This study investigates the performance of a sponge membrane bioreactor (SMBR) integrated with waste iron scraps as an innovative approach to enhance nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater. The incorporation of iron scraps substantially improved the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency, increasing from 35.3 ± 10.4 % to 62.4 ± 26.9 %, while maintaining stable chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal above 90 % and ammonium removal greater than 80 % at an iron dosage of 60 g/L. Iron supplementation promoted denitrification by creating localized anoxic microenvironments and stimulating the enrichment of iron-reducing and denitrifying bacteria such as Geothrix, Aquabacterium, and Roseiarcus, with relative abundances increasing from 0.2 % to 6.1 %, 1.4 %–4.8 %, and 0.8 %–1.5 %, respectively. Microbial community analysis further revealed significant shifts in dominant phyla, including Proteobacteria, Acidobacteriota, and Bacteroidota, with relative abundances increased from 68.3 % to 70.1 %, 2.0 %–9.1 %, and 1.0 %–7.8 %, respectively. These shifts indicate strengthened nitrogen transformation pathways within the system. These findings demonstrate that the reuse of waste iron scraps as bioactive carriers is an effective and environmentally sustainable strategy for enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency and microbial functional diversity in SMBR.
{"title":"Enhanced nitrogen removal in sponge membrane bioreactor coupled with iron scraps for municipal wastewater treatment: Performance and microbial community shifts","authors":"Ngo Hoang Long , Phan Nhu Nguyet , Ngo Thi Thuan , Tran Le Dang Khoa , Xuan-Thanh Bui , Huu-Viet Nguyen , Van-Tung Tra , Masashi Hatamoto , Takahiro Watari , Takashi Yamaguchi","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101318","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101318","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study investigates the performance of a sponge membrane bioreactor (SMBR) integrated with waste iron scraps as an innovative approach to enhance nitrogen removal from municipal wastewater. The incorporation of iron scraps substantially improved the total nitrogen (TN) removal efficiency, increasing from 35.3 ± 10.4 % to 62.4 ± 26.9 %, while maintaining stable chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal above 90 % and ammonium removal greater than 80 % at an iron dosage of 60 g/L. Iron supplementation promoted denitrification by creating localized anoxic microenvironments and stimulating the enrichment of iron-reducing and denitrifying bacteria such as <em>Geothrix</em>, <em>Aquabacterium</em>, and <em>Roseiarcus</em>, with relative abundances increasing from 0.2 % to 6.1 %, 1.4 %–4.8 %, and 0.8 %–1.5 %, respectively. Microbial community analysis further revealed significant shifts in dominant phyla, including <em>Proteobacteria</em>, <em>Acidobacteriota</em>, and <em>Bacteroidota</em>, with relative abundances increased from 68.3 % to 70.1 %, 2.0 %–9.1 %, and 1.0 %–7.8 %, respectively. These shifts indicate strengthened nitrogen transformation pathways within the system. These findings demonstrate that the reuse of waste iron scraps as bioactive carriers is an effective and environmentally sustainable strategy for enhancing nitrogen removal efficiency and microbial functional diversity in SMBR.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101318"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925670","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-19DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101311
Diya Alsafadi, Mohammad Abu Nuwar, Amani Abdelhadi, Tasnim Alqaruoti, Lama Siwwan, Ahmad Al Amaireh
The accumulation of single-use plastic materials poses significant environmental and waste management challenges. Pro-oxidant additive-containing (PAC) plastics have been introduced in many regions to mitigate these impacts. This study examined the abiotic degradation of PAC plastics under accelerated laboratory conditions and in an open-air environment with a hot, dry climate. Residual materials from abiotic degradation were then subjected to aerobic biodegradation in soil, and the final products were evaluated for plant toxicity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed the formation of acids, ketones, and aldehydes on the polymer surface due to oxidation under accelerated conditions. In open-air exposure, the reduction in weight average molecular weight (Mw) was used to assess degradation. A rapid Mw decrease occurred within the first three months, and after fifteen months, 50 % of the samples showed low Mw (<5.0 kDa). The abiotic residues were subsequently mineralized in soil, achieving 15–20 % biodegradation after 350 days. Samples not pre-exposed to open-air conditions showed only 5 % mineralization, confirming that prior thermal and photo-oxidation enhanced biodegradability. Eco-toxicity tests indicated that the biodegradation products did not affect the growth of the studied plant species.
{"title":"Environmental degradation of plastics containing pro-oxidant additives and their toxicological impact in desert ecosystems","authors":"Diya Alsafadi, Mohammad Abu Nuwar, Amani Abdelhadi, Tasnim Alqaruoti, Lama Siwwan, Ahmad Al Amaireh","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101311","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101311","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The accumulation of single-use plastic materials poses significant environmental and waste management challenges. Pro-oxidant additive-containing (PAC) plastics have been introduced in many regions to mitigate these impacts. This study examined the abiotic degradation of PAC plastics under accelerated laboratory conditions and in an open-air environment with a hot, dry climate. Residual materials from abiotic degradation were then subjected to aerobic biodegradation in soil, and the final products were evaluated for plant toxicity. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) analysis revealed the formation of acids, ketones, and aldehydes on the polymer surface due to oxidation under accelerated conditions. In open-air exposure, the reduction in weight average molecular weight (Mw) was used to assess degradation. A rapid Mw decrease occurred within the first three months, and after fifteen months, 50 % of the samples showed low Mw (<5.0 kDa). The abiotic residues were subsequently mineralized in soil, achieving 15–20 % biodegradation after 350 days. Samples not pre-exposed to open-air conditions showed only 5 % mineralization, confirming that prior thermal and photo-oxidation enhanced biodegradability. Eco-toxicity tests indicated that the biodegradation products did not affect the growth of the studied plant species.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101311"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925673","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101310
Feli Zulhendri , David Stuckler , Antony Simon , Felix Zulhendri , Krishna Pagilla
Data from three full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants treating coconut-processing wastewater in North Sumatra, Indonesia, were collected over five years and analyzed using a mass-balance, load-based framework. Energy and cost were reported as intensities (kWh/kg and USD/kg COD removed) and as volumetric indicators (kWh/m3 and USD/m3 of wastewater treated). All plants achieved >99.5 % removal of COD, BOD, and TSS. The electricity demand ranged from 0.37 to 0.82 kWh/m3, and the treatment cost ranged from 37.7 to 69.5 USD/m3 among the three plants. On a load basis, COD removal required 0.015 to 0.182 kWh/kg and 3.19 to 11.7 USD/kg; BOD removal required 0.148 to 0.518 kWh/kg and 9.95 to 33.5 USD/kg; and TSS removal required 0.339 to 1.99 kWh/kg and 27.7 to 43.9 USD/kg. Plants with better pretreatment, including filter presses and fermentation tanks, consistently achieved lower energy use and cost. Regression analysis confirmed that each additional kilogram per day of residual TSS in wastewater increased downstream aeration and MBR electricity demand by 0.41 kWh/day (p < 0.001). This study provides the first multi-year, full-scale benchmarks for MBR treatment of high-strength coconut wastewater and demonstrates how practical solids-oil pretreatment can halve energy demand and double cost-effectiveness. The findings offer actionable guidance for engineers, operators, and regulators designing sustainable agro-industrial wastewater systems.
{"title":"Long-term full-scale evaluation of three membrane bioreactor plants for coconut-processing wastewater treatment: Energy, cost, and pretreatment impacts","authors":"Feli Zulhendri , David Stuckler , Antony Simon , Felix Zulhendri , Krishna Pagilla","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101310","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101310","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Data from three full-scale membrane bioreactor (MBR) plants treating coconut-processing wastewater in North Sumatra, Indonesia, were collected over five years and analyzed using a mass-balance, load-based framework. Energy and cost were reported as intensities (kWh/kg and USD/kg COD removed) and as volumetric indicators (kWh/m<sup>3</sup> and USD/m<sup>3</sup> of wastewater treated). All plants achieved >99.5 % removal of COD, BOD, and TSS. The electricity demand ranged from 0.37 to 0.82 kWh/m<sup>3</sup>, and the treatment cost ranged from 37.7 to 69.5 USD/m<sup>3</sup> among the three plants. On a load basis, COD removal required 0.015 to 0.182 kWh/kg and 3.19 to 11.7 USD/kg; BOD removal required 0.148 to 0.518 kWh/kg and 9.95 to 33.5 USD/kg; and TSS removal required 0.339 to 1.99 kWh/kg and 27.7 to 43.9 USD/kg. Plants with better pretreatment, including filter presses and fermentation tanks, consistently achieved lower energy use and cost. Regression analysis confirmed that each additional kilogram per day of residual TSS in wastewater increased downstream aeration and MBR electricity demand by 0.41 kWh/day (p < 0.001). This study provides the first multi-year, full-scale benchmarks for MBR treatment of high-strength coconut wastewater and demonstrates how practical solids-oil pretreatment can halve energy demand and double cost-effectiveness. The findings offer actionable guidance for engineers, operators, and regulators designing sustainable agro-industrial wastewater systems.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101310"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925674","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-17DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101313
Salik Ahmed , Marco Ciro Liscio , Paolo Sospiro , Irene Voukkali , Antonis A. Zorpas
Organizations are increasingly committed to reducing their environmental footprints, a process fraught with the complex challenge of identifying and mitigating unique environmental impacts and hotspots without merely shifting burdens elsewhere. This study applies Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (OLCA) methodology using ISO 14040/14044 and ISO/TS 14072 guidance, mapped gate-to-gate flows for the firm's entire 2023 output. Inputs and emissions were compiled on-site and modelled in SimaPro 9.1.1 with the Ecoinvent 3.3 “allocation, cut-off” database, applying ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) across 18 impact categories. The results show that electricity use is the main environmental hotspot, contributing 43.5 % to total climate impacts, while cotton fibre accounts for 87.3 % of freshwater eutrophication and 37.8 % of water consumption; combined measures on renewable electricity and recycled fibres could reduce the organisation's overall climate footprint by up to 34.6 %. To address these impacts, the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar energy systems to reduce electricity consumption is recommended. This analysis pinpoints concise improvements: transition to renewable electricity, favour green suppliers of water-efficient cotton and recycled polyester and replace brass with different materials. The analysis conducted aims to be transferable to peer fashion companies in Italy and beyond, favouring the spread of Life Cycle based methodologies.
{"title":"Organizational life cycle assessment: A case study in the fashion industry small and medium enterprises","authors":"Salik Ahmed , Marco Ciro Liscio , Paolo Sospiro , Irene Voukkali , Antonis A. Zorpas","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101313","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101313","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Organizations are increasingly committed to reducing their environmental footprints, a process fraught with the complex challenge of identifying and mitigating unique environmental impacts and hotspots without merely shifting burdens elsewhere. This study applies Organizational Life Cycle Assessment (OLCA) methodology using ISO 14040/14044 and ISO/TS 14072 guidance, mapped gate-to-gate flows for the firm's entire 2023 output. Inputs and emissions were compiled on-site and modelled in SimaPro 9.1.1 with the Ecoinvent 3.3 “allocation, cut-off” database, applying ReCiPe 2016 Midpoint (H) across 18 impact categories. The results show that electricity use is the main environmental hotspot, contributing 43.5 % to total climate impacts, while cotton fibre accounts for 87.3 % of freshwater eutrophication and 37.8 % of water consumption; combined measures on renewable electricity and recycled fibres could reduce the organisation's overall climate footprint by up to 34.6 %. To address these impacts, the adoption of renewable energy sources like solar energy systems to reduce electricity consumption is recommended. This analysis pinpoints concise improvements: transition to renewable electricity, favour green suppliers of water-efficient cotton and recycled polyester and replace brass with different materials. The analysis conducted aims to be transferable to peer fashion companies in Italy and beyond, favouring the spread of Life Cycle based methodologies.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101313"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145925672","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}
The Diels-Alder (DA) reaction on 25 solvents was evaluated using in situ UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The solvent effect was investigated by using machine learning based on experimental data to identify key factors in the reaction. The data analysis unveiled Catalán acidity, basicity, and dipolarity as three important solvent parameters. These parameters accounted for the exceptional behavior of fluorinated solvents, such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol, which exhibited a significantly higher rate constant (k2 = 3.821 M−1 s−1) compared to other organic solvents. Furthermore, we also compare our results with preliminary density functional theory calculations to better understand the solvent effect, especially fluorinated solvent.
{"title":"Data-driven investigation of the solvent effect in Diels-Alder reaction","authors":"Benny Wahyudianto , Takashi Saito , Haruki Nagae , Yoshihiro Takebayashi , Sho Kataoka","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101314","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101314","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Diels-Alder (DA) reaction on 25 solvents was evaluated using <em>in situ</em> UV–Visible spectrophotometer. The solvent effect was investigated by using machine learning based on experimental data to identify key factors in the reaction. The data analysis unveiled Catalán acidity, basicity, and dipolarity as three important solvent parameters. These parameters accounted for the exceptional behavior of fluorinated solvents, such as 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoroisopropanol, which exhibited a significantly higher rate constant (<em>k</em><sub>2</sub> = 3.821 M<sup>−1</sup> s<sup>−1</sup>) compared to other organic solvents. Furthermore, we also compare our results with preliminary density functional theory calculations to better understand the solvent effect, especially fluorinated solvent.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101314"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790614","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-13DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101307
Jose Luis Aldana, Jokin Hidalgo, Carmen del Rio, Javier Antoñanzas
This case study presents a sustainable and scalable process for the recovery of non-cerium rare earth elements (non-Ce REE) from end-of-life neodymium–iron–boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. The method involves the selective precipitation of cerium using hydrogen peroxide at pH 5.5 and a NaOH/REE weight ratio between 0.41 and 0.45. Under these conditions, cerium was effectively removed from the leachate with a precipitation yield exceeding 99 wt%. The resulting cerium-based precipitate was calcined at 900 °C, and subsequent leaching in 1 M HCl enabled the recovery of non-Ce REE, including neodymium, praseodymium, gadolinium and dysprosium, with a maximum recovery rate of 97.9 wt%. The cerium content in the final product was controlled between 0.07 wt% and 2.1 wt% by adjusting the precipitation temperature, allowing for the production of two distinct rare earth oxide streams. The process was validated using real leachates obtained from the recycling of industrial magnet waste, demonstrating its applicability in real-world scenarios. The use of environmentally benign reagents and well-established unit operations supports the industrial feasibility and environmental sustainability of the proposed method. The results highlight the potential of this approach for the recovery of critical raw materials in line with circular economy and decarbonisation goals, offering a viable solution for the sustainable management of rare earth resources in industrial recycling contexts.
{"title":"Hydrogen peroxide-based oxidation and pH-controlled precipitation for the recovery of non-cerium rare earth elements from permanent magnet waste","authors":"Jose Luis Aldana, Jokin Hidalgo, Carmen del Rio, Javier Antoñanzas","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101307","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101307","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This case study presents a sustainable and scalable process for the recovery of non-cerium rare earth elements (non-Ce REE) from end-of-life neodymium–iron–boron (NdFeB) permanent magnets. The method involves the selective precipitation of cerium using hydrogen peroxide at pH 5.5 and a NaOH/REE weight ratio between 0.41 and 0.45. Under these conditions, cerium was effectively removed from the leachate with a precipitation yield exceeding 99 wt%. The resulting cerium-based precipitate was calcined at 900 °C, and subsequent leaching in 1 M HCl enabled the recovery of non-Ce REE, including neodymium, praseodymium, gadolinium and dysprosium, with a maximum recovery rate of 97.9 wt%. The cerium content in the final product was controlled between 0.07 wt% and 2.1 wt% by adjusting the precipitation temperature, allowing for the production of two distinct rare earth oxide streams. The process was validated using real leachates obtained from the recycling of industrial magnet waste, demonstrating its applicability in real-world scenarios. The use of environmentally benign reagents and well-established unit operations supports the industrial feasibility and environmental sustainability of the proposed method. The results highlight the potential of this approach for the recovery of critical raw materials in line with circular economy and decarbonisation goals, offering a viable solution for the sustainable management of rare earth resources in industrial recycling contexts.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101307"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145790615","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}
The growing need for sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived heating motivates the development of biomass-based thermal systems for waste valorization. This study designed and operated a continuous pyrolysis system integrated with an updraft gasifier-syngas burner, using wood pellets as a renewable heat source to convert fresh palm fruit bunches (FFB) into valuable bio-products. The system replaced LPG heating, enabled direct utilization of undried FFB, and enhanced operational scalability. Stable operation was achieved at 1078 °C with low CO (280 mg Nm−3) and particulate emissions (56 mg Nm−3). Pyrolysis at 500 °C yielded biochar (9.5 wt%, HHV 28.1 MJ kg−1, with 23 % carbon retention equivalent to 44.7 tCO2eq yr−1), pyrolysis oil (21.9 wt%), wood vinegar (40.0 wt%), and gases (28.6 wt%). Techno-economic analysis indicated a net profit of 4.08 EUR h−1 and a short payback period of 1.5–1.9 years. These findings demonstrate that the integrated biomass gasification-pyrolysis system offers a technically feasible and economically attractive solution for low-carbon conversion of palm residues into energy and carbon-rich materials.
{"title":"Continuous gasification-pyrolysis of fresh palm fruit bunches for biochar production and carbon sequestration","authors":"Nathawat Unsomsri , Pachara Koedthong , Sittinun Tawkaew , Songkran Wiriyasart , Sommas Kaewluan","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101309","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101309","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The growing need for sustainable alternatives to fossil-derived heating motivates the development of biomass-based thermal systems for waste valorization. This study designed and operated a continuous pyrolysis system integrated with an updraft gasifier-syngas burner, using wood pellets as a renewable heat source to convert fresh palm fruit bunches (FFB) into valuable bio-products. The system replaced LPG heating, enabled direct utilization of undried FFB, and enhanced operational scalability. Stable operation was achieved at 1078 °C with low CO (280 mg Nm<sup>−3</sup>) and particulate emissions (56 mg Nm<sup>−3</sup>). Pyrolysis at 500 °C yielded biochar (9.5 wt%, HHV 28.1 MJ kg<sup>−1</sup>, with 23 % carbon retention equivalent to 44.7 tCO<sub>2</sub>eq yr<sup>−1</sup>), pyrolysis oil (21.9 wt%), wood vinegar (40.0 wt%), and gases (28.6 wt%). Techno-economic analysis indicated a net profit of 4.08 EUR h<sup>−1</sup> and a short payback period of 1.5–1.9 years. These findings demonstrate that the integrated biomass gasification-pyrolysis system offers a technically feasible and economically attractive solution for low-carbon conversion of palm residues into energy and carbon-rich materials.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101309"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737497","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-07DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101308
Samunya Sanguanpak , Premmanus Chittachumnonk , Chart Chiemchaisri , Ming Chun Lu
Geopolymer granules containing fly ash as aluminosilicate materials and mill scale as a catalyst were applied for photocatalytic degradation of imidacloprid insecticide. The surface properties of the geopolymer catalyst were optimized by providing an optimum ratio of waste materials and pore-forming agents. The geopolymer catalyst yielded complete imidacloprid removals during batch experiments, with more than 80 % of its removals taking place after only 1 h of UV exposure. High photocatalytic activities were maintained over 10 repetitive cycles, exhibiting its longevity during which a gradual release of sediment with higher photocatalytic activities was observed, thus increasing its overall photocatalytic degradation rate of the geopolymer catalyst.
{"title":"Synthesis of industrial waste-based geopolymer catalyst and its application in removing imidacloprid insecticide from water","authors":"Samunya Sanguanpak , Premmanus Chittachumnonk , Chart Chiemchaisri , Ming Chun Lu","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101308","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101308","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Geopolymer granules containing fly ash as aluminosilicate materials and mill scale as a catalyst were applied for photocatalytic degradation of imidacloprid insecticide. The surface properties of the geopolymer catalyst were optimized by providing an optimum ratio of waste materials and pore-forming agents. The geopolymer catalyst yielded complete imidacloprid removals during batch experiments, with more than 80 % of its removals taking place after only 1 h of UV exposure. High photocatalytic activities were maintained over 10 repetitive cycles, exhibiting its longevity during which a gradual release of sediment with higher photocatalytic activities was observed, thus increasing its overall photocatalytic degradation rate of the geopolymer catalyst.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101308"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737498","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}
Pub Date : 2025-12-04DOI: 10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101305
Vu Van Tu , Nguyen Thi Hue , Hoang Minh Thang , Nguyen Duc Van , Tran Van An , Dinh-Trinh Tran , Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai
Herein, Fe-, Co-doped TiO2 semiconductors dispersed on acid-modified vermiculite were successfully synthesized using sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activity and adsorption capacity of Fe-, Co-doped TiO2 catalysts were evaluated through the removal of ciprofloxacin antibiotic in water. Fe-, Co-doped TiO2/Vermiculite (Ver) were mesoporous materials with specific surface areas of 162.7 m2/g (Fe-doped TiO2), and 172.7 m2/g (Co-doped TiO2/Ver). The combination between Fe-, Co-doped TiO2 and Ver resulted in an improved visible light absorption, with band gap energy decreasing from 3.31 eV (TiO2), to 2.02 eV (Fe-doped TiO2), and 1.79 eV (Co-doped TiO2), enhancing the photocatalytic performance and absorption capacity. The Fe-, Co-doped TiO2/Ver achieved 96.1 % of ciprofloxacin (50 mg/L) removal by photocatalytic process. Anions inhibited photocatalytic activity with the following order Cl− > H2PO4− > I−, while HO• and h+ were primary reactive species generated. Adsorption process followed the Freundlich isotherm (R2 > 0.99) and pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.98), suggesting the involvement of physico-chemical adsorption processes. The photodegradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a maximum rate constant of 0.43 min−1. Co-, Fe-doped TiO2/Ver maintained good ciprofloxacin removal efficiencies after three reused cycles, demonstrating its high stability. This study presents a promising approach for removing antibiotic residues from water.
本文采用溶胶-凝胶法制备了分散在酸修饰蛭石上的Fe- co掺杂TiO2半导体。通过对水中环丙沙星抗生素的去除,评价了Fe-、共掺杂TiO2催化剂的光催化活性和吸附能力。Fe-、co掺杂TiO2/Vermiculite (Ver)为介孔材料,比表面积分别为162.7 m2/g (Fe掺杂TiO2)和172.7 m2/g (co掺杂TiO2/Ver)。Fe-、共掺杂TiO2和Ver的结合改善了可见光吸收,带隙能量从3.31 eV (TiO2)降低到2.02 eV (Fe-掺杂TiO2)和1.79 eV (co -掺杂TiO2),增强了光催化性能和吸收能力。Fe- co掺杂TiO2/Ver光催化对环丙沙星(50 mg/L)的去除率达到96.1%。阴离子抑制光催化活性的顺序为Cl−>; H2PO4−> I−,而HO•和h+是主要的活性物质。吸附过程遵循Freundlich等温线(R2 > 0.99)和拟二级动力学(R2 > 0.98),表明参与了物理化学吸附过程。光降解过程符合准一级动力学,最大速率常数为0.43 min−1。Co-, fe掺杂的TiO2/Ver经过三次重复使用后仍保持良好的环丙沙星去除率,表现出较高的稳定性。本研究提出了一种有前途的去除水中抗生素残留的方法。
{"title":"Synthesis of Fe-, Co-doped TiO2/vermiculite for enhanced antibiotic adsorption and photocatalytic degradation","authors":"Vu Van Tu , Nguyen Thi Hue , Hoang Minh Thang , Nguyen Duc Van , Tran Van An , Dinh-Trinh Tran , Nguyen Thi Thanh Hai","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101305","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101305","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Herein, Fe-, Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> semiconductors dispersed on acid-modified vermiculite were successfully synthesized using sol-gel method. The photocatalytic activity and adsorption capacity of Fe-, Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> catalysts were evaluated through the removal of ciprofloxacin antibiotic in water. Fe-, Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>/Vermiculite (Ver) were mesoporous materials with specific surface areas of 162.7 m<sup>2</sup>/g (Fe-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>), and 172.7 m<sup>2</sup>/g (Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>/Ver). The combination between Fe-, Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub> and Ver resulted in an improved visible light absorption, with band gap energy decreasing from 3.31 eV (TiO<sub>2</sub>), to 2.02 eV (Fe-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>), and 1.79 eV (Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>), enhancing the photocatalytic performance and absorption capacity. The Fe-, Co-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>/Ver achieved 96.1 % of ciprofloxacin (50 mg/L) removal by photocatalytic process. Anions inhibited photocatalytic activity with the following order Cl<sup>−</sup> > H<sub>2</sub>PO<sub>4</sub><sup>−</sup> > I<sup>−</sup>, while HO<sup>•</sup> and h<sup>+</sup> were primary reactive species generated. Adsorption process followed the Freundlich isotherm (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.99) and pseudo-second-order kinetics (R<sup>2</sup> > 0.98), suggesting the involvement of physico-chemical adsorption processes. The photodegradation process adhered to pseudo-first-order kinetics, with a maximum rate constant of 0.43 min<sup>−1</sup>. Co-, Fe-doped TiO<sub>2</sub>/Ver maintained good ciprofloxacin removal efficiencies after three reused cycles, demonstrating its high stability. This study presents a promising approach for removing antibiotic residues from water.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101305"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145737499","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}
Reverse osmosis (RO) has been widely adopted for the treatment of blow-down water to facilitate sustainable water management in thermal power plants. This study investigates membrane fouling in a packaged RO system treating blow-down water to identify the causes of permeate flux decline and develop mitigation strategies. Results from blow-down water analysis, autopsy of the used membrane, and filtration experiments indicate that the RO system was likely under-designed with water recovery exceeding the design limit, creating conditions favourable for flux deterioration. Silica, present in blow-down water at high concentrations (∼50 mg/L), was identified as the dominant and most challenging membrane fouling culprit. Given the sulphate concentrations of 55–88 mg/L, barium sulphate scaling might also occur; however, the evidence was inconclusive. Unlike silica scaling, barium sulphate could be mitigated through appropriate anti-scalant dosing. The filtration experiments indicate that besides fouling, membrane compaction partially contributed to flux decline. Finally, WAVE simulation results suggest key strategies (e.g. lower water recovery, using larger membrane surface area or membrane with improved flux stability, increasing feed water temperature (up to 35 °C), blending with silica-free water sources, and optimising anti-scalant dosing) to enhance RO system water recovery while effectively avert membrane fouling.
{"title":"Reverse osmosis treatment of blow-down water for beneficial reuse and sustainable power generation","authors":"Claudio Kohn , Hung Cong Duong , Viet Quang Ly , Long Duc Nghiem","doi":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101306","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.cscee.2025.101306","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Reverse osmosis (RO) has been widely adopted for the treatment of blow-down water to facilitate sustainable water management in thermal power plants. This study investigates membrane fouling in a packaged RO system treating blow-down water to identify the causes of permeate flux decline and develop mitigation strategies. Results from blow-down water analysis, autopsy of the used membrane, and filtration experiments indicate that the RO system was likely under-designed with water recovery exceeding the design limit, creating conditions favourable for flux deterioration. Silica, present in blow-down water at high concentrations (∼50 mg/L), was identified as the dominant and most challenging membrane fouling culprit. Given the sulphate concentrations of 55–88 mg/L, barium sulphate scaling might also occur; however, the evidence was inconclusive. Unlike silica scaling, barium sulphate could be mitigated through appropriate anti-scalant dosing. The filtration experiments indicate that besides fouling, membrane compaction partially contributed to flux decline. Finally, WAVE simulation results suggest key strategies (e.g. lower water recovery, using larger membrane surface area or membrane with improved flux stability, increasing feed water temperature (up to 35 °C), blending with silica-free water sources, and optimising anti-scalant dosing) to enhance RO system water recovery while effectively avert membrane fouling.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34388,"journal":{"name":"Case Studies in Chemical and Environmental Engineering","volume":"13 ","pages":"Article 101306"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-12-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145683120","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}