Use Of Water Treatment Systems Research Articles

Green Synthesis of Nanocomposite Membranes for Sustainable Water Filtration

In order to tackle the worldwide problems of water pollution and shortage, this work explores the green synthesis of nanocomposite membranes for sustainable water filtering. Graphene oxide, cellulose nanocrystals, and silver nanoparticles were used as nanofillers in the fabrication of nanocomposite membranes, which were made using renewable polymer matrix (PES, PVDF, PAN). By including different polymer matrices and nanofillers, the composition analysis demonstrated the adaptability of nanocomposite membrane manufacturing, enabling the customization of membrane characteristics. Improved membrane shape and structural integrity were shown to result from the homogeneous dispersion of nanofillers inside the polymer matrix, according to characterization tests. Nanocomposite membranes demonstrated high flux rates and rejection rates for different pollutants, confirming their excellent performance in filtration experiments. The membranes’ improved fouling resistance also increased their service life and decreased the frequency of maintenance needs. Supporting the eco-friendliness of nanocomposite membrane production, an environmental impact evaluation found that it used less energy and generated less trash than traditional techniques. All things considered, nanocomposite membranes have shown great promise as long-term water treatment solutions due to their superior performance, durability, and environmental friendliness, as well as their effective production and characterisation. More study is needed to perfect membrane characteristics and solve the remaining problems that prevent their broad use in water treatment systems.

PREPARATION OF COMPOSITE MATERIALS BASED ON COBALT (II) FERRITE FOR PURIFICATION OF AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS

In this paper, composite materials based on cobalt (II) ferrite, which is a promising object of research as a magnetic material, are obtained. Thus, it is known to be used for producing organo / inorganic and non-organo/inorganic compositions. The introduction of cobalt ferrite makes it possible to give new properties to carrier materials. As a carrier, waste from the production of phosphoric acid – phosphogypsum, ash – and – slag waste from thermal power stations and cullet-foam glass, and activated carbon were used. Finding a way to process waste to produce new composite materials is an urgent task of chemical technology. The obtained samples were studied using X-ray phase analysis and electron microscopy. In the course of the conducted research, the principal possibility of using the specified number of production wastes for the synthesis of catalytically active materials is shown. Photocatalytic reactions are widely used in water treatment processes for wastewater treatment from organic pollutants. A simple method for obtaining composite materials of the composition of foam glass/ cobalt ferrite (II), phosphogypsum/ cobalt ferrite (II), activated carbon/ cobalt ferrite (II) is proposed. The catalytic properties of synthesized materials in the process of oxidative destruction of an organic dye in the presence of hydrogen peroxide are studied. It was found that the highest activity under the specified conditions is observed for the activated carbon/ cobalt (II) ferrite composite: complete removal of the organic dye from the aqueous solution is achieved after 90 min from the beginning of the reaction. The phosphogypsum-based composite shows the least pronounced activity. The results obtained can serve as a guide for choosing a method for producing non-toxic materials that are promising for use in water treatment systems and ensuring environmental safety of industrial enterprises that use organic dyes in the production process.

Revisiting Hydraulic Flocculator Design for Use in Water Treatment Systems with Fluidized Floc Beds

In water treatment, flocculation creates aggregated particles or flocs large enough to be removed by downstream processes of sedimentation and filtration. Fluidized beds of flocs (floc blankets) are sometimes included in upflow sedimentation processes because they can significantly improve sedimentation tank particle removal when plate or tube settlers are used. Overall performance of a sedimentation tank containing a floc blanket is influenced by the characteristics of incoming flocs from the flocculator. Floc blankets provide an additional opportunity for aggregation of colloidal particles that enables a reduction in the size of the flocculators, while improving particle removal efficiency. In this study, laminar flow flocculators varying in velocity gradient (G) and residence time (θ) were tested in a laboratory scale water treatment system with a floc blanket. Results indicate that increasing G (range of 74–251 s−1), while decreasing residence time from 269 to 80 s, and maintaining a constant Gθ (∼20,000) improved particle removal. These results indicate that velocity gradients greater than existing design recommendations may be used to reduce flocculator residence times (and associated construction costs) when upflow sedimentation with a floc blanket and overlying lamellar plate or tube settlers are employed subsequent to flocculation. Further reduction of the residence time to 24 s with a G of 251 s−1 resulted in a settled water turbidity of 14 nephelometric turbidity unit (NTU). When varying θ at a constant G of 72 s−1, an apparent minimum in settled effluent turbidity at 0.15 NTU was observed at the middle residence time tested (θ = 211 s), suggesting that long hydraulic flocculator residence times may be suboptimal.

What will our ruminants drink?

• Historically, drinking water for ruminants has been a relatively inexpensive and abundant resource, but this is changing in both developed and developing countries. • Despite the great amount of attention paid to other essential nutrients by animal scientists and livestock farmers in the last century, water nutrition and water quality have not been adequately examined. Even today, drinking water is seldom considered a potentially limiting factor for the productivity and health of ruminants. Farmers rarely have information about the 2 major initial factors for assessing the adequacy of water nutrition on any farm: how much the animals are drinking and what the quality of that water is. • Although livestock will never rival humans for the world’s supply of potable water, they do use large amounts in some production systems. Nonetheless, ruminants also hold a unique niche in the production of food and other tangibles for humans by their ability to consume fi brous and lower quality feedstuffs (e.g., forages and by-products) not utilizable as food directly by humans and other nonruminants, and to convert these feeds into highquality proteins, vitamins, fats, and energy for humans. This unique capacity of ruminants very much depends on suffi cient quantities of water for maintenance, digestion, absorption, and assimilation. • Should potable drinking water become scare in some areas of the world, domestic ruminants may be forced to consume poorer quality water containing anti-quality factors. If we are to sustain the increasing demand for animal products and improve the standard of living globally, the conservation and recycling of clean drinking water on ruminant farms will be critical. Otherwise, the only alternative may be widespread use of water treatment systems. • Doubtless, ruminant farmers must improve their management by carefully using and conserving the available clean water for their animals. The future viability of ruminant production systems depends on it. Through more effi cient use of water, farmers can maximize animal performance and health while simultaneously optimizing on-farm use (from irrigation for feed crop production through recycling and conservation) to reduce the water footprint of each farm. Introduction

Development of Natural Zeolites for Their Use in Water-Treatment Systems

This paper gives an overview of research and patents concerning the use of natural zeolites in water-treatment systems in the last ten years. Furthermore, nanocomposite materials made of natural zeolites and organic and polymeric materials are also mentioned as an effective solution in water treatment. An additional emphasis is put on a variety of possibilities for further application of natural zeolite materials for environment protection and preservation.

Aluminum Exposure in Chronic Renal Failure in Iberoamerica at the End of the 1990s: Overview and Perspectives

Epidemic aluminum neurotoxicity has virtually disappeared in the dialysis population; however, sporadic toxic effects caused by contamination of water with aluminum are still reported. In this review, the current situation in Iberoamerica is analyzed. Exposure to aluminum through dialysate shows considerable geographical differences even within the same country, including seasonal variability. Sometimes the tap water showed very high aluminum content that does not permit the water treatment system to efficiently remove all the aluminum, forcing the use of water treatment systems with a double reverse-osmosis filter on line. The use of adequate water treatment systems and a correct control policy has improved the quality of the dialysate, minimizing the aluminum exposure. However, an additional problem in Iberoamerica is the difficulty to obtain aluminum-free concentrates for the preparation of the final dialysis solution. Aluminum still seems to be implicated in a great percentage of symptomatic low-bone remodeling lesions in South America compared with Europe, demonstrating that exposure to aluminum through dialysate is still a cause of concern in some areas of the world.