A novel photocatalytic degradation of mixed dye through chemically synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite.

This study reported the synthesis and assessment of zinc oxide/iron oxide (ZnO/Fe2O3) nanocomposite as photocatalysts for the degradation of a mixture of methylene red and methylene blue dyes. X-ray diffraction analysis confirms that the crystallite of zinc oxide (ZnO) has a hexagonal wurtzite phase and iron oxide (Fe2O3) has a rhombohedral phase. Fourier Transform Infra-Red spectrum confirms the presence of Zn-O vibration stretching at 428, 480 and 543 cm-1 stretching confirming Fe-O bond formation. Scanning Electron Microscope images exhibited a diverse size and shape of the nanocomposites. The ZnO-90%/Fe2O3-10% and ZnO-10%/Fe2O3-90% nanocomposites reveal good photocatalytic activity with reaction rate constants of 1.5 × 10-2 and 0.66 × 10-2; and 1.3 × 10-2 and 0.60 × 10-2 for methylene blue and methyl red dye respectively. The results revealed that the synthesized ZnO/Fe2O3 nanocomposite is the best catalyst for dye degradation and can be used for industrial applications in future.

Environmental and Human Health Problems Associated with Hospital Wastewater Management in Zimbabwe.

PURPOSE OF THE REVIEW: Wastewater is a term used to describe water that has undergone degradation in quality owing to anthropogenic activities or natural processes. Wastewater encompasses liquid waste originating from academic institutions, households, agricultural sector, industries, mines and hospitals. Hospital wastewater contains potentially hazardous substances including residues of pharmaceuticals, radioisotopes, detergents and pathogens, with detrimental impacts to the environment and human health. Nevertheless, studies related to hospital waste management are limited in Africa, particularly in Southern Africa. This research offers an overview of aspects surrounding hospital wastewater in Southern Africa, focusing on Zimbabwe. Already published and grey literature was reviewed to compile the paper. RECENT FINDINGS: Number of patients, nature of medical services offered and hospital size influences generation of hospital wastewater. Partially and non-treated hospital wastewater is managed together with municipal wastewater. Management of hospital wastewater is impeded by shortage of resources, lack of co-ordination among responsible authorities and ineffective legal framework enforcement, among other challenges. Inappropriate hospital wastewater management results in environmental contamination, causing human ailments. Attainment of sustainable hospital wastewater management requires clearly defined and enforced legislation, collaboration of accountable stakeholders, sufficient resources and enhanced awareness of involved stakeholders. Application of technologies that uphold recycling and reuse of wastewater is essential to reach Sustainable Development Goals, Zimbabwe Vision 2030 and National Development Strategy 1 targets, particularly those dealing with environmental protection while upholding human health.

Exploring the potential of CoMoO4-modified graphitic carbon nitride to boost oxidation of amoxicillin micropollutants in hospital wastewater.

This study investigates the removal of amoxicillin micropollutants (AM) from hospital wastewater using CoMoO4-modified graphitic carbon nitride (CMO/gCN). Consequently, CMO/gCN exhibits notable improvements in visible light absorption and electron-hole separation rates compared to unmodified gCN. Besides, CMO/gCN significantly enhances the removal efficiency of AM, attaining an impressive 96.5%, far surpassing the performance of gCN at 48.6%. Moreover, CMO/gCN showcases outstanding reusability, with AM degradation performance exceeding 70% even after undergoing six cycles of reuse. The removal mechanism of AM employing CMO/gCN involves various photoreactions of radicals (•OH, •O2-) and amoxicillin molecules under light assistance. Furthermore, CMO/gCN demonstrates a noteworthy photodegradation efficiency of AM from hospital wastewater, reaching 92.8%, with a near-complete reduction in total organic carbon levels. Detailed discussions on the practical applications of the CMO/gCN photocatalyst for removal of micropollutants from hospital wastewater are provided. These findings underline the considerable potential of CMO/gCN for effectively removing various pollutants in environmental remediation strategies.

Impact of long-term temperature shifts on activated sludge microbiome dynamics and micropollutant removal.

Micropollutants removal efficiency strongly vary across different aerobic wastewater treatment plants, resulting in their frequent detection in surface and ground waters. Seasonal temperature variation is a major factor influencing plant performance, but it is still unclear how prolonged periods of temperature change impact microbiome and micropollutant biotransformation. This work investigates the effect of long-term temperature variation on the microbial dynamics in an activated sludge system, and the impact on micropollutant biotransformation. Sequencing batch reactors were used as model system and 4-40 °C temperature range was studied. 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing showed that temperature drives microbial structure (gDNA) and activity (RNA), rather than time, and this was stronger below 15 °C and above 25 °C. The microbial community was richest and more diverse at 20 °C, while rarer and more specific taxa became predominant over time, at more extreme temperatures. This suggested that less abundant taxa might be responsible for maintaining the biotransformation capability in the activated sludge at extreme temperatures. Micropollutant biotransformation rates mostly deviated from the classic Arrhenius model below 15 °C and above 25 °C, indicating that prolonged exposure to temperature changes leads to temperature-induced taxonomic shifts, resulting in the emerging of different sets of biotransformation pathways over different temperature ranges.

Novel polyarylether nitrile/layered bimetallic oxide/2-Methylimidazole composite membrane for efficient synergistic adsorption and degradation of organic pollutants under visible light.

The difficulty of recycling and the finite photocatalytic performance of primitive nano-photocatalysts restrict their application in wastewater purification. In this study, a multifunctional membrane with efficient synergistic adsorption and degradation performance was constructed. The nano-photocatalyst layered bimetallic oxide (LDO) was combined with the matrix membrane polyarylether nitrile (PEN) by delayed phase transition technology. The introduced 2-Methylimidazole (2-MeIm) provided a virtual electron transfer pathway between PEN and LDO and enhanced the photocatalytic performance. The results suggested that PEN/LDO/2-MeIm has outstanding removal performance to organic dyes methylene blue (MB). After three consecutive cycles, the reacted membrane can be readily recovered from the system. The MB removal rate remained high at 89.38%, suggesting that the functional membrane is eligible for recycling and reuse. Finally, based on liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) analysis and density functional theory (DFT) calculations, the mechanism and pathway of MB photodegradation by the PEN/LDO/2-MeIm system were proposed. Therefore, constructing PEN/LDO/2-MeIm membranes in this study may offer a novel perspective on creating eco-friendly and functional PEN-based membranes for practical use in wastewater purification.

Comprehensive study on the selection and performance of the best electrode pair for electrocoagulation of textile wastewater using multi-criteria decision-making methods (TOPSIS, VIKOR and PROMETHEE II).

The accelerating environmental impact of the textile industry, especially in water management, requires efficient wastewater treatment strategies. This study examines the effectiveness of various electrode pairs in the Electrocoagulation (EC) process for treating textile wastewater, focusing on removing of Total Suspended Solids (TSS), turbidity, Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD), and Total Organic Carbon (TOC). A comprehensive analysis was conducted using thirty-six electrode pair combinations, consisting of six materials: Aluminium (Al), Zinc (Zn), Carbon (C), Copper (Cu), Mild Steel (MS), and Stainless Steel (SS). The results demonstrated that different electrode pairs yielded varying removal efficiencies for various pollutants, with the highest efficiencies being 92.09% for COD (Al-C pair), 99.66% for TSS (Al-Cu pair), 99.17% for turbidity (Al-MS pair), and 70.99% for TOC (SS-SS pair). However, no single electrode pair excelled in removing all pollutant categories. To address this, three Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methods such as TOPSIS, VIKOR, and PROMETHEE II were used to assess the most effective electrode pair. The results indicated that the Al-Zn combination was the most efficient, exhibiting high removal efficiencies for various pollutants (99.32% for TSS, 98.88% for turbidity, 68.62% for COD, and 57.96% for TOC). This study demonstrates that the EC process can effectively treat textile effluent and emphasizes the importance of selecting suitable electrode materials. Furthermore, pollutant removal was optimal with the Al-Zn electrode pair, offering a balanced and efficient approach to textile wastewater treatment. Thus, MCDM methods offer a robust framework for assessing and optimizing electrode selection, providing valuable insights for sustainable environmental management practices.

Contribution of wastewater irrigated vegetables to the prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infection among female farmers in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: Untreated or inadequately treated wastewater carrying human feces can host helminth eggs and larvae, contaminating the soil and plants that are irrigated with it. In Addis Ababa, farmers use untreated wastewater to grow vegetables; however, there are little data currently available published on vegetables' contribution to the prevalence of helminth among female farmers along the Akaki River, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Addis Ababa City in February 2022. A stratified random sampling method was used to sample farming households. The sample size for each district was determined by a proportional allocation to the total number of households in the area. Two hundred and fifty-two composite vegetable samples and 101 farmers' stool samples were collected and analyzed for helminth prevalence. Data on socio-demographics were collected by trained data collators using a structured questionnaire. Kato-Katz concentration was used to detect STH from a stool sample. Stata version 14.0 was used to process the data. Poisson regression was used to identify the association between STH prevalence in the vegetable and the farm's stool. RESULTS: Helminths were found in 67.5% of vegetables sampled and 20.8% of female farmers' stools. Ascaris lumbricoides eggs (vegetable 48.4% and stool 9.9%) were identified in all analyzed samples. Hookworm eggs (vegetable 13.1% and stool 8.9%) and Trichuris trichiura eggs (vegetable 5.9% and stool 2%) were also isolated. The total number of helminth eggs present in wastewater-irrigated vegetables and female farmers' stool had a positive association (p < 0.05) with a regression coefficient of 1.92 (95% CI = 1.56-2.28). CONCLUSIONS: The study found a significant prevalence of helminth infections, particularly Ascaris lumbricoides, in stool and vegetable samples irrigated with wastewater. A clear association was found between vegetable production and a higher prevalence of helminth infections among female farmers. Therefore, it is important to ensure that farmers are educated in the importance of food washing and sanitation/hygiene practices when using wastewater irrigation for vegetable crops.

Using ozone nanobubbles, and microalgae to promote the removal of nutrients from aquaculture wastewater: Insights from the changes of microbiomes.

Integrated aquaculture wastewater treatment systems (IAWTSs) are widely used in treating aquaculture wastewater with the aeration-microalgae unit serving as an important component. In this study, we artificially constructed an IAWTS and applied two aeration-microalgae methods: ordinary aeration or ozone nanobubbles (ONBs) with microalgae (Nannochloropsis oculata). The impact of N.oculata and ONBs on the removal performance of nutrients and the underlying micro-ecological mechanisms were investigated using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. The results demonstrated that the combined use of ONBs and N.oculata exhibited superior purification effects with 78.25%, 76.59% and 86.71% removal of CODMn, TN and TP. N.oculata played a pivotal role as the primary element in wastewater purification, while ONBs influenced nutrient dynamics by affecting both N.oculata and bacterial communities. N.oculata actively shaped bacterial communities, with a specific focus on nitrogen and phosphorus cycling in the micro-environment remodeled by ONBs. Rare bacterial communities displayed heightened activity in response to the changes in N.oculata, ONBs, and nutrient levels. These findings provide a novel approach to improve the technological processes the IAWTS, contributing to the advancement of sustainable aquaculture practices by offering valuable insights into wastewater purification efficiency and micro-ecological mechanisms.

Waste-treating-waste: Effective heavy metals removal from electroplating wastewater by ladle slag.

Ladle slag, a by-product of steelmaking, presents a valuable strategy for waste reduction and valorization in wastewater treatment. This work demonstrates the successful simultaneous removal of Al(III), B(III), Ba(II), Cr(III), Mg(II), Sr(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II), from electroplating wastewater by ladle slag. First, Cr(III) and Pb(II) removals were evaluated in single synthetic systems by analyzing the influence of pH, temperature, and ladle slag dosage. Competitive removal was observed in binary batch experiments of Cr(III) - Pb(II), achieving 88% and 96% removal, respectively, with fast kinetics following a pseudo-second-order model. The findings of XRD, SEM, EDX, and FTIR of the slag after removal helped to elucidate the synergic removal mechanism involving ladle slag dissolution, precipitation, ion exchange, and adsorption in a tight relationship with the solution pH. Lastly, ladle slag was tested in real electroplating wastewater with the aforementioned ions at concentrations ranging from <1 to 1700 mg/L. The removal was performed in two steps, the first attained the following efficiencies: 73% for Al(III), 88% for B(III), 98% for Ba(II), 80% for Cr(III), 82% for Mg(II), 99% for Pb(II), 88% for Sr(II), and 88% for Zn(II). Visual MINTEQ simulation was utilized to identify the different species of ions present during the removal process. Furthermore, the leaching tests indicated a minimal environmental risk of secondary pollution in its application. The results promote an effective and sustainable approach to wastewater treatment within the circular economy.

Performances of PTFE and PVDF membranes in achieving the discharge limit of mixed anodic oxidation coating wastewaters treated by membrane distillation.

The mixed wastewater generated by anodic oxidation coating facilities contains high levels of various contaminants, including iron, aluminum, conductivity, chemical oxygen demand (COD), and sulfate. In this study, the effectiveness of the membrane distillation (MD) process using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membranes was investigated to treat mixed wastewater from an anodized coating factory. The results indicate that both hydrophobic membranes effectively removed targeted contaminants. However, the PTFE membrane achieved higher removal efficiencies, with over 99% removal of sulfate, conductivity, iron, and aluminum, 85.7% of COD, and 86% of total organic carbon (TOC). In contrast, the PVDF membrane exhibited a significant decline in removal efficiency as the temperature increased and performed well only at lower feed temperatures. The PTFE membranes outperformed the PVDF membranes in treating chemically intensive anodic oxidation wastewaters. This superiority can be attributed to the PTFE membrane's morphology and structure, which are less influenced by feed water temperature and chemicals. Additionally, its slippery surface imparts anti-adhesion properties, effectively preventing membrane fouling, and maintaining the treated water quality and flux for longer operation time.

Hemodialysis water reuse within a circular economy approach. What can we add to current knowledge? A point of view.

The ongoing climate change and the ecological challenges call for sustainable medicine and, in our field, sustainable kidney care. Dialysis is life-saving and resource-consuming, and high water consumption is one of the main concerns. Circular water economy, meaning reuse and recycling of water, and recovering resources can help reducing emissions and enhancing resilience to climate change. Several actions are possible including reusing reverse osmosis reject water, employable for gardening, aquaponics or even simply for toilet flushing, or in sterilization settings, reusing spent dialysate, at least for toilet flushing, but with wider use if microbiologically purified, recovering thermal energy from spent dialysate, that can probably be done with simple devices, or using phosphate-rich spent dialysate for producing fertilizers, namely struvite. All these options may be economically sound, and all help reducing the final dialysis carbon footprint. There is room for open-minded innovative approaches to improve water-related sustainability in hemodialysis, ultimately reducing ecological impact and increasing availability.

High-performance activation of ozone by sonocavitation for BTEX degradation in water.

This work presents a novel advanced oxidation process (AOP) for degradation of emerging organic pollutants - benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEXs) in water. A comparative study was performed for sonocavitation assisted ozonation under 40-120 kHz and 80-200 kHz dual frequency ultrasounds (DFUS). Based on the obtained results, the combination of 40-120 kHz i.e., low-frequency US (LFDUS) with O3 exhibited excellent oxidation capacity degrading 99.37-99.69% of BTEXs in 40 min, while 86.09-91.76% of BTEX degradation was achieved after 60 min in 80-200 kHz i.e., high-frequency US (HFDUS) combined with O3. The synergistic indexes determined using degradation rate constants were found as 7.86 and 2.9 for LFDUS/O3 and HFDUS/O3 processes, respectively. The higher extend of BTEX degradation in both processes was observed at pH 6.5 and 10. Among the reactive oxygen species (ROSs), hydroxyl radicals (HO•) were found predominant according to scavenging tests, singlet oxygen also importantly contributed in degradation, while O2•- radicals had a minor contribution. Sulfate (SO42-) ions demonstrated higher inhibitory effect compared to chloride (Cl-) and carbonate (CO32-) ions in both processes. Degradation pathways of BTEX was proposed based on the intermediates identified using GC-MS technique.

Produced water treatment by semi-continuous sequential bioreactor and microalgae photobioreactor.

Produced water (PW) from oil and gas exploration adversely affects aquatic life and living organisms, necessitating treatment before discharge to meet effluent permissible limits. This study first used activated sludge to pretreat PW in a sequential batch reactor (SBR). The pretreated PW then entered a 13 L photobioreactor (PBR) containing Scenedesmus obliquus microalgae culture. Initially, 10% of the PW mixed with 90% microalgae culture in the PBR. After the exponential growth of the microalgae, an additional 25% of PW was added to the PBR without extra nutrients. This study reported the growth performance of microalgae in the PBR as well as the reduction in effluent's total organic carbon (TOC), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), and heavy metals content. The results demonstrated removal efficiencies of 64% for TOC, 49.8% for TDS, and 49.1% for EC. The results also showed reductions in barium, iron, and manganese in the effluent by 95, 76, and 52%, respectively.

Accumulation and translocation of lead in vegetables through intensive use of organic manure and mineral fertilizers with wastewater.

In many countries with wastewater irrigation and intensive use of fertilizers (minerals and organics), heavy metal deposition by crops is regarded as a major environmental concern. A study was conducted to determine the impact of mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse on soil's trace Pb content and edible parts of vegetables. It also evaluated the risk of lead (Pb) contamination in water, soil, and food crops. Six vegetables (Daucus carota, Brassica oleracea, Pisum sativum, Solanum tuberosum, Raphanus sativus, and Spinacia oleracea) were grown in the field under twelve treatments with different nutrient and water inputs. The lead concentrations in soil, vegetables for all treatments and water samples ranged from 1.038-10.478, 0.09346-9.0639 mg/kg and 0.036-0.26448 mg/L, The concentration of lead in soil treated with wastewater in treatment (T6) and vegetable samples was significantly higher, exceeding the WHO's permitted limit. Mineral and organic fertilizers combined with wastewater treatment reduced lead (Pb) concentrations in vegetables compared to wastewater application without organic fertilizers. Health risk indexes for all treatments except wastewater treatment (T6) were less than one. Pb concentrations in mineral fertilizers, cow manure, poultry manure, leaf litter, and sugarcane bagasse treated were determined to pose no possible risk to consumers.

Efficient uranium sequestration ability and mechanism of live and inactivated strain of Streptomyces sp. HX-1 isolated from uranium wastewater.

Prokaryotes are effective biosorbents for the recovery of uranium and other heavy metals. However, the potential mechanism of uranium bioaccumulation by filamentous strain (actinobacteria) remains unclear. This study demonstrates the potential for and mechanism of uranium bioaccumulation by living (L-SS) and inactivated (I-SS) Streptomyces sp. HX-1 isolated from uranium mine waste streams. Uranium accumulation experiments showed that L-SS and I-SS had efficient uranium adsorption potentials, with removal rates of 92.93 and 97.42%, respectively. Kinetic and equilibrium data indicated that the bioaccumulation process was consistent with the pseudo-second-order kinetic, Langmuir, and Sips isotherm models. FTIR indicated that the main functional groups of L-SS and I-SS binding uranium were uranyl, carboxyl, and phosphate groups. Moreover, the results of XRD, XPS, SEM-EDS, and TEM-EDS analyses revealed for the first time that L-SS has biomineralization and bioreduction capacity against uranium. L-SS mineralize U(VI) into NH4UO2PO4 and [Formula: see text] through the metabolic activity of biological enzymes (phosphatases). In summary, Streptomyces sp. HX-1 is a novel and efficient uranium-fixing biosorbent for the treatment of uranium-contaminated wastewater.

Assessing nitrous oxide emissions from algal-bacterial photobioreactors devoted to biogas upgrading and digestate treatment.

Nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in High Rate Algal Ponds (HRAP) can negatively affect the sustainability of algal-bacterial processes. N2O emissions from a pilot HRAP devoted to biogas upgrading and digestate treatment were herein monitored for 73 days. The influence of the pH (7.5, 8.5, and 9.5), nitrogen sources (100 mg/L of N-NO2-, N-NO3-, and N-NH4+) and illumination on N2O emissions from the algal-bacterial biomass of the HRAP was also assessed in batch tests. Significantly higher N2O gas concentrations of 311.8 ± 101.1 ppmv were recorded in the dark compared to the illuminated period (236.9 ± 82.6 ppmv) in the HRAP. The batch tests revealed that the highest N2O emission rates (49.4 mmol g-1 TSS·h-1) occurred at pH 8.5 in the presence of 100 mg N-NO2-/L under dark conditions. This study revealed significant N2O emissions in HRAPs during darkness.

Batch and semi-continuous treatment of cassava wastewater using microbial fuel cells and metataxonomic analysis.

The treatment of agroindustrial wastewater using microbial fuel cells (MFCs) is a technological strategy to harness its chemical energy while simultaneously purifying the water. This manuscript investigates the organic load effect as chemical oxygen demand (COD) on the production of electricity during the treatment of cassava wastewater by means of a dual-chamber microbial fuel cell in batch mode. Additionally, specific conditions were selected to evaluate the semi-continuous operational mode. The dynamics of microbial communities on the graphite anode were also investigated. The maximum power density delivered by the batch MFC (656.4 µW m - 2 ) was achieved at the highest evaluated organic load (6.8 g COD L - 1 ). Similarly, the largest COD removal efficiency (61.9%) was reached at the lowest organic load (1.17 g COD L - 1 ). Cyanide degradation percentages (50-70%) were achieved across treatments. The semi-continuous operation of the MFC for 2 months revealed that the voltage across the cell is dependent on the supply or suspension of the organic load feed. The electrode polarization resistance was observed to decreases over time, possibly due to the enrichment of the anode with electrogenic microbial communities. A metataxonomic analysis revealed a significant increase in bacteria from the phylum Firmicutes, primarily of the genus Enterococcus.

Effective removal of acetamiprid and eosin Y by adsorption on pristine and modified MIL-101(Fe).

In this work, the efficacy of two metal-organic frameworks (MIL-101(Fe) and NH2-MIL-101(Fe)) in eliminating acetamiprid (ATP) insecticide and eosin Y (EY) dye from aqueous solution is tested. An analysis was conducted on the developed nanocomposite's optical, morphological, and structural characteristics. The adsorption isotherm, kinetics, thermodynamics, reusability, and mechanisms for ATP and EY dye removal were assessed. NH2-MIL-101(Fe) adsorbed 76% and 90% of ATP pesticide and EY dye, respectively after 10 to 15 min in optimum conditions. For both adsorbents, with regard to explaining the isotherm data, the Langmuir model offered the most accurate description. Moreover, the adsorption of ATP and EY dye is described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. The maximum adsorption capacities of ATP and EY dye on MIL-101(Fe) were 57.6 and 48.9 mg/g compared to 70.5 and 97.8 mg/g using NH2-MIL-101(Fe). The greatest amount of ATP and EY dye clearance was obtained at a neutral medium for both adsorbents. The results of this investigation demonstrate the effectiveness of MIL-101(Fe) and NH2-MIL-101(Fe) as effective substances in the adsorption process for removing pesticides and dyes from aqueous solution.

Optimizing ciprofloxacin removal through regulations of trophic modes and FNA levels in a moving bed biofilm reactor performing sidestream partial nitritation.

The performance of partial nitritation (PN)-moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) in removal of antibiotics in the sidestream wastewater has not been investigated so far. In this work, the removal of ciprofloxacin was assessed under varying free nitrous acid (FNA) levels and different trophic modes. For the first time, a positive correlation was observed between ciprofloxacin removal and FNA levels, either in the autotrophic PN-MBBR or in the mixotrophic PN-MBBR, mainly ascribed to the FNA-stimulating effect on heterotrophic bacteria (HB)-induced biodegradation. The maximum ciprofloxacin removal efficiency (∼98 %) and removal rate constant (0.021 L g-1 SS h-1) were obtained in the mixotrophic PN-MBBR at an average FNA level of 0.056 mg-N L-1, which were 5.8 and 51.2 times higher than the corresponding values in the autotrophic PN-MBBR at 0 mg FNA-N L-1. Increasing FNA from 0.006 to 0.056 mg-N L-1 would inhibit ammonia oxidizing bacteria (AOB)-induced cometabolism and metabolism from 10.2 % and 6.9 % to 6.2 % and 6.4 %, respectively, while HB-induced cometabolism and metabolism increased from 31.2 % and 22.7 % to 41.9 % and 34.5 %, respectively. HB-induced cometabolism became the predominant biodegradation pathway (75.9 %-85.8 %) in the mixotrophic mode. Less antimicrobial biotransformation products without the piperazine or fluorine were newly identified to propose potential degradation pathways, corresponding to microbial-induced metabolic types and FNA levels. This work shed light on enhancing antibiotic removal via regulating both FNA accumulation and organic carbon addition in the PN-MBBR process treating sidestream wastewater.

Assessing infectivity of emerging enveloped viruses in wastewater and sewage sludge: Relevance and procedures.

The emergence of SARS-CoV-2 has heightened the need to evaluate the detection of enveloped viruses in the environment, particularly in wastewater, within the context of wastewater-based epidemiology. The studies published over the past 80 years focused primarily on non-enveloped viruses due to their ability to survive longer in environmental matrices such as wastewater or sludge compared to enveloped viruses. However, different enveloped viruses survive in the environment for different lengths of time. Therefore, it is crucial to be prepared to assess the potential infectious risk that may arise from future emerging enveloped viruses. This will require appropriate tools, notably suitable viral concentration methods that do not compromise virus infectivity. This review has a dual purpose: first, to gather all the available literature on the survival of infectious enveloped viruses, specifically at different pH and temperature conditions, and in contact with detergents; second, to select suitable concentration methods for evaluating the infectivity of these viruses in wastewater and sludge. The methodology used in this data collection review followed the systematic approach outlined in the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. Concentration methods cited in the data gathered are more tailored towards detecting the enveloped viruses' genome. There is a lack of suitable methods for detecting infectious enveloped viruses in wastewater and sludge. Ultrafiltration, ultracentrifugation, and polyethylene glycol precipitation methods, under specific/defined conditions, appear to be relevant approaches. Further studies are necessary to validate reliable concentration methods for detecting infectious enveloped viruses. The choice of culture system is also crucial for detection sensitivity. The data also show that the survival of infectious enveloped viruses, though lower than that of non-enveloped ones, may enable environmental transmission. Experimental data on a wide range of enveloped viruses is required due to the variability in virus persistence in the environment.