Water Environment Research[JOURNAL]
Sun
200 papers
Evaluating Phosphorus Sorption and Desorption in Agricultural Wastewater Using Designer Biochar Pellets.
Millimouno A, Guzman JA, Zheng W … +2 more , Cooke RA, Chu ML
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41881805 · Full text
Tile drains enhance crop productivity but also increase phosphorus (P) runoff into nearby water bodies, contributing to harmful algal blooms. This study examines the effectiveness of designer biochar pellets (DBPs) in re...
Tile drains enhance crop productivity but also increase phosphorus (P) runoff into nearby water bodies, contributing to harmful algal blooms. This study examines the effectiveness of designer biochar pellets (DBPs) in removing or releasing P from agricultural effluents, soils, or deionized water, respectively. The DBPs are composed of pine sawdust biomass and bentonite clay, pretreated with lime sludge prior to pyrolysis, and subsequently exposed to various wastewater effluents and field conditions. DBP treatment in P removal varied across effluent types, ranging from 18 to 155 mg kg. In contrast, P desorption in deionized water ranged from 0.1 to 8.9 mg L. DBP extracted from the field after the trial showed contrasting soil phosphorus extraction results, ranging from 0.45 to 0.6 mg L for new and 0.3 to 1.2 mg L for spent, respectively. Furthermore, P extracted from soil before planting (1 to 5 mg L), no lime sludge and DPB exposure to soil, after planting (3 to 15 mg L), after manure waste, lime sludge, and DBP exposure to soil, and after harvesting on plots treated as new, spent, and control was found to range from 10 to 55, 5 to 30, and 5 to 35 mg L, respectively, indicating that DBPs may serve as a P-removal agent and an amendment. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) confirmed phosphorus sorption in the pellets, ranging from 0% to 0.2%, and ICP analyses identified other elements such as iron and silicon. The sorption and desorption experiment in this study is governed by four primary components: pH, salts (Ca, Mg, and K), P, and dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations. Among these factors, pH plays a central role in regulating sorption behavior by influencing surface charge, ion speciation, and mineral reactivity. Additionally, lime sludge in DBPs enhances phosphorus removal by promoting P precipitation, further strengthening the system's sorption capacity. This underscores the importance of tailoring effluent treatment based on the specific characteristics of the source.
Marrubium vulgare Leaves as a Biosorbent and Reducing Agent for the Green Synthesis of ZnO and Ag/ZnO: Towards an Efficient Treatment of Colored Wastewater.
Zouied D, Khelfaoui M, Bekouche K … +6 more , Boussouf I, Boucetta RN, Selaimia R, Rouainia M, Ladacia S, Slama H
Water Environ Res · 2026 Apr · PMID 41881589 · Publisher ↗
The search for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of wastewater treatment is a global challenge. This is why, in this work, we have studied the removal of pollutants from wastewater using nanoparticles...
The search for a cost-effective and environmentally friendly method of wastewater treatment is a global challenge. This is why, in this work, we have studied the removal of pollutants from wastewater using nanoparticles of zinc oxide, silver, and silver doped on zinc (Ag/ZnO, 20/80) synthesized from extracts of Marrubium vulgare leaves. IR, UV-visible and XRD characterizations show the formation of these nanoparticles. We then used the synthesized products for the degradation of an aqueous solution of crystal violet (15 ppm). The results obtained show that the adsorption efficiency of the crystal violet increases over time up to 97.88% for 0.3 g of M. vulgare leaf powder. The efficiency of photodegradation of the dye in the presence of ZnO, AgO, and Ag doped on ZnO increases over time until reaching 77.27% for 0.3 g of ZnO, 98.14% for 0.2 g of AgO, and 98.26% for 0.3 g of Ag/ZnO (20/80). The use of this composite aims to reduce the required amount of expensive silver and to increase the degradation effectiveness. Finally, we tested the nanoparticles in the treatment of synthetic dye wastewater.
Assessment and Source Apportionment of Groundwater Pollution in Different Aquifers of the Taigemiao Mining Area, Xinjie, China.
Tian Z, Jiang B, Wang X … +2 more , Qiu S, Yan B
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41877601 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates the groundwater quality, spatial distribution, and pollution sources in the unexploited Xinjie Taigemiao mining area. A total of 25 groundwater samples were collected from different aquifers and a...
This study investigates the groundwater quality, spatial distribution, and pollution sources in the unexploited Xinjie Taigemiao mining area. A total of 25 groundwater samples were collected from different aquifers and analyzed using the entropy-weighted water quality index (EWQI), inverse distance weighting (IDW), and positive matrix factorization (PMF) model. The results showed that: (1) The Zhidan Group exhibited overall good water quality, with a mean EWQI of 59.02 and an excellence rate of 83.33%, making it suitable for direct drinking. In contrast, the Anding, Zhiluo, and Yan'an Groups displayed poor water quality, with mean EWQI values of 945.31, 466.67, and 800.82, respectively. All were classified as Class V, indicating extremely poor quality that is unsuitable for direct drinking or irrigation. Spatially, the EWQI of each aquifer exhibited distinct gradient characteristics: values for the Zhidan Group decreased from the eastern local pollution source to the periphery; for the Anding Group, values gradually decreased from southeast to northwest; for the Zhiluo Group, values decreased from high-pollution areas outward; and for the Yan'an Group, values decreased from northeast to southwest. (2) Shallow groundwater in the Zhidan Group is jointly influenced by natural geological background (contributing 58.0% of Na and 65.4% of Cl), hydrogeological activity (contributing 66.8% of TH), and anthropogenic activities (contributing 71.3% of NO ). Pollution in the Anding Formation is dominated by natural geological background (contributing 88.5% of SO ) and anthropogenic activities (contributing 93.9% of COD). In contrast, the deeper Zhiluo and Yan'an Formations are mainly controlled by water-rock interaction (contributing 93.5% of Mn), redox-leaching processes (contributing 90.3% of Fe), and natural geological background (contributing 76.0% of Na). Pollution sources differ significantly across aquifers, reflecting complex contamination characteristics. The findings of this study provide a scientific basis for safeguarding the health of residents near the mining area and ensuring drinking water safety.
Development of a Reduced-Order Model to Identify Ammonia-Based Aeration Control Proportional-Integral Tuning Parameters and Improve Performance.
Gagnon A, McCullough K, Bott C
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41877574 · Full text
While ammonia-based aeration control (ABAC) significantly improves process efficiency in water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), its performance is often limited by the difficulty of tuning proportional-integral (PI)...
While ammonia-based aeration control (ABAC) significantly improves process efficiency in water resource recovery facilities (WRRFs), its performance is often limited by the difficulty of tuning proportional-integral (PI) controllers amidst dynamic loads and nonlinear reaction kinetics. This study proposed a systematic tuning approach that derives first-order plus deadtime (FOPDT) parameters from a reduced-order model based on empirical reactor hydraulics. Furthermore, the nonlinearity of Monod saturation kinetics, which describe the impact of dissolved oxygen (S) on nitrification rates, is explicitly integrated into the feedback control structure to linearize the system response. The approach was validated via both a model-based simulator and full-scale implementation. In the model-based simulation, both controller structures provided stable performance, but the direct S controller showed nonlinear overshoot during high load periods, while the inclusion of Monod kinetics in ABAC linearized the response, particularly when tuned with the reduced-order model (mean absolute error (MAE) 0.09 mg N/L). At the full-scale plant, when tuned using the proposed method, the controller demonstrated stable performance and successfully attenuated dynamic loads to achieve a low 0.16 mg N/L MAE. These results demonstrate that combining reduced-order modeling with kinetic-based control structures offers a robust automatable alternative to heuristic tuning methods.
Interactive Effects of Herbicide Atrazine and Road Salt on Freshwater Quality and Algal Physiology in Microcosms.
Ahmed A, Schuler MS
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41877541 · Publisher ↗
Pesticides and road deicing salts are widespread contaminants in freshwater systems and frequently co-occur due to runoff and direct application. Atrazine, a triazine herbicide, and sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly used...
Pesticides and road deicing salts are widespread contaminants in freshwater systems and frequently co-occur due to runoff and direct application. Atrazine, a triazine herbicide, and sodium chloride (NaCl), commonly used for road deicing, can independently alter water chemistry and affect aquatic primary producers. Atrazine can affect the freshwater algae, either inhibiting or stimulating their growth. The prolonged persistence of dissolved salts, ranging from decades to centuries, can lead to complex environmental scenarios characterized by multiple interacting stressors. Although many studies have examined each pollutant separately, their interactive effects have only recently gained scientific attention. This study investigated the individual and interactive effects of atrazine and NaCl on freshwater quality and algal physiological responses using laboratory microcosms. Two NaCl concentrations (120 and 230 mg/L) and two atrazine concentrations (1 and 5 μg/L) were tested using the green alga Selenastrum capricornutum. Water-quality parameters and algal endpoints, including chlorophyll concentration and cell abundance, were measured over the experimental period. Both atrazine and NaCl altered water chemistry, with nitrate concentrations increasing at higher atrazine concentrations and in mixture treatments. Combined atrazine-NaCl exposures resulted in elevated chlorophyll concentrations relative to controls, indicating a nonadditive physiological response, whereas cell abundance did not differ among treatments. These findings demonstrate that co-occurring chemical stressors can influence freshwater quality and algal physiology without proportional changes in population growth, highlighting the importance of considering mixture effects in water-quality assessment and management.
Groundwater Quality Assessment for Irrigation and Health in Southwestern Haryana Using Hydrochemical and GIS Methods.
Kumar M, Verma NK, Singh N … +1 more , Bhadwal S
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41873843 · Publisher ↗
Groundwater provides drinking water to approximately one-third of the global population. However, increasing population pressure and contamination from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and urbanization are degr...
Groundwater provides drinking water to approximately one-third of the global population. However, increasing population pressure and contamination from industrial discharge, agricultural runoff, and urbanization are degrading groundwater quality. Therefore, groundwater quality assessment is important for its sustainable management particularly in semiarid regions like southwestern Haryana. However, integrated multidistrict evaluations with hydrogeochemical analysis, fuzzy-based quality indexing, human health risk evaluation, and irrigation suitability mapping remain limited for this region. This study evaluates the groundwater quality across the 11 districts of southwestern Haryana by incorporating multiple analytical techniques like groundwater quality index (GWQI) and fuzzy groundwater quality index (FGWQI), hydrochemical characterization, spatial analysis, human health risk assessment, and irrigation suitability evaluation, highlighting that 15% and 8.8% of the area fall under "unsuitable" category according to GWQI and FGWQI, respectively, reflecting the smoother classification and uncertainty handling capability of the fuzzy-based approach compared to the GWQI method. Spearman's rank correlation analysis reflected a strong association between total hardness (TH), magnesium, chloride, and calcium. This suggests that hardness is influenced by natural mineral dissolution (dolomite, calcite, and gypsum) and anthropogenic inputs (industrial discharge and agricultural runoff). Hydrochemical characterization analysis reflected dominant Ca-HCO and Na-Cl water types (representing recharge-dominated and salinity-affected conditions, respectively), water-rock interaction, evaporation dominance, and underlying sodium-calcium reverse ion-exchange processes. Health risk evaluation highlighted a significant chloride and sodium contamination, and since HI values for both adults and children were above 1, there is a potential noncarcinogenic health risk, but children are more vulnerable as HI value for children is two times higher than adults. The suitability of groundwater for irrigation was tested, which indicated that most of the groundwater samples are suitable for irrigation, though isolated zones with elevated residual sodium carbonate (RSC), magnesium hazard (MH), and percent Na (%Na) may pose sodicity and permeability risks. The findings of this study underscore the need for effective policymaking and an integrated groundwater management framework, including real-time quality monitoring, regulation of industrial wastewater discharge, and precision agricultural practices, and provide a spatially explicit decision-support basis for groundwater quality zoning, risk-based resource allocation, and targeted mitigation planning for sustainable groundwater governance in southwestern Haryana.
Sustainable Lithium Recovery From Aqueous Sources Using Advanced Extraction Technologies: A Comprehensive Review.
Muslim DS, Ghanoum R, Mohammed NN … +5 more , Diab NMM, Hameed A, Boyer TH, Perreault F, Ali MEA
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41866317 · Publisher ↗
Lithium is a critical element for modern energy storage systems, particularly in batteries powering renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. With global demand rapidly increasing, attention has shifted toward...
Lithium is a critical element for modern energy storage systems, particularly in batteries powering renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles. With global demand rapidly increasing, attention has shifted toward recovering lithium from unconventional sources such as desalination brine. This byproduct of brackish and seawater desalination contains lithium concentrations higher than those found in seawater, making it a valuable secondary resource. Recent advancements in recovery technologies-including metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), ion-imprinted polymers (IIPs), nanofiltration (NF), and capacitive deionization (CDI) and its variants (MCDI, HCDI, and FCDI)-offer promising pathways for efficient and sustainable lithium extraction. These technologies differ in selectivity, energy efficiency, scalability, and cost. MOFs and IIPs exhibit superior selectivity for lithium ions but are limited by high material costs, whereas CDI-based methods are more energy efficient, regenerative, and environmentally friendly. NF, though well established and scalable, often requires high pressure, increasing energy consumption. This review highlights the potential of hybrid systems that integrate the selectivity of advanced materials like MOFs and IIPs with the operational efficiency of CDI technologies. Such integrated approaches represent a sustainable and cost-effective route for large-scale lithium recovery from desalination brine, addressing both environmental and economic challenges associated with the global lithium supply.
Evaluation of Synthetic PES Membranes for Relative Endotoxin Reduction in Dialysis Water.
Humudat YR, Abdul-Majeed MA, Najim LA
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41866240 · Publisher ↗
Ensuring the microbiological safety of dialysis water is a critical requirement in hemodialysis practice. Contamination with bacterial endotoxins poses a serious risk to patient health, particularly in regions with limit...
Ensuring the microbiological safety of dialysis water is a critical requirement in hemodialysis practice. Contamination with bacterial endotoxins poses a serious risk to patient health, particularly in regions with limited access to advanced purification systems. Developing affordable and effective local alternatives can significantly improve dialysis water quality and patient safety. This study aimed to develop and evaluate a locally fabricated synthetic membrane for the removal of bacterial endotoxins from dialysis water, providing a safe and cost-effective purification solution suitable for resource-limited healthcare environments. The fabricated membrane was tested in vitro using Limulus amebocyte lysate (LAL) assay for quantitative endotoxin detection, contact angle measurement to assess surface wettability, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological characterization. The performance of the membrane alone and in combination with ultrasound treatment, ultraviolet treatment, magnetic treatment, and ozone was compared to determine the most efficient treatment configuration. The results showed that combining membrane filtration with ozonation achieved the highest relative endotoxin reduction (~87%), outperforming the membrane-only system. The membrane exhibited a contact angle of 67°, indicating moderate hydrophilicity favorable for stable filtration performance. SEM analysis revealed a uniform, defect-free porous surface with pore sizes ranging from 0.5 to 2 μm, confirming effective endotoxin retention and structural integrity. This study demonstrates the feasibility and effectiveness of integrating locally produced synthetic membranes with ozonation as a practical, efficient, and sustainable approach to improving dialysis water quality. The proposed system offers a promising low-cost alternative for enhancing patient safety and can be adapted in healthcare centers with limited technical resources.
Synergistic LaCuO/Activated Carbon Catalyst for Enhanced Catalytic Wet Peroxide Oxidation of Vinylon Wastewater.
Yang T, Alsahari MK, Sui M … +2 more , Li X, Luo Y
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41863135 · Publisher ↗
Vinylon industrial wastewater contains high concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), resulting in poor biodegradability and high organic loading. In this study, an efficient pretreatment strategy based on catalytic wet...
Vinylon industrial wastewater contains high concentrations of polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), resulting in poor biodegradability and high organic loading. In this study, an efficient pretreatment strategy based on catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) was developed using a synergistic LaCuO/activated carbon (LaCu-AC) catalyst. The catalyst was synthesized via a sol-impregnation method and characterized by XRD, FT-IR, SEM, and BET analyses, confirming successful incorporation of the perovskite phase onto the porous carbon support. Compared with bulk LaCuO, LaCu-AC exhibited improved dispersion and a higher specific surface area (17.67 vs. 7.70 m/g). Under optimized conditions (15 g/L catalyst, 1.5 Q HO added in five batches, 80°C, 1 h), COD and TOC removal efficiencies reached 95% and 89%, respectively. After five cycles, the catalyst retained over 81% of its activity. The enhanced performance is attributed to adsorption-assisted radical-mediated oxidation arising from the synergistic interaction between LaCuO and activated carbon. This study demonstrates a stable and environmentally friendly approach for the pretreatment of refractory vinylon wastewater.
Bacteriophage-Based Technologies for Wastewater Treatment and Biogas Production: Current Evidence and Technological Prospects.
Augustyniak A, Humme JHG, Gliźniewicz M … +6 more , Dubrowska K, Olszewska P, Miłek D, Ossowski A, Rakoczy R, Grygorcewicz B
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41854482 · Publisher ↗
Bacteriophages have an important role in shaping bacterial diversity in ecosystems. The same is true for biotechnological processes, where microbiological consortia are used. Cooperation between microorganisms within was...
Bacteriophages have an important role in shaping bacterial diversity in ecosystems. The same is true for biotechnological processes, where microbiological consortia are used. Cooperation between microorganisms within wastewater treatment or biogas production unquestionably impacts the success of these processes. Therefore, in this review, we discussed the possibilities of using bacteriophages in complex biotechnological setups and tried to answer how far phages can be used in bioprocess engineering and what possibilities are currently available. Potentially, bacteriophages can be applied to wastewater treatment and biogas production in different manners, including their addition at the beginning of the process, at its end, directly to the substrates or the residues. All of these inlet points have certain advantages and disadvantages, which should be considered when phages are involved in the process. Being led by that thought, we also discussed the methods for finding bacteriophages in complex biotechnological processes and describing their activity. We have also discussed the challenges and opportunities that should be addressed with the application of phages in wastewater treatment or biogas production.
Novel Sewer Defect Prediction Leveraging Advanced Machine Learning (ML) Models.
Seng V, Lence BJ, Kshirsagar S … +2 more , Rangapuram S, Saranguhewa P
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41854472 · Full text
A novel approach to sewer network assessment is presented that uses artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) to predict infiltration and structural defect occurrences in each pipe instead of estimating the trad...
A novel approach to sewer network assessment is presented that uses artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) to predict infiltration and structural defect occurrences in each pipe instead of estimating the traditional criteria-based overall pipe condition or likelihood of failure. A comparative analysis of four decision tree-based ML models, and their use in predicting the defect locations in sewer networks, is presented. The models are developed using data from closed-circuit television (CCTV) inspections coupled with additional pipe information and inspection reports. The ML approach uses such information from two utilities to create utility-specific defect prediction models. The class imbalance in the data, due to more defects than nondefects, is addressed with three methods, and the hyperparameters, settings that define the model architecture, are optimized via a repeated stratified k-fold cross-validation grid search. The performance of the models is assessed using the area under the receiver operating characteristics (AUC-ROC) and precision recall (AUC-PR) curves. LightGBM-based models, with the cost-sensitive learning method for addressing class imbalance, show the best performance overall when predicting either types of defects for both utilities. The best performing model achieves an AUC-ROC of 0.79 and an AUC-PR of 0.62. For the two utilities investigated, an application of SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP) shows that the most important features for indicating both types of defects are "pipe location" and "pipe age."
Sustainable Nutrient Removal System With Johkasou and Bio-Geofilter Hybrids.
Saito H, Nagaoka A, Ichinari T … +1 more , Asaoka S
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41848773 · Publisher ↗
Johkasou and biogeofilter hybrids have been developed to remove nutrients from domestic wastewater. Granulated coal ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants, was used as the base material for the biogeofilter install...
Johkasou and biogeofilter hybrids have been developed to remove nutrients from domestic wastewater. Granulated coal ash, a by-product of coal-fired power plants, was used as the base material for the biogeofilter installed at the rear stage of the Johkasou system. The biogeofilter showed stable nutrient removal performance, which was attributed to both uptake by plants and adsorption by granulated coal ash. Flowering plants were best at removing phosphorus, while green manure crops were better at removing nitrogen. The phosphorus adsorbed onto the granulated coal ash could easily be used for plant growth. Hence, the regeneration of phosphate adsorption sites on granulated coal ash by plants is advantageous for extending the operational lifespan of the phosphate adsorption process and lowering maintenance costs. The proposed system is able to respond to fluctuations in concentrations of wastewater and seasonal changes, making it a viable decentralized wastewater treatment system for regions without established sewerage networks.
Evaluation and Optimization of Azithromycin Removal by Raw and Alkali-Modified Peanut Shells Using Taguchi-Based Experimental Design Approach.
Asad R, Hussain G, Usman M … +5 more , Aurangzeb S, Afzal S, Fouad Y, Masood MI, Abbas N
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41834577 · Full text
Advanced treatment methods for removing antibiotics are cost-intensive. Subsequently, the goal of environmental and economic sustainability has switched attention towards bio-adsorbents. This study evaluated the effectiv...
Advanced treatment methods for removing antibiotics are cost-intensive. Subsequently, the goal of environmental and economic sustainability has switched attention towards bio-adsorbents. This study evaluated the effectiveness of raw and alkali-modified peanut shell powder as a cost-effective, novel adsorbent for removing azithromycin, one of the most widely used drugs worldwide. Prepared adsorbents were characterized by FTIR and SEM equipped with EDX. Experiments designed using a Taguchi-based approach were performed with a synthetic azithromycin solution to optimize initial concentrations, adsorbent dose, pH, and time. The results showed 63% removal with raw adsorbent at pH 11, an initial concentration of 20 mg/L, a time of 45 min, and an adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/L. With the modified adsorbent, an attractive 85% (maximum) removal was achieved at pH 11, an initial concentration of 30 mg/L, a time of 60 min, and an adsorbent dose of 0.4 g/L. Based on analysis of variance (ANOVA), pH and initial concentration are identified as the most influential factors for azithromycin removal. The improved adsorption performance of modified peanut shells (q = 192.1 mg/g compared to 159.2 mg/g for raw PS) was due to increased surface heterogeneity, enhanced electrostatic interactions, and greater accessibility of oxygen-containing functional groups, as confirmed by kinetic, isotherm, and surface analysis.
Fenton Treatment of Filter Backwash Water for Recycling in DWTP.
Pereira LV, de Sá MC, de Lima IP … +5 more , Rossi LC, de Oliveira Gomes de Assunção T, Dias EHO, Bottrel SEC, de Oliveira Pereira R
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41823644 · Full text
Drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) generate residues, such as filter backwash water (FBW), that can harm the aquatic environments if discharged into water sources. In this sense, FBW recycling has gained attention....
Drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) generate residues, such as filter backwash water (FBW), that can harm the aquatic environments if discharged into water sources. In this sense, FBW recycling has gained attention. Nevertheless, it requires treatment to maintain operational efficiency and water quality in the DWTP. This work analyzed the main variables interfering with Fenton treatment of FBW from a full-scale DWTP aiming at removing turbidity and microorganisms. Bench-scale tests successfully inactivated 100% of Escherichia coli. Desired removal of other parameters (99.1% of turbidity, 99.9% of color, and achieving a 2.5 log reduction of aerobic endospores) occurred during the sedimentation stage. There was a strong influence of the pH sample and the concentration of added hydrogen peroxide on the removal of microorganisms. This study represents an initial stage that should be continued to enable the removal of resistant microorganisms through oxidation by the Fenton reaction in FBW treatment.
Investigating Chlorate Occurrence in Hungarian Drinking Water: A Survey Analysis of Treatment Plant Practices.
Neguez S, Laky D, Sorlini S … +1 more , Tsegai O
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41821300 · Publisher ↗
The revised EU Drinking Water Directive, which designates chlorate as a regulated parameter, presents a significant challenge for Hungary, where breakpoint chlorination with sodium hypochlorite is widely used for ammoniu...
The revised EU Drinking Water Directive, which designates chlorate as a regulated parameter, presents a significant challenge for Hungary, where breakpoint chlorination with sodium hypochlorite is widely used for ammonium removal. Because hypochlorite decomposes during storage, half of the surveyed plants reported chlorate concentrations exceeding the national limit of 0.25 mg/L. A survey conducted on 208 drinking water treatment plants evaluated current operational practices and mitigation strategies. Chlorate occurrence was primarily associated with systems using sodium hypochlorite as the main oxidant, whereas technologies relying on chlorine gas or biological ammonium removal showed no relevant chlorate occurrence, even when hypochlorite was applied for postdisinfection. Large variability in hypochlorite handling, particularly delivery frequency, residual stock, storage volume, and cleaning practices, strongly influenced chlorate levels, with small systems being the most vulnerable. No relationship was observed between chlorine demand and chlorate concentrations, underscoring that chlorate occurrence in the finished water is governed by operational practices, hypochlorite quality, storage conditions, and dosing protocols.
Nanotechnology-Enabled Adsorption of Emerging Contaminants: Advances in Smart Nanoadsorbents and Future Prospects.
Singh D, Singh B
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41817169 · Publisher ↗
Emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, PFAS, dyes, microplastics, and personal care products are increasingly detected in municipal and industrial effluents at trace-to-mg/...
Emerging contaminants (ECs) such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, pesticides, PFAS, dyes, microplastics, and personal care products are increasingly detected in municipal and industrial effluents at trace-to-mg/L levels, yet many are poorly removed by conventional treatment. This manuscript provides a focused, qualitative synthesis of smart nanoadsorbents (stimuli-responsive and engineered nanoenabled sorbents) for EC removal, emphasizing how surface chemistry, porosity, and responsive switching (pH, redox, light, magnetic, thermal, and multistimuli) can improve selectivity, adsorption kinetics, and regeneration. Novelty lies in integrating mechanistic adsorption concepts with a commercialization-oriented perspective: We compare reported systems qualitatively using practical readiness indicators (ease of separation and immobilization, reusability, fouling tolerance, secondary release risk, and anticipated cost and scale-up constraints) rather than capacity values alone. Across the surveyed literature, composite architectures (nanomaterials integrated with polymers, membranes, bio-supports, magnetic cores, or granulated matrices) consistently emerge as more deployable than free nanoparticles because they reduce aggregation and leaching while enabling continuous formats such as packed-bed cartridges, coating layers, and hybrid filtration-adsorption units. These insights support near-term industrial applications in polishing steps for hospital and municipal wastewater, textile and pharmaceutical effluents, landfill leachates, and decentralized point-of-use devices, while highlighting remaining gaps in standardized testing, life-cycle safety, and pilot-scale validation.
Elemental Analysis of Maha Kumbh-2025 Water Along With Intercomparison With Other Water Resources Using Synchrotron-Assisted Total-Reflection X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis: A Case Study.
Tiwari MK, Khooha A, Trivedi A … +3 more , Potey GG, Mahadik VK, Singh AK
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41811095 · Full text
Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) is a well-established method to detect ultra-trace elements present in water as well as in other liquids that can be diluted into the water medium. In the present case study, we...
Total reflection X-ray fluorescence (TXRF) is a well-established method to detect ultra-trace elements present in water as well as in other liquids that can be diluted into the water medium. In the present case study, we have applied the TXRF technique to analyze various elements present in the Maha Kumbh-2025 water sample, which was collected from the nose point of Triveni Sangam, at Prayagraj, India. In addition, we have also performed intercomparative quantitative analysis of other water samples collected from different water resources. Our results show that the concentrations of different elements present in the Maha Kumbh-2025 water samples are well within the acceptable limits defined by the WHO guidelines (for drinking water). Furthermore, we did not observe the presence of any heavy toxic elements (e.g., chromium (Cr), arsenic (As), mercury (Hg), and lead (Pb)) in the Maha Kumbh-2025 water sample within the range of detection limits (DL) of our technique. This case-study-based investigation provides a site-specific insight into the elemental quality of water at a location where a large mass-gathering festival is organized. It clearly demonstrates the practical applicability of TXRF as a rapid and reliable monitoring tool for assessing the quality of water from environmental pollution aspects.
Estimating Operational Costs of Activated Carbon for Water Treatment Plants by Predicting the Rise of Harmful Algal Blooms Under Climate Change in Korea Using Machine Learning.
Kim J, Park H, Lenhart JJ … +5 more , Lee J, Byrd K, Jang G, Kim S, Park J
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41808283 · Full text
The escalating frequency of harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs), driven by climate change and eutrophication, poses risks to ecosystems, water resources, and public health. Given South Korea's heavy reliance on surface...
The escalating frequency of harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs), driven by climate change and eutrophication, poses risks to ecosystems, water resources, and public health. Given South Korea's heavy reliance on surface waters, increasingly affected by HCBs producing microcystins and taste and odor compounds (geosmin and 2-methylisoborneol), this study used machine learning to predict cyanobacterial proliferation by 2100 under climate scenarios. It also estimates increases in treatment costs, assuming water treatment plants (WTPs) respond to increased bloom intensity solely by modifying their usage of powdered activated carbon (PAC). A random forest (RF) model trained on 28 years of Nakdong River data projected HCB occurrences under Shared Socioeconomic Pathway 5-8.5. The RF indicated significant increases in HCB magnitude and variability (cyanobacteria densities from 1.6 × 10 to 6.3 × 10 cells/mL; coefficient of variation from 1.60 to 1.77), corresponding to a 6.7°C increase in mean annual air temperature. Analysis of WTP operational data and prior studies revealed a correlation between PAC use and HCB events, suggesting the increase in HCBs necessitates significantly higher PAC doses to treat projected secondary metabolites, particularly microcystins. Under the worst-case scenario, the projected cost burden for water treatment could triple from current levels, potentially reaching $22.1/month/household by 2100, supporting proactive implementation of advanced treatment facilities in high-risk regions. These findings underscore the need for enhanced preparedness to address more complex HCB patterns under climate change, ensuring water safety, economic stability, and human health. Additionally, this study provides a methodological blueprint for other countries facing similar climatic and environmental challenges.
The Effect of Microplastics Exposure on Anaerobic Digestion of Food Waste: A Review.
Liu J, Chen R, Li T
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41793264 · Publisher ↗
Food waste (FW) is a significant renewable resource because of its high organic content and superior biodegradability. It can be effectively converted into clean energy (like methane) using anaerobic digestion technology...
Food waste (FW) is a significant renewable resource because of its high organic content and superior biodegradability. It can be effectively converted into clean energy (like methane) using anaerobic digestion technology. However, the pervasiveness of microplastics (MPs) in FW, which comes from plastic items like food packaging and throwaway tableware, not only degrades the FW's physical and chemical characteristics but also has the potential to impair the stability and effectiveness of anaerobic digestion by changing the digestion environment and microbial metabolic processes. In this paper, the occurrence characteristics and migration behavior of MPs in FW are systematically reviewed, along with the dynamic effects of the physical and chemical properties of MPs (e.g., type, particle size and concentration) on the performance of methane production, the accumulation of volatile fatty acids (VFAs), and the stability of the system during anaerobic processes. Additionally, it concentrates on examining how MPs impede activity via processes such as chemical leaching, enzyme activity interference, reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction and disruption of the microbial population. The objective of this study is to guide the effective resource exploitation of polluted organic solid waste and to theoretically support improving the tolerance of FW digestion processes to MPs stress.
Effects of Electrode Composition on Electrocoagulation of Rice Mill Effluent.
Paramanik P, Samal K, Debbarma SR
Water Environ Res · 2026 Mar · PMID 41793251 · Publisher ↗
This study investigates the effect of various electrode combinations on total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity reduction during the electrocoagulation (EC) treatment of rice mill effluent...
This study investigates the effect of various electrode combinations on total organic carbon (TOC), chemical oxygen demand (COD), and turbidity reduction during the electrocoagulation (EC) treatment of rice mill effluent (RME). The EC experiments were conducted using stainless steel-aluminum (SS-Al), aluminum-aluminum (Al-Al), and iron-aluminum (Fe-Al) electrode combinations under identical operating conditions and constant current density. The sludge generated during EC of RME was characterized using SEM, EDX, and FTIR analysis. Batch EC experiments revealed that SS-Al exhibited superior treatment performance, achieving 73.3% TOC, 70.1% COD, and 88.2% turbidity removal within 90 min of process, with negligible improvement beyond 60 min. SEM images of sludge showed highly porous and agglomerated floc structures for SS-Al sludge, indicating effective sweep flocculation, while Al-Al sludge displayed smoother surfaces and Fe-Al sludge showed dense morphologies with localized cracking. EDX results confirmed dominance of electrode-derived elements, with Fe (55-70 wt.%) and O (20-30 wt.%) in Fe-based sludge and Al (35-50 wt.%) and O (40-55 wt.%) in Al-based sludge, along with trace elements (Cr, Ni, Mn, Si, P, S < 5 wt.%). FTIR spectra identified O-H stretching (3200-3500 cm), H-O-H bending (1630-1650 cm), Al-O-Si/Si-O-Si bands (1020-1120 cm), and characteristic Fe-O (560-620 cm) and Al-O (720-780 cm) vibrations, confirming pollutant removal via hydroxide precipitation, adsorption, and charge neutralization. The findings highlight SS-Al as a durable and efficient electrode configuration in EC for sustainable RME treatment.
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