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Agricultural waste holds promise as an adsorbent in wastewater treatment; however, its potential remains understudied, particularly regarding biofunctionalized grape pomace, coffee husks, and corn cobs for carwash wastewater treatment, along with their integration with solar-powered UV-LED disinfection. This study explores the effectiveness of these bio-functionalized adsorbents in wastewater treatment, revealing grape pomace's high efficacy in removing lead (95.2%), fluorides (94.4%), and nitrates (94.8%), while corn cobs and coffee husks showed significant removal efficiencies for zinc (88.5% and 95.5%, respectively) and cyanides (84.8% and 89.6%, respectively). Grape pomace exhibited a maximum adsorption capacity (qmax) of 162.6 mg/g for lead ions, while coffee husks had the highest qmax of 182.82 mg/g. Kinetic analysis indicated corn cobs' slower initial adsorption capacity and moderate adsorption rate, contrasting with grape pomace and coffee husks. Furthermore, treatment with these adsorbents, followed by UV-LED disinfection, substantially reduced microbial counts in treated water, underscoring their potential in ensuring water safety. The integration of biofunctionalized adsorbents with UV-LED disinfection presents a promising approach for sustainable and efficient wastewater treatment, with implications for water quality improvement and public health protection.

The pervasive presence and detrimental impact of microplastics in the environment pose a multifaceted and urgent challenge requiring innovative solutions and comprehensive mitigation strategies. This study investigated the efficacy of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir in removing microplastics from wastewater, addressing the pressing issue of microplastic pollution. Through comprehensive experimentation, the adsorption capabilities of coconut coir across various types and sizes of microplastics under different operational conditions were examined. The addition of biofilm significantly enhanced the adsorption capacity of coconut coir, leading to improved microplastic removal efficiencies, with typical specific surface area values increasing from 1000 m2/g to 1200 m2/g and pore volume from 0.5 cm³/g to 0.6 cm³/g with biofilm augmentation. Moreover, the study revealed consistent improvements in microplastic removal efficiency across different types and sizes of microplastics with biofilm presence, ranging from 85 % to 95 %, compared to removal efficiencies varying from 72 % to 82 % without biofilm enhancement. Langmuir analysis revealed that coconut coir exhibited favorable adsorption of microplastics, with and without biofilm, demonstrating high correlations between observed and predicted values (R2 = 0.999). These findings underscore the potential of biofilm-enhanced coconut coir as a promising solution for mitigating microplastic pollution in aquatic environments.

In today's age, finding harmony between construction endeavors and safeguarding the environment is of utmost importance. Consequently, there is a substantial requirement to explore the feasibility of utilizing waste materials as a replacement for traditional construction substances. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information regarding the possibilities of incorporating recycled glass, rice husk, and sugarcane bagasse ash into concrete production. This study investigated the viability of integrating recycled glass fibres and agricultural waste ash into concrete to bolster its strength and sustainability. When evaluating mechanical and durability properties across five mixtures, the concrete formulations ranged in fibre content percentages from 1% to 3% and in ash content percentages from 10% to 20%. Specifically, Mixtures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 contained 1% fibre and 10% ash, 2% fibre and 15% ash, 2.5% fibre and 20% ash, 3% fibre and 12% ash, and 1.5% fibre and 18% ash respectively. Mixture 2 and Mixture 5, boasting heightened fibre and ash content, showcased outstanding compressive strength at 38.5 MPa and 37.2 MPa, respectively, indicating a positive correlation between these materials and concrete strength. Conversely, Mixture 3, burdened with excessive fibre and ash content, witnessed diminished strength, underscoring the necessity for meticulous optimization. In terms of tensile and flexural strength, Mixture 2 and Mixture 5 displayed commendable performance, while Mixture 3 suffered setbacks from excessive content. Durability assessments unveiled Mixture 1 and Mixture 4's superior freeze-thaw resistance, with minimal mass loss (1.5% and 1.8%, respectively) and no visible damage, rendering them favorable choices for sustainable construction. Contrastingly, Mixture 3 exhibited poorer freeze-thaw resistance and higher environmental impact, highlighting the need for careful consideration in material selection. Overall, this study underscores the importance of optimizing concrete formulations through the integration of recycled materials, paving the way for stronger, more durable, and environmentally friendly construction practices.