Ammar and colleagues reviewed sources, mechanisms and methods for phytoremediation of soil contaminated with radioactive cesium and strontium.
As reported in: Ammar, Nouira, El Mouridi et al. (2024). Recent trends in the phytoremediation of radionuclide contamination of soil by cesium and strontium: Sources, mechanisms and methods: A comprehensive review. Chemosphere. doi:10.1016/j.chemosphere.2024.142273
Abstract only
A review of algae for plastic biodegradation and bioplastic production.
As reported in: Chia, Ying Tang, Khoo et al. (2020). Nature’s fight against plastic pollution: Algae for plastic biodegradation and bioplastics production. Environmental Science and Ecotechnology. doi:10.1016/j.ese.2020.100065
Compressible carbon sponges from delignified wood for cleaning up crude oil spills using Joule and solar heating.
Built / tested: oil sorbent sponges
As reported in: Wu, Huang, Liu et al. (2020). Compressible Carbon Sponges from Delignified Wood for Fast Cleanup and Enhanced Recovery of Crude Oil Spills by Joule Heat and Photothermal Effect. Advanced Functional Materials. doi:10.1002/adfm.202006806
Abstract only
Geissdoerfer and colleagues reviewed the literature to clarify how the circular economy relates to sustainability.
As reported in: Geissdoerfer, Savaget, Bocken et al. (2017). The Circular Economy – A new sustainability paradigm?. Journal of Cleaner Production. doi:10.1016/j.jclepro.2016.12.048
Matter and colleagues found over 95% of CO2 injected at the CarbFix site in Iceland turned into carbonate minerals in under 2 years.
As reported in: Matter, Stute, Snæbjörnsdottir et al. (2016). Rapid carbon mineralization for permanent disposal of anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions. Science. doi:10.1126/science.aad8132
Abstract only
Yang and colleagues showed mealworms degraded Styrofoam (polystyrene) in their gut within 24 hours and lived on it as sole diet for a month.
As reported in: Yang, Yang, Wu et al. (2015). Biodegradation and Mineralization of Polystyrene by Plastic-Eating Mealworms: Part 1. Chemical and Physical Characterization and Isotopic Tests. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/acs.est.5b02661
Abstract only
Parks and colleagues identified two genes, encoding a corrinoid protein and an iron-sulfur protein, that bacteria use to turn inorganic mercury into methylmercury; deleting either reduced methylmercury production without impairing growth.
As reported in: Parks, Johs, Podar et al. (2013). The Genetic Basis for Bacterial Mercury Methylation. Science. doi:10.1126/science.1230667
Abstract only
Van der Ent, Baker and Reeves reviewed reports of plants that hyperaccumulate metals and metalloids and the criteria for calling a plant a hyperaccumulator.
As reported in: van der Ent, Baker, Reeves et al. (2012). Hyperaccumulators of metal and metalloid trace elements: Facts and fiction. Plant and Soil. doi:10.1007/s11104-012-1287-3
Vymazal reviewed constructed wetlands for wastewater treatment from the first 1950s experiments in Germany to worldwide use.
As reported in: Vymazal (2010). Constructed Wetlands for Wastewater Treatment: Five Decades of Experience. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/es101403q
Abstract only
Lou and Nair reviewed greenhouse gas emissions from landfilling and composting across life-cycle activities.
As reported in: Lou, Nair (2009). The impact of landfilling and composting on greenhouse gas emissions – A review. Bioresource Technology. doi:10.1016/j.biortech.2008.12.006
Abstract only
Diener and colleagues found a feeding rate that balanced 41.8% organic material reduction with larval biomass production for black soldier fly waste conversion.
As reported in: Diener, Zurbrügg, Tockner (2009). Conversion of organic material by black soldier fly larvae: establishing optimal feeding rates. Waste Management & Research: The Journal for a Sustainable Circular Economy. doi:10.1177/0734242X09103838
Abstract only
Studied how humic acid adsorption affects surface charge and clumping of magnetite nanoparticles.
As reported in: Illés, Tombácz (2006). The effect of humic acid adsorption on pH-dependent surface charging and aggregation of magnetite nanoparticles. Journal of Colloid and Interface Science. doi:10.1016/j.jcis.2005.08.003
Abstract only
Rebel and colleagues modelled a Savannah River Site project where tritium-contaminated seep water is used to irrigate forest so trees transpire the tritium, keeping it out of surface waters, and compared irrigation strategies by efficiency (tritium transpired/applied).
As reported in: Rebel, Riha, Seaman et al. (2005). The use of dynamic modeling in assessing tritium phytoremediation. Environmental Geosciences. doi:10.1306/eg.06210404018
Abstract only
Wielinga and colleagues showed the iron-reducing bacterium Shewanella alga BrY, together with iron oxides, completely reduced toxic chromate (Cr(VI)) to Cr(III); reduction through iron was much faster than the bacteria's direct enzymatic reduction.
As reported in: Wielinga, Mizuba, Hansel et al. (2000). Iron Promoted Reduction of Chromate by Dissimilatory Iron-Reducing Bacteria. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/es001457b
Abstract only
Dushenkov and colleagues found sunflower roots removed uranium from water (rhizofiltration), concentrating it in the roots, and field-tested the system at a former uranium processing site in Ashtabula, Ohio.
As reported in: Dushenkov, Vasudev, Kapulnik et al. (1997). Removal of Uranium from Water Using Terrestrial Plants. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/es970220l
Abstract only
Newman and colleagues found hybrid poplars took up trichloroethylene (TCE) and degraded it to trichloroethanol, trichloroacetic acid and dichloroacetic acid, and also transpired measurable TCE.
As reported in: Newman, Strand, Choe et al. (1997). Uptake and Biotransformation of Trichloroethylene by Hybrid Poplars. Environmental Science & Technology. doi:10.1021/es960564w
Abstract only
Volesky and Holan reviewed metal biosorption by biomass, including waste fermentation biomass and seaweeds that removed lead and cadmium from very dilute solutions.
As reported in: Volesky, Holan (1995). Biosorption of Heavy Metals. Biotechnology Progress. doi:10.1021/bp00033a001
Abstract only
Bragg and colleagues showed that fertilizer applications after the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill significantly increased rates of oil biodegradation on shorelines.
As reported in: Bragg, Prince, Harner et al. (1994). Effectiveness of bioremediation for the Exxon Valdez oil spill. Nature. doi:10.1038/368413a0
Abstract only
Lovley and colleagues reported microbial reduction of uranium.
As reported in: Lovley, Phillips, Gorby et al. (1991). Microbial reduction of uranium. Nature. doi:10.1038/350413a0
Abstract only
Bumpus and colleagues showed the white rot fungus Phanerochaete chrysosporium degraded DDT, PCBs, a dioxin, lindane and benzo[a]pyrene to carbon dioxide using its lignin-degrading enzymes.
As reported in: Bumpus, Tien, Wright et al. (1985). Oxidation of Persistent Environmental Pollutants by a White Rot Fungus. Science. doi:10.1126/science.3925550
Abstract only