Water from homes travels through pipes to a treatment plant. There, it goes through several steps to become clean again. First, large items like sticks and plastic are removed. Then, in the primary treatment, oils and greases float to the top, while solids sink to the bottom. Next, bacteria help bre
Pollution is a big problem, especially when it comes to tough-to-remove chemicals. Scientists have been working on ways to clean up wastewater, and one promising method involves using special carbon fibers. These fibers are doped with phosphorus, which makes them super effective at breaking down pol
In the world of wastewater treatment, a new method is making waves. Researchers have found a way to use long-wave ultraviolet (UVA) light and nitrite (NO2-) to break down antibiotics in aquaculture wastewater. This approach is part of a bigger idea: using waste to treat waste. The study focused on
Nanoparticles, tiny pollutants, are a big worry. They can harm nature and people over time. A recent study looked at how these nanoparticles stick to and come off of aerobic granular sludge (AGS) in wastewater treatment. AGS is a special kind of sludge used to clean water. The study found that the
Wheat straw, often seen as farm waste, has a new role in cleaning up water. Scientists have found a way to tweak it chemically to soak up a harmful dye called Rhodamine B. This dye is tough to break down and can be toxic. The modified straw, now called EWS, is a game-changer. EWS is made by treatin
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 m
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, ma
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 th
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
Copper, a familiar metal, is proving to be a powerful tool in the fight against water pollution. It is being used in a new way to break down harmful substances in water. This is done by using a special process that involves copper and a type of carbon material. The combination of these two creates a
