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UNLABELLED: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are indispensable biotechnology facilities for modern cities and play an essential role in modern urban infrastructure by employing microorganisms to remove pollutants in wastewater, thus protecting public health and the environment. This study conducted a 13-month bacterial community survey of six full-scale WWTPs in Hong Kong with samples of influent, activated sludge (AS), and effluent to explore their synchronism and asynchronism of bacterial community. Besides, we compared AS results of six Hong Kong WWTPs with data from 1,186 AS amplicon data in 269 global WWTPs and a 9-year metagenomic sequencing survey of a Hong Kong WWTP. Our results showed the compositions of bacterial communities varied and the bacterial community structure of AS had obvious differences across Hong Kong WWTPs. The co-occurrence analysis identified 40 pairs of relationships that existed among Hong Kong WWTPs to show solid associations between two species and stochastic processes took large proportions for the bacterial community assembly of six WWTPs. The abundance and distribution of the functional bacteria in worldwide and Hong Kong WWTPs were examined and compared, and we found that ammonia-oxidizing bacteria had more diversity than nitrite-oxidizing bacteria. Besides, Hong Kong WWTPs could make great contributions to the genome mining of microbial dark matter in the global wanted list. Operational parameters had important effects on OTUs abundance, such as the temperature to the genera of Tetrasphaera, Gordonia and Nitrospira. All these results obtained from this study can deepen our understanding of the microbial ecology in WWTPs and provide foundations for further studies. IMPORTANCE: Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are an indispensable component of modern cities, as they can remove pollutants in wastewater to prevent anthropogenic activities. Activated sludge (AS) is a fundamental wastewater treatment process and it harbors a highly complex microbial community that forms the main components and contains functional groups. Unveiling who is there is a long-term goal of the research on AS microbiology. High-throughput sequencing provides insights into the inventory diversity of microbial communities to an unprecedented level of detail. At present, the analysis of communities in WWTPs usually comes from a specific WWTP and lacks comparisons and verification among different WWTPs. The wide-scale and long-term sampling project and research in this study could help us evaluate the AS community more accurately to find the similarities and different results for different WWTPs in Hong Kong and other regions of the world.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has become a valuable tool for monitoring the prevalence of SARS-CoV-2 on university campuses. However, concerns about effectiveness of raw sewage as a COVID-19 early warning system still exist, and its not clear how useful normalization by simultaneous comparison of Pepper Mild Mottle Virus (PMMoV) is in addressing variations resulting from fecal discharge dilution. This study aims to contribute insights into these aspects by conducting an academic-year field trial at the student residences on the University of Tennessee, Knoxville campus, raw sewage. This was done to investigate the correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load, both with and without PMMoV normalization, and various parameters, including active COVID-19 cases, self-isolations, and their combination among all student residents. Significant positive correlations between SARS-CoV-2 RNA load a week prior, during the monitoring week, and the subsequent week with active cases. Despite these correlations, normalization by PMMoV does not enhance these associations. These findings suggest the potential utility of SARS-CoV-2 RNA load as an early warning indicator and provide valuable insights into the application and limitations of WBE for COVID-19 surveillance specifically within the context of raw sewage on university campuses.

Cyanobacterial harmful algal blooms (CHABs) are promoted by excessive nutrient loading and, while fertilizers and sewage are the most prevalent external nutrient sources in most watersheds, the differential effects of these nutrient sources on CHABs are unknown. Here, we tracked CHABs and performed experiments in five distinct lakes across the Northern US including Lake Erie. Fertilizers with ammonium and orthophosphate, membrane (0.2 μm)-filtered sewage (dominated by reduced forms of nitrogen) sand-and membrane-filtered sewage (dominated by nitrate), and an inorganic nutrient solution of ammonium and orthophosphate were used as experimental nutrient sources for CHABs at N-equivalent, environmentally realistic concentrations. Phytoplankton communities were evaluated fluorometrically, microscopically, and via high throughput sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene, and levels of microcystin and the δ15N content of particulate organic nitrogen (δPO15N) were quantified. Fertilizer and both sources of wastewater increased the abundance of cyanobacteria in all experiments across all five lakes (p < 0.05 for all) whereas effects on eukaryotic phytoplankton were limited. Sand-filtered sewage contained less P, organic matter, and ammonium but more nitrate and had a 25% less potent stimulatory effect on cyanobacteria than membrane-filtered sewage, suggesting nitrification may play a role in reducing CHABs. Fertilizer increased microcystin levels and decreased the δPO15N whereas wastewater increased δPO15N (p < 0.05 for all). Microcystis was the genus most consistently promoted by nutrient sources (p < 0.05 in all experiments), followed by Cyanobium (p < 0.05 in 50% of experiments), with increases in Microcystis biomass consistently elicited by membrane-filtered wastewater. Collectively, results demonstrate that differing types of sewage discharge and fertilizers can promote CHAB intensity and toxicity, while concurrently altering CHAB diversity and δPO15N. While membrane-filtered sewage consistently favored Microcystis , the discharge of sewage through sands muted bloom intensity suggesting sand-beds may represent a tool to remove key nutrients and partially mitigate CHABs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study displays the preparation and characterization of cross-linked rubbery hydrogel by applying gamma radiation as a fast and clean tool for industrial application. Rubbery Gel polymer was synthesized through radiation copolymerization between hydrophilic acrylamide (AAM) copolymerized with natural rubber latex at different monomer concentrations (80, 70, and 50% v/v) by using gamma radiation in order to prepare a cross-linked network between PAM and NRL (PAAM/NRL) with controllable hydrophilicity and good mechanical properties. The effect of AAM/NRL compositions and irradiation dose on the gel fraction, swelling isotherm and diffusional characteristics fully studied. The formed rubbery hydrogel with suitable swelling properties examined for the ability of adsorption of heavy metals from their aqueous solutions. Different parameters such as initial metal concentration, pH, temperature and adsorbent dosage are applied for the evaluation of the adsorption ability of the rubbery hydrogel for various toxic metals (Cu2+, Co2+, and Ni2+). The results of metal uptake showed that increasing temperature has an effective impact on the metal uptake for various types of metals tested as increasing temperature increases the rubber chains flexibility within the PAAM/NRL rubbery hydrogel. The desorption of adsorbed metal ions from the PAAM/NRL hydrogel was completed in a desorption mediums of HCL (2 and 0.5 M) and at temperature of 70 °C after 90 min. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel acyl chloride-mediated strategy is used to synthesize rhodanine-modified UiO-66 adsorbent. Benefitting from the high grafting density of rhodanine, the optimal UiO-66-NH 2 @20Rd exhibits ultra-high adsorption capacity and selectivity for Ag(I) recovery. This study highlights that such a general strategy can provide a valuable avenue toward various functional adsorption materials. [Display omitted] Silver (Ag) recovery is essential for ecological protection, human health and economic benefits. Effective capture of Ag(I) from wastewater is still challenging due to insufficient accessible sites of adsorbents. Herein, an acyl chloride-mediated strategy is developed to synthesize rhodanine (Rd) modified UiO-66 derivatives for Ag(I) adsorption. Benefitting from the high grafting density of Rd, the optimal Rd-modified UiO-66-NH 2 (UiO-66-NH 2 @20Rd) features an ultra-high uptake capacity (maximum capacity of 923.9 mg·g−1) and selectivity (maximum selectivity coefficient of 1665.52) for Ag(I). Almost 90 % of Ag(I) could be captured in one minute over UiO-66-NH 2 @20Rd and maintained a removal rate of 98.9 % even after six cycles. Moreover, a fixed-bed column test demonstrates that approximately 21,780 bed volumes of Ag(I) simulated wastewater can be effectively treated, indicating great promise for practical application. Mechanism investigation illustrates that outstanding performance can be attributed to the synergistic effect of Ag(I) adsorption and reduction on dense rhodanine sites. This study highlights that such a general strategy can provide a valuable avenue toward various functional adsorption materials. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cu‐exchanged chabazite zeolite is the state‐of‐the‐art used on‐board catalyst for NOx selective reduction by ammonium (NH3‐SCR), and the zeolite is currently generated in the presence of N,N,N‐trimethyl‐1‐adamantylammonium hydroxide, serving as organic structure‐directing agent (OSDA). The expensiveness of this OSDA increases the catalyst production cost, while its low degradability brings about environmental concerns in post treatment of waste water. Here, a new type OSDA, 1‐(1‐methylpropyl)‐4‐aza‐1‐azoniabicyclo[2.2.2]octane hydroxide, is proposed to direct Faujasite‐to‐Chabazite inter‐zeolite conversion and generate chabazite with Si/Al ratio up to 7.2. The obtained zeolite possesses high hydrothermal stability for the high crystallinity, siliceous framework and low concentrations of Si(2Si, 2Al) sites. The Cu‐form catalyst exhibits better catalytic performance in standard NH3‐SCR process for the tiny crystallite size (35–258 nm) and formation of highly dispersed copper sites. The synthesis offers a new type of OSDA to fabricate zeolites and expands the toolkit to regulate their physicochemical properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the combined treatment system of domestic sewage and leachate by serial stabilization ponds in a Wastewater Treatment Plant (WWTP). The WWTP had two parallel pond modules, one receiving (module II—pond M10) and the other not receiving leachate (module I—pond M5). Physical, chemical, and biological monitoring parameters collected from January 2017 to December 2021 were evaluated. High reducing efficiency for ammonium nitrogen was found, with an average of 95.7 ± 2.5%. BOD5 and COD can be considered statistically different for a 95% confidence level in the two pond modules. The phytoplankton community was composed of 46 taxa distributed in four taxonomic classes: 6 belonging to the Cyanobacteria group (13%), 22 to the Green Algae group (48%), 4 to the Diatoms group (9%), and 14 to the Phytoflagellate group (30%). No ecotoxicity was detected for the evaluated pond effluent samples. Thus, although the insertion of leachate impacted the quality of the final effluent of the ponds and the organic matter, it may not have affected the effluents' ecotoxicity. This research helps to understand the impacts of long-term leachate insertion in a real treatment system using stabilization ponds for combined treatment. In addition to the usual efficiency evaluation parameters, ecotoxicological tests and phytoplankton are also evaluated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Conflicts tend to be complex and, in many cases, multi-faceted. However, by adapting an approach by Vuković, this study illustrates a method for structuring such conflicts, which can facilitate insights that are more profound by dividing them into relevant dimensions of the problem. Given that some conflicts are ongoing and new ones may emerge in certain cases, this study also assesses the potential of using the adapted methodology as a structured basis for constructing scenario analyses. In this study, two cases from Germany on the topic of water are analysed. The first case explores a pair of conflicts that arose within a short period involving a chemical company called Currenta. These conflicts are about a controversial wastewater discharge and an attempt to obtain more water rights, despite the possible future water stress. The second case concerns the Nordheide region, which is favoured for its groundwater reservoir. In recent decades, there has been a growing dispute between the water company and the residents of Nordheide about the possible harmful effects of further water extraction. Both cases illustrate the evolving nature of water conflicts, indicating that they can extend beyond a dispute over distribution. In addition to this key finding, the cases demonstrate the diverging concerns of the actors, as well as the significance of decision-makers involved in these conflicts. A nuanced assessment of water conflicts prior to further action, such as conflict resolution, is therefore encouraged by this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater serves as a reservoir for antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. This study revealed the presence of carbapenem-resistant and carbapenemase-producing Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), established clonal relationships among isolates in hospital and municipal wastewater, and identified a high-risk clone in municipal wastewater. A total of 63 isolates of GNB were obtained, with Enterobacterales being the most frequently isolated group (62%). Carbapenemase-producing Lelliottia amnigena, Kluyvera cryocrescens, and Shewanella putrefaciens isolates were documented for the first time in Mexico. The detectableted carbapenemase genes were blaKPC (55%), blaNDM (12%), blaVIM−2 (12%), blaOXA−48 (4%), blaGES (2%), blaNDM−1 (2%), and blaNDM−5 (2%). Clonal relationships were observed among Klebsiella pneumoniae and Enterobacter spp. isolates, and remarkably the high-risk clone Escherichia coli ST361, carrying blaNDM−5, was identified. This study demonstrates that wastewater harbours carbapenem-resistant and carbapenemase-producing bacteria, posing a public health threat that requires epidemiological surveillance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic has shown wastewater (WW) surveillance to be an effective means of tracking the emergence of viral lineages which arrive by many routes of transmission including via transportation hubs. In the Canadian province of Ontario, numerous municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) participate in WW surveillance of infectious disease targets such as SARS-CoV-2 by qPCR and whole genome sequencing (WGS). The Greater Toronto Airports Authority (GTAA), operator of Toronto Pearson International Airport (Toronto Pearson), has been participating in WW surveillance since January 2022. As a major international airport in Canada and the largest national hub, this airport is an ideal location for tracking globally emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs). In this study, WW collected from Toronto Pearson's two terminals and pooled aircraft sewage was processed for WGS using a tiled-amplicon approach targeting the SARS-CoV-2 virus genome. Data generated was analyzed to monitor trends of SARS-CoV-2 lineage frequencies. Initial detections of emerging lineages were compared between Toronto Pearson WW samples, municipal WW samples collected from the surrounding regions, and Ontario clinical data as published by Public Health Ontario. Results enabled the early detection of VOCs and individual mutations emerging in Ontario. On average, the emergence of novel lineages at the airport preceded clinical detections by 1–4 weeks, and up to 16 weeks in one case. This project illustrates the efficacy of WW surveillance at transitory transportation hubs and sets an example that could be applied to other viruses as part of a pandemic preparedness strategy and to provide monitoring on a mass scale. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater reuse is encouraged and facilitated by legislation and policy across the EU. A recent example is the EU Regulation 2020/741 on minimum requirements for water reuse. This and other regulatory developments have gone hand in hand with an increase in research in technological innovations that facilitate wastewater reuse, including advanced water treatment technologies. Despite these harmonised developments at the EU level, there appear to be large differences across Member States in the volume of reused water, its sources and the purposes of wastewater reuse. These differences are mirrored in the differences in the regulation of wastewater reuse across the European Union. The present paper has two goals. The first is to provide an overview of the regulation of wastewater reuse in three EU Member States, namely, Spain, Malta and the Netherlands. The comparative analysis reveals evidence of variability in the division of roles and responsibilities, substantive provisions on water reuse, and the allocation of costs. The second objective of the paper is to highlight how, even within the boundaries of the theoretical best practices, national regulation can be heterogenous. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and implementation of innovative production technologies have a direct influence on the creation of new sources of pollution and types of waste. An example of this is the wastewater from soil-less agriculture and the effluent from microbial fuel cells. An important topic is the development and application of methods for their neutralisation that take into account the assumptions of global environmental policy. The aim of the present study was to determine the possibilities of utilising this type of pollution in the process of autotrophic cultivation of the biohydrogen-producing microalgae Tetraselmis subcordiformis. The highest biomass concentration of 3030 ± 183 mgVS/L and 67.9 ± 3.5 mg chl-a/L was observed when the culture medium was wastewater from soil-less agriculture. The growth rate in the logarithmic growth phase was 270 ± 16 mgVS/L-day and 5.95 ± 0.24 mg chl-a/L-day. In the same scenario, the highest total H2 production of 161 ± 8 mL was also achieved, with an observed H2 production rate of 4.67 ± 0.23 mL/h. Significantly lower effects in terms of biomass production of T. subcordiformis and H2 yield were observed when fermented dairy wastewater from the anode chamber of the microbial fuel cell was added to the culture medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs) are novel wastewater treatment systems that work through aerobic and anaerobic conditions that favor the removal of pollutants found in high concentrations, such as rivers contaminated with domestic wastewater and landfill leachate. The objective of the study was to evaluate the efficiency of PSV-CWs using monocultures and polycultures of Typha latifolia and Heliconia psittacorum to treat river waters contaminated with leachates from open dumps and domestic wastewater. Six experimental units of PSV-CWs were used; two were planted with Typha latifolia monoculture, two with Heliconia psittacorum monoculture and two with polycultures of both plants. The results indicated better organic matter and nitrogen removal efficiencies (p < 0.05) in systems with polycultures (TSS:95%, BOD5:83%, COD:89%, TN:82% and NH4+:99%). In general, the whole system showed high average removal efficiencies (TSS:93%, BOD5:79%, COD:85%, TN:79%, NH4+:98% and TP:85%). Regarding vegetation, both species developed better in units with monocultures, being Typha latifolia the one that reached a more remarkable development. However, both species showed high resistance to the contaminated environment. These results showed higher removals than those reported in the literature with conventional Free Flow Vertical Constructed Wetlands (FFV-CWs), so PSV-CWs could be a suitable option to treat this type of effluent. NOVELTY STATEMENT: The research addresses the contamination of water resources in developing countries by landfill leachate and domestic wastewater discharges. It proposes treatment through Partially Saturated Vertical Constructed Wetlands (PSV-CWs), which, despite the limited information available, have been shown to be effective in removing pollutants in effluents with high concentrations. In addition to evaluating PSV-CWs, the study examines the impact of different types of vegetation on pollutant removal efficiency, concluding that PSV-CWs are a promising and viable option for the treatment of these effluents. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Anil River estuary (ARE), which is crucial for São Luís Island's socioeconomic well-being, faces substantial human pressure due to its urban location, hastening the eutrophication process. This study, which was conducted from 2022 to 2023, aimed to assess trophic levels across the ARE. Using a multiparametric probe, we analysed the pH, temperature, dissolved oxygen, oxygen saturation, salinity, and total dissolved solids quarterly during the rainy and dry seasons at six sampling points. The nutrient analysis included nitrite, nitrate, ammonium ions, phosphate, total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP). Trophic index (TRIX) values categorised the ARE as eutrophic (sector 1) or hypereutrophic (sector 2). The dry season exhibited relatively high trophic levels, indicating that the ARE was hypereutrophic. Sector 2, influenced by concentrated nutrients and chlorophyll-a, exhibited increased trophic status from domestic and industrial effluent discharge. Rainy season data at the downstream from the point 3 recorded the maximum DIN:DIP ratio, indicating phosphorus limitation. Monitoring estuarine trophic states is vital for kerbing eutrophication and preserving local biodiversity in the anil river estuary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing countries still lag in transitioning wastewater treatment plants towards resource recovery. This study assessed the challenges hindering and opportunities enabling the implementation of resource recovery from municipal wastewater treatment in Zvishavane town, Zimbabwe using the descriptive case study research design to collect data from selected key informant interviewees. Findings highlighted that resource recovery from Zvishavane's Mabula wastewater treatment plant was at a nascent but dormant stage. Policy, economic, technological factors and lack of expertise were identified as limiting the transition towards resource recovery in Zvishavane. On the other hand, findings indicated that several enabling factors could enable the transition of the Mabula wastewater treatment plant into a resource recovery facility. These included the presence of entrepreneurs working in the resource recovery sector, university-utility collaboration and a vast raw material base. A stakeholder interaction model was developed to create pathways towards resource recovery in Zvishavane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Military training centers and seagoing vessels are often environments at high risk for the spread of COVID-19 and other contagious diseases, because military trainees and personnel arrive after traveling from many parts of the country and live in congregate settings. We examined whether levels of SARS-CoV-2 genetic material in wastewater correlated with SARS-CoV-2 infections among military personnel living in communal barracks and vessels at US Coast Guard training centers in the United States. Methods: The Coast Guard developed and established 3 laboratories with wastewater testing capability at Coast Guard training centers from March 2021 through August 2022. We analyzed wastewater from barracks housing trainees and from 4 Coast Guard vessels for the presence of SARS-CoV-2 genes N and E and quantified the results relative to levels of a fecal indicator virus, pepper mild mottle virus. We compared quantified data with the timing of medically diagnosed COVID-19 infection among (1) military personnel who had presented with symptoms or had been discovered through contact tracing and had medical tests and (2) military personnel who had been discovered through routine surveillance by positive SARS-CoV-2 antigen or polymerase chain reaction test results. Results: Levels of viral genes in wastewater at Coast Guard locations were best correlated with diagnosed COVID-19 cases when wastewater testing was performed twice weekly with passive samplers deployed for the entire week; such testing detected ≥1 COVID-19 case 69.8% of the time and ≥3 cases 88.3% of the time. Wastewater assessment in vessels did not continue because of logistical constraints. Conclusion: Wastewater testing is an effective tool for measuring the presence and patterns of SARS-CoV-2 infections among military populations. Success with wastewater testing for SARS-CoV-2 infections suggests that other diseases may be assessed with similar approaches. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Norovirus is a leading cause of acute gastroenteritis and imposes a substantial disease burden. In California, USA, norovirus surveillance is limited. We evaluated correlations between wastewater norovirus concentrations and available public health surveillance data. Wastewater surveillance for norovirus genotype GII in California provided timely, localized, and actionable data for public health authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wastewater testing can inform public health action as a component of polio outbreak response. During 2022-2023, a total of 7 US jurisdictions (5 states and 2 cities) participated in prospective or retrospective testing of wastewater for poliovirus after a paralytic polio case was identified in New York state. Two distinct vaccine-derived poliovirus type 2 viruses were detected in wastewater from New York state and New York City during 2022, representing 2 separate importation events. Of those viruses, 1 resulted in persistent community transmission in multiple New York counties and 1 paralytic case. No poliovirus was detected in the other participating jurisdictions (Connecticut, New Jersey, Michigan, and Illinois and Chicago, IL). The value of routine wastewater surveillance for poliovirus apart from an outbreak is unclear. However, these results highlight the ongoing risk for poliovirus importations into the United States and the need to identify undervaccinated communities and increase vaccination coverage to prevent paralytic polio. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Municipal wastewater may contain toxic substances that have a negative impact on biological treatment processes and receiving waters. This paper presents the wastewater toxicity test results from the Lodz hybrid sewage system. Wastewater is discharged to surface waters through a treatment plant, but also during wet weather, partially without treatment by combined sewer overflows. The research was carried out using the ToxTrakTM method with the use of the microbial community of activated sludge from the wastewater treatment plant in Lodz. The median toxicity, expressed as the degree of inhibition, ranged from 16.0% to 30.7%, but sometimes exceeded 50%. Higher toxicity was observed in wet weather than in dry weather. Seasonal variability was found but typical daily variability was not observed. In the case of sewage samples with the degree of inhibition above 40%, a significant correlation was found with chromium concentration and non-ionic surfactants (Pearson's coefficient correlation above 0.7). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Domestic and industrial effluents contain substantial amounts of micropollutants, such as pharmaceuticals, which may influence the balance of the phytoplankton community. A mesocosm approach was used to determine the effects of different fluoxetine concentrations (20 ng L−1, 20 µg L−1, and 20 mg L−1) on phytoplankton community structure, biochemical composition, antioxidant response, and primary productivity. The total cell density of the phytoplankton community was in the order of control > 20 µg > 20 ng > 20 mg by the 21st day of the experiment. On day 21, the phytoplankton community had chlorophyll a content in the order of 20 mg > 20 µg > 20 ng > control, but these changes were not significant (p > 0.05). Beta diversity results revealed that fluoxetine significantly affected the community structure and dynamics of exposed phytoplankton. Reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde and peroxidase levels were significantly altered by changes in fluoxetine concentrations. Protein content increased at 20 µg L−1 and decreased at 20 ng L−1 and 20 mg L−1 by day 21 of the experiment. These results suggest that, even in the ng L−1 range, fluoxetine could contribute to the reshaping of phytoplankton community structure and dynamics in aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The saline and buffered environment in actual wastewater imposes higher demands on Fenton and Fenton‐like catalytic systems. This study developed a MoS2 co‐catalytic Fe2O3 Fenton‐like system with controllable Lewis acid‐base sites, achieving efficient treatment of various model pollutants and actual industrial wastewater under neutral buffered environment. The acidic microenvironment structured by the edge S sites (Lewis basic sites) in the MoS2/Fe2O3 catalyst is susceptible to the influence of Lewis acidic sites constructed by Mo and Fe element, affecting catalytic performance. Optimizing the ratio of precursor amounts ensures the stable presence of the acidic microenvironment on the surface of catalyst, enabling the beneficial co‐catalytic effect of Mo sites to be realized. Furthermore, it transcends the rigid constraints imposed by the Fenton reaction on reaction environments, thereby expanding the applicability of commonplace oxides such as Fe2O3 in actual industrial water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Due to the versatile usage and applications of chromium compounds in the industry worldwide, the chromium ions are present in the major effluents from a broad range of industries. Cr(VI) which is highly hazardous and carcinogenic poses a serious threat to the our ecosystem and human health even at very low concentration limits. Cr(III) ions are also toxic to aquatic life, but they are less harmful than Cr(VI) ions. Therefore, detection and analysis of the toxic Cr(VI) and Cr(III) ionic species in waste water are an utmost important area of research. Various chemical reagents and the different methods which require expensive instrumentation used in the past for detection and determination of the non-biodegradable Cr(VI) ions suffer from serious limitations. The present review summarises the use of spectrophotometric methods of determination of Cr(VI) and Cr(III) ions from aqueous solutions with high sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy and at lesser costs. The use of chemical reagents such as diphenylcarbazide (DPC) and several other dye-based reagents for spectrophotometric determination of hazardous Cr ions in water samples is discussed. Additionally, the use of DPC reagent in developing advanced technologies such as microfluidic detection system, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs) and 3D printed device with online spectrophotometric detection system for onsite monitoring of water samples is elucidated. Different methods for selective speciation and preconcentration of Cr(VI) ions prior to spectrophotometric determination in water samples with very low concentrations (as low as ppb) of Cr ions are also described. The emerging trends in detection and determination of carcinogenic Cr(VI) ions involving the use of novel and innovative technologies and different categories of nanomaterials are also elucidated in the present review. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study explored cefuroxime sodium (CXM) adsorption on sepiolite-rich dolomite, assessing the impact of various conditions like pH, contact time, temperature, and initial CXM concentration. The research utilized data mining, kinetic and isotherm models, and analytical techniques such as FTIR, SEM, and EDX to understand the adsorption mechanism and behavior. Findings indicated that pH significantly influenced CXM adsorption, with the highest efficiency at pH 5. Additionally, the adsorption kinetics were consistent with a pseudo-first-order model, showing that adsorption was rapid and cooperative and reached equilibrium within 60 minutes, while the Freundlich isotherm model best described the adsorption isotherm. The adsorption mechanism was mainly governed by the electrostatic attraction, ion exchange, and pore-filling processes, influenced by the adsorbent's surface heterogeneity and texture characteristics, the adsorbate functional groups, and the bulk solution. Thermodynamic parameters revealed the adsorption to be spontaneous, exothermic, and entropy-driven, suggesting a predominantly physical process. While the presence of negative ΔG values showed that adsorption preferred low temperatures, the presence of a positive ΔS value showed increased randomness at the solid-liquid interface during adsorption. SEM and FTIR results confirmed the changes in the sepiolite-rich dolomite's surface properties and functional groups after CXM adsorption. EDX analysis revealed that CXM's adsorption involved the replacement of Ca2+ ions by CXM's functional groups. The study proved that sepiolite-rich dolomite can be a very effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent to remove CXM and treat bacterial infections from domestic waste or wastewater. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Display omitted] • The catalytic mechanism and material preparation based on the piezoelectric effect. • The application of the piezoelectric effect in wastewater purification is expounded. • The development of the piezoelectric effect-assisted water purification technology. • The challenges and prospects of the piezoelectric effect in wastewater purification. The demands of human life and industrial activities result in a significant influx of toxic contaminants into aquatic ecosystems. In particular, organic pollutants such as antibiotics and dye molecules, bacteria, and heavy metal ions are represented, posing a severe risk to the health and continued existence of living organisms. The method of removing pollutants from water bodies by utilizing the principle of the piezoelectric effect in combination with chemical catalytic processes is superior to other wastewater purification technologies because it can collect water energy, mechanical energy, etc. to achieve cleanliness and high removal efficiency. Herein, we briefly introduced the piezoelectric mechanisms and then reviewed the latest advances in the design and synthesis of piezoelectric materials, followed by a summary of applications based on the principle of piezoelectric effect to degrade pollutants in water for wastewater purification. Moreover, water purification technologies incorporating the piezoelectric effect, including piezoelectric effect-assisted membrane filtration, activation of persulfate, and battery electrocatalysis are elaborated. Finally, future challenges and research directions for the piezoelectric effect are proposed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growing demand for coconut water has led to the expansion of irrigated green dwarf coconut cultivation; however, the inefficient use of water has contributed to the degradation and waste of water resources, making fundamental studies aiming to optimize the use of water. The objective of this study was to determine the physical productivity and water productivity of green dwarf coconut palms under the climatic conditions of Santa Izabel do Pará, eastern Amazonia, Brazil. The experiment was carried out from 2020 to 2021, in a green dwarf coconut plantation spaced 7.5 m x 7.5 m in a triangle, at Fazenda Reunidas Sococo, with an area of approximately 7 ha. Water productivity (WP) was determined both in terms of fruit production (WPf ) and coconut water production (WPca), through the relationship of fruit productivity (fruit biomass and water volume) with accumulated evapotranspiration. The dwarf coconut tree presented a total production of 105 and 186 fruits plant-1 and 37 and 62 L plant-1 of coconut water in the years 2020 and 2021. The largest volumes of water and the highest weights occurred during the wettest season. WPf was of 1.87 fruits m-3 (2020) and 2.94 fruits m-3 (2021) andWPca 0.66 L m-3 (2020) and 0.98 L m-3 (2021). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding wastewater treatment processes is key to ensuring finished quality for discharge into the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sewage discharge from outfalls significantly contaminates the environment. However, due to the unique characteristics of environmental policy, challenges such as data acquisition difficulties arise. This study introduces an enhanced approach by utilizing an improved Cycle GAN, the core function of which involves extrapolating a small sample to a large sample. An enhanced YOLOv5 model is used to focus on lightweight model construction and model performance enhancement. The proposed Cycle GAN incorporating Self-Attention and residual modules is suggested to tackle the problem of limited data at the outfall. Additionally, a refined YOLOv5 model (YOLOV5-BIFC) is proposed, integrating the C3Ghost module, BiFPN module, and CBAM attention mechanism to overcome low model recognition efficiency and large model size concerns. The research employs an augmented dataset for training and evaluates model performance using metrics such as mAP, F1 score, model size, and FPS. The results indicate that the YOLOV5-BIFC model has a size of 7.8 MB, representing a 44.2% reduction compared to the original YOLOv5 model. The FPS of this model is 26.7, enabling real-time discharge monitoring. The F1 score and mAP achieved by YOLOv5-BiFC are 89.8% and 87.3%. Comparative analysis with other neural networks demonstrates the superior accuracy and efficiency of the enhanced model. The YOLOv5-BiFC model facilitates precise, rapid, and intelligent discharge inspection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents the impact of the size and shape of particles in laundry wastewater on the clogging process of a porous material. Clogging can be defined as a mechanical limitation of flow through porous media. The process of mechanical clogging was investigated in this study. The research was conducted in laboratory conditions in a filter column filled with glass beads whose diameter corresponded to coarse sand. The results reveal the influence of graywater quality on filter hydraulic conductivity and bed clogging, showing the impact of fiber particles in wastewater (sewage from home laundry) on the clogging process in soil. The results confirm that fiber particles significantly reduce filter permeability, particularly due to the formation of a filter cake. As analyzed in this paper, the distribution of quantitative data on particles of different sizes found in laundry wastewater indicates that they mainly accumulate in the upper layer, where particles with fiber lengths ranging from 0 to 1600 µm can be found. The average length of the fibers decreased with increasing depth. At a depth of approximately 10 cm, fibers with dimensions in the range of 0 to 100 μm were predominantly observed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Groundwater serves as a crucial resource, with its quality significantly impacted by both natural and human-induced factors. In the highly industrialized and urbanized Yangtze River Delta region, the sources of pollutants in shallow groundwater are more complex, making the identification of groundwater pollution sources a challenging task. In this study, 117 wells in Wujiang District of Suzhou City were sampled, and 16 groundwater quality parameters were analyzed. The fuzzy synthetic evaluation method was used to assess the current status of groundwater pollution in the study area; the principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to discern the anthropogenic and natural variables that influence the quality of shallow groundwater; and the absolute principal component scores–multiple linear regression (APCS-MLR) model was applied to quantify the contributions of various origins toward the selected groundwater quality parameters. The results indicate that the main exceeding indicators of groundwater in Wujiang District are I ( 28 % ), N H 4 - N ( 18 % ), and Mn ( 14 % ); overall, the groundwater quality is relatively good in the region, with localized heavy pollution: class IV and class V water are mainly concentrated in the southwest of Lili Town, the north of Songling Town, and the south of Qidu Town. Through PCA, five factors contributing to the hydrochemical characteristics of groundwater in Wujiang District were identified: water–rock interaction, surface water–groundwater interaction, sewage discharge from the textile industry, urban domestic sewage discharge, and agricultural non-point source pollution. Additionally, the APCS-MLR model determined that the contributions of the three main pollution sources to groundwater contamination are in the following order: sewage discharge from the textile industry ( 10.63 % ) > urban domestic sewage discharge ( 8.69 % ) > agricultural non-point source pollution ( 6.26 % ). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, the enormously growing amount of kitchen waste and wasted sludge has greatly received global attention. Vermicomposting has been represented as an eco-friendly and sustainable alternative for organic waste management. This study utilized kitchen waste generated by the university canteen and excess sludge from municipal wastewater treatment to collaboratively realize waste to resource through vermicomposting with a composting control. The results indicated that the treatment utilizing an equal mass ratio of wasted sludge and kitchen waste (T3) exhibited the greatest reduction in total organic carbon and the highest increase in total nitrogen. Furthermore, the predominant phyla observed were Proteobacteria, Actinobacteriota, Bacteroidetes, and Firmicutes. Functional prediction analysis demonstrated higher relative abundances of β-glucosidase (ascF) and 6-phospho-β-glucosidase (bglA, celF) in the vermicomposting, suggesting that the earthworms essentially enhanced the cellulose degradation. More importantly, the co-occurrence network analysis demonstrated that the vermicomposting showed a stronger interaction between Gordonia and other bacteria, thereby enhancing its ability to degrade macromolecular compounds. In general, the vermicomposting can smoothly and remarkably stabilize the kitchen waste, assisted by excess sludge and sawdust. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To combat new threats to critical infrastructure, the European Union enacted new regulations for their member states. With the directive on measures for a high common level of cybersecurity (NIS2) and the directive on critical infrastructure resilience (EU RCE), EU member states must identify critical infrastructure (CIs) and enable measures to reduce the risk of default in stress situations. The topic of resilience in urban water systems has already been of interest in previous research. However, there are still open questions. As it is a multidisciplinary term, understanding resilience and its adaptation into management systems is not an easy task for practitioners. This study will provide an overview of resilience within the framework of municipal wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) and show the current situation of existing implementation of safety and security regulations, taking Germany as an example. One of the main requirements of the EU RCE is a risk assessment (RA) for CIs. Until now, risk analysis for WWTP in research was mostly carried out for individual WWTP. By applying guidelines from the drinking water sector, this paper shows a possible methodology for a risk analysis. This paper aims to support practitioners by forming a common understanding of resilience and risk as well as providing an example for a risk analysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The addition of physical field enhancement measures to improve the purification effect of vertical flow artificial wetlands has gradually become popular. In this study, a vertical flow artificial wetland system reinforced by electric and magnetic fields was constructed. These fields were first optimized using finite element 3D simulation software to obtain the optimal electric and magnetic field parameters. Then, the pollutant removal effects and changes in microbial community structure were comparatively analyzed. The optimal electromagnetic field parameters (applied voltage of 15 V and applied magnetic field of 20 mT) resulted in significantly enhanced removal rates of chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate nitrogen (NH4+-N), total phosphorus (TP), and orthophosphorus (PO43−-P) in wastewater, with rates of 74.47%, 45.44%, 89.85%, and 90.04%, respectively. These rates were notably higher than those observed in the vertical flow artificial wetland system. The microbial community structure analysis revealed that the vertical flow constructed wetland with enhanced electric and magnetic fields exhibited (EM-VFCW) a more diverse and complex microbial community structure. Notably, the abundance of bacteria capable of removing NH4+-N and COD, including Aspergillus, Fusarium, and Actinobacteria, was significantly elevated. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this research was to evaluate the sustainability of a co-treatment system that combines Municipal Wastewater (MW) and Acid Mine Drainage (AMD) through the technique of intermittent electrocoagulation, applied as an advanced solution to improve contaminant removal efficiency and optimize energy balance. Four scenarios were analyzed: Treatment I (with a 1/7 ratio of urban wastewater to AMD), Treatment II (which includes an artificial wetland), Treatment IIIa (which introduces electrocoagulation to enhance sulfate removal and pH regulation), and Treatment IIIb (which employs a 1/15 ratio of AMD to eutrophic water). The methodology focused on calculating key sustainability indicators such as the Net Yield Ratio (EYR), Emergy Inversion Ratio (EIR), Environmental Loading Ratio (ELR), and Sustainability Index (SI), in order to assess the impact of each technology on the energy efficiency and environmental load of the system. The results showed that, although Treatment IIIa was effective in contaminant removal, the EIR increased to 0.18 and the ELR rose to 0.62, indicating a higher reliance on non-renewable inputs due to increased energy demand. However, Treatment IIIb, which combines electrocoagulation with eutrophic water, significantly improved the sustainability of the system, achieving an SI of 2.31 and an ELR of 1.22, reflecting a reduction in energy efficiency due to intensive use of external resources, but overall greater sustainability compared to the other scenarios. This research concludes that intermittent electrocoagulation, when integrated with synergistic resources like eutrophic water, can enhance contaminant removal efficiency and improve the use of renewable resources, minimizing environmental load and increasing the sustainability of wastewater treatment systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The investigation of metabolic pathways and regulatory mechanisms in newly discovered species can offer valuable insights into the nitrogen removal function of heterotrophic nitrification–aerobic denitrification (HN-AD) bacteria. To investigate the nitrogen removal mechanism of a new genus, Delftia, we analyzed the complete genome, metabolic pathways, and the related genes of Delftia sp. B7. We further examined the nitrogen removal capacity of Delftia sp. B7 under various nitrogen sources and real wastewater. Our results demonstrate the presence of several genes in Delftia sp. B7, including narGHI, nasAB, nirK, nirS, nirBD, norBC, nosZ, nxrAB, gdhA, glnA, gltBD, amt, and nrt. These genes encode enzymes that facilitate ammonia assimilation, assimilatory nitrate reduction to nitrite, HN-AD, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction (DNRA) in Delftia sp. B7. Specifically, we propose an HN-AD pathway in Delftia sp. B7, NH4+-N → NH2OH → NO2−-N → NO3−-N → NO2−-N → NO → N2O → N2, which accounts for the majority of nitrogen removal. Here, the transformation of NH4+-N to NO2−-N was achieved by unknown enzymes or by another pathway. When treating municipal wastewater, Delftia sp. B7 was able to remove 45.62 ± 1.29% of TN. These findings provide a theoretical basis for utilizing microbial resources to mitigate nitrogen contamination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rapid expansion of global urbanization and industrialization has significantly increased the discharge of municipal wastewater, leading to issues of carbon emissions and energy consumption when using traditional biological treatment processes. This study proposes an innovative process that couples iron coagulation with microalgal–bacterial granular sludge (MBGS), with optimization and regulation based on operational conditions. The study found that the coagulation performance achieved optimal levels at an iron concentration of 25 mg/L and an anionic polyacrylamide concentration of 1 mg/L, which could remove approximately 61% of the organics and over 90% of phosphorus from raw wastewater. By relying on heterotrophic microorganisms, such as Proteobacteria, Bacteroidota, and Chloroflexi, along with the synergistic interaction between algae and bacteria, the subsequent MBGS process could further effectively remove organics over the day-night cycles. Moreover, the addition of inorganic carbon sources of NaHCO3 increased the abundance of denitrification-related genes, reduced the accumulation of nitrite within MBGS, and led to effective total nitrogen removal. These results indicate that the iron coagulation–MBGS coupling process can efficiently treat municipal wastewater, offering potential for environment-sustainable pollutant removal with reduced energy consumption. These findings provide valuable insights for the practical engineering application of MBGS in wastewater treatment systems aiming for carbon-neutral wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper determines the effect of daily precipitation, occurring in the sewerage catchment area located in the Jastków Commune, on the volume of wastewater, flowing into the treatment plant in Snopków. Daily and annual volumes of incidental water, caused by precipitation, flowing into the selected sewerage system were determined, and then the annual costs incurred for their treatment were calculated. The sewerage system selected for the study is located in the eastern part of Poland, in the Lublin Voivodeship, within the Jastków Commune. The design average daily inflow of wastewater to the classical treatment plant with activated sludge is 1200 m³·d-1. To the sewage network made of PVC with a length of 67.22 km domestic wastewater from 1119 single-family buildings from 3350 residents are discharged. The study was carried out in 2019–2022, and the daily precipitation totals and daily sewage inflows to the treatment plant were analyzed. The results of the calculations were related to the humidity classification of the year (dry, average and wet) under temperate climate conditions. The study showed that during precipitation events, the share of incidental water in the average daily volume of wastewater flowing into the treatment plant ranged from 3 to 26%. Annually, 7,400 to 10,325 m³ of rainwater flowed into the studied treatment plant, which accounted for 5.0 to 6.3% of the annual volume of wastewater. The incidental waters flowing into the sewage system resulted in the need to spend additional sums – from PLN 47,814 (€10,897) to PLN 71,232 (€16,234) per year. Thus, the annual cost of wastewater treatment in the studied system increased by about 5–6%. The results of the study are important and valuable information for the operators of the analyzed sewerage network and the wastewater treatment plant, as well as for other units that use similar systems. They will allow to initiate actions to detect and eliminate illegal connections of roof gutters and/or yard drains to sanitary sewers in the analyzed area, which would then allow to reduce the cost of wastewater treatment in the studied case. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Comprehensive Summary: The saline and buffered environment in actual wastewater imposes higher demands on Fenton and Fenton‐like catalytic systems. This study developed a MoS2 co‐catalytic Fe2O3 Fenton‐like system with controllable Lewis acid‐base sites, achieving efficient treatment of various model pollutants and actual industrial wastewater under neutral buffered environment. The acidic microenvironment structured by the edge S sites (Lewis basic sites) in the MoS2/Fe2O3 catalyst is susceptible to the influence of Lewis acidic sites constructed by Mo and Fe element, affecting catalytic performance. Optimizing the ratio of precursor amounts ensures the stable presence of the acidic microenvironment on the surface of catalyst, enabling the beneficial co‐catalytic effect of Mo sites to be realized. Furthermore, it transcends the rigid constraints imposed by the Fenton reaction on reaction environments, thereby expanding the applicability of commonplace oxides such as Fe2O3 in actual industrial water remediation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plants are used for wastewater treatment, which is a natural and ecological method. It is an alternative to conventional methods for wastewater from various sources. Because they take advantage of the capabilities of nature and naturally occurring adapted plants, they are characterized by their ability to carry out many processes and transformations that they carry out themselves and those occurring within them, such as in the aerobic and anaerobic zones of the root zone. Microorganisms present in the soil provide additional support for the vegetation, supporting the treatment processes. Due to the rising cost of wastewater treatment in typical wastewater treatment plants, the hydrophytic method is becoming competitive due to the low expenses associated with its operation and control. This method also works well for industrial wastewater, including tannery wastewater. Wastewater from the tanning industry is troublesome to manage and can also be a source of chromium, while studies have confirmed the possibility of treating such wastewater on plant beds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present work aimed to reduce the COD of petroleum refinery wastewater using individual and combined processes based on the electrocoagulation and photocatalytic process with immobilized nano-zinc oxide. Also, energy savings alongside performance improvements were evaluated within this conglomerated system. Results showed that the removal efficiency of COD was 72% after 120 min when using electrocoagulation process under the given conditions (15 mA/cm2, pH of 7, and flow rate of 0.5 L/min). Regarding the process involving photocatalysis, the removal efficiency of COD was 76% after 120 min under the analyzed conditions (ZnO concentration of 80 g/m2, pH of 7, power of irradiation equal to 65 W, and flow rate of 0.5 L/min). Several combined sequential and simultaneous systems were tested. Results confirmed that the simultaneous photo-EC system operated at 30 min is the best one and has the ability to achieve COD removal of 82% under the studied conditions (15 mA/cm2, pH of 7, and flow rate of 0.5 L/min, ZnO concentration of 80 g/m2, and 65 W). Furthermore, the further notable features of the combined simultaneous photo-EC system were operating at shorter operation time and lowering dissolution rate of anode electrode (0.2 gram) that makes the system to be the most economic process with an energy consumption of 28.44 kWh/kg COD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The increasing volume of wastewater discharged in urban areas poses a significant environmental challenge, particularly due to the potential for organic carbon overload in aquatic ecosystems. This study aimed to identify the bacterial isolates with the potential to mitigate this burden by effectively degrading organic matter and exhibiting antagonistic activity against common aquatic pathogens. Through a screening process, two bacterial strains, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens and Bacillus licheniformis, were isolated based on their high amylolytic, cellulolytic, proteolytic and lipolytic activity indices. In addition, in relation to all effective strains for these activities, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens differed in the cellulolytic index (4.48 ± 0.12), while Bacillus licheniformis had a lipolytic index of 1.73 ± 0.10. Both strains were further characterized by their strong antagonistic activity against Aeromonas, a prevalent pathogen in aquatic environments. These findings suggest that B. amyloliquefaciens and B. licheniformis hold promise as bioremediation agents for wastewater treatment, potentially contributing to the sustainable management of urban wastewater and the protection of aquatic ecosystems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades the Amazonian ecosystem has received large amounts of domestic and industrial effluents, as well as mining-related waste contributing significant quantities of metal to water bodies. Thus, the main objective of the study was to verify the sensitivity of a native Amazonian ostracod (Strandesia rondoniensis) species to isolated and mixed metal salts (CuSO4; ZnCl2; CdCl2 and HgCl2). The sensitivity will be compared to other species using species sensitivity distributions (SSDs) for an ecological risk assessment (ERA). The experiment consisted of simultaneously exposing each metal alone and in mixture, through a factorial design for toxicity with 25 different combinations for 48 h. For the ERA, metal concentrations measured in the water of various aquatic environments in the Amazon basin were considered based on the risk quotient values. The results showed that the metal toxicity gradient was Cd>Hg>Cu>Zn, respectively. The toxicity in the mixture showed that the combination of Cu-Cd and Cu-Zn better fit the model (CA), indicating mainly synergism when copper predominated in the mixture. Meanwhile, the Cu-Hg interaction fit the model better (IA), again indicating synergism when copper was at a higher concentration. The ERA showed a high risk (RQ > 1) for the Cd, Cu, and Hg metals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Medical substances are utilized around the world, and their accumulation in nature is a global concern. This work aimed to identify three priority pharmaceuticals discharged into the domestic sewage stream of Astana city (Kazakhstan). Samples of municipal wastewater were taken before and after the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) over a period of 13 months. The performed experiments demonstrated that there are seasonal variations in the priority pharmaceuticals – carbamazepine (CBZ), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and aspirin (ASP) – identified in the wastewaters. RESULTS: The non‐conventional WWTP of Astana city, which includes a sequence of treatment processes, showed 2–100% removal of these compounds with the following influent concentrations from the entering stream: 12.5–185.6 ppb (μg L−1) for CBZ, 2.6–51.2 ppb for SMX and 1.9–199.8 ppb for ASP. Laboratory‐scale experiments revealed that the application of the membrane separation technique, i.e. ultrafiltration, is able to provide improved removal of these pharmaceuticals. The removal of ASP, CBZ and SMX by phase inversion polyethersulfone and track etch (TE) polycarbonate membranes was investigated. Filtration with TE membrane demonstrated 39–97% removal of the primary pharmaceuticals from the wastewater. CONCLUSION: Filtration with TE membrane was recognized as an affordable and efficient supplementary treatment step. The addition of the TE separation process in the Astana WWTP could potentially improve the removal of the studied pharmaceuticals along with other medical substances. The reported results hold substantial significance, particularly for rapidly expanding urban centers and developing nations. This is especially crucial as there is a scarcity of data regarding the treatment of pharmaceuticals in municipal wastewater for these regions. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Due to the lower degradation and the potential inhibitory compounds present in slaughterhouse wastewater (SW), its industrial applications are often limited to methane production. This study investigated the combined effect of conductive material such as oat husk‐biochar at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 g L−1) and particle sizes (i.e., Powder Biochar (PB) (0.05–0.08 mm) vs. Granular Biochar (GB) (0.8–1.0 mm)) in the methane production, biodegradability, kinetic parameters, methanogenic activity and digestate quality of SW, using a multilevel factorial design. RESULTS: Experimental results showed that lower concentration (5, 10 g L−1) increased the methane yield up to 35% for PB and between 11 and 13% for GB compared to the control reactor. The total ammoniacal nitrogen concentrations in the digestate declined between 14% and 52% for all biochar dosages and particle sizes. PB improved the specific methanogenic activity of the biomass compared with GB, indicating that PB can support a well‐balanced methanogenic community compared with GB inside the digester. The multiple response optimization process computed that 7.5 g L−1 of PB is optimal to increase the methane yield, the COD degradation efficiency and shorten the lag phase. On the other hand, doses higher than 15 g L−1 hinder methane generation. CONCLUSIONS: PB supplementation has significant potential to improve the anaerobic degradation of SW. The improvement is attributed to the higher specific surface area, contributing to better support and microbial activity. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ceramic membrane filters fabricated from local raw materials are excellent for municipal wastewater treatment. This paper studied the fabrication of ceramic membranes using Response Surface Methodology (RSM). It also looked at the influence of clay, palm kernel shell ash, kaolin, and starch on the properties of ceramic membrane filters. Optimal test conditions and procedures were determined by selecting a fitting model based on experimental data. The Box–Behnken design (BBD) was chosen for its ability to reduce the number of experimental trials, thus making it cost-effective. The BBD design was executed using Design-Expert 13 software (Stat-Ease, Inc., Minneapolis, MN, USA), requiring 29 experimental runs. According to the study, responses such as porosity, flow rate, thickness, and density were used in the model. The fabrication of the 29 ceramic membranes includes formulation, shaping (slip casting method), drying, and sintering. Based on RSM, an optimum ceramic membrane design was proposed: Kaolin = 413 g, Clay = 180 g, Starch 147 g, Palm Kernel shell ash = 13 g. Compared with the test results, this combination possesses favorable and reliable accuracy. The addition of kaolin played a role in creating a porous framework within the ceramic membrane. Clay serves as a binding agent, aiding the consolidation of ceramic particles within the membrane matrix. Starch served as a pore-forming agent during the fabrication process. From the study, the palm kernel shell ash served as a binder and a reinforcing agent, bolstering mechanical strength and structural robustness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selecting a suitable pretreatment process for pharmaceutical wastewater that is difficult to treat biochemically so that it can enter the subsequent biochemical treatment. In this study, pharmaceutical wastewater consisting of 45 g/L sodium bisulfate, 9 g/L 3-hydroxyacetophenone (3-HAP), and 36.75 g/L sulfuric acids,which is a kind of typical pharmaceutical wastewater, was used for the pretreatment case study, and the process was screened by technology. A salting-out crystallization+Fenton system(SC-F) was developed for the treatment of this wastewater. The salting-out agent is formed by the pH adjustment process without additional additions and the salting-out crystallization effect is significant for the precipitation of 3-HAP from the wastewater. Subsequently, the optimal operating conditions for SC-F were derived from experiments as H2O2 of 0.4692 mol/L, n(H2O2):n(Fe2+)=30:1, pH=3. Under optimal conditions, the reaction time of 2 h achieved a COD removal rate of 90% and a BOD/COD value of 0.56, confirming the effectiveness of the technology in treating this wastewater. Additionally, it was discovered that the Fenton treatment was not significantly impacted by the inorganic components of the effluent. Analysis of effluent properties and possible effects on subsequent treatment by LC-MS and toxicity analysis. The results show that the biodegradability are enhanced by the pretreatment technology. However, the effluent still suffers from high acidity and high salt content, and this study proposes a solution to this problem. Furthermore, research on the treatment of 3-HAP wastewater has not been reported and this study provides a new case study in the field of wastewater treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Societal perspectives are hindering to admit sewage as a significant source of pollution along the coastlines. The sea's natural dilution is a solution for alleviating the sewage pollution is an ongoing global presumption. However, recent studies indicate the worldwide degradation of coastlines due to sewage discharges. This issue demands immediate attention to prevent future exacerbation. The aim of this perspective is to raise awareness among the global public about the threats and impacts of coastal sewage pollution, as well as to encourage policymakers, government bodies, international organizations, and researchers in formulating policies and mitigation strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Marine white pollution, i.e., plastic pollution, is currently a major challenge to the marine environment. Microplastics(MPs), as an emerging pollutant, are attracting widespread global attention. Due to the special properties of plastic, it is widely used, but the plastic waste generated during its use is difficult to recycle or utilize, so it gradually accumulates in the environment. Marine MPs mainly come from industrial discharge, domestic sewage discharge, and direct discharge during maritime transportation and operations. After MPs enter the marine environment, they will change the distribution status of MPs in the marine environment, thereby bringing varying degrees of impact to the marine environment and posing potential risks to the security of marine ecosystems. The article summarizes the sources, distribution characteristics, pollution status, and potential ecological risks of MPs in the marine environment, in order to provide scientific basis for solving and repairing marine microplastic pollution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The primary obstacle in transitioning Ti coagulants from the experimental to the practical realm is their exorbitant application costs. To address this challenge, this research introduced an innovative recovery process through acidification of water treatment sludge to produce regenerated Ti coagulants, optimizing sludge utilization. The efficiency of the regenerated coagulants was evaluated by simulating turbidity removal from wastewater. The results showed that the three Ti coagulants exhibited effective turbidity removal at elevated H2SO4 concentrations. In a turbidity experiment with baseline turbidity of 15 ± 0.5 NTU, a notable change in turbidity removal was observed at a coagulant concentration of 5 mg Ti/L and H2SO4 concentration of 10 ml/L. As the coagulant dosage increased, the inflection point tended to move to a higher level. Furthermore, the versatility of the acidification process was evaluated using two distinct types of actual water. The pollutants in the actual water showed significant improvement. Among the three kinds of Ti regenerated coagulants used to remove turbidity from lake water, the remaining turbidity was consistently less than 5 NTU. The acidized supernatants of titanium xerogel coagulant (TXC(As)) exhibited a turbidity value of only 1.99 ± 0.1 NTU. Additionally, the removal of turbidity from domestic wastewater was 80%. Notably, these results showed superior performance in reducing organic matter and phosphorus levels, thereby showcasing their exceptional purification capabilities compared to commercial coagulants. This research presents a viable methodology for the sustainable reuse of Ti water treatment sludge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]