Personal care products such as soaps, tooth paste and shampoo often contain pollutants such as parabens, which refer to the esters of parahydroxylbenzoic acid, and end up contaminating waters. Parabens react with halogens to produce compounds that are often more toxic and persistent. Here we review properties, toxicity, analysis and remediation of parabens and halogenated parabens, with focus on photocatalysis

The world is currently facing critical water and energy issues due to the growing population and industrialization, calling for methods to obtain potable water, e.g., by photocatalysis, and to convert solar energy into fuels such as chemical or electrical energy, then storing this energy. Energy storage has been recently improved by using electrochemical capacitors and ion batteries. Research is actually

Energy security and pollution are becoming critical issues in the context of climate change and the circular economy, calling for sustainable resources. Asteraceae species, commonly referred as the aster, daisy, composite, or sunflower family, are among the largest flowering plants with 23,000 species belonging to 1600 genera, and are a major source of biomass. Here we review botanical characteristics

Rapid urbanization and growing population have led to an increase in the consumption of resources, resulting in water pollution and energy shortage, calling for advanced solutions. For that, transition metal chalcogenides have gained interest because of their earth abundance, tunable bandgaps, modifiable elemental composition, catalytic stability, visible light activity and optoelectrical properties

The replacement of traditional and non-renewable resources by shifting towards renewable-based strategies is a strategy implemented by the European Union for a circular economy-based society. Among the various methods to produce renewable biofuels, hydrothermal carbonization is promising in terms of waste management. This technology involves thermochemical treatment of wastes at lower emperatures than

The demand for nanoparticles has been increasing rapidly in recent years due to their unique properties of interest for a wide range of applications. Several physical, chemical, or microorganisms-based methods can be employed in the synthesis of nanoparticles. However, classical processes are time-consuming, complicated, and raise environmental concerns due to the use of high energy and toxic chemicals

SARS-CoV-2 pandemic continues with emergence of new variants of concerns. These variants are fueling the third and fourth waves of pandemic across many nations. Here we describe the new emerging variants of SARS-CoV-2 and why they have enhanced infectivity and possess the ability to evade immunity.

The production of electricity is important, suitable and secure for human living, yet electricity is actually generated mainly from fossil fuels and nuclear energy, calling for renewable energies such as solar, wind and tidal renewable energies such as solar, wind and tidal. Solar energy is broadly harvested by various types of solar cells. Three-dimensional perovskite solar cell exhibits high power

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is still spreading all over the world. Although China quickly brought the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) under control in 2020, sporadic outbreaks have recurred from time to time. Outbreaks since June 2020 have suggested that the imported cold food supply chain is a major cause for the recurrence and spread of COVID-19.

In the context of climate change, soil is a major pool of stable carbon on earth, yet knowledge on soil carbon turnover is limited. The difference in 13C/12C content observed between C3 and C4 plant crops has been widely used to distinguish the sources of soil organic carbon under continuous monoculture, but not in C3–C4 rotations. We studied the stability of the δ13CSOC content and the effect of no

Polyethylene laminated disposable paper cups are commonly used as a container for hot drinks, yet there is limited knowledge on the transfer of contaminants from the cup to the drink. Here we poured 95◦C hot water in 14 cups, to simulate the preparation of hot beverage for daily use. We studied the water composition after 15 min by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and ion chromatography

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is causing major sanitary and socioeconomic issues, yet some locations are less impacted than others. While densely populated areas are likely to favor viral transmission, we hypothesize that other environmental factors could explain lower cases in some areas. We studied COVID-19 impact and population statistics in highly forested Mediterranean Italian regions

Heavy metals are occurring in the aquatic environment as the result of natural or anthropogenic inputs, and depending on concentration, availability and resilience time, they can differently affect the animal wellness. Numerous studies reveal that more than 99% of metals in seawater are complexed with organic ligands suggesting the major role of organic complexation on metal behavior. Moreover, the amphilic

The productivist model implemented after the second world war has succeeded in improving production to meet growing demands for food, but it has also deeply affected soil physicochemical properties, as well as of aboveground and belowground biodiversity. Alternative farming systems such as organic farming, biodynamic farming and soil conservation farming are actually developing to enhance the sustainability

Increasing population and urbanization call for smarter cities where the cycles of matter and energy are optimized, notably in buildings which are actually a source of pollution consuming a lot of energy. The efficiency of building energy has been improved by modelling earth-air heat exchangers, yet selecting the suitable models is challenging. Here we review data-driven earth-air heat exchanger models

Antibiotic pollution is a major health issue inducing antibiotic resistance and the inefficiency of actual drugs, thus calling for improved methods to clean water and wastewater. Here we review the recent development of heterojunction photocatalysis and application in degrading tetracycline. We discuss mechanisms for separating photogenerated electron–hole pairs in different heterojunction systems

Biogas production is rising in the context of fossil fuel decline and the future circular economy, yet raw biogas requires purification steps before use. Here, we review biogas upgrading using physical, chemical and biological methods such as water scrubbing, physical absorption, pressure swing adsorption, cryogenic separation, membrane separation, chemical scrubbing, chemoautotrophic methods, photosynthetic

Metal oxide nanoparticles display unique properties such large bandgap, low electric constant, low refractive index, high chemical stability, and vacant oxygen presence. Magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles are of particular interest because they are abundant, nontoxic, cheap, odorless, and stable. Here we review the synthesis and applications of MgO nanoparticles and their composites in various fields

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has raised the need of versatile means for virus decontamination. Millimeter waves are used in biochemical research in dynamic nuclear polarization enhanced nuclear magnetic resonance (DNP/NMR) spectroscopy. However, their efficiency in object decontamination for viruses has not been tested yet. Here we report the high efficiency

Environmental pollution by lead is an old, still unsolved health issue, calling for advanced remediation strategies. Here, we review lead toxicity, lead bioremediation with bacteria, and topics such as efflux, biosorption, exopolysaccharide, bioprecipitation, biomineralization, bioaccumulation and sequestration. Bacteria tune their response at the molecular level by expressing specific genes and proteins

To achieve the goal of green chemistry and sustainable development, catalyst-free reactions and use of naturally abundant resources are gaining importance. In last two decades, C–H functionalization has gained attention for the synthesis of organic molecules. Here, we report a catalyst-free cross-dehydrogenative coupling reaction promoted by visible light for the synthesis of 1,3-oxazines. When α-

Plastic particles of less than 5 mm size, referred as microplastics, have recently become a major environmental issue. While microplastics are well known in marine and lake systems, there have been less investigations in soils and groundwater. Here we review the origin, shape, impact, and mitigation strategies of soil and groundwater microplastics. We found that littering is the main origin of microplastics

Due to their antimicrobial and anticancer properties, silver nanoparticles are highly used in sectors such as textile, food production, purification, sanitization, and health care. This induces the release of nanoparticles in ecosystems, followed by potential adverse effects on living organims. While chemical toxicity of nanoparticles has been already discussed, so far, there is no review that compares

Phenolic pollution from wastewater induces harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems and human health, calling for advanced remediation methods. Common methods have a single purpose, e.g., contaminant degradation, whereas there is few knowledge on methods combining degradation and algal production. We coupled N-doped TiO2-coated photocatalysis with optical fibers and a microalgal biofilm to both remove

Nanotechnology has revolutionized the field of biomedical sciences with smart approaches of imaging and treatment. This transformation has led to the development of a new field named ‘nanomedicine’, which has provided prospects for personalized medicines and offers hope for some rare diseases. In this context, the ability to manipulate various nanomaterials to suit diverse applications is a characteristic

Research in green chemistry has recently focussed on designing reactions in water as a safe solvent, calling for catalysts that operate in aqueous solutions. In particular, supramolecular metal nanoparticles have been synthesized by associating macrocyclic compounds with transition metal nanoparticles, to produce water-dispersible catalytic systems of high performance and molecular recognition ability

Apple snails are one of the most survived fresh water invasive species that causes massive economic loss to vegetations, especially to the rice fields. They survive against many environmental stressors and are considered as a major pest in water-lodged cultivated area due to their intrusiveness, adaptation mechanisms and survivability. Therefore, there is a need for strategies to control their population

Chloroform is a toxic and persistent solvent that cannot be effectively removed from the environment by actual remediation methods. Chloroform removal using persulfate activated by iron nanoparticles has been tested but is limited by chloroform inertness and nanoparticle inactivation in the real environment. Here we hypothesized that tannic acid could improve the activation of persulfate with Fe/Ni

Adsorption is a major basic and applied phenomenon in many scientific disciplines. In particular, the design of adsorbents to remove pollutants from wastewater requires advanced knowledge of adsorption isotherms, which are useful tools to identify physicochemical factors that control adsorption performance. Recent modeling of adsorption isotherms has focused on the use of statistical physics. Here

The applications of green chemistry and industrial bioprocessing are becoming more popular to address concerns of pollution, climate change, global warming, circular bioeconomy, sustainable development goals and energy security. Both biological and thermochemical routes can play vital roles in transforming waste lignocellulosic biomass to high-value bioproducts. Lignocellulosic biomass contains essential

Where did the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) come from? Did it spread to 'patient zero' through proactive human-animal contact? Why did humans faced an increasing number of zoonotic diseases in the past few decades? In this article, we propose a new theory by which human pollution such as artificial lighting and noise accentuate pathogen shedding from bats and other wild

The COVID-19 pandemic has induced many issues for all societal sectors, in particular in the production and disposal of municipal solid waste. This may be because successive easing and reimposing of lockdown measures have deeply changed people's movements, consumers' behaviors and waste management. Previous studies have focused on the short-term effects of lockdowns on waste changes, yet there is little

Pure water will become a golden resource in the context of the rising pollution, climate change and the recycling economy, calling for advanced purification methods such as the use of nanostructured adsorbents. However, coming up with an ideal nanoadsorbent for micropollutant removal is a real challenge because nanoadsorbents, which demonstrate very good performances at laboratory scale, do not necessarily

As global temperatures continue to increase and human activities continue to expand, many countries and regions are witnessing the consequences of global climate change. Mongolia, a nomadic and picturesque landlocked country, has battled with ongoing desertification, recurring droughts, and increasingly frequent sandstorms in recent decades. Here we review the abrupt changes in the climate regime of

The recent discovery and synthesis of graphene materials have led to many applications in various fields such as medicine, energy and environment. Here, we review the synthesis, functionalization, properties and applications of graphene materials with focus on environmental applications such as detection and adsorption of pollutants, and photocatalysis. For instance, hybrid systems can detect pollutants at

Adulteration is an illegal practice often committed in food and cosmetic industries, yet rarely in environmental regulation compliance. The Chinese Ministry of Ecology and Environment recently issued a law prohibiting any intentional use of ‘interfering agents’ during wastewater compliance testing. For the first time, such illegal practices are brought to public attention, though they have been barely

Analytical scientists are actually developing sustainable methods for the analysis of environmental samples. In particular, replacing classical, toxic solvents by safer solvents is a principle of green chemistry. For instance, deep eutectic solvents, formed by mixing two or more components by hydrogen bonding, appear promising. Here, we review the use of deep eutectic solvents for liquid–liquid, liquid–solid

Plastic pollution is a global issue of increasing health concern, thus requiring innovative waste management. In particular, there is a need for advanced methods to identify and classify the different types of plastics. Near-infrared spectroscopy is currently operational in some waste-sorting facilities, yet remains challenging to discriminate different black plastics because black targets have low

There is few knowledge on the influence of geography, climate and socio-economy on pollutant levels. Therefore, here we studied atmospheric pollutants from both sides of the Hu line in China. The Hu line is a geographical line stretching from Heihe in the Northeast to Tengchong in the Southwest, and divides China into two approximately equal parts with a semi-arid region to the west and a semi-humid

Arsenic-contaminated water is a major concern in many areas worldwide, causing several diseases such as cancer. There is therefore a need for advanced methods to clean waters because conventional methods have drawbacks such as generation of hazardous sludge, heavy operation and high costs. Here we review arsenic sources, chemistry, toxicity and remediation methods. We discuss also sociological aspects

The outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 global pandemic (COVID-19) has affected billions of lives, posing critical challenges to the healthcare system, vaccine manufacturers, packaging scientists, and daily public activity. Biotechnological advances have allowed to create rapidly vaccines, yet the success of an efficient immunization mainly depends on the safe and timely delivery of vaccines.

Abrupt changes in food preferences and eating habits have induced an overlooked health risk during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). Indeed, emerging evidence points to a major shift to consumption of high-sodium foods during the pandemic lockdowns in the population from different countries and cultures. High-sodium foods have sodium contents exceeding 500 mg per 100 g, and many processed

The determination of the concentration of an environmental pollutant is not sufficient to assess the related health risk because this pollutant may not be bioavailable. Therefore, methods to determine pollutant bioavailability are more relevant to assess toxicity than measuring the total concentration. For instance, the diffusive gradient in thin films (DGT) is an in situ dynamic technique used to

Pollution by microplastics is of increasing concern due to their ubiquitous presence in most biological and environmental media, their potential toxicity and their ability to carry other contaminants. Knowledge on microplastics in freshwaters is still in its infancy. Here we reviewed 150 investigations to identify the common methods and tools for sampling microplastics, waters and sediments in freshwater

Growing concerns over climate change have prompted the quest for renewable energies to mitigate adverse impacts caused by the excessive use of fossil fuels. In particular, using waste and biomass as fuel precursors is currently under active research. Pyrolysis is a thermal conversion in an inert atmosphere, involving the rapid heating of feedstocks to produce oil, gas and intermediate chemicals. Here

Food waste is a major issue in the context of pollution, climate change, and the future circular economy. Composting kitchen waste is a promising method to recycle elements, yet the efficiency of composting is limited, calling for new processes that degrade rapidly and thoroughly organic matter. Here, we built a rapid laboratory-scale aerobic composting system, equipped with a water bath fueled with

Climate change and energy demand are calling for more sustainable fuels such as biomethane produced by anaerobic digestion of organic waste. Biochar addition to waste is presumed to enhance the efficiency of methane production, yet individual reports disclose contradictory results. Therefore, we performed a meta-analysis of 27 selected publications containing 156 paired measurements of control and

Wastewater remediation using microbial fuel cells (MFC) is an advanced method to produce energy and reduce environmental pollution, yet actual energy yields are low and mineral matter is hardly removed. Here we constructed a dual-membrane cylinder photo-microbial fuel cell (DCP-MFC), equipped with cation and anion exchange membranes, to produce electricity and microalgae, and to remove both organics

Carbon materials are of fundamental importance in the fields of energy, electronics, and the environment. Using petroleum pitch has been proposed as a sustainable method to fabricate carbon fibers, yet the process requires further advancements due to an decrease in pores during post-treatment. Here we hypothesized that dissolving micro–nanobubbles of CO2 in a pretreatment should favor the pore growth

Environmental pollution by organic pollutants is a serious concern which may be solved by photocatalytic degradation of pollutants, yet the efficiency of actual photocatalytic materials is limited. For instance, conventional MoS2 nanosheets tend to agglomerate, which hinders the access of pollutants to active sites. To overcome this challenge, we hypothesized that assembling MoS2 nanosheets on a mineral

Fossil fuel depletion and pollution are calling for alternative, renewable energies such as biofuels. Actual challenges include the design of efficient processes and catalysts to convert various feedstocks into biofuels. Here, we review nanoferrites heterogeneous catalysts to produce biodiesel from soybean and canola oil. For that, transesterification is the main synthesis route and offers simplicity

Anaerobic digestion of food waste appears promising to generate biogas in the context of the growing energy demand and the circular economy. In particular, anaerobic digestion causes less air and solid waste pollution compared to incineration, gasification and pyrolysis. Actual research on biogas production using food waste focuses on the performance of substrates such as manure and bacteria, yet few

The increasing contamination of environmental media is a serious health issue requiring advanced methods to detect actual and emerging pollutants. In particular, high-sensitivity sensors for monitoring water pollutants are under deep investigation. Here, we review the synthesis, optical properties and applications of carbon dots for sensing contaminants in water samples. Fluorescence-based sensors

Cyclodextrins are glucose macrocycles whose inclusional capabilities towards non-polar solutes can be modulated with the help of other macrostructures. The incorporation of cyclodextrin moieties into larger structures produces five types of new materials: crosslinked networks, functionalized chains, amphiphilic cyclodextrins, polyrotaxanes and nanocomposites. This review presents crosslinking and grafting

The iron dependence of antibiotic-resistant microbes represents an Achilles’ heel that can be exploited broadly. The growing global problem of antibiotic resistance of microbial pathogens wherein microbes become resistant to the very antibiotics used against them during infection is linked not only to our health uses but also to agribusiness practices and the changing environment. Here we review mechanisms

Converting waste biomass into biochar is a means for solving both environmental pollution and energy shortage. Here we transformed Eichhornia crassipes, a harmful floating plant, into a honeycomb-shaped and heteroatoms-rich biochar by KOH activation during carbonization, and we tested this biochar as anode for lithium-ion batteries. Results show that the biochar has a high surface area of 278.56 m2·g−1

Deep eutectic solvents have emerged in green chemistry only seventeen years ago and yet resulted in a plethora of publications covering various research areas and diverse fields of application. Deep eutectic solvents appear as promising alternatives to conventional organic solvents due to their straightforward preparation using highly accessible and natural compounds. They display also high tunability