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This research explored the potential of marble wastewater (MWW) in cement paste and mortar production, addressing water scarcity, sustainable growth, and resource management. It investigated the physico-mechanical properties and microstructure of cement materials incorporated with varying amounts of MWW. In this study, we utilized tap water and MWW for mortar quality testing, focusing on parameters including setting times, water absorption, and mechanical strength. The viability of MWW in concrete formulations was confirmed by its acceptable total dissolved solids and alkalinity levels. A comprehensive experimental program determined that using marble wastewater in place of tap water reduced the quantity of water required for cement consistency and generated slightly higher compressive strengths (2, 3, 4, and 6%) after 28 days of curing. Analytical techniques, including Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray analysis, and X-ray diffraction (XRD), were employed for molecular and microstructural analyses, which revealed that MWW had a significant influence on portlandite development and CSH formation at higher replacement levels. In short, this research highlights the feasibility of using MWW in cement products, contributing to sustainable water resources, and industrial waste management and utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recently, membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have emerged as a promising approach for sewage treatment because of their high efficiency in removing contaminants. However, they are prone to membrane-fouling and computational loading. To resolve these issues, this research article presents an innovative control strategy combining both artificial bee colony optimization (ABC) and recurrent neural network (RNN) to regulate the performance of MBR in sewage treatment. Initially, the influent wastewater data were collected and pre-processed using the regression imputation approach. RNN architecture was designed and trained using the pre-processed data to forecast the performance of the MBN system. Further, the ABC algorithm was applied to optimize the function of MBR by adjusting the control variables. The developed model was validated with the publically available wastewater treatment plan dataset and the effectiveness of the developed model was validated by performing intensive performance and comparative assessment. The performance evaluation demonstrates that the proposed methodology attained greater results of 98.59% effluent quality, 98.70% of nutrient removal efficiency, less computational time of 2.87 s, and a low membrane-fouling index of 1.23%. The comparative analysis illustrates that the presented approach achieved improved performances than the existing methodologies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial community composition, function, and viability are important for biofilm-based sewage treatment technologies. Most studies of microbial communities mainly rely on the total deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from the biofilm. However, nucleotide materials released from dead microorganisms may interfere with the analysis of viable microorganisms and their metabolic potential. In this study, we developed a protocol to assess viability as well as viable community composition and function in biofilm in a sewage treatment system using propidium monoazide (PMA) coupled with real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) and metagenomic technology. The optimal removal of PMA from non-viable cells was achieved by a PMA concentration of 4 μM, incubation in darkness for 5 min, and exposure for 5 min. Simultaneously, the detection limit can reach a viable bacteria proportion of 1%, within the detection concentration range of 102–108 CFU/mL (colony forming unit/mL), showing its effectiveness in removing interference from dead cells. Under the optimal conditions, the result of PMA–metagenomic sequencing revealed that 6.72% to 8.18% of non-viable microorganisms were influenced and the composition and relative abundance of the dominant genera were changed. Overall, this study established a fast, sensitive, and highly specific biofilm viability detection method, which could provide technical support for accurately deciphering the structural composition and function of viable microbial communities in sewage treatment biofilms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Based on measuring the green transformation of heavily polluting enterprises based on the sub-dimensions of green strategy and green action, we empirically analyze whether and how bank digitization affects the green transformation of enterprises by using the data of China's A-share heavily polluting enterprises from 2010 to 2021. The findings show that 1) bank digitization has a significant positive effect on firms' green transformation; 2) bank digitization promotes firms' green transformation by alleviating firms' financing constraints and improving firms' ESG performance; 3) governmental environmental regulations and media attention positively moderates the relationship between bank digitization and firms' green transformation; and 4) bank digitization is more likely to promote the green transformation of firms that are highly digitized, non-state-owned firms, and enterprises in the eastern region; 5) the sub-dimension test shows that bank digitization has significant differences on different dimensions of green transformation. The above analysis shows that bank digitization should be deeply integrated with the green transformation of enterprises, and the former should be deeply embedded in supervising, forcing and empowering enterprises to upgrade environmental protection technology and sewage treatment, and the regulator should formulate a more detailed environmental protection disclosure program to realize the consistency "words" and "deeds" of the green transformation of enterprises. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonia (NH3) is a pivotal component for the majority of fertilizers, chemicals, and pharmaceuticals. Its conventional production through the Haber–Bosch process is highly energy-intensive and significantly contributes to CO2 emissions, thereby exacerbating global warming. In parallel, the overuse of agricultural fertilizers and the inadequate industrial wastewater management cause the heavy nitrate (NO3−) pollution which poses huge environmental and health hazards to human beings. In an effort to address these challenges, scientists have been exploring more sustainable methods of ammonia synthesis and strategies to mitigate nitrate pollution. Among these, the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrates to ammonia/ammonium (NO3RR) presents a promising solution. This innovative approach not only reduces the environmental footprint of ammonia production by operating under ambient conditions but also contributes to the purification of water bodies by lowering nitrate levels. This review intricately explores the complexities involved in the electrocatalytic reduction of nitrates to ammonia, shedding light on the nuanced mechanisms underlying the process and elucidating the importance of symmetry-breaking structures. It particularly underscores the pivotal role played by various symmetry-breaking structures in catalysts, which serve to disrupt and invigorate the reaction environment, thus enhancing the efficiency of the electrocatalytic process. In culmination, we offer a comprehensive summary of the advancements in the development of catalysts featuring symmetry-breaking structures, providing insights and forward-looking recommendations for the future engineering of broadly applicable symmetry-breaking structure catalysts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article proposes a heating method based on heat pump technology to address the large amount of low-grade waste heat generated by a certain type of ultra-high voltage direct current (UHVDC) converter valve. Thermal performance calculations for two systems, a basic vapor compression heat pump system (BVCHPS) based on thermal expansion valve throttling and an ejector-enhanced heat pump system (EEHPS) are analyzed. The research results show that the EEHPS exhibits superior COP and exergy efficiency when generating hot water above 80 °C using a heat source below 50 °C. Additionally, mathematical modeling analysis identifies optimal structural parameters such as nozzle throat diameter, throat area ratio, and nozzle outlet diameter for the ejector in its design state. The low-temperature waste heat recovered from the UHVDC converter valves can be further used in engineering applications such as heating, refrigeration, seawater desalination, and sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quartz sand-enhanced coagulation (QSEC) is an improved coagulation method for treating water, which uses quartz sand as a heavy medium to accelerate the sedimentation rate of flocs and reduce the sedimentation time. The factors that influence the QSEC effect and can be controlled manually include the quartz sand dosage, coagulant dosage, sewage pH, stirring time, settling time, etc., and their reasonable setting is critical to the result of water treatment. This paper aimed to study the optimal conditions of QSEC; first, single-factor tests were conducted to explore the optimal range of influencing factors, followed by response surface methodology (RSM) tests to accurately determine the optimum values of significant factors. The results show that the addition of quartz sand did not improve the water quality of the coagulation treatment, it took only 140 s for the floc to sink to the bottom, and the sediment volume only accounted for 12.2% of the total sewage. The quartz sand dosage, the coagulant dosage, and sewage pH all had a significant impact on the coagulation effect, and resulted in inflection points. A QSEC-guiding model was derived through RSM tests, and subsequent model optimization and experimental validation revealed the optimal conditions for treating domestic sewage as follows: the polyaluminum chloride (PAC) dosage, cationic polyacrylamide (CPAM) dosage, the sewage pH, quartz sand dosage, stirring time, and settling time were 0.97 g/L, 2.25 mg/L, 7.22, 2 g/L, 5 min, and 30 min, respectively, and the turbidity of the treated sewage was reduced to 1.15 NTU. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage sludge has long been perceived as the bottleneck of wastewater treatment plants in China, restraining the healthy development of sewage treatment for decades. In recent years, pyrolysis as a promising multifunctional platform has attracted increasing interest for converting sludge into valuable resources. However, the generation and presence of pyrolysis tar, one of the key by-products during sludge pyrolysis, limit the wide application of pyrolysis product resources. The efficient and selective conversion of tar is complicated by the inherent complexity of sludge and various pollutants (e.g., N-, S-, and Cl-containing organic pollutants, heavy metals) in pyrolysis products, which may either migrate into tar or be released into the environment, complicating the in-depth treatment of tar and posing environmental risks. This review systematically examines the transformation and migration of tar and related secondary pollutants during sludge pyrolysis in order to optimize the pyrolysis process for resource recovery. We provide an overview of the research progress on tar generation, transformation, and secondary pollutants during pyrolysis; discuss potential control strategies for pollution abatement; and highlight the importance of understanding tar transformation during pyrolysis. Additionally, we offer insights into future development trends and research hotpots in this field. This review aims to deliver valuable information on the mechanism of tar formation, the conversion pathways of secondary pollutants, and corresponding control strategies, thus guiding the design and optimization of sludge pyrolysis processes to achieve higher efficiency and selectivity, with minimal environmental pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microbial flocculants (MBFs), a class of eco-friendly and biodegradable biopolymers produced by various microorganisms, have gained increasing attention as promising alternatives to conventional chemical flocculants in wastewater treatment and pollutant removal. This review presents a comprehensive overview of the current state of MBF research, encompassing their diverse sources (bacteria, fungi, and algae), major categories (polysaccharides, proteins, and glycoproteins), production processes, and flocculation performance and mechanisms. The wide-ranging applications of MBFs in removing suspended solids, heavy metals, dyes, and other pollutants from industrial and municipal wastewater are critically examined, highlighting their superior efficiency, selectivity, and environmental compatibility compared to traditional flocculants. Nonetheless, bioflocculants face significant challenges including high substrate costs, low production yields, and intricate purification methodologies, factors that impede their industrial scalability. Moreover, the risk of microbial contamination and the attendant health implications associated with the use of microbial flocculants (MBFs) necessitate thorough evaluation. To address the challenges of high production costs and variable product quality, strategies such as waste valorization, strain improvement, process optimization, and biosafety evaluation are discussed. Moreover, the development of multifunctional MBF-based flocculants and their synergistic use with other treatment technologies are identified as emerging trends for enhanced wastewater treatment and resource recovery. Future research directions are outlined, emphasizing the need for in-depth mechanistic studies, advanced characterization techniques, pilot-scale demonstrations to accelerate the industrial adoption of MBF, and moreover, integration with novel wastewater treatment processes, such as partial nitrification and the anammox process. This review is intended to inspire and guide further research and development efforts aimed at unlocking the full potential of MBFs as sustainable, high-performance, and cost-effective bioflocculants for addressing the escalating challenges in wastewater management and environmental conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to changes that have occurred in ecological conditions, the requirement to use wastewater has been considered more seriously in the agricultural sector, because agriculture is the source of human nutrition, health and security. Based on this, the purpose of this research was to systematically analysis the components affecting sustainable management of wastewater use (SMWWU) in the viewpoint of critical theory paradigm. Inductive qualitative content analysis (IQCA) was used for systematic analysis. In this regard, the software used was MAXQDA. The statistical population included valid scientific articles and knowledgeable experts in wastewater management in the agricultural sector in Tehran province, Iran. The sampling method for articles was by searching based on keywords and for experts by purposeful method until theoretical saturation was reached. The results of IQCA in the form of a model showed that the six main components "economic," "environmental," "contextual," "individual," "management and planning" and "education and extension" affect SMWWU. Each of these components also includes several factors and variables that can strengthen SMWWU and reduce the water crisis by paying attention to them. The obtained model can be used by policy makers and interested parties in making decisions and planning water protection measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Danube River is, at 2857 km, the second longest river in Europe and the most international river in the world with 19 countries in its catchment. Along the entire river, faecal pollution levels are mainly influenced by point-source emissions from treated and untreated sewage of municipal origin under base-flow conditions. In the past 2 decades, large investments in wastewater collection and treatment infrastructure were made in the European Union (EU) Member States located in the Danube River Basin (DRB). Overall, the share of population equivalents with appropriately biologically treated wastewater (without disinfection) has increased from 69% to more than 85%. The proportion of tertiary treatment has risen from 46 to 73%. In contrast, no comparable improvements of wastewater infrastructure took place in non-EU Member States in the middle and lower DRB, where a substantial amount of untreated wastewater is still directly discharged into the Danube River. Faecal pollution levels along the whole Danube River and the confluence sites of the most important tributaries were monitored during four Danube River expeditions, the Joint Danube Surveys (JDS). During all four surveys, the longitudinal patterns of faecal pollution were highly consistent, with generally lower levels in the upper section and elevated levels and major hotspots in the middle and lower sections of the Danube River. From 2001 to 2019, a significant decrease in faecal pollution levels could be observed in all three sections with average reduction rates between 72 and 86%. Despite this general improvement in microbiological water quality, no such decreases were observed for the highly polluted stretch in Central Serbia. Further improvements in microbiological water quality can be expected for the next decades on the basis of further investments in wastewater infrastructure in the EU Member States, in the middle and lower DRB. In the upper DRB, and due to the high compliance level as regards collection and treatment, improvements can further be achieved by upgrading sewage treatment plants with quaternary treatment steps as well as by preventing combined sewer overflows. The accession of the Western Balkan countries to the EU would also significantly boost investments in wastewater infrastructure and water quality improvements in the middle section of the Danube. Continuing whole-river expeditions such as the Joint Danube Surveys is highly recommended to monitor the developments in water quality in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Owing to the impact of the effluent C/N from the secondary structures of urban domestic wastewater treatment plants, the denitrification efficiency in constructed wetlands (CWs) is not satisfactory, limiting their widespread application in the deep treatment of urban domestic wastewater. To address this issue, we constructed enhanced CWs and conducted orthogonal experiments to investigate the effects of different factors (C/N, fillers, and plants) on the removal of conventional pollutants and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission. The experimental results indicated that a C/N of 8, manganese sand, and calamus achieved the best denitrification efficiencies with removal efficiencies of 85.7%, 95.9%, and 88.6% for TN, NH4+-N, and COD, respectively. In terms of GHG emission reduction, this combination resulted in the lowest global warming potential (176.8 mg/m2·day), with N2O and CH4 emissions of 0.53 and 1.25 mg/m2·day, respectively. Characterization of the fillers revealed the formation of small spherical clusters of phosphates on the surfaces of manganese sand and pyrite and iron oxide crystals on the surface of pyrite. Additionally, the surface Mn (II) content of the manganese sand increased by 8.8%, and the Fe (III)/Fe (II) and SO42−/S2− on pyrite increased by 2.05 and 0.26, respectively, compared to pre-experiment levels. High-throughput sequencing indicated the presence of abundant autotrophic denitrifying bacteria (Sulfuriferula, Sulfuritalea, and Thiobacillus) in the CWs, which explains denitrification performance of the enhanced CWs. This study aimed to explore the mechanism of efficient denitrification and GHG emission reduction in the enhanced CWs, providing theoretical guidance for the deep treatment of urban domestic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The activated sludge process plays a crucial role in modern wastewater treatment plants. During the treatment of daily sewage, a large amount of residual sludge is generated, which, if improperly managed, can pose burdens on the environment and human health. Additionally, the highly hydrated colloidal structure of biopolymers limits the rate and degree of dewatering, making mechanical dewatering challenging. This study investigates the impact and mechanism of microwave irradiation (MW) in conjunction with peracetic acid (PAA) on the dewatering efficiency of sludge. Sludge dewatering effectiveness was assessed through capillary suction time (CST) and specific resistance to filtration (SRF). Examination of the impact of MW-PAA treatment on sludge dewatering performance involved assessing the levels of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), employing three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (3D-EEM), Fourier transform–infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy. Findings reveal that optimal dewatering performance, with respective reductions of 91.22% for SRF and 84.22% for CST, was attained under the following conditions: microwave power of 600 W, reaction time of 120 s, and PAA dosage of 0.25 g/g MLSS. Additionally, alterations in both sludge EPS composition and floc morphology pre- and post-MW-PAA treatment underwent examination. The findings demonstrate that microwaves additionally boost the breakdown of PAA into •OH radicals, suggesting a synergistic effect upon combining MW-PAA treatment. These pertinent research findings offer insights into employing MW-PAA technology for residual sludge treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, the effect of chloride ions on the oxidative degradation of an alcohol ethoxylate (Brij 30) by persulfate (PS)/UV-C was experimentally explored using Brij 30 aqueous solution (BAS) and a domestic wastewater treatment plant effluent spiked with Brij 30. Brij 30 degradation occurred rapidly during the early stages of oxidation without affecting the water/wastewater matrix. Mineralization of intermediates of Brij 30 degradation markedly influenced by presence of chloride ions. Chloride ions at concentrations up to 50 mg/L accelerated the mineralization through reactions involving reactive chlorine species, which reduced the sink of SO4·− by Cl− scavenging at both initial pH of 6.0 and 3.0 in the case of BAS. The fastest mineralization was achieved under acidic conditions. The WWTP effluent matrix significantly influenced mineralization efficacy of the intermediates. Co-existence of HCO 3 - and Cl− anions accelerated the mineralization of degradation products. Organic matter originating from the WWTP effluent itself had an adverse effect on the mineralization rate. The positive effects of organic and inorganic components present in the WWTP effluent were ranked in the following order of increasing influence: (Organic matter originating from the effluent + Cl− + HCO 3 - ) < (Cl−) < (Cl− + HCO 3 - ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater output has increased considerably as a result of global population growth. Efforts to manage wastewater are expanding globally. Bio-based methods are useful and effective for treating a wide range of wastewaters, especially those from homes. In this research, the gray water stream at Sari Agricultural College in the north of Iran was treated using an anaerobic biological method. The purpose of this study was to determine whether using treated gray water for landscape irrigation was feasible or not. A fine screening pre-treatment system and a septic tank system were created in order to achieve this goal. After the first stage screening of superfluous solid components, anaerobic digestion was carried out for 26 hours at a temperature of between 14 and 16 °C in a 5 m³ septic tank. Treatment method function was revealed by measuring and comparing the pollutant indices with the permissible rates. The obtained data were: BOD of 19.5 mg/L, COD of 185 mg/L, suspended solid (SS) 90 mg/L, organic matter (OM) 80 mg/L, NO3 26 mg/L, PO4-3 of 6.25 mg/L, oil and grease (O&G) of 9.3%, pH of 5.9-7.1. The permissible rates for these indices are 100, 200, 200, 300, 30, 6.75, 10, and 6.8-7.1, respectively. The treated gray water was allowed to be utilized as irrigation water. After irrigating, the landscape did not face any negative effects. Nonetheless, the high acidity was owing to the detergents in effluent and this was the main reason provides a vast range of microelements leading to poisoning plants in a long period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to measure consequences of the arsenic pollution released from a sewage treatment plant into the seawater in Jazan province in the southwest of Saudi Arabia. The impact of the release of arsenic on the ecosystem is the adsorption of arsenic by sea plants. To do so, samples were collected alongside a distance of seven kilometers from the treatment plant. The algae samples: Sargassum sp., Cladophora sp., and seagrasses: Halodule uninervis and Cymodocea rotunda were digested in nitric acid, and the assays of arsenic levels were taken by ICPAES according to EPA methods. The results showed that algae are more efficient than seagrass with absorbing arsenic. Also, the treatment plant was not the only source of arsenic contamination, as ships and boats were adding more arsenic to the ecosystem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To reduce the operating cost of wastewater treatment plants and in situ treatment of sewage sludge and domestic food waste, the current investigation of anaerobic codigestion of domestic food waste and primary bioflocculated sewage sludge was conducted in an anaerobic reactor coupled with a decentralized domestic wastewater treatment plant. The performance of the anaerobic reactor and wastewater treatment system was tested for 30 days. The anaerobic digester was placed after the flocculation chamber in the wastewater treatment plant to transfer the primary bioflocculated sludge using gravity. The 0.5 kg Day−1 of domestic food waste and 29 L Day−1 of bioflocculated sewage sludge were used as feedstock for an anaerobic codigestion and supernatant collected in the flocculation chamber were passed to the water treatment stages. The bioflocculated sludge was collected by adding flocculant in domestic raw wastewater and fed in a digester whereas food waste was added using the separate port in the digester on daily basis. The anaerobic digester was operated in continuous mode at mesophilic temperature conditions at a hydraulic retention time of 7 days. The physiochemical parameters for controlling the anaerobic digester were examined periodically which showed the maximum volatile fatty acid accumulation of 6,500 mg L−1 on the 12th day with the highest biomethane production of 0.35 L CH4 g−1 VSconsumed. The highest energy production potential of biogas was estimated as 0.35 kWh unit. The physical, chemical, organic, inorganic, and biological characteristics of treated water were tested to quantify the treatment efficiency of the process for the reuse of treated water. Results indicated that more than 90% of effluent was collected at the outlet of treatment units and the tested parameters were fulfilling the guidelines set by the different agencies for the reuse of effluent for various purposes. Practical Applications: This paper investigates the performance of anaerobic codigestion of food waste and bioflocculated sewage sludge coupled with a decentralized wastewater treatment plant for the ease of substrate availability. Biomethane production was used to analyze the energy generation potential of domestic sewage sludge and food waste to reduce the operating cost of wastewater treatment systems. The feeding ratio used for operating the anaerobic reactor was decided based on food waste and sewage sludge availability from typical households. The limiting values of VFA with codigestion of food waste and bioflocculated sewage sludge have been reported in the current study and compared with literature values. This work provides insights to make possible the in situ treatment of domestic wastewater along with energy generation from food waste and bioflocculated sewage sludge in an integrated system which is unavailable in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrial effluent discharge is a major concern in developing countries like India. Opioids and alkaloids serve as raw materials for production of important pharmaceutical drugs like codeine, morphine, papaverine, thebaine, etc. Proper effluent discharge and waste management from opioids processing and similar industries is still a challenge. The present study focuses on collection, characterization and toxicity prediction of pollutants found in opioids processing industries in India. The wastewater was collected from Government Opium Alkaloid Works, Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, India. The collected effluent was subjected to physicochemical characterization, identification and quantification of different pollutants. Physicochemical tests revealed Chemical oxygen demand of 10015 mg/L, Biological oxygen demand 3870 mg/L, and Total dissolved solid (TDS) 1275 mg/L, with an pH of 9.47 having dark brown appearance accompanied by a pungent odour. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry followed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy was performed to identify the chemical composition of the effluent which revealed the presence of butanol, toluene, methyl isocyanide, 2-methylpentane, and benzeamine, N, N-dimethyl in major concentrations. Toluene is one of the hazardous pollutants found in up to 5.17% in the effluent. Prolonged exposure to toluene leads to disorders of muscles, cardiovascular effects, permanent neuropsychiatric effects, renal tubular damage, and sudden death. The toxicity of toluene was predicted by Toxicity estimation software tool. The software provided the LD50 value for oral rat as 1.77 -log10 mol/kg and for human 0.28 -log10 mol/kg. The authors propose to develop a methodology to bioremediate toluene from wastewater to prevent harmful effects on aquatic and higher living organisms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of different modification methods of oyster shells on phosphorus adsorption properties were studied. The effect of different modified concentrations of AlCl3 on phosphorus removal in oyster shells was compared. The results showed that the phosphorus removal rate of 0.5 mol/L AlCl3 modified oyster shells was as high as 90%, and the phosphorus concentration of residual sewage after treatment was 0.05 mg/L. The study compared the treatment effects of natural oyster shells, hot-modified oyster shells and AlCl3 modified oyster shells on low-concentration phosphorus containing wastewater. The TP removal rate were 63% ~ 68%, 61% ~ 72% and 83% ~ 90%, respectively, and the TP removal rate of AlCl3 modified oyster shells were the highest. The adsorption of natural oyster shells, thermal modified oyster shells and AlCl3 modified oyster shells conforms to the quasi-second-order kinetic model and Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, and the adsorption process includes both physical adsorption and chemical adsorption. In the Freundlich isothermal adsorption model, parameter n values of natural oyster shell, hot-modified oyster shell and AlCl3 modified oyster shell were 1.205, 1.168 and 2.611, respectively, indicating that the adsorption reaction of phosphorus on AlCl3 modified oyster shell was easier than that on natural oyster shell and hot-modified oyster shell. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrocatalytic reduction of nitrate (NO 3 −) and nitride (NO 2 −) to ammonia (NH3) is of wide interest as a promising alternative to the energy-intensive Haber-Bosch route for mitigating the vast energy consumption and the accompanied carbon dioxide emission, as well as benefiting for the relevant sewage treatment. However, exploring an efficient and low-cost catalyst with high atomic utilization that can effectively facilitate the slow multi-electron transfer process remains a grand challenge. Herein, we present an efficient hydrogenation of NO 3 − / NO 2 − species to NH3 in both alkaline and neutral environments over the Fe2(MoO4)3 derived hybrid electrocatalyst with the metallic Fe site on FeMoO4 (Fe/FeMoO4). The Mo ingredient can play a synergistically positive role in further promoting the NH3 production on Fe. As a result, Fe/FeMoO4 behaves well in the electrochemical NH3 generation from NO 2 − with a maximum NH3 Faradaic efficiency (FE) of 96.53% and 87.68% in alkaline and neutral electrolyte, corresponding to the NH3 yield rate of 640.68 and 302.56 mg ⋅ h − 1 ⋅ mg cat. − 1 , respectively, which outperforms the Fe and Mo counterpart and other similar catalyst, showing the robust catalytic capacity of each active site. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rural decentralized domestic wastewater treatment (DDWT) facilities, as an alternative to centralized sewage treatment plants, have been rapidly developed in rural areas worldwide. However, the lack of performance evaluations and operational status assessments of these facilities poses a significant obstacle to advancements in rural domestic wastewater treatment strategies. In the present study, 30 rural DDWT facilities with AO (anoxic/oxic) and AAO (anaerobic/anoxic/oxic) processes were investigated. The results revealed that only two facilities reached the first A-grade discharge standards of China, and twelve facilities met the first B-grade discharge standards for all ten wastewater quality indicators. Low standard-achieving ratios for biochemical oxygen demand (BOD5) (63.3%), total nitrogen (TN) (60.0%), ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (63.3%), total phosphorus (TP) (30.0%), suspended solids (SS) (46.7%), and fecal coliforms (FC) (26.7%) were calculated. Thus, it is essential to improve the treatment efficiency for BOD5, TN, NH3-N, TP, SS, and FC for rural wastewater treatment facilities. In addition, the AAO process had a median weighted average removal efficiency of 82.02%, which was better than that of the AO process (72.48%). Minor equipment failure rates, i.e., less than 20%, did not affect the operation of the rural DDWT facilities, since most equipment in the DDWT facilities was backed up. Notably, problems in several areas, e.g., process design, equipment selection, construction, and especially operations, influencing treatment performance should be investigated and proactively addressed. These findings provide specific suggestions for improvements that could benefit the long-term operation and management of rural DDWT facilities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Constructed wetlands (CWs) primarily achieve efficient wastewater purification through synergistic interactions among substrates, plants, and microorganisms. Serving as the structural foundation of the entire wetland system, substrates not only provide a growth medium for plants, but also serve as adhesive carriers for microorganisms and habitats for animal activities. Research on substrates has attracted considerable attention; however, in practical engineering applications, the selection of substrates often depend on personal experience, which may lead to significant gaps in the effectiveness of wetland systems in treating different characteristic contaminants. Therefore, it is of great significance to investigate the influence of substrates on the removal of contaminants in sewage and identify substrate materials with good physical and chemical properties to optimize the design and operation of CWs-based sewage-treatment systems and improve their purification efficiency. In this review, bibliometric analysis was conducted to using the Web of Science database and VOSviewer_1.6.20 software to assess the progress of research on CWs. This article provides a comprehensive overview of substrate types and characteristics based on recent research advancements in the field. Additionally, it discusses removal methods and the influence of factors related to conventional contaminants (COD, nitrogen, and phosphorus), heavy metals (HMs), fluorinated compounds, pharmaceuticals, personal care products (PPCPs), and microplastics. A thorough evaluation was conducted on the economic costs of various substrates and their ability to remove major contaminants from water bodies, providing a reference for the further development of wetland technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emergence of 2D materials has significantly expanded the wide range of nanomaterials with diverse applications. Notably, their high conductivity, catalytic efficiency, and hydrophobicity have fueled heightened research interests for water treatment applications. This research aimed to investigate the synthesis and characterization of MXene and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) nanocomposites with silver nanoparticles (Ag) for enhanced catalytic activity in the decomposition of Direct Blue-24 dye. In this study, we employed well-established methods, previously documented in the literature, to prepare two distinct nanocomposites. Novel nanocomposites, namely reduced graphene oxide–silver nanoparticles (rGO–Ag) and MXene–silver nanoparticles (MXene–Ag), were synthesized using the hydrothermal and direct reduction method with an ammoniacal solution (aqueous solution). Comprehensive characterization using advanced tools revealed that the introduced Ag particles integrated seamlessly onto the parent nanofilms of the Carbon derivatives, forming a secondary phase with enhanced catalytic functionality. These nanocomposites demonstrated significant improvements in the catalytic decomposition reactions in simulated wastewater. Verification involved the reduction reaction of Direct Blue-24 dye at known nanocomposite concentrations. The results indicated that MXene–Ag exhibited a superior catalytic activity of 98% in 10 min compared to the rGO–Ag nanocomposite films, which achieved 96% in 35 min. The results indicated that MXene–Ag nanocomposites exhibited a 20–25% increase in catalytic efficiency compared to the rGO–Ag nanocomposites. The outcomes of this research hold promise for practical applications in textile wastewater management and various industrial sectors dealing with mutagenic and carcinogenic chemicals containing azo and/or phthalocyanine products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Industrialization and globalization have caused severe environmental problems, such as contaminating water bodies by toxic agents from various industries, generating a significant loss of biodiversity and health risks. Globally, approximately 80% of wastewater is discharged without treatment, worsening the situation. However, in Colombia, initiatives have been taken to improve wastewater management, with ambitious investments and targets to improve treatment infrastructure. Recently, advanced technologies have been developed to treat wastewater, including more efficient and sustainable biological methods, such as using coconut-derived adsorbent biomaterials, rich in useful properties for the adsorption of pollutants in solutions. This research focuses on developing a composite biomaterial using cellulose acetate (CA) extracted from coconut mesocarp and polyhydroxy butyrate (PHB), by the casting method, to treat wastewater. Adsorption tests with the tracer methylene blue (MB) were carried out in the Energy and Environment laboratory of the University of Cartagena. For this, MB solutions were prepared with 5 to 50 ppm concentrations. The analyses showed that the composite biomaterial is thermally stable and has good homogeneity and porosity. At a concentration of 40 ppm and a dosage of 10 mg of adsorbent, the adsorption efficiency was 89%, with an adsorption capacity of 35.98 mg/g. The above indicates that the composite biomaterial is presented as a sustainable, improved, and efficient solution to remove contaminants from wastewater, benefiting the environment and human health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are persistent organic pollutants in the urban environment, because of their hydrophobic and lipophilic character, PAHs is an easily enriched in sludge, which is by-product of sewage treatment and widely used in cultivated land. Xuchang city is an important grain production area in China, the amount of sludge for agricultural utilization in Xuchang city is gradually increasing during recent years. To investigate the concentrations, potential sources and ecological risk of PAHs in sludge of Xuchang City, dewatered sludge samples from 10 large-scale sewage treatment plants were collected and analyzed. The results showed that the total concentration of PAHs varied from 1835 to 7188 µg/kg, with a mean value of 4362 µg/kg. The average value of PAHs concentration met the limit of China's agricultural sludge control standard, while the total concentrations of PAHs from HY, YC and RH exceeded the control standard and cannot be directly used for agricultural utilization. PAHs mainly contain 4~6 rings species, while 2~3 rings species occur rarely. The source tracing results showed that vehicle exhaust, industrial sources, coal and wood combustion are the main sources of PAHs in sludge. The ecological risk assessment showed that the toxic equivalent concentration TEQBaP16 range from 75.5 to 760.2 µg/kg and TEQBaPcancer range from 74.6 to 758.5 µg/kg. TEQBaPcancer accounts for up to 98% of TEQBaP16, suggesting that carcinogenic PAHs species are the main contributors to the risk of PAHs. TEQBaP10 in this study was almost 8 times higher than that specified value in the agricultural soil standard. The result of risk assessment suggests that PAHs in sludge of Xuchang City pose serious ecological and carcinogenic risk. Therefore, sludge must be conducted harmless treatment before agricultural utilization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mercury pollution is a serious public health problem. China's extensive use and reliance on mercury has led to water pollution, particularly the presence of methylmercury in water. Estimating total mercury emissions from wastewater in China is challenging due to the large amount and wide range of emissions. An estimation model for total mercury content in sewage in China was established by establishing a relationship between sewage treatment volume, mercury content in effluent after sewage treatment, and the data of sludge production and mercury content in the sewage treatment plant. It was determined that only 3% of mercury entered the air during sewage treatment, 27.5% of mercury entered the effluent, and about 69.5% of mercury entered the sludge, based on the treatment of existing wastewater treatment plants in China. From 2002 to 2021, the average annual sewage mercury emission in China was 32.07 Mg, and the emissions were higher in densely populated and economically developed provinces such as Beijing, Shandong, Hebei, and Guangdong. By 2025, China's mercury emissions are projected to reach 55.41 Mg. By 2035, China's mercury emissions are projected to reach 49.3 Mg. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar thermal interfacial evaporation is a cutting-edge method that has been recently developed to produce fresh water using sunlight. Herein, an incredibly robust, cost-effective and highly durable polystyrene-activated carbon-polyurethane foam (PSC) composite fabricated as an efficient solar thermal evaporator (STE). It offers a high evaporation rate of 1.70 kg m− 2 h− 1 with excellent photothermal efficiency under one sun illumination (1 kW m− 2). Due to its porous nature, PSC-STE has excellent dye water, salt water, and highly dense muddy water filtering ability, confirmed using UV-visible spectroscopy. A 0.16 m2 solar still was constructed to show the device's performance under natural solar irradiation conditions. With natural solar irradiation of less than 0.8 kW m− 2, the solar still generates approximately 280–340 ml of fresh water within 6–7 h a day. Moreover, the device shows excellent purification properties of highly contaminated water of 710 ppm to 12 ppm. As a result, the non-decomposable waste polystyrene, converted into this valuable, cost-effective, and highly stable PSC solar-driven evaporator, can be employed as a long-term approach for highly clean water production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The presence of nutrients and endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC) hormones in the aquatic environment can affect wildlife and humans. Sewage treatment using biological processes followed by advanced oxidation processes can be a promising system for EDC removal, however, these have been little investigated in detail in the literature. This study evaluated the removal of nutrients, 17β-estradiol (E2), and 17α-ethynylestradiol (EE2) from sewage using an anaerobic/aerobic/anoxic sequential batch reactor (SBR). Furthermore, the treated sewage generated was subjected to post-treatment using a UV/H2O2 system. Hormones were added to the synthetic sewage only once, and it was submitted to treatment by SBR. The residues of E2 and EE2 were measured in the treated sewage generated by SBR for 13 consecutive cycles. The total removal rate of phosphorus and nitrogen by SBR was in average greater than 75% showing the simultaneous occurrence of nitrification, denitrification, and phosphorus biological removal. Seventeen percentage of the added E2 was detected in treated sewage, but 85% of EE2 was discharged into the same treated after 13 cycles of SBR. Although the literature has indicated the removal of EE2 by sorption and/or biodegradation in biological sewage treatment systems with nitrification, including full-scale ones, this study suggested that this removal has been apparent. The remaining residues of E2 and EE2 were completely degraded by the UV/H2O2 process. The removal of organic matter and nutrients by SBR facilitated the oxidative action of the UV/H2O2 system with lower consumption of peroxide. The integration of these two processes is very promising for EDC removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Global terrestrial water supplies are rapidly depleting due to the consequences of climate change. Water scarcity results in an inevitable compromise of safe hygiene and sanitation practices, leading to the transmission of water‐borne infectious diseases, and the preventable deaths of over 800.000 people each year. Moreover, almost 500 million people lack access to toilets and sanitation systems. Ecosystems are estimated to be contaminated by 6.2 million tons of nitrogenous products from human wastewater management practices. It is therefore imperative to transform toilet and sewage systems to promote equitable access to water and sanitation, improve public health, conserve water, and protect ecosystems. Here, the integration of emerging technologies in toilet and sewage networks to repurpose toilet and wastewater systems is reviewed. Potential applications of these systems to develop sustainable solutions to environmental challenges, promote public health, and advance person‐centered healthcare are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Agricultural Outlook (1673-3908) is the property of Institute of Agricultural Information, Chinese Academy of Agricultural 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.)

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Developing countries face multifaceted problems of water pollution and futile measures to combat water pollution. This study was conducted to explore the potential application of sustainable nature-based solutions, hybrid constructed wetlands, and the application of filamentous fungi to treat polluted river water that receives sewage and industrial wastewater. A pilot-scale hybrid constructed wetland design comprising two types of floating plants in distinct tanks along with a floating wetland and a free-water surface wetland connected in series was commissioned and tested. The system successfully removed organic pollution (BOD 94% and COD 90%), nutrients (NH4-N and NO3-N 67% and PO4-P 81%), and heavy metals (Cr 75%, Ni 56%, and Fe 79%) in 40 h and showed a high buffering capacity to cope with the varying pollutant loads. Metagenomics analysis of treated and untreated samples of river water revealed a diversified spatial bacterial community with ~ 25% sequences related to sulfur-metabolizing bacteria, genus Sulfuricurvum. The application of an immobilized strain of A. niger as a mycoremediation technique was also tested. It successfully removed pollutants in the combined sewage and industrial wastewater present in river water: COD (96%), TSS (97%), NH4-N (65%), NO3-N (67%), and PO4-P (78%). This study demonstrated that hybrid constructed wetlands and mycoremediation can be used as sustainable wastewater treatment options in the local context and also in developing countries where most of the conventional wastewater treatment plants do not operate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The 2030 Agenda, established in 2015, contains seventeen Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) aimed at addressing global challenges. SDG-06, focused on clean water, drives the increase in basic sanitation coverage, the management of wastewater discharges, and water quality. Wastewater treatment could contribute to achieving 11 of the 17 SDGs. For this purpose, phytoremediation is a low-cost and adaptable alternative to the reduction and control of aquatic pollutants. The objective of this study is to highlight the role of macrophytes in the removal and degradation of these compounds, focusing on Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms, commonly known as water hyacinth. The reported values indicate that this plant has a removal capacity of over 70% for metals such as copper, aluminum, lead, mercury, cadmium, and metalloids such as arsenic. Additionally, it significantly improves water quality parameters such as turbidity, suspended solids, pH, dissolved oxygen, and color. It also reduces the presence of phosphates, and nitrogen compounds to values below 50%. It also plays a significant role in the removal of organic contaminants such as pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and dyes. This study describes several valuable by-products from the biomass of the water hyacinth, including animal and fish feed, energy generation (such as briquettes), ethanol, biogas, and composting. According to the analysis carried out, E. crassipes has a great capacity for phytoremediation, which makes it a viable solution for wastewater management, with great potential for water ecosystem restoration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines the essential components of a circular economy (CE) in relation to the agricultural sector. The bioeconomy and circular economy are crucial for sustainable global industrial growth, focusing on closed-loop systems. The sustainability debate centers on intergenerational equity and natural capital. The CE requires new environmental technologies and global coordination in order to combat climate change and biodiversity loss. In addition, efficient food production and waste reduction are essential due to population growth. However, biomass is vital for a bio-based economy, impacting food waste and climate change. Grasslands support sustainable dairy production and carbon sequestration. Thus, effective waste and wastewater management are critical, with biomass energy providing renewable alternatives. Nonetheless, biofuels remain key for sustainability, focusing on pollution control and Green Chemistry. It is well known that sustainable transportation relies on bioenergy, with ongoing research improving processes and discovering new fuels. One notable challenge is managing heavy metals in biofuel production, and this underscores the need for eco-friendly energy solutions. The main purpose for this review paper is to create a connection between circular economy aspects and the agricultural system, with focus on the following: bioeconomy research, biomass utilities, and biofuel production. Extensive research was performed on the specialized literature by putting in common the main problems. Key subjects in this paper include the use of biomass in agriculture, the problems of plastic recycling, and the function of the CE in mitigating climate change and biodiversity loss. Efficient food production and waste minimization are highlighted due to their relevance in a growing population. The study's detailed research and discussion aim to give important insights into how these practices might promote economic development and sustainability. Furthermore, the study covers important waste management issues such as food waste, plant composting, and chemical waste neutralization. These topics are critical to understanding the circular economy's broader implications for minimizing environmental damage and implementing sustainable waste management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surfactants have been widely used in various fields in recent years, but subsequent treatment of their wastewater has always been a problem that needs to be solved. As a new sewage treatment method, algal–bacterial aerobic granule sludge (algal–bacterial AGS) is considered to be one of the potential methods for treating this kind of wastewater. This study investigated the efficiency of using algal–bacterial AGS to treat wastewater containing surfactants and compared it with bacterial AGS. The results indicated that when confronting a high-concentration surfactant, algal–bacterial AGS could keep a relatively high nutrient removal capacity (about 90% dissolved organic carbon, 99% ammonia nitrogen, 52% total phosphorus) and improved the adaptability to sudden changes in high-concentration surfactant environments compared with bacterial AGS. These results illustrated that algal–bacterial AGS is a potential method to process wastewater containing surfactants with superior treatment efficiency and adaption response. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studied the characteristics of the carbon emission of an industrial wastewater treatment plant (IWWTP) and a domestic WWTP (DWWTP) located in a high-tech industrial park of Shaanxi Province, China. The results showed that the total carbon emissions of the IWWTP and DWWTP were 10.13 kg/t and 1.84 kg/t in 2020, respectively. Indirect carbon emissions play a dominant role in the total carbon emission of the IWWTP, which accounts for about 97.6% of the total amount. The direct carbon emissions of greenhouse gases (e.g., CH4, N2O) account for about 62% of the total carbon emissions in the DWWTP, followed by the indirect carbon emissions generated by electricity consumption (31.06%) and chemical consumption (6.94%). Additionally, the centralized recycling and re-utilization of the wastewater could achieve 1.06 kg/t and 1.16 kg/t of carbon emission reduction in the IWWTP and DWWTP, respectively, while the carbon emissions of the DWWTP are inversely proportional to the treatment capacity. Therefore, it is of great value to collect and utilize intensively the recycled water to achieve the goal of regional carbon emission reduction and carbon neutralization of WWTPs in industrial parks. [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]

This review highlights the significant interaction between microplastic (MP) pollution and its impact on wastewater treatment systems, focusing on optimizing biogas production. We explore various sources of MPs, including tire-derived MPs, and their introduction into wastewater environments. This review delves into the mechanical and physicochemical challenges MPs pose in treatment processes, emphasizing the need for comprehensive mitigation strategies. The biological effects of MPs on microbial consortia essential for biogas production are analyzed, particularly how these pollutants interfere with each stage of anaerobic digestion—hydrolysis, acidogenesis, acetogenesis, and methanogenesis—and, consequently, biogas generation. We examine MPs' quantitative and qualitative impacts on biogas output and production rates, uncovering how MPs disrupt microbial activity in these stages. This review also discusses novel mitigation strategies combining different sludge pretreatment methods with MPs. Our goal is to enhance the sustainability of wastewater management by promoting efficient biogas production and environmental protection in the presence of persistent MP contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to investigate the use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) to estimate heavy metal exposure in Sungai Petani, Malaysia. Atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to detect copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), zinc (Zn), iron (Fe), and cadmium (Cd) in wastewater from eight sewage treatment facilities in Sungai Petani in January 2022. The heavy metal concentrations were measured in both influent and effluent, and the mean concentrations in the wastewater were found to be in the following order: Fe > Ni > Zn > Cd > Cu, with a 100% detection frequency. The results of WBE estimation showed that Fe, Ni, and Zn had the highest estimated per population exposure levels, while Cd had the lowest. Compared to a similar study conducted in Penang, Malaysia, all metals except Cu were found to have higher concentrations in Sungai Petani, even though it is a non-industrial district. These findings highlight the importance of addressing heavy metal contamination in Sungai Petani and implementing effective risk management and prevention strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of water resources and the related disposal of wastewater are essential for human existence and the advancement of contemporary society. Collecting and managing wastewater has a significant effect on local and global economies as well as the environment. Innovation in the field of the environment is of utmost importance in reducing the environmental impacts on systems and in making them more sustainable economically, environmentally and socially. Decentralization is considered an appropriate solution to sustainability problems in liquid waste management programs because it focuses on treating liquid waste on-site, recycling it locally, and taking advantage of the local resources available in domestic wastewater. This research analyzes the needs, appropriate technical methods, and support for water management through decentralized systems. Three considerations will be used to support the choice of a decentralized wastewater treatment system in the Khartoum Locality: $106,000,000. According to the BioWin results, the effectiveness of each alternative household wastewater treatment was comparable. Software such as MapInfo, GPS Area Calculator, BioWin, and GIS was used to reach the targets. Additionally, the results revealed that the decentralized wastewater treatment method, considering its costs, land requirements, and slope effects on the environment, is preferable to centralized wastewater treatment systems. These results serve as a guide for choosing the best wastewater treatment option to increase access to safe sanitation and to integrate decentralized wastewater management to upgrade and improve the environment in the Khartoum Locality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Chryseobacteria consists of important human pathogens that can cause a myriad of nosocomial infections. We isolated four multidrug‐resistant Chryseobacterium bacteria from activated sludge collected at domestic wastewater treatment facilities in the New York Metropolitan area. Their genomes were sequenced with Nanopore technology and used for a comprehensive resistomics comparison with 211 Chryseobacterium genomes available in the public databases. A majority of Chryseobacteria harbor 3 or more antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) with the potential to confer resistance to at least two types of commonly prescribed antimicrobials. The most abundant ARGs, including β‐lactam class A (blaCGA‐1 and blaCIA) and class B (blaCGB‐1 and blaIND) and aminoglycoside (ranA and ranB), are considered potentially intrinsic in Chryseobacteria. Notably, we reported a new resistance cluster consisting of a chloramphenicol acetyltransferase gene catB11, a tetracycline resistance gene tetX, and two mobile genetic elements (MGEs), IS91 family transposase and XerD recombinase. Both catB11 and tetX are statistically enriched in clinical isolates as compared to those with environmental origins. In addition, two other ARGs encoding aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase (aadS) and the small multidrug resistance pump (abeS), respectively, are found co‐located with MGEs encoding recombinases (e.g., RecA and XerD) or transposases, suggesting their high transmissibility among Chryseobacteria and across the Bacteroidota phylum, particularly those with high pathogenicity. High resistance to different classes of β‐lactam, as well as other commonly used antimicrobials (i.e., kanamycin, gentamicin, and chloramphenicol), was confirmed and assessed using our isolates to determine their minimum inhibitory concentrations. Collectively, though the majority of ARGs in Chryseobacteria are intrinsic, the discovery of a new resistance cluster and the co‐existence of several ARGs and MGEs corroborate interspecies and intergenera transfer, which may accelerate their dissemination in clinical environments and complicate efforts to combat bacterial infections. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ammonium polyphosphate (APP), a pivotal constituent within environmentally friendly flame retardants, exhibits notable decomposition susceptibility and potentially engenders ecological peril. Consequently, monitoring the APP concentration to ensure product integrity and facilitate the efficacious management of wastewater from production processes is of great significance. A fluorescent assay was devised to swiftly discern APP utilizing 4′,6′-diamino-2-phenylindole (DAPI). With increasing APP concentrations, DAPI undergoes intercalation within its structure, emitting pronounced fluorescence. Notably, the flame retardant JLS-PNA220-A, predominantly comprising APP, was employed as the test substrate. Establishing a linear relationship between fluorescence intensity (F-F0) and JLS-PNA220-A concentration yielded the equation y = 76.08x + 463.2 (R2 = 0.9992), with a LOD determined to be 0.853 mg/L. The method was used to assess the degradation capacity of APP-degrading bacteria. Strain D-3 was isolated, and subsequent analysis of its 16S DNA sequence classified it as belonging to the Acinetobacter genus. Acinetobacter nosocomialis D-3 demonstrated superior APP degradation capabilities under pH 7 at 37 °C, with degradation rates exceeding 85% over a four-day cultivation period. It underscores the sensitivity and efficacy of the proposed method for APP detection. Furthermore, Acinetobacter nosocomialis D-3 exhibits promising potential for remediation of residual APP through environmental biodegradation processes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Part 2 outlines how water used as a raw material or for cleaning purposes in the manufacture of cosmetic products should be tested in microbiological control studies to ensure that it meets the microbiological quality requirements. For this purpose, samples must be taken from the water treatment system. Samples should be taken according to a defined sampling plan, based on the history of results in terms of number of samples and sampling frequency, at different points in the plant. Sampling points must allow adequate sampling. Sample quantities should be sufficient for the chosen method of analysis. Requirements for transport and storage of samples must be fulfilled. Samples must be analysed by specified appropriate methods, e.g. based on the methods of the Drinking Water Ordinance (German). The methods should be selected in such a way that it is possible to determine the number of bacteria (quantitative) and also to identify the species of microorganisms found (qualitative) and to evaluate the results with regard to the quality requirements. [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]

The increasing awareness of the importance of a clean and sustainable environment, coupled with the rapid growth of both population and technology, has instilled in people a strong inclination to address the issue of wastewater treatment. This global concern has prompted individuals to prioritize the proper management and purification of wastewater. Organic pollutants are very persistent and due to their destructive effects, it is necessary to remove them from wastewater. In the last decade, porous organic polymers (POPs) have garnered interest among researchers due to their effectiveness in removing various types of pollutants. Porous biopolymers seem to be suitable candidates among POPs. Sustainable consumption and environmental protection, as well as reducing the consumption of toxic chemicals, are the advantages of using biopolymers in the preparation of effective composites to remove pollutants. Composites containing porous biopolymers, like other POPs, can remove various pollutants through absorption, membrane filtration, or oxidative and photocatalytic effects. Although composites based on porous biopolymers shown relatively good performance in removing pollutants, their insufficient strength limits their performance. On the other hand, in comparison with other POPs, including covalent organic frameworks, they have weaker performance. Therefore, porous organic biopolymers are generally used in composites with other compounds. Therefore, it seems necessary to research the performance of these composites and investigate the reasons for using composite components. This review exhaustively investigates the recent progress in the use of composites containing porous biopolymers in the removal of organic pollutants in the form of adsorbents, membranes, catalysts, etc. Information regarding the mechanism, composite functionality, and the reasons for using each component in the construction of composites are discussed. The following provides a vision of future opportunities for the preparation of porous composites from biopolymers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Subsurface wastewater infiltration systems (SWISs) are suggested to be a cost‐effective and environmentally friendly method for sewage treatment. However, a comprehensive summary of the relevant mechanisms and optimization methods for nitrogen (N) removal in SWIS is currently lacking. In this review, we first summarize the N transformation mechanisms in SWIS. The impact of operational parameters on the N removal efficiency is then delineated. To enhance pollutant removal and minimize resource wastage, it is advisable to maintain a wet–dry ratio of 1:1 and a hydraulic loading rate of 8–10 cm/day. The organic load should be determined based on influent characteristics to optimize the balance between sewage treatment and nitrous oxide (N2O) emission. Finally, various strategies and modifications have been suggested to enhance pollutant removal efficiency and reduce N2O emissions in SWIS, such as artificial aeration, supply electron donors, and well‐designed structures. Overall, greater emphasis should be placed on the design and management of SWIS to optimize their co‐benefits while effectively controlling N pollution. Practitioner Points: SWISs are often considered black boxes with their efficiency depending on hydraulic characteristics, biological characteristics, and substrate properties.Biological nitrification coupled with denitrification is considered to be the major N removal process.Increasing the reduction of N2O to the inert N2 form is a potential mechanism to mitigate global warming.Strategies such as artificial aeration, supply electron donors, and well‐designed structures are suggested to improve N removal performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sodium percarbonate (SPC) is recently developed as the most promising alternative for liquid H2O2 on the sewage treatment, because of its excellent explosion-resistance, high stability and safety. Herein, we first designed and synthesized a series of Mo-based/carbon nanocomposites (MoCNs) with core–shell and nanorod structures, derived from metal organic frameworks, for activating percarbonate in the efficient removal of tetracycline. The detailed characterizations confirmed MoCN-600 (a mixture of MoO3, MoC and MoO2) exhibited a nanorod structure with outer Zn and Co co-doped carbon layer. MoCN-600/SPC system exhibited a strong anti-interference ability for common anions and organic matter in TC degradation. Quenching tests and EPR results demonstrated that ·CO3− was the dominating reactive oxygen species in MoCN-600/SPC system. Compared with H2O2, MoCN-600/SPC system presented the excellent catalytic performance in TC degradation at a wider pH range. This work not only provides an efficient method for the synthesis of Mo-based heterogeneous catalysts, but also offers an excellent catalytic system for antibiotics removal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Methanotrophy is a biological process that effectively reduces global methane emissions by utilizing microorganisms that can utilize methane as a source of energy under both oxic and anoxic conditions, using a variety of different electron acceptors. Methanotrophic microbes, which utilize methane as their primary source of carbon and energy, are microorganisms found in various environments, such as soil, sediments, freshwater, and marine ecosystems. These microbes play a significant role in the global carbon cycle by consuming methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and converting it into carbon dioxide, which is less harmful. However, methane is known to be the primary contributor to ozone formation and is considered a major greenhouse gas. Methane alone contributes to 30% of global warming; its emissions increased by over 32% over the last three decades and thus affect humans, animals, and vegetation adversely. There are different sources of methane emissions, like agricultural activities, wastewater management, landfills, coal mining, wetlands, and certain industrial processes. In view of the adverse effects of methane, urgent measures are required to reduce emissions. Methanotrophs have attracted attention as multifunctional bacteria with potential applications in biological methane mitigation and environmental bioremediation. Methanotrophs utilize methane as a carbon and energy source and play significant roles in biogeochemical cycles by oxidizing methane, which is coupled to the reduction of various electron acceptors. Methanotrophy, a natural process that converts methane into carbon dioxide, presents a promising solution to mitigate global methane emissions and reduce their impact on climate change. Nonetheless, additional research is necessary to enhance and expand these approaches for extensive use. In this review, we summarize the key sources of methane, mitigation strategies, microbial aspects, and the application of methanotrophs in global methane sinks with increasing anthropogenic methane emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Argentina stands as the leading producer and exporter of olive products in the Americas, with the province of La Rioja as its main productive area. Since the 1990s, the olive grove cultivated area and related agro-industry in La Rioja have expanded. However, the resulting wastewater has generally been neglected. The water footprint (WF) provides information about the water volume consumed and polluted by a production process. Since the 1990s, agricultural and agro-industrial activities in La Rioja have experienced substantial growth. This study aims to analyze the generation, quality, and management of Oil Mill Wastewater (OMWW) using the grey WF of chloride and nitrate as an indicator and focusing on two olive mills (OM) in La Rioja. Additionally, it seeks to examine the relationship between the international trade of provincial olive oil and the estimated grey WF. For the diagnosis of OMWW generation, a description of the production process was made coupled with flow and physico-chemical characterization. The total grey WF was 8.69 and 45.5 L water/L olive oil for OM 1 and OM 2, respectively. Nitrate was identified as the critical pollutant. The grey virtual water export related to the export of olive oil was 5569 m3 for OM 1 and 28,000 m3 for OM 2. The provincial grey virtual water export related to olive oil was 161,955 m3 with major trade destinations including Spain, the United States, and Brazil. The article analyses for the first time the grey WF of olive oil industries and assess the related grey virtual water exports. This research represents a step forward in the knowledge of wastewater management in the olive oil sector and facilitates the search for solutions to minimize negative environmental impacts while promoting cleaner production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]