Article
Engineering, Environmental
Shahla Radmehr, Tiina Rissanen, Mari Kallioinen-Manttari, Mika Manttari
Summary: The aim of this study is to reduce mechanical aeration in membrane bioreactors (MBR) by introducing algae cells without compromising purification efficiency and membrane fouling. The results showed that with a suitable inoculation ratio of algae cells (50% of total biomass), a 60% reduction in mechanical aeration was achieved in the MBR without affecting purification efficiency and membrane fouling. Moreover, controlling mechanical aeration allows for the control of algae cell growth rate compared to bacteria cells and maintains a constant ratio of algae and bacterial biomass in the MBR.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
D. S. Chormey, A. Caglak, B. Y. Durak, B. T. Zaman, G. O. Engin, S. Bakirdere
Summary: This study used two batch-type bioreactors to treat twelve environmental contaminants that have the potential to disrupt the normal function of the endocrine system. By preparing synthetic domestic wastewater daily in the laboratory and operating the bioreactors at different sludge retention times, the contaminants were efficiently removed with satisfactory removal efficiencies (> 88%) and low financial cost.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Polymer Science
Kamil Kayode Katibi, Khairul Faezah Yunos, Hasfalina Che Man, Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Mohd Zuhair Mohd Nor, Rabaah Syahidah Azis, Abba Mohammed Umar
Summary: Recent studies have highlighted the detrimental effects of EDCs on human, aquatic, and wildlife health, as well as the inadequacy of traditional treatment methods in removing these persistent pollutants. Critical examination and reporting of various treatment methods for EDC removal, such as adsorption, catalytic degradation, ozonation, membrane separation, and advanced oxidation processes, have been conducted.
Article
Agricultural Engineering
Amr Mustafa Abdelrahman, Muhammed Furkan Aras, Busra Cicekalan, Malhun Fakioglu, Seyma Cingoz, Safak Basa, Huseyin Guven, Hale Ozgun, Izzet Ozturk, Ismail Koyuncu, Jules B. van Lier, Eveline I. P. Volcke, Mustafa Evren Ersahin
Summary: This study found that treating A-stage sludge was more efficient in terms of methane production and methanogenic activity compared to treating primary sludge. Introducing an A-stage treatment can significantly increase the recovery of organic matter in wastewater as methane.
BIORESOURCE TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
S. P. Ramya Ranjan Nayak, Seenivasan Boopathi, B. Haridevamuthu, Jesu Arockiaraj
Summary: Environmental pollution is closely related to metabolic diseases and high mortality. Kidneys are more sensitive to pollutants compared to other organs. Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are associated with chronic kidney disease (CKD), but the specific molecular mechanisms are unclear. EDCs affect the gut-kidney axis, altering the gut microbiome and leading to excessive production of uremic toxin, exacerbating CKD.
ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Onur Isik, Ali Izzet Cengiz, Amr Mustafa Abdelrahman, Kadir Ozcelik, Ayse Yuksekdag, Ismail Koyuncu, Mustafa Evren Ersahin, Hale Ozgun, Ibrahim Demir
Summary: This study investigated the impact of different inoculum on the performance of membrane bioreactors (MBRs) for municipal wastewater treatment. The results showed that the sludge from the HRAS system performed better as an inoculum compared to the sludge from the CAS system for dynamic membrane (DM) applications.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Amr Mustafa Abdelrahman, Hale Ozgun, Recep Kaan Dereli, Onur Isik, Onur Yilmaz Ozcan, Jules B. van Lier, Izzet Ozturk, Mustafa Evren Ersahin
Summary: Anaerobic membrane bioreactor (AnMBR) technology offers a promising solution for high solids concentration streams treatment, with increased digestion efficiency and enhanced effluent quality, leading to potentially lower costs and higher energy production. However, membrane fouling remains a challenge that requires further research for improvement.
CRITICAL REVIEWS IN ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Derin Orhon, Ayse Begum Yucel, Guclu Insel, Bulent Solmaz, Raif Mermutlu, Seval Sozen
Summary: The study developed a novel model, MASM, for the membrane activated process, based on the effective filtration size imposed by the membrane module. Results indicated significantly better performance of the super-fast membrane activated sludge system for both wastewaters, emphasizing the importance of accounting for the captured COD fractions for accurate evaluation of system behavior and effluent quality. This should be identified as a major shortcoming of the ASM models for evaluating and predicting the system performance of activated sludge configurations with membrane separation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yi Zuo, Yanjun Shao, Lihua Wang, Yiyue Sun, Ying An, Lu-Man Jiang, Nan Yu, Rujie Hao, Chuanting Zhou, Jun Tao, Zhen Zhou
Summary: This study investigated the use of a sludge process reduction (SPR) module to alleviate membrane fouling and reduce sludge production in membrane bioreactors. The SPR-MBRs achieved effective sludge reduction by enriching hydrolytic and fermentative genera in the SPR, while also alleviating membrane fouling by prohibiting the growth of extracellular polymeric substance-secreting bacteria and enriching filamentous bacteria to enlarge particle size.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2023)
Review
Polymer Science
Kamil Kayode Katibi, Khairul Faezah Yunos, Hasfalina Che Man, Ahmad Zaharin Aris, Mohd Zuhair bin Mohd Nor, Rabaah Syahidah Binti Azis
Summary: This paper critically examines and reports on recent advances in membrane and MBR treatment methods for removing EDCs, highlighting fouling challenges and mitigation strategies. The study also investigates removal mechanisms and operating factors influencing EDCs remediation. Membranes and MBR approaches have been shown to be successful and viable in eliminating various EDCs contaminants.
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Gaetano Di Bella, Santo Fabio Corsino, Federica De Marines, Francesco Lopresti, Vincenzo La Carrubba, Michele Torregrossa, Gaspare Viviani
Summary: This study examined the presence of microplastics in the sludge of three wastewater treatment plants. The findings showed that microplastics were transferred and concentrated in the waste sludge, with different shapes and compositions observed in different treatment processes. This is an important discovery as sludge disposal could become a new pathway for microplastic release into the environment.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Ghazale Faridizad, Elham Abdollahzadeh Sharghi, Babak Bonakdarpour
Summary: This study investigated the performance and membrane fouling characteristics of a high loaded membrane bioreactor (HL-MBR) treating municipal wastewater at different sludge retention times (SRTs). The results showed that membrane fouling rate increased with an increase in SRT. The cake layer, primarily composed of protein and carbohydrate, was found to be the main factor responsible for membrane fouling. The increase in SRT resulted in a higher increase in soluble microbial products (SMP) and a higher drop in particle size in the cake layer compared to the mixed liquor. Extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) did not change in the cake layer but increased in the mixed liquor. Multiple regression analysis identified SMP as the principal factor contributing to the increase in membrane fouling rate with increasing SRT. Overall, the study found that the system performed best at the lowest SRT investigated.
JOURNAL OF WATER PROCESS ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Li Chen, Tahir Maqbool, Ghazanfar Nazir, Congyu Hou, Yulong Yang, Jianning Guo, Xihui Zhang
Summary: In this study, a highly efficient catalytic ceramic membrane (CCM) was developed for the degradation of endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in drinking water. The CCM, synthesized at high calcination temperatures, effectively reduced the EDCs to trace levels through the generation of singlet oxygen (1O2) and exhibited special selectivity for phenols and bisphenols. The findings of this study can serve as a baseline for full-scale water treatment applications.
JOURNAL OF MEMBRANE SCIENCE
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Abdulkadir Caglak, Dotse Selali Chormey, Sezgin Bakirdere, Guleda Onkal Engin
Summary: This study focuses on the removal of nine potential endocrine disruptors using a submerged membrane bioreactor system. The effects of sludge retention time (SRT) and hydraulic retention time (HRT) on micropollutant removal and membrane fouling were investigated. It was found that SRT and HRT have an impact on the removal of certain micropollutants, and the physicochemical properties of the micropollutants also play a role in their removal efficiency.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Biochemistry & Molecular Biology
Nikolay Makisha
Summary: This study examines the operational expenses of wastewater treatment facilities with a capacity of 1 to 100 thousand cubic meters per day using the Capdetworks software package. By analyzing different treatment sequences, the study finds that the use of membrane technologies at the secondary treatment stage may significantly affect the rebuilding of wastewater treatment plants.
Review
Environmental Sciences
Carlos Andres Pena-Guzman, Joaquin Melgarejo, Daniel Prats, Andres Torres, Sandra Martinez
Article
Environmental Sciences
C. M. Lopez-Ortiz, I Sentana-Gadea, P. J. Varo-Galvan, S. E. Maestre-Perez, D. Prats-Rico
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Domingo Zarzo, Daniel Prats
Article
Engineering, Civil
C. M. Lopez-Ortiz, N. Boluda-Botella, D. Prats-Rico, I. Sentana-Gadea
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY
(2018)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Carmen M. Lopez-Ortiz, Irene Sentana-Gadea, Pedro Varo-Galvan, Salvador E. Maestre-Perez, Daniel Prats-Rico
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2018)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
S. Daguerre-Martini, M. B. Vanotti, M. Rodriguez-Pastor, A. Rosal, R. Moral
Article
Water Resources
M. J. Moya-Llamas, A. Trapote, D. Prats
URBAN WATER JOURNAL
(2018)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Maria de los Angeles Bernal-Romero del Hombre Bueno, Nuria Boluda-Botella, Daniel Prats Rico
ADSORPTION-JOURNAL OF THE INTERNATIONAL ADSORPTION SOCIETY
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
E. Martinez-Sabater, M. Garcia-Munoz, P. Bonete, M. Rodriguez, F. B. Sanchez-Garcia, M. D. Perez-Murcia, M. A. Bustamante, D. B. Lopez-Lluch, R. Moral
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2019)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alejandro Aldeguer Esquerdo, Pedro Jose Varo Galvan, Irene Sentana Gadea, Daniel Prats Rico
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Mary Luz Barrios-Hernandez, Carolina Bettinelli, Karen Mora-Cabrera, Maria-Clara Vanegas-Camero, Hector Garcia, Jack van de Vossenberg, Daniel Prats, Damir Brdjanovic, Mark C. M. van Loosdrecht, Christine M. Hooijmans
Summary: This study focused on the removal of bacterial and viral surrogates by aerobic granular sludge systems, showing a reduction in both Escherichia coli and MS2 bacteriophages during different operational phases. Predation during aeration was the main mechanism for removal, with different impacts on each surrogate organism.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Alejandro Aldeguer Esquerdo, Pedro Jose Varo Galvan, Irene Sentana Gadea, Daniel Prats Rico
Summary: The study found that the combined treatment with ozone followed by PAC significantly reduced the removal time for diclofenac and carbamazepine. The optimal treatment sequence varied for different pharmaceutical contaminants.
INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Civil
Edgardo Vasquez, Arturo Trapote, Daniel Prats
TECNOLOGIA Y CIENCIAS DEL AGUA
(2018)
Article
Geology
Antonio Jodar-Abellan, Jose Antonio Albaladejo-Garcia, Daniel Prats-Rico
REVISTA DE LA SOCIEDAD GEOLOGICA DE ESPANA
(2017)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Irene Sentana, Ouafa Benraouane, Hamid Ait-Amar, Pedro Varo, Nuria Boluda, Arturo Trapote, Daniel Prats
DESALINATION AND WATER TREATMENT
(2017)
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Arvin Sohrabi, Mousa Meratizaman, Shuli Liu
Summary: This paper simulates and discusses possible solutions to improve the economic and technical performances of a battery-less renewable energy-powered BWRO system under real climate conditions. The study finds that the photovoltaic-based system performs better in terms of specific energy consumption and unused energy ratio.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Chunlan Pan, Xiaoyin Hu, Vishal Goyal, Theyab R. Alsenani, Salem Alkhalaf, Tamim Alkhalifah, Fahad Alturise, Hamad Almujibah, H. Elhosiny Ali
Summary: This paper introduces a novel waste heat recovery method using the hot flue gas from a ship's engine to produce liquefied hydrogen while meeting the ship's air-conditioning requirement. A comprehensive feasibility assessment is conducted and an artificial neural network with a multiobjective grey wolf optimization method is used for optimization. The findings indicate the highest mean sensitivity index of the flash temperature and the best optimization scenario for exergy efficiency, CO2 emission reduction, and liquefied hydrogen cost.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Daniele Chinello, Jan Post, Louis C. P. M. de Smet
Summary: In this study, PVDF-based anion-exchange membranes were designed to selectively separate nitrate from chloride. Experimental data showed that increasing the concentration of PVDF enhanced nitrate transport but also increased the membrane electrical resistance. The selectivity of nitrate was found to be independent of the membrane thickness and mainly driven by the increased affinity between the anion and the membrane.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Umar Noor, Muhammad Fayyaz Farid, Ammara Sharif, Amna Saleem, Zubair Nabi, Muhammad Furqan Mughal, Kiran Abbas, Toheed Ahmed
Summary: Global water scarcity is increasing, and water desalination is an important solution. Multifunctional advanced materials, such as membrane materials and solar-driven desalination, play a crucial role in water desalination. Additionally, these materials can be used for water purification, wastewater treatment, and pollutant elimination.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Emrah Gumus
Summary: With growing global concerns about climate change and environmental impacts, the use of nuclear energy in naval vessels offers a cleaner and more efficient solution to reduce emissions and address water and energy supply challenges. This study explores a novel system that combines a nuclear-driven supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle with reverse osmosis cogeneration to meet the water and electricity demands in maritime operations, enhancing the sustainability, efficiency, and self-sufficiency of naval vessels. The results indicate that the system has the potential to be a viable and effective solution for naval operations.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Dao Thi Thanh Huyen, Saikat Sinha Ray, Young -Nam Kwon
Summary: This study focuses on the modification of a commercially available polyamide thin-film composite membrane with a zwitterionic material to enhance its fouling resistance. The modified membrane shows improved salt rejection and reduced permeability compared to the pristine membrane. Fouling tests demonstrate that the modified membrane has a lower fouling ratio and higher recovery ratio. The enhanced antifouling characteristics are attributed to the improved hydrophilicity resulting from the zwitterionic brushes and the salting-in effect.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Niklas Koeller, Lukas Mankertz, Selina Finger, Christian J. Linnartz, Matthias Wessling
Summary: This study presents a methodology to scale up Flow-electrode Capacitive Deionization (FCDI) technology from lab-scale to pilot-scale systems. By increasing membrane area and using a stacking approach, the FCDI modules were successfully scaled up and achieved a salt transfer rate comparable to lab-scale systems. This provides a foundation for future assessments of energy demand and economics.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mona Gulied, Sifani Zavahir, Tasneem Elmakki, Hyunwoong Park, Guillermo Hijos Gago, Ho Kyong Shon, Dong Suk Han
Summary: This study introduces a novel hybrid system that combines direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) and electrically switched ion exchange (ESIX) to facilitate seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) brine enrichment and selective lithium recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Zhiqiang Zhang, Ruifeng Deng, Jiao Zhang, Lu She, Guangfeng Wei, Renyong Jia, Pengyu Xiang, Siqing Xia
Summary: A transmembrane electro-chemisorption system with authigenic acid and base was developed for enhancing ammonia recovery from strong ammonia wastewater. The system efficiently transformed ammonium into free ammonia, which was then adsorbed and recovered through transmembrane chemisorption. This system yielded pure (NH4)2SO4 product and produced valuable byproducts of pure hydrogen and oxygen. Higher applied voltage resulted in better ammonia recovery.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Alena Popova, Sandrine Boivin, Takuji Shintani, Takahiro Fujioka
Summary: This study aimed to produce a high-integrity RO membrane by forming a polyamide skin layer on a TE support layer, in order to enhance the integrity of the membrane and improve the microbiological safety of potable water reuse.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Sanjana Yagnambhatt, Saber Khanmohammadi, Jonathan Maisonneuve
Summary: This study investigates the concept of using heat to enhance reverse osmosis (RO) desalination. The effect of temperature on water permeate flux, specific energy, permeate quality, and applied operating pressures is evaluated using an analytical model. The results suggest that under specific conditions, the tradeoff between savings in mechanical pump work and thermal energy input in thermally-enhanced RO can be favorable, leading to overall energy savings.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Jiangju Si, Chenrui Xue, Shun Li, Linchao Yang, Weiwei Li, Jie Yang, Jihong Lan, Ningbo Sun
Summary: To meet the huge demand for lithium resources, there is an urgent need to develop a new efficient technology for lithium recovery from salt-lake brines. In this study, a selective membrane capacitive deionization system is reported, which achieves high lithium recovery capacity and rate through the use of materials with efficient intercalated pseudo-capacitance and a high specific area porous carbon. The use of a modified thin-coated membrane allows for selective Li+ recovery, and adjusting the concentrations of Li+ and Mg2+ in the feed solution enables higher Li+/Mg2+ selectivity.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Mohamed R. Salem, R. Y. Sakr, Ghazy M. R. Assassa, Omar A. Aly
Summary: This research proposes a new method of using wasted thermal energies as an additional heating source for solar still distillation units (SSDUs) to increase productivity and reduce pollution and global warming. By testing two SSDUs, the study shows that heating airflow can raise temperatures, enhance freshwater production, and improve system thermal efficiency.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Qimeng Sun, Miao Sun, Linyan Yang, Yuan Gao, Xinghai Zhou, Lihua Lyu, Chunyan Wei
Summary: This study presents an innovative design and fabrication of a fabric-based conical roll (FCR) evaporator, which enables low-temperature evaporation and achieves high evaporation efficiency with excellent thermal management ability. The evaporator has demonstrated advanced light-harvesting capability and can produce freshwater that meets drinking water standards, showing great potential for applications in desalination and sewage treatment.
Article
Engineering, Chemical
Yidong Zhang, Wangfang Deng, Meiyan Wu, Chao Liu, Guang Yu, Qiu Cui, Pedram Fatehi, Chunlin Xu, Bin Li
Summary: In this study, a novel polydopamine-functionalized lignin-containing pulp foam evaporator with high-efficiency desalination and multi-contaminant adsorption capabilities was designed. The foam evaporator showed excellent light absorption, water absorption, thermal conductivity, and chelation abilities, allowing for solar evaporation and contaminant adsorption synergistically. It also exhibited potential applications in metal ion concentration and contaminated seawater treatments, and demonstrated superior biodegradability compared to poly-styrene foam. This foam material holds promise for developing multifunctional photo-thermal systems for solar-driven water purification.
