Sunlight-activated composite TiO-F-V-Mo materials for photodegradation of the organic pollutant methylene blue.

F-doped TiO photocatalyst materials were prepared using solid-state and sol-gel synthesis with varying weight percentages of LiF or NHF. Subsequently, molybdate and vanadium oxide were added to the prepared powders to create composite photocatalysts with reduced bandgap energy, enhancing light absorption in the visible region of the spectrum, which is essential for effective photocatalytic activity using sunlight. The synthesized powders were characterized by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and specific surface area using the BET method.

Elucidating the dynamics of carbamazepine uptake using date pit-derived activated carbon: A comprehensive kinetic and thermodynamic analysis.

Water contamination with pharmaceuticals such as Carbamazepine (CBZ) presents a significant environmental challenge. This study investigates the use of activated carbon derived from waste date pits (DPAC) for the removal of CBZ from water. The impact of several parameters such as pH, temperature, CBZ concentration, and flow rate on the adsorption were assessed.

Eliminating hazardous pollutants: treatment options for dioxins and surfactants from water and wastewater: an updated review.

Surfactants and dioxins are increasingly being released into the environment due to their excessive usage and their improper disposal. These pollutants cause considerable harm to both humans and the natural environment. Therefore, their removal from water and wastewater, which form major pathways for their transmission, is necessary.

Spatio-temporal variation of the microbial community of the coast of Lebanon in response to petroleum hydrocarbon pollution.

In this study, the coast of Lebanon was analyzed for the dynamic changes in sediment microbial communities in response to a major petroleum oil spill and tar contamination that occurred in the summer of 2021. Spatio-temporal variations in the microbial structure along the shores of Lebanon were assessed in comparison to baseline microbial structure determined in 2017. Microbial community structure and diversity were determined using Illumina MiSeq technology and DADA2 pipeline.

Occurrence and hazard assessment of natural radioactivity in drinking water in South Lebanon.

This study is intended to assess the natural radioactivity in the drinking water in the southern region of Lebanon and to determine its suitability for human consumption. In this context, activity concentrations for gross alpha, gross beta, U, U, and radon from selected drinking water sources, wells, and springs and the corresponding tap water, in the area under investigation, were determined during both the wet and the dry seasons. The maximum recorded activities of gross alpha, gross beta, and radon measured using liquid scintillation counter were found to be 374.

Precipitation softening: a pretreatment process for seawater desalination.

Reduction of membrane fouling in reverse osmosis systems and elimination of scaling of heat transfer surfaces in thermal plants are a major challenge in the desalination of seawater. Precipitation softening has the potential of eliminating the major fouling and scaling species in seawater desalination plants, thus allowing thermal plants to operate at higher top brine temperatures and membrane plants to operate at a reduced risk of fouling, leading to lower desalinated water costs. This work evaluated the use of precipitation softening as a pretreatment step for seawater desalination.