Micro- and nanoplastic pollution in urban influenced aquatic environments: Sources, pathways, and remediation strategies.

Application of In-situ electrocoagulation/ ZIF 67@ZIF 8 catalytic ozonation followed by ceramic membrane filtration process for textile wastewater remediation

Diatomite coated plate and frame filter press as novel harvest method of microalgae biomass: Design and pilot-scale study.

This study examines the integration of a rainwater harvesting system with a smart greenhouse for hydroponic lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) cultivation to improve water-use efficiency and support sustainable precision agriculture. The system incorporates IoT-based environmental monitoring and automated irrigation using real-time data on temperature, humidity, light intensity, water quality, and nutrient conditions. A 30-day comparative experiment was conducted using two irrigation sources: filtered harvested rainwater and groundwater. Measurements included environmental parameters, water use, and plant traits such as leaf number, leaf size, biomass, root length, and chlorophyll content (SPAD). Independent Sample T-Test results showed that groundwater significantly enhanced vegetative growth, increasing fresh weight by up to 62.5% and root length by 44.45% compared to rainwater treatment. In contrast, rainwater-grown plants exhibited 16.67% higher SPAD values, suggesting greater chlorophyll concentration and physiological quality. Laboratory analysis indicated that filtration improved rainwater pH and TDS but increased turbidity and total hardness, while groundwater demonstrated more stable quality across all parameters. These findings highlight the potential of integrating smart irrigation and alternative water sources to support climate-resilient agriculture. Future work should optimize filtration processes and investigate nutrient uptake and physiological responses under varying water qualities in hydroponic systems.

The aim of this study was to create a practical water filter to improve the quality of Muara Angke well water. There are three main steps in this research, namely initial testing of Muara Angke residents' well water, making water filters, and testing filtered well water. There are three types of tests carried out, namely resistivity, pH, and turbidity. The water filter uses sedimentation techniques using natural materials. The composition of the materials from top to bottom is gravel (30 cm), silica sand (40 cm), manganese zeolite (40 cm), and activated carbon (40 cm). Well water, whether filtered or not, still contains more dissolved ions which causes its resistivity to be lower than bottled water. The filtration process using silica sand, manganese sand, and activated carbon does not directly cause a significant decrease in pH. However, if the source water has certain chemical characteristics or there are reactions that result in increased acidity (such as from CO₂ or oxidation reactions), the pH of the water may decrease slightly. The filtration media used helps reduce water turbidity, but has not reached the desired standard.

Aramid nanofibers (ANF) with excellent toughness and stability are promising candidates as flexible matrix for fabrication of wearable devices, nevertheless, which still suffer from the drawback of surface activation. In this work, the lignin that possesses structural affinity with ANF is applied to activate ANF, which further composites with carbon nanotubes (CNT) through vacuum filtration and subsequent thermal-crosslinking processes. Ascribing to the multiply interfacial lignin binding (i.e., noncovalent hydrogen bonding and π-π stacking, and covalent C─C and C─O─C bonds), the resulted films (ALxCy (TC)) exhibit simultaneously enhanced mechanical properties (the tensile strength of ∼88.6MPa and toughness of ∼77.2MJ m-3), stabilities (e.g., in commonly used solvents, and under -20°C-100°C and deformation) and conductivity (∼148.2 S m-1). The synergy of CNT and lignin endows composite films with superior photo-thermal-electric (∼62°C and 150mV under 1000W m-2 of illumination within 10 s) conversion capabilities. Moreover, the ultrastable ALxCy (TC) also demonstrates favorable Joule heating properties (∼105°C under 25V) that can be applied in chair warming and ice melting. Thus, this work paves a green and efficient way to optimize the interfacial compatibility between ANF and functional components, and build composite films for durable energy management.

Photocatalytic membrane reactors (PMRs) are an innovative technology for water treatment, effectively combining membrane filtration and photocatalysis to enhance contaminant removal while enabling the regeneration of fouled membranes. In this study, a new porous film of chitosan that was impregnated with TiO2 was developed and coated onto a ceramic support by spin coating to form a new porous immobilized PMR. The formed membrane was tested for two reasons: the removal of methylene blue dye by a dead-end filtration process and to demonstrate its ability to self-regenerate under UV exposure. The selective layer of the membrane was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and water permeability tests. The results confirmed the formation of an amorphous film with no chemical interaction between chitosan and TiO2. The membrane exhibited an average water permeability of 10.72 L/m2·h·bar, classifying it as either ultrafiltration (UF) or nanofiltration (NF). Dead-end filtration of methylene blue (10 mg L−1) achieved 99% dye removal based on UV–vis analysis of the permeate, while flux declined rapidly due to fouling. Subsequent UV irradiation removed the deposited dye layer and restored approximately 50% of the initial flux, indicating partial self-regeneration. Overall, spin-coated chitosan–TiO2 layers on ceramic supports provide high dye removal and photocatalytically assisted flux recovery, and further work should quantify photocatalytic degradation during regeneration.

Enantioselective recognition and chiral separation of amino acids hold significant importance in chemistry, materials science, and life science. Here, we report a water-soluble chiral fluorescent probe that enables visual chiral recognition and separation by incorporating a morpholinium quaternary cation into the 1,1’-bi-2-naphthol frameworks. Upon binding with free amino acid enantiomers, the probe achieves rapid chiral discrimination within 100 s, accompanied by distinct changes in luminescence color or intensity. The underlying mechanism of this chiral recognition involves imine formation and electrostatic interactions, accompanied by aggregation-induced emission. These processes collectively promote selective aggregation and precipitation between the probe and specific enantiomers of amino acids. Furthermore, the enantiomers can be efficiently separated from D-/L- amino acid mixtures through a simple filtration process. Comparative analyses using a fluorescence visualization and chiral high performance liquid chromatography further validate the probe’s efficacy in achieving efficient chiral separation. This study provides a practical approach for the precise detection and separation of amino acid enantiomers.

Abstract The present study addresses the heat and mass transport phenomena in a magnetohydrodynamic tangent hyperbolic ternary hybrid nanofluid system traversing an exponentially stretching porous cylinder in a Darcy–Forchheimer medium. The working fluid comprises molybdenum disulfide, titanium dioxide, and silver nanoparticles dispersed in water. Comprehensive analysis is conducted to elucidate the impacts of thermal radiation, internal heat generation/absorption, and thermophoretic particle deposition on flow dynamics and transport behavior. The governing highly nonlinear differential equations are solved via the Galerkin finite element discretization, coupled with predictive modeling using artificial neural networks to estimate transport properties. Results indicate that augmentation of the tangent hyperbolic parameter and Weissenberg number notably increases the fluid's resistance to deformation and enhances viscosity, thereby facilitating superior energy dissipation and attenuated momentum transport. Additionally, the intensification of the thermophoretic force under substantial thermal gradients promotes particle deposition at the substrate, resulting in elevated concentration profiles. These findings provide a mechanistic framework for optimizing thermal energy harvesting in solar collectors, improving heat removal in microelectronic cooling applications, advancing nanoparticle manipulation in filtration processes, and designing biomedical devices with enhanced surface engineering capabilities.

Extracellular membrane vesicles (EVs) are nanosized particles that contain various molecules originating from their parental cells and are produced by all three domains of life, including bacteria. Bacterial EVs are known to contribute to bacterial infections and immune responses in various human diseases. Enterococcus faecalis is an opportunistic pathogen. In this study, we examined the physical and physiological properties of EVs generated by E. faecalis, including particle size, protein composition, and cytokine-inducing profiles. To this end, we isolated EVs from bacteria under different preparation processes, and also a certain condition with the addition of EGCG. First, the bacterial culture supernatants were directly ultracentrifuged (named “Rough”), or filtered through 0.45- or 0.22 µm pore-sized membrane filters (named as “0.45 µm” or “0.22 µm,” respectively). EVs from EGCG-treated bacteria were prepared using a 0.45 µm pore-sized membrane filter and named “EGCG + 0.45 µm.” Each EV sample was subjected to DLS, SDS-PAGE, and cytokine array analyses. DLS results showed that the differently prepared EVs had distinct size distributions depending on the filtration process. SDS-PAGE results revealed unique protein profiles that differentiated EVs under each condition. Treatment of macrophages with each EV sample markedly increased cell viability and size. The cytokine profiles produced by macrophages in response to each EV preparation revealed both common and distinguishable factors. This study has significance in revealing aspects of the biological characteristics of EVs produced by E. faecalis, which have previously been largely unknown.

The process of industrial urbanization has significantly transformed the nature of hydrological processes supporting natural phenomena and enhanced the amounts of stormwater runoff, the amount of discharge peaks, and the mobilization of contaminants on impervious industrial surfaces. The traditional drainage models that are mainly used to facilitate quick flow have become ineffective in dealing with the hydrological imbalance and also the loading of contaminants and especially in face of the mounting pressures of the extreme rainfall events caused by climate change. The article focuses on Augmented Rainwater Infiltration and Pollutant Mitigation (ARIPM) systems as a combined stormwater management system to fit an industrial catchment. The main purpose is to assess the hydrological efficiency and the attenuation ability of ARIPM systems based on a synthesis of empirical field research, monitored systems and regulatory performance databases. The analysis is based on the quantitative evaluations of infiltration enhancing and reduction of runoff volume, attenuation of peak flows, and elimination of major industrial stormwater pollutants like total suspended solids, nutrients, hydrocarbons, and heavy metals. The results show that ARIPM systems can always increase infiltration rates and decrease the surface runoff and have significant reductions in the contaminants load using physical filtration, sorption and biogeochemical processes. The variability of the performance is noted in soil conditions, rainfall regimes, and typologies of industrial land-use, which emphasize the significance of the site-specific design and maintenance strategies. The originality of the paper is placing ARIPM systems within the paradigm of a hybrid green-grey infrastructure that is based on the hydrological restoration and the controlled industrial pollutants, which is not always a dominant theme in the study of stormwater. The findings show that ARIPM systems can provide a scalable, robust, and regulatory-compliant solution to enhance industrial stormwater management and increase the urban environment resilience.

The transport of microplastics (MPs) in the activated carbon filtration process of drinking water treatment plants: The influence of surface characteristics and environmental variables

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is one of the deadliest forms of cancer, presenting significant clinical challenges due to poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Understanding the metabolic reprogramming that drives this disease is crucial for identifying new therapeutic targets and improving patient outcomes. We developed a novel computational framework integrating genome-scale metabolic modeling with machine learning to identify metabolic signatures and therapeutic vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer. To address the inherent class imbalance in cancer datasets, we generated synthetic healthy samples using a Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty, implementing a rigorous three-step biological filtration process to ensure their validity. This approach enabled the creation of a balanced dataset for robust comparison of healthy versus cancerous metabolic states. Our machine learning classifier achieved 94.83% accuracy in distinguishing between these states, demonstrating the effectiveness of our integrated approach. Systems-level analysis revealed three key dysregulated pathways: heparan sulfate degradation, O-glycan metabolism, and heme degradation. We identified impaired lysosomal degradation of heparan sulfate proteoglycans as a potential contributor to disease pathogenesis, providing a mechanistic explanation for the previously observed association between lysosomal storage disorders and pancreatic cancer. Additionally, nervonic acid transport emerged as the most discriminative reaction between healthy and cancerous states, with gene-level analysis highlighting fatty acid binding proteins, fatty acid transporters, and acyl-CoA synthetases as key molecular drivers of metabolic reprogramming. Our multi-level approach connected genetic drivers to functional metabolic consequences, revealing coordinated upregulation of fatty acid transport and activation processes. These findings enhance our understanding of pancreatic cancer metabolism and present potential therapeutic targets, demonstrating the value of integrated computational approaches in cancer research.

Microscopic control mechanism of PDDA-enhanced ultra-high pressure filtration process

Flexible, skin-conformable electrodes require materials that combine mechanical robustness, environmental stability, high electrical performance, and biocompatibility. Here, we present a flexible conductive composite film composed of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):polystyrenesulfonate (PEDOT:PSS), cellulose nanofibers (CNF), and the ionic liquid 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethyl sulfate (EMIM ES). The composite is fabricated via a simple aqueous blending and filtration process, yielding a free-standing film with a robust fibrous microstructure. ATR-FTIR analysis confirms the successful integration of all components, while SEM imaging reveals a percolated nanofibrillar architecture that enhances interfacial adhesion and structural integrity. Mechanical testing reveals a tensile strength of up to 335 MPa, accompanied by a strain of 21%, attributed to the increasing CNF content. Composite films with low CNF content exhibit excellent electrical stability across humidity levels between 10% and 90% and temperatures of 15-55 °C, and maintain electrochemical performance after 100,000 cycles of mechanical fatigue testing. On-skin electrophysiological recordings from a rodent model demonstrate stable signal acquisition without skin irritation, establishing the hybrid films as a promising platform for soft, wearable bioelectronic interfaces.

Microplastics represent a pressing global environmental concern due to their persistence, widespread occurrence, and adverse impacts on aquatic ecosystems and human health. Effective removal of these contaminants from water is essential to safeguard biodiversity and ensure water quality. This work focuses on the pivotal role of membrane-based filtration technologies, including microfiltration, ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, reverse osmosis, membrane bioreactors, and dynamic membranes, in capturing and eliminating microplastics. The performance of these systems depends on key membrane characteristics such as pore size, material composition, hydrophilicity, mechanical strength, and module design, which govern retention efficiency, fouling resistance, and operational stability. Membrane filtration offers a highly effective, scalable, and sustainable approach to microplastic removal, outperforming conventional treatment methods by selectively targeting a wide range of particle sizes and morphologies. By highlighting the critical contribution of membranes and filtration processes, this study underscores their potential in mitigating microplastic pollution and advancing sustainable water treatment practices.

In the presented study an application of membrane methods for treatment of rainwater runoff from expressway was examined. The possibility of reuse of obtained permeate was also analyzed. Ultrafiltration (UF), nanofiltration (NF), and reverse osmosis (RO) were employed to treat the rainwater that was taken from a rainwater reservoir on an expressway. The UF and NF process were carried out with activated carbon (AC) filter pretreatment. The effectiveness and efficiency of filtration processes were assessed by analyzing of permeate flux, electroconductivity concentrate factor, filtration time and removal rate for analyzed parameters. During rainwater treatment the most efficient method was AC-NF, where the average normalized flux value was 79% and was higher by 31% and 54% from RO and AC-UF, respectively. The highest efficiency in removing contaminants was achieved for AC-NF and RO. Average EC rejection rate was 99.6%, 42% and 2% respectively for RO, AC-NF, AC-UF. All methods had also good performance in bacteria removal (disinfection), although for microorganisms removal the efficiency over 90% was observed only for AC-NF and RO. The factor limiting the filtration process was membrane clogging, visible especially in AC-UF filtration. The results of the analysis of rainwater quality after using membrane processes indicate that permeate obtained from RO filtration could be used for economic purposes, such as flushing toilets, washing floors, and watering green areas.

In this work, numerical algorithms of higher-order accuracy are constructed and studied for a pseudoparabolic equation that describes the filtration process in fractured-porous media. The increase in the order of accuracy is achieved in various ways. First, only the spatial variables are approximated, as in the method of lines. Then, to solve the resulting system of linear ordinary differential equations, the finite difference method and the finite element method are applied. The application of these methods makes it possible to achieve a higher order of approximation for the difference schemes. Schemes of fourth-order accuracy in the spatial variables and second-order in time are presented, as well as schemes of fourth-order accuracy in all variables. Based on the stability theory of three-level difference schemes, stability conditions for the proposed algorithms are obtained. Using a special technique for solving the difference schemes, a priori estimates are derived, and based on them, theorems on convergence and accuracy are proven in the class of smooth solutions to the differential problem. An implementation algorithm is proposed for the difference scheme constructed using the finite element method. Test examples for one-dimensional and two-dimensional equations are also provided, demonstrating the higher-order accuracy of the proposed schemes.

Goal. To investigate the combined influence of hydrogeological and mining factors on the stability of open-pit mine slopes, particularly in loose water-saturated soils characteristic of several quarries within the Central and Southern mining-industrial regions. Methods. A systematic analysis of current scientific publications, quarry reports, and case studies of landslides in loose, water-sensitive soils was conducted. The results of numerical modelling of filtration processes, pore pressure effects, and bench parameter impacts were summarised. A conceptual model of a quarry with a water-saturated soil mass was developed to illustrate the interaction of factors. Results. It was established that the most significant destabilising factor is the action of groundwater, which affects soil strength through increased pore pressure, loss of cohesion, and the soil “liquefaction” effect. In particular, lowering the groundwater level causes subsidence of the mass, whereas blast loads induce cracking and additional instability. The combined effect of mining factors (slope angle, bench height, mining regime) and hydrogeological factors frequently triggers landslides. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the necessity of an integrated approach to water management has been substantiated, incorporating drainage measures, bench geometry optimisation, and instability prediction considering multiple aquifers. It was determined that each additional aquifer reduces the slope stability coefficient by 5–12 %. Practical significance. A set of preventive measures is proposed: drilling of dewatering wells, construction of drainage channels, crack monitoring, and visual inspections. Emphasis is placed on the need for careful blasting in unstable zones and regular hydrogeological monitoring. Implementation of the proposed measures improves work safety, prevents accidents, and minimises losses.

Abstract – Ceramic membrane filtration is an advanced separation technology widely used for the purification and treatment of liquids in water, wastewater, and industrial processes. This project focuses on the study, design, and performance evaluation of ceramic membrane filtration systems, emphasizing their efficiency in removing suspended solids, bacteria, and dissolved impurities. Ceramic membranes are manufactured from inorganic materials such as alumina, zirconia, or titania, which provide high mechanical strength, thermal stability, and chemical resistance compared to polymeric membranes. The experimental setup involves passing contaminated water through a ceramic membrane under controlled pressure conditions and analyzing parameters such as flux rate, permeability, rejection efficiency, and fouling behaviour results demonstrate that ceramic membrane filtration offers high filtration efficiency, longer operational life, and ease of cleaning through backwashing and chemical treatment. The study concludes that ceramic membrane filtration is a sustainable and cost-effective solution for water purification and industrial wastewater treatment, with significant potential for large-scale applications. Ceramic membrane filtration (CMF) uses robust, porous ceramic materials (like alumina, silica, or composites from waste) for physical separation, offering high thermal/chemical stability, long life, and high flux for water/wastewater treatment, effectively removing contaminants like suspended solids, colloids, and dyes, though fouling can occur, requiring pre-treatment or surface modification (e.g., with nanoparticles) to enhance hydrophilicity and reduce fouling, making them a promising, sustainable technology for diverse water purification needs. Keywords: Ceramic membrane, Membrane filtration, Porous ceramic filter, Advanced filtration technology, Materials & Structure:-, Alumina ceramic, Porosity, Pore size distribution, Sintering process, Microstructure analysis, Filtration Processes