Article
Engineering, Environmental
Jingyang Song, Jing Zhao, Chen Yang, Yixin Liu, Jing Yang, Xiaojuan Qi, Zechang Li, Zheng Shao, Siyu Wang, Min Ji, Hongyan Zhai, Zhiqiang Chen, Wei Liu, Xuehua Li
Summary: The endocrine-disrupting effects caused by wastewater discharging on aquatic organisms have raised extensive concerns. In this study, the efficiency of various wastewater treatment processes in removing estrogenic activity was evaluated, and the association with organic micropollutants was investigated. It was found that the effluents from all the treatment plants exhibited estrogenic effects, and certain semi-volatile organic compounds were significantly correlated with the estrogenic activity in the effluents.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Food Science & Technology
Xiaofeng Zhang, Jianshe Chen, Sandip Panda, Ofir Benjamin
Summary: This article introduces a newly developed mastication simulator for in vitro oral mastication analysis. The device is capable of simulating chewing actions and analyzing the parameters such as temperature, conductivity, and pH during the mastication process. Feasibility tests with nuts and food gels have shown that the current design provides a feasible tool for studying the oral mastication process of food.
INNOVATIVE FOOD SCIENCE & EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Daniel Masekela, Nomso C. Hintsho-Mbita, Simanye Sam, Tunde L. Yusuf, Nonhlangabezo Mabuba
Summary: Piezo-photocatalysis, the coupling of piezocatalysis and photocatalysis, is an effective advanced oxidation process for wastewater treatment, particularly for the degradation of organic pollutants and disinfection of microbes. The development of lead free piezoelectric materials, such as barium titanate (BaTiO3), is crucial to prevent secondary pollution. This review article provides a comprehensive overview of the application of BaTiO3 as a promising lead-free piezo-photocatalyst for catalytic degradation and bacterial disinfection in aqueous solutions, including its optical and piezoelectric properties, modification strategies, and synthetic methods. It also discusses the potential of BaTiO3 as a preferred piezo-photocatalyst for wastewater treatment and presents future perspectives.
ARABIAN JOURNAL OF CHEMISTRY
(2023)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Afroditi G. Chioti, Georgia Sarikaki, Vasiliki Tsioni, Eleni Kostopoulou, George Em. Romanos, Polycarpos Falaras, Themistoklis Sfetsas
Summary: This study investigates the disinfection properties of photocatalysis on liquid digestate derived from biogas plants for the first time. It reveals the heterogeneity of liquid digestate retrieved from various biogas plants in northern Greece. Preliminary experiments show that pre-treated liquid digestate can be disinfected through a combination of centrifuge-flocculation-μfiltration with suspended TiO2 under UVA illumination.
FERMENTATION-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Jie Ming, Xiang Sun, Qiansu Ma, Na Liu, Cheng Zhang, Naoki Kawazoe, Guoping Chen, Yingnan Yang
Summary: Pathogenic contamination is a major cause of clean water shortage and poses a risk to human health. This study introduced g-C3N4 (CN) into Ag/Ag2O/BiPO4/Bi2WO6 (Ag/P/BWO) to construct a novel composite CN-Ag/P/BWO for disinfecting Enterococcus sp. contaminated water. The composite showed excellent disinfection performance under simulated solar light irradiation, attributed to improved light absorption ability, charge carries separation/transfer efficiency, and surface wettability. The disinfection mechanism involved photogenerated active species working together and damaging bacterial cells. The composite also exhibited high practicability and stability for different environmental factors and real lake water disinfection, providing an efficient method for water disinfection.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ruonan He, Xingyue Wu, Hongxin Mu, Ling Chen, Haidong Hu, Jinfeng Wang, Hongqiang Ren, Bing Wu
Summary: This study identified the priority control sequence of pollutants in wastewater treatment plant effluents by considering their occurrence frequency, concentration, removal rate, and in vitro and in vivo toxicity. The top 5 pollutants were found to be ethynyl estradiol, 17β-estradiol, estrone, diclofenac, and atrazine. In addition, the synergistic effects between pollutants were also evaluated, and pollutants like ofloxacin and acetaminophen were found to have significant interactions with other pollutants. This study sheds new light on the management and control of wastewater water quality.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Zheng Wang, Yufeng Liao, Xiuwen Li, Chendong Shuang, Yang Pan, Yan Li, Aimin Li
Summary: Ammonia nitrogen concentration significantly affects the formation of disinfection byproducts and acute toxicity in chlorinated wastewater. Higher NH3-N concentration reduces the formation of most DBPs but enhances the acute toxicity of luminescent bacteria and zebrafish embryos. Wastewater with NH3-N concentration below 1.00 mg-N/L is considered to have an acceptable toxicity level. DBPs contribute significantly to luminescent bacteria toxicity at low NH3-N concentration, while monochloramine contributes more at high NH3-N concentration. Chlorine dioxide and UV disinfection can effectively reduce acute toxicity compared to chlorination.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Agricultural Engineering
Rashmi Gondi, S. Kavitha, R. Yukesh Kannah, Obulisamy Parthiba Karthikeyan, Gopalakrishnan Kumar, Vinay Kumar Tyagi, J. Rajesh Banu
Summary: Algal bioremediation via algae biotechnology is a cost-effective solution for emerging pollutants in wastewater, but it is not fully developed commercially. Research has focused on developing different technologies and strategies to meet specific needs, with challenges including the selection of suitable algal species and operational conditions in pilot-scale studies.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wenda Kang, Shuo Chen, Hongtao Yu, Tengyao Xu, Shuai Wu, Xiaoting Wang, Na Lu, Xie Quan, Heng Liang
Summary: The study improved the mass-transfer performance of the PCO/O-3 process by using a helical photocatalytic module (HPM) in an annular UVC reactor, resulting in significantly higher TOC removal efficiency. The flowing through reactor demonstrated good stability in a continuous test, and the energy efficiency of the PCO/O-3 process in this reactor was higher compared to other processes.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
F. F. A. Aziz, A. A. Jalil, N. S. Hassan, A. A. Fauzi, M. S. Azami, N. W. C. Jusoh, R. Jusoh
Summary: With the rapid development of the economy and industry, water pollution has become increasingly serious due to the excessive chemical wastes that need to be removed via reduction or oxidation reactions. Simultaneous removal of dual pollutants through photocatalytic redox reactions has been extensively studied in the past five years as it effectively decontaminates pollutants compared to single pollutant systems. This review classifies binary pollutants selectively removed through photocatalytic reduction or oxidation according to heavy metal-organic pollutants, heavy metal-heavy metal pollutants, and organic-organic pollutants. The intrinsic relationship between pollutants is explained through three different mechanisms, and strategies for enhancing this treatment method are discussed. This review provides a recent perspective on the development of photocatalysis systems for industrial applications.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Chemistry, Inorganic & Nuclear
Nadeem Hussain Solangi, Rama Rao Karri, Shaukat Ali Mazari, Nabisab Mujawar Mubarak, Abdul Sattar Jatoi, Guilherme Malafaia, Abul Kalam Azad
Summary: In recent years, MXene has attracted significant interest in the field of photocatalysis due to its unique physical and chemical characteristics. It has shown excellent performance in the photodegradation of organic compounds and CO2 conversion into value-added products. MXene-based composites have been found to possess even better photodegradation activity compared to pristine MXene. The functional groups on the surface of MXene have a significant impact on its photocatalytic performance. This study provides a comprehensive overview of recent investigations on MXene-based photocatalysts, discussing their physicochemical characteristics, synthesis routes, and future challenges.
COORDINATION CHEMISTRY REVIEWS
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Anina James, Deepika Yadav
Summary: A comprehensive review on the use of bioaerogels for wastewater treatment is presented in this article, highlighting their potential as a green and non-toxic alternative. The review analyzes the existing literature on the removal of various water contaminants using bioaerogels and identifies the gaps in knowledge, proposing solutions to overcome the limitations in their applicability.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ahmed Yusuf, Samar Al Jitan, Corrado Garlisi, Giovanni Palmisano
Summary: This paper reviews antimicrobial nanomaterials for wastewater treatment, identifying a few eligible nanoparticles with proven antimicrobial activity. It suggests the future direction of research is in the development of antimicrobial nanocomposites for increased stability and efficacy.
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Nadia Morin-Crini, Eric Lichtfouse, Marc Fourmentin, Ana Rita Lado Ribeiro, Constantinos Noutsopoulos, Francesca Mapelli, Eva Fenyvesi, Melissa Gurgel Adeodato Vieira, Lorenzo A. Picos-Corrales, Juan Carlos Moreno-Pirajan, Liliana Giraldo, Tamas Sohajda, Mohammad Mahmudul Huq, Jafar Soltan, Giangiacomo Torri, Monica Magureanu, Corina Bradu, Gregorio Crini
Summary: The rise of emerging contaminants presents challenges for the scientific community and water treatment stakeholders to develop remediation techniques that are simple, practical, inexpensive, effective, and environmentally friendly. Adsorption-oriented processes and advanced oxidation processes are the most promising strategies for removing emerging contaminants in wastewater.
ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMISTRY LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Biotechnology & Applied Microbiology
Chrysanthi Berberidou, Sophia Tsoumachidou, Ioannis Paspaltsis, Vasiliki Kitsiou, Eirini Kanata, Konstantinos Xanthopoulos, Theodoros Sklaviadis, Athansios Arsenakis, Ioannis Poulios
Summary: This study investigated the potential of heterogeneous and homogeneous photocatalytic oxidation for the treatment of liquid hazardous medical wastewater produced by healthcare laboratories. The results showed that under optimal conditions, photo-Fenton-assisted TiO2 photocatalytic oxidation was the most efficient process for detoxification and disinfection of the tested toxic effluents. The reuse of catalyst was also examined and verified for five sequential runs. The performance of the pilot photocatalytic inactivation system demonstrated effective inactivation of bio-pollutants, including a significant reduction in the survival of resistant bacterial endospores.
JOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY AND BIOTECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Leonardo Fanton, Frida Loria, Mario Amores, M. Ruth Pazos, Cristina Adan, Rafael A. Garcia-Munoz, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study investigated the proliferation of osteoblast precursor cells on the surfaces of TiO2 nanowires (TNWs) grown by electrochemical anodization. The results showed lower cell proliferation rates on TNW surfaces compared to control samples without significant differences in cell survival. The relatively thin diameter and high density of TNWs may have affected cell proliferation.
SCIENTIFIC REPORTS
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Angela Garcia-Gil, Ling Feng, Jose Moreno-SanSegundo, Stefanos Giannakis, Cesar Pulgarin, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study evaluates the mechanisms of photonic inactivation and integrates them into a kinetic model of solar inactivation of E. coli. It includes models for both direct photonic inactivation and damage caused by radicals, as well as other reactions and their contribution to inactivation. The synergistic effect of photonic damage and thermal inactivation is also considered in the model.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Shabila Perveen, Cristina Pablos, Ken Reynolds, Simon Stanley, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study reveals the presence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria (ARB) in the effluent of a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and the growth of ARB/ARGs in microplastic biofilms. The abundance of viable ARB in the microplastic biofilms increased between days 3 and 5 and then decreased on days 7 and 9. ARGs were detected in the microplastic biofilms in both tap water and WWTP effluent.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Cristina Adan, Cristina Pablos, Patricia Misis, Sandra Pascua, Javier Marugan
Summary: Immobilised TiO2 nanotube (TiO2-NT) electrodes were grown via electrochemical anodisation in an aqueous solution containing fluoride ions at different voltages. The photoactivity of the TiO2-NT electrodes was found to increase with the length of the nanotubes and the anodising potential. The TiO2-NT30V electrode generated free chlorine with enough concentration to achieve high levels of inactivation of bacteria and fungi, suggesting that it could be a promising alternative for in situ chlorine-based disinfection.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Conor Reddick, Cintia Casado, Ken Reynolds, Simon Stanley, Cristina Pablos, Javier Marugan
Summary: In this study, radiometry and the discrete ordinate method (DOM) were utilized to determine the ideal target surface size and working distance for achieving highly uniform illumination from UVA LED lamps. The measurements conducted using scanning radiometry technique showed good agreement between horizontal incident radiation and full surface incident radiation measurements, with maximum uniformity found at a 15 mm working distance. The DOM simulation results also demonstrated good agreement with radiometry, indicating maximum uniformity at a 20 mm working distance. These findings highlight the potential of DOM simulations as a fast, low-cost, and reliable tool for designing UV lamps in various applications.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Raffaella Pizzichetti, Ken Reynolds, Cristina Pablos, Cintia Casado, Eric Moore, Simon Stanley, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study evaluated the degradation of diclofenac using UV-B and UV-C LEDs alone and in combination with hydrogen peroxide and free chlorine. The UV-LEDs showed positive synergy in advanced oxidation processes, but the overall electricity demand was similar to UV alone due to the energy cost of the oxidants. Different kinetic degradation mechanisms at different wavelengths were proposed, and no significant synergy was found for the dual-wavelength system. The work highlights the potential of using wavelength-specific LEDs in water treatments.
CHEMICAL ENGINEERING JOURNAL
(2023)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Miguel Martin-Somer, Cristina Pablos, Cristina Adan, Rafael van Grieken, Javier Marugan
Summary: In recent years, the improved efficiency of UV LED devices has led to an increase in research on UV LED water treatment. This paper provides an in-depth review of recent studies on the suitability and performance of UV LED-driven processes for water disinfection. The effects of different UV wavelengths and their combinations on the inactivation of microorganisms and repair mechanisms were analyzed. The use of UVC and 280 nm radiation showed potential for efficient water disinfection.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Luca Carena, Angela Garcia-Gil, Javier Marugan, Davide Vione
Summary: Chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) plays a crucial role in the photodegradation of contaminants in sunlit surface-water environments. It has been found that the sunlight absorption by CDOM can be approximated based on its monochromatic absorption at 560 nm, allowing for the assessment of CDOM photoreactions globally and particularly in the 60 degrees S to 60 degrees N latitude belt. By utilizing global lake databases and organic matter estimates, the steady-state concentrations of CDOM triplet states (3CDOM*) can be determined, with high values predicted in Nordic latitudes during summer.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Cintia Casado, Veronica Yunta, Javier Marugan
Summary: This work presents a novel methodology for simulating photochemical processes for water disinfection using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The methodology calculates and visualizes the disinfection performance as microorganisms move through the photoreactor by combining hydrodynamics, statistical trajectories, and radiation distribution. This approach allows for real-time monitoring of the disinfection process by coupling the cumulative radiation dose with inactivation kinetics.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Clara Sanchez-Perez, Sriluxmi Srimurugananthan, Carlos Sotelo-Vazquez, Sanjayan Sathasivam, Mingyue Wang, Javier Marugan, Ivan P. P. Parkin, Claire J. J. Carmalt
Summary: ZnO thin film coatings were synthesized by aerosol-assisted chemical vapor deposition (AACVD) with different Zn : O ratios, and the synthetic parameters for self-texturing were analyzed. The effects of Zn environment and temperature on the morphology of the coatings were evaluated. A non-pyrophoric molecular precursor was investigated and found to produce 002-oriented, compact, transparent ZnO thin coatings with minimal carbon contamination at 300°C and fast growth rates (>40 nm min(-1)). This new deposition approach provides a rapid method to achieve optoelectronic coatings at ambient pressure.
MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kris O'Dowd, Azahara Martinez-Garcia, Isabel Oller, Maria Inmaculada Polo-Lopez, Seila Couso-Perez, Elvira Ares-Mazas, Hipolito Gomez-Couso, Angela Garcia-Gil, Javier Marugan, Ramesh Marasini, Kevin G. McGuigan, Suresh C. Pillai
Summary: It is predicted that by 2025, over 50% of the global population will lack access to safe drinking water. Solar Disinfection (SODIS) using polyethylene terephthalate (PET) bottles has been identified as a suitable and low-cost method for water disinfection in rural areas. This study examines the use of polypropylene (PP) transparent jerrycans (TJC) as an alternative container for SODIS. The PP TJC demonstrated effective inactivation of microorganisms, non-toxicity to human cells, but degraded after two weeks of accelerated ageing.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sarita S. Nair, Ramesh Marasini, Lyndon Buck, Rita Dhodapkar, Javier Marugan, K. Vijaya Lakshmi, Kevin G. McGuigan
Summary: There are various POU water treatment technologies available for removing or reducing microbial pathogens in untreated drinking water. However, uncertainty remains regarding the most suitable technology for rural populations. To compare different options, the study uses a life cycle assessment (LCA) approach, considering environmental impacts and analyzing direct carbon dioxide emission, particulate matter formation, and smog formation.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
A. Raffaella P. Pizzichetti, Cristina Pablos, Carmen Alvarez-Fernandez, Ken Reynolds, Simon Stanley, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study investigates the kinetic and mechanistic aspects of microfiltration membrane fouling by polyamide (PA) and polystyrene (PS) particles, as well as the interactions between microplastics and the membrane during filtration. The results show that the prevailing mechanisms were pore blocking and cake layer formation. The kinetics of these mechanisms were influenced by the differences in particle shape, size distribution, and surface charge between PA and PS particles. Increasing the working transmembrane pressure resulted in optimal working conditions for both PA and PS filtration. The fouling induced by PA particles was higher due to their higher hydrophobicity and smaller size, while PS particles caused more abrasion on the membrane surface. Membrane fouling increased hydrophobicity and roughness, leading to further fouling. Modelling membrane fouling can improve the removal efficiency of microplastics and reduce secondary pollution.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Miguel Martin-Somer, Maria Dolores Molina-Ramirez, Maria Luisa Perez-Araujo, Rafael van Grieken, Javier Marugan
Summary: This study examines how to optimize the efficiency of solar light utilization in various UV-based photochemical water treatment processes. The use of sunlight in compound parabolic collector (CPC) photoreactors is compared to using solar energy for electricity generation in photovoltaic (PV) power systems that power LED lighting sources. Seven different solar processes were investigated for chemical oxidation and bacterial inactivation. The results showed that the most efficient process for oxidation of chemicals is PV-UVC LED+H2O2, while the most efficient process for bacterial inactivation is PV-UVC LED+H2O2. The study highlights the need to evaluate the optimal approach in reactor engineering for water-energy applications, considering the current and future improvements in PV and LED technology.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Maurice I. Osotsi, Xin Ling, Siqi Fu, Yuqin Xiong, Wang Zhang, Zhang Di, Javier Marugan
Summary: The BW-ZnWO4_x photocatalyst, prepared by combining Papilio paris wings and ZnWO4, effectively degraded levofloxacin and tetracycline antibiotics as well as hexavalent chromium, under UV, visible, and NIR light irradiation. This bio-inspired material shows potential for applications in solar harvesting and storage systems, security systems, and water treatment.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2023)
