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Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Water Management".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (24 October 2023) | Viewed by 9247

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Daniela Simina Ştefan

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Guest Editor
Department of Analytical Chemistry and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnologies, University Politehnica of Bucharest, 1-7 Polizu Street, Sector 1, 011061 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: water quality assessment; natural water and waste water treatment by physical, chemical and biological methods; waste capitalization by biodegradation (composting, biogas obtaining by anaerobe fermentation); conformity assessment for packaging and waste
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Florentina Laura Chiriac

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Water, Soil and Waste Pollution Control Laboratory, National Research and Development Institute for Industrial Ecology—ECOIND, 51-73 Drumul Podu Dambovitei Street, Sector 6, 060652 Bucharest, Romania
Interests: endocrine disruptors; organic contaminants; LC-MS/MS analysis; surface water; wastewater; biodegradation; environmental risk assessment
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are proposing a Special Issue with the title “Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World".

Water is an important living environment for many creatures, and is a very important resource for both human consumption as well as industry and agriculture.

As a result of human activities, water’s properties are changed by being loaded with compounds that, even in very small amounts on the order of µg/L and ng/L, can affect the metabolic processes of living organisms.

Particular attention must be paid to contaminants that are not included in regular monitoring processes, such as pharmaceuticals, endocrine disruptors, microplastics, nanoparticles, etc. These components, which have been highlighted in water because of the increase in the performance of methods and analysis devices, require innovative removal methods.

The classic methods are not efficient enough to enable the removal of contaminants up to concentrations on the order of ng/L. This Special Issue will publish papers that present innovative methods of treating water from natural sources to obtain drinking water, as well as methods for wastewater purification.

We welcome papers describing advanced treatment methods such as membrane processes, advanced oxidation, methods that use, among others, microwaves or ultrasound, selective adsorption on natural and synthetic materials with advanced selectivity, biodegradation, or combinations thereof.

In this Special Issue, research papers, reviews, and short communications will be accepted.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Daniela Simina Ştefan
Dr. Florentina-Laura Chiriac
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • natural water
  • wastewater
  • pharmaceuticals
  • micro/nanoplastics
  • endocrine disruptors
  • innovative treatments
  • sustainable world

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Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 3114 KiB  
Article
Multivariate Analysis of Harvested Rainwater Quality Utilizing Sustainable Solar-Energy-Driven Water Treatment
by Bisma Khalid and Abdullah Alodah
Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14568; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914568 - 8 Oct 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2513
Abstract
The rising importance of utilizing rainwater as a sustainable and viable alternative water source is evident amid increasing urbanization and the mounting global apprehensions about water scarcity. This research aims to develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach to rainwater treatment by effectively utilizing [...] Read more.
The rising importance of utilizing rainwater as a sustainable and viable alternative water source is evident amid increasing urbanization and the mounting global apprehensions about water scarcity. This research aims to develop a comprehensive and sustainable approach to rainwater treatment by effectively utilizing the recently constructed solar panels at the University of Engineering and Technology (UET) in Pakistan. The study’s distinctiveness lies in its comprehensive examination of treatment plant efficiency under various weather conditions in a water-scarce region. The main objective of this work is to maximize the harvested rainwater in order to provide safe drinking water while lessening the carbon footprint of treatment operations. The proposed University of Engineering and Technology water purification process (UETWPP) method involves a sequence of four essential rainwater filtration stages, namely aeration, absorption, sediment filtration, and finally, UV disinfection, all powered by solar energy. Water samples were collected monthly for a year to assess the quality of untreated and treated rainwater, including physical, chemical, and biological parameters. Multivariate analysis techniques were used to assess these parameters, including the Friedman test and principal component analyses. By reducing the initial set of twenty components down to the four most critical ones identified in the untreated water samples, the interrelationships among these components were investigated. The results indicate that the quality of treated water using the UETWPP process was found to be suitable for human consumption, aligning with the local standards as well as those established by the World Health Organization (WHO), highlighting the effectiveness of the process in transforming rainwater into potable water. Ultimately, this pilot project showcases the viability and economic efficiency of the proposed system, rendering it easily implementable in other regions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World)
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18 pages, 5322 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Degradation of Bisphenol A via Ultrasound, Assisted by Chemical Treatment
by Alina Marilena Pahontu (Dura), Daniela Simina Stefan, Florentina Laura Chiriac, Ioan Calinescu, Annette Madelene Dancila and Mircea Stefan
Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14058; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151914058 - 22 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1209
Abstract
Ultrasonic technology (US) can be considered a very sustainable and efficient method to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from water. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has some advantages: a simple implementation on existing water treatment and purification facilities, it does not generate [...] Read more.
Ultrasonic technology (US) can be considered a very sustainable and efficient method to remove bisphenol A (BPA) from water. Compared with other methods, the proposed method has some advantages: a simple implementation on existing water treatment and purification facilities, it does not generate residual compounds that produce sludge, a relatively fast time is required for degradation (1–2 h), and high degradation efficiencies. In this work, we present the results regarding BPA degradation efficiency using the ultrasonic technique. The influence of frequency and of some additional compounds, such as carbon tetrachloride (CCl4), FeSO4 7H2O (FS), and ethyl anthraquinone (EAC), were studied. Three different frequencies were used: 1146 kHz, 864 kHz, and 580 kHz, at 50 W. The sampling, performed every 15 min, revealed that the highest BPA degradation was achieved after 60 min. Using the liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) technique, the degradation compounds were identified. Pathways of BPA degradation were also proposed. The use of additives such as CCl4, FS, and EAC proved to have a positive effect on the BPA degradation process assisted by ultrasound. After 60 min of exposure, the degradation capacities reached values of between 50% and 75%, while the mineralization capacities were situated between 20% and 35%. CCl4 and EAC had a more pronounced stimulating action than FS, with the EAC having the highest mineralization capacity, representing around 75% of the degradation capacity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World)
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15 pages, 3158 KiB  
Article
Clinoptilolite—A Sustainable Material for the Removal of Bisphenol A from Water
by Alina Marilena Dura, Daniela Simina Stefan, Florentina Laura Chiriac, Roxana Trusca, Adrian Ionut Nicoara and Mircea Stefan
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 13253; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151713253 - 4 Sep 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1483
Abstract
Bisphenol A is a remarkable chemical compound as it has many applications, mainly in the plastics industry, but it also has toxic effects on the environment and human health. This article presents a comparative study regarding the adsorption of BPA on Active carbon [...] Read more.
Bisphenol A is a remarkable chemical compound as it has many applications, mainly in the plastics industry, but it also has toxic effects on the environment and human health. This article presents a comparative study regarding the adsorption of BPA on Active carbon and zeolitic tuff, ZTC. In this paper, the characterization of the zeolitic tuff, adsorbent, was carried out from an elemental and mineralogical point of view, and it noted the pore size and elemental distribution, using SEM, EDAX, and XRD analysis. The pore size varies from 30 nm to 10 µm, the atomic ratio is Si/Al ≥ 4, and 80% of the mineralogical composition represents Ca Clinoptilolite zeolites and Ca Clinoptilolite zeolites ((Na1.32K1.28Ca1.72Mg0.52) (Al6.77Si29.23O72)(H2O)26.84). Moreover, a comparative study of the adsorption capacity of bisphenol A, using synthetic solutions on an activated carbon type—Norit GAC 830 W, GAC—as well as on Clinoptilolite-type zeolitic tuff—ZTC, was carried out. The experiments were carried out at a temperature of 20 °C, a pH of 4.11, 6.98, and 8.12, and the ionic strength was assured using 0.01 M and 0.1 M of KCl. The adsorption capacities of GAC and ZTC were 115 mg/g and 50 mg/g, respectively, at an 8.12 pH, and an ionic strength of 0 M. The Langmuir mathematical model best describes the adsorption equilibrium of BPA. The maximum adsorption capacity for both adsorbents increased with an increasing pH, and it decreased with increasing ionic strength. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World)
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17 pages, 2338 KiB  
Article
Removal Efficiency and Adsorption Kinetics of Methyl Orange from Wastewater by Commercial Activated Carbon
by Gabriel Valentin Serban, Vasile Ion Iancu, Cristina Dinu, Anda Tenea, Nicoleta Vasilache, Ionut Cristea, Marcela Niculescu, Ioana Ionescu and Florentina Laura Chiriac
Sustainability 2023, 15(17), 12939; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151712939 - 28 Aug 2023
Cited by 27 | Viewed by 3509
Abstract
This research investigates commercial activated carbon (AC) potential to remove methyl orange (MO) dye removal from aqueous solution using a batch process. The AC material was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. The effect of the main operating parameters, such as the [...] Read more.
This research investigates commercial activated carbon (AC) potential to remove methyl orange (MO) dye removal from aqueous solution using a batch process. The AC material was characterized using FTIR spectroscopy and SEM analysis. The effect of the main operating parameters, such as the pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time, and initial dye concentration, was studied. MO removal could be accomplished within 30 min at a pH value of 3. The calculated maximum MO adsorption capacity onto activated carbon was 129.3 mg/g, while the removal efficiency was 97.8%. Adsorption results were analyzed by studying the Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models. The MO adsorption data on activated carbon were better explained by the Langmuir isotherm than by the Freundlich isotherm. The pseudo-second-order kinetic model may have had an effect on the MO dye adsorption on AC material. This research showed that the commercial activated carbon can be used as an effective sorbent for MO removal from wastewater sample. Moreover, the AC material has good reusability and practical utilization capacities. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Treatments for Wastewater and Natural Water: Towards a Modern and Sustainable World)
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