Themed collection HOT articles from Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology

Sequencing-batch operation of high-rate algal ponds selectively enriches photogranules or filamentous algae, improving solids separation and producing clearer effluent suitable for safe reuse.

We highlight opportunities, barriers, and additional considerations for wastewater surveillance for vector borne diseases.

Water is integral to humans and other living beings on the planet. Due to its scarcity, water remediation is of prime importance and MOFs are preferable due to unique set of properties.

Septage is an untapped waste stream that could be utilized for recovery of beneficial nutrients, energy, and water.

Water pollution is a significant environmental concern that necessitates the development of effective treatment techniques to mitigate its adverse impacts on human health and ecosystems.

This review identified 30 studies from 1992–2024 that performed quantitative microbial risk assessments on potable reuse and compared individual assumptions, summarized influential parameters, and analyzed results.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a large, complex group of synthetic chemicals widely used in consumer products around the world since the 50's.

Schematic illustration of oil–water separation mechanisms in ceramic membranes, where adsorption, straining, and coalescence synergistically remove oil droplets, enabling wastewater purification and water reuse.

Schematic overview of fluoxetine's molecular structure, environmental pathways, and persistence, emphasizing existing and future treatment strategies for effective removal from aquatic systems.

This review discusses trends in COF-based atmospheric water harvesting under arid conditions, from mechanistic insights to innovative designs for enhanced performance over traditional sorbents.

Stormwater runoff is increasingly recognized as an alternative water resource, but organic micropollutant (OMP) contamination poses challenges to its safe harvesting.

Revisiting simultaneous sulfate reduction and ammonium oxidation phenomenon: from inexplicable experimental results to extended mechanistic hypothesis.

Interfacial polymerization in thin-film composite membrane fabrication is a key advancement, enabling high-performance membranes with optimal flux and salt rejection, attracting significant industry attention.

Membrane biofilm reactors are coupled with catalysts, electrochemistry, and anammox technology; their principles, applications, and carbon reduction efficiency are analyzed.

Access to clean and potable groundwater is paramount for sustaining human health and ecological balance.

A VF CW exhibited low-level production of the components responsible for odor sensation and were similar whether or not VF was operational. VOCs are the only component related to some odor sensation and were higher in the morning.

In biological wastewater treatment units, bacteria can self-assemble into flocs with heterogeneous structural characteristics.

Electrocoagulation using copper electrodes can be a promising technology for the removal of xanthate from mineral processing wastewater.

Reverse Osmosis Concentrate from treated semiconductor wastewater caused failure of both nitrification and enhanced biological phosphorus removal in a pilot-scale water resource recovery facility.

The AA/GO lamellar membrane prepared by a simple method shows excellent water permeability, improved separation of dyes, salts, and heavy metals, and greater structural stability compared to a pristine GO membrane.

An innovative analytical approach was established for quantifying Fe(VI) concentrations in the 0.47–40 μM range.

After drying biosolids at 105 °C, PFAS concentrations in the solids decreased and PFAS were detected in condensate.

This study systematically compared the coagulation effects and mechanisms of polymeric zirconium coagulants with different counterions under different basicity conditions and provided theoretical support for subsequent practical applications.

Different textile dyeing wastewater treatment processes caused PFAS dynamic alteration.

TC structure change was caused by the oxidation of Fe in the transition high state.

Widely used fungicide class can yield potentially bioactive transformation products during water treatment.

A quantitative microbial risk assessment was conducted for de facto reuse in Lake Mead in Southern Nevada, USA.

Tiger Worm Toilet (TWT) users in Pune, India, reported a high Sanitation-related Quality of Life (SanQoL) Index (0.94 out of 1). Poor latrine superstructure remains a challenge. Evidence supports wide application of TWTs in appropriate locations.

This study investigated the integration of the thermal hydrolysis process (THP) as a pretreatment with thermophilic anaerobic digestion (TAD) at a pilot scale using sludge from a full-scale wastewater treatment plant.

Naturally occurring Ca-bentonite and kaolinite clay minerals acted as low-cost adsorbents for removing phosphorus (P) from waste water and soil.

Phosphate from surface runoff can immobilize Pb released from sedimental galena during storm events.

A heat snap is required for sensitive detection of rotavirus in wastewater.

This study systematically compared four advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) for norfloxacin (NOR) degradation in aquatic systems: O₃, O₃/UV, O₃/H₂O₂, and UV–H₂O₂/O₃.

Iodinated disinfection by-products (I-DBPs) are of growing concern due to their elevated toxicity compared to their chlorinated counterparts, with links to adverse health effects such as bladder cancer and miscarriages.

Dewatered sludge was successfully utilized to produce seed granular sludge (SGS). The inoculation of SGS skipped over the granulation step. The preparation cost of SGS was preliminarily estimated to be 194.66 CNY per ton.

To tackle the removal of low-concentration nitrate contamination, this work utilizes electrocatalytic reduction technology to convert nitrate into recoverable ammonia, using as-prepared Cu doped Co₃O₄ on nickel foam composites as the cathode.

This study offers a practical approach to removing low-level 1,4-dioxane from landfill-impacted groundwater using Azoarcus sp. DD4. Both 1-propanol and propane effectively supported degradation, highlighting flexible options for field application.

Membrane fouling hinders ultrafiltration applications of polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) and the solving methods.

Electrocoagulation (EC) technology is an emerging and clean process in treating oily wastewater due to its high treatment efficiency, reduced sludge generation, and shorter treatment times.

Synergistic micro/nanostructure in situ construction and surface energy reduction of superhydrophobic ceramic membranes enabled high-efficiency separation of water-in-oil emulsions.

DBP formation on the iron particle interface where protein > polysaccharide.

A novel ZnO/chitosan-inulin (ZnO/CS-In) nanocomposite was prepared and evaluated for its potential to remove paracetamol (PCM) from aqueous solutions.

This study proposed a novel sludge conditioning technology using calcium peroxide (CaO₂) activated with pyrite for improving the dewaterability of waste activated sludge (WAS).

The removal of 2-MIB and GSM relied on dual effects resulting from MNB-induced volatilization and ozone oxidation.

Cyanobacterial biochar-loaded ceramic membranes for practical water treatment.

WWTP contaminant removal efficiencies were significantly negatively correlated with concentrations of antibiotics. The combination of correlation and risk quotients demonstrated that antibiotics caused a toxic shock event at the WWTP.

Fe(VI)–AA has good removal effect on SDM in mariculture tailwater, which provides a new idea for the removal of antibiotics in mariculture tailing water.

In this study, clinoptilolite (Clp)-doped poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) membranes (1–4 wt%) were prepared using an electrospinning method.

A microwave-assisted hydrothermal method was developed to produce flower-like porous pseudo-boehmite with a maximum adsorption capacity of 158.58 mg g⁻¹ and a fixed-bed adsorption column capacity of 95% for removal of phosphate.

This research enhances Fenton oxidation for saline organic wastewater by incorporating FeS nano-biological particles, which optimizes redox potential and the use of H₂O₂ to enhance COD removal.

The hydrolysis of PF₆⁻ is more accelerated by Al³⁺ than by H⁺, but the hydrolysis of PO₂F₂⁻ and PO₃F²⁻ is more accelerated by H⁺ rather than by Al³⁺.

Wastewater samples spanning three years were analyzed for human enteric pathogens and fecal indicators, highlighting seasonal, geographic, and pandemic-related variations of interest for water reuse, microbial risk assessment, and source tracking.

Our findings offer insights into the impact of nZVI addition on anaerobic sludge in the presence of PCMX.

Sub-city, or sub-sewershed, wastewater monitoring for infectious diseases offers a data-driven strategy to inform local public health response and complements city-wide data from centralized wastewater treatment plants.

This study compares culture-based and ddPCR methods for quantifying carbapenem resistance in wastewater, revealing weak correlations. Nanopore sequencing clarifies resistance mechanisms, emphasizing method selection and integrated AR surveillance.

Coagulation/flocculation of secondary effluent with FeCl₃ (1) removed MS2 bacteriophage and bacterial endospores up to 2–3 LRVs, (2) removed rapid surrogates at levels correlative with microbial removal, and (3) improved downstream O₃ performance.

Schematic diagram illustrating antibiotic removal via β-lactamase-entrapped agarose discs in a fixed-bed column bioreactor, highlighting the potential for scale-up.

Developing efficient Fenton catalysts for the remediation of emerging pollutants is one of the challenges for researchers.

Chitosan-tailored γ-AlOOH aerogels effectively remove dyes and heavy metals from water. With high recyclability and adsorption capacity, they offer an efficient, sustainable solution for industrial wastewater treatment.

Construction of multistructured nanofibrous membranes with superhydrophobic surfaces via coaxial electrostatic spinning technology.

A bulk sponge catalytic material was prepared by rapid polymerization of DA and utilized for PMS activation to degrade BPA. The coexistence of HCO₃⁻ enhanced ¹O₂ generation, accelerating BPA degradation.

In this research, a two-stage reaction system was developed, incorporating a moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) and a photocatalytic reactor.

This study characterized the degradation pathways of benzylamine, N-methylbenzylamine and N,N-dimethylbenzylamine during chlorination and chloramination.

Proposed mechanism of OTC photocatalytic degradation by the CNBC-30/PDS/Vis system.

This study reports a sustainable and green method for phosphorus (P) extraction and recovery from waste-activated sludge using glycine as a recyclable P-extraction agent.

Harmful algal blooms threaten ecosystems and water safety, necessitating rapid treatment strategies. This study developed an electrochemical ozonation process to realize simultaneous cyanobacteria inactivation and microcystin removal.

The accumulation of sediments in stormwater systems negatively affects their functioning.

Major groundwater cations can influence the U(IV) rejection of membranes. Water chemistry modeling, membrane characterization, uranium rejection, and membrane selectivity are investigated, with results showing optimal treatment operation at pH 7.

The removal of organic micropollutants, metals and metalloids was studied in an innovative two-stage system during nutrient recovery from centrate.

Rapid magnetic flocculation required a reaction time of only 2 minutes to achieve the ideal pollutant removal efficiency.