Initial Pollutant Concentration Research Articles

Enhancing the performance of alumina-pillared clay for phenol removal from water solutions and polyphenol removal from olive mill wastewater: Characterization, kinetics, adsorption performance, and mechanism

An alumina-pillared clay (Al-PILC) has been synthesized and tested for its ability to adsorb phenol from aqueous solutions, and polyphenols from Olive Mill Wastewater (OMW). The synthesis processes were investigated by varying parameters like the Al/clay ratio, with a molar ratio of [OH−]/[Al3+] = 2.4. Various techniques, including XRD, BET, XRF, FTIR, and SEM were used to characterize the resulting solids. The effect of key factors as pH, initial pollutant concentration, and contact time, were examined in order to evaluate the phenol adsorption capacities of raw clay (RC) and optimized Al-PILC10 materials. The specific surface areas of RC and Al-PILC10 were 40 and 127 m2/g, respectively, resulting in increasing the phenol adsorbed quantity from 14.15 mg/g for RC to 30.61 mg/g for Al-PILC10 clays, at pH 2 and 45 °C. Pseudo-second-order kinetics and Freundlich adsorption isotherm were suitable for describing phenol adsorption on both clays. Furthermore, Al-PILC10 exhibits an impressive removal efficiency of 76 % for polyphenols from OMW, in contrast to the 50 % achieved by RC at acidic pH. Furthermore, Al-PILC10 showcased a superior desorption rate and a favorable regeneration capacity of 64 % compared to RC (45 %), even after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. These findings emphasize the potential of pillared clay as a cost-effective adsorbent for the efficient removal of phenol and polyphenols from wastewater.

Improvement strategy of citrate and biochar assisted nano-palladium/iron composite for effective dechlorination of 2,4-dichlorophenol.

Rapid passivation and aggregation of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) seriously limit its performance in the remediation of different contaminants from wastewater. To overcome such issues, in the present study, nano-palladium/iron (nPd/Fe) was simultaneously improved by biochar (BC) prepared from discarded peanut shells and green complexing agent sodium citrate (SC). For this purpose, a composite (SC-nPd/Fe@BC) was successfully synthesized to remove 2,4-dichlorophenol (2,4-DCP) from wastewater. In the SC-nPd/Fe@BC, BC acts as a carrier with dispersed nPd/Fe particles to effectively prevent its agglomeration, and increased the specific surface area of the composite, thereby improving the reactivity and stability of nPd/Fe. Characterization results demonstrated that the SC-nPd/Fe@BC composites were well dispersed, and the agglomeration was weakened. The formation of the passivation layer on the surface of the particles was inhibited, and the mechanism of SC and BC improving the reactivity of nPd/Fe was clarified. Different factors were found to influence the reductive dichlorination of 2,4-DCP, including Pd loading, Fe:C, SC addition, temperature, initial pH, and initial pollutant concentration. The dechlorination results revealed that the synergistic effect of the BC and SC made the removal efficiency and dechlorination rate of 2,4-DCP by SC-nPd/Fe@BC reached to 96.0 and 95.6%, respectively, which was better than that of nPd/Fe (removal: 46.2%, dechlorination: 45.3%). Kinetic studies explained that the dechlorination reaction of 2,4-DCP and the data were better represented by the pseudo-first-order kinetic model. The reaction rate constants followed the order of SC-nPd/Fe@BC (0.0264min-1) > nPd/Fe@BC (0.0089min-1) > SC-nPd/Fe (0.0081min-1) > nPd/Fe (0.0043min-1). Thus, SC-nPd/Fe@BC was capable of efficiently reducing 2,4-DCP and the dechlorination efficiency of BC and SC synergistically assisted composite on 2,4-DCP was much better than that of SC-nPd/Fe, nPd/Fe@BC and nPd/Fe. Findings suggested that SC-nPd/Fe@BC can be promising for efficient treatment of chlorinated pollutants.

Removal of 6-methylquinoline from shale gas wastewater using electrochemical carbon nanotubes filter

6-Methylquinoline (6-MQ) is identified as a high-concentration organic compound pervasive in shale gas wastewater (SGW) and poses a significant risk of environmental pollution. In response, this study aimed to address these challenges by introducing an innovative electrochemical membrane constructed with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CNTs) for the removal of 6-MQ. The investigation systematically explored the impact of voltage, initial pollutant concentration, and salinity on the performance of the electrochemical CNTs filter. It was found a positive correlation between removal efficiency and increasing voltage and salinity levels. Conversely, as the initial concentration of pollutants increased, the efficiency showed a diminishing trend. The electrochemical CNTs filter exhibited remarkable efficacy in both adsorption removal and electrochemical oxidation of 6-MQ. Notably, the CNTs membrane exhibited robust adsorption capabilities, evidenced by the sustained adsorption of 6-MQ for over 33 h. Furthermore, applying an electrochemical oxidation voltage of 3 V consistently maintained a removal rate exceeding 34.0% due to both direct and indirect oxidation, underscoring the sustained efficacy of the electrochemical membranes. Besides, real wastewater experiments, while displaying a reduction in removal efficiency compared to synthetic wastewater experiments, emphasized the substantial potential of the electrochemical CNTs filter for practical applications. This study underscores the significant promise of electrochemical membranes in addressing low molecular weight contaminants in SGW, contributing valuable insights for advancing SGW treatment strategies.

Treatment of emerging pyrrolizidine alkaloids in drinking water by UV/persulfate process: Kinetics, energy efficiency and degradation pathway

Pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), recognized as a group of toxic secondary metabolites, have raised growing concerns in recent years due to their potential high toxicity. However, studies on the degradation of PAs in drinking water treatments have yet to be conducted. Herein, the treatment of Heliotrine (HEL) and N-oxide (HELNO), two dominant PAs detected in the treated drinking water, are analyzed for the first time. The UV/peroxydisulfate (UV/PDS) process was demonstrated to be efficient in the degradation of PAs, achieving almost complete removal of HEL and HELNO in 30 min. SO4•− plays a dominant role in the system, with second-order rate constants of 2.3 × 109 M−1 s−1 and 1.0 × 109 M−1 s−1 for HEL and HELNO, respectively. Based on the steady-state kinetic models, the effect of influence factors, including PDS dosage, initial pollutant concentration, pH, dissolved organic matter (DOM), and chloride (Cl−), were evaluated. Acidic conditions were proven to be favorable for PA degradations, primarily contributed to the minimized quenching effect of OH− and phosphate on SO4•−. The inhibitory effect of DOM on radical quenching significantly overweighted the promotion effect of the generated excited triplet DOM (3DOM*), resulting in a diminished degradation efficiency. The pronounced inhibition of Cl− could be attributed to the conversion of SO4•− to OH•, involving the formation of reactive chlorine species. The UV/PDS treatment was suggested economical in the removal of PAs as a post-filtration and before-chlorination treatment through electrical energy per order (EE/O) calculation. Finally, reasonable degradation pathways of HEL and HELNO reacted with SO4•− were proposed, involving the initial one-electron oxidation of HEL/HELNO by SO4•− radical, and further reactions (e.g., hydroxylation, pyrrolidine ring-cleavage and self-coupling) of the formed N-centered cation radicals.

Adsorption and antibacterial studies of a novel hydrogel adsorbent based on ternary eco-polymers doped with sulfonated graphene oxide developed from upcycled plastic waste

A novel ternary blended polymer composed of cost-effective and readily available polymers was synthesized using poly (vinyl alcohol) (PVA), iota carrageenan (IC), and poly (vinyl pyrrolidone) (PVP). Sulfonated graphene oxide (SGO), prepared from recycled drinking water bottles, was utilized as a doping agent. Varying amounts (1–3 wt%) were combined into the polymer matrix. The produced hydrogel film was examined as a potential adsorbent hydrogel film for the removal of methylene blue (MB) and Gentamicin sulfate (GMS) antibiotic from an aqueous solution. The experimental results demonstrate that the presence of SGO significantly increased the adsorption efficiency of PVA/IC/PVP hydrogel film. The antimicrobial tests revealed that the PVA/IC/PVP-3% SGO hydrogel film exhibited the most potent activity against all the tested pathogenic bacteria. However, the adsorption results for MB and GMS showed that the addition of 3 wt% SGO resulted in a removal percentage that was a two fold increase in the removal percentage compared with the undoped PVA/IC/PVP hydrogel film. Furthermore, the response surface methodology (RSM) model was utilized to examine and optimize several operating parameters, including time, pH of the solution, and initial pollutant concentration. The adsorption kinetics were better characterized by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model. The composite film containing 3 wt% SGO had a maximum adsorption capacity of 606 mg g−1 for MB and 654 mg g−1 for GMS, respectively. The generated nanocomposite hydrogel film demonstrated promising potential for application in water purification systems.

Eco-friendly and efficient sulfamic acid functionalized MIL-53 (Al) nanocomposite for removal of hazardous pollutants from wastewater and catalytic synthesis of 3,4-dihydropyrimidinone pharmacological moiety

This study proposed the facile synthesis of sulfamic acid functionalized MIL-53 (Al) (SA@MIL-53(Al)) nanocomposite for dual-functional pollutant removal and catalytic synthesis. The composite was synthesized through a facile, straightforward, and one-step solvothermal process. Furthermore, different analysis techniques like XRD, SEM, XPS, FT-IR, and TGA were applied to examine the prepared composites' structure properties, confirming the successful preparation of functionalized frameworks. Several factors, including the initial concentration of pollutants, adsorbent dosage, pH, and pHpzc, have been established to optimize the suitable parameters for adsorption. 25 wt.% SA@MIL-53(Al) has the greatest adsorption capacities of 146.5, 97.7, and 35.5 mg g−1 for removing MB, CR dyes, and Pb (II), respectively. The rate-limiting steps were also discussed, and the experimental adsorption measurements obeyed the Langmuir and the pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Moreover, the fabricated composites were used as catalysts to produce 3,4-dihydropyrimidinone (3,4-DHP). 50 wt.% SA@MIL-53(Al) demonstrated the highest efficiency, nearly 92.0 %, with great durability and stability.

Insights into the generation of multiple reactive species in UV254/PMS/I− system and their roles for degradation of phenolic and non-phenolic pollutants

An innovative technology for the removal of phenolic and non-phenolic organic pollutants from aqueous solution was developed by combining UV254 irradiation, peroxymonosulfate (PMS), and iodide ions (I−). Effects of pH, ratio of [I−]/[PMS], initial concentration of pollutant, dissolved organic matter (DOM) and typical inorganic constituents of environmental water on the degradation of studied pollutants with UV254/PMS/I− system were examined. The results showed that pH and [I−]/[PMS] exhibited significant impact on the degradation of pollutants during UV254/PMS/I− process. As the ratio of [I−]/[PMS] increased from 0.1 to 10.0, the removal efficiencies of phenolic pollutants remarkably increased, but those of non-phenolic pollutants decreased. The DOM at high concentration obviously inhibited the degradation of pollutants during UV254/PMS/I− process. Meanwhile, the occurrence of NO3− can slightly enhance the degradation of pollutants, and SO42−, Cl−, and HCO4− ions had no significant effects on UV254/PMS/I− system. The abundant reactive species including OH, SO4−, and I/I2− during UV254/PMS/I− process were generated based on electron spin resonance, fluorescence spectroscopy and steady-state concentration analysis. Quenching experimental results indicated that I/I2− can selectively degrade phenolic pollutants via one-electron oxidation. This study provided a reference for the application of reactive radicals involved oxidative technique in water purification.

Integrated study of antiretroviral drug adsorption onto calcined layered double hydroxide clay: experimental and computational analysis

This study focused on the efficacy of a calcined layered double hydroxide (CLDH) clay in adsorbing two antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs), namely efavirenz (EFV) and nevirapine (NVP), from wastewater. The clay was synthesized using the co-precipitation method, followed by subsequent calcination in a muffle furnace at 500 °C for 4 h. The neat and calcined clay samples were subjected to various characterization techniques to elucidate their physical and chemical properties. Response surface modelling (RSM) was used to evaluate the interactions between the solution’s initial pH, adsorbent loading, reaction temperature, and initial pollutant concentration. Additionally, the adsorption kinetics, thermodynamics, and reusability of the adsorbent were evaluated. The results demonstrated that NVP exhibited a faster adsorption rate than EFV, with both reaching equilibrium within 20–24 h. The pseudo-second order (PSO) model provided a good fit for the kinetics data. Thermodynamics analysis revealed that the adsorption process was spontaneous and exothermic, predominantly governed by physisorption interactions. The adsorption isotherms followed the Freundlich model, and the maximum adsorption capacities for EFV and NVP were established to be 2.73 mg/g and 2.93 mg/g, respectively. Evaluation of the adsorption mechanism through computational analysis demonstrated that both NVP and EFV formed stable complexes with CLDH, with NVP exhibiting a higher affinity. The associated adsorption energies were established to be −731.78 kcal/mol for NVP and −512.6 kcal/mol for EFV. Visualized non-covalent interaction (NCI) graphs indicated that hydrogen bonding played a significant role in ARVDs-CLDH interactions, further emphasizing physisorption as the dominant adsorption mechanism.

Green synthesis of manganese ferrite magnetic nanoparticle and its modification with metallic-organic frameworks for the tetracycline adsorption from aqueous solutions: A mathematical study of kinetics, isotherms, and thermodynamics

In the current investigation, MnFe2O4/ZIF-8 nanocomposite was generated as a magnetic nanoadsorber using the extract of Dracocephalum plant and characterized by XRD, FTIR, VSM, BET, FESEM, EDS-mapping, TEM, XPS, TPD-NH3, and TGA analyses. Also, to determine its efficiency in the adsorption process of tetracycline, the effect of pH (3–9), nanocomposite dose (0.025–2 g/L), initial pollutant concentration (5–100 mg/L), contact time (5–200 min), and temperature (5–50 °C) were studied. The results of the morphological properties of the magnetic nanocomposite confirmed the spherical shape of this nanoadsorber with an average size of 54 ± 31 nm. BET analysis showed that modification of MnFe2O4 material with ZIF-8 as a new nanoadsorber leads to excellent modification of SBET (143.8 m2/g) and VTotal (0.44 cm3/g). The highest removal efficiency of tetracycline in optimal conditions (pH = 7, contact time = 120 min, nanocomposite dose = 1.5 g/L, and temperature = 20 °C for a tetracycline concentration of 20 mg/L) was 90.11%. As the temperature increased, the removal efficiency increased from 40.46% to 95.06% during 120 min, which indicates that the adsorption reaction is endothermic. In addition, the data obtained from the isotherms of Langmuir (R2 = 0.958), Freundlich (R2 = 0.534), and Temkin (R2 = 0.747) showed that the tetracycline adsorption is monolayer and on the homogeneous surface of the synthesized magnetic nanoadsorber. The elimination process of tetracycline by nanoadsorber followed the pseudo-second order model (R2 = 0.998). Investigating the effect of interfering ions also confirmed the decrease in the adsorption efficiency. Also, the investigation of the reusability of the synthesized magnetic nanoadsorber in tetracycline adsorption indicates that after eight cycles, the efficiency decreases by %16.51. According to the results, the magnetic nanocomposite synthesized in this work can be a suitable and economical adsorber for the removal of tetracycline from aqueous environments.

Enhanced removal of RB5 pollutant via sono-catalytic activation of potassium peroxydisulfate using Porous/ZIF-8

In recent years, the proper integration of various advanced oxidation processes has posed a new challenge. As synergy plays a critical role in integrated processes, it is highly essential to develop an integrated process that is not only effective but also economically feasible. In this study, the integration of sonochemical process for efficient activation of potassium peroxydisulfate (PDS) was used with ZIF-8 and Porous/ZIF-8 catalysts, resulting in the creation of an indirect photocatalytic process assisted by ultrasonic waves. The Porous/ZIF-8 sample with higher porosity (233.67 m2/g) than ZIF-8 (183.61 m2/g) was prepared using a polystyrene template. The created porosity leads to an increase in active reaction sites, which is effective in improving the efficiency of pollutant removal. A comprehensive investigation was conducted to analyze the effects of various operational parameters, namely pH, catalyst concentration, and initial pollutant concentration, on the removal efficiency (RE), pseudo-first-order kinetic rate constant (kapp), and synergistic factor (SF) of reactive black 5 (RB5). The optimum operational conditions were determined as pH = 5, 0.6 g/L [Porous/ZIF-8], and 10 mg/L [RB5]. The integrated process proposed in this study demonstrates a high level of acceptability and environmental friendliness, owing to its remarkable SF and novel characteristics.

Application of iron-manganese oxide fillers in bioretention facility: Enhanced removal of antibiotics and conventional contaminants

Bioretention facilities are common source reduction facilities, but traditional fillers are not effective in reducing emerging contaminants such as antibiotics. Although Fe-Mn oxides have been extensively explored, their removal of emerging contaminants and application in the sponge city have not yet been addressed. Therefore, this study aims to address this limitation by developing Fe-Mn oxide fillers. In this research, the optimal preparation conditions (Fe/Mn mole ratio, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) concentration, and filler particle size) and influencing factors (filler dosage, initial pollutant concentration, pH, temperature, and co-existing ions) were investigated using a typical antibiotic, norfloxacin (NOR), as the target contaminant. The removal mechanism of NOR was investigated by SEM, FTIR, and XPS characterizations. Subsequently, the fillers were applied to bioretention facilities with different filling modes (layered and mixed) to evaluate their effectiveness in removing NOR and conventional pollutants at different recurrence periods, drought periods, and pollutant influent concentrations. The study indicated that Fe-Mn oxide filler (Fe/Mn mole ratio of 4:1, PVA concentration of 7 %, particle size of 4 mm) could remove more than 70 % of NOR (1–20 mg/L). The NOR removal by Fe-Mn oxide filler involved adsorption and redox reactions. Notably, bioretention facilities using Fe-Mn oxide fillers have shown varying degrees of improvement in the removal of NOR and conventional pollutants compared to conventional ones. This study contributes to the application of Fe-Mn oxide filler in bioretention facilities, thus playing a crucial role in mitigating antibiotic pollution in stormwater runoff.

Adsorption of Zinc(II) Ion by Spent and Raw Agaricus bisporus in Aqueous Solution

A significant environmental concern globally is the pollution of water bodies as a result of heavy metals. To date, various attempts have been made to effectively remove heavy metals, such as those that use synthetic and biogenic materials to abate and control water pollution. The biological removal of pollutants from water is an efficient and environmentally friendly technique. In this study, we evaluated the biosorption characteristics of Zn2+ ions from aqueous solution by spent composed of raw Agaricus biosporium (RAB) and A. biosporium (SCAB). We added different biosorption doses, metal ions, and initial concentrations of pollutants to explore the adsorption of Zn2+ by RAB and SCAB. We applied pseudo-first- and second-order models to investigate the biosorption kinetics. According to our results, the rate of Zn2+ removal from the aqueous solution using raw biomass was significantly lower than that using sodium citrate-treated biomass of SCAB. When the Zn2+ concentration increased from 10 mg L−1 to 200 mg L−1, the rate of removal of RAB decreased from 73.9% to 38.4%, and that of Zn2+ by SCAB decreased from 99.9% to 75.9%. As we increased the biosorbent dose, the rate of Zn2+ removal by SCAB increased. Interestingly, Zn2 biosorption was inhibited by heavy co ions (Cu2+ and Pb2+) and light metals (e.g., Na+, Mg2+, K+, and Ca2+). When treating wastewater polluted with Zn2+, Pb2+, and Cu2+, SCAB showed good potential. The results of this study provide a scientific basis for an environmentally sound approach to controlling water pollution.

Nano zero-valent iron/montmorillonite composite for the removal of Cr(VI) from aqueous solutions: Characterization, performance, and mechanistic insights

Infiltration of hexavalent chromium (Cr(VI)) into the human body poses significant health risks, including the risk of developing cancer and increased mortality rates. The discharge of chromium-contaminated wastewater from industrial processes exacerbates environmental pollution, highlighting the necessity for efficient, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly treatment methods. In recent years, there has been a growing emphasis on the application of nanoscale zero-valent iron particles (NZVI) for mitigating Cr(VI) water pollution. In the present study, NZVI was synthesized using a liquid-phase reduction method employing sodium borohydride (NaBH4), and natural montmorillonite (Mt) was incorporated as a carrier, resulting in the creation of NZVI/Mt., a composite material. Characterization of this composite was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), Specific surface area and pore size (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) techniques. The investigation encompassed an exploration of the influence of initial pollutant pH levels, adsorbent dosages, and initial pollutant concentrations on the adsorption process. The research findings indicate that, at an initial pH of 4.0, NZVI/Mt. achieves a removal efficiency of 92.41% for a Cr(VI) solution with an initial concentration of 40 mg/L. The NZVI/Mt. composite adheres to both a pseudo-second-order kinetic model and the Langmuir isotherm model, showcasing a significant maximum adsorption capacity of 67.75 mg/g for Cr(VI). Furthermore, thermodynamic analysis revealed an exothermic nature of the adsorption process. This experimental approach effectively resolved issues related to NZVI particle agglomeration, offering a simplified, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly preparation method. Consequently, the NZVI/Mt. composite material demonstrates effective treatment of Cr(VI) mildly contaminated wastewater.

Highly efficient remediation of chlorpyrifos and malachite green by an SBA-15 incorporated guar gum-grafted-poly (acrylic acid)/cobalt ferrite matrix for water purification

The Santa Barbara Amorphous-15-guar gum-grafted-poly (acrylic acid)/cobalt ferrite (SBA-15-GG-g-PAA/CoFe2O4) mesoporous adsorbent was prepared by graft copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto guar gum (GG) in the Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15) substrate presence, followed by incorporating CoFe2O4 magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs). Diverse analyses were conducted to identify the prepared mesoporous adsorbent’s chemical and morphological properties, thermal resistance, magnetic characteristics, surface area, and porosity. Based on the magnetic hysteresis loops, the mesoporous adsorbent rendered ferromagnetic behavior. According to TGA, it has char yields of 72 wt% at 800 °C and superparamagnetic behavior (Ms of 3.22 emu.g−1). The crystalline structure and cubic phases of CoFe2O4 MNPs in the GG-g-PAA amorphous matrix were demonstrated by XRD. The CoFe2O4 MNP formation with partial aggregations onto smooth, nonporous, and regular surfaces of the GG was depicted by FESEM images. Also, the precisely-arranged hexagonal structure with cylindrical pores of SBA-15 was authenticated by FESEM images. Additionally, the SBA-15 substrate has increased the BET surface area of the prepared mesoporous adsorbent to 40.55 m2/g, which is higher than the composite without SBA-15 mesoporous silica. Several experimental setups were used to evaluate the effectiveness of adsorption, including pH of the medium (4–9), Adsorbent dosage (0.003–0.02 g), Interaction time (1–25 min), and Initial pollutant concentration (50–400 mg/L). Using 0.003 g of mesoporous adsorbent at 25 °C, chlorpyrifos (CPF) and malachite green (MG) had maximum adsorption capacities (Qmax) of 909.1 mg/g and 1000.0 mg/g, respectively. In this study, the Langmuir isotherm model fitted the adsorption data perfectly withRMG2 = 0.9987 andRCPF2 = 0.9994, and the pseudo-second-order model explained the adsorption kinetics with RMG2 = 0.9644 and RCPF2 = 0.9923. MG and CPF adsorption to the SBA-15-GG-g-PAA/CoFe2O4 mesoporous adsorbent was successful due to hydrogen bonds, exchange interactions, diffusion, and entrapment in the hydrogel network. In addition to the three-dimensional structure, the mesoporous adsorbent has available adsorption sites for reactive molecules. The reusability of the SBA-15-GG-g-PAA/CoFe2O4 was perused and showed that the mesoporous adsorbent can be separated efficiently and retrieved in three sequential cycles without considerable diminution in the adsorption efficiency.

Exploring recyclable alginate-enhanced GCN-LDO sponge for U(VI) and Cd(II) removal: Insights from batch and column studies

Developing effective water treatment materials, particularly through proven adsorption methods, is crucial for removing heavy metal contaminants. This study synthesizes a cost-effective three-dimensional material encapsulating graphitic carbon nitride-layered double oxide (GCN-LDO) in sodium alginate (SA) through the freeze-drying method. The material is applied to remove uranium (U(VI)) and cadmium (Cd(II)) in real water systems. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses conclusively verified the elemental composition and successful encapsulation of GCN-LDO within the SA matrix. Removal effectiveness was tested under various conditions, including adsorbent dose, ionic strength, contact time, temperature, different initial pollutant concentrations, and the impact of co-existing ions. The adsorption of U(VI) and Cd(II) conformed to the pseudo-second-order (PSO) kinetic model, signifying a chemical interaction between the sodium alginate-graphitic carbon nitride-layered double oxide (SA-GCN-LDO) sponge and the metal ions. The Langmuir isotherm indicated monolayer, homogeneous adsorption for U(VI) and Cd(II) with capacities of 158.25 and 165.00 mg/g. SA-GCN-LDO recyclability was found in up to seven adsorption cycles with a removal efficacy of 70%. The temperature effect study depicts the exothermic nature of the U(VI) and Cd(II) ion removal process. Various mechanisms involved in U(VI) and Cd(II) removal were proposed. Further, continuous fixed bed column studies were performed, and Thomas and the Yoon-Nelson model were studied. These insights from this investigation contribute to advancing our knowledge of the material's performance within the context of U(VI) and Cd(II) adsorption, paving the way for optimized and sustainable water treatment solutions.

Development of an efficient, low-operating-pressure graphene oxide/polyethersulfone nanofiltration membrane for removing various water contaminants

Conventional wastewater treatment technologies tend to be high-capex, energy-intensive solutions that lack specificity for different pollution classes, and do not lend themselves to wide-scale deployment, particularly in areas of the world where industrial wastewater discharge is a significant environmental problem. In tandem, solid waste pollution arising, particularly plastic containing waste, is a persistent and serious pollution issue. This work focuses on the concept of "waste treating waste" and a multidisciplinary effort ranging from materials science and environmental management to sustainable water treatment, in addition to production of graphene oxide from mineral water waste bottles using a simple synthetic procedure that can be economically scaled up for use as a cost-effective adsorbent. Prepared graphene oxide was supported on a polyethersulfone (PES) membrane, and batch filtration studies were performed to examine its performance in the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye, Gentimicin sulphate (GMS) antibiotic, and Na2SO4 and MgSO4 salts from an aqueous solution. Operating parameters such as initial pollutant concentration, time, and solution pH were investigated and optimized using a response surface methodology (RSM) model. The results confirm the significant efficiency of the filtration process, with a maximum rejection of about 91% for MB, 93% for GMS, 67% for Na2SO4, and 64% for MgSO4, with maximum water flux of 1322, 1367, 1225, and 1059 LMH, respectively. Density functional theory calculations were considered for the GO, PES membrane, and GO/PES membrane with a GGA/PBE optimization level. Adsorption annealing locator analysis was performed for the GO/PES membrane, and the process was recalculated for MB as adsorbate. In conclusion, the adsorption effect employing produced GO/PES membrane is the most important removal, followed by Donnan exclusion and steric hindrance effect. Therefore, it is possible to build new eco-friendly membranes for nanofiltration that are affordable, stable, and effective in removing various pollutants from water systems.

Factors Affecting Electrocoagulation Process for Different Water Types: A review

Raw water must meet specific physical, chemical, and biological requirements to be suitable for drinking. There are various techniques available for treating wastewater, and aside from conventional methods that involve chemicals, electrocoagulation is an efficient and advanced approach. Electrocoagulation has proven effective in treating many pollutants, including bacteria, viruses, iron, fluoride, sulfate, boron, hardness, and turbidity. Total suspended solids, organic and inorganic materials, chemical oxygen demand COD, biochemical oxygen demand BOD, and color. It finds extensive application in treating different types of water and wastewater due to its exceptional ability to remove diverse contaminants. Recently, electrocoagulation has garnered significant attention due to its remarkable efficiency in treating various pollutants. This article provides a thorough analysis of contemporary literature that is committed to using electrocoagulation in a variety of water treatment methods, with a focus on the different variables affecting the process performance, such as electrical current, electrode type, electrode configuration, initial pH, electrode distance, NaCl concentration, initial concentration of pollutants, operating temperature and electrolysis time.

Optimization of Vancomycin Antibiotic Removal from Synthetic and Real Wastewater Using UV/Fe3 O4 @Alg-ZnO Nanocomposite Photocatalysis: Response Surface Methodology Based on a Box-Behnken Design

Background: Vancomycin (VCM) is a critical antibiotic due to its high consumption and side effects, including increased bacterial resistance affecting treatment processes. This research investigated the efficiency of VCM antibiotic removal from an aqueous solution using a UV/Fe3 O4 @Alg-ZnO integrated process. Methods: Response surface methodology (RSM) and a Box-Behnken design were applied using Design-Expert software to optimize the number of samples and simultaneously understand the interactive effects between variables. X-ray diffraction (XRD), a vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM), field effect scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analyses were used to check the structural characteristics. The effects of initial catalyst concentration (0.1, 0.3, and 0.5 g/L), initial pollutant concentration (10, 30, and 50 mg/L), contact time (10, 30, and 50 minutes), and pH (3, 7, and 11) on VCM decomposition rate were investigated. Spectrophotometry, total organic carbon (TOC), and GC-MS analyses were used to check the efficiency of the process. Results: In this study, VCM and TOC removal efficiency was 92.64% and 85.38%, respectively, under optimal conditions. The reason for the reduction in the efficiency of the combined UV/Fe3 O4 @Alg-ZnO process in real raw sewage, after activated sludge (13%) and after activated sludge and stabilization ponds (24%), is the high COD, which causes the active radicals produced to be spent on other species instead of the VCM antibiotic. Conclusion: The current study showed that the UV/Fe3 O4 @Alg-ZnO process performs well in removing VCM and TOC. In real wastewater, this efficiency was significantly reduced.

Construction of a Zero-gap Flow-Through Microfluidic Reactor with Porous RuO2-IrO2@Pt Anode for Electrocatalytic Oxidation of Antibiotics in Water.

In this study, a zero-gap flow-through microfluidic reactor was constructed for the degradation of tetracycline and norfloxacin in water using a porous Ti/RuO2-IrO2@Pt electrode as the anode and porous titanium plate as the cathode. The operation parameters included electrolyte type, electrolyte concentration, current density, initial concentration of pollutants and pH, were investigated. The degradation efficiency and energy consumption were calculated and compared with traditional electrolyzer. In the zero-gap flow-through microfluidic reactor, 100 % of both tetracycline and norfloxacin can be decomposed in 15 min, and high mineralization rate were achieved under the optimized reaction condition. And the reaction was consistent with pseudo-first-order kinetics with k value of 0.492 cm-1 and 1.010 cm-1, for tetracycline and norfloxacin, respectively. In addition, the energy consumption was 28.33 kWh ⋅ kg-1 TC and 8.36 kWh ⋅ kg-1 NOR, for tetracycline and norfloxacin, respectively, which was much lower than that of traditional electrolyzer. The LC-MS results showed that tetracycline underwent a series of demethylation, dehydration and deamination reactions, and the norfloxacin went through ring opening reaction, decarboxylation and hydroxylation reaction, and finally both produced CO2 and H2O.

Emerging silver-doped strontium titanate nanostructures as photocatalysts for the degradation of organic pollutants under visible light

The primary objective of this research is to explore a novel and straightforward method, known as one-pot hydrothermal synthesis, for producing photocatalyst nanocomposite materials consisting of perovskite-based silver doped strontium titanate (Ag–SrTiO3). The investigation focused on assessing the photocatalytic effectiveness and recyclability of these nanocomposites when employed to eliminate ciprofloxacin (CIP) antibiotics under visible-light exposure. The XRD of the Ag–SrTiO3 exhibited a highly crystalline nature with stacked cube morphology, which was also revealed through the SEM technique. The TEM analysis showed the characteristics of the materials such as particle shape, and the SAED pattern confirmed the crystalline phases. The essential reaction parameters, including the amount of catalyst used, the solution's pH level, and the initial pollutant concentration, were altered to identify the most favorable conditions for photodegradation. Furthermore, this composite catalyst displayed excellent stability and could be reused, achieving an 84.5 % removal of CIP after five consecutive cycles. Through scavenger tests, it was determined that photogenerated holes (h+) and superoxide free radicals (•O2) played key roles in the degradation process. This research offers valuable insights into designing highly efficient nanomaterials for the removal of antibiotic degradation from wastewater, and it proposes a possible reaction mechanism.