Mitigating risks and maximizing sustainability of treated wastewater reuse for irrigation.

Scarcity of freshwater for agriculture has led to increased utilization of treated wastewater (TWW), establishing it as a significant and reliable source of irrigation water. However, years of research indicate that if not managed adequately, TWW may deleteriously affect soil functioning and plant productivity, and pose a hazard to human and environmental health. This review leverages the experience of researchers, stakeholders, and policymakers from Israel, the United-States, and Europe to present a holistic, multidisciplinary perspective on maximizing the benefits from municipal TWW use for irrigation.

Solar photo-Fenton optimization at neutral pH for microcontaminant removal at pilot plant scale.

The increasing occurrence of micropollutants in natural water bodies has medium to long-term effects on both aquatic life and human health. The aim of this study is to optimize the degradation of two pharmaceutical pollutants of emerging concern: amoxicillin and acetaminophen in aqueous solution at laboratory and pilot scale, by solar photo-Fenton process carried out at neutral pH using ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as a complexing agent to maintain iron in solution. The initial concentration of each compound was set at 1 mg/L dissolved in a simulated effluent from a municipal wastewater treatment plant (MWTP).

Individual and combined effect of ions species and organic matter on the removal of microcontaminants by Fe-EDDS/solar-light activated persulfate.

This work is focused on improving the understanding of the complex water matrix interactions occurring during the removal of a microcontaminants mixture (acetamiprid, carbamazepine and caffeine) by solar/Fe-EDDS/persulfate process. The individual and combined effects of sulfates (100-500 mg/L), nitrates (20-160 mg/L), bicarbonates (77-770 mg/L) and chlorides (300-1500 mg/L) were assessed by comparing the outcomes obtained in different synthetic and actual water matrices. In general, the results showed negligible effects of the different anions on Fe-EDDS concentration and PS consumption profiles, while the combination of bicarbonates and chlorides seemed to be the key for the MC removal efficiency decrease found when working with complex matrixes.

Simultaneous disinfection and microcontaminants elimination of urban wastewater secondary effluent by solar advanced oxidation sequential treatment at pilot scale.

The effect of different times of Fe:Ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) dosing and HO as well as different Fe:EDDS concentrations in the sequential treatment sunlight/HO followed by sunlight/HOFe:EDDS at circumneutral pH was investigated for the first time focusing both in contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) and bacteria removal in urban wastewater treatment plant effluents. Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of (i) degradation of five CECs (namely caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) at the initial concentration of 100 μgL each and (ii) bacteria inactivation (Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Salmonella spp).

Valorization of UWWTP effluents for ammonium recovery and MC elimination by advanced AOPs.

The main objective of this study was to generate ready-to-use revalorized irrigation water for fertilization from urban wastewater treatment plant (UWWTP) effluents. The focus was on controlled retention of NH and microcontaminants (MC), using nanofiltration. Retentates generated were treated by solar photo-Fenton at circumneutral pH using Ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) iron complexing agent.

A Rational Analysis on Key Parameters Ruling Zerovalent Iron-Based Treatment Trains: Towards the Separation of Reductive from Oxidative Phases.

The development of treatment trains for pollutant degradation employing zerovalent iron has been attracting a lot of interest in the last few years. This approach consists of pre-treatment only with zerovalent iron, followed by a Fenton oxidation taking advantage of the iron ions released in the first step. In this work, the advantages/disadvantages of this strategy were studied employing commercial zerovalent iron microparticles (mZVI).

Solar-driven free chlorine advanced oxidation process for simultaneous removal of microcontaminants and microorganisms in natural water at pilot-scale.

Contamination of natural water (NW) by emerging contaminants has been widely pointed out as one of the main challenges to ensure high-quality drinking water. Thus, the effectiveness of a solar-driven free chlorine advanced oxidation process simultaneously investigating the elimination of six organic microcontaminants (OMCs) and three bacteria from NW at a pilot-scale was evaluated in this study. Firstly, the solar/free chlorine process was studied at lab-scale using a solar simulator to evaluate the effect of free chlorine concentration (0.

Solar processes and ozonation for fresh-cut wastewater reclamation and reuse: Assessment of chemical, microbiological and chlorosis risks of raw-eaten crops.

In this study, a full cycle of agricultural reuse of agro-food wastewater (synthetic fresh-cut wastewater, SFCWW) at pilot plant scale has been investigated. Treated SFCWW by ozonation and two solar processes (HO/solar, Fe-EDDHA/HO/solar) was used to irrigate two raw-eaten crops (lettuce and radish) grown in peat. Two foodborne pathogens (E.

Sunlight advanced oxidation processes vs ozonation for wastewater disinfection and safe reclamation.

Solar processes (sunlight/HO solar photo-Fenton with EDDS at neutral pH) were compared to a consolidated technology (ozonation) in the inactivation of target bacteria (E. coli, Salmonella spp. and Enterococcus spp.

Simultaneous removal of contaminants of emerging concern and pathogens from urban wastewater by homogeneous solar driven advanced oxidation processes.

Simultaneous removal of contaminants of emerging concern and bacteria inactivation in simulated municipal wastewater effluent (SMWW) through solar advanced oxidation processes, namely sunlight/HO and solar photo-Fenton with Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) at neutral pH was investigated. Process efficiency was evaluated in terms of (i) degradation of five contaminants of emerging concern (CECs, namely caffeine, carbamazepine, diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim) at the initial concentration of 100 μgL each and (ii) bacteria inactivation (E. coli, S.

Effect of salinity on preconcentration of contaminants of emerging concern by nanofiltration: Application of solar photo-Fenton as a tertiary treatment.

This study focused on the effect of salinity on the performance of a pilot-scale nanofiltration (NF) for preconcentration of microcontaminants (MCs) in combination with solar photo-Fenton or photo-Fenton-like treatment for their elimination from NF permeate and concentrate streams. Photo-Fenton was carried out in a solar simulator at pH of 3 and at natural pH using Ethylenediamine-N, N'-disuccinic acid (EDDS) as an iron complexing agent. Degradation efficacy was tested with MCs commonly found in urban wastewater treatment plant effluents (caffeine, imidacloprid, thiacloprid, carbamazepine and diclofenac).

Aluminized surface to improve solar light absorption in open reactors: Application for micropollutants removal in effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants.

This work proposes the evaluation of an aluminized surface on the bottom of open reactors to perform a photo-Fenton process, at circumneutral pH (using Fe III-Ethylenediamine-N,N'-disuccinic acid complex), for elimination of micropollutants (MPs) in real effluents from municipal wastewater treatment plants (EMWWTP). Firstly, the strategy was to initially investigate the real EMWWTP spiked with several MPs (acetaminophen, diclofenac, carbamazepine, caffeine, trimethoprim and sulfamethoxazole) with 20 and 100 μg L in a laboratory scale (evaluated by HPLC-UV) using a solar simulator. Finally, the removal of all MCs present in the real EMWWTP was monitored (evaluated by HPLC-MS) in a pilot-scale (90 L) in a raceway pond reactor (RPR).

Olive mill wastewater reuse to enable solar photo-Fenton-like processes for the elimination of priority substances in municipal wastewater treatment plant effluents.

Olive mill wastewater (OMW) appears as an interesting and innovative natural alternative to synthetic chelating agents of iron in solar photo-Fenton processes at circumneutral pH due to its high polyphenol content, valorizing wastewater typically found in sunny countries. The aim of this work was the reuse of OMW for the elimination of other recalcitrant microcontaminants: terbutryn, chlorfenvinphos, diclofenac, and pentachlorophenol. Highly diluted OMW (1:1500) was employed to keep the iron in solution at circumneutral pH.

Best available technologies and treatment trains to address current challenges in urban wastewater reuse for irrigation of crops in EU countries.

Conventional urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) are poorly effective in the removal of most contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), including antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes (ARB&ARGs). These contaminants result in some concern for the environment and human health, in particular if UWTPs effluents are reused for crop irrigation. Recently, stakeholders' interest further increased in Europe, because the European Commission is currently developing a regulation on water reuse.

Synthetic fresh-cut wastewater disinfection and decontamination by ozonation at pilot scale.

In this research, the capability of ozonation and peroxone treatment for the simultaneous disinfection and decontamination of wash water from the fresh-cut industry has been investigated at pilot plant scale (10 L). The removal efficiency of six organic microcontaminants (OMCs) (four of them priority substances) and the inactivation of two foodborne pathogens (Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Salmonella enteritidis) in synthetic fresh-cut wastewater (SFCWW) has been assessed. Ozonation and peroxone (O with 20 mgL of HO) process has been investigated under several operational conditions: natural SFCWW pH (6.

Advanced treatment of urban wastewater by UV-C/free chlorine process: Micro-pollutants removal and effect of UV-C radiation on trihalomethanes formation.

The effect of the UV-C/free chlorine (FC) process on the removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from real urban wastewater as well as the effect of UV-C radiation on the formation of trihalomethanes (THMs) compared to FC process alone was investigated. Unlike of FC process, UV-C/FC was really effective in the degradation of the target CECs (carbamazepine (CBZ), diclofenac, sulfamethoxazole and imidacloprid) in real wastewater (87% degradation of total CECs within 60 min, Q = 1.33 kJ L), being CBZ the most refractory one (49.

Contaminants of emerging concern removal from real wastewater by UV/free chlorine process: A comparison with solar/free chlorine and UV/HO at pilot scale.

The removal of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) from urban wastewater treatment plants (UWTPs) is really important to minimize the risk for human health and environment. In this study, the homogeneous advanced oxidation process (AOP) UV-C/free chlorine (UV-C/FC) was investigated at pilot scale in the degradation of a mixture of four CECs, in different water matrices and compared to a consolidated AOP, namely UV-C/HO. As matter of fact 90% degradation of CECs was observed after 15 min (Q = 0.

Consolidated vs new advanced treatment methods for the removal of contaminants of emerging concern from urban wastewater.

Urban wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) are among the main anthropogenic sources for the release of contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) into the environment, which can result in toxic and adverse effects on aquatic organisms and consequently on humans. Unfortunately, WWTPs are not designed to remove CECs and secondary (e.g.

Environmental assessment of solar photo-Fenton processes in combination with nanofiltration for the removal of micro-contaminants from real wastewaters.

Scarcity of water and concerns about the ecotoxicity of micro-contaminants are driving an interest in the use of advanced tertiary processes in wastewater treatment plants. However, the life cycle environmental implications of these treatments remain uncertain. To address this knowledge gap, this study evaluates through life cycle assessment the following four advanced process options for removal of micro-contaminants from real effluents: i) solar photo-Fenton (SPF) operating at acidic pH; ii) acidic SPF coupled with nanofiltration (NF); iii) SPF operating at neutral pH; and iv) neutral SPF coupled with NF.

Inactivation of E. coli and E. faecalis by solar photo-Fenton with EDDS complex at neutral pH in municipal wastewater effluents.

Photo-Fenton is a solar disinfection technology widely demonstrated to be effective to inactivate microorganisms in water by the combined effect of photoactivated iron species and the direct action of solar photons. Nevertheless, the precipitation of iron as ferric hydroxide at basic pH is the main disadvantage of this process. Thus, challenge in photo-Fenton is looking for alternatives to iron salts.

Determination of pesticides in sewage sludge from an agro-food industry using QuEChERS extraction followed by analysis with liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

An analytical method was developed and validated for the determination of ten pesticides in sewage sludge coming from an agro-food industry. The method was based on the application of Quick, Easy, Cheap, Effective, Rugged, and Safe (QuEChERS) extraction for solid sewage sludge and SPE extraction for sludge aqueous phase, followed by liquid chromatography (LC) coupled to hybrid quadrupole/linear ion trap mass spectrometry (QqLIT-MS). The QuEChERS method was reported 14 years ago and nowadays is mainly applied to the analysis of pesticides in food.

Fast determination of pesticides and other contaminants of emerging concern in treated wastewater using direct injection coupled to highly sensitive ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

It is well known that wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluents usually contain micropollutants such as pharmaceuticals (or their transformation products, TPs) or pesticides, which is a major issue when evaluating their possible reuse (e.g. for irrigation in agriculture).