Journal of water process engineering最新文献

{"title":"Transforming microalgae into high-performance biochar for circular and sustainable wastewater treatment","authors":"Malak Bandar Omair ,&nbsp;Mahammad Ali Saritala ,&nbsp;Ahmad Nawaz ,&nbsp;Shaikh Abdur Razzak","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109691","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109691","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing rates of industrialization and urbanization have worsened the problem of wastewater pollution, and traditional methods of treatment are limited by energy use, cost of operation, and low effectiveness against emerging pollutants. Microalgae-derived biochar is becoming a multi-purpose and sustainable adsorbent based on its good biochemical structure, good mineral content, and tunable surface characteristics. The current review critically discusses the recent advances in thermochemical conversion of microalgal biomass using pyrolysis, hydrothermal carbonization, and torrefaction, coupled with physical and chemical activation processes, to obtain adsorbents with high performance in wastewater remediation. Biomass characteristics, conversion, strategies of activation, and adsorption mechanisms have been discussed systematically with a concentration on ion exchange, electrostatic attraction, π-π interaction, hydrogen bonding, or surface complexation. Microalgae-derived biochars consistently outperform lignocellulosic biochars, exhibiting adsorption capacities of up to ~480 mg/g for Cd²⁺ and near-complete removal of dyes and selected pharmaceuticals. Kinetic and isotherm analyses reveal that adsorption typically follows Langmuir and pseudo-second-order models, indicating monolayer chemisorption and strong surface–pollutant interactions. A framework of feedstock-to-function that connects microalgal characteristics, thermochemical treatment, and surface functionality to rational adsorbent design has been established in a circular bioeconomy context. To aid the transition of the laboratory scale study to the industrial scale, future research studies need to focus on optimization of conversion and regeneration, thorough techno-economic and life-cycle analysis, as well as performance validation within a real wastewater matrix to enable the laboratory scale research to be translated to the industrial scale.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 109691"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386491","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":"Electrospun biofunctionalized chitosan-polyvinyl alcohol/V–MOF nanofiber membrane for high-performance Ni(II) adsorption: Mechanistic insight, reusability and process optimization","authors":"Saham F. Ibarhiam ,&nbsp;Ahmed H. Jawhari","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109738","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109738","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study successfully synthesized a vanadium-based metal-organic framework loaded on a chitosan/polyvinyl alcohol nanofiber membrane (abbreviated as VMCP) via the electrospinning technique. The composite was then applied as an efficient bio-based adsorbent for Ni(II) ions removal from aqueous solutions. Extensive structural characterization using XRD, FT-IR, BET surface area analysis, SEM-EDS, and XPS verified the successful preparation of a hybrid organic-inorganic membrane with mesoporous structure and improved surface functionality as well as the even distribution of the V-MOF within the polymer matrix. The uptake of Ni(II) was significantly influenced by limits such as pH, contact time, dosage, and ionic strength in batch adsorption studies. The equilibrium adsorption data were best fitted to the Langmuir isotherm with a maximum adsorption capacity of 325.2 mg/g at 298 K. Kinetic study specified that pseudo-second-order kinetics governed adsorption; hence it could be inferred that chemisorption was the major mechanism through amino, hydroxyl, and carboxylate functional group interactions. Using Response Surface Methodology through Box–Behnken Design validated operational variables' statistical significance and achieved process optimization with desirability equal to 0.992. This membrane showed how much tolerance toward competing ions when achieving high removal efficiencies in different real-world matrices like tap water (96.4%), wastewater (92.2%), and seawater (81.6%). Tests on regeneration showed good reusability since it kept 84.2% of its initial ability to adsorb after six cycles of using an agent to help pull out the material with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Studies about mechanisms indicated a joint way involving surface complexation and filling up spaces characterized by Ni<img>O and Ni<img>N coordination interactions. These findings highlight VMCP's potential as a high-performing, recyclable, and sustainable biopolymer-based membrane with prospective uses in heavy-metal removal and wastewater treatment in industries.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 109738"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386564","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":"Effects of feeding strategies on aerobic granular sludge granulation and system stability","authors":"Chundi Gao,&nbsp;Xuening Chang,&nbsp;Jiaxin Liu,&nbsp;Shi Wang,&nbsp;Chen Jia,&nbsp;Yongzhen Peng","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Aerobic granular sludge (AGS) is an emerging biological wastewater treatment technology, yet its application is constrained due to slow system startup and challenges in achieving long-term stability. In this study, initial and long-term variations in sludge characteristics and microbial community structure were investigated under different feeding systems to provide a theoretical foundation for addressing bulking and stability issues related to AGS. Compared to the step-feeding system, single-feeding system featured a longer starvation period, which helps enhance sludge flocculation capacity. Consequently, single-feeding system led to faster sludge granulation, yielding denser particles. By day 9, the average particle size reached 202 μm under single-feeding system, and the sludge volume index (SVI) exceeded 70 mL/g by day 69. In contrast, under step-feeding system, particle size was only 189 μm on day 9, while the SVI reached 72.50 mL/g by day 30, indicating relatively poor stability. Furthermore, step feeding induced the growth of filamentous fungi. Different feeding systems caused significant divergence in microbial community composition. In Stage II, <em>Zoogloea</em> dominated the single-feeding system, promoting granulation and sludge settling. While <em>Sphaerotilus</em> dominated the step-feeding system, extending hyphae outward from the AGS and causing sludge bulking. In both systems, the relative abundance levels of <em>Lichenostigmatales_gen_Incertae_sedis</em> were 45.91% and 97.81%, respectively. These shifts led to poor sludge stability in both systems by days 84 and 72, respectively. Additionally, under step-feeding system, high growth of filamentous fungi resulted in increased production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), thereby elevating viscosity and reducing the settling of AGS.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109631"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190633","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":"Facile preparation of PDMS/CuS@MS with synergistic photo/electro-thermal conversion for all-weather remediation of spilled viscous crude oil","authors":"Guojun Jiang ,&nbsp;Liyin Qian ,&nbsp;Chenyang Ruan ,&nbsp;Taiming Chai ,&nbsp;Chenkun Ye ,&nbsp;Keliang Yu ,&nbsp;Yitian Pan ,&nbsp;Jiayao Liu ,&nbsp;Jiajun Zhao ,&nbsp;Sheng Xie ,&nbsp;Xiangyu Ye","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109720","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109720","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The development of heatable sorbents is necessary for the efficient removal of high-viscosity crude oil spills and has garnered significant research attention. In this study, commercial melamine sponge (MS) was decorated with copper sulfide (CuS) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) to fabricate PDMS/CuS@MS as an all-weather sorbent with a synergistic photo/electro-thermal effect for cleaning up viscous crude oils. PDMS/CuS@MS exhibited a high absorption capacity for oils (31.1–45.8 g g⁻¹). Owing to the remarkable photo/electro-thermal conversion characteristics of CuS nanoparticles, the temperature of the PDMS/CuS@MS could reach 82.4 °C under 1 sun irradiation or 96.2 °C at a voltage of 3.0 V. This substantially increased the fluidity of crude oil and demonstrated the adaptability of the sorbent to diverse weather conditions. Notably, PDMS/CuS@MS could efficiently remove crude oil with an oil flux of 458.5 kg m⁻² h⁻¹ by solar irradiation of 0.5 kW m⁻² coupled with a voltage of 2.5 V. Consequently, this study offers a promising approach for the efficient fabrication of an all-weather sorbent for crude oil spills.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"84 ","pages":"Article 109720"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147386562","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":"Fabrication of corrosion-resistant superhydrophobic nickel‑cobalt layered double hydroxide coating on copper mesh for oil-water separation","authors":"Yufeng Liu ,&nbsp;Mingzhe Bi ,&nbsp;Ziqi You ,&nbsp;Ruina Ma ,&nbsp;Yongzhe Fan ,&nbsp;An Du ,&nbsp;Xue Zhao ,&nbsp;Mingxu Yang","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109607","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109607","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A superhydrophobic coating based on nickel‑cobalt layered double hydroxide (NiCo-LDH) was fabricated on a copper mesh via a hydrothermal method. The resulting surface exhibits a dual-scale roughness composed of needle-like and lamellar micro-/nanostructures, which contributes to the coated mesh's excellent stability, efficient oil-water separation capability, and enhanced corrosion resistance. After hydrothermal treatment at 90 °C for 4 h and modification with an ethanolic stearic acid solution, the surface achieved a water contact angle of 163.8° ± 3°, confirming its superhydrophobicity. In a 3.5 wt% NaCl solution, the coated mesh showed a low corrosion current density of 1.212 × 10⁻⁸ A/cm², corresponding to a protection efficiency of 99.94%. This superior corrosion resistance is attributed to the dense physical barrier formed by the NiCo-LDH coating, its ability to capture Cl⁻, and the air-cushion effect inherent to the superhydrophobic surface, which collectively inhibit the penetration of corrosive species. For oil-water separation, the superhydrophobic NiCo-LDH-coated mesh demonstrated significantly improved performance across various oil-water mixtures, reaching a maximum separation efficiency of 99.1%. This improvement is ascribed to the constructed needle-like and lamellar hierarchical microstructure, which promotes selective wettability. Moreover, after 60 consecutive separation cycles using an n-hexane-water mixture, the separation efficiency remained above 97%, underscoring the coating's good durability and recyclability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109607"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190324","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":"Study on TiO2–MnO2 composites for the simultaneous removal of antibiotics, ammonia nitrogen, and heavy metals from water: Adsorption behaviors and mechanisms","authors":"Haoxiang Yang ,&nbsp;Juan Wang ,&nbsp;Runying Bai ,&nbsp;Tongan Kang ,&nbsp;Siyu Zhao ,&nbsp;Shuwei Liu ,&nbsp;Rui Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109654","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109654","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Adsorption is a promising strategy for removing antibiotics (norfloxacin, NOR), ammonia nitrogen (NH₄⁺), and heavy metals (Cu²⁺) from livestock and poultry wastewater. However, existing adsorbents are unable to efficiently remove all three pollutants simultaneously, and NH₄⁺ removal remains particularly limited. Moreover, the coexistence of multiple pollutants often suppresses NH₄⁺ adsorption, making it a critical bottleneck in composite adsorbent design. In this study, an inorganic composite, TiO₂–MnO₂–0.38, was synthesized by combining amorphous titanium dioxide (TiO₂), which selectively adsorbs NOR, with freshly prepared MnO₂, which removes NH₄⁺ and Cu²⁺. The composite exhibited synergistic effects: TiO₂ enhanced the NH₄⁺ removal capacity of MnO₂ by 144% and improved Cu²⁺ removal by 5%, whereas MnO₂ increased NOR removal by 15.1%. The adsorption mechanisms included electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding, ligand exchange, redox reactions and complexation. Kinetic analysis revealed that the adsorption of all three pollutants followed a pseudo-second-order model, indicating endothermic monolayer chemisorption. At pH 6 and 25 °C, the maximum adsorption capacities in single-pollutant systems were 116.97 mg/g (NOR), 28.58 mg/g (NH₄⁺), and 146.05 mg/g (Cu²⁺). In ternary systems, the capacities were 34.78 mg/g, 18.69 mg/g, and 69.12 mg/g, respectively. While NOR promoted NH₄⁺ adsorption by 16.7%, antagonistic effects dominated other binary interactions, reducing adsorption by 18.5–42.6%. The composite showed no evidence of secondary pollution and maintained effective performance over multiple reuse cycles. These findings demonstrate that TiO₂–MnO₂–0.38 is a novel, efficient, and recyclable adsorbent, providing a foundation for engineering applications in livestock and poultry wastewater treatment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109654"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190356","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":"Combined effect of different calcination temperatures and non-equilibrium low-pressure plasma on photocatalytic activity of bi-phasic heterostructured CuMoO4-ZrO2/GO composite","authors":"Mahwish Iqbal ,&nbsp;Tehmeena Ishaq ,&nbsp;Muhammad Ahsan Rashid ,&nbsp;Mahreen Iqbal ,&nbsp;Haq Nawaz Bhatti","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109643","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109643","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In this work, a hierarchical tertiary copper molybdate-decorated zirconium dioxide deposited graphene oxide (CuMoO₄-ZrO₂/GO) composite was synthesized by co-precipitation method followed by calcination at 550, 650, and 750 °C, and subsequently treated with non-equilibrium low-pressure plasma (NELPP). As-prepared heterostructures were investigated for photodegradation of Basic fuchsin dye, catalytic inactivation of <em>E. coli</em> and <em>S. aureus</em>, and antioxidant potential against 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals. Effects of calcination temperatures together with NELPP treatment on opto-physical attributes of nanocomposites were investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Field emission-scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive x-ray spectroscopy, Dynamic light scattering, Fourier-transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, UV–visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence spectroscopy, Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and thermal behavior of CuMoO₄-ZrO₂/GO was investigated by Thermogravimetric analysis. Compared to untreated composites, NELPP treated (NELPPT) composites displayed significantly enhanced degradation efficiency, with the NELPPT-750 °C showed highest performance (99.5%) at pH = 6, catalyst dosage = 20 mgL⁻¹, and dye concentration/contact time = 10 mgL⁻¹/30 min. Pseudo-first-order kinetic model was best fitted to experimental data. Heated-electrospray-ionization-tandem mass spectrometry demonstrated successful photodegradation of BF to environmentally-safer compounds. Research findings demonstrated that elevated calcination temperature and NELPP treatment synergistically improved the photocatalytic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties of CuMoO₄-ZrO₂/GO through tuning its crystalline structure, electronic interactions, and surface chemistry. Thus, high-temperature calcined NELPP-modified CuMoO₄-ZrO₂/GO composites could be effectively applied as antibacterial photocatalysts to breakdown organic contaminants in aqueous solution for multiple cycles.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109643"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190372","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":"Detoxification of atrazine-contaminated wastewater by granular sludge","authors":"Mariana Costa ,&nbsp;Daniela P. Mesquita ,&nbsp;Andreia F. Salvador ,&nbsp;Ana R. Silva ,&nbsp;Eugénio C. Ferreira ,&nbsp;Cristina Quintelas","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109550","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109550","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Atrazine (ATZ) is a widely used herbicide associated with ecological and human health risks, making its removal from wastewater a priority. This study evaluates, for the first time, the performance of an aerobic granular sludge sequencing batch reactor (AGS-SBR) for the detoxification of ATZ-contaminated wastewater. The system consistently achieved high removal efficiencies (≥95%) of organic matter and phosphate. Nitrifying bacteria, on the other hand, were inhibited during ATZ exposure but rapidly recovered their metabolic activity every time ATZ supply was suspended, reaching 97% ammonium uptake. Despite fluctuations in ATZ removal (−4–45% removal efficiency), the system was able to reduce the contaminated wastewater by up to 78%, supported by stable and compact granules with excellent settling properties. Increased production of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) possibly contributed to microbial protection and prevented granule disintegration under toxic stress. Prolonged ATZ exposure led to a marked reduction in microbial diversity, with a final community dominated by <em>Corynebacterium</em> (80% of total microbial population)<em>.</em> 16S rRNA sequencing combined with in silico inspection suggests that this genus may play a key role in ATZ biotransformation. Overall, the findings of this study demonstrate the robustness and bioremediation potential of AGS technology for treating wastewater containing persistent pesticides, even under elevated toxic concentrations, as well as the potential of <em>Corynebacterium</em> genus form enhancing ATZ removal in biological systems. More research should focus on the specific contributions of this genus to ATZ degradation pathways.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109550"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190602","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":"Recycling microfiltration permeate for microalgal cultivation: Quantitative fouling analysis and phenotype-dependent growth performance","authors":"Alexandre Carvalho ,&nbsp;Rosane Rech ,&nbsp;Isabel Cristina Tessaro ,&nbsp;Nilson Romeu Marcílio","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109569","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109569","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Biomass recovery represents up to 30% of the total energy demand in large-scale microalgae production. Crossflow microfiltration (MF, 0.22 μm PVDF) provides a gentle, scalable harvesting route, generating a concentrated retentate and a nutrient-rich permeate that is typically discarded. This study evaluates the reuse of MF permeate as a culture medium, comparing a cell-walled strain (<em>Chlorella</em> sp.) and a wall-less, motile strain (<em>Dunaliella tertiolecta</em>). Permeate was tested under two formulations: nitrate only and nitrate plus micronutrients and benchmarked against the standard medium (control). Growth trials (<em>n</em> = 2) revealed distinct phenotypic responses: <em>Chlorella</em> sp. reached 1.30 ± 0.05 g L⁻¹ in the control, 0.80 ± 0.05 g L⁻¹ in permeate enriched with micronutrients, and 0.20 ± 0.02 g L⁻¹ in direct permeate, whereas <em>D. tertiolecta</em> achieved 1.43 ± 0.01 g L⁻¹ in enriched permeate, exceeding the control (0.98 ± 0.02 g L⁻¹) and direct permeate (1.02 ± 0.04 g L⁻¹). Diafiltration (DF) improved permeate quality by reducing conductivity from 8.5 mS cm⁻¹ to 5.0 mS cm⁻¹ (38–42%), while steady-state permeate flux ranged from 14 to 25 L m⁻² h⁻¹. Fouling analysis using the Hermia–Field model indicated cake-layer formation (R² = 0.98) for <em>Chlorella</em> sp. and mixed standard–cake mechanisms for <em>D. tertiolecta</em>. MF-permeate recycling thus emerges as a phenotype-dependent strategy to reduce freshwater and nutrient demand by approximately 40%, representing the first application of Hermia–Field fouling analysis to <em>D. tertiolecta</em> and the first phenotype-resolved comparison of recycled-medium performance.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109569"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190603","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":"Insight into the synergistic adsorption mechanism of a novel biochar-bentonite composite for malachite green removal: A DFT-guided study","authors":"Abdelouassia Dira ,&nbsp;Abdelilah Ayad ,&nbsp;Achraf Harrou ,&nbsp;Abdelhakim Elmouwahidi ,&nbsp;Francisco Carrasco-Marin ,&nbsp;Elkhadir Gharibi","doi":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109623","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.jwpe.2026.109623","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study presents a novel biochar-bentonite composite prepared through the co-pyrolysis of rosemary residues and Moroccan bentonite for the efficient removal of Malachite Green (MG) from aqueous solutions. Comprehensive characterization (XRD, ATR-FTIR, SEM-EDS, XRF, BET, pH_PZC) confirmed successful physicochemical integration between organic and inorganic phases, creating synergistic adsorption sites with enhanced textural properties. The optimized composite (S/B-1/2–500) achieved a maximum MG adsorption capacity of 125 mg/g, representing a 2.1-fold improvement over pristine biochars (59–71 mg/g) while utilizing low-cost precursors. Adsorption followed the Langmuir isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetics, indicating monolayer chemisorption as the dominant mechanism. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations revealed MG's high electrophilicity (ω = 7.428 eV) and confirmed a dual adsorption mechanism: π-π interactions with biochar's aromatic domains and electrostatic/ion-exchange binding with bentonite surfaces. Thermodynamic analysis further demonstrated that the adsorption process was spontaneous and endothermic, with increased randomness at the solid-solution interface. The lowered point of zero charge (pH_PZC) of the composite facilitated cationic dye uptake at acidic pH, demonstrating that surface chemistry dominates over surface area in adsorption performance. Leaching tests of the composite revealed negligible release of trace metals, confirming compliance with European non-hazardous waste criteria and minimal environmental risk. This work establishes an integrated experimental-theoretical framework for rational design of sustainable hybrid adsorbents, demonstrating effective valorization of agricultural residues and natural clays into high-performance materials for scalable wastewater treatment applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":17528,"journal":{"name":"Journal of water process engineering","volume":"83 ","pages":"Article 109623"},"PeriodicalIF":6.7,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146190632","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}