Dan Zhao

Seagrass beds are highly efficient blue carbon ecosystems. Despite covering only 0.2 % of the global ocean area, they play a critical role in carbon stocks. However, baseline data on carbon stocks in temperate seagrass beds remain scarce, constraining the assessment of regional blue carbon potential. This study, focusing on the Changshan Archipelago in the North Yellow Sea (covering 8 islands, with a total survey area of 324.06 ha), aims to quantify the carbon stock of temperate seagrass beds in this region and analyze their driving factors. Through in-situ sampling and laboratory analysis of 39 stations, this study revealed that the temperate seagrass meadows in the North Yellow Sea exhibit a distinct mono-dominant community structure, with Zostera marina being the absolutely dominant species.

Biodegradable microplastics can adsorb organic pollutants in aquatic environments, worsening contamination. However, the molecular mechanisms behind this association remain poorly understood. This study employs molecular dynamics (MD) simulations and density functional theory (DFT) calculations to systematically explore the molecular interactions between polylactic acid (PLA) and the herbicide acetochlor (ACT) in freshwater and a seawater analog. Our simulations reveal that PLA demonstrates a notably higher adsorption capacity for organic pollutants in seawater than in pure water. This improvement stems from three main factors: (i) PLA forms a more compact microstructure under saline conditions, (ii) its specific surface area increases, offering more active adsorption sites, and (iii) surface adsorption between PLA and ACT molecules dominates. DFT calculations support the MD simulation findings, demonstrating stronger PLA–ACT interaction energies in seawater. The adsorption process is mainly driven by two fundamental mechanisms: van der Waals forces and hydrogen bonding. Importantly, dissolved salt ions in seawater act as molecular bridges, facilitating interactions between PLA and ACT. Based on these insights, the study proposes conservative, testable risk indicators and planning/management implications for coastal drainage infrastructure, contributing to broader sustainable development objectives.

Nitrogen‐doped carbon xerogels (NDCX) functionalized with various nitrogen functionalities are synthesized and used as supports for Pd nanoparticles (NPs) for selective hydrogenation reactions. The nitrogen doping not only induces the formation of surface basic sites that can connect with the Pd NPs by donating electrons to the unoccupied d orbital of Pd atoms and improve the Pd dispersion, but it also leads to C–N–C hybrid rings that can interact with substrates containing electron‐rich carbon rings, increasing the reaction activity. So far, the Pd/NDCX shows >95 % 1,5‐cyclooctadiene (COD) conversion and cyclooctene (COE) selectivity within 90 min for selective hydrogenation of COD to COE, and the activity can be recovered after washing the catalyst. Moreover, the catalyst can be applied to various substrates containing C=C and/or −NO₂ groups with considerable conversion and selectivity. Experimental results and DFT theoretical calculations suggest that the pyridinic nitrogen plays an important role in the reaction, as it is not only the adsorption site of Pd NPs for H₂ activation, but it also serves as the active site for COD activation. On these bases, a mechanism for the reaction is proposed.