Search

The presence of refractory micropollutants in natural waters poses significant environmental and health risks. Preferably, advanced oxidation techniques like electro-Fenton (EF) and bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) are used to mitigate micropollutants; nevertheless, their field-scale implementation is limited by prohibitive catalyst cost. As an alternative, waste-iron electrocoagulated algal biomass (A-BC/Fe) was explored as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst to eliminate dimethyl phthalate (DMP) from wastewater. The Fenton-conducive morphological, chemical, and electrochemical properties of the A-BC/Fe catalyst were revealed by detailed characterisation. In EF treatment, 10 mg/L of DMP was completely degraded within 15 min at pH of 7.0, 50 mM Na2SO4, and cathode potential of − 1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Moreover, the EF system achieved 87.80 ± 2.10% and 96.14 ± 1.10% of DMP removal from secondary and tertiary treated municipal sewage, respectively. The A-BC/Fe catalyst-driven EF process disintegrated DMP into benign non-toxic by-products and showed stable performance over eight batch cycles with only a 1.71% decline in DMP removal efficiency. Further, the A-BC/Fe-catalysed BEF system eliminated 94.81 ± 1.90% of DMP in 4 h while achieving a maximum power density of 124.03 ± 5.64 mW/m2. This investigation underscores the potential of repurposing electrocoagulated algal biomass as a sustainable heterogenous catalyst for micropollutant remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The fundamental existence of any living organism necessitates the availability of pure and safe water. The ever-increasing population has led to extensive industrialization and urbanization, which have subsequently escalated micropollutants and water contamination. The environmental impact on various life forms poses a dire need for research in effective environmental management. Versatile technologies involving multiple approaches, including physiochemical and biological bioremediation strategies, draw insights from environmental biology. Metabolic annihilation mediated by microbes shows significant potential in the bioconversion of toxic micropollutants to tolerable limits. Environmentally friendly, cost-effective, and sustainable strategies are envisaged for efficient environmental protection. Phytoremediation technology, especially floating wetland treatments, facilitates micropollutant elimination, landscape management, ecosystem conservation, and aesthetic enhancement in diverse environments. The incorporation of nanomaterials in the bioremediation of toxic micropollutants augments novel and innovative strategies for water pollution abatement. This paper offers a novel strategy that combines nanomaterials to improve micropollutant degradation with bioremediation techniques, particularly the creative application of phytoremediation technologies like floating wetlands. Combining these techniques offers a novel viewpoint on long-term, affordable approaches to reducing water pollution. Additionally, the review proposes a forward-looking strategic framework that addresses the accumulation and refractory nature of micropollutants, which has not been thoroughly explored in previous literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution of 10 April 2024 on the proposal for a directive of the European Parliament and of the Council concerning urban wastewater treatment. The reduction in pollution in discharged treated wastewater in the parameters of BOD5, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus was emphasized. Based on these results, it stated that the impacts on the quality of lakes, rivers, and seas in the EU are visible and tangible. At the same time, it was emphasized that the sector of urban wastewater removal and treatment is responsible for 0.8% of total electricity consumption and about 0.86% of all greenhouse gas emissions in the entire EU. Almost a third of these emissions could be prevented by improving the treatment process, better use of sewage sludge, and increasing energy efficiency, as well as a higher rate of use of renewable resource technologies. It is also necessary to integrate treatment processes into the circular economy. Sludge management and water reuse are suboptimal as too many valuable resources are still being wasted. This article focuses on sustainable municipal wastewater treatment, innovative and new wastewater treatment processes and technologies (combined and hybrid processes, ANAMMOX, etc.) and their use in practice with the aim of increasing environmental and energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint. The research is focused on the possibilities of increasing the efficiency of energy processing of sludge, reuse of nitrogen and phosphorus, sludge, and reuse of treated wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NaPs) in coastal regions, particularly in sediments, have gained increasing attention. However, in Türkiye, research on sediment pollution by MPs and NaPs is still limited. To fill this knowledge gap, the distribution, composition, and ecological impact of MPs and NaPs were investigated for the first time in the literature over a one-year period at three sampling stations on the south coast of Istanbul. The average total particle concentration was 1364.17 ± 600.51 particles.kg−1 dw sediment. Most of the MPs detected in the sediments were in the form of fibers with a size of 100–250 µm and were black and transparent. The study found that NaPs accounted for only 17%, 13.8% and 11.8% of the particles collected at stations S1, S2 and S3, respectively. According to the FTIR results, polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate were the most abundant compared to polypropylene, polyamide and other polymers. The hazard index was classified as level V with a value of 17,261. This classification emphasizes the urgent need for further comprehensive studies on the risk assessment of MPs and NaPs. Scanning electron microscopy results showed microorganisms on the particle surface, indicating the MP-associated passing-through mechanism. Moreover, energy dispersive spectroscopy detected several unexpected elements such as Nb, Sr, Mo, Bi, Ta and Rn on MP and NaP surfaces. The results indicate that MP and NaP pollution in Istanbul’s coastal sediments may pose a major risk to the environment through the leaching of inherent/adsorbed elements and therefore requires future investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microparticles of anthropogenic origin, such as microplastics and microfibers, are pervasive pollutants in the marine environment of the world. These microparticles pollute water and can be ingested by biota; however, while microplastics are often monitored, very few studies focus on microfibers. Coastal areas, such as beaches, are more vulnerable to pollution due to their location between terrestrial and marine environments and their recreational and touristic functions. In this study, microparticle occurrence frequency was investigated along the Calabria coast, Italy, in one touristic beach in comparison with an unpopular one. High amounts of microparticles of anthropogenic origin were found in all sediment samples, despite the evident different tourist exploitation of the two examined beaches. Sediments of the most touristic beach had values between 729.5 ± 212.3 and 1327 ± 125.8 items/kg, instead, the less popular beach between 606.3 ± 102.8 and 1116.5 ± 226.9 items/kg (average and st. dev). Microparticle abundance varied before and after the touristic summer season, increasing in the most popular beach and decreasing in the unpopular one. Differences in microparticle abundance between foreshore and backshore were present too; however, statistical analyses did not show evident relations between microparticle abundance and the distance from the see. Grain size influenced the abundance of microparticles in sediments. Our results improve knowledge on microparticle pollution in marine environments, highlighting information about micropollution in coastal areas. Future studies are needed to understand better microparticle dynamics and ecological impacts in marine and terrestrial systems, implementing new strategies to monitor pollution state, enhancing the natural intermediate environments, and providing useful and sustainable measure of conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Waterbodies are day-by-day polluted by the various colored micropollutants, e.g., azo dyes enriched (carcinogenic, non-biodegradable) colored wastewater from textile industries. Water pollution has become a serious global issue as ~ 25% of health diseases are prompted by pollution as reported by WHO. Around 1 billion people will face water scarcity by 2025 and this water crisis is also a prime focus to the UNs' sustainable development goal 6 (SDG6: clean water and sanitation). To prevent the water pollution caused by micropollutants, a mesoporous, 3D rod-like nano-oxide Ti/Al/Cr (abbreviated as TAC) has been synthesized via the solvothermal method. TAC degraded all classes of azo dyes (mono, di, tri, etc.) with > 90% efficiency under renewable energy source solar irradiation within the pH range 2–11. The detailed study was done on the photodegradation of carcinogenic di-azo dye Congo red (CR) which is banned in many countries. TAC showed 90.64 ± 2% degradation efficiency for CR at pH 7. The proposed photodegradation mechanism of CR was confirmed by the high-resolution liquid chromatography–mass spectroscopy (HRLC-MS) analysis obeying the Pirkanniemi path. The photodegradation obeyed the pseudo-1st-order kinetics and was reusable up to successive 5 cycles which can be an efficient tool to meet the UNs' SDG:6. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pollutants in soil, particularly chromium (Cr), pose high environmental and health risks due to their persistence, bioavailability, and potential for causing toxicity. Cr impairment in plants act as a deleterious environmental pollutant that enters the food chain and eventually disturbs human health. Current study demonstrated the potential of integrative foliar application of magnesium–iron (Mg + Fe) nanocomposite with Staphylococcus aureus strains to alleviate Cr toxicity in rice (Oryza sativa) crops by improving yield and defense system. Growth and yield traits such as shoot length (15%), root length (17%), shoot fresh weight (14%), shoot dry weight (9%), root fresh weight (23%), root dry weight (7%), number of tillers (33%), number of grains (10%) and spike length (13%) improved by combined application of Mg + Fe (20 mg L−1) nanocomposite and S. aureus strains with Cr (110 mg kg−1), compared to when applied alone. Mutual Mg + Fe and S. aureus strains application augmented the SPAD value (9%), total chlorophyll (11%), a (12%), b (17%), and carotenoids (32%), with Cr (110 mg kg−1), compared to alone. Malondialdehyde (13%), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) (11%), and electrolyte leakage (7%) were significantly regulated in shoots with combined Mg + Fe and S. aureus strains application with Cr (110 mg kg−1) contrasted to alone. Peroxidase (20%), superoxide dismutase (17%), ascorbate peroxidase (18%), and catalase (20%) were increased in shoots with combined Mg + Fe and S. aureus strains application with Cr (110 mg kg−1) in comparison to alone. The combined application of Mg + Fe (20 mgL−1) nanocomposite and S. aureus strains with Cr (110 mg kg−1) enhanced the macro-micronutrients in shoots compared to alone. Cr accumulation in roots (21%), shoots (25%), and grains (47%) were significantly reduced under Cr (110 mg kg−1) with combined Mg + Fe and S. aureus strains application, compared to alone. Subsequently, applying combined Mg + Fe and S. aureus strains is a sustainable solution to boost crop production under Cr toxicity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wastewater can contain a complex mixture of organic micropollutants, with both chemical analysis and effect-based methods needed to identify relevant micropollutants and detect mixture effects. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is commonly used to enrich micropollutants prior to analysis. While the recovery and stability of individual micropollutants by SPE has been well studied, few studies have optimized SPE for effect-based methods. The aim of the current study was to develop and evaluate two standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the enrichment of micropollutants in preparation for chemical analysis and bioanalysis, one covering a broad range of chemicals and the other selective for estrogenic chemicals. Results: Pristine surface water spiked with > 600 micropollutants was used to develop a generic extraction method for micropollutants with a wide range of physiochemical properties, while water spiked with estrogenic chemicals was used to identify a selective extraction method. Three different SPE sorbents were tested, with recoveries of individual chemicals and effect in assays indicative of mutagenicity, estrogenic activity, and fish embryo toxicity assessed. The sorbent HRX at pH 7 was selected for the generic extraction method as it showed the best recovery of both individual chemicals and effect in the bioassays. The sorbent HLB at pH 3 showed optimal recovery of estrogenic chemicals and estrogenic activity. The two optimal SPE methods were applied to spiked and unspiked wastewater effluents, with the concentrations of detected chemicals and observed effects similar to those of previous studies. The long-term storage of both extracts and SPE cartridges for estrogens and estrogenic activity after extraction with the HRX and HLB methods were evaluated, with estrogenic effectiveness close to 100% after 112 days when HLB was used. Conclusions: HRX is recommended for generic extraction, while HLB is optimal for the selective extraction of estrogenic micropollutants. However, if a laboratory only wants to use a single SPE sorbent, HLB can be used for both generic and selective extraction as it yielded similar chemical and effect recovery as HRX for a wide range of micropollutants. This paper is supplemented by the final SOP that includes a variant for generic extraction and one for the extraction of estrogenic chemicals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapid, simultaneous detection of organic chemical pollutants in water is an important issue to solve for protecting human health. This study investigated the possibility of developing an in situ reusable optical sensor capable of selective measurements utilizing a chalcogenide transducer supplemented by a hydrophobic polymer membrane with detection based on evanescent waves in the mid-infrared spectrum. In order to optimise a polyisobutylene hydrophobic film deposited on a chalcogenide waveguide, a zinc selenide prism was utilized as a testbed for performing attenuated total reflection with Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. To comply with the levels mentioned in health guidelines, the target detection range in this study was kept rather low, with the concentration range extended from 50 ppb to 100 ppm to cover accidental pollution problems, while targeted hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, and xylene) were still detected at a concentration of 100 ppb. Infrared measurements in the selected range showed a linear behaviour, with the exception of two constantly reproducible plateau phases around 25 and 80 ppm, which were observable for two polymer film thicknesses of 5 and 10 μm. The polymer was also found to be reusable by regenerating it with water between individual measurements by increasing the water temperature and flow to facilitate reverse exchange kinetics. Given the good conformability of the hydrophobic polymer when coated on chalcogenide photonic circuits and its demonstrated ability to detect organic pollutants in water and to be regenerated afterwards, a microfluidic channel utilising water flow over an evanescent wave optical transducer based on a chalcogenide waveguide and a polyisobutylene (PIB) hydrophobic layer deposited on its surface was successfully fabricated from polydimethylsiloxane by filling a mold prepared via CAD and 3D printing techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, microplastics, dyes, and radionuclides in wastewater increasingly threaten environmental sustainability. Metal‐organic frameworks (MOFs) are versatile materials for mitigating these contaminants through efficient detection, capture, adsorption, and degradation. These crystalline structures, formed by combining metal ions with organic ligands, offer high surface area, tailored porosity, reproducibility, and robust chemical stability. This review compiles recent advancements in MOFs for pollutant removal, highlighting innovations in selective adsorption mechanisms for heavy metals, functionalized MOFs for pharmaceutical and microplastic removal, and enhanced photocatalytic degradation for dyes. Unique to this review is the integration of recent innovations such as ion exchange capabilities and photocatalytic degradation under visible light, addressing advanced applications that significantly enhance pollutant removal efficiency that other reviews have not covered comprehensively. The review also cites our group's recent work on a curcumin‐immobilized zeolitic imidazolate framework‐8 (Cmim@ZIF‐8) nanoprobe, demonstrating high selectivity for Fe2+ ions in water (detection limit: 7.64 μM) and its applicability in live‐cell imaging of HepG2 cells. Advanced techniques like density functional theory (DFT) simulations are employed to elucidate adsorption and degradation mechanisms, bridging theoretical insights with experimental findings. By critically evaluating these developments, the review identifies promising avenues for optimizing MOF design and advancing effective water treatment solutions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of various additives (Y2O3, Ga2O3, and WO3) on photocatalytic degradation efficiency under UV light-emitting diodes (LEDs) and the optical properties of TiO2 Degussa P25 were investigated using ketoprofen and diclofenac, two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs commonly detected in German rivers. Experimental results demonstrated that thin films containing these additives exhibited similar photocatalytic degradation efficiencies as pure TiO2, achieving a 30% degradation of ketoprofen over 150 min. In contrast, the Y2O3/TiO2 thin film showed significantly improved performance, achieving a 46% degradation of ketoprofen in 180 min. Notably, the Y2O3/TiO2 system was three times more effective in degrading diclofenac compared to pure TiO2. Additionally, the Y2O3/TiO2 photocatalyst retained its activity over three successive cycles with only a slight decrease in efficiency. The photocatalytic degradation of both organic pollutants followed first-order kinetics with all photocatalysts. The investigation included SEM imaging to assess the surface homogeneity of the thin films and UV-vis solid-state spectroscopy to evaluate the impact of the additives on the energy band gap of TiO2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This document is an editorial titled "Pharmaceutically active micropollutants - how serious is the problem and is there a microbial way out?" published in the journal Frontiers in Microbiology. The editorial discusses the issue of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) as pollutants in the environment, particularly in water bodies. It highlights the increasing consumption of medications globally and the resulting discharge of PhACs into the environment. The editorial emphasizes the need for rigorous risk assessments and explores microbial strategies for mitigating the environmental impact of PhACs. It also provides an overview of several studies included in the research topic, which address different aspects of this complex issue. The text discusses the issue of pharmaceutical contamination in the environment and explores various strategies for mitigating its impact. It emphasizes the importance of optimizing factors such as membrane selection, reactor design, and operational parameters to enhance the effectiveness of remediation methods. The text also highlights the need for long-term studies on the health effects of pharmaceutical contaminants and the development of innovative therapeutic strategies. Additionally, it discusses the prevalence of pharmaceutical micropollutants in low-to-middle-income countries and the urgent need for improved waste management systems. The integration of molecular approaches and advances in bioremediation techniques are also discussed as potential solutions to the problem. The text concludes by emphasizing the importance of strict regulations, advanced detection technologies, and public awareness in managing pharmaceutical contaminants and protecting public health and ecosystems. [Extracted from the article]

In this work, the photo-, electro-, and photo-electro-oxidation of chloramphenicol was investigated. The photo-experiments were carried out with different irradiation sources (an ultraviolet and a simulated solar source) using self-doped titanium nanotubes (SDTNT), a very promising and innovative material that deserves further investigations in the degradation of different pollutants. The photo-electrooxidation (j = 15 mA cm–2) under simulated solar irradiation presented the best efficiency, with ca. 100% degradation and kinetic constant of k = 0.04427 min–1. The FTIR analysis demonstrated a structural modification of the standard molecule occurred for all conditions used, suggesting a modification in functional groups responsible for the biological activity. Furthermore, the TOC analysis showed a significant mineralization of the pollutant (66% from the initial concentration). In addition, both photo-electrooxidation approaches have demonstrated a positive value of S, where the simulated solar irradiation reached the highest value S = 0.6960. The experimental results pointed out evidence that the methodology employed herein for chloramphenicol degradation is greatly interesting and the photo-electrooxidation under simulated solar irradiation is a promising approach for this purpose. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ozone-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have emerged a promising avenue for water treatment, offering effective removal of micropollutants. Recent research underscores the potential of ozone microbubbles to enhance ozone mass transfer during water treatment, particularly when combined with pre-treatment steps. This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of three different combined processes (chlorine/KMnO4/PAC pre-treatment followed by ozonation) in removing atrazine, a common micropollutant from natural source water. Results revealed that all combined processes achieved higher atrazine removal rates compared to individual pre-treatment or ozonation methods. Notably, the highest atrazine removal rates were observed under alkaline pH conditions, with treatment outcomes influenced by oxidant dose and pH levels. Among the combined processes, chlorine pre-treatment followed by ozonation emerged as the most effective approach, achieving a removal rate of 59.7% that exceeded the sum of individual treatments. However, this treatment efficacy was affected by water quality parameters, particularly the presence of organic matter and elevated ammonia nitrogen concentration (> 0.5 mg/L). This study highlights the potential for utilizing ozone micro/nanobubbles to enhance ozone mass transfer and offers valuable insights for optimizing the combined application of pre-treatment and ozonation strategies for efficient atrazine removal from natural water sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropollutants are increasingly prevalent in the aquatic environment. A major part of these originates from wastewater treatment plants since traditional treatment technologies do not remove micropollutants sufficiently. Moving bed biofilm reactors (MBBRs), however, have been shown to aid in micropollutant removal when applied to conventional wastewater treatment as a polishing step. Here, we used Total RNA sequencing to investigate both the active microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBR biofilms when these were exposed to increasing micropollutant concentrations over time. Concurrently, we conducted batch culture experiments using biofilm carriers from the MBBRs to assess micropollutant degradation potential. Our study showed that biofilm eukaryotes, in particular protozoa, were negatively influenced by micropollutant exposure, in contrast to prokaryotes that increased in relative abundance. Further, we found several functional genes that were differentially expressed between the MBBR with added micropollutants and the control. These include genes involved in aromatic and xenobiotic compound degradation. Moreover, the biofilm carrier batch experiment showed vastly different alterations in benzotriazole and diclofenac degradation following the increased micropollutant concentrations in the MBBR. Ultimately, this study provides essential insights into the microbial community and functional dynamics of MBBRs and how an increased load of micropollutants influences these dynamics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Growing concern over potential ecotoxicological problems caused by micropollutants (MPs) in water has led to the application of adsorptive and oxidative advanced treatment technologies at European wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). Direct dosage of gaseous ozone via diffusers or pump-injection systems is the most common large-scale process applied in water and wastewater treatment. Studies point out that MP removal may take place via the direct, very selective reaction with the ozone molecule as well as the indirect reaction with the very reactive but nonselective hydroxyl radicals. Several process parameters and set-ups may affect the MPs elimination and inhibit or even cause the formation of transformation products (TPs) such as bromate. This work compares an alternative ozone application procedure (the so-called 'ozone strong water' dosing – OSW) with standard systems regarding MP elimination, ozone consumption, reaction time, and required plant space. A full-scale OSW system was installed and operated at the WWTP Duisburg-Vierlinden. A significant reduction in the time required to achieve the maximum possible elimination was observed for all six MPs investigated, with a hydraulic reaction time of 8 min. According to a theoretical calculation, the reactor volume could be reduced by two-thirds of the installed volume. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the importance of water, wastewater, and waste management for sustainable development. It emphasizes the need for innovative and effective solutions to improve the quality of life and maintain ecosystem balance. The article presents a special issue titled "Water, Wastewater and Waste Management for Sustainable Development," which covers various topics related to sustainable water and waste management in agriculture, waste and wastewater management, and the industrial sector. The special issue includes papers that explore topics such as the reuse of treated slaughterhouse wastewater for hydroponics, anaerobic digestion for biomethane production, evaluation of pollutant discharge in tomato hydroponic wastewater, and the impact of different cultivation methods on stream water quality. The article concludes by highlighting the importance of research and inviting further scientific activity in this area. [Extracted from the article]

Featured Application: The presented results are relevant for any existing or planned MBR installations facing the challenge of removing micropollutants. These findings offer significant opportunities for lowering operational costs and reducing the environmental footprint of quaternary treatment at wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs). The removal of micropollutants from municipal wastewater is crucial to mitigate negative environmental impacts on aquatic ecosystems. However, existing advanced treatment techniques often require extensive fossil resources to achieve the targeted removal of a broad range of micropollutants. This study presents the combination of Membrane Bioreactors (MBRs) and subsequent Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) filters as a resource-efficient solution. Based on long-term pilot studies at a municipal WWTP in Stockholm, Sweden, this investigation explores the MBR-GAC configuration as a sustainable alternative for quaternary treatment at WWTPs. Results from over three years demonstrate a high removal efficiency of over 80% for targeted pharmaceuticals and other organic micropollutants, such as per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), from the WWTP inlet to the outlet. The synergy between MBR and GAC technologies provides this high removal efficiency with considerably lower resource consumption and cost compared to traditional GAC installations. No breakthrough of micropollutants has been observed to date indicating even better resource efficiency than presented in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heavy metals (HMs) and microplastics (MPs) are toxic environmental pollutants that severely risk ecosystems and living organisms. The interactions of these pollutants in the aquatic environment can impact their bioavailability, toxicity, and bioaccumulation potential in organisms. Various factors, including temperature, pH, salinity, polymer type, particle size and microbial abundance, influence these interactions and are likely to increase their influence on aquatic biota and human beings. MPs have been recognized as heavy metal transporters in aquatic environments that exhibit various harmful effects. However, MP interactions with heavy metals are poorly understood. Hence, it is important to understand the detailed mechanism, mainly absorption vs ingestion, MPs degradation with metal fate and combined effects on living organisms. To tackle and reduce the harmful effects on biodiversity, it is essential to comprehend the underlying mechanisms (e.g. adsorption, desorption, bio-uptake, and synergistic effects). Also, more research is required to comprehend the intricate connections between MPs and HMs in an array of environmental situations, which could lead to innovative solutions for mitigating their detrimental environmental consequences. This review paper discusses microplastic's prevalence, concentration, adsorption, and dissociation characteristics concerning HMs in aquatic ecosystems that must be understood to reduce their deleterious effects on aquatic biodiversity. Understanding these complex interactions between MPs and HMs is critical to assessing the ecotoxic effects and preventing environmental pollution. This review paper also underscores the nature of environmental pollutants, including the interaction mechanisms of MPs and HMs, emphasizing the importance of multifaceted approaches that need to be adapted to mitigate their combined effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Micropollutants also known as "emerging micropollutants" (EMPs) have gained significant attention in research, with a particular emphasis on the ocean, marine water, and river pollution. The interest arises from the impact of EMPs on aquatic ecosystems, often originating from sources such as wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and septic tanks leakage. However, EMPs pollution in surface water can also be caused by leakage of septic tanks. In Indonesia, where septic tanks maintenance is generally neglected, there is a potential risk of EMPs contamination. The outcome and transformation of EMPs, as well as their potential transport pathways, are influenced by sanitary conditions and the effectiveness of existing septic tanks. This concern has escalated to the point of causing fecal contamination in drinking water sources. Therefore, this research focuses on EMPs, specifically pharmaceutical EMPs, leakage from septic tanks, and their possible fate and transport. It also discusses related perspectives of previous research related to EMPs contamination due to leakage of septic tanks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plastic pollution is becoming increasingly severe and is attracting global attention. One of its consequences is the recent discovery of micropollutant discharge into water, with Bisphenol A (BA-MP) being a typical example. This study utilizes an advanced oxidation process based on Pt-doped ZnO photocatalyst to remove BA-MP. Health concerns related to the release of BA-MP from plastic waste are discussed. Besides, the results of the photodegradation experiment show that the Pt-ZnO photocatalyst can remove 94.1% of BA-MP within 60 min when exposed to solar light. Moreover, after five reuse cycles, Pt-ZnO retains a high BA-MP removal efficiency of 71.2%, and its structure remains largely unchanged compared to the original material. The removal efficiency of BA-MP leaching from plastic waste was measured at 98.8%, confirming the suitability of Pt-ZnO for the treatment of micropollutants. Furthermore, this study also highlights the prospects and challenges of using Pt-ZnO for the treatment of micropollutants discharged from plastic waste. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In today's ongoing rapid urban expansion, deforestation and climate changes can be observed mainly as unbalanced rain occurrence during the year, long seasons without any rain at all and unordinary high temperatures. These adverse changes affect underground water levels and the availability of surface water. In addition, quite a significant proportion of drinking water is used mainly for non-drinking purposes. With several EU countries increasingly suffering from droughts, reusing quaternary treated urban wastewater can help address water scarcity. At the European level, Regulation 2020/741 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 25 May 2020 on minimum requirements for water reuse was adopted. This regulation foresees the use of recycled wastewater mainly for agricultural irrigation. This article provides an overview of various processes, such as filtration, coagulation, adsorption, ozonation, advanced oxidation processes and disinfection, for quaternary treatment of urban wastewater in order to remove micropollutants and achieve the requirements for wastewater reuse. According to the literature, the most effective method with acceptable financial costs is a combination of coagulation, membrane filtration (UF or NF) and UV disinfection. These processes are relatively well known and commercially available. This article also helps researchers to identify key themes and concepts, evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of previous studies and determine areas where further research is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing global concern over the contamination of natural resources, especially freshwater, has intensified the need for effective water treatment methods. This article focuses on the utilization of Cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs), sourced from lignocellulosic materials, for addressing environmental challenges. CNCs a product of cellulose-rich sources has emerged as a versatile and eco-friendly solution. CNCs boast unique chemical and physical properties that render them highly suitable for water remediation. Their nanoscale size, excellent biocompatibility, and recyclability make them stand out. Moreover, CNCs possess a substantial surface area and can be modified with functional groups to enhance their adsorption capabilities. Consequently, CNCs exhibit remarkable efficiency in removing a wide array of pollutants from wastewater, including heavy metals, pesticides, dyes, pharmaceuticals, organic micropollutants, oils, and organic solvents. This review delves into the adsorption mechanisms, surface modifications, and factors influencing CNCs' adsorption capacities. It also highlights the impressive adsorption efficiencies of CNC-based adsorbents across diverse pollutant types. Employing CNCs in water remediation offers a promising, eco-friendly solution, as they can undergo treatment without producing toxic intermediates. As research and development in this field progress, CNC-based adsorbents are expected to become even more effective and find expanded applications in combating water pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a new water treatment technology, Fenton-like reaction has great potential. In this study, we successfully prepared an excellent Fenton-like catalyst, which is composed of cobalt monoatoms and asymmetric subnanoclusters (labeled CoSA/Clu-C2N), and exhibits excellent peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation reactivity. By directly comparing the catalytic properties of CoSA-C2N and CoSA/Clu-C2N, the synergistic effects of coasymmetric Co subclusters and Co atoms on the activation of PMS and degradation of organic micropollutants were investigated. The results showed that CoSA/Clu-C2N had higher degradation rates of carbamazepine (CBZ), antipyrine (AT) and chlorobenzoic acid (CA) when combined with active oxidant PMS. The cyclic frequency of CBZ was 5.4 min−1, which was twice as high as the catalytic constant of CoSA-C2N (2.4 min−1). The results show that CoSA/Clu-C2N cobalt subnanoclusters and cobalt single atom can synergistically improve the catalytic performance of activated PMS oxidation of micropollutants in water. In addition, electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) technology has proved that the introduction of Co subnano clusters in CoSA/Clu-C2N is conducive to the production of singlet oxygen (1O2), thereby improving the efficiency of pollutant oxidation. This work lays a solid foundation for the future design of advanced multifunctional catalysts by carefully regulating and combining monmetallic atoms and metal subnanoclusters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The presence of refractory micropollutants in natural waters poses significant environmental and health risks. Preferably, advanced oxidation techniques like electro-Fenton (EF) and bio-electro-Fenton (BEF) are used to mitigate micropollutants; nevertheless, their field-scale implementation is limited by prohibitive catalyst cost. As an alternative, waste-iron electrocoagulated algal biomass (A-BC/Fe) was explored as a heterogeneous Fenton catalyst to eliminate dimethyl phthalate (DMP) from wastewater. The Fenton-conducive morphological, chemical, and electrochemical properties of the A-BC/Fe catalyst were revealed by detailed characterisation. In EF treatment, 10 mg/L of DMP was completely degraded within 15 min at pH of 7.0, 50 mM Na2SO4, and cathode potential of − 1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. Moreover, the EF system achieved 87.80 ± 2.10% and 96.14 ± 1.10% of DMP removal from secondary and tertiary treated municipal sewage, respectively. The A-BC/Fe catalyst-driven EF process disintegrated DMP into benign non-toxic by-products and showed stable performance over eight batch cycles with only a 1.71% decline in DMP removal efficiency. Further, the A-BC/Fe-catalysed BEF system eliminated 94.81 ± 1.90% of DMP in 4 h while achieving a maximum power density of 124.03 ± 5.64 mW/m2. This investigation underscores the potential of repurposing electrocoagulated algal biomass as a sustainable heterogenous catalyst for micropollutant remediation.

Abstract Background Wastewater can contain a complex mixture of organic micropollutants, with both chemical analysis and effect-based methods needed to identify relevant micropollutants and detect mixture effects. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) is commonly used to enrich micropollutants prior to analysis. While the recovery and stability of individual micropollutants by SPE has been well studied, few studies have optimized SPE for effect-based methods. The aim of the current study was to develop and evaluate two standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the enrichment of micropollutants in preparation for chemical analysis and bioanalysis, one covering a broad range of chemicals and the other selective for estrogenic chemicals. Results Pristine surface water spiked with > 600 micropollutants was used to develop a generic extraction method for micropollutants with a wide range of physiochemical properties, while water spiked with estrogenic chemicals was used to identify a selective extraction method. Three different SPE sorbents were tested, with recoveries of individual chemicals and effect in assays indicative of mutagenicity, estrogenic activity, and fish embryo toxicity assessed. The sorbent HRX at pH 7 was selected for the generic extraction method as it showed the best recovery of both individual chemicals and effect in the bioassays. The sorbent HLB at pH 3 showed optimal recovery of estrogenic chemicals and estrogenic activity. The two optimal SPE methods were applied to spiked and unspiked wastewater effluents, with the concentrations of detected chemicals and observed effects similar to those of previous studies. The long-term storage of both extracts and SPE cartridges for estrogens and estrogenic activity after extraction with the HRX and HLB methods were evaluated, with estrogenic effectiveness close to 100% after 112 days when HLB was used. Conclusions HRX is recommended for generic extraction, while HLB is optimal for the selective extraction of estrogenic micropollutants. However, if a laboratory only wants to use a single SPE sorbent, HLB can be used for both generic and selective extraction as it yielded similar chemical and effect recovery as HRX for a wide range of micropollutants. This paper is supplemented by the final SOP that includes a variant for generic extraction and one for the extraction of estrogenic chemicals.

Subsurface treatment systems, such as constructed wetlands, riverbank filtration systems, and managed aquifer recharge systems, offer a low-cost means of removing trace organic contaminants from treated municipal wastewater. To assess the processes through which trace organic contaminants are removed in subsurface treatment systems, pharmaceuticals and several major metabolites were measured in porewater, sediment, and plants within a horizontal levee (i.e., a subsurface flow wetland that receives treated municipal wastewater). Concentrations of trace organic contaminants in each wetland compartment rapidly declined along the flow path. Mass balance calculations, analysis of transformation products, microcosm experiments, and one-dimensional transport modeling demonstrated that more than 60% of the contaminant removal could be attributed to transformation. Monitoring of the system with and without nitrate in the wetland inflow indicated that relatively biodegradable trace organic contaminants, such as acyclovir and metoprolol, were rapidly transformed under both operating conditions. Trace organic contaminants that are normally persistent in biological treatment systems (e.g., sulfamethoxazole and carbamazepine) were removed only when Fe(III)- and sulfate-reducing conditions were observed. Minor structural modifications to trace organic contaminants (e.g., hydroxylation) altered the pathways and extents of trace organic contaminant transformation under different redox conditions. These findings indicate that subsurface treatment systems can be designed to remove both labile and persistent trace organic contaminants via transformation if they are designed and operated in a manner that results in sulfate-and Fe(III)-reducing conditions.

• An updated review on ROS implicated in AOPs for pharmaceutical waste is presented. • Potential ROS are implicated in the pharmaceutical waste degradation. • Mechanistic insights regarding ROS-mediated reaction pathways are discussed. • The main detected transformation products of ACT using specific ROS are reported. Innately designed to induce physiological changes, pharmaceuticals are foreknowingly hazardous to the ecosystem. Advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) are recognized as a set of contemporary and highly efficient methods being used as a contrivance for the removal of pharmaceutical residues. Since reactive oxygen species (ROS) are formed in these processes to interact and contribute directly toward the oxidation of target contaminant(s), a profound insight regarding the mechanisms of ROS leading to the degradation of pharmaceuticals is fundamentally significant. The conceptualization of some specific reaction mechanisms allows the design of an effective and safe degradation process that can empirically reduce the environmental impact of the micropollutants. This review mainly deliberates the mechanistic reaction pathways for ROS-mediated degradation of pharmaceuticals often leading to complete mineralization, with a focus on acetaminophen as a drug waste model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] The presence of emerging organic micropollutants (OMPs) in drinking and potable waters is a matter of great concern due to the health hazards associated with these. In this work, we present the preparation and application of a thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membrane containing functionalized graphene oxide to effectively remove low-molecular-weight OMPs from water. Graphene oxide was functionalized with amino silane to enhance its cross-linking capability during the formation of the polyamide active layer via interfacial polymerization of diethylene triamine and trimesoyl chloride. The TEM analysis showed that amino silane functionalized GO had 2–3 layered sheets, while non-functionalized graphene oxide appeared multilayered or stacked. XPS analysis confirmed the successful functionalization of GO. Characterization of the membranes with advanced techniques confirmed the successful incorporation of the GO and its functionalization: spectra from Fourier Transform Infra Red spectroscopy had the characteristic peaks of GO and N H groups; scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images showed a continuous presence of GO nanosheets. Contact angle measurements showed the TFN membranes to be more hydrophilic than their thin film composite (TFC) counterparts. Incorporating functionalized oxide nanosheets in the active polyamide layer produced additional water permeation channels, resulting in an improvement of ∼25 % in permeate flux compared to the pristine TFC and the TFN membrane with non-functionalized GO. The removal efficiencies of four OMPs commonly found in natural waters: Amitriptylene HCl (ATT HCl) and Bisphenol-A (BPA), Acetaminophen (ACT), and Caffeine (CFN) were determined for the synthesized membranes. The TFN membrane with functionalized GO outperformed its TFC counterpart with ∼100 % removal for BPA, ∼ 90 % for CFN and ATT HCl, and ∼80 % removal for the low molecular weight ACT. The high-efficiency rejection of OMPs was attributed to the synergistic effects of size exclusion as well as the reduced specific interactions between the functional groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Residual concentrations of some trace elements and lightweight metals, including cadmium, copper, lead, mercury, silver, zinc, nickel, chromium, arsenic, gallium, indium, gold, cobalt, polonium, and thallium, are widely detected in aquatic ecosystems globally. Although their origin may be natural, human activities significantly elevate their environmental concentrations. Metals, renowned pollutants, threaten various organisms, particularly crustaceans. Due to their feeding habits and habitat, crustaceans are highly exposed to contaminants and are considered a crucial link in xenobiotic transfer through the food chain. Moreover, crustaceans absorb metals via their gills, crucial pathways for metal uptake in water. This review summarises the adverse effects of well-studied metals (Cd, Cu, Pb, Hg, Zn, Ni, Cr, As, Co) and synthesizes knowledge on the toxicity of less-studied metals (Ag, Ga, In, Au, Pl, Tl), their presence in waters, and impact on crustaceans. Bibliometric analysis underscores the significance of this topic. In general, the toxic effects of the examined metals can decrease survival rates by inducing oxidative stress, disrupting biochemical balance, causing histological damage, interfering with endocrine gland function, and inducing cytotoxicity. Metal exposure can also result in genotoxicity, reduced reproduction, and mortality. Despite current toxicity knowledge, there remains a research gap in this field, particularly concerning the toxicity of rare earth metals, presenting a potential future challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Pesticides and pharmaceuticals enter aquatic ecosystems as complex mixtures. Various processes govern their dissipation and effect on the sediment and surface waters. These micropollutants often show persistence and can adversely affect microorganisms even at low concentrations. We investigated the dissipation and effects on procaryotic communities of metformin (antidiabetic drug), metolachlor (agricultural herbicide), and terbutryn (herbicide in building materials). These contaminants were introduced individually or as a mixture (17.6 µM per micropollutant) into laboratory microcosms mimicking the sediment–water interface. Metformin and metolachlor completely dissipated within 70 days, whereas terbutryn persisted. Dissipation did not differ whether the micropollutants were introduced individually or as part of a mixture. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons evidenced distinct responses of prokaryotic communities in both sediment and water. Prokaryotic community variations were mainly driven by matrix composition and incubation time. Micropollutant exposure played a secondary but influential role, with pronounced effects of recalcitrant metolachlor and terbutryn within the micropollutant mixture. Antagonistic and synergistic non-additive effects were identified for specific taxa across taxonomic levels in response to the micropollutant mixture. This study underscores the importance of considering the diversity of interactions between micropollutants, prokaryotic communities, and their respective environments when examining sediment–water interfaces affected by multiple contaminants.

Abstract To achieve complete elimination of anthropogenic micropollutants in aquatic environments, advanced oxidation processes are intensively researched as remedies and potential advanced purification stages in wastewater treatment facilities. Persalts, like persulfates, percarbonates and periodates, have been investigated as potential accelerators or enhancers of these processes. This short review provides an overview of the efficiency of the persalts demonstrated for the degradation of the seven most frequently occurring pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment: carbamazepine, ciprofloxacin, diclofenac, ibuprofen, metoprolol, paracetamol and sulfamethoxazole. While persulfates were the most commonly used, all persalts increase the effectiveness of the degradation of the pharmaceutical contaminants by increasing the formation of hydroxyl radicals, especially in the case of sodium percarbonate. Persalts are efficiently activated through UVC irradiation. The generated hydroxyl radicals are the main factor for product formation and hence dominate the chemical structures of the transformation products. From the ecotoxicological perspective, the use of persalts causes little or no hazard, if the conditions are such that acidification can be neglected. While they are transformed to stable anions on reaction, the resulting transformation products of the anthropogenic micropollutants were predicted by quantitative structure activity relation analysis to possess lower ecotoxicity than the initial drugs.

This study investigated the sanitary quality of digestates resulting from the mesophilic anaerobic digestion (AD) of urban and agricultural organic wastes (OWs). 40 sanitary indicators, including pathogenic bacteria, antimicrobial resistance genes, virulence factor genes, and mobile genetic elements were evaluated using real-time PCR and/or droplet digital PCR. 13 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and 13 pharmaceutical products (PHPs) were also measured. We assessed agricultural OWs from three treatment plants to study the effect of different AD processes (feeding mode, number of stages, pH), and used three laboratory-scale reactors to study the effect of different feedsupplies (inputs). The lab-scale reactors included: Lab1 fed with 97% activated sludge (urban waste) and 3% cow manure; Lab2 fed with 85% sludge-manure mixture supplemented with 15% wheat straw (WS); and Lab3 fed with 81% sludgemanure mixture, 15% WS, and 4% zeolite powder. Activated sludge favored the survival of the food-borne pathogens Clostridium perfringens and Bacillus cereus, carrying the toxin-encoding genes cpe and ces, respectively. Globally, the reactors fed with fecal matter supplemented with straw (Lab2) or with straw and zeolite (Lab3) had a higher hygienization efficiency than the reactor fed uniquely with fecal matter (Lab1). Three pathogenic bacteria (Enterococcus faecalis, Enterococcus faecium, and Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex), a beta-lactam resistance gene (blaTEM), and three mobile genetic elements (intI1, intI2, and IS26) were significantly decreased in Lab2 and Lab3. Moreover, the concentrations of 11 PAHs and 11 PHPs were significantly lower in Lab2 and Lab3 samples than in Lab1 samples. The high concentrations of micropollutants, such as triclosan, found in Lab1, could explain the lower hygienization efficiency of this reactor. Furthermore, the batch-fed reactor had a more efficient hygienization effect than the semi-continuous reactors, with complete removal of the ybtA gene, which is involved in the production of the siderophore yersiniabactin, and significant reduction of intI2 and tetO. These data suggest that it is essential to control the level of chemical pollutants in raw OWs to optimize the sanitary quality of digestates, and that adding co-substrate, such as WS, may overcome the harmful effect of pollutants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Pb, Cr, Cd, Ni, Zn, Cu, Co, As, Sr, Ba, and Zr content has been determined in the tested rock raw materials. The concentration of cadmium (Cd) was found to be elevated in all types of rock materials and was found on average to be: 1.39 mg/kg in limestones, 0.86 mg/kg—sandstones, 0.44 mg/kg—diatomites, 0.55 mg/kg—opoka rocks, 0.89 mg/kg—marls, 0.21 mg/kg—gaizes 0.42 mg/kg—kaolin clays, and 2.13 mg/kg—decalcified opoka rocks. Higher concentrations of arsenic (As) have also been recorded in sandstones and diatomites, as well as lead (Pb) in limestones and sandstones. The results obtained indicate that the anomalous level of elements is of natural origin and the results of identified secondary mineralisation processes that have affected the tested materials. Pyritization and sulfatization processes have been detected. Mineralogical research has shown that these processes can be associated with the activity of biochemical processes caused by the decomposition of the soft tissues of animal organisms and the organic substances of plant origin that fill the stylolites. It has been shown that the content of strontium (Sr) increases in geologically older Jurassic formations compared to younger Cretaceous formations, which can be used in the monitoring of building materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Among the various compounds regarded as emerging contaminants (ECs), pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) are of particular concern. Their continuous release into the environment has a negative global impact on human life. This review summarizes the sources, occurrence, persistence, consequences of exposure, and toxicity of PPCPs, and evaluates the various analytical methods used in the identification and quantification of PPCPs in a variety of solid and liquid environmental matrices. The current techniques of choice for the analysis of PPCPs are state-of-the-art liquid chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (LC-MS) or tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS2). However, the complexity of the environmental matrices and the trace levels of micropollutants necessitate the use of advanced sample treatments before these instrumental analyses. Solid-phase extraction (SPE) with different sorbents is now the predominant method used for the extraction of PPCPs from environmental samples. This review also addresses the ongoing analytical method challenges, including sample clean-up and matrix effects, focusing on the occurrence, sample preparation, and analytical methods presently available for the determination of environmental residues of PPCPs. Continuous development of innovative analytical methods is essential for overcoming existing limitations and ensuring the consistency and diversity of analytical methods used in investigations of environmental multi-class compounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research aims to propose management strategies to mitigate eutrophication caused by inefficient wastewater treatment plants in Colombia. The information analyzed was provided by environmental authorities such as IDEAM, CORANTIOQUIA, and CORNARE in Antioquia, where the average concentrations of phosphorus in wastewater from municipal, livestock, and industrial activities are 5.1, 30.6, and 29.1 mg P/L. The total nitrogen concentrations are 77, 143, and 121 mg N/L, respectively, surpassing the limit concentrations stated by the European Union, the United States, and Mexico, among others, while Colombia has not established its own limits. Including limitations for nutrient concentrations will align Colombia with the 2050 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), where microalgae species like Chlorella or Scenedesmus could be used in wastewater treatment systems for municipalities and industries. These microalgae can capture organic matter, nutrients, and greenhouse emissions and reduce the concentrations observed in natural water. They could also be an alternative for capturing heavy metals and some pollutants of emerging concern. In addition to the ecological and social benefits, the algal biomass could be valorized by transforming it into biological products such as fuels, fertilizers, and pigments when micropollutants are not present, reducing operational costs for treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water treatment is an essential process for ensuring access to clean and safe drinking water. Activation of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to ˙OH is considered to be one of the most potential methods for treating micropollutants in water. However, traditional methods of producing H2O2 for water treatment involve the use of expensive and hazardous chemicals, which can compromise the safety and sustainability of this process. In contrast, the electrochemical oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) method offers a greener and more cost-effective approach to producing H2O2 for water treatment. In our proposed review, we will focus on the use of noble-free catalysts for electrochemical oxygen reduction to H2O2 in in situ water treatment. We provide an in-depth analysis of the theoretical foundations of the 2e− ORR process. We also classify the types of noble-free catalysts and summarize their applications in water treatment and environmental remediation. Additionally, we highlight the challenges and opportunities associated with this promising new approach, including scalability, stability, and selectivity of the catalysts. Our review offers valuable insights for both researchers and practitioners in this important field, and we are confident that it will stimulate new research and innovation in the development of greener and more sustainable water treatment methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microplastics are a growing environmental threat and wastewater treatment plants have been identified as significant conduits for these pollutants. This study addresses microplastic loading in the influent of a large urban wastewater treatment plant, presenting a detailed analysis of their prevalence and characteristics. Our findings reveal a concentration of 4.09 microplastic particles per litre in the tributary. We performed a detailed statistical comparison of the microplastic particles, categorising them by shape, size, colour, and polymer type. Using Fourier transform total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, we identified 13 different polymer types, with polyethylene terephthalate, rubber, and polyethylene predominating. The analysis showed that textile fibres, mainly from clothing, are the most prevalent form of microplastic in wastewater, followed by fragments from the breakdown of larger plastic objects and films. This research highlights the critical need for strategic interventions to mitigate microplastic pollution at municipal sources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Adsorptive–photocatalytic composites based on activated carbon (AC) and α-ferrous oxalate dihydrate (α-FOD) were synthesized by an original two-step method and subsequently used for the removal of phenol from aqueous solutions. To obtain the composites, ferrotitaniferous black mineral sands (0.6FeTiO3·0.4Fe2O3) were first dissolved in an oxalic acid solution at ambient pressure, and further treated under hydrothermal conditions to precipitate α-FOD on the AC surface. The ratio of oxalic acid to the mineral sand precursor was tuned to obtain composites with 8.3 and 42.7 wt.% of α-FOD on the AC surface. These materials were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and the nitrogen adsorption–desorption method. The phenol removal efficiency of the composites was determined during 24 h of adsorption under dark conditions, followed by 24 h of adsorption–photocatalysis under visible light irradiation. AC/α-FOD composites with 8.3 and 42.7 wt.% of α-FOD adsorbed 60% and 51% of phenol in 24 h and reached a 90% and 96% removal efficiency after 12 h of irradiation, respectively. Given its higher photocatalytic response, the 42.7 wt.% α-FOD composite was also tested during successive cycles of adsorption and adsorption–photocatalysis. This composite exhibited a reasonable level of cyclability (~99% removal after four alternated dark/irradiated cycles of 24 h and ~68% removal after three simultaneous adsorption–photocatalysis cycles of 24 h). The promising performance of the as-prepared composites opens several opportunities for their application in the effective removal of organic micropollutants from water. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are substances that have no defined environmental quality standards or regulations, and have the potential to pose major adverse impacts on the environment and human health. The detection of contaminants in the natural environment is the key step for establishing precise environmental risk assessment approach for ECs. However, ECs come from different origins with various physicochemical properties, making their detection a complicated process. Moreover, their presence in the aquatic environment at trace concentration range (ng/L-µg/L), requires an accurate detection at low concentration levels. This study aims to develop an efficient analytical method for simultaneous determination of 5 different ECs in aqueous solution based on solid phase extraction technique (SPE) followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS). High recovery rates (72% to 114%) were achieved for all targeted compounds. Ciprofloxacin (CIP), diuron (DIU), terbutryn (TER) and diclofenac (DIC) had a limit of detection (LOD) of 5 µg/L and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 10 ng/L, while LOD and LOQ for EE2 were 25 µg/L and 50 ng/L, respectively. These results confirm that the optimized method can be applied for extraction and analysis of ECs from different classes in the aquatic environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pharmaceutical wastewater, including antibiotics, is being increasingly detected in the environment as a form of micropollutant. Researchers have progressively concentrated on integrating the advanced oxidation process (AOPs) with photocatalysts such as bismuth oxide (Bi2O3) to degrade antibiotics. The study involved the effective synthesis of pure Bi2O3 and Copper doped Bi2O3 (CBO) thin films using the sol-gel process. These thin films were then coated using the spray coating technique, and studied for their ability to degrade levofloxacin (LFX). The characterization including UV-Vis and XRD were used to analysed the properties of all synthesized thin films. 3% CBO thin films have the good quality compared with other thin films with the lowest energy band gap is 2.54 eV and crystallite size are 28.1938 nm. The degradation efficiency of 3% CBO thin films using photocatalysis is 85.95%. The degradation kinetic rate value is 0.00637 min-1 for pseudo-first-order kinetics and 0.00676 min-1 for pseudo-second-order kinetics. The reusability of CBO thin films was also evaluated to determine the sustainability of the thin films. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In real environments, pollutants do not occur in isolation. Instead, they can be found in complex mixtures with effects that are completely different from those of the individual components. In this review, articles from 2017 to May 2024 have been selected to provide an overview of the existing knowledge on complex mixtures between micropollutants and micro and nanoplastics in organisms in terrestrial and aquatic environments. It was found that the corresponding toxicological parameters to determine the interaction between the compounds were not calculated in most of the literature reviewed. Our analysis shows that, in aquatic environments, synergistic effects have been found more frequently than antagonistic effects. In terrestrial environments, the joint toxicological action of microplastics or nanoplastics with emerging contaminants has been less studied, but synergistic effects may also predominate. Future work should thoroughly investigate the nature of the interactions in order to properly assess the risk posed by this cocktail of compounds in ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increase in the prevalence of carbapenem-resistant Gram-negative bacteria, in particular Acinetobacter baumannii (CRAB) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (CRPA), poses a serious threat for public health worldwide. This article reviews the alarming data on the prevalence of infections caused by CRAB and CRPA pathogens and their presence in hospital and municipal wastewater, and it highlights the environmental impact of antibiotic resistance. The article describes the key role of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in the acquisition of carbapenem resistance and sheds light on bacterial resistance mechanisms. The main emphasis was placed on the transfer of ARGs not only in the clinical setting, but also in the environment, including water, soil, and food. The aim of this review was to expand our understanding of the global health risks associated with CRAB and CRPA in hospital and municipal wastewater and to analyze the spread of these micropollutants in the environment. A review of the literature published in the last decade will direct research on carbapenem-resistant pathogens, support the implementation of effective preventive measures and interventions, and contribute to the development of improved strategies for managing this problem. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water pollution policies have been enacted across the globe to minimize the environmental risks posed by micropollutants (MPs). For regulative institutions to be able to ensure the realization of environmental objectives, they need information on the environmental fate of MPs. Furthermore, there is an urgent need to further improve environmental decision-making, which heavily relies on scientific data. Use of mathematical and computational modeling in environmental permit processes for water construction activities has increased. Uncertainty of input data considers several steps from sampling and analysis to physico-chemical characteristics of MP. Machine learning (ML) methods are an emerging technique in this field. ML techniques might become more crucial for MP modeling as the amount of data is constantly increasing and the emerging new ML approaches and applications are developed. It seems that both modeling strategies, traditional and ML, use quite similar methods to obtain uncertainties. Process based models cannot consider all known and relevant processes, making the comprehensive estimation of uncertainty challenging. Problems in a comprehensive uncertainty analysis within ML approach are even greater. For both approaches generic and common method seems to be more useful in a practice than those emerging from ab initio. The implementation of the modeling results, including uncertainty and the precautionary principle, should be researched more deeply to achieve a reliable estimation of the effect of an action on the chemical and ecological status of an environment without underestimating or overestimating the risk. The prevailing uncertainties need to be identified and acknowledged and if possible, reduced. This paper provides an overview of different aspects that concern the topic of uncertainty in MP modeling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The accumulation of organic micropollutants (OMP) in aquatic systems is a major societal problem that can be addressed by approaches including nanofiltration, flocculation, reverse osmosis and adsorptive methods using insoluble materials (e.g. activated carbon, MOFs, nanocomposites). More recently, polymeric versions of supramolecular hosts (e.g. cyclodextrins, calixarenes, pillararenes) have been investigated as OMP sequestrants. Herein, we report our study of the use of water insoluble dimethylcatechol walled acyclic cucurbit[n]uril (CB[n]) hosts as solid state sequestrants for a panel of five OMPs. A series of hosts (H1–H4) were synthesized by reaction of glycoluril oligomer (monomer–tetramer) with 3,6‐dimethylcatechol and fully characterized by spectroscopic means and x‐ray crystallography. The solid hosts sequester OMPs from water with removal efficiencies exceeding 90 % in some cases. The removal efficiencies of the new hosts parallel the known molecular recognition properties of analogous water soluble acyclic CB[n]. OMP uptake by solid host occurs rapidly (≈120 seconds). Head‐to‐head comparison with CB[6] in batch‐mode separation and DARCO activated carbon in flow‐through separation mode show that tetramer derived host (H4) performs very well under identical conditions. The work establishes insoluble acyclic CB[n]‐type receptors as a promising new platform for OMP sequestration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pesticides and pharmaceuticals enter aquatic ecosystems as complex mixtures. Various processes govern their dissipation and effect on the sediment and surface waters. These micropollutants often show persistence and can adversely affect microorganisms even at low concentrations. We investigated the dissipation and effects on procaryotic communities of metformin (antidiabetic drug), metolachlor (agricultural herbicide), and terbutryn (herbicide in building materials). These contaminants were introduced individually or as a mixture (17.6 µM per micropollutant) into laboratory microcosms mimicking the sediment–water interface. Metformin and metolachlor completely dissipated within 70 days, whereas terbutryn persisted. Dissipation did not differ whether the micropollutants were introduced individually or as part of a mixture. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons evidenced distinct responses of prokaryotic communities in both sediment and water. Prokaryotic community variations were mainly driven by matrix composition and incubation time. Micropollutant exposure played a secondary but influential role, with pronounced effects of recalcitrant metolachlor and terbutryn within the micropollutant mixture. Antagonistic and synergistic non-additive effects were identified for specific taxa across taxonomic levels in response to the micropollutant mixture. This study underscores the importance of considering the diversity of interactions between micropollutants, prokaryotic communities, and their respective environments when examining sediment–water interfaces affected by multiple contaminants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The demand for H2O2, a highly efficient and green disinfectant, has been increasing worldwide in recent years. However, the conventional processes for H2O2 production are either energy-intensive or have high environmental impact. Herein, we propose an innovative bio-solar hybrid photoelectrochemical synthesis (BSPS) system that couples microbial photoelectrochemical synthesis and polyterthiophene (pTTh)-based photocatalysis for efficient and selective synthesis of green H2O2. The impact of key operational factors such as the applied voltage, pH, aeration rate, light intensity, thickness of the pTTh catalytic layer, and electrolyte nature and concentrations on H2O2 synthesis was assessed. The BSPS system yielded a cumulative production of 232.5 mg L−1 of H2O2 in 12 h under LED light irradiation, which is 6.1-fold the yield using a typical graphite plate electrode and 7.8-fold the yield when the system was run in darkness. Moreover, the BSPS system was successfully tested under natural illumination from sunlight for efficient synthesis of H2O2. Finally, a tertiary treatment process by further combining the BSPS system with the Fenton reaction enabled the rapid and complete removal of twenty micropollutants in wastewater. This work introduces an innovative and sustainable energy recycling strategy enabling H2O2 generation and subsequent efficient tertiary wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Veterinary medications are constantly being used for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in livestock. However, untreated veterinary drug active compounds are interminably discharged into numerous water bodies and terrestrial ecosystems, during production procedures, improper disposal of empty containers, unused medication or animal feed, and treatment procedures. This exhaustive review describes the different pathways through which veterinary medications enter the environment, discussing the role of agricultural practices and improper disposal methods. The detrimental effects of veterinary drug compounds on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are elaborated with examples of specific veterinary drugs and their known impacts. This review also aims to detail the mechanisms by which microbes degrade veterinary drug compounds as well as highlighting successful case studies and recent advancements in microbe-based bioremediation. It also elaborates on microbial electrochemical technologies as an eco-friendly solution for removing pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. Lastly, we have summarized potential innovations and challenges in implementing bioremediation on a large scale under the section prospects and advancements in this field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The occurrence of antibiotics and antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARBs), genes (ARGs), and mobile genetic elements (MGEs) in aquatic systems is growing global public health concern. These emerging micropollutants, stemming from improper wastewater treatment and disposal, highlight the complex and evolving nature of environmental pollution. Current literature reveals potential biases, such as a geographical focus on specific regions, leading to an insufficient understanding of the global distribution and dynamics of antibiotic resistance in aquatic systems. There is methodological inconsistency across studies, making it challenging to compare findings. Potential biases include sample collection inconsistencies, detection sensitivity variances, and data interpretation variability. Gaps in understanding include the need for comprehensive, standardized long-term monitoring programs, elucidating the environmental fate and transformation of antibiotics and resistance genes. This review summarizes current knowledge on the occurrence and dissemination of emerging micropollutants, their ecological impacts, and the global health implications of antimicrobial resistance. It highlights the need for interdisciplinary collaborations among researchers, policymakers, and stakeholders to address the challenges posed by antibiotic resistance in aquatic resistance in aquatic systems effectively. This review highlights widespread antibiotic and antibiotic resistance in aquatic environment, driven by human and agricultural activities. It underscores the ecological consequences, including disrupted microbial communities and altered ecosystem functions. The findings call for urgent measures to mitigate antibiotics pollution and manage antibiotic resistance spread in water bodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]