCPGP) was prepared from ACPGP through the addition of glycidyltrimethyl ammonium chloride (GTAC) and a secondary quaternization. The step-by-step preparation process was confirmed, and the adsorption properties of PGP, ACPGP, and QCPGP were compared in detail. The adsorption of crude PGP for cationic dyes violet (MV, 135.0 mg/g) and methylene blue (MB, 121.4 mg/g) were spontaneous endothermic, following the pseudo-first-order kinetic model and D-R isotherm. Due to the presence of rich charged groups in their structure, their highly selective adsorption towards new coccine (NC) and tartrazine (TTZ) is spontaneous and endothermic, and can be described by the pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models, respectively. According to the Langmuir isotherm, the Qm of ACPGP and QCPGP for NC and TTZ was calculated to be 876.2 and 1304.3 mg/g (NC), and 814.5 and 1136.7 mg/g (TTZ), respectively. QCPGP exhibited more advantages in terms of adsorption capacity, adsorption rate (equilibrium time of 10 min), environmental stability, adsorption selectivity, and regeneration efficiency, showing great potential in practical wastewater treatment applications.

Complex regulatory network of ZmbZIP54-mediated Pb tolerance in maize

Lead (Pb) is highly toxic and widely distributed in the soil, causing adverse effects on plant growth and yield formation. Herein, the combination of transmission electron microscope (TEM), energy dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDS), and comparative transcriptome analyses was conducted to reveal the cytological mechanism and regulatory network of in the ZmbZIP54-mediated Pb tolerance in maize. As results, ZmbZIP54 helped in Pb2+ retention in the cell wall and intercellular space, inhibiting Pb2+ entering the cells and reducing its toxic effects on cell ultrastructure. Meanwhile, ZmbZIP54 was involved in the transition between the HCl-extracted and CH3COOH-extracted Pb speciations. At the molecular level, ZmbZIP54 affected the macromolecule metabolism, thus decreasing Pb accumulation in the roots. Moreover, ZmZIFL1 and NRT1/PTR were the direct targets of ZmbZIP54, which participated in heavy metal binding, nitrogen uptaking, and IAA transport and thus mediated Pb transport, Pb speciation transition, and antioxidant enzyme activation. Collectively, we proposed a model to explain the complex regulatory network mediated by ZmbZIP54 and its target genes in maize tolerance to Pb stress.

A novel active biopolymer coating of pectin, potato starch, and pyrogallol: Impact on postharvest quality of tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.)

Recently, there has been an increasing interest in biodegradable films for extending food's shelf life. This study developed pectin-potato starch-based films incorporating varying pyrogallol concentrations and evaluated shelf life their physical, antioxidant, mechanical, optical, antibacterial, structural, biodegradation, and shelf-life properties. Among the tested films (F1, pectin; F2, pectin + potato starch; F3, pectin + potato starch + 0.5%pyrogallol; and F4, pectin + potato starch + 1%pyrogallol), F4 exhibited superior antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus (42 mm), Klebsiella pneumoniae (20.5 mm), and Escherichia coli (25.5 mm), antioxidant activity (AA) (95% (diphenylpicrylhydrazyl), 76% (metal chelating activity), and 87% (hydroxyl radical scavenging assay)), mechanical, and soil biodegradation. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and field emission scanning electron microscopy confirmed biocompatibility, whereas differential scanning calorimetry studies showed thermal stability. Shelf-life studies on tomatoes at 30°C demonstrated that F4 film coating extended shelf life to 21 days by reducing weight loss (14.5%), total phenolic content (25 mg/100 g), AA (53.5%), firmness (46 N), and titratable acidity (0.38%) while maintaining the total soluble solids, pH, lycopene content, color, and microbial inhibition. This study introduces a novel active biodegradable film with enhanced antimicrobial, mechanical, and antioxidant properties for sustainable food packaging applications. PRACTICAL APPLICATION: This study introduces an eco-friendly biopolymer coating formulated to extend the shelf life of food by reducing spoilage and maintaining quality during storage. The coating is cost-effective, easy to produce, and can be used for industrial-scale applications by giving a sustainable alternative to synthetic packaging. It can provide consumers with long-lasting produce by maintaining freshness, reducing food waste, and promoting environmentally conscious food preservation practices.

A review on recent progress in polysaccharide/protein hydrogels in winter sports: Classification, synthesis routes, and application

In today's world, emerging materials play prominent roles in competitive sport applications. Among them, hydrogels gained increasing attention in winter sports applications owing to their unique advantages, such as flexibility, conductivity, and adhesion. However, traditional hydrogels prepared by synthetic routes from petroleum materials lose performance at freezing temperatures below zero degrees, limiting their direct use in winter sports. The emergence of natural polymer materials has brought new opportunities for winter sports. Polysaccharide or protein (polysaccharides/proteins) hydrogels obtained from biomass resources are renewable and abundant, especially when taking into consideration the depletion of resources and environmental pollution in contemporary society. The development and utilization of polysaccharide/protein hydrogels may contribute to solving the resource shortage problem. In this paper, the latest research dealing with natural polymer hydrogels for winter sports applications is reviewed. In the first section, recent research trends of hydrogel classification and crosslinking methods are summarized. The performance advantages and specific applications of polysaccharide/protein hydrogels in winter sports are then discussed, with the application scope covering index monitoring, event violation detection, protective equipment, rehabilitation, and venues. Finally, the practical challenges faced by polysaccharide/protein hydrogels in winter sports are prospected along with the innovation and optimization design routes, such as the introduction of natural crosslinking agents and bionic structures. These insights aim to provide a reference for the development of advanced materials for winter sports applications.

Research Advances in Natural Polymers for Environmental Remediation

The search for sustainable and efficient remediation techniques is required to control increasing environmental pollution caused by synthetic dyes, heavy metal ions, and other harmful pollutants. From this point of view, natural polymers like chitosan, cellulose, lignin, and pectin have been found highly promising due to their biodegradability, availability, and possibility of chemical functionalization. Natural polymers possess inherent adsorption properties that can be further enhanced by cross-linking and surface activation. This review discusses the main properties, adsorption mechanisms, and functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups responsible for pollutant sequestration. The paper also emphasizes the effectiveness of natural polymers in removing heavy metals and dyes from wastewater and discusses recent advances in polymer modifications, including ionic crosslinking and grafting. This study underlines the ecological potential of natural polymer-based adsorbents in the treatment of wastewater and the protection of the environment as a sustainable solution to pollution challenges.

Boron's Role in Diminishing Cadmium Concentrations in Rice (Oryza sativa L.): Insights into Absorption Inhibition and Ripening Promotion

Boron, a crucial element for plant growth, has been demonstrated to mitigate cadmium (Cd) absorption in rice seedlings. However, its impact on Cd accumulation in rice grains and the underlying regulatory mechanisms remain poorly understood. The current study explored the roles of boron in reducing Cd accumulation and promoting ripening in rice through pot and hydroponic experiments. The results revealed that the basal boron application (1.5 mg kg-1) decreased grain Cd concentration by 61.1%, primarily due to the synergistic effects of inhibited Cd uptake and transport, along with increased maturation. Boron mitigated the root Cd2+ influx by 32.4% and transport factors by 36.0-47.3% primarily by downregulating the expression of OsNramp5, OsIRT1, and OsHMA2. Moreover, boron enhanced the activities of key sucrose-metabolizing enzymes and increased the relative expression levels of genes associated with sugar metabolism and transport, thereby shortening the rice growth period from 132 to 120 d. Field experiment confirmed that boron application decreased rice grain Cd concentration by 47.7% while promoting earlier maturation. This study elucidates the mechanism behind boron's ability to lower grain Cd levels and highlights its potential as an effective agronomic approach to mitigate food safety risks in rice grown on Cd-contaminated paddy soils.

Calcium silicate hydrate complex konjac glucomannan-based hydrogel selectively adsorbed phosphate in low alkalinity solution

The selective recovery of phosphate from wastewater can manage nutrients and realize the recycling of phosphorus resources. In this study, a novel konjac glucomannan/pectin/calcium silicate composite hydrogel (KP-CSH) was developed for efficient recovery of phosphate in aqueous solution. The amount of alkali released after the reaction of KP-CSH in a neutral solution was small (the pH of the solution after the reaction was < 9). In a wide initial pH range (3-10), the adsorption capacity of KP-CSH in 50 mg-P/L phosphate solution reached 39∼45 mg-P/g. Besides, even if the pH of the solution after the reaction was less than 8, it could still well adsorb phosphate. The kinetic and isothermal adsorption experiments indicated that the adsorption process of phosphate by KP-CSH was chemical adsorption, and the maximum adsorption capacity was 61.2 mg-P/g. KP-CSH preferentially adsorbed phosphate even in the presence of high concentrations of competitive ions. In the actual biogas slurry, KP-CSH also exhibited the strongest selectivity/affinity for phosphate, and its distribution coefficient (Kd) was significantly higher than that of other co-existing anions and cations. The adsorption mechanism analysis indicated that Ca was the main adsorption site of KP-CSH, and that the adsorption process of target pollutants mainly involved ligand exchange and the intra-sphere complexation. Further plant seed germination and seedling growth experiments suggested that KP-CSH after phosphate recovery did not exert a negative effect on the growth of plant seedlings, and increased the chlorophyll content of seedling leaves. These results demonstrate that KP-CSH is a potential adsorbent for efficient phosphate recovery, which can be used as a slow-release phosphate fertilizer after recovering phosphate.

Starch-based bio-membrane for water purification, biomedical waste, and environmental remediation

This review article explores the utilization of starch-based materials as smart materials for the removal of dyes and heavy metals from wastewater, highlighting their cost-effectiveness, biodegradability, and biocompatibility. It addresses the critical need for clean water, emphasizing the contamination caused by industrial activities, such as printing, textile, cosmetic, and leather tanning industries. Starch and its derivatives demonstrate significant potential in water purification technology, effectively removing toxicants through hydrogen bonding, electrostatic interactions, and complexation. The review also discusses the application of starch-based materials in the biomedical field, particularly as drug carriers. Starch-based microspheres, hydrogels, nano-spheres, and nano-composites exhibit sustained drug-release properties and are effective in transporting various drugs, including DOX, quercetin, 5-Fluorouracil, glycyrrhizic acid, paclitaxel, tetracycline hydrochloride, amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, and moxifloxacin. These materials show good antimicrobial activity against a range of pathogens, including C. albicans, E. coli, S. aureus, C. neoformance, B. subtilis, A. niger, A. fumigatus, and A. terreus. While highlighting the significant achievements of starch-based materials, the review also discusses current limitations and areas for future development. Key weaknesses include the need for enhanced adsorption capacities and the challenge of scaling up production for industrial applications. The review concludes by identifying development directions, such as improving functionalization techniques and exploring new applications in water purification and drug delivery systems. This article aims to assist researchers in advancing the field of starch-based materials for environmental and biomedical applications.

Chronic mild cadmium exposure increases the vulnerability of tomato plants to dehydration

Heavy metal contamination increases plant susceptibility to both biotic and abiotic stresses. However, the comprehensive impact of heavy metal pollution on plant hydraulics, which is crucial for plant productivity, and the interaction between heavy metal stress and environmental factors on plant health are not yet fully understood. In this study, we investigated the effects of cadmium exposure on plant-water relations and hydraulics of Solanum lycopersicum L., cultivar Piccadilly. Particular attention was given to leaf hydraulic conductance (KL) in response to cadmium pollution and dehydration. Cadmium exposure exhibited negligible impacts on tomato productivity but resulted in significant differences in pressure-volume derived traits. Leaves and roots of Cd-treated plants showed reduced wall stiffness compared to control samples. However, Cd-treated leaves had a less negative turgor loss point (Ψtlp), whereas Cd-treated roots exhibited more negative Ψtlp values due to lower osmotic potential at full turgor compared to control samples. Leaves and root cells of Cd-treated plants showed higher values of saturated water content compared to control plants, along with a distinct mineral profile between the two experimental groups. Despite similar leaf water potential thresholds for 50% and 80% loss of KL in control and cadmium-treated leaves, plants grown in cadmium-polluted soil showed higher leaf cell damages even under well watered conditions. This, in turn, affected the plant ability to recover from drought upon rehydration by compromising cell rehydration ability. Overall, the present findings suggest that under conditions of low water availability, cadmium pollution increases the risk of leaf hydraulic failure.

A handy way for forming N-doped TiO2/carbon from pectin and d,l-serine hydrazide hydrochloride

N-doped TiO2/carbon composites (N-TiPC) have shown excellent photodegradation performances to the organic contaminants but are limited by the multistage preparation (i.e., preparation of porous carbon, preparation of N-doped TiO2, and loading of N-doped TiO2 on porous carbon). Here, we develop a handy way by combining the Pickering emulsion-gel template route and chelation reaction of polysaccharides. The N-TiPC is obtained by calcinating pectin/Dl-serine hydrazide hydrochloride (SHH)-Ti4+ chelate and is further described by modern characterization techniques. The results show that the N atom is successfully doped into the TiO2 lattice, and the bandgap value of N-TiPC is reduced to 2.3 eV. Moreover, the particle size of N-TiPC remains about 10 nm. The configurations of the composites are simulated using DFT calculation. The photocatalytic experiments show that N-TiPC has a high removal efficiency for methylene blue (MB) and oxytetracycline hydrochloride (OTC-HCL). The removal ratios of MB (20 mg/L, 50 mL) and OTC-HCL (30 mg/L, 50 mL) are 99.41 % and 78.29 %, respectively. The cyclic experiments show that the photocatalyst has good stability. Overall, this study provides a handy way to form N-TiPC with enhanced photodegradation performances. It can also be promoted to other macromolecules such as cellulose and its derivatives, sodium alginate, chitosan, lignin, etc.

Assembly of Chitosan/Caragana Fibers to Construct an Underwater Superelastic 2D Layer-Supported 3D Architecture for Rapid Congo Red Removal

Developing environmentally friendly bulk materials capable of easily and thoroughly removing trace amounts of dye pollutants from water to rapidly obtain clean water has always been a goal pursued by researchers. Herein, a green material with a 3D architecture and with strong underwater rebounding and fatigue resistance ability was prepared by means of the assembly of biopolymer chitosan (CS) and natural caraganate fibers (CKFs) under freezing conditions. The CKFs can randomly and uniformly distribute in the lamellar structure formed during the freezing process of CS and CKFs, playing a role similar to that of "steel bars" in concrete, thus providing longitudinal support for the 3D-architecture material. The 2D layers formed by CS and CKFs as the main basic units can provide the material with a higher strength. The 3D-architecture material can bear the compressive force of a weight underwater for multiple cycles, meeting the requirements for water purification. The underwater compression test shows that the 3D-architecture material can quickly rebound to its original shape after removing the stress. This 3D-architecture material can be used to purify dye-containing water. When its dosage is 3 g/L, the material can remove 99.65% of the Congo Red (CR) in a 50 mg/L dye solution. The adsorption performance of the 3D architecture adsorbent for CR removal in actual water samples (i.e., tap water, seawater) is superior than that of commercial activated carbon. Due to its porous block characteristics, this material can be used for the continuous and efficient treatment of wastewater containing trace amounts of CR dye to obtain pure clean water, meaning that it has great potential for the effective purification of dye wastewater.

Multifunctional bacterial cellulose-bentonite@polyethylenimine composite membranes for enhanced water treatment: Sustainable dyes and metal ions adsorption and antibacterial properties

Developing multifunctional materials for water treatment remains a significant challenge. Bacterial cellulose (BC) holds immense potential as an adsorbent with high pollutant-binding capacity, hydrophilicity, and biosafety. In this study, N-acetylglucosamine was used as a carbon source to ferment BC, incorporating amide bonds in situ. Bentonite, renowned for its adsorption properties, was added to the culture medium, resulting in BC-bentonite composite membranes via a one-step fermentation process. Polyethyleneimine (PEI) was crosslinked with amide bonds on the membrane via glutaraldehyde through Schiff base reactions to enhance the performance of the composite membrane. The obtained membrane exhibited increased hydrophilicity, enhanced active adsorption sites, and enlarged specific surface area. It not only physically adsorbed contaminants through its unique structure but also effectively captured dye molecules (Congo red, Methylene blue, Malachite green) via electrostatic interactions. Additionally, it formed stable complexes with metal ions (Cd²⁺, Pb²⁺, Cu²⁺) through coordination and effectively adsorbed their mixtures. Moreover, the composite membrane demonstrated the broad-spectrum antibacterial activity, effectively inhibiting the growth of tested bacteria. This study introduces an innovative method for fabricating composite membranes as adsorbents for complex water pollutants, showing significant potential for long-term wastewater treatment of organic dyes, heavy metal ions, and pathogens.

Postbiotics-peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, exopolysaccharides, surface layer protein and pili proteins-Structure, activity in wounds and their delivery systems

Chronic wound healing is a pressing global public health concern. Abuse and drug resistance of antibiotics are the key problems in the treatment of chronic wounds at present. Postbiotics are a novel promising strategy. Previous studies have reported that postbiotics have a wide range of biological activities including antimicrobial, immunomodulatory, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory abilities. However, several aspects related to these postbiotic activities remain unexplored or poorly known. Therefore, this work aims to outline general aspects and emerging trends in the use of postbiotics for wound healing, such as the production, characterization, biological activities and delivery strategies of postbiotics. In this review, a comprehensive overview of the physiological activities and structures of postbiotic biomolecules that contribute to wound healing is provided, such as peptidoglycan, lipoteichoic acid, bacteriocins, exopolysaccharides, surface layer proteins, pili proteins, and secretory proteins (p40 and p75 proteins). Considering the presence of readily degradable components in postbiotics, potential natural polymer delivery materials and delivery systems are emphasized, followed by the potential applications and commercialization prospects of postbiotics. These findings suggest that the treatment of chronic wounds with postbiotic ingredients will help provide new insights into wound healing and better guidance for the development of postbiotic products.

Exploring the potential of waste biomass-derived pectin and its functionalized derivatives for water treatment

Environmental pollution remains a constant challenge due to the indiscriminate use of fossil fuels, mining activities, chemicals, drugs, aromatic compounds, pesticides, etc. Many emerging pollutants with no fixed standards for monitoring and control are being reported. These have adverse impacts on human life and the environment around us. This alarms the wastewater management towards developing materials that can be used for bulk water treatment and are easily available, low cost, non-toxic and biodegradable. Waste biomass like pectin is extracted from fruit peels which are a discarded material. It is used in pharmaceutical and nutraceutical applications but its application as a material for water treatment is very limited in literature. The scientific gap in literature review reports are evident with discussion only on pectin based hydrogels or specific pectin derivatives for some applications. This review focuses on the chemistry, extraction, functionalization and production of pectin derivatives and their applications in water treatment processes. Pectin functionalized derivatives can be used as a flocculant, adsorbent, nano biopolymer, biochar, hybrid material, metal-organic frameworks, and scaffold for the removal of heavy metals, ions, toxic dyes, and other contaminants. The huge quantum of pectin biomass may be explored further to strengthen environmental sustainability and circular economy practices.

Pectin-associated immune responses in plant-microbe interactions: A review

This review explores the role of pectin, a complex polysaccharide found in the plant cell wall, in mediating immune responses during interactions between plants and microbes. The objectives of this study were to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying pectin-mediated immune responses and to understand how these interactions shape plant-microbe communication. Pectin acts as a signaling molecule, triggering immune responses such as the production of antimicrobial compounds, reinforcement of the cell wall, and activation of defense-related genes. Pectin functions as a target for pathogen-derived enzymes, enabling successful colonization by certain microbial species. The document discusses the complexity of pectin-based immune signaling networks and their modulation by various factors, including pathogen effectors and host proteins. It also emphasizes the importance of understanding the crosstalk between pectin-mediated immunity and other defense pathways to develop strategies for enhancing plant resistance against diseases. The insights gained from this study have implications for the development of innovative approaches to enhance crop protection and disease management in agriculture. Further investigations into the components and mechanisms involved in pectin-mediated immunity will pave the way for future advancements in plant-microbe interaction research.

Innovative biopolyelectrolytes-based technologies for wastewater treatment

Developing eco-friendly, cost-effective, and efficient methods for treating water pollutants has become paramount in recent years. Biopolyelectrolytes (BPEs), comprising natural polymers like chitosan, alginate, and cellulose, have emerged as versatile tools in this pursuit. This review offers a comprehensive exploration of the diverse roles of BPEs in combating water contamination, spanning coagulation-flocculation, adsorption, and filtration membrane techniques. With ionizable functional groups, BPEs exhibit promise in removing heavy metals, dyes, and various pollutants. Studies showcase the efficacy of chitosan, alginate, and pectin in achieving notable removal rates. BPEs efficiently adsorb heavy metal ions, dyes, and pesticides, leveraging robust adsorption capacity and exceptional mechanical properties. Furthermore, BPEs play a pivotal role in filtration membrane techniques, offering efficient separation systems with high removal rates and low energy consumption. Despite challenges related to production costs and property variability, their environmentally friendly, biodegradable, renewable, and recyclable nature positions BPEs as compelling candidates for sustainable water treatment technologies. This review delves deeper into BPEs' modification and integration with other materials; these natural polymers hold substantial promise in revolutionizing the landscape of water treatment technologies, offering eco-conscious solutions to address the pressing global issue of water pollution.

Pb(II) and chlortetracycline immobilization and economy of biologically amended coastal soil

To study the pollutants immobilization and economy of biologically amended coastal soil, Alternanthera philoxeroides biomass (Bm), biochar (Bc), and dodecyldimethyl betaine (BS) modified Bc (BS-Bc) were used to amend coastal soil from Jialing, Fu, and Qu River. A runoff experiment was used to simulate the longitudinal migration and morphological changes of Pb(II) and chlortetracycline (CTC) in each amended coastal soil, and the economy of pollutants immobilization by different amended coastal soil were compared. The equilibrium time of Pb(II) and CTC in each amended coastal soil ranked in the order of BS-Bc-amended > Bc-amended > Bm-amended > unamended coastal soil. The average Pb(II) and CTC flow rate in different amended coastal soils presented an opposite trend with the equilibrium time. Pb(II) and CTC content all reduced with the increasing runoff length. Under the same soils, the content changes presented Bm and Bc amended > unamended > BS-Bc amended. CEC and clay content of coastal soils were the key factors affecting Pb(II) and CTC immobilization. The immobilization mechanisms were electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, surface precipitation, and complexation to Pb(II) and ion exchange and complexation to CTC. The economy of Pb(II) and CTC immobilization ranged from 0.5 to 9.0 and from 1.0 to 5.4 mg/¥, and coastal soil amended by BS-Bc had practical application value and high economy.

Nanostructured Magnetic Particles for Removing Cyanotoxins: Assessing Effectiveness and Toxicity In Vitro

The rise in cyanobacterial blooms due to eutrophication and climate change has increased cyanotoxin presence in water. Most current water treatment plants do not effectively remove these toxins, posing a potential risk to public health. This study introduces a water treatment approach using nanostructured beads containing magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) for easy removal from liquid suspension, coated with different adsorbent materials to eliminate cyanotoxins. Thirteen particle types were produced using activated carbon, CMK-3 mesoporous carbon, graphene, chitosan, 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO)-oxidised cellulose nanofibers (TOCNF), esterified pectin, and calcined lignin as an adsorbent component. The particles' effectiveness for detoxification of microcystin-LR (MC-LR), cylindrospermopsin (CYN), and anatoxin-A (ATX-A) was assessed in an aqueous solution. Two particle compositions presented the best adsorption characteristics for the most common cyanotoxins. In the conditions tested, mesoporous carbon nanostructured particles, P1-CMK3, provide good removal of MC-LR and Merck-activated carbon nanostructured particles, P9-MAC, can remove ATX-A and CYN with high and fair efficacy, respectively. Additionally, in vitro toxicity of water treated with each particle type was evaluated in cultured cell lines, revealing no alteration of viability in human renal, neuronal, hepatic, and intestinal cells. Although further research is needed to fully characterise this new water treatment approach, it appears to be a safe, practical, and effective method for eliminating cyanotoxins from water.

Facile fabrication of sulfonated porous yeast carbon microspheres through a hydrothermal method and their application for the removal of cationic dye

Water pollution containing dyes become increasingly serious environmental problem with the acceleration of urbanization and industrialization process. Renewable adsorbents for cationic dye wastewater treatment are becoming an obstacle because of the difficulty of desorbing the dye from the adsorbent surface after adsorption. To overcome this dilemma, herein, we report a hydrothermal method to fabricate sulfonic acid modified yeast carbon microspheres (SA/YCM). Different characterization techniques like scanning electron microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction have been used to test the SA/YCM. Decorated with sulfonic acid group, the modified yeast carbon microspheres possess excellent ability of adsorbing positively charged materials. The removal rate of Methyl blue (MB) by renewable adsorbent SA/YCM can reach 85.3% when the concentration is 500 mg/L. The SA/YCM regenerated by HCl showed excellent regeneration adsorption capacity (78.1%) after five cycles of adsorption-desorption regeneration experiment. Adsorption isotherm and kinetic behaviors of SA/YCM for methylene blue dyes removal were studied and fitted to different existing models. Owing to the numerous sulfonic acid groups on the surface, the SA/YCM showed prominent reusability after regeneration under acidic conditions, which could withstand repeated adsorption-desorption cycles as well as multiple practical applications.

Enhanced dye sequestration with natural polysaccharides-based hydrogels: A review

Due to the expansion of industrial activities, the concentration of dyes in water has been increasing. The dire need to remove these pollutants from water has been heavily discussed. This study focuses on the reproducible and sustainable solution for wastewater treatment and dye annihilation challenges. Adsorption has been rated the most practical way of the several decolorization procedures due to its minimal initial investment, convenient utility, and high-performance caliber. Hydrogels, which are three-dimensional polymer networks, are notable because of their potential to regenerate, biodegrade, absorb bulky amounts of water, respond to stimuli, and have unique morphologies. Natural polysaccharide hydrogels are chosen over synthetic ones because they are robust, bioresorbable, non-toxic, and cheaply accessible. This study has covered six biopolymers, including chitosan, cellulose, pectin, sodium alginate, guar gum, and starch, consisting of their chemical architecture, origins, characteristics, and uses. The next part describes these polysaccharide-based hydrogels, including their manufacturing techniques, chemical alterations, and adsorption effectiveness. It is deeply evaluated how size and shape affect the adsorption rate, which has not been addressed in any prior research. To assist the readers in identifying areas for further research in this subject, limitations of these hydrogels and future views are provided in the conclusion.

Green Extraction of Pectin from Sugar Beet Flakes and Its Application in Hydrogels and Cryogels

Sugar beet flakes, a by-product of the sugar industry, were used as a source for pectin extraction that was performed using conventional citric acid extraction (CE) and two non-conventional extraction techniques-microwave-assisted extraction (MAE) and pulsed ultrasound-assisted extraction (PUAE). The influence of extraction conditions was studied for each technique based on pectin yield and galacturonic acid content, and spectroscopic, chromatographic and colorimetric methods were used for pectin characterization. Better results for pectin yield were achieved through CE (20.80%), while higher galacturonic acid content was measured in pectin extracted using PUAE (88.53 g/100 g). Pectin extracted using PUAE also presented a higher degree of methylation and acetylation. A significant increase in the molecular weight of pectin was observed for the PUAE process (7.40 × 105 g/mol) by comparison with conventional extraction (1.18 × 105 g/mol). Hydrogels and cryogels prepared with pectin from sugar beet flakes also showed differences in physicochemical parameters determined by the method of pectin extraction. Hydrogels had higher bulk density values irrespective of the pectin extraction method, and overall lower values of the textural parameters. Cryogels prepared with pectin from CE showed higher values of the textural parameters of hardness, adhesiveness, cohesiveness, gumminess and chewiness, while gels obtained with pectin from MAE and PUAE had higher thermal stability. The results of this study prove that sugar beet flakes can be considered a potential source for pectin production, and the extracted pectin is suitable for obtaining hydrogels and cryogels with physicochemical parameters comparable to the commercial citrus and apple pectin available on the market.

Adsorptive removal of anthracene from water by biochar derived amphiphilic carbon dots decorated with chitosan

Anthracene belongs to the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) consisting of benzene rings, unusually highly stable through more π-electrons and localized π-bond in entire rings. Aqueous-phase anthracene adsorption using carbon-based materials such as biochar is ineffective. In this paper, carbon dots (CDs) derived from the acid treatment of coconut shell biochar (CDs/MCSB) decorated with chitosan (CS) are successfully synthesized and applied for anthracene removal from aqueous solutions. The h-CDs/MCSB exhibited fast adsorption of anthracene with significant sorption capacity (Qmax = 49.26 mg g-1) with 95 % removal efficiency at 60 min. The study suggested chemisorption dominated monolayer anthracene adsorption onto h-CDs/MCSB, where a significant role was played by ion-exchange. Density Functional Theory (DFT) suggested the anthracene adsorption was dominated by the electrostatic interactions and delocalized electron, induced by higher polarizability of functional groups on the surface of hybrid CDs/MCSB assisted by chitosan (h-CDs/MCSB). In addition, the aromatic structure of CDs/MCSB and high polarizability of functional groups provided the strong interactions between benzene rings of anthracene and hybrid adsorbent-assisted multiple π-bond through delocalized π-bond and polarization-induced H-bond interactions. The presence of carboxylic and sulfonic groups on the CDs/MCSB surface also contributed to the effective adsorption of anthracene was confirmed by the fluorescence spectra. The results showed that the hybrid adsorbent was an effective material for removing PAHs, usually difficult to remove from water owing to the presence of benzene rings in their structures. Further, consistency in the DFT results suggested the outstanding binding capacity with the anthracene molecules with h-CDs/MCSB.

Surface modification strategies for improved hemocompatibility of polymeric materials: a comprehensive review

Polymeric biomaterials are a widely used class of materials due to their versatile properties. However, as with all other types of materials used for biomaterials, polymers also have to interact with blood. When blood comes into contact with any foreign body, it initiates a cascade which leads to platelet activation and blood coagulation. The implant surface also has to encounter a thromboinflammatory response which makes the implant integrity vulnerable, this leads to blood coagulation on the implant and obstructs it from performing its function. Hence, the surface plays a pivotal role in the design and application of biomaterials. In particular, the surface properties of biomaterials are responsible for biocompatibility with biological systems and hemocompatibility. This review provides a report on recent advances in the field of surface modification approaches for improved hemocompatibility. We focus on the surface properties of polysaccharides, proteins, and synthetic polymers. The blood coagulation cascade has been discussed and blood - material surface interactions have also been explained. The interactions of blood proteins and cells with polymeric material surfaces have been discussed. Moreover, the benefits as well as drawbacks of blood coagulation on the implant surface for wound healing purposes have also been studied. Surface modifications implemented by other researchers to enhance as well as prevent blood coagulation have also been analyzed.

Sustainable removal of hexavalent chromium using graphene oxide - Iron oxide reinforced pectin/polyvinyl alcohol magnetic gel beads

The study investigated removal of hexavalent chromium Cr (VI) from aqueous solution using graphene oxide‑iron oxide reinforced pectin/polyvinyl alcohol magnetic gel beads prepared through co-precipitation and freeze-drying technique. Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, vibrating sample magnetometer, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherm, and zeta potential are used for characterization. The surface area of magnetic gel beads calculated by BET method was determined to be 100.95 m2/g, significantly higher than that of GO and GO-Fe3O4. The optimum removal efficiency of GO-Fe3O4/Pec/PVA was assessed by batch method at variables such as pH(1-6), adsorption time(0-180 min), and temperature(25-35 °C). Accordingly, 0.2 g GO-Fe3O4/Pec/PVA dose, pH 2, contact time: 120 min at 25 °C were found to be the optimal conditions, and maximum adsorption capacity of GO, GO-Fe3O4 and GO-Fe3O4/Pec/PVA toward Cr(VI) removal was found to be 39.5, 62.5 and 78.55 mg g-1, respectively. Kinetic and isotherm studies indicate adsorption data follow pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models. Thermodynamic studies showed adsorption capacities of adsorbents decreased when temperature increased which indicated adsorption for Cr (VI) was an exothermic process. The activation energies were found to be 34.92, 26.57, and 35.23 KJ mol-1 for GO, GO-Fe3O4, and GO-Fe3O4/Pec/PVA, respectively, which illustrated adsorption of Cr(VI) onto the surface of adsorbents was a physical process. The beads exhibit excellent recoverability and reusability over five cycles. Overall, GO-Fe3O4/Pec/PVA demonstrates exceptional adsorption properties and can serve as an efficient, stable, less toxic, and magnetically separable adsorbent for removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solution.

Food packaging films based on ionically crosslinked konjac glucomannan incorporating zein-pectin nanoparticle-stabilized corn germ oil-oregano oil Pickering emulsion

This study addresses the limitations of konjac glucomannan (KGM) films in mechanical properties, hydrophobicity and antibacterial activities. For the first time, a zein-pectin nanoparticle-stabilized corn germ oil-oregano essential oil Pickering emulsion (ZPCEO) was incorporated into KGM, with the resulting film being further ionically crosslinked with Ca2+, Cu2+ or Fe3+. FTIR, SEM and EDS results showed that the metal ions were crosslinked with the hydroxyl and carbonyl groups of polysaccharides and uniformly distributed throughout the films (degree of crosslinking: Fe3+ > Cu2+ > Ca2+). Compared with pure KGM films, the ionic crosslinked ZPCEO/KGM (IL-ZPCEO/KGM) films have superior water resistance mechanical properties, and exhibit unique UV-blocking properties, antioxidant and antibacterial activities. The ZPCEO/KGM-Fe3+ film offered the best all-round properties, including the highest tensile strength, water resistance, UV-blocking capacity, and antimicrobial activity. Thus, ionic crosslinking of ZPCEO/KGM films can be applied to the preparation of food packaging for use in high humidity environments.

Recent insights into mechanism of modified bio-adsorbents for the remediation of environmental pollutants

Rapid industrialization has exacerbated the hazard to health and the environment. Wide spectrums of contaminants pose numerous risks, necessitating their disposal and treatment. There is a need for further remediation methods since pollutant residues cannot be entirely eradicated by traditional treatment techniques. Bio-adsorbents are gaining popularity due to their eco-friendly approach, broad applicability, and improved functional and surface characteristics. Adsorbents that have been modified have improved qualities that aid in their adsorptive nature. Adsorption, ion exchange, chelation, surface precipitation, microbial uptake, physical entrapment, biodegradation, redox reactions, and electrostatic interactions are some of the processes that participate in the removal mechanism of biosorbents. These processes can vary depending on the particular biosorbent and the type of pollutants being targeted. The systematic review focuses on the many modification approaches used to remove environmental contaminants. Different modification or activation strategies can be used depending on the type of bio-adsorbent and pollutant to be remediated. Physical activation procedures such as ultrasonication and pyrolysis are more commonly used to modify bio-adsorbents. Ultrasonication process improves the adsorption efficiency by 15-25%. Acid and alkali modified procedures are the most effective chemical activation strategies for adsorbent modification for pollution removal. Chemical modification increases the removal to around 95-99%. The biological technique involving microbial culture is an emerging field that needs to be investigated further for pollutant removal. A short evaluation of modified adsorbents with multi-pollutant adsorption capability that have been better eliminated throughout the adsorption process has been provided.

Konjac glucomannan/pectin/Ca-Mg hydrogel with self-releasing alkalinity to recover phosphate in aqueous solution

The combination of polysaccharides can obtain stable, degradable, and environmentally friendly hydrogels, which have broad application prospects in adsorbents assembly. With Ca2+ and Mg2+ as crosslinkers, a new pectin/Konjac glucomannan/Ca-Mg composite hydrogel was prepared for phosphate adsorption by the alkali-thermal co-reaction method. Since Mg(OH)2 can create a suitable pH condition for phosphate adsorption by Ca, Ca and Mg synergistically promoted phosphate adsorption and remained stable in the pH range of 4 to 10. FTIR, SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, and zero potential analysis corroborated that the hydrogel used Ca and Mg as active sites to trap pollutants by electrostatic adsorption and fix phosphate through complexation to form Mg3(PO4)2·8H2O and CaPO3(OH)2·H2O. Furthermore, it is unnecessary to separate the recovered phosphate from the hydrogel, and it can be used directly as a fertilizer. By being reused in the soil, it promoted seed germination and seedling growth. This adsorbent has the potential for recovery as a phosphorus-containing organic fertilizer after phosphorus adsorption.

Acylhydrazone-derived whole pectin-based hydrogel as an injectable drug delivery system

Injectable hydrogel-based drug delivery systems have attracted more and more attention due to their sustained-release performance, biocompatibility, and 3D network. The present study showed whole pectin-based hydrogel as an injectable drug delivery system, which was developed from oxidized pectin (OP) and diacylhydrazine adipate-functionalized pectin (Pec-ADH) via acylhydrazone linkage. The as-prepared hydrogels were characterized by 1H NMR, FT-IR, and SEM techniques. The equilibrium swelling ratio of obtained hydrogel (i.e., sample gel 5) was up to 4306.65 % in the distilled water, which was higher than that in PBS with different pH values. Increasing the pH of the swelling media, the swelling ratio of all hydrogels decreased significantly. The results that involved the swelling properties indicated the salt- and pH-responsiveness of the as-prepared hydrogels. The drug release study presented that 5-FU can be persistently released for more than 12 h without sudden release. Moreover, the whole pectin-based hydrogel presented high cytocompatibility toward L929 cell lines, and the drug delivery system showed a high inhibitory effect on MCF-7 cell lines. All these results manifested that the acylhydrazone-derived whole pectin-based hydrogel was an excellent candidate for injectable drug delivery systems.

A novel biochar-based composite hydrogel for removing heavy metals in water and alleviating cadmium stress in tobacco seedlings

A novel composite hydrogel (AM/CMC/B) synthesized from peanut shell biochar effectively adsorbs heavy metal Cd in water and reduces its toxicity to tobacco seedlings. The hydrogel, prepared via hydrothermal polymerization using acrylamide (AM), carboxymethyl cellulose (CMC), and peanut shell biochar (B), exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity of 164.83 mg g-1 for Cd2+ and followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model. In pot experiments, the application of exogenous AM/CMC/B mitigated the inhibitory effects of Cd-contaminated soil on tobacco seedling growth. Addition of 10 mg kg-1 Cd resulted in improved phenotype, root system development, enhanced photosynthetic capacity, stomatal conductance (Gs), stomatal number, and increased antioxidant activity while reducing MDA content and leaf cell death. These findings highlight the potential of AM/CMC/B as an environmentally friendly adsorbent for Cd removal from water and for reducing Cd stress toxicity in tobacco and other plants.

Novel silver-morphine-functionalized polypropylene (AgPP-mrp) nanocomposite for the degradation of dye removal by multivariate optimization approach

As a novel adsorbent, an opioid silver-morphine-functionalized polypropylene was synthesized through a one-pot reaction at room temperature and successfully used for the simple one-pot photocatalytic degradation catalyst of methyl orange removal from wastewater. UV spectral analysis reveals a special reference to the excitation of surface plasmon resonance as the main characteristic of the polymer-Ag nanocomposite in toluene solution peak at 420 nm in AgPP-mrp catalyst. The 1H NMR spectrum showed no sign of Ag NP peaks revealing small size distribution in the channels of morphine-functionalized polypropylene polymer. The morphology of silver nanoparticle-doped polymer through scanning electron microscopy (SEM-EDX) reveals PP-mrp with continuous matrix and Ag NPs (0.87 wt%). Furthermore, photocatalytic degradation of methyl orange was investigated on AgPP-mrp catalyst spectrophotometrically under solar irradiation in waste effluent, demonstrating high degradation efficiency. According to experimental findings, silver nanoparticles (AgPP-mrp) achieved high degradation capacities of 139 mg/g equivalent to 97.4% of photodegradation in a little period of time (35 min), as associated with previously stated materials and follow pseudo-second-order kinetic degradation tail of a high regression coefficient (R2 = 0.992). The suggested techniques offer a linear reaction for MO over the pH range of 1.5 to 5 and a degradation temperature of 25 to 60 °C. Central composite design and response surface methodology statistics recommend pH of the reaction medium and time as important variables for methyl orange degradation on AgPP-mrp photocatalytic. AgPP-mrp on the photocatalytic phenomenon based on heterojunction catalytic design producing electron holes (e-), as well as superoxides for the successful degradation of methyl orange.

Physicochemical properties and Pb2+ adsorption capacity of freeze-dried hawthorn pectin fractions by gradient ethanol precipitation

Three fractions of FHP20, FHP40 and FHP60 were obtained from freeze-dried hawthorn pectin by gradient ethanol precipitation (20-60 %), and their physicochemical properties and adsorption performance on Pb²⁺ were investigated. It was found that the content of galacturonic acid (GalA) and esterification of FHP fractions gradually reduced with the increase of ethanol concentration. FHP60 had the lowest molecular weight (60.69 × 10³ Da), and the composition and proportion of monosaccharides were significantly different. The experimental results of Pb²⁺ adsorption showed that the adsorption process fitted well with the Langmuir monolayer adsorption and the pseudo-second-order models. Our findings suggested that pectin fractions with good homogeneity of molecular weight and chemical construction can be obtained by gradient ethanol precipitation, and hawthorn pectin could be developed as a potential adsorbent for Pb²⁺ removal.

Ti4+-dopamine/sodium alginate multicomponent complex derived N-doped TiO2@carbon nanocomposites for efficient removal of methylene blue

A one-pot route for the preparation of TiO₂@carbon nanocomposite from Ti⁴⁺/polysaccharide coordination complex has been developed and shown advantages in operation, cost, environment, etc. However, the photodegradation rate of methylene blue needs to be improved. N-doping has been proven as an efficient means to enhance photodegradation performance. Thus, the present study upgraded the TiO₂@carbon nanocomposite to N-doped TiO₂@carbon nanocomposite (N-TiO₂@C) from Ti⁴⁺-dopamine/sodium alginate multicomponent complex. The composites were characterized by FT-IR, XRD, XPS, UV-vis DRS, TG-DTA, and SEM-EDS. TiO₂ was a typical rutile phase, and the carboxyl groups existed on N-TiO₂@C. The photocatalyst consequently showed high removal efficiency of methylene blue (MB). The cycling experiment additionally indicated the high stability of N-TiO₂@C. The present work provided a novel route for preparing N-TiO₂@C. Moreover, it can be extended to prepare N-doped polyvalent metal oxides@carbon composites from all water-soluble polysaccharides such as cellulose derivatives, pectin, starch, and guar gum.

Efficient removal of Cr(VI) and As(V) from an aquatic system using iron oxide supported typha biochar

The removal of Cr(VI) and As(V) from aqueous solutions has been a worldwide concern. In this study, Typha biochar (FBC) with magnetic iron oxide was prepared by impregnating Typha with FeCl₃ and performing pyrolysis, and the possible mechanism of Cr(VI) and As(V) removal was investigated by combining characterization means and adsorption experiments. The results showed that the modified Typha biochar is rich in pores and has the potential to eliminate Cr and As through processes such as exchange and reduction. The single molecule uptake capacities of FBC for Cr(VI) and As(V) were 32.82 and 21.56 mg g^-1, respectively. The adsorption process is spontaneous heat absorption, and the adsorption results are also consistent with the proposed secondary kinetic model. FBC still had >60% removal efficiency in the second and third reuse of Cr(VI), indicating its good recyclability. Therefore, this study confirms that FBC can effectively remove both Cr(VI) and As(V).

Corn stalk pith-based hydrophobic aerogel for efficient oil sorption

Bio-based aerogel has become an attractive sorbent for spilled oil and organic pollutants because of its light weight, high porosity and strong sorption capacity. However, the current fabrication process is mainly "bottom-up" technology, which is cost-expensive, time-consuming, and energy-intensive. Herein, we report a top-down, green, efficient and selective sorbent prepared from corn stalk pith (CSP) using the deep eutectic solvent (DES) treatment, followed by TEMPO/NaClO/NaClO₂ oxidization and microfibrillation, and then hexamethyldisilazane coating. Such chemical treatments selectively removed lignin and hemicellulose, broke the thin cell walls of natural CSP, forming an aligned porous structure with capillary channels. The resultant aerogels had a density of 29.3 mg/g, a porosity of 98.13%, and a water contact angle of 130.5^◦, exhibiting excellent oil/organic solvents sorption performance, with a high sorption capacity in the range of 25.4-36.5 g/g, approximately 5-16-fold higher than CSP, and with fast absorption speed and good reusability.

Versatile functionalization of pectic conjugate: From design to biomedical applications

Pectin exists extensively in nature and has attracted much attention in biological applications for its unique chemical and physical characteristics. Functionalized pectin, especially pectic conjugates, has given many possibilities for pectin to improve its properties and bioactivity as well as to deliver active molecules. To better exploit this strategy of pectic functionalization, this review presents in detail the structural modifications of pectin, different synthetic methods, and design strategies of pectic conjugates involving both traditional chemical and "green" approaches. Here, the research ideas and applications of pectic prodrugs as well as the development of preparation based on pectic conjugates are reviewed, with emphasis on crosslinking systems of functionalized pectin and nanosystems based on self-assembly techniques. We hope this review will provide comprehensive and valuable information for the functionalization and systematization of the pectic conjugate from synthesis to application.

Soluble dietary fiber from Prunus persica dregs alleviates gut microbiota dysfunction through lead excretion

Lead (Pb) can pollute the environment and food through air, water and other means, resulting in human exposure to lead pollution, and there is no threshold level of lead toxicity, even small doses of lead will have a range of harmful effects in humans. This study demonstrates for the first time that dietary addition of soluble dietary fiber (SDF) from Prunus persica dregs reduces lead bioaccumulation in mice, and eliminates lead through feces. Compared with lead-exposed mice, SDF supplementation effectively prevented lead-induced changes in colon tissue, and increased expression of tight junction proteins (ZO-1 and occludin). We analyzed the effects of SDF on gut microbiota and metabolites by a combination of 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. The results showed that SDF altered lead-induced perturbations in the layout and structure of the gut microbiota, including increased Desulfovibrio and Alistipes abundance and decreased Bacteroidetes abundance. Meanwhile, we also provide evidence that SDF supplementation alters the levels of amino acids, bile acids, and lipids in the gut, and that these metabolites are closely associated with microbiota with good lead binding capacity. Therefore, we speculate that SDF has the potential to provide a protective effect against intestinal damage by promoting lead excretion.

Immobilization on anionic metal(loid)s in soil by biochar: A meta-analysis assisted by machine learning

Metal pollution in soil has become one of the most serious environmental problems in China. Biochar is one of the most widely used remediation agents for soil metal pollution. However, the literature does not provide a consistent picture of the performance of biochar on the immobilization of anionic metal(loid)s, especially arsenic, in soil. To obtain a baseline understanding on the interactions of metals and biochar, 597 data records on four metal(loid)s (As, Cr, Sb and V) were collected from 70 publications for this meta-analysis, and the results are highlighted below. Biochar has a significant immobilization effect on anionic metal(loid)s in soil and reduces the bioavailability of these metals to plants. Subgroup analysis found that biochar could decrease the potential mobility of Cr, Sb and V, but the immobilization effect on As was not always consistent. Meanwhile, biochar pH and soil pH are the most key factors affecting the immobilization effect. To summarize, biochar can effectively immobilize Cr, Sb and V in soil, but more attention should be given to As immobilization in future applications. By regulating the properties of biochar and appropriate modification, anionic metal(loid)s in soil can be immobilized more effectively. Hence, both of the soil quality and crop quality can be improved.

Noval porous phosphate-solubilizing bacteria beads loaded with BC/nZVI enhanced the transformation of lead fractions and its microecological regulation mechanism in soil

Soil lead pollution becomes a serious environmental problem. Microbial remediation has received widespread attentions due to high efficiency and no secondary pollution. In this research, a noval porous spherical phosphate-solubilizing bacteria bead loaded with biochar/nZVI (Bio-bead) was used to passivate lead in soil, and the effects and microecological regulation mechanisms of this process were also investigated. The results showed that the pH, OM, and AP of soil in the Bio-bead group were increased and the ORP was decreased over time compared with the blank group. The proportion of stable (oxidizable and residue) fractions of lead in Bio-bead group (45%) was much higher than that of the blank group (35%). In addition, the result of microbial community structure showed that Bio-beads did not change the species of dominant bacterial, excepting the abundance of Pseudomonas increased significantly and the abundance of Sphingomonas reduced during remediation. Redundancy analysis showed that pH, OM, AP and the ratio of residual and oxidizable fractions lead in soil were positively correlated with the abundance of Pseudomonas, while ORP was negatively correlated with the abundance of Pseudomonas. These findings have proved that Bio-bead is a potential strategy for remediation of lead-contaminated soil even in complexed soils.

Chitosan-Modified Biochars to Advance Research on Heavy Metal Ion Removal: Roles, Mechanism and Perspectives

The chitosan-modified biochars BC-CS 1-1, BC-CS 2-1 and BC-CS 4-1 were subjected to the synthetic application of biochar from agriculture waste and chitosan for the adsorption of Cu(II), Cd(II), Zn(II), Co(II) and Pb(II) ions from aqueous media. The results displayed a heterogeneous, well-developed surface. Additionally, the surface functional groups carboxyl, hydroxyl and phenol, determining the sorption mechanism and confirming the thermal stability of the materials, were present. The sorption evaluation was carried out as a function of the sorbent dose, pH, phase contact time, initial concentration of the solution and temperature. The maximum value of q_t for Pb(II)-BC-CS 4-1, 32.23 mg/g (C₀ 200 mg/L, mass 0.1 g, pH 5, 360 min), was identified. Nitric acid was applied for the sorbent regeneration with a yield of 99.13% for Pb(II)-BC-CS 2-1. The produced sorbents can be used for the decontamination of water by means of the cost-effective and high-performance method.

A Taper-in-Taper Structured Interferometric Optical Fiber Sensor for Cu2+ ion Detection

Copper ion is closely associated with the ecosystem and human health, and even a little excessive dose in drinking water may result in a range of health problems. However, it remains challenging to produce a highly sensitive, reliable, cost-effective and electromagnetic-interference interference-immune device to detect Cu2+ ion in drinking water. In this paper, a taper-in-taper fiber sensor was fabricated with high sensitivity by mode-mode interference and deposited polyelectrolyte layers for Cu2+ detection. We propose a new structure which forms a secondary taper in the middle of the single-mode fiber through two-arc discharge. Experimental results show that the newly developed fiber sensor possesses a sensitivity of 2741 nm/RIU in refractive index (RI), exhibits 3.7 times sensitivity enhancement when compared with traditional tapered fiber sensors. To apply this sensor in copper ions detection, the results present that when the concentration of Cu2+ is 0-0.1 mM, the sensitivity could reach 78.03 nm/mM. The taper-in-taper fiber sensor exhibits high sensitivity with good stability and mechanical strength which has great potential to be applied in the detection of low Cu2+ ions in some specific environments such as drinking water.