Application Of Wastewater Research Articles

The Effect of Biological Secondary Treated Domestic Wastewater on Agronomic Properties and Element Content of Some Forage Plants

Aims: This study was carried out to determine the effect of domestic advanced biological treated domestik wastewater on the agronomic properties and nutritional content of some forage crops, as a result of the increasing interest in the use of treated wastewater in agriculture. Material and methods: Biologically treated domestic wastewater was diluted with 25%, 50% and 75% pure water and applied to crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum Geartn), orchard grass (Dactylis glomerata L.) and alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) pots according to field capacity. Results: Alfalfa, orchard grass and crested wheatgrass plants were used as trial plants. The effect of the diluted wastewater application on the height of crested wheatgrass, orchard grass and alfalfa was significant. From the first mow, alfalfa and orchard grass had increased green and dry weights per pot, with the most marked increase for alfalfa. The wastewater ratios caused an increase in nutrient and metal concentrations in the three plants, while a decrease in the Se concentration in alfalfa and crested wheatgrass. Diluted wastewater not effected alfalfa Ca concentration significantly. While the dilute wastewater significantly and positively effected the relationship of orchard grass with all elements, but Se affected negatively. Soil organic matter and electrical conductivity increased and pH decreased with increasing wastewater ratio. Discussion: Diluted domestic water application played an important role in nutrient and metal concentrations by mediating increased plant element uptake associated with soil organic matter and electrical conductivity responses. Conclusions: However, long-term field studies are required to determine the dilution rate at which the salinity risk threshold can be determined.

Quantitative and qualitative management of water resources with the use of treated wastewater in agriculture.

The principled utilization of treated wastewater can reduce the pollution load on the environment. Because on the one hand, treated wastewater can be a suitable fertilizer substitute, and on the other hand, using treated wastewater in irrigation prevents the discharge of polluted surface water into water sources. In the south of Tehran province, polluted surface water is used for irrigation in the agricultural sector, and this has led to environmental problems. To solve this problem, it has been decided to implement a plan to build surface water treatment plants and an irrigation and drainage network to transfer treated wastewater to farms. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the economic and environmental effects of this project in the region. A hydro-economic model has been used to achieve this goal. According to the results, in the case of the application of environmental constraints in the optimization model, the cultivation area and the farmers' profit will be reduced by about 5% and 36%, respectively, compared with the noncompliance of environmental constraints. However, this decline in profit can be compensated by adopting solutions such as improving the irrigation system, the application of treated wastewater, or using the fertilizer potential of water sources in the agricultural sector. PRACTITIONER POINTS: In the optimal economic-environmental situation, farmers' profit is reduced compared with the optimal economic situation. In the case of implementing the treated wastewater application, the farmers' profit will increase despite environmental constraints. In the optimal economic-environmental situation, fewer lands are cultivated with diverse crops than in optimal economic conditions.

Multi-Criteria Response Surface Optimization of Centrifugal Pump Performance Using CFD for Wastewater Application

Multi-Criteria Response Surface Optimization of Centrifugal Pump Performance Using CFD for Wastewater Application

Variability in excitation–emission spectra among wastewater treatment units and applications of fluorescence-based water quality monitoring

ABSTRACT The study assessed the feasibility of fluorescence spectroscopy for characterizing the wastewater of functional wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) as a real-time monitoring aspect. Peak picking and fluorescence regional integration (FRI) techniques are employed on 3D excitation–emission matrix (EEM) contours in understanding the variations of dissolved organic matter (DOM) of wastewater. Results demonstrate significant reductions in treated wastewater traits, including 94.38% of total suspended solids (TSS), 83.27% of dissolved organic carbon (DOC), and 85.38% of chemical oxygen demand (COD). The microbial analysis detected fecal and total coliforms in the effluent, highlighting the need for continuous monitoring and treatment. However, the biodegradable organic components decrease significantly, with protein-like peaks T1 and B1 intensities declining by 62.17 and 71.7%, respectively, during secondary treatment and further diminishing during tertiary treatment. Conversely, peaks associated with refractory humic and protein-bound components increased after tertiary treatment due to the formation of secondary products. The humification index (HIX) rises from influent to effluent, indicating a reduced carbon-to-nitrogen ratio. At the same time, the biological index (BIX) remained consistent, indicating microbial activity as a significant DOM contributor. The study establishes fluorescence spectroscopy as a promising and rapid monitoring tool for understanding DOM in WWTPs and optimizing treatment effectiveness.

Facile and economic Fe-modification of rice straw biochar for efficient removal of Cr(VI): Mechanistic insights and application in real wastewater

To achieve higher removal of Cr(VI) from wastewater by biochar, iron modification have been often considered. However, previous reports suffered from complicated preparation procedures or large consumption of iron, and thus a simpler protocol with less consumption of chemical reagent should be developed. In this study, three different Fe-modified biochars were synthesized by pyrolysis of rice straw after pre-soaking it in three different iron salt solutions (i.e. FeCl3, FeSO4 and (NH4)2Fe(SO4)2), and the performances and mechanisms in Cr(VI) elimination was examined. The Fe-BC produced by FeCl3 with the lowest pH, highest surface charge and most Fe content had the maximum adsorption capacity for Cr(VI) (21.98 mg/g). The removal mechanism revealed by detailed characterizations indicated that the pH-sensitive adsorption was the crucial and primary step followed by the Cr(VI) reduction and Cr(III) immobilization. Reductive Fe species played the main influential role for Cr(VI) reduction in Fe-BC, which could be further facilitated by the graphitic structure of the carbon matrix. The synergistic effects of the carbon matrix and Fe strengthened the Cr(VI) removal, promising the objective of high Cr(VI) removal efficiency even at low Fe dosage. The high removal capacity by Fe-BC in the electroplating wastewater proved its potential application.

Application of microbial fuel cell‐based biosensor in environmental monitoring – A critical review

AbstractMicrobial Fuel Cells (MFCs) represent an innovative approach for transforming biomass energy directly into electricity, which showed great promise in various applications beyond energy generation and wastewater treatment. The use of MFCs as biosensors for in‐situ and online monitoring has garnered increasing interest. These biosensors stand out for their compactness, ease of operation, affordability, and portability. They have proven effectively in the detection of various water quality indicators, including organic matter, nitrogen, heavy metals, pH levels, and dissolved oxygen. This comprehensive review aims to provide a critical analysis of the current research landscape and the latest advancements in MFC technology, with special emphasis on the challenges encountered in its application for wastewater and water quality monitoring. Moreover, strategies for performance improvement, such as the adoption of miniaturized structures, the exploration of innovative materials, and the application of mathematical modelling for analysis, are also discussed. The review also explores potential avenues for future research, especially in the realm of detecting mixed pollutants. Thus, it provides insightful perspectives on the evolving field of biosensor technology based on MFCs.

Combined antibacterial and antifouling properties of polyethersulfone mixed matrix membranes with zwitterionic graphene oxide nanostructures

AbstractThe impact of zwitterionic graphene oxide (GO‐Arg) nanostructures into polyethersulfone (PES) membranes was studied, aiming to perform mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) with combined antibacterial and antifouling properties. For this purpose, 0.25, 0.50, and 1.0 wt% of GO‐Arg were incorporated through the phase inversion method. The chemical composition reveals that the electrostatic interactions of PES, polyvinylpyrrolidone, and GO‐Arg occur by enhancing the CH/NH vibrations associated with the intrinsic MMMs and their combined antibacterial and antifouling performance. Well‐defined finger‐like morphology was observed, performing the pore distribution and the finger‐cavity inclination induced by the electrostatic charge of GO‐Arg. As a result, GO‐Arg MMM's hydrophobic properties decreased from 77.8° to 52.3°, inducing a partially hydrophilic surface and improved water flux. The isoelectric point of nanostructured membranes slightly changes by the charge modulation produced by zwitterionic GO‐Arg. The antibacterial activity against Gram (−) Escherichia coli was improved, closing the complete bacterial inhibition after 24 h. As a result, antifouling performance was improved, avoiding bacterial adhesion into the membrane surface and the possibility of promoting biofilm formation. Our results demonstrate that zwitterionic nanomaterials in MMMs perform the multifunctional capacity of materials, emerging as an effective alternative with potential application in wastewater treatment.Highlights The incorporation of zwitterionic GO‐Arg improves the mechanical properties of MMMs. GO‐Arg‐enhanced well‐defined porous finger‐like morphology in MMMs. GO‐Arg improves the antibacterial/antifouling performance of PES‐based MMMs.

Sustainable design of photo-Fenton-like oxidation process in actual livestock wastewater through the highly dispersed FeCl3 anchoring on a g-C3N4 substrate

Photocatalytic technology emerges as a promising solution for the sustainable treatment of contaminated wastewater. However, the practical implementation of designed photocatalysts often faces challenges due to the intricate ‘high carbon footprint’ process and limited outdoor laboratory investigations. Herein, a simple yet versatile impregnation approach is proposed to anchor highly dispersed FeCl3 on a g-C3N4 substrate (Fe-C3N4) with minimal energy consumption and post-processing. Fe-C3N4 enhances photocatalytic reactivity for antibiotic degradation via a synergistic photo-Fenton-like oxidation technique, efficiently removing antibiotic pollutants from actual livestock wastewater. The Fe-C3N4 catalyst exhibited consistent degradation performance over five cycles in laboratory conditions, maintaining a degradation efficiency exceeding 90 % for tetracycline hydrochloride (TCHCl). Furthermore, we engineered a straightforward Fe-C3N4Na2SiO3 reactor for treating livestock wastewater, achieving an 81.8 % removal of TCHCl in outdoor field tests conducted in the winter and summer in China. The Fe-C3N4 catalyst demonstrated high feasibility in treating antibiotic-contaminated livestock wastewater under year-round climatic conditions, leveraging synergistic effects. The stabilization of Fe-C3N4 for the degradation of antibiotic-containing wastewater under sunlight represents a significant advancement in the practical application of photocatalysts, marking a crucial milestone from experimental conception to implementation. Acute toxicity estimation suggested that intermediates/products generated exhibited lower toxicity compared to TCHCl, indicating their practical applicability. Density functional theory (DFT) analysis successfully predicted significant electron transfer between Fe-C3N4 and TCHCl, indicating efficient interfacial interactions on the TCHCl surface. To ensure the environmental sustainability of Fe-C3N4, a life cycle assessment (LCA) was conducted to compared this photocatalyst with other commonly used emerging photocatalysts. The results demonstrated that Fe-C3N4 exhibits a two orders of magnitude lower CO2 equivalent emission compared to the ZnO photocatalyst, indicating a cost-effective and efficient synergistic photo-Fenton-like catalytic approach. This low-cost photocatalyst, moving from the laboratory to real-world wastewater applications, provides a powerful and more sustainable solution for the efficient treatment of wastewater containing antibiotics from livestock farming.

Accumulation and translocation of lead in vegetables through intensive use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers with wastewater

In many countries with wastewater irrigation and intensive use of fertilizers (minerals and organics), heavy metal deposition by crops is regarded as a major environmental concern. A study was conducted to determine the impact of mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse on soil’s trace Pb content and edible parts of vegetables. It also evaluated the risk of lead (Pb) contamination in water, soil, and food crops. Six vegetables (Daucus carota, Brassica oleracea, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the field under twelve treatments with different nutrient and water inputs. The lead concentrations in soil, vegetables for all treatments and water samples ranged from 1.038–10.478, 0.09346–9.0639 mg/kg and 0.036–0.26448 mg/L, The concentration of lead in soil treated with wastewater in treatment (T6) and vegetable samples was significantly higher, exceeding the WHO’s permitted limit. Mineral and organic fertilizers combined with wastewater treatment reduced lead (Pb) concentrations in vegetables compared to wastewater application without organic fertilizers. Health risk indexes for all treatments except wastewater treatment (T6) were less than one. Pb concentrations in mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse treated were determined to pose no possible risk to consumers.

English

The issue of water scarcity in Pakistan is a significant challenge which is due to exacerbated population growth as well as increase in freshwater demand. The application of wastewater for irrigation, especially in semi-urban regions, can indeed be a practical solution due to its ready availability and affordability. While wastewater can serve as a valuable resource in water-scarce regions, its use must be carefully managed to minimize potential risks to plant health, soil fertility, and human well-being. A study was conducted aiming to assess the seasonal changes in physicochemical properties of irrigated wastewater and their influence on morphological, physiological and biochemical responses of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.). Sugarcane plants were grown for consecutive two years in peri-urban agricultural areas near the water channels. Sugarcane plants were grown in two different fields and irrigation of the crop was done with wastewater and freshwater, respectively. Water (wastewater and freshwater) and plant samples were collected four times in a year in different seasons (winter, spring, summer, fall) for two consecutive years (2016-2017). All the collected data had been subjected to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) for assessing the impact of seasonal variation on plant responses under the influence of irrigated wastewater. The findings from the study highlighted the complex relationship between wastewater irrigation and the physiological responses of sugarcane plants. The observed increase in antioxidant activities of wastewater irrigated plants compared to freshwater irrigated plants suggested that sugarcane may undergo biochemical adjustments to cope with the stress induced by the contaminants present in the wastewater. Moreover, the significant differences in plant mineral contents across different seasons were observed which indicated the dynamic nature of nutrient availability in the irrigation water and its impact on plant growth and development. We concluded that wastewater irrigation can affect the potential output of the agriculture sector by altering plant physiology which underscores the importance of considering the quality of irrigation water in agricultural practices. For future prospectives, the study can be extended to other crops to develop comprehensive strategies for sustainable agriculture.

Sunlight active Zeolite decorated N-doped nickel oxide nanocomposite for the efficient photocatalytic degradation of toxic phenols

Nanotechnology is the most advanced technique in current times, with nanoparticles and nanocomposites playing a vital role in the remediation of toxic contamination. Notably, nanoparticles synthesized using plant extracts exhibit superior stability and biocompatibility when compared to their counterparts produced through conventional chemical and physical methods. The present study focuses on the green synthesis of N-NiO@Zeolite nanocomposite utilizing Camellia sinensis (green tea) plant leaf extract. The green synthesized nanocomposite was employed for the photocatalytic degradation of toxic organic pollutants including, 3-Aminophenol (3-AP) and bisphenol A (BPA). Under solar irradiation, modified nanomaterials demonstrated excellent photocatalytic activities for degrading 3-AP and BPA. The optimum parameters for photocatalytic degradation were found to be pollutant concentrations of 10 mg/L for 3-AP and 4 mg/L for BPA, photocatalyst dosages of 15 mg for 3-AP and 10 mg for BPA, and neutral pH for both pollutants. Within 120 min, the synthesized N-NiO@zeolite nanocomposite achieved degradation efficiencies of 96 % for 3-AP and 94 % for BPA, superior performance on comparing its parental materials, N-NiO (78 % for 3-AP and 75 % for BPA) and NiO (66 % for 3-AP and 65 % for BPA). The degradation kinetics of both pollutants were accurately represented by first-order kinetics, Langmuir-Hinshelwood model and were consistent with the Langmuir adsorption isotherm model. Furthermore, the environmentally friendly N-NiO@Zeolite nanocomposite displayed outstanding durability and reusability, retaining photocatalytic efficiency after 10 cycles of repeated usage, and its stability was validated by PXRD analysis after treatment. This excellent reusability and stability demonstrate the nanocomposite’s potential as a long-term solution for commercial treatment of wastewater applications.

Computational analysis of MOF-functionalized polymeric membranes for wastewater treatment and applications

Contaminants in drinking water can cause several health issues. In this study, solution cast technology was used to create polycaprolactone (PCL) or graphene nanocomposite membranes with diameters ranging from 2 to 6 m. The industry of water purification has benefited greatly from the use of membrane separation processes. The membranes are also made of biocompatible, non-toxic, and environmentally friendly materials. We utilized PCL polymer solution that was dissolved in chloroform to create membranes, and we added graphene to the PCL polymer solution. Quantum espresso software was used to determine the band structure, DOS, and Fermi-energy. The results of this study’s inducible tests suggested that solution-cast PCL and polycaprolactone or graphene membranes might be a good choice for removing waste from water. According to the biological sensing component (enzymes, antibodies, entire cells, aptamers, tissues, molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) and DNA) or transducers (optical, electrochemical, piezoelectric, and thermal), biosensors are analytical devices. The transducer produces a signal corresponding to the concentration of the analyte when the target analyte interacts with the biological sensing component. A signal processor is used to boost the signal and display it. The industrial utilizations of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs) have been a growing area of interest in recent years. Researchers are exploring the use of MOFs in various industrial applications such as gas storage, catalysis, drug delivery, and sensing.

A novel synthesis method of magnetic Janus particles for wastewater applications

HypothesisMagnetic particles are widely used in many adsorption and removal processes. Among the many types of magnetic colloids, magnetic Janus particles offer significant possibilities for the effective removal of several components from aqueous solutions. Nevertheless, the synthesis of structures integrating different types of materials requires scalable fabrication processes to overcome the limitations of the available methodologies. Herein, we hypothesized a fabrication process for dual-surface functionalized magnetic Janus particles. ExperimentsThe primary silica particles with surface-attached amine groups are further asymmetrically modified by iron oxide nanoparticles, exploiting Pickering emulsion and electroless deposition techniques. The dual surface functionality of the particles is designed for its versatility and demonstrated in two wastewater-related applications. FindingsWe show that our design can simultaneously remove chromium (VI) and phenol from aqueous solution. The fabricated magnetic-responsive Janus particles are also an effective adsorbent for genomic Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) and show superior performance to commercial magnetic beads. Thus, this study provides a novel platform for designing magnetic Janus particles with multifunctional surfaces for wastewater treatment applications.

Efficient degradation of tetracycline by activated peroxymonosulfate with high permeate flux FeTiOx reactive ceramic membrane: Membrane preparation, real wastewater application, and mechanism insight

Antibiotic residue in wastewater is one of the most worrying environmental pollution problems. In this study, innovative bimetallic nanocatalysts of FeTiOx were prepared. Benefiting from the synergistic effect between Ti and Fe, FeTiOx exhibited an excellent performance in activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) for tetracycline (TC) degradation. Within 60 min, the TC treatment efficiency can reach 96 %. Mechanism study confirmed that the non-free radical pathway (1O2) and free radical pathway (O2−, OH, SO4−) co-participated during the TC treatment process. To further improve the separation function and efficiency, FeTiOx nanocatalyst was loaded on the ceramic membrane (CM) by a facile spraying method and a self-designed experimental device was constructed, which can be used to degrade TC with large volume. In the designed device, 2 L 40 mg/L TC wastewater can be degraded at one time with an efficiency of 85 % and a permeate flux of 1011.66 kg/m2·h when the transmembrane pressure (TMP) was 20 kPa. Finally, real pharmaceutical wastewater was treated and found that the removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), ammonia nitrogen (NH3−N) and total organic carbon (TOC) were 70.3 %, 62.85 % and 32.8 %, respectively. The study provides a new strategy for treating wastewater pollutants by combining CM technology with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

Enhanced adsorption dynamics and thermal stability of radioactive Sr(II) by lamellar Nb-doped sodium vanadosilicate via self-assembly and conditional natroxalate intercalation

To promote the environmentally friendly and sustainable development of nuclear energy, it is imperative to address the treatment of wastewater generated by the nuclear industry. This necessitates the enhancement of fission product reclamation efficiency post-treatment. This study aims to combine defect control and confined self-assembly strategies for the precise design of interlayer spacing (14.6 Å to 15.1 Å), leading to the fabrication of conditional natroxalate-functionalized vanadosilicate, and its potential application in the efficient adsorption and reclamation of 90Sr. Na0.03Natroxalate2.47Si1.44Nb0.08V1.92O5·1.2 H2O (Nb4-NxSiVO), with a layer spacing of 14.9 Å, exhibits the highest Sr(II) adsorption capacity (248.76 mg/g), enabling effective separation with Cs+. The natroxalate embedded within the confined interlayers demonstrates excellent stability, offering rapid (within 10 min) and stable adsorption sites for Sr(II). Furthermore, Nb4-NxSiVO exhibits a wide band gap and exceptional thermal stability before and after adsorption, rendering hard desorption of 90Sr. The findings highlight the potential of Nb4-NxSiVO as a promising adsorbent for rapid and selective purification of 90Sr-containing wastewater and further application in nuclear batteries.

Enzymatic degradability of diclofenac ozonation products: A mechanistic analysis

The treatment of waterborne micropollutants, such as diclofenac, presents a significant challenge to wastewater treatment plants due to their incomplete removal by conventional methods. Ozonation is an effective technique for the degradation of micropollutants. However, incomplete oxidation can lead to the formation of ecotoxic by-products that require a subsequent post-treatment step. In this study, we analyze the susceptibility of micropollutant ozonation products to enzymatic digestion with laccase from Trametes versicolor to evaluate the potential of enzymatic treatment as a post-ozonation step. The omnipresent micropollutant diclofenac is used as an example, and the enzymatic degradation kinetics of all 14 detected ozonation products are analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (HPLC-HRMS) and tandem mass spectrometry (MS2). The analysis shows that most of the ozonation products are responsive to chemo-enzymatic treatment but show considerable variation in enzymatic degradation kinetics and efficiencies. Mechanistic investigation of representative transformation products reveals that the hydroxylated aromatic nature of the ozonation products matches the substrate spectrum, facilitating their rapid recognition as substrates by laccase. However, after initiation by laccase, the subsequent chemical pathway of the enzymatically formed radicals determines the global degradability observed in the enzymatic process. Substrates capable of forming stable molecular oxidation products inhibit complete detoxification by oligomerization. This emphasizes that it is not the enzymatic uptake of the substrates but the channelling of the reaction of the substrate radicals towards the oligomerization of the substrate radicals that is the key step in the further development of an enzymatic treatment step for wastewater applications.

Enhancing pollutants removal in hospital wastewater: Comparative analysis of PAC coagulation vs. bio-contact oxidation, highlighting the impact of outdated treatment plants

While the effectiveness of Poly-Aluminum Chloride (PAC) coagulation for pollutant removal has been documented across various wastewater scenarios, its specific application in hospital wastewater (HWW) treatment to remove conventional pollutants and hazardous genetic pollutants has not been studied. The research compared three hospital wastewater treatment plants (HWTPs) to address a knowledge gap, including the PAC coagulation-sodium hypochlorite disinfection process (PAC-HWTP), the biological contact oxidation-precipitation-sodium hypochlorite process (BCO-HWTP), and a system using outdated equipment with PAC coagulation (ODE-PAC-HWTP). Effluent compliance with national discharge standards is assessed, with BCO-HWTP meeting standards for direct or indirect discharge into natural aquatic environments. ODE-PAC-HWTP exceeds pretreatment standards for COD and BOD5 concentrations. PAC-HWTP effluent largely adheres to national pretreatment standards, enabling release into municipal sewers for further treatment. Metagenomic analysis reveals that PAC-HWTP exhibits higher removal efficiencies for antibiotic resistance genes, metal resistance genes, mobile genetic elements, and pathogens compared to BCO-HWTP and ODE-PAC-HWTP, achieving average removal rates of 45.13%, 57.54%, 80.61%, and 72.17%, respectively. These results suggests that when discharging treated HWW into municipal sewers for further processing, the use of PAC coagulation process is more feasible and cost-effective compared to BCO technologies. The analysis emphasizes the urgent need to upgrade outdated equipment HWTPs.

A dual flow-through electrochemical system coupled electrocatalytic membrane electrode and heterogeneous electro-Fenton for organic wastewater treatment

In this work, a dual flow-through heterogeneous electrochemical system was proposed in which a porous Ti/SnO2-Sb membrane and graphite felt (GF) were used as anode and cathode, respectively. By combining of anodic oxidation (AO) and electro-Fenton (EF), this electrochemical system obtained a synergism effect on organic pollutants degradation resulted in a high removal efficiency. In addition，attributed to the application of dual flow-through mode, mass transfer was improved which is also beneficial for organic pollutants degradation. The results illustrated that this dual flow-through electrochemical system exhibited a brilliant treatment performance for BPA wastewater treatment. It can be observed that the dual flow-through electrochemical system owned a removal efficiency of 99.2 % under optimum condition (2.5 V voltage at pH=3 using 0.05 M Na2SO4 as electrolyte). The mechanism investigation results indicated that the good treatment performance was due to the ·OH generated from both EF and AO processes and O2-· produced through AO process. In addition, this dual flow-through electrochemical system also exhibited a good reusability and application. It reveals a potential for factual wastewater application.

Recent Progress on Synthesis and Properties of Black Phosphorus and Phosphorene As New-Age Nanomaterials for Water Decontamination.

Concerted efforts have been made in recent years to find solutions to water and wastewater treatment challenges and eliminate the difficulties associated with treatment methods. Various techniques are used to ensure the recycling and reuse of water resources. Owing to their excellent chemical, physical, and biological properties, nanomaterials play an important role when integrated into water/wastewater treatment technologies. Black phosphorus (BP) is a potential nanomaterial candidate for water and wastewater treatment, especially its monolayer 2D derivative called phosphorene. Phosphorene offers relative adjustability in its direct bandgap, high charge carrier mobility, and improved in-plane anisotropy compared to the most extensively studied 2D nanomaterials. In this study, we examined the physical and chemical characteristics and synthetic processes of BP and phosphorene. We provide an overview of the latest advancements in the main applications of BP and phosphorene in water/wastewater treatment, which are categorized as photocatalytic, adsorption, and membrane filtration processes. Additionally, we explore the existing difficulties in the integration of BP and phosphorene into water/wastewater treatment technologies and prospects for future research in this field. In summary, this review highlights the ongoing necessity for significant research efforts on the integration of BP and phosphorene in water and wastewater applications.

Synthesis of lead-free Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS thin film as a novel photocatalytic hydrogen generator from wastewater and solar cell applications

The sewage water is tested as a source of hydrogen production with a high efficiency value of 25.44% using Cu/CuFeO2 (delafossite)/CZTS (Cu2ZnSnS4, kesterite) as an investigated photocatalyst. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the investigated photocatalyst (Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS) revealed a compact crystalline material, as witnessed by the diffraction peaks with high intensities. From the optical characterization, the recorded band gap values of Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS, Cu/CuFeO2, and CZTS are 1.15, 1.97, and 1.43 eV, respectively, inferring an obvious enhancement in the optical properties of the investigated photocatalyst, Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS. The photoelectrochemical (PEC) performance of the investigated photocatalyst for hydrogen (H2) generation was examined in wastewater. The current–time characteristic and the PEC behavior of Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS in dark and under light illumination using various power densities, monochromatic wavelengths, and different temperatures were studied. The current densities (JPh) under light illumination and (Jo) in the dark were − 8.0 and − 0.7 mA cm−2, respectively. The H2 generation rate for the Cu/CuFeO2/CZTS electrode was 0.049 mA/h. The thermodynamic parameters, respectively, ΔS*, ΔE, and ΔH* were 28.76 kJ mol−1 K−1, 21.0, and 18.28 kJ mol−1 at 390 nm. The findings of the work hold great promise for addressing energy production and the hindrances of sewage treatment at the same time.