Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes

Journal Name	Impact Factor	CiteScore	Launched Year	First Decision (median)	APC
Catalysts catalysts	3.9	6.3	2011	14.3 Days	CHF 2700
Materials materials	3.4	5.2	2008	13.9 Days	CHF 2600
Nanomaterials nanomaterials	5.3	7.4	2010	13.6 Days	CHF 2900
Water water	3.4	5.5	2009	16.5 Days	CHF 2600
Applied Sciences applsci	2.7	4.5	2011	16.9 Days	CHF 2400

16 pages, 3135 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Adsorption of Toxic Metals Using Hydrous Ferric Oxide Nanoparticles Embedded in Hybrid Ion-Exchange Resins

by Zizikazi Sodzidzi, Zebron Phiri, Jemal Fito Nure, Titus A. M. Msagati and Lueta-Ann de Kock

Materials 2024, 17(5), 1168; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma17051168 - 01 Mar 2024

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Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental problem caused by the release of acidic, toxic, and sulfate-rich water from mining sites. This study aimed to develop novel adsorbents for the removal of chromium (Cr(VI)), cadmium (Cd(II)), and lead (Pb(II)) from simulated and [...] Read more.

Acid mine drainage (AMD) is a major environmental problem caused by the release of acidic, toxic, and sulfate-rich water from mining sites. This study aimed to develop novel adsorbents for the removal of chromium (Cr(VI)), cadmium (Cd(II)), and lead (Pb(II)) from simulated and actual AMD using hybrid ion-exchange resins embedded with hydrous ferric oxide (HFO). Two types of resins were synthesized: anionic exchange resin (HAIX-HFO) for Cr(VI) removal and cationic exchange resin (HCIX-HFO) for Cd(II) and Pb(II) removal. The resins were characterized using scanning electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy, which confirmed the presence of HFO particles. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under acidic and sulfate-enhanced conditions to evaluate the adsorption capacity and kinetics of the resins. It was found that both resins exhibited high adsorption efficiencies and fast adsorption rates for their respective metal ions. To explore the potential adsorption on actual AMD, HCIX-HFO demonstrated significant removal of some metal ions. The saturated HCIX-HFO resin was regenerated using NaCl, and a high amount of the adsorbed Cd(II) and Pb(II) was recovered. This study demonstrates that HFO-embedded hybrid ion-exchange resins are promising adsorbents for treating AMD contaminated with heavy metals. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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19 pages, 5296 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Dewatered Sludge Decorated with Nanoparticles for Alum Sludge Conditioning towards the Concept of “End-of-Waste”

by Hossam A. Nabwey and Maha A. Tony

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(21), 2903; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13212903 - 05 Nov 2023

Viewed by 1057

Abstract

The circular economy concept is leading environmental engineering in the search for “End-of-Waste” criteria. Untreated waste residue results from drinking water treatment plants, causing severe environmental issues, and its reuse is essential. In this regard, this investigation introduces the beneficial reuses [...] Read more.

The circular economy concept is leading environmental engineering in the search for “End-of-Waste” criteria. Untreated waste residue results from drinking water treatment plants, causing severe environmental issues, and its reuse is essential. In this regard, this investigation introduces the beneficial reuses of alum sludge cake to close the loop between sludge waste generation and reuse. Considering alum sludge as a resource for dewatering instead of its categorization as a waste reflects an “End-of-Waste” approach. Alum sludge cake was thermally calcined at 400 °C and named thermally treated alum sludge cake (TAS-cake). In this study, TAS-cake decorated with magnetite with a percent weight of 5 to 1%, respectively, was labeled as TAS-cake@Fe-(5-1). X-ray diffraction (XRD) and morphologies were applied to characterize the hybrid composite. A Fenton-based hybrid composite was applied to extrude water from alum sludge for 7 min of conditioning time. Furthermore, the factorial design based on response surface methodology (RSM) was applied to optimize the operational variables. TAS-cake@Fe-(5-1) and hydrogen peroxide revealed 1.2 g/L and 740 mg/L doses at pH 3.0, showing pronounced performance and revealing the highest capillary suction time (CST) reduction, which reached 53%. A temperature increase also showed a pronounced enhancement effect on the sludge dewaterability that reached 72% when 55 °C was applied. Thus, such a novel conditioner is a promising candidate for alum sludge conditioning. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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12 pages, 3957 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Algae-Enhanced Electrospun Polyacrylonitrile Nanofibrous Membrane for High-Performance Short-Chain PFAS Remediation from Water

by Shobha Mantripragada, Dongyang Deng and Lifeng Zhang

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(19), 2646; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13192646 - 26 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1111

Abstract

As a short-chain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance), GenX was produced in recent years to replace traditional long-chain PFASs, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, GenX turns out to be more toxic than people originally thought, posing health risks as a persistent environmental [...] Read more.

As a short-chain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance), GenX was produced in recent years to replace traditional long-chain PFASs, such as perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). However, GenX turns out to be more toxic than people originally thought, posing health risks as a persistent environmental pollutant. In this research, for the first time, we incorporated chlorella, a single-celled green freshwater microalga that grows worldwide, with polyacrylonitrile (PAN) in equal amounts in electrospun nanofibers and studied the capability of the electrospun PAN/Algae bicomponent nanofibrous membrane (ES(PAN/Algae)) to bind and remove GenX from water. The incorporation of algae demonstrated a synergistic effect and significantly improved the GenX removal efficiency of the nanofibrous membrane. The maximum GenX removal capacity reached 0.9 mmol/g at pH 6, which is significantly higher than that of most of the reported GenX adsorbents as well as activated carbon. The GenX removal mechanism was investigated and discussed by using water contact angle, zeta potential, FTIR, and XPS techniques. This research demonstrated the potential to make highly efficient adsorbent/filter materials from common and economic materials to practically remediate short-chain PFASs from various water bodies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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20 pages, 6208 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Statistical Error Optimization of Dye Sorption Equilibria for the Precise Prediction of Adsorption Isotherms on Activated Graphene

by Hridam Deb, K. Hasan, Md Zahidul Islam, Lv Kai, Shujuan Yang, Yong Zhang and Juming Yao

Appl. Sci. 2023, 13(14), 8106; https://doi.org/10.3390/app13148106 - 11 Jul 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1187

Abstract

The adsorption equilibrium of methyl blue (MB) at different temperatures was optimized using activated graphene (AG) as an adsorbent. The experimental data were compared using five linear and nonlinear adsorption isotherms, namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson (R-P), Sips, and Toth, to estimate the best [...] Read more.

The adsorption equilibrium of methyl blue (MB) at different temperatures was optimized using activated graphene (AG) as an adsorbent. The experimental data were compared using five linear and nonlinear adsorption isotherms, namely, Langmuir, Freundlich, Redlich–Peterson (R-P), Sips, and Toth, to estimate the best fit of the equilibrium data. Five distinct error functions were utilized to conduct nonlinear regression for the adsorption equilibrium: SSE, ARE, HYBRID, MPSD, and EABS. These functions offered a wide range of residuals for comparison. For a more accurate prediction of the isotherm model, two statistical techniques—SNE and CND—were applied. By using these techniques in conjunction, a more objective analysis of the error and deviation between the observed and predicted data was achieved, ultimately leading to improved accuracy in the error analysis. The sorption results demonstrated the highest MB removal of 691.89 mg g⁻¹, which amounted to 98.32% within 120 min. The error analysis findings indicated that the SSE and HYBRID functions produced the smallest error residuals. Based on the “goodness of fit” criterion, the models in this study were ranked as R-P > Toth > Langmuir > Sips > Freundlich. Among these models, the R-P isotherm demonstrated the best fit for the data, exhibiting the lowest variance in residuals. Its CND value ranged between 0.0025 and 0.0048, which further supports its superior fit compared to the other models. The combination of multiple error functions and statistical methods allowed for a comprehensive and objective assessment of the nonlinear regression models. The results highlight the importance of using various techniques to improve the accuracy of error analysis and identify the best-fitting isotherms for adsorption. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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16 pages, 4979 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Efficient Electrochemical Oxidation of Chloramphenicol by Novel Reduced TiO₂ Nanotube Array Anodes: Kinetics, Reaction Parameters, Degradation Pathway and Biotoxicity Forecast

by Pengqi Wang, Guangyi Chu, Guangfei Gao, Fengchun Li, Yi Ren, Yue Ding, Yawei Gu, Wenqiang Jiang and Xuan Zhang

Materials 2023, 16(11), 3971; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16113971 - 25 May 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1044

Abstract

The key component of electrochemical advanced oxidation technology are high-efficiency anodes, and highly efficient and simple-to-prepare materials have generated a lot of interest. In this study, novel self-supported Ti³⁺-doped titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (R-TNTs) anodes were successfully prepared by a two-step [...] Read more.

The key component of electrochemical advanced oxidation technology are high-efficiency anodes, and highly efficient and simple-to-prepare materials have generated a lot of interest. In this study, novel self-supported Ti³⁺-doped titanium dioxide nanotube arrays (R-TNTs) anodes were successfully prepared by a two-step anodic oxidation and straightforward electrochemical reduction technique. The electrochemical reduction self-doping treatment produced more Ti³⁺ sites with stronger absorption in the UV-vis region, a band gap reduction from 2.86 to 2.48 ev, and a significant increase in electron transport rate. The electrochemical degradation effect of R-TNTs electrode on chloramphenicol (CAP) simulated wastewater was investigated. At pH = 5, current density of 8 mA cm⁻², electrolyte concentration of 0.1 M sodium sulfate (Na₂SO₄), initial CAP concentration of 10 mg L⁻¹, CAP degradation efficiency exceeded 95% after 40 min. In addition, molecular probe experiments and electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) tests revealed that the active species were mainly •OH and SO₄⁻, among which •OH played a major role. The CAP degradation intermediates were discovered using high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS), and three possible degradation mechanisms were postulated. In cycling experiments, the R-TNTs anode demonstrated good stability. The R-TNTs prepared in this paper were an anode electrocatalytic material with high catalytic activity and stability, which could provide a new approach for the preparation of electrochemical anode materials for difficult-to-degrade organic compounds. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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13 pages, 2347 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Recyclable Magnesium-Modified Biochar Beads for Efficient Removal of Phosphate from Wastewater

by Biao Hu, Nina Yan, Zhiyu Zheng, Lei Xu, Hongde Xie and Jingwen Chen

Nanomaterials 2023, 13(6), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/nano13060966 - 07 Mar 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1276

Abstract

Although ball milling is effective for biochar modification with metal oxides for efficient phosphate removal, the recyclability of the adsorbent as well as the precursors for modification, still need to be optimized. Herein, a magnesium-modified biochar was first prepared with the precursor of [...] Read more.

Although ball milling is effective for biochar modification with metal oxides for efficient phosphate removal, the recyclability of the adsorbent as well as the precursors for modification, still need to be optimized. Herein, a magnesium-modified biochar was first prepared with the precursor of MgCl₂·6H₂O through the solvent-free ball milling method. After that, recyclable biochar beads were fabricated with the introduction of sodium alginate and Fe₃O_4. The beads were proved to have excellent adsorption performance for phosphate with a saturated capacity of 53.2 mg g⁻¹, which is over 12 times higher than that of pristine biochar beads. Although the particle size reduction, surface area, and O-containing group increments after milling are beneficial for adsorption, the remarkable promotion in performance should mainly result from the appropriate formation of magniferous crystals on biochar, which greatly accelerates the electrostatic interactions as well as precipitation for adsorption. The beads also exhibited excellent magnetism-driven recyclability, which greatly avoids secondary contamination and broadens the application field of the adsorbent. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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9 pages, 2603 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Preparation of Hydrogarnet/Poly(Lactic Acid) Composite Adsorbents for Humic Substance Removal

by Shogo Minowa and Hirotaka Maeda

Materials 2023, 16(1), 336; https://doi.org/10.3390/ma16010336 - 29 Dec 2022

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1039

Abstract

Humic substances are constituents of organic matter that require removal from water environments because of their adverse ecological and sanitation effects. A mixture of hydrogarnet and poly(lactic acid) dissolved in chloroform was electrospun to prepare a composite as a adsorbent for humic substance [...] Read more.

Humic substances are constituents of organic matter that require removal from water environments because of their adverse ecological and sanitation effects. A mixture of hydrogarnet and poly(lactic acid) dissolved in chloroform was electrospun to prepare a composite as a adsorbent for humic substance removal. Here, humic acid was used as the model substance for evaluating the adsorbent’s water remediation efficiency. Despite the hydrogarnet particles being embedded in its poly(lactic acid) fibers, the composites demonstrated a higher humic acid removal ability than the pure poly(lactic acid) sample prepared using an electrospinning process. Pores were introduced to the fiber surfaces of the composite by controlling the relative humidity during electrospinning, thus enhancing their humic acid removal ability (4.6 ± 2.4 mg/g), compared to the composite consisting of the fibers without pores (1.2 ± 0.9 mg/g). Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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23 pages, 4977 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Review on Cement-Based Composites for Removal of Organic/Heavy Metal Contaminants from Water

by Vishvendra Pratap Singh, Rahul Vaish and El Sayed Yousef

Catalysts 2022, 12(11), 1398; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal12111398 - 09 Nov 2022

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2531

Abstract

Building materials are traditionally known for their mechanical and structural properties. As environmental pollution has risen as a huge global issue, functional building materials with environmental remediation capabilities are the demand for the present time. In this context, cement and concrete with photocatalytic [...] Read more.

Building materials are traditionally known for their mechanical and structural properties. As environmental pollution has risen as a huge global issue, functional building materials with environmental remediation capabilities are the demand for the present time. In this context, cement and concrete with photocatalytic and adsorbent additives were explored for air and water remediation. The usage of functional building materials for self-cleaning and air cleaning is well documented and reviewed in earlier reports. This article gives an overview of the functional building material composites used for water remediation. Numerous different approaches, such as photocatalysis, adsorption, and antimicrobial disinfection, are discussed. Among all, photocatalysis for the degradation of organic compounds and antimicrobial effect has been the most studied method, with TiO₂ being the first choice for a photocatalyst. Furthermore, some reports illustrate the impact of photocatalytic filler on hydration and mechanical properties, which is important in case these are used in construction. Adsorption was most preferred for heavy metal removal from the water. This article rationalizes the current status and future scope of cement-based functional composites for water cleaning and discusses their use in water cleaning facilities or regular construction. Full article

(This article belongs to the Topic Emerging Materials in Water and Waste Remediation Processes)

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