Applied Water Science最新文献

Cadmium (Cd) contamination of aquatic ecosystems poses significant environmental and public health risks. Conventional wastewater treatment methods including ion exchange, coagulation, membrane filtration, chemical precipitation, and biological degradation exhibited operational limitations in Cd removal efficiency and cost-effectiveness. Consequently, adsorption-based technologies utilizing nanomaterials have gained prominence as advanced alternatives. Engineered nanomaterials, particularly metallic/metalloid oxides and carbon-based structures, offer superior Cd adsorption capabilities due to their exceptional surface area-to-volume ratios, tunable surface chemistry, and multifunctional reactivity. Among these, carbon nanotubes (CNTs), especially multi-walled variants (MWCNTs), present a cost-effective, scalable, and sustainable solution for heavy metals (HMs) remediation. This review critically evaluates the adsorption mechanisms of Cd onto MWCNTs, Synthesis and functionalization strategies to enhance adsorption capacities, and comparative efficacy of CNTs against emerging metallic oxide nanomaterials. Recent advances in nanomaterial design, including surface modification and composite synthesis, are highlighted for their role in optimizing Cd removal kinetics and selectivity. Future research directions emphasize assessing long-term ecotoxicological risks of nanomaterial deployment and developing encapsulation protocols to mitigate environmental release while advancing next-generation adsorbents.

This study aims to evaluate the potential use of clinoptilolite-type zeolite, leonardite, and diatomite, which have abundant reserves in Türkiye and can be mined more easily and economically compared to other mines, as water parameters regulators. The trial was conducted in seven groups in triplicate. The groups were assigned as the control (C), natural zeolite (NZ), natural leonardite (NL), natural diatomite (ND), conditioned zeolite (CZ), conditioned leonardite (CL), and conditioned diatomite (CD). The trial was initiated by adding 2 g of natural and conditioned zeolite, leonardite, and diatomite to their respective groups, excluding the control inside 500 ml tap water. Water parameters (temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, and NH₄⁺) were measured daily for 14 days. In this study, as of the 4th day of the experiment, a decrease was observed in ammonia values originating from the feed in the groups treated with adsorbent compared to the control group. When all adsorbent groups were evaluated together, the ammonia values in the groups containing natural leonardite and conditioned leonardite remained at the recommended values for aquaculture throughout the experiment period (14 days). As a result of the study, it was concluded that leonardite (1.66 ± 0.001) and zeolite (0.71 ± 0.03) (4 g/l) could be used effectively in ammonia removal for aquaculture practices. The current study is one of the first studies to investigate the effect of natural adsorbents on ammonia removal and pH. Furthermore, it is the first study to demonstrate a reduction in fish feed-derived ammonia values compared to the unconditioned (natural) forms of conditioned diatomite and leonardite, based on a literature review.

In the current research, the performance of catalytic ozonation with zero-valent iron nanoparticles (nZVI) in the simultaneous removal of arsenic (As) and nitrate (NO₃), two potentially harmful elements (PHEs) from actual drinking water sources in Hamedan province, located in the west of Iran, was investigated. Contact time (5–30) min, pH (6.8–7.8), initial concentration of As (20–100) μg/L, initial concentration of NO₃ (50–150) mg/L and adsorbent dosage (0–1.25) g/L were investigated as various operating effects on the catalytic removal of arsenic and nitrate from water through various experimental tests. The characteristics of zero-valent iron nanoparticles were determined through X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis. The results showed that the optimal parameters are: primary concentration of arsenic (60 μg/L), initial concentration of nitrate (100 mg/L), nanoparticle dose 0.75 g/L, and pH (7.4). The concurrent removal efficiency of As and NO₃ in optimal conditions was 81.9%. The process cost analysis showed that it should be assessed to be about $0.05 per liter of safe drinking water. This research illustrates that the efficiency of catalytic ozonation with nZVI in the concurrent catalytic elimination of As and NO₃ is hopeful.

Climate change is a perilous threat to the world’s water resources; it directly alters hydrological cycles, thermal regimes, and precipitation patterns. These disturbances subsequently affect reference evapotranspiration (ET₀) and crop water requirements, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions such as agricultural regions, where sustainability is already vulnerable. The effects of climate change during this period were examined regarding evapotranspiration and water demands of main crops such as barley, wheat, Alfalfa, and cotton on Garmsar plain in the western part of Iran during 2025–2100. Local climatic variables were downscaled using the Statistical Downscaling Model (SDSM) on the outputs from three global circulation models (GCMs): CanESM5, MPI-ESM1-2-HR, and NorESM2-MM for four shared socioeconomic pathways (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5) to estimate local-scale climate variables. Reference evapotranspiration (ETo) was modeled using the Hargreaves–Samani method. Results showed an increasing trend in both maximum and minimum temperatures, causing the elevation of ET₀ as well as crop evapotranspiration in all scenarios. High to moderate increases in ET₀ were evident for all seasons, with autumn and summer showing the most significant seasonal increments, while winter had the lowest. Both had very long growing seasons; Alfalfa and cotton were water demands that showed the most significant increases in water use among the crops studied. In addition, the findings reiterate the variability implied in model and scenario-based climate projections, emphasizing the need to incorporate uncertainty analysis into future climate impact assessments. This study highlights the importance of adaptive agricultural planning, better cropping patterns, and the utilization of water resources in less water-available zones such as Garmsar due to the effects of climate change.

Diffuse pollution from agriculture continues to pose a significant threat to waterbodies. This study investigates the role of diverse farming objectives on a farmers’ openness to adopt a suite of mitigative measures that could have a positive effect on water quality. Based on a farmer survey, factor analysis was used to reduce a long list of potential farming objectives to three: long-term economic objectives (LTE), short-term economic objectives (STE) and environmental objectives (ENV). The results of a multivariate ordered probit model indicate that farming objectives are a highly significant predictor of openness to adopt. Our findings suggest that farmers with LTE and ENV objectives are more open to adopting many of the same mitigation measures while farmers with STE objectives are less open.

Carbamazepine (CBZ), ibuprofen (IBU), and naproxen (NAP) are pharmaceutical compounds frequently found in natural waters due to their persistence during wastewater treatment processes. Their removal is essential for improving future wastewater management globally. In this study, we evaluated the performance of two adsorbents, clay powder (CP) and cuttlefish bone powder (CFBP), for the removal of these pharmaceutical compounds (PhCs). Adsorption isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics were investigated at the laboratory scale. The concentrations of the PhCs were measured using a validated method that combined solid-phase extraction (SPE) with high-performance liquid chromatography coupled with an ultraviolet detector (HPLC-UV). The kinetic were well described by the Elovich model, while adsorption isotherms corresponded better with the Freundlich and Sips models, suggesting multilayer adsorption. Thermodynamic analysis revealed that the adsorption of these PhCs was endothermic, driven by physisorption. The adsorption process demonstrated significant potential for application in real wastewater effluents containing PhCs at low, environmentally relevant concentrations, with removal rates exceeding 70% for carbamazepine, while ibuprofen and naproxen removal rates reached 53% at pH = 4 and at 10 µg L^-1. An assessment of implementation factors and costs suggests that the adsorbents CP and CFBP are promising candidates for real-world applications in water treatment systems. These materials provide a sustainable solution for the remediation of pharmaceutical pollutants in wastewater.

Pesticides have become a common environmental pollutant in bodies of water in recent decades, negatively affecting the aquatic ecosystems along with their living organisms. In this regard, thiabendazole (TBZ) has emerged as one of the most detected pesticides in wastewater due to its widespread application in agriculture. Despite its toxicological effects and persistence, no technology is currently available for its efficient removal. Recent adsorption strategies using eco-friendly porous materials have emerged as an effective, low-cost, and easy-to-operate alternative for water pollutant removal. Among them, metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) were selected here as attractive adsorbents due to their outstanding water stability and a priori, compatible pore sizes with the TBZ molecule. Upon screening of 8 MOFs with different natures and structures, the most promising material was the microporous bismuth(III)-ellagate SU-101, with remarkable removal efficiencies (89% in just 5 min). The material was successfully shaped into micrometric pellets and packed into a column for its suitable implementation in a continuous flow device, simulating a real decontamination environment by using pollutant-doped tap water. This SU-101 column was able to efficiently eliminate TBZ during 4.6 consecutive days, with the absence of significant MOF degradation (< 1.5%), and was successfully regenerated (88%) preserving functionality over 2 cycles. These resulting outcomes pave the way for further SU-101 implementation in real decontamination processes.

Crystal violet (CV) is a recalcitrant triphenylmethane dye that poses carcinogenic, mutagenic, and teratogenic risks to many organisms. This study was designed to assess the degradation capability of Arthrobacter for CV dye by embedding bacteria in a composite matrix comprising biochar and sodium alginate, and coated with chitosan. The degradation efficiency of the immobilized bacterial agent was evaluated under different conditions by altering key influencing factors. The findings demonstrated that under conditions of 30 °C, pH 7, and an initial CV dye concentration of 100 mg/L, the introduction of 10% of the immobilized bacterial agent attained a decolorization efficiency of 90%. LC–MS analysis revealed that the immobilized bacterial agent could convert CV dye into Michler’s ketone and N, N-dimethylaminophenol, significantly reducing the toxicity of the dye. Seeds irrigated with untreated CV dye exhibited a germination rate of only 37.78%, whereas following a 48-h treatment period, the germination rate increased to 80.00%. Therefore, this work establishes that the immobilized bacterial agent demonstrates considerable promise for CV dye degradation and markedly diminishes its toxicological impact, suggesting that this method represents a promising new approach for treating wastewater containing CV dye.

Freshwater scarcity poses a critical challenge to human survival, necessitating innovative desalination solutions to meet the growing global demand for potable water. Among these, membrane distillation (MD) has emerged as a promising technology due to its high salt rejection efficiency, lower energy consumption compared to conventional thermal desalination methods such as multi-stage flash (MSF) and multi-effect distillation (MED), and its adaptability to diverse water sources, including seawater, brackish water, and wastewater. Within MD, direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD) has gained significant attention for its simplicity, high desalination flux, and potential cost-effectiveness. Unlike other MD variants, DCMD operates without requiring expensive external condensers, making it economically attractive for large-scale deployment. However, despite these advantages, DCMD faces challenges such as membrane fouling, thermal polarization, and limited long-term stability, all of which can degrade performance and increase operational costs. This review provides a comprehensive overview of DCMD technology, focusing on membrane module design, material selection, and fabrication techniques. It also addresses key operational challenges and explores innovative strategies to enhance system efficiency. Additionally, it presents an up-to-date analysis of the economic and environmental implications of DCMD and its feasibility for large-scale implementation. By offering a thorough understanding of this technology, the review aims to facilitate its optimization and unlock its full potential as a sustainable solution to global freshwater scarcity.

Aim and objectives

This study aims to evaluate the groundwater quality across four coastal delta districts of Tamil Nadu (Nagapattinam, Thiruvarur, Thanjavur, and Pudukottai) where groundwater serves as a vital resource for drinking and agricultural needs. The objectives are framed to assess spatial and seasonal variations, identify geogenic and anthropogenic influences, and evaluate potential human health risks.

Materials and methods

A total of 343 groundwater samples were collected during pre- and monsoon seasons to assess seasonal variability. Samples were analyzed for major cations (Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Na⁺, K⁺), anions (Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, SO₄²⁻, NO₃⁻), and key physicochemical parameters using standard protocols. The assessment combined Water Quality Index (WQI), geospatial mapping, hydrochemical facies classification (Piper diagram), and multivariate statistical modeling to identify geogenic and anthropogenic influences. This integrated approach provided a detailed understanding of groundwater quality patterns and associated health risks, supporting sustainable management strategies.

Key findings

The results indicated that dominant cations followed the order Ca²⁺ > Mg²⁺ > K⁺ > Na⁺, while anions ranked Cl⁻ > HCO₃⁻ > SO₄²⁻ > NO₃⁻, with prevailing water types being Ca²⁺–Cl⁻ and mixed Ca²⁺–Mg²⁺–Cl⁻. Hydrochemical analysis using Schoeller diagrams revealed reverse ion exchange processes influencing over 85% of samples. WQI classification showed 56% of samples as “excellent” for drinking in the monsoon season, improving to 75% in pre-monsoon. Multivariate analysis identified strong correlations among TDS, EC, hardness, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, Cl⁻, and SO₄²⁻, indicating combined natural salinization and anthropogenic impacts. Nitrate contamination emerged as a major health concern, particularly affecting children. Geospatial analysis highlighted distinct seasonal variations in ion concentrations, underscoring precipitation’s role in coastal groundwater chemistry. These findings stress the necessity for targeted management to mitigate salinization and nitrate pollution, with emphasis on seasonal dynamics and protection of potable water sources. Urgent measures include bioremediation, desalination, policy enforcement, and active community engagement. Aligning these interventions with SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 13 (Climate Action), and SDG 14 (Life Below Water) is essential for ensuring sustainable groundwater protection and enhancing climate resilience in vulnerable coastal aquifer systems.