Tailoring bidirectional electronic transfer interaction tunnels triggers sustainable and high activity of ozone catalysis for water purification.

Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation shows promise in destroying organic pollutants in water, yet developing catalysts with both high activity and stability remains challenging. In this study, we propose a catalyst design strategy involving the anchoring of electron-sharing sites near single-atom sites to construct bidirectional electron transfer interaction tunnels. The developed catalyst (MnN-Fe@FeN) features Fe@FeN atomic clusters as electron-sharing sites, coordinated Mn single-atom centers through shared nitrogen bridges, successfully establishing a synergistic system.

Efficient Production of HO and DOM* via Far-UVC Photolysis of Dissolved Organic Matter in Water.

HO and DOM* that are photochemically produced from dissolved organic matter (DOM) affect the performance of UV-driven processes in water treatment. This study developed and applied a method to quantify the yields for HO and DOM* (expressed as and , respectively) from far-UVC (UV) photolysis of DOM. at 222 nm (0.

Bridging Materials Innovation with an Efficient Photocatalyst-Enabled Optical Fiber Reactor for HO Production.

Hydrogen peroxide (HO) is a green oxidant widely used in water treatment and sustainable chemistry. Although many advanced materials exist for photo- and electrocatalytic production, HO output and stability depend on reactor design and water quality. This study explores a scalable photochemical system employing bismuth vanadate-coated polymeric optical fibers (POF-BVO) illuminated by 440 nm LEDs.

When the Household is the Utility: Ensuring Equitable Water Service for Rural US Communities Served by Decentralized Water Systems.

Despite nationally reported metrics that suggest high levels of water security, approximately 12% of the United States of America (US) population is estimated to be water insecure based on the definition in United Nations (UN) SDG 6.1.1.

Modulating the Central Metal Redox-State Ratios of Amorphous Titanium (Hydr)Oxide by Incorporating Cerium Enhances Mixtures of Oxyanions Removal from Water.

Amorphous metal (hydr)oxides exhibit superior oxyanion adsorption properties but remain understudied due to characterization challenges compared to their crystalline counterparts. Their structural disorder can alter the central metal redox states, enhancing oxyanion adsorption. Previously, we demonstrated that the reduced redox state of titanium in amorphous titanium (hydr)oxide (a-TiHO) increased arsenate and arsenite adsorption.

Advancing Light-Driven Reactions with Surface-Modified Optical Fibers.

ConspectusThe challenge of optimizing decentralized water, wastewater, and reuse treatment systems calls for innovative, efficient technologies. One advancement involves surface-modified side-emitting optical fibers (SEOFs), which enhance biochemical and chemical light-driven reactions. SEOFs are thin glass or polymeric optical fibers with functionalized surfaces that can be used individually or bundled together.

γ-AlO selectively adsorbs transition group metals from contaminated waters to produce bi-metallic catalysts for efficient nitrate reduction.

Metals present in industrial or mining wastewater are hazardous to human health and the environment, and their remediation is costly. In this study, we used γ-AlO to capture transition metals (e.g.

Natural, Incidental, and Engineered Nanomaterials in Surface Waters: Occurrence and Catalytic Reactivity Influences on Micropollutant Degradation Plus Nutrient Turnover.

Nanomaterials (NMs)─whether natural, incidental, or engineered─are now documented to occur in aquatic environments, with concentrations of elements such as titanium, cerium, and palladium exceeding tens of parts per billion. While prior research has emphasized the toxicology of engineered NMs, their broader geochemical roles remain underexplored. Catalytically active NMs can influence key environmental processes, such as nutrient cycling and pollutant degradation, through photocatalytic, hydrolytic, and hydrogenation mechanisms.

Control of Fungal Spores on Surfaces with UV-C Exposure Necessitates Complete Inactivation to Prevent Mycorrhizal Network Establishment.

Mold infestations on surfaces present significant challenges to public health. Germicidal UV-C irradiation effectively inactivates spores suspended in water, yet information on surface spore mitigation is surprisingly absent. We show the effectiveness of 265-275 nm UV-C light to mitigateon nutrient-rich surfaces.

High organofluorine concentrations in municipal wastewater affect downstream drinking water supplies for millions of Americans.

Wastewater receives per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from diverse consumer and industrial sources, and discharges are known to be a concern for drinking water quality. The PFAS family includes thousands of potential chemical structures containing organofluorine moieties. Exposures to a few well-studied PFAS, mainly perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAA), have been associated with increased risk of many adverse health outcomes, prompting federal drinking water regulations for six compounds in 2024.

Guidance on aqueous matrices for evaluating novel precipitants and adsorbents for phosphorus removal and recovery.

Phosphorus (P) removal from water and recovery into useable forms is a critical component of creating a sustainable P cycle, although mature technologies for P removal and recovery are still lacking. The goal of this paper was to advance the testing of novel materials for P removal and recovery from water by providing guidance on the development of more realistic aqueous matrices used during materials development. Literature reports of "new" materials to remove P from water are often difficult to compare in terms of performance because authors use a myriad of water chemistries containing P concentrations, pH, and competing ions.

Mini-cores of activated carbon block simulate full-sized performance for removing organics and arsenate from drinking water.

Activated carbon block (ACB) filters are widely used in point-of-use (POU) drinking technology to remove tastes, odors, and organic compounds from drinking water, and when modified can even remove inorganic pollutants (e.g., arsenate, lead, copper).

The phosphorus challenge: biotechnology approaches for a sustainable phosphorus system.

Phosphorus (P) is essential for growing crops, but the supply of high-quality phosphate rock reserves used for fertilizer production is finite while losses of P from the food/waste system cause considerable environmental damage. A variety of emerging approaches in biotechnology are reviewed that hold promise for improving the sustainability of P use in the food/water systems. These include improved sensors, cell culture approaches to meat production, bio-based P adsorption and transformation strategies, advancements in understanding of polyphosphate-accumulating organisms, and new approaches involving biomineralization and anaerobic treatment.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting for continuous water production in the built environment: Assessment of water yield and quality.

Sorption-based atmospheric water harvesting (SAWH) is a promising solution for localized high-quality water production. Application of SAWH indoors offers dual benefits of on-site water generation and humidity control. This study evaluated the use of SAWH for water production in residential or office buildings, employing a portable zeolite-based SAWH device.

Effect of electrolyte composition on electrocatalytic transformation of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in high pH medium.

Recent regulatory actions aim to limit per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) concentrations in drinking water and wastewaters. Regenerable anion exchange resin (AER) is an effective separation process to remove PFAS from water but will require PFAS post-treatment of the regeneration wastestream. Electrocatalytic (EC) processes using chemically boron-doped diamond electrodes, stable in a wide range of chemical compositions show potential to defluorinate PFOA in drinking water and wastewater treatments.

Mechanisms and Strategies of Advanced Oxidation Processes for Membrane Fouling Control in MBRs: Membrane-Foulant Removal versus Mixed-Liquor Improvement.

Membrane bioreactors (MBRs) are well-established and widely utilized technologies with substantial large-scale plants around the world for municipal and industrial wastewater treatment. Despite their widespread adoption, membrane fouling presents a significant impediment to the broader application of MBRs, necessitating ongoing research and development of effective antifouling strategies. As highly promising, efficient, and environmentally friendly chemical methods for water and wastewater treatment, advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) have demonstrated exceptional competence in the degradation of pollutants and inactivation of bacteria in aqueous environments, exhibiting considerable potential in controlling membrane fouling in MBRs through direct membrane foulant removal (MFR) and indirect mixed-liquor improvement (MLI).

Global-to-Local Dependencies in Phosphorus Mass Flows and Markets: Pathways to Improving System Resiliency in Response to Exogenous Shocks.

Uneven global distribution of phosphate rock deposits and the supply chains to transport phosphorus (P) make P fertilizers vulnerable to exogenous shocks, including commodity market shocks; extreme weather events or natural disasters; and geopolitical instability, such as trade disputes, disruption of shipping routes, and war. Understanding bidirectional risk transmission (global-to-local and local-to-global) in P supply and consumption chains is thus essential. Ignoring P system interdependencies and associated risks could have major impacts on critical infrastructure operations and increase the vulnerability of global food systems.

Water quality constraints HO production in a dual-fiber photocatalytic reactor.

In-situ hydrogen peroxide (HO) finds applications in disinfection and oxidation processes. Photoproduction of HO from water and oxygen, avoids reliance upon organic chemicals, and potentially enables smaller-sized or lower-cost reactors than electrochemical methods. In ultrapure water, we previously demonstrated a novel dual-fiber system coupling a light emitting diode (LED) with a metal-organic framework (MOF) catalyst-coated optical fiber (POF-MIL-101(Fe)) and O-based hollow-membrane fibers and achieved a remarkable HO yield, 308 ± 1.

Optimized bimetallic ratios for durable membrane catalyst-film reactors in treating nitrate-polluted water.

Nitrate contamination of surface and ground water is a significant global challenge. Most current treatment technologies separate nitrate from water, resulting in concentrated wastestreams that need to be managed. Membrane Catalyst-film Reactors (MCfR), which utilize in-situ produced nanocatalysts attached to hydrogen-gas-permeable hollow-fiber membranes, offer a promising alternative for denitrification without generating a concentrated wastestream.

Enhancing the Thermal Mineralization of Perfluorooctanesulfonate on Granular Activated Carbon Using Alkali and Alkaline-Earth Metal Additives.

Thermal treatment has emerged as a promising approach for either the end-of-life treatment or regeneration of granular activated carbon (GAC) contaminated with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). However, its effectiveness has been limited by the requirement for high temperatures, the generation of products of incomplete destruction, and the necessity to scrub HF in the flue gas. This study investigates the use of common alkali and alkaline-earth metal additives to enhance the mineralization of perfluorooctanesulfonate (PFOS) adsorbed onto GAC.