Search Results (401)

The potassium-rich mother liquor generated from the sulfuric acid process for lithium extraction from spodumene cannot be directly used for the production of battery-grade lithium salts, resulting in lithium resource loss. To address the issues of slow reaction rate and high seed crystal dosage in the traditional jarosite process for potassium removal, this paper systematically optimizes the type, dosage, and particle size of seed crystals based on the mechanisms of crystal nucleation and growth, ion occupancy competition, and interfacial crystallization-driven behavior. Results show that potassium jarosite seed offers high crystallographic compatibility, ease of preparation, and the best overall performance. Seed particle size must balance specific surface area and dispersibility; either too large or too small is detrimental to uniform crystal growth. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses confirm that jarosite precipitation is strongly spontaneous and chemically controlled. Under the optimal process conditions (pH = 1.5, n(Fe³⁺)/n(K⁺) = 3.5:1, 1 g of potassium jarosite seed, 95 °C, 1 h), the potassium removal rate reaches (92.60 ± 0.48)%, and the lithium recovery rate is (95.20 ± 0.34)%. Lithium loss mainly arises from precipitate entrainment and insufficient washing; enhanced washing can further improve recovery. This study elucidates seed-mediated crystallization regulation and provides both theoretical guidance and technical reference for efficient potassium removal and high-value lithium recovery from potassium-rich mother liquor. Full article

This study investigates the influence of various land use systems (LUSs) on soil physico-chemical properties, nutrient dynamics, and soil organic carbon (SOC) stocks in the Central Plain Zone of Uttar Pradesh, India. Soil samples were collected from six distinct LUSs, i.e., fallow, crop-based, horticulture-based, forest-based, vegetable-based, and barren land, and analyzed across three depth intervals (0–15 cm, 15–30 cm, and 30–60 cm). Soil pH increased steadily with depth, ranging from 7.43 to 8.58 at the surface layer to 7.55 to 10.32 in deeper layers. Horticulture-based LUSs recorded the lowest pH, while barren lands had the highest. Electrical conductivity (EC) also rose with depth, ranging from 0.12 to 3.63 dS m⁻¹, from the surface to subsoil layers, all below critical salinity thresholds. Soil organic carbon (SOC) content decreased with increasing soil depth across all land use systems. Among the studied systems, horticulture-based land use recorded the highest SOC content (0.77%), whereas barren land showed the lowest SOC content (0.21%). Due to greater organic matter inputs and reduced disturbances, horticultural systems also exhibited significantly higher levels of macronutrients (N: 17.98 kg ha⁻¹, P: 330.45 kg ha⁻¹, K: 374.81 kg ha⁻¹, S: 84.33 mg ha⁻¹) and micronutrients (Fe: 164.12 mg ha⁻¹, Mn: 60.89 mg ha⁻¹, Cu: 2.85 mg ha⁻¹, Zn: 1.80 mg ha⁻¹). Bulk density increased slightly with depth (1.46–1.63 Mg m⁻³), while soil moisture content remained relatively stable (43.43% to 42.31%), with moderate variability (CV: 24–27%). The mean total SOC stock was 10.77 t C ha⁻¹, ranging from 5.44 to 14.46 t C ha⁻¹. Microbial properties also varied among land uses: dehydrogenase activity (DEA), an indicator of microbial functionality, peaked in vegetable-based systems (30.54 µg TPF g⁻¹), whereas microbial biomass carbon (MBC) was highest in forest-based systems (184.83 µg g⁻¹). Correlation and regression analyses revealed a strong positive relationship between SOC and nutrient availability, with the highest correlation observed for Zn (R² = 0.99), followed by N (R² = 0.83) and K (R² = 0.75). Overall, barren lands showed the poorest soil quality indicators, while horticulture-based systems consistently demonstrated superior soil fertility and carbon sequestration potential. These findings emphasize the critical role of land use management in regulating soil fertility, SOC dynamics, and the long-term sustainability of agro-ecosystems in the region. Full article

A facile co-precipitation method was employed to synthesize copper(II) ferrite composites with carbon materials (reduced graphene oxide, graphitic carbon nitride, and their mixture), followed by heat treatment at 700 °C. To obtain Fe-Cu-containing catalysts, copper ferrite composites were electrochemically reduced. Structures, compositions, and morphologies of the composites were studied using scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction techniques, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results showed that graphitic carbon nitride had the strongest effect on the phase composition of copper ferrite. Crystalline phases of reduced copper and iron metals appear in the CuFe₂O₄/g-C₃N₄ composite during the annealing process, facilitating further complete electrochemical reduction of copper ferrite and shortening its duration. The resulting Fe-Cu/C composites were used as catalysts in the electrohydrogenation of acetophenone as a model compound. The activation of the cathode with Fe-Cu/C catalysts increases the rate of acetophenone hydrogenation and leads to the selective formation of a single product, 1-phenylethanol, in high yields. Full article

Freshwater sediments play a central role in regulating methane (CH₄), carbon dioxide (CO₂) and nitrous oxide (N₂O) dynamics, yet the biogeochemical constraints shaping their short-term responses to redox change remain poorly resolved. Here, we used controlled aerobic and anaerobic slurry incubations of natural lake sediments to identify the environmental drivers governing early-stage greenhouse gas (GHG) dynamics. CH₄ exhibited minimal variation and no significant differences between live and sterilized treatments, indicating that methane turnover during the first hours of incubation is constrained primarily by rapid geochemical adjustments rather than by detectable microbial activity. In contrast, CO₂ and N₂O displayed clear biotic signals consistent with fast-responding respiratory and nitrogen-reducing processes. Across multivariate analyses and Random Forest models, redox-sensitive solutes (Fe³⁺, Fe²⁺, NO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻), together with dissolved organic carbon and NH₄⁺, emerged as key components of the biogeochemical framework structuring early GHG responses, highlighting coupled C–N–Fe controls on short-term gas dynamics. Microbial community analyses revealed the presence of methanogenic archaea (e.g., Methanomicrobiales, Methanofastidiosales), aerobic methanotrophs (Methylomonadaceae, Methylococcaceae) and nitrogen-transforming bacteria; however, their functional expression was limited during the short incubation period. Our results demonstrate that the earliest CH₄, CO₂ and N₂O responses in lake sediments are governed predominantly by rapid geochemical processes that regulate electron-acceptor availability and substrate chemistry, while microbial community composition plays a secondary role at short timescales. Full article

We report the synthesis of Fe/N/C ORR electrocatalysts by an original collinear CO₂ laser pyrolysis of liquid aerosol droplets in various configurations and compared them to a catalyst synthesized in the classical perpendicular one. While the precursors were always injected at the bottom side of the reactor, two collinear configurations of the laser entry into the reactor are considered: by the Top Side (T.S.) or by the Bottom Side (B.S.). The two corresponding catalysts sets show significant different ORR performances. An in-depth XPS analysis and fitting of the N1s spectra allowed for drawing the ORR performance as a function of FeN_x sites components. An original approach considering the energy delivered to a quantity of precursors in J.g⁻¹, linked to the flame temperature feature, evidenced very different conditions for perpendicular CO₂ laser pyrolysis and each of the two collinear configurations. This mass-weighted energy delivered in the classical perpendicular configuration is too low to allow for the formation of FeN_x sites and the resulting ORR performance is extremely poor, suggesting a marginal role of nitrogen species without interaction with iron atoms. In contrast, the delivered mass-weighted energies are sufficient in both collinear configurations to produce FeN_x sites. The ORR performance for catalysts produced in these both configurations is positively correlated with the amount of energy deposited on the precursors. The ORR performance in the T.S. laser configuration is positively correlated to the amount of FeN_x sites. The best performing catalysts obtained in the B.S. configuration show an opposite variation. These trends, and the ORR performance degradation of B.S. catalysts under prolonged chronoamperometry are discussed in light of the effect of temperature on the formation of the various kind of FeN_x sites. A tentative explanation is given, considering that N1s XPS fitting with a single FeN_x component may hinder the fact that Pyridinic sites components may contain a part of FeN_x sites, as suggested by theoretical calculation from the literature. The best catalysts obtained in this work by collinear configuration show similar performances to those obtained by double stage perpendicular pyrolysis previously reported with an ORR onset potential of ~860 mV. Full article

The influence of zirconia incorporation and template type on the physicochemical properties of NiMo/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂ catalysts was investigated for the hydrodesulfurization (HDS) of 4,6-dimethyldibenzothiophene (4,6-DMDBT) and the hydrogenation (HYD) of naphthalene (N). Catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation on supports synthesized via a sol-gel method using starch (A) and activated carbon (C) as structure-directing templates, followed by zirconium incorporation through a grafting procedure. The resulting materials were characterized by SEM–EDX, N₂ physisorption, H₂-TPR, XPS, HRTEM, and pyridine-FTIR. SEM-EDX confirmed homogeneous metal distributions and compositions close to nominal values (Mo = 20 wt%, Ni = 5 wt%, Zr = 11 wt%) with Ni/(Ni + Mo) = 0.30. N₂ adsorption–desorption isotherms correspond to type IV(a) with H3-H4 hysteresis loops, characteristic of mesoporous structures. After metal incorporation, surface areas decreased to 96 m² g⁻¹ for NiMo/Al₂O₃ and 81 m² g⁻¹ for Zr-modified catalysts, while the activated carbon-templated sample preserved a larger mesoporous volume (0.335 cm³ g⁻¹) and higher macroporosity (72%). H₂-TPR profiles indicated improved reducibility for Zr-containing catalysts. XPS revealed an increase of MoS₂ species from 45% in NiMo/Al₂O₃ to 75% in NiMo/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂(C), accompanied by a higher degree of sulfidation index (DSI) from 47.1% to 73.9%. HRTEM analysis of Zr-modified catalysts revealed longer MoS₂ slabs (11.8–12.1 nm) and higher edge-to-corner ratios (17–17.4) compared with NiMo/Al₂O₃ (6.2 nm; fe/fc = 8.2). Pyridine-FTIR showed a substantial increase in total acidity from 91 to 421 μmol g⁻¹ upon Zr addition. Catalytically, NiMo/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂(C) exhibited the highest HDS conversion (40%), reaction rate (10.5 × 10⁻⁹ mol s⁻¹ g⁻¹), and TOF (4.69 × 10⁻⁵ s⁻¹), whereas NiMo/Al₂O₃-ZrO₂(A) reached the highest naphthalene conversion (97.18%), with a reaction rate of 27.4 × 10⁻⁷ mol s⁻¹ g⁻¹ and TOF of 12.9 × 10⁻³ s⁻¹. These results demonstrate that Zr incorporation and the activated carbon template favored hydrodesulfurization, whereas the starch template promoted hydrogenation performance. Full article

The hematite phase decorated with iron-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles (F@FC) was precipitated from cerium and iron oxalate intermediate products. The photocatalytic composite of graphitic carbon nitride (gCN) and F@FC was prepared by a simple method involving mixing the two components, followed by thermal treatment at 400 °C. According to electron microscopy, F@FC is composed of a submicron iron oxide (hematite) phase decorated with iron-doped cerium oxide nanoparticles deposited on gCN substrate. A hierarchically structured composite was observed instead of a simple mechanical mixture of α-Fe₂O₃, Fe-CeO₂, and gCN. To observe two types of degradation activity, photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton degradation activity, Rhodamine B (RhB) was applied as the model water pollutant. The influence of the amount of photocatalyst, the RhB concentration, the presence of cations and anions, the pH, and the effect of e⁻, h⁺, •OH, and •O₂⁻ scavenging reactants were studied. The Photo-Fenton degradation exhibited high efficiency across the entire tested pH range, whereas photocatalytic degradation showed comparable activity only at acidic pH. The F@FC-gCN composite catalyst exhibited a high degree of recyclability. The degradation pathways of photocatalytic and Photo-Fenton reactions were suggested by HPLC-MS analysis of the reaction products. A notable finding of this study was the observation that the green-yellow, fluorescent intermediate Rhodamine 110 was formed during the photocatalytic degradation of RhB. However, the high reactivity of the generated •OH radicals during Photo-Fenton degradation has been demonstrated to inhibit the formation of intermediate Rhodamine 110. Full article

Organic dye-, pharmaceutical-, and heavy metal-contaminated water are emerging environmental issues, and thus there is a requirement for the development of efficient and sustainable purification methods. Semiconductor (SmC) material-based photocatalysis using TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃ nanostructures is considered a promising field for pollutant degradation due to its chemical stability, nontoxicity, and ability to perform photocatalytic degradation using light irradiation. Understanding the thermal, optical, and charge transport properties governing their photocatalytic activity requires advanced characterisation methods. In this context, photothermal (PT) techniques provide powerful tools for probing non-radiative processes and energy transport in photocatalytic materials. The photocatalytic activity of these materials strongly depends on their structural, optical, thermal, and electronic properties. These properties can be enhanced through several modification strategies, including metal and non-metal doping (e.g., C, N, Cu, Ag, Au), surface modification, forming a complex with SiO₂, and the formation of Fe₂O₃–TiO₂ heterostructure nanocomposites. In this review, a comprehensive overview is provided of TiO₂ and Fe₂O₃-based nanocomposites with a specific focus on characterisation techniques for photothermal characterisation techniques, including thermal lens spectroscopy (TLS), beam deflection spectrometry (BDS), and photoacoustic spectroscopy (PAS), for determining thermal diffusivity, thermal conductivity, bandgap energy, carrier lifetime, surface roughness, porosity, etc., which are related to photocatalytic activity. The properties of these nanocomposites are correlated with photocatalytic activity for pollutant degradation using these nanocomposites. The challenges faced while using these nanocomposites for pollutant degradation are also discussed, along with future prospects for designing efficient photocatalysts for water purification applications. Full article

Acidic mine drainage (AMD) poses a severe global environmental threat due to its high acidity and elevated levels of toxic hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)), for which biogenic iron sulfide (FeS) nanoparticles have emerged as a promising remediation agent; however, their practical application is hindered by aggregation and oxidative deactivation. This research synthesized biogenic FeS nanoparticles via sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) and employed humic acid (HA) as a stabilizing agent to enhance Cr(VI) removal performance in simulated AMD conditions. Single-factor experiments combined with response surface methodology identified the optimal biosynthetic conditions for FeS: yeast extract powder dosage of 2.2 g/L, Fe/S molar ratio of 0.8, and NH₄Cl dosage of 3.1 g/L. Under these conditions, the material achieved 84.25% Cr(VI) removal, with the Fe/S molar ratio identified as the most influential parameter governing synthesis and performance. Introducing HA at an optimal dosage of 2 mg/L drove marked improvements in both nanoparticle yield and reactivity: FeS yield increased to 1096.26 mg/L, Cr(VI) removal efficiency reached 99.62%, and residual Cr(VI) dropped from 15.75 mg/L to just 0.38 mg/L. Kinetic and isotherm analyses, paired with SEM/TEM imaging and zeta potential measurements, revealed that HA stabilization improved particle dispersion and reduced lamellar stacking, resulting in a surface-controlled Cr(VI) removal process. FTIR and 2D-COS analyses demonstrated that HA-derived oxygen-containing functional groups, including O–H/N–H, C=O, and C–O moieties, played a central role in interfacial interactions during Cr(VI) sequestration. XRD results confirmed that Cr(VI) was reduced to Cr(III) and primarily immobilized as low-solubility CrOOH and Cr₂S₃, while the formation of Fe–Cr spinel-like phases remains tentative without X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) validation. Further investigation via surface-sensitive spectroscopy and dynamic leaching tests is needed to fully assess the long-term stability of the reaction products. Full article

Biochar is a porous material which can be produced by biomass waste pyrolysis and modified using metal oxide to improve its adsorption performance. Activated biochar (AB) was synthesized from patchouli biomass waste to study the effect of calcination tempera-ture on its potency as a drug pollutant adsorbent. Research processes included the bio-mass pyrolysis with CoCl₂ activator, AB impregnation with FeCl₃, FeCl₃/AB calcination at various temperatures, product characterizations (X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectrometry), and paracetamol adsorption test at various concentrations. The paracetamol concentra-tions were analyzed using UV–Vis spectrophotometry. The adsorption data was treated using Langmuir, Freundlich, and Dubinin–Radushkevich (DR) models. The diffracto-grams indicated the α-Fe₂O₃, γ-Fe₂O₃, FeFe₂O₄, and carbon turbostratic structures. The Fe_xO_y crystallinity increased by increasing temperature. The FTIR spectra significantly indicated the functional group changing at 600 °C. In the adsorption test, the Fe_xO_y/AB-800 compo-site gave the highest adsorption capacity of 53.087 mg/g (Langmuir) with a correlation co-efficient of 0.964 (very high correlation), and the physical adsorption mechanism based on adsorption energy of 530.330 J/mol (DR) and 1/n value of 0.62 (Freundlich) provided the favorable adsorption based on both the RL of 0.457 (Langmuir) and the n constant of 1.579 (Freundlich). Thus, the Fe_xO_y/AB-800 composite has potential as an adsorbent of organic pollutants such as paracetamol. Full article

Pyrolysis of plastic from waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE) is a promising method for producing value-added chemicals. However, flame retardants in WEEE can cause halogen contamination in pyrolysis oil, reducing its value. This work aims to develop an innovative catalytic hydrodehalogenation (CHD) protocol for the removal of chlorobenzene and bromobenzene. Iron sulphate heptahydrate (FeSO₄·7H₂O) and nickel ammonium sulphate hexahydrate ((NH₄)₂Ni(SO₄)₂·6H₂O) were used as catalysts, while sodium borohydride (NaBH₄) acted as a hydrogen donor for iron reduction. The novelty of the process lies in the generation of nano zero-valent iron (nZVI) that takes place within the CHD reactor (in situ) without the addition of strong acids. Various experimental set-ups were investigated to optimise the key process parameters (e.g., reagent concentrations). The optimal conditions—obtained in the autoclave at 30 °C with a 1:1 molar ratio of chlorobenzene to catalyst, omission of nickel salt, and 5 mmol of NaBH₄—resulted in a 75% reduction in chlorobenzene and complete removal of bromobenzene. The results confirm the effectiveness of the proposed protocol for the dehalogenation of chlorobenzene and bromobenzene, which can facilitate the valorization of pyrolysis oils derived from plastic waste, contributing to the closure of the WEEE cycle (the widest and fastest-growing source of global waste with significant environmental, social and economic impacts). Full article

Brazilian microalgae represent an underexplored reservoir of bioactive compounds with promising biotechnological and dermocosmetic applications. In this study, eight native Brazilian microalgae strains were cultivated under control (C) and stress conditions, nitrogen depletion (N) and salt stress (S), to modulate their bioactive profiles. Derived acetone extracts (24 samples) were evaluated for their antioxidant and antibacterial activities relevant to skin health. The antioxidant capacity of extracts was assessed by three complementary methods: ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH) and superoxide anion radicals scavenging. Additionally, the antibacterial effects against four skin microorganisms (Staphylococcus epidermidis, Staphylococcus hominis, Staphylococcus aureus, and Cutibacterium acnes) were also assessed. Among the tested samples, extracts from Scenedesmus armatus (Extract 40C) and from Chlorella sorokiniana (Extract 198C) displayed the highest antioxidant potential, with DPPH radical reduction of 22.6 ± 1.6% and 20.7 ± 1.9% and FRAP values of 178.3 and 156.8 μmol FeSO₄/g extract, respectively. Superoxide scavenging assays showed IC₅₀ values of 150.9 μg/mL for sample 40C and 139.6 μg/mL for sample 198C. Regarding the antibacterial assay, the IC₅₀ values for S. epidermidis were notable, with sample 198C exhibiting the highest potency (10.3 µg/mL), closely matching the standard drug (12.4 µg/mL). The inhibitory capacity against C. acnes showed that samples 40C (58.4 µg/mL) and 198C (83.5 µg/mL) demonstrated antimicrobial relevance. Mechanistic assays suggested that the antibacterial effects of both samples may involve alterations in bacterial membrane integrity and DNA damage. Overall, these findings highlight the dermocosmetic potential of native Brazilian microalgae, still largely untapped in biotechnology, as natural sources of multifunctional ingredients for the development of sustainable skin care formulations. Full article

In this study, boron carbide (B₄C), hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), holy super graphene (HSG), and hybrid (B₄C+hBN+HSG) nano-additives were added to SAE 15W-40 diesel engine oil at a range of 0.03–0.24 g per 30 mL of oil, and reciprocating tribological tests were conducted on a GG25 (EN-GJL-250) gray cast iron-based diesel piston surface in contact with an Al₂O₃ ball (Ø6 mm) at a load of 20 N, a sliding distance of 500 m, and a temperature of 75 °C. XRD analysis showed that the dominant phase on the piston surface was the α-Fe matrix and that no significant new phase had formed. The results obtained revealed that the nano-additive effect is strongly dependent on both the additive type and the additive level. At a low level (0.03 g/30 mL) of B₄C additive, the average COF decreased by approximately 19%, while at a low level (0.03 g/30 mL) of hBN additive, this decrease amounted to approximately 54%. In the HSG additive, at the highest level (0.24 g/30 mL), the coefficient of friction (COF) decreased to ≈0.032, achieving a friction reduction of approximately 75% compared to the base oil. In the hybrid oil series, COF values remained in the range of approximately 0.082–0.087 at all additive levels and were generally 25–28% lower than those of the base oil. SEM/EDS examinations showed that a tribofilm with high carbon content formed in the HSG-additive oils, while a tribofilm layer containing C, B, and N elements together formed in the hybrid-additive oils. Overall, it was concluded that selecting the appropriate additive type and level can reduce friction and wear losses at the piston interface, thereby contributing to engine efficiency by extending the life of engine components and limiting friction-induced energy losses. Full article

Thai black-boned chickens, a native genetic resource valued for their dark-pigmented meat and blood with reputed functional properties, generally exhibit slower growth than commercial broilers. The potential for selective breeding to enhance growth performance while maintaining their unique nutritional and functional characteristics remains unclear. We compared growth performance and nutritional profiles of breast meat and blood between a genetically selected line and an unselected control, and evaluated sex and tissue effects. Two lines were reared under identical management (n = 200 chicks). Body weight (BW) was recorded from hatch to 16 wk; average daily gain (ADG) and breast circumference (BrC) were calculated at 0–4, 0–8, 0–12, and 0–16 wk and at 8, 12, and 16 wk, respectively. At 16 wk, 48 birds (12/sex/line) were sampled for proximate nutrients and amino acids in breast meat and whole blood. Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. The selected line outperformed the unselected line across all growth traits. Mixed-sex BW rose from 33.10 g at hatch to 1456.21 g at 16 wk versus 30.26 g to 1228.81 g in controls (18–19% higher at market age). ADG was greater in the selected line at every interval (14.27 vs. 11.24 g/day at 0–16 wk), with the largest advantage during 12–16 wk. BrC was consistently larger in genetically selected line (average 26.98 vs. 24.81 cm at 16 wk). Sex dimorphism was evident, with males showing the greatest response. Nutrient analyses showed higher total energy and fat contents in selected breast meat, whereas blood cholesterol and minerals (Na, Ca, Fe) levels were lower, particularly in the unselected line. Amino-acid profiling revealed higher concentrations of key essential amino acids (lysine, threonine, Branched-Chain Amino Acids; BCAAs) and major non-essentials (glutamic, aspartic acids) in the breast muscle of the selected line; most amino acids were greater in muscle than blood, with significant line × tissue interactions. Genetic selection substantially improved growth rate, breast development, and nutritional quality of breast meat while altering mineral and cholesterol distribution between tissues. These gains support selective breeding as a practical strategy to enhance productivity and functional values in black-boned chickens. Full article

Conventional bioretention systems face challenges in effectively removing dissolved nutrients, heavy metals, and emerging contaminants from stormwater runoff. This study investigates the application of thermally modified steel slag (700 °C) as a functional bioretention matrix for comprehensive stormwater purification. Three pilot-scale systems were evaluated over 120 days: Control (biochar-zeolite), Unmodified (raw steel slag-biochar-zeolite), and Modified (thermally modified steel slag-biochar-zeolite). The modified system demonstrated superior and stable removal efficiencies for NH₄⁺-N (95.3 ± 1.3%), TN (85.7 ± 1.8%), TP (90.5 ± 1.5%), Cu²⁺ (96.1 ± 0.7%), Cr⁶⁺ (90.5 ± 1.2%), Pb²⁺ (92.2 ± 1.1%), enrofloxacin (65.6 ± 2.1%), and norfloxacin (62.6 ± 2.4%). Performance remained robust under varying hydraulic conditions, with high removal maintained across rainfall return periods (0.5–2 years) and antecedent dry periods (2–8 days). Mechanistic investigations revealed synergistic effects: (1) Enhanced physical adsorption through increased surface area (2.338 m²/g) and pore volume (0.109 cm³/g); (2) Chemical precipitation via Ca²⁺/Fe³⁺ release at alkaline pH (8.2–8.5); (3) Enriched microbial communities with 35% higher Shannon diversity, particularly Hydrogenophaga (12.3%) for autotrophic denitrification using Fe²⁺ as electron donor. The modified slag matrix creates a “triple-barrier” removal mechanism combining physical, chemical, and biological processes, offering an efficient solution for multi-pollutant stormwater treatment. This study demonstrates that thermally modified steel slag represents a high-performance, cost-effective bioretention matrix for comprehensive stormwater treatment while promoting industrial byproduct utilization and aligning with circular economy principles. Full article