Themed collection Best Papers 2021 - Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology
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Emerging investigator series: could the superoxide radical be implemented in decontamination processes?
The superoxide radical (O2˙−) is an important reactive oxygen species (ROS) in diverse natural aquatic systems and engineered water treatment processes.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1966-1970
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00463H
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Growth of Legionella during COVID-19 lockdown stagnation
While “avoiding stagnation” has been the mantra of building water experts, support for how this terminology is used is not overly convincing. Carefully nuanced COVID stagnation studies can improve water quality research and communication strategies.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 10-15
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00819B
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Macroscopic covalent organic framework architectures for water remediation
This article has critically reviewed the story of macroscopic developments of COFs for water remediation. The various macroscopic COFs for removing toxic organic and inorganic pollutants have been systematically surveyed.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1895-1927
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00408E
Synthesis, fabrication, and mechanism of action of electrically conductive membranes: a review
Synthesis and mechanism of action of electrically conductive membranes.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 671-705
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW01070G
Recovery of viable ammonia–nitrogen products from agricultural slaughterhouse wastewater by membrane contactors: a review
Efficient removal of nitrogen from wastewater is vital to ensure the safekeeping of waterways and their biota.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 259-273
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00960A
Microplastics in marine environment: a review on sources, classification, and potential remediation by membrane technology
Microplastics are pollutants highly stable to complete biodegradation and require more specific separation processes for their removal. Classification and potential remediation technologies, such as membrane technology, are discussed in this review.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 243-258
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00802H
Denitrifying biofilm processes for wastewater treatment: developments and perspectives
Biofilms can retain microorganisms with very different growth kinetics and different electron acceptor preferences, due to their natural redox zonation.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 40-67
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00576B
Solar-driven evaporators for water treatment: challenges and opportunities
Solar-driven evaporation is an emerging process to acquire freshwater from saline water or wastewater. The current review summarizes the major factors affecting the evaporation performance, including material selection, heat management, and scaling control.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 24-39
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00725K
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Drinking water contamination from the thermal degradation of plastics: implications for wildfire and structure fire response
Plastic pipes are susceptible to thermal degradation which can produce volatile organic compounds such as benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene that leach into drinking water.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 274-284
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00836B
An advantage for desalination of coastal saline groundwater over seawater in view of boron removal requirements
Saline groundwater (SGW) from coastal aquifers possesses less boron than seawater. Using SGW as feed for desalination reduces the energy demand and thus the environmental load.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 2241-2254
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00427A
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
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Amyloid fibril-based membranes for PFAS removal from water
We introduce a green and efficient approach for removing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) based on the β-lactoglobulin amyloid fibril membrane.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1873-1884
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00373A
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A novel passive sampling approach for SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater in a Canadian province with low prevalence of COVID-19
A simple passive sampling protocol using cheesecloth and electronegative filters coupled with a Tween®20-based elution technique provided reliable detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater at targeted locations in a region of low COVID-19 prevalence.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1576-1586
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00207D
Electron transfer mechanism of peroxydisulfate activation by sewage sludge-derived biochar for enhanced degradation of sulfamethoxazole
The electron-transfer process is the main pathway occurring in the BC800/PDS system and the singlet oxygen pathway is determined to have little contribution to the oxidation of SMX.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 1563-1575
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00279A
Architecting a Janus biomass carbon/sponge evaporator with salt-rejection and ease of floatation for sustainable solar-driven desalination
A Janus biomass carbon/sponge (JBCS) solar-driven desalination system is composed of carbonized original leaf particles and commercial melamine sponge seamlessly integrated with each other by a simple “soak-dip” method.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 879-885
https://doi.org/10.1039/D1EW00070E
Enhancing the performance of a microbial electrochemical system with carbon-based dynamic membrane as both anode electrode and filtration media
The dynamic membrane can enhance the electricity generation and improve the effluent quality in microbial electrochemical systems.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 870-878
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW01027H
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Reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods to quantify the SARS-CoV-2 genetic signal in raw wastewater: findings from an interlaboratory methods evaluation in the U.S.
The reproducibility and sensitivity of 36 methods for quantifying the genetic signal of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater was evaluated in a nationwide interlaboratory assessment in the U.S.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 504-520
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00946F
Removal of PFASs from biosolids using a semi-pilot scale pyrolysis reactor and the application of biosolids derived biochar for the removal of PFASs from contaminated water
This study focuses on the conversion of biosolids to biochar and its further use in adsorbing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) from contaminated water.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 638-649
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00763C
Fabrication of amino functionalized benzene-1,4-dicarboxylic acid facilitated cerium based metal organic frameworks for efficient removal of fluoride from water environment
In this present work, we have developed the highly porous nature of cerium (Ce) based metal organic frameworks (MOFs), namely Ce@ABDC and Ce@BDC MOFs, using a hydrothermal technique for the defluoridation of water.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 384-395
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00843E
Effects of NaClO shock on MBR performance under continuous operating conditions
The NaClO-shocked sludge had a self-recovery ability, and with the gradual improvement of sludge properties, membrane fouling was reduced.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 396-404
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00760A
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Application of liquid-infused membranes to mitigate biofouling
The novel liquid-infused membranes have been shown to mitigate membrane biofouling. Here, the long-term stability of these membrane have been tested and analyzed using bacterial growth curve models.
Environ. Sci.: Water Res. Technol., 2021,7, 68-77
https://doi.org/10.1039/D0EW00203H
About this collection
The Environmental Science Best Papers Initiative identifies a variety of excellent papers published in the Royal Society of Chemistry’s Environmental Science journal family, showcasing great research from across the globe. To celebrate more of the great papers published in Environmental Science: Water Research & Technology during 2021 which really deserve recognition, we’ve gathered all nominated papers in this special collection.