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Lehmann A, Flaig M, Dueñas JF, Rillig MC. Surfactant-Mediated Effects on Hydrological and Physical Soil Properties: Data Synthesis. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2023; 57:19849-19859. [PMID: 37978924 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c05273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2023]
Abstract
Soils are under the threat of a multitude of anthropogenic factors affecting the complex interplay of various physical and hydrological soil processes and properties. One such factor is the group of surface-active compounds. Surfactants have a broad range of applications and can reduce solid-liquid interfacial forces and increase wettability and dispersion of particles. Surfactant effects are context-dependent, giving rise to a wide range of reported effects on different soil processes and properties. Here, we evaluate the evidence base of surfactant research on 11 hydrological and physical soil variables. Our goal was to identify knowledge gaps and test the robustness of the proposed surfactant effects. We found that the current knowledge base is insufficient to reach strong data-backed conclusions about the effects of surfactants in soils. We identified a unique case of bias in the data as a result of conflated patterns from laboratory and field studies. We could not support the hypothesis that the surfactant charge determines soil effects for any of the tested soil variables. We believe that further experiments on surfactant-mediated effects on soil properties and processes are urgently required, paying attention, in particular, to improving experimental design and data reporting standards.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anika Lehmann
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Maximilian Flaig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Juan F Dueñas
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias C Rillig
- Institute of Biology, Freie Universität Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
- Berlin-Brandenburg Institute of Advanced Biodiversity Research, 14195 Berlin, Germany
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Jayasankar P, KarthyayaniAmma R. Surfactants-surface active agents behind sustainable living. PHYSICAL SCIENCES REVIEWS 2022. [DOI: 10.1515/psr-2022-0130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Surfactants are surface active agents. They are mainly chemicals, when added to water will reduce the surface tension of water and thus increases wettability on the given surface. Surfactants normally carry hydrophilic and hydrophobic ends among which hydrophilic end connects to water layer. The hydrophobic part connects between aqueous phase and the given hydrophobic surface through the hydrophobic end. However, these surfactants act as emulsifying agents or foaming agents. Further the chemistry behind the action of surfactants is introduced for the readers. Surfactants can be classified based on origin, charge on heads, solubility of water etc. and is specified in this paper. Also synthesis of various types of surfactants is carefully incorporated in the chapter. The chapters dwells in detail the various sustainability related applications of surfactants which is relevant for sustainable living in the society.
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Magotra VK, Lee SJ, Kang TW, Inamdar AI, Kim DY, Im H, Jeon HC. High Power Generation with Reducing Agents Using Compost Soil as a Novel Electrocatalyst for Ammonium Fuel Cells. NANOMATERIALS 2022; 12:nano12081281. [PMID: 35457989 PMCID: PMC9029104 DOI: 10.3390/nano12081281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 04/02/2022] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Ammonium toxicity is a significant source of pollution from industrial civilization that is disrupting the balance of natural systems, adversely affecting soil and water quality, and causing several environmental problems that affect aquatic and human life, including the strong promotion of eutrophication and increased dissolved oxygen consumption. Thus, a cheap catalyst is required for power generation and detoxification. Herein, compost soil is employed as a novel electrocatalyst for ammonium degradation and high-power generation. Moreover, its effect on catalytic activity and material performances is systematically optimized and compared by treating it with various reducing agents, including potassium ferricyanide, ferrocyanide, and manganese dioxide. Ammonium fuel was supplied to the compost soil ammonium fuel cell (CS-AFC) at concentrations of 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 g/mL. The overall results show that ferricyanide affords a maximum power density of 1785.20 mW/m2 at 0.2 g/mL fuel concentration. This study focuses on high-power generation for CS-AFC. CS-AFCs are sustainable for many hours without any catalyst deactivation; however, they need to be refueled at regular intervals (every 12 h). Moreover, CS-AFCs afford the best performance when ferricyanide is used as the electron acceptor at the cathode. This study proposes a cheap electrocatalyst and possible solutions to the more serious energy generation problems. This study will help in recycling ammonium-rich wastewaters as free fuel for running CS-AFC devices to yield high-power generation with reducing agents for ammonium fuel cell power applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Verjesh Kumar Magotra
- Nano Information Technology Academy, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (V.K.M.); (S.J.L.); (T.W.K.)
| | - Seung Joo Lee
- Nano Information Technology Academy, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (V.K.M.); (S.J.L.); (T.W.K.)
| | - Tae Won Kang
- Nano Information Technology Academy, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (V.K.M.); (S.J.L.); (T.W.K.)
| | - Akbar I. Inamdar
- Division of Physics and Semiconductor Science, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (A.I.I.); (D.Y.K.); (H.I.)
| | - Deuk Young Kim
- Division of Physics and Semiconductor Science, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (A.I.I.); (D.Y.K.); (H.I.)
| | - Hyunsik Im
- Division of Physics and Semiconductor Science, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (A.I.I.); (D.Y.K.); (H.I.)
| | - Hee Chang Jeon
- Nano Information Technology Academy, Dongguk University, Jung-Gu, Seoul 100715, Korea; (V.K.M.); (S.J.L.); (T.W.K.)
- Correspondence:
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