Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology最新文献

{"title":"Evaluation of pharmaceutical removal through a full-scale UASB-CW system in a water-scarce Mediterranean region†","authors":"Marc Castaño-Trias, Lucas Alonso, Constantinos Noutsopoulos, Taxiarchis Seintos, Natalia Saez, Sara Rodríguez-Mozaz and Gianluigi Buttiglieri","doi":"10.1039/D4EW01085J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW01085J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In a world threatened by water scarcity, the use of non-conventional water sources, as reclaimed wastewater, for irrigation purposes is a promising option. Nonetheless, a suitable water treatment strategy must be implemented to reduce the concentration of emerging contaminants such as pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs). Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) technology is characterized by lower sludge production, lower energy demand as well as lower construction and operational costs compared with conventional activated sludge systems. In this work, the efficiency of a UASB system coupled to a constructed wetland (UASB-CW) was evaluated for the removal of pharmaceuticals present in urban wastewater on a Greek Island in a Mediterranean area suffering from water scarcity. Results showed that influent wastewater (IWW) concentrations in summer doubled in fall (238 856 ng L<small>⁻¹</small> and 95 057 ng L<small>⁻¹</small>, respectively). The UASB reactor achieved a high removal efficiency for PhACs, particularly for acetaminophen (the most concentrated PhAC in the IWW), with removal rates of 88% in fall and 90% in summer, while exhibiting lower removal rates for other PhACs. The CW, however, decreased the concentration of most pharmaceuticals. The overall removal rate of the system ranged between 64% (summer) and 69% (fall) of the total IWW concentrations. Upon irrigation with reclaimed water, the impacts on the aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems were also considered. Effluent dilution and/or further polishing treatment would be necessary to better eliminate the contaminants and prevent any risk to the environment.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1936-1950"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687814","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Fabrication of dual-sited Cu doped Co3O4 on nickel foam (Cu–Co3O4/NF) for segmentally efficient electrochemical nitrate reduction under low conductivity†","authors":"Xueqi Tao, Shuaishuai Man, Qun Yan, Athanasia Tekerlekopoulou, Dimitris V. Vayenas and Bin Huang","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00462D","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00462D","url":null,"abstract":"<p >To tackle the removal of low-concentration nitrate contamination, this work utilizes electrocatalytic reduction technology to effectively convert nitrate into recoverable ammonia, using as-prepared Cu doped Co<small>₃</small>O<small>₄</small> on nickel foam (Cu–Co<small>₃</small>O<small>₄</small>/NF) composites as the cathode. This electrode demonstrated exceptional electrocatalytic activity in simulated groundwater with low nitrate concentrations and low conductivity (around 3000 μS cm<small>⁻¹</small>). With the simulated groundwater containing 50 mg L<small>⁻¹</small> of nitrate nitrogen, the electrode achieved a removal efficiency of 96.78% within 2 hours, with ammonia nitrogen selectivity reaching 97.58%. Moreover, the nitrate removal rate remained stable above 95% even after nine consecutive cycles of operation, indicating the reliability and stability of the fabricated dual-sited Cu–Co<small>₃</small>O<small>₄</small>/NF cathode. Finally, it was demonstrated that Cu doping could reduce the RDS (*NO → *NOH) thermodynamic energy barrier, and then optimize the eNO<small>₃</small>RR pathway through DFT computation. Therefore, this work offers an economically viable, efficient, and sustainable solution for the remediation of low-concentration nitrate-contaminated groundwater, through circumventing additional costs and secondary pollution risks associated with the use of electrolytes.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 9","pages":" 2161-2173"},"PeriodicalIF":3.1,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144880685","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Efficient removal of short- and long-chain perfluoroalkyl carboxylate acids from surface water matrices using a quaternary ammonium functionalized adsorbent derived from waste Karanja shells†","authors":"Mohd Ahmed Naim Shaikh and Tabish Nawaz","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00320B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00320B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) have garnered significant global attention due to their widespread use in consumer products, persistence in environmental media, potential toxicity, and high bioaccumulation. Regulatory and voluntary phase-out initiatives targeting long-chain PFASs have led to increased usage of short-chain PFASs, which are now frequently detected in aquatic environments. The shorter chain length increases their mobility and persistence in aquatic environments, posing a significant risk of toxicity as well as complicating remediation efforts. This study investigates the efficacy of an activated carbon (AC) synthesized from waste Karanja shells for the removal of both short- and long-chain PFASs, specifically perfluoropropanoic acid (PFPrA) (C3), perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) (C4), perfluoropentanoic acid (PFPeA) (C5), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) (C8). The surface of the adsorbent was impregnated with a quaternary ammonium group using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) to improve its electrostatic interaction effects. The adsorbent demonstrated high removal efficiencies, achieving ∼90% removal of PFPrA and PFBA, and ∼95% for PFPeA and PFOA at an initial concentration of 100 μg L<small>⁻¹</small>, comparable to the performance of commercially available ion-exchange resins tested under the same conditions in the present study. The adsorption performance of the AC was significantly influenced by the PFAS chain length, with longer-chain PFOA exhibiting higher selectivity and adsorption capacities as compared to the short-chain PFASs; however, conversely the adsorbent exhibited faster kinetics for the short-chain PFASs as reflected in the relative values of the respective rate constants of each PFAS studied. In continuous flow packed-bed columns, the adsorbent's selectivity followed the order: PFPrA (C3) &lt; PFBS (C4) &lt; PFPeA (C5) &lt; PFOA (C8). The presence of the background divalent cations and anions of the river water matrix significantly reduced the breakthrough times of PFPrA (C3) and PFBA (C4) from 930 to 230 BV and 1260 to 550 BV, respectively. A solution containing 50% methanol with 1% NH<small>₄</small>OH exhibited a higher value for PFAS desorption among all the tested specs of regenerants. These findings suggest that the waste-derived surface functionalized adsorbent offers a cost-effective and environmentally sustainable option for short-chain PFAS remediation in contaminated water sources, with the added benefit of utilizing the repurposed waste material.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 2002-2016"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687818","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Wastewater irrigation impacts on seed germination and seedling growth of rice (Oryza sativa), tomato (Solanum lycopersicum), and mustard (Brassica napus) crops†","authors":"Md. Kamrul Hasan, Mahfuza Pervin, Tushar Kanti Das, Abdur Rakib, Kamrun Nahar Mousomi and Jannat Shopan","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00324E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00324E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Wastewater, particularly industrial water, is being utilised to irrigate agricultural fields owing to the scarcity of freshwater for irrigation. In the present experiment, irrigation wastewater was collected from three different agriculture farms in the Sylhet region of Bangladesh, and their suitability for seed germination and the growth performance of rice (<em>Oryza sativa</em>), tomato (<em>Solanum lycopersicum</em>), and mustard (<em>Brassica napus</em>) crops were evaluated. Biochemical analysis revealed that untreated irrigation wastewater (UTW) contained the heavy metals Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb and Zn at moderate toxicity levels and Ca and Fe at higher toxicity levels. Consequently, wastewater irrigation showed a significant inhibitory effect on seed germination and seedling growth performance (biomass accumulation and root/shoot length ratio) in all crop varieties and regions. Additionally, wastewater irrigation increased seedling mortality by approximately 10–30% and elevated levels of H<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>, electrolyte leakage (EL), and malondialdehyde (MDA) in all crop species, indicating enhanced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation. Similarly, industrial wastewater treatment showed inhibitory effects on antioxidant content together with high oxidative stress, reflecting adverse impacts on seed germination and seedling growth.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1924-1935"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687797","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Life cycle assessment on methods for polyhydroxyalkanoate extraction from aerobic granules","authors":"Rong Er Lim, Syahirah Faraheen Kabir Ahmad, Gobi Kanadasan and Vel Murugan Vadivelu","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00335K","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00335K","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Aerobic granules were cultivated to accumulate polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA) using palm oil mill effluent (POME) in a sequencing batch reactor (SBR). Five PHA extraction methods using different cell digestion chemicals, namely, sodium hypochlorite, acetone, sodium chloride, and sodium hydroxide, and without chemicals (control), were studied to identify the most environmentally friendly method and the most contributing factor within the methods. Method 1 (sodium hypochlorite) and method 2 (acetone) provided PHA yields of approximately 85% cell dry weight (CDW). The PHA that was recovered was a P3(HB-<em>co</em>-HV) co-polymer. SimaPro software version 8.5, developed by PRé Sustainability, was used to analyze the impact of the extraction methods on seven selected impact categories. Life cycle impact assessment of each of the methods for the production of 1 kg of dried PHA indicated that methods 1 (sodium hypochlorite) and 2 (acetone) had the lowest impact on all impact categories studied. It was found that the cultivation process of aerobic granules, electricity consumption, and usage of trichloromethane during PHA extraction were major contributors to all the impact categories.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1966-1976"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687816","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Novel coal fly ash–chitosan composite for highly efficient, cost-effective and stable removal of lead and chromium from industrial wastewater†","authors":"Khandgave Santosh Sopanrao and Inkollu Sreedhar","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00257E","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00257E","url":null,"abstract":"<p >In the present study, a novel and economical adsorbent was synthesized from a coal fly ash–chitosan composite to remove Pb<small>²⁺</small> and Cr<small>⁶⁺</small> from aqueous solutions. The characterization of the adsorbent under optimal conditions revealed that it was mesoporous and rich in different functional groups, which enhanced its adsorption properties. The optimal conditions for the adsorption process were achieved at three levels. At the first level, the optimal conditions for fly ash calcination (300 °C for 2 h), H<small>₃</small>PO<small>₄</small> concentration (0.4 mol L<small>⁻¹</small>), MFA–CS ratio (3 : 1), and effective morphology (nanopowder) for Pb<small>²⁺</small> and Cr<small>⁶⁺</small> removal were achieved. At the second level, response surface methodology achieved adsorption capacities of 339.27 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Pb<small>²⁺</small> removal and 242.84 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Cr<small>⁶⁺</small> removal under optimal conditions. The third level involved pH standardization, which further enhanced the adsorption capacities to 352.19 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Pb<small>²⁺</small> removal and 265.13 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Cr<small>⁶⁺</small> removal. These results were well fitted by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm models, demonstrating that the adsorption progressed <em>via</em> monolayer chemisorption. Removal efficiencies of 86.78% and 67.09% were obtained for Pb<small>²⁺</small> and Cr<small>⁶⁺</small>, respectively, during their simultaneous removal. Thermodynamic studies confirmed the spontaneity of the adsorption process. The adsorbent demonstrated reusability, retaining its performance over 15 regeneration cycles. In column studies, maximum adsorption capacities of 255.61 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Pb<small>²⁺</small> and 42.08 mg g<small>⁻¹</small> for Cr<small>⁶⁺</small> were achieved, described well by the Thomas model. This cost-effective adsorbent, driven by ion exchange and surface complexation mechanisms, holds significant promise for wastewater treatment.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1977-2001"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ew/d5ew00257e?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687817","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Oxygen vacancy-engineered Bi2O2CO3 nanosheets for enhanced photodegradation of pharmaceuticals and personal care products in water†","authors":"Helena Pérez del Pulgar, Josefa Ortiz-Bustos, Santiago Gómez-Ruiz, Isabel del Hierro and Yolanda Pérez","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00367A","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00367A","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Defect engineering has emerged as a versatile approach for tailoring the properties of materials to meet specific functional applications and improve their properties. In the context of environmental remediation, the introduction of surface oxygen vacancies in semiconductor materials has demonstrated to be a highly effective strategy to enhance molecular adsorption and contaminants' degradation. Herein, we reported the synthesis of Bi<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> nanosheets with surface oxygen vacancies (OVs) <em>via</em> the controlled addition of an accessible, non-toxic and versatile ionic liquid, choline hydroxide. The presence of OVs was confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electrochemical techniques, including cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Upon optimizing the concentration of choline hydroxide, it was found that the addition of 10% of choline hydroxide yielded a material, Chol10%-Bi<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small>, with significantly enhanced adsorptive and photocatalytic performance. This material efficiently removed not only antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin (97.5% in 20 min) and sulfamethoxazole (98.5% in 60 min), but also a UV filter compound, benzophenone-4 (92.4% in 180 min), which are representative of pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) of high environmental concern. Mechanistic studies into reactive oxygen species involved in the photocatalytic process, together with a thorough study of the energy band structure, revealed that Chol10%-Bi<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> generates both hydroxyl (OH·) and superoxide (·O<small>₂</small><small>⁻</small>) radicals, which are essential for the efficient degradation of the recalcitrant UV filter compound, showing the potential of oxygen vacancy-engineered Bi<small>₂</small>O<small>₂</small>CO<small>₃</small> nanosheets as promising platforms for water purification and environmental remediation applications.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1951-1965"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ew/d5ew00367a?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687815","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Sustainable water management through integrated technologies and circular resource recovery","authors":"Ashok K. Pandey","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00103J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00103J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Sustainable water management increasingly necessitates integrating advanced treatment technologies with circular economy principles to achieve zero-discharge targets. Conventional physical, chemical, and biological treatment processes have evolved with a focus on process efficiency and disinfection. However, to meet the broader goals of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which include resource recovery, waste minimization, and environmental protection, there is a pressing need to move beyond standalone system-based water treatment technologies. This requires drivers such as regulations, strict enforcement of compliance and institutional support for a holistic integration of technologies that reinforce the water–energy–sanitation (WES) nexus. Emerging hybrid systems are mostly membrane-based separation, advanced oxidation, and bio-electrochemical processes, not only for contaminant removal but also for energy generation and valuable resource recovery, such as fresh water, nutrients and metals/materials. The use of low-grade industrial waste heat and renewable energy sources, coupled with energy storage technologies, enhances the sustainability and resilience of these systems. Radiation-based sterilization, real-time monitoring using sensors, and closed-loop water reuse systems further support zero-discharge operations and regulatory compliance. Desalination brine and sludge management, end-of-life membrane recycling, and nutrient recovery are critical components requiring integrated solutions. When designed effectively, these systems reduce carbon footprints and environmental burden, recover valuable water and resources, and support decentralized treatment models. This perspective explores how multi-separation, energy-integrated, and resource recovery technologies can be synergistically combined to create closed-loop water treatment systems. The zero-discharge infrastructure and strengthening interconnections across water, energy, and sanitation domains would achieve the objectives of 11 of 17 SDGs directly or indirectly.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1822-1846"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687831","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Integrating activated carbon into conventional sand filtration boosts biological Mn(ii) removal efficiency†","authors":"Qi Chen, Bin Wu, Yuliang Su, Huidong Shen, Guohang Han, Shengtao Chen, Baoyou Shi and Guiwei Li","doi":"10.1039/D5EW00344J","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D5EW00344J","url":null,"abstract":"<p >Efficient manganese removal at water treatment plants is becoming increasingly significant due to growing health and aesthetic concerns associated with Mn in drinking water. Recently, biological granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration has demonstrated effectiveness in removing dissolved Mn(<small>II</small>) biologically. However, most water treatment plants continue to rely on conventional sand filtration. To enhance biological Mn(<small>II</small>) removal on the basis of sand filtration remains a challenge. This study aimed to explore whether partially integrating GAC into sand filters could significantly enhance Mn(<small>II</small>) removal. Results showed that even a 25% replacement of sand with GAC enabled rapid filter maturation and Mn(<small>II</small>) removal efficiency that was statistically comparable to the 100% GAC filter (<em>p</em> &gt; 0.05), with marked improvement over the 100% sand filter. Solid analysis revealed that GAC media facilitated biomass accumulation that was 25 times greater than that observed with sand, and biogenic MnO<small>_<em>x</em></small> also adhered more strongly to GAC surfaces. This caused the GAC portion of the GAC–sand filter to play a dominant role in Mn(<small>II</small>) removal. Additionally, the GAC media fostered both biomass growth and MnO<small>_<em>x</em></small> accumulation in the underlying sand layer, enabling the sand portion to remove more Mn(<small>II</small>). This proof-of-concept study highlighted a promising strategy for addressing Mn issues by integrating GAC into sand filtration systems without requiring substantial infrastructure modifications.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1861-1867"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687833","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Elimination of miconazole nitrate from water by electro-Fenton: effect of operating parameters and degradation pathway†","authors":"Nadia Gadi, Allisson Barros de Souza, Nadine C. Boelee, Deirdre Cabooter and Raf Dewil","doi":"10.1039/D4EW00508B","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1039/D4EW00508B","url":null,"abstract":"<p >This study investigates the removal of miconazole, a widely used pharmaceutical, from water using the electro-Fenton process. By systematically evaluating key parameters such as applied current intensity (10–500 mA), catalyst concentration (0.1–1.0 mM Fe<small>²⁺</small>), and water matrix composition, optimal conditions for maximizing pollutant removal efficiency were identified. The highest first-order oxidation rate constant of 36.4 × 10<small>⁻²</small> min<small>⁻¹</small> was achieved under optimal conditions, demonstrating the efficiency of the electro-Fenton process. Total organic carbon (TOC) removal reached a maximum of 90% after 180 min of treatment, indicating significant mineralization of the pollutant. Ten major aromatic oxidation intermediates were identified using ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with high-resolution mass spectrometry (UHPLC-HRMS), providing valuable insight into the degradation pathways. This study stands out for its comprehensive optimization of key parameters, ensuring robust and practical application of the electro-Fenton process for pharmaceutical removal. Achieving 90% TOC removal and a high oxidation rate constant (36.4 × 10<small>⁻²</small> min<small>⁻¹</small>) demonstrates superior mineralization efficiency. The identification of ten major degradation intermediates <em>via</em> UHPLC-HRMS provides valuable insight into pollutant breakdown pathways. Additionally, by considering real water matrix effects, this work enhances the practical applicability of electro-Fenton in sustainable wastewater treatment. The obtained results highlight the electro-Fenton process as an effective and promising technology for the removal and mineralization of pharmaceutical contaminants from water, contributing to the advancement of sustainable wastewater treatment solutions.</p>","PeriodicalId":75,"journal":{"name":"Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology","volume":" 8","pages":" 1898-1908"},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2025-06-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://pubs.rsc.org/en/content/articlepdf/2025/ew/d4ew00508b?page=search","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144687837","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}