Chemical Water Research Articles

Emerging Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances in Tap Water from the American Healthy Homes Survey II.

Humans experience widespread exposure to anthropogenic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) through various media, which can lead to a wide range of negative health impacts. Tap water is an important source of exposure in communities with any degree of contamination but routine or large-scale PFAS monitoring often depends on targeted analytical methods limited to measuring specific PFAS. We analyzed 680 tap water samples from the American Healthy Homes Survey II for PFAS using non-targeted analysis (NTA) to expand the range of detectable PFAS. Based on detection frequency and relative abundance, about half of the identified PFAS were found only by NTA. We identified (with varying degrees of confidence) 75 distinct PFAS, including 57 exclusively detected by NTA. The identified PFAS are members of seven structural subclasses differentiated by their head groups and degree of fluorination. Clustering analysis categorized the PFAS into four coabundance groups dominated by specific PFAS subclasses. One group uniquely identified by NTA contains zwitterionic PFAS and other PFAS transformation products which are likely associated with aqueous firefighting foam contaminants in a small number of spatially correlated samples. These results help further characterize the scope of exposure to emerging PFAS experienced by the U.S. population via tap water and augment nationwide targeted-PFAS monitoring programs.

One-Step Synthesis of Carboxylated Polyethylene Glycol-Modified Polystyrene Microspheres and Their Application in the Luminescent Oxygen Channel Immunoassay.

As one of the key diagnostic methods for detecting biomarkers and antigen-antibody interactions, the luminescent oxygen channel immunoassay (LOCI) has been widely applied in bioanalysis and other fields. In the context of LOCI, the performance of the prepared donor polystyrene (PS) microspheres significantly impacts the detection signal values. In this study, an attempt was made to synthesize PS microspheres via one-step polymerization of styrene with an amphiphilic monomer (PEOOH), followed by swelling the silicon phthalocyanine photosensitizer into the PS microspheres, resulting in the functionalization of the PS microspheres with polyethylene glycol segments. The chemical stability and water solubility of polyethylene glycol (PEG) make it a versatile surface modification material while also inhibiting nonspecific protein adsorption. Results indicated that with increasing PEOOH content, the nonspecific protein adsorption of the resulting PS microspheres reduced, with the adsorption ability for BSA decreasing from 26.8 to 1.3 mg/g, approximately decreasing by 95.2%. Furthermore, the results demonstrated that PS microspheres prepared with 6% PEOOH exhibited a maximum signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) (approximately 28.7), nearly 14 times higher than PS microspheres without PEOOH (approximately 2.1). The analytical performance of the system for detecting staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB) revealed a detection limit of 0.1 ng/mL and a linear concentration range of 0.1 to 50 ng/mL for the donor PS microspheres (6% PEOOH). The synthesized donor PS microspheres exhibit a uniform particle size and stable signals, making them effective LOCI microcarriers. These properties facilitate a deeper understanding of molecular interactions and signal transduction mechanisms within biological systems.

Nano-based co-valorization, detoxification, and fermentation of potato waste and black liquor for bioethanol production

Abstract Black liquor from paper and pulp mills is an underutilized waste resource. Black liquor can be valorized due to its useful chemical fractions and water component that can be employed for the pretreatment and biochemical conversion of starchy potato waste (SPW) into bioethanol. Hence, in this study, the simultaneous co-valorization, detoxification, and fermentation of SPW and black liquor (without the addition of freshwater and chemicals) were optimized for bioethanol production. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) clearly confirmed the distortion of SPW inherent structure for the recovery of useful carbohydrates. A significant reduction in process inhibitors (furfural = 1.26-fold, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) = 5.68-fold, and phenols = 1.03-fold) was observed with CuO NP inclusion. The response surface methodology (RSM) model of the bioethanol production showed a high coefficient of determination (R 2 ) value of 0.98. The optimized process with CuO NP inclusion displayed a biomass and bioethanol concentrations of 2.12 g/L and 21.37 g/L corresponding to 1.74- and 1.68-fold improvement over the control respectively. In addition, the kinetic data showed that the incorporation of CuO nanoparticle (NP) significantly improved (1.86-fold) the potential maximum bioethanol concentration (Pm) (20.21 g/L) compared to the control experiment (10.86 g/L). The study demonstrates a 100% freshwater conservation approach for improved sugar recovery, remarkable inhibitor removal, and bioethanol production from pretreated SPW towards reduced biofuel production cost, waste management, and green environment sustainability.

Assessment of Water Quality in a Public Supply Source: Combined With the General Index of Human Contamination

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the water quality of the Miringuava River watershed through monitoring of chemical water quality parameters, assess the presence of Emerging Contaminants (EC) such as hormones and caffeine, and determine the General Index of Human Contamination (GIHC). Theoretical Framework: Watersheds located near urbanized areas play a crucial role in water resource management, especially when used for public supply. Due to land use and occupation, the natural dynamics of rivers, and reurbanization processes, monitoring water quality within a watershed is necessary (Pereira et al., 2021). Consequently, the social impact and effects on aquatic environments must be considered (Sekamane et al., 2023). Method: Two collections were conducted (C1 with 7 points and C2 with 16 points) upstream of the water intake station of SANEPAR to obtain water samples from the Miringuava River watershed. The methodology was defined in four stages: Definition of sampling points, sending water samples to the LEAQUA Laboratory – UTFPR, analysis of the data processed by the laboratory, and construction of the GIHC graphs. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed the presence of Emerging Contaminants in some water bodies in the region. Considering the hormone Estradiol (E2), which is an emerging contaminant, Ide et al., (2017) found a maximum value of 1420 ng L-1 in the Iguaçu River basin. In comparison, the values found in the Miringuava River basin were 23.14 ng L-1, indicating that the level of estradiol is considered low. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research indicate that there are already signs of minor contamination in the water bodies of the Miringuava River basin. Such implications demonstrate the need for monitoring in the region. Originality/Value: This study contributes to the understanding and confirmation of the presence of emerging contaminants in the Miringuava River basin, which will be used for public supply. By evaluating chemical parameters and the General Index of Human Contamination, it provides important information for water quality management in the region.

O2 evolution reaction by tri barium-coordinated polyoxometalate as a potential water oxidation catalyst

Recently, earth-abundant compounds can be coordinated to the vacant site(s) of lacunary polyoxometalates as water oxidation catalysts (WOCs). Herein, a new catalyst was synthesized based on potassium salt of tri barium-coordinated polyoxometalate (K9[PW9Ba3O34] (denoted as Ba-POM) by reaction of [PW12O40]3- and BaCl2 at pH = 7.5. The prepared PW9Ba3O37 indicated excellent chemical water oxidation activity in the presence of ceric (IV) ammonium nitrate (CAN) as a sacrificial electron acceptor. The synthesized catalyst was characterized by Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-vis), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) techniques. In following, the effect of Ba substitution in the structure of POM unit, the role of oxidation activity in water splitting, and also the effect of temperature and acid conditions were discussed.

Facile Preparation of Poly(AA‐co‐NaAMPS) Hydrogels Toward Toxic Dyes and Heavy Metals Removal via Frontal Polymerization

ABSTRACTWastewater treatment contributes to the sustainable utilization of water resources for alleviating water scarcity. The application of polymeric materials as adsorbents for eliminating hazardous substances in water has garnered extensive attention owing to their remarkable adsorption efficiency, stability, and selectivity. Herein, a facile strategy is provided to rapidly synthesize poly(acrylic acid‐co‐sodium 2‐acrylamide‐2‐methylpropanesulfonate) (poly(AA‐co‐NaAMPS)) hydrogels with exceptional adsorptive capacity via frontal polymerization (FP). The FP processes are meticulously examined in terms of initiator dosage and monomer ratio. The as‐prepared hydrogels demonstrate pH‐responsive swelling ability and pH‐dependent adsorption capacity for various dyes and heavy metal ions. Compared with traditional batch polymerization (BP), the hydrogels prepared by FP exhibit superior swelling and adsorption abilities. Additionally, research on the adsorption mechanism for both dyes and heavy metal ions is conducted by fitting the adsorption kinetic data both with Langmuir and Freundlich equations. The maximum adsorption capacity (qm) of hydrogels derived from Langmuir model for dyes of methylene blue (MB) and rhodamine B (RB) is, respectively, 595.3 and 3078.5 mg g−1, while for heavy metal ions of Cr3+ and Cd2+ is, respectively, 1010.8 and 1191.3 mg g−1. This research exploits an alternative approach for the rapid preparation of high‐efficiency hydrogel adsorbents toward wastewater treatment.

Benthic macroinvertebrate diversity and function in an agricultural constructed wetland affected by agrochemical pressure (Seine-et-Marne, France).

Constructed wetlands (CWs), originally designed to mitigate chemical water pollution, often host noticeable aquatic fauna. However, little is known about the impact of the contaminants circulating within CWs on this local fauna, questioning the role of CWs as ecological refuges or traps. We aimed to assess the potential of an agricultural CWs in northern France to act as an ecological trap for aquatic fauna and the potential consequences on wetland functioning. We made faunistic inventories of benthic macroinvertebrates, using litterbags, from March to June 2022 in two zones within the CWs with contrasting levels of agrochemical contamination and in one unpolluted comparison pond. We calculated community diversity and sensitivity indices (e.g., species at risk, SPEARpesticides index). We measured wetland functioning by monitoring the leaf-litter breakdown. Results showed that pesticide fluxes were related to community composition changes and had negative effects on taxonomic diversity (Shannon index) and functional traits (shredder/scraper feeding mode). The negative link between pesticides and the leaf-litter breakdown was less clear, mainly because of the high level of integration of this response. This study reveals that CWs under agrochemical pressure may act as potential ecological traps for benthic macroinvertebrates and highlights the relevance of studying this group as an early-warning indicator of chemical risk in nature-based solutions.

Highly Efficient Removal of Organic Pollutants with HCO3--Enhanced Ru(III)/NaClO Process.

The design of efficient advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) in the presence of bicarbonate has long attracted considerable attention in the field of environmental catalysis. In this study, sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3) as one of the most abundant substances in actual water, was introduced to a NaClO/Ru(III) system to enhance the removal of acid orange 7(AO7). NaHCO3 could significantly improve the removal efficiency of the Ru(III)/NaClO process in HCO3- at a pH range of 6.9-10.0. Ru(V)=O was identified as a dominant reactive species involved in the degradation of pollutants in the NaHCO3/NaClO/Ru(III) system. HCO3- interacts with Ru(III) to generate Ru(III)-HCO3-, which enhances the activation performance of Ru(III) under neutral or alkaline conditions. The removal of AO7 was significantly enhanced with increasing NaHCO3 concentration, and the rate constant increased more than 2-fold to 4-fold as NaHCO3 concentrations increased from 0 to 100 mM at pH 6.9 and 8.5. This study proposed a novel strategy to enhance the Ru(III)/NaClO process with environmentally friendly inorganic ligands and highlights its potential applications in the removal of pollutants.

Exogenous Oxygen Replenished as a Promising Method for Mitigating Salt Stress in Maize Seedling Stage

ABSTRACT Soil salinization is one of the main reasons for soil degradation, which limiting the improvement of soil productivity. To evaluate the response plant height, stem diameter, plant biomass and nutrient uptake of maize, and soil properties to various salt stress and oxygen supply rates, a soil culture experiment with two factors were carried out: different salt stress degrees (A0, 0 g L−1 NaCl irrigation; A3, 3 g L−1 NaCl irrigation; A6, 6 g L−1 NaCl irrigation; A9, 9 g L−1 NaCl irrigation;) and different rhizosphere oxygen supply degrees (B0, 0 ml L−1 H2O2 solution; B0.5, 0.5 ml L−1 H2O2 solution; B1, 1 ml L−1 H2O2 solution; B1.5, 1.5 ml L−1 H2O2 solution). The results showed that the plant height, stem diameter, aboveground and root biomass of maize under different salt stress degrees were reduced by 6.8–9.8%, 4.4–9.8%, 18.4–45.5% and 21.4–35.8% at the end of the experiment compared to A0, respectively. Meanwhile, the nutrient uptake of aboveground and root were declined, especially under high salt stress degree, but the sodium (Na+) uptake was increased significantly. Rhizosphere oxygen supply enhanced the plant height, stem diameter, aboveground and root biomass by 2.0–6.5%, 4.1–6.1%, 27.5–56.6% and 19.5–47.1% at the end of the experiment compared to B0, respectively. The restriction of nutrient absorption caused by salt stress could be alleviated. Soil quality indicators were influenced by salt stress and oxygen supply management as well. Overall, rhizosphere oxygen supply could alleviate the restriction of salinization on maize growth at seedling stage, improve soil chemical quality and water use efficiency.

Role of operating conditions in degrading persistent substances in water: A comparative review of UV-based oxidation processes

Role of operating conditions in degrading persistent substances in water: A comparative review of UV-based oxidation processes

Comprehensive analysis of naturally occurring radionuclides in well water: Isotopic ratios, mitigation, and dose assessment.

In Sweden, around 20 % of the potable water comes from groundwater sources and about one million people drink water from their private wells. In areas with moderate or high abundance of naturally occurring radionuclides in the bedrock, the groundwater could be enhanced with radio and chemically toxic elements such as uranium, radium, lead and polonium. Therefore, this study aims to carry out a comprehensive analysis of the behaviour and radiological impact of naturally occurring radionuclides in well water. For that, a well water survey was done in 2020 along Sweden, focusing the study on the determination of 210Po, 210Pb, 226Ra, 228Ra, 238U and 234U by alpha spectrometry. The results of the present study showed that the naturally occurring radionuclides distributions in the well water investigated were highly variable. In addition, the radionuclides with the highest contribution to the indicative dose were 210Pb > 228Ra > 210Po > 226Ra > 234U > 238U. On the other hand, the filtration and aeration purification treatment could help to remediate the radiological impact. However, the dose assessment results point out the need to include well water in the framework of the current regulations of requirements for the protection of the health of the public regarding radioactive substances in water intended for human consumption, to guarantee the quality of water from the radiological point of view.

Elimination of metoclopramid by the adsorption process (GAC) and ozone process

Existence of pharmaceutical substances in water with different concentrations in natural ecosystems it poses a danger to humans and animals. Conventional methods for water treatment have proven to be relatively ineffective in removing pharmaceutical contaminants, while the more effective process used for our research to eliminate pharmaceutical substance metoclopramid are ozone processes and adsorption process. This study investigated the reduction of a pharmaceutical substance metoclopramid during two simultaneous processes (ozone process and adsorption process) applied in a large-scale drinking water treatment pilot with two different EBCTs (3 minutes and 6 minutes), and the initial concentrations used were 1.6 mg/l, 0.8 mg/l, and 0.4 mg/l. we chose ozonation, which produces many hydroxyl radicals to decompose the pharmaceutical substance metoclopramide to eliminate it, and for the adsorption process, we chose granular activated carbon with a high capacity for adsorption.

Fluorinated covalent triazine frameworks for highly efficient removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: Synthesis, performance and mechanism

Fluorinated covalent triazine frameworks for highly efficient removal of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in water: Synthesis, performance and mechanism

TEMPO-oxidized cellulose fiber from spent coffee ground: Studying their properties as a function of particle size.

The applicability of cellulose and its derivatives is greatly depends on their attributes such as aspect ratio, morphology, surface chemistry, crystallinity, as well as their thermal and mechanical properties. However, these attributes can alter according to the utilized raw material, size classifications, extraction techniques, or fibrillation methods. Among these, the effect of raw material particle size on cellulose properties has received limited attention in scientific studies. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the effect of different particle sizes of spent coffee grounds (SCG) (A: 850-1400μm, B: 500-850μm, C: 355-500μm) on the physicochemical properties of TEMPO-oxidized cellulose (TOC). The freez-dried TOC was characterized in terms of functional groups, morphology, width diameter, crystallinity, carboxyl content, charge density, thermal properties, and re-dispersibility in water. Successful oxidation in all samples was confirmed by the presence of a sodium carboxylate peak in the FTIR spectrum. Higher thermal resistance, carboxyl content, as well as improved physical stability of the re-dispersed suspension were observed in A-TOC sample. Unlike B and C-TOC, A-TOC was favored sample for obtaining fibrillated cellulose with crystallinity of 49.92%. In contrast, production process significantly damaged the crystalline regions in finer particles and reduced the crystallinity of B and C-TOC to values ranging from 35 to 37%. In conclusion, finer SCG particles were highly sensitive to reaction conditions and showed high tendency toward dissolution, which make them unsuitable candidates for fiber fabrication. In terms of SCG, only coarse particles (A: 850-1400μm) were found to be ideal for producing oxidized cellulose fibers.

Per- and polyfluorinated substances in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risks

Per- and polyfluorinated substances in reservoir water from a metropolitan city in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, China, and their ecological risks

The impact of anions on electrooxidation of perfluoroalkyl acids by porous Magnéli phase titanium suboxide anodes.

Previous studies have indicated the great performance of electrooxidation (EO) to mineralize per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in water, but different anions presented in wastewater may affect the implementation of EO treatment in field applications. This study invetigated EO treatment of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), two representative perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs), using porous Magnéli phase titanium suboxide anodes in electrolyte solutions with different anions present, including NO3-, SO42-, CO32- and PO43-. The experiment results indicate that CO32- enhanced PFAS degradation, while NO3- suppressed the degradation reactions with its concentration higher than 10 mM. SO42- and PO43- exhibited less impact. Further studies with electrochemical characterizations and radical quenching experiments illustrate the mechanisms of how the anions may impact EO performance.

Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in groundwater and surface water in the Turin metropolitan area (Italy): An attempt to unravel potential point sources and compliance with environmental/drinking water quality standards.

The study investigated the contribution of five potential point source categories on the occurrence of 19 highly hazardous perfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) in freshwater from the Turin metropolitan area (Italy) and assessed the quality of groundwater and surface water in compliance with European and Italian guidelines. PFASs were revealed in 29 and 24% of the investigated shallow (unconfined aquifers) and deep (semi- and confined aquifers) wells with a total concentration, as a sum (ΣPFASs), of 0.01-0.71 and 0.01-0.16μg/L, respectively. The PFAS occurrence in shallow groundwaters appeared more related to (potentially-) contaminated and reclaimed areas, landfills and waste management plants rather than plants subjected to integrated environmental authorisations and wastewater treatment plants. Overall, PFAS occurrences increased with the degree of industrialisation and urbanisation in both unconfined and (semi-) confined aquifers. PFASs were found in 96% of the sampling sites in streams with ΣPFASs values of 0.0002-0.47μg/L, whilst they do not occur in the investigated lake. A slight correlation was found between wastewater treatment plants and the occurrence of PFASs in streams. The annual ΣPFASs loads downstream of the Turin metropolitan Area were estimated around 150-220kg. Exceedances of the environmental and drinking water quality standards of Italy and Europe were frequently revealed.

Impact of landscape management and vegetation on water and nutrient runoff from small catchments for over 20 years.

Land cover, vegetation, and landscape management have a large impact on surface water conditions. We analyzed the quantity and quality of surface waters draining from forest catchment with high vegetation and agricultural catchment with low or no vegetation. The following parameters were assessed: specific water runoff, precipitation totals, electrical conductivity in the surface waters, the content of suspended solids, nitrate nitrogen (N-NO3-), and phosphate phosphorus (P-PO43-) in the surface waters. Measurement of the specific water runoff took place over one hydrological year. Measurement of the water quality took place over twenty years and captured changes in the land cover. Hydrological and hydrochemical data from both sub-catchments were compared and statistically analyzed. The results showed that forest landscapes with high vegetation can retain up to twice as much rainwater compared to agricultural landscapes with low vegetation and bare areas. However, in episodes with intense short-term rainfall, forest landscapes can hold even several times more rainwater than landscapes with low vegetation. In dry periods, landscapes with large amounts of high vegetation can retain more water for longer periods than landscapes with low vegetation and bare areas that dry out relatively quickly. The runoff of nutrients and other substances from forest landscapes is much slower due to the high vegetation and thus contributes to the protection of water quality in watercourses. The main findings of this research show that as vegetation increases, the landscape holds more water and other substances, reducing the risk of floods, droughts, and water pollution. Other research results show that even a small change in vegetation cover has a significant impact on the water runoff and quality of surface waters. The work emphasizes the importance of supporting vegetation in temperate zone landscapes in landscape planning and management.

The occurrence and persistence of surface water contaminants across different landscapes

Surface water contaminants, including both conventional contaminants (e.g., nutrients, trace elements) and emerging contaminants (e.g., pesticides, pharmaceuticals) are heavily influenced by urban and rural land use practices. The goal of the study was to characterize the influence of watershed land use practices on surface water quality. Specific objectives were to (1) identify and quantify the type and concentration of nutrients, trace elements, pesticides, pharmaceuticals and personal care products in four watersheds and (2) understand potential sources of contamination based on the watershed's land cover and land use characteristics (i.e., oil and gas, urban, mining, agriculture). Monthly polar organic chemical integrative samples and water grab samples were collected from March–October 2022. The results showed that surface water quality varied by location, season, and flood condition Specifically, aluminum (mean = 758 μg L−1) and iron (mean = 1130 μg L−1) exceeded chronic aquatic life water quality criteria in the agricultural watershed, while imidacloprid exceeded the chronic criteria limit for freshwater invertebrates in both the urban (mean = 5.96 ng L−1) and agricultural (mean = 4.72 ng L−1) watersheds. Sulfate concentrations (mean = 666 mg L−1) also exceeded ambient water quality criteria in the watershed with a high activity of mining. This study provides important steps for developing a comprehensive understanding of land use impacts on contaminant presence and concentration in surface waters, improved understanding of the implications to non-target species, and necessary water treatment processes to ensure a safe water supply.

Influence of process parameters in ion exchange on the properties of the obtained 5A zeolite powder

Zeolite 5A is highly regarded in adsorption processes among zeolites, making it valuable for various commercial applications. It is typically synthesized from 4A zeolite by replacing Na+ ions in the crystal lattice with Ca2+ or Mg2+ ions through an ion exchange process. This substitution increases the pore volume, enlarges pore openings, and enhances the zeolite's adsorption capacity. From an industrial and commercial production standpoint, defining the optimal process parameters for producing 5A zeolite is crucial. This study investigates the effects of ion exchange temperature, ion exchange duration, and the concentration of active components in the system on the characteristics of the resulting 5A zeolite powder. The ion exchange process was carried out using a MgCl₂•6H₂O solution to produce the Mg2+ form of 5A zeolite, known as Na,Mg-A zeolite. The powders obtained after ion exchange were analyzed for their chemical composition and water adsorption capacity. Furthermore, the samples were characterized using granulometry and particle size distribution analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). The results revealed significant correlations between process parameters, ion exchange efficiency, crystallinity, and adsorption properties. These findings provide insights into the optimal conditions required for the effective production of 5A zeolite.