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The work demonstrates, for the first time, thermo-responsive, water-insoluble, hydrogel-based, nano-fibrous filter media comprised of copolymers of N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPAM) and methyl methacrylate formed by electrospinning. Moreover, a comprehensive novel physical explanation of all aspects responsible for the physical mechanisms resulting in the thermo-responsive regulation of the water flow rate and an enhanced interception of nanoparticles by such filter membranes is given. They are the wettable-non-wettable transition, pore, and fiber-size changes, as well as a diminishing filter thickness at the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) of the copolymers developed here, which interplay with a significant reduction in the water viscosity with temperature. Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM) hydrogel is an attractive material because of its thermo-responsive properties. Its wettability changes with water temperature. This characteristic holds great promise for the development of advanced filter media and related responsive materials. In this study, PNIPAM hydrogels were designed and transformed into filter membranes for applications in water filtration in biomedical and other related systems. These thermo-responsive filter membranes offer the potential for enhanced filtration efficiency, selectivity, and the overall system performance. Here, two different procedures were adopted to form water-insoluble thermo-responsive filter media based on PNIPAM hydrogels. The PNIPAM-based hydrogels were electrospun, resulting in the formation of thermo-responsive water-insoluble nanofiber membranes. These membranes underwent a series of comprehensive experiments to assess their performance and characteristics, including mass loss, water droplets for the wettability assessment, filtration tests, shrinkage measurements, and microscopic observations. These diverse experiments yield a full understanding of the PNIPAM-based nanofiber membranes' properties and their potential applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the toxicity of wastewater pollutants to both humans and the environment, it is critical to develop a new synthetic membrane with superior permeability and rejection. Herein, a novel asymmetric polyethersulfone (PES) composite filtration membrane was successfully prepared using a simple alternating vacuum‐deposition process with positively charged chitosan and negatively charged cellulose nanofibrils as polycations and polyanions, respectively. As expected, the produced PES composite filtration membranes had a compressed and negatively charged surface, which prevented the anionic dye methyl blue (MB) molecules from infiltrating into the membrane matrix. Consequently, the resulting PES composite filtration membranes exhibited an extremely high MB rejection (99.7%) and a satisfactory flux (37.47 L h−1 m−2 MPa−1). In addition, the composite membrane demonstrated extremely selective removal of anionic dyes in the presence of neutral dyes due to the Donnan effect. Furthermore, the developed PES composite filtration membranes displayed exceptional long‐term stability (99.8% rejection and 36.5 L h−1 m−2 MPa−1 flux after 50 h of filtration) and recycling properties (90.1% flux recovery rate after 3 cycles of running). In conclusion, the PES composite filtration membranes prepared in this study presented great potential in wastewater filtering. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Finfish aquaculture is one of the fastest-growing food production sectors in the world, and numerous infectious diseases are a constant challenge to the fish farming industry, causing decreased fish health and, consequently, economic losses. Specific and sensitive tools for pathogen detection are crucial for the surveillance of environmental samples to prevent the spread of fish pathogens in farms. Monitoring of waterborne pathogens through filtration of water and subsequent molecular detection of target-specific DNA or RNA sequence motifs is an animal-friendly method. This approach could reduce or even replace the sacrifice of fish for monitoring purposes in aquaculture and allow earlier implementation of disease control measures. Sampling methods might be a bottleneck, and there is a need for simple sampling methods that still ensure the best detection probability. In this study, we tested different filtration methods with spiked freshwater and seawater for a panel of fish pathogens to discern a suitable procedure that can be easily applied on-site by farm personnel without compromising detection probability. Specifically, we tested combinations of different filtration flow rates, lysis buffers, and filters for the detection of some of the pathogens relevant to the aquaculture industry. The results showed that a "sandwich" filtration method using two different filters and a flow rate of up to 4.0 L/min ensured good pathogen detection. The filters, consisting of a hydrophilic glass fibre filter with binder resin on the top and a hydrophilic mixed cellulose esters membrane at the bottom, achieved the best concentration and qPCR detection of both viral and bacterial fish pathogens. This up-and-coming tool allows the detection of very different fish pathogens during a single filtration step, and it can be combined with one single automated total nucleic acid extraction step for all the investigated pathogens, reducing both analysis costs and time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the critical issue of water scarcity and its impact on public health in Nongpok Sekmai and surrounding villages in India. Despite government initiatives to provide universal tap water access by 2024, these villages lack safe drinking water. Traditional sources like open wells are contaminated, and the primary river is drying up due to illegal sand mining and gravel extraction activities upstream. This situation results in a significant public health burden, with villagers facing financial strain due to waterborne diseases and the need to purchase water for basic needs. The study also examines the negative link between on-premise access to safe water and mothers' time spent on water collection. The study highlights the need for a multi-pronged approach. Renewed government efforts to implement the tap water initiative or provide alternative clean water sources like filtration plants or community wells are crucial. Additionally, stricter enforcement is needed to curb illegal mining activities and ensure river sustainability. Furthermore, exploring community-based solutions like rainwater harvesting and raising awareness about waterborne diseases and sanitation practices can empower the population. Addressing this water crisis demands a collaborative effort from the government, local communities, and environmental agencies. This study employed a mixed-methods approach, utilizing visual photographic analysis and community engagement to investigate water contamination in Nongpok Sekmai river, Manipur. The findings highlight key contamination indicators such as turbidity, algae blooms, and floating debris, while also addressing the health and social impacts perceived by the local population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Water samples for bacterial microbiome studies undergo biomass concentration, DNA extraction, and taxonomic identification steps. Through benchmarking, we studied the applicability of skimmed milk flocculation (SMF) for bacterial enrichment, an adapted in-house DNA extraction protocol, and six 16S rRNA databases (16S-DBs). Surface water samples from two rivers were treated with SMF and vacuum filtration (VF) and subjected to amplicon or shotgun metagenomics. A microbial community standard underwent five DNA extraction protocols, taxonomical identification with six different 16S-DBs, and evaluation by the Measurement Integrity Quotient (MIQ) score. In SMF samples, the skimmed milk was metabolized by members of lactic acid bacteria or genera such as Polaromonas, Macrococcus, and Agitococcus, resulting in increased relative abundance (p < 0.5) up to 5.0 log fold change compared to VF, rendering SMF inapplicable for bacterial microbiome studies. The best-performing DNA extraction protocols were FastSpin Soil, the in-house method, and EurX. All 16S-DBs yielded comparable MIQ scores within each DNA extraction kit, ranging from 61–66 (ZymoBIOMICs) up to 80–82 (FastSpin). DNA extraction kits exert more bias toward the composition than 16S-DBs. This benchmarking study provided valuable information to inform future water metagenomic study designs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Oilfield Chemistry is the property of Sichuan University, Oilfield Chemistry Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Inertial focusing excels at the precise spatial ordering and separation of microparticles by size within fluid flows. However, this advantage, resulting from its inherent size-dependent dispersion, could turn into a drawback that challenges applications requiring consistent and uniform positioning of polydisperse particles, such as microfiltration and flow cytometry. To overcome this fundamental challenge, we introduce Dispersion-Free Inertial Focusing (DIF). This new method minimizes particle size-dependent dispersion while maintaining the high throughput and precision of standard inertial focusing, even in a highly polydisperse scenario. We demonstrate a rule-of-thumb principle to reinvent an inertial focusing system and achieve an efficient focusing of particles ranging from 6 to 30 μm in diameter onto a single plane with less than 3 μm variance and over 95% focusing efficiency at highly scalable throughput (2.4–30 mL h−1) – a stark contrast to existing technologies that struggle with polydispersity. We demonstrated that DIF could be applied in a broad range of applications, particularly enabling high-yield continuous microparticle filtration and large-scale high-resolution single-cell morphological analysis of heterogeneous cell populations. This new technique is also readily compatible with the existing inertial microfluidic design and thus could unleash more diverse systems and applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microfluidic chips hold vast potential for applications in fields such as DNA analysis, drug screening, cell culture and biosensing. However, microfluidic chips are susceptible to disruption and damage from bubbles. Current bubble removal methods suffer from limitations including narrow applicability, poor biocompatibility, limited bubble containment volume, low degassing rates, manufacturing complexity and integration challenges. Addressing these issues, this study presents the development of a bubble filtration microfluidic chip inspired by the stomatal pore structure in plant leaves, which prevents air propagation between conduits. Surface wettability theory and surface tension principles were utilized to investigate the mechanism of bubble filtration by plant stomatal pores. A cellulose/PVA hydrogel was introduced to enable the microfluidic chip to effectively filter bubbles. The design and in situ formation method of the bubble filtration chip were developed, and the chip was fabricated using micro-nanofabrication processes. Performance evaluation of the bubble filtration microfluidic chip demonstrated that with a gel film thickness of 20 μm, the microfluidic chip exhibits high gas leak threshold and minimal flow loss. The resulting biomimetic bubble filtration microfluidic chip features a simple structure, compact size, and independence from auxiliary equipment, making it suitable for portable microfluidic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastic analysis is a crucial step for locating the environmental contamination sources and controlling plastic contamination. A popular tool like Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is capable of identifying plastic types and can be carried out through a variety of containers. Unfortunately, sample collection from water sources like rivers usually involves filtration so the measurements inevitably include the membrane filter that also has its own FTIR characteristic bands. Furthermore, when plastic particles are small, the membrane filter's spectrum may overwhelm the desired plastics' spectrum. In this study, we proposed a novel preprocessing method based on the dictionary learning technique for decomposing the variations within the acquired FTIR spectra and capturing the membrane filter's characteristic bands for the effective removal of these unwanted signals. We break down the plastic analysis task into two subtasks — membrane filter removal and plastic classification — to increase the explainability of the method. In the experiments, our method demonstrates a 1.5-fold improvement compared with baseline, and yields comparable results compared to other state-of-the-art methods such as UNet when applied to noisy spectra with low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), but offers explainability, a crucial quality that is missing in other state-of-the-art methods. The limitations of the method are studied by testing against generated spectra with different levels of noise, with SNR ranging from 0 to – 30dB, as well as samples collected from the lab. The components/atoms learned from the dictionary learning technique are also scrutinized to describe the explainability and demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposed method in practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Iraqi Journal of Chemical & Petroleum Engineering is the property of Republic of Iraq Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research (MOHESR) and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

This paper offers a thorough examination of cutting-edge membrane technologies used in water treatment, specifically highlighting the use of nanomaterials and nanoparticles in the production of membranes. The text examines advanced purification techniques, including nanofiltration, electro-dialysis, and photocatalysis. The study emphasizes the utilization of state-of-the-art nanomaterials such as carbon nanotubes, graphene oxide, titanium dioxide, and silver nanoparticles, as advanced substances that can adsorb and catalyze effectively. The article discusses the latest advancements in membrane technology, specifically focusing on improvements in processes like as reverse osmosis, ultrafiltration, and microfiltration. An assessment is conducted to determine the efficacy of these nanotechnologies in eliminating diverse organic and inorganic contaminants that provide considerable difficulties for conventional water treatment procedures. Furthermore, this study investigates the incorporation of biological processes such as bioremediation and phytoremediation with nanotechnology, highlighting both progress and existing constraints. This thorough examination highlights the advantages of various materials and compounds utilized in water filtration systems and pinpoints crucial areas for future investigation. In addition, the research examines high-quality materials mentioned in existing literature, emphasizing their substantial influence on the progress of membrane technologies. The offered insights seek to optimize the efficiency and efficacy of contemporary water treatment systems, thereby contributing to the worldwide provision of uncontaminated and secure water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Freshwater mussels have a substantial role in aquatic ecosystem function and provide valuable ecosystem services, including water filtration, nutrient cycling, habitat creation and sediment stabilization. While they face population declines globally that can negatively affect an ecosystem's health, such as reducing the water quality and increasing the turbidity, lack of information about the basic reproductive biology for most species makes their conservation much more difficult. Here, we monitored a population of Unio tumidus for a year to study its reproductive biology, gonad-dwelling parasites and growth rate in Lake Viinijärvi, Finland. Our data revealed that this species was dioecious with no evidence of hermaphroditism and was non-significantly female-biased (a male to female ratio of 1:1.3). Both sexes of U. tumidus had continuous gametogenesis during the study period with two peaks in the gonadosomatic index (GSI%) during November and May, followed by two clear declines in December and June. Gravidity period (brooding) of embryos or glochidia in the female's outer gills lasted from June to July. Therefore, this population of U. tumidus can be classified as a short-term breeder (tachytictic). The clear decline of GSI% in December might be a strategy that individuals of U. tumidus use to resorb resources back from the gonad for somatic maintenance during winter. Mean length of glochidia was 391 ± 0.049 µm, being among the largest known glochidia for Unionidae. No gonad-dwelling trematode parasites were detected and the population exhibited high fecundity (numbers of oocytes per female), with an average oocyte production of 242,000 ± 18,000. The studied population had a moderate growth rate with a maximum predicted age of 13 years and asymptotic length (the length at which growth slows down while the mussel continues to age, L ∞) of 114 mm. Our study provides the first quantitative data and histological analysis of the reproductive biology of U. tumidus , serving as a basis for future research and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In porous water filters, the transport and entrapment of contaminants can be modeled as a classic mass transport problem, which employs the conventional convection–dispersion equation to predict the transport of species existing in trace amounts. Using the volume-averaging method (VAM), the upscaling has revealed two possible macroscopic equations for predicting contaminant concentrations in the filters. The first equation is the classical convection–dispersion equation, which incorporates a total dispersion tensor. The second equation involves an additional transport coefficient, identified as the adsorption-induced vector. In this study, the aforementioned equations were solved in 1D for column tests using 3D unit cells. The simulated breakthrough curves (BTCs), using the proposed micro–macro-coupling-based VAM model, are compared with the direct numerical simulation (DNS) results based on BCC-type unit cells arranged one-after-another in a daisy chain manner, as well as with three previously reported experimental works, in which the functionalized zeolite and zero-valent iron fillings were used as an adsorbent to remove phosphorous and arsenic from water, respectively. The disagreement of VAM BTC predictions with DNS and experimental results reveals the need for an alternative closure formulation in VAM. Detailed investigations reveal time constraint violations in all the three cases, suggesting this as the main cause of VAM's failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of China Rural Water & Hydropower is the property of China Rural Water & Hydropower Editorial Office and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Permeable concrete is a material that allows water filtration, reduces surface runoff, and maintains the natural water cycle. Previous studies have shown that its mechanical properties, particularly its compressive and flexural tensile strengths, are generally lower than those of conventional concrete, with significant variability observed among similar tests. This study investigates the compressive strength, flexural strength, and permeability of polypropylene fiber-reinforced permeable concrete specimens at two water–cement ratios (0.30 and 0.35). The mix design was conducted using the ACI 522R-10 method. Forty-eight cylinders measuring 200 mm × 100 mm were fabricated for permeability and compression tests. Additionally, 12 beams measuring 100 mm × 100 mm × 350 mm were produced and subjected to simple flexural testing in accordance with ASTM C78 guidelines. Compressive strength versus permeability and load versus deflection graphs were plotted, and the fracture energy was calculated for various deflections. The results indicate that the addition of fibers increased permeability and tensile strength but decreased compressive strength. Furthermore, an increase in the water–cement ratio led to higher compressive and flexural tensile strengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of new nanoporous materials, based, e.g., on 2D materials, offers new avenues for water filtration and energy. There is, accordingly, a need to investigate the molecular mechanisms at the root of the advanced performances of these systems in terms of nanofluidic and ionic transport. In this work, we introduce a novel unified methodology for Non-Equilibrium classical Molecular Dynamic simulations (NEMD), allowing to apply likewise pressure, chemical potential, and voltage drops across nanoporous membranes and quantifying the resulting observables characterizing confined liquid transport under such external stimuli. We apply the NEMD methodology to study a new type of synthetic Carbon NanoMembranes (CNM), which have recently shown outstanding performances for desalination, keeping high water permeability while maintaining full salt rejection. The high water permeance of CNM, as measured experimentally, is shown to originate in prominent entrance effects associated with negligible friction inside the nanopore. Beyond, our methodology allows us to fully calculate the symmetric transport matrix and the cross-phenomena, such as electro-osmosis, diffusio-osmosis, and streaming currents. In particular, we predict a large diffusio-osmotic current across the CNM pore under a concentration gradient, despite the absence of surface charges. This suggests that CNMs are outstanding candidates as alternative, scalable membranes for osmotic energy harvesting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heat and mass transfer acquired the attention of investigators and experts because of massive uses in the field of medicine, manufacturing of modern aircrafts, uses in advanced water filtration plants, distillation process of water, more efficient electronic instruments, more efficient batteries, textile industry, uses as manufacturer in cosmetics industry and modern defense equipment. By viewing this, we considered the numerical study of Fourier flux and buoyancy driven forces on the flow of thermal and diffusion transmission of body revolutions (Paraboloid and cone), situated in a water-logged Darcy medium by allowing the radiation, Brownian motion, time-space dependent heat source or sink, and thermopheretic. Later on, the governing system is solved via Runge–Kutta method. Properties of convoluted governing measures of the organisms on local Nusselt and Sherwood numbers along with velocity, thermal and diffusion shapes are described with the aid of graphically and tabular form. It is stimulating to declare that the non-uniform heat source or sink is highly dominated in cone form of revolution as associated to paraboloid form of flow due to more distribution of mass transfer. From this, one can draw the conclusion that wherever there are higher mass transportation phenomena, cone-shaped body of revolution can be used. It is found that the time- and space-dependent heat source or sink performs as a regulating factor of the transmission of flow phenomena. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manganese oxide (MnOx) on the surface of the filter material can be used to effectively remove ammonium (NH4+) and manganese ions (Mn2+) from water, but overgrow oxide film gradually shortens backwashing interval after several years of long-term filtration system operation. Different influent pollutant loading result in different durations for chemical peeling film. A growth kinetics model for MnOx was established by adjusting the different initial concentrations of Mn2+ in the influent, which provided a theoretical basis for determining a specific time point for film peeling and recovered the shortened backwashing intervals in the filter columns. The variation in film thickness demonstrated a linear dependence on time, confirming the high accuracy of the kinetics model for film growth. The pseudo-first-order kinetic model better fits among adsorption and oxidation kinetic models of Mn2+. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) was identified as an effective agent in the chemical peeling film process. Hydroxyl radicals, generated by H2O2, destroy coordination bonds, producing extremely low solubility (≡MnO2), which was then removed during the backwashing process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Przegląd Elektrotechniczny is the property of Przeglad Elektrotechniczny and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Bacterial cellulose (BC) is a natural substance produced by microorganisms and offers numerous benefits. It can be produced by utilizing biomass waste which is abundantly available through fermentation process. This study investigates the utilization of pineapple peel waste for BC synthesis and observes their properties as nanocomposite membranes after the addition of ZnO nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) as candidate biomaterials for water filtration membranes. The experimental methods were conducted by synthesizing BC using pineapple peel extract using fermentation process. Subsequently, BNC was produced using a high-pressure homogenizer, and ZnO-NPs nanoparticles were added as reinforcement at concentrations of 2.5 wt%, 5.0 wt%, and 7.5wt.%. The mixture was sonicated and subsequently dried in an oven at 60°C for 20 h. BNC/ZnO-NPs membranes were characterized using XRD, FTIR, tensile test, BET, antibacterial test, and SEM analysis. The results indicate that the membrane structure of BNC/ZnO-NPs nanocomposite has peaks at diffraction angles of 14.4°, 15.2°, 16.9°, 22.8°, 31.6°, 34.1° and 36.8°. The addition of ZnO-NPs enhances the crystalline index of BNC by 81.37% at 2.5wt.% ZnO-NPs but reduces the membrane strength due to increasing pore diameter and rougher surface morphology of membrane. Incorporation of ZnO-NPs results in membrane chemical bonding, proved by raising a new peak at wavenumber of 715 cm− 1 and reduces the transmittance of hydroxyl group. This showed antibacterial activity against gram-positive bacteria like S.aureus, but they have no effect on gram-negative bacteria like E. coli. This antibacterial activity is good for resisting biofouling and the membrane can be further developed to meet the requirements for field water filtration applications like desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article solves an urgent problem, which is to develop a new approach to finding solutions to improve technological methods to combat negative water leakage in underround spaces. We propose the use of dynamic programming methods to select the optimal technology to secure such spaces. In accordance with the algorithm proposed in this paper, the problem was broken into a number of stages. At each stage, an optimal solution was sought (organisation of transport, delivery of materials to the destination, selection of materials, etc.). Thus, we applied a decomposition approach that allowed us to take into account the variety of parameters that affect the efficiency of the process. All these stages and their corresponding technological solutions were formalised by building network models. In these network models, vertices corresponded to solutions, and the distances between vertices (edges) corresponded to the value of the optimisation parameter. Thus, the shortest route from the initial to the final vertex corresponded to the optimal technological solution to combat negative water leakage in underground spaces. Based on the systematisation of data on technologies to combat water inflow into underground spaces, basic and refined models were developed. These models allowed us to take into account the risks associated with water breakthroughs into underground spaces. To minimise the risks, additional measures to combat water inflows are envisaged. In the practical part of this study, the results of the selection of a method with which to control water inflows are presented. This method involves the use of anchoring to reduce water filtration. According to the results of field observations, no water breakthroughs into the underground space were recorded. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intercalation has recently emerged as a powerful tool due to its unique capability of modifying the properties of materials without breaking their chemical bonds. The ultrathin lattice structure of two‐dimensional (2D) materials with strong in‐plane covalent bonding and weak out‐of‐plane bonding between neighboring layers allow for the successful utilization of this powerful technique. The physics and chemistry of intercalated foreign species in 2D host materials, especially graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN), are the focus of this review article. Among many foreign species, special attention is given to rare gas solids that introduce unprecedented physical and chemical properties in the targeted host materials. The historical background of intercalation is briefly discussed, and a comprehensive review of the very recent progress in the intercalation of rare gas solids in graphene and h‐BN is then provided. Different technologies used for the growth of the host materials and for the intercalation of rare gas species are also described. The remarkable potential of the resulting hybrid materials is outlined for diverse applications, including sensing, water filtration, and nanoelectromechanical devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article discusses the importance of water pretreatment for businesses that rely on equipment such as steamers, hot water heaters, coffee makers, and ice machines. It explains that water hardness, caused by calcium and magnesium ions, can lead to scale formation and inefficient operation of equipment. The article introduces various anti-scale technologies, including ion-exchange resins and phosphate/polyphosphates, as well as a new media blend that has shown promising results in controlling scale buildup and corrosion. The document includes a test conducted in Henderson, NV, comparing different anti-scale media, with Media 3 performing the best. Overall, the study emphasizes the significance of addressing scale issues in water treatment to prevent equipment problems. [Extracted from the article]

Purpose. Increasing oil recovery from deposits and reducing the water content of producing wells by providing conditions for uniform displacement of oil from the reservoir under the influence of high reservoir pressure. Methodology. The purpose of the work is achieved by conducting theoretical and experimental studies of the process of creating high elastic energy in the formation by pumping water with injection well pumps to overcome the resistance of oil and water filtration through the pores of the rock and oil rise at the mouth of producing wells. The absence of pumps from producing wells and the acceptance of equal amounts of injection and production wells over the reservoir area significantly increases the reservoir pressure above the pressure of oil saturation with gas. Due to the significant elasticity of the rock and fluids under high reservoir pressure, the oil coverage with water increases and there is no premature breakthrough of water into producing wells. The possibility of creating high elastic energy in an oil reservoir by pumping water into injection wells has been experimentally studied. Findings. It has been established that high reservoir energy in the field of elastic deformation of rock and fluids can be created mainly by pumps from injection wells, due to which oil is uniformly displaced from the reservoir along the entire front without breaking through the injected water into producing wells along the path of least resistance. The adoption of equal amounts of producing and injection wells and their sequential arrangement in rows contributes to the development of high potential energy in the reservoir and increase the pick-up rate of injection and production wells. As a result, the skeleton of the rock forming the pores expands, and the water injected into the reservoir and the displaced oil accumulate and increase reservoir energy. Originality. The effectiveness of the proposed method for maintaining high reservoir pressure is achieved as a result of creating high energy of rock and fluids in the area of their elastic deflation and increasing the coverage coefficients of oil displaced by water over the area and profile of the productive formation without the use of additional capacities and pumping units from producing wells. Practical value. The developed new technique for maintaining high elastic reservoir pressure not lower than the pressure of oil saturation with gas by pumping water into the reservoir can be carried out in oil fields using standard technological equipment and increase oil recovery to 60–70 % at its existing values of 40–45 % and reduce the water content of produced oil to 0–10 % at its existing values of 20–80 % and above. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One method of processing municipal waste biogas plant digestate is to separate it into solid and liquid fractions. Since the digestate can be a potential source of water, it must undergo the appropriate treatment. Pressurised membrane processes preceded by struvite precipitation can be particularly useful in this regard. Experiments were conducted to determine the effectiveness of treating the digestate liquid fraction from a municipal waste biogas plant using an integrated process that combines struvite precipitation with membrane filtration, employing flat ceramic membranes with different cut-off values. The results confirm that this integrated process is effective for digestate treatment. A significantly increased improvement in the final quality of the test solution and a reduction in membrane fouling intensity were observed compared to those of these processes conducted separately. It is noteworthy that the purest solution was obtained when struvite precipitation and filtration through a flat ceramic membrane with a cut-off of 1 kDa were combined. This approach enabled the precipitation of struvite, a valuable fertiliser; the protection of the membranes from fouling; and a high degree of organic compound removal. The recovered water from the digestate (after dilution or removal of excess salts) can be used in agriculture or horticulture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As emerging pollutants, pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in water have attracted more and more attention because of their harmfulness to the ecosystem and human health. Due to the perpetual input from sewage/wastewater effluents, landfill leachates, urban/agricultural runoff, etc., PPCPs in the aquatic environment are generally "pseudo-persistent". Conventional filtration in the water treatment process cannot effectively remove PPCPs, while biofiltration, a synergistic combination of adsorption and biodegradation, is an effective upgrade method that has received great attention and application in recent years. This paper systematically reviewed the principle of biofiltration and its efficiency in the removal of PPCPs. The important operational parameters influencing biofiltration performance such as filter media, temperature, backwash conditions, empty bed contact time, etc. were summarized. In addition, the limitations and prospects of the current research on biofiltration were also pointed out. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Forecasting landslide failure time is important for understanding the kinematics of landslides. In addition to the famous inverse velocity method (INV), other methods such as the minimum inverse velocity method (MINV), slope gradient (SLO), and velocity over acceleration (VOA) have been proposed. Despite the importance of adopting a forecasting technique, very limited insights regarding the mentioned methods have been published. This study aims to address this gap by conducting a comparative examination of INV, MINV, SLO, and VOA on a comprehensive database of 75 historical landslides. This access to a large volume of historical data enabled us to assess the advantages and limitations of each method. Results show that MINV is the only method with better performance than INV, by 23% on average and, in 32% of cases, by at least 100%. On the other hand, the accuracy of SLO forecasts is on average 87% worse than INV forecasts. VOA results have a 6.84 to 11.68 times higher error compared to INV. VOA is highly sensitive, even more so than INV, to scatter in measurements, but the positive effect of filtration is offset by data artifacts caused by the data filtration technique. SLO, owing to its mathematical configuration, is rather insensitive to measurement scatter. Finally, the failure velocities, as calibrated by MINV, are presented for each failure mode; this can enhance the detection of the onset of acceleration and be used toward more adaptive warning thresholds in monitoring systems depending on the site setting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, the effect of the filtration process on Na, K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Zn concentration in water, using filters from one of the leading European manufacturers, was investigated. The increase in Na (up to 300%) and K concentration (up to 320%) at the beginning of jug filter usage was reported. A decrease in Ca, Fe and Zn concentration was observed. Standard filters remove 80–90% of Mg from tap water at the beginning of the usage, while magnesium-enriching ones slightly increase its concentration – from around 8 to 12–25 mg/L. Significant changes in the filter's operating characteristics were also observed for other studied elements as they wore out. Using Mg-enriching filters can increase magnesium intake from 4–5 to 6–15% of the recommended daily dose from water consumption. The results were also discussed regarding the amounts of macroelements found in commercially available bottled water. The magnesium concentration in tap water after filtration through magnesium-enriching filters was lower compared to bottled mineral waters. The authors note a scope for the development of water filter production technology, in particular, the need to develop filters that more efficiently enrich water with magnesium and do not increase sodium concentration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis-assisted PVA/TiO2 nanofibers has become a prospective technology for water filtration applications. In line with this application, swelling behavior, photocatalytic activity and reusability are crucial considerations. This work presents the evaluation of swelling behavior and photocatalytic activity of PVA/TiO2 nanofibers in harsh pH environment. By varying pH environment at pH = 1 - 12, we have successfully shown that pH = 7 is the best environment for the PVA/TiO2 nanofibersbased water filtration. On this environment, the nanofibers has 92 % degradability and is able to resist Methylene Blue (MB) solution for up to 5 min. Likewise, it shows excellent reusability over 5 cycles usage. Moreover, the nanofibers is prospective for rapid filtration in harsh pH environment. This work is a step forward toward environmental-friendly water filtration in harsh pH environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the approach of metric-based geometric parameterization, the concept of database filtration and proper orthogonal decomposition manipulation quantitatively enhances the generation of new geometric parameters so that the problem-oriented information is reflected in aerodynamic design. Compared with the conventional approach that applies only geometric filtration, this paper incorporates performance filtration so that the problem-oriented information is no longer limited to geometric constraints, thereby enabling the guidance of optimization direction in a more informed manner. This paper focuses on the pressure distribution of samples and their relationship with geometric variations. A variational autoencoder is employed to extract the dominant features of the aerodynamic potentials that an initial geometry can attain in optimization. The authors believe that the aerodynamic potential is reflected in how the pressure distribution differs from that of the initial geometry. Then, samples have to meet the performance filtration criterion based on pressure distribution proposed by designers according to their aerodynamic understanding of the optimization problem. Finally, the remaining collection of qualified samples generates new geometric parameters via proper orthogonal decomposition. The conventional and new approaches were validated in a two-dimensional airfoil case of drag coefficient optimization; the lift-to-drag ratio improved by 17.07% using the traditional method, and by 38.20% using the new approach. The pressure distribution shows that the performance filtration approach produces more supercritical properties than the geometric filtration approach. This implies that the performance filtration approach can capture more intricate details related to the aerodynamic performance of the airfoil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterborne heavy metals pose significant threats to both the environment and public health, causing neurological damage, developmental disorders, organ damage, and cancer. It is essential to address the contamination of various water bodies by these hazardous substances due to their persistent nature and lack of biodegradability. This review thoroughly explores traditional and modern strategies utilized to remedy water sources contaminated with various heavy metals and evaluates the effectiveness and potential scalability of each method. A literature survey reveals several effective strategies for removing heavy metals from water: adsorption, flotation, ion exchange, chemical precipitation, membrane-based filtration, coagulation, flocculation, phytoremediation, and electrochemical methods. In our examination, we discussed the agents/adsorbents used, the efficiency of the removal technique, operating conditions, and the intrinsic advantages and disadvantages of each approach. Summarizing key findings, we noted a significant focus on adsorption techniques; however, challenges include selectively removing diverse ions, prolonged retention times, and cycling stability. While chemical and membrane methods are practical, persistent issues like large-volume sludge formation exist. Although electrical-based methods appear promising, solutions are needed for large-volume sludge and industrial-scale separation as well. Prioritizing real wastewater samples in heavy metals removal studies is crucial. Future research should emphasize eco-friendly, cost-effective methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The nanocomposite filtration membranes have emerged as potential water purification and separation technologies. However, reliable estimation of foulant rejection and permeate flux remains difficult due to the complicated interaction of many components. Traditional modeling techniques fail to capture the complex dynamics at work. In this paper, we provide a Refined Support Vector Machine (RSVM) strategy to solve this issue and increase the performance of nanocomposite filtration membranes. To normalize the features, the data are pre-processed using min-max normalization. Data features like foulant rejection rates, permeate flux values, membrane features, and experimental setup are displayed. Furthermore, the proposed RSVM to determine the best input factors for the effectiveness of each nanocomposite membrane. Due to the strong resilience of RSVM and the great generalization ability of the ML model, the obtained results demonstrated that the RSVM model's prediction efficiency (R2 = 0.995) outperformed the mathematical model in terms of prediction performance. To conduct training, validation and testing for this work, we employed statistical data including 764 samples of the input variables (five) and output variables (two). The RSVM approach provides a dependable and effective way to forecast membrane fouling and water filtration by predicting foulant rejection and permeate flux. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on the development of a novel self-cleaning nanofiltration membrane for the efficient removal of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB) from industrial wastewater. The membrane is composed of vinyl resin (VR), cellulose nanofibrils (CNF), and titanium alpha aluminate (TAAL) nanoparticles. The TAAL loading ranged from 1 to 5 wt%, the pH varied from 5 to 10, and the initial MB concentration ranged from 10 to 50 ppm. Using a dead-end filtration system, the (VR/CNF@TAAL) membrane with 5 wt% TAAL at pH 10 demonstrated excellent performances. It achieved a remarkable 98.6% removal efficiency for 30 ppm MB dye, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 125.8 mg/g. The adsorption kinetics analysis revealed that the process followed the pseudo-second-order model, indicating a chemisorption mechanism. The rate constant was determined to be 1.2732 × 10–3 g mg−1 min−1. The Freundlich isotherm model provided a better fit (R2 = 0.996) than the Langmuir model, suggesting multilayer adsorption on the nanocomposite membrane surface. In addition to its high adsorption and filtration capabilities, the (VR/CNF@TAAL) nanocomposite membrane exhibited cost-effectiveness and environmental friendliness as an adsorbent for MB removal from industrial wastewater. The membrane's self-cleaning property further contributes to sustainability by reducing the need for additional chemical treatments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the study of environmental DNA (eDNA), the rate of water filtration and the amount of DNA obtained are of general interest to researchers. We compared the PCTE filters with different pore sizes in enriching total DNA and fish eDNA from water samples. We also designed and tested a new filter device with a PET pad (5 µm) superimposed on a PCTE membrane (3 µm) and compared it to a pure PCTE filter. A comprehensive evaluation of filtration time, eDNA concentration, fish DNA quantification, and fish species detected showed that the shortest average filtration time was obtained with the 8 µm pore size (2 min 9 s) and the longest average filtration time was obtained with the 0.2 µmpore size (32 min 6 s). The highest average DNA concentration was 3.785 ng/µL for the 0.2 µmfilter and the lowest was 0.577 ng/µL for the 8 µm filter; meanwhile, the concentrations of fish DNA measured by quantitative PCR were 5.02E+02(8 µm), 4.79E+02(3 µm), 1.63E+03(1.2 µm), 5.95E+03(0.2 µm) copies of fish DNA per µl and there was no significant difference in the results between them (p > 0.05). The sequencing results showed that 17 fish species were detected in the 0.2 µm filter, 10 species in the 1.2 µm filter, 12 species in the 3 µm filter and 11 species in the 8 µm filter. Comparing to 3 µm and 0.2 um, the average filtration time in stacked-filter was reduced by 4 and 24 min, respectively, while the average concentration was 2.46 and 1.55 times higher than the former. The qPCR results showed that the number of eDNA copies of the samples enriched with the 3 µm and stacked-filter was 4.79E+02 and 1.53E+04, respectively. 3 µm and stacked-filter showed significant differences (p < 0.05), while 0.2 µm and stacked-filter did not show significant differences (p > 0.05). Sixteen fish species were detected by the stacked-filter. The number of eDNA obtained and the number of fish species detected were higher than those of the pure PCTE filter, while clogging during filtration was effectively avoided. We recommend using the stacked-filter to enrich eDNA from water samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Significant achievements have been made in membrane‐based nanofiltration to combat global micropollutant contamination in aquatic environments, but the current water purification membranes have been constrained by the inherent limitations of substantial operating pressure gradients. Here, a novel solution inspired by natural guttation process observed in plants is presented. This biomimetic guttation feature is realized in the 2D hydrotalcite membranes composed of layered double hydroxides (LDHs), which spontaneously exhibit water seepage, akin to the expulsion of excess liquid from plant leaves in nature. This self‐sustaining water permeation is attributed to the surface force‐pore flow mechanism. Unlike conventional membranes requiring external operating pressure, the guttation flux positively correlates with LDH membrane thickness up to a threshold point. Further demonstration shows the potential of the membrane by achieving over 99% rejection of small molecular weight organic dyes, for addressing micropollutant challenges. Leveraging the guttation feature, steric effects related to the d‐spacing, and the chemical safety of LDH, the finding opens multiple opportunities for self‐sustaining nanofiltration and forward osmosis applications, such as pharmaceuticals (e.g., protein purification) and food processing (e.g., fruit juice or milk concentration) standing to benefit significantly from this innovative technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A method was established to simultaneously determine 2'-fucosyllactose (2'-FL) and lactose-N-neotetraose (LNnT) in infant milk powder by ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/ MS). The sample was extracted by water, precipitated protein, and purified through a needle-type water system filtration membrane. Then the sample solution was separated using an amide column by gradient elution, within acetonitrile and 10 mmol/ L ammonium formate aqueous solution (containing 0.1% formic acid, V/V). The selective reaction monitoring mode was used to measure and quantify by external standards. In addition, it also evaluated the solvent effect and matrix effect by dilution method and extraction addition respectively. Results showed that the addition ion peaks [M + NH4+] and [M + H+ ] of 2'-FL and LNnT in the positive ion mode were better than others. After the gradient conditions and flow rate optimization, both 2'-FL and LNnT could be eluted within 8 min. However, it was found that 2'-FL and LNnT had serious solvent effects, while, in the elimination test, the effect could be eliminated using 50% acetonitrile ammonium formate aqueous solution as the diluted solvent, within 20 times dilution. The linear ranges of 2'-FL and LNnT were 5. 0 - 150.0 ng/ mL and 2.5 - 75.0 ng/ mL, respectively. And there was no matrix effect in either 2'-FL or LNnT. The method verification showed that the precision and accuracy parameters of 2'-FL and LNnT met the requirements of the national standard, and this method was suitable for the simultaneous determination of 2'-FL and LNnT in infant formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oily particles pollution poses a tremendous threat to people's health, so it is urgent to develop air filtration materials with the ability of removing fine oily particles effectively. In this study, a nylon 6 multi-stage structured nanofiber membrane (PA6 MSNM) for effective air filtration of fine oily particles was designed and fabricated by adding a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAHP) via one-step electrospinning. The PA6 MSNMs were composed of coarse trunk fibres and fine branching fibres. Benefiting from the properties of small pore size and high porosity, the resulting PA6 MSNMs exhibited high average filtration efficiency of 99.80% for oily aerosol particles of 0.20–4.59 μm, a low pressure drop of 251 Pa, and the high quality factor of 0.0248 Pa−1. More importantly, its filtration efficiencies for oily aerosol particles of 0.25 and 0.30 μm were up to 99.99% and 100.00%, respectively. It is expected that the multi-stage electrospun nanofiber membranes would have wide application prospects in air filtration, particularly for filtering oily particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents a comprehensive assessment of the performance of popular pitcher-type point-of-use (POU) water filters to remove PFAS contaminants from tap waters. The evaluated filters, Brita (Elite and Standard), Zero Water, Aquagear, and Clearly Filtered, were tested for their efficacy in removing 75 targeted PFAS, total organic carbon (TOC), total dissolved solids (TDS), chloride, and sulfate from two Canadian tap waters with background Σ75 PFAS concentrations of 13 and 56 ng/L. Overall, the performances of the filters varied depending on the structure of the filter media, the water source, and the specific contaminants present. ZeroWater was the top performer in the case of total PFAS removal. The volume-weighted average removal of total PFAS after 160 L of filtration using Saint-Donat tap water was 99% for Zero Water, 99% for Clearly Filtered, 77% for Aquagear, and 20% for Brita (Elite). In the case of Montreal tap water, which had different water characteristics and lower total PFAS levels, the volume-weighted average removal for PFAS was ≈100% for Zero Water, 96% for Clearly Filtered, 60% for Aquagear, 48% for Brita (Elite), and 38% for Brita (Standard). Both laboratory and home tests involving Zero Water filters yielded similar high-performance results using Montreal tap water. Although Zero Water exhibited high PFAS removal (99%) in Saint-Donat water, TDS and TOC desorption and a significant drop in pH were observed after 80 L, a phenomenon which was explained by the higher total concentration of anions in this water. In contrast, no desorption was observed in Montreal tap water for TDS and TOC due to the lower concentrations of anions. The Aquagear filter demonstrated an unusual increase in concentrations of sulfate after the initial 20 L, which needs further evaluation. This study discusses individual filter performance, the influence of tap water characteristics, and the potential to meet the new NSF guidelines, which provides valuable insights for consumers seeking to choose an appropriate easy-to-use water filtration system to ensure safe and clean drinking water in different regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenic (As) contamination is a severe problem in drinking-water sources. This study designed and investigated a novel combined electrocoagulation–filtration (ECF) system to investigate As treatment and filtration in drinking water in collaboration with HANDS-Pakistan and Medico International, Germany. Two separate pilot-scale ECF systems were designed and developed with an electrocoagulation (EC) unit and a commercially available PAUL® filter configured with vertical flat-sheet ultra-low-pressure membranes of 0.04 µm pore size for the combined treatment and filtration of different As concentrations. Real drinking water at different As concentrations, i.e., 100, 200, and 300 μg/L were tested on one ECF system with EC electrodes of iron (Fe) and another system with aluminum (Al), at different treatment times (0, 5, 10, 20, 45, 60, 120, 180 min), at a fixed current density (12 mA/cm2) and water flow rate of 1 L/min. The initial results showed 99% As removal within 5 min with the combined ECF treatment for both electrodes of Fe and Al. In addition, the effect of ECF on different water-quality parameters and the ionic interference on ECF performance and As filtration were analyzed. The results showed the promising potential of combined ECF treatment and filtration for treating and purifying As. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the development of ultra-deep wells, extremely high temperatures can lead to inefficiency of additives in drilling fluids. Hence, there is a need to prepare additives with a simple preparation process and good effects at ultra-high temperatures to ensure stable drilling fluid performance. In this study, a high temperature resistant filtration loss polymer (LY-2) was prepared using γ-methacryloyloxypropyltrimethoxysilane (KH570), N,N-dimethylallyl ammonium chloride (DMDAAC), sodium p-styrenesulfonate (SSS), and β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). The impact of the different monomer ratios on particle size, rheology, and filtration performance was systematically investigated. Infrared spectroscopy afforded the structural features. Thermogravimetric Analysis detected the temperature stability, and scanning electron microscopy characterized the polymer micromorphology. LY-2 was completely decomposed at a temperature above 600 °C. Experiments showed FLAPI of the drilling fluid containing 3% LY-2 aged at 260 °C/16 h was only 5.1 mL, which is 85.4% lower compared to the base fluid. This is attributed to the synergistic effect of the polymer adsorption through chemical action at high temperatures and the blocking effect of carbon nanoparticles on the filter cake released by cyclodextrin carbonization at high temperatures. Comparing LY-2 with commercial filter loss reducers shows that LY-2 has excellent temperature resistance, which exhibited five times higher filtration performance and relatively low cost, making it possible to be applied to ultra-high temperature drilling operations in an industrial scale-up. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is a comprehensive product guide for water purification and treatment equipment. It lists various companies and their offerings in categories such as filters, pumps, meters, and more. [Extracted from the article]

Urothelial cell carcinoma (UCC) has been linked to environmental chemical exposures in people, but these risk factors are not well understood in dogs with UCC. We hypothesised that household chemical exposures contribute to the risk of UCC in pet dogs. This prospective cross‐sectional case–control study included 37 dogs with UCC and 37 unaffected breed‐, sex‐, and age‐matched controls. Dog owners completed an environmental questionnaire and household samples were collected and analysed for arsenic (in tap water and room dust) and acrolein (in room air). Urine samples from UCC dogs, control dogs, and consenting owners were analysed for inorganic arsenic species, the acrolein metabolite 3‐HPMA, and the phenoxy herbicide 2,4‐D. Public data on chlorination byproducts (total trihalomethanes) in municipal drinking water were also compared between case and control households. Dogs with UCC were more likely to swim in a pool (15.2%) compared with control dogs (0%) (OR 1.69, 95% CI = 1.69–∞; p =.02). Dogs with UCC also had more than 4‐fold higher reported municipal water concentrations of chlorination byproducts (median 28.0 ppb) compared with controls (median 6.9 ppb; p <.0001). Dust arsenic concentrations were unexpectedly lower in case households (median 0.277 ng/cm2) compared with control households (median 0.401 ng/cm2; p =.0002). Other outcomes were not significantly different between groups. These data suggest that dog owners, especially those of breeds known to be at higher risk for UCC, consider limiting access to swimming pools and installing water filtration units that remove total trihalomethanes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work concerns the interaction between hydraulic processes and biological communities in rivers. In particular, the aim of this study is to investigate the interactions between flow dynamics and the freshwater mussels (FMs) to verify if the mussels' behavioural response to the hydrodynamic stress could be used to monitor natural extreme events in rivers. Although the influence of mussels on the kinematic characteristics of flow at the water–sediment interface was investigated by a certain number of studies, their behavioural response to flow, both in static and dynamic conditions, remains understudied. Laboratory experiments were performed in an artificial flume exposing Unio elongatulus to different values of flow discharge, both in steady and in unsteady conditions either with or without sediment transport. Mussels' behavioural responses were detected by using Hall sensor technology to measure gaping frequency, amplitude and duration, both in static conditions and under the effect of hydrodynamic stresses. Five categories of behavioural response were identified: Normal Activity (NA), Resting (Re), Transition (Tr), Adaptation (Ad) and Avoidance (Av). During NA (standard feeding and moving), FMs presented valve gaping, while during Re valves were kept constantly opened for water filtration. After a variation of flow discharge (ΔQ), FMs promptly reacted showing a transition from their normal behaviour, with constant gaping frequency (below 0.01 Hz), to higher valve gaping frequencies. The mean valves' gaping frequency increased as a function of ΔQ, and the highest values were reached in the presence of sediment transport. The mean valve opening amplitude was less sensitive to ΔQ. Its range of variation was very narrow with the highest values corresponding to the protrusion/retraction of the animals' foot to move or anchor to the substrate. The percentage of mussels responding to the discharge variation (Transition behaviour) increases with ΔQ confirming that mussels' behavioural response represents a promising tool for monitoring the occurrence of hydrodynamic stressors in fluvial systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some users consider modern hydrostatic drives and controls to be unreliable and difficult to maintain. This view is often due to operational problems caused by issues with obtaining and then maintaining the appropriate cleanliness class of the working fluid. Recommendations on the selection of appropriate filtration system elements can be found in the literature, but there is no numerical model that could be helpful in a detailed analysis of the phenomenon. In the article, the authors tried to fill the research gap regarding the lack of a filtration model based on the filtration efficiency coefficient of filter elements used in hydraulic drives and controls. The developed model allows users to determine the influence of selected filtration system parameters on the separation of contaminants by filter elements. The model is intended to help designers and users of hydraulic drives and controls in optimizing the filtration system in order to obtain and then maintain the required cleanliness class of the hydraulic fluid. This paper also includes the results of the sensitivity analysis of selected filtration-system operating parameters in terms of the highest efficiency. In order to verify the developed model, experimental tests were also carried out, with the results presented in this paper. Based on the numerical analyses and experimental studies, recommendations that may be helpful in the selection or development of filtration systems used in hydrostatic drives and controls were developed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater with high prevalence of uranium (> WHO limit, 30 µg/L) associated with natural radioactivity and chemical toxicity, poses severe health risks and necessitates efficient water treatment methods for removing uranium to provide safe water for human consumption. In the current work, nanocellulose (NC) extracted from wheat straw using facile chemical process, was investigated of its structural, chemical, and surface properties utilising various techniques such as XRD, FESEM, EDX, and FT-IR followed by systematic batch mode studies to explore its adsorptive potential for U(VI) in water. The adsorption data so obtained were examined using thermodynamic, isotherm, and kinetic models. The adsorption process was found to be spontaneous and endothermic, with maximum Langmuir adsorption capacity of 77.13 mg/g. Remediation of U(VI) from aqueous solution is primarily accomplished through monolayer chemisorption and electrostatic interactions. The potential of NC as a key filling component in columns used in water filtration systems was explored for practical application and successfully utilized for treatment of high prevalent groundwater samples from Bathinda district of SW-Punjab, India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because of the numerous ecosystem services provided by soil, such as elemental cycling, food production, and water filtration and storage, this resource requires special protection to maintain total efficiency of these services. However, standard agricultural practices can have a degrading effect, not only on the physical and chemical properties of soil, but may also threaten soil invertebrate communities. Soil macrofauna, and earthworms in particular, play a critical role in soil ecosystems because their activities affect the availability of nutrients for plants, shape soil structure, and significantly impact organic matter dynamics. The present study was undertaken to determine the effects of two systems used in plant cultivation (no-dig and conventional digging). Both used vermicompost as an organic fertilizer and looked at selected characteristics of Lumbricidae groupings and the dynamics of selected soil physicochemical properties. This study was conducted over three years in the same area to ensure that the soil characteristics were the same. The NDG (no-dig) and DG (conventional digging) sites were prepared as appropriate with a perennial hay meadow (MW) used as a control site. An electrical extraction (octet) method was used to collect earthworms. The same six species of earthworm were found at each site: Dendrodrilus rubidus (Sav.), Lumbricus rubellus (Hoff.), Aporrectodea caliginosa (Sav.), Aporrectodea rosea (Sav.), Octolasion lacteum (Örley), and Lumbricus terrestris (L.). Earthworm abundance and biomass were found to be significantly higher at the NDG site compared to DG (NDG > DG; abundance by 24% (p < 0.05), biomass by 22% (p < 0.05)). No significant differences between NDG and MW were shown. Moisture, temperature, and soil organic carbon content likely influenced the abundance and biomass of Lumbricidae. The NDG site showed significantly higher organic carbon and moisture content and significantly lower temperatures than the DG site. The average number of earthworms damaged by digging was 0.85 ind. m−2, but did not significantly affect the other results. Overall, NDG is preferable to DG for enhancing the earthworm and physicochemical parameters of soil. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal ions have detrimental impacts on both the environment and human health. Therefore, it is necessary to develop simple, economical water treatment adsorbents that employ easily modifiable, organic, biodegradable polymers like cellulose nanocrystals. This work used Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) to characterize the cellulose nanocrystal hydrogel prepared to remove Ni2+. The hydrogel was established to have two stable degradation points, ranging from 70 to 120°C to 250 to 380°C. Additionally, the principal functionalized groups observed in the hydrogel's molecular structure were CH, OH, and CO, which were uniform distribution and finger‐like structures as seen by SEM. It consisted of crystalline and amorphous structures, as shown by XRD patterns, making it a viable option for water filtration. BET showed that the surface area of the hydrogel increased upon modification. The column study involves optimization of pH, flow rate, concentration, and bed depth. According to experimental data, the effects of breakthrough parameters including pH (4, 5, 6) influent concentration (50, 75, and 100 mg/L), feed flow rate (5, 10, and 15 mL/min), and bed height (10, 15, and 20 cm). With an adsorption capacity of 58.65 mg/g, a flow rate of 10 mL/min, a bed depth of 20 cm, an influent concentration of 75 mg/L and a pH of 5 was found. The column experimental data fitted better to the Thomas, Yoon–Nelson, and bed depth service time modelling (R2 > 0.99) than the Adams–Bohart model with R2 > 0.90. The adsorbent is economical and environmentally friendly due to its excellent regeneration capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]