Cleaner Water最新文献

{"title":"Microplastic removal efficiency and polymer characterization in coastal wastewater treatment plants using FTIR spectroscopy","authors":"Vyoma Jani ,&nbsp;Abeeb Oyelere ,&nbsp;Basant Bhatt ,&nbsp;Jianqiao Song ,&nbsp;Kaushik Venkiteshwaran ,&nbsp;Alexandra Stenson ,&nbsp;Shenghua Wu","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100205","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100205","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic (MP) pollution in wastewater is a growing concern due to its environmental persistence and ecological toxicity. However, critical data on MPs in the Gulf Coast region of the United States is lacking. This study assessed MP concentrations, polymer types, and removal efficiencies in four wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) with distinct treatment technologies in the Gulf Coast region. Influent and effluent samples were collected from facilities in Alabama, Mississippi, and Florida, and processed using sequential filtration, peroxide digestion, density separation, and analyzed using Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) microscopy. Results revealed that total MP concentrations ranged from 3472 ± 2012 particles/m³ in influent to 1372 ± 1740 particles/m³ in effluent, with the wide variability reflecting differences among treatment systems and seasonal sampling conditions. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) 37 % and Polystyrene (PS) 27 % were the most abundant polymers identified, followed by Polyethylene (PE) 21 % and Polypropylene (PP) 13 %. Polymer-specific removal varied by density and the treatment plant’s removal technology. PET and PS showed high removal (&gt;80 %) at sites with advanced filtration or lagoon-wetland systems, whereas PE and PP exhibited lower removal efficiencies (&lt;60 %). Seasonal trends showed higher loads and weaker removal in winter, while summer had lower loads, with over 90 % removal. This study highlights the influence of polymer type and treatment technology on MP removal and underscores the importance of tailored strategies for MP removal.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100205"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"GIS-driven insights into seasonal water quality shifts: The Ganga River’s journey through Patna’s urban drains (Bihar, India)","authors":"Bhawana Raj ,&nbsp;Avinash Dass ,&nbsp;Umesh Kumar Singh ,&nbsp;Rajesh Kumar Ranjan","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100203","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100203","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Ganga River is not only the lifeline for millions in northern India, providing essential water for agriculture, domestic use, and industry, but also holds immense cultural and ecological significance. However, rapid urbanization and unregulated waste discharge have led to escalating pollution, making it crucial to assess the river’s health and irrigation suitability. The current study intended to assess the impact of different drains on the Ganga River at Patna, India, and to evaluate the suitability of Ganga River water quality for irrigation. GIS-driven methods were employed to spatially map water quality indices and visualize pollution hotspots, providing a comprehensive spatial assessment of water quality variations along the river. Multivariate statistical techniques, including Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and Pearson Correlation Matrix (PCM), were used to identify contamination sources, and distinguish between geogenic and anthropogenic influences. A total of 20 samples each were collected during the summer and winter seasons of 2022 and 2023, respectively. The physicochemical parameters were examined, including alkalinity, turbidity, chloride (Cl^-), pH, electrical conductivity (EC), total dissolved solids (TDS), DO, Na⁺, K⁺, PO₄^3-, NO₃^-, SO₄^2-, Ca²⁺, and Mg²⁺. Also, the water quality index (WQI) and irrigation indices such as the Sodium Adsorption Ratio (SAR), Sodium percentage (%Na), and Kelly’s Ratio (KR) were calculated to assess the suitability of river water for agricultural use. This study provides critical scientific insight into the water quality of the Ganga River at Patna, supporting researchers and policymakers in formulating targeted, drain-specific water management strategies for the Patna stretch of the River Ganga.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100203"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145926080","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Microplastics in South Africa’s bottled water: Risk metrics and potential health impact","authors":"David O. Omole,&nbsp;Kagiso Moima,&nbsp;Neo Matsietsa","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100226","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100226","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Microplastic pollution has emerged as a major environmental and public health concern due to its persistence, ubiquity, and potential toxicity. Widely consumed globally, bottled water has been identified as a significant pathway of human exposure. This study presents one of the first systematic investigations of microplastic contamination in bottled water sold in South Africa. It also advocates for a globally acceptable standard method for detecting microplastics and the need for microplastic limits to be included in drinking water quality standards. Six samples of the leading brands of bottled water in South Africa were purchased randomly from four provinces. The samples were analysed using optical microscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). Microplastics were detected in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 5.0 to 25.0 particles per litre, and a mean concentration of 14.8 ± 7.8 particles per litre across all samples. Fibres (77 %) and fragments (14 %) dominated morphologically, while polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polypropylene (PP) were the most common polymers identified. Risk indices indicated moderate contamination, with Estimated Daily Intake (EDI) values for adults equal 1.152 particles/kg body weight/day, whereas children have an EDI of 4.400 particles/kg body weight/day. The results confirm bottled water as a consistent source of microplastic exposure, highlight regulatory and public health gaps in South Africa, and call for urgent monitoring, mitigation strategies, and consumer awareness.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100226"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396446","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparative hydrogeochemical characterization and environmental controls on groundwater quality, irrigation suitability, and health risk across northern and coastal hydrological settings of Bangladesh","authors":"Iffat Ara ,&nbsp;Rubaiatul Islam Zerin ,&nbsp;Laila Anjum Eva ,&nbsp;Md. Kamrul Hossain ,&nbsp;Mahmuda Hossain Mou ,&nbsp;Akib Javed ,&nbsp;Shahin Ali ,&nbsp;Md. Anisul Kabir ,&nbsp;Md Masud Parves Rana","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100194","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100194","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Groundwater is a vital resource that supports human health, ecosystems, and agriculture, and its quality varies across Bangladesh due to differing geology, land use, and environmental pressures. This study aims to conduct a comparative hydrogeochemical characterization and assess the environmental controls affecting groundwater quality, irrigation suitability, and human health risks across northern (Dinajpur) and coastal (Barisal) hydrological settings in Bangladesh. Groundwater data were obtained from the Bangladesh Water Development Board (BWDB), covering 27 monitoring wells in Dinajpur and 24 in Barisal. Multivariate statistical analyses revealed that groundwater quality in Barisal is primarily influenced by salinity-related factors (EC, TDS, and Major Ions like Na⁺, Cl^-), reflecting coastal saline intrusion. In contrast, Dinajpur samples were associated with parameters like SAR, Si⁺, PO₄^3-, ORP, I⁻, CaCO₃, and B, indicating geogenic influences from silicate weathering, carbonate dissolution, and fertilizer inputs from agriculture. The Water Quality Index (WQI) results showed that in Barisal, 20.83 % of sites were excellent and 18 % unsuitable for drinking, whereas in Dinajpur, 64.29 % were excellent with no unfit sites. For irrigation suitability, Barisal had 75 % excellent and 4.17 % severely affected areas, while 44.44 % excellent and 14.81 % severely affected sites were observed in Dinajpur. Health risk assessment revealed significantly higher Hazard Index (HI) values in Barishal across all age groups compared to Dinajpur, indicating elevated potential health risks in the coastal region. Children were identified as the most vulnerable group, exhibiting higher HI values than males and females in both Barishal (HI = 0.38–57.29) and Dinajpur (HI = 0.34–4.41). The Pearson Correlation analysis indicated that in Dinajpur, environmental variables demonstrated negligible correlations with groundwater quality (WQI: r = –0.18–0.19; IWQI: NDVI r = 0.25, LST r = –0.20). Similarly, Barishal had negligible correlations, with the Water Quality Index (WQI) revealing a little link with NDVI and NDWI, respectively (r = 0.17–0.24), whilst the Integrated Water Quality Index (IWQI) indicated minimal impact across all indices (r = –0.03–0.19). Overall, the study highlights regional variations in groundwater quality and health risks, emphasizing the necessity for location-specific water resource management strategies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100194"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145841127","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Arsenic in groundwater: Exploring its origins, human interventions, and sustainable paths forward","authors":"Debojyoti Mishra ,&nbsp;Kamalesh Sen ,&nbsp;Soumya Kundu ,&nbsp;Naba Kumar Mondal","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100199","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100199","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Arsenic (As) contamination in groundwater has emerged as a global environmental concern, posing severe metabolic and health hazards to humans. Its widespread occurrence in aquifers, especially across South and Southeast Asia, highlights the growing threat to safe drinking water. While the contamination largely originates from geogenic sources, anthropogenic influences have increasingly contributed to its persistence in the ‘21st century’, according to the recent insights of literature. Present study presents an integrated overview of the chemical profile, sources, and hydrogeochemical behaviour of arsenic in groundwater. It outlines the mobilization mechanisms and summarizes key quantification techniques applied in groundwater studies. A dedicated section addresses the adverse health impacts of arsenic exposure, including major exposure routes, dermatological effects, and systemic disorders. Regional hydrogeology in India demonstrates that Himalayan River systems transport arsenic-bearing minerals downstream, enriching alluvial aquifers and exacerbating contamination. Prolonged exposure leads to skin lesions, pulmonary diseases, and carcinogenic outcomes, posing a major public health burden. The paper further highlights sustainable mitigation strategies such as adsorption, ion exchange, and membrane-based technologies to curb arsenic toxicity. Attaining arsenic-safe groundwater remains a critical challenge; however, sustainable remediation and management practices are pivotal to achieving the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG-3 and SDG-6), ensuring clean water and good health for all.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100199"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884812","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Development of zinc oxide-charcoal-polyacrylic nanocomposite hydrogels for enhanced dye degradation under direct sunlight irradiation and antibacterial applications","authors":"Alam S.M. Nur ,&nbsp;Souvik Biswas Soumma ,&nbsp;Zhumpa Rani Saha ,&nbsp;Md. Mahfuzur Rahman ,&nbsp;Dipta Das ,&nbsp;Mahbub Hasan Rownok ,&nbsp;Marzia Sultana ,&nbsp;Maria Rhaman Mitu ,&nbsp;Tafsir Ahmed Nayef ,&nbsp;Md. Tanvir Islam ,&nbsp;Sk. Faijus Sadekin ,&nbsp;Ashaduzzaman Md.","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100219","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100219","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Hydrogels with enhanced photocatalytic activity have emerged as promising materials for wastewater treatment and antimicrobial applications. Nanocomposite hydrogels were synthesized using zinc oxide, charcoal, and polyacrylic acid (PAA) through free radical polymerization. These hydrogels were tested for their photocatalytic activity by degrading rhodamine B under direct sunlight and UV-Vis irradiation. The prepared samples were characterized using various techniques, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and point of zero charge analysis (pH_pzc). EDX analysis confirmed the presence of elemental components, while the XRD pattern and FTIR spectrum indicated the successful incorporation of zinc oxide and charcoal into the PAA chains. TGA analysis revealed that the hydrogel containing zinc oxide exhibited better thermal stability than the hydrogel composed solely of charcoal and PAA. SEM imaging showed porous network within the hydrogels. The combination of zinc oxide and charcoal improved electron flow under both sunlight and UV-Vis light, significantly enhancing the degradation of dye molecules. Additionally, the surface functional groups present on the charcoal increased the hydrogel’s dye adsorption capacity. The effectiveness of dye degradation was influenced by factors such as pH, initial dye concentration, and the amount of zinc oxide content in the hydrogel. The hydrogel containing 1 g of zinc oxide achieved a maximum rhodamine B degradation of 78.33 % under sunlight and 92.54 % under UV-Vis irradiation. Furthermore, the hydrogels containing zinc oxide demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against both Gram-positive (<em>Staphylococcus aureus</em>) and Gram-negative (<em>Escherichia coli</em>) bacteria. The zinc oxide-charcoal-PAA nanocomposite hydrogels exhibited strong antibacterial properties and effective sunlight-driven photocatalytic degradation of dyes, highlighting their potential application in treating textile wastewater.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100219"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396511","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Bio-based chitosan-grafted microcrystalline cellulose as an adsorbent for efficient removal of chromium and cadmium from simulated wastewater","authors":"M.H. Rahaman ,&nbsp;Md. Rakibul Islam ,&nbsp;Md. Aminur Rahman ,&nbsp;Md. Hafizul Islam ,&nbsp;Sabrina Afrin ,&nbsp;S.M. Nur Alam ,&nbsp;Tasrina Rabia Choudhury ,&nbsp;M. Safiur Rahman","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100222","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100222","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Heavy metals such as Chromium (Cr) and Cadmium (Cd) are highly toxic elements detected in industrial wastewater. In this work, a bio-based composite adsorbent composed of chitosan (CS) and CS-grafted microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) is utilized for the removal of Cr and Cd from simulated wastewater. CS, MCC, CS grafted MCC (CS-g-MCC), and the CS/CS-g-MCC composite were prepared and inspected using Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM), and Wide-angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) analysis. Metal ion concentrations before and after adsorption by the CS/CS-g-MCC composite were determined by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES), and removal efficiencies for total chromium and cadmium were reported. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to examine the effects of pH, contact time, adsorbent dosage, and initial metal concentration. The adsorption kinetics were adequately described by the pseudo-second-order model, indicating that chemisorption may contribute to the uptake process. Equilibrium data were analyzed using Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models to provide comparative insight into adsorption behavior, yielding estimated maximum adsorption capacities of approximately 46 mg/g for Cr^Total and 74 mg/g for Cd²⁺ under the tested conditions. Interference studies showed that PO₄³⁻ significantly suppressed Cr^Total uptake, while Cd²⁺ adsorption was less affected by competing ions. Regeneration experiments over four adsorption–desorption cycles using (NH₄)₂SO₄ demonstrated reasonable short-term reusability, although gradual performance decline was observed. Overall, the CS/CS-g-MCC composite shows promise as a bio-based adsorbent for heavy-metal removal, while further studies are required to strengthen equilibrium modeling and long-term stability assessment.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100222"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396515","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Green yet constrained: Reassessing Moringa oleifera's role in drinking water and wastewater treatment","authors":"Ahsan Shah ,&nbsp;Arun Arjunan ,&nbsp;Maryam Batool ,&nbsp;Oduoza Chike ,&nbsp;Aman Dhir ,&nbsp;Abul Arafat ,&nbsp;Georgina Manning ,&nbsp;Julia Zakharova ,&nbsp;Nadir Abbas ,&nbsp;Muhammad Taqi Mehran ,&nbsp;Rimsha Rubab ,&nbsp;Mubashir Husnain","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100202","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100202","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>A comparative bibliometric analysis using Web of Science and Scopus reveals a growing research shift from alum to <em>Moringa oleifera</em> (MO) as a green coagulant for decentralised water treatment. The coagulation efficacy of MO is attributed to its high molecular weight cationic seed proteins, rich in amino, hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amide groups, which destabilise colloids via adsorption and charge neutralisation. Extraction in saline medium (0.5–1.5 M NaCl) enhances protein solubility and coagulation, achieving &gt; 90 % turbidity reductions and 1–3 log removal of <em>E. coli</em> and coliforms at doses 50–300 mg L⁻¹ for drinking water and 400–4000 mg L⁻¹ for wastewaters. Optimal coagulation requires rapid mixing (∼130 rpm, 2 min) followed by slow stirring (∼30–40 rpm, 15–40 min) to promote floc growth. Compared to alum, MO generates 3–5 times less sludge, with potential for residue reuse as fertiliser. This review aims to address existing knowledge gaps by consolidating available studies and identifying the conditions under which MO is most effective, as well as the limitations that may hinder its sustainable application. The paper offers a novel synthesis by integrating case studies with sustainability assessments, providing one of the few comprehensive evaluations of MO’s performance across both drinking water and wastewater treatment contexts. Our findings indicate that while MO is a viable, low-cost option for household-scale drinking water treatment, its slower coagulation kinetics (1–2 h) and high dosage requirements restrict its suitability for treating highly contaminated wastewaters. In addition, MO is ineffective at turbidity levels below 10 NTU and exhibits limited removal of organics and heavy metals. Because MO is an organic coagulant, its use may increase BOD, COD, and TOC, and interactions with chlorine can lead to the formation of carcinogenic trihalomethanes. Future research should focus on elucidating toxicological implications, optimising treatment processes, and assessing commercial scalability to support the responsible and sustainable use of MO in water treatment systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100202"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145884820","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Recent advances in nanocomposites and nano-adsorbents for heavy metal and dye removal from water","authors":"Md Atiqur Rahman ,&nbsp;S.M. Mozammil Hasnain ,&nbsp;Rustem Zairov ,&nbsp;Ramesh Kumar","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100215","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2026.100215","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The escalating contamination of aquatic systems by heavy metals and synthetic dyes poses severe risks to ecosystems and human health due to their toxicity, persistence, and bioaccumulation. Conventional wastewater treatment technologies such as chemical precipitation, membrane filtration, ion exchange, and oxidation often suffer from high operational costs, incomplete removal, secondary pollution, and limited efficiency at low contaminant concentrations. In this context, adsorption has emerged as a cost-effective and versatile alternative, particularly with the advent of nanotechnology. This review critically examines recent advances in nanocomposites and nano-adsorbents developed for the removal of priority heavy metals (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Pb) and dyes from aqueous media. Various classes of nanoadsorbents, including carbon-based materials (carbon nanotubes, graphene and its derivatives), silica-based nanomaterials, zeolites, polymer-based nanocomposites, metal–organic framework (MOF) composites, and molecularly imprinted polymers, are systematically discussed. The adsorption mechanisms governing contaminant uptake, such as electrostatic interactions, surface complexation, ion exchange, precipitation, physisorption, and chemisorption, are elucidated, along with the influence of operational parameters, including pH, contact time, temperature, and sorbent dosage. Adsorption performance is evaluated using widely applied isotherm models (Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin, Dubinin–Radushkevich), kinetic models (pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order, intraparticle diffusion), and thermodynamic analyses. Reported results demonstrate that many nano-adsorbents achieve removal efficiencies exceeding 90%, exhibit high adsorption capacities, show favorable kinetics, and possess good regeneration potential. The review highlights current limitations and future research directions needed to translate nanoadsorbent technologies from laboratory studies to sustainable, large-scale water remediation applications.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100215"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147396510","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Overcoming carbamazepine (CBZ) recalcitrance in wastewater: A critical review of membrane bioreactor (MBR) performance, limitations, and optimization strategies","authors":"Parnian Mojahednia ,&nbsp;Jianfei Chen ,&nbsp;Seyed Hesam Aldin Samaei ,&nbsp;Jian Pan ,&nbsp;Jinkai Xue","doi":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100198","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.clwat.2025.100198","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Carbamazepine (CBZ), a widely prescribed antiepileptic drug, is among the most persistent and frequently detected pharmaceutical contaminants in wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents and surface waters worldwide. Due to its high chemical stability, low sorption affinity, and resistance to biodegradation, CBZ often passes through conventional treatment systems, posing ecological and human health risks. As a result, developing effective treatment strategies capable of removing CBZ from wastewater has become a critical priority, particularly through biological methods. Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) have gained significant attention as a promising method to remove recalcitrant compounds such as CBZ. This review critically examines the current state of MBR technology for CBZ removal, highlighting the influence of microbial communities, operational parameters, and membrane fouling dynamics on the treatment efficiency. Furthermore, integrated MBR systems, combining MBRs with advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), adsorption techniques, or biofilms, are evaluated for their potential to overcome the limitations of standalone MBR systems. Although these integrated approaches significantly improve CBZ removal and mitigate fouling, they face operational, economic, and scalability challenges. This review highlights the need for biologically optimized MBR configurations and the strategic enrichment of specialized microbial communities, including bacteria and fungi, capable of CBZ biotransformation. The findings offer a comprehensive perspective on advancing MBR-based technologies toward more efficient, resilient, and sustainable wastewater treatment systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100257,"journal":{"name":"Cleaner Water","volume":"5 ","pages":"Article 100198"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145841131","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}