Real-time wastewater quality monitoring by fluorescence sensors: Validation for COD and CEC monitoring and implication for carbon footprint reduction.

This study investigated the applicability of a protein-like fluorescence sensor for wastewater quality monitoring. Several wastewater matrices, including raw, primary, secondary and tertiary effluents from three different wastewater treatment plants were used. Furthermore, the sensor was tested for the monitoring of quaternary effluent in a pilot scale plant installed downstream of a water reuse facility.

Fluorescence sensor enabled control of contaminants of emerging concern in reclaimed wastewater using ozone-based treatment processes.

Contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) pose significant challenges to environmental and human health. The development of the wastewater reuse sector, coupled with progressively stringent regulations, needs innovative systems that integrate advanced treatment processes with in-situ and real-time monitoring of CEC. This study investigates the use of a tryptophan-like fluorescence sensor for real-time and online monitoring of CEC within a pilot plant employing O-based advanced oxidation processes (AOPs).

Online control of UV and UV/HO processes targeted for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) by a fluorescence sensor.

This study assessed the online and real-time monitoring of contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) using a microbial/tryptophan-like fluorescence sensor in a quaternary AOP (advanced oxidation process) pilot plant installed downstream of a tertiary municipal wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). Real-time fluorescence measurements were validated with lab-scale tryptophan-like fluorescence. Changes in water quality induced by different UV or UV/HO doses were detected by the fluorescence sensor allowing real-time control of processes.

Wastewater-based epidemiology approach: The learning lessons from COVID-19 pandemic and the development of novel guidelines for future pandemics.

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) provides a comprehensive real-time framework of population attitude and health status. This approach is attracting the interest of medical community and health authorities to monitor the prevalence of a virus (such as the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, SARS-CoV-2) among a community. Indeed, WBE is currently fine-tuning as environmental surveillance tool for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Microwave regeneration of granular activated carbon saturated with PFAS.

This study investigated the regeneration of PFAS-saturated granular activated carbons (GACs) by microwave (MW) irradiation. Two commercially available GACs (bituminous coal based GAC [BCGAC] and lignite coal based GAC [LCGAC]) were saturated with perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) and then irradiated at different MW conditions (applied power = 125 - 500 W, irradiation time = 3 - 12 min). The performance of MW regeneration for PFOS- or PFOA-saturated GACs was assessed by evaluating the variation of GAC adsorption capacity (regeneration efficiency, RE) and weight loss percentage (WL).

Remediation of petrol hydrocarbon-contaminated marine sediments by thermal desorption.

In this study, a hydrocarbon-contaminated marine sediment was treated applying ex-situ thermal desorption (ESTD) at bench-scale. Temperatures up to 280 °C and heating times (t) in the 5-30 min range were investigated. Results revealed that temperatures in the range 200-280 °C led to Total Petrol Hydrocarbon (TPH)-removal efficiency (RE) from 75 to 85% (t = 10 min).

Microwave based regenerating permeable reactive barriers (MW-PRBs): Proof of concept and application for Cs removal.

The present study evaluates the concept of permeable reactive barrier (PRB) coupled with microwaves (MWs) as in situ-regenerating technology with focus on Cs-contaminated water. Experimental and modelling results data from batch and column tests were carried out, evaluating several chemical-physical and environmental parameters. Main results showed a very rapid increase in GAC temperature during MW irradiation up to ∼680 °C.

Field technical applicability and cost analysis for microwave based regenerating permeable reactive barriers (MW-PRBs) operating in Cs-contaminated groundwater treatment.

The present study tests the potentiality of a novel microwave based regenerating permeable reactive barrier (MW-PRB) system as combined treatment for Cs-contaminated groundwater. Granular activated carbon (GAC) was selected as adsorptive materials in batch and column MW-regeneration experiments. Experimental and modeling data were elaborated for technical and economic considerations in order to assess the MW-PRB feasibility jointly with essential information regarding its real field applicability.

Removal of poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) from water by adsorption: Role of PFAS chain length, effect of organic matter and challenges in adsorbent regeneration.

Poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a wide group of environmentally persistent organic compounds of industrial origin, which are of great concern due to their harmful impact on human health and ecosystems. Amongst long-chain PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonic acid (PFOS) are the most detected in the aquatic environment, even though their use has been limited by recent regulations. Recently, more attention has been posed on the short-chain compounds, due to their use as an alternative to long-chain ones, and to their high mobility in the water bodies.

Data on the inner filter effect, suspended solids and nitrate interferences in fluorescence measurements of wastewater organic matter.

Data presented in this article show the extent of the inner filter effect (IFE) in fluorescence measurements of wastewater and wastewater-impacted surface water samples. Particularly, data show the effectiveness of a commonly used method for IFE correction based on UV absorbance measurement to reinstate the linearity of the relationship between fluorescence intensities and absorbance values. Data report also the effect of nitrates in fluorescence measurements of wastewater samples.