Themed collection SDG6: Clean water & sanitation
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Opportunities for nanotechnology to enhance electrochemical treatment of pollutants in potable water and industrial wastewater – a perspective
An international workshop identified how pore structures and unique properties that emerge at nano- to sub-nano- size domains can improve the energy efficiency and selectivity of electroseparation or electrocatalytic processes for treating water.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020,7, 2178-2194
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN00194E
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Responsible science, engineering and education for water resource recovery and circularity
Integration of resource recovery and circular economy concepts in higher education will stimulate responsible innovation in the water sector for an ecologically-balanced society.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 1952-1966
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00402B
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The potential contribution of urine source separation to the SDG agenda – a review of the progress so far and future development options
Closing the human nutrient cycle with decentralized urine separation would help to achieve progress in food security and water protection – especially in poor countries. For this, radical innovation is needed along the whole sanitation value chain.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1161-1176
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW01064B
Emerging investigator series: bacteriophages as nano engineering tools for quality monitoring and pathogen detection in water and wastewater
Phase-based detection and monitoring of pathogens in water and wastewater.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021,8, 367-389
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN00962H
A comprehensive review of forward osmosis and niche applications
The recent improvements in FO technology are critically reviewed, with barriers to full-scale applications highlighted.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 1986-2015
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00181C
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The solvothermal synthesis of a 3D rod-like Fe–Al bimetallic metal–organic-framework for efficient fluoride adsorption and photodegradation of water-soluble carcinogenic dyes
Thermally stable, 3D rod-like, nanosized, pH-stable Fe–Al metal–organic-framework with terephthalic acid as a linker with a surface area 120.255 m2 g−1 was synthesized solvothermally for fluoride adsorption and the photodegradation of rhodamine B/methylene blue (pH 2–11).
Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2022,1, 121-137
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1VA00019E
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A flexible copper sulfide composite membrane with tunable plasmonic resonance absorption for near-infrared light-driven seawater desalination
A flexible CuS/Matrimid composite membrane with tunable near-infrared absorption is constructed. The composite membrane exhibits good near-infrared light-driven photothermal vapor evaporation and seawater desalination effects.
Environ. Sci.: Adv., 2022,1, 110-120
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1VA00043H
A case study on tap water quality in large buildings recommissioned after extended closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic
Extensive building closures due to the unprecedented COVID-19 pandemic resulted in long-term water stagnation within the plumbing of large buildings.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1996-2009
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00428J
Bi2O3/nylon multilayered nanocomposite membrane for the photocatalytic inactivation of waterborne pathogens and degradation of mixed organic pollutants
Bi2O3/nylon multilayered nanocomposite membrane was fabricated by electrospinning and effectively used to degrade organic dye pollutants and pathogens through ROS produced by photocatalysis.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2021,8, 342-355
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN01026J
Biodegradation mechanisms and functional microbiology in conventional septic tanks: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Knowledge gaps exist pertaining to the interaction between anaerobic conditions, microbiology and activity that characterize biodegradation mechanisms in septic tanks.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 144-155
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00795A
Hierarchically aligned nano silver/chitosan–PVA hydrogel for point-of-use water disinfection: contact-active mechanism revealed
Mechanically robust Ag/CS–PVA hydrogel displayed 100% disinfection efficacy against biomedical/natural contaminants through contact-active mechanism with ∼74 ppb Ag release.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020,7, 2337-2350
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN00405G
Sewer biofilm microbiome and antibiotic resistance genes as function of pipe material, source of microbes, and disinfection: field and laboratory studies
Wastewater systems are recognized pathways for the spread of antibiotic resistant bacteria, but relatively little is known about the microbial ecology of the sewer environment.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 2122-2137
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00265H
Nano-sized iron oxides supported on polyester textile to remove fluoroquinolones in hospital wastewater
Nano-sized iron oxides supported on textile is successfully used for PMS activation and thus flumequine and ciprofloxacin removal in hospital wastewater under visible light.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020,7, 2156-2165
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EN00261E
Safe resource recovery from faecal sludge: evidence from an innovative treatment system in rural Tanzania
A novel treatment system for pit latrine faecal sludge; solar-dried sludge with captured leachate heat-treated in agriculture using waste-fired rocket stove.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 1737-1748
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EW01097A
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Field testing of an onsite sanitation system on apartment building blackwater using biological treatment and electrochemical disinfection
Demonstration of an electrochemical toilet wastewater treatment and disinfection technology at the scale of an apartment building and translation of the system into a commercial product.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 1400-1411
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EW01106D
Electrochemical simultaneous denitrification and removal of phosphorus from the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant using cheap metal electrodes
Nitrate and phosphate in the effluent of a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP) were electrochemically removed with cheap metal (aluminum and iron) electrodes.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 1095-1105
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00049C
Vertically-aligned growth of CuAl-layered double oxides on reduced graphene oxide for hybrid capacitive deionization with superior performance
Designing vertically-aligned CuAl-layered double oxide grown on reduced graphene oxide for capacitive desalination with high capacity and long cycling life.
Environ. Sci.: Nano, 2020,7, 764-772
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EN01238A
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Field testing of low-cost titania-based photocatalysts for enhanced solar disinfection (SODIS) in rural India
We report the efficacy of titania-based photocatalysts for use as a simple and effective method of disinfecting drinking water in villages in West Bengal, demonstrating the viability of this technique to enhance solar disinfection in rural areas.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2020,6, 809-816
https://doi.org/10.1039/C9EW01023H
About this collection
This collection showcases some of the latest research in Royal Society of Chemistry journals on improving clean water and sanitation technologies. Sanitation and access to clean water are fundamental human rights and are crucial for helping to combat diseases and to minimise harmful waste released into the environment. We hope you enjoy reading the papers in this collection and we welcome you to submit your next paper on this theme to our journals.