Integrated Treatment System Research Articles

Development of a novel energy efficient integrated system for concurrent waste water treatment, hydrogen production and carbon capture- A sustainable approach

Microbial Electrochemical Cells (MECs) technology offer a promising, integrated solution for wastewater treatment and hydrogen production. The present research aims to optimize the operation of a hybrid system for achieving high-efficiency wastewater treatment, carbon capture, and hydrogen production. Multi-criteria decision methods are used to identify optimal conditions for maximum performance. Wastewater Flow Rate (WFR), Energy Consumption (EC), Nanocomposites Concentration (NC), and Temperature (T) are chosen as input parameters. Utilizing the Entropy-TOPSIS (Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution) method, the optimal outputs were determined for specific input settings. The proposed system exhibited optimal input settings at 1100 m³/day (WFR), 95 kW (EC), 34 mg/L (NC), and 36 °C (T). NC emerged as the most influential parameter, holding a significance weightage of 32%, followed closely by temperature. Under these optimized conditions, the system demonstrated exceptional performance, achieving a Wastewater Treatment Efficiency of 98.1%, Carbon Capture Efficiency of 97%, and a Hydrogen production flow rate of 17.76 m³/hr. This research lays a foundation for sustainable and versatile wastewater management practices, emphasizing the potential of MEC systems in contributing to cleaner and resource-efficient industrial ecosystems.

A bio-feedback-mimicking electrode combining real-time monitoring and drug delivery

Effective disease management based on real-time physiological changes presents a significant clinical challenge. A flexible electrode system integrating diagnosis and treatment can overcome the uncertainties associated with treatment progress during localized interventions. In this study, we develop a system featuring a biomimetic feedback regulation mechanism for drug delivery and real-time monitoring. To prevent drug leakage, the system incorporates a magnesium (Mg) valve in the outer layer, ensuring zero leakage when drug release is not required. The middle layer contains a drug-laden poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) sponge (P-sponge), which supplies the water to partially or fully activate the Mg valve under electrical stimulation and initiate drug release. Once the valve is fully opened, the exposed and expanded P-sponge electrode establishes excellent contact with various tissues, facilitating the collection of electrophysiological signals. Encapsulation with polylactic acid film ensures the system's flexibility and bioresorbability, thereby minimizing potential side effects on surrounding tissues. Animal experiments demonstrate the system's capability to mimic feedback modulation mechanisms, enabling real-time monitoring and timely drug administration. This integrated diagnosis and treatment system offers an effective solution for the emergency management of acute diseases in clinical settings.

Performance evaluation of integrated Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket reactor with trickling filter used for municipal wastewater treatment and effluent reuse potential for agriculture

Effluent reuse is a rapidly growing field of research where assessing the quality of effluent is one of the focus areas. This research examines the viability of using wastewater in agriculture by testing an integrated Upflow Anaerobic Sludge Blanket (UASB) reactor with a trickling filter (TF) system during the dry season. Compliance monitoring was conducted for 30 days from May 11 to June 9 of 2021. Samples were collected, handled, and analyzed following standard wastewater analysis procedures for biological oxygen demand (BOD), chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), volatile suspended solids (VSS), cations, anions, heavy metals, E. coli, and helminth egg. The UASB-TF system in Kality wastewater treatment performed well in removing COD, BOD5, and TSS with average removal rates of 80.5%, 82.9%, and 80.9%, respectively, compared well with similar treatment configurations. The effluent quality satisfied the national inland discharge limit with a residual concentration of 125.1 mg/L for COD, 61.7 mg/L for BOD5 and 85.8 mg/L for TSS. On the other hand, high concentrations of chromium, nitrate-nitrogen, and helminth egg count restricted effluent reuse for agricultural purposes due to high health risks and environmental contamination. We found out that discharging industrial sewage into the domestic sewer network could inhibit microbial growth and affect the biological treatment processes. Furthermore, adopting integrated treatment systems in developing countries might face operational challenges and monitoring nitrate, helminth egg, and heavy metals would help provide timely operational feedback. An appropriate tertiary treatment unit—constructed wetlands or polishing ponds—is therefore needed to be introduced to ensure effluent reuse for agricultural purposes.

The Concept of Treatment-Refractory Addiction: Implications for Addiction Treatment Systems and Research.

The concept of treatment-refractory addiction, proposed by Eric Strain in this edition of the Journal, has the potential to invigorate the field of addiction treatment and research by focusing on a phenomenon that is familiar to any clinician treating patients with substance use disorders, namely, the patient who does not experience sufficient improvement from standard treatments. An analogy is drawn to the concept of treatment-resistant depression and the STAR*D study, which demonstrated an algorithmic approach to treatment, where if the first antidepressant medication tried did not result in remission from depression, subsequent trials of medications or cognitive behavioral therapy doubled the proportion of patients achieving remission. Recognizing treatment-refractory addiction challenges our field to develop analogous, stepwise, algorithmic approaches to treatment of substance use disorders, moving away from siloed treatment programs toward integrated treatment systems where alternative treatments are available, offering the kind of personalized, tailored forms of care used in the treatment of most other chronic illnesses. Like in STAR*D, research could focus on samples of patients who have not benefitted from initial trials of standard addiction treatments, addressing the key clinical question of what to do next when previous treatments fail.

A Comprehensive Approach to Azo Dichlorotriazine Dye Treatment: Assessing the Impact of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Treatment Methods through Statistical Analysis of Experimental Data

This exploration investigates integrated treatment systems combining advanced oxidation processes (Fenton and photo-Fenton) with biological methods for the effective elimination of stubborn organic compounds in simulated textile wastewater composed of azo Dichlorotriazine dye. A comprehensive optimization of key process factors including catalyst dosage, hydrogen peroxide quantity, irradiation duration, etc. was systematically conducted for both Fenton and photo-Fenton processes to realize maximum COD and color removal. Under ideal conditions (0.4 g/L photocatalyst, 1 mL/L H2O2, and 75-Watt UV intensity for 60 min), the photo-Fenton process realized 80% COD elimination and complete decolorization, meeting industrial discharge limits without needing extra biological treatment. Statistical models correlating process parameters to treatment efficiency were developed, giving important design insights. For Fenton, effluent COD exceeded discharge thresholds, so a post-biological treatment using activated sludge was essential to comply with regulations. This integrated Fenton–biological scheme utilizes synergism between chemical and biological processes for enhanced overall treatment. Notable economic benefits were achieved by photo-Fenton over conventional UV-only and UV/H2O2 methods regarding energy consumption and operating costs. Overall, this pioneering work successfully proves integrated advanced oxidation–biological systems as a superior, sustainable alternative to traditional techniques for economically removing obstinate pollutants, such as azo Dichlorotriazine dye, as it is a simulated textile wastewater treatment used to satisfy environmental standards.

Demonstration and performance analysis of on-beach public toilet with a decentralised modified French vertical flow constructed wetland and ex situ electrochlorination integrated treatment system

Abstract This study demonstrated an on-beach public toilet equipped with a sustainable decentralised treatment system in Goa, India. The number of toilet users, freshwater demand, and wastewater (WW) generated per day were documented. The treatment system consisted of a modified French-type vertical flow constructed wetland (MVFCW) and electrochlorinator. The first and second stage MVFCW were an unsaturated and saturated type, respectively. The onsite beach bore well water with a chloride concentration of 8464 ± 415.18 mg/L was electrolysed for 1 h at 40.49 Am−2. Then MVFCW effluent was disinfected by dosing 2412.50 + 278.61 mg/L of chlorine (Cl2) generated at a disinfectant dilution ratio of 1:300 (Cl2:WW). The average daily toilet users, freshwater usage, and WW generated were 96 ± 17.02, 1381.38 ± 380.35 L, and 1407.98 ± 611.8 L, respectively. The integrated treatment system treated 1,400 L/day. The integrated treatment system achieved an average percentage removal of 93.38 ± 0.38% chemical oxygen demand, 79.18 ± 1.55% NO3−, 98.45 ± 0.22% total ammoniacal nitrogen, 93.13 ± 1.19% PO4−3, 87.28 ± 0.2% total suspended solids, 83.09 ± 1.16% total organic carbon, 80.22 ± 0.87% total carbon, 80.05 ± 0.12% inorganic carbon, and 100% coliform. The power consumption cost was 0.17 INR m−3.

Assessment of waste management scenarios toward marine plastic debris mitigation and cost reduction

The increase in solid waste volume and change in composition due to urban development cause negative effects on the marine ecological environment. The aim of this study was to assess the amount of plastic waste leaking into the environment from the municipal solid waste (MSW) management system and propose mitigation measures towards sustainable development in Hue city, Viet Nam. The method of modelling MSW management system applying Material Flow Analysis (MFA) and simulating models through scenarios were used to propose strategic solutions to improve and develop the system. As a result, the implementation of segregation at source and improvement of the current collection system are urgently needed. Integrated treatment system including material recovery facility combined with transfer station, incineration, centralized and decentralized composting treatment can reduce the landfilled amount to 5% and the quantity of mismanaged plastic waste infiltrating the ocean has undergone a substantial reduction of several hundred-fold.

Carbon neutrality in wastewater treatment plants: An integrated biotechnological-based solution for nutrients recovery, odour abatement and CO2 conversion in alternative energy drivers

Wastewater treatment plants play a crucial role in water security and sanitation, ensuring ecosystems balance and avoiding significant negative effects on humans and environment. However, they determine also negative pressures, including greenhouse gas and odourous emissions, which should be minimized to mitigate climate changes besides avoiding complaints. The research has been focused on the validation of an innovative integrated biological system for the sustainable treatment of complex gaseous emissions from wastewater treatment plants. The proposed system consists of a moving bed biofilm reactor coupled with an algal photobioreactor, with the dual objective of: i) reducing the inlet concentration of the odourous contaminants (in this case, hydrogen sulphide, toluene and p-xylene); ii) capturing and converting the carbon dioxide emissions produced by the degradation process into exploitable algal biomass. The first reactor promoted the degradation of chemical compounds up to 99.57% for an inlet load (IL) of 22.97 g m−3 d−1 while the second allowed the capture of the CO2 resulting from the degradation of gaseous compounds, with biofixation rate up to 81.55%. The absorbed CO2 was converted in valuable feedstocks, with a maximum algal biomass productivity in aPBR of 0.22 g L−1 d−1. Dairy wastewater has been used as alternative nutrient source for both reactors, with a view of reusing wastewater while cultivating biomass, framing the proposed technology in a context of a biorefinery within a circular economy perspective. The biomass produced in the algal photobioreactor was indeed characterized by a high lipid content, with a maximum percentage of lipids per dry weight biomass of 35%. The biomass can therefore be exploited for the production of alternative and clean energy carrier. The proposed biotechnology represents an effective tool for shifiting the conventional plants in carbon neutral platform for implementing principles of ecological transition while achieving high levels of environmental protection.

Pollution Mitigation in Vermicelli Wastewater: Integrated Fenton and Aerobic Sludge Treatment for Water Quality Improvement.

Vermicelli production generates wastewater that is rich in organic and nutrient pollutants, which poses significant environmental challenges. Conventional biological treatments, either alone or in combination with other methods, often fail to achieve high efficiency and operational stability. This study explored the potential of the Fenton process, followed by aerobic activated sludge treatment, to enhance the biodegradability and mineralization of organic substances in vermicelli wastewater. Orientation experiments were performed to examine the effects of operating variables such as pH, reaction time, settling time, and ratio H2O2/Fe2+ on COD removal in order to select the optimal conditions for operating the model in a batch of 20 L, that is, pH = 3, reaction time of 90 min, settling time of 90 min, and ratio of H2O2/Fe2+ used 3 : 1 (4.5 : 1.5 g/L). The removal efficiencies of COD, BOD5, TN, TP, and SS reached 75.83%, 67.26%, 28.24%, 26.63%, and 91.9%, respectively. The BOD5/COD increased from 0.52 to 0.63, facilitating aerobic activated sludge, which had batch conditions of 15 L with pH of 6.5-8.5, DO ≥3 mg/L, additional nutrients with a dose of 12 mg/L, retention time of 14 h, and settling time of 2 h. As a result, the removal rate of those parameters climbed quite notably, except in SS (95.6%, 96.0%, 84.6%, 84.1%, and 83.6%), and their concentration parameters remained within the allowance levels of the National Technical Regulation in Vietnam before being discharged into the environment. However, the efficiency of treatment in the aerobic activated sludge stage for removing COD and BOD5 was not as high as anticipated (83% and 87.33%, respectively) owing to the influence of the high TDS concentration. Thus, additional research is required to address this challenge. The integrated treatment system combining the Fenton process with aerobic activated sludge demonstrated significant potential for the effective reduction of organic and nutrient pollutants in vermicelli wastewater, thereby achieving compliance with regulatory standards. However, the observed limitations in COD and BOD5 removal efficiency, likely due to elevated TDS levels, indicate the need for further investigation and optimization to enhance the overall treatment performance.

Economic evaluation for anoxic biological system integrated with external membrane for pharmaceutical wastewater treatment

The integrated system of biological treatment (anoxic /activated sludge ) and ultrafiltration membrane economic study was investigated. The biological treatment results indicate that the performance of pharmaceutical industrial wastewater treatment using activated sludge with an anoxic zone was enhanced by increasing the ability of the pre-acclimatized activated sludge to degrade organic compounds in the industrial wastewater. The residues compounds from biologically treated water were treated by UF membrane and gave a separation efficiency of 99.4%. The results indicate that using the (anoxic /activated sludge) biological treatment step as a pretreatment step before the membrane can provide high-efficiency removal of the contamination of all drug compounds in the wastewater. An economic evaluation of the system was investigated and the calculations indicate that the unit capital cost of the estimated system per cubic meter was 1.27 $/m3, which was lower than the estimated traditional cost.

Organization of centers for the prevention of repeated fractures

Osteoporosis (OP) is one of the important problems of modern medicine. OP significantly increases the risk of bone fractures. This implies the need to organize an integrated system of prevention, diagnosis and treatment of this disease. The main link in the fight against OP should be a comprehensive and systematic program to prevent and inform people about this problem. In most developed countries, various centers for the prevention of repeated fractures are organized and successfully operate. The article describes the principles of the organization of the work of the centers for the prevention of repeated fractures. The creation of these centers will make it possible to detect OP before complications develop, reduce the risk of fractures and improve the quality of life. Innovative Russian developments are discussed, which can be successfully applied in the work of such centers by specialists in various areas of medical activity.

Determination and implementation of an onsite management system for motor-vehicle wash effluents: A field-scale commercial application toward sector sustainability

The global upsurge of vehicle wash enterprises is allied to the production of large wastewater volumes. This effluent contains organic and inorganic compounds which can cause environmental pollution. Upscaling the laboratory-scale systems for motor-vehicle wash wastewater (MVWW) treatment to field-scale commercial application is essential for enabling the circular economy framework, meeting the United Nations' 2030 Agenda. In this study, 98 research publications on MVWW treatment technologies were scrutinized for bibliometric-meta analysis. After, a practical treatment option was identified and designed for implementation in a Ugandan motor-vehicle wash station and a comprehensive economic evaluation was performed. A continental outlook on MVWW quality showed that its major pollutants include oil-greasy compounds, surfactants, and suspended solids. Results showed that a hybrid system consisting of coagulation/flocculation/sedimentation and sand/gravel filtration was identified as the most practical treatment method for implementation in motor-vehicle washing stations. The final effluent of the field-scale integrated treatment system contained turbidity = 2 ± 0.0 NTU, chemical oxygen demand (COD) = 18.9 ± 0.6 mg/L, surfactants = 3.2 ± 0.3 mg/L, supporting onsite recyclability in motor-vehicle washing activities. The integrated system demonstrated a profitability scenario with a benefit-cost ratio (B/C) > 1 and a payback period of 2.7 years. Implementing the hybrid system for onsite MVWW treatment could fulfil targets of sustainable development goals related to; water conservation, water recycling and reuse, and environmental protection.

Integrated Process of Immediate One-Step Lime Precipitation, Atmospheric Carbonation, Constructed Wetlands, or Adsorption for Industrial Wastewater Treatment: A Review

The transition from the linear economy paradigm to the circular economy in industrial wastewater treatment systems is on the global agenda. The search for new simple, eco-innovative, and low-cost processes for treating industrial wastewater, which can also be used by small and medium-sized industries, has been a constant challenge especially when environmental sustainability is considered. So, a new integrated industrial wastewater treatment system has been developed that includes the immediate one-step lime precipitation process (IOSLM) and atmospheric carbonation (AC), followed by constructed wetlands (CWs) or adsorption. The current review provides an overview of industrial wastewater treatment strategies for high- and low-biodegradable wastewater. A background on functionality, applicability, advantages and disadvantages, operating variables, removal mechanisms, main challenges, and recent advances are carried out for each process that makes up the IOSLM+AC+CW/adsorption integrated system. The prospects of the IOSLM+AC+CW/adsorption integrated system are also discussed. Not neglecting the improvements that still need to be made in the integrated treatment system as well as its application to various types of industrial wastewater, this review highlights that this treatment system is promising in industrial wastewater treatment and consequent by-product recovery. The IOSLM+AC integrated system showed that it can remove high amounts of organic matter, total suspended solids, oils and fats, phosphorus, and ammonium nitrogen from industrial effluents. On the other hand, constructed wetlands/adsorption can be alternatives for refining effluents still containing organic matter and nitrogen that were not possible to remove in the previous steps.

Managing Bisphenol A Contamination: Advances in Removal Technologies and Future Prospects

Increasing levels of bisphenol A (BPA), classified as an endocrine-disrupting compound, in the environment have raised concerns because of its detrimental impact on human and animal health. BPA has been detected in soil and water and even as a volatile compound in the air primarily because of improper disposal and its extensive use in the production of polycarbonate plastics and epoxy resins. This review comprehensively surveyed recent research focusing on the removal of BPA from water through physicochemical and biological treatments, covering articles published from 2002 to 2023. A range of conventional and non-conventional methods employed for BPA removal is examined, and their limitations in completely degrading BPA in water are acknowledged. Hybrid or integrated treatment systems have been explored, capitalising on the distinctive removal potential of various treatment processes. The literature spanning from 2002 to 2023 underscores the efficacy of hybrid or integrated treatment systems in yielding promising results for BPA removal from water. Furthermore, future directions for BPA removal are outlined, and advancements in treatment technologies developed over the past decade are incorporated.

Long-term performance of ZVI-stimulating anaerobic/aerobic system - PEI modified ceramic membrane SMBR in reusing food wastewater for irrigation: An industrial project and microbial community shift

A large-scale project was carried out using an integrated treatment system composed of anaerobic and aerobic unit followed by ceramic membrane SMBR for reclaiming 200 m3/d of food wastewater for the purpose of irrigation. Utilization of ZVI technology to facilitate the organic contaminants degradation in UASB and aerobic unit in the operation of successive 240 days was investigated. A membrane flux of around 30 LMH was stably attained in a novel PEI-modified flat sheet ceramic membrane SMBR equipped with in situ intensive mechanical cleaning bush system. The ceramic MBR system investigated had significantly alleviated membrane fouling and no severe membrane fouling occurred throughout the whole filtration process. Overall, the combined treatment system can produce high quality reusable water for irrigation and the final effluent had a COD of around 120 mg/L and BOD5 of around 32 mg/L, respectively. Finally, variations in dominant species in both initial sludge Day-1 and sludge Day-240 in ZVI assisting UASB and aerobic unit was further unraveled by the high throughput sequencing analysis.

Effect of Different Catholytes on the Removal of Sulfate/Sulfide and Electricity Generation in Sulfide-Oxidizing Fuel Cell.

Microbial fuel cells are one of the alternative methods that generate green, renewable sources of energy from wastewater. In this study, a new bio-electrochemical system called the sulfide-oxidizing fuel cell (SOFC) is developed for the simultaneous removal of sulfide/sulfide and electricity generation. To improve the application capacity of the SOFC, a system combining sulfate-reducing and sulfide-oxidizing processes for sulfate/sulfide removal and electricity generation was designed. Key factors influencing the sulfide-removal efficiency and electricity-generation capacity of the SOFC are the anolytes and catholytes. The sulfide produced from the sulfate-reducing process is thought to play the key role of an electron mediator (anolyte), which transfers electrons to the electrode to produce electricity. Sulfide can be removed in the anodic chamber of the SOFC when it is oxidized to the element sulfur (S°) through the biochemical reaction at the anode. The performance of wastewater treatment for sulfate/sulfide removal and electricity generation was evaluated by using different catholytes (dissolved oxygen in deionized water, a phosphate buffer, and ferricyanide). The results showed that the sulfate-removal efficiency is 92 ± 1.2% during a 95-day operation. A high sulfide-removal efficiency of 93.5 ± 1.2 and 83.7 ± 2% and power density of 18.5 ± 1.1 and 15.2 ± 1.2 mW/m2 were obtained with ferricyanide and phosphate buffers as the catholyte, respectively, which is about 2.6 and 2.1 times higher than dissolved oxygen being used as a catholyte, respectively. These results indicated that cathode electron acceptors have a direct effect on the performance of the treatment system. The sulfide-removal efficiency and power density of the phosphate buffer SOFC were only slightly less than the ferricyanide SOFC. Therefore, a phosphate buffer could serve as a low-cost and effective pH buffer for practical applications, especially for wastewater treatment. The results presented in this study clearly revealed that the integrated treatment system can be effectively applied for sulfate/sulfide removal and electricity generation simultaneously.

Factors influencing clinical pharmacists' integration into the clinical multidisciplinary care team.

Objectives: To investigate the factors influencing clinical pharmacists' integration into the clinical multidisciplinary care team, using interprofessional collaboration between clinical pharmacists and physicians as the focus. Methods: Through stratified random sampling, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted among clinical pharmacists and physicians in secondary and tertiary hospitals in China from July to August 2022. The questionnaire, comprising the Physician-Pharmacist Collaborative Index (PPCI) scale to reflect the collaboration level and a combined scale to measure influencing factors, was made available in two versions for clinical pharmacists and physicians. Multiple linear regression was adopted to analyze the association between the collaboration level and influencing factors, as well as the heterogeneity of the significant factors in hospitals of different grades. Results: Valid self-reported data from 474 clinical pharmacists and 496 paired physicians were included, who were serving in 281 hospitals from 31 provinces. In terms of participant-related factors, standardized training and academic degree, respectively, exerted significant positive effects on the perceived collaboration level by clinical pharmacists and physicians. In terms of context characteristics, manager support and system construction were the main factors for improving collaboration. In terms of exchange characteristics, clinical pharmacists having good communication skills, physicians trusting others' professional competence and values, and both parties having consistent expectations had significant positive effects on collaboration. Conclusion: The study provides a baseline data set on the current level and associated factors of clinical pharmacists' collaboration with other professionals in China and other countries with a related health system, providing references for individuals, universities, hospitals, and national policymakers to facilitate the development of clinical pharmacy and multidisciplinary models and further improve the patient-centered integrated disease treatment system.

Integrating Ultrafiltration Membranes with Flocculation and Activated Carbon Pretreatment Processes for Membrane Fouling Mitigation and Metal Ion Removal from Wastewater.

The presence of metal ions in an aqueous medium is an ongoing challenge throughout the world. Processes employed for metal ion removal are developed continuously with the integration of these processes taking center stage. Herein, an integrated system consisting of flocculation, activated carbon (AC), and an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane was assessed for the removal of multiple metal ions contained in wastewater generated from a university chemistry research laboratory. The quality of the wastewater was established before and further determined after treatment with inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) for metal content, total dissolved solids (TDS), turbidity, electrical conductivity (EC), and pH. Assessing the spent AC indicated minimal structural changes, indicating a potential for further reuse; for instance, the BET for both the pristine and spent AC exhibited type I isotherms with a mesoporous structure, indicating no major structural changes due to metal complexation. The relative performance of the integrated system indicated that the use of flocculation improved the water quality of metal-laden wastewater for safe disposal. The integrated treatment systems exhibited high removal efficiencies between 80 and 99.99% for all the metal ions except for Mn (<0.008 mg L-1) and Cr (<0.016 mg L-1) both at ca. 70%, indicative of the positive influence of the polyelectrolyte in the treatment process. The fabricated UiO-66-NH2@GO membranes (Z4 and Z5) exhibited high fouling resistance and reusability potential as well as relatively high pure water flux. Consequently, the integrated process employed for the treatment of laboratory metal-containing wastewater is promising as a generic approach to improving the quality of metal-containing wastewater to meet the standards of discharging limits in South Africa.

Cationic surfactants influencing the enhancement of energy efficiency for perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) removal in the electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) system

From an environmental perspective, approaching sustainability requires a fundamental conceptual shift from the wastewater treatment process toward integrated treatment systems that consider efficient and effective utilization. This study aims to investigate the effects of different surfactants on the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). We used cationic surfactants as both frothers and collectors in the electrocoagulation-flotation (ECF) method to improve the removal efficiency of PFOA. The results showed that, under a monopolar aluminum electrode and with an initial PFOA concentration of 0.25 mM, the ECF method with decyl-trimethyl-ammonium bromide (DTAB) was able to remove over 98% of PFOA within 10 min. Cationic surfactants with a similar linear alkyl chain shape to PFOA, but a longer chain length, are more effective at removing PFOA through the ECF process. The removal mechanism is thought to involve co-precipitation with aluminum hydroxides through Al–F bonding, co-flotation with cationic surfactants, and mixed micelle formation with cationic surfactants. The optimal conditions were tested in both synthetic and realistic wastewater matrices and produced similar results. It has the potential for real wastewater application. The energy yield (G50) of ECF with 5 mM DTAB is 497 g·kWh−1, superior to other treatments, and is an extremely energy-effective method for separating PFOA from wastewater.

Lack of Adequate Equipment for Healthcare – The Agony of Patients and Nurses

The health sector is crucial to the growth and development of a nation. Despite sound policies and interventions to develop the Nigerian health sector, there are challenges that continue to reduce the progress and achievement of universal access to healthcare. The major factors that affect the overall performance of the health system include inadequate health facilities/structure, poor human resources and management, poor remuneration and motivation, lack of fair and sustainable healthcare financing, unequal economic and political relations. Other factors inlucde neo-liberal economic policies of the Nigerian state, corruption, illiteracy, very low government spending on health, high out-of-pocket expenditure in health, and the absence of an integrated system for disease prevention, surveillance and treatment, inadequate mechanisms for families to access healthcare, and the most persistent problem, the shortage of basic and essential equipment in most public health facilities in Nigeria. The agony which patients and nurses are passing through due to the non-availability of equipment needed to render the required services causes inefficient service delivery and increases job stress. This review paper describes the enormity of the problems and recommends options vital to addressing the problem to attain equilibrium in demand, quality and efficiency in healthcare delivery.