Converting 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) to 2,5-tetrahydrofurandimethanol (THFDM) is a critical route for biomass valorization. In this study, we designed a silica-supported Ni-WOx/SiO2 catalyst for this reaction, which showed high initial activity with near-complete HMF conversion and a 95.64% THFDM yield under mild aqueous conditions (90 °C, 5 MPa H2, 4 h). This performance originates from a synergistic Ni-WOx interaction that promotes furan ring hydrogenation, and no significant sintering was observed. However, selectivity progressively declines upon recycling despite stable conversion. Comprehensive characterizations (TGA, liquid-phase ICP, BET, and HRTEM) rule out graphitic carbon deposition, actual tungsten leaching (<0.34%), and metal sintering as primary causes. Instead, the selectivity loss is a dual-pathway deactivation: physical masking of critical Ni0-WOx active sites by strongly adsorbed humin-like oligomers, and irreversible thermal collapse of the mesoporous SiO2 support during high-temperature regeneration. This mechanistic elucidation provides valuable guidance for rationally designing more durable Ni-based catalysts for aqueous-phase biomass conversion.

Contact-electro-catalysis (CEC) offers a sustainable strategy for water remediation by converting mechanical energy into chemical energy. However, the practical application of CEC is impeded by the scarcity of catalysts that simultaneously possess high stability, interfacial charge transfer and sustainability. In this study, a porous fluorinated silica nanomaterial (F-SiO2) was fabricated from natural one-dimensional (1D) attapulgite (ATP) through acid-thermal treatment and fluorosilane grafting. The retained fibrous architecture and porous structure facilitate mass transport and improve the accessibility of active sites, while surface fluorination regulates the interfacial electronic structure and promotes charge transfer to adsorbed H2O and O2. Under ultrasonic irradiation, F-SiO2 achieved over 99% degradation of methyl orange, methylene blue, and rhodamine B within 90 min. The catalyst also maintained high degradation efficiency over 10 consecutive cycles and exhibited stable performance across a broad pH range of 3-11 and in the presence of common interfering ions. Radical scavenging experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance measurements indicated the involvement of ·OH and ·O2[-]/·OOH -derived reactive species in the degradation process. Density functional theory calculations further suggested that fluorination modifies the electronic structure of the silica surface and lowers the energy barriers for H2O dissociation and O2 activation, facilitating reactive oxygen species generation. This work demonstrates a practical strategy for converting natural fibrous minerals into efficient and reusable CEC catalysts for organic pollutant degradation.

The chemical recycling of waste polyethylene terephthalate (PET) into high-value terephthalic acid (TPA) under mild conditions remains a significant challenge. Herein, we construct a dual-active-site Au/ATP catalyst via electronic metal-support interactions (EMSI) by supporting Au on inexpensive attapulgite (ATP). Under optimal conditions (200 °C, 1 MPa Ar, 4 h), this catalyst achieves near-complete conversion of PET with a terephthalic acid (TPA) yield of 91.76 ± 1.65%, and is also effective for actual waste plastic bottle flakes. The EMSI stabilizes Au nanoparticles, modulates Lewis acidity to suppress side reactions, and enables selective ester-bond cleavage without affecting the benzene ring or CC bonds. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), work-function analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations show that the EMSI effect drives electron transfer from Au to ATP, generating Au[δ+] species. These species can effectively polarize the CO bond to generate an electron-deficient intermediate. Meanwhile, ATP provides an adsorption and activation platform for H2O, promoting the generation of nucleophilic *OH. The synergy of these two sites enables highly performance depolymerization. This work provides a sustainable strategy for polyester chemical recycling and the value-added upgrading of low-grade mineral resources.

In this study, an environmentally friendly, highly selective, and sensitive electrochemical sensor was developed for the simultaneous determination of antibiotic metronidazole (MTR) and pesticide nitenpyram (NTP) using a calcium zirconate@attapulgite-modified glassy carbon electrode (CaZrO3@ATP/GCE). The hybrid nanocomposite was synthesized by a hydrothermal and simple sonochemical route that enabled the uniform deposition of CaZrO3 nanoparticles on the fibrous attapulgite (ATP) porous structures to form a highly conductive and electroactive nanocomposite. The hybrid nanocomposite was suggesting the CaZrO3 and ATP network exhibit synergistic and highly surface catalytic activity. Using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV), the sensor exhibited high selectivity and strong sensitivity (MTR: 0.7398 μA μM[-1] cm[-1] & NTP: 0.4869 μA μM[-1] cm[-1]) with detection ranges of MTR: 0.1 to 1525.1 μM (detection limit of 0.033 μM) and NTP: 0.2-945 μM (detection limit of 0.065 μM). The fabricated electrodes were interference-free during simultaneous detection of relevant compounds, high reproducibility and stability, suggesting those systems were ready for practical, portable applications in environmental monitoring. Real-sample validation of sediment water, pond water, human serum, and urine are reported, with exceptional recovery values (∼96.7-100.8%) and the HPLC method also showed satisfactory recoveries (98.9-101%) representing sensor reliability vis-a-vis complex matrices. This work represents the first demonstration of a CaZrO3@ATP hybrid nanocomposite as a platform for the provision of electrochemical sensing, premium, inexpensive, and scalable strategies for multi-residue ranging from environmental immunology to human biofluids, bridging fundamental gaps in the environmental-health surveillance and food safety nexus.

To address challenges associated with the water-food nexus under climate change and population growth, a multifunctional cellulose-based superabsorbent hydrogel (L-CF/CMCAA-1ATP) was developed by incorporating carboxyl-functionalized lotus cellulose fibers (L-CF) derived from waste lotus stems via deep eutectic solvent extraction and spray drying into a carboxymethyl cellulose/acrylic acid/attapulgite hydrogel network. Under optimized conditions, the L-CF/CMCAA-1ATP hydrogel exhibited an equilibrium swelling capacity of 1979 g/g in deionized water and retained 74.37% of absorbed water after 250 min at 75 °C. Soil application significantly improved water-holding capacity (40.11% to 56.55%) and maintained 34.41% water retention after 21 days. Additionally, cumulative nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium losses were reduced by 28.84%, 28.56%, and 42.23%, respectively, after five leaching cycles, with DFT calculations indicating that nutrient retention arises from hydrogen-bonding interactions with carboxyl, hydroxyl, and siloxane groups in the hydrogel network. Agricultural assays demonstrated enhanced maize growth, with chlorophyll content increasing by 21.56% compared with the control. Cell viability remained above 95% at all tested concentrations, confirming low cytotoxicity. These results demonstrate that the L-CF/CMCAA-1ATP superabsorbent hydrogel combines excellent water absorbency, water retention, nutrient conservation, plant growth promotion, and low in vitro cytotoxicity, highlighting its potential as a waste-valorization approach for utilizing agricultural residues and improving water and nutrient management in agriculture.

Membrane fouling remains a major challenge limiting the long-term operation of membrane processes for oily wastewater treatment. Inspired by the fluid-regulating function of intestinal villi, a biomimetic ZnO/attapulgite (ATP) ceramic membrane with hierarchical villus-like micro-nanostructures was fabricated via in situ growth of ZnO nanoparticles on ATP. Strong interfacial bonding between ZnO and ATP ensured structural stability and endowed the membrane with superhydrophilic/underwater superoleophobic wettability. The membrane achieved a high permeance of 917.85 L·m[-2]·h[-1]·bar[-1] and complete emulsion rejection during oil-water separation. After simple hydraulic cleaning, a flux recovery ratio of 82% was maintained, demonstrating excellent antifouling performance and operational stability. CFD simulations revealed that the hierarchical architecture enhanced hydraulic scouring through microvortex-induced interfacial shear, mitigating foulant deposition. MD simulations further showed that ZnO modification strengthened interfacial hydration, promoting the formation of a stable hydration layer and reducing oil adhesion. Together with the surface negative charge and antibacterial activity of ZnO, these effects synergistically enhanced membrane antifouling performance. This work elucidates the antifouling mechanism governed by interfacial fluid dynamics and provides a new strategy for designing high-performance membranes for complex oily wastewater treatment.

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) poses significant threats to both health and the economy. Recently, integrated technologies have emerged as a novel detoxification strategy. However, most current research remains at the laboratory stage, impeded by high costs, unknown toxicity of degradation products, and complex, time-consuming processes. In this study, a promising adsorption-biocatalytic system for AFB1 detoxification using engineered attapulgite-laccase composites (L-AATP) was constructed. L-AATP exhibited greater stability than laccase. Moreover, it displayed a strong detoxification ability, achieving a detoxification efficiency of 670 ng/mg. The 13 putative AFB1 degradation products were tentatively assigned by LC-MS, and three potential degradation pathways were proposed with support from density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Theoretical calculations suggested that the furan ring double bond may be a susceptible site for electrophilic addition, while lactone-ring hydrolysis and opening were also thermodynamically feasible. Toxicity assessment using the T.E.S.T. program predicted that most degradation intermediates generated during L-AATP-mediated detoxification may have lower toxicity than AFB1. An in vitro viability assay demonstrated low cytotoxicity of L-AATP to IPEC-J2 cells. To assess the potential applicability of immobilized laccase, its performance was evaluated in contaminated peanut meal under simulated gastrointestinal conditions. A straightforward detoxification procedure was established: blending L-AATP with contaminated peanut meals at a mass ratio of 1:1000, which was appropriate when contamination levels do not surpass 300 μg/kg. In addition, L-AATP was an easy-to-operate, low-cost, long-term effective detoxifying agent, with negligible nutritional impact on peanut meals. This work not only developed a novel mycotoxin detoxifier but also provides new insights into the joint application of multiple technologies to enhance detoxification efficacy.

Potassium metal batteries (PMBs) are promising candidates for next-generation large-scale energy storage owing to their high energy density and cost-effectiveness. However, their rate capability and cycling stability are severely hindered by sluggish K[+] transport kinetics, uncontrolled dendrite growth, and fragile solid electrolyte interphase (SEI) at the K anode. Herein, a hierarchically porous three-dimensional (3D) host integrating graphene oxide (GO) and attapulgite (ATP) is fabricated by direct ink writing (denoted 3DP-GO/ATP), combining strong potassiophilicity with anion affinity. Its interconnected porous architecture provides continuous ion-transport pathways, facilitating rapid K[+] transport. The potassiophilic sites lower the K nucleation barrier and promote dendrite-free K deposition, whereas the strong anion affinity drives interfacial FSI- enrichment and favors the formation of an inorganic-rich SEI. The resulting K||3DP-GO/ATP asymmetric batteries deliver stable cycling for 2750 cycles (5500 h), while the 3DP-GO/ATP@K||3DP-GO/ATP@K symmetric batteries sustain stable operation for over 3750 h at 0.5 mA cm[-2]/0.5 mAh cm[-2]. When paired with a perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) cathode, the full batteries retain a reversible capacity of 93.56 mAh g[-1] after 1000 cycles at 20C and remain reversibly operational at 100C. This strategy enables synergistic regulation of K deposition and interfacial chemistry, promoting high-rate and long-life PMBs.

A functional chitosan/oxidized dextran hydrogel (CS-MCDs/ODex) with enhanced antimicrobial and antioxidant properties was developed by incorporating carbon dots (MCDs) derived from recycled antibiotic waste. MCDs prepared from moxifloxacin hydrochloride via attapulgite adsorption and one-step hydrothermal carbonization exhibited enhanced antimicrobial activity and newly acquired strong antioxidant capacity that the precursor lacked. The hydrogel network was formed through dynamic imine bonding between CS and ODex, with additional hydrogen bonding between MCDs and the polymer matrix further stabilizing the structure. The composite hydrogel exhibited excellent injectability, self-healing ability, and pH-responsive swelling, degradation, and release behavior, with faster degradation and MCDs release under mildly acidic conditions due to the acid-labile Schiff-base bonds. Incorporation of MCDs enhanced the mechanical stability of the hydrogel, with improved compressive strength and rupture strain. The resulting CS-MCDs/ODex hydrogel exhibited synergistic antimicrobial and antioxidant effects in a fresh produce model. This work offers an eco-friendly strategy to upcycle pharmaceutical waste into value-added nanomaterials while enhancing the bioactivity of polysaccharide-based hydrogels for antimicrobial and antioxidant coating applications.

Microbially induced calcium carbonate precipitation (MICP) is a promising biotechnology for environmental remediation; however, the high cost of conventional chemical-grade calcium sources limits its large-scale scalability. This study evaluated the feasibility of utilizing an aqueous extract of natural attapulgite clay as a sustainable, low-cost calcium source for MICP-mediated arsenic (As) immobilization in both aqueous and soil systems. Among the tested minerals, Baiyin attapulgite (group B) exhibited the highest calcium content (62,808.94 mg kg[-1]) and minimal toxic metal impurities, providing a favorable chemical matrix for biomineralization. At an optimal solid-to-liquid ratio of 1:10, Lysinibacillus fusiformis LF and Enterococcus LZU-1 successfully induced calcite precipitation driven by the attapulgite extract. In batch aqueous remediation experiments (20 days), the attapulgite extract significantly enhanced As removal efficiency compared to the controls; As removal rates peaked at 66.4% for strain LZU-1 (with LZ1 extract) and 65.8% for strain LF (with group B extract), drastically outperforming the standard CaCl2 groups (31.2-37.3%) and blank controls (21.8-24.5%). Concurrently, soil incubation experiments (30 days) demonstrated that the combined application of attapulgite and MICP bacteria reduced the highly bioavailable exchangeable As fraction from 0.115 to approximately 0.03 mg kg[-1], while effectively driving its transformation into more stable carbonate-bound and organic-bound fractions without causing secondary soil salinization. Morphological and mechanistic analyses revealed that, compared to the well-defined euhedral crystals in the CaCl2 control, the precipitates mediated by the clay extract exhibited distinctly irregular, defect-rich rhombohedral structures. This structural disruption was governed by the natural matrix effect of attapulgite, which simultaneously supplied dissolved Ca[2+] and provided an abundance of fine clay fragments, calcite micro-grains, and associated amorphous Fe/Al/Mn-bearing phases. These constituents acted as physical scaffolding and heterogeneous nucleation sites that became embedded in the growing CaCO3 lattice, driving the formation of highly reactive, defect-rich clay-calcite-arsenic composite precipitates that efficiently encapsulated arsenate. Mantel analysis further revealed that the remediation efficiency was significantly correlated with key environmental variables including Ni, V, Ca. These findings highlight the dual-system potential of natural attapulgite as an inexpensive, eco-friendly calcium alternative for sustainable MICP-based remediation of As-contaminated water and agricultural soils.

Attapulgite (ATP; palygorskite) is a fibrous magnesium aluminum silicate that can reinforce hydrated polymer networks, provide a surface for molecular interactions, and participate in formulation-dependent ion or drug delivery. Although ATP has been studied most extensively in bone-oriented composites, its more distinctive role in cartilage repair may be as a spatially controlled regulator of the scaffold microenvironment rather than as a uniformly distributed bioactive filler. This review therefore examines ATP from a cartilage-first perspective. Direct ATP evidence, effects of modified ATP, performance of complete drug-loaded formulations, and cross-material extrapolations are considered separately. Current cartilage data support injectability, shear-thinning, photocrosslinking, mechanical reinforcement, and sustained intra-articular delivery but do not yet establish durable hyaline cartilage regeneration. In osteochondral constructs, ATP is more plausibly restricted to the calcified-cartilage interface or subchondral region, where reinforcement and mineral-associated functions may be beneficial, while high or uniform cartilage-side loading could increase stiffness, hypertrophy, or ectopic mineralization. This interpretation leads to testable design rules: define the ATP material fingerprint, map dose and spatial distribution, distinguish the true carrier phase, and assess cartilage matrix quality, lubrication, anti-hypertrophic stability, interface mechanics, persistence, and synovial safety. ATP should thus be developed as a dose-controlled and spatially restricted component whose value depends on material-tissue matching and direct mechanistic validation.

This study evaluated the effects of attapulgite (APT) combined with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) and Limosilactobacillus reuteri (LR) on growth performance, intestinal barrier function, immune response, and cecal microbiota in broiler chickens, aiming to develop an effective antibiotic alternative. In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion demonstrated that APT significantly improved the survival of LP and LR, with scanning electron microscopy confirming bacterial adsorption onto APT. A total of 160 one-day-old broilers were assigned to dietary treatments, and growth performance, nutrient digestibility, serum biochemical and immunological indices, intestinal morphology, tight junction protein expression, cecal microbiota, and metabolomic profiles were analyzed. The combined APT-probiotic treatment significantly improved average daily gain and feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05), with effects comparable to antibiotic supplementation. It enhanced serum immunoglobulins (IgA, IgG, IgM) and IL-10 levels while reducing IL-6, and increased antioxidant capacity. Intestinal barrier integrity was improved, as indicated by increased villus height-to-crypt depth ratio and upregulation of ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin1, and MUC2. Microbiota analysis revealed enrichment of Bacteroidetes and short-chain fatty acid-producing genera, accompanied by increased concentrations of acetate, butyrate, and valerate (P < 0.05). Metabolomics further indicated enhanced pathways related to energy metabolism and antioxidant defense. In conclusion, APT-enhanced probiotic supplementation improves growth performance and gut health by modulating the microbiota-metabolite axis, highlighting its potential as a sustainable antibiotic alternative in poultry production.

Microplastics (MPs) are emerging disruptors to soil heavy metal remediation, yet how different polymer types undermine mineral-mediated in-situ immobilization remains unclear. Using a multi-omics approach (16S rRNA gene sequencing, metagenomics, transcriptomics and metabolomics), we aimed to elucidate the polymer-specific mechanisms by which polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) residues destabilize palygorskite-immobilized cadmium (Cd) in paddy soil, at both the soil and microbial levels. PET and PVC differentially induced the remobilization of palygorskite-immobilized Cd (F1: +132.43% and 85.52%) via distinct rhizosphere pathways. At the soil/plant level, PET enriched PETase-carrying Acidobacteriota and suppressed the ammonium transporter gene OsNRT2.3, lowering rhizosphere pH from 7.05 to 6.30. This acidification was associated with the remobilization of mineral-bound Cd and increased brown rice Cd from 0.03 to 0.06 mg/kg. PVC, in contrast, did not acidify the rhizosphere but instead induced severe root oxidative stress (MDA +78%, POD +60%), likely impairing root-barrier integrity and enhancing Cd uptake. At the microbial level, PET enriched keystone taxon Gaiella via homogeneous selection (HoS), supporting stress adaptation through branched-chain amino acid metabolism, whereas PVC redirected microbial carbon flux toward the pentose phosphate pathway and increased the genetic potential for acetate-dependent methanogenesis (acs +22.67%). These findings demonstrate that MPs compromise the durability of Cd immobilization through polymer-specific rhizosphere processes, with distinct ecological trade-offs, providing critical insights for heavy metal remediation in microplastic-polluted paddy soils.

Attapulgite (ATP)-loaded wet-spun polyurethane (PU) fibers were produced to investigate the effect of ATP on the surface structure and liquid interaction behavior of PU fibers under static immersion. ATP incorporation changed the surface morphology of PU fibers from smooth and compact to rougher and more porous structures, as confirmed by SEM-EDS and BET analyses. ATP incorporation increased BET surface area from 2.236 to 17.144 m[2]/g and the total pore volume from 0.0050 to 0.0755 cm[3]/g. These structural changes promoted water uptake and methylene blue interaction by improving wetting-assisted liquid penetration and dye diffusion through accessible mesoporous pathways. ATP incorporation also improved the thermal and mechanical behavior of the fibers at appropriate loading levels. The onset degradation temperature increased from 252.35 °C for neat PU to 270.53 °C with 3 wt.% ATP loading. The highest tensile strength value of 10.026 MPa was achieved at 1 wt.% ATP loading. Pearson correlation and principal component analyses showed that methylene blue interaction was more closely associated with pore diameter and pore volume than with ATP content alone. The results also indicate that ATP incorporation is an effective strategy for tailoring the pore accessibility, liquid interaction, and structure-dependent performance of wet-spun PU composite fibers.