Water Remediation Strategies Research Articles

Enzyme_Metal-Organic Framework Composites as Novel Approach for Microplastic Degradation.

Plastic pollution is one of the main worldwide environmental concerns. Our lifestyle involves persistent plastic consumption, aggravating the low efficiency of wastewater treatment plants in its removal. Nano/microplastics are accumulated in living beings, pushing to identify new water remediation strategies to avoid their harmful effects. Enzymes (e. g., Candida rugosa-CrL) are known natural plastic degraders as catalysts in depolymerization reactions. However, their practical use is limited by their stability, recyclability, and economical concerns. Here, enzyme immobilization in metal-organic frameworks (CrL_MOFs) is originally presented as a new plastic degradation approach to achieve a boosted plastic decomposition in aqueous systems while allowing the catalyst cyclability. Bis-(hydroxyethyl)terephthalate (BHET) was selected as model substrate for decontamination experiments for being the main polyethylene terephthalate (PET) degradation product. Once in contaminated water, CrL_MOFs can eliminate BHET (37 %, 24 h), following two complementary mechanisms: enzymatic degradation (CrL action) and byproducts adsorption (MOF effect). As a proof-of-concept, the capacity of a selected CrL_MOF composite to eliminate the BHET degradation products and its reusability are also investigated. The potential of these systems is envisioned in terms of improving enzyme cyclability, reducing costs along with feasible co-adsorption of plastic byproducts and other harmful contaminants, to successfully remove them in a single step.

A Comprehensive Review of Remediation Strategies for Soil and Groundwater Contaminated with Explosives

This study offers an updated overview of the soil and water remediation strategies employed to address the widespread environmental and public health risks associated with explosive compounds, particularly TNT and RDX. Recognizing soil contamination originating from military activities, industrial accidents, and historical land use, this review delves into physical, chemical, and biological approaches to mitigating ecological and human health concerns. While physical methods like excavation and disposal are effective, their applicability is constrained by cost and logistical challenges for large contaminated areas. Chemical methods, such as oxidation and reduction, focus on transforming explosives into less toxic byproducts. Biological remediation utilizing plants and microorganisms emerges as a cost-effective and sustainable alternative. This review highlights challenges, including the persistence of explosive compounds, potential groundwater leaching, and the necessity for long-term monitoring. Emphasizing the need for site-specific strategies, considering the contaminant type, concentration, soil properties, and regulatory requirements, this study advocates for integrated and sustainable remediation approaches in pilot-scale applications. It concludes by evaluating the appropriate solution based on the advantages and disadvantages of the categories of soil and groundwater remediation methods. The duration, the effectiveness, and the cost of available technologies were estimated.

Nanoscience and nanotechnology for water remediation: an earnest hope toward sustainability.

Water pollution and the global freshwater crisis are the most alarming concerns of the 21st century, as they threaten the sustainability and ecological balance of the environment. The growth of global population, climate change, and expansion of industrial processes are the main causes of these issues. Therefore, effective remediation of polluted water by means of detoxification and purification is of paramount importance. To this end, nanoscience and nanotechnology have emerged as viable options that hold tremendous potential toward the advancement of wastewater treatment methods to enhance treatment efficiency along with augmenting water supply via utilization of unconventional water sources. Materials at the nano level have shown great promise toward water treatment applications owing to their unique physicochemical properties. In this focus article, we highlight the role of new fundamental properties at the nano scale and material properties that are drastically increased due to the nano dimension (e.g. volume-surface ratio) and highlight their impact and potential toward water treatment. We identify and discuss how nano-properties could improve the three main domains of water remediation: the identification of pollutants, their adsorption and catalytic degradation. After discussing all the beneficial aspects we further discuss the key challenges associated with nanomaterials for water treatment. Looking at the current state-of-the-art, the potential as well as the challenges of nanomaterials, we believe that in the future we will see a significant impact of these materials on many water remediation strategies.

A floating photocatalytic fabric integrated with a AgI/UiO-66-NH2 heterojunction as a facile strategy for wastewater treatment.

With an increased need of wastewater treatment, application of photocatalysts has drawn growing research attention as an advanced water remediation strategy. Herein, a floating photocatalytic fabric in a woven construction was developed for removal of Rhodamine B (RhB) in water. For an efficient photocatalytic reaction, AgI nanoparticles were grown on the surface of UiO-66-NH2 crystals in a layered structure, forming a heterojunction system on a cotton yarn, and this was woven with polypropylene yarn. The floating photocatalyst demonstrated the maximized light utilization and adequate contact with contaminated water. Through the heterojunction system, the electrons and holes were effectively separated to generate reactive chemical species, and this eventually led to an enhanced photocatalytic performance of AgI/UiO@fabric reaching 98% removal efficiency after 2 hours of irradiation. Photodegradation of RhB occurred mainly by superoxide radicals and holes, which were responsible for de-ethylation and decomposition of an aromatic ring, respectively. The kinetics of the photocatalytic reaction suggested that circulation of solution by stirring affected the photocatalytic removal rate. The recycle test demonstrated the potential long-term applicability of the developed material with structural integrity and catalytic stability. This study highlights the proof-of-concept of a floating photocatalytic material for facile and effective water remediation with repeated usability.

In-situ encapsulation and construction of Lac@HOFs/hydrogel composite for enhancing laccase stability and azo dyes decolorization efficiency

Enzymes with high catalytic activity and stability have been used for the sustainable development of green chemical applications, such as water remediation. Immobilized laccase can be used to construct a synergistic system for adsorption and degradation, which has great potential for water remediation. Herein, a hydrogen-bonded organic framework was installed onto laccase in-situ to form a net-carboxylate-arranged defective cage, which enhanced its catalytic stability. Thereafter, the CMC/PVA/Lac@HOF-101 hydrogel was fabricated by freeze–thaw cycles using sodium carboxymethylcellulose and polyvinyl alcohol as carriers and copper (II) as a cross-linker. Notably, the MOFs/hydrogel as a protective carrier of laccase maintain long-term recyclability and catalytic stability. After the fifth catalytic cycle, approximately 66.7 % activity of the CP-Lac@HOF-101 was retained. When both free laccase and CP-Lac@HOF-101 were used for decolorization of Acid Orange 7 (AO), the removal rates were 10.9 % and 82.5 % after 5 h, respectively. Furthermore, even in the presence of metal cations, almost 60.0 % of the AO removal efficiency was achieved. The relationship between the structure of the azo dyes and decolorization efficiency of the synergistic system was further investigated. This study offers a method for constructing enzyme@HOF-based composite hydrogels and provides a promising water remediation strategy.

Integrated Use of Bioaccumulation, Genotoxic, and Haematological Endpoints to Assess the Effect of Water Remediation Strategies on Fish Health: A Complementary Study

Biosorption successfully remediates saline water contaminated with legacy contaminants, but its effects on the health of marine organisms remain unclear. Therefore, our aim was to address this knowledge gap with data on the accumulation ability, as well as the cytogenetic and biochemical effects in turbot (Scophthalmus maximus). To this end, we exposed turbot for seven days to a mixture of remediated metals (Rem treatments: Cd, Hg, and Pb), with and without the presence of nanoparticles (NP), and compared them with the maximum allowable concentrations (MAC treatment) for effluent discharges. We determined the metal accumulation in the blood and kidney and evaluated haematological changes (red blood cell count, haemoglobin, and mean cell haemoglobin (MCH)) and genotoxicity (erythrocytic nuclear abnormalities assay) in the blood. The results showed that remediation with non-living macroalgae significantly reduced the metallic blood and kidney burdens in the Rem treatments. Furthermore, no genotoxic potential occurred in the Rem and MAC treatments in parallel with the reduction in MCH levels in the Rem treatments, which would reflect hematopoietic disturbances in the MAC. Our results validate biosorption remediation as we achieved a considerable reduction in metal loads while maintaining the health status of fish, highlighting the importance of testing water remediation methods in the biota.

Visible Light‐Driven Degradation of Trichloroethylene in Aqueous Phase with Vanadium‐Doped TiO2 Photocatalysts

The development of photocatalyzed water remediation strategies using visible (solar) light to mineralize volatile chlorinated organic compounds (VCOCs) is a long standing, not yet fully achieved goal. Herewith, a facile route is presented to synthesize vanadium‐doped TiO2 photocatalysts using a one‐step hydrothermal method. Different characterization methods are employed to investigate the physicochemical properties of as‐prepared V‐doped TiO2 samples, indicating the mixed phases of anatase, rutile, and brookite in the crystal structure addition to the mesoporous framework. The nature of the vanadium species at the TiO2 surface is assessed by X‐ray photoelectron and emission spectroscopy. The aerobic photodegradation of a common VCOC, trichloroethylene, using V‐doped catalysts is demonstrated to be much more effectively than with undoped TiO2. Importantly, the herein described V‐doped photocatalysts show high activity both under ultraviolett and visible light irradiation. Moreover, these V‐doped TiO2 photocatalysts are robust under the reaction conditions, being recyclable for at least four consecutive runs without any activity loss.

Exploring Microbial-Based Green Nanobiotechnology for Wastewater Remediation: A Sustainable Strategy

Water scarcity due to contamination of water resources with different inorganic and organic contaminants is one of the foremost global concerns. It is due to rapid industrialization, fast urbanization, and the low efficiency of traditional wastewater treatment strategies. Conventional water treatment strategies, including chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, coagulation, ion exchange, solvent extraction, adsorption, and photolysis, are based on adopting various nanomaterials (NMs) with a high surface area, including carbon NMs, polymers, metals-based, and metal oxides. However, significant bottlenecks are toxicity, cost, secondary contamination, size and space constraints, energy efficiency, prolonged time consumption, output efficiency, and scalability. On the contrary, green NMs fabricated using microorganisms emerge as cost-effective, eco-friendly, sustainable, safe, and efficient substitutes for these traditional strategies. This review summarizes the state-of-the-art microbial-assisted green NMs and strategies including microbial cells, magnetotactic bacteria (MTB), bio-augmentation and integrated bioreactors for removing an extensive range of water contaminants addressing the challenges associated with traditional strategies. Furthermore, a comparative analysis of the efficacies of microbe-assisted green NM-based water remediation strategy with the traditional practices in light of crucial factors like reusability, regeneration, removal efficiency, and adsorption capacity has been presented. The associated challenges, their alternate solutions, and the cutting-edge prospects of microbial-assisted green nanobiotechnology with the integration of advanced tools including internet-of-nano-things, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence have been discussed. This review opens a new window to assist future research dedicated to sustainable and green nanobiotechnology-based strategies for environmental remediation applications.

What do we know about the ecotoxicological implications of the rare earth element gadolinium in aquatic ecosystems?

Gadolinium (Gd) is one of the most commercially exploited rare earth elements, commonly employed in magnetic resonance imaging as a contrast agent. The present review was performed aiming to identify the Gd concentrations in marine and freshwater environments. In addition, information on Gd speciation in the environment is discussed, in order to understand how each chemical form affects its fate in the environment. Biological responses caused by Gd exposure and its bioaccumulation in different aquatic invertebrates are also discussed. This review was devoted to aquatic invertebrates, since this group of organisms includes species widely used as bioindicators of pollution and they represent important resources for human socio-economic development, as edible seafood, fishing baits and providing food resources for other species. From the literature, most of the published data are focused on freshwater environments, revealing concentrations from 0.347 to 80 μg/L, with the highest Gd anomalies found close to highly industrialized areas. In marine environments, the published studies identified a range of concentrations between 0.36 and 26.9 ng/L (2.3 and 171.4 pmol/kg), reaching 409.4 ng/L (2605 pmol/kg) at a submarine outfall. Concerning the bioaccumulation and effects of Gd in aquatic species, most of the literature regards to freshwater species, revealing concentration ranging from 0.006 to 0.223 μg/g, with high variability in the bioaccumulation extent according to Gd complexes chemical speciation. Conversely, no field data concerning Gd bioaccumulation in tissues of marine species have been published. Finally, impacts of Gd in invertebrate aquatic species were identified at different biological levels, including alterations on gene expression, cellular homeostasis, shell formation, metabolic capacity and antioxidant mechanisms. The information here presented highlights that Gd may represent an environmental threat and a risk to human health, demonstrating the need for further research on Gd toxicity towards aquatic wildlife and the necessity for new water remediation strategies.

Hydration structure of As–III aqueous solutions from ab initio molecular dynamics simulations

A comprehensive study of aqueous arsenic acid (H3AsO3) and its deprotonated derivatives, namely H2AsO3− and HAsO32−, is carried out employing Car-Parrinello Molecular Dynamics (CPMD). Calculations are carried out with and without the incorporation of the dispersion correction, and critical comparison of its role on various structural and dynamical properties of the solute-solvent system are discussed. Aqueous H3AsO3 and H2AsO3− species solvated by 60 water molecules (which closely emulates normal pH conditions) are found to be stable, that is, without undergoing proton transfer with the solvent over the 50 ps of MD simulations performed. However, HAsO32− is found to be stable only in the basic media, emulated through the introduction of a hydroxyl ion (OH−) in lieu of one water molecule. The AsO33− species is not stable, and protonates quickly to HAsO32−, even under the basic environment of a hydroxyl ion (OH−) among 59 other water molecules simulated. Detailed analysis of the hydrogen bonding and vibrational spectra provide fresh microscopic insights on the hydration structure and dynamical characteristics of these species in aqueous environment. The spectroscopic insights derived, through comparison with their parent gas-phase species (H3AsO3), would be useful in the detection as well as quantification these species in various aqueous environments, for developing water remediation strategies of these environmentally hazardous species.

Use of a clay mineral and its nonionic and cationic organoclay derivatives for the removal of pharmaceuticals from rural wastewater effluents

A Na+ exchanged montmorillonite clay (Na–Mt) and its organoclay derivatives prepared with benzyldimethyltetradecylammonium (BDTA) cationic and polyoxyethylene (20)oleyl-ether (Brij-O20) non-ionic surfactants were used for first time at our knowledge as adsorbents the removal diverse pharmaceuticals (PPs) from samples collected in a rural wastewater facility (town of Josnes in France). The selected facility showed a poor efficiency for the elimination of PPs that were permanently release to the environment. Although involving different interactional mechanisms, the whole adsorbents Na–Mt, nonionic Brij-Mt and cationic BDTA-Mt organoclays, could remove the entire PPs of various chemical nature in a low concentration regime (ng L−1), where electrostatic interactions mainly controlled the adsorption. Thus, the organic PPs cations were preferentially adsorbed onto Na–Mt and Brij0.4-Mt (with its dual hydrophilic-hydrophobic nature) while anionic PPs showed a bold affinity to BDTA-Mt. The hydrophobic environment generated by the intercalation of surfactants within the interlayer space of organoclays conferred a versatility for the adsorption of numerous PPs through weak molecular forces (Van der Waals and/or pi-pi interactions). The study confirmed the proper efficiency of the studied layered materials including organoclays and emphasized about their promising interests in water remediation strategy.

High-efficient microbial immobilization of solved U(VI) by the Stenotrophomonas strain Br8

The environmental impact of uranium released during nuclear power production and related mining activity is an issue of great concern. Innovative environmental-friendly water remediation strategies, like those based on U biomineralization through phosphatase activity, are desirable. Here, we report the great U biomineralization potential of Stenotrophomonas sp. Br8 CECT 9810 over a wide range of physicochemical and biological conditions. Br8 cells exhibited high phosphatase activity which mediated the release of orthophosphate in the presence of glycerol-2-phosphate around pH 6.3. Mobile uranyl ions were bioprecipitated as needle-like fibrils at the cell surface and in the extracellular space, as observed by Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM). Extended X-Ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) and X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) analyses showed the local structure of biogenic U precipitates to be similar to that of meta-autunite. In addition to the active U phosphate biomineralization process, the cells interact with this radionuclide through passive biosorption, removing up to 373 mg of U per g of bacterial dry biomass. The high U biomineralization capacity of the studied strain was also observed under different conditions of pH, temperature, etc. Results presented in this work will help to design efficient U bioremediation strategies for real polluted waters.

Sustainable photocatalytic water remediation via dual active strongly coupled AgBiO3 on PVDF/PBSA membranes

Due to the limited access to safe drinking water, there is an emerging need to have a quick water decontamination strategy wherein all the major contaminants of water like dyes, organic compounds, and pathogenic bacteria can be removed using a sustainable approach. Herein, we introduce a facile method to strongly couple photocatalytic dual active AgBiO3 (AB) (light and dark active) onto a membrane consisting of Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and Poly (butylene succinate-co-adipate) (PBSA). Due to this strong coupling, the integrity of the catalyst was retained, and no significant leaching of Ag ions from the composite membranes was observed. The bactericidal response of this composite membrane was assessed in the presence of light and dark using E. coli as the model bacterium. Also, the efficacy of this strategy was extended to decontaminate secondary treated wastewater. It was also observed that the photocatalytic activity of the composite membrane was durable and highly effective in degrading recalcitrant pollutants like methylene blue and 4-nitrophenol, which are considered here as models recalcitrants. This facile strategy, besides improving the flux, enhanced the protein fouling resistance against Bovine serum albumin (BSA) and rendered robust bactericidal action. Taken together, these membranes can be further explored for sustainable water remediation strategies.

Tuning down the environmental interests of organoclays for emerging pollutants: Pharmaceuticals in presence of electrolytes

The impact of electrolytes on the adsorption of emerging pollutants: pharmaceuticals onto layered materials: a raw clay mineral and its nonionic and cationic organoclay derivatives was studied. The selected pharmaceuticals: amoxicillin, norfloxacin, sulfamethoxazole, metoprolol, carbamazepine, and trimethoprim show different electric charges: zwitterionic, anionic, cationic and neutral and hydrophobic character (different LogP). Without any salts, the set of complementary data obtained by UV and infrared spectroscopies, X-ray diffraction points out the importance of the electric charge which represents a key parameter in both the spontaneity and feasibility of the adsorption. In contrast, the hydrophobicity of the analytes plays a minor role but determines the magnitude of the adsorbed amount of pharmaceuticals onto organoclays. With a dual hydrophilic and hydrophobic behavior, nonionic organoclay appears to be the most polyvalent material for the removal of the pharmaceuticals. In the presence of electrolytes (NaCl at a concentration of 1 × 10−2 mol L−1), both nonionic and cationic organoclays show a decrease of their efficiencies, whereas the adsorption is particularly enhanced for Na–Mt except for the cationic species (trimethoprim and metoprolol). Thus, in realistic experimental conditions close to those of natural effluents, raw clay mineral appears as the most appropriate sorbent for the studied pharmaceuticals while it raises the question of the usefulness of organoclays in water remediation strategy.

Catalytic electrospun nano-composite membranes for virus capture and remediation

Viruses spread in the environment through solution and as aerosols, generating great risks of infection for exposed populations. Virus versatile chemistries and behaviours thus require remediation solutions encompassing both nanoscale controlled surface topography and chemical functionalities. Here, nano-composite electrospun nanofiber membranes were electrospun from tetraethoxysilane and ammonium tetrathiomolybdate mixed blended with poly(acrylonitrile) to produce defect-free and highly interconnected porous structure. The capture efficiency of the nano-composite electrospun based membranes for the Semliki Forest virus in solution was found to be largely related to the tuned fiber surface morphology and roughness as well as to the surface energy of the materials. The mechanically flexible and robust composite microfiltration membranes, with pore size distributions in the range of 0.8 to 3.1 µm and specific surface areas on the order of 45.6 m2/g, exhibited virus removal efficiencies in single pass up to 98.9% and yet very high water permeation up to 26,000 L.m−2.h−1.bar−1. The hybrid membranes also yielded excellent photocatalytic performance thus allowing for continuous flow operation as continuous membrane reactors. These ultra-thin membranes, facile to mass-produce, offer opportunities to provide cost-effective water remediation strategies for low-energy requirement separation systems for the simultaneous capture and degradation of pathogens, and to self-cleaning materials.

Formation of copper hydroxy double salts derived from metal oxides and their catalytic activity in degradation of methyl orange

This work reports the preparation and application of copper hydroxy double salts (Cu-M HDS) as catalysts for degradation of a model wastewater dye pollutant, methyl orange (MO), under ambient conditions. The Cu-M HDS (M = Ca, Zn, La and Pb) were derived in 30 min from hydrothermal treatment of aqueous copper (II) nitrate and the corresponding metal oxide. All Cu-M HDS systems were highly active for catalytic wet oxidation (CWO) of MO, with complete oxidation of 500 ppm MO possible in less than 10 min under ambient (pH 7.0, 30 °C) conditions, with no requirement for additional oxidants. Dissolved oxygen is crucial for activity, as indicated by poor conversions under anaerobic conditions. Decolorization follows first-order kinetics, with catalyst systems having high surface area and Cu content (Cu-Ca HDS, Cu-La HDS) being most rapid. These features, coupled with favorable reusability profiles and ease of fabrication and use, highlight the potential of Cu-M HDS systems in water remediation strategies.

Liverwort Control: An Ancillary Role for Ozone-based Irrigation Water Treatment Systems?

Marchantia polymorpha L. (a thalloid liverwort) is a common plant pest in nursery and greenhouse production systems. The rapid growth and dissemination of this pest can result in heavy mats of thallus tissue on the surface of pots, which restrict water penetration, compete for nutrients, and provide a habitat for other pests and disease vectors. The sensitivity of liverwort to aqueous ozone was examined to determine if routine use of ozone, as a component of an irrigation water remediation strategy, could provide ancillary services in the form of liverwort management. Three experiments were performed to evaluate contact time (CT) thresholds and application frequencies suitable for liverwort management applications. The first two experiments confirmed that CT is a suitable process control parameter with a base liverwort management threshold occurring between CT 0.84 and 1.68 mg·L−1·min under the conditions used. The third experiment examined the effect of application frequency at a CT of 3.75 mg·L−1·min, which was previously determined to be compatible with select woody perennial species. Three and five applications per week resulted in reduced liverwort growth and fecundity.

A survey of arsenic, manganese, boron, thorium, and other toxic metals in the groundwater of a West Bengal, India neighbourhood

Around 150 million people are at risk from arsenic-contaminated groundwater in India and Bangladesh. Multiple metal analysis in Bangladesh has found other toxic elements above the World Health Organization (WHO) health-based drinking water guidelines which significantly increases the number of people at risk due to drinking groundwater. In this study, drinking water samples from the Bongaon area (North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India) were analyzed for multiple metal contamination in order to evaluate groundwater quality on the neighbourhood scale. Each sample was analyzed for arsenic (As), boron (B), barium (Ba), chromium (Cr), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and uranium (U). Arsenic was found above the WHO health-based drinking water guideline in 50% of these tubewells. Mn and B were found at significant concentrations in 19% and 6% of these tubewells, respectively. The maps of As, Mn, and B concentrations suggest that approximately 75% of this area has no safe tubewells. The concentrations of As, Mn, B, and many other toxic elements are independent of each other. The concentrations of Pb and U were not found above WHO health-based drinking water guidelines but they were statistically related to each other (p-value = 0.001). An analysis of selected isotopes in the Uranium, Actinium, and Thorium Radioactive Decay Series revealed the presence of thorium (Th) in 31% of these tubewells. This discovery of Th, which does not have a WHO health-based drinking water guideline, is a potential public health challenge. In sum, the widespread presence and independent distribution of other metals besides As must be taken into consideration for drinking water remediation strategies involving well switching or home-scale water treatment.

Physico-chemical study of selected surfactant-clay mineral systems

A physicochemical study of the systems formed by the clay minerals, montmorillonite and kaolinite (layered) and sepiolite (non-layered) and the surfactants Triton X-100 (TX100, non-ionic), dodecyl sodium sulfate (SDS, anionic) and trimethyloctadecyl-ammonium bromide (ODTMA, cationic), with different chemical structure, was carried out by X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). TG/DTA results indicated an increase in the thermal stabilization of non-ionic (TX100) and cationic (ODTMA) surfactants adsorbed by all clay minerals in relation to pure compounds. This effect was greater in montmorillonite and sepiolite than in kaolinite owing to these minerals must allow the establishment of a stronger bond with the surfactants as indicated by XRD and FTIR results. Differences in decomposition of anionic surfactant SDS are not emphasized due to the low adsorbed amount of this surfactant by all systems. The results obtained indicate the interest of taking into account the structure of surfactant and the clay mineral type when preparing customized surfactant-clay mineral systems which contribute to establish more efficient soil and water remediation strategies based in the use of these systems.

MTE water remediation using Loy Yang brown coal as a filter bed adsorbent

The future development of a non-evaporative brown coal dewatering technique called Mechanical Thermal Expression (MTE) will produce large volumes of acidic, salty and organic rich product water. The overall viability of the MTE process will, in turn rely on the availability of a simple and energy-efficient water remediation strategy. Water treatment using the feed coal itself as an adsorbent may provide such an option. In this study a fixed-bed configuration of raw Loy Yang coal was employed. When the adsorbent was first exposed to MTE water, most of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and most of the multivalent cations in solution were adsorbed. However, breakthrough of monovalent cations occurred after a volume of MTE water equivalent to just two times the volume of the adsorbent bed itself (2 bed volumes (BVs)) had passed, with only small proportions of Na and K being retained. About 60% (30 mg/g, db) of the dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and about 25% (0.16 mmol/g, db) of the total cations were removed after passing 20 BV of MTE water through the adsorbent bed. This corresponds to an adsorbent requirement that is 1.4% of the amount of coal to be dewatered. Thus, the use of brown coal adsorbent beds may be an effective primary water treatment option. However specific organic and inorganic components are likely to require further reduction prior to discharge to the environment.