Acetaminophen (APAP) is a well-known type of over-the-counter painkiller and is frequently found in surface waterbodies, causing hepatotoxicity and skin irritation. Due to its persistence and chronic effects on the environment, innovative solutions must be provided to decompose APAP effectively. Successfully, innovative catalysts of tungsten-modified iron oxides (TF) were developed via a combustion method and thoroughly characterized using SEM, TEM, XRD, XPS, a porosimetry analysis, Mössbauer spectroscopy, VSM magnetometry, and EPR. With the synthesis method, tungsten was successfully incorporated into iron oxides to form ferrites and other magnetic iron oxides with a high porosity of 19.7 % and a large surface area of 29.5 m2/g. Also, their catalytic activities for APAP degradation by activating peroxymonosulfate (PMS) were evaluated under various conditions. Under optimal conditions, TF 2.0 showed the highest APAP degradation of 95 % removal with a catalyst loading of 2.0 g/L, initial APAP concentration of 5 mg/L, PMS 6.5 mM, and pH 2.15 at room temperature. No inhibition by solution pHs, alkalinity, and humic acid was observed for APAP degradation. The catalysts also showed chemical and mechanical stability, achieving 100 % degradation of 1 mg/L APAP during reusability tests with three consecutive experiments. These results show that TFs can effectively degrade persistent contaminants of emerging concern in water, offering an impactful contribution to wastewater treatment to protect human health and the ecosystem.

This study evaluates the effectiveness of microalgal-based carbon-encapsulated iron nanoparticles (ME-nFe) in the removal of pharmaceutical compounds (PhACs) from water solutions and real municipal effluent at a laboratory scale. The investigated PhACs were chosen to represent different classes of synthetic drugs: antibiotics, anti-inflammatory drugs, antihypertensives, antiepileptics, neuroprotectors, and antidepressants. The adsorbent material was produced through hydrothermal carbonization (225 °C for 3 h), using microalgae grown on wastewater as the carbon source. ME-nFe showed heterogeneity in terms of porosity (with both abundance of macro and mesopores), a total pore volume of 0.65 mL g-1, a specific surface area of 117 m2 g-1 and a total iron content of 40%. Laboratory scale adsorption tests (1 g L-1 of nanoparticles with 2 min contact time) showed high removal for the most hydrophobic compounds. Removal efficiencies were high (over 98%) for Irbesartan, Ofloxacin and Diclofenac, promising (over 65-80%) for Clarithromycin, Fluoxetine, Lamotrigine and Metoprolol, but low for Gabapentin-Lactam and Propyphenazone (<20%). Electrostatic interactions between the drugs and the surface of the nanoparticles may account for the observed data, although additional removal mechanisms cannot be ruled out.

Determining the reliability of nanofiltration (NF) membranes for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern, including polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs), pharmaceuticals, and personal care products (PPCPs), is important for ensuring drinking water safety. This study aimed to clarify the factors that influence the removal of nine major PFASs during submerged NF treatment via extrapolation based on the factors that influence PPCP removal. The rejection of nine PFASs in ultra-filtered dam water by a polypiperazine-amide (NF270) membrane increased from 71 % to 94 % at a low permeate flux of 5 L/m2 h as the PFAS molecular dimensions increased. PFASs with a carboxylic acid (-CO2H) were rejected to a greater extent than PFASs with a sulfo group (-SO3H). Further, negatively charged PFASs or PPCPs were rejected to a greater extent than uncharged and positively charged PPCPs. Our findings suggest that the rejection of PFASs can vary because of the (i) clearance distance between the PFASs\' molecular dimensions and NF membrane pore diameter and (ii) intensity of electrostatic repulsion between the PFASs\' functional groups and NF membrane surface. Our study indicates that submerged NF can achieve high PFAS rejection; however, variations in rejection among PFASs can become more prominent owing to a low permeate flux.

Microplastics are a growing environmental threat and wastewater treatment plants have been identified as significant conduits for these pollutants. This study addresses microplastic loading in the influent of a large urban wastewater treatment plant, presenting a detailed analysis of their prevalence and characteristics. Our findings reveal a concentration of 4.09 microplastic particles per litre in the tributary. We performed a detailed statistical comparison of the microplastic particles, categorising them by shape, size, colour, and polymer type. Using Fourier transform total reflectance infrared spectroscopy, we identified 13 different polymer types, with polyethylene terephthalate, rubber, and polyethylene predominating. The analysis showed that textile fibres, mainly from clothing, are the most prevalent form of microplastic in wastewater, followed by fragments from the breakdown of larger plastic objects and films. This research highlights the critical need for strategic interventions to mitigate microplastic pollution at municipal sources.

Plastic pollution is becoming increasingly severe and is attracting global attention. One of its consequences is the recent discovery of micropollutant discharge into water, with Bisphenol A (BA-MP) being a typical example. This study utilizes an advanced oxidation process based on Pt-doped ZnO photocatalyst to remove BA-MP. Health concerns related to the release of BA-MP from plastic waste are discussed. Besides, the results of the photodegradation experiment show that the Pt-ZnO photocatalyst can remove 94.1% of BA-MP within 60 min when exposed to solar light. Moreover, after five reuse cycles, Pt-ZnO retains a high BA-MP removal efficiency of 71.2%, and its structure remains largely unchanged compared to the original material. The removal efficiency of BA-MP leaching from plastic waste was measured at 98.8%, confirming the suitability of Pt-ZnO for the treatment of micropollutants. Furthermore, this study also highlights the prospects and challenges of using Pt-ZnO for the treatment of micropollutants discharged from plastic waste.

A diallyl amine salt monomer bearing a β-CD substituent was cyclopolymerized for the first time. The reaction of 6-O-toluenesulfonyl-β-cyclodextrin [(C6H10O5)6-(C5H7)]-CH2OTs with diallylamine followed by protonation afforded the diallylamine salt monomer [(C6H10O5)6-(C5H7)]-CH2NH+(CH2CH=CH2)2 Cl-] (I). The cyclopolymerization of monomer I and its copolymerization with monomer [Me2N+(CH2CH=CH2)2 Cl-] (II), [-O2CCH2NH+(CH2CH=CH2)2] (III), [H2O3PCH2NH+(CH2CH=CH2)2 Cl-] (IV) or [HO2CCH2CH(CO2H)NH+(CH2CH=CH2)2 Cl-] (V) yielded a series of copolymers having residues of β-CD and glycine or methyl phosphonate or aspartic acid. Terpolymerization in the presence of SO2 afforded polymers with alternating placements of the SO2 units. The solution properties of the pH-responsive polyzwitterions, including their viscosity, were examined. The water-insoluble terpolymer I/V/SO2 with 20 mol% β-CD residues removed the organic micropollutant 2-naphthol from an aqueous system via host/guest complexation. This work paves the way for the possible synthesis of cross-linked polymers that can simultaneously remove organic micropollutants and toxic metal ions (by complexation with the chelating glycine, aspartic acid, and aminomethyl phosphonate ligands) from contaminated aqueous systems.

Veterinary medications are constantly being used for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in livestock. However, untreated veterinary drug active compounds are interminably discharged into numerous water bodies and terrestrial ecosystems, during production procedures, improper disposal of empty containers, unused medication or animal feed, and treatment procedures. This exhaustive review describes the different pathways through which veterinary medications enter the environment, discussing the role of agricultural practices and improper disposal methods. The detrimental effects of veterinary drug compounds on aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems are elaborated with examples of specific veterinary drugs and their known impacts. This review also aims to detail the mechanisms by which microbes degrade veterinary drug compounds as well as highlighting successful case studies and recent advancements in microbe-based bioremediation. It also elaborates on microbial electrochemical technologies as an eco-friendly solution for removing pharmaceutical pollutants from wastewater. Lastly, we have summarized potential innovations and challenges in implementing bioremediation on a large scale under the section prospects and advancements in this field.

Pesticides and pharmaceuticals enter aquatic ecosystems as complex mixtures. Various processes govern their dissipation and effect on the sediment and surface waters. These micropollutants often show persistence and can adversely affect microorganisms even at low concentrations. We investigated the dissipation and effects on procaryotic communities of metformin (antidiabetic drug), metolachlor (agricultural herbicide), and terbutryn (herbicide in building materials). These contaminants were introduced individually or as a mixture (17.6 µM per micropollutant) into laboratory microcosms mimicking the sediment-water interface. Metformin and metolachlor completely dissipated within 70 days, whereas terbutryn persisted. Dissipation did not differ whether the micropollutants were introduced individually or as part of a mixture. Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA gene amplicons evidenced distinct responses of prokaryotic communities in both sediment and water. Prokaryotic community variations were mainly driven by matrix composition and incubation time. Micropollutant exposure played a secondary but influential role, with pronounced effects of recalcitrant metolachlor and terbutryn within the micropollutant mixture. Antagonistic and synergistic non-additive effects were identified for specific taxa across taxonomic levels in response to the micropollutant mixture. This study underscores the importance of considering the diversity of interactions between micropollutants, prokaryotic communities, and their respective environments when examining sediment-water interfaces affected by multiple contaminants.

Synergistic actions of peroxides and high-valent metals have garnered increasing attentions in wastewater treatment. However, how peroxides interact with the reactive metal species to enhance the reactivity remains unclear. Herein, we report the synergistic oxidation of peracetic acid (PAA) and permanganate(Ⅶ) towards micropollutants, and revisit the underlying mechanism. The PAA-Mn(VII) system showed remarkable efficiency with a 28-fold enhancement on sulfamethoxazole (SMX) degradation compared to Mn(Ⅶ) alone. Extensive quenching experiments and electron spin resonance (ESR) analysis revealed the generation of unexpected Mn(V) and Mn(VI) beyond Mn(III) in the PAA-Mn(VII) system. The utilization efficiency of Mn intermediates was quantified using 2,2\'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline)-6-sulfonate (ABTS), and the results indicated that PAA could enhance the electron transfer efficiency of reactive manganese (Mn) species, thus accelerating the micropollutant degradation. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations showed that Mn intermediates could coordinate to the O1 of PAA with a low energy gap, enhancing the oxidation capacity and stability of Mn intermediates. A kinetic model based on first principles was established to simulate the time-dependent concentration profiles of the PAA-Mn complexes and quantify the contributions of the PAA-Mn(III) complex (50.8 to 59.3 %) and the PAA-Mn(Ⅴ/Ⅵ) complex (40.7 to 49.2 %). The PAA-Mn(VII) system was resistant to the interference from complex matrix components (e.g., chloride and humic acid), leading to the high efficiency in real wastewater. This work provides new insights into the interaction of PAA with reactive manganese species for accelerated oxidation of micropollutants, facilitating its application in wastewater treatment.

Fluoroquinolone antibiotics frequently found in environmental matrices (wastewater treatment plants, hospital wastewater, industrial wastewater and surface wastewater) causes potential threat to the environment. Enzymatic treatment for degradation of antibiotics from environmental matrices is a green and sustainable approach. Focusing on this, this study aimed to degrade two frequently found fluroquinolone emergent pollutants, ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin from wastewater. The trinuclear cluster of copper ions present in laccase has the ability to effectively remove organic micropollutants (OMPs). The uniqueness of this study is that it utilizes laccase enzyme extracted from spent mushroom waste (SMW) of P. florida for degradation of ciprofloxacin and norfloxacin and to achieve highest degradation efficiency various parameters were tweaked such as pH (3-6), temperature (30 °C and 50 °C), and ABTS (0.05, 0.6, and 1 mM) concentration. The results showed that the most effective degradation of ciprofloxacin (86.12-75.94%) and norfloxacin (83.27-65.94%) was achieved in 3 h at pH 4.5, temperature 30 °C, and 2,2\'-azino-bis 3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid (ABTS), 0.05 mM concentration. Nevertheless, achieving degradation at 50 °C for both antibiotics, indicates thermostability nature of laccase (P. florida). Further, the fate of transformed products obtained from laccase mediated degradation was confirmed by liquid chromatography (LC-MS). Both the antibiotics undergo decarboxylation, depiperylyzation, dealkylation and defluorination as a result of laccase-mediated bond breakage. Anti-microbial activity of the biodegraded products was monitored by residual anti-bacterial toxicity test (E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus). The biodegraded products were found to be non-toxic and resulted in the growth of E. coli and Staphylococcus aureus, as determined by the agar-diffusion method. Moreover, the storage stability of laccase was determined for 28-day duration at varying pH (3-10) and temperature (4-50 °C). The maximum storage stability was obtained at pH 4.5 and temperature 30 °C. Therefore, utilizing SMW for the degradation of OMPs from wastewater not only benefits in degradation but also reuses SMW agro waste, shedding light on agro waste management. Thus, SMW is a one-pot solution for both OMPs biodegradation and circularity in the economy.