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A collaborative analysis of constructed wetlands in Latin America and the Caribbean, published in Spanish, brought together insights from 10 different countries in the region. The collective reports focused on both subsurface and surface flow wetlands. Treatment targets included industrial and agricultural discharges, yet the emphasis was on the treatment of domestic wastewater as a pollutant, and a lack of sufficient municipal wastewater treatment infrastructure. Common macrophyte genera as well as unique species were highlighted for their potential contributions to treatment and ecological diversity. Finally, a growing body of legal frameworks for establishment and protection were reported. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The current state of the hydrosphere is largely determined by human anthropogenic activities. Discharge of polluted waste waters into surface water bodies significantly worsens their quality and limits the possibility of safe consumption. One of the biggest sources of increasing surface waters mineralization and hardness is the discharge of spent regeneration solutions of natural waters ion-exchange softening processes, which creates a closed circulation cycle of sodium, calcium and magnesium chlorides. The necessity to reduce the intensity of this cycle and decrease environmental pollution is very actually today. The research of traditional soda-sodium softening technology has shown its low suitability for low and medium capacity systems due to necessity of water heating and subsequently pH adjusting. More acceptable solution was found in using phosphate anions as a precipitant, which ensures high efficiency in removing calcium and magnesium ions at a wide range of temperatures and pH levels. It was found that the solid phase formed during such treatment was difficult to separate from the liquid phase. Using of anionic flocculants was proposed as one of the solutions of this problem, which ensure high efficiency in separating the formed solid particles from water. Proposed technological scheme was designed for implementation as a pre-treatment stage in reverse osmosis systems of low and medium capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Calcium oxide (CaO) nanoparticles have gained wide attention in various environmental applications, including water treatment and microbial pollution control. This research provides novelty in innovating new strategies in water management and waste treatment based on advanced technology with a nanoscience approach by utilizing local resources. This study aims to synthesize CaO nanoparticles using a green chemistry method using a bioreductor from Bitti (Vitex cofassus) plant extract. This green chemistry approach is not only environmentally friendly but also efficient in producing stable nanoparticles with controlled size. Nanoparticle characterization was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) to determine their crystal structure, morphology, and particle size. The results showed that calcium oxide nanoparticles have FCC (face-centered cubic) crystal phase, uneven surface morphology, and spherical shape and have an average particle size of 24.87 nm. The antibacterial activity of calcium oxide nanoparticles on Escherichia coli test bacteria with variations in nanoparticle concentrations (1, 3, and 5%) each had an average inhibition zone diameter of 9.59; 10.78; and 11.78 mm, positive control (Chloramphenicol) of 12.65 mm, and negative control (sterile aqua) of 0 mm, while in Staphylococcus aureus test bacteria with nanoparticle concentration variations (1, 3, and 5%) each had an average inhibition zone diameter of 10.26; 11.15; and 14.15 mm, positive control (Chloramphenicol) of 12.82 mm, and negative control (sterile aqua) of 0 mm. CaO nanoparticles have greater effectiveness on Staphylococcus aureus bacteria than Escheria Coli with the ability to inhibit and kill both types of bacteria. The application of these nanoparticles as antibacterial agents can effectively reduce microorganism waste in the aquatic environment, so they have the potential to be used as a solution for environmentally friendly microbial waste treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mining is a key industrial activity contributing to the global economy, but it generates large volumes of wastewater with high turbidity due to mineral extraction and processing. In Ecuador, the growth of industrial and artisanal mining has worsened water pollution. Effective wastewater management is essential to mitigate the environmental impacts. Traditionally, chemical coagulants like aluminum sulfate reduce water turbidity, but they have drawbacks such as high costs, chemical waste generation, and adverse health effects. The residual aluminum in drinking water can harm the central nervous system and is linked to diseases like Alzheimer's and dialysis-related conditions. Given these concerns, evaluating plant species as natural coagulants is crucial. Moringa oleifera, widely found in tropical dry forests, has shown effectiveness in water treatment. This study assesses the efficacy of Moringa oleifera paste as a natural coagulant to reduce turbidity in mining wastewater compared to the efficacy of aluminum sulfate. Coagulation and flocculation tests determined the optimal doses and efficiency of both coagulants. The results indicated that Moringa oleifera achieved an 85% turbidity reduction compared to a 92% reduction with aluminum sulfate. This demonstrates its viability and effectiveness as a sustainable, economical, and safe alternative for water purification, promoting environmentally friendly practices in the mining industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) have been increasingly used all over the world and they have been reported on water cycle and cause contamination. Among these pharmaceuticals is caffeine (CAF). In this work, CAF removal from aqueous samples by metal–organic framework (UIO-66) and perovskite (La0.7Sr0.3FeO3) was achieved. Detailed studies on the preparation of MOFs and perovskite oxides compounds have been presented. Extensive characterizations such as X-Ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM), Fourier transform infrared spectra (FT-IR), N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms were also carried out to assure proper formation and to better understand the physico-chemical behavior of the synthesized samples before and after adsorption. Batch experiments of CAF adsorption onto both MOFs and perovskite were performed to compare the effectiveness of both materials on the removal competence of the CAF residue at different conditions including the effect of pH, initial concentration, and contact time. It was observed that the adsorption capacity of CAF by MOF increased with increasing acidity. On the other hand, the adsorption capacity of perovskite is stable in pH 4–10. The maximum adsorption capacities of UiO-66 and perovskite toward CAF are high as 62.5 mg g−1 and 35.25 mg g−1, respectively. Equilibrium isotherms were investigated by numerous models: Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Redlich-Peterson, Sips, Langmuir-Freundlich, Toth, Kahn, Baudu, and Fritz Schlunder. Moreover, the kinetics of the CAF@MOF and CAF@Perovskite systems have been studied by five kinetic models (Pseudo-1st -order (PFO), Pseudo-2nd -order (PSO), Mixed 1st, 2nd-order, Intraparticle diffusion and Avrami). The best model described the adsorption of CAF onto both of MOF and perovskite was the mixed 1st, 2nd-order model. The metal–organic framework and perovskite were applied to quickly extract CAF from water samples successfully. The maximum removal percentage obtained for MOF and perovskite was 0.89% and 0.94% respectively within 30 min contact time which suggests that these materials are considered as promising adsorbents for CAF. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial wastewaters display a complex and diverse range of physicochemical properties that are measured, studied, and treated by businesses and water service providers. Less frequently measured are the microbial communities in these wastes, despite possible implications for health, equipment maintenance, and the environment. This study aimed to assess the microbial communities of eighteen raw and discharge-ready wastewaters across eleven industrial sites to compare the microbial compositions of these wastewaters across different industry sectors, on-site treatment levels, and other wastewater components. The potential for variance in the biomethane yield, depending on microbial communities, was also measured. Using targeted sequencing, a unique taxonomy was identified, including genera linked to animals (Acetitomaculum, Lactobacillus, NK4A214, Prevotella, and Shuttleworthia), cooling water (Bosea, Legionella, Methyloversatilis, and Reyranella), and extreme conditions (Alkalibacillus, Geobacillus, Halorubrum, and Pyrobaculum). However, the compositions of the microbial communities were not found to be directly correlated to industry sector or on-site treatment levels, nor were they found to have a direct effect on the biomethane potential. However, the presence of certain individual taxa is linked to the methane yield and treatment status and may be explained in the context of physicochemical properties while serving as potential markers for identifying, improving, or developing on-site processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review describes the mechanisms of natural coagulants. It provides a good understanding of the two key processes of coagulation-flocculation: adsorption and charge neutralization, as well as adsorption and bridging. Various factors have influence the coagulation/flocculation process, including the effect of pH, coagulant dosage, coagulant type, temperature, initial turbidity, coagulation speed, flocculation speed, coagulation and flocculation time, settling time, colloidal particles, zeta potential, the effects of humic acids, and extraction density are explained. The bio-coagulants derived from plants are outlined. The impact of organic coagulants on water quality, focusing on their effects on the physicochemical parameters of water, heavy metals removal, and bacteriological water quality, is examined. The methods of extraction and purification of plant-based coagulants, highlighting techniques such as solvent extraction and ultrasonic extraction, are discussed. It also examines the parameters that influence these processes. The methods and principles of purification of coagulating agents, including dialysis, freeze-drying, ion exchange, electrophoresis, filtration, and centrifugation, are listed. Finally, it evaluates the sustainability of natural coagulants, focusing on the environmental, technical, and economic aspects of their use. At the end of this review, the readers should have a comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms, selection, extraction, purification, and sustainability of plant-based natural coagulants in water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to Emerging Contaminants (ECs) remains a pressing concern, predominantly occurring through diverse vectors such as contaminated soil, water, plants, animals, and microorganisms. This paper investigates the intriguing evolution of water treatment, tracing the transition from ancient rudimentary practices to contemporary sophisticated technologies. Traditional methods, deeply entrenched in centuries of use, encompass biological, physical, and chemical approaches. The article underscores the significance of water treatment in protecting public health and preserving the environment, emphasizing its pivotal role in collective well-being. Water quality standards (WQS) assume a central role in regulating water quality, furnishing a legal framework, and safeguarding human health and ecosystems. Emerging technologies, including Advanced Oxidation Processes, graphene-based filtration, and AI integration, display potential in overcoming limitations associated with traditional methods. Conservation of ecosystems emerges as vital for water quality protection, accentuating the interdependence of ecosystems and water quality. Addressing the drawbacks of traditional methods highlights the necessity for evolving strategies, with ongoing research directed toward optimizing existing methods and exploring emerging technologies to fulfill the demand for clean and safe water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the development of a fast and cost-effective method for the detection and removal of Hg2+ ions from aqueous media, consisting of hydrogels incorporating chelating agents and a rhodamine derivative (to afford a qualitative evaluation of the heavy metal entrapment inside the 3D polymeric matrix). These hydrogels, designed for the simultaneous detection and entrapment of mercury, were obtained through the photopolymerization of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid (AMPSA) and N-vinyl-2-pyrrolidone (NVP), utilizing N,N′-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA) as crosslinker, in the presence of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), a rhodamine B derivative, and one of the following chelating agents: phytic acid, 1,3-diamino-2-hydroxypropane-tetraacetic acid, triethylenetetramine-hexaacetic acid, or ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid disodium salt. The rhodamine derivative had a dual purpose in this study: firstly, it was incorporated into the hydrogel to allow the qualitative evaluation of mercury entrapment through its fluorogenic switch-off abilities when sensing Hg2+ ions; secondly, it was used to quantitatively evaluate the level of residual mercury from the decontaminated aqueous solutions, via the UV-Vis technique. The ICP-MS analysis of the hydrogels also confirmed the successful entrapment of mercury inside the hydrogels and a good correlation with the UV-Vis method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water treatment processes in chemical engineering play a critical role in addressing environmental challenges and ensuring the sustainability of water resources. This paper examines simulation-driven strategies aimed at enhancing water treatment processes within the domain of chemical engineering. By leveraging advanced simulation techniques and methodologies, engineers can optimize the design, operation, and performance of water treatment systems, thereby mitigating environmental impacts and improving overall efficiency. The review highlights the importance of addressing environmental challenges through innovative approaches in water treatment processes. It underscores the role of simulation-driven strategies in chemical engineering to achieve sustainable solutions for water management. Through a comprehensive review of simulation techniques and case studies, this paper elucidates how simulation-driven approaches can enhance the effectiveness and sustainability of water treatment processes. Furthermore, the review emphasizes the interdisciplinary nature of this research, bridging chemical engineering principles with environmental science and technology. By integrating simulation tools with knowledge of water chemistry, fluid dynamics, and process engineering, engineers can develop robust strategies for optimizing water treatment processes while minimizing environmental footprints. Key topics covered include the application of computational fluid dynamics (CFD), process simulation software, and advanced modeling techniques in the analysis and design of water treatment systems. Case studies illustrating the successful implementation of simulation-driven strategies in various water treatment applications are presented to provide practical insights and demonstrate the potential benefits. Overall, this paper underscores the pivotal role of simulation-driven strategies in advancing water treatment processes in chemical engineering. It advocates for the adoption of innovative approaches to address environmental challenges and promote sustainability in water management practices within the oil and gas industry and other sectors reliant on chemical engineering processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Predictions for the future indicate that climate change may worsen the water problem in Iraq. The impact of climate change on water supplies, the environment, and the economy, particularly the agricultural sector, is one of the region's most significant challenges. This paper analyzes the impact of climate change on water parameters and the implications for station operation and performance. The data was taken from the Al- Al-Qadisiya water treatment plant in Baghdad city for 2022. This research is the only one that discusses the design of water treatment plants using the GPS-X to design and simulate the plants and show the effect of climate change on plant operation. The results of evaluating the operational performance of water treatment plants indicate that the concentrations of all contaminants in the effluent water have consistently followed the established Iraqi standards in all scenarios. Some consequences of these variables (pH, turbidity, TDS, color, alkalinity, and hardness). The modeling and simulation of the water treatment plant, conducted using GPS-X, confirmed an acceptable level of performance characterized by a high degree of efficiency. The model was subjected to three scenarios, which showed that the concentrations of the pollutant parameters in the treated water stayed within the allowed limits [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Effective denitrification of water using photocatalytic reaction of active TiO2 particles doped with different oxides and metals has been the subject of numerous studies. For a particular research area, the potential of silica bond and its silicate based matrices with titanium dioxide and improving the photocatalytic performance using more economic methods is still challenging, and research in this field is attractive and ongoing. In this study, the effect of cement matrix and its complex bonds with industrial grade TiO2 particles was evaluated on the rate of water denitrification in a fixed bed circulating flow photoreactor. For this purpose, silica fume was substituted for cement in constant percent of 10 as a rich source of amorphous silica. Industrial grade TiO2 was added to the mix as5, 10 and 15 percent weight of cementitious materials (CM). Nano TiO2 was considered as a supplementary photocatalytic material with a constant 1% weight of CM in two mix designs. The results implied that the addition of 5% TiO2 increased the rate of nitrate concentration reduction by up to 10 times. Also, the specimen including 10% TiO2 increased denitrification rate by 107% compared to the previous content, which had much less impact. Also, the addition of nanoTiO2 increased denitrification rate up 113%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, hydrochar using to modified nickel aluminum layered double hydroxide (hydrochar@NiAl LDH). The collected data by XRD indicate that 2θ of material at 11.38°, 22.90°, 35.20°, and 61.60°. The FTIR spectrum of hydrochar@NiAl LDH at wavenumber 3448, 1650, 1500-1600, 1348, 1056, and 500-800 cm-1. NiAl LDH and hydrochar have surface areas of 3.288 m²/g and 7.366 m²/g, respectively. The precursors enhance the composite's surface area by 11.879 m²/g. NiAl LDH, hydrochar, and hydrochar@NiAl LDH have optimal pH values of 3, 6, and 6 respectively. The adsorption process is determined by the kinetic model of pseudo-second order and the model of Freundlich isotherm. NiAl LDH, hydrochar, and hydrochar@NiAl LDH had respective maximum adsorption capacities of 25.445, 21.008, and 25.773 mg/g. The increase in regeneration cycles decreases the percentage of adsorbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the development of industry, large amounts of heavy metals are eliminated into the environment, which leads to contamination of important water resources, such as ground waters, surface waters, and lake waters. They can also get into drinking water and by ingestion, pollutants can accumulate in the human body where it manifests toxic effects on various systems and organs. In order to minimize the contamination of water resources and wastewater, the removal of heavy metals is being studied more and more through the use of various processes, such as adsorption, membrane filtration, ion exchange or coagulation. The aim of this review paper is a state-of -the-art discussion about the effective applications of different removal processes and sorbent materials for heavy metals removal from water resources. For conducting the study were consulted more than 50 literature sources from the most important electronic databases: Web of Science and SCOPUS. Several platforms such as Science Direct, Springer Link, CAB Abstracts and Taylor and Francis were also consulted. Processes we are talking about include the use of adsorbent materials, such as activated carbon, nanotubes, bio-sorbents and bio-chars, or various filtration processes, that include ultrafiltration, microfiltration, nanofiltration or reverse osmosis. However, of all the adsorbent materials, bio-sorbents have gained considerable attention for applications in water treatment, due to their cost-effectiveness, acceptable performance and high removal capacity. Their most important aspect is eco-friendly character, as most come from agricultural waste (peanuts, rice, lemon peel, cocoa shells, and coffee residues), soil and mineral deposits (bentonite, kaolin, and zeolite) or aquatic and terrestrial biomass (lignin, seaweed, algae). Bio-sorbents may be subjected to processes like electrostatic interaction, precipitation, chelation, complexation, to enhance their adsorption capacity. The research studies demonstrated that the removal rate is influenced by some parameters, like the pH of the aqueous media, the adsorbent dose, concentration of the metal, time of contact, temperature, and mixing or agitation speed. As a conclusion, the removal processes show good adsorption capacities for heavy metals, but further research are needed for successful applications of these methods for removal of chemical pollutants from drinking water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photocatalysis application in water treatment has been the object of many researchers worldwide in recent decades. However, there are limited commercial applications due to low photon transfer efficiency, which create barriers leading to challenges in making the process efficient and economically feasible. Fixed UV/visible light sources, which are generally located outside the reactor or encapsulated in quartz tube inside the reactor are the source of energy to activate photocatalyst generating powerful oxidants such as electrons and holes. Suspended waterproof LED visible lights were employed to enhance photon transfer efficiency. Consequently, the required energy was lower resulting in negligible temperature increase and eliminated the need for an external cooler, no need for quartz (UV transparent) or treated glass reactors, enhanced mixing due to continuous movement of light bulbs by convective currents, and minimum/no attenuation. Direct Blue 15 (DB15) dye was used as model compound and the photocatalyst was P25 TiO2 (Average particle: 30 nm, Surface area: 50 m2 g−1). The samples taken at different time intervals were analyzed by UV-Vis. spectrophotometer (UV-3600), and TOC-V CPN total organic carbon analyzer (both from Shimadzu). It was found that for the same level of degradation, the degradation rate increased by about 50% compared to conventional fixed light photoreactor. Overall, the cost of the operation can be reduced substantially, paving the road for feasible commercialization of the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Doped sol-gel glasses of thiourea (THU), urea (U), n-propoylamine (PA), iso-propylamine (IPA), and 2-methoxyaniline (AN) were prepared and treated by two methods, thermal and microwave (MW) irradiation. The optical properties and particle sizes of the as-synthesized doped sol-gels and plain sol-gel (P) were measured. The sol-gels were then tested for their capacity to adsorb methylene blue dye (MB) and remove it from aqueous solutions. The highest removal efficiencies were exhibited by PA, IPA, and THU which were prepared by either the thermal or MW method. Amongst all the tested adsorbents, the thermally-prepared PA yielded the highest removal of over 95% for 12.5 mg/L of MB, and about 75% for 6.5 mg/L of MB. The MW-prepared PA showed the second highest removal efficiencies, while IPA, prepared thermally or by MW, showed comparable results to its PA counterpart. This behavior could be attributed to the higher basicity of aliphatic amines relative to aromatic amines, which resulted in increased interaction between the lone pair of electrons on amino nitrogen and MB. On the other hand, the interaction between U or THU and MB is suggested to have possibly occurred via electrostatic attraction or redox reaction between them. The characteristic Fourier Infrared (FTIR) spectra of PA and IPA before and after adsorption suggest that the C=O, N-H, and Si-OH groups, among others, could be involved in adsorption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Iron species can act as electron donors, electron acceptors or serve as a sorbent to co-precipitate contaminants. These properties, along with its relatively low cost as a material, make iron an ideal compound for environmental applications in the removal of pollutants from water and wastewater. This study assesses the use of metallic iron as a reductant for the removal of toxic Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions, as well as the use of hexavalent iron (ferrates) for the removal of organic compounds, turbidity and biological contaminants from water and wastewater. Laboratory-scale experiments show that the Cr(VI) removal efficiency of metallic iron filling materials, such as scrap iron fillings, via reduction to Cr(III) and the subsequent precipitation/filtration of aggregates can reach values over 99.0%. Moreover, the efficiency of ferrates, in situ synthesized via a low-cost Fe0/Fe0 electrochemical cell, in the removal of organic compounds, turbidity and biological contaminants from high-strength industrial wastewater, biologically treated wastewater and natural water can also reach values over 99.0%. The results showed that iron species can be applied in low-cost and environmentally friendly technologies for natural water remediation and wastewater treatment. Furthermore, the study showed that the challenge of an iron material's surface passivation, as well as of ferrates' procurement cost and stability, can be resolved via the application of ultrasounds and via in situ ferrate electrosynthesis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The shortage of water resources has always been one of the most difficult problems that perplexes humanity. Solar steam generation (SSG) has been a new non-polluting and low-cost water purification method in recent years. However, the high cost of traditional photothermal conversion materials and the low efficiency of photothermal conversion has restricted the large-scale application of SSG technology. In this work, composite materials with Fe3O4 nanospheres attached to MoS2 nanosheets were synthesized, which increased the absorbance and specific surface area of the composite materials, reduced the sunlight reflection, and increased the photothermal conversion efficiency. During the experiment, the composite material was evenly coated on cotton. The strong water absorption of cotton ensured that the water could be transported sufficiently to the surface for evaporation. Under one sun irradiation intensity, the evaporation rate of the sample synthesized in this work reached 1.42 kg m−2 h−1; the evaporation efficiency is 89.18%. In addition, the surface temperature of the sample can reach 41.6 °C, which has far exceeded most photothermal conversion materials. Furthermore, the use of this composite material as an SSG device for seawater desalination and sewage purification can remove more than 98% of salt ions in seawater, and the removal rate of heavy metal ions in sewage is close to 100%, with a good seawater desalination capacity and sewage purification capacity. This work provides a new idea for the application of composite materials in the field of seawater desalination and sewage purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waste reutilization in environmental remediation is highly desired as a new strategy in the scientific community for environmental applications. Industrial biowaste has been used significantly to produce biochar, which can be used in environmental remediation. In this study, a low-cost iron-impregnated modified biochar (FeBS800) was successfully prepared using a one-step pyrolysis method with waste black seed pomace as a "waste-to-resource" strategy and applied to activate peroxydisulfate (PDS) for the degradation and mineralization of rhodamine B (RhB) and diclofenac (DCF) in water. The physicochemical properties of the FeBS800 catalyst were investigated by various characterization analytical methods. The developed FeBS800 catalyst exhibits excellent catalytic activity and good stability in PDS activation. In the FeBS800/PDS system, the degradation efficiency within 10 min reached up to 98.2 % and 88.3 %, while the mineralization efficiencies within 30 min reached 48 % and 68.7 % for 20 mg/L RhB and DCF, respectively, with slight iron ions leaching of less than 3 mg/L. The optimum removal conditions of the FeBS800/PDS system were found to be 1.5 g/L catalyst dose and 10 mM PDS initial concentration at circumneutral pH solution. Moreover, the radical quenching experiment revealed that the main reactive oxygen species (ROS) responsible for the pollutants' degradation in FeBS800/PDS system are in the order of 1O 2 > •OH > O 2 •- > SO 4 •-, while singlet oxygen plays a leading role. The degradation kinetics of both pollutants (RhB and DCF) were well-fitted to the pseudo-first-order model. Furthermore, a possible mechanism pathway of PDS activation for generation ROS in the FeBS800/PDS system was proposed. Overall, the research results suggested that the modified FeBS800 could have a promising potential in activating PDS for the removal of refractory organic pollutants from water. [Display omitted] • Modified Iron- impregnated biochar (FeBS800) was successfully prepared using waste black seed pomace. • FeBS800 exhibited excellent catalytic activity and stability in PDS activation toward RhB and DCF degradation. • The degree of mineralization (TOC removal) of RhB and DCF were 80 % and 90 % within 1 h, respectively. • Both radical and non-radical ROS were involved in the pollutant degradation by FeBS800/PDS system, with the dominant role of 1O 2. • PDS activation mechanism and degradation kinetics of the FeBS800/PDS system were elucidated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hydraulic fracturing utilizes pressurized liquid typically consisting of water, proppants, and a multitude of chemical additives, in order to fracture petroliferous strata to extract natural gas and oil. In this process, a vast amount of wastewater is produced. This water is heavily contaminated, which renders it unusable outside of direct reuse, without extensive treatment being performed. Typically, various sophisticated analytical techniques are involved in the characterization of both waste and treated waters, increasing the cost and the complexity of the management efforts. The article discusses the constituents found in oilfield wastewater, the methods used to identify and quantify these constituents, and the present management methods. Additionally, we introduce total organic carbon and conductivity analyses as surrogate measurements of overall water quality. Total organic carbon and conductivity are established bulk measurements, which can be used to facilitate rapid decisions regarding the treatment and greater utilization of flowback and produced oilfield wastes. The application of the proposed surrogates could be used to streamline the current myriad of complex and expensive measurements. This would improve operational efficiency with respect to wastewater management in the energy sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study establishes that processed zero valent iron can be pelletised and used to desalinate water. The pellets desalinate water using a zero-order reaction, where: product water salinity = −[a][Reaction Time] + Feed Water Salinity. Desalination using the pellets requires no onsite energy, no onsite infrastructure, and produces no reject brine. Potential applications for the pellets, include desalination of saline impoundments, desalination of agricultural water, desalination of irrigation water, desalination of irrigated salinized soils, and aquifer desalination. The examples demonstrate 30% to 60% desalination for saline feed water within the salinity range of 4 to 10 g L−1. The product water has a low outcome variability for a specific pellet charge. The achievable desalination increases as the pellet weight: water volume ratio increases. The pellets can also be used for water purification, wastewater desalination, treatment of domestic wastewater, treatment of industrial wastewater, treatment of livestock feed water, treatment of oil field and mining wastewater, water purification to allow reuse, and the treatment of polluted soils. This study addresses the manufacture of the pellets, their effectiveness in desalinating water, and the outcome variability associated with desalination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acidic effluent such as winery wastewater is challenging to remediate. Biological sand reactors can simultaneously remove organics and neutralize winery wastewater via biotic and abiotic mechanisms. The systems have been shown to be suitable for treating the intermittent flow of wastewater at small wineries. It has been shown that dissolution of calcite is the most important abiotic mechanism for increasing the pH of the influent. In this study, sand column experiments were used to determine the effects of (i) sand particle size distribution on calcite dissolution kinetics, and (ii) the effects of calcite particle dissolution on the hydraulic conductivity. The results were then used to calculate the theoretical temporal abiotic neutralization capacity of biological sand reactors with differently sized sand fractions, including unfractionated (raw) sand. The results were compared with those determined from a pilot system treating winery wastewater over a period of 3 years. Sand fractions with larger particles contained lower amounts of calcite (using Ca as a proxy), but exhibited higher hydraulic conductivities (3.0 ± 0.05 %Ca and 2.57 to 2.75 mm·s−1, respectively) than those containing smaller particles and/or raw sand (4.8 ± 0.04 to 6.8 ± 0.03 %Ca and 0.19 to 1.25 mm·s−1, respectively). The theoretical abiotic neutralization capacity of biological sand reactors was compared with a pilot system with the same flow rates, and a temporal abiotic neutralization capacity of 37 years was calculated for biological sand reactors, which compared favorably with the theoretical results obtained for wastewater with pH values between 2 (8.2 years) and 3 (82 years). It was concluded that biological sand filters with around 10% calcite will be able to abiotically neutralize winery wastewater and other wastewaters with similar acidities for the projected life span of the system. Future work should focus on determining the effect of sand grain size on the bioremediation capacity, as well as the use of biological sand reactors for treating other acidic organic wastewaters such as fruit processing, food production and distillery wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

At the current stage of discharge and treatment of municipal sewage and other types of wastewater in the territory of Ukraine, traditional technologies of biological treatment in aero-tanks by the process of aerobic oxidation involving active silt characterized by low efficiency are largely used. It was established that biological treatment and additional treatment of sewage involving hydrophytes are efficient. The research on wastewater quality and the efficiency of sewage treatment was conducted in three phases: Phase 1 - "the quality before treatment", Phase 2 - "the quality after mechanical-biological treatment" at the existing municipal treatment plants, Phase 3 - "the quality after additional treatment by hydrophytes". In order to determine the efficiency of using hydrophytes additional treatment, Eichhornia crassipes (water hyacinth) and the perennial aquatic plant Lemna minor were planted in one treatment pond. The results of the experiment made it possible to determine high efficiency of using hydrophytes for additional sewage treatment. In particular, the efficiency of additional treatment in the treatment ponds removing the residue of suspended pollutants for 40 days was 32%, toxic salts -- 13.0-23.0%, oil products -- 30.0%, biogenic substances -- 68.5-83.3%. It caused a drop in the values of chemical and biological oxygen demand for 5 days by 89.6% and 61.2%, respectively. The efficiency of sewage treatment removing toxic salts and oil products reached 97.7%, whereas in the case of mineral and organic pollutants -- up to 99%. That contributed to a considerable increase in the wastewater quality by the criteria for fisheries. In particular, high nutritional value of Eichhornia crassipes and Lemna minor allowed obtaining 12.5 tons of hydrophyte wet mass that can be used as green manure, feeds for farm animals, poultry and fish. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the so-called road run-off, many various contaminants including Bisphenol A (BPA) and Pyrene (PYR) could enter the environment and retention basins. It was also suggested in the literature that their removal by using conventional treatment methods could be problematic, and modern techniques should be developed. In this study, the first attempt to remove BPA and PYR by using ultrasonication as a single process and with UV irradiation assistance was performed. The results showed that after 30 min of sonication, the degradation rate of BPA reached 92% while PYR was completely removed, however, after 1 min of the treatment degradation rate of BPA was significantly higher than PYR. In the study effect of pulsed ultrasound was also evaluated and it was found that its effectiveness in micropollutants removal could be higher than ultrasonication in continuous mode. Research revealed that the maximum removal rate of BPA and PYR was obtained during the ultrasonication process combined with UV irradiation-30 min of treatment resulted in 95% of BPA degradation. However, toxicity assessment showed that with an increase in the treatment time, an increase of toxic effects occurs. This phenomenon might be related to degradation of by-products formation which were identified in the study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

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

The large quantities of wastes resulting from water purification process (known as sludge) are increasingly becoming a big concern at some of developing countries, where no proper disposal options are available. The traditional practices of sludge disposal through dumping in landfills have become an ecological, environmental and financial burden. This is due to the daily operation, limited capacity of landfills, and negative impacts on soil, climate, surface and ground water. Hence, the goal of this research is to investigate the possibility of using incinerated sludge produced from water purification plants in construction field, and analyzing its effect on mechanical properties of concrete as one of sludge management options. Sludge was incinerated at a temperature of 800°C for two hours, grinded, sieved and replaced by fine aggregate at percentages of 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20% in concrete mixes. XRD and XRF tests were performed to identify crystalline phases and chemical composition of the sludge. The effect of using the incinerated sludge on workability, density, compressive and flexural strengths of concrete at curing ages of 7, and 28 days was investigated. The results showed a significant improvement in compressive and flexural strengths for all samples containing sludge for both curing ages in comparison to control samples, while a reduction in workability was observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bottom shaft driving flap gate is a new type of sluice gate, which is suitable for urban sewage water treatment. Although the bottom shaft driving flap gate has many advantages such as cheap investment and simple maintenance, it develops slowly because of the constraints of related technologies. As such, the flow pattern analysis and flow rate analysis on this hydraulic structure have important engineering significance. In this paper, a three-dimensional numerical simulation was used to analyze flow conditions of a new bottom shaft driving flap gate in the actual water control project. The CFX turbulence default model and non-slip grid technology were used to simulate the project under the same conditions of the test, and this research obtained the flow line, the flow rate of cloud images, and the velocity vectors of the model. Then this paper explained the reason for the flood conditions (once in 20 y, once in 50 y, once in 100 y) by analyzing the results. The research in this paper verifies the rationality of the model test and the effectiveness of the numerical simulation. The findings and conclusions of this paper provide the basis for the project implementation in a sediment-laden river and provide a reference for other similar projects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Currently, the vast majority of studies on microplastics (MPs) focus on determining the quantity and presence of these particles in various receiving environments and their treatment in domestic wastewater treatment plants. However, little research has been conducted on the treatment of microplastics in industrial effluent. Therefore, in this study, effluent samples from the cooling water tank of a local food packaging manufacturing company were analyzed to determine the presence and quantity of MPs for the first time. MPs removal from industrial wastewater using the electrocoagulation (EC) method was optimized using the Box Behnken Design (BBD). A second-order model was developed to estimate the microplastic removal efficiency, and the R2, adjusted R2, and predicted R2 of the model were 0.9994, 0.9985, and 0.9962, respectively. The optimal reaction parameters resulting in the maximum removal rate of microplastics (99 %) were determined to be pH 6.74, current density of 3.16 mA cm−2, and duration of 13.58 min. The cost of microplastic treatment per m3 of wastewater in the EC system, operated under optimal conditions, was calculated as 0.125 $. In this study, it was concluded that the EC process is a highly efficient technique for the removal of MPs from industrial wastewater at a low cost. Determining the most favorable conditions with BBD for the EC process at the feasibility stage of treatment plants will provide economic benefits and increase treatment efficiency during the installation of large-scale plants. [Display omitted] • Even cooling waters of plastic industries contain microplastics. • Microplastics can easily treated by using the electrocoagulation (EC) method. • Removal of microplastics by EC was modeled using BBD with high accuracy. • The optimal conditions; pH: 6.74, current density: 3.16 mA cm-2, time: 13.58 min. • The cost of microplastic treatment per m3 of wastewater was calculated as 0.125 $. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aluminum (Al)-based drinking water treatment residue (DWTR) has often been attempted to be recycled as dominant ingredient to produce sintered ceramsite for water treatment. This study aimed to determine the long-term performance of DWTR-based ceramsite in treating domestic wastewater based on a 385-d biofilter test and by using physicochemical, metagenomic, and metatranscriptomic analyses. The results showed that the ceramsite-packed biofilter exhibited high and stable capability in removing phosphorus (P) and chemical oxygen demand (COD), with removal efficiencies of 92.6 ± 3.97% and 81.1 ± 14.0% for total P and COD, respectively; moreover, 88–100% of ammonium-nitrogen (N) was normally converted, and the total N removal efficiency reached 80–86% under proper aeration. Further analysis suggested that the forms of the removed P in the ceramsite were mainly NH 4 F- and NaOH-extractable. Microbial communities in the ceramsite biofilter exhibited relatively high activity. Typically, various organic matter degradation-related genes (e.g., hemicellulose and starch degradations) were enriched, and a complete N-cycling pathway was established, which is beneficial for enriching microbes involved in ammonium-N conversion, especially Candidatus Brocadia , Candidatus Jettenia , Nitrosomonas , and Nitrospira. In addition, the structures of the ceramsite had high stability (e.g., compressive strength and major compositions). The ceramsites showed limited metal and metalloid pollution risks and even accumulated copper from the wastewater. These results demonstrate the high feasibility of applying ceramsite prepared from Al-based DWTR for water treatment. [Display omitted] • Performance of DWTR-based ceramsite was assessed by 385-d biofilter test. • Biofilter exhibited high capability in removing P and COD and converting N. • Structures of the DWTR-based ceramsite had high stability. • Various organic matter degradation-related genes enriched in biofilms on ceramsite. • Ceramsite promoted enrichment of microbes typically involving NH 4 +-N conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of micro/nanomotors as active cleaners for environmental remediation including pollutant degradation has been an ongoing scientific frontier. However, most of previous studies were conducted by using simulated sewage configured in the laboratory rather than real sewage discharged from industries. In this work, we prepared classical bubble‐propelled SiO2−Pt tubular micromotors and for the first time studied their motion behaviours in real sewage. We clarified the effect of the pollutants in sewage on the movement performance of the micromotors. Besides, the SiO2−Pt tubular micromotors were functionalized with Fe3O4 to result in SiO2−Pt−Fe3O4, whose ability to degrade typical pollutant (methylene blue) in sewage solution was accessed. The results show that the degrading ability of the SiO2−Pt−Fe3O4 micromotors in sewage solution is far weaker than that in deionized water. This work will provide an important reference for further exploration on using MNMs for environmental applications in realistic scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents basic information about applications, properties and extraction of titanium dioxide from liquid technogenic waste. Titanium dioxide is widely used in the production of ceramics, electrodes, etc. During the experiments using filtration, a recovery rate of 95% was achieved. Using the electroflotation method, a recovery rate of up to 50% was achieved. Subsequently, when complex additives are added, the degree of extraction by the electroflotation method reaches 95%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Solar steam generation is an efficient way for water purification. However, it is still challenging to establish a steam generation system possessing high evaporation efficiency under natural sunlight condition with good durability. Herein a novel, free‐floating nanoplatform is constructed by a gas foaming strategy, embedding plasmonic Cu7S4‐MoS2‐Au nanoparticles (CMA NPs) in porous polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) matrix. The gas diffusion process creates 3D porous PDMS matrix with low thermal conductivity and open channels, which allows for efficient energy confinement and fast water supply in an integral matrix, beneficial to mechanical strength of the system. By taking advantage of broadband absorption and high photothermal efficiency of CMA NPs and structural design of the matrix, the nanoplatform achieves a high evaporation rate (3.824 kg m−2 h−1) and photothermal conversion efficiency (96.6%) under one‐sun illumination (1 kW m−2). Moreover, such performance maintains stable even under harsh conditions in the presence of strong acid, strong base, strong oxidants, and high salinity, suggesting a broad prospect in seawater desalination, sewage treatment, sterilization and so on. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is an investigation into the characterisation of commercial activated charcoal, sawdust charcoal and rice husk charcoal as adsorbents for water treatment. The ground rice husk and waste sawdust collected, were sieved to obtain a nominal size of 1mm, washed and oven-dried for 12hours. The two materials were pyrolyzed in a furnace for 30minutes, and the chars produced were later air-dried. The three charcoals (sawdust charcoal, rice husk charcoal, and the activated charcoal purchased from the market) were all subjected to X-ray Fluorescence (XRF) analysis, Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis and Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis in order to characterise the filter materials. The SEM analysis showed that the three materials developed more pores, which is a property of an adsorbent. Likewise, the XRF and EDX analyses confirm that all the three adsorbents possess larger proportion of Silica, Carbon and Oxygen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Without pure water, it is impossible to survive for any living beings. The ratio of freshwater on our planet is very poor and the demand is increasing with time for the growing population. Furthermore, water is being contaminated by industrial and agricultural activities, pharmaceuticals, technocratic civilization, pesticides, garments, global changes etc. In addition to this, environmental pollution and global warming are swelling due to the greenhouse and harmful gases generated from the dumping and burning of fossil fuel. Addressing these problems, it is necessary to find out the cost-effective and environmental friendly processes to purify the contaminated water and air. Activated carbons (ACs) are one of the best solutions for removing the pollutants from aqueous and atmosphere as it is the carbonaceous materials with a high degree of porosity, well-developed surface area, and distinguished functional groups which are required for elimination of contaminants. The preparations of activated carbon are easy and safe processes, mainly from the pyrolysis or gasification of biomass with heat and/or chemicals. The recycling and regeneration of activated carbon after use are also essential for resource maintenance and environmental safety. Thus, AC can protect the ecosystem in a double direction by purifying the water and air from the pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A tertiary treatment of effluent from a biological domestic wastewater treatment plant was tested by combining filtration and solar photocatalysis. Adsorption was carried out by a sequence of two column filters, the first one filled with granular activated carbon (GAC) and the second one with granulated nano-composite of micelle-montmorillonite mixed with sand (20:100, w/w). The applied solar advanced oxidation process was homogeneous photo-Fenton photocatalysis using peroxymonosulfate (PMS) as oxidant agent. This combination of simple, robust, and low-cost technologies aimed to ensure water disinfection and emerging contaminants (ECs, mainly pharmaceuticals) removal. The filtration step showed good performances in removing dissolved organic matter and practically removing all bacteria such as Escherichia coli and Enterococcus faecalis from the secondary treated water. Solar advanced oxidation processes were efficient in elimination of trace levels of ECs. The final effluent presented an improved sanitary level with acceptable chemical and biological characteristics for irrigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The flux of fluvial carbon from the terrestrial biosphere to the world's oceans is known to be an important component of the global carbon cycle, but within this pathway, the flux and return of carbon to the river network via sewage effluent has not been quantified. In this study, monitoring data from 2000 to 2016 for the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration, biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand of the final effluent of sewage treatment works from across England were examined to assess the amount of DOC contributing to national‐scale fluvial fluxes of carbon. The study shows that the median concentration of DOC in final effluent was 9.4 compared with 4.8 mg C/L for all surface waters for the United Kingdom over the study period and that the DOC in final effluent significantly declined over the study period from 11.0 to 6.4 mg C/L. Rivers receiving sewage effluent showed a significant, on average 19%, increase in DOC concentration downstream of sewage discharges. At the scale of the United Kingdom, the flux of DOC in final effluent was 31 ktonnes C/year with a per capita export of 0.55 kg C/year and compared with an average annual flux of DOC from the United Kingdom of 859 ktonnes C/year, that is, only 3.6% of national‐scale flux. The lability of this DOC was limited, with only 7.4% loss of final effluent DOC concentration over in‐stream residence times of up to 5 days. The direct decline in DOC concentration from sewage treatment works was not large enough on its own to explain the declines observed in DOC concentration in U.K. rivers at their tidal limit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Bi-SnO2/C electrocatalytic membrane was fabricated via a simple electrochemical reduction and hydrothermal method. Under the action of electric field, the Sn2+ and Bi3+ were firstly adsorbed and reduced to metallic Sn and Bi on the carbon membrane surface by cathodic reduction reaction, and the Bi-SnO2/C membrane was obtained subsequently through hydrothermal oxidation process. Confirmed by SEM, TEM, XRD, and XPS characterizations, the nano-Bi-SnO2 is homogeneously distributed on the membrane surface and is firmly attached to the carbon membrane via C–O–Sn chemical bond. Through CV, LSV, and EIS electrochemical analysis, the Bi-SnO2/C membrane possesses the higher electrocatalytic activity and stability than carbon membrane. Therefore, the Bi-SnO2/C membrane could continuously efficiently remove and inactivate Escherichia coli in water through flow-through mode. As a result, the sterilization efficiency can reach more than 99.99% under the conditions of cell voltage 4 V, flow rate 1.4 mL/min, and E. coli initial concentration 1.0 × 104 CFU/mL, owing to the synergistic effect of the membrane separation and electrocatalytic oxidation. Moreover, it was found that the oxidation groups of ⋅OH radicals generated by Bi-SnO2/C membrane play the crucial role for bactericidal performance. This work presents a low-cost, highly active, and stable electrocatalytic membrane towards continuous bacterial inactivation, which exhibits promising potential in water disinfection and is beneficial for practical large-scale applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Algae, photosynthetic microorganisms widely used in various applications, one of which is water treatment. This work consists in studying the absorption of certain elements by the alga Chlorella vulgaris in the presence of heavy metals Cd, Pb and Cr, to exploit it for water treatment. The results show how the alga Chlorella vulgaris should behave towards toxic substances that can be found in their environments. So the ability to be used in the field of water treatment. The results obtained show us that the algae studied can be grown in media containing one of these toxic metals with a reduction of growth, as well as the presence of these metals has an adverse effect on the absorption of phosphate and sulfate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract A wide range of cyanobacterial species and their harmful metabolites are increasingly detected in water bodies worldwide, exacerbated by climate change and human activities. The resulting bloom conditions represent significant challenges to production of safe drinking water and cost effective water reuse, therefore their removal is a priority to ensure public safety. While current microscopic taxonomy identification methods provide valuable information about cell numbers during treatment, these methods are incapable of providing information about the fate of cells during treatment. The objectives of this study were to (1) identify the critical control points for breakthrough and accumulation of cells by investigating the fate of cells during treatment processes using a combination of taxonomy, cell integrity and next-generation sequencing (NGS), and (2) assess the impact of pre-treatment processes on breakthrough prevention at critical control points, and the benefits of cell integrity and NGS analysis for improved management purposes. This paper presents the results of an unprecedented cyanobacterial monitoring program conducted in four full scale water treatment plants located in three different climate zones. Cyanobacterial cell integrity and accumulation during operation process were assessed for the first time using next generation of gene sequencing methods. NGS analysis led to detection of cyanobacterial and melainabacteria orders in water samples that were not identified by microscopy. 80 ± 5% of cells were completely lysed post pre-oxidation (for both ozone and potassium permanganate). However unlike pre-ozonation, the remaining cells were undamaged cells with the potential to accumulate and grow within the plants post-KMnO 4 treatment, particularly in clarifier sludge. To effectively monitor water quality, this study presents a synergistic approach coupling new and traditional analytical methods and demonstrates the importance of identifying critical points for managing accumulation of cyanobacteria within plants. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Studied performance of treatment barriers for removal of cyanobacterial cells. • Applied combination of taxonomy, cell integrity & next-generation sequencing (NGS). • NGS detected new cyanobacterial & melainabacteria orders in water samples. • 80 ± 5% of cells were completely lysed after pre-oxidation (O 3 & KMnO 4). • Viable cells with potential to accumulate & grow within plants remained post-KMnO 4. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Graphical abstract Highlights • A multi-functional gelator was developed from phenyllactic acid. • High efficient phenol removal was realized by gel material innovatively. • The powdered gel material achieved a rapid and efficient oil recovery. • Low cost and simple procedures lead the gel material to be feasible. • Multi-functional gel materials provide a novel avenue for water treatment. Abstract Supramolecular gels, a fascinating class of soft materials, are of great interest for their wide applications. In this work, a series of organic gelators derived from phenyllactic acid were prepared, and their gelation properties were further investigated. It was found that the gelator 1e bearing a hydrazine moiety could congeal 17 kinds of common organic liquids (polar and non-polar) efficiently. Meanwhile, the morphological structures and dominant factors of the gel were examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), concentration and temperature-dependent 1H NMR. Crucially, the gelator displayed outstanding performances in toxic phenol removal and spilled oil and petroleum products recovery. Moreover, it also displayed a satisfactory recyclability, which will greatly promote its application in practice. These impressive results will provide a novel avenue for the water treatment and the development of functional supramolecular gel materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel nano composite (ALW/CoFe2O4) adsorbent was synthesized from Apocynaceae leaf waste activated carbon (ALW) in combination with CoFe2O4by an auto combustion method for the removal of Reactive Red 141 dye and microorganisms against S. aureus, E. coli and C.albicans. The synthesized nano composite ALW/CoFe2O4 was characterized by SEM, EDX, BET, XRD, FTIR, TG & DSC and VSM. The results from these analytical techniques confirmed the aggregation of CoFe2O4 nano particles on the surface of ALW and VSM study showed its magnetic behavior. Subsequently, ALW/CoFe2O4 was adopted in batch mode adsorption studies by varying pH, adsorbent dosage, concentration and temperature. The adsorption efficiency was investigated under optimum conditions such as pH(6.5), adsorbent dosage (50 mg), contact time (70 min). The feasibility of adsorption was analyzed by fitting the data with pseudo first order, pseudo second order, Langmuir isotherm and Freundlich isotherm. The results showed that pseudo second order kinetics and Langmuir isotherm equation favour the adsorption of RR 141 on ALW/CoFe2O4. According to the thermodynamic study, it was very effective at higher temperatures and the thermodynamic parameters ∆Go, ∆Ho and ∆So were also evaluated for this adsorption. Furthermore, the antimicrobial activity of ALW/CoFe2O4 was tested by well diffusion method and compared with standard antibiotic. This ALW/CoFe2O4 exhibit good antimicrobial action with the zone of inhibition in the range of 10-17 mm. The synthesized nano composite (ALW/CoFe2O4) was evaluated for antimicrobial activityagainst (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli and Candida ablicans),usingwell diffusion methodand compared with standard antibacterial (Streptomycin) and antifungal (Amphotericin B).The antibacterial activity of ALW/CoFe2O4 against S. aureus (range between from 11.83 ± 0.23 mm to 17.5 ± 0.16 mm) and (range between E. coli 10.5 ± 0.40 to 17.0 ± 0.41 mm), while antifungistatic effectagainst C. albicans(range between 11.0 ± 0.24 to 17.6 ± 0.08), with different concentrations (100-500 mg) From the obtained results the antimicrobial activity of synthesized ALW/CoFe2O4 more or less same in the range between 11 and 17.56 mm of zone of inhibition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Fluidized bed bioreactors (FBR) are characterized by two-phase mixture of fluid and solid, in which the bed of solid particles is fluidized by means of downward or upward recirculation stream. FBRs are widely used for multiple environmental engineering solutions, such as wastewater treatment, as well as some industrial applications. FBR offers many benefits such as compact bioreactor size due to short hydraulic retention time, long biomass retention on the carrier, high conversion rates due to fully mixed conditions and consequently high mass transfer rates, no channelling of flow, dilution of influent concentrations due to recycle flow, suitability for enrichment of microbes with low K m values. The disadvantages of FBRs include bioreactor size limitations due to the height-to-diameter ratio, high-energy requirements due to high recycle ratios, and long start-up period for biofilm formation. This paper critically reviews some of the key studies on biomass enrichment via immobilisation of low growth yield microorganisms, high-rates via fully mixed conditions, technical developments in FBRs and ways of overcoming toxic effects via solution recycling. This technology has many potential new uses as well as hydrodynamic characteristics, which enable high-rate environmental engineering and industrial applications. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • FBRs are widely used for multiple environmental engineering applications. • FBRs offer many benefits because of hydrodynamic characteristics. • FBRs efficiently avoid inhibitory effects on microbes due to high recycle ratio. • FBRs allow high loading rates due to fully mixed conditions and biomass retainment. • FBRs are expected to become increasingly applied in water/wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A household slow sand filter (HSSF) is a widely used water treatment technology recognized as one of the most effective and sustainable in reducing waterborne diseases. However, there is a lack of knowledge concerning its behaviour in the presence of cyanobacteria and cyanotoxins. In this context, the study aimed to evaluate HSSF ability to remove Microcystis aeruginosa cells (stain BB005) and microcystin-LR from water, among other parameters, when operated under continuous (C-HSSF) and intermittent (I-HSSF) flows. C HSSF was operated at a constant filtration rate (1.22 m3 m−2 day−1), while I-HSSF was operated at a variable filtration rate (starting at 2.95 m3 m−2 day−1 and finishing at zero). Each filter produced 60 L day−1. The influence of the pause period was also tested in the I-HSSF. The water from the study was prepared by inoculating M. aeruginosa culture in water from a well to a final cell density of ± 1 × 105 cells mL−1. M. aeruginosa removal rates were 2.39 ± 0.34 log and 2.01 ± 0.43 log by C HSSF and I-HSSF, respectively. Microcystin-LR concentration in studied water was 5.55 μg L−1, and both filters produced filtered water with microcystin concentrations below 1.0 μg L−1, the maximum value recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO), for most of the samples. Turbidity and apparent colour were also within WHO guidelines. Filters operating with different flow regimes and distinct residence times did not statistically influence treatment efficiencies. Both filters showed promising results in the M. aeruginosa and microcystin-LR removals from water; nevertheless, more research is needed to understand the mechanisms involved in the reduction of both cyanobacteria and cyanotoxin through household slow sand filtration. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • Household slow sand filter removed M. aeruginosa and microcystin-LR from the water. • M. aeruginosa removal by filtration exceeded 2 log units. • Microcystin-LR concentrations were below 1.0 μg L-1 for most of the filtered samples. • No significant statistical differences were observed between the filters' efficiencies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Forward osmosis (FO)-based water treatment and desalination processes have attracted increasing attention to address the global water crisis, but its practical application is restricted by the lack of FO membranes with high permeability and selectivity. In this work, an all nanocarbon-based FO membrane was successfully fabricated via constructing reduced graphene oxide (RGO) on a carbon nanotube (CNT) hollow fiber substrate via electrophoretic deposition coupling with chemical reduction processes. Due to the ultra-low friction and well-defined interlayer spacing, the RGO active layer provided high water permeability and ion selectivity. Meanwhile, the high porosity and good wettability ensured the CNT hollow fiber substrate with low internal concentration polarization, and thus increasing water flux. During against DI water feed using 0.5 M NaCl draw solution, the prepared RGO/CNT membrane presented an outstanding water flux of 22.6 LMH, which is 3.3 times higher than that of the commercial membrane. Meanwhile, its reverse salt flux was only 1.6 gMH in comparison to 2.2 gMH for the commercial membrane. These results indicate that the all nanocarbon-based membrane is an alternative membrane for providing clean water in the FO process. Graphical abstract Unlabelled Image Highlights • Preparation of all nanocarbon-based hollow fiber membrane • Controllable thickness of reduced graphene oxide active layer • Low internal concentration polarization in high porous and hydrophilic substrate • High water flux and low reverse salt flux during forward osmosis process [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]