Sustainable treatment scheme for in-situ remediation of contaminated drains using engineered natural systems.

Ensuring water security in resource-constrained, densely populated regions is a significant challenge globally. Due to insufficient treatment infrastructure, untreated sewage discharge into drainage channels is prevalent, especially in developing countries. This leads to the pollution of already dwindling water bodies and threatens future water availability.

Recent Advances in High-Rate Solar-Driven Interfacial Evaporation.

Recent advances in solar-driven interfacial evaporation (SDIE) have led to high evaporation rates that open promising avenues for practical utilization in freshwater production and industrial application for pollutant and nutrient concentration, and resource recovery. Breakthroughs in overcoming the theoretical limitation of 2D interfacial evaporation have allowed for developing systems with high evaporation rates. This study presents a comprehensive review of various evaporator designs that have achieved pure evaporation rates beyond 4 kg m h, including structural and material designs allowing for rapid evaporation, passive 3D designs, and systems coupled with alternative energy sources of wind and joule heating.

Feasibility of a Planar Coil-Based Inductive-Capacitive Water Level Sensor with a Quality-Detection Feature: An Experimental Study.

This paper presents a new water-level-sensing mechanism based on planar coils fabricated on a printed circuit board (PCB). In addition to level, the sensor detects any relative increase in conductivity compared to that of clean water, which is an indicator of its quality. The sensing mechanism utilizes the eddy current induced in the water column, the corresponding change in the coil inductance, and the change in the turn-to-turn capacitance of the coil in the presence of water.

Fate of carbamazepine and its effect on physiological characteristics of wetland plant species in the hydroponic system.

Plants play a cardinal role in removing various pollutants through the synergistic interaction with filling materials and microbes of constructed wetlands (CWs). However, the information regarding the selection of plant species to remove pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) is not adequate. The present study attempted to select an appropriate plant species for CWs, considering their characteristics and physiological response to PhACs.

Mechanistic insights into carbo-catalyzed persulfate treatment for simultaneous degradation of cationic and anionic dye in multicomponent mixture using plastic waste-derived carbon.

Upcycling waste into value-added products for utilization in wastewater abatements has been explored in a number of treatment technologies. One such waste, single-use plastic, which poses significant adverse environmental and economic impact, has been chosen and converted into graphitic carbon to reduce the waste burden sustainably and economically. The sorptive and catalytic performance of synthesized plastic waste-derived carbon (PWC) was evaluated using brilliant green (BG) and eosin yellow (EY) as target pollutants.

Enhanced degradation of complex organic compounds in wastewater using different novel continuous flow non - Thermal pulsed corona plasma discharge reactors.

The presence of pharmaceutically active compounds (PhAcs) in water bodies is a major concern due to their persistence, biological activity, and detrimental environmental effects. The present study focuses on the application of pulsed corona plasma technology to degrade such compounds. Three different plasma reactors, namely, sequential flow plasma reactor (SFR), continuous flow top discharge plasma reactor (TDPR) and continuous flow side discharge plasma reactor (SDPR), are designed and fabricated for their performance evaluation with respect to PhAC degradation.

Spatio-temporal distribution of pharmaceutically active compounds in the River Cauvery and its tributaries, South India.

Pharmaceutically active compounds (PhACs) present in the environment are a great threat to human well-being and the ecosystem. Eventhough recognized as the pharmacy of the world", studies addressing the distribution of PhACs in the Indian environment are scarce. Hence, in the current study, selected PhACs, heavy metals (HMs), and physicochemical parameters (PCPs) were measured from the surface waters of the River Cauvery during the pre- and post-monsoon.

Continuous flow pulsed power plasma reactor for the treatment of aqueous solution containing volatile organic compounds and real pharmaceutical wastewater.

The degradation of four recalcitrant and toxic VOCs (volatile organic compounds) present in pharmaceutical wastewater was studied using a continuous flow plasma reactor, along with evaluating its potential for real effluent treatment. The wastewater was sprayed into the plasma zone of the reactor, and it was re-circulated for better performance. The effect of different HRTs (hydraulic retention time) and initial concentrations of VOCs on the degradation efficiency were evaluated.

Comparative study of degradation of toluene and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK) in aqueous solution by pulsed corona discharge plasma.

Effectiveness of pulsed power plasma for the degradation of two toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs), toluene and methyl isobutyl ketone (MIBK), in aqueous solution was evaluated. The plasma degradation of MIBK has been studied for the first time. The influence of initial concentration of target compound, solution pH and scavengers on percentage degradation was evaluated.

Smartphone-based Fluoride-specific Sensor for Rapid and Affordable Colorimetric Detection and Precise Quantification at Sub-ppm Levels for Field Applications.

Higher levels of fluoride (F) in groundwater constitute a severe problem that affects more than 200 million people spread over 25 countries. It is essential not only to detect but also to accurately quantify aqueous F to ensure safety. The need of the hour is to develop smart water quality testing systems that would be effective in location-based real-time water quality data collection, devoid of professional expertise for handling.

Thermal modeling, characterization, and enviro-economic investigations on inclined felt sheet solar distiller for seawater desalination.

Sustainable desalination can be achieved by adopting renewable energy-based low-cost and low-impact desalting techniques. In this investigation, capability of inclined felt sheet solar distiller in desalting seawater is assessed by evaluating its performance, distillate water quality, economics, and environmental impacts. The distiller with 1.

Electrochemical process employing scrap metal waste as electrodes for dye removal.

In the present study, efficiency of electro-coagulation-flotation (EC-F) process using waste metal scrap of Al and Fe collected from construction and demolition waste of Indian Institute of Technology Madras (IIT M) campus for the removal of double azo bond dye Acid Red 66 (AR66) was studied. The key operating parameters such as current density and electrical conductivity were optimized individually with an initial dye concentration of 50 mg/L, at pH 7. Different electrode combinations and connection modes (parallel MP-P, series (MP-S, BP-S)) were tested, at pre-optimized conditions, in order to achieve better removal of AR66 dye with minimum energy consumption.

Characterization of segregated greywater from Indian households-part B: emerging contaminants.

Emerging contaminants (ECs) have become an increasing area of concern due to the likely impacts of these compounds on human health and the environment. Generally, products which are used for households and personal care activities contribute to major percentage of ECs in household greywater. Not much information on the presence of xenobiotic organic compounds in greywater is currently available.

Characterization of segregated greywater from Indian households: part A-physico-chemical and microbial parameters.

Greywater has attracted global attention as a feasible alternative water source over the last few decades. Reuse and recycling of greywater is an economically viable and attractive option for meeting the future water demand. However, its treatment and reliable reuse continue to be based on conventional parameters such as BOD, COD, turbidity, suspended solids and pathogen level.

Fate and impact of pharmaceuticals and personal care products during septage co-composting using an in-vessel composter.

The present study aimed at understanding the impact of pharmaceutical and personal care product (PPCP) load on compost dynamics and fate of PPCPs during the composting. In addition, the compost dynamics during single PPCP degradation and multiple PPCPs degradation were investigated. Results revealed that co-composting could degrade the pharmaceutical, carbamazepine (CBZ) up to 83% during single pollutant degradation while it was 66% during multiple pollutant system, at an initial concentration (IC) of 5 mg/kg dw.

Assessment of novel rotating bipolar multiple disc electrode electrocoagulation-flotation and pulsed plasma corona discharge for the treatment of textile dyes.

The current study evaluates the performance of the designed novel electrolytic reactor with rotating bipolar multiple disc electrode (RBDE) in the electrocoagulation-flotation (EC-F) process and a pulsed plasma reactor for the removal of toxic textile dyes. Two different classes of dyes, Methyl Orange (MO), an azo group of dye, and Reactive Blue 19 (RB19), a reactive group of dye, were selected. Efficient removal of both the dyes at a faster rate was obtained with the designed RBDE reactor compared to the EC-F process with static electrodes.

Application and performance evaluation of a cost-effective vis- LED based fluidized bed reactor for the treatment of emerging contaminants.

Visible light induced photocatalysis is considered as one of the most potential technologies which can achieve new levels of sustainability in water treatment. The current study explores the performance of immobilized visible light active catalyst on inert media for light driven catalysis of pharmaceuticals. These coated media is used in a continuous flow fluidized column reactor equipped with spirally arranged visible Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) as irradiation source.

Validation of 'lock-and-key' mechanism of a metal-organic framework in selective sensing of triethylamine.

To develop the metal-organic framework (MOF)-based sensing of triethylamine (TEA) in an aqueous phase, Al-MIL-101-NH (MIL: Material Institute Lavoisier) with a tripod-like cavity was utilized based on a lock-and-key model. Al-MIL-101-NH (Al-MOF) was found to be an excellent fluorescent sensor for the TEA molecules in the range of 0.05-0.

Early Detection of Biofouling on Water Purification Membranes by Ambient Ionization Mass Spectrometry Imaging.

By direct analysis of water purification membranes using ambient ionization mass spectrometry, an attempt has been made to understand the molecular signatures of bacterial fouling. Membrane based purification methods are used extensively in water treatment, and a major challenge for them is biofouling. The buildup of microbes and their extracellular polymeric matrix clog the purification membranes and reduce their efficiency.

Technical, hygiene, economic, and life cycle assessment of full-scale moving bed biofilm reactors for wastewater treatment in India.

Moving bed biofilm reactor (MBBR) is a highly effective biological treatment process applied to treat both urban and industrial wastewaters in developing countries. The present study investigated the technical performance of ten full-scale MBBR systems located across India. The biochemical oxygen demand, chemical oxygen demand, total suspended solid, pathogens, and nutrient removal efficiencies were low as compared to the values claimed in literature.

Variation in cell surface characteristics and extracellular polymeric substances during the biodegradation of monocyclic and heterocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in single and multi-substrate systems.

The variation in surface characteristics and the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of bacterial cells during biodegradation of single and multi-aromatic hydrocarbons was investigated in the present study. The maximum cell surface hydrophobicity (CSH) of 80.1% was observed during the degradation of toluene.

Removal of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid in aqueous solution by pulsed corona discharge treatment: Effect of different water constituents, degradation pathway and toxicity assay.

A multiple pin-plane corona discharge reactor was used to generate plasma for the degradation of 2,4 dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) from the aqueous solution. The 2,4-D of concentration 1 mg/L was completely removed within 6 min of plasma treatment. Almost complete mineralization was achieved after the treatment time of 14 min for a 2,4-D concentration of 10 mg/L.

Rapid degradation, mineralization and detoxification of pharmaceutically active compounds in aqueous solution during pulsed corona discharge treatment.

In the present study, plasma generated by pulsed corona discharge was used for the degradation of diclofenac, carbamazepine and ciprofloxacin. Pollutants in aqueous solution were plasma treated under two categories: single and mixed pollutant condition. Mixed pollutant condition showed an antagonistic behaviour and thus the degradation time was higher for mixed condition compared to the single condition.

Spatio-temporal variation of septage characteristics of a semi-arid metropolitan city in a developing country.

Septage is the solid sludge that accumulates in septic tanks over a period of time. Many of the developing countries in the world face the challenging task of septage management. Due to the high variability in the nature of septage, there is a need to study its physical and chemical characteristics in order to suggest a sustainable treatment methodology.

Terrestrial Macrofungal Diversity from the Tropical Dry Evergreen Biome of Southern India and Its Potential Role in Aerobiology.

Macrofungi have long been investigated for various scientific purposes including their food and medicinal characteristics. Their role in aerobiology as a fraction of the primary biological aerosol particles (PBAPs), however, has been poorly studied. In this study, we present a source of macrofungi with two different but interdependent objectives: (i) to characterize the macrofungi from a tropical dry evergreen biome in southern India using advanced molecular techniques to enrich the database from this region, and (ii) to assess whether identified species of macrofungi are a potential source of atmospheric PBAPs.