Modified Hydrogels Against Phosphorus Pollution in Aqueous Environments: A Meta-Quantitative Analysis of Performance and Key Influencing Factors.
5 affiliations
- 1National & Local Joint Engineering Research Center for Mineral Salt Deep Utilization, Huai'an University, Huaian 223003, China.
- 2Key Laboratory of Agricultural Environment of the Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River, Institute of Agricultural Resources and Environment, Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Nanjing 210014, China.
- 3Key Laboratory of Integrated Regulation and Resources Development on Shallow Lakes, Ministry of Education, College of Environment, Hohai University, Nanjing 210098, China.
- 4Stantec, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 3DY, UK.
- 5Key Laboratory of Taihu Basin Water Resources Management, Ministry of Water Resources, Nanjing Hydraulic Research Institute, Nanjing 210029, China.
Abstract
Excessive phosphorus accumulation drives eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems, and modified hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for phosphorus removal. However, reported removal performance and optimal operating conditions vary considerably, hindering their transition from laboratory studies to full-scale application. Here, a systematic meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the overall effectiveness of modified hydrogels and identify the major factors governing their performance. Treatment effects were quantified using the natural logarithm of the response ratio (lnRR), with more negative values indicating greater phosphorus reduction relative to the reference condition. Overall, modified hydrogels significantly reduced the phosphorus levels (pooled lnRR = -1.64, 95% CI: -1.73 to -1.55), with inorganic-inorganic modification showing the strongest effect (lnRR = -2.02, 95% CI: -2.16 to -1.88). Coexisting ions, pH, and initial phosphorus concentration were identified as the principal factors contributing to variation in removal performance. These findings provide a quantitative basis for material design and operating-condition optimization and facilitate the practical application of modified hydrogels for phosphorus pollution control. In future, standardized data reporting and long-term pilot- and field-scale validation are still needed to support widespread practical application.
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BibTeX
@article{wu2026modified,
title = {{Modified Hydrogels Against Phosphorus Pollution in Aqueous Environments: A Meta-Quantitative Analysis of Performance and Key Influencing Factors.}},
author = {Chuang Wu and Xijun Ma and Bei Yang and Evangelos Petropoulos and Zhuo Ren and Hao Liu and Shiying He and Pengfu Hou and Tianjia Hao and Lihong Xue},
journal = {Gels (Basel, Switzerland)},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/gels12100859},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929894},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Modified Hydrogels Against Phosphorus Pollution in Aqueous Environments: A Meta-Quantitative Analysis of Performance and Key Influencing Factors.
AU - Chuang Wu
AU - Xijun Ma
AU - Bei Yang
AU - Evangelos Petropoulos
AU - Zhuo Ren
AU - Hao Liu
AU - Shiying He
AU - Pengfu Hou
AU - Tianjia Hao
AU - Lihong Xue
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/22
JO - Gels (Basel, Switzerland)
DO - 10.3390/gels12100859
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42929894
AB - Excessive phosphorus accumulation drives eutrophication in aquatic ecosystems, and modified hydrogels have emerged as promising materials for phosphorus removal. However, reported removal performance and optimal operating conditions vary considerably, hindering their transition from laboratory studies to full-scale application. Here, a systematic meta-analysis was conducted to quantify the overall effectiveness of modified hydrogels and identify the major factors governing their performance. Treatment effects were quantified using the natural logarithm of the response ratio (lnRR), with more negative values indicating greater phosphorus reduction relative to the reference condition. Overall, modified hydrogels significantly reduced the phosphorus levels (pooled lnRR = -1.64, 95% CI: -1.73 to -1.55), with inorganic-inorganic modification showing the strongest effect (lnRR = -2.02, 95% CI: -2.16 to -1.88). Coexisting ions, pH, and initial phosphorus concentration were identified as the principal factors contributing to variation in removal performance. These findings provide a quantitative basis for material design and operating-condition optimization and facilitate the practical application of modified hydrogels for phosphorus pollution control. In future, standardized data reporting and long-term pilot- and field-scale validation are still needed to support widespread practical application.
SN - 2310-2861
ER -