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To oxidize trace concentrations of organic contaminants under conditions relevant to surface- and groundwater, air-diffusion cathodes were coupled to stainless-steel cathodes that convert atmospheric O2 into hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), which then was activated to produce hydroxyl radicals (·OH). By separating H2O2 generation from its activation and employing a flow-through electrode consisting of stainless-steel fibers, the two processes could be operated efficiently in a manner that overcame mass-transfer limitations for O2, H2O2, and trace organic contaminants. The flexibility resulting from separate control of the two processes made it possible to avoid both the accumulation of excess H2O2 and the energy losses that take place after H2O2 has been depleted. The decrease in treatment efficacy occurring in the presence of natural organic matter was substantially lower than that typically observed in homogeneous advanced oxidation processes. Experiments conducted with ionized and neutral compounds indicated that electrostatic repulsion prevented negatively charged ·OH scavengers from interfering with the oxidation of neutral contaminants. Energy consumption by the dual-cathode system was lower than values reported for other technologies intended for small-scale drinking water treatment systems. The coordinated operation of these two cathodes has the potential to provide a practical, inexpensive way for point-of-use drinking water treatment.

Dichloramine (NHCl2) naturally exists in reverse osmosis (RO) permeate due to its application as an antifouling chemical in membrane-based potable reuse treatment. This study investigated mechanisms of background NHCl2 hydrolysis associated with the generation of oxidative radical species in RO permeate, established a kinetic model to predict the oxidative capacity, and examined its removal efficiency on trace organic contaminants in potable reuse. Results showed that NHCl2 hydrolysis generated transient peroxynitrite (ONOO-) and subsequently dissociated into hydroxyl radical (HO•). The maximal HO• exposure was observed at an RO permeate pH of 8.4, higher than that from typical ultraviolet (UV)-based advanced oxidation processes. The HO• exposure during NHCl2 hydrolysis also peaked at a NH2Cl-to-NHCl2 molar ratio of 1:1. The oxidative capacity rapidly degraded 1,4-dioxane, carbamazepine, atenolol, and sulfamethoxazole in RO permeate. Furthermore, background elevated carbonate in fresh RO permeate can convert HO• to carbonate radical (CO3•-). Aeration of the RO permeate removed total carbonate, significantly increased HO• exposure, and enhanced the degradation kinetics of trace organic contaminants. The kinetic model of NHCl2 hydrolysis predicted well the degradation of contaminants in RO permeate. This study provides new mechanistic insights into NHCl2 hydrolysis that contributes to the oxidative degradation of trace organic contaminants in potable reuse systems.

UNLABELLED: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are indispensable biotechnology facilities for modern cities and play an essential role in modern urban infrastructure by employing microorganisms to remove pollutants in wastewater, thus protecting public health and the environment. This study conducted a 13-month bacterial community survey of six full-scale WWTPs in Hong Kong with samples of influent, activated sludge (AS), and effluent to explore their synchronism and asynchronism of bacterial community. Besides, we compared AS results of six Hong Kong WWTPs with data from 1,186 AS amplicon data in 269 global WWTPs and a 9-year metagenomic sequencing survey of a Hong Kong WWTP. Our results showed the compositions of bacterial communities varied and the bacterial community structure of AS had obvious differences across Hong Kong WWTPs. The co-occurrence analysis identified 40 pairs of relationships that existed among Hong Kong WWTPs to show solid associations between two species and stochastic processes took large proportions for the bacterial community assembly of six WWTPs. The abundance and distribution of the functional bacteria in worldwide and Hong Kong WWTPs were examined and compared, and we found that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria had more diversity than nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Besides, Hong Kong WWTPs could make great contributions to the genome mining of microbial dark matter in the global wanted list. Operational parameters had important effects on OTUs abundance, such as the temperature to the genera of Tetrasphaera, Gordonia and Nitrospira. All these results obtained from this study can deepen our understanding of the microbial ecology in WWTPs and provide foundations for further studies. IMPORTANCE: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an indispensable component of modern cities, as they can remove pollutants in wastewater to prevent anthropogenic activities. Activated sludge (AS) is a fundamental wastewater treatment process and it harbors a highly complex microbial community that forms the main components and contains functional groups. Unveiling who is there is a long-term goal of the research on AS microbiology. High-throughput sequencing provides insights into the inventory diversity of microbial communities to an unprecedented level of detail. At present, the analysis of communities in WWTPs usually comes from a specific WWTP and lacks comparisons and verification among different WWTPs. The wide-scale and long-term sampling project and research in this study could help us evaluate the AS community more accurately to find the similarities and different results for different WWTPs in Hong Kong and other regions of the world.

There is a huge potential in developing robust, highly stable, and covalently crosslinked ceramics-decorated membranes that can be efficiently used for the treatment of oil-contaminated water. Hence, the current work was focused on developing a photo-active strontium titanate (SrTiO 3) perovskite ceramics decorated highly stable membrane with photocatalytic self-cleaning, superoleophobic underwater and superhydrophilic in air features. The SrTiO 3 perovskite structured ceramics were decorated in the active layer of the membranes through interfacial polymerization on a polyvinylidene difluoride (PVDF) ultrafiltrationsupport. For the sake of photoactive SrTiO 3 ceramics nanoparticles to take part in the interfacial polymerization, the SrTiO 3 ceramics nanoparticles were functionalized with amino silane using 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane yielding amino-functionalize-SrTiO 3 (F-SrTiO 3). Ethylenediamine (EDA) was used as an additional amine for ensuring the suitable cross-linking of the polyamide (PA) network where isophthaloyl chloride (IPC) was used as a crosslinker. The resultant F-SrTiO 3 /PA@PVDF membrane was thoroughly investigated through several membrane characterization techniques confirming the existence of all the components in the membrane structure. When applied for separating the emulsified and surfactant stabilized oil from water, the F-SrTiO 3 /PA@PVDF membrane showed excellent separation efficiency reaching >99 % for an emulsion of 200 ppm with a permeance of 56 L m−2 h−1 bar−1. Moreover, the membrane showed an underwater superoleophobic (θ O, W = 159.9°) nature owing to the presence of amide linkages and superhydrophilic F-SrTiO 3 nanoparticles. These features lowered the evidence of membrane fouling and the photocatalytic self-cleaning potential of F-SrTiO 3 resulted in removing the foulants from the membrane surface with a flux recovery of 95 % while keeping the separation efficiency intact. Hence, the current approach of covalently incorporating the photocatalytic, superhydrophilic F-SrTiO 3 in the membrane active layer proved to be robust and can be readily scaled up and applied in real-life filtration conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ZnTiO 3 nanoparticles (NPS), synthesized using a sol-gel process from zinc acetate dihydrate and titanium tetrabutanolate, were incorporated into aluminum borosilicate glasses to enhance their effectiveness in water purification. Integrating ZnTiO 3 -NPS at the expense of SiO 2 causes significant alterations by converting [BO 3 ] to [BO 4 ], modifying the Si-O bonds with other metal oxides, and creating a denser structure with more bridging oxygens. The structural improvement is indicated by higher ultrasonic velocities and elastic moduli, demonstrating a stronger and more unified glass framework. The study investigates how different concentrations of ZnTiO 3 -NPS affect the glasses' structure and mechanical and optical properties, specifically observing changes in light transmission, such as a blueshift in the absorption edge towards longer wavelengths. This blueshift due to ZnTiO 3 -NPS was assured by the observed decrease in the optical band gap (E g) values and the increase in the mean oscillator position (λ o) values. Furthermore, the real (σ r) and imaginary (σ i) parts of the optical conductivity, nonlinear optical parameters viz. first (χ(1)) and third (χ(3)) orders subsatellites, and nonlinear index of refraction (n 2) have been estimated based on the values of the linear index of refraction (n) and the extinction coefficient (k). The optical modifications impact the refractive index, suggesting various potential technological applications based on the ZnTiO 3 levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, summarise the characterization and synthesis of the pure and Eu:WO 3 nanoparticles and their applications in photocatalytic and antibacterial activity. The monoclinic phase confirmed by the XRD analysis of the prepared specimens. SEM and HR-TEM scrutiny revealed nanoplate morphology scrutiny. EDS and XPS scrutiny confirmed the composition of elements of Eu, O, and W. FTIR analysis likely used for additional confirmation of functional groups. UV–Vis Analysis determined the band gap energy (Eg) of the nanoparticles, which decreased with raising the concentration of Eu doping. Optical properties of the band gap energy decreased with raising the concentration of Eu doping. Photocatalytic activity of the nanoparticles exhibited high photocatalytic activity, with a 95.3 % methylene blue (MB) dye split when exposed to visible light. The Eu:WO 3 (7 wt%) nanoparticles showed the best photocatalytic property within 120 min. The Eu:WO 3 (7 wt%) nanoparticles showed the maximum antibacterial efficiency against Staphylococcus aureus , with a zone of embarrassment of 19 mm. Overall, the study demonstrates the successful synthesis of Eu-doped WO 3 nanoparticles and their potential applications in photo catalysis and antibacterial activity, with promising results particularly at higher Eu doping concentrations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, in-situ growth of columnar mullite reinforced silicon carbide porous membrane supports were prepared, and the addition of TiO 2 helped to reduce the sintering temperature for the anisotropic growth of necked columnar mullite crystals. The synthesis of in situ columnar mullite makes reasonable use of the oxidized silica of silicon carbide, and in turn reduces the loss of the silicon carbide porous membrane support under strong corrosive conditions. The material showed a flexural strength of up to 72.95 MPa, and a water flux of 31612.83 L·m−2·h−1·bar−1 when sintered for 2 h in an air environment at 1250 °C. The flexural strength after corrosion in 20 vol% H 2 SO 4 and 1 wt% NaOH solution (90 °C) exceeded 93 %. This shows that this porous silicon carbide ceramic membrane scaffold has potential applications in the field of water treatment under harsh environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metal removal from wastewater has emerged as a major environmental concern on a global scale. The primary objective of this study was to determine how well lead (Pb) can be removed from wastewater by adsorptive processes using a chitosan-oligosaccharide-based hybrid (chitosan oligosaccharide (COS)/carboxymethyl starch binary blend material developed in the presence of glutaraldehyde (Glu). The amine and hydroxyl groups in the COS structure, the hydroxy and carboxy groups in the carboxymethyl starch, and the imine groups created when the amino group of COS reacts with the aldehydic group glutaraldehyde aid in the removal of Pb ions. FTIR, SEM, and X-ray diffraction were used to characterize the COS/CMC + Glu blend. Batch adsorption experiments, in which various factors including the impact of initial concentration, the dose of adsorbent, and the duration of contact, were used to analyze the removal of ions. The pH-dependent adsorption of Pb ions peaked at pH 5. The favorability of the reported experimental data was confirmed using various theoretical models, such as the Freundlich, the Langmuir isotherms, and pseudo-first- and pseudo-second-order kinetics. Adsorption was best fit by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir isotherms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorption techniques are frequently used to eliminate particular forms of pesticides. This work aimed to describe the process of adsorbing abamectin (ABM) from aqueous systems onto adsorbents and some factors affecting the process effectiveness. Eichhornia crassipes, also known as water hyacinth (WH), was chemically processed utilizing calcium alginate-immobilized WH and sodium alginate as adsorbent. The response surface method (RSM) was implemented to enhance the operational aspects of the adsorption procedure on the removal of ABM residues from aqueous solution. The results show that 95.65% of the abamectin was removed under the optimum conditions of pH = 3, 1000 mg/L of immobilized WH, particle size = 5 µm, shaking speed = 200 rpm, and 30 mg/L of ABM concentration throughout 180 min contact time. The model’s predicted response results also show a decent agreement with the experimental data (R² = 86.64%), proving the effectiveness of this approach for developing precise predictions. The responses were assessed using a second-order polynomial multiple regression model, which confirmed a successful adjustment with the obtained data using analysis of variance (R² = 92.0%, R² adj = 88.92%, and R² pred = 82.92%). In conclusion, the results demonstrated the potential application and beneficial adsorption effectiveness of WH in removal of the pesticides from an aqueous solution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biogenic synthesis of iron and zinc nanoparticles from carob seed extract (Ceratonia siliqua L.) and their antibacterial activity were studied. The characteristics of the prepared nanoparticles were evaluated shapes and sizes by field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) analysis with mapping technique and energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the functional group that contributes to the biogenic and antibacterial activity. The appearance of metal-oxygen bonds for both ZnO NPs and Fe2 O3 NPs in spectra and the presence of zinc, iron, and oxygen in varying proportions confirm the success of the biosynthesis of the nanoparticles. Ceratonia siliqua L. extract, iron, and zinc showed high effectiveness in removing bacteria from polluted water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are a set of oxygen- and nitrogen-containing radicals. They are produced from a wide range of sources. In biological contexts, cellular stress leads to an overproduction of ROS, which can lead to genetic damage and disease development. In industry, ROS are often productively used for water purification or for analyzing the possible toxicity of an industrial process. Because of their ubiquity, detection of ROS has been an analytical goal across a range of fields. To understand complicated systems and origins of ROS production, it is necessary to move from qualitative detection to quantitation. Analytical techniques that combine quantitation, high spatial and temporal resolution, and good specificity represent detection methods that can fill critical gaps in ROS research. Herein, we discuss the continued progress and limitations of fluorescence, electrochemical, and electron paramagnetic resonance detection of ROS over the last ten years, giving suggestions for the future of the field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphene oxide (GO) laminate membranes for water purification have surged in popularity due to their hydrophilicity, high throughput and excellent separation abilities. However, concerns about swelling and stability in water persist. Herein, we prepared high stability, composite reduced graphene oxide (rGO)/graphene oxide (GO) membranes. The composite membranes (i.e. rGO/GO composite membranes) displayed excellent rejection performance for methylene blue (MB) of up to 99.0%, together with ultrahigh water permeance (201.7 L m−2 h−1 bar−1) compared to pristine GO membranes (54.8 L m−2 h−1 bar−1). This study broadens the applications of graphene-based membranes and enhances their performance in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contaminated water sources from various industries pose severe environmental challenges due to their complex compositions, high toxicity, and fluctuating qualities. This study introduces a groundbreaking strategy for fabricating advanced polysulfate (PSE) ultrafiltration membranes using a novel reverse thermally induced phase separation (RTIPS) process. By manipulating the cloud point through the DMAc/DEG solvent/nonsolvent system, our work innovatively controls membrane microstructure, overcoming limitations of conventional nonsolvent‐induced phase separation (NIPS). Our findings reveal that RTIPS, when employed above the cloud point, yields PSE membranes with a unique bicontinuous sponge‐like structure, significantly improving upon conventional NIPS products. Specifically, the optimized RTIPS membranes exhibit enhanced pure water flux (916.23 vs. 336.23 LMH), larger pore sizes (0.083 vs. 0.054 μm), increased tensile strength (1.32 vs. 0.84 MPa), and improved fouling resistance (FRR 65.5% vs. 55.2%). This research pioneers a facile yet potent method for tailoring membrane properties, achieving a balance between permeability, mechanical stability, and filtration efficacy. The demonstrated success of RTIPS in enhancing PSE membrane performance not only contributes to the development of high‐performance water treatment technologies but also charts a new course in membrane science, offering a promising avenue for sustainable wastewater management solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of a photo-electrochemical cell (PEC) to produce hydrogen from wastewater is a promising innovation. In this context, this study investigates the impact of a pollutant on the photo-electrochemical properties of sol-gel synthesized TiO 2 and TiO 2 –Co 3 O 4 thin films for hydrogen production in a polluted electrolyte. Combining the photocatalytic properties of TiO 2 with the electronic properties of Co 3 O 4 offers an effective solution for achieving effective photo-electrochemical properties in polluted environments. Nevertheless, despite the lowest photocatalytic activity, the hybrid thin film TiO 2 –Co 3 O 4 with the highest Ti/Co ratio (1:0.5) shows the most promising performance with simultaneous 11.4 μmol cm−2 h−1 H 2 production and 12% acid orange 7 degradation after 3 h irradiation under xenon light without the use of any sacrificial agent. This indicates that the electronic conductivity provided by the presence of Co 3 O 4 is a critical property for achieving optimal performance in PEC coupling for hydrogen production and wastewater treatment. [Display omitted] • Sol-gel TiO 2 –Co 3 O 4 films enabled coupling of water splitting and remediation. • 11 μmol cm−2 h−1 H 2 was produced after 3h Xe irradiation without sacrificial agent. • Simultaneous 12% acid orange 7 degradation was measured. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to enhance the piezocatalytic activity of ZnO by modifying it with a thin carbon layer (TCL). The composite catalysts were synthesized using a simple hydrothermal method. The tightly adhered TCL served as an effective electron transfer medium, enabling the rapid migration of piezoinduced charge carriers from the ZnO to the catalyst surface, thereby facilitating the catalytic degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The optimized TCL/ZnO sample exhibits an RhB degradation rate 13.4 times higher than that of pure ZnO. This work demonstrates that TCL/ZnO has significant potential in piezocatalytic water purification and offers new insights into the design of efficient piezocatalytic materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A major data gap in tropical river ecology is the limited documentation of natural water purification of upstream rivers. This study documented the improvement of water quality of downstream Balili River as affected by environmental factors and macrophyte diversity using a mixed-method approach (water quality assessment, plant inventory, field observation, canonical correspondence analysis, community interview). Results showed that the distance from pollution plays a significant role in the self-purification of the river while the floral diversity maintains the riparian from further contaminating the water and at the same time absorbing air pollutants. Generally, the pollution reduction and %change is exponential at 2 and 3 km from point source then taper at 4 and 5 km. At 3 km from the point source, 30% improvement in TDS, BOD and salinity, 25% for EC, 20% in TSS, 35% in WQI, 36% in CPI, and 50% for DO were noted. Key factors that influence the self-purification process in the river were distance from pollution source, elevation, human disturbance (as indicated by %tree canopy) and temperature. These findings highlight the importance of distance from pollution sources and floral diversity in driving water quality improvements, with implications for sustainable water resource management in tropical regions. NOVELTY STATEMENT: This study documented the improvement of water quality of downstream Balili River as affected by environmental factors and macrophyte diversity – as contribution to the major data gap in tropical river ecology which currently has limited documentation on natural water purification of upstream rivers. The study also shows the mosaic interplay of water quality, plant diversity, distance from pollution, human disturbance, and air quality in understudied tropical river. Further, this study is unique in documenting the downstream of Balili River since majority of the previous studies were concentrated in the upstream portion of the river. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs) are novel wastewater treatment systems that work through aerobic and anaerobic conditions that favor the removal of pollutants found in high concentrations, such as rivers contaminated with domestic wastewater and landfill leachate. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of PSV-CWs using monocultures and polycultures of Typha latifolia and Heliconia psittacorum to treat river waters contaminated with leachates from open dumps and domestic wastewater. Six experimental units of PSV-CWs were used; two were planted with Typha latifolia monoculture, two with Heliconia psittacorum monoculture and two with polycultures of both plants. The results indicated better organic matter and nitrogen removal efficiencies (p < 0.05) in systems with polycultures (TSS:95%, BOD5:83%, COD:89%, TN:82% and NH4+:99%). In general, the whole system showed high average removal efficiencies (TSS:93%, BOD5:79%, COD:85%, TN:79%, NH4+:98% and TP:85%). Regarding vegetation, both species developed better in units with monocultures, being Typha latifolia the one that reached a more remarkable development. However, both species showed high resistance to the contaminated environment. These results showed higher removals than those reported in the literature with conventional Free Flow Vertical Constructed Wetlands (FFV-CWs), so PSV-CWs could be a suitable option to treat this type of effluent. NOVELTY STATEMENT: The research addresses the contamination of water resources in developing countries by landfill leachate and domestic wastewater discharges. It proposes treatment through Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs), which, despite the limited information available, have been shown to be effective in removing pollutants in effluents with high concentrations. In addition to evaluating PSV-CWs, the study examines the impact of different types of vegetation on pollutant removal efficiency, concluding that PSV-CWs are a promising and viable option for the treatment of these effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study investigated the capability of cassava peel (Manihot Esculenta Crantz) in Pb(II) and Cr(VI) removal. The comparative study was conducted using batch method observing some parameters. The results indicated that the optimum adsorption of Pb(II) occurred at pH 5, initial concentration of 1000 mg/L, and contact time of 50 min. On the other hand, the optimal adsorption of Cr(VI) was achieved at pH 2, initial concentration of 1200 mg/L, and contact time of 70 min. The adsorption isotherms of both metals tended to follow the Langmuir model, while the adsorption kinetics suited to pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was spontaneous (ΔG° negative), endothermic (ΔH° positive), and exhibited surface dispersion on the biosorbent (ΔS° positive). Characterization using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and Thermogravimetry (TGA) provided evidence of both physical and chemical adsorption. The adsorption capacity of cassava peel was also tested on samples collected approximately 30 m from the bay shoreline, resulting in a removal percentage of 94.67% for Pb(II) and 82.28% for Cr(VI) under optimal pH and contact time conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The processes of reagent and sorption removal of iron ions from water were investigated and the efficiency of deironing was evaluated. Lime and biosorbents based on walnut shells were used through experiments. The range of iron ions concentrations from 2 to 100 mg/L was studied. The efficiency of deironing is reached maximum efficiency during biosorbtion. In order to create resource-efficient technologies, it is important to develop effective methods of sludge and spent sorbents utilisation. The sediments formed as a result of reagent and sorption purification of water from iron were utilised in the composition of cement with the consumption 3%. The effect of additives application in cement production was evaluated according to the following properties: normal density, coefficient of water separation, time of hardening, compressive strength at the age of 2 and 28 days. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the last couple decades, more use of nitrogenous chemical fertilizers and improper disposable of wastewater has harmed water and it cause water pollution. Low concentrated Nitrite (NO 2) is the one of hazardous pollution and it is difficult to remove through biological processes, while it occurs in low concentration. Many technologies have been developed to accumulate NO 2 in the mainstream. However, most of them use chemical inhibitors for nitrite oxidizing bacteria (NOB). In past studies high concentrated reactor performance have been modeled using mathematical models. In this study, machine learning application (MLA) was applied to model the performance of reactors. The reactor was low concentrated, continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) with in-fluent total ammonia nitrogen (TAN) concentration was (∼30PPM-TAN and ∼50PPM-TAN) and lower output TAN concentration was (∼1PPM-TAN). However, 216 days of water treatment data from CSTR were used, and the CSTR's efficiency (%) of nitrite accumulation was estimated using in-fluent and effluent quantities. Then efficiency is predicted with 70 % of the data that is used to train the algorithms. Confusion matrix was used to access the performance of algorithms and actual and predicted classes (efficiencies) were compared. The DTC and XGB over-performed other algorithms. [Display omitted] • A novel machine learning application was applied to model the performance of reactors. • More use of nitrogenous chemical fertilizers has harmed groundwater and soil composition. • DTC and XGB are the most accurate, followed by RF and LR, while KNN is the least accurate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the synergistic effects of alginate@montmorillonite (Alg@Mt) hybrid microcapsules for enhancing water purification, focusing on improving the encapsulation of hydrophobic contaminants. Alg@Mt microcapsules were prepared through ionotropic gelation. Characterisation was performed using SEM-EDX, FTIR, XRD, and TGA. Encapsulation efficiency (EE), loading capacity (LC), and release behaviour were also examined. Alg@Mt microcapsules effectively removed phenol and its chlorinated derivatives from water. Incorporating Na-Mt improved structural and thermal properties, EE, and LC. Increasing the clay content to 60% (w/w) raised the EE of phenol and its more hydrophobic derivative, 2,4,6-trichlorophenol, from 39.74 ± 3.1% (w/w) and 63.91 ± 2% (w/w) to 60.56 ± 1.6% (w/w) and 82.28 ± 2.3% (w/w), respectively, with more controlled release rates, following Fickian diffusion mechanism. EE increased with phenolic substances hydrophobicity, while LC and release rates were inversely related. This approach is promising for removing hydrophobic contaminants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ensuring food safety measures are essential to minimize the risk of foodborne diseases linked to raw food products. Here, we investigated the efficacy of an innovative approach for the control of Salmonella Typhimurium found in fresh produces. Plasma activated water (PAW) and bacteriophages are emerging effective and valuable alternative methods for microbiological decontamination. The efficacy of PAW and a lytic bacteriophage (109 PFU/mL), both separately and sequentially, against S. Typhimurium in fresh produce was investigated. S. Typhimurium (105–107 CFU/g) were inoculated on lettuce leaves and treated with PAW, S. Typhimurium phage SK-T2 or their combination. PAW or bacteriophage inactivated S. Typhimurium, on lettuce leaves at different initial populations, by 2.90–3.46 or 1.45–3.25 log CFU/g, respectively. After sequential treatments of PAW and bacteriophage, S. Typhimurium populations, initially applied at ~ 105 CFU/g reduced by 4.47 log CFU/g, but when the order of application was changed (i.e., bacteriophage followed by PAW), the combination synergistically decreased the Salmonella numbers below the detection limit of the method used for the enumeration (i.e., < 101 CFU/g). At the high-level inoculum (~ 7 log CFU/g), consecutive treatments of PAW and phage decreased the S. Typhimurium population by 3.28 log CFU/g, and a reduction of 6.20 log CFU/g was achieved after reversing the order of treatment. Regardless of the bacterial inoculum level, sequential applications of bacteriophage and PAW resulted in a higher level of inactivation. This study proved that the bacteriophage–PAW combination constitutes a promising alternative approach to the conventional washing process in fresh produce wash waters in the food industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Mango fruits undergo numerous postharvest quality losses during storage. Hence, the present study aimed to increase the shelf life of mango fruits by applying hexanal‐based enhanced freshness formulations (EFF) in combination with hot water treatment (HWT). RESULTS: The findings revealed that, among all the tested applications, the combination of EFF 1.0% + HWT reduced the weight loss, decay incidence, and activity of cell wall degrading enzymes of mango fruits. Also, the combined treatment was effective in maintaining the fruit quality parameters such as soluble solid contents, titratable acidity, ascorbic acid and activity of antioxidant compounds. CONCLUSION: The present study concludes that the postharvest application of EEF 1.0% in combination with HWT can be used in extending the shelf life of mango cv. 'Langra,' fruits stored at 12° C and 85–90% relative humidity for 35 days. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactant‐assisted synthesis of photocatalysts for water treatment has received extensive attention from researchers. In this paper, a novel and efficient BiOBr/graphene oxide (BiOBr/GO) photocatalyst assisted by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) was synthesized by a simple solvothermal method. Compared with use of other surfactants, like polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) and cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB), BiOBr/GO (SDS) shows outstanding photocatalytic degradation activity under optimal conditions: The degradation rate constants of BiOBr/GO (SDS) for oxytetracycline (OTC), tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH), brilliant blue (BB), and Rhodamine B (RhB) are 0.073, 0.057, 0.166, and 0.626 min−1, which are 2.8, 1.8, 9, and 1.5 times larger than pure BiOBr, respectively. In addition, after five cycles, BiOBr/GO (SDS) exhibits superior cycling stability. The enhanced photocatalytic performance can benefit from the introduction of SDS and GO. With the assistance of SDS in the preparation process, BiOBr/GO (SDS) nanosheets have good adsorption performance and dispersion effect, which is favorable for raising their specific surface area. Meanwhile, the electron capture effect of GO improves the transfer and separation efficiency of photogenerated carriers. Moreover, the possible degradation pathway for TCH is identified through liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS). This research can become a valuable reference for synthesizing photocatalysts with visible light response to degrading organic pollutants such as antibiotics and dyes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater has become the predominant treatment because of the high scarcity of water. Transition metal molybdates were broadly investigated in water treatment. To enhance the performance and reliability, rare earth molybdates were investigated. Herein, we report the preparation of novel Gd 2 MoO 6 nanoparticles with carbon composites, such as rGO and g-C 3 N 4 , employing hydrothermal technique and it was used as a photocatalyst for wastewater treatment. The rGO substance was substantiated by D- and G-bands in Raman studies. The morphology of the pure photocatalyst revealed a coral structure when rGO and g-C 3 N 4 were added, and a nanoplate-like structure was grown. rGO sheets were identified in TEM studies, and their crystallinity was confirmed by the SAED pattern. Basic dyes, azo dyes, and textile wastewater were treated with the prepared photocatalysts under visible light. The photocatalysts achieved good performance in reducing different classes of dyes. rGO-Gd 2 MoO 6 exhibited superior performance evaluated with other two photocatalysts. The efficiency of g–C 3 N 4 –Gd 2 MoO 6 is almost equal to that of rGO-Gd 2 MoO 6. The rate constant value attained for the rGO-Gd 2 MoO 6 on wastewater was 0.0176 min1. The quality of the wastewater was also improved after treatment. The superior activity of the carbon-composited Gd 2 MoO 6 was due to better generation and low recombination of e−/h+ pairs during photocatalysis. As rGO-Gd 2 MoO 6 exhibits superior performance under visible light, it can be a novel photocatalyst for practical wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The sustainability and feasibility of using visible irradiation in photocatalysis is a promising approach for water purification. In this study, photocatalytic degradation of a widely used analgesic and antipyretic drug, acetaminophen (ACM), with metal-loaded an efficient photocatalyst (TiO 2 NPs-Co/Polycalix (Christen et al., 2010) [4]resorcinarene (TCP)) was inv estigated using visible light. photocatalyst structural, surface, and morphological features were characterized using FTIR, XRD, TEM, EDX, PL, and DRS analyses. Considering various sites of Polycalix (Christen et al., 2010) [4]resorcinarene in the TCP, studied by trapping experiments. A novel charge transfer bridge for electron-hole recombination is made possible by using Co and TiO 2 as electron transfer mediators with electronic conductivity. This results in efficient process and energy optimization, which makes it easier for ACM to degrade throughout the absorption process. The ACM (15 and 40 mg/L) achieved complete degradation under visible light irradiation with 0.6 g/L of TCP at pH = 5.0 during 120 min reaction because of the good synergetic effect of the catalyst systems. Additionally, the intermediates generated by photo electrocatalytic activities were identified, and two potential paths for degradation were suggested. Some of these organic products were identified by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Membrane technologies have developed as one of the main contributors to the resolution of water-related problems. This study seeks to examine the impact of active carbon nanoparticles (ACNPs) on the characterization and mechanical properties of polyethersulfone (PES) ultrafiltration membranes. The PES-AC composites were prepared using the phase inversion technique with a doctor blade by including ACNPs at varied weight percentages (0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.04 wt%). Produced membranes were characterized using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and XRD techniques, and the mechanical properties were evaluated using a tensile test, following the guidelines of the ASTM 638M-3 standard, utilizing a uniaxial universal testing machine. SEM images reveal that PES pure membranes consist of a porous bulk layer and dense skin layer. The addition of ACNPs decreased the pore size of the membranes with total thickness varying from 140 to 150 μm. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) indicated that with increasing ACNPs concentration, the peak intensities are related to C–C stretching bonds and acidic C–O groups. The XRD analysis showed that with higher ACNPs loading, there are a decrease in the amorphous phase of mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) and the highest intensity (2θ = 12.99°) at 2% ACNPs concentration. The tensile strength of the MMMs increased and reached an ideal value of 3.386 MPa when loaded with 2% ACNPs. Also, the optimum rate of tensile strain with 40% enhancement was achieved with 2% ACNPs compared with the pristine PES membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The Fenton-like Cu-PAN 3 catalysts is first synthesized by co-precipitation and carbon thermal reduction method. • Dual reaction centers are constructed around graphene-like carbon and Cu species. • The pollutants as electron donors inhibit the ineffective decomposition of H 2 O 2 at the electron-poor centers. • The pollutant removal mainly relies on the surface cleavage at the electron-poor centers. High energy consumption has seriously hindered the development of Fenton-like reactions for the removal of refractory organic pollutants in water. To solve this problem, we designed a novel Fenton-like catalyst (Cu-PAN 3) by coprecipitation and carbon thermal reduction. The catalyst exhibits excellent Fenton-like catalytic activity and stability for the degradation of various pollutants with low H 2 O 2 consumption. The experimental results indicate that the dual reaction centers (DRCs) are composed of Cu-N-C and Cu-O-C bridges between copper and graphene-like carbon, which form electron-poor/rich centers on the catalyst surface. H 2 O 2 is mainly reduced at electron-rich Cu centers to free radicals for pollutant degradation. Meanwhile, pollutants can be oxidized by donating electrons to the electron-poor C centers of the catalyst, which inhibits the ineffective decomposition of H 2 O 2 at the electron-poor centers. This therefore significantly reduces the consumption of H 2 O 2 and reduces energy consumption. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cornelian cherry (Cornus mas L) fruit is very perishable and needs proper post-harvest management to reduce waste. This study was performed as a factorial experiment in a completely randomized design with three replications with the aim of increasing postharvest life and maintaining fruit quality of two Cornelian cherry genotypes KKP2 and Hir. Factors included three salicylic acid immersion treatments (0, 1 and 2 mM), four storage times (0, 10, 20 and 30 days) and two Cornelian cherry genotypes. Fruits were harvested at maturity (more than 90% redness of the skin) and healthy and uniform fruits were subjected to immersion treatments and stored for 30 days at 4 ° C. During and at the end of experiment, different physicochemical traits of fruits including soluble solids (TSS), firmness, total phenol, anthocyanin, ascorbic acid, pH and weight loss were examined at 10-day intervals. The results showed that KKP2 genotype had less firmness and TSS and more weight loss than Hir genotype. There was no significant difference between the two genotypes in terms of total acidity. The highest of pH, soluble solids and weight loss were observed in the control or distilled water treatment and salicylic acid treatment prevented the increase of these parameters. The highest levels of ascorbic acid, anthocyanin and firmness were observed in the treatment of 1 mM salicylic acid. The amount of fruit phenol in distilled water treatment was further reduced and the treatments of salicylic acid 1 and 2 mM prevented further reduction of phenol during storage. Salicylic acid treatments can be used as a promising method for increasing the firmness and extending the shelf life of cornelian cherry fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pyridinic nitrogen vacancy in carbon nitride for photo-self Fenton-like purification of organic contaminants. [Display omitted] • Carbon nitride with pyridinic nitrogen vacancy was successfully prepared. • Pyridinic nitrogen vacancy promotes charge transfer and activating O 2 into H 2 O 2. • Pyridinic nitrogen vacancy accelerates carbon nitride to adsorb organic contaminants. • Photo-self Fenton-like reaction for photocatalytic degradation of organics. This work reports a carbon nitride with pyridinic nitrogen-vacancy (N 2C V-CN), which purifies organic contaminants via an in-situ photo-self Fenton-like reaction. Experiments and calculations demonstrated that the nitrogen-vacancy induces lone-paired (LP) and symmetry-unpaired electrons, promoting the formation of low-energy LP-π hybridized orbitals and helping to overcome the pairing energy required for oxygen to accept electrons. Furthermore, the nitrogen-vacancy accelerates film and intra-particle diffusion rates of organic contaminants on N 2C V-CN, creating beneficial conditions for reactive oxide species to mineralize organic contaminants. Under sunlight and atmospheric oxygen, a photo-self Fenton-like reaction involving proton-coupled electron transfer occurred on the surface of N 2C V-CN. Furthermore, by integrating photocatalysis with flocculation, about 99.1 % suspended substance, 45.5 % chemical oxygen demand, and 38.4 % biological oxygen demand were reduced from polluted river-water. Constructing N 2C V-CN and understanding its crucial role offer theoretical and methodological insights into the in-situ purification of contaminated water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The compaction of hydrogel films under permeation flow can be measured, in-situ, by tracking the internal displacements of their structure, thereby revealing the internal deformation profile. Additionally, monitoring the permeation flow rate and applied pressure over time enables determination of variations in the hydrogel's permeability due to flow-induced compaction. Hydrogels are soft porous materials capable of containing high amounts of water within their polymeric matrix. Flow-induced internal deformation can modify the hydrogel's permeability and selectivity, which are important attributes in separation processes, both industrial (e.g., membrane-based water purification) and natural (mucous filters in suspension feeders and intestinal lining) systems. Measuring the flow-induced compaction in thin hydrogels films can reveal the interplay between flow and permeability. However, the micro-scale internal compaction remains uncharted for due to experimental challenges. A technique is demonstrated for analyzing the compaction and stratification of permeable soft materials, in-situ, created by a pressure-driven permeation flow. To this end, the internal deformations within a soft material layer are calculated, based on tracking the positions of fluorescent micro-tracers that are embedded within the soft material. We showcase the capabilities of this technique by examining a hundred-micron-thick calcium-alginate cake deposited on a nanofiltration membrane, emphasizing the achieved micro-scale resolution of the local compaction measurements. The results highlight the possibility to examine thin hydrogel films and their internal deformation produced by flow-induced stresses when varying the flow conditions. The method enables the simultaneous calculation of the soft material's permeance, as the pressure-driven flow conditions are continuously monitored. In summary, the proposed method provides a powerful tool for characterizing the behaviour of permeable soft materials under permeation conditions, with potential applications in engineering, biophysics and material science. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The catalytic mechanism and material preparation based on the piezoelectric effect. • The application of the piezoelectric effect in wastewater purification is expounded. • The development of the piezoelectric effect-assisted water purification technology. • The challenges and prospects of the piezoelectric effect in wastewater purification. The demands of human life and industrial activities result in a significant influx of toxic contaminants into aquatic ecosystems. In particular, organic pollutants such as antibiotics and dye molecules, bacteria, and heavy metal ions are represented, posing a severe risk to the health and continued existence of living organisms. The method of removing pollutants from water bodies by utilizing the principle of the piezoelectric effect in combination with chemical catalytic processes is superior to other wastewater purification technologies because it can collect water energy, mechanical energy, etc. to achieve cleanliness and high removal efficiency. Herein, we briefly introduced the piezoelectric mechanisms and then reviewed the latest advances in the design and synthesis of piezoelectric materials, followed by a summary of applications based on the principle of piezoelectric effect to degrade pollutants in water for wastewater purification. Moreover, water purification technologies incorporating the piezoelectric effect, including piezoelectric effect-assisted membrane filtration, activation of persulfate, and battery electrocatalysis are elaborated. Finally, future challenges and research directions for the piezoelectric effect are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key Takeaways: The Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA) of 1974 (amended in 1986, 1996, and 2018) shows the tension between purity and safety, cost and benefits, and balancing risks, down to today's policy debates. Following the 1996 amendments, regulatory successes include arsenic, radionuclides, filter backwash recycling, total coliform, disinfectants and disinfection byproducts, and enhanced surface water treatment. With recent drinking water standards, such as the 2024 per‐ and polyfluoroalkyl substances rule, based on very low detection levels, the SDWA continues to generate intense public dialogue. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the global water crisis and the role of membrane technology, particularly reverse osmosis (RO), microfiltration (MF), and ultrafiltration (UF), in addressing water challenges by 2050. Membrane technology has evolved to provide safe, sustainable drinking water by treating unconventional water sources like seawater, brackish groundwater, and wastewater. The article highlights the advancements in RO membranes for desalination, the importance of MF and UF membranes for pathogen treatment, and the potential of other membrane technologies like electrodialysis (ED) and membrane distillation (MD) in water treatment by 2050. [Extracted from the article]

Nowadays, increasing emissions of hazardous chemicals cause serious environmental pollution. The advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), which produce numbers of reactive oxygen species (ROS), are one of the most widely used technologies for degrading refractory pollutants in aqueous phase. Among these, Fenton reaction including both homogeneous and heterogeneous processes, has received increasing attention for water treatment. In this review, various nanomaterials with different size such as nanocrystals, nanoparticles (e.g., iron-based minerals, bimetallic oxides, zero-valent iron, quantum dots) and metal-based single atom catalysts (SACs) applied in homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton reactions, as well as the corresponding catalytic mechanisms will be systematically summarized. Several factors including the morphology, chemical composition, geometric/electronic structures influence the catalytical behavior simultaneously. Here, the recent research advancement including the advantages and further challenges in homogeneous and heterogeneous Fenton system will be introduced in detail. Furthermore, developments for different nanomaterials, from nanocrystals, nanoparticles (minerals, bimetallic oxides represented by Fe-based catalysts, and nanosized zero valent iron materials) to SACs will be discussed. Some representative catalysts for Fenton reaction and their applications will be presented. In addition, commonly-used supports (e.g., graphene oxide, g-C3N4, and carbon nanotubes) and metal-organic frameworks (MOFs)/derivatives and metal-support interaction for improving Fenton-like performance will be introduced. Finally, different types of catalysts for Fenton reaction are compared and their practical application and operational costs are summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study highlights the critical need for effective point-of-use wastewater treatment in India, focusing on grey water generated from household activities, particularly laundry. Grey water, constituting approximately 69% of residential water consumption, ranges from 15 L per person per day to several hundred litres. Laundry wastewater, comprising 25% to 45% of total grey water due to frequent washing machine use, represents a significant portion whose efficient treatment and reuse can greatly alleviate water scarcity. Innovative treatment methods such as electro-peroxidation and membrane separation have shown promise in contaminant removal from laundry wastewater. Despite these advancements, there remains a significant demand for point-of-use grey water treatment technologies that offer high treatment efficacy, minimal secondary pollutant generation, and cost-effectiveness. Implementing such technologies emphasis on developing and implementing point-of-use grey water treatment technologies to address water scarcity and sustainability issues in residential settings. This review evaluates the effectiveness of various treatment methods for laundry wastewater, including membrane separation, electrocoagulation, biological treatment, and integrated systems, aiming to optimize the overall treatment process. It particularly emphasizes the potential of point-of-use treatment systems for decentralized water management, highlighting their advantages in managing laundry wastewater more efficiently and sustainably at the source. The study underscores the necessity for cost-effective and efficient solutions to treat and reuse laundry wastewater at the household level, thereby promoting water conservation and reducing environmental impact. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In response to the water contamination problem, this study presents a novel method to remove methylene blue (MB), a typical water pollutant, using synthesized porous silicon dioxide (SiO2). The SiO2 was synthesized via a cost-effective sol–gel method and characterized for its thermal stability, structural, textural, morphological properties, and elemental composition using techniques such as TGA, FT-IR, XRD, BET-BJH, SEM, TEM, and STEM-EDS. A unique aspect of this study is the evaluation of SiO2 reusability in MB removal through multiple adsorption and thermal regeneration cycles, a critical factor for practical applications. The results demonstrated the successful synthesis of thermally stable, amorphous, porous SiO2 with a surface area of 811 m2g−1 initially, reducing to 600 m2g−1 after the adsorption and regeneration cycles, indicating its stability and durability. The removal efficiency of MB was consistent across cycles, achieving 71.19 ± 0.94%, 75.55 ± 0.69%, and 73.49 ± 0.15% after 20 min, and the adsorption capacity at equilibrium was 3.73 ± 0.025, 4.08 ± 0.045, and 3.48 ± 0.021 mgMB gads−1 during the first, second, and third cycles, respectively. These findings highlight the potential of the synthesized porous SiO2 as a reusable and efficient adsorbent for MB removal in water treatment, contributing to the advancement of sustainable and effective solutions for water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the era of climate change, the correlation between climate, food security, and water resources is profoundly influenced by microbial ecosystems. This review explores the important role of these often-overlooked microorganisms in maintaining the delicate balance required for sustainable agriculture and clean water availability. Microbes, though minuscule, orchestrate vital processes shaping nutrient cycling, soil health, and ecosystem functionality in both terrestrial and aquatic domains. As climate shifts occur, these adaptable microbes adjust, affecting ecosystem dynamics. Climate-smart agriculture harnesses microbial partnerships for soil carbon sequestration and stress mitigation, safeguarding the food supply. Microbes support crop productivity and resilience while also managing pests and diseases in changing climates. Additionally, they contribute to water purification and quality stabilization through water treatment and biofilms, ensuring clean water resources. Microbial diversity acts as a buffer against climate-induced disruptions, underlining their role in sustaining ecosystem stability. Integrating microbial approaches into policies and practices becomes crucial for climate adaptation, paving the way for sustainable agriculture and water management. Novel microbial technologies hold promise in addressing climate-food-water challenges, while collaborative research remains essential for innovative solutions at this critical interface of science and policy. Moreover, microbial ecosystems emerge as essential to food security and water resources in the face of climate change, charting a path towards a resilient and sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel strontium-iron-based perovskite-type material (SrFeO3) has been successfully synthesized and characterized as a promising photocatalyst for degrading diclofenac sodium (DCF). The catalyst was synthesized using the sol–gel method, resulting in a material with distinctive features, including a dense structure and a uniform distribution of metal components on the catalytic surface. The degradation efficiency of SrFeO3 was compared to that of titanium dioxide (TiO2), a well-established photocatalyst known for its effectiveness in degrading emerging contaminants. Under identical experimental conditions, SrFeO3 achieved a degradation efficiency of 68% over 150 min, while TiO2 reached 70%. Additionally, phytotoxicity tests performed on the post-treatment solution demonstrated a reduction in toxicity compared to the initial solution for both catalysts, indicating that SrFeO3 has promising characteristics for the aqueous treatment of DCF. These results suggest that SrFeO3 exhibits performance comparable to TiO2 and could be a viable alternative for future water treatment applications. Furthermore, liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS) analysis was employed to identify intermediate products and propose a plausible degradation pathway for DCF, highlighting SrFeO3's potential in facilitating DCF removal from aqueous environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation (HCO) emerges as a promising chemical industrial wastewater treatment solution, offering enhanced ozone utilization and reduced secondary pollutants. However, challenges in scaling HCO arise from a limited understanding of the catalytic mechanisms of metal oxides, particularly in generating active ozone sites. Here, we demonstrated the improvement of catalytic ozonation efficiency by enhancing the covalent bonding between FeO in Fe/Co spinel oxides. This alteration exploits the stronger electron‐donating capacity of Fe (II), enhancing FeOM bonds and electron enrichment at iron sites, leading to a significant reduction in the activation energy for ozone. Pilot experiments demonstrated a 75.3% COD removal efficiency and a threefold increase in ozone utilization efficiency compared to pure ozone system for chemical industrial wastewater treatment. This study not only advances our understanding of spinel oxides in ozone catalysis but also opens new avenues for practical HCO applications in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the antibacterial efficacy of Moringa oleifera (M.oleifera) seeds as a natural coagulant for water purification, addressing the critical need for clean water due to its significant impact on human health and disease prevalence linked to contaminated water. The research was carried out to observe the effect of M. oleifera on the microbial load of Raw Water (RW) and treated water (TW) sourced from the Ibn Ziad wastewater treatment facility in Constantine. Results of bacteriological analyses show that the raw water is heavily polluted with high levels of the targeted bacteria: 4.4 × 109 CFU/ml in total germs, 2.4 × 104 CFU/100 ml in total coliforms and total streptococci, and 1.1 × 104 CFU/100ml in fecal coliforms, Escherichia coli, and fecal streptococci, with no decrease observed for sulfite-reducing clostridia. However, the water treated with M. oleifera, at a dose of 20 g·L-1, demonstrates a significant reduction of 99% in total germs, 96% in total coliforms, and 98% in fecal coliforms, with a complete absence of Escherichia coli, streptococci, as well as a complete elimination of total sulfite-reducing clostridia, which falls with the standard guidelines for using this water in irrigation. The obtained results confirmed that M. oleifera seeds positively impact the reduction of pathogenic microorganisms found in wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of organic pollutants in Indonesian waters is challenging for water treatment, because high pollutant levels increase the burden on the water technology used. Membrane technology can be used to optimize the filtration of organic pollutants. However, this technique is still limited by the fouling phenomenon on the membrane surface. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of humidity on the structure formation and antifouling properties of the fabricated polyethersulfone (PES)-polyethylene glycol hexadecyl ether (PEG-HE) membranes. The PES membrane was modified by adding the additive PEG-HE and printed using the vapor and non-solvent induced phase separation (VNIPS) technique with air humidity of 70% and 90%. Changes in membrane properties and performance were analyzed before and after modification. Overall, the results show that adding 3% PEG-HE additive and using the VNIPS technique have a favorable impact on the membrane, namely, increasing the hydrophilicity, as well as the number and size of pores. The PES membrane modified with PEGHE additives and 90% air humidity exhibited the highest stability in various aspects of analysis, such as a water contact angle of 55.11°, a pure water flux of 69.86 L/m2.h, a flux recovery ratio (FRR) of 91.91%, and humus acid rejection of 86.84%. In conclusion, the present research provides valuable insights into developing PES membranes with antifouling properties for filtering organic pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Ferrate(VI), an environmentally friendly oxidant, has recently emerged as one of the most promising chemicals for water and wastewater treatment due to its versatile application as an oxidant, coagulant, and disinfectant. In this paper, the factors affecting the electrosynthesis process of ferrate using ductile iron anode were studied. Besides, the obtained ferrate was used to remove reactive red 195 (RR195). RESULTS: The optimal ferrate electrochemical synthesis conditions were determined, including 14 mol L−1 NaOH electrolyte solution, a current density of 40 mA cm−2, and electrolysis time of approximately 5–6 h. Furthermore, the kinetics of the ferrate's self‐decomposition reaction was also studied at different temperatures. The decomposition process of ferrate in a 14 mol L−1 NaOH environment followed second‐order kinetics, with reaction rate constants of 4.70 × 10−9, 7.31 × 10−8, 1.95 × 10−7, and 4.70 × 10−7 (L mol−1 s−1) at temperatures of 4, 10, 20, and 30 °C, respectively. RR195 treatment efficiency by ferrate reached 96.3% in a short time of 3 min at pH 3 with a ferrate/RR195 molar ratio of 30/1. CONCLUSION: This study identified the optimal conditions for the electrochemical synthesis of ferrate using a ductile iron anode. Ferrate was stable at a low temperature of 4 °C, so unused ferrate needs to be stored at low temperatures to avoid decomposition of ferrate. The ferrate green oxidant demonstrated high efficiency in the treatment of RR195 in a short time. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing contamination of aquatic bodies by heavy metals poses a significant threat to environment and human health, necessitates innovative, sustainable and cost-effective remediation strategies. Due to their persistence and toxicity, heavy metals like copper (Cu), lead (Pb), mercury (Hg), and cadmium (Cd) pose severe threats, even in trace amounts. Traditional removal methods of these heavy metals, like chemical precipitation, oxidation/reduction, filtration, ion exchange, membrane separation, and adsorption, are costly, inefficient, and have drawbacks. As an efficient and low-cost adsorbent, biochar has the potential for heavy metal remediation from water. Biochar is a versatile carbonaceous material produced through pyrolysis of organic wastes, emerged as a powerful adsorbent for heavy metal removal from contaminated water. The unique property of biochar makes it an effective medium immobilizing and capturing of heavy metals like Pb, Cd, As and Hg. Various factors affect its adsorption potential and capacity. Feedstocks type, composition, activation methods, and production processes including the pyrolysis temperature, temperature rate and residence time significantly impact the efficacy of biochar. Therefore, this review has assessed, compared, and contrasted different forms of biochar along with their production methods, modification techniques and mechanisms for their potential use as an adsorbent for heavy metal removal from the contaminated water. Modified biochar offers an environmentally friendly and cost-effective solution for water purification and remediation of toxic heavy metals from water. This review highlights the biochar potential as a crucial component for future research projects focusing on water treatment technologies, providing avenues for safer and cleaner water resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are an emerging issue which are receiving increasing concerns in drinking water safety. However, the factors (e.g. treatment processes and water quality) affecting the removal efficiency of ARGs in the drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) is still unclear. This work investigated the ARG profiles in each treatment process of two DWTPs located in a northwest Chinese city. The results showed that tetracycline and sulfonamide resistance genes were predominant among the 14 targeted ARGs. After the treatment, the Z water treatment plant which demonstrated a higher removal rate of ARGs (ranging from 50 to 80%), compared to the S plant (50–75%). And the average removal rate of tetracycline resistance genes (tetA, tetG, tetQ, tetX) was about 49.18% (S plant) and 67.50% (Z plant), as well as the removal rate of 64.2% and 72.9% for sulfonamide resistance (sul1 and sul2) at S and Z water plants, respectively. It was found that the relative abundance of main microbial communities (such as Bacteroidota, Actinobacteria, Verrucomicrobiota, Roseomonas), α-diversity index, as well as the abundance of pathogenic bacteria were all significantly reduced after different treatment processes. Network co-occurrence analysis revealed that Methylocystis possibly was the potential host for most ARGs, and sul1 was found across a broad spectrum of microorganisms in the drinking water environment. Adonis analysis showed that heavy metals and microbial communities explain solely 44.1% and 35.7% of variances of ARGs within DWTPs. This study provides insights into the contamination status and removal efficiencies of ARGs in DWTPs, offering valuable references for future studies on ARG removal, propagation, and diffusion patterns in drinking water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite a downward trend, Ethiopia still faces significant challenges with high rates of stunting and acute malnutrition in children. To tackle these issues, the Feed the Future Ethiopia Growth Through Nutrition Activity, a USAID-funded project aligned with Ethiopia's National Nutrition Program, was executed from 2016 to 2023. This initiative aimed to enhance nutrition for women and young children across six regions through multisectoral interventions. Annual surveys conducted in 2017, 2018, and 2020 evaluated the impact of livelihood support and Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH)-focused social behavior change communication (SBCC) on vulnerable households with children under two. The results showed significant improvements in child nutrition. Dietary diversity among children increased from 12% to 34% (p<0.001), and the percentage of children receiving a minimal acceptable diet rose from 12% to 30.7% (p<0.001). Women's dietary diversity also improved markedly, from 2% to 16% (p<0.001). Handwashing practices saw improvements, with the proportion of households having handwashing facilities rising from 14% to 31% (p<0.001), and the adherence to critical handwashing moments increased from 16% to 23%. However, challenges in water treatment and latrine use persisted, with less than 25% improvement. The findings suggest that integrating livelihood support with SBCC interventions can positively enhance nutritional outcomes. Continued focus on these strategies is recommended to further support vulnerable households. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Traditional light‐driven metal‐organic‐frameworks (MOFs)‐based micromotors (MOFtors) are typically constrained to two‐dimensional (2D) motion under ultraviolet or near‐infrared light and often demonstrate instability and susceptibility to ions in high‐saline environments. This limitation is particularly relevant to employing micromotors in water purification, as real wastewater is frequently coupled with high salinity. In response to these challenges, ultrastable MOFtors capable of three‐dimensional (3D) motion under a broad spectrum of light through thermophoresis and electrophoresis are successfully synthesized. The MOFtors integrated photocatalytic porphyrin MOFs (PCN‐224) with a photothermal component made of polypyrrole (PPy) by three distinct methodologies, resulting in micromotors with different motion behavior and catalytic performance. Impressively, the optimized MOFtors display exceptional maximum velocity of 1305 ± 327 µm s−1 under blue light and 2357 ± 453 µm s−1 under UV light. In harsh saline environments, these MOFtors are not only maintain high motility but also exhibit superior tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH) removal efficiency of 3578 ± 510 mg g−1, coupling with sulfate radical‐based advanced oxidation processes and peroxymonosulfate. This research underscores the significant potential of highly efficient MOFtors with robust photocatalytic activity in effectively removing TCH in challenging saline conditions, representing a substantial advancement in applying MOFtors within real‐world water treatment technologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysts are currently widely used in various research and industrial fields, from water and air purification to solar energy, from self‐cleaning surfaces to wearable biosensors and electronic devices. Among semiconductors, the growing interest is attracted to gallium oxide, especially β‐Ga2O3, due to the unique physical, chemical (especially acid‐resistance), physical–chemical, photochemical properties, and redox potential. These photocatalysts can be used not only as suspended mixture, but also in the form of films, nanoparticles, and nanofibers. The last one is more challenging due to the high level of surface‐to‐volume ratio, porousness, air and water permeability, and excellent morphological and physical–mechanical properties. Moreover, electrospinning techniques, in comparison with fabrication of nanoparticles, allow to obtain photocatalytic devices without usage of additional carrying base, which simplify the industrial process. However, to date there are limited publications related to the Ga2O3 electrospun nanofibers. The aim of this review is to summarize current results of gallium oxide electrospun nanofibers preparation. Special attention is given to the technological parameters of the electrospinning, the polymer solution receipts, and the properties of such nanomaterials and its potential application. Despite the limited number of publications related to Ga2O3 fibers fabrications, that data collected in this review article demonstrate great potential for practical applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase separation was observed in silica glass following low‐temperature heat treatment in high water vapor pressure through the formation of bubbles. Although the 6 day diffusion treatment in saturated water vapor pressure at 250°C does not normally cause phase separation, the reactive fracture surface and subsurface damage caused by polishing with cerium oxide (CeO2) allowed for an increase in water absorption during treatment and heterogeneous nucleation of the bubbles at damaged sites. The sub‐surface damage, characteristic of blunt contact damage, was only revealed when the polished sample was etched. The formation of bubbles and polishing damage were observed in two silica glasses—one containing chlorine impurities and the other containing OH impurities. Raman spectra collected after fracture or polishing and water diffusion treatment demonstrated an increase in the abundance of –OH species including silanol (SiOH) groups and an evolution in the glass structure in the bubble regions compared with the bubble‐free regions. These results indicate an increase in the reactivity between water and glass fracture surfaces relative to the bulk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]