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The severe global hazards posed by marine microplastics must be given attention. This study evaluated the current international legal framework, and offers forward-looking recommendations for enhancing international law. The analysis began by examining the unique characteristics and profound impacts of marine microplastics, underscoring the necessity of a corresponding international regulatory regime. Through a thorough review of the existing global and regional legal instruments—both soft and hard laws—we identified key issues and challenges in the international legal response to marine microplastics, particularly in terms of legislation and enforcement mechanisms. The study emphasizes the urgent need for strengthened international legislation, including the potential development of a specialized international treaty, and calls for the enhancement of compliance mechanisms to effectively combat marine microplastic pollution and support the broader goal of sustainable development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global environment has recently been facing sustainability threats owing to industrial and economic expansions. Accordingly, this study empirically examines the impact of carbon emissions and the directional causality between carbon emissions and environmental quality, financial development, and economic growth. We used data from 65 economies from 2010 to 2021, applying fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) approaches. Generally, the findings from the analysis revealed that the estimated coefficients of carbon emissions were negative and significant across the model, except for greenhouse gas emissions, which produced an insignificant result in developed economies. This result proves that an increase in carbon emissions and other forms of pollution are detrimental to environmental quality, economic growth, and financial development. Further results revealed that fossil fuels are positively and significantly related to the economic growth and financial development of selected countries. Empirical outcomes indicate that ineffective control of environmental pollution and carbon emissions is a major challenge to the economic growth trajectories of the selected countries, especially in emerging economies. The results from directional relationships revealed that bi-directional causality exists between CO2 and GDP; between total greenhouse gas emissions and economic growth, with no directional relationship of CO2 emissions to financial development and vice versa; and economic growth to CO2 emissions from gaseous fuel consumption and vice versa. Generally, this outcome indicates that improved environmental quality control can accelerate economic growth and financial development worldwide. This study provides insights to governments, policymakers, international organizations, researchers, and many other stakeholders. This study suggests that stricter fiscal and monetary policies, laws, and regulations, such as environmental taxes and carbon emission taxes, with strong implementation strategies, especially in emerging economies, are strongly recommended worldwide. Further recommendations suggest the development of technologically innovative policies that can counter all the impacts of devastating human activities on the environment, and these are encouraged. A greater consumption of renewable energy and the use of other innovative machines that are environmentally friendly and can help control various forms of pollution and carbon emissions have been encouraged globally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have shown promise in reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions, but their potential for simultaneous NOx reduction in small-scale combustion systems remains underexplored. This study focuses on using non-thermal plasma generated in a corona discharge to reduce PM and NOx emissions from small-scale combustion. ESP was specifically designed for a commercially available 15 kW boiler with wood pellet combustion and used with both positive and negative discharge polarity to control emissions without any chemical additives. ESP performance was evaluated across a range of specific input energies (SIE) in terms of particle mass and number concentrations and NOx concentrations obtained by continuous gas analysis. ESP ensured the reduction in PM concentrations from 48 mg/m3 to the magnitude of PM content in the ambient air. The highest precipitation efficiency was observed for particles in the 20–200 nm range. Concurrently, NOx emissions were reduced by up to 78%, from 178 mg/m3 to 39 mg/m3. These results were achieved at specific input energies of 36 for positive and 48 J/L for negative corona, which is significantly lower than those reported for many existing separate PM and NOx control systems. This study demonstrates the potential of ESPs as a compact, energy-efficient solution for simultaneous PM and NOx removal in small-scale combustion systems, offering promising implications for improving air pollution control technologies for small-scale combustion systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is of the utmost importance for every country to monitor and control maritime pollution within its exclusive economic zone (EEZ). The European Maritime Safety Agency (EMSA) has developed and implemented the CleanSeaNet (CSN) satellite monitoring system to aid in the surveillance and control of hydrocarbon and hazardous substance spills in the ocean. This system's primary objective is to alert European Union (EU) coastal states to potential spills within their EEZs, enabling them to take the necessary legal and operational actions. To reduce operational costs and increase response capability, the feasibility of implementing a national network (NN) of unmanned vehicles (UVs), both surface and aerial, was explored using a Portuguese case study. The following approach and analysis can be easily generalized to other case studies, bringing essential knowledge to the field. Analyzing oil spill alert events in the Portuguese EEZ between 2017 and 2021 and performing a strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis, essential information has been proposed for the optimal location of an NN of UVs. The study results demonstrate that integrating spill alerts at sea with UVs may significantly improve response time, costs, and personnel involvement, making maritime pollution combat actions more effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Microscale zero‐valent iron (mZVI) is widely used for water pollutant control and environmental remediation, yet its reactivity is still constrained by the inert oxide shell. Herein, we demonstrate that mechanochemical thioglycolate (TG) modification can dramatically enhance heavy metal (NiII, CrVI, CdII, PbII, HgII, and SbIII) removal rates of mZVI by times of 16.7 to 88.0. Compared with conventional impregnation (wet chemical process), this dry mechanochemical process could construct more robust covalent bonding between TG and the inert oxide shell of mZVI through its electron‐withdrawing carboxylate group to accelerate the electron release from the iron core, and more effectively strengthen the surface heavy metal adsorption through metal(d)‐sulfur(p) orbital hybridization between its thiol group and heavy metal ions. Impressively, this mechanochemically TG‐modified mZVI exhibited an unprecedented NiII removal capacity of 580.4 mg Ni g−1 Fe, 17.1 and 9.5 times those of mZVI and wet chemically TG‐modified mZVI, respectively. Its application potential was further validated by more than 10 days of stable groundwater NiII removal in a column flow reactor. This study offers a promising strategy to enhance the reactivity of mZVI, and also emphasizes the importance of the modification strategy in optimizing its performance for environmental applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Thus far, the impact of kaolin mining activities on the surrounding native plants and rhizosphere microecology has not been fully understood. Methods: In this study, we used 16S rRNA high-throughput sequencing to examine the impact of kaolin mining on the rhizosphere bacterial communities and functions of three local plant species: Conyza bonariensis, Artemisia annua, and Dodonaea viscosa. Results: The results showed that kaolin mining significantly reduced the diversity of rhizosphere bacteria in these plants, as indicated by the Shannon, Simpson, Chao1, and observed species indices (p < 0.05). Kaolin mining had an impact on the recruitment of three rhizosphere bacteria native to the area: Actinoplanes, RB41, and Mycobacterium. These bacteria were found to be more abundant in the rhizosphere soil of three local plants than in bulk soil, yet the mining of kaolin caused a decrease in their abundance (p < 0.05). Interestingly, Ralstonia was enriched in the rhizosphere of these plants found in kaolin mining areas, suggesting its resilience to environmental stress. Furthermore, the three plants had different dominant rhizosphere bacterial populations in kaolin mining areas, such as Nocardioides, Pseudarthrobacter, and Sphingomonas, likely due to the unique microecology of the plant rhizosphere. Kaolin mining activities also caused a shift in the functional diversity of rhizosphere bacteria in the three local plants, with each plant displaying different functions to cope with kaolin mining-induced stress, such as increased abundance of the GlpM family and glucan-binding domain. Discussion: This study is the first to investigate the effects of kaolin mining on the rhizosphere microecology of local plants, thus contributing to the establishment of soil microecological health monitoring indicators to better control soil pollution in kaolin mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Featured Application: Chlorococcum dorsiventrale for effective heavy metal removal in wastewater treatment and environmental cleanup: bioremoval of cadmium, chromium, and lead. Heavy metals are one of the main threats to marine life and ecosystems and any remedial action in that regard is urgently required. The aim of this work is to study the bioremoval of cadmium, chromium and lead in a microalgae strain Chlorococcum dorsiventrale isolated from Tunisian coastal waters along with assessing its enzymatic and molecular responses. The microalgae were tested in artificial seawater to evaluate their capacity for phycoremediation in an aquatic environment. This strain tolerated exposure to Cd (II), Cr (VI), and Pb (II) and was able to grow for 14 days. Cd and Cr exposures elicited a decrease in chlorophyll, lipid and polysaccharide contents, whereas no damages were detected following Pb treatment. For protein content, no significant changes were seen except after Pb exposure which induced a slight increase after treatment with 5 mg/L. The assessment of stress defense-related gene expression using qRT-PCR revealed that exposure to Pb and Cr induced an up-regulation of catalase, superoxide dismutase and photosystem II protein D1 encoding genes. Moreover, heat shock protein 70 was slightly overexpressed. Removal efficiencies for Cr and Pb attained 89% and 95%, respectively. The mechanisms by which C. dorsiventrale removed Cr involved both intracellular and extracellular biosorption, while Pb was predominantly removed through membrane adsorption. This study highlights the potential of C. dorsiventrale as an efficient agent for the bioremediation of heavy metal-contaminated water, including industrial wastewater, thus paving the way for practical and environmental applications in pollution control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study provides a comprehensive analysis of the water quality in five major rivers in Türkiye: Sakarya, Yeşilırmak, Kızılırmak, Seyhan Rivers, and Niğde Creek. Utilizing hydrochemical diagrams and the River Pollution Index (RPI), we assess the temporal and spatial variations in water quality over the past three decades. The hydrochemical characteristics reveal a dominant calcium-bicarbonate (Ca-HCO3) type water, indicating strong geological control primarily influenced by carbonate weathering. Seasonal variations and anthropogenic influences, particularly agricultural runoff and industrial discharge, contribute to significant changes in ion concentrations, especially in the Kızılırmak and Yeşilırmak Rivers. The RPI results classify these rivers as 'Severely polluted' to 'Moderately polluted', driven by high levels of suspended solids and biochemical oxygen demand. This study underscores the urgent need for tailored pollution control measures and sustainable water management practices in order to mitigate the impacts of anthropogenic activities and protect the ecological health of these vital water resources. The findings provide a robust framework for future research and policymaking to enhance water quality monitoring and management strategies in the region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The constant increase in population and as a result increase in industrial activities in many areas, such as textiles, cosmetics, leather, polymers, and food processing leads to the contamination of water sources with different dyes. Thus, the removal of dyes from contaminated water sources to make water reusable is the utmost requirement of the time in order to get environmental sustainability. The reason of removal is that many dyes and pollutants present in dyeing wastewater from industries have detrimental impacts on plants, wildlife, and humans. To lessen the negative effects of dye wastewater on the environment and living beings, it should be processed first to remove un-wanted components before being released in the water sources. However, due to some drawbacks of dye removal technologies, it is challenging to settle on a single solution that addresses the current dye effluent problem to make water clean. In the current work, we tried our best to elaborate different methods adopted for the treatment of dyes polluted wastewater with respect to their implementation along with drawbacks and advantages. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present article is focused on the condensation process of exhaust gases to reduce the air pollution to a possible extent. It is accomplished by circulating liquid N2 through copper tubes inside a chamber that is designed to condense the oncoming exhaust gases from the muffler of automobiles, thereby condensing a significant portion of exhaust gases. The condensed gases can be stored and processed at any industrial premises for recycling in a cost-effective manner. The work reported herein compares the design and analysis of two different mechanisms to achieve the effective condensation of automobile exhausts (i.e.)., one involves the employment of copper tubes with Liquid N2, and other involves porous bed kept inside copper tubes with Liquid N2. It is observed that a significant improvement in the heat transfer characteristics of the later version with porous bed over the other counterpart. The modelling and meshing of copper tubes with porous material is a tedious process, because it requires a huge number of nodes to capture the geometry. Hence, the non-equilibrium porous bed module available in the ANSYS Fluent tool is used to carry out the numerical analysis of the entire model. Further, the performance characteristics of the porous bed model are validated with a small sectional model of copper tube with porous bed and by a novel experimental technique involving distilled water in copper tubes. The outcomes of the studies are presented with different colour band metrics and trial experimental results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Food Science & Technology & Economy is the property of Grain Science & Technology & Economy Editorial Office 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.)

Natural resource management (NRM) plays a pivotal role in ensuring the sustainability of ecosystems, which are essential for human health and well-being. This systematic review examines the impact of various NRM practices on water quality and their subsequent effects on public health. Specifically, it focuses on interventions such as watershed management, pollution control, land use management, water treatment, and ecosystem restoration. We conducted a comprehensive search across PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science, supplemented by gray literature from Google Scholar, WHO reports, and government and NGO publications, covering studies published between 2014 and 2024. A total of 42 studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing diverse geographical regions with significant representation from developing countries. The findings indicate that effective NRM practices, particularly those aimed at reducing pollutants, managing watersheds, and promoting sustainable land use, significantly improve water quality by lowering levels of chemical contaminants, microbial pathogens, and physical pollutants. Improved water quality directly correlates with reduced incidences of waterborne diseases, chronic health conditions from long-term chemical exposure, and acute health effects from immediate pollutant exposure. The review underscores the need for tailored NRM strategies that consider local environmental and socio-economic contexts. It also highlights the importance of community involvement, regulatory frameworks, and continuous monitoring to enhance the effectiveness of NRM interventions. Despite the positive impacts, barriers such as limited financial resources, technical expertise, and community engagement pose challenges to the implementation of these practices. In conclusion, the systematic review demonstrates that comprehensive and context-specific NRM practices are crucial for improving water quality and public health outcomes. Policymakers and practitioners are encouraged to adopt integrated water resource management approaches, prioritize sustainable practices, and engage local communities to achieve long-term health and environmental benefits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that the structural design of American state environmental agencies impacts their performance, with agencies that combine environmental protection with other functions like public health or natural resource management regulating pollution emissions less stringently than those that focus exclusively on environmental protection. Using a set of panel data models, this study assesses this claim across several major U.S. environmental programs, including those regulating air pollution, water pollution, and hazardous waste. The results are mixed. Though support for the agency structure hypothesis is found in some models, taken together, the findings tend to refute the notion that an environmental agency's structure has systematic, predictable impacts on its regulatory performance across programs and regulatory activities. Rather, they suggest that the effects of agency design may be more nuanced and context-dependent than articulations of this theory commonly suggest. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Particulate matter especially PM2.5 has always been a prime concern for human health. An Integrated Exposure–Response (IER) function and Value of Statistical Life (VSL) approach is used in the present study, for Delhi, India, to monitor the association between fine particulate matter (PM2.5) concentration and premature mortality for the five diseases: ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke (STR), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung neoplasms (LNC), and lower respiratory infections (LRI) and economic loss occurring due to them. It was found in the study that IHD (64%) has the highest risk, followed by stroke (19%), COPD (10%), LRI (4%), and LNC (3%). Significant economic loss for these diseases during the study period (on average annually) was found to be: IHD [20160.15, 95% CI:16,432.88—24,290.06], STR [6088.12, 95% CI: 4583.80- 7963.50], COPD [3176.32, 95% CI:2246.27—3818.32], LNC [881.13, 95% CI: 696.37 – 1087.61], LRI [1170.48, 95% CI:852.44—1542.76] million USD. Scenario modeling was done as part of this investigation to see if Delhi meeting India's National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) threshold (40 µg/m3) would lower premature deaths and provide economic benefits. Premature mortality has decreased for the following conditions: LRI (51.81%), LNC (47.76%), COPD (47.48%), STR (22.08%), and IHD (20.53%). Further, premature mortality can be potentially reduced, on average, by 95.66% for LRI, 90% for LNC, 88.75% for COPD, 85.40% for STR, and 62.19% for IHD for the study duration if 2005 World Health Organization (WHO) PM2.5 exposure limit (10 µg/m3) were reached. Similarly, economic benefits of 7987.39 [95% CI: 6219.57 – 9812.56] and 22,461.14 [95% CI: 17,585.92 – 27,707.95] million USD could have been reaped by maintaining NAAQS and WHO (2005 guidelines) prescribed limits. The estimated reduction in premature mortality and associated economic benefits due to decreased PM2.5 exposure calls for mitigation measures on an urgent basis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Fuel, a petroleum derivative, contributes to soil pollution because of its hydrocarbons, which are difficult to decompose. Bioremediation can assist by introducing microbes that are capable of degrading hydrocarbons and enhancing this process by adding nutrients. This study validated previous research by adding the most optimum nutrients, bacteria with the right ratio, and pre-treatment of soil washing on the degradation value of hydrocarbons in crude oil-contaminated soil. Pre-treatment involved washing the soil with surfactant tween-80, determining the type of mixed bacterial culture variables, adding varying concentrations of inoculum and inorganic nutrients, and determining the optimal total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction. The study found that the provision of nutrients, bacteria, and pre-treatment in soil washing had no significant effect on the original soil TPH.

Fuel, a petroleum derivative, contributes to soil pollution because of its hydrocarbons, which are difficult to decompose. Bioremediation can assist by introducing microbes that are capable of degrading hydrocarbons and enhancing this process by adding nutrients. This study validated previous research by adding the most optimum nutrients, bacteria with the right ratio, and pre-treatment of soil washing on the degradation value of hydrocarbons in crude oil-contaminated soil. Pre-treatment involved washing the soil with surfactant tween-80, determining the type of mixed bacterial culture variables, adding varying concentrations of inoculum and inorganic nutrients, and determining the optimal total petroleum hydrocarbon (TPH) reduction. The study found that the provision of nutrients, bacteria, and pre-treatment in soil washing had no significant effect on the original soil TPH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The amount of rural sewage varies greatly, which easily affects the normal operation of sewage treatment facilities. The application of waste bricks to construct rural sewage treatment type household manholes can realize front pollution control, improve the stability of the rural sewage treatment system, and realize the resource utilization of rural construction wastes, which has a broad prospect. However, the influencing factors and parameter selection of this technology are not clear, which affects its popularization and application. To solve the above problems,this study adopted small and pilot devices, combined with material characterization, single factor analysis and response surface analysis to study the influence of waste brick particle size, pollution control effect and parameter optimization process of waste brick-based rural sewage treatment type household manholes. It was found that waste brick-based rural sewage treatment type household manholes had good sewage treatment effects, and waste brick fragments with particle size of 0.5-

The issue of environmental pollution caused by the widespread presence of microplastics (MPs) in environmental media has garnered significant attention. However, research on MPs pollution has mainly focused on aquatic ecosystems in recent years. The sources and pollution characteristics of MPs in the environment, especially in solid waste, have not been well-described. Additionally, there are few reports on the ecotoxicity of MPs, which highlights the need to fill this gap. This review first summarizes the occurrence characteristics of MPs in water, soil, and marine environments, and then provides an overview of their toxic effects on organisms and the relevant mechanisms. This paper also provides an outlook on the hotspots of research on pollution characterization and ecotoxicity of MPs. Finally, this review aims to provide insights for future ecotoxicity control of MPs. Overall, this paper expands our understanding of the pollution characteristics and ecological toxicity of MPs in current environmental media, providing forward-looking guidance for future research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Railway Construction Technology is the property of Railway Construction Technology Editorial Office 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.)

In this study, we used 16S high-throughput sequencing to investigate the effects of uranium mining on the rhizospheric bacterial communities and functions of three local plant species, namely, Artemisia frigida, Acorus tatarionwii Schott., and Salix oritrepha Schneid. The results showed that uranium mining significantly reduced the diversity of rhizospheric bacteria in the three local plant species, including the Shannon index and Simpson index (P < 0.05). Interestingly, we found that Sphingomonas and Pseudotrichobacter were enriched in the rhizosphere soil of the three local plants from uranium mining areas, indicating their important ecological role. The three plants were enriched in various dominant rhizospheric bacterial populations in the uranium mining area, including Vicinamidobacteriaceae, Nocardioides, and Gaiella, which may be related to the unique microecological environment of the plant rhizosphere. The rhizospheric bacterial community of A. tatarionwii plants from tailings and open-pit mines also showed a certain degree of differentiation, indicating that uranium mining is the main factor driving the differentiation of plant rhizosphere soil communities on the plateau. Functional prediction revealed that rhizospheric bacteria from different plants have developed different functions to cope with stress caused by uranium mining activities, including enhancing the translational antagonist Rof, the translation initiation factor 2B subunit, etc. This study explores for the first time the impact of plateau uranium mining activities on the rhizosphere microecology of local plants, promoting the establishment of effective soil microecological health monitoring indicators, and providing a reference for further soil pollution remediation in plateau uranium mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the DID method to estimate whether the binding pollution control policy can achieve both "pollution reduction" and "efficiency enhancement" for industrial enterprises after implementing this command‐and‐control environmental regulation of the eleventh Five‐Year Plan in China. We also analyze its influence mechanism in detail. It has been shown that (1) Constrained by binding pollution control policies, enterprises could reduce their pollutant emissions but simultaneously suppress their total factor productivity (TFP), which indicates that command‐and‐control environmental regulations do not achieve both "pollution reduction" and "efficiency gains" for firms. (2) The mechanism analysis shows that under the constraint of the binding pollution control policy, enterprises increase the pollution treatment at the front end of production, such as investment in environmental protection facilities, and adjust the production schedule, such as pollution treatment at the end of production. These pollution treatment measures reduce pollutant emissions while bringing "compliance costs" to enterprises. However, the "innovation compensation effect" fails to compensate for the "compliance cost" brought by pollution control. (3) Further study finds that the binding pollution control policy effectively reduces the pollutant emissions of enterprises with low financing constraints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity and shortage of clean and potable water for human consumption and/or use are of global concern. The contamination of water induced by pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical products further worsens this problem, as intake of such contaminated water could lead to drug resistance. The reclamation of wastewater containing pharmaceuticals by adsorption is found to be an effective, simple, and cost-effective process. In this review article, we selected and evaluated ~140 published articles on adsorption-based studies between 2010 and 2023 that have investigated the use of cheap and adsorptive carbon-based materials for remediation of pharmaceutical-laden wastewater. The application of carbon-based materials for the reclamation of varying types of organic micropollutants in wastewater is rapidly gaining attention in recent years. This is due to their sustainability, reusability, adsorption capacities, and cost-effectiveness. The uptake of pharmaceuticals as an organic micropollutant in terms of adsorption isotherm, operating parameters (temperature, initial concentration, solution pH, time), re-usability studies, kinetics, etc. for different kinds of carbon-based materials are addressed in this review article. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent years, the "power restriction" measures were taken in many localities, industrial electricity consumption was interrupted, mainly in the "two high" (high energy consumption and high pollutant emission) enterprises. Take the "power restriction" event in 2021 as an example, this event affected a wide range of regions and disrupted people's livelihood. It not only refers to the power switch and rationing measures taken by individual regions, but also includes differentiated policies implemented by over 20 provinces to limit power supply and industrial production. This paper investigated in detail and summarized the different requirements of power restriction across the country, through the comparison of annual growth rates of power generation and industrial added value，the comparison results of energy intensity, electricity production, power consumption and the industrial growth rate in each province are analyzed. Industrial enterprises and related industrial chains were most heavily affected by the "power restriction" event，mainly in steel, cement, electrolytic aluminum, industrial silicon, textile printing and dyeing, chemical fiber, chemical and other enterprises with high energy consumption and high pollutants emission. The measures to limit electricity will affect the normal production of enterprises to a certain extent, leading to not only the decrease of production efficiency, but also the increase of energy consumption and pollutant emission per unit product. Energy management measures such as differentiated electricity price have limited effect on the output of "two high" industrial products, and the economic leverage of differentiated electricity price is gradually being diluted by the price rise of end products. This paper analyzed the reasons and explored several key problems that need special attention. then recommended certain countermeasures for its appropriate application in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Industrial Water Treatment is the property of CNOOC Tianjin Chemical Research & Design Institute 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.)

Identifying the key determinants of heavy metal(loid) accumulation in rice and quantifying their contributions are critical for precise prediction of heavy metal(loid) concentrations in rice and the formulation of effective pollution control strategies. The accumulation of heavy metal(loid)s in rice can be influenced by both natural and anthropogenic factors, which may interact with each other. However, distinguishing the independent roles (main effects) from interactive effects and quantifying their impacts separately pose challenges. To address this knowledge gap, we employed TreeExplainer-based SHAP and random forest algorithms in this study to quantitatively estimate the primary influencing factors and their main and interactive effects on heavy metal(loid)s in rice. Our findings reveal that soil cadmium (SCd) and rice cultivation time (C_TIME) were the primary contributors to rice cadmium (RCd) and rice arsenic (RAs), respectively. Soil lead (SPb) and sampling distances from roads significantly contributed to rice lead (RPb). Additionally, we identified significant interactive effects of SCd and C_TIME, C_TIME and RCd, and RCd and rice variety on RCd, RAs, and RPb, respectively, emphasizing their significance. These insights are pivotal in improving the accuracy of heavy metal(loid) concentration predictions in rice and offering theoretical guidance for the formulation of pollution control measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identifying impact factors and spatial variability of pollutants is essential for understanding environmental exposure and devising solutions. This research focused on PM2.5 as the target pollutant and developed land use regression models specific to the Shenyang metropolitan area in 2020. Utilizing the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator approach, models were developed for all seasons and for the annual average, explaining 62–70% of the variability in PM2.5 concentrations. Among the predictors, surface pressure exhibited a positive correlation with PM2.5 concentrations throughout most of the year. Conversely, both elevation and tree cover had negative effects on PM2.5 levels. At a 2000 m scale, landscape aggregation decreased PM2.5 levels, while at a larger scale (5000 m), landscape splitting facilitated PM2.5 dispersion. According to the partial R2 results, vegetation-related land use types were significant, with the shrubland proportion positively correlated with local-scale PM2.5 concentrations in spring. Bare vegetation areas were the primary positive factor in autumn, whereas the mitigating effect of tree cover contrasted with this trend, even in winter. The NDVI, an index used to assess vegetation growth, was not determined to be a primary influencing factor. The findings reaffirm the function of vegetation cover in reducing PM2.5. Based on the research, actionable strategies for PM2.5 pollution control were outlined to promote sustainable development in the region. [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]

Nitrogen oxides (NOx), significant contributors to air pollution and climate change, form aerosols and ozone in the atmosphere. Accurate, timely, and transparent information on NOx emissions is essential for decision-making to mitigate both haze and ozone pollution. However, a comprehensive understanding of the trends and drivers behind anthropogenic NOx emissions from China—the world's largest emitter—has been lacking since 2020 due to delays in emissions reporting. Here we show a consistent decline in China's NOx emissions from 2020 to 2022, despite increased fossil fuel consumption, utilizing satellite observations as constraints for NOx emission estimates through atmospheric inversion. This reduction is corroborated by data from two independent spaceborne instruments: the TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) and the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI). Notably, a reduction in transport emissions, largely due to the COVID-19 lockdowns, slightly decreased China's NOx emissions in 2020. In subsequent years, 2021 and 2022, reductions in NOx emissions were driven by the industry and transport sectors, influenced by stringent air pollution controls. The satellite-based inversion system developed in this study represents a significant advancement in the real-time monitoring of regional air pollution emissions from space.

Extended Abstract Background: It is important to research in the field of germplasm protection of native and medicinal tree species in northern Iran forests, especially blood hawthorn with many medicinal properties. Sexual reproduction of hawthorn is possible with apomixis due to the thick shell and two types of physical and physiological dormancy, and its asexual reproduction by rooting cuttings faces many problems. Bloody hawthorn (Crataegus atrosanguinea from the Rosaceae family) is considered one of the valuable species of the forests of the north and west of the country, which is very important due to its fruitfulness, very strong wood, and numerous medicinal properties. The medicinal properties of hawthorn have been proven in the treatment of blood pressure, arteriosclerosis, heart congestion, heart muscle weakness, and coronary insufficiency. Hawthorn contains many secondary metabolites such as flavonoids proanthocyanidin and glycosides. Optimizing the in vitro cultivation conditions of blood hawthorn as one of the natural species of Iran can be a suitable solution for its propagation. The present research was carried out to control pollution, control browning, and induce the callus of blood hawthorn (C. atrosanguinea) in vitro. Controlling the contamination of explants, seeds, and plant tissues is of great importance for the success of plant tissue culture. Since the enrichment of natural plant explants is a priority for tissue culture, this is usually associated with many problems with browning, especially for woody plants that have a thick and woody stem. Determining the type and concentration of the growth regulator of a variable factor is necessary for the growth of plants under in vitro conditions. After applying the growth regulator to the culture medium, the plant will show different reactions, but one of the appropriate ways to choose the correct path of plant regeneration is to determine the wet and dry weights of the callus, which is widely measured as a standard of callus growth. The callus growth curve can be obtained using the wet and dry weights of the callus. The results of past research indicate a wide range of changes in the type and concentration of growth regulators on callus formation and regeneration of different species of the hawthorn genus. A specific type and concentration of growth regulators should be applied according to the type of plant species. Methods: Young and healthy stems of blood hawthorn were collected from Larijan in Amol, Mazandaran province, Iran, with geographical coordinates of 38' 58° N and 10' 52° E, at the beginning of the growing season. The collected stems were immediately transferred to the plant tissue culture laboratory of the Faculty of Natural Resources at Sari University of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Iran. Disinfection of natural hawthorn stems is very necessary due to surface and tissue contamination. For this purpose, explants of 0.5-1 cm size were cut from the stems. The infection control treatments included HgCl2, H2O2, NaClO, and AgNO3, and five treatments were designed to control the browning of explants. Browning control treatments included control, running water, ascorbic acid, polyvinyl chloride, and activated charcoal. In general, the culture medium consisted of substances including mineral salts (micro- and macroelements) as providers of maximum growth, amino acids and vitamins as nitrogen sources, sugar as a source of carbon and energy, growth regulators as growth and morphogenesis stimulants, agar as the solidifier of the cultivation medium, and water, which includes 90% of the cultivation medium. In this research, the culture medium was MS, which was first created by Driver and Koniaki (1984) and prepared according to Dufussard (1976). In this study, the pH of the culture medium was set to 5.8. For callus induction, IBA, NAA, 2,4-D, BAP, TDZ, and Kin treatments at three concentration levels of 0.1, 1, and 6 mg/L and a combination of NAA (6 mg-1) + BAP (1 mg-1), and IBA (6 mg l-1) + BAP (1 mg-1) were used in the MS culture medium. Stem explants were placed horizontally on the culture medium. Among different callus treatments, callus percentage, degree of callus, callus fresh and dry weights, and cross-sectional area of callus were measured to investigate callus induction. The best treatment was obtained by calculating the mentioned characteristics and that treatment was used for planting. It was transplanted approximately every 20 days and a total of 5-6 times. After callus cultivation in the reproduction medium, the explants were placed in a culture chamber and adaptation racks under 16 hours of light and 8 hours of dark treatment at 25 ± 2 °C with a humidity of 70%. Results: HgCl2 (0.5%, 16 minutes) with an average of 100% health was the most appropriate pollution control treatment. The control treatment with 98% health was observed as the most appropriate browning control treatment. Moreover, the type, concentration, and interaction effect of the type and concentration of the growth regulator significantly affected the callus induction characteristics of blood hawthorn (P < 0.01). The highest fresh and dry weights of callus, percentage and degree of callus formation, and cross-sectional area of callus were observed among auxin and cytokinin treatments, respectively, for 6 mg/L of NAA and 1 mg/L of BAP treatments. The highest levels of the studied callus induction characteristics were observed in the culture medium containing the combination of auxin and cytokinin (6 mg-1 of IBA+1 mg-1 of BAP). Conclusion: In general, the results showed a 90% chance of controlling the browning of the explants of natural blood hawthorn branches in a normal state and without applying any treatment. It is recommended to use 0.5% mercuric chloride for 16 minutes to disinfect the explants. The combination of growth regulators in the culture medium was evaluated as very suitable for the callus induction of bloody hawthorn. The results of this research can provide laboratory instructions for the regeneration and mass reproduction of blood hawthorn.

By integrating the successful case of the European Union emissions trading system, this study proposes a water emissions trading system, a novel method of reducing water pollution. Assuming that upstream governments allocate initial quotas to upstream businesses as the compensation standard, this approach defines the foundational principles of market trading mechanisms and establishes a robust watershed ecological compensation model to address challenges in water pollution prevention. To be specific, the government establishes a reasonable initial quota for upstream enterprises, which can be used to limit the emissions of upstream pollution. When enterprises exceed their allocated emissions quota, they face financial penalties. Conversely, these emissions rights can be transformed into profitable assets by participating in the trading market as a form of ecological compensation. Numerical simulations demonstrate that various pollutant emissions from upstream businesses will have various effects on the profits of other businesses. Businesses in the upstream region received reimbursement from the assigned emission rights through the market mechanism, demonstrating that ecological compensation for the watershed can be achieved through the market mechanism. This novel market trading system aims at controlling emissions management from the perspectives of individual enterprises and ultimately optimizing the aquatic environment. HIGHLIGHT The article establishes a water emissions trading mechanism. We establish this mechanism to control the amount of emission from each enterprise. Then we achieve the purpose of optimizing the water environment.;

Environmental pollution control in the growing world is a challenging task for all the countries in order to keep the environmental sustainability. Biochar, a processed carbon material, draws a significant attention in the field of environmental remediation, as of its active functional groups that help remove environmental pollutants to a level insignificant to cause hazardous effects. As such, there is an increasing interest developed to promote highly productive biochar for exploring environmental engineering aspects. There is limited comprehensive literature available for understanding biochar science and its potential applications under an umbrella. This review was set to fill this knowledge gap by discussing key points related to biochar, its novel engineering aspects and potential environmental applications. Therefore, this overview tends to summarize and discuss biochar, its fundamentals, engineering aspects commonly used modifications and the potential applications of biochar in water treatment with an intention of addressing the importance of biochar for environmental remediation process. This overview will be useful for researchers, policy-makers and stakeholders to plan and review relevant scientific works in order to produce customized biochar for future environmental applications. HIGHLIGHTS Comprehensive summary of new methods used for engineered biochar production.; Discussion about the functional properties of engineered biochar.; New insights into the use of engineered biochar for the removal of pollutants.; Mechanism of pollutant removal by engineered biochar.;

Coal is the main energy in our country and the ballast stone of energy security. As an inevitable product in the process of coal mining and coal washing, coal gangue has an annual output of more than 700 million tons, which is in urgent need of large-scale and ecological utilization to solve the problem of coal gangue as a stumbling block in enterprise development. Based on the analysis of the mechanism of ecological damage in large-scale utilization of coal gangue, the principle of large-scale ecological utilization of coal gangue was put forward, and the concrete solution of large-scale ecological utilization of environmental safety is discussed from the technical perspective. Two key technologies of large-scale ecological utilization was put forward, namely in-situ contamination control and ecological restoration of acid coal gangue mountain, and ground filling of coal gangue. The results demonstrated that: ① The key to large-scale ecological utilization of coal gangue is prevention and control of environmental contamination. Large-scale ecological utilization of coal gangue can be realized through the evaluation of the availability and economy of gangue that combined with environmental risk management. ② Realized the ecological utilization of accumulated gangue mountain by vegetation restoration based on in-situ contamination control, and developed an ecological utilization technology integrated with pollution source diagnosis, fire prevention, pollution barrier, and vegetation restoration. Based on the mechanism analysis of pollution caused by acid and heat production of gangue oxidation, thermal infrared coupled with surveying and mapping technology was uesd to locate the deep burning point (oxidation point) in gangue mountain; an oxidation inhibitor coupled with fungicide and reducing bacteria was invented, which covered with an inert materia and rolled to prevent oxygen and pollution; the fire-fighting technology combining shotcrete fire control and grouting is adopted in the spontaneous combustion area; and a fire-proof vegetation restoration technology based on local and grass irrigation was put forward, which realized in-situ contamination control and ecological restoration of acid coal gangue mountain.③ The ecological utilization of ground filling of coal gangue can be realized through the feasibility analysis of ecological utilization of ground filling, the technology of ecological utilization and the long-term monitoring of maintenance management. The key of ecological utilization is the contamination risk analysis of gangue material screening, the necessity and feasibility analysis of ground filling site selection, and environmental protection measures during the whole filling process, including safety and environmental protection measures such as anti-seepage barrier at the bottom of the site before filling, layered filling technology and soil profile reconstruction technology for fire prevention and acid control in filling, erosion control and vegetation restoration after filling. Large-scale ecological utilization of coal gangue not only solves the ecological environment problems caused by solid waste storage in mining areas, but also creates a new mode of ecological restoration in mining areas through scientific, safe, and reasonable utilization of new and dated gangue.

To address pollution control, cooperation among interested parties is essential. This paper examines a stochastic evolution game model involving a strategic coalition of three enterprises for pollution control. The model incorporates decision-making factors to construct a strategic coalition model of enterprise pollution control between enterprises. The study analyzes the evolution process of pollution control strategies within the coalition and determines the final stable strategy. Additionally, numerical simulations are conducted to explore the evolution paths of enterprises under various circumstances. Results from a case-based numerical example validate the theoretical findings, supporting the following insights: (1) the coalition requires an effective mechanism for incentivizing and penalizing actions, (2) the government should establish and improve coordination and management mechanisms, (3) citizens are urged to develop social oversight mechanisms for reporting environmental violation, and (4) a fair and equitable distribution mechanism should be implemented within the coalition.

Electrostatic precipitators (ESPs) have demonstrated promise in reducing particulate matter (PM) emissions, but their potential for simultaneously reducing NOx in small-scale combustion systems remains largely unexplored. This study examines the potential of ESP with DC corona discharge of negative polarity to reduce both PM and NOx emissions from small-scale combustion. A chemical kinetic model is first developed to predict NOx removal in the ESP. The model accounts for the non-uniform electric field distribution and inhomogeneity of non-thermal plasma in chemical kinetic while remaining simple enough for practical engineering applications. This allows for the optimisation of ESP parameters during the initial design phase. Using this model, the ESP was developed and applied with different energisation regimes to control emissions from a 15 kW pellet combustion heating unit. The initial concentrations for PM and NOx were 48 mg/m3 and 305 mg/m3, respectively (0 °C, 101.3 kPa; at reference O2 = 10 %vol.). The efficiency of the ESP was both theoretically and experimentally determined for various operational regimes at voltages ranging from 6.8 to 11 kV. At 11 kV, the ESP demonstrated a PM removal efficiency of 99.99 % and a NOx removal efficiency of 38 %, achieving compliance with Ecodesign Directive limits. The model's predictions showed reasonable agreement with experimental data, with a slight miscalculation for both particle precipitation and NOx removal. These findings have significant implications for the design and operation of ESPs in small-scale biomass combustion systems, offering a foundation for optimising these devices for combined NOx and particulate matter control.

Blast furnace slag (BFS) is a secondary material generated during the process of producing iron in blast furnaces, prompting scholars to concentrate on its efficient management and broad application for the creation of valuable commodities. This study examines the mineral composition, adsorption characteristics, and utilization of BFS and its silica counterparts. Recent developments in the application of BFS and its functionalized materials for pollution mitigation are examined, specifically concentrating on the elimination of nitrogen, phosphorus, metal ions, pharmaceutical effluents, waste oils, and dye molecules from wastewater. Moreover, these inexpensive adsorbents exhibit significant specific surface areas, possess microporous configurations, and contain alkaline components like calcium oxide, magnesium oxide, and aluminum oxide. This review further elucidates the present state of BFS-based adsorbents in the absorption of acid gases, with a specific focus on CO₂. The problems associated with widespread BFS usage are analyzed, and potential solutions for effective resource utilization are discussed.

Plastics have revolutionized our lives; however, the exponential growth of their usage has led to a global crisis. More sustainable strategies are needed to address this dilemma and transform the plastics economy from a linearity to a circular model. Herein, we systematically summarize the recent progress in renewable energy‐driven plastic conversion strategies, including photocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and their integration. By introducing the significant works, the design principles, mechanisms, and system regulations, we decipher and compare the various aspects of plastic conversion. These approaches show high reactivity and selectivity under environmentally benign conditions and provide alternative reaction pathways for plastic conversion. Plastic upcycling as a chemical feedstock can yield value‐added chemicals and fuels, contributing to the establishment of a sustainable and circular economy. Additionally, several innovations in reaction engineering and system designs are presented. Finally, the challenges and perspectives of sustainable energy‐driven plastic conversion technologies are comprehensively discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rice–crayfish rotation system (RCR), originating in the Jianghan Plain, is developing rapidly in various regions of China and has been characterized by unbalanced regional development, which has also led to widespread concerns and discussion on its environmental impacts and sustainability. This study selects representative RCR production areas in the Jianghan Plain, including Jianli, Qianjiang, Shishou, Shayang, Gong'an and Honghu, to analyze resource inputs, resource utilization efficiency, environmental impacts and sustainability by employing the emergy analysis method. Our analysis of Jianli, Honghu, Qianjiang, Gong'an, Shishou and Shayang reports total emergy inputs ranging from 6.46 × 1016 to 8.25 × 1016, with renewable rates between 78.38% and 84.34%. Shishou leads in the unit emergy value (5.58 × 10−1) and the emergy yield ratio (5.30). The sustainability evaluation finds that the environmental loading ratio is from 0.19 to 0.28 and the emergy index for sustainable development varies between 1.27 and 3.00. This analysis indicates that the southern regions have higher inputs and efficiency, with southeastern areas showing lower environmental impact and higher sustainability. We also underscore the impact of non-renewable resources on environmental outcomes and sustainability, suggesting tailored development strategies for the rice–crayfish rotation system's optimization and sustainable growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research delves deeply into the intricate degradation kinetics of triclosan, employing two distinct methodologies: UV and simulated solar irradiation. Through a comprehensive comparative analysis, the study endeavors to elucidate the efficacy of these techniques, aiming to shed light on their respective methodological strengths and limitations. The study compares the efficacy of UV and simulated solar irradiation techniques for triclosan degradation, revealing that both methods exhibit effectiveness in degrading triclosan, with variations observed in degradation rates and byproduct formation. Through a detailed examination of the kinetics of triclosan degradation, the study reveals the intricate pathways and mechanisms involved in the photodegradation process. Results highlight the influence of irradiance levels and residence times on degradation efficiency. The research identifies optimal conditions for triclosan degradation, emphasizing the importance of residence time and irradiance levels. Results show that a residence time of 4 h and an irradiance level of 450 W m−2 maximize degradation efficiency. Analysis of degradation byproducts provides insights into the transformation pathways of triclosan under UV and simulated solar irradiation, indicating the formation of 2,4-dichlorophenol, quinone, and hydroquinone as primary byproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Elevated atmospheric reactive nitrogen (Nr) emissions and the subsequent nitrogen (N) deposition have negatively impacted the global environment, particularly in China. In order to assess the long-term trends in atmospheric N deposition in the south of China, Taojiang County in Hunan Province was selected as a representative rural area for study. We analyzed interannual variation in atmospheric Nr, including gaseous ammonia (NH3), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitrate acid (HNO3) vapor, particulate ammonium (NH4+), and nitrate (NO3−) in air and NH4+-N and NO3−-N in precipitation from 2011 to 2020. The 10-year average atmospheric wet-plus-dry N deposition was 41.9 kg N ha−1 yr−1, which decreased by approximately 24% after 2012, indicating that NH3 and NOx emissions were effectively reduced by emission controls introduced in 2013. Wet deposition accounted for approximately 74% of the total N deposition and was significantly influenced by annual precipitation amount. Reduced N (NH3, pNH4+, and NH4+ in rainwater) was the dominant form, comprising approximately 58% of the total N deposition, while oxidized N (pNO3−, NO2, HNO3, and NO3− in rainwater) accounted for 42% of the total N deposition. Atmospheric HNO3, NO2, and NH3 concentrations and deposition declined by 30–80% over the decade, while particulate NH4+ and NO3− concentrations and deposition remained at relatively stable levels, which suggests that ongoing research and policy should focus on rural particulate pollution. Future strategies must concentrate on the integrated control of NH3 and NOx emissions to mitigate air pollution and protect human health, particularly in rural areas because current abatement efforts are primarily directed toward urban areas and the industrial sector, whereas non-point source NH3 pollution, influenced mainly by agricultural activities, dominates in rural regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physical applications play a critical role in reducing environmental pollutants through various innovative techniques and technologies. These methods target pollutants in air, water, and soil, offering efficient and cost-effective solutions for pollution control and remediation. In the realm of air pollution control, technologies like electrostatic precipitators and advanced filtration systems are instrumental in capturing particulate matter and other pollutants emitted from industrial processes and combustion sources. These devices help improve air quality by removing harmful contaminants before they disperse into the atmosphere. In the domain of water treatment, physical applications such as ultraviolet (UV) radiation and ozone treatment play a crucial role in disinfecting water and wastewater. These methods effectively eliminate pathogens and contaminants, ensuring the safety of drinking water supplies and preserving aquatic ecosystems. Physical techniques are deployed in the remediation of contaminated sites, such as brownfields and industrial zones. Processes like soil vapor extraction, thermal desorption, and hydraulic containment facilitate the removal or containment of pollutants, restoring the environmental integrity of affected areas. Nanostructured materials and devices exhibit enhanced adsorption and catalytic properties, offering unprecedented efficiency in removing pollutants from environmental matrices. Overall, physical applications provide scalable, sustainable, and effective means of reducing environmental pollutants, highlighting their indispensable role in mitigating the adverse impacts of human activities on the environment. Continued research and innovation in this field are essential to address emerging challenges and ensure environmental sustainability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, an iron ore tailings sample (IOT), collected from a tailings dam in Minas Gerais, Brazil, was characterized. The IOT presented point of zero charge of ∼ 6, specific surface area of 4 m2 g−1, and was mainly composed of hematite and quartz. Subsequently, experiments were performed to evaluate the adsorption of an anionic dye, Direct Red 80 (DR80), and a cationic dye, Methylene Blue (MB), by the IOT, studying the effects of its dose (doseIOT) and the solution initial pH (pH0). The DR80 removal increased with the decrease of the pH0 while the opposite effect occurred in the experiments with the MB, suggesting the process is governed by the adsorption resulting from electrostatic forces. The increase in the doseIOT increased the DR80 and MB removal, which can be attributed to the greater availability of adsorption sites. Pseudo-second order kinetic (R2 > 0.9994) and the Langmuir equilibrium isotherm (R2 > 0.9842) models described well the DR80 adsorption by the IOT, being the reaction rate and maximum adsorption capacity higher at lower pH0. In a regeneration experiment, it was possible to desorb almost entirely the DR80 using a NaOH solution. Additionally, the regenerated IOT was able to adsorb the DR80, demonstrating its reusability. In a preliminary assay, the IOT decreased the colour of the textile wastewater sample at pH0 3. Therefore, the results indicate the potential use of IOT for removing electric-charged pollutants by adsorption, especially anionic ones under acidic conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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This paper investigates the optimal remediation process in an aquifer using Modflow 6 software and genetic algorithms. A theoretical confined aquifer has been polluted over a long period of time by unnoticed leakage in a pipeline conveying leachate from an adjacent landfill to a wastewater treatment plant. When the extended leakage and groundwater pollution are discovered, the optimal planning of the remediation strategy is investigated using the pump-and-treat method or/and hydrodynamic control of the pollution. The practical goal is to find the optimal locations and flow rates of two additional pumping wells, which will pump the polluted water or/and control pollution, protecting an existing drinking water pumping well, securing its fully operational mode even during the remediation process with the minimum possible cost, simply represented by the pumped water volume of the additional wells. The remediation process is considered complete when the maximum concentration in the aquifer drops below a certain limit. The Modflow software (handled by the Flopy Python package) simulates the flow field and advective–dispersive mass transport, and a genetic algorithm is used as the optimization tool. The coupled simulation–optimization model, Modflow-GA, complemented by a sophisticated post-processing results analysis, provides optimal and alternate sub-optimal remediation strategies for the decision makers to select from. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]