Traditional Water Research Articles

Battery Thermal Management System Using Phase Change Materials

This research paper explores the integration of Phase Change Materials (PCMs) into Electric Vehicle (EV) battery packs for enhanced thermal management. Through a comprehensive study involving design, simulation, and analysis using tools like ANSYS, the effectiveness of PCM integration in managing temperature profiles and heat dissipation within EV battery packs is evaluated. The research highlights the advantages of PCM-based thermal management over traditional air and water cooling methods, emphasizing improvements in battery performance, lifespan, and overall safety. The findings contribute valuable insights to advancing EV technology and sustainability, paving the way for more efficient and reliable electric mobility solutions.

Design and Analysis of a Solar-Powered Water Heating System

Water heaters consume a large amount of electricity for heating water. Traditional heaters require heating coils to heat up water using a minimum of 2000 Watts for the process. Well, when we use solar energy for water heating it requires around 30 to 50 Watts of power thus saving more a lot of energy. We here developed a more efficient solar water heater to heat up water at a faster rate using efficient coiling along with heat trapping and reflecting mirrors. The water heater can more efficiently heat up water at a faster pace than traditional solar water heaters. The system makes use of steel pipes coiled together for passing water through them. The pipes are heated by solar rays directly falling on them. We additionally use an aluminium plate behind the pipes to absorb the rays passing through in between pipes. Over this we use 2 additional reflective sheets to gather and reflect additional solar rays over the pipes. This system heats up the pipes thus heating up the water passing

Liquorilactobacillus hordei SK6 and Liquorilactobacillus mali SK26 from Traditional Water Kefir Produce Dextrans with Technological Roles.

The significance of exopolysaccharides (EPS) in various applications has garnered increasing attention. In this study, two bacteria, Liquorilactobacillus hordei SK6 and Liquorilactobacillus mali SK26, isolated from traditional water kefir grains, produced 8.89g/L and 7.2g/L of homopolymeric glucan, respectively. NMR analysis revealed that both glucans were dextrans composed of (1 → 6)-linked α-D-glucose units, with (1 → 3)-linked α-D-glucose units serving as branching points, accounting for 5.3 ± 0.2% in dextran SK6 and 2.7 ± 0.15% in SK26. FTIR and XRD analyses further confirmed the amorphous nature of the dextrans, although dextran SK6 exhibited micro-arranged structures. Thermal characterization using TGA and DSC showed degradation temperatures of 298.5°C for dextran SK6 and 282.1°C for dextran SK26. Clear differences in morphological properties were observed using AFM and SEM. These findings provide valuable insights into dextran-producing strains and their potential applications in various industries.

Achieving Excess Hydrogen Output via Concurrent Electrochemical and Chemical Redox Reactions on P-Doped Co-Based Catalysts with Electron Manipulation and Kinetic Regulation.

Electrolytic hydrogen production is of great significance in energy conversion and sustainable development. Traditional electrolytic water splitting confronts high anode voltage with oxygen generation and the amount of hydrogen produced at cathode depends entirely on the quantity of electric charge input. Herein, excess hydrogen output can be achieved by constructing a spontaneous hydrazine oxidation reaction (HzOR) coupled hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) system. For the hydrazine oxidation-assisted electrolyzer in this work, both the external input electrons and the electrons produced by spontaneous chemical redox reaction can reduce water, producing more hydrogen than traditional electrolytic water splitting system. The ultrafast kinetics of bifunctional P-doped Co-based catalysts plays a key role in the spontaneous feature of HzOR/HER redox reaction and low working voltage of hydrazine oxidation-assisted electrolyzer (12 mV@100mA cm-2). Theoretical calculation results and ex situ/in situ spectra demonstrate that doped P could optimize electronic structure, regulate adsorption energy of intermediates, and thus endows catalysts with ultrafast kinetics. This work provides a new pathway for the development of spontaneous oxidation-assisted hydrogen production, to achieve excess hydrogen output via concurrent electrochemical and chemical redox reactions.

Traditional Khmer Water Practices: A Case Study of Phnom K’to, Vietnam

Phnom K’to (Cô Tô Mountain) is the easternmost peak of a small chain of granite outcrops of Vietnam’s Mekong Delta. It reveals a long and rich tradition of water management that is often overlooked in present-day development. Although the region is under Vietnamese control, it had centuries of Khmer rule and inhabitation. Today, the marginalized Khmer settlements around Phnom K’to are spread across varied terrain, from rugged mountains to muddy floodplains, with monsoon-fed and flood-cycle cultivation. The Khmer’s traditional water practices were carefully adapted to topography and water variations, forming interconnected habitats and productive mosaics specific to Khmer society. However, their vernacular landscape has been dramatically transformed and recast by modern canals (since the nineteenth century), dike building and granite mining (since 1975), and roads and reservoirs (since the 2010s). Whereas the entire region suffers from the consequences of global warming (particularly floods and droughts) and ecological destruction, there is an opportunity to revisit traditional Khmer water practices to provide insights for reconfiguring the water system. Fieldwork-based drawings, annotated with Khmer terminology, highlight morpho-topological readings of the relationship between water management practices and settlement. The research seeks to uncover opportunities to revisit and revalue such practices to renew stewardship of the territory.

Learning from the Hydraulic Heritage of Figuig, Morocco

In the face of water scarcity and climate change, the Figuig Oasis exemplifies resilience through the integration of culture, heritage and sustainable development. This arid region has preserved ancient water management practices that have sustained life for millennia, offering a model for achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Figuig’s significance lies in the potential to harmonize traditional and modern water governance systems, optimizing its hydraulic organization as a living cultural heritage to ensure the sustainability of ecosystems in desert environments amid growing water scarcity.

Investigation of the adsorptive capacity of a poly(vinyl alcohol)-based film for sodium diclofenac in aqueous media

Sodium diclofenac (DCF) has been detected in waters worldwide and is considered a micropollutant of emerging concern due to its potential toxicity in aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems. Traditional water treatment methods are unable to remove DCF completely from water, which makes adsorptive films a suitable alternative to address this challenge. In this context, the present study investigated the adsorptive capacities of a poly(vinyl alcohol)-based film for removing DCF from aqueous solutions. The effects of the initial DCF concentration and solution pH on the adsorption performance were evaluated, as well as kinetics and equilibrium isotherms. Regarding the results, DCF precipitation was observed within a pH range of 4.0-7.0, probably due to its limited solubility in acidic media. The optimal DCF concentration was found to be the lowest tested (2.5 mg L-1), yielding an equilibrium adsorption capacity (qe) of 0.511 mg g-1 and a DCF removal percentage (%R) of 23.4% within 90 min. Although the adsorption equilibrium was well described by the Redlich-Peterson isotherm despite the unusual behavior observed, pseudo-first and pseudo-second order kinetic models were satisfactory only at the initial concentration of 2.5 mg L⁻¹. Overall, the data set indicate that the film has a limited adsorption capacity, reaching saturation at low adsorbate concentrations. Nonetheless, these findings support further investigations at lower DCF concentrations to better understand the film’s adsorptive behavior under environmentally relevant conditions.

Traditional Water Management in the Thar Desert: The Khadeen of Rajasthan, India

The khadeen system of the Thar Desert, in Rajasthan, is an ancient technology that takes advantage of peculiar geohydrologic formations to create temporary lakes. A careful water management practice, the khadeen are an example of age-old methods of capturing and using seasonal runoff for agriculture, ensuring water access in arid regions. Khadeen have played a crucial role in supporting agricultural activities since the sixteenth century, offering impressive yields in a water-scarce environment. However, the enduring efficacy of khadeen faces contemporary threats, including mining encroachment, labor outmigration and road development. The delicate balance between preserving traditional knowledge and succumbing to external pressures poses challenges to their cultural, ecological and agricultural significance. This paper comments on the historical, hydrogeological and socioeconomic dimensions of khadeen, emphasizing the importance of their preservation in sustaining communities and ecosystems in the Thar Desert area.

The Use of Blockchain for Water Rights in Irrigation Management

The increasing pressures of climate change, population growth, and water scarcity necessitate innovative solutions for efficient water management, particularly in agriculture. This paper explores the application of blockchain technology in the management of water rights for irrigation, presenting a novel approach to enhance transparency, accountability, and efficiency in water allocation. Traditional water rights systems are often hindered by bureaucratic inefficiencies, lack of real-time data, and disputes among stakeholders. By leveraging blockchain's decentralized ledger system, this study illustrates how water rights can be tokenized, enabling farmers to trade water rights in real-time while ensuring compliance with legal and environmental regulations. This research employs a mixed-methods approach, combining case studies from regions where blockchain has been piloted for water management with qualitative interviews from stakeholders in the agricultural sector. The findings reveal that blockchain can significantly reduce transaction costs, mitigate conflicts over water rights, and facilitate better allocation based on real-time water availability. The technology fosters a participatory governance model by enabling stakeholders to engage in decision-making processes through smart contracts, which automate and enforce water allocation agreements without the need for intermediaries.

Laying the groundwork for a Legionella pneumophila risk management program for public drinking water systems

ABSTRACT Legionella pneumophila is different from traditional drinking water contaminants because it presents a latent public health risk for public and private drinking water systems and for the building water systems they supply. This paper reviews information on the likelihood of occurrence of L. pneumophila in public water systems to lay a foundation for public water systems, as a stakeholder in public health risk management, to better manage L. pneumophila. Important to this approach is a literature review to identify conditions that could potentially promote L. pneumophila being present in drinking water systems at either an elevated abundance or at an increased frequency of occurrence, and/or water quality and supply conditions that would contribute to its amplification. The literature review allows the development of an inventory of hazardous conditions that a public water system could experience and, therefore, can be used by water systems to develop control and monitoring strategies. However, effective L. pneumophila risk management programs are hampered by significant data and knowledge gaps. Priority research to advance public water system's risk assessments and management of L. pneumoaphila is proposed.

Transforming Irrigated Agriculture in Semi-Arid and Dry Subhumid Mediterranean Conditions: A Case of Protected Cucumber Cultivation

Pressure from population growth and climate change stress the limited water resources in the Mediterranean region and threaten food security and social stability. Enhancing food production requires the transformation of irrigation systems and enhancement of local capacity for sustainable water and soil management in irrigated agriculture. The aim of this work is the conversion of traditional irrigation practices, by introducing the practice of optimal irrigation scheduling based on local ET estimation and soil moisture monitoring, and the use of continuous feeding by fertigation to enhance both water and nutrient use efficiency. For this, two trials were established between August and November 2023 in two different pedoclimatic zones (Serein and Sultan Yacoub) of the inner Bekaa Plain of Lebanon, characterized by semi-arid and dry subhumid conditions and different soil types. Greenhouse cucumber was tested to compare the prevailing traditional farmers’ practices with the advanced, technology-based, methods of water management. Results showed a significantly higher amount of water applied by the farmers to the protected cucumber, with a potential for average saving of 105 mm of water applied in each season by improved practices. Water input in the traditional practices revealed potential stress to plants. With more than 20% increase in cucumber yield by the transformed practices, a general trend was observed in the fertilization approach and amounts, resulting in lower nutrient recovery in the farmer’s plots. The science-based practices of water and nutrient management showed higher application and agronomic water use efficiency of full fertigation, exceeding 60%, associated with double and triple higher nitrogen use efficiency, compared to those results obtained by the traditional water and fertilizer application methods. The monitored factors can contribute to severe economic and environmental consequences from nutrient buildup or leaching in the soil–groundwater system in the Mediterranean region.

Assessing Rainwater Risks and Rainwater Harvesting Opportunities for the New Capital City of Indonesia

In the context of planning and construction of the new capital city of Indonesia, referred to as Ibu Kota Negara (IKN), this article addresses the spatial risks and opportunities of rainwater resources in the area where IKN is planned. The article relies on an inventory of various physical data, which were used to derive a flood susceptibility map, as well as rainfall data derived from public and open sources. The geospatial study drew on geospatial software (ArcGIS Pro, 2.1.) and the Google Earth Engine platform (GEE). After this analysis, we followed a management design, which took IPCC climate change scenarios into account. The results demonstrated that the southern coast has higher precipitation than the northern coast in the IKN area. To enhance the efficacy of rainwater management planning, a grid is proposed to mitigate the flood risk and to harvest rainwater. Although rainwater varies throughout the IKN area, and may vary even more with different climate change predictions, it is possible to capture rainwater and create a system to reduce reliance on traditional water sources, alleviate stormwater runoff and mitigate the impact of urban flooding. While IKN will be developed by both regulated planning and other population-driven developments, monitoring and reflecting on existing plans will still be necessary to make IKN sufficiently resilient and sustainable.

Cold Plasma for Enhanced Water Purification

Abstract Access to clean water remains a critical global challenge, with traditional water treatment methods often failing to eliminate complex pollutants such as pharmaceuticals, dyes, and antibiotics. Cold atmospheric plasma technology offers a promising solution by generating reactive oxygen and nitrogen species at room temperature, effectively degrading these contaminants and inactivating pathogens. Recent advancements in cold plasma have shown significant potential in water treatment applications. Cold plasma has demonstrated efficacy in disrupting bacterial biofilms, reducing antibiotic contaminants, and degrading complex organic pollutants, making it an innovative and eco-friendly alternative to conventional methods. This review examines the principles of plasma technology, evaluates its performance in water sanitation, and addresses the challenges of scalability and economic feasibility. By integrating cold plasma into existing water treatment systems and developing standardized protocols, this technology can significantly contribute to sustainable water management and public health, supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Determination of Metal Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe) and Zinc (Zn) in Drinking Water from The Boring Well of Surbakti Village, Karo District by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry Method

Water is an essential requirement for human existence. In addition to traditional water usage, water is essential for enhancing the quality of human existence and facilitating industrial and technological endeavors. An investigation was conducted on the contents of Cadmium (Cd), Copper (Cu), Iron (Fe), and Zinc (Zn) in drinking water from drilled wells in Surbakti Village, Karo District, employing Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry (AAS) techniques. Sampling occurred during weeks 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 and was subsequently digested with concentrated nitric acid until a volume of 15 mL was attained. The metal concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, and Zn were quantified using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) using a calibration curve. The findings indicated a concentration of Cd at 0.0031 mg/L, Cu at 0.0470 mg/L, Fe at 0.2741 mg/L, and Zn at 0.2929 mg/L. In this instance, Cd produced a greater concentration of drinking water standards compared to Cu, Fe, and Zn. Nonetheless, it nonetheless met the drinking quality standards established by Regulation Minister of Health No. 492/Menkes/Per/VII/2010.

Ultrasonic-assisted DES extraction optimization, characterization, antioxidant and in silico study of polysaccharides from Angelica dahurica Radix

In this study, polysaccharides from Angelica dahurica Radix (ADR) were extracted by using ultrasonic-assisted deep eutectic solvent (DES) extraction method. The DES consist of choline chloride (HBA, hydrogen bonding acceptor) and 1, 4-butanediol (HBD, hydrogen bonding donor) with the molar ratio of 1:3 was proved as the best system for polysaccharides extraction. A Box-Behnken design with three factors and three levels was utilized to optimize ultrasonic power, extraction time and temperature for increased polysaccharides yield. The optimal extraction parameters were determined as follows: DES water content of 20 %, liquid–solid ratio of 10:1 mL/g, ultrasonic time of 21 min, temperature at 60 °C, and ultrasonic power of 435 W. These conditions yielded an extraction rate nearly matching the theoretical predicted value of the response surface model, surpassing the traditional hot water extraction method by 1.33 times and requiring less time. The antioxidant polysaccharides was assessed using DPPH,ABTS and Hydroxyl methods, which indicated that ADRP extracted by ultrasound assisted DES had excellent antioxidant capacity and showed a dose–response relationship with drug concentration. Structural analysis identified ADR polysaccharides as a heteropolysaccharide rich in sugar aldonic acids—namely, fucose, rhamnose, arabinose, galactose and glucose—with molar ratios of 0.47:1.99:17.61:64.76:15.17. The polysaccharides’ number-average molecular weight was determined to be 97.422 kDa, with a weight-average molecular weight of 245.678 kDa. Network pharmacology and molecular docking analysis suggest that the monosaccharides Rha and Ara could potentially interact with the proteins GSR and GSTA1, respectively, indicating that ADRP had good antioxidant potential and could be applied in multiple fields with promising development prospects in the future.

Study on the hydrolysis characteristics of polymeric aluminum chloride forced by fine bubbles and its key factors affecting the efficiency and capacity of forcing hydrolysis

Enhanced coagulation is an important way to remove natural organic matter and reduce disinfection by-products in traditional water treatment processes, in which the micromolecular organic matter that is difficult to be removed during conventional coagulation can be enhanced more conveniently by modulating the dominant Al species in the traditional metal salt coagulants (e.g., polymeric aluminum chloride, PACl). Based on the forcing hydrolysis characteristics of fine bubbles due to the adsorption of hydroxide ions on their surfaces, this study verified the adaptability of the forced PACl hydrolysis by fine bubbles under different operating conditions objectively and comprehensively. The morphological changes of PACl before and after forced hydrolysis by fine bubbles were characterized figuratively, and the evolution of the dominant Al species before and after forced hydrolysis by fine bubbles was reasonably elaborated. The experimental results showed that fine bubbles had the effect of forcing the hydrolysis of PACl with different degrees of alkalinity and modulating the dominant Al species. It was innovatively found that the mass transfer efficiency of the fine bubbles determined their efficiency in forcing PACl hydrolysis (Pearson's r = -0.9423) and the concentration of fine bubbles affected their capacity to force PACl hydrolysis (Pearson's r = 0.8189). At pH = 7 and an air flow rate of 20 mL/min, the DOC concentration of micromolecular organics and the DOC removal efficiency of total organics could be reduced by 0.54 mg/L and enhanced by 12.6 %, respectively, after forced PACl hydrolysis by fine bubbles. While deepening the mechanism of forced PACl hydrolysis by fine bubbles, the above results preliminarily verified the relevance and feasibility of modulating the dominant Al species through forced PACl hydrolysis by fine bubbles to improve the coagulation efficiency, which provided theoretical and data support for the construction of a fine bubble-enhanced coagulation process for drinking water treatment plants.

Hollow Hydrogels for Excellent Aerial Water Collection and Autonomous Release

AbstractAir moisture is a valuable and omnipresent resource of fresh water. However, traditional water collectors come with an enduring problem of the water‐release step, which requires special devices and additional energy to remove the water from the adsorbent, such as heat, sunlight, or both. Herein, we report the first composite conical hollow hydrogel architecture fabricated through a film‐to‐tube transforming protocol, designed to harvest water from aerial humidity. This hollow hydrogel device can rapidly collect water from humid air to a saturation point, whereupon it automatically and continually releases fresh water at room temperature. The entire water collection and release process does not require any external assistance. Therefore, this device is highly suitable for emergency water collection in arid areas. As an exemplary demonstration, positioning the hollow hydrogel device next to a plant turns into an individualized system for irrigation. Since the device is biodegradable, it eventually decomposes and becomes an organic fertilizer after the water supply is not required. For long‐term application, the water‐release process can be monitored in real time by an electronic device to indicate the amount of collected water. The hollow hydrogel combines the humidity‐adsorbing capacity with autonomous water release that carries the potential for harvesting water from humidity to address the shortage of fresh water, especially in arid locations where other sources of water are scarce or inaccessible.

Preparation and characterization of β-cyclodextrin capped magnetic nanoparticles anchored on cellulosic matrix for removal of cr(VI) from mimicked wastewater: Adsorption and kinetic studies

Hexavalent Chromium (Cr(VI)) is essential in many industrial processes. However, it finds its way into water bodies, posing health problems, including lung cancer and the inhibition of DNA and RNA in biological systems. Several chemical and traditional water purification methods have been developed in the past, but most are expensive, tedious and ineffective. This study aimed to prepare and characterize a low-cost hybrid adsorbent, β-Cyclodextrin capped magnetic nanoparticles anchored on a cellulosic matrix (CNC-Fe3O4NP-CD). The characterization techniques confirmed the integration of CNCs, Fe3O4NP and CD into the prepared CNC-Fe3O4NP-CD nanocomposite adsorbent. The adsorbent was employed in batch adsorption experiments by varying adsorption parameters, including solution pH, adsorbent dosage, initial Cr(VI) concentration, and contact time. From the findings, the nanocomposite adsorbent achieved a maximum Cr(VI) removal efficiency of 97.45%, while the pseudo-second-order kinetic model best fitted the experimental data with high linear regression coefficients (R2 > 0.98). The Elovich model indicated that the adsorption process was driven by chemisorption on heterogeneous surface sites, with initial sorption rates surpassing desorption rates. These findings established that CNC-Fe3O4NP-CD presents high efficiency for Cr(VI) removal under acidic pH, offering the potential for optimization and application in real-world wastewater treatment.

An automated computational data pipeline to rapidly acquire, score, and rank toxicological data for ecological hazard assessment.

Biological Evaluations support Endangered Species Act (ESA) consultation with the US Fish and Wildlife Service and National Marine Fisheries Service by federal action agencies, such as the USEPA, regarding impacts of federal activities on threatened or endangered species. However, they are often time-consuming and challenging to conduct. The identification of pollutant benchmarks or guidance to protect taxa for states and tribes when USEPA has not yet developed criteria recommendations is also of importance to ensure a streamlined approach to Clean Water Act program implementation. Due to substantial workloads, tight regulatory timelines, and the often-protracted length of ESA consultations, there is a need to streamline the development of biological evaluation toxicity assessments for determining the impact of chemical pollutants on ESA-listed species. Moreover, there is limited availability of species-specific toxicity data for many contaminants, further complicating the consultation process. New approach methodologies are being increasingly used in toxicology and chemical safety assessment to rapidly and cost-effectively provide data that can fill gaps in hazard and/or exposure characterization. Here, we present the development of an automated computational pipeline-RASRTox (Rapidly Acquire, Score, and Rank Toxicological data)-to rapidly extract and categorize ecological toxicity benchmark values from curated data sources (ECOTOX, ToxCast) and well-established quantitative structure-activity relationships (TEST, ECOSAR). As a proof of concept, points-of-departure (PODs) generated in RASRTox for 13 chemicals were compared against benchmark values derived using traditional methods-toxicity reference values (TRVs) and water quality criteria (WQC). The RASRTox PODs were generally within an order of magnitude of corresponding TRVs, though less concordant compared with WQC. The greatest utility of RASRTox, however, lies in its ability to quickly and systematically identify critical studies that may serve as a basis for screening value derivation by toxicologists as part of an ecological hazard assessment. As such, the strategy described in this case study can potentially be adapted for other risk assessment contexts and stakeholder needs. Integr Environ Assess Manag 2024;20:2203-2217. © 2024 Society of Environmental Toxicology & Chemistry (SETAC). This article has been contributed to by U.S. Government employees and their work is in the public domain in the USA.

Pipeline leak detection and localization based on the flow balance and negative pressure wave methods

The traditional water supply pipeline leak detection and location method has problems of false alarms, low positioning accuracy, and low stability. This paper focuses on the pipeline leak detection and location experimental platform to investigate water supply pipeline leaks, followed by simulation and experimental validation. This study integrates the mass flow balance method and pressure change inflection points to determine pipeline leaks and introduces an improved negative pressure wave method for locating leakage points. The results demonstrate that the system accurately detects pipeline leaks. The average positioning error of the improved negative pressure wave method for the leakage point is 4.76%, which has good stability and high positioning accuracy.