Various industrial activities release heavy metal ions into the environment, which represent one of the major toxic pollutants owing to their severe effects on the environment, humans, and all living species. Despite several technological advances and breakthroughs, wastewater treatment remains a critical global issue. Traditional techniques are dedicated to extracting heavy metal ions from diverse wastewater origins, encompassing coagulation/flocculation, precipitation, flotation, and ion exchange. Their cost, side toxicity, or ineffectiveness often limit their large-scale use. Due to their adaptable design, simple operation, and reasonable cost, membrane filtration and adsorption have proven their efficiency in removing metals from wastewater. Recently, adsorption-based filters have appeared promising in treating water. Within this range, filters incorporating natural, synthetic, or hybrid adsorbents present an appealing alternative to conventional approaches. This review aims to list and describe the conventional and advanced wastewater treatment methods by comparing their efficiency, cost, and environmental impact. Adsorption-based filters were highlighted due to the significant advantages they can provide.

Catalytic transfer hydrogenation has emerged as a pivotal chemical process with transformative potential in various industries. This review highlights the significance of catalytic transfer hydrogenation, a reaction that facilitates the transfer of hydrogen from one molecule to another, using a distinct molecule as the hydrogen source in the presence of a catalyst. Unlike conventional direct hydrogenation, catalytic transfer hydrogenation offers numerous advantages, such as enhanced safety, cost-effective hydrogen donors, byproduct recyclability, catalyst accessibility, and the potential for catalytic asymmetric transfer hydrogenation, particularly with chiral ligands. Moreover, the diverse range of hydrogen donor molecules utilized in this reaction have been explored, shedding light on their unique properties and their impact on catalytic systems and the mechanism elucidation of some reactions. Alcohols such as methanol and isopropanol are prominent hydrogen donors, demonstrating remarkable efficacy in various reductions. Formic acid offers irreversible hydrogenation, preventing the occurrence of reverse reactions, and is extensively utilized in chiral compound synthesis. Unconventional donors such as 1,4-cyclohexadiene and glycerol have shown a good efficiency in reducing unsaturated compounds, with glycerol additionally serving as a green solvent in some transformations. The compatibility of these donors with various catalysts, substrates, and reaction conditions were all discussed. Furthermore, this paper outlines future trends which include the utilization of biomass-derived hydrogen donors, the exploration of hydrogen storage materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), catalyst development for enhanced activity and recyclability, and the utilization of eco-friendly solvents such as glycerol and ionic liquids. Innovative heating methods, diverse base materials, and continued research into catalyst-hydrogen donor interactions are aimed to shape the future of catalytic transfer hydrogenation, enhancing its selectivity and efficiency across various industries and applications.

Total hydroxyl radical (OH) reactivity measurements were conducted during the LANDEX intensive field campaign in a coniferous temperate forest located in the Landes area, southwestern France, during July 2017. In order to investigate inter-canopy and intra-canopy variability, measurements were performed inside (6 m) and above the canopy level (12 m), as well as at two different locations within the canopy, using a comparative reactivity method (CRM) and a laser photolysis–laser-induced fluorescence (LP-LIF) instrument. The two techniques were intercompared at the end of the campaign by performing measurements at the same location. Volatile organic compounds were also monitored at both levels with a proton transfer time-of-flight mass spectrometer and online gas chromatography instruments to evaluate their contribution to total OH reactivity, with monoterpenes being the main reactive species emitted in this forest dominated by Pinus pinaster Aiton. Total OH reactivity varied diurnally, following the trend of biogenic volatile organic compounds (BVOCs), the emissions and concentrations of which were dependent on meteorological parameters. Average OH reactivity was around 19.2 and 16.5 s⁻¹ inside and above the canopy, respectively. The highest levels of total OH reactivity were observed during nights with a low turbulence ($u^{*}\le \mathrm{0.2}$ m s⁻¹), leading to lower mixing of emitted species within the canopy and thus an important vertical stratification characterized by a strong concentration gradient. Comparing the measured and the calculated OH reactivity highlighted an average missing OH reactivity of 22 % and 33 % inside and above the canopy, respectively. A day–night variability was observed on missing OH reactivity at both heights. Investigations showed that during daytime, missing OH sinks could be due to primary emissions and secondary products linked to a temperature-enhanced photochemistry. Regarding nighttime missing OH reactivity, higher levels were seen for the stable and warm night of 4–5 July, showing that these conditions could have been favorable for the accumulation of long-lived species (primary and secondary species) during the transport of the air mass from nearby forests.

Total OH reactivity measurements were conducted during the LANDEX intensive field campaign in a coniferous temperate forest located in the Landes area, south-western France, during July 2017. In order to investigate inter-canopy and intra-canopy variability, measurements were performed inside (6 m) and above the canopy level (12 m), as well as at two different locations within the canopy, using a Comparative Reactivity Method (CRM) and a Laser Photolysis-Laser Induced Fluorescence (LP-LIF) instrument. The two techniques were intercompared at the end of the campaign by performing measurements at the same location. Volatile organic compounds were also monitored at both levels with a proton transfer-time of flight mass spectrometer and online gas Chromatography instruments to evaluate their contribution to total OH reactivity, with monoterpenes being the main reactive species emitted in this Pinus pinaster Aiton dominated forest. Total OH reactivity varied diurnally, following the trend of BVOCs of which emissions and concentrations were dependent on meteorological parameters. Highest levels of total OH reactivity were observed during nights with a low turbulence (u^* ≤ 0.2 m/s) leading to lower mixing of emitted species within the canopy and thus an important vertical stratification, characterized by a strong concentration gradient. By comparing the calculated OH reactivity from contributions of individually measured compounds to the measured OH reactivity, a discrepancy was seen at both heights mainly related to ambient temperature during day-time. It highlights that missing OH sinks could be due to temperature-dependent missing primary emissions or secondary products linked to a temperature-enhanced photochemistry. During night-time hours, atmospheric stability and relative humidity played a key role in the missing reactivity. Lower turbulence showed to be favourable for night-time chemistry, inducing a higher missing OH reactivity. Humid surfaces may have represented an additional sink for oxygenated compounds, escaping de facto total OH reactivity, and leading to lower or no missing OH reactivity.

Today’s environmental issues related to wastewater are being tackled by growing public concern and tighter international regulation. Pollutant removal from wastewater is still a very challenging task. The removal of heavy metals from industrial and agricultural wastewater is a complex environmental issue due to its potential health hazards. There are different methods used for wastewater treatment. However, these technologies are either frequently ineffective or generate secondary metabolites. Adsorption, a physicochemical method, has proven effective in eliminating low-concentration inorganic pollutants. Powdered activated carbon and natural powders have emerged as potential solutions in urban wastewater treatment. This study provides an overview of their applications and effectiveness in removing contaminants from wastewater, thereby improving the overall treatment efficiency and water quality. For this purpose, experiments have been performed using three types of powders: Saccharum officinarum powder and its powdered activated carbon as an adsorbent, and Luffa aegyptiaca Luffa aegyptiaca powder. This study focused on the adsorption treatment of natural powders influenced by different parameters (pH, infrared spectroscopy, contact time, concentration, mass and particle size) during laboratory experiments. By maintaining a few parameters and using natural powders without carbonization or prior activation, this study demonstrated that powdered activated carbon remains more effective and shows better results than natural powders.