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In photocatalytic innovation, there has been a lot of interest in creating broad spectral responsive photocatalysts to get superior catalytic performance. In this study, we synthesized highly visible‐light responsive La2Ti2O7 perovskite photocatalysts by the probe ultrasonication procedure followed by high‐temperature calcination. Such materials are characterized using UV‐vis diffuse reflectance spectra, powder X‐ray diffraction, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy to illustrate the optical absorption activities, crystalline properties, chemical composition, and microscopic features. La2Ti2O7 extends optical absorption towards the visible light spectrum and narrows the band gap. The photocatalytic efficacy of the resulting La2Ti2O7 nanostructures was investigated by performing photocatalytic degradation of persistent Congo red (CR) dye while subjected to visible photon illumination using three Osram 150 W tungsten halogen lamp ((λ≥400 nm), 5000 lm nominal luminous flux, 80,600 lx radiation intensity. With effective efficiency, the optimum degradation of the 10 ppm CR dye with a percentage of 95.9 was achieved after 90 min during exposure to the La2Ti2O7 perovskite with a catalyst dosage of 30 mg/100 mL at pH 6. Consequently, La2Ti2O7 nanostructures alone depicted 19.8 % adsorption efficiency for CR dye. In addition, OH⋅ and holes were important in degrading CR dye, which included many different reaction pathways. The treated solution can also demonstrate the environment's safety for accepting water. In summary, under natural visible light irradiation, the synthesized La2Ti2O7 showed enormous promise for eliminating different organic contaminants using photocatalytic methodology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury pollution is disturbing, human health by causing many serious types of diseases. Therefore, elimination of mercury from water bodies is very important that is gaining attention among researchers, and researchers are setting priority measures to make mercury free water. One such measure is the use of MOFs and their composites which are extensively applied for the removal of Hg from water, because of displaying majestical characteristics like high water stability, tunable porosity and surface area as well as easy to synthesize. In this review, we discussed the elimination of Hg ions using MOFs and their composites. We also discussed how MOFs and their composites can be modified that can be more reliable and efficient for removal of pollutants from water particularly mercury ions. Furthermore, we explored the challenges in the application of MOFs and present measures to boost the application range of MOFs. In the same way we also discussed potential of MOFs and their composites to overcome difficulties and research directions for the elimination of Hg (II) ions from water bodies. We expect that this review will offer inclusive and clear understanding to researchers about MOFs and their composite for practical applications to remove mercury from water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The biological early warning system with fish behavior as the detection index is an efficient and rapid early warning technology for the ecological damage caused by water pollutants. However, the attempt to apply the scototaxis (dark preference) behavior of fish to biological early warning is still relatively lacking. In this study, we delved into the dark and light preferences of the rare minnows (Gobiocypris rarus), employing three distinct tank configurations. Additionally, we systematically examined the modulating effects of environmental illumination, nutritional status, and the number of test subjects on this behavior, aiming to establish optimal experimental parameters for its observation. Furthermore, cadmium ions [Cd2+], tricaine methanesulfonate [MS222], and p-chloroaniline were employed as representative heavy metal ions, neuroactive agents, and organic toxicants, respectively, to test the impact of chemicals on scototaxis in gradient concentrations. The results demonstrated that the rare minnow exhibited a clear scototaxis (dark preference), and this behavior was not affected by the nutritional status of the test fish, the illumination, or the number of subjects. While the dark chamber was consistently the preferred location of rare minnows during the chemical exposure tests, the degree of scototaxis by the rare minnow significantly decreased at Cd2+ ≥ 3 mg/L, MS222 ≥ 11 mg/L, and p-chloroaniline ≥ 29 mg/L, suggesting a potential disruption of their innate behavioral patterns by these chemicals. These findings underscore the sensitivity of rare minnows to water pollutants. Therefore, the scototaxis behavior of rare minnows can be a potential and useful behavioral indicator for biological early warning, which can be used for early biological warning of sudden water pollution caused by chemicals such as Cd2+, MS222, and p-chloroaniline. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Advances in green engineering and technology have revealed a number of environmentally acceptable alternatives for water purification. In line with this, recent advances in biosorption of pollutants from aqueous solutions using animal biowaste-based activated carbon (AC) are reported herein. Apart from the fish scale-derived AC which is extensively documented, animal bones, among the rest others, have been studied most widely, followed by hair and feathers. Out of the various target water pollutants, removal of heavy metals has been mostly studied. Majority of the reports showed the Freundlich isotherm and pseudo second order as the best fit. Few investigations on the thermodynamics of the adsorption studies and reports on the Gibbs free energy change (ΔG°), enthalpy change (ΔH°), and entropy change (ΔS°) have also been discussed in this report. It has been concluded that while plant-based AC has gained wide interest, the same is not true for the animal-based counterpart albeit the latter's potential for high sorption efficiency as seen in the present report. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia primarily exports coal, with an average annual quantity of over 421 million tonnes in the past decades (2011-2020), reaching its peak at 616 million tonnes in 2019. Despite its economic benefits, coal production carries hidden costs. This research delves into using life cycle assessment (LCA) to gauge the environmental impact of coal production and estimate external cost (EC) related to Greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants (AP). The study applied the benefit transfer method to make these estimations, focusing on coal mining and international transport processes. The findings revealed that over the past decades, per tonne coal mining contributed an estimated EC of $12.54-15.26 for GHG and $3,439-5,250 for AP, while transport abroad per-tonne-km coal incurred an EC of $19.98-23.94 for GHG and $19.58-23.30 for AP. Moreover, coal mining contributes to water pollution and substantial water depletion. Despite the coal production in Indonesia generating around $40 billion in revenue in 2020, the study shows that the total EC from GHG and AP is up to $2,131 billion, which is 53 times the revenue, posing serious health and ecological risks to Indonesians and exacerbating global climate change. Notably, these estimates exclude EC from water pollution (WP) and water depletion. With the global push towards ‘net zero emissions’, the coal industry as a whole faces an urgent need to curb its GHG and AP emissions from its.

Textile production is estimated to be responsible for about 20% of global clean water pollution from dyeing and finishing products. Textile wastewater discharge is one of the most hazardous pollutants which has a strong possibility to be mixed with freshwater bodies making the clean water unfit for further utilization. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) and biological oxygen demand (BOD) are the important indicators that describe the pollution level of the water. Pretreatment of textiles using hazardous chemicals boosts the toxicity of water due to the release of chemicals from textile fibrous surfaces into clean drinking water polluting the aquatic environment. This research aimed to develop a correlation between COD and BOD concerning auxiliaries used in the conventional and bio-pretreatment of textiles, so that the wastewater load can be traced back to the pretreatment method applied in upstream procedures. Furthermore, a comparison was established between COD and BOD of conventional and enzymatic processes. At first, the desizing of gray fabric was done, followed by scouring and bleaching. Then, scouring and bleaching were performed by conventional and enzymatic methods to examine their association with the rise in COD and BOD levels of effluent. Results confirmed that auxiliaries used in traditional and bio-pretreatments of textiles are significantly responsible for wastewater load. However, COD and BOD values of effluent obtained after enzymatic pretreatments were substantially less compared to conventional pretreatment methods. Therefore, enzymatic pretreatment application in textile chemical processing will help reduce effluent pollution and promote sustainable practices (SDG 6) with less environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydrogel nanocatalyst composed of nickel oxide (NiO) nanoparticles embedded in PVA–alginate hydrogels were potentially explored toward the reduction of anthropogenic water pollutants. The NiO nanoparticles was accomplished via green method using waste pineapple peel extract. The formation of the nanoparticles was affirmed from different analytical techniques such as UV–Vis, FTIR, XRD, TGA, FESEM, and EDS. Spherical NiO nanoparticles were obtained having an average size of 11.5 nm. The nano NiO were then integrated into PVA–alginate hydrogel matrix forming a nanocomposite hydrogel (PVALg@ NiO). The integration of nano NiO rendered an improved thermal stability to the parent hydrogel. The PVALg@ NiO hydrogel was utilized as a catalyst in the reduction of 4-nitrophenol (4-NP), potassium hexacyanoferrate (III), rhodamine B (RhB), methyl orange (MO), and malachite green (MG) in the presence of a reducing agent, i.e., NaBH4. Under optimized conditions, the reduction reactions were completed by 4.0 min and 3.0 min for 4-NP and potassium hexacyanoferrate (III), respectively, and the rate constant was estimated to be 1.14 min–1 and 2.15 min–1. The rate of reduction was found to be faster for the dyes and the respective rate constants were be 0.17 s–1 for RhB, MG and 0.05 s–1 for MO. The PVALg@ NiO hydrogel nanocatalyst demonstrated a recyclability of four runs without any perceptible diminution in its catalytic mettle. The efficacy of the PVALg@ NiO hydrogel nanocatalyst was further examined for the reduction of dyes in real water samples collected from different sources and the results affirm its high catalytic potential. Thus, this study paves the path for the development of a sustainable hydrogel nanocatalyst for reduction of hazardous pollutants in wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater contamination poses a severe public health risk in Lahore, Pakistan's second-largest city, where over-exploited aquifers are the primary municipal and domestic water supply source. This study presents the first comprehensive district-wide assessment of groundwater quality across Lahore using an innovative integrated approach combining geographic information systems (GIS), multi-criteria decision analysis (MCDA), and water quality indexing techniques. The core objectives were to map the spatial distributions of critical pollutants like arsenic, model their impacts on overall potability, and evaluate targeted remediation scenarios. The analytic hierarchy process (AHP) methodology was applied to derive weights for the relative importance of diverse water quality parameters based on expert judgments. Arsenic received the highest priority weight (0.28), followed by total dissolved solids (0.22) and hardness (0.15), reflecting their significance as health hazards. Weighted overlay analysis in GIS delineated localized quality hotspots, unveiling severely degraded areas with very poor index values (>150) in urban industrial zones like Lahore Cantt, Model Town, and parts of Lahore City. This corroborates reports of unregulated industrial effluent discharges contributing to aquifer pollution. Prospective improvement scenarios projected that reducing heavy metals like arsenic by 30% could enhance quality indices by up to 20.71% in critically degraded localities like Shalimar. Simulating advanced multi-barrier water treatment processes showcased an over 95% potential reduction in arsenic levels, indicating the requirement for deploying advanced oxidation and filtration infrastructure aligned with local contaminant profiles. The integrated decision support tool enables the visualization of complex contamination patterns, evaluation of remediation options, and prioritizing risk-mitigation investments based on the spatial distribution of hazard exposures. This framework equips urban planners and utilities with critical insights for developing targeted groundwater quality restoration policies through strategic interventions encompassing treatment facilities, drainage infrastructure improvements, and pollutant discharge regulations. Its replicability across other regions allows for tackling widespread groundwater contamination challenges through robust data synthesis and quantitative scenario modeling capabilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the potential of basil seeds as adsorbent in order to remove famotidine drug from aqueous media. The optimum conditions for the adsorption of famotidine on the basil seeds were found to be 50 min contact time, 50 °C temperature, pH 1, 100 ppm concentration of famotidine, 0.03 g adsorbent mass and 50 rpm agitation rate. Pseudo 2nd order kinetics with a higher correlation coefficient (R2=0.9942) suggested chemisorption as preferable mechanism of adsorption. However, the enthalpy of adsorption (ΔH=+33.67 KJ/mol) was less than that of chemisorption but higher than that of physisorption which was attributed to strong hydrogen bonding between famotidine molecules and basil seed surface. The Langmuir isotherm with higher R2 (0.9960) than Freundlich isotherm (R2=0.8798) predicted maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of 99 mg/g while suggesting monolayer and favourable adsorption. The adsorption was endothermic (+ΔH) and spontaneous (−ΔG) in nature. The FT‐IR spectroscopy confirmed that famotidine was adsorbed on basil seed via strong hydrogen bonding. The study proposed that the simultaneous intake of famotidine and basil seeds should be strictly avoided as the drug readily adsorbs on basil seeds in acidic environment (gastric pH) thereby reducing its curing effect. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic activities have been one of the crucial driving factors for water pollution globally, thereby warranting a sustainable strategy for its redressal. In this study, we have developed a hydrogel-biochar nanocomposite for catalytic reduction of water pollutants. To begin with, green synthesis of nickel oxide nanoparticles (NiO NPs) was accomplished from waste kinnow peel extract via the environmentally benign microwave method. The formation of NiO NPs was affirmed from different analytical techniques namely ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The FESEM images revealed spherical nature of NiO NPs. The average particle size was found to be 15.61 nm from XRD data. A novel hydrogel-biochar nanocomposite comprising the green NiO NPs, sunflower meal biochar and chitosan was prepared (Cs-biochar@ NiO) and explored as a nanocatalyst towards catalytic reduction of pollutants such as 4-nitrophenol, potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) and organic dyes methyl orange (MO), Congo red (CR), methylene blue (MB) in the presence of a reducing agent, i.e. NaBH4. Under optimized conditions, the reduction reactions were completed by 120 s and 60 s for 4-NP and potassium hexacyanoferrate (III) respectively and the rate constants were estimated to be 0.044 s–1 and 0.110 s–1. The rate of reduction was found to be faster for the dyes and the respective rate constants were 0.213 s–1 for MO, 0.213 s–1 for CR and 0.135 s–1 for MB. The assessment of the nanocatalyst in the reduction of binary dye systems depicted its selectivity towards the anionic dyes CR and MO. The nanocatalyst displayed effective reduction of dyes in real-water samples collected from different sources. Taken altogether, this study validates the design of sustainable hydrogel-biochar nanocatalyst for the efficient reduction of hazardous anthropogenic water pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution greatly impacts humans and ecosystems, so a series of policies have been enacted to control it. The first step in performing pollution control is to detect contaminants in the water. Various methods have been proposed for water quality testing, such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemical techniques. However, traditional testing methods require the utilization of laboratory equipment, which is large and not suitable for real-time testing in the field. Microfluidic devices can overcome the limitations of traditional testing instruments and have become an efficient and convenient tool for water quality analysis. At the same time, artificial intelligence is an ideal means of recognizing, classifying, and predicting data obtained from microfluidic systems. Microfluidic devices based on artificial intelligence and machine learning are being developed with great significance for the next generation of water quality monitoring systems. This review begins with a brief introduction to the algorithms involved in artificial intelligence and the materials used in the fabrication and detection techniques of microfluidic platforms. Then, the latest research development of combining the two for pollutant detection in water bodies, including heavy metals, pesticides, micro- and nanoplastics, and microalgae, is mainly introduced. Finally, the challenges encountered and the future directions of detection methods based on industrial intelligence and microfluidic chips are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this research, the efficiency of degradation of different organic contaminant classes, including pesticides (tembotrione, clomazone), pharmaceuticals (ciprofloxacin, 17α-ethinyl estradiol) and mycotoxins (zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, fumonisin B1) with subcritical water treatment was studied in model systems. All experiments were conducted in a house-made batch-type pilot reactor. The research was focused on the optimization of the treatment parameters using moderate treatment conditions. Optimization of the remediation processes of water contaminated with 17α-ethinyl estradiol, tembotrione, clomazone, and ciprofloxacin, was conducted through testing with different homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts, as well as different gas atmospheres (nitrogen and carbon dioxide) for pressurization of the process system. Mycotoxins in water were degraded without catalysts and all experiments were conducted in nitrogen atmosphere. Optimization was conducted through defining the optimal combination of the treatment temperature and time, oriented towards energy saving and minimization of the technical requirements. The degradation efficiency in all tested samples was determined via HPLC analysis. Study showed the full degradation of tembotrione and all tested mycotoxins at 200 °C without a need for a catalyst. The efficiency of degradation of other tested pollutants at 200 °C was satisfying and within the range of 89.5% (clomazone) to 98.7% (17α-ethinyl estradiol). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indonesia primarily exports coal, with an average annual quantity of over 421 million tonnes in the past decades (2011-2020), reaching its peak at 616 million tonnes in 2019. Despite its economic benefits, coal production carries hidden costs. This research delves into using life cycle assessment (LCA) to gauge the environmental impact of coal production and estimate external cost (EC) related to Greenhouse gases (GHG) and air pollutants (AP). The study applied the benefit transfer method to make these estimations, focusing on coal mining and international transport processes. The findings revealed that over the past decades, per tonne coal mining contributed an estimated EC of $12.54-15.26 for GHG and $3,439-5,250 for AP, while transport abroad per-tonne-km coal incurred an EC of $19.98-23.94 for GHG and $19.58-23.30 for AP. Moreover, coal mining contributes to water pollution and substantial water depletion. Despite the coal production in Indonesia generating around $40 billion in revenue in 2020, the study shows that the total EC from GHG and AP is up to $2,131 billion, which is 53 times the revenue, posing serious health and ecological risks to Indonesians and exacerbating global climate change. Notably, these estimates exclude EC from water pollution (WP) and water depletion. With the global push towards 'net zero emissions', the coal industry as a whole faces an urgent need to curb its GHG and AP emissions from its. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the major and abundant environmental elements is water, which life existence on earth is depending on. However, degradation of water quality arising from natural occurrences due to anthropogenic that resulted in eutrophication needs to be guided. Indiscriminate harmful waste discharge and dispersion into the water bodies leads to water pollution. As such, constant management and monitoring of water resources for an enhanced quality and quantity is essential. Therefore, this study employed a coupled derivative mathematical model to investigate soluble and insoluble water pollutants. The insoluble pollutants are converted to soluble pollutants through an applied control or treatment. To optimize the water quality, parametric sensitivities in relation to reproduction number are examined. From the computational analysis carried out, it was revealed that treatment still remains the only remedy for safe water.

This study presents an innovative approach for assessing water quality in agricultural irrigation networks, integrating stable isotope analysis, in vivo zebrafish screening, and comprehensive chemical profiling to investigate the occurrence, transformation, and potential toxicity of organic contaminants. Stable isotope analysis was used to measure evaporation as a proxy for water residence time in the canal, while liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry (LC-HRMS) identified a range of organic compounds in water samples collected from both the irrigation canal and its source river. Results indicated a reduction in contaminant levels in the canal compared to the river, with the most significant evaporation and concentration changes occurring at a holding reservoir, suggesting that managing residence time could help reduce water loss in arid irrigation networks. The data also highlighted how evaporation, particularly during the dry, hot season, influences contaminant dynamics. Hierarchical clustering of LC-HRMS results showed notable differences between the chemical profiles of canal and river samples, indicating that irrigation systems may contribute to the degradation or removal of certain compounds. Over 60 % of detected compounds were naturally derived, with anthropogenic contaminants like pesticides and personal care products further highlighting human impacts. Priority contaminants, including DEET and 2-naphthalene sulfonic acid, likely originated from urban activities upstream. Initial screening using zebrafish embryos showed bioactivity across sites, confirming the presence of contaminants needing further examination. Correlation analysis linked natural compounds to evaporation rates, suggesting that flora and fauna play significant roles in the chemical makeup of canal water. Overall, this approach provides a comprehensive framework for monitoring irrigation water, offering insights into contaminant behavior and supporting the development of standardized methods for assessing chemical fate and ecological risks in agricultural irrigation systems.

In this modern era, pollution of water resources due to industrial waste effluents is an alarming problem as it can cause various health problems in aquatic animals as well as in humans. Among the industrial pollutants, organic dyes are one of the leading chemicals that cause severe damage to the aquatic environment. These harmful organic dyes are practically omnipresent in various types of industries such as textile, tannery, cosmetic, food industries, etc. Photodegradation of these organic dyes is regarded as a promising technology for industrial waste treatment as it is a cost-effective and environment-friendly process. In this study, a nanostructured material of iron has been synthesized using the Alstonia scholaris (L.) R. Br. extract in an easy and eco-friendly way. The potential of this synthesized nanostructured material to act as a photocatalyst, for the degradation of organic dyes, has been explored. Due to its small size and high dispersion, more than 72 % degradation has been achieved within 90 min. A comparative study of its photocatalytic efficiency in different degradation processes has also been performed.

Super hydrophobic porous silicon surface is prepared using a wet chemical synthesis route. Scanning electron microscopic investigation confirms a correlation between pore size and reaction time. SERS substrates are prepared by silver nanoparticle deposition on porous silicon surface. They exhibit excellent characteristics in terms of sensitivity, reproducibility, stability, and uniformity. They could detect rhodamine 6G in femtomolar range with SERS enhancement factor of ~ 6.1 × 1012, which is best ever reported for these substrates. Molecule-specific sensing of water pollutants such as methylene blue, glyphosate, and chlorpyrifos, is demonstrated for concentrations well below their permissible limits along with excellent enhancement factors. Porous silicon substrate functionalized with Ag nanoparticles demonstrates to be a promising candidate for low-cost, long-life, reliable sensors for environmental conservation applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most essential task in the twenty‐first century is to fight the alarming growing pollution in the aquatic body in which effluent of one of the most colouring dye categories called maxilon dye is a major contributor. This review thus specifically focuses on the use of nanoparticles (NPs) for photocatalytic degradation of maxilon dye contaminants in water bodies. The work empirically presented the performance evaluation of NPs in degrading maxilon dyes under light irradiation alongside the underlying operational photocatalytic degradation mechanism. The stability of NPs was also critically analyzed by looking at the regenerability and reusability of expended NPs. From the study, it was discovered that ⋅OH and O2⋅ played a vital role in the genesis of the oxidizing capacity of NPs for the photocatalytic breakdown of maxilon dye. Moreover, it was found that the degradation performance of most NPs is greater than 80 % and the shortest degradation period is < 1 hour with pseudo‐first‐order (PFO) being the most common kinetic best‐fit to describe the adsorption process that occurred shortly before and during the degradation operation. At the end, knowledge gaps were identified in the area of regenerability, the lifecycle analyses of nano‐photocatalyst fabrication and utilization, cost analysis for industrial scale‐up, maxilon dye ecotoxicological study, and degradation pathways. The findings of this study can open up insightful innovation for readers and industries that are interested in pursuing zero water insecurity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution poses a significant threat to both human health and ecosystem integrity. Chemical pollutants such as dyes and pesticides affect the water quality and endanger aquatic life. Among the methods for water purification from organic pollutants, photodegradation is certainly a valid technique to decrease such contaminants. In this work, pristine NiO, ZnO, and NiO-ZnO photocatalysts were synthesized by the homogeneous co-precipitation method. X-ray diffraction confirms the formation of a photocatalyst consisting of ZnO (Hexagonal) and NiO (Cubic) structures. The crystalline size was calculated by the Scherrer formula, which is 19 nm for the NiO-ZnO photocatalyst. The band gap measurements of the prepared samples were obtained using the Tauc Plot, equation which is 2.93 eV, 3.35 eV and 2.63 eV for NiO, ZnO, and NiO-ZnO photocatalysts, respectively. The photocatalytic performance of NiO-ZnO nanocomposite was evaluated through the degradation of Methylene Blue and Nile Blue dyes under sunlight, and Bentazon herbicide under a UV light. Photocatalyst degradation efficiency was 95% and 97% for Methylene Blue and Nile Blue in 220 min under sunlight while a degradation of 70% for Bentazon after 100 min under UV light source was found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In India, rivers are the primary source of water for millions of people. However, inadequate wastewater management and excessive dumping of pollutants have led to the pollution of these rivers. In the present study, quality of complexly contaminated Yamuna water was analyzed during and after COVID-19 and concluded that water quality improved during COVID-19 but deteriorated significantly after the pandemic, becoming highly contaminated with both organic and inorganic pollutants. For this study, water samples were collected during and post-COVID from 11 different locations in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and Haryana, spanning three different seasons (winter, summer, and monsoon) from 2020 to 2022. The results showed significant changes in pH, conductivity, and salinity during the study. Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) reached its highest recorded value of 388±3.4 mg/L during the monsoon of 2022 at Tronica City. Biochemical Oxygen Demand (BOD) peaked at 27.6±1.18 mg/L at ITO during the monsoon of 2021. Total hardness was highest, measuring 806±21.4 mg/L, during the summer of 2022 at Katha. Additionally, ammonia content was found to be at its highest, measuring 21.23±0.51 PPM, during the summer of 2021 at ISBT Old Bridge. The study also explored the use of various microalgae, including Scenedesmus sp., Klebsormidium sp., Nephrocytium sp., Oocystis sp., Monoraphidium sp., Chlorococcum sp., and filamentous alga Hydrodictyon reticulatum for phycoremediation. These algae were found to efficiently remove pollutants, with Monoraphidium sp. removing 81.81±0.82% of COD, and Chlorococcum sp. effectively removing 78.38±1.02% of ammonia from the complexly contaminated Yamuna water. This study clearly demonstrates that the concentration of pollutants significantly decreased during COVID-19 but increased afterward. The water quality of the Yamuna River in the study area was found to be hazardous for both humans and animals and statistical methods such as ANOVA (Analysis of Variance) and Principal Component Analysis (PCA) validate the significance of the data, correlations, and variances between different pollutants and the effectiveness of phycoremediating algae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The human population has massively increased throughout the world. This has created various serious challenges, especially water pollution issues. Heavy metals, dyes, textile industries, microorganisms, organic and chemical pollutants can be included as main sources of water pollution. There are various methods for contaminant disposal. In this regard, the adsorption technique can be considered the most common method. In this technique, alum and polyaluminum chloride are widely used chemicals. However, they have harmful side effects on the environment, due to their chemical nature. One of the best solutions to overcome this issue is the use of natural materials and polysaccharides, which are abundant materials, biocompatible, biodegradable, non-toxic and functional groups with low processing costs. These materials include Guar Gum (GG), derivatives such as Al2O3 (GG-AO), GG nanocomposites, acrylic gum-based hydrogels, GG-hydrogel, gum nano-hydrogels, magnetic nano-GG, agaric GG, itaconic (Aldehyde GG), Galacyl-Hydrazine modified GG (GG-GH), depolymerized GG (oxidized GG), Guar-Graft Poly(Methylacrylate) (GG-g PMA), poly(acrylamide) GG-silica nanocomposites, GG Sulphonic Acid (g-GG/SiO2), GG Nitrilotriacetic Acid (GNTA) resin, etc. Different factors such as pH, adsorbent amount and contact retention time have significant impacts on adsorbent efficiency. Various studies have reported that pH values of 4–8 resulted in efficiency higher than 90%. The concentration of the adsorbent and the contact time are varied, depending on the type of the considered derivative. The use of GG and its derivatives can be an effective strategy to greatly reduce the cost of water treatment. In addition to being cost-effective, the proposed strategy is biocompatible and eco-friendly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the viability of developing chitosan-based hydrogels derived from waste shrimp shells for the removal of methylene blue and methyl orange, thereby transforming food waste into advanced materials for environmental remediation. Despite chitosan-based adsorbents being conventionally considered ideal for the removal of negative pollutants, through targeted functionalization with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene): polystyrene sulfonate (PEDOT:PSS) at varying concentrations, we successfully enhance the hydrogels' efficacy in also adsorbing positively charged adsorbates. Specifically, the incorporation of PEDOT:PSS at a concentration of 10% v/v emerges as a critical factor in facilitating the robust adsorption of dyes. In the case of the anionic dye methyl orange (MO, 10−5 M), the percentage of removed dye passed from 47% (for beads made of only chitosan) to 66% (for beads made of chitosan-PEDOT:PSS 10%), while, in the case of the cationic dye methylene blue (MB, 10−5 M), the percentage of removed dye passed from 52 to 100%. At the basis of this enhancement, there is an adsorption mechanism resulting from the interplay between electrostatic forces and π–π interactions. Furthermore, the synthesized functionalized hydrogels exhibit remarkable stability and reusability (at least five consecutive cycles) in the case of MB, paving the way for the development of cost-effective and sustainable adsorbents. This study highlights the potential of repurposing waste materials for environmental benefits, introducing an innovative approach to address the challenges regarding water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study undertook an assessment of 24 physiochemical parameters at over 1094 sites to compute the water quality index (WQI) across the upper and central Punjab regions of Pakistan. Prior to the WQI calculation, an analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was employed to assign specific weights to each water quality parameter. The categorization of WQI into distinct classes was achieved by constructing a pairwise matrix based on their relative importance utilizing Saaty's scale. Additionally, the groundwater quality status for irrigation and drinking purposes across various zones in the study area was delineated through the integration of WQI and geostatistical methodologies. The findings revealed discernible heavy metal issues in the Lahore division, with emerging microbiological contamination across the entire study region, potentially attributed to untreated industrial effluent discharge and inadequately managed sewerage systems. The computed indices for the Lahore, Sargodha, and Rawalpindi divisions fell within the marginal to unfit categories, indicating water quality concerns. In contrast, the indices for other divisions were in the medium class, suggesting suitability for drinking purposes. Scenario analysis for developing mitigation strategies indicated that primary treatment before wastewater disposal could rehabilitate 9% of the study area, followed by secondary (35%) and tertiary (41%) treatments. Microbiological contamination (27%) emerged as the predominant challenge for water supply agencies. Given the current trajectory of water quality deterioration, access to potable water is poised to become a significant public concern. Consequently, government agencies are urged to implement appropriate measures to enhance overall groundwater quality for sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vanillic acid (4-hydroxy-3-methoxybenzoic acid) (VA) is a natural benzoic acid derivative commonly found in herbs, rice, maize, and some fruits and vegetables. However, due to the wide use of VA in various industrial sectors, its presence in the environment might harm living organisms. This study evaluated the toxicity of VA and its isomers, iso-VA and orto-VA. Firstly, the antimicrobial effect of VA and its isomers iso-VA and orto-VA (in doses of 1000; 100, 10, 1; 0.1; 0.01 mg/L) against Escherichia coli, Sarcina spp., Enterobacter homaechei, Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans were identified. The toxic effect and protein degradation potential of VA and its isomers were determined using E. coli grpE:luxCDABE and lac:luxCDABE biosensor strains. However, the genotoxicity and oxidative stress generation were assessed with the E. coli recA:luxCDABE biosensor and E. coli strain. The results showed that VA, iso-VA, and orto-VA exhibited antimicrobial activity against all tested bacterial strains. However, VA's antimicrobial effect differed from iso-VA and orto-VA. Similar toxic, genotoxic, and oxidative stress-inducing effects were observed for VA and its isomers. Each compound exhibited toxicity, cellular protein degradation, and genotoxic activity against E. coli grpE:luxCDABE, E. coli lac:luxCDABE, and E. coli recA:luxCDABE strains. Analysis of reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation within E. coli cells highlighted oxidative stress as a contributing factor to the toxicity and genotoxicity of VA and its isomers. While the findings suggest potential applications of VA compounds as food preservatives, their presence in the environment raises concerns regarding the risks posed to living organisms due to their toxic and genotoxic characteristics.

Maximizing water reuse requires addressing legal and regulatory frameworks, but growers’ understanding of water as a vehicle for pollutants and safe practices is vital in this process. A cross-sectional survey of 85 growers in Lebanon, Jordan, and Tunisia explored these factors. Results showed that 70.6% of growers had limited knowledge about the transmission of pathogens, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals to food crops via treated wastewater (TWW). Additionally, 55% of farmers used TWW for irrigation, while 65.9% believed that it poses health risks to consumers when applied to crops eaten raw. A positive attitude toward TWW was a determining factor for maximizing water reuse applications. However, the limited access and unavailability of treatment plants were the primary reasons for not using TWW (32.9%). More concerning, less than half controlled the quality of irrigation water using microbiological tests (32.9%), chemical tests (37.6%), and turbidity tests (29.4%). Meanwhile, only 40% trusted local authorities’ control of TWW quality and 69.4% had no access to regulatory information. The present study showed the importance of prioritizing growers’ awareness of potential risks and establishing the practice of monitoring of water quality indicators and contaminants. These should be at the forefront of water reuse expansion strategies to mitigate associated risks. HIGHLIGHTS The majority of growers lacked training in good agricultural practices.; Less than half of the growers monitored the quality of water.; Only 40% trusted local authorities' control of treated wastewater (TWW) quality.; For some growers, TWW poses health risks if applied to crops eaten raw.; Positive attitude toward TWW maximizes water reuse.;

Water pollution greatly impacts humans and ecosystems, so a series of policies have been enacted to control it. The first step in performing pollution control is to detect contaminants in the water. Various methods have been proposed for water quality testing, such as spectroscopy, chromatography, and electrochemical techniques. However, traditional testing methods require the utilization of laboratory equipment, which is large and not suitable for real-time testing in the field. Microfluidic devices can overcome the limitations of traditional testing instruments and have become an efficient and convenient tool for water quality analysis. At the same time, artificial intelligence is an ideal means of recognizing, classifying, and predicting data obtained from microfluidic systems. Microfluidic devices based on artificial intelligence and machine learning are being developed with great significance for the next generation of water quality monitoring systems. This review begins with a brief introduction to the algorithms involved in artificial intelligence and the materials used in the fabrication and detection techniques of microfluidic platforms. Then, the latest research development of combining the two for pollutant detection in water bodies, including heavy metals, pesticides, micro- and nanoplastics, and microalgae, is mainly introduced. Finally, the challenges encountered and the future directions of detection methods based on industrial intelligence and microfluidic chips are discussed.

Background: Removing natural organic substances from drinking water sources is necessary to prevent the formation of toxic and carcinogenic disinfection by-products (DBPs). The nano-photocatalytic oxidation process to remove these substances is easier, faster, cheaper, and more efficient than other methods. Methods: This study investigated the efficiency of the TiO2/UV nano-photocatalytic process in removing humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA) from aqueous solutions. Batch tests were performed to investigate the effect of various parameters such as contact time (15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes), initial pH (4, 7, and 9), initial HA and FA concentration (0.5, 1, 2, 5, and 7 mg/L-1), TiO2 dose (5, 10, 15 and 20 mg/L-1), and different UV irradiation (8 W and 16 W) for the removal of HA and FA from aqueous solutions using TiO2/UV at room temperature (20 ± 3 °C). The equilibrium adsorption data and the standard parameters were evaluated. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 25. Results: The efficiency of this process in optimal conditions (pH: 4, anatase TiO2: 10 mg/L-1, irradiation time: 60 min, UV = 16 W) for removing humic and fulvic (initial HA concentration: 2 mg/L-1 and initial FA concentration: 5 mg/L-1) was 89% and 92%, respectively. The analysis of the experimental isotherm data showed that in the adsorption process of HA and FA on TiO2/UV, the Langmuir isotherm and the first-order reaction had the best fit with the experimental data. Conclusion: TiO2/UV nano-photocatalytic process is suitable for the photo-degradation and removal of HA and FA in aqueous solutions.

Adsorption processes, due to their technical simplicity and cost-effectiveness, have arisen as one of the most well-known, straightforward solutions to water pollution. In this context, polysaccharides, due to their abundance, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, are appealing raw materials for the design of adsorbents. Moreover, some of them, such as chitosan, can be obtained from organic waste products, and their use additionally contributes to solving another concerning problem: organic waste accumulation. Unfortunately, due to their low adsorption capacities and/or physicochemical properties, native polysaccharides are not suitable for this purpose. However, there are alternatives that can overcome these physical or chemical limitations, often taking advantage of the versatility of their polyhydroxylated structure. In this context, this review aims to present an overview of the advances from 2019 onwards in the design of new adsorbents for water treatment from cellulose, alginate, chitosan, and starch, addressing the two main strategies reported in the literature: the preparation of either polysaccharide-based composites or polysaccharide derivatives. It is important to point out that, herein, special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the chemical structure and the efficiency as adsorbents of the analyzed materials, in an attempt to contribute to the rational design of adsorbents obtained from polysaccharides.

The modern lifestyle has increased our utilization of pollutants such as heavy metals, aromatic compounds, and contaminants that are of rising concern, involving pharmaceutical and personal products and other materials that may have an important environmental impact. In particular, the ultimate results of the intense use of highly stable materials, such as heavy metals and chemical restudies, are that they turn into waste materials, which, when discharged, accumulate in environmental water bodies. In this context, the present review presents the application of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in electrochemiluminescent (ECL) sensing for water pollutant detection. MOF composites applied as innovative luminophore or luminophore carriers, materials for electrode modification, and the enhancement of co-reaction in ECL sensors have enabled the sensitive monitoring of some of the most common contaminants of emerging concern such as heavy metals, volatile organic compounds, pharmaceuticals, industrial chemicals, and cyanotoxins. Moreover, we provide future trends and prospects associated with ECL MOF composites for environmental sensing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the past decade, a sudden increase in the number and kind of emerging water contaminants has been observed. The emerging contaminants can be categorized as organic or inorganic. Organic contaminants have been known for years, and techniques for their detection and remediation have been developed. However, inorganic pollutants are much more common. This is because they are detected in very low or negligible concentrations and are equally toxic as organic pollutants at higher concentrations. To boost the research on inorganic pollutant contamination, advancements in detection and quantification techniques are required. The presented paper discusses major inorganic pollutants such as metals and their salts, inorganic fertilizers, sulfides, acids and bases, and ammonia and oxides of nitrogen. In addition, it discusses the inorganic toxicants' toxicity to organisms and the environment, upgraded quantification methods, and advancements in inorganic toxicant mitigation. Moreover, the major bottlenecks in the quantification and removal of inorganic pollutants are discussed at the end. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presented the effect of the activity of the coal fired power plants „Republika" and „Bobov dol" in Bulgaria and the influence of the wastewaters discharge on the ecological status of Razmetanitsa River (Struma River catchment - West Aegean region) and Sokolitsa River (Maritsa River catchment, East Aegean region). The data of the biological quality elements macrozoobenthos, phytobenthos and fish fauna; basic physicochemical parameters, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, conductivity, biological oxygen demand, ammonium nitrogen, nitrate nitrogen, nitrite nitrogen, total nitrogen, orthophosphates as phosphorus, total phosphorus, calcium (calcium carbonate hardness), total suspended substances; specific pollutants - iron, manganese, copper, zinc, aluminum, chromium total, arsenic, free cyanides, polychlorinated biphenyls, phenols, uranium, radium-226, total a-activity, total ß-activity, etc.; sulphates, chlorides; the priority substances cadmium, lead, mercury and nickel from Annex 1 of Directive 2013/39/EU were reviewed and assessed for monitoring sites before and after the discharge points from coal fired power plants in the Struma and Maritsa catchments during the period 2013-2022. A relation between the worsened biological quality elements, the exceeded values of the monitored basic physicochemical parameters and the exceeded environmental quality standards of the specific pollutants and the deterioration of the ecological status of the observed surface water bodies was established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination engendered by pharmaceutical effluents and organic dyes is emerged as a serious environmental catastrophe, causing massive ecological repercussions as well as enduring risks to aquatic life and human health. Hence designing of highly efficient and robust photocatalyst with excellent intrinsic properties for the degradation of pollutants is desirable. In this research, a visible-light-responsive cerium manganese oxide (CeMnO3) perovskite nanomaterial was synthesized via facile citrate sol–gel approach to address the deterioration of tetracycline hydrochloride (TcH) antibiotic and methylene blue (MB) dye residues for the first time in aqueous media. The CeMnO3 nanostructure was characterized through XRD, XPS, FTIR, FESEM, EDS, PL, and UV–Vis spectrophotometer to disclose the catalytic functionalities, crystallographic structures, elemental interaction, structural configuration, surface morphology, and other intrinsic optical features of the material. The CeMnO3 catalyst exhibits eminent photocatalytic activity for the degradation of TcH and MB residues under visible light sources attributed to the narrow bandgap energy (2.50 eV) achieved in CeMnO3 perovskite nanomaterial. As-prepared catalysts achieved an optimum efficiency of about 89% and 95% for the photocatalytic degradation of TcH (10 mg/L) and MB (10 mg/L) for 30 mg and 25 mg catalyst dosage in 90 min, respectively. The radical scavenger test revealed that the hydroxyl radical · OH and superoxide radicals · O 2 - are the chief reactive oxidizing agents in the photocatalytic degradation process. Furthermore, even after three subsequent cycles, the catalyst stays stable and demonstrates an excellent degradation efficiency, validating its potential cyclic capability and chemical stability. The current work proposes an intriguing strategy to fabricate a CeMnO3 catalyst with high-performance detoxification of TcH and MB residual compounds which are widely used and frequently reported for their contaminations in the ambient environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The interest of researchers has been more and more focused on identifying adsorption materials for pollutant removal with a specific interest in agriculture waste. It is noteworthy that many agricultural wastes are modified in different ways to improve the porosity and surface area of the material. Activation, carbonisation and grafting are only some of the most utilised technologies to produce adsorbents from agricultural waste. Some agriculture waste filters use less adsorbent and achieve the same metal ion adsorption efficiency of commercial filters at a potentially cheaper price. As they are made from renewable material found in abundance, they provide a solution to environmental problems and offer an additional value to the agricultural economy. This paper presents an overview of the recent improvements in the field and represents an evaluation of the different possibilities of using agricultural by-products to produce activated carbon for water purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a highly sensitive water pollutant optical sensor is proposed and analyzed. The suggested sensor consists of photonic crystal fiber with a core surrounded by four elliptical holes infiltrated with the studied analyte (pure/polluted water sample). In addition, two gold nanorods are mounted horizontally at the inner surfaces of two horizontal elliptical holes. The proposed sensor can efficiently detect dissolved pollutants in water such as nitric acid ( HNO 3 ) with concentrations of 14, 23 and 35% and H 2 O 2 with concentrations of 7, 15 and 30%. The dissolved pollutants in water (analyte) have refractive indices (RIs) in the range of 1.350–1.355 in the mid infrared regime from λ = 2200 nm to λ = 3500 nm. A fully vectorial finite element method (FVFEM) is employed for the modal analysis of the reported structure. The geometrical parameters are studied to maximize the RI sensitivity where a high sensitivity of 36,000 nm/RIU is achieved between the studied RIs of 1.350 and 1.355. The obtained RI sensitivity is higher than those of the recent reported sensors in the literature especially those operating in the mid infrared wavelengths. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bio-enzyme degradation technology is a promising approach to sustainably remove pollution in the water and laccase is one of the most widely used enzymes in this area. Nevertheless, the further industrial application of laccase is limited by low stability, short service, low reusability and high price. The immobilization technology can significantly improve the stability and reusability of enzymes and thus promoting their industrial applications. Nanocomposite materials have been developed and applied in the efficient immobilization of laccase due to their superior physical, chemical, and biological performance. This paper presents a comprehensive review of various nanocomposite immobilization methods for laccase and the consequent changes in enzymatic properties post-immobilization. Additionally, a comprehensive analysis is conducted on the factors that impact laccase immobilization and its water removal efficiency. Furthermore, this review examines the effectiveness of common contaminants' removal mechanisms while summarizing and discussing issues related to laccase immobilization on nanocomposite carriers. This review aims to provide valuable guidance for enhancing laccase immobilization efficiency and enzymatic water pollutant removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the possibility of using rainwater for filling artificial swimming pools in Poland. The overall purpose of this study is to understand whether the quality of rainwater collected from roofs would be suitable for use in the swimming pools without any additional treatment. The rainwater samples were collected from five areas in the Silesian region and analysed for a number of physico-chemical parameters. The results show that the content of nitrates met Polish standards, whereas the standards set for pH and turbidity would only be met after the water had undergone the treatment process which takes place in every swimming pool installation. The paper further compares rainwater data from this study with the corresponding data for drinking water and groundwater. It shows that the content of ammonia, some metals (Ni, Cr and Mn) and a semimetal are in line with the parameters used for drinking water and are a lot lower compared to those set for groundwater. However, the results indicated some possible consequences which might be harmful for swimming pool users. These include the adverse effects of zinc and other organic micropollutants which are classified as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). These may form dangerous byproducts in the presence of the chlorine, the use of which is required by the standards to be applied for swimming pool disinfection purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption processes, due to their technical simplicity and cost-effectiveness, have arisen as one of the most well-known, straightforward solutions to water pollution. In this context, polysaccharides, due to their abundance, biodegradability, and biocompatibility, are appealing raw materials for the design of adsorbents. Moreover, some of them, such as chitosan, can be obtained from organic waste products, and their use additionally contributes to solving another concerning problem: organic waste accumulation. Unfortunately, due to their low adsorption capacities and/or physicochemical properties, native polysaccharides are not suitable for this purpose. However, there are alternatives that can overcome these physical or chemical limitations, often taking advantage of the versatility of their polyhydroxylated structure. In this context, this review aims to present an overview of the advances from 2019 onwards in the design of new adsorbents for water treatment from cellulose, alginate, chitosan, and starch, addressing the two main strategies reported in the literature: the preparation of either polysaccharide-based composites or polysaccharide derivatives. It is important to point out that, herein, special emphasis is placed on the relationship between the chemical structure and the efficiency as adsorbents of the analyzed materials, in an attempt to contribute to the rational design of adsorbents obtained from polysaccharides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrospun nanofibers have been extensively investigated in recent years for the generation of various advanced sensing technique like high efficiency biosensors, chemosensors, colorimetric sensing strip, and nanofibrillar-based biosorbent for waste water management, remediation and environmental monitoring. The present review article highlights various different types of conventional sensors, their limitations and the further advancement towards development of highly sensitive sensor with faster response time using functionalized nanofibrous matrix. It also explains the various approaches for the generation of nanofibrous matrix through melt blowing, force spinning, template melt extrusion and electrospinning methods and their further modification with suitable probe for the detection and elimination of various water contaminants. This review discussed various nanofibrous matrices that have been modified for the sensing and remediation of heavy metals such as mercury (Hg), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), organic pollutants such as dye, petroleum, phenolic compounds, and microorganisms such as Escherichia coli (E. coli), BVDV (bovine viral diarrhoea virus), Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and Candida albicans (C. albicans). Finally, the various challenges and future perspectives associated with the usage of nanofibrous matrix-based sensors for detection and remediation of water pollutant are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Magnetic nanomaterials (MNPs) have been widely used in the detection of pollutants in the environment because of their excellent nano effect and magnetic properties. These intrinsic properties of MNPs have diversified their application in environmental contaminant detection. In this paper, the research status quo of the use of MNPs in detecting organic and inorganic contaminants from wastewater and soil is reviewed. The preparation method and modification technology of magnetic nanoparticles are also described in detail. The application prospect of magnetic nanoparticle composites in the detection of contaminants in water and soil is discussed. Compared with traditional detection methods, MNPs are more accurate and efficient in pollutant enrichment. Moreover, the biological synthesis of MNPs was proven to be eco-friendly and aided in sustainable development. The study shows that MNPs have good application prospects in soil pollution detection, but the mechanism still needs to be investigated to realize their popularization and application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel low‐cost materials to uptake and detect vestigial amounts of pesticides are highly desirable for water quality monitoring. Herein, are demonstrated, for the first time, surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensors enabled via additively manufactured lattices coated with plasmonic nanoparticles (NPs) for detecting pesticides in real water samples. The architected lattices comprising polypropylene (PP) and multiwall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) are realized via fused filament fabrication (FFF). In the first stage, the SERS performance of the PP/MWCNT filaments coated with distinct metallic NPs (Ag NPs and Au NPs) is evaluated using methylene blue (MB) as molecular probe. Thereafter, distinctly architected hybrid SERS sensors with periodic porous and fully dense geometries are investigated as adsorbents to uptake MB from aqueous solutions and subsequent detection using SERS. The spatial distribution of MB and Ag NPs on the FFF‐printed lattices is accomplished by SERS imaging. The best hybrid composite is used as SERS probing system to detect low amounts of pesticides (thiram and paraquat) and offers a detection limit of 100 nm for both pesticides. As a proof‐of‐concept, FFF‐enabled test strips are used to detect in loco paraquat molecules spiked on real water samples (Estuary Aveiro water and tap water) using a portable Raman spectrometer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water contamination is a big concern nowadays due to increased human activity and the quick expansion of modern industry and agriculture. In our current environment, heavy metal pollution has become a primary concern. Treatment of heavy metals is especially significant, because these metals absorb into biological cells and can lead to severe illness and disorders. Several studies have been conducted over the last several years to remove heavy metals from wastewater using various strategies and materials. Among those strategies, complexation's reaction and the electrochemical sensor are attractive because of their excellent metal selectivity, cost-effectiveness, short analytical time, and high removal efficiency. Polyoxometalates (POMs) are a group of metal–oxygen cluster compounds with extremely electronegative and oxo-enriched surfaces and variable structure and size. POMs have drawn much interest in removing toxins from wastewater due to their electrical and physical characteristics. The removal of heavy metals from wastewater is covered in this review using POM and POM-based MOF nanocomposites in various treatment methods like complexation and electrochemical sensor, which have the advantages of high removal efficiency, excellent metal selectivity, in-expansive, and rapid analytical times. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selective detection of toxic pollutants present in water has been a severe challenge to the scientific community for a long time. The noble integration of optical fiber-based interferometry with a bio-recognizing element molecular imprinting polymer (MIP) exhibits a promising technique for selective and susceptible biochemical detection. Here, we report a compact, stable, reproducible, and label-free optical sensor using a combined approach of photonic crystal fiber (PCF)-based modal interferometry and MIP nanoparticles (MIP-NPs) for selective detection of water pollutant p-cresol with an extremely low limit of detection (LOD). The MIP-NPs having a greater surface-to-volume aspect ratio allows more target analytes to bind. The sensor immobilized with MIP-NPs shows unprecedented sensitivity of 1.865 × 108 nm/M with specific and repeatable detection performance for a broad dynamic detection range of 10–8–10–3 M. The sensor offers a remarkable detection ability of as low as 1.55 nM concentrations of p-cresol in the aqueous medium, for water quality monitoring. Fast response, high resolution, compact size, label-free broad detection range, and selective reusable performance of the proposed sensor exhibit potential for board practical utilizations, including medical sectors, online and remote biosensing, and water resource monitoring. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This section describes the significant political initiatives and acts of legislation in the environmental field adopted in the period from September 2022 until June 2023. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The most interesting and well-known research in the field of gold nanomaterials synthesis is the use of "green chemistry" to prepare gold nanoparticles (AuNPs). In this study, Peronema canescens leaf extract was used as the synthesis medium to successfully produce AuNPs in a way that was cheap, quick, and good for the environment. A UV-visible spectrophotometer, particle size analysis (PSA), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used to find out more about the AuNPs that were prepared. The UV-visible spectrophotometer showed a surface plasmon resonance peak at 532 nm, which proves that AuNPs exist in the solution. TEM and PSA both showed that the AuNPs were mostly spherical and had an average diameter of 14.9 nm, respectively. In the presence of NaBH4, the AuNPs were found to speed up the reduction of rhodamine B (RhB), metanil yellow (MY), and 4-nitrophenol (4-NP). The results show that the AuNPs that were prepared in a new way worked very well and could be used in catalysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. The Nechako River Basin (NRB) is a large, regulated basin in north-central British Columbia, Canada that has been impacted by numerous landscape disturbances, including a severe wildfire in 2018. Aims. The aims of this study were to quantify the post-wildfire temporal and spatial extent of contamination by polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) of both soils and riverine sediments, and to identify the primary sources of PAHs in the watershed. Methods. Soil samples were collected at burned and unburned sites in 2018 and at the burned sites in 2020 and 2021. Sediment samples were collected at three tributaries impacted by wildfire and three Nechako River mainstem (i.e. main channel) sites from 2018 to 2021. Samples were analysed for parent PAHs. Key results. PAH concentrations decreased in soil samples from 2018 to 2021 but are not below the concentrations found in unburned samples. Tributary sediment samples showed higher concentrations immediately post-fire relative to the mainstem Nechako River, but in the years since, that trend has reversed. Conclusions. PAHs persist in terrestrial and aquatic environments for years following wildfire, but at concentrations below various quality guidelines. PAHs were primarily derived from the wildfires, with some mixed sources at the downstream sites. Implications. Wildfires are an important source of environmental contamination of terrestrial and aquatic environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]