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...
Wastewater treatment is a big deal. It's something that happens behind the scenes. It keeps our environment safe. But there's a catch. The process can release harmful gases into the air. One of these gases is nitrous oxide. It's a problem that's been overlooked for too long. Nitrous oxide is not just any gas. It's a potent greenhouse gas. It's about 300 times more e...
The world of wastewater treatment just got a new superhero. It is a closed fixed-bed bacteria-algae biofilm reactor. This is a fancy name for a system that uses tiny living things to clean up water polluted with phenol. Phenol is a harmful chemical found in many industrial wastewaters. This new system is not just about cleaning up the mess. It is also about turning w...
Wastewater treatment plants are home to a vast and largely unknown world of tiny organisms. These plants use a process called activated sludge to clean water. This sludge is teeming with diverse microorganisms, many of which have never been studied before. Most research has focused on bacteria and viruses, but there is a whole other group of tiny life forms called eu...
Gadolinium, a heavy metal, has been quietly making its way into our waterways. It's a rare earth element that's quite toxic in its Gd3+ form. To make it safe for use in MRI scans, it's bound to other molecules. However, once it's used, it's not so easy to get rid of. Wastewater treatment plants struggle to remove it, so it ends up in rivers and even our tap water. Th...
In the heart of Columbus, Ohio, a silent battle is unfolding in the city's waterways. This battle is not fought with weapons, but with tiny, invisible warriors known as Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales, or CPE for short. These superbugs have become a significant threat in hospitals, but they don't stop there. They can also be found in the guts of healthy peop...