Unveiling with Density Functional Theory the Optical Property Variations of Three Kinds of Graphene for Acetaminophen Sensor Design.

Understanding the interactions between molecules and sensing elements is crucial to improving sensors. We present one step toward getting closer to the breach between theory and empirical sensor development. Through density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we explored the changes in some optical properties of pristine graphene (G), graphene oxide (GO), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) interacting with one molecule of acetaminophen (APAP).

Waste-treating-waste: Effective heavy metals removal from electroplating wastewater by ladle slag.

Ladle slag, a by-product of steelmaking, presents a valuable strategy for waste reduction and valorization in wastewater treatment. This work demonstrates the successful simultaneous removal of Al(III), B(III), Ba(II), Cr(III), Mg(II), Sr(II), Pb(II), and Zn(II), from electroplating wastewater by ladle slag. First, Cr(III) and Pb(II) removals were evaluated in single synthetic systems by analyzing the influence of pH, temperature, and ladle slag dosage.

Thiabendazole degradation by photo-NaOCl/Fe and photo-Fenton like processes, using copper slag as an iron catalyst, in spiked synthetic and real secondary wastewater treatment plant effluents.

Thiabendazole degradation (TBZ) in diferent types of water matrices was assessed by applying two Advanced Oxidation Processes, both using simulated solar light (SSL), copper slag (CS) as an iron based catalyst, and separately HO or NaOCl as oxidants. First, optimum conditions for TBZ were evaluated in distilled water, TBZ = 90% at 60 min for CS-HO-SSL, and 92% of TBZ in a twelfth of the time by the system CS-NaOCl-SSL; minimum TBZ depletion variations were observed between the first and the fifth reuse test: 88 ± 2% for CS-HO-SSL (60 min) and 90 ± 1% for CS-NaOCl-SSL (5 min). Those conditions were tested using a synthetic (SE) and a real secondary effluent (RE) from a wastewater treatment plant.

Loop-mediated isothermal amplification-based electrochemical sensor for detecting SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater samples.

The current pandemic COVID-19 caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, has generated different economic, social and public health problems. Moreover, wastewater-based epidemiology could be a predictor of the virus rate of spread to alert on new outbreaks. To assist in epidemiological surveillance, this work introduces a simple, low-cost and affordable electrochemical sensor to specifically detect N and ORF1ab genes of the SARS-CoV-2 genome.

Enhanced activated persulfate oxidation of ciprofloxacin using a low-grade titanium ore under sunlight: influence of the irradiation source on its transformation products.

In this work, the activated persulfate oxidation of ciprofloxacin (CIP) using a low-grade titanium ore under sunlight or simulated sunlight were conducted to analyze the CIP degradation efficiency and to identify the transformation products (TPs) generated during oxidation under both types of irradiation sources by using liquid chromatography-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-QTOF-MS). All advance oxidation process experiments were performed in a 2700-mL raceway reactor at a pH value of ~ 6.5 and an initial CIP concentration of 1 mg/L, during 90 min of reaction time.

Degradation of ciprofloxacin using a low-grade titanium ore, persulfate, and artificial sunlight.

In this study, the magnetic fraction (MF) of a low-grade titanium ore (TO) was successfully used as an alternative Fe source in five reuse cycles, in combination with persulfate (PS) and simulated sunlight (SSL) for the degradation of ciprofloxacin (CIP). The best response of the CIP initial concentration, irradiation time, and doses of MF and PS to degrade completely this pollutant were determined based on an experimental design. However, the individual application of MF, PS, or SSL fails to achieve this goal at the optimal experimental condition.

Optimization of the integral valorization process for orange peel waste using a design of experiments approach: Production of high-quality pectin and activated carbon.

The aim of this study was to optimize the integral valorization of orange peel waste by obtaining activated carbon after a process of pectin recovery in recycling of orange peel by transformation to value-added products of pectin extraction and activated carbon preparation. The study was supported by statistical analysis, and the significant factors and optimal conditions were obtained from the statistical analysis. Using a representative sample of orange peel waste, a yield of 29.

Removal of arsenic III and V from laboratory solutions and contaminated groundwater by metallurgical slag through anion-induced precipitation.

Metallurgical slag was used for the simultaneous removal of high concentrations of arsenite and arsenate from laboratory solutions and severely contaminated groundwater. Apart from demonstrating the high efficiency of arsenic removal in presence of competing species, the work aims to explore the physicochemical mechanisms of the process by means of microscopy observation and a detailed statistical analysis of existing kinetic and isotherm equations. Fitting was performed by non-linear least squares using weighted residuals; ANOVA and bootstrap methods were used to compare the models.

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole by deposition of Au, Ag and Cu metallic nanoparticles on TiO.

Mono- (Au, Ag and Cu) and bi-metallic (Au-Ag and Au-Cu) nanoparticles were deposited on TiO and tested for the photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethoxazole using either UV-C or simulated sunlight. The optimal loading of metallic nanoparticles was determined as 1.5 wt% for Au and Ag, and 1.

Optimization of the synthesis process of an iron oxide nanocatalyst supported on activated carbon for the inactivation of Ascaris eggs in water using the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction.

An experimental design methodology was used to optimize the synthesis of an iron-supported nanocatalyst as well as the inactivation process of Ascaris eggs (Ae) using this material. A factor screening design was used for identifying the significant experimental factors for nanocatalyst support (supported %Fe, (w/w), temperature and time of calcination) and for the inactivation process called the heterogeneous Fenton-like reaction (H2O2 dose, mass ratio Fe/H2O2, pH and reaction time). The optimization of the significant factors was carried out using a face-centered central composite design.

Carbon dioxide capture utilizing zeolites synthesized with paper sludge and scrap-glass.

The present work introduces the study of the CO2 capture process by zeolites synthesized from paper sludge and scrap glass. Zeolites ZSM-5, analcime and wairakite were produced by means of two types of Structure Directing Agents (SDA): tetrapropilamonium (TPA) and ethanol. On the one hand, zeolite ZSM-5 was synthesized using TPA; on the other hand, analcime and wairakite were produced with ethanol.

Inactivation of Ascaris eggs in water using hydrogen peroxide and a Fenton type nanocatalyst (FeOx/C) synthesized by a novel hybrid production process.

Inactivation tests of Ascaris eggs (Ae) were performed using hydrogen peroxide and a Fenton type nanocatalyst supported on activated carbon (AC) (FeOx/C). Blank inactivation tests were also carried out using H2O2 and H2O2/AC as oxidation systems. The FeOx/C nanocatalyst was synthesized through a novel hybrid method developed in this work.

Multi-analytical assessment of iron and steel slag characteristics to estimate the removal of metalloids from contaminated water.

A multi-analytical approach was used to develop a mathematical regression model to calculate the residual concentration of borate ions in water present at high initial content, as a function of the main physicochemical, mineralogical and electrokinetic characteristics after adsorption on five different types of iron and steel slag. The analytical techniques applied and slag properties obtained in this work were: X-ray Fluorescence for the identification of the main chemical compounds, X-ray Diffraction to determine crystalline phases, physical adsorption of nitrogen for the quantification of textural properties and zeta-potential for electrokinetic measurements of slag particles. Adsorption tests were carried out using the bottle-point technique and a highly concentrated borate solution (700 mg B/L) at pH 10, with a slag dose of 10 g/L.

Evaluation of copper slag to catalyze advanced oxidation processes for the removal of phenol in water.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the use of copper slag to catalyze phenol degradation in water by advanced oxidation processes (AOPs). Copper slag was tested in combination with H(2)O(2) (slag/H(2)O(2)) and H(2)O(2)/UV (slag/H(2)O(2)/UV). The studied methods promoted the complete photocatalytic degradation of phenol.

Optimization of Fenton's reagent coupled to Dissolved Air Flotation to remove cyanobacterial odorous metabolites and suspended solids from raw surface water.

Ferrous salts are commonly used as coagulants in Water Treatment Plants (WTPs). When these salts are combined with hydrogen peroxide in acidic conditions - besides coagulation - an additional Advanced Oxidation Process (Fenton's reagent) can take place. Using a response surface methodology, this paper presents the optimization of a novel treatment system constituted by Fenton's reagent (FE) and Dissolved Air Flotation (DAF) for removing 2-Methylisoborneol (MIB), geosmin and Total Suspended Solids (TSS) from raw water.

Assessment of Fenton's reagent and ozonation as pre-treatments for increasing the biodegradability of aqueous diethanolamine solutions from an oil refinery gas sweetening process.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of three chemical oxidation processes for increasing the biodegradability of aqueous diethanolamine solutions (aqueous DEA solutions), to be used as pre-treatments before a biological process. The raw aqueous DEA solution, sourced from a sour gas sweetening plant at a Mexican oil refinery, was first characterized by standardized physico-chemical methods. Then experiments were conducted on diluted aqueous DEA solutions to test the effects of Fenton's reagent, ozone and ozone-hydrogen peroxide on the removal of some physicochemical parameters of these solutions.

Removal of detergents by activated petroleum coke from a clarified wastewater treated for reuse.

The removal of detergents from clarified wastewaters by activated petroleum coke (CAPA) was assessed. These substances, owing to their foamy properties, constitute a problem for ammonia removal by the air stripping process that could be installed in a wastewater treatment train to produce reclaimed water. CAPA was evaluated as a more economical alternative than a commercial activated carbon.

Electro-Fenton as a feasible advanced treatment process to produce reclaimed water.

The feasibility of the electro-Fenton process to generate simultaneously both of the Fenton's reagent species (Fe2+/H2O2), was assessed as a potentially more economical alternative to the classical Fenton's reaction to produce reclaimed water. An air-saturated combined wastewater (mixture of municipal and laboratory effluents) was treated in discontinuous and continuous reactors at pH = 3.5.

Primary silver extraction with a high sulphur activated petroleum coke.

An extended study was performed to determine the mechanisms that are responsible for the significant silver extraction capacity of activated carbons prepared from a high-sulphur petroleum coke that is available as a waste material from Mexican petroleum refineries. Earlier studies had shown the feasibility of the production of these adsorbents but indicated that the mechanisms of metal adsorption in the present carbons are significantly different from what is classically accepted for commercial carbons. Therefore, selective titration, IR-spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of carbons were combined with adsorption experiments and the determination of electrochemical parameters of mixtures of carbon-AgNO3 solution to explain the fundamental reasons for the performance of the obtained carbons.

Performance of basaltic dust issued from an asphaltic plant as a flocculant additive for wastewater treatment.

The feasibility of using basaltic dust as a flocculant additive or coagulant aid for wastewater treatment was assessed in this research. The experimental study was divided into two stages: 1) physicochemical characterisation of the basaltic dust by applying standardised techniques, and 2) evaluation of this material as flocculant additive for the coagulation-flocculation of wastewater treated for reuse. Coagulation-flocculation experiments were carried out in the laboratory with a mixture of industrial and municipal wastewater samples collected from two points of the final discharge of the Mexico City sewerage system.

Fenton's reagent and coagulation-flocculation as pretreatments of combined wastewater for reuse.

In Mexico City, drinking water is mainly produced from groundwater (70%). This practice has caused collateral problems such as Mexico City's soil sinking (5-30 cm/year). One of the most viable alternatives to palliate this problem is the treatment of wastewater for reuse in either irrigation or for groundwater artificial recharge.

Characterisation and conditioning of Fenton sludges issued from wastewater treatment.

Characterisation tests were conducted to determine the feasibility of land application of the sludges produced in wastewater treatment by means of Fenton's Reagent. Physicochemical and microbiological parameters of Fenton sludges were compared to the values obtained for raw alum sludges. The Fenton sludges presented preferable characteristics such as the specific resistance to filtration (SRF), metals and pathogen content (fecal and tot al coliforms, helminth ova, and Salmonella sp.