Pub Date : 2026-01-26DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09164-2
Pinakana Lakshman Rao, B. Jagadeesh, Poli Bhavani Prakash, Nalla Manoj Kumar, Samanthapudi Akhila, Bodapati Sree Sai Prasad
This study evaluates the phytoremediation performance of Canna indica, Phragmites australis, and Typha latifolia in modified lab-scale constructed wetlands for decentralized wastewater treatment. Six treatment compartments (C1–C6) were developed using low-cost filter media comprising gravel, sand, charcoal, coconut coir pith, and neem powder, with configurations including aerated, planted, and unplanted systems. Wastewater collected from Pedda Cheruvu Lake, Vizianagaram, India, was treated over a 10-day cycle in two experimental runs. Key water quality parameters pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were monitored on days 1, 6, and 10. The aerated system (C1) achieved the highest BOD removal up to 75%, while Phragmites australis (C3) showed significant improvement in DO from 0.4 to 3.6 mg/L, indicating enhanced aerobic microbial activity. Typha latifolia (C5) was most effective in reducing TDS up to 51.46% and salinity up to 55.17%. pH remained stable throughout the treatment period. The results demonstrate that hybrid constructed wetlands integrating native macrophytes and biodegradable filter media provide an efficient, sustainable, and scalable solution for decentralized wastewater treatment in semi-urban and rural regions of India.
{"title":"Water Treatment Case Study of Pedda Cheruvu Using Phytoremediation-Based Constructed Wetlands with Sustainable Filter Media, Vizianagaram, India","authors":"Pinakana Lakshman Rao, B. Jagadeesh, Poli Bhavani Prakash, Nalla Manoj Kumar, Samanthapudi Akhila, Bodapati Sree Sai Prasad","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09164-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09164-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study evaluates the phytoremediation performance of <i>Canna indica</i>, <i>Phragmites australis</i>, and <i>Typha latifolia</i> in modified lab-scale constructed wetlands for decentralized wastewater treatment. Six treatment compartments (C1–C6) were developed using low-cost filter media comprising gravel, sand, charcoal, coconut coir pith, and neem powder, with configurations including aerated, planted, and unplanted systems. Wastewater collected from Pedda Cheruvu Lake, Vizianagaram, India, was treated over a 10-day cycle in two experimental runs. Key water quality parameters pH, dissolved oxygen (DO), total dissolved solids (TDS), electrical conductivity (EC), salinity, and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) were monitored on days 1, 6, and 10. The aerated system (C1) achieved the highest BOD removal up to 75%, while <i>Phragmites australis</i> (C3) showed significant improvement in DO from 0.4 to 3.6 mg/L, indicating enhanced aerobic microbial activity. <i>Typha latifolia</i> (C5) was most effective in reducing TDS up to 51.46% and salinity up to 55.17%. pH remained stable throughout the treatment period. The results demonstrate that hybrid constructed wetlands integrating native macrophytes and biodegradable filter media provide an efficient, sustainable, and scalable solution for decentralized wastewater treatment in semi-urban and rural regions of India.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
To address the issues of prolonged composting cycles and frequent nutrient loss in traditional aerobic composting, the effects of cotton-stalk biochar addition (0% [CK], 3% [BC1], 6% [BC2], and 9% [BC3]) on the physicochemical properties and nutrient evolution of pig manure during composting were investigated using rice straw as a conditioner. Furthermore, underlying mechanisms were analyzed based on the microstructure of cotton-stalk biochar and surface properties of compost. The results showed that the biochar-treated groups entered the thermophilic phase 2 days earlier than CK, prolonging the period of high temperature. The temperature of BC3 group was always higher than that of other treatment groups. Cotton-stalk biochar improved moisture retention in compost, reduced salinization risk of compost, and enhanced the germination index (GI) of seeds, with BC3 group showing optimal performance. However, the addition of cotton-stalk biochar had little effect on the pH of pig manure. After composting, organic matter contents in CK, BC1, BC2, and BC3 were 56.60%, 58.42%, 62.63%, and 62.63%, respectively. Compared with the initial values, total nitrogen contents increased by 4.8%, 20.6%, 26.0%, and 23.8%, while NO₃⁻-N contents increased by 82.8%, 66.4%, 71.2%, and 85.7%, respectively. Similarly, total potassium contents increased by 44.6%, 70.5%, 78.7%, and 80.5%, while total phosphorus contents improved by 35.2%, 45.7%, 50.4%, and 52.9%, respectively. These results indicate that cotton-stalk biochar accelerated compost maturation and enhanced nutrient retention, while exhibiting minimal effect on the pH of compost, with BC3 achieving optimal composting efficiency. This study provides experimental data and theoretical support to optimize aerobic composting of livestock manure in Southern Xinjiang in China.
{"title":"Effects of Cotton-Stalk Biochar Addition on Nutrient Evolution During Aerobic Composting of Pig Manure","authors":"Lingling Chen, Xiaoyun Lian, Hongmei Zhang, Deguo Kong, Ling Zhou, Suan Shi, Gan Yang, Lintao Zeng, Minghang Cheng","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09153-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09153-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>To address the issues of prolonged composting cycles and frequent nutrient loss in traditional aerobic composting, the effects of cotton-stalk biochar addition (0% [CK], 3% [BC1], 6% [BC2], and 9% [BC3]) on the physicochemical properties and nutrient evolution of pig manure during composting were investigated using rice straw as a conditioner. Furthermore, underlying mechanisms were analyzed based on the microstructure of cotton-stalk biochar and surface properties of compost. The results showed that the biochar-treated groups entered the thermophilic phase 2 days earlier than CK, prolonging the period of high temperature. The temperature of BC3 group was always higher than that of other treatment groups. Cotton-stalk biochar improved moisture retention in compost, reduced salinization risk of compost, and enhanced the germination index (GI) of seeds, with BC3 group showing optimal performance. However, the addition of cotton-stalk biochar had little effect on the pH of pig manure. After composting, organic matter contents in CK, BC1, BC2, and BC3 were 56.60%, 58.42%, 62.63%, and 62.63%, respectively. Compared with the initial values, total nitrogen contents increased by 4.8%, 20.6%, 26.0%, and 23.8%, while NO₃⁻-N contents increased by 82.8%, 66.4%, 71.2%, and 85.7%, respectively. Similarly, total potassium contents increased by 44.6%, 70.5%, 78.7%, and 80.5%, while total phosphorus contents improved by 35.2%, 45.7%, 50.4%, and 52.9%, respectively. These results indicate that cotton-stalk biochar accelerated compost maturation and enhanced nutrient retention, while exhibiting minimal effect on the pH of compost, with BC3 achieving optimal composting efficiency. This study provides experimental data and theoretical support to optimize aerobic composting of livestock manure in Southern Xinjiang in China.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043336","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
The accumulation of Fenton iron sludge (FIS) has emerged as a critical bottleneck limiting large-scale Fenton process applications. To address this challenge, we developed an integrated valorization strategy by coupling FIS amendment with anaerobic digestion of pharmaceutical wastewater. Experimental results demonstrated that FIS addition stimulated dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) pathways, enhancing organics depolymerization efficiency through Fe(III)-mediated electron transfer. This process promoted macromolecular cleavage and EPS solubilization (S-EPS, 3.38 → 10.32 mg/g-VS), while modulating microbial consortia structure. Notably, Proteobacteria (7.3% → 15.4%) and Firmicutes (23.1% → 36.2%) enrichment enhanced hydrolytic enzyme secretion, while Desulfobacterota emergence (0% → 3.7%) established syntrophic networks via direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). These biochemical cascades synergistically improved anaerobic performance: COD removal increased by 23.3% (66.39% → 81.86%) and methane yield surged 91.7% (136.58 → 261.83 mL/g-COD). Furthermore, iron sludge amendment reduced capillary suction time (CST) by 29.6% through dual mechanisms – TB-EPS reduction and bioflocculation enhancement. This work demonstrates a sustainable approach for FIS recycling through AD integration, achieving synergistic benefits in waste management and energy recovery.
{"title":"Application of Fenton Iron Sludge Coupled with Anaerobic Digestion for Pharmaceutical Wastewater Treatment: Performance and Mechanism","authors":"Zhongyi Zhang, Xinming Yang, Linsen Mu, Shuang Zhang, Yushan Zheng, Fang Zhang, Yang Pan, Zhuangyuan Hao","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09146-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09146-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The accumulation of Fenton iron sludge (FIS) has emerged as a critical bottleneck limiting large-scale Fenton process applications. To address this challenge, we developed an integrated valorization strategy by coupling FIS amendment with anaerobic digestion of pharmaceutical wastewater. Experimental results demonstrated that FIS addition stimulated dissimilatory iron reduction (DIR) pathways, enhancing organics depolymerization efficiency through Fe(III)-mediated electron transfer. This process promoted macromolecular cleavage and EPS solubilization (S-EPS, 3.38 → 10.32 mg/g-VS), while modulating microbial consortia structure. Notably, <i>Proteobacteria</i> (7.3% → 15.4%) and <i>Firmicutes</i> (23.1% → 36.2%) enrichment enhanced hydrolytic enzyme secretion, while <i>Desulfobacterota</i> emergence (0% → 3.7%) established syntrophic networks via direct interspecies electron transfer (DIET). These biochemical cascades synergistically improved anaerobic performance: COD removal increased by 23.3% (66.39% → 81.86%) and methane yield surged 91.7% (136.58 → 261.83 mL/g-COD). Furthermore, iron sludge amendment reduced capillary suction time (CST) by 29.6% through dual mechanisms – TB-EPS reduction and bioflocculation enhancement. This work demonstrates a sustainable approach for FIS recycling through AD integration, achieving synergistic benefits in waste management and energy recovery.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 8","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146043418","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-25DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103115
Edovia Dufatanye Umwali , Alain Isabwe , Naomie M. Kayitesi , Xi Chen
Ecosystem services are fundamental to sustaining life and livelihoods, yet they face increasing threats, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of key ecosystem services, carbon storage, habitat quality, and water yield, across five East African countries over the past two decades, while also exploring their drivers. Spatially explicit models were developed using the integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST), and random forest models (70% training, 30% testing; 500 trees) to identify ecosystem service responses to a variety of drivers, including climate, proximity, soil, Land Use Land Cover Change (LUCC), socioeconomic, and topographic factors. Results revealed distinct patterns in ecosystem service dynamics: (1) Carbon storage remained relatively stable, with 90.9% of the area maintaining consistent levels in 2000–2010, slightly increasing to 91.6% in 2010–2020; (2) Habitat quality showed more variability, but trended positively, with improvements from 2000 to 2010, and over 95% of the area remaining stable in the following decade. (3) In contrast, water yield exhibited the most significant fluctuations, with 52.6% of the area experienced a decline and 43.7% an increase in 2000–2010, followed by a dramatic 89.1% increase in 2010–2020. (4) The random forest models produced robust results (R2 = 0.75–––0.96) across all three periods (2000, 2010, and 2020) for each ecosystem service. (5) Climate variables, particularly precipitation and temperature, emerged as the strongest drivers of water yield, while slope and socioeconomic factors primarily influenced carbon storage. (6) Socioeconomic factors were also most influential in shaping habitat quality. These findings offer critical insights for environmental management and policy, providing a basis for sustainable development strategies as the region works toward achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
{"title":"Bi-decadal changes in selected ecosystem services and their integrated drivers in East Africa","authors":"Edovia Dufatanye Umwali , Alain Isabwe , Naomie M. Kayitesi , Xi Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103115","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2026.103115","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Ecosystem services are fundamental to sustaining life and livelihoods, yet they face increasing threats, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of key ecosystem services, carbon storage, habitat quality, and water yield, across five East African countries over the past two decades, while also exploring their drivers. Spatially explicit models were developed using the integrated Valuation of Ecosystem Services and Trade-offs (InVEST), and random forest models (70% training, 30% testing; 500 trees) to identify ecosystem service responses to a variety of drivers, including climate, proximity, soil, Land Use Land Cover Change (LUCC), socioeconomic, and topographic factors. Results revealed distinct patterns in ecosystem service dynamics: (1) Carbon storage remained relatively stable, with 90.9% of the area maintaining consistent levels in 2000–2010, slightly increasing to 91.6% in 2010–2020; (2) Habitat quality showed more variability, but trended positively, with improvements from 2000 to 2010, and over 95% of the area remaining stable in the following decade. (3) In contrast, water yield exhibited the most significant fluctuations, with 52.6% of the area experienced a decline and 43.7% an increase in 2000–2010, followed by a dramatic 89.1% increase in 2010–2020. (4) The random forest models produced robust results (R<sup>2</sup> = 0.75–––0.96) across all three periods (2000, 2010, and 2020) for each ecosystem service. (5) Climate variables, particularly precipitation and temperature, emerged as the strongest drivers of water yield, while slope and socioeconomic factors primarily influenced carbon storage. (6) Socioeconomic factors were also most influential in shaping habitat quality. These findings offer critical insights for environmental management and policy, providing a basis for sustainable development strategies as the region works toward achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":328,"journal":{"name":"Global Environmental Change","volume":"97 ","pages":"Article 103115"},"PeriodicalIF":9.1,"publicationDate":"2026-01-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146048429","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09145-5
Alessandro Rimmaudo, Alan Cundill, Ian Singleton, Donald Morrison, Aimeric Blaud
The spread of organic waste-derived amendments such as compost, anaerobic digestate and biosolids has been identified as a major source of microplastics in agricultural soil, with potential negative environmental and human health effects. Due to lacking regulatory frameworks and standard monitoring procedures, the extent of microplastic contamination in Scottish organic waste-derived soil amendments is still poorly understood. This study investigated the presence, quantity and characteristics (morphology, density and colour) of microplastics in anaerobically digested biosolids, green-waste-derived compost and food-waste-derived anaerobic digestate produced in Scotland. Microplastics (100—5000 µm) were present in all analysed samples in concentrations ranging from 34 to 160 particles g−1 dw, with the highest levels found in biosolids, followed by digestate and compost. High-density fibres represented 55.8—66.4% of microplastics in biosolids, likely polyester from the domestic washing of textiles. In addition to microplastics, > 20,000 cellulosic microfibres g−1 dw, likely textile-derived natural fibres, were detected in biosolids, and were absent in other samples. Microplastic fibres of a wider-density-range represented 72% of microplastic in compost, while high-density microplastic fragments (34%) and fibres (24%) were the most abundant microplastics in digestate. Based on the results, it was estimated that compost, anaerobic digestates and biosolids could respectively introduce 3.17 × 1012, 5.9 × 1011 and 7.2 × 1012 microplastic particles measuring 100—5000 μm to Scottish land, annually. These findings highlight the extent of microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments across Scotland, underscoring the need for standardised routine monitoring, enhanced waste management practices, and stricter regulatory measures.
{"title":"Quantification and Characterisation of Microplastics in Organic Waste-Derived Soil Amendments","authors":"Alessandro Rimmaudo, Alan Cundill, Ian Singleton, Donald Morrison, Aimeric Blaud","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09145-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09145-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The spread of organic waste-derived amendments such as compost, anaerobic digestate and biosolids has been identified as a major source of microplastics in agricultural soil, with potential negative environmental and human health effects. Due to lacking regulatory frameworks and standard monitoring procedures, the extent of microplastic contamination in Scottish organic waste-derived soil amendments is still poorly understood. This study investigated the presence, quantity and characteristics (morphology, density and colour) of microplastics in anaerobically digested biosolids, green-waste-derived compost and food-waste-derived anaerobic digestate produced in Scotland. Microplastics (100—5000 µm) were present in all analysed samples in concentrations ranging from 34 to 160 particles g<sup>−1</sup> dw, with the highest levels found in biosolids, followed by digestate and compost. High-density fibres represented 55.8—66.4% of microplastics in biosolids, likely polyester from the domestic washing of textiles. In addition to microplastics, > 20,000 cellulosic microfibres g<sup>−1</sup> dw, likely textile-derived natural fibres, were detected in biosolids, and were absent in other samples. Microplastic fibres of a wider-density-range represented 72% of microplastic in compost, while high-density microplastic fragments (34%) and fibres (24%) were the most abundant microplastics in digestate. Based on the results, it was estimated that compost, anaerobic digestates and biosolids could respectively introduce 3.17 × 10<sup>12</sup>, 5.9 × 10<sup>11</sup> and 7.2 × 10<sup>12</sup> microplastic particles measuring 100—5000 μm to Scottish land, annually. These findings highlight the extent of microplastic contamination in terrestrial environments across Scotland, underscoring the need for standardised routine monitoring, enhanced waste management practices, and stricter regulatory measures.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09145-5.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082536","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09157-1
Naira Meky, Raouf Hassan, Mohamed F. Soliman, Aml Mahmoud, Mahmoud Elsayed
This study investigated the treatment efficiency of Moringa oleifera Lam. vegetated constructed wetlands (CWs) to treat domestic wastewater with a case study of real wastewater from Al-Habil wastewater treatment plant, Luxor governate, Egypt. A total of four CW systems were designed using different types of media: sand (S-CWs), gravel (G-CWs), pottery waste-based (PW-CWs), and ceramic waste-based (CW-CWs). The systems were tested at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 15, 7, 5, and 1 day to study the influence of media type and HRT on the pollutant removal efficiency, in addition to the growth of plants. The results revealed that CW-CWs demonstrated the highest treatment efficiency. In addition, decreasing HRT from 15 to 1 day consistently declined pollutant removal across all systems. The treatment efficiencies of CW-CWs with the longest HRT of 15 days were found to be the highest for COD removal of 95.4 ± 3.2%, BOD removal of 95.3 ± 1.7%, TN removal of 96.2 ± 1.9%, and TP removal of 91.7 ± 1.7%. The excellent performance of CW-CWs could be ascribed to their improved porosity and adsorption capacity, which promoted nutrient uptake, organic matter degradation, and microbial activities. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that plants grew remarkably longer over time, and CW-CWs showed the greatest growth. Beginning at 10 cm at the start of the experimental work, they grew to a maximum length of > 5 m in 250 days, demonstrating their superior support for Moringa oleifera Lam. development. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing CW design for wastewater treatment, with implications for resource recovery and environmental sustainability.
{"title":"Optimizing Domestic Wastewater Treatment Using Moringa Oleifera Lam. Vegetated Constructed Wetlands: A Case Study et al.-Habil Wastewater Treatment Plant, Luxor","authors":"Naira Meky, Raouf Hassan, Mohamed F. Soliman, Aml Mahmoud, Mahmoud Elsayed","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09157-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09157-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study investigated the treatment efficiency of <i>Moringa oleifera Lam.</i> vegetated constructed wetlands (CWs) to treat domestic wastewater with a case study of real wastewater from Al-Habil wastewater treatment plant, Luxor governate, Egypt. A total of four CW systems were designed using different types of media: sand (S-CWs), gravel (G-CWs), pottery waste-based (PW-CWs), and ceramic waste-based (CW-CWs). The systems were tested at different hydraulic retention times (HRTs) of 15, 7, 5, and 1 day to study the influence of media type and HRT on the pollutant removal efficiency, in addition to the growth of plants. The results revealed that CW-CWs demonstrated the highest treatment efficiency. In addition, decreasing HRT from 15 to 1 day consistently declined pollutant removal across all systems. The treatment efficiencies of CW-CWs with the longest HRT of 15 days were found to be the highest for COD removal of 95.4 ± 3.2%, BOD removal of 95.3 ± 1.7%, TN removal of 96.2 ± 1.9%, and TP removal of 91.7 ± 1.7%. The excellent performance of CW-CWs could be ascribed to their improved porosity and adsorption capacity, which promoted nutrient uptake, organic matter degradation, and microbial activities. Furthermore, the findings demonstrated that plants grew remarkably longer over time, and CW-CWs showed the greatest growth. Beginning at 10 cm at the start of the experimental work, they grew to a maximum length of > 5 m in 250 days, demonstrating their superior support for <i>Moringa oleifera Lam.</i> development. This study provides valuable insights into optimizing CW design for wastewater treatment, with implications for resource recovery and environmental sustainability.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082625","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09138-4
Milad Mousazadehgavan
Microplastics (MPs) are now widespread contaminants in aquatic environments, acting not only as long-lasting pollutants but also as surfaces that interact with many chemical and biological species. This review brings together recent advances in understanding the dual roles of MPs—their ability to transport pollutants and their potential use as engineered materials for contaminant removal. The discussion examines the physicochemical processes that control adsorption, desorption, and surface reactivity, showing how polymer type, particle size, oxidation, and biofilm growth shape their environmental behaviour. Special attention is given to developments in engineered and biofunctionalized MPs, including materials modified with catalytic, magnetic, or enzymatic components to improve pollutant capture and breakdown. Despite notable progress, major gaps remain: standardized testing protocols are still lacking, long-term environmental studies are limited, and the ecological impacts of engineered MPs are not well understood. This review highlights these gaps and identifies priorities such as developing harmonized testing methods, improving understanding of transformation pathways, and designing biodegradable or recyclable alternatives aligned with sustainability goals. By presenting a framework that clarifies when MPs act as pollutant carriers and when they can serve as functional materials, the review outlines the mechanisms behind their dual behaviour and the risk–benefit considerations needed for their responsible use in water treatment.
{"title":"Microplastics in Aquatic Systems: Dual Roles as Pollutant Carriers and Emerging Functional Materials for Water Treatment","authors":"Milad Mousazadehgavan","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09138-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09138-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Microplastics (MPs) are now widespread contaminants in aquatic environments, acting not only as long-lasting pollutants but also as surfaces that interact with many chemical and biological species. This review brings together recent advances in understanding the dual roles of MPs—their ability to transport pollutants and their potential use as engineered materials for contaminant removal. The discussion examines the physicochemical processes that control adsorption, desorption, and surface reactivity, showing how polymer type, particle size, oxidation, and biofilm growth shape their environmental behaviour. Special attention is given to developments in engineered and biofunctionalized MPs, including materials modified with catalytic, magnetic, or enzymatic components to improve pollutant capture and breakdown. Despite notable progress, major gaps remain: standardized testing protocols are still lacking, long-term environmental studies are limited, and the ecological impacts of engineered MPs are not well understood. This review highlights these gaps and identifies priorities such as developing harmonized testing methods, improving understanding of transformation pathways, and designing biodegradable or recyclable alternatives aligned with sustainability goals. By presenting a framework that clarifies when MPs act as pollutant carriers and when they can serve as functional materials, the review outlines the mechanisms behind their dual behaviour and the risk–benefit considerations needed for their responsible use in water treatment.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09138-4.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082616","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09093-0
Van Tai Tang, Eldon R. Rene, Anina James, Nguyen Thuy Lan Chi
This study integrated an air flotation and settling (AFS) tank, anaerobic/oxic (A/O) tank, moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) with a constructed wetland (CW) for removing high levels of COD (834–1981 mg/L), BOD5 (302–886 mg/L), TN (102.4–398.2 mg/L) and coliforms (2.1 × 105–4.5 × 105 CFU/100 mL) from the effluent of a biogas digester processing piggery wastewater. The plants Eichhornia crassipes and Ipomoea aquatica were used in the CW to improve the pollutant removal effiency. From April 18 to July 30, 2024, the experiment was conducted, during which the integrated AFS–A/O–CW system achieved removal efficiencies of 74.2 ± 5.9% for TSS, 82.6 ± 8.2% for COD, 86.7 ± 5.3% for BOD₅, 79.1 ± 8.6% for NH₄⁺, 65.2 ± 10.7% for TN, and 94.5 ± 3.2% for coliforms. Through 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding analysis, 14 genes and 16 phyla were detected in the mixture of sludge and wastewater in the aerobic zone of A/O tanks that contributed to the reduction of NH4+, TN, COD and BOD5 in the piggery wastewater. The weight of Eichhornia crassipes (n = 7) after a 3-month period increased from 17.5 ± 2.3 g to 86.3 ± 9.7 g, while the average weight of Ipomoea aquatica (n = 7) after a period of one month increased from 6.3 ± 0.6 g to 17.4 ± 3.6–22.7 ± 4.7 g. Following the treatment by the integrated AFS tank, A/O tanks, MBBR and CW system, the final treated water quality met the specifications set out by the Vietnam National Technical Regulation on livestock effluent discharge [QCVN62-MT:2016/BTNMT].
{"title":"Integrated Constructed Wetlands Technology for treating Household Piggery Wastewater in Binh Dinh Province, Vietnam","authors":"Van Tai Tang, Eldon R. Rene, Anina James, Nguyen Thuy Lan Chi","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09093-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09093-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>This study integrated an air flotation and settling (AFS) tank, anaerobic/oxic (A/O) tank, moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) with a constructed wetland (CW) for removing high levels of COD (834–1981 mg/L), BOD<sub>5</sub> (302–886 mg/L), TN (102.4–398.2 mg/L) and coliforms (2.1 × 10<sup>5</sup>–4.5 × 10<sup>5</sup> CFU/100 mL) from the effluent of a biogas digester processing piggery wastewater. The plants <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> and <i>Ipomoea aquatica</i> were used in the CW to improve the pollutant removal effiency. From April 18 to July 30, 2024, the experiment was conducted, during which the integrated AFS–A/O–CW system achieved removal efficiencies of 74.2 ± 5.9% for TSS, 82.6 ± 8.2% for COD, 86.7 ± 5.3% for BOD₅, 79.1 ± 8.6% for NH₄⁺, 65.2 ± 10.7% for TN, and 94.5 ± 3.2% for coliforms. Through 16S rRNA gene metabarcoding analysis, 14 genes and 16 phyla were detected in the mixture of sludge and wastewater in the aerobic zone of A/O tanks that contributed to the reduction of NH<sub>4</sub><sup>+</sup>, TN, COD and BOD<sub>5</sub> in the piggery wastewater. The weight of <i>Eichhornia crassipes</i> (n = 7) after a 3-month period increased from 17.5 ± 2.3 g to 86.3 ± 9.7 g, while the average weight of <i>Ipomoea aquatica</i> (n = 7) after a period of one month increased from 6.3 ± 0.6 g to 17.4 ± 3.6–22.7 ± 4.7 g. Following the treatment by the integrated AFS tank, A/O tanks, MBBR and CW system, the final treated water quality met the specifications set out by the Vietnam National Technical Regulation on livestock effluent discharge [QCVN62-MT:2016/BTNMT].</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082622","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09128-6
Saba Zafar, Abdul Amir, Saira Arif, Fozia Bibi, Ammara Aftab, Muhammad Naeem Ahmed, Muhammad Waseem
Removal of lead ions from drinking water is one of the biggest global issues. In this study, green modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was performed by calcium ferrite (CNT@CaF) and magnesium ferrite (CNT@MgF). Taxus wallichiana (T.W) was used as green template. For comparison, bare CNTs were also studied to evaluate the effect of surface functionalization. The morphology, composition, functional groups analysis, surface area and charge characteristics were performed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), Point of Zero Charge (PZC) and zeta potential. BET surface area of CNTs, CNT@CaF and CNT@MgF calculated as 98 m2/g, 186 m2/g, and 206 m2/g respectively. The adsorption behavior of Pb2+ ion was determined under the influence of contact time, pH, temperature, concentration, and dose. The results manifested that functionalized adsorbents showed incredible removal efficiency of Pb2+ ions (81–85%). Langmuir and Pseudo second order (PSO) models were found suitable for data fitting. The maximum adsorption capacities of 58.5 mg/g, 371.7 mg/g, and 210.9 mg/g were calculated for CNTs, CNT@CaF and CNT@MgF respectively. Separation factor (RL) values further supports the favorable sorption on the sorbent’s surface. The desorption and thermodynamic studies support chemisorption as a dominating mechanism. However, spectroscopic studies revealed the mixed sorption mechanisms i.e., inner sphere complexation and electrostatic interactions are simultaneously taking place.
{"title":"Remediation of Pb2+ Ions by Green Route Modified Carbon Nanotubes","authors":"Saba Zafar, Abdul Amir, Saira Arif, Fozia Bibi, Ammara Aftab, Muhammad Naeem Ahmed, Muhammad Waseem","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09128-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09128-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Removal of lead ions from drinking water is one of the biggest global issues. In this study, green modification of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was performed by calcium ferrite (CNT@CaF) and magnesium ferrite (CNT@MgF). <i>Taxus wallichiana</i> (T.W) was used as green template. For comparison, bare CNTs were also studied to evaluate the effect of surface functionalization. The morphology, composition, functional groups analysis, surface area and charge characteristics were performed by Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Fourier-Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Barrett-Joyner-Halenda (BJH), Point of Zero Charge (PZC) and zeta potential. BET surface area of CNTs, CNT@CaF and CNT@MgF calculated as 98 m<sup>2</sup>/g, 186 m<sup>2</sup>/g, and 206 m<sup>2</sup>/g respectively. The adsorption behavior of Pb<sup>2+</sup> ion was determined under the influence of contact time, pH, temperature, concentration, and dose. The results manifested that functionalized adsorbents showed incredible removal efficiency of Pb<sup>2+</sup> ions (81–85%). Langmuir and Pseudo second order (PSO) models were found suitable for data fitting. The maximum adsorption capacities of 58.5 mg/g, 371.7 mg/g, and 210.9 mg/g were calculated for CNTs, CNT@CaF and CNT@MgF respectively. Separation factor (R<sub>L</sub>) values further supports the favorable sorption on the sorbent’s surface. The desorption and thermodynamic studies support chemisorption as a dominating mechanism. However, spectroscopic studies revealed the mixed sorption mechanisms i.e., inner sphere complexation and electrostatic interactions are simultaneously taking place.</p><h3>Graphical Abstract</h3>\u0000<div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082537","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2026-01-24DOI: 10.1007/s11270-026-09124-w
Bahati J. Manegabe, Titus AM. Msagati, Kikongo Marie-Médiatrice Ntabugi, Johannes P. Maree, Rian Pierneef, Karin De Bruyn, Maropeng V. Raletsena
Substandard irrigation water impacts the chemical characteristics of soil, which may subsequently modify the shape of soil bacterial communities. Five categories of water, including the river water (RW), acid mine drainage (AMD), untreated wastewater (UTWW), treated wastewater (TWW), and tap water (TW), were utilized as irrigation water samples. Soil and water samples were examined for heavy metals, such as Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb), using ICP-MS. The V1-9 region of bacterial 16S rRNA was PCR-amplified to evaluate the effects of heavy metals in low-quality irrigated soil on bacterial diversity and abundance in the rhizosphere of Swiss chard seedlings. Approximately 88.9% of heavy metals in water, with concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 432.8 mg/L, were detected at low levels in TW. Conversely, about 83.3% of heavy metals, with the concentrations between 0.38 and 553.78 mg/kg, were detected at low levels in TW irrigated soil (TS1). The electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and organic matter (OM) fluctuated based on the irrigation water and soil samples. Bacterial diversity and abundance in soils differed according on the quality of irrigation water samples. Blastoccus, Microlunatus, Nocardioides, Solirubrobacter, and Streptomyces exhibited higher relative abundance in soil subjected to low-quality water compared to soil irrigated with TW (TS1). Redundancy analysis (RDA) demonstrated that bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of Swiss chard seedlings were influenced by heavy metals, EC, pH and OM. This indicates that the introduction of heavy metals into the soil can select sensitive bacteria, whereas soil OM can supply nutrients that enhances resistant/tolerant bacterial multiplication, thereby influencing seedling growth.
{"title":"Heavy Metals Pollution in Low Quality Water Irrigated Soil and their Impact on Bacterial Abundance and Diversity in the Rhizosphere of Swiss Chard (Beta Vulgaris L.) Seedlings","authors":"Bahati J. Manegabe, Titus AM. Msagati, Kikongo Marie-Médiatrice Ntabugi, Johannes P. Maree, Rian Pierneef, Karin De Bruyn, Maropeng V. Raletsena","doi":"10.1007/s11270-026-09124-w","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s11270-026-09124-w","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Substandard irrigation water impacts the chemical characteristics of soil, which may subsequently modify the shape of soil bacterial communities. Five categories of water, including the river water (RW), acid mine drainage (AMD), untreated wastewater (UTWW), treated wastewater (TWW), and tap water (TW), were utilized as irrigation water samples. Soil and water samples were examined for heavy metals, such as Chromium (Cr), Cobalt (Co), Zinc (Zn), Arsenic (As), Cadmium (Cd), and Lead (Pb), using ICP-MS. The V1-9 region of bacterial 16S rRNA was PCR-amplified to evaluate the effects of heavy metals in low-quality irrigated soil on bacterial diversity and abundance in the rhizosphere of Swiss chard seedlings. Approximately 88.9% of heavy metals in water, with concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 432.8 mg/L, were detected at low levels in TW. Conversely, about 83.3% of heavy metals, with the concentrations between 0.38 and 553.78 mg/kg, were detected at low levels in TW irrigated soil (TS1). The electrical conductivity (EC), pH, and organic matter (OM) fluctuated based on the irrigation water and soil samples. Bacterial diversity and abundance in soils differed according on the quality of irrigation water samples. <i>Blastoccus</i>, <i>Microlunatus</i>, <i>Nocardioides</i>, <i>Solirubrobacter</i>, and <i>Streptomyces</i> exhibited higher relative abundance in soil subjected to low-quality water compared to soil irrigated with TW (TS1). Redundancy analysis (RDA) demonstrated that bacterial community structure in the rhizosphere of Swiss chard seedlings were influenced by heavy metals, EC, pH and OM. This indicates that the introduction of heavy metals into the soil can select sensitive bacteria, whereas soil OM can supply nutrients that enhances resistant/tolerant bacterial multiplication, thereby influencing seedling growth.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":808,"journal":{"name":"Water, Air, & Soil Pollution","volume":"237 7","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-01-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s11270-026-09124-w.pdf","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146082623","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
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