Scientists have found a way to make better filters for cleaning water. They used a common chemical found in oil called thiophene. This chemical was used to make a special kind of membrane. This membrane is like a super-fine sieve that can filter out tiny bits of dye from water. The best part? They made it without using any extra solvents, which is good for the enviro...
Food scraps can be turned into useful stuff, like vinegar, through a process called acidogenic fermentation. This vinegar, or acetic acid, is great for cleaning up dirty water by helping to remove harmful nitrates. But, the problem is that the amount and type of vinegar produced can change a lot, making it hard to use effectively. Scientists tried a new trick to mak...
A big plant that cleans water, called an aerobic granular sludge (AGS) plant, is really good at taking out nutrients and organic stuff. But what about tiny pollutants, like medicine and chemicals? That's what scientists wanted to find out. They looked at 19 medicines and 2 industrial chemicals in this plant over a year. They checked how well the plant cleaned these p...
In small towns across China, wastewater treatment plants are having a tough time. These plants use special ponds called ecological combination ponds (ECPs) to clean water. But when the water coming in changes a lot, it's hard to adjust the settings. This leads to too much air being pumped in and too many chemicals being used. The goal is to remove nitrogen from the w...
Wastewater treatment creates a lot of sludge. This sludge is a big problem because it carries antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs). These genes can spread and cause serious health issues. So, finding a way to break down sludge and get rid of these genes is crucial. One interesting approach is using a mix of plasma and calcium peroxide. This combo, called Plasma-CaO...
Wastewater treatment faces a big hurdle in cold climates. The cold slows down the bacteria that break down ammonia. This makes it hard to clean wastewater effectively. But there's a clever fix: embedding immobilization technology (EIT). This method wraps the bacteria in a protective layer. It helps them stay active even in the cold. EIT creates a cozy home for the b...
Wastewater laced with phenol is a serious problem. It's tough to clean up using old-school methods. So, scientists decided to test out a new approach. They used a mix of sponge iron and activated carbon in a special reactor. This combo, called Fe&G, showed some impressive results. First off, Fe&G did a better job at cleaning up the wastewater. It removed more of...
Ciprofloxacin, a common antibiotic, is often found in waterways. This can lead to antibiotic-resistant bacteria and harm both people and the environment. Scientists have been working on ways to remove ciprofloxacin from wastewater using advanced oxidation processes. One method is anodic oxidation, which uses special electrodes to break down ciprofloxacin. This metho...
Heavy metals in urban waterways are a big problem. These pollutants, mainly zinc, cadmium, and nickel, come from human activities. They stick around and cause harm to both nature and people. Scientists have been looking into a unique solution: bacteria that can eat away at these metals. Enter urease-producing bacteria. These tiny organisms have a special trick. They...
Swine farms produce a lot of waste. This waste often contains antibiotics, antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic-resistant genes. These substances can harm the environment if not properly managed. A new method using modified zeolite and hydrogen peroxide shows promise in tackling this issue. This method is known as the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction. Th...