{"title":"Study on the treatment of rural sewage with microbial fuel cell-constructed wetlands enhanced by agricultural biomass","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106407","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106407","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In response to the low carbon-to‑nitrogen ratio of rural sewage after biological treatment, corn stalks, wheat straw, and rice straw were selected as additional carbon sources for the microbial fuel cell-constructed wetlands (MFC-CWs). Carbon release of the biomass was not improved obviously by NaOH pretreatment, and the removal efficiency of nitrate nitrogen from pretreated wheat straw (94.8 %) was only slightly higher than that of unpretreated straw (91.6 %). Therefore, to avoid secondary pollution caused by pretreatment, original corn stalks, wheat straw and rice straw were used as carbon sources for MFC-CWs. The concentration of chemical oxygen demand in effluent did not change obviously with the carbon sources addition, but the total nitrogen removal rates in MFC-CWs with corn stalks, wheat straw, and rice straw addition of 70 g/m<sup>2</sup> increased by 22.72 %, 16.17 % and 26.14 %, respectively. Additionally, the average output voltage increased by 12.19–33.19 mV with carbon sources addition, while the electricity generation decreased by 0.22–0.65 mW/m<sup>2</sup> after the carbon sources were removed. With the addition of biomass, abundant microorganisms associated with denitrification (<em>Cyanobacteria and unclassified_f__Rhodobacteraceae</em>), electricity generation (<em>Acidobacteriota and Proteobacteria</em>), and organic matter degradation (<em>Chloroflexi</em>, <em>Actinobacteriota</em>, and <em>Bacteroidota</em>) were observed in MFC-CWs. Therefore, the use of agricultural biomass to enhance the performance of MFC-CWs is a promising method for treating rural sewage.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554403","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Sustainable electrocoagulation for lignin valorization: Green synthesis of magnetic mesoporous activated carbon from pulp and paper industry black liquor and its application as an adsorbent for methylene blue","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106392","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106392","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The separation and valorization of lignin from cellulosic biomass are critical yet challenging processes. Conventional methods like LignoBoost and LignoForce are energy-intensive and require high capital costs. In addition, they involve hazardous chemicals such as sulfuric acid, leading to SOx emissions. This study aims to develop a sustainable and environmentally friendly electrocoagulation process (EC) for lignin separation and valorization from black liquor in the pulp and paper industry. The EC achieved a 91 % lignin removal efficiency using iron electrodes, significantly higher than conventional methods. The separated lignin was carbonized to produce magnetic mesoporous activated carbon (MMAC) in a greener manner. The MMAC was systematically characterized using SEM, XRD, Raman, BET, and FTIR techniques, revealing a surface area of 125.37 m<sup>2</sup>/g and an average pore size of 6.59 nm. MMAC demonstrated high efficiency in adsorbing 91 % of Methylene Blue from dye solution within 30 min and maintained performance over four cycles, demonstrating the potential of EC in producing high-performance MMAC.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554404","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Synergistic removal of tetracycline hydrochloride by g-C3N4/MoS2/MIL-53(Fe) photocatalysts with Fenton reaction: Photothermal effect and mechanistic analysis","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106417","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106417","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The combination of photocatalysis and Fenton technology is considered a promising technology for antibiotic wastewater treatment. In this paper, a CN/MoS<sub>2</sub>/MIL-53(Fe) double Z-scheme heterojunction catalyst with a photothermal effect was constructed. The intrinsic photothermal conversion effect of the catalyst was conducive to increasing the photo-Fenton catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the double Z-scheme heterojunction inhibits the recombination of photogenerated carriers, which improves the redox capacity. It is worth mentioning that the photo-Fenton system can remove 92.5 % of TCH in 30 min, which is 1.64 and 1.32 times higher than that of the photocatalytic and Fenton reactions, respectively, and its excellent performance was caused by the superior Fe<sup>3+</sup>/Fe<sup>2+</sup> cycling efficiency, as well as the synergistic effect between photocatalytic and Fenton reactions. The experimental results indicated that the photo-Fenton system demonstrated strong resistance to ionic interference and structural stability, confirming its potential for practical applications. Free radical trapping experiments revealed the key roles of active species such as <img>O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>, h<sup>+</sup>, <sup>1</sup>O<sub>2</sub>, and <img>OH in the removal of tetracycline hydrochloride (TCH). The possible degradation intermediates and pathways of TCH were deduced by LC-MS analysis. In addition, the toxicity analysis showed that the constructed photo-Fenton system was an environmentally friendly technique for antibiotic wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554401","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Phosphorus recovery from domestic wastewater via Candida tropicalis: Performance and mechanism","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106404","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106404","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is a widespread concern regarding the contradiction between the increasing scarcity of phosphate ore resources and the urgency of removing phosphorus from wastewater. In this study, a maximum of 168.33 mg of phosphorus was removed per gram of <em>Candida tropicalis</em> (<em>C. tropicalis</em>). The optimal fermentation conditions for phosphorus removal by <em>C. tropicalis</em> were determined through single-factor and orthogonal experiments. Phosphorus removal was up to >80 % under the conditions of glucose as sole carbon source, 60 rpm, dissolved oxygen of 7.0 mg/L, C/P of 100, N/P of 3.5, pH of 6.0, and temperature of 30 °C. 50 %–62 % and 38 %–50 % of phosphorus were transferred to yeast cells and extracellular polymers, respectively. Transcriptome analysis revealed unregulated genes of <em>sat</em>, <em>cysH</em> and <em>cysJ</em> in the sulfur metabolism under anaerobic conditions, with glutathione serving as a sulfur reservoir. A rational pathway for phosphorus metabolism was proposed, revealing phosphorus could be stored in its cells as polyphosphate under aerobic and anaerobic conditions.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554286","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Promoting removal of polystyrene microplastics from wastewater by electrochemical treatment","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106418","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106418","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastics (MPs) are emerging contaminants with potential ecological and human health impacts, necessitating effective remediation technologies. Recently, electrochemical oxidation (EO) has garnered attention as a suitable method for treating water contaminated with MPs. However, research on EO's effectiveness remains limited. This study investigates the EO treatment of 1.0 μm polystyrene (PS) MPs in a lab-scale reactor using boron-doped diamond (BDD) electrodes. Various operational parameters, such as electrolyte composition and concentration, initial PS concentration, and applied current density, were examined for their impact on PS degradation efficiency. Optimal degradation was achieved using Na<sub>2</sub>SO<sub>4</sub> (0.02 M) as a supporting electrolyte, an initial PS concentration of 60 mg L<sup>−1</sup>, and an applied current density of 60 A/m<sup>2</sup> for 5 h. The degradation mechanism likely involved indirect EO through the formation of highly oxidizing radicals rather than direct EO between the anode and PS molecules. High current densities induced morphological changes in the PS microparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy confirmed new functional groups on the PS surface, indicating oxidation. These findings suggest that EO using BDD electrodes is a promising approach for treating microplastic-polluted water. However, further studies are needed to optimize the process, particularly concerning power requirements, electrode costs, and reactor configuration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Stable surface-modified TpPa-SO3H/PVDF membrane for efficient dye separations showing excellent photocatalytic degradation performance","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106427","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106427","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fully utilizing the unique characteristics of COFs in surface-modified membranes is an ongoing research focus. Current challenges include ensuring the stability of the COFs separation layer on the membrane surface and developing environmentally friendly production methods for COFs surface-modified membranes. In this study, a simple room-temperature synthesis method was employed to prepare an aqueous colloidal solution of TpPa-SO<sub>3</sub>H. Subsequently, TpPa-SO<sub>3</sub>H nanosheets were loaded onto a hydrophobic PVDF membrane using vacuum filtration, resulting in the TpPa-SO<sub>3</sub>H/PVDF membrane. This green and efficient modification method yielded a defect-free TpPa-SO<sub>3</sub>H layer on the membrane surface, exhibiting excellent hydrophilicity (water contact angle of 50.8°). For dye separation, the TpPa-SO<sub>3</sub>H/PVDF membrane (F2) demonstrated high rejection rates (>98 %) for most dye molecules, along with good recyclability and filtration stability. Even after exposure to extreme acidic conditions, the separation performance of the modified membrane remains consistent, showcasing remarkable acid resistance. Furthermore, the prepared modified membranes exhibited effective photocatalytic degradation of various dyes (>90 %) as well as excellent stability and reusability. The modified membrane has shown significant self-cleaning effects in the three cycles of photocatalytic self-cleaning performance testing. This effectively demonstrates its potential in the domain of photocatalytic self-cleaning, exhibiting its capabilities and viability in the respective field.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554400","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Dual vacancies and S-scheme BiOBr/Bi2WO6 heterojunction synergistically boost the directional transfer of photogenerated electrons for efficient photocatalytic degradation of norfloxacin","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106372","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106372","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Defect (vacancy) engineering is a cost-effective and efficient modification strategy for S-scheme heterojunctions. In this work, S-scheme BiOBr/Bi<sub>2</sub>WO<sub>6</sub> heterojunctions with bromine vacancies (V<sub>Br</sub>) and tungsten vacancies (V<sub>W</sub>) were prepared by the NaOH etching method. The efficiencies of photodegradation of NOR for the optimal sample, V<sub>W+Br</sub>-BiOBr/Bi<sub>2</sub>WO<sub>6</sub>–3 (V<sub>W+Br</sub>-BBW), showed approximately 11.5 times improvement over Bi₂WO₆ and 2.7 times over BiOBr. The Br<img>W dual vacancies generated a polarization electric field (PEF) in V<sub>W+Br</sub>-BBW. The collaboration between the PEF and internal electric field (IEF) facilitated the directional movement of photogenerated electrons, leading to improved separation and migration of photocarriers. Owing to the synergistic effect of dual vacancies and S-scheme heterojunction, V<sub>W+Br</sub>-BBW showed superior photocatalytic performance for NOR degradation. This work presents a possible approach to incorporating dual vacancies in heterojunctions to enhance photocatalytic performance and emphasizes the pivotal role of defects in constructing the S-scheme system.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554397","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Impact of the NH4+/NO3− ratio on growth of oil-rich filamentous microalgae Tribonema minus in simulated nitrogen-rich wastewater","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106378","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106378","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study delves into the impact of varying NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N: NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N ratios in simulated nitrogen-rich wastewater on the physiological and biochemical responses of the Xanthophyceae <em>Tribonema minus</em>. Our findings revealed intriguing patterns: the maximum biomass observed was 5 g/L, which occurred in treatments containing NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N at a concentration of 60 mg/L and NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N at a concentration of 180 mg/L (mass concentration ratio of 1:3). Due to the excessive concentration of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N, the photosynthetic apparatus is damaged. When NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N exceeds 120 mg/L (ratio 1:1 of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N: NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N), growth is seriously hindered. However, increased NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N levels foster lipid accumulation. Notably, NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N removal was high across all NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N treatments, ranging from 78 %–90 %. Nitrate, ammonium, and total phosphorus removal declined with increasing NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N proportions due to limited growth of <em>Tribonema minus</em>. When NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N was 120 mg/L (ratio 1:1 of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N: NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N), the lipid content accounted for 50 % of the biochemical components, surpassing the control group without ammonium addition by 15 %. The lipid composition of <em>T. minus</em> primarily comprises palmitoleic acid, constituting around 50 % of total fatty acids, with its concentration rising at higher NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N supply. Increasing NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N also improved fatty acid profiles and biodiesel properties according to international standards. Overall, this work adds knowledge to stimulate microalgal lipid production. Not only should absolute amounts of nutrients be considered, but also the NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>-N: NO<sub>3</sub><sup>−</sup>-N ratio to optimize biomass yields with high lipid content.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554402","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Heightened photocatalytic performance of ZnMoO4 by incorporation of cobalt heteroatom to enhance oxygen defects for boosted pharmaceutical degradation","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106405","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106405","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Water pollution by pharmaceutical drugs has raised concerns as this negatively impacts human health and the entire ecological system. Herein, a highly efficient Zn<sub>1-x</sub>Co<sub>x</sub>MoO<sub>4</sub> photocatalyst with oxygen vacancy (ZCMx-O<sub>V</sub>) and enhanced visible light absorption was designed and synthesized through heteroatom inclusion. The x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and electron paramagnetic resonance confirmed the formation of oxygen vacancies, while ultraviolet-visible analysis indicated enhanced visible light absorption. The rate of tetracycline (TC) elimination by optimal ZCM2 was 6.88, 1.75, and 1.47 times higher than those of ZM, ZCM1, and ZCM3, respectively. Again, the rate of ZCM2 towards tetracycline degradation was 1.38, 1.32, and 1.26 folds in deionized water compared to diverse water matrices such as snow, tape, and lake water. Tetracycline was mainly removed by holes (h<sup>+</sup>) and superoxide (<sup>•</sup>O<sub>2</sub><sup>−</sup>) as confirmed by trapping experiments and EPR analysis. The density functional theory (DFT) Fukui index predictions confirmed vulnerable bonds of TC attacked by oxygen radicals. This study provides a fresh perspective and valid reference for designing highly active and efficient photocatalytic material through heteroatom introduction for pharmaceutical degradation and can be extended to other pollutants of emerging concern.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554287","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Intensification of adsorptive ceramic ultrafiltration membrane system by nanoclay coating and multivariate optimization of humic acid removal","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106388","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2024.106388","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this study, humic acid (HA) removal was investigated by a ceramic ultrafiltration membrane coated with nanoclay (NC). First, the adsorption capacity of NC was determined, and isotherm, kinetic, and thermodynamic studies were conducted. Second, the HA removal efficiency of the NC-coated ceramic ultrafiltration membrane was determined. Box-Behnken Design, one of the response surface methodologies, was applied to optimize the operating parameters of the membrane process and develop a mathematical model, and analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to determine the interaction between the process variables and the system responses (membrane flux and HA removal). The optimum process parameters at which maximum HA removal efficiency was achieved were as follows: HA initial concentration: 20.9 mg/L, initial pH: 3, temperature: 45.9 °C. Under optimum conditions, the estimated HA removal efficiency was 70.6 % and it was 68.1 % in the validation experiments, which were conducted to check the model. The results of the study show that it is possible to remove high amounts of humic content from the leachate NF concentrate by NC-coated ceramic membrane filtration.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":6.3,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142554399","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"工程技术","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}