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Microplastics, which serve as sources and vector transport of organic contaminants in both terrestrial and marine environments, are emerging micropollutants of increasing concerns due to their potential harmful impacts on the environment, biota and human health. Microplastic particles have a higher affinity for hydrophobic organic contaminants due to their high surface area-to-volume ratio, particularly in aqueous conditions. However, recent findings have shown that the concentrations of organic contaminants adsorbed on microplastic surfaces, as well as their fate through vector distribution and ecological risks, are largely influenced by prevailing environmental factors and physicochemical properties in the aquatic environment. Therefore, this review article draws on scientific literature to discuss inherent polymers typically used in plastics and their affinity for different organic contaminants, as well as the compositions, environmental factors, and polymeric properties that influence their variability in sorption capacities. Some of the specific points discussed are (a) an appraisal of microplastic types, composition and their fate and vector transport in the environment; (b) a critical assessment of sorption mechanisms and major polymeric factors influencing organic contaminants-micro (nano) plastics (MNPs) interactions; (c) an evaluation of the sorption capacities of organic chemical contaminants to MNPs in terms of polymeric sorption characteristics including hydrophobicity, Van der Waals forces, π–π bond, electrostatic, and hydrogen bond interactions; and (d) an overview of the sorption mechanisms and dynamics behind microplastics-organic contaminants interactions using kinetic and isothermal models. Furthermore, insights into future areas of research gaps have been highlighted.

Soil organic matter (SOM) has a critical role in regulating soil phosphorus (P) dynamics and producing phytoavailable P. However, soil P dynamics are often explained mainly by the effects of soil pH, clay contents, and elemental compositions, such as calcium, iron, and aluminum. Therefore, a better understanding of the mechanisms of how SOM influences phytoavailable P in soils is required for establishing effective agricultural management for soil health and enhancement of soil fertility, especially P-use efficiency. In this review, the following abiotic and biotic mechanisms are discussed; (1) competitive sorption between SOM with P for positively charged adsorption sites of clays and metal oxides (abiotic reaction), (2) competitive complexations between SOM with P for cations (abiotic reaction), (3) competitive complexations between incorporation of P by binary complexations of SOM and bridging cations with the formation of stable P minerals (abiotic reaction), (4) enhanced activities of enzymes, which affects soil P dynamics (biotic reaction), (5) mineralization/immobilization of P during the decay of SOM (biotic reaction), and (6) solubilization of inorganic P mediated by organic acids released by microbes (biotic reaction).

The paper presents the results of studies on sorption and CO2 desorptions from coals from two Polish mines that differed in petrographic and structural properties. The tests were carried out on spherical and plane sheet samples. On the basis of the sorption tests, the effective diffusion coefficient was calculated on the plane sheet samples based on a proper model. Similar tests were performed on the spherical samples. Mathematical model results for plane sheet samples were compared with the most frequently chosen model for spherical samples. The kinetics of CO2 desorption from plane sheet samples were compared with the kinetics of sample shrinkage. In both samples, the shrinkage was about 0.35%. The size change kinetics and CO2 desorption kinetics significantly differed between the samples. In both samples, the determined shrinkage kinetics was clearly faster than CO2 kinetics.

The kinetics of adsorption phenomena are investigated in terms of local and non-local kinetic equations of the Langmuir type. The sample is assumed in the shape of a slab, limited by two homogeneous planar-parallel surfaces, in such a manner that the problem can be considered one-dimensional. The local kinetic equations in time are analyzed when both saturation and non-saturation regimes are considered. These effects result from an extra dependence of the adsorption coefficient on the density of adsorbed particles, which implies the consideration of nonlinear balance equations. Non-local kinetic equations, arising from the existence of a time delay characterizing a type of reaction occurring between a bulk particle and the surface, are analyzed and show the existence of adsorption effects accompanied by temporal oscillations.

With projections suggesting an increase in the global use of neonicotinoids, contemporary farmers can get caught on the “pesticide treadmill”, thus creating ecosystem side effects. The aim of this study was to investigate the sorption/desorption behavior of acetamiprid, imidacloprid, and thiacloprid that controls their availability to other fate-determining processes and thus could be useful in leveling the risk these insecticides or their structural analogues pose to the environment, animals, and human health. Sorption/desorption isotherms in four soils with different organic matter (OC) content were modelled by nonlinear equilibrium models: Freundlich’s, Langmuir’s, and Temkin’s. Sorption/desorption parameters obtained by Freundlich’s model were correlated to soil physico-chemical characteristics. Even though the OC content had the dominant role in the sorption of the three insecticides, the role of its nature as well as the chemical structure of neonicotinoids cannot be discarded. Insecticides sorbed in the glassy OC phase will be poorly available unlike those in the rubbery regions. Imidacloprid will fill the sorption sites equally in the rubbery and glassy phases irrespective of its concentration. The sorption of thiacloprid at low concentrations and acetamiprid at high concentrations is controlled by hydrophilic aromatic structures, “trapping” the insecticides in the pores of the glassy phase of OC.

Biochar and compost were two common amendments for the polluted soil. However, few studies were conducted to study the sorption of organic pollutants on combined biochar–compost and the relative adsorption mechanisms in mixed soil. The work had studied the adsorption and desorption behaviors of sulfamethoxazole (SMX) onto wetland soil after amended with biochar and/or compost. Moreover, the physicochemical and morphology properties of biochar/compost and amended soils were analyzed to discuss the relative adsorption mechanisms. Studies showed that the adsorption capacity of amended soils increased with the total amount of biochar or/and compost added, which was positively related to SOM, CEC, and EC of amended soils, but had nothing to do with the type of additives. Compared with the compost-treated treatments, the biochar-treated treatments generally achieved lower desorption rates, which also had demonstrated both different adsorption mechanisms. Pore filling and hydrophobic partitioning were the main adsorption mechanisms for biochar and compost, respectively. Though biochar owned developed pore structure, however, pore-filling of biochar was overwhelmingly weakened due to pore-blocking in mixed soils. Hence, in soil environment, compost is a kind of a more desirable amendment than biochar in absorbing and degrading organic pollutants.

Funding Information: The laboratory tests were financed by the Laboratori de Materials of the Barcelona School of Building Construction EPSEB, Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya—BarcelonaTech; “Proyecto J-02977 TED2021-129705B-C32” TERRA-CYCLE funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and European Union NextGeneration EU/PRTR, and CERIS Laboratories at NOVA University Lisbon. The authors acknowledge the financial support of the Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the project UIDB/04625/2025 of the research unit CERIS and the Chilean National Fund for Cultural Development and the Arts, National Funding Fund, Call 2024, n.º 734164. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 by the authors. Buildings of historic neighborhoods of Santiago de Chile are protected by a coating system composed of different layers of earth-based mortars, as part of a building culture that has been neglected and forgotten since the introduction of industrialized materials but still exists in many buildings. This study presents preliminary results from ongoing research that explores the hygroscopic capacity of this vernacular coating system and the impact of incorporating recent finishing layers into traditional construction practices. The investigation focuses on identifying materials and techniques typical of traditional Chilean coatings, highlighting their role in enhancing the durability of historic buildings, improving user comfort, and promoting environmental sustainability. It contributes to the conservation of historic buildings and their reuse, as well as to the health of its inhabitants, due to its contribution to hygrometric regulation. This article focuses on this last purpose, through the identification and characterization of the coating system and its finishing layer materials, and a comparative sorption/desorption test of four case studies with these vernacular coatings. This study began with the sample extraction in situ, followed by its observation and cataloguing. Stratigraphic and stereo microscope analysis of the finishing layers were carried out to identify them. The characterization of the finishing materials was performed using FTIR-ATR and SEM-EDX tests. The sorption/desorption test was performed with a set of original complete samples of the four case studies. Subsequently, another set was prepared with the removal of the finishing layers in order to compare their influence on the hygroscopicity of the coating systems. The results elucidate the variety of materials employed on the finishing layer of these coatings, which are often superimposed, revealing renovations and reparations over time. The influence of these finishing materials on sorption properties of the coating system (the scratch and base coats) is exposed by comparing the samples with and without them.

As the most common filler in stormwater treatment, zeolite (NZ-Y) has good cation exchange capability and stabilization potential for the removal of heavy metal from aqueous solutions. In this study, sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and NZ-Y were selected to preparing new adsorbent (SDS-NZ) by using a simple hydrothermal method. The sorption–desorption performance and mechanism of Cu(II) onto SDS-NZ were investigated. The results showed that the sorption of Cu(II) on SDS-NZ was in accordance with the pseudo-second-order kinetic model with an equilibrium time of 4 h. The sorption behavior fitted Langmuir isotherm with a saturation sorption capability of 9.03 mg/g, which was three times higher than that of NZ-Y. The modification of SDS increases the average pore size of NZ-Y by 3.96 nm, which results in a richer internal pore structure and more useful sorption sites for Cu(II) sorption. There was a positive correlation between solution pH values and sorption capability of Cu(II) in the range of 3.0–6.0. With the ionic strength increased, the sorption capability of Cu(II) onto SDS-NZ first decreased and then increased, which may be attributed to competitive sorption and compression of the electronic layer. The desorption of Cu(II) on SDS-NZ was favored by the increase in SDS concentration and ionic strength and decrease in solution pH values. The application of SDS-NZ in runoff improved the leaching risk of Cu(II). After several cycles, the ability of reused SDS-NZ to efficiently adsorb most heavy metals was verified with removal rates above 99%. Graphical abstract

Perovskite-type Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3-δ and Co/Ti-substituted Ba0.15Sr0.85B0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (B=Co, Ti) oxides were prepared by the solid-state reaction method. Structural stability, sintering microstructures, and temperature-swing oxygen sorption uptake properties of the Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3-δ and Co/Ti-doped Ba0.15Sr0.85B0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (B=Co, Ti) oxides, were investigated by in situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy–energy dispersion spectra (SEM–EDS), and thermogravimetry (TG) techniques. Crystal parameters and thermal expansion coefficients (CTEs) for the Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3-δ and Co/Ti-substituted Ba0.15Sr0.85B0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (B=Co, Ti) oxides were obtained. The high-temperature oxygen sorption uptake properties (by the temperature-swing manner from 300 °C up to 850, 900, and 925 °C) of Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3-δ and Co/Ti-substituted Ba0.15Sr0.85B0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (B=Co, Ti) oxides, were investigated under the flowing air atmosphere by a dynamic TG technique. The oxygen sorption uptake capacities of 16.8, 17.5, 15.4 mL O2 (STP)/g oxide for the as-synthesized Ba0.15Sr0.85FeO3-δ and Ba0.15Sr0.85B0.15Fe0.85O3-δ (B=Co, Ti) oxide powders are obtained in the intermediate temperature range of 300–850 °C, respectively.Graphical abstract

Phosphate (P) is the plant macronutrient with, by far, the lowest solubility in soil. In soils with low P availability, the soil solution concentrations are low, often below 2 [µmol P/L]. Under these conditions, the diffusive P flux, the dominant P transport mechanism to plant roots, is severely restricted. Phosphate is sorbed into various soil solids, Fe/Al oxides, clay minerals and, sometimes overlooked, humic Fe/Al surfaces. The immobilization of P in soil is often the result of the diffusion of P into the internal surfaces of oxides or humic substances. This slow reaction between soil and P further reduces the availability of P in soil, leading to P fixation. The solubilization of soil P by root-released carboxylates is a promising way to increase the acquisition and uptake of P from P-fixing soils. Citrate and, sometimes, oxalate are effective with respect to additional P solubilization or P mobilization, which may help increase the diffusive P flux into the roots by increasing the P solution concentrations in the rhizosphere. The mobilization of humic-associated P by carboxylates may be an effective way to improve soil P solubility. Not only orthophosphate anions are mobilized by root-released carboxylates, but also higher phosphorylated inositol phosphates, as the main part of P esters in soil are mobilized by carboxylates. Because of the rather strong bonding of higher phosphorylated inositol phosphates to the soil solid phase, the mobilization step by carboxylates appears to be essential for plants to acquire inositol-P. The ecological relevance of P mobilization by carboxylates and its effect on the uptake of P by crops and grassland species are, at best, partially understood. Plant species which form cluster roots such as white lupin (Lupinus albus L.) or yellow lupin (Lupinus luteus L.) release high rates of carboxylates, mainly citrate from these root clusters. These plant species acquire fixed or low available P which is accessible to plants at rates which do not satisfy their P demand without P mobilization. And white lupin and yellow lupin make soil P available to other plants in mixed cropping systems or for subsequent plant species in crop rotations. The mobilization of P by carboxylates is probably also important for legume/grass mixtures for forage production. Species such as alfalfa, red clover or white clover release carboxylates. The extent of P mobilization and P uptake from mobilized P by legume/grass mixtures deserves further research. In particular, which plant species mostly benefit from P mobilization by legume-released carboxylates is unknown. Organic farming systems require such legume/grass mixtures for the introduction of nitrogen (N) by forage legumes into their farming system. For this agricultural system, the mobilization of soil P by carboxylates and its impact on P uptake of the mixtures are an important research task.