Themed collection Best Papers 2019 – Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

This paper discusses the extent to which new unit processes applied for resource recovery can be modelled with conventional ASMs, the additional modelling challenges being faced, while providing recommendations on how to address current modelling research gaps.

Exceptional properties at the nano-scale, if appropriately harnessed, will lead to innovations in water treatment.

As an alternative to activated carbon, biochar has been considered for removal of organic micropollutants from water and wastewater via adsorption.

Microorganisms in natural and engineered environments interact with surfaces, including each other, and form aggregates and complex structures consisting of cells and an extracellular matrix.

This work critically reviews the occurrence, chemistry, treatment technologies and knowledge gaps for per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in landfill leachate.

Plastics accumulate in the natural environment due to their durability and low recycling volumes.

This review outlines all the work done on the membrane distillation crystallization process.

Nanofiltration produces potable water, while adsorption materials GAC and AIX remove more PFASs from membrane retentate than from raw water.

The efficient removal of a range of anionic and cationic contaminants from acid mine waters to facilitate water reuse or for safe discharge constitutes a major environmental challenge.

Conducted using multifunctional equipment, this comparative study showed 95% PFAS removal achieved by ozonated air fractionation.

A pilot ozone–UV net-zero greywater wash station was designed, built, and tested, providing a foundation for human contact greywater reuse.

SPF-like and SPF at low Fe(III) or Fe(II) concentrations are effective treatments for removing glyphosate and AMPA from water.

Adsorbents comprising swellable organically modified silica were characterized to optimize the adsorption of a wide range of perfluoroalkyl substances from water.

By mimicking the complex organic matter composition in sewage, COPAS is a readily available and practical alternative in anaerobic lab-scale studies.

UV/H₂O₂ treatment of sand-filtered surface water before soil aquifer treatment increases the total removal of organic micropollutants and has an impact on microbial activity without pronounced effects on dissolved organic matter removal.

Hydroxybenzoic acids could act as a cocatalyst, enhancing the Fenton oxidation.

In this study, we explored the use of hydrophobic and hydrophilic water-stable MOFs as well as their mixture for the fabrication of high-performance MMM-based TFC FO membranes for controlling ICP.

The assessment of a novel enzyme-based assay showed it to be reliable to detect and quantify E. coli in water.

Non-target analysis of potentially toxic disinfection by-products at four waterworks in Sweden.

Analyses of domestic, commercial and industrial sewage discharges apportioned loadings of N-nitrosodimethylamine, its precursors and N-nitrosomorpholine.

Microplastics are pollutants of concern in the freshwater and marine environments. These microparticles carry biofilm communities unique from the surrounding water.

Methanogenesis and enrichment of microorganisms capable of interspecies electron and/or hydrogen exchange was investigated with addition of granular activated carbon (GAC) to batch anaerobic digesters treating vacuum collected blackwater with high ammonia concentration.

Enhancing ammonium rejection by PEI modification.

This manuscript makes a significant research impact regarding the fate of As-loaded nZVI particles under different geochemical conditions of groundwater downstream.

Membrane electrolysis is shown to be durable over one month of continuous operation.