Removal Of Contaminants In Wastewater Research Articles

Low toxicity of magnetite-based modified bionanocomposites with potential application for wastewater treatment: Evaluation in a zebrafish animal model

In recent years, the escalating concerns surrounding environmental pollution and the need for sustainable wastewater treatment solutions have underscored the significance of developing technologies that can efficiently treat wastewater while also reducing negative ecological effects. In this context, our study aims to contribute to the advancement of sustainable technologies for wastewater treatment, by investigating the effects that bare magnetite nanoparticles and those functionalized with the enzyme laccase could have in an aquatic animal, zebrafish, at various life cycle stages. Exposure to magnetite nanoparticles shows some effects on embryo hatching, survival rates, or larval behavior at higher concentrations. For both treatments, the hatching percentages were close to 80% compared to 93% for the control group. At the end of the observations in larvae, survival in all the evaluated groups was higher than 90%. Additionally, we evaluated the accumulation of nanoparticles in various stages of zebrafish. We found that, although there was accumulation during embryonic stages, it did not affect normal development or subsequent hatching. Iron levels in different organs such as gills, muscles, gastrointestinal tract, and brain were also evaluated in adults. Animals treated with a mix of food and nanoparticles at 10 μg/mL (Food group) presented a higher concentration of iron accumulation in muscle, gastrointestinal tract, and gills compared to the untreated control group. Although iron levels increased depending on the dose and exposure method applied, they were not statistically significant from the control groups. Our findings suggest that bionanocomposites evaluated here can be considered safe for removal of contaminants in wastewater without toxic effects or detrimental accumulation fish's health.

Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters and polyhydroxyalkanoates production along with wastewater contaminant removal using sewage sludge bacteria

Analysis of fatty acid methyl esters and polyhydroxyalkanoates production along with wastewater contaminant removal using sewage sludge bacteria

Tunning MIL-101(Cr) MOF polymorphism towards efficient adsorption and localized Fenton-like degradation of para-nitroaniline by Fe incorporation

The employment of metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) in the context of eliminating organic contaminants from water has garnered significant interest in contemporary research. This study investigated the impact of varying quantities of iron on the MIL-101(Cr) adsorbent. For the first time, a polymorphic Cr/Fe-MOF was utilized for the adsorption and localized Fenton-like degradation of p-nitroaniline (PNA). Importantly, the Fe centers exhibited a ternary role of (i) transforming MIL-101 into MIL-53lt morphology, (ii) boosting PNA adsorption on the MIL(Cr) material, and (iii) enabling the Fenton-like decomposition of the adsorbed PNA in reduced solution volume. Cr:Fe(50:50) exhibited the highest adsorption capacity of 378.9 mg/g, notwithstanding its smaller surface area (SBET = 8.9 m2/g). Overall, adsorption kinetics and isotherms correlated better with pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models, respectively. The adsorption mechanism was attributed to breathing effect, H-bonding and π-π interaction. Besides, PNA degradation kinetics stood at 0.21 min−1, and the reactive oxygen species were identified as •OH, •O2– and 1O2. During continuous removal of PNA, the Cr:Fe(50:50) MOF immobilized onto cotton met the environmental discharge standard (1 mg/L) up to 52 bed volumes (initial P = 10.0 mg/L at 1 mL/min). This study not only presents a superior polymorphic MOF adsorbent but also promotes the fabrication of localized Fenton-like catalysts for the removal of organic contaminants in wastewater.

The Optimization of Hydrodynamic Cavitation as an Advanced Oxidation Option for the Removal of Persistent Contaminants in Wastewater

Wastewater is increasingly becoming the primary source of potable water in many cities, thanks to the development of recycling facilities. Persistent contaminants such as dyes and perfluorinated compounds from textile industries as well as other contaminants necessitate the design of removal technologies to treat wastewater to reduce these chemicals before discharge or being used as feed to a potable water plant. Several chemical treatment techniques have been reported but the most utilized advanced chemical treatments lead to high costs and further environmental concerns. This study investigated an alternative approach to wastewater treatment using a hydrodynamic cavitation pilot plant combined with a venturi as a way to remove recalcitrant compounds. The optimization of the removal process was explored by testing the effect of orifices with size 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 mm on the decoloration of orange II dye. The impact of the catalyst: iron(II); oxidizing agent: hydrogen peroxide; and contact time was evaluated to find the ideal conditions under which the removal of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) could be achieved. The decoloration of 20 ppm of orange II dye in simulated industrial textile wastewater was achieved at 90% efficiency when the pressure at the inlet was maintained at 300 kPa, the temperature at 34 °C, the pH at 2, and the orifice size at 2 mm of diameter. The kinetic study proved the decoloration reaction was pseudo first order and the rate of decolourisation of orange II was 0.23/min.Ten parts per million of PFOA could not be degraded by free radical attack using advanced oxidation processes when the inlet pressure was maintained at 300 kPa, the temperature at 34 °C, the pH of 2, and the orifice diameter of 2 mm. This resistance to removal is due to the structure of PFOA which is made up of a fluorine ion which stabilizes the compounds by inductive effects while dye is made up of nitrogen ion and is compatible with the above removal methods. The study demonstrated that the combination of venturi and orifice requires the throat size of the venturi to be similar or equal to that of the orifice for better efficiency.

Utilization of carbon-based nanomaterials for wastewater treatment and biogas enhancement: A state-of-the-art review

The management of environmental pollution and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions is a challenge that has spurred increased research interest in determining sustainable alternatives to decrease biowaste. This state-of-the-art review aimed to describe the preparation and utilization of carbon-based nanomaterials (CNM) for biogas enhancement and wastewater contaminant (dyes, color, and dust particles) removal. The novelty of this review is that we elucidated that the performance of CNMs in the anaerobic digestion (AD) varies from one system to another. In addition, this review revealed that increasing the pyrolysis temperature can facilitate the transition from one CNM type to another and outlined the methods that can be used to develop CNMs, including arc discharge, chemical exfoliation, and laser ablation. In addition, this study showed that methane (CH4) yield can be slightly increased (e.g. from 33.6% to 60.89%) depending on certain CNM factors, including its type, concentration, and feedstock. Temperature is a fundamental factor involved in the method and carbon sources used for CNM synthesis. This review determined that graphene oxide is not a good additive for biogas and CH4 yield improvement compared with other types of CNM, such as graphene and carbon nanotubes. The efficacy of CNMs in wastewater treatment depends on the temperature and pH of the solution. Therefore, CNMs are good adsorbents for wastewater contaminant removal and are a promising alternative for CO2 emissions reduction. Further research is necessary to determine the relationship between CNM synthesis and preparation costs while accounting for other factors such as gas flow, feedstock, consumption time, and energy consumption.

Ammonia Nitrogen Removal by Gas–Liquid Discharge Plasma: Investigating the Voltage Effect and Plasma Action Mechanisms

Atmospheric pressure gas–liquid discharge plasma has garnered considerable attention for its efficacy in wastewater contaminant removal. This study utilized atmospheric oxygen gas–liquid discharge plasma for the treatment of ammonia nitrogen wastewater. The effect of applied voltage on the treatment of ammonia nitrogen wastewater by gas–liquid discharge plasma was discussed, and the potential reaction mechanism was elucidated. As the applied voltage increased from 9 kV to 17 kV, the ammonia nitrogen removal efficiency rose from 49.45% to 99.04%, with an N2 selectivity of 87.72%. The mechanism of ammonia nitrogen degradation by gas–liquid discharge plasma under different applied voltages was deduced through electrical characteristic analysis, emission spectrum diagnosis, and further measurement of the concentration of active species in the gas–liquid two-phase system. The degradation of ammonia nitrogen by gas–liquid discharge plasma primarily relies on the generation of active species in the liquid phase after plasma–gas interactions, rather than direct plasma effects. Increasing the applied voltage leads to changes in discharge morphology, higher energy input, elevated electron excitation temperatures, enhanced collisions, a decrease in plasma electron density, and an increase in rotational temperatures. The change in the plasma state enhances the gas–liquid transfer process and increases the concentration of H2O2, O3, and, ⋅OH in the liquid phase. Ultimately, the efficient removal of ammonia nitrogen from wastewater is achieved.

Interfacial modulation of α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 with high active BiOClxI1−x for boosting photocatalytic activity and degradation of emerging contaminants under direct sunlight

Removal of organic contaminants in wastewater using sunlight-driven photocatalysts has received significant attention in recent years. However, the rational design of photocatalysts to attain high light absorption, lower charge carrier recombination with efficient photocatalytic activity and good recycling capability is crucial for the practical photocatalysis process. Herein, solid-state Z-scheme BiOCl0.6I0.4/α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 heterojunction is synthesized by assembling hierarchical 3D-BiOCl0.6I0.4 nanoflowers on cube-like 3D-α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 surface through a hydrothermal method. A wide range of characterization techniques confirms the successful synthesis of BiOClxI1−x (0 ≤ x ≤ 1.0), α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 and BiOCl0.6I0.4/α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 binary composites. The TC antibiotic removal efficiency of 30 wt% BiOCl0.6I0.4/α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 binary composite reaches 95.91% within 120 min under natural sunlight irradiation and the rate constant is 1.81 and 3.33 times higher than the pristine BiOCl0.6I0.4 and α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4, respectively. The optimized binary heterojunction exhibits excellent photocatalytic performance for toxic pollutants like MB (η = 97.27%) and RhB (η = 95.75%) under direct sunlight irradiation. The favorable photocatalytic activity of binary heterojunction is ascribed to enhancing the sunlight absorption range, the tight contact interface and the effective separation of electron/hole pairs. Notably, 30 wt% BiOCl0.6I0.4/α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 binary composite exhibits attractive recycling ability and good photostability for prolonged sunlight irradiation. Furthermore, the total organic carbon results also confirm that the 30 wt% BiOCl0.6I0.4/α-Ag1.82Cu0.09WO4 efficiently mineralized the model pollutants (TC antibiotic, MB and RhB) into other unharmful compounds under sunlight irradiation. In summary, this work offers an effective strategy to prepare solid-state Z-scheme heterojunction with favorable photocatalytic activity, which can increase wastewater purification efficiency.

Removal of pentachlorophenol and phenanthrene from lignocellulosic biorefinery wastewater by a biocatalytic/biosurfactant system comprising cross-linked laccase aggregates and rhamnolipid

Synthesis and characterization of highly active cross-linked laccase aggregates (CLLAs) were performed and evaluated for removal of pentachlorophenol and phenanthrene from lignocellulosic biorefinery wastewater. Laccase from Tramates versicolor MTCC 138 was insolubilized as CLLAs via precipitation with 70% ammonium sulphate and simultaneous cross-linking with 5 mM glutaraldehyde to obtain activity recovery of 89.1%. Compared to the free laccase, the pH and thermal stability of the prepared CLLAs were significantly higher. At a high temperature of 60 °C, free laccase had a half-life of 0.25 h, while CLLAs had a half-life of 6.2 h. In biorefinery wastewater (pH 7.0), the free and CLLAs were stored for 3 day at a temperature of 30 °C. Free laccase completely lost their initial activity after 60 h; however, the CLLAs retained 39% activity till 72 h. Due to its excellent stability, free laccase and CLLAs were assessed for removing pentachlorophenol and phenanthrene in wastewater. CLLAs could remove 51–58% of pentachlorophenol (PCP) and phenanthrene (PHE) in 24 h. Biosurfactants, including surfactin, sophorolipid, and rhamnolipid, were assessed for their aptitude to improve the removal of organic contaminants in wastewater. Biorefinery wastewater incubated with all surfactants enhanced PCP and PHE removal compared to the no-surfactant controls. Further, 1 μM rhamnolipid significantly amplified pentachlorophenol and phenanthrene removal to 81–93% for free laccase and CLLAs, respectively.

Sulphuric Acid-Modified Coal Fly Ash for the Removal of Rhodamine B Dye from Water Environment: Isotherm, Kinetics, and Thermodynamic Studies

Among the wide variety of dyes present in the environment, cationic dyes are more toxic and have complex structure. The adsorption process of rhodamine B dye was successfully carried out by sulphuric acid-treated inexpensive modified fly ash (MFA) adsorbent via batch experiments. The nature of the adsorbent was characterized by techniques, namely, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The maximum removal efficiency of RhB dye was found to be 99.78% by using 0.5 g of adsorbent dosage in 50 mg/L of dye concentration. The SEM images displayed the porous nature of the adsorbent where the EDS analysis displays the elemental compositions present in the adsorbent. XRD pattern shows the crystallinity nature of the adsorbent. Among the batch study parameters, effect of pH plays an important role in the adsorption process. The pH of 4 was found to be an ideal setting for the efficient removal of the dye RhB. The preferable elimination ability was found by keeping the dosage at 5 g/L, contact time 120 min, and dye concentration at 50 mg/L. Adsorption capacity was found to be 36.36 mg/g. This shows the ability of the MFA for the removal of wastewater contaminants. This adsorption process is well suited for the Freundlich isotherm, which displaces the process as a multilayer adsorption. Studies in kinetics and thermodynamics demonstrate that the process was well suited for its exothermic nature and pseudo-second-order. Thermal regeneration studies were carried out, and the adsorbent was effectively recycled and utilized up to four more times with minimal loses in its effectiveness. Therefore, from these obtained results, it is clear that the MFA is an effective adsorbent for the effective removal of dyes from wastewater.

Integrated phycoremediation and ultrasonic-irradiation treatment (iPUT) for the enhanced removal of pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater

Ultrasonication using low frequencies of sound can increase cell organogenesis, which is beneficial for various industrial applications. This study demonstrates a novel approach of integrated phycoremediation and ultrasonication-irradiation treatment (iPUT) used for improving the degradation of sulfonamide antibiotics via a cumulative effect of combined treatments. Variable ultrasonication treatment (UT) (20 %-2 min to 40 %-10 min) was given to a model microalga, Chlamydomonas mexicana in two ways, 1) single ultrasonic treatment (SUT) and 2) multiple-intermittent ultrasonic treatments (IUT). The microalgal growth was slightly affected by SUT, while it significantly inhibited by IUT. The removal of sulfacetamide and sulfapyridine was significantly improved by >1.7-fold and >1.95-fold at 20 % of SUT and IUT treatment, respectively, compared to control. In the case of sulfamethazine, the SUT showed maximum removal (33.5 %) at 20 %, whereas IUT could achieve 27.5 % removal at the same ultrasonication conditions compared to 9.5 % removal in control. The IUT accelerated the degradation of sulfamethoxazole and sulfadimethoxine more than SUT showing a 9- fold and 12- fold increase in the removal of sulfamethoxazole and sulfadimethoxine with 20 % and 40 % treatments, respectively. The changes in microalgal cell morphology due to ultrasonication treatment were the main cause of enforced uptake and subsequent degradation of these ECs.

Adsorption Study of Paracetamol with Graphene oxide Synthesized from Agricultural waste

Abstract The production of cheap and eco-friendly graphene material for the removal of contaminants in wastewater is necessary for sustainable water treatment. In this study, the production of graphene oxide from agricultural wastes (rind of orange and palm kernel shell) for the adsorption of paracetamol from aqueous solution was examined. The Graphene Oxides (GO) were produced using modified Hummer method and characterized using XRD and FTIR analyses. The kinetic data were analyzed using the pseudo-first and pseudo-second order equations, while the equilibrium isotherm data were fitted into Langmuir and Freundlich isotherms. FTIR spectral indicated mainly the presence of oxygen containing functional groups such as Hydroxyl group (OH) and Carbonyl group (C=O, C-O) confirming the synthesis of graphene oxide. The highest percentage removal of 76.6 from the aqueous paracetamol solution was established at pH 7, adsorbent dose of 0.4 g and contact time of 80 minutes with graphene oxide from palm kernel shell. The adsorption data was best described by pseudo-second-order model (R2---gt--- 0.900) and Freundlich isotherm. Therefore the rind of orange and palm kernel shell can be suitable cheap alternatives to graphite for the synthesis of GO. Modification and further purification of the GO can be carried out to enhance their adsorption capacities.

A facile synthesis of PEGylated Cu2O@SiO2/MnO2 nanocomposite as efficient photo-Fenton-like catalysts for methylene blue treatment.

The removal of toxic organic dyes from wastewater has received much attention from the perspective of environmental protection. Metal oxides see wide use in pollutant degradation due to their chemical stability, low cost, and broader light absorption spectrum. In this work, a Cu2O-centered nanocomposite Cu2O@SiO2/MnO2-PEG with an average diameter of 52nm was prepared for the first time via a wet chemical route. In addition, highly dispersed MnO2 particles and PEG modification were realized simultaneously in one step, meanwhile, Cu2O was successfully protected under a dense SiO2 shell against oxidation. The obtained Cu2O@SiO2/MnO2-PEG showed excellent and stable photo-Fenton-like catalytic activity, attributed to integration of visible light-responsive Cu2O and H2O2-responsive MnO2. A degradation rate of 92.5% and a rate constant of 0.086 min-1 were obtained for methylene blue (MB) degradation in the presence of H2O2 under visible light for 30min. Additionally, large amounts of •OH and 1O2 species played active roles in MB degradation. Considering the enhanced degradation of MB, this stable composite provides an efficient catalytic system for the selective removal of organic contaminants in wastewater.

Recyclable structured toxic industrial nickel-containing sludge for efficient anionic contaminant adsorption.

Safe, efficient, and simultaneous treatment of toxic industrial sludge and anionic contaminant crisis in one route still remains a persistent global challenge. Herein, we proposed a facile waste-control-waste conceptual design strategy to develop low-cost and high-performance sludge-based adsorbent for not only recycling of toxic waste nickel-containing sludge (NCS) but for the efficient removal of anionic contaminants in wastewater. The as-designed Ni-Allayered double oxides/calcined NCS (Ni-Al LDOs/CNCS) (216.96 m2/g, 0.44 cm3/g) with hierarchical porous structure possessed a larger specific surface area and well-developed porosity compared with raw NCS (60.52 m2/g, 0.26 cm3/g). It was proved that a higher hydrothermal temperature (180°C) and a longer hydrothermal time (24h) both promote the in situ assembly of LDHs nanosheets on CNCS surface. Significantly, the sludge-based adsorbent displayed high adsorption capacity towards five representative anions including F- (~ 31.1mg/g), SO42- (~ 37.7mg/g), NO3- (~ 21.8mg/g), Cl- (~ 28.0mg/g), and H2PO4- (~ 35.8mg/g). Furthermore, the adsorbent maintained desirable adsorption capacity even after 6 adsorption/desorption cycles. Therefore, this study could be potentially extended toward design of other industrial waste sludge-derived high value-added advanced materials and for wastewater treatment applications.

Coimmobilized enzymes as versatile biocatalytic tools for biomass valorization and remediation of environmental contaminants - A review

Due to stringent regulatory norms, waste processing faces confrontations and challenges in adapting technology for effective management through a convenient and economical system. At the global level, attempts are underway to achieve a green and sustainable treatment for the valorization of lignocellulosic biomass as well as organic contaminants in wastewater. Enzymatic treatment in the environmental aspect thrived on being the promising rapid strategy that appeased the aforementioned predicament. On that account, coimmobilization of various enzymes on single support enhances the catalytic activity ensuing operational stability with industrial applications. This review pivoted towards the coimmobilization of enzymes on diverse supports and their applications in biomass conversion to industrial value-added products and removal of contaminants in wastewater. The limelight of this study chronicles the unique breakthroughs in biotechnology for the production of reusable biocatalysts, which inculcating various enzymes towards the scope of environment application.

Innovative progress in graphene derivative-based composite hybrid membranes for the removal of contaminants in wastewater: A review

Graphene derivatives (graphene oxide) are proved as an innovative carbon materials that are getting more attraction in membrane separation technology because of its unique properties and capability to attain layer-to-layer stacking, existence of high oxygen-based functional groups, and generation of nanochannels that successively enhance the selective pollutants removal performance. The review focused on the recent innovations in the development of graphene derivative-based composite hybrid membranes (GDHMs) for the removal of multiple contaminants from wastewater treatment. To design GDHMs, it was observed that at first GO layers undergo chemical treatments with either different polymers, plasma, or sulfonyl. After that, the chemically treated GO layers were decorated with various active functional materials (either with nanoparticles, magnetite, or nanorods, etc.). By preparing GDHMs, properties such as permeability, porosity, hydrophilicity, water flux, stability, feasibility, mechanical strength, regeneration ability, and antifouling tendency were excessively improved as compared to pristine GO membranes. Different types of novel GDHMs were able to remove toxic dyes (77–100%), heavy metals/ions (66–100%), phenols (40–100%), and pharmaceuticals (74–100%) from wastewater with high efficiency. Some of GDHMs were capable to show dual contaminant removal efficacy and antibacterial activity. In this study, it was observed that the most involved mechanisms for pollutants removal are size exclusion, transport, electrostatic interactions, adsorption, and donnan exclusion. In addition to this, interaction mechanism during membrane separation technology has also been elaborated by density functional theory. At last, in this review the discussion related to challenges, limitations, and future outlook for the applications of GDHMs has also been provided.

Comparing the performance of UV/Acetylacetone and UV/O3 processes for treatment of olive mill wastewater

Background: Olive mill wastewater (OMW) is characterized by its high organic content and refractory compounds. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the efficiency of UV/O3 and UV/ acetylacetone (UV/AcAc) processes for treatment of pretreated OMW by coagulation/microfiltration (C&M) process. Methods: In this study, a laboratory-scale UV plug flow reactor with ancillary equipment was fabricated. The experimental factors including initial pH (5-9), O3 dosages (1.5-4.5 g/h), and AcAc concentrations (0.01-0.03 M) were measured. For both processes, a reaction time of 120 min was considered. The effect of these variables on removal of wastewater contaminants including BOD, COD, TSS, turbidity, phenol, oil, and grease were investigated. Results: Results showed that raw OMW has a high load of pollutants and very low biodegradability (BOD5 /COD=0.12). In UV/O3 process, the optimal conditions were obtained at pH 8 and ozone injection at 4 g/h. The combined C&M-UV/O3 process removed 78.75% COD, 46.66% BOD5 , 90.88% total phenol, 91.78% TSS, 99.14% oil and grease, and 98.38% turbidity, with promotion of BOD5 / COD from 0.12 to 0.33. In UV/AcAc process, the optimal conditions were achieved at pH 5 and AcAc concentration of 0.03 M. The combined C&M-UV/AcAc process removed 58.75% COD, 67.58% BOD5 , 38.03% total phenol, 83.50% TSS, 93.65% oil and grease, and 95.00% turbidity, with promotion of BOD5 / COD from 0.12 to 0.22. Conclusion: The results showed that the UV/O3 process is completely superior to the UV/AcAc process for removal of OMW contaminants, as well as promoting the biodegradability of OMW.

Production of nanoporous alumina membranes modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotube, polyacrylamide and polystyrene and use in wastewater treatment

AbstractIn this study, the nanofiltration materials having high selectivity, high filtration and mechanical resistance have been developed for the removal of organic contaminants in wastewater. Al2O3‐NP membranes were modified with multi‐walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), polyacrylamide‐MWCNT (PA‐MWCNT) and polystyrene‐MWCNT (PS‐MWCNT) to provide better performance in the treatment of wastewater. The evaluation of the separation performance of the prepared membranes was carried out at 25°C using a vacuum filtration unit. Congo red (CR) and methylene blue (MB) dyes were selected as model pollutants. The results showed that the flux value was higher in the unmodified membrane, and the Al2O3‐NP membrane modified with MWCNT exhibited high removal efficiency among the modified membranes.

Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) for Decentralized Grey Water Treatment: Technical, Ecological and Cost Efficiency Comparison for Domestic Applications

The reuse of greywater has several advantages, including reduced freshwater extraction from rivers, aquifers, and groundwater; reduced need for desalination; less environmental impact from septic tanks and water treatment plants; decreased energy consumption; and reduced chemical pollution. The main objectives of this review study are to assess the technical attributes, ecological impacts, and cost-efficiency of Moving Bed Biofilm Reactor (MBBR) water treatment technology compared to similar available technology for small to medium-sized, decentralized applications in residential and commercial settings such as home gardening, sanitation, and landfills. Previous studies indicate that hybrid technologies such as MBBR are the most promising methods for the total removal of contaminants in wastewater in a decentralized setting. However, the initial capital cost of this technology for small and medium-scale domestic applications worldwide is high and so is a limiting factor in the expansion of its utilization. Expansion of domestic use of such Decentralized Wastewater Treatment Systems (DWTS) could increase the economies of scale and therefore reduce the initial capital costs for this useful water treatment. For the MBBR system, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) removal efficiency was found to be 70%, Total Suspended Solids (TSS) removal was found to be 97%, and turbidity removal was 98%

Biomimetic nanofiltration membranes: Critical review of materials, structures, and applications to water purification

Emerging contaminants generated due to industrialization have shrunken fresh water bodies. Nanofiltration membranes are relatively efficient at separating contaminants of various sizes and functionalities. Moreover, ease of scale-up, negligible environmental footprint, and energy recovery ability make membrane filtration a future technology for complex water purification. Biomimetic or bioinspired membranes are researched to overcome the permeability-selectivity tradeoff of the existing membranes. Since biological cell membranes can selectively transport various components across membranes via aligned channels, mimicking the architecture can enable the tunable selectivity and removal of various contaminants in wastewater. This comprehensive review examines recent advances in newer materials for biomimetic membranes, their characteristics, and their application for various wastewater treatments. We also discuss various challenges such as difficulty in mimicking the exact cell structure, fouling, and stability of biomimetic materials and present opportunities for further research. We conclude that reproducible and easy processing of biomimetic materials into membranes is required for commercial applications. This review aims at a brief and systematic overview of biomimetic membranes for wastewater treatment and a description of newer materials developed to mimic the biological membranes.

Production of highly effective adsorbent from tea waste, and its adsorption behaviors and characteristics for the removal of Rhodamine B

ABSTRACT The use of biowaste as an adsorbent for the removal of contaminants in wastewater with the adsorption process is very environmentally friendly, highly efficient, and economic. For this purpose, the hydrochar of tea waste (HTW) was obtained by hydrothermal treatment of the tea waste (TW), and then the active carbon of tea waste (ACTW) was obtained with the activation of KOH. The SEM, FTIR, BET, and pHzpc analyses were used in the characterisation of the adsorbent. The adsorption experiments were performed on the removal of Rhodamine B (RhB). For the adsorption isotherm studies, the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, and Dubinin–Radushkevich isotherm models were used, and it was determined that the most suitable model was the Freundlich isotherm with R2 = 0.992 and maximum adsorption capacity was 1666.7 mg/g. For the adsorption kinetic studies, the pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, Elovich, and intra-particle diffusion models were used, and it was determined that the most suitable model was the pseudo-second-order with R2 = 0.999. With the analysis of thermodynamic parameters, it was obtained that the adsorption process was spontaneous (ΔG°≤ −9,025 kJ/mol) and endothermic (ΔH° = 22.447 kJ/mol). Lastly, it was found that the activation energy of the adsorption process was 16.95 kJ/mol, which indicates that it is physical sorption, and the rate constant of adsorption was 0.052 g/mg s. As a result, it was understood that the biomass-based ACTW can be used as an effective adsorbent and is a suitable adsorbent for the removal of RhB.