Rejuvenated Graphene Nanoplatelets Unlocking Extrinsic Self-Healing in Asphalt Binders.

The aging and fatigue susceptibility of asphalt binders significantly reduce the pavement service life. This work presents a multifunctional strategy to enhance binder durability through the development of rejuvenated graphene nanoplatelets (GnP-Rej), where a vegetable-oil-based rejuvenator is intercalated within graphene nanoplatelets, enabling microwave-activated self-healing. Structural and thermal characterizations using Fourier Transformed Infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Raman Spectroscopy (RS), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) confirmed successful rejuvenator's intercalation with the graphene nanoplatelets via noncovalent interactions.

Enhanced ability of 3D-printed bricks to treat wastewater under variable conditions.

This study explores a sustainable and affordable approach to wastewater treatment by combining traditional slow sand filtration with 3D-printed bricks made from clay or a clay-crawfish shell composite. Building on the findings from a preliminary study using pre-UV treated wastewater as the influent, the current study implemented stress tests to assess how effectively and quickly the reactors could respond to sudden changes in influent composition potentially occurring in the presence of a spill, a malfunctioning treatment plant, and or in rural and underserved communities. Three stress tests (feed water: 50 % raw wastewater and 50 % pre-UV treated wastewater; average duration of each stress test: 2 d) followed by three recovery phases referred to baseline tests (feed water: 100 % pre-UV treated wastewater; average duration of each recovery phase: 5 d) were conducted using three reactors: 1) a reactor with composite bricks (90 % clay and 10 % crawfish shell waste by weight) and sand, 2) a reactor with clay bricks and sand, and 3) a reactor with only sand (control).

Graphene-coated sand for enhanced water reuse: Impact on water quality and chemicals of emerging concern.

This paper investigates the potential of graphene-coated sand (GCS) as an advanced filtration medium for improving water quality and mitigating chemicals of emerging concern (CECs) in treated municipal wastewater, aiming to enhance water reuse. The study utilizes three types of sand (Ottawa, masonry, and concrete) coated with graphene to assess the impact of surface morphology, particle shape, and chemical composition on coating and filtration efficiency. Additionally, sand coated with graphene and activated graphene coated sand were both tested to understand the effect of coating and activation on the filtration process.

Synthesis, characterization, and environmental applications of graphene-coated sand: A review.

Global water quality has deteriorated, leaving over 844 million individuals without access to clean drinking water. While sand filters (SF) offer a solution, their limited surface area and adsorption capacity for emerging contaminants remain a challenge. This has prompted the development of new materials such as graphene-coated sand (GCS) to enhance the sand's adsorptive properties.