Min Cai
Current Organizations / Institutes
The organizations/institutes from the scholar's latest article
Research Subjects
Min Cai has a total of 10 co-authors. Here are the top co-authors by number of shared publications:
- Naxin Cui
Eco-Environmental Protection Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
3 shared publications - Xu Zhang
Eco-Environmental Protection Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
3 shared publications - Li Zhou
Eco-Environmental Protection Research Institute, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
2 shared publications - Guifa Chen
Institute of Eco-Environmental and Plant Protection, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
1 shared publication - Guifa Chen
Institute of Eco-Environmental and Plant Protection, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
1 shared publication - Guoyan Zou
Institute of Eco-Environmental and Plant Protection, Shanghai Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Shanghai 201403, China
1 shared publication
Latest Publications
- Open Access
- 3 October 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Microorganisms
- Vol. 14 (10) , 2230
A Hydrogen-Based Bacterial–Algal Biofilm for Winter Nutrient Mitigation in a Paddy Soil Mesocosm: A Proof-of-Concept Study
The limited nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction performance of wetlands during cold weather is a global concern. To address the challenge of low nutrient removal efficiency in winter, this study introduces a hollow fiber membrane module integrated into paddy soil, enabling the in situ formation of a hydrogen-based bacterial–algal biofilm. Over a 60-day experiment at water temperatures of 6.2–15.0 °C, the biofilm-enhanced system (HS) reduced aqueous -N from 25 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L by day 30 and maintained this low level through day 60, whereas the S system still had 5.5 mg/L -N. Moreover, the HS system consistently maintained lower -N and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations than the S system. Microbial communities were characterized using third-generation 16S full-length sequencing and 18S rRNA V4 amplicon sequencing. The biofilm was dominated by Geminocystis_PCC_6308, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Rhodobacter, while eukaryotic green algae, mainly Botryococcus sp., were also abundant. In the paddy soil, Terrimonas and unclassified_AKYH767 were identified as potential key taxa associated with nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction. Overall, the hydrogen-based bacterial–algal biofilm effectively improves the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction of paddy soil wetlands, offering a promising strategy for cold-weather eutrophic water remediation.- 3 October 2026
- Published by MDPI AG in Microorganisms
- Vol. 14 (10) , 2230
Open AccessA Hydrogen-Based Bacterial–Algal Biofilm for Winter Nutrient Mitigation in a Paddy Soil Mesocosm: A Proof-of-Concept Study
The limited nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction performance of wetlands during cold weather is a global concern. To address the challenge of low nutrient removal efficiency in winter, this study introduces a hollow fiber membrane module integrated into paddy soil, enabling the in situ formation of a hydrogen-based bacterial–algal biofilm. Over a 60-day experiment at water temperatures of 6.2–15.0 °C, the biofilm-enhanced system (HS) reduced aqueous -N from 25 mg/L to 0.2 mg/L by day 30 and maintained this low level through day 60, whereas the S system still had 5.5 mg/L -N. Moreover, the HS system consistently maintained lower -N and total phosphorus (TP) concentrations than the S system. Microbial communities were characterized using third-generation 16S full-length sequencing and 18S rRNA V4 amplicon sequencing. The biofilm was dominated by Geminocystis_PCC_6308, Rikenellaceae_RC9_gut_group, and Rhodobacter, while eukaryotic green algae, mainly Botryococcus sp., were also abundant. In the paddy soil, Terrimonas and unclassified_AKYH767 were identified as potential key taxa associated with nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction. Overall, the hydrogen-based bacterial–algal biofilm effectively improves the nitrogen and phosphorus concentration reduction of paddy soil wetlands, offering a promising strategy for cold-weather eutrophic water remediation. - Open Access
- 9 October 2021
- Published by MDPI AG in Nanomaterials
- Vol. 11 (10) , 2648
Defective Black TiO2: Effects of Annealing Atmospheres and Urea Addition on the Properties and Photocatalytic Activities
A series of black TiO2 with and without the addition of urea were successfully prepared using a simple one-step synthetic method by calcination under different atmospheres (vacuum, He, or N2). The physicochemical, optical, and light-induced charge transfer properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by various techniques. It was found that a vacuum atmosphere was more beneficial for the formation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) than the inert gases (He and N2) and the addition of urea-inhibited OVs formation. The samples annealed in the vacuum condition exhibited better visible-light adsorption abilities, narrower bandgaps, higher photo-induced charge separation efficiency, and lower recombination rates. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the dominant oxidative species in the samples annealed under a vacuum. Finally, the samples annealed under vacuum conditions displayed higher photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation than the samples annealed under He or N2. Based on the above, this study provides new insights into the effects of annealing atmospheres and urea addition on the properties of black TiO2.
- 9 October 2021
- Published by MDPI AG in Nanomaterials
- Vol. 11 (10) , 2648
Open AccessDefective Black TiO2: Effects of Annealing Atmospheres and Urea Addition on the Properties and Photocatalytic Activities
A series of black TiO2 with and without the addition of urea were successfully prepared using a simple one-step synthetic method by calcination under different atmospheres (vacuum, He, or N2). The physicochemical, optical, and light-induced charge transfer properties of the as-prepared samples were characterized by various techniques. It was found that a vacuum atmosphere was more beneficial for the formation of oxygen vacancies (OVs) than the inert gases (He and N2) and the addition of urea-inhibited OVs formation. The samples annealed in the vacuum condition exhibited better visible-light adsorption abilities, narrower bandgaps, higher photo-induced charge separation efficiency, and lower recombination rates. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) were the dominant oxidative species in the samples annealed under a vacuum. Finally, the samples annealed under vacuum conditions displayed higher photocatalytic activity for methylene blue (MB) degradation than the samples annealed under He or N2. Based on the above, this study provides new insights into the effects of annealing atmospheres and urea addition on the properties of black TiO2.
- Open Access
One-Step Synthesis of b-N-TiO2/C Nanocomposites with High Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity to Degrade Microcystis aeruginosa
Black TiO2 with doped nitrogen and modified carbon (b-N-TiO2/C) were successfully prepared by sol-gel method in the presence of urea as a source of nitrogen and carbon. The photocatalysts were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The doped nitrogen, introduced defects, and modified carbon played a synergistic role in enhancing photocatalytic activity of b-N-TiO2/C for the degradation of chlorophyll-a in algae cells. The sample, with a proper amount of phase composition and oxygen vacancies, showed the highest efficiency to degrade chlorophyll-a, and the addition of H2O2 promoted this photocatalysis degradation. Based on the trapping experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) signals, a photocatalytic mechanism of b-N-TiO2/C was proposed. In the photocatalytic degradation of chlorophyll-a, the major reactive species were identified as OH and O2−. This research may provide new insights into the photocatalytic inactivation of algae cells by composite photocatalysts.
Open AccessOne-Step Synthesis of b-N-TiO2/C Nanocomposites with High Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity to Degrade Microcystis aeruginosa
Black TiO2 with doped nitrogen and modified carbon (b-N-TiO2/C) were successfully prepared by sol-gel method in the presence of urea as a source of nitrogen and carbon. The photocatalysts were characterized by field emission scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS). The doped nitrogen, introduced defects, and modified carbon played a synergistic role in enhancing photocatalytic activity of b-N-TiO2/C for the degradation of chlorophyll-a in algae cells. The sample, with a proper amount of phase composition and oxygen vacancies, showed the highest efficiency to degrade chlorophyll-a, and the addition of H2O2 promoted this photocatalysis degradation. Based on the trapping experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) signals, a photocatalytic mechanism of b-N-TiO2/C was proposed. In the photocatalytic degradation of chlorophyll-a, the major reactive species were identified as OH and O2−. This research may provide new insights into the photocatalytic inactivation of algae cells by composite photocatalysts.