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The presence of bacteria and viruses in water has caused many large-scale water disease outbreaks. Cold atmospheric plasma has received much attention as an emerging non-thermal purification technology capable of eliminating micro-organisms, non-ferrous fuels, and heavy metals from water. In this study, a novel gas–liquid diaphragm discharge device that generates air plasma driven by a sinusoidal AC power supply was designed, and its sterilizing effect was investigated. First, the concentrations of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species in the diaphragm discharge were characterized, and the physicochemical properties of activated water were explored. Next, experiments on the inactivation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were carried out using the device. Finally, pond sewage was treated with the device, and the diversity of micro-organisms in the water was analyzed using 16S rRNA assays to further investigate its applicability. The results showed that the species and quantities of micro-organisms in the water significantly reduced after discharge treatment, with the most significant changes occurring in the Bacillus and Firmicutes species. Thus, this study provides an alternative method for microbial inactivation in sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The significant production of sewage sludge by wastewater treatment plants on a global scale and the lack of correspondence between housing development and the expansion of sanitation infrastructure indicate a genuine concern regarding environmental preservation. This study addresses the crucial issue of effective sewage sludge management and its environmental impact. In the context of searching for new drying methods that optimize energy use and effectively stabilize sewage sludge, this work investigated the drying behavior of sewage sludge from treatment plants in two northern Moroccan cities using a prototype of an indirect forced convection solar dryer. The drying experiments enabled the determination of drying kinetics as well as highlighted the influence of temperature and humidity on the drying rate. The characteristic drying curve (CDC) and its mathematical expression were determined using Van Meel’s formalism. Thermal diffusivity of wastewater sludge during drying was also investigated. Using Fick’s diffusion model, diffusion coefficients ranged between 0.59 × 10-9 m²/s and 1.43 × 10-9 m²/s, demonstrating an increase in effective diffusivity with rising temperature. The Arrhenius equation provided activation energy values of 16.80 kJ/mol for Oujda samples and 19.72 kJ/mol for Nador samples, indicating the effect of temperature on effective diffusivity. A new equation based on the Midilli-Kucuk model was proposed to predict the drying behavior under untested aerothermal conditions, considering drying temperature and the initial dryness. This study offers a comprehensive analysis of the drying kinetics and effective diffusivity of sewage sludge, providing valuable insights for designing large dryers for sludge management in WWTPs. This approach presents an optimal solution for drying and stabilizing sludge, contributing to environmental preservation efforts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) can be transformed into biogas. Acidogenesis, as a fermentation process, involves decomposition of hydrolysis products into simpler organic products in the form of acetate, hydrogen and carbon dioxide. Intermediate products from acidogenesis form of volatile fatty acids (VFA), such as propionate, butyrate, valerate, and their isoforms, which require further metabolic processes to produce biogas. The aim of the research was to determine the suitable kinetics model that describes microbial growth (from volatile suspended solid (VSS) values) and production in the acidogenesis process. The reactor used in this acidogenesis process was a stirred tank reactor with a volume of 6 L and operates in a batch system. This research was conducted with a variable agitation rate variation (200; 250; and 300 rpm) at a temperature of 30 °C and 55 °C. The pH was varied, including 5; 5.5; and 6. The kinetic models used in this study were Modified Gompertz, Monod, and Logistic. The best effect of pH on VSS was obtained at pH 5.5, agitation rate on VSS was obtained at agitation rate of 250 rpm and operating conditions for acidogenesis process was achieved under thermophilic conditions (55 °C). Logistic kinetic model is the best kinetic model that can describe VSS and VFA in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this work, flat ceramic membranes were prepared using ball clay, quartzite waste, and corn starch as porogenic agent. The raw materials were characterized by X‐ray fluorescence (EDXRF) and X‐ray diffraction (XRD). The compositions were characterized by the following techniques: X‐ray diffraction and heating microscopy. The membranes were produced using the uniaxial pressing process and sintered at different temperatures (900, 1000 and 1100°C). Subsequently, they were characterized by X‐ray diffraction (XRD), linear shrinkage, apparent porosity, mercury porosimetry, flexural strength, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The membrane contents 20 wt.% of corn starch sintered at 1000°C was selected because it has porosity of 35%, pore size of 1.3 µm, flexural strength of 8.6 MPa and permeability of 203 L.h−1.m−2.bar−1. The microfiltration membrane was tested in the treatment of domestic laundry wastewater and showed good decreasing (>91%) of turbidity and clarification of the wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

A formulated photocurable poly(ethylene glycol) diacrylate (PEGDA) and 2‐hydroxylethyl methacrylate (HEMA) polymer matrix (PEGDA:HEMA) was developed for constructing an adsorptive 3D cubic monolith using masked stereolithography (MSLA) 3D‐printing technique. A pure PEGDA formulation served as a control in comparative studies. Additionally, two structural designs (solid cube and cubic lattice) were also quantitatively compared to determine the adsorption performance for Rhodamine B (RhB) dye removal. Results indicated that the cubic lattice formulated with hydrophilic PEGDA:HEMA (θ~47.20°) was more effective at removing RhB dye. Additionally, the preliminary study identified pH 9 as the optimal level for RhB dye removal using 3D cubic monolith for both formulations. A Taguchi orthogonal array of L9 (33) was used to concurrently vary three parameters: adsorbent dosage (0.65 ± 0.02 g per cubic lattice), operating temperature (30°C, 40°C, and 50°C), and initial RhB concentration (20, 60, and 100 ppm). The highest mean of the signal‐to‐noise (S/N) ratio was chosen to obtain the highest adsorption performance. The removal efficiency (R%) of RhB dye ranged from 44.48% to 94.86%, and the adsorption capacity (K) ranged from 0.59 to 3.73 (mg/g) after 5 h. Seven adsorption isotherms and five adsorption kinetics modelling were performed. Adsorption isotherm data fitted well with the Redlich–Peterson model for both linear (R2 = 0.998) and nonlinear (R2 = 1). Besides that, the pseudo‐second‐order model (PSO) accurately described adsorption kinetics (R2 = 0.995). The separation factor (RL) confirmed favourable adsorption (0 < RL < 1). Thermodynamic parameters indicated that the adsorption process was endothermic and at higher temperatures, entropy increased. Also, the 3D–printed PEGDA:HEMA cubic lattice exhibited good mechanical stability. Furthermore, the 3D PEGA: HEMA lattice has the ability to be used in several adsorption cycles of degrading RhB dye. Ultimately, the present work demonstrates the viability of 3D printing photocurable PEGDA:HEMA resin and utilizes statistical tools to optimize process parameters, enhancing predictability for wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although the textile industry is crucial to economic development, it is a significant polluter of global water sources through its wastewater discharge, which endangers aquatic ecosystems and neighboring communities. This study focuses on stakeholder perceptions from farming and fishing communities related to wastewater management in the Bangladesh textile industry. Using focus group discussions with stakeholders that focused on sustainability values and a Resource Nexus framing, the results emphasise the adverse effects of textile wastewater on neighbouring communities, spanning agriculture, livestock, and ecological resources. The findings also underscore a significant need for collaboration between the textile industry and neighbouring communities, emphasising the ongoing obligation of governance resources, such as monitoring, regulations, and proactive measures and advocates for engaging different stakeholders in the formulation of robust policies, stringent regulations, and concerted efforts across industry, government, and communities to deliver improved governmental monitoring, enforcement of regulations and transparency in wastewater management practices in the textile industry of Bangladesh. The study suggests that a Water-Energy-Ecosystems-Food (WEEF) Resource Nexus approach can enhance decision-making, promoting sustainable energy infrastructure, encourage increased treated wastewater reuse, and facilitate effective management for environmental resilience and socio-ecological systems sustainability. This study contributes valuable insights elicited from a WEEF Resource Nexus approach, offering guidance for policymakers, industry practitioners, and researchers in the textile industry and beyond, aiding in the understanding of resilient industry-community ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Under the current increasingly serious water pollution situation in urban, the comprehensive treatment and protecting measures in urban small catchment are the necessary step to the water pollution treatment, not only focus on the water bodies themself. In this paper, the Luojiagang river channel and its catchment in Wuhan, which has been heavily impacted by water pollution, are taken as an example for the comparative assessment of pollution control measures in order to explore the effective and sustainable schemes including the LID (Low Impact Development---LID) by using SWMM model (Storm Water Management Model---SWMM). Through the comparison of pollution treatment measures based on scenarios simulation with the baseline scenarios, it was found that the reduction effects of pollutant peak concentrations at the outlet node of Luojiagang River had the decreasing order of: the combined measures (COS) > LID control > the water diversion from Donghu Lake (WAD) > the sewage treatment (SET) > the sediment dredging (SED), and the reduction effects of total pollutant load had the decreasing order of: LID > COS > SET > SED > WAD. The results show that the control of non-point source pollution is the key for the improvement of water quality in Luojiagang River, and LID plays important role in the reduction of both pollutant peak concentrations and load. This study has the implication for the decision making of the water pollution controlling schemes in urban small catchment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

TiO2 photocatalyst has the advantages of high catalytic activity, suitable energy band potential, high chemical stability, high photoelectric conversion efficiency, high safety and non-toxicity, which exhibits excellent performances in photocatalytic degradation of organic wastewater. However, it is difficult to separate and recover TiO2 photocatalyst from the reactive system. Interestingly, magnetic TiO2 prepared by combining TiO2 with superparamagnetic ferromagnetic particles can overcome this shortcoming. In this review, the preparation method and the photocatalytic mechanism of magnetic TiO2 were summarized. Moreover, the catalytic mechanisms of the modified binary, ternary and multicomponent magnetic TiO2 composite photocatalysts were compared, and the effects of different magnetic substrates on the degradation activity were discussed. Besides the applications in the wastewater treatment, the development trend and application prospects were prospected. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The availability of fresh water is limited compared to its huge consumption. Conversely, certain industries like dyes, textiles, paper, and tanning not only consume vast quantities of fresh water, but also generate significant amounts of wastewater that poses severe threats to living organisms. The present investigation focuses on the degradation of Rhodamine-B (Rh–B) as a model pollutant by using the nanocomposite based on waste scrap tire-derived activated carbon (AC) and titanium dioxide (TiO 2). These nanostructures were fabricated using wet chemistry techniques. Analysis using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed that the morphology of the structures remained largely unchanged even with a concentration of 6 mg of AC. X-ray diffraction (XRD) results confirmed the successful fabrication of rutile and anatase phases of TiO 2 @AC nanocomposite. The XPS results confirmed the presence of AC and TiO 2 in the composite. Furthermore, the optical band gap of the nanocomposites decreased up to 17.17 % and 34.57 % through direct and indirect methods respectively, owing to the varying quantity of AC used. The narrowing of optical band gap and the increased surface oxygen vacancies were caused by the successive addition of AC during the synthesis of nanocomposites. This resulted in the efficient degradation of Rhodamine-B (Rh–B) using adsorption and photocatalytic oxidation. The findings demonstrate a significant influence of AC on the TiO 2 catalyst in the removal of Rh–B dye. The maximum efficiency of dye removal, reaching up to 99.14 %, was achieved with the highest concentration of AC, thus demonstrating almost complete elimination of Rh–B dye. The findings suggest that the use of waste scrap tires can be effectively applied to design efficient photocatalysts for addressing the wastewater management issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), as a new type of carbon material with complete molecular structure, have great application potential in the field of nanocomposites. In this study, carbon nanotubes were first surface modified to give them good hydrophilicity. Subsequently, the nanocomposite coagulant (PASS-T) with different modified CNTs (m-CNTs) contents was prepared by alkaline titration method. The CNT, m-CNT, PASS and PASS-T were characterized by FTIR, XRD and XRF. Then the coagulant was applied to oily sewage, and the coagulation results showed that the PASS-T (0.1%) had the best oil reduction rate (92%) and turbidity reduction rate (97%). Appropriate addition of m-CNT can increase the local concentration of coagulant at the molecular level, making the flocs of oily sewage larger. It can be found by SEM that PASS-T produces large and knotted flocs in oily sewage. Finally, the residual turbidity and oil removal rate of the different coagulants were statistically analyzed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] Y 2 O 3 is a cost-effective and environmentally friendly wide-band gap photocatalyst with extensive application potential. However, its limited ability to be excited by visible light restricts its practical uses. In this study, we coupled the narrow bandgap semiconductor AgI with Y 2 O 3 to form a Z-scheme heterostructure, significantly promoting its photocatalytic degradation activity. Characterization and experimental results demonstrated the formation of Y-O-Ag bonds through coupling with AgI, leading to an increase in oxygen vacancies in Y 2 O 3 , which promotes the chemisorption of H 2 O and O 2. The Y-O-Ag bond introduction promotes electron transfer, improves hole utilization, and boosts energy transfer efficiency, thus promoting the efficient generation of ·OH and 1O 2. The photocatalytic degradation rates of RhB and o-nitrophenol by 7.5% AgI/Y 2 O 3 were 26.5 and 4 times higher than those of pure Y 2 O 3 , respectively. This study provides theoretical support for the Z-scheme heterojunction to improve photocatalytic activity and offers efficient solutions and practical design ideas for sewage purification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the efficacy of green betel leaf (Piper betle Linn) and lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus) extracts as natural disinfectants in the medical waste recycling process in Indonesia. The research aims to provide a sustainable alternative to chemical disinfectants, such as chlorine, by optimizing the dosage and contact time for effective microbial reduction. The study focused on the disinfection of Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus as bioindicators, evaluating the impact of varying disinfectant concentrations on key environmental parameters, including pH, temperature, and total dissolved solids (TDS). The findings indicate that a 0.5% concentration with a 30-minute contact time is optimal for reducing Bacillus subtilis, while higher concentrations are required for effective Staphylococcus reduction. Additionally, the study reveals that higher disinfectant concentrations lower pH and increase TDS, posing potential challenges for wastewater management. These results highlight the potential of natural disinfectants to enhance the sustainability of medical waste management practices in Indonesia, though further research is needed to address the environmental and regulatory challenges associated with their use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing volume of wastewater discharged in urban areas poses a significant environmental challenge, particularly due to the potential for organic carbon overload in aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to identify the bacterial isolates with the potential to mitigate this burden by effectively degrading organic matter and exhibiting antagonistic activity against common aquatic pathogens. Through a screening process, two bacterial strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus licheniformis, were isolated based on their high amylolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic activity indices. In addition, in relation to all effective strains for these activities, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens differed in the cellulolytic index (4.48 ± 0.12), while Bacillus licheniformis had a lipolytic index of 1.73 ± 0.10. Both strains were further characterized by their strong antagonistic activity against Aeromonas, a prevalent pathogen in aquatic environments. These findings suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis hold promise as bioremediation agents for wastewater treatment, potentially contributing to the sustainable management of urban wastewater and the protection of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The environmental threat posed by industrial dyes necessitates the development of efficient photocatalytic systems for their degradation. This study focuses on the Ce-doped Zn:Zr system as an innovative solution for visible-light-driven photocatalytic degradation of textile dyes offering significant environmental and industrial benefits. The Ce-doping effect on the photocatalytic efficiency of the Zn:Zr system was investigated. Both undoped and Ce-doped Zn:Zr systems exhibited hexagonal nanostructures with high atomic percentages of Zn, while Ce was incorporated at lower percentages. X-ray diffraction confirmed the unaltered hexagonal ZnO, tetragonal, and monoclinic ZrO2 crystal structures in the systems. The peak broadening in the Ce-doped samples indicates successful doping. Even the tiniest alteration in band gap resulted in a dramatic increase in methylene blue dye degradation up to 98.4%, significant at p < 0.05. This enhanced efficiency is attributed to the heterogeneous pairing mechanism which improves charge carrier separation with superoxide anions and singlet oxygen identified as the primary reactive species. The findings demonstrate the applicability of band gap engineering in organic pollutant degradation and highlight the potential of Ce-doped Zn:Zr systems as a cost-effective and energy-efficient solution for industrial wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effective elimination of nitrogen and phosphorus in urban sewage treatment was always hindered by the deficiency of organic carbon in the low C/N ratio wastewater. To overcome this organic-dependent barrier and investigate community changes after sulfur electron addition. In this study, we conducted a simulated urban wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) bioreactor by using sodium sulfate as an electron acceptor to explore the removal efficiency of characteristic pollutants before and after the addition of sulfur electron acceptor. In the actual operation of 90 days, the removal rate of sulfur electrons' chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen, and total phosphorus (TP) with sulfur electrons increased to 94.0%, 92.1% and 74%, respectively, compared with before the addition of sulfur electron acceptor. Compared with no added sulfur(phase I), the reactor after adding sulfur electron acceptor(phase II) was demonstrated more robust in nitrogen removal in the case of low C/N influent. the effluent ammonia nitrogen concentration of the aerobic reactor in Pahse II was kept lower than 1.844 mg N / L after day 40 and the overall concentration of total phosphorus in phase II (0.35 mg P/L) was lower than that of phase I(0.76 mg P/L). The microbial community analysis indicates that Rhodanobacter, Bacteroidetes, and Thiobacillus, which were the predominant bacteria in the reactor, may play a crucial role in inorganic nitrogen removal, complex organic degradation, and autotrophic denitrification under the stress of low carbon and nitrogen ratios. This leads to the formation of a distinctive microbial community structure influenced by the sulfur electron receptor and its composition. This study contributes to further development of urban low-carbon-nitrogen ratio wastewater efficient and low-cost wastewater treatment technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sub-10 µm microplastics (MPs) in aquatic environments pose significant ecological and health risks due to their mobility and potential to carry harmful microcontaminants. Our effluent analysis from a Hong Kong Sewage Treatment Works shows that traditional treatment often fails to effectively remove these MPs. These small-sized MPs are commonly neglected due to challenges in accurate quantification, analysis, and removal. This study introduces a nanobubble-assisted flotation process that enhances the removal efficiency of both regular and irregular small-sized MPs from wastewater. The proposed process outperforms the traditional flotation process by fostering a more effective interaction between bubbles and MPs, increasing removal rates of MPs from 1 µm to 10 µm by up to 12% and providing a total efficiency boost of up to 17% for various particle sizes. Improvements are attributed to enhanced collision and adhesion probabilities, hydrophobic interactions, as well as better floc flotation. Supported by empirical evidence, mathematical models, and Molecular Dynamics simulations, this research elucidates the nanoscale mechanisms at play. The findings confirm the nanobubble-assisted flotation technique as an innovative and practical approach to removing sub-10 µm MPs in water treatment processes. Sub-10 µm microplastic pose severe environmental risks. Here, authors introduce an advanced nanobubble assisted flotation technique that enhances microplastic removal, providing a promising solution for effective water treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface water contamination by fecal matter threatens human health due to human and biological processes within a watershed, making socioeconomic development crucial for predicting and improving microbiological water quality. Consequently, climate change alters climatic parameters that affect flow regimes and the movement and fate of microorganisms. This study assessed the fate and transport of microbial Escherichia coli (E. coli) concentrations and their sources in the Tano River Basin in Ghana. Additionally, the study predicted future E. coli concentrations using climate change scenarios from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)'s most recent representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and shared socioeconomic pathways (SSPs). Scenario_1 featured planned urbanization, enhanced manure and wastewater treatment, moderate population, livestock density growth, and climate change. Scenario_2 involved higher population growth, minimal improvements in wastewater management, zero manure treatment, higher livestock population, urbanization, and substantial climate change. Calibration and validation using E. coli data from June 2022 to April 2023 showed good agreement with observed concentrations (R2, 0.75 and 0.89; NSE, 0.69 and 0.68; PBIAS, 3.4 and 1.9, respectively). The measured and modeled E. coli concentrations were high, with the highest recording at 2.39 log cfu/100 ml during the rainy season. The study finds that the main causes of E. coli concentrations (44%) are point sources, primarily from human feces and livestock manure, followed by upstream pollution (34%) and non-point sources (22%). Non-point sources became the predominant contributors during periods of maximum discharge due to runoff from land and the dilution of point sources. Again Scenario_1 E. coli dropped to 68% and 97% of reference point levels by the 2050s and 2100s, respectively. E. coli concentrations decrease even more with subsequent treatment, such as tertiary treatment, manure treatment, or both. The scenario analysis demonstrates the potential for E. coli reduction through wastewater and manure treatment, driven by socioeconomic and climate change scenarios. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a common misconception that aquatic macrophytes face significant challenges in wetland-based sewage treatment systems. This study aims to correct this perception by focusing on the crucial morphophysiological adaptations of aquatic macrophytes that enable them to thrive in wetland-based sewage treatment systems, particularly under environmental stress. These adaptations are vital for improving the efficiency and resilience of wastewater treatment processes, offering sustainable solutions in the face of variable environmental conditions and complex contaminant mixtures. The review emphasizes the role of macrophytes as natural engineers, capable of enhancing pollutant removal and system stability through their unique structural and functional traits. By understanding these adaptations, the review aims to guide the optimization of wetland design and management, ultimately contributing to more sustainable and effective wastewater treatment practices. The findings underscore the importance of species selection and the integration of nature-based solutions in environmental management, advocating for policies that support the use of macrophytes in modern wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The quest for sustainable agricultural practices has led to a surge in research focused on innovative wastewater treatment methods. This review explores the emerging biological treatment approaches designed to address the challenges of eco-friendly agricultural wastewater treatment and subsequent reuse. The investigation centers around three novel techniques: constructed wetlands, algae-based systems, and microbial fuel cells. Constructed wetlands (CWs) mimic natural processes to treat agricultural wastewater, providing habitat for various plant species that collaboratively remove contaminants. Algae-based systems(ABs) harness the photosynthetic prowess of algae to absorb nutrients and pollutants, producing biomass that can be repurposed. Meanwhile, microbial fuel cells (MFCs) employ microorganisms to break down organic matter in wastewater while generating electricity as a valuable byproduct. This review aims to provide insights into the potential of these biological treatment methods to revolutionize wastewater management in agriculture. By mitigating environmental impact, conserving water resources, and yielding reusable outputs, these techniques will offer a sustainable pathway towards addressing the pressing challenges of agricultural wastewater treatment and enhancing the overall ecological balance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study evaluated the effects of electrocoagulation integrated in a laboratory-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR), namely EC-MBR, on the treatment performance, activated sludge morphological characterization, and membrane fouling of MBR treating actual sunflower oil refinery wastewater. The EC-MBR system exhibited significantly higher chemical oxygen demand (COD) and oil and grease (O&G) removal efficiency compared to the MBR system. Additionally, both systems achieved excellent turbidity removal, with a percentage above 99%. The membrane fouling rate was higher in the EC-MBR system compared to the MBR system. Despite the decrease in the soluble microbial product (SMP) and extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) concentration in the EC-MBR system, especially their protein fraction, the significant increase in MLSS and carbohydrates/protein ratio, and the decrease in the mixed liquor and the cake layer particles size were the main membrane fouling factors. The membrane fouling resistance distribution showed that the EC-MBR system had a higher percentage of pore blocking resistance compared to the MBR. FTIR analysis identified a greater proportion of carbohydrate compounds in the cake layer of the EC-MBR system. SEM images revealed dense microbial clusters, mainly rod- and oval-shaped bacteria, in the EC-MBR system. Furthermore, EDX analysis detected elements such as Ca, K, O, Al, and P in both systems, with the EC-MBR system showing a higher Al content. The EC-MBR system showed low energy consumption (0.431 kWh m−3) and total operating costs ($0.90 m−3), showcasing its effectiveness and affordability for sustainable wastewater management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present research aimed to explore the durability of MMO electrodes through electro-oxidation (EO) in purifying secondary treated actual sewage wastewater using batch and pilot-scale setups. The main aim is to inactivate bacteria in sewage treatment plants before they are released into the environment, thus contaminating water and soil. Process parameters such as current density (j), NaCl dose (n), and treatment time (t) were optimized using response surface methodology in a lab-scale EO reactor under batch conditions. The results showed that optimization of current density at 5.90 mA/cm2 and NaCl concentration at 1.31 g/L led to 93.90% of bacterial inactivation (Q1) within 8 min of treatment and 0.48 kWh/m3 energy consumption (Q2). Biological analysis was conducted to validate bacterial cell destruction and count coliform bacteria in the EO-treated sewage wastewater. XRD, cyclic voltammetry studies, and FE-SEM/EDS analysis were done to confirm the MMO anode's durability and stability after 100 recycles. The study prioritized bacterial inactivation along with organic matter degradation. Besides that, a small pilot-scale study on the actual sewage wastewater with a volume of 10–50 L was done in batch mode under previously optimized conditions to analyze the efficacy of the MMO anodes in terms of bacterial inactivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater management policies of India need updates due to inadequate infrastructure and the environmental impacts that the country is currently facing. The study analyses the wastewater situation in India, revealing infrastructure deficiencies and environmental impacts, and is backed by successful international case studies for valuable insights. The proposed roadmap for policy evolution in India involves key components such as regulatory enhancement, sustainable practices, monitoring and enforcement strengthening, government involvement, industry and community collaboration/participation and public awareness. Advanced monitoring, data analytics with data integration and decision support systems are emphasized. Challenges in policy implementation are discussed, followed by expected outcomes. This provides a comprehensive framework for revitalizing wastewater management policies of India, ensuring a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Antibiotics play a crucial role in the treatment of infectious diseases in humans and animals. However, their incomplete metabolism in the body often results in their release as active compounds into aquatic systems via domestic wastewater treatment plants. This release poses potential risks of chronic toxicity and significant health and environmental hazards. This study examines the efficacy of Polypyrrole/Titanium Dioxide Composite (PTDC) as an innovative adsorbent for removing Cephalexin (CFX) from aqueous solutions. Materials and Methods: In the batch adsorption experiments, the researchers inspected the influence of solution pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial CFX concentration. Thermodynamic parameters were calculated, which include standard Gibbs free energy (ΔG°), standard enthalpy (ΔH°), standard entropy (ΔS°), and activation energy (A). Results: The biosorption processes are considered spontaneous when the values of ΔG° are negative. The endothermic character of the biosorption processes is suggested by ΔH°>O for the biosorption of CFX. The biosorption capacity of the PTDC increases as the temperature rises, which also supports the endothermic nature of the biosorption processes. The activation energy for the biosorption of every CFX ion was less than 42 kJ/mol at all temperatures, suggesting that each process was diffusion-controlled. Conclusion: The outcomes indicated that PTDC exhibits capability as an adsorbent for removing CFX from water samples to safeguard the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment and purification of rural domestic sewage (RDS) is a pivotal focus in enhancing the living environment in rural areas. Since 2008, special funds for comprehensive rural environmental improvement have been established by the Chinese government. Numerous projects have been implemented to treat RDS, resulting in a significant enhancement of China's rural sewage treatment ratio. However, current discussions often focus on technical investigations, process selection, and operation modes pertaining to urban sewage while overlooking the unique challenges posed by decentralized sewage treatment facilities in rural areas. This work aims to provide technical support for addressing rural sewage treatment and purification in China through an analysis of limitations associated with prevailing mainstream sewage treatment and separation technologies, ecological risks arising from new pollutants present in domestic wastewater, and subsequent management difficulties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Benzodiazepines are drugs resistant to sewage treatment, persisting in aquatic environments. Their presence notably increased after the COVID pandemic due to the anxiety induced by health risks and lockdown. Prior studies have shown that benzodiazepines adversely affect both the larval and adult stages of various species, impacting behaviour and embryonic development. This study focused on delorazepam's effects on the naupliar stages of Artemia salina, a small saltwater crustacean. The delorazepam treatments (1, 5, and 10 µg/L) increased hatching rates and caused growth desynchronisation. Treatment altered lipid reserve consumption, with lipid globules persisting in the advanced naupliar stages. Locomotory activity significantly decreased at the highest concentration (10 µg/L). Although no teratogenic effects were observed, minor damage was noted in the posterior trunk and eyes, indicating environmental toxicity targets. This study highlights the urgent need for further research and monitoring of benzodiazepines as aquatic contaminants, emphasising their inclusion in ecological risk assessments. Benzodiazepines, a significant group of newly recognised water contaminants, are psychotropic medications prescribed for common anxiety symptoms and sleep disorders. They resist efficient degradation during sewage treatment and endure in aquatic environments. Their presence in aquatic matrices is increasing, particularly after the recent pandemic period, which has led many people to systematically use benzodiazepines to manage anxiety. In previous studies, an important interference of this class of drugs on both the larval and adult stages of some aquatic species has been demonstrated, with effects on behaviour and embryonic development. This study examined the influence of delorazepam, a diazepam metabolite, on Artemia salina development to gain insight into responses in naupliar larvae. Results demonstrated that treatments (1, 5, and 10 µg/L) increase the hatching percentage and induce a desynchronisation in growth. Mortality was only slightly increased (close to 10% at six days post-hatching), but lipid reserve consumption was modified, with the persistence of lipid globules at the advanced naupliar stages. Locomotory activity significantly decreased only at 10 µg/L treatment. No teratogenic effects were observed, though modest damages were noticed in the posterior trunk and eyes, two targets of environmental toxicity. The negative impact of delorazepam on Artemia salina adds to those already reported in other species of invertebrates and vertebrates, which are not yet considered targets of these drugs. This study underscores the need for further research and immediate attention to this class of contaminants and the importance of monitoring their presence during environmental risk assessments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of absorber materials with strong light absorption properties and low-cost fabrication processes is highly significant for the application of photothermal conversion technology. In this work, a mixed powder consisting of NaCl, polypropylene (PP), and scale-like carbon flakes was ultrasonically pressed into sheets, and the NaCl was then removed by salt dissolution to obtain porous carbon polypropylene composite sheets (P-CPCS). This process is simple, green, and suitable for the low-cost, large-area fabrication of P-CPCS. P-CPCS has a well-distributed porous structure containing internal and external connected water paths. Under the dual effects of the carbon flakes and porous structure, P-CPCS shows excellent photothermal conversion performance in a broad wavelength range. P-CPCS-40 achieves a high temperature of 128 °C and a rapid heating rate of 12.4 °C/s under laser irradiation (808 nm wavelength, 1.2 W/cm2 power). When utilized for solar steam generation under 1 sun irradiation, P-CPCS-40 achieves 98.2% evaporation efficiency and a 1.81 kg m−2 h−1 evaporation rate. This performance means that P-CPCS-40 outperforms most other previously reported absorbers in terms of evaporation efficiency. The combination of carbon flakes, which provide a photothermal effect, and a porous polymer structure, which provides light-capturing properties, opens up a new strategy for desalination, sewage treatment, and other related fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The access to clean and drinkable water is becoming one of the major health issues because most natural waters are now polluted in the context of rapid industrialization and urbanization. Moreover, most pollutants such as antibiotics escape conventional wastewater treatments and are thus discharged in ecosystems, requiring advanced techniques for wastewater treatment. Here we review the use of artificial intelligence and machine learning to optimize pharmaceutical wastewater treatment systems, with focus on water quality, disinfection, renewable energy, biological treatment, blockchain technology, machine learning algorithms, big data, cyber-physical systems, and automated smart grid power distribution networks. Artificial intelligence allows for monitoring contaminants, facilitating data analysis, diagnosing water quality, easing autonomous decision-making, and predicting process parameters. We discuss advances in technical reliability, energy resources and wastewater management, cyber-resilience, security functionalities, and robust multidimensional performance of automated platform and distributed consortium, and stabilization of abnormal fluctuations in water quality parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater affordability is a pressing concern in the US as the cost of collecting and treating wastewater continues to rise rapidly, and reports have revealed that millions of residents are experiencing a lack of equitable access to affordable wastewater management. The USEPA has established an affordability metric based on 2.5% of median household income (MHI) and affordability is typically interpreted as the monthly utility bill. However, this approach is not applicable to the 25% of US households that are not connected to networked sewer. This study developed the first statewide methodology for mapping wastewater affordability for users of both networked and onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) based on USEPA guidelines. The methodology used local data from the Alabama Department of Environmental Management (ADEM), utilities, and the US Census Bureau. This article presents a novel methodology for quantifying water and wastewater affordability challenges for large geographical areas while maintaining the accuracy of small-spatial scale analysis. This study also incorporated income inequalities by using census tract-level household income data to estimate the number of households in Alabama with unaffordable wastewater access. This study revealed that wastewater access affordability challenges are more widespread than indicated by traditional MHI-based analysis and are likely affecting approximately 445,000 households in Alabama (23.7%). This study also showed that expansions in the available funding and types of eligible applicants for grant programs that subsidize OWTS capital costs could reduce OWTS affordability challenges eightfold. We propose using this methodology to quantify affordability challenges alongside a suite of approaches to address wastewater affordability in the US at the utility and household levels to preserve the human right to affordable sanitation. Practical Applications: Wastewater affordability is a key aspect of providing sustainable wastewater collection and treatment for US residents. The ongoing discussions about wastewater access affordability are often centered around customers of sewer utilities and neglect to consider the affordability challenges of residents with OWTS (commonly known as septic tank systems). This study develops a methodology for analyzing statewide wastewater access affordability for both residents with sewer bills and users of OWTS based on annual household incomes at the census tract level. This study reveals that wastewater affordability challenges affect both users of centralized sewer networks and OWTS including approximately 445,000 households in Alabama (23.7%). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Narratives of linearity and control have driven conventional wastewater management and modern agriculture, resulting in widespread contamination and ecological damage. In response, a growing movement to reclaim the nutrient cycle emphasizes circularity and the entanglements between our bodies, the "shadow places" where our "waste" travels, and the ecosystems that sustain us. Parallel linear narratives of diffusionist knowledge dissemination have resulted in distrust between communities and scientists, but some researchers and practitioners are rebuilding trust through connections that emphasize accessibility, accountability, active learning and co-creation spanning rural and urban, campus, and civic contexts. From study sites in Vermont and Michigan, we explore urine recycling (or peecycling as some call it) as an example of both technological and pedagogical connections re-made, arguing that active learning methods can undergird engaged research. Urine recycling has the potential to foster curiosity about ecological interconnections and imaginative thinking about alternate infrastructural futures. Our evidence comes from interviews and focus groups, as well as participant observation at site-based interventions and in experiential learning contexts. We show that the advent of more circular economies, implemented with co-learning, advances both theory and practices of postmodern, and post–postmodern infrastructures. That is, rather than reinforcing a one-way flow of information that mirrors the linearity of conventional wastewater management, co-learning approaches—where scientists and practitioners are partners in generating knowledge and solutions—address the environmental, equity, and ethical aspects of reclaiming circular nutrient flows, transforming relationships between our bodies, waterways, and foodsheds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Lipid-degrading bacteria found in processing ponds of palm oil mill effluent are recognized for the capacity to break down lipid using lipase enzyme. Identifying novel strains of these bacteria with high bioremediation potential contributes valuable insights to the sustainable management of palm oil mill effluent. Therefore, this study aimed to identify potential bacteria, assess the in vitro lipid-degrading capabilities, characterize the traits, and evaluate lipid degradation activity of potential isolates from palm oil industry wastewater. METHODS: The method used for exploring the potential of lipid-degrading bacteria in palm oil mill effluent entailed a survey comprising various stages including detection of bacteria presence, in vitro assessment of potential indices, characterization, lipid degradation testing, and determination of lipase activity. FINDINGS: The results showed that several bacteria groups were present in palm oil mill effluent, including 50-74 percent lipolytic, 31-90 percent fermentative, 76-83 percent proteolytic, and 51-74 percent cellulolytic. Selected lipid-degrading isolates demonstrated significant in vitro potential, as evidenced by high lipolytic and fermentative indices. Isolate Enzymatic 3 had the highest lipolytic index, degradation value (48.72 percent), and lipase activity (0.12 units/milliliter), identified as Bacillus cereus central carbon metabolism 2010. Similarly, isolate Fermentative 2 was found to have the highest fermentative index, degradation value (22.35 percent), and lipase activity (0.01 units/milliliter), identified as Bacillus thuringiensis American type culture collection 10792. CONCLUSION: Based on the results, isolates Enzymatic 3 and Fermentative 2 showed promising potential as biological agents for bioremediation of palm oil mill effluent. The results underscored the promising potential of specific bacteria isolates in mitigating lipidrich effluents, advocating for the integration into sustainable wastewater management practices in palm oil industry. This study provided valuable insights for future investigations aimed at unraveling the intricate mechanisms governing lipid degradation and fostering environmentally friendly solutions for industrial waste management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The management of wastewater remains a challenge, particularly in developing countries. The potential use of constructed wetlands to treat wastewater is promising but their contaminant removal efficiencies, particularly in a tropical country such as Zimbabwe, are not fully understood. A pilot-scale study was undertaken in Zimbabwe to evaluate the efficiency of vertical-flow constructed wetlands planted with Typha latifolia in the treatment of domestic wastewater. Four pilot subsurface vertical-flow constructed wetland units (measuring 1 m × 1 m × 1.1 m) were built from concrete. The units were filled with waste rock from a nickel mine. Three units were planted with Typha latifolia while the fourth one was left unplanted, acting as the control. Each unit was loaded with wastewater at a rate of 220 dm3/day. Physico-chemical and bacteriological parameters were analyzed during the winter season. Physico-chemical and bacterial contaminant concentrations were significantly lower in the effluent than in the influent, and the system achieved maximum removals for BOD5, COD, TDS, TSS, nitrates, phosphates, phosphate pentoxide, phosphorus, and E. coli of 56.01%, 82.87%, 30.61%, 90.40% 17.26%, 35.80%, 36.19%, 40.64%, and 90.28%, respectively. The study shows that constructed wetland systems can be successfully established for the removal of physical, chemical, and microbial contaminants from domestic wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Panicum maximum is planted extensively in tropical and subtropical areas, due to its high-quality forage and high biomass yield. This study aims to assess the varied metabolic dynamics of P. maximum subject to different pollution-related wastewater levels, thus providing information for sustainable agriculture and soil restoration. We analyzed the primary and secondary metabolites in P. maximum subject to two different types of polluted wastewater (WW), compared to a control group. The alterations observed in the metabolite profiles were affected by several factors, including nutrient imbalances and oxidative stress induced by heavy metal accumulation. Initially, the increased nutrient availability stemming from wastewater treatment promoted plant growth; however, this positive effect was later diminished by the adverse impacts of heavy metals, which generated oxidative stress, resulting in metabolic disturbances and a decrease in the plant biomass. Importantly, the substantial increase in antioxidant enzymes, related to primary (e.g., sugars) and secondary metabolites (e.g., phenolics and flavonoids), underscores plants' adaptive strategies to cope with stress. The increased biosynthesis of flavonoids and phenolic compounds is a protective mechanism against oxidative stress, which also improves the antimicrobial activity, following the activation of key biosynthetic pathways involved in their synthesis. These complex interactions among diverse metabolites suggest that plants exposed to polluted wastewater use various biochemical strategies to increase both their survival and defenses against pathogens. Collectively, these findings emphasize the significance of understanding how wastewater management practices can affect plant health, metabolic responses, and the broader implications for food safety and ecosystem stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-treatment of heavy metal-enriched plants in mining areas and the purification of ammonia and nitrogen pollution in water bodies are significant for the ecological environment of ionic rare earth mining areas. Herein, we focused on the biochar production potential of Dicranopteris pedata, characterizing biochar prepared by an oxidative modification process and an iron modification process. We conducted adsorption experiments to comparatively investigate the adsorption performance of biochar on NH4+ and studied the fertilizer application and migration toxicity of the adsorbed biochar for rare earth elements (REEs). Results indicated that ~332.09 g of biochar could be produced per unit area of D. pedata under 100% clipping conditions. The Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area of oxidized biochar (H2O2BC) increased, and the pore size of iron-modified biochar increased. The adsorption behavior of biochar toward NH4+ was well represented by the pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models. H2O2BC demonstrated the strongest adsorption of NH4+ with maximum theoretical equilibrium adsorption of 43.40 mg·g−1, 37.14% higher than that of pristine biochar. The adsorption process of NH4+ on biochar is influenced by various physicochemical mechanisms, including pore absorption, electrostatic attraction, and functional group complexation. Furthermore, the metal ions in the biochar did not precipitate during the reaction process. The adsorbed NH4+ biochar promoted the growth of honey pomelo without risking REE pollution to the environment. Therefore, it can be applied as a nitrogen-carrying rare earth fertilizer in low rare earth areas. This study provides a theoretical basis and technical support for the phytoremediation post-treatment of rare earth mining areas and the improvement of ammonia nitrogen wastewater management pathways in mining areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Solar evaporators have demonstrated huge potential in sewage purification and clean water supply based on their cost‐effective and sustainable merits. However, it remains challenging to realize the stable purification of high‐concentration dye sewage over the long term. Here, by incorporating a heterojunction photocatalyst, a photothermal/catalytic integrated solar evaporator is conceived to stabilize the purification of high‐concentration dye sewage. It is composed of g‐C3N4@TiO2 heterojunction as the photocatalyst, carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as the photothermal materials, and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) network as water transportation material. The high photocatalytic activity of heterojunction enables the g‐C3N4@TiO2/CNTs/PVA (CTCP) evaporator to photodegrade the accumulated dye molecules on its evaporation surface under light irradiation during purifying dye sewage. More remarkably, the integrated CTCP evaporator achieves a stable evaporation rate of 2.30 kg m−2 h−1 in 1 mg mL−1 RhB solution with continuous light irradiation for 100 h, exhibiting preeminent long‐term stability. With the capacities of long‐term stable and high‐rate purification of high‐concentration dye sewage, it is expected that this CTCP evaporator provides an effective alternative to treat high‐concentration dye sewage and has direct implications in engineering multifunctional solar evaporators for complex wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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

Water scarcity and sanitation pose a critical global challenge worsened by population growth and the finite nature of freshwater resources. Despite the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goal 6 (SDG6) advocating for universal water and sanitation access, progress remains insufficient. Presently, approximately 50% of generated wastewater is released into the environment without adequate treatment, emphasizing the urgent need to address this issue. This article examines the socio‐economic and technical aspects of both centralized and decentralized wastewater treatment systems (DWTS) and assesses the environmental impact, spatial footprint, and energy usage across treatment technologies. An economic analysis underscores the cost advantages of DWTS, especially in sparsely populated regions. With modular designs, DWTS not only provides environmental and economic advantages but also enables water reuse. The research concludes that adopting DWTS is crucial in achieving SDG6 targets and ensuring universal access to safe sanitation, especially in low‐density and newly developed areas. This thorough investigation of wastewater management contributes to the ongoing dialogue on sustainable solutions amidst escalating global challenges of water scarcity and sanitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thin film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes have shown remarkable potential for the extensive application in various areas, such as industrial and domestic wastewater treatment, dye desalination, and chemicals separation and purification. This work proposes a highly efficient TFN membrane by incorporation of the amine-functionalized ordered mesoporous silica (APTES-SBA-15) nanoparticles into the polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) top layer of a polyvinylchloride (PVC)-based membrane. The superior TFN membranes were fabricated through a facile and optimum preparation method consisting of immersion-precipitation phase inversion followed by dip-coating method to address the challenges hindering performance. The physicochemical characteristics of the synthesized nanoparticles and prepared TFN membranes were studied using a variety of techniques including XRD, FTIR, AFM, FE-SEM and contact angle measurements. The presence of APTES-SBA-15 nanoparticles in TFN membrane enables efficient separation of contaminants compared to pure thin film composite (TFC) and SBA-15 TFN membranes that were investigated by calculating the values of various parameters such as water flux, flux recovery ratio (FRR), rejection percentage, total fouling ratio (TFR), and irreversible fouling ratio (IFR). A more hydrophilic TFN membrane containing 0.50 wt% APTES-SBA-15 nanoparticles (M3 membrane) exhibits a rejection performance of 91.41%, TFR value of 88.89% and IFR value of 11.11% with a total organic carbon (TOC) content of 15.05 mg/L for the treatment of petroleum refinery wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accurate prediction of sewage flow is crucial for optimizing sewage treatment processes, cutting down energy consumption, and reducing pollution incidents. Current prediction models, including traditional statistical models and machine learning models, have limited performance when handling nonlinear and high-noise data. Although deep learning models excel in time series prediction, they still face challenges such as computational complexity, overfitting, and poor performance in practical applications. Accordingly, this study proposed a combined prediction model based on an improved sparrow search algorithm (SSA), convolutional neural network (CNN), transformer, and bidirectional long short-term memory network (BiLSTM) for sewage flow prediction. Specifically, the CNN part was responsible for extracting local features from the time series, the Transformer part captured global dependencies using the attention mechanism, and the BiLSTM part performed deep temporal processing of the features. The improved SSA algorithm optimized the model's hyperparameters to improve prediction accuracy and generalization capability. The proposed model was validated on a sewage flow dataset from an actual sewage treatment plant. Experimental results showed that the introduced Transformer mechanism significantly enhanced the ability to handle long time series data, and an improved SSA algorithm effectively optimized the hyperparameter selection, improving the model's prediction accuracy and training efficiency. After introducing an improved SSA, CNN, and Transformer modules, the prediction model's R 2 increased by 0.18744, R M S E (root mean square error) decreased by 114.93, and M A E (mean absolute error) decreased by 86.67. The difference between the predicted peak/trough flow and monitored peak/trough flow was within 3.6% and the predicted peak/trough flow appearance time was within 2.5 minutes away from the monitored peak/trough flow time. By employing a multi-model fusion approach, this study achieved efficient and accurate sewage flow prediction, highlighting the potential and application prospects of the model in the field of sewage treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Advances in New & Renewable Energy is the property of Editorial Office of Advances in New & Renewable Energy 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.)

Biomedical waste (BMW), including hospital wastewater (HWW), poses significant risks to the environment, workplace health and safety, as well as public health. Therefore, the selection of treatment technologies for BMW should be chosen in that way so that the negative impact of BMW and HWW can be neutralized. Considering this, the current review focuses on emerging green technologies for BMW and laboratory wastewater treatment and management. Improper waste management practices in developing nations have given rise to several issues, such as the introduction of pharmaceutical residues that are released into the environment. Hence, the timely adaptation and application of environmentally friendly technologies in the health sector is crucial. This study compares various technologies such as incineration, autoclaving, plasma pyrolysis, chemical disinfection, and microwave treatment, in terms of their feasibility, operational costs, and efficiency for the treatment of solid BMW. The study suggested selecting BMW treatment technology as per the Best Available Technology (BAT) principles of autoclave and microwave. Further, the liquid BMW is also a threat to the environment and human health. Ozonation technology has shown a promising ability for the pretreatment of laboratory and hospital wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation into the implementation and widespread adoption of oyster shell recycling methods aimed at restoring coastal ecosystems and enhancing water quality is currently limited. In this study, we investigated the utilization of oyster shell powder (OSP) as a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable method for treating high-fluoride-concentration wastewater, a byproduct of industrial processes. We conducted extensive laboratory testing to determine the optimal conditions for fluoride removal. This involved variations in OSP doses, particle sizes, and initial wastewater pH levels. The results of these tests showed that OSP achieved fluoride removal efficiencies exceeding 98% at an optimal dosage of 5 g/L. In addition, OSP effectively adjusted the wastewater pH from highly acidic (pH 2) to almost neutral (pH 6.87), demonstrating its effectiveness in real-world industrial wastewater treatment. OSP, derived from oyster shell waste, is rich in calcium carbonate and offers a novel approach to wastewater management by leveraging a natural waste product. This study demonstrates the potential of OSP as a waste management strategy and contributor to the circular economy by repurposing industrial byproducts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Acta Materiae Compositae Sinica is the property of Acta Materiea Compositae Sinica Editorial Department 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, eggshells were upgraded to two active adsorbents, iron (Fe)-magnesium (Mg) particles and hydroxyapatite (HAP), and their subsequent utilization for the elimination of tetracycline (TET) and metronidazole (MNZ) from aqueous systems was explored. As a first step, the strength of the functionalization solution (0.5 M) and synthesis temperature (600°C) were optimized for the improved performance of the Fe-Mg particles. Through batch experiments, the maximum TET and MNZ adsorption capacities (qm) were estimated as 9.47 and 6.29 mg/g, respectively, for the Fe-Mg particles. In the case of HAP, the qm were 8.70 and 6.07 mg/g for TET and MNZ, respectively. Monolayer and chemisorption phenomena were identified as the mechanisms for TET's removal with both Fe-Mg particles and HAP. By contrast, monolayer and physisorption were responsible for MNZ's removal with both adsorbents. In a binary system, i.e., in the presence of both TET and MNZ, the antagonistic effect was observed, which hindered the efficient removal of one by the other. The van der Waals force was involved in MNZ adsorption, whereas the interaction between the hydrogen (H) atoms of the phenolic diketone group(s) of TET and the anions of Fe-Mg particles/HAP favored TET's removal. In the recyclability study, both adsorbents performed well for the first 20 cycles, but thereafter the removal efficiency reduced drastically. Overall, eggshell waste can be managed effectively by converting it into adsorbents, which can be a viable alternative for adsorption-based water/wastewater treatment. Practical Applications: The release of emerging contaminants from conventional wastewater treatment plants has been a major environmental concern in recent years. Consequently, these contaminants find their way into environmental matrices, affecting organisms at various scales by disrupting their metabolic activities. Advanced treatment techniques like ozonation, sonocatalysis, photocatalysis, adsorption, electrochemical oxidation, and Fenton processes are effective in the removal of emerging contaminants. Specifically, the current focus is on adsorption, which is scalable and cost-effective. Moreover, the use of naturally derived adsorbents promotes sustainability of the process. However, the applicability of these adsorbents varies depending on their availability and ease of synthesis. In this context, eggshells from confectionary and poultry processing industries can be a suitable alternative for synthesizing naturally derived adsorbents. This study successfully evaluated eggshell-based adsorbent synthesized utilizing the holistic components of eggshells (Fe-Mg particles derived from the inner parietal membrane and hydroxyapatite synthesized from the hard calcareous shell) for the removal of commonly used pharmaceutical compounds (i.e., tetracycline and metronidazole as single and binary systems). The possible removal mechanism, recyclability, and cost calculations are presented and the major gap of competitive adsorption mimicking real-time wastewater was also explored. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Laundry is a frequent household activity, performed either manually or by washing machine. This process consumes chemical products (such as laundry detergent and fabric softener), electricity, and water. It is therefore important to understand the environmental impacts and costs associated with laundry. The goal of this paper was to assess its eco-efficiency based on the NBR ISO 14045:2014 standard. Methods: Primary data were collected from laundry detergent and fabric softener producers in Teresina, Piauí, Brazil. Secondary data were collected from patents, a chemical industry association, the government labeling program, and municipal water and electricity suppliers. The product system boundaries were cradle-to-consumer, and the impact categories were global warming, freshwater eutrophication, and land use. The product system value indicator was the washing costs from the consumer's perspective. The environmental and product system value indicators were related using the eco-efficiency formula which resulted in the process eco-efficiency profile. An uncertainty analysis was carried out to measure errors intrinsic to the data and the methods. A sensitivity analysis was carried out to identify the influence of choices made during the study and to propose viable technical improvements. Results: The results showed that the most impactful processes in the three categories were electricity, wastewater treatment, and the chemical products (laundry detergent and fabric softener). In terms of product system value, the costs of water and sewage treatment had the highest contribution to the overall costs. It was not possible to identify the laundry eco-efficiency profile degree and to calculate the X factor, due to the lack of studies in this area. Greater uncertainties were found in the global warming category, due to its global scope, while freshwater eutrophication category has country-specific characterization factors. A new scenario was proposed to identify possible economically and environmentally feasible changes. However, it did not generate significant changes that would improve the eco-efficiency profile of the evaluated process. Conclusions: This work highlights the eco-efficiency importance as an environmental management tool to support business decision-making and to identify the environmental impacts of domestic activities. By the results, washers and laundry products manufacturers know which areas they should invest in research and development to reduce their products' impacts. For future studies, it is recommended to evaluate the use of a detergent that does not require fabric softener, such as those sold by the brands Biozgreen, TerpenOil, and Yvy in the Brazilian market, and a high-efficiency washer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage leakage, including uncollected, collected but exfiltrated, and collected but discharged with stormwater in combined sewer overflows, becomes a key challenge to clean water around the world. This study proposed a mass balance model to quantify sewage leakage and analyzed its influencing factors. Approximately 56% (53%–59%) of domestic total nitrogen loads in the Yangtze River basin of China leak out without treatment, two-thirds are exfiltrated or overflowed, significantly impacting receiving water quality. Cities with higher precipitation have greater leakage, indicating overflows are important. Pipe density has limited impact, showing higher importance of pipe quality over quantity. The per capita leakage rate first increases with city size and then decreases, showing the economies of scale. Yet uneven distribution of population and economy within megacities leads to greater leakage. Hence, separated sewage systems of rainwater and wastewater, regular maintenance and adapting centralized and decentralized systems are recommended, tailored to city-specific leakage characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With urbanization acceleration, ensuring urban water use security and sustainable water resource management has become a major global challenge. As a populous country, China faces increasingly severe challenges. Comprehensive and systematic urban wastewater treatment efficiency (UWTE) assessments constitute a prerequisite for addressing this problem. Based on 2011-2021 panel data of 30 Chinese provinces, the superefficiency SBM model was employed for UWTE measurement from national and regional perspectives. ArcGIS software and the Tobit model were adopted to analyse the spatial-temporal patterns and factors influencing UWTE. UWTE in most provinces generally exhibited a fluctuating upward trend, with an uneven east-high and west-low spatial distribution pattern. The decomposition results showed that the low UWTE in the eastern region was mainly constrained by scale efficiency, while in the central region, pure technical efficiency was the primary constraint. The shunt pipeline construction level, load rate, and wastewater treatment scale significantly positively impacted UWTE, while economic scale yielded a negative impact. It is recommended that the Chinese government adjust the outdated construction-without-operation model and implement differentiated wastewater treatment policies. It is necessary to vigorously promote rainwater and wastewater diversion pipeline construction, optimize and upgrade sewer networks and wastewater treatment facilities, and fully utilize scale effects. These findings provide insights for China and countries similar to China to facilitate efficient wastewater management practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract\nNOVELTYThis study investigates the treatment of combined wastewater from Hattar Industrial Estate using Biofilm Wetlands (BW) planted with monoculture species: Eichhornia crassipes (EAC), Pistia stratiotes (WL), and Arundo donax (GR). Each species showed distinct capabilities in organic degradation, metal uptake, and pH stabilization. BW2, planted with EAC, achieved the highest total solids (TS) and total suspended solids (TSS) removal efficiencies of 66% and 65%, respectively. GR effectively reduced initial COD concentrations from 232 mg/L to 58.67 mg/L, while EAC and WL reached reductions to 72.78 mg/L and 70.67 mg/L, respectively. Overall, the plant efficiency ranking was EAC > GR > WL. These findings underscore the potential of these plant species in synergistic BW systems, highlighting their role as natural solutions for remediating complex industrial effluents. This research contributes to advancing eco-friendly wastewater treatment approaches, suggesting promising applications for sustainable practices in industrial contexts.RESEARCH HIGHLIGHTSThis research assessed the effectiveness of phytoremediation using Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Arundo donax for removing pollutants i.e. heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Hg) nitrates, phosphates and sulfates from combined industrial wastewater of Hattar Industrial Estate Pakistan.It highlighted the potential of selected plant species’ as natural treatment systems, providing crucial insights into their efficiency.Findings contribute to understanding nature-based solutions for complex industrial effluents.This research assessed the effectiveness of phytoremediation using Eichhornia crassipes, Pistia stratiotes, and Arundo donax for removing pollutants i.e. heavy metals (Cd, Pb, Ni, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Fe, Hg) nitrates, phosphates and sulfates from combined industrial wastewater of Hattar Industrial Estate Pakistan.It highlighted the potential of selected plant species’ as natural treatment systems, providing crucial insights into their efficiency.Findings contribute to understanding nature-based solutions for complex industrial effluents.This study harnessed the potential of three macrophytes to tackle industrial effluents, marking their debut in wastewater treatment. By championing environmentally conscious practices, it underscores the need for effective industrial wastewater management while promoting greener and more sustainable approaches within the industrial sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Climate change is a major issue in wastewater management at local and regional levels, as it affects the frequency of flooding and therefore the need to update infrastructure and design regulations. To this end, rainfall data are the main input to hydraulic models used for the design of drainage systems and, in advanced contexts, for their real-time monitoring. Field observations are of great interest and water authorities are increasing the number of existing rain gauges, but at present they are scarce and require maintenance, so their number needs to be considered with their O&M costs. Remote sensors, including both the existing satellite rain products (SRPs) and radar imagery (RI), can complete the spatial distribution of rainfall and optimise the cost of observations. While most SRPs are based on re-analysis and have a lag in availability, RI can be obtained in near real time and is becoming increasingly popular in weather forecasting applications. Unfortunately, actual rainfall forecasts from RI observations are not accurate enough for real-time monitoring of drainage systems. In this paper, the Colour Pattern Regression (CPR) algorithm is used to recalibrate the 6 h rainfall values from RI provided by the Agencia Estatal de Meteorología (AEMET) with the observed rain gauge data, using as a case study the metropolitan area of Palma (Spain). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]