Stereoselective uptake and degradation of (±)-o ,p -DDD pesticide stereomers in water-sediment system

Predicting deep well pump performance with machine learning methods during hydraulic head changes

In this study, machine learning techniques were employed to estimate and predict the system efficiency of a pumping plant at various hydraulic head levels. The measured parameters, including flow rate, outlet pressure, drawdown, and power, were used for estimating the system efficiency. Two approaches, Approach-I and Approach-II, were utilized. Approach-I incorporated additional parameters such as hydraulic head, drawdown, flow, power, and outlet pressure, while Approach-II focused solely on hydraulic head, outlet pressure, and power. Seven machine learning algorithms were employed to model and predict the efficiency of the pumping plant. The decrease in the hydraulic head by 125 cm resulted in a reduction in the pump system efficiency by 6.45 %, 8.94 %, and 13.8 % at flow rates of 40, 50, and 60 m3 h-1, respectively. Among the algorithms used in Approach-I, the artificial neural network, support vector machine regression, and lasso regression exhibited the highest performance, with R2 values of 0.995, 0.987, and 0.985, respectively. The corresponding RMSE values for these algorithms were 0.13 %, 0.23 %, and 0.22 %, while the MAE values were 0.11 %, 0.2 %, and 0.32 %, and the MAPE values were 0.22 %, 0.5 %, and 0.46.% In Approach-II, the artificial neural network model once again demonstrated the best performance with an R2 value of 0.996, followed by the support vector machine regression (R2 = 0.988) and the decision tree regression (R2 = 0.981). Overall, the artificial neural network model proved to be the most effective in both approaches. These findings highlight the potential of machine learning techniques in predicting the efficiency of pumping plant systems.

Valuing drinking water quality after a PFAS contamination event: Results from a meta-analysis benefit transfer

Drawing upon an extensive body of valuation literature focused on water quality, this paper performs a meta-analysis benefit transfer exercise aimed at quantifying willingness to pay (WTP) for an enhancement in drinking water quality for households that have been directly exposed to Perfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) over recent decades in Italy. The analysis compiles metadata of 72 WTP estimates extracted from 40 previous valuation studies conducted in advanced economies. The benefit transfer is realized estimating a meta regression model (MRM) which includes both study design and socio-economic explanatory variables, according to the Weak Structural Utility Theoretic approach. To determine the most suitable MRM specification, a comparative evaluation of various model configurations is developed exploiting the Least Absolute Shrinkage and Selection Operator (LASSO) selection criterion, and assessing their predictive performances in terms of transfer error and explanatory power. The mean transfer error (MTE) and the adjusted R-squared of the preferred MRM are in line with past published meta-analyses (0.665 and 0.607, respectively). The parameters estimated in the model align with both economic theory and intuition. The benefit transfer process results in an estimated annual WTP of € 250.80 per household for improved drinking water quality in the PFAS-affected area and an aggregated value of social benefits from PFAS decontamination of around € 12 million.

From scraps to purification: innovative use of food waste-derived hydrochar in eradicating pharmaceutical pollutants

Chemical products (CPs) such as carbamazepine and naproxen, present in aquatic environments, pose significant risks to both aquatic life and human health. This study investigated the use of hydrothermally carbonized food waste-derived hydrochar (AC-HTC) at three distinct temperatures (200, 250, and 300 °C) as an adsorbent to remove these CPs from water. Our research focused on the impact of hydrothermal carbonization temperature on hydrochar properties and the effects of chemical activation with phosphoric acid on adsorption capacity. Hydrothermal carbonization increased the hydrochar's surface area from 1.47 to 7.52 m2/g, which was further enhanced to 32.81 m2/g after activation with phosphoric acid. Batch adsorption experiments revealed that hydrochar produced at 250 °C (AC-HTC-250) demonstrated high adsorption capacities of 49.10 mg/g for carbamazepine and 14.35 mg/g for naproxen, outperforming several conventional adsorbents. Optimal adsorption occurred at pH 4, aligning well with the Langmuir and pseudo-first-order models. The hydrochar showed potential for regeneration and multiple uses, suggesting its applicability in sustainable wastewater treatment. Future research will explore scalability and effectiveness against a broader range of pollutants.

Migration and distribution characteristics of typical organic pollutants in condensable particulate matter of coal-fired flue gas and by-products of wet flue gas desulfurization system

The wet flue gas desulfurization (WFGD) system of coal-fired power plants shows a good removal effect on condensable particulate matter (CPM), reducing the dust removal pressure for the downstream flue gas purification devices. In this work, the removal effect of a WFGD system on CPM and its organic pollutants from a coal-fired power plant was studied. By analyzing the organic components of the by-products emitted from the desulfurization tower, the migration characteristics of organic pollutants in gas, liquid, and solid phases, as well as the impact of desulfurization towers on organic pollutants in CPM, were discussed. Results show that more CPM in the flue gas was generated by coal-fired units at ultra-low load, and the WFGD system had a removal efficiency nearly 8% higher than that at full load. The WFGD system had significant removal effect on two typical esters, especially phthalate esters (PAEs), with the highest removal efficiency of 49.56%. In addition, the WFGD system was better at removing these two esters when the unit was operating at full load. However, it had a negative effect on n-alkanes, which increased the concentration of n-alkanes by 8.91 to 19.72%. Furthermore, it is concluded that the concentration distribution of the same type of organic pollutants in desulfurization wastewater was similar to that in desulfurization slurry, but quite different from that in coal-fired flue gas. The exchange of three organic pollutants between flue gas and desulfurization slurry was not significant, while the concentration distribution of organic matters in gypsum was affected by coal-fired flue gas.

Developing managed aquifer recharge (MAR) to augment irrigation water resources in the sand and gravel (Crag) aquifer of coastal Suffolk, UK

Managed aquifer recharge (MAR) offers a potential innovative solution for addressing groundwater resource issues, enabling excess surface water to be stored underground for later abstraction. Given its favourable hydrogeological properties, the Pliocene sand and gravel (Crag) aquifer in Suffolk, UK, was selected for a demonstration MAR scheme, with the goal of supplying additional summer irrigation water. The recharge source was a 4.6 km drainage channel that discharges to the River Deben estuary. Trialling the scheme in June 2022, 12,262 m3 of source water were recharged to the aquifer over 12 days via a lagoon and an array of 565 m of buried slotted pipes. Groundwater levels were raised by 0.3 m at the centre of the recharge mound with an approximate radius of 250 m, with no detrimental impact on local water features observed. The source water quality remained stable during the trial with a mean chloride concentration (133 mg L-1) below the regulatory requirement (165 mg L-1). The fraction of recharge water mixing with the groundwater ranged from 69% close to the centre and 5% at the boundary of the recharge mound, leading to a reduction in nitrate-N concentration of 23.6 mg L-1 at the centre of the mound. During July-September 2022, 12,301 m3 of recharge water were abstracted from two, 18 m boreholes to supplement surface irrigation reservoirs during drought conditions. However, the hydraulic conductivity of the Crag aquifer (∼10 m day-1) restricted the yield and thereby reduced the economic viability of the scheme. Construction costs for the MAR system were comparatively low but the high costs of data collection and securing regulatory permits brought the overall capital costs to within 18% of an equivalent surface storage reservoir, demonstrating that market-based mechanisms and more streamlined regulatory processes are required to incentivise similar MAR schemes.

A free carboxyl-decorated metal-organic framework with 3D helical chirality for highly enantioselective recognition

With the judicious selection of a designed polycarboxylate derived from L-phenylalanine, (S)-5-(((1-carboxy-2-phenylethyl)amino)methyl)isophthalic acid (H3L), a novel homochiral metal-organic framework decorated with a free carboxyl, {[Cu2(HL)2(bipy)]∙2H2O}n (Cu-MOF), has been designed and synthesized in a solvothermal process. The result of single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis showed that Cu-MOF had the character of a three-dimensional structure with helical chirality. As we expected, in Cu-MOF, one accessible free carboxylic acid group on H3L pointed toward the spiral channels, and the other two -COOH groups were utilized in bonding. The enantioseparation performance of Cu-MOF was thoroughly investigated and the results showed that Cu-MOF can specifically recognize S-1-(1-naphthyl) ethanol (S-NE) with enantiomeric excess (ee) value of 99.35 %, which was much higher than the other three racemates. The appropriate size together with suitable interaction sites played an important role in enantioseparations. Inspired by the excellent chiral recognition effects towards S-NE, the chiral recognition mechanism was experimentally clarified. A fully agreement observed in 13C CP MAS NMR analysis as well as the X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) determination revealed that a strong hydrogen bonding interaction forces existed between the hydroxyl of the optical S-NE and the decorated -COOH in the chiral framework. The control experiment further identified the decisive role of the uncoordinated carboxyl group in Cu-MOF. In addition, the strong intermolecular off-set π-π interactions between the phenyl ring involved with the coordinated COO- groups in Cu-MOF and the naphthyl ring of S-NE, was the another important factor for the specifical enantioseparation of S-enantiomer. On the basis of strong intermolecular hydrogen bonding, NE racemates were enantioselective discriminated and enantiomeric purity can be determined by means of Raman scattering spectroscopy.

Does tourism development contribute to the green water-use efficiency of the Yellow River Basin in China?

The coordination between economic development as well as water resources conservation in ecologically fragile areas is the basis for achieving sustainable development in developing countries. Nonetheless, the existing literature pays little attention to such an issue. The purpose of this quantitative study is to explore the causal relationship between tourism development and green water-use efficiency in the Yellow River Basin (YRB) of China. The findings are as follows: (1) Tourism development can significantly enhance the green water-use efficiency in the YRB; For every 1% increase in tourism revenue, the green water-use efficiency will increase by 4.38%. (2) Tourism affects the green water-use efficiency by increasing the intensity of water pollution and decreasing the intensity of water use; For every 1% increase in tourism revenue, the green water-use efficiency will decrease by 0.2% and increase by 0.9% respectively by increasing the intensity of water pollution and decreasing the intensity of water use. (3) Strengthening environmental regulation and improving service facilities will further enhance the positive impact of tourism development; An increase of one standard deviation in the intensity of environmental regulation or one standard deviation in the level of service facilities will increase the impact of tourism on green water-use efficiency by 1.1% or 1.7%, respectively. The aforementioned findings provide enlightenment for effectively promoting the coordination between economic development and water resources protection in ecologically fragile areas of developing countries.

Renewable-based treatment solution of Reactive Blue 21 dye on fly ash as low-cost and sustainable adsorbent

This study investigated the removal of Reactive Blue 21 (RB 21) dye from aqueous solutions by adsorption, evaluating the waste fly ash (FA). The effects of the parameters, such as initial dye concentration (100-750 mg/L), initial pH (2.0-8.0), adsorbent dose (1.0-4.0 g/L), and temperature (298-323 K) on the adsorption process were investigated. The optimum initial pH value was 2.0 for the highest RB21 dye removal (75.2 mg/g). At optimized conditions (pH 2.0, an adsorbent dosage of 1.0 g/L, a dye concentration of 750 mg/L, and an equilibrium time of 72 h), the highest adsorption capacity was found to be 105.2 mg/g. Moreover, the results of the kinetic studies fitted the pseudo-second-order kinetic model. Equilibrium data were best represented by the Langmuir isotherm model, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 103.41 mg/g at 323 K. ΔGads0 values were negative and varied from 11.64 to 9.50 kJ/mol in the temperature range of 298-323 K, the values of enthalpy (ΔHadso) and entropy (ΔSadso) of thermodynamics parameters were calculated as 37.62 kJ/mol and 86.67 J/mol K, respectively, indicating that this process was endothermic. Furthermore, the adsorbent costs for powdered activated carbon (PAC) and FA to remove 1 kg of RB 21 dye from aqueous solutions are calculated as 2.52 U.S. $ and 0.34 U.S. $, respectively. It is seen that the cost of FA is approximately 7.4 times lower than PAC. The results showed that FA, a low-cost industrial waste, was promising for the adsorption of RB 21 from aqueous solutions.

Gold nanoparticle-decorated earth-abundant clay nanotubes as catalyst for the degradation of phenothiazine dyes and reduction of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)morpholine

In the present work, halloysite nanotubes modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs-HNT) are successfully prepared by wet chemical method for the catalytic degradation of phenothiazine dyes (azure B (AZB) and toluidine blue O (TBO)) and also cleaner reduction of 4-(4-nitrophenyl)morpholine (4NM) in the sodium borohydride (NaBH4) media. The catalyst is formulated by modifying the HNT support with a 0.964% metal loading using the HNT supports modified with 3-aminopropyl-trimethoxysilane (APTMS) coupling agent to facilitate the anchoring sites to trap the AuNPs and to prevent their agglomeration/aggregation. The AuNPs-HNT catalyst is investigated for structural and morphological characterization to get insights about the formation of the catalyst for the effective catalytic reduction of dyes and 4NM. The microscopic studies demonstrate that AuNPs (2.75 nm) are decorated on the outer surface of HNT. The as-prepared AuNPs-HNT catalyst demonstrates AZB and TBO dye degradation efficiency up to 96% in 10 and 11 min, respectively, and catalytic reduction of 4NM to 4-morpholinoaniline (MAN) is achieved up to 97% in 11 min, in the presence of NaBH4 without the formation of any by-products. The pseudo-first-order rate constant (K1) value of the AuNPs-HNT catalyst for AZB, TBO, and 4NM were calculated to be 0.0078, 0.0055, and 0.0066 s-1, respectively. Moreover, the synthesized catalyst shows an excellent reusability with stable catalytic reduction for 7 successive cycles for both the dyes and 4NM. A plausible mechanism for the catalytic dye degradation and reduction of 4NM by AuNPs-HNT catalyst is proposed as well. The obtained results clearly indicate the potential of AuNPs-HNT as an efficient catalyst for the removal of dye contaminants from the aquatic environments and cleaner reduction of 4NM to MAN, insinuating future pharmaceutical applications.

Effect of mechanical-chemical modification on adsorption of beryllium by calcite

The treatment of beryllium wastewater has become a major problem in industry. In this paper, CaCO3 is creatively proposed to treat beryllium-containing wastewater. Calcite was modified by an omnidirectional planetary ball mill by a mechanical-chemical method. The results show that the maximum adsorption capacity of CaCO3 for beryllium is up to 45 mg/g. The optimum treatment conditions were pH = 7 and the amount of adsorbent was 1 g/L, and the best removal rate was 99%. The concentration of beryllium in the CaCO3-treated solution is less than 5 μg/L, which meets the international emission standard. The results show that the surface co-precipitation reaction between CaCO3 and Be (II) mainly occurs. Two different precipitates are generated on the used-CaCO3 surface; one is the tightly connected Be (OH)2 precipitation, and the other is the loose Be2(OH)2CO3 precipitation. When the pH of the solution exceeds 5.5, Be2+ in the solution is first precipitated by Be (OH)2. After CaCO3 is added, CO32- will further react with Be3(OH)33+ to form Be2(OH)2CO3 precipitation. CaCO3 can be considered as an adsorbent with great potential to remove beryllium from industrial wastewater.

Geochemical records of human-induced environmental changes in two small remote lakes of Songnen Plain, Northeast China

The abundance and composition of aliphatic hydrocarbon biomarkers were determined in dated sediment cores from Lakes Qijiapao (QJP) and Huoshaoheipao (HSH) in the Songnen Plain, Northeast China, to investigate historical environmental changes in these lakes and identify likely controlling factors. Based on these results, the recent environmental history of the two lakes can be divided into three periods. Before 1950, low Paq values (avg. 0.23 and 0.27, respectively) and middle-chain n-alkane abundances (normalized to total organic carbon, avg. 14.82 and 16.01 µg g-1 TOC, respectively) in both lakes suggested low aquatic productivity and the limited input of submerged macrophyte organic matter (OM). However, the significant increase in the abundance of short-chain n-alkanes in Lake HSH (from 8.34 to 16.68 µg g-1 TOC) indicated the emergence of early nutrient enrichment in the lake. From 1950 to 2000, marked increase in the abundance of middle-chain n-alkanes (avg. 21.72 and 22.62 µg g-1 TOC in Lakes QJP and HSH, respectively) and Paq values indicated that both lakes had undergone eutrophication because of the population explosion and agricultural intensification. From 2000 to 2013, the abundance of short- and middle-chain n-alkanes in Lake QJP markedly exceeded those in Lake HSH and indicated a larger eutrophication in Lake QJP, which could be caused by the development of ecotourism in Lake HSH and the concomitant increase in aquaculture in Lake QJP in recent years. The highest abundance of C30 αβ-hopane (~ 10.24 µg g-1 TOC) and the lowest CPIH values in Lake QJP revealed a possible petroleum pollution since 2008. Taken together, lake eutrophication in the Songnen Plain accelerated after 1950 and was influenced primarily by agriculture and aquaculture. This is in contrast to lakes in other regions of China (such as the Yangtze River Basin and Yunnan Province), where urbanization and industrialization have exerted a dominant influence on the lake environment.

Characterization of copper binding to different molecular weight fractions of dissolved organic matter in surface water

Dissolved organic matter (DOM) is a kind of substance with complex compositions and wide molecular weight distribution, which can strongly combine with various pollutants. Therefore, the binding characteristics of DOM and heavy metal pollutants can be studied specifically according to the binding characteristics of DOM and pollutants. In this study, DOM in surface water bodies was divided into three levels (MW < 1 kDa, 1 kDa < MW < 5 kDa, MW > 5 kDa) according to different molecular weights (MW). The binding properties were investigated by fluorescence spectrum analysis and complex model. Four components (C1-C4) were identified by PARAFAC. Among them, the contribution rate of protein-like components C1, C2 and C4 to the total fluorescence intensity reached more than 78%, and the log Ka values of low molecular weight components were the highest, which were 3.28, 3.14 and 3.47, respectively, indicating higher binding ability with Cu2+.With the decrease of molecular weight, the log Kb value increases, indicating that the complexation is more stable. The humic component C3 in high molecular weight has stronger binding stability with Cu2+, but the number of binding sites for C3 is 0.36, while that for C2 is 1.51, indicating that its binding sites and binding ability are relatively low. The results showed that the DOM ligand of Cu2+ in surface water showed a certain molecular weight dependence. In addition, different MW DOM lead to different pollution forms. Different properties of DOM ligand combined with Cu2+ were studied in order to control the migration, transformation, bioavailability, morphology and stability of heavy metal pollutants, and to provide theoretical support for the practical application management of surface water pollution control.

A raster-based estimation of watershed phosphorus load and its impacts on surrounding rivers based on process-based modelling

Quantifying phosphorus (P) load from watersheds at a fine scale is crucial for studying P sources in lake or river ecosystems; however, it is particularly challenging for mountain-lowland mixed watersheds. To address this challenge, we proposed a framework to estimate the P load at the grid scale and assessed its risk to surrounding rivers in a typical mountain-lowland mixed watershed (Huxi Region in Lake Taihu Basin, China). The framework coupled three models: the Phosphorus Dynamic model for lowland Polder systems (PDP), the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT), and the Export Coefficient Model (ECM). The coupled model performed satisfactory for both hydrological and water quality variables (Nash-Sutcliffe efficiency >0.5). Our modelling practice revealed that polder, non-polder, and mountainous areas had P load of 211.4, 437.2, and 149.9 t yr^-1, respectively. P load intensity in lowlands and mountains was 1.75 and 0.60 kg ha^-1 yr^-1, respectively. A higher P load intensity (>3 kg ha^-1 yr^-1) was mainly observed in the non-polder area. In lowland areas, irrigated cropland, aquaculture ponds and impervious surfaces contributed 36.7%, 24.8%, and 25.8% of the P load, respectively. In mountainous areas, irrigated croplands, aquaculture ponds, and impervious surfaces contributed 28.6%, 27.0%, and 16.4% of the P load, respectively. Rivers with relatively high P load risks were mainly observed around big cities during rice season, owing to a large contribution of P load from the non-point source pollution of urban and agricultural activities. This study demonstrated a raster-based estimation of watershed P load and their impacts on surrounding rivers using coupled process-based models. It would be useful to identify the hotspots and hot moments of P load at the grid scale.

Groundwater denitrification using a continuous flow mode hybrid system combining a hydrogenotrophic biofilter and an electrooxidation cell

An attached-growth continuous flow hydrogenotrophic denitrification system was investigated for groundwater treatment. Two bench-scale packed-bed reactors were used in series, without external pH adjustment or carbon source addition, while inorganic carbonate salts already contained in the groundwater were the sole carbon source used by the denitrifying bacteria. The hydrogen was produced by water electrolysis using renewable energy sources thus minimizing resource-draining factors of the treatment process. The biofilter was subjected to a combination of three groundwater retention times (13.5, 27 and 54 min, corresponding to 20, 10 and 5 mL min^-1 inlet water flow rates) and two hydrogen flow values (10 and 20 mL min^-1) to evaluate its efficiency under different operating parameters. In all cases, significant nitrate percentage removals were achieved, ranged between 64.1% and 100%. The treatment process appears to slow down with lower retention times and H₂ flow rate values, although residual nitrate concentrations were always in the range of 0-5.1 mg L^-1, values below the maximum permitted limit of 11.3 mg L^-1. In cases where nitrite accumulation was detected, a continuous flow electrochemical oxidation process with three different current density values (5.0, 7.5 and 10.0 mA cm^-2) was examined as a post-treatment step aiming to completely remove the toxic nitrite anions. Finally, an advanced mathematical model of the attached growth hydrogenotrophic denitrification process was developed to predict concentrations of all the substrates examined in the bio-filter (nitrate, nitrite, inorganic carbon and hydrogen).

Characterization and implication of microplastics on riverine population of the River Ravi, Lahore, Pakistan

Microplastic (MP) pollution in the aquatic environment is an emerging subject worldwide. So far, very few investigations have been reported on the riverine fish population. This study investigated the implications of microplastics for three freshwater fish species (Labeo rohita, Cirrihinus mrigala, and Sperata seenghala) as bioindicators of this pollution. Raman spectroscopy was used to confirm MP polymer type and their distribution in water, sediments, and in different organs (gut, gills, liver, and muscles) of Labeo rohita, Cirrihinus mrigala, and Sperata seenghala collected from River Ravi at two sites (site I, Dhand Nano Dogar and site II, Jhamra). These selected sites were situated predominantly near agricultural lands and received polluted water from nearby sewerage and industries that represented potential sources of microplastic pollution. Histological analysis was combined with Raman spectroscopy to assess the effects of MPs on fish organs. MPs were identified in water and sediment samples with an average load (per 0.5 L or per 0.5 kg) of 33 items and 64 items for water and sediments at site I and 27 items and 19 items at site II, respectively. Of total MPs identified, 56.9% were found in bottom feeder C. mrigala, 37.91% in column feeder L. rohita, and 5.21% in S. seenghala at site I while at site II 60% were found in C. mrigala, 29% in L. rohita and 10.34% in S. seenghala. This was linked with more plastic accumulation in sediments from the nearby residential sewerage and industrial effluent flow. In this study, the identified MPs polymers were in the order of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) > polystyrene (PS) > propylene (PP) > polyethylene (PE). Among plastic shapes, fiber (58%) was the dominant plastic in water followed by fragment (21%), sheet (12%), and cube (9%). In sediment, the fragment was the common plastic shape with 51% followed by fiber (28%), sheet (19%), and cube (2%). Fragments (62.9%) in water and fibers (68.4%) in sediments were abundant at site 2. Microplastic mean occurrence in organs was in the order of gut > gills > muscles > liver at both sites. Significant histological alterations were observed in all three species including intestinal edema, hyperplasia, hepatocyte infiltration, accumulation of lipid droplets in the liver, lamellar fusion and breakage in gills, and muscle fiber necrosis. This study showed MP occurrence in the selected freshwater fishes, so further research is needed to assess plastic pollution in the riverine fish population of Pakistan. This study appeared to be the first in the selected area, as no significant information regarding plastic pollution in that riverine system was found when this study was conducted.

Optimization-based artificial neural networks to fit the isotherm models parameters of aqueous-phase adsorption systems

An artificial neural network (ANN) hybrid structure was proposed that, unlike the standard ANN structure optimization, allows the fit of several adsorption curves simultaneously by indirectly minimizing the real output error. To model a case study of 3-aminophenol adsorption phenomena onto avocado seed activated carbon, a hybrid ANN was applied to fit the parameters of the Langmuir and Sips isotherm models. Network weights and biases were optimized with two different methods: particle swarm optimization (PSO) and genetic algorithm (GA), due to their good convergence in large-scale problems. In addition, the data were also fitted with the Levenberg-Marquardt feedforward optimization method to compare the performance between a standard ANN model and the hybrid model proposed. Results showed that the ANN-isotherm hybrid models with both PSO and GA were able to accurately fit the experimental equilibrium adsorption capacity data using the Sips isotherm model, obtaining Pearson's correlation coefficient (R) of the order of 0.9999 and mean squared error (MSE) around 0.5, very similar to the performance of standard ANN using Levenberg-Marquardt optimization. On the other hand, the results with Langmuir isotherm models were quite inferior in the ANN-isotherm hybrid models with both PSO and GA, with R and MSE of around 0.944 and 4.04 × 10², respectively. The proposed ANN-isotherm hybrid structure was successfully applied to estimate the parameters of adsorption isotherms, reducing the computational demand and the exhausting task of estimating the parameters of each adsorption curve individually.

Radiocesium accumulation in Lake Kasumigaura by riverine input and migration following the Fukushima Dai-ichi nuclear power plant accident

Vertical radiocesium concentration profiles and inventories in sediments were measured in Lake Kasumigaura following the 2011 Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. Further measurements of radiocesium concentrations in suspended solids (SS) have been conducted since September 2012 in the Koise and Sakura rivers inflowing into the lake. Cesium-137 (¹³⁷Cs) accumulated intensively near the inflow outlets in the lake. At the lake center, the ¹³⁷Cs inventory in sediments increased during 2011-2014; however, few changes were observed during 2014-2016. The ¹³⁷Cs surface concentration and inventory decreased considerably in Tsuchiura-iri Bay until 3 years after the accident, indicating ¹³⁷Cs migration. However, the rate of decrease subsequently slowed due to the ¹³⁷Cs supply from the river. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration in river SS declined during 2012-2015; however, it remained 1-2 orders of magnitude above its pre-accident level. The entrainment coefficient of particulate ¹³⁷Cs in the inflows was initially higher in the Koise River but decreased exponentially more rapidly in the Koise River than in the Sakura River until 2015. Therefore, in the future, the difference in ¹³⁷Cs concentrations will be smaller. The ¹³⁷Cs concentration in the Koise River will continue to decrease; thus, the difference in the ¹³⁷Cs inventory between the northern and southern parts of the lake will decrease. Total estimated amounts of ¹³⁷Cs in the entire lake were 3.72 × 10¹² Bq in December 2012 and 4.18 × 10¹² Bq in August 2016. The accumulated amount of ¹³⁷Cs in the entire lake based on sediment analysis was similar to the riverine input of particulate ¹³⁷Cs based on riverine SS analysis from December 2012‒;August 2016, confirming the high trapping performance of the lake for particulate matter provided by the basin. Moreover, the amount of ¹³⁷Cs accumulated in the lake in 2016 may have originated from comparable rates of atmospheric deposition and riverine input. These findings provide useful insights for future prediction and management of radiocesium contamination and the effects of riverine inputs in general shallow lakes.

Simple preparation of a CuO@γ-Al2O3 Fenton-like catalyst and its photocatalytic degradation function

We designed a photocatalyst and developed sustainable wastewater purification technology, which have significant advantages in effectively solving the global problem of drinking water shortage. In this study, a new nanocomposite was reported and shown to be a catalyst with excellent performance; CuO was coated successively onto functionalized nano γ-Al₂O₃, and this novel structure could provide abundant active sites. We evaluated the performance of the CuO@γ-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite catalyst for polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) degradation under visible light irradiation. Under optimized conditions (calcination temperature, 450 °C; mass ratio of γ-Al₂O₃:Cu(NO₃)₂·3H₂O, 1:15; pH value, 7; catalyst dosage, 2.6 g/L; reaction temperature, 20 °C; and H₂O₂ dosage, 0.2 g/mL), the CuO@γ-Al₂O₃ nanocomposite catalyst presented an excellent PVA removal rate of 99.21%. After ten consecutive degradation experiments, the catalyst could still maintain a PVA removal rate of 97.58%, thus demonstrating excellent reusability. This study provides an efficient and easy-to-prepare photocatalyst and proposes a mechanism for the synergistic effect of the photocatalytic reaction and the Fenton-like reaction.

Cephalexin Adsorption by Acidic Pretreated Jackfruit Adsorbent: A Deep Learning Prediction Model Study

Cephalexin (CFX) residues in the environment represent a major threat to human health worldwide. Herein we investigate the use of novel approaches in deep learning in order to understand the mechanisms and optimal conditions for the sorption of cephalexin in water onto an acidic pretreated jackfruit peel adsorbent (APJPA). The interaction between the initial concentration of CFX (10–50 mg/100 mL), APJAP dosage (3–10 mg/100 mL), time (10–60 min), and the pH (4–9), was simulated using the one-factor-at-a-time method. APJPA was characterized by FESEM images showing that APJPA exhibits a smooth surface devoid of pores. FTIR spectra confirmed the presence of -C-O, C–H, C=C, and -COOH bonds within the APJPA. Maximum removal was recorded with 6.5 mg/100 mL of APJAP dosage, pH 6.5, after 35 min and with 25 mg/100 mL of CFX, at which the predicted and actual adsorption were 96.08 and 98.25%, respectively. The simulation results show that the dosage of APJAP exhibits a high degree of influence on the maximum adsorption of CFX removal (100%) between 2 and 8 mg dose/100 mL. The highest adsorption capacity of APJAP was 384.62 mg CFX/g. The simulation for the effect of pH determined that the best pH for the CFX adsorption lies between pH 5 and 8.

Efficient adsorption of Pb(II) by sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate intercalated calcium aluminum hydrotalcites: kinetic, isotherm, and mechanisms

Two novel adsorbents of CaAl-LDHs and sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate (SDBS) intercalated CaAl-LDHs (SDBS-CaAl-LDHs) were successfully prepared by co-precipitation. The main composition and physical properties of two samples were characterized by XRD, XPS, FT-IR, TG, and SEM. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted to study the effect of pH, adsorption time, and initial concentration of Pb²⁺. The results showed that the prime adsorption conditions obtained were pH of 5.2 after 60 min with the initial concentration of 300 mg g^-1 for CaAl-LDHs and 350 mg g^-1 for SDBS-CaAl-LDHs. At 303 K, the adsorption capacities and removal rates of CaAl-LDHs and SDBS-CaAl-LDHs were found to be 456.05 mg g^-1, 91.21% and 682.26 mg g^-1, 97.47%, respectively. For CaAl-LDHs, the kinetic data for Pb²⁺ was best fitted with pseudo-2nd-order model, and the adsorption isotherms followed Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm model. The adsorption data of SDBS-CaAl-LDHs can be best described by the pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir model. The Pb²⁺ adsorption mechanism on SDBS-CaAl-LDHs was explored by XRD, XPS, and SEM, and the important roles of the electrostatic attraction, precipitation, complexation, and ion exchange were demonstrated. The Langmuir adsorption capacities for SDBS-CaAl-LDHs were 797.63, 828.76, and 854.29 mg g^-1 at 293 k, 303 k, and 313 k, respectively. Thus, SDBS-CaAl-LDHs may be a highly economical adsorbent for the treatment of contaminated water.

An emerging photocatalyst for wastewater remediation: a mini-review on CaCu3Ti4O12 photocatalysis

Ceramics-based filter for water treatment is an ancient technology to procure potable water at the household level. The traditional clay pots (vessels or hollow cylindrical container) have been used since long in the developing countries. The ceramic material (CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ or CCTO) is a hetero-junction of titanium oxide, a well-known UV-active photocatalyst, and visible light absorbing CuO materials. This hetero-junction is able to overcome the limitations such as high bandgap, poor stability, low efficiency, and high photo-generated charge (e^-/h⁺) recombination rate, associated with the other commonly used metal oxide semiconductor photocatalysts. Moreover, the low-cost, viable and facile synthesis routes for CCTO triggered its potential applications in photoelectrochemical and photocatalytic processes. This review will elaborate on the available literature demonstrating the visible light activity of CCTO photocatalysts in water treatment technologies. Furthermore, the mechanism of photocatalysis and synthesis routes are presented in this work for broader impact of the CCTO potential applications. The extended porous character and excellent surface texture have made the ceramic materials as an ideal choice to combat the bacteria, pathogens and turbidity in aqueous medium at household level. Specifically, the controlled size and shape make the CaCu₃Ti₄O₁₂ (CCTO) an excellent visible light-driven photocatalyst, involving highly reactive species such as ^•OH, ^•O₂^- anions, h⁺, and e^-, for the removal of organic and inorganic pollutants from water.

Kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of oil spills removal by novel amphiphilic Chitosan-g-Octanal Schiff base polymer developed by click grafting technique

Kinetic, isothermal and thermodynamic studies for the oil spills removal process have been conducted by Chitosan and novel amphiphilic Chitosan-g-Octanal Schiff base adsorbents developed by click chemistry and evaluated successfully in the removal of heavy crude oil spills. Chitosan was first prepared from wastes of marine shrimp shells, and then Chitosan and Chitosan-g-Octanal Schiff base adsorbents were synthesized and verified their structures, thermal stability and their morphological changes using FT-IR spectroscopy, TGA and SEM. The oil adsorption percentages (%) using heavy crude oil were 96.41% for the Chitosan-g-Octanal Schiff base adsorbent compared to 64.99% for native Chitosan counterpart. High rate of adsorption was observed where 40% of oil adsorbed within 15 min only using the Chitosan-g-Octanal Schiff base adsorbent compared to 90 min for native Chitosan adsorbent. The adsorption process followed the pseudo-second order model, and the equilibrium data were sufficiently fitted with the Langmuir model with a maximum adsorption capacity 30.30 g/g at 25 °C. Thermodynamic parameters computed from Van’t Hoff plot confirmed the process to be endothermic, favorable and spontaneous.

Development of a sustainable nanosensor using green Cu nanoparticles for simultaneous determination of antibiotics in drinking water

In this work, a novel, cost-effective, and eco-friendly electrochemical (EC) nanosensor was fabricated for the simultaneous detection of daptomycin (DAP) and meropenem (MEROP). EC methods have been developed for the determination of antibiotics. In this context, green synthesized copper nanoparticles (CuNPs) using Moringa oleifera plant extract were used as electrode modifiers. The incorporation of CuNPs was proposed to enhance the sensitivity and allow the simultaneous quantification of both antibiotics in water. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), dynamic light scattering (DLS), attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy, UV-visible spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (FESEM-EDX) were employed to characterize CuNPs. Physical adsorption of 20.0 nm (±2.2 nm) spherical CuNPs on the surface of screen-printed carbon electrodes (SPCEs) induced a remarkable electrocatalytic effect. Indeed, the detection of both antibiotics exhibited a limit of detection (LOD) of 0.01 g L^-1. The response to various interfering species was assessed. Finally, the quantification of DAP and MEROP in drinking water was demonstrated, confirming the potential of the developed sensor for environmental monitoring applications.

Endosulfan Elimination Using Amine-Modified Magnetic Diatomite as an Adsorbent

Pesticides are among the most dangerous developing toxins since they are very hazardous to the environment and threaten human health. In this study, researchers successfully manufactured surface-modified magnetic diatomite (m-DE-APTES) and used them as a sorbent to extract endosulfan from an aqueous solution. There is no other study like it in the scholarly literature, and the results are astounding. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX), electron spin resonance (ESR), and surface area measurements were used to analyze magnetic diatomite particles with surface modification. According to the analysis results, magnetic diatomite has a wide surface area and a porous structure. Furthermore, m-DE-APTES has a higher endosulfan adsorption capacity (97.2 mg g⁻¹) than raw diatomite (DE) (16.6 mg g⁻¹). Adsorption statistics agree with Langmuir adsorption isotherm (R² = 0.9905), and the adsorption occurred spontaneously at −2.576 kj mol⁻¹ in terms of ΔG^o. Finally, m-DE-APTES are a viable alternative adsorbent for removing pesticides from aqueous solutions.

Adsorptive Behavior of Tartaric Acid Treated Holarrhena antidysenterica and Citrullus colocynthis Biowastes for Decolourization of Congo Red Dye from Aqueous Solutions

The aim of the present work is to eradicate Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions since the dye compounds are harmful to human life and the environment leading to detrimental results. For this purpose, Holarrhena antidysenterica (HA) and Citrullus colocynthis (CC) adsorbents were used for the adsorptive removal of Congo red dye from wastewaters. The unmodified adsorbents (U-HA and U-CC) were chemically modified using tartaric acid (TA). Morphological structures were examined by FTIR and SEM. Batch adsorption studies were tested at a variety of pH, time exposure, temperatures, and adsorbent dosages. Thermodynamic parameters such as Gibbs free energy ( $∆G^{°}$ ), enthalpy ( $∆H^{°}$ ), entropy changes ( $∆S^{°}$ ), and energy of activation ( $E_{\text{a}}$ ) were also calculated. The results revealed that tartaric acid-Citrullus colocynthis (TA-CC) gave optimum conditions of time of contact (35 min), temperature conditions (40°C), pH (3), and dosage of adsorbent (1.6 g) for maximum dye removal. Tartaric acid-Holarrhena antidysenterica (TA-HA) gave equilibrium time of contact (30 min), temperature (40°C), and pH optimum (2) along with a 1.6 g dosage of adsorbent. Mechanistic understanding of adsorption isotherm provided that the Langmuir model was followed by raw and modified adsorbents. Maximum adsorption capacities $Q_{\max }$ attained were 60.61 (mg g-1), 128.21 (mg g-1), 87.71 (mg g-1), and 131.57 (mg g-1), respectively, for U-HA, TA-HA, U-CC, and TA-CC. The results of kinetic modeling displayed a high value of $R^2$ (0.99) along with minimal error (RMSE) for dye removal showing that the pseudo-second-order kinetic model has acceptable accuracy. Fourier transform infrared proposed the electrostatic, pi-pi interactions, and hydrogen bonding as dominant adsorption mechanisms at acidic pH, respectively. Rate-determining steps comprise both surface and intraparticle diffusions. Thermodynamics indicated that the dye adsorption of CR is spontaneous, exothermic, and favorable in nature. These agricultural wastes due to specific points such as low cost, availability, and high removal rates of adsorption are highly competent for the expulsion of anionic dye like CR from wastewaters.

Effects of chiral herbicide dichlorprop on Arabidopsis thaliana metabolic profile and its implications for microbial communities in the phyllosphere

Dichlorprop (2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy) propionic acid, DCPP), a commonly used herbicide for weed control, can be residually detected in soil. It is still unclear whether chiral DCPP exerts an enantioselective adverse effect on plant metabolism and the microbial community of the phyllosphere. In this study, we selected Arabidopsis thaliana as a model plant to explore the effects of R- and S-DCPP enantiomers on plant physiological activities, metabolism, and associated changes in the phyllosphere microbial community. Results indicated that the fresh weight of plants decreased by 37.6% after R-DCPP treatment, whereas it increased by 7.6% after S-DCPP treatment. The R-DCPP enantiomer also caused stronger disturbance to leaf morphology, mesophyll cell structure, and leaf metabolites compared with S-DCPP. GC-MS analysis of DCPP-treated Arabidopsis leaves pointed out a differential profile mostly in carbohydrates, organic acids, and fatty acids, between S-DCPP and R-DCPP treatments. The diversity of phyllospheric microorganisms decreased and the stability of microbial community in the phyllosphere increased after R-DCPP treatment, whereas the opposite result was detected after S-DCPP exposure. The correlation analysis revealed that chiral herbicides may affect microbial communities in the phyllosphere by influencing leaf metabolism, while sugars and terpenoids were considered the main factors in reshaping the microbial community structure in the phyllosphere. Our study provides a new perspective for evaluating the effect of residual DCPP enantiomers on plant physiology and corresponding phyllosphere microorganism changes via the regulation of leaf metabolism, and clarifies the ecological risk of DCPP enantiomer application in agriculture.

The binding characteristics of sediment-derived dissolved organic matter with ceftazidime: a microstructural and spectroscopic correlation study

This research focused on the characterization of sediment-derived dissolved organic matter (SDOM) extracted from sediment of Yellow River and the binding behaviors of ceftazidime (CAZ) with the presence of SDOM. The morphology, surface composition and structure of SDOM and the complexation between SDOM and CAZ in terms of component features, binding capacity and sequence were studied by multiple approaches. Results showed that SDOM was in situ autochthonous-dominated with a low weight-average molecular weight and aromaticity (the value of S_R was 2.523). The multiple morphological characteristics, high surface oxygen contents (53.49%) and more aliphatic (H/C = 1.91) of SDOM were further confirmed. Studies on SDOM-CAZ interaction suggested that the functional groups and chemical compositions of SDOM were susceptible to CAZ. In more detail, the aromatic protons and aliphatic protons of CAZ impacted significantly, and the binding between CAZ and SDOM might relate to noncovalent. The protein-like fractions were considered to be the primary participant with 49% fractions lost and the aromatics and amides as mainly active site interaction with CAZ. These findings have significant implications on the environmental fate of cephalosporin antibiotics and that of sediment-derived DOM.

Neural-based modeling adsorption capacity of metal organic framework materials with application in wastewater treatment

We developed a computational-based model for simulating adsorption capacity of a novel layered double hydroxide (LDH) and metal organic framework (MOF) nanocomposite in separation of ions including Pb(II) and Cd(II) from aqueous solutions. The simulated adsorbent was a composite of UiO-66-(Zr)-(COOH)2 MOF grown onto the surface of functionalized Ni50-Co50-LDH sheets. This novel adsorbent showed high surface area for adsorption capacity, and was chosen to develop the model for study of ions removal using this adsorbent. A number of measured data was collected and used in the simulations via the artificial intelligence technique. Artificial neural network (ANN) technique was used for simulation of the data in which ion type and initial concentration of the ions in the feed was selected as the input variables to the neural network. The neural network was trained using the input data for simulation of the adsorption capacity. Two hidden layers with activation functions in form of linear and non-linear were designed for the construction of artificial neural network. The model's training and validation revealed high accuracy with statistical parameters of R2 equal to 0.99 for the fitting data. The trained ANN modeling showed that increasing the initial content of Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions led to a significant increment in the adsorption capacity (Qe) and Cd(II) had higher adsorption due to its strong interaction with the adsorbent surface. The neural model indicated superior predictive capability in simulation of the obtained data for removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from an aqueous solution.

Chiral separation of calcium channel antagonists by SFC and HPLC using different immobilized chiral stationary phases

Supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography techniques are popular for the chiral separations of different drugs and pharmaceuticals. Therefore, this article describes a comparative study of the chiral separation of some calcium channel antagonists such as verapamil, gallopamil, and nisoldipine. The columns used were Chiralpak IG and Chiralpak ID (250 mm × 4.6 mm, 5.0 μm). The separation was achieved by using a variety of mobile phases in both techniques. The retention, separation, and resolution factors in SFC were in the range of 1.36-7.30, 1.09-1.72, and 1.16-3.47, while these values in the case of HPLC were 1.03-2.42, 1.12-1.35, and 0.49-2.46. The complete resolution of gallopamil and verapamil was achieved successfully. The chiral recognition was controlled by hydrogen bondings, π-π interactions, dipole induced dipole interactions, van der Waal forces, and steric effects. SFC was found to be a better technique than HPLC because of quick separation, good separation power, economic, environment-friendly, and green technology.

A comparative study of chiral separation of proton pump inhibitors by supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography

A comparative study of chiral separation of pantoprazole and rabeprazole is carried out using supercritical fluid chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography. The columns used were Chiralpak IA and Chiralpak IE. The best mobile phase in supercritical fluid chromatography was carbon dioxide-0.2% triethylamine in methanol (60:40) and 0.1% triethylamine in n-hexane-ethanol (50:50) in high-performance liquid chromatography. For supercritical fluid chromatography, values of the retention factor of pantoprazole enantiomers were 3.97 and 4.88. These values for rabeprazole enantiomers were 6.10 and 7.52. The values of separation and resolution factor for pantoprazole and rabeprazole were 1.23 and 1.23 and 2.20 and 3.36, respectively. Similarly, for high-performance liquid chromatography, the values of retention factor for enantiomers of pantoprazole were 4.02 and 7.32. These values for rabeprazole enantiomers were 5.32 and 7.88, respectively. The values of separation and resolution factor for pantoprazole and rabeprazole were 1.82 and 1.48 and 9.22 and 6.58, respectively. A comparison was carried out, which confirmed supercritical fluid chromatography as the best method due to its fastness, eco-friendly, and inexpensiveness. The reported methods are effective, efficient, and reproducible and may be used to separate and identify pantoprazole and rabeprazole in any unknown samples.

Organobeidellites for Removal of Anti-Inflammatory Drugs from Aqueous Solutions

Diclofenac (DC) and ibuprofen (IBU) are widely prescribed non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, the consumption of which has rapidly increased in recent years. The biodegradability of pharmaceuticals is negligible and their removal efficiency by wastewater treatment is very low. Therefore, the beidelitte (BEI) as unique nanomaterial was modified by the following different surfactants: cetylpyridinium (CP), benzalkonium (BA) and tetradecyltrimethylammonium (TD) bromides. Organobeidellites were tested as potential nanosorbents for analgesics. The organobeidellites were characterized using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Infrared spectroscopy (IR), Thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and scanning microscopy (SEM). The equilibrium concentrations of analgesics in solution were determined using UV-VIS spectroscopy. The intercalation of surfactants into BEI structure was confirmed both using XRD analysis due to an increase in basal spacing from 1.53 to 2.01 nm for BEI_BA and IR by decreasing in the intensities of bands related to the adsorbed water. SEM proved successful in the uploading of surfactants by a rougher and eroded organobeidellite surface. TG/DTA evaluated the decrease in dehydration/dehydroxylation temperatures due to higher hydrophobicity. The Sorption experiments demonstrated a sufficient sorption ability for IBU (55–86%) and an excellent ability for DC (over 90%). The maximum adsorption capacity was found for BEI_BA-DC (49.02 mg·g⁻¹). The adsorption according to surfactant type follows the order BEI_BA > BEI_TD > BEI_CP.

Enhanced bioremediation of diesel oil-contaminated seawater by a biochar-immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria Vibrio sp. LQ2 isolated from cold seep sediment

This study investigated the effect of immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria on the bioremediation of diesel oil-contaminated seawater. Initially, a biosurfactant-producing bacterium, LQ2, was isolated from a marine cold-seep region, and identified as Vibrio sp. The biosurfactant produced by LQ2 was characterized as a phospholipid, exhibiting high surface activity with strong stability. Meanwhile, the inoculation of biochar-immobilized LQ2 demonstrated superior efficiency in removing diesel oil (94.7%, reduction from 169.2 mg to 8.91 mg) over a seven-day period compared to free-cell culture (54.4%), through both biodegradation and adsorption. In addition, the microbial growth and activity were greatly enhanced with the addition of immobilized LQ2. Further experiment showed that degradation-related genes, alkB and CYP450-1, were 3.8 and 15.2 times higher in the immobilized LQ2 treatment, respectively, than those in the free cell treatment. The findings obtained in this study suggest the feasibility of applying immobilized biosurfactant-producing bacteria, namely LQ2, in treating diesel oil-contaminated seawater.

Statistical optimization of arsenic removal from synthetic water by electrocoagulation system and its application with real arsenic-polluted groundwater

Arsenic presence in the water has become one of the most concerning environmental problems. Electrocoagulation is a technology that offers several advantages over conventional treatments such as chemical coagulation. In the present work, an electrocoagulation system was optimized for arsenic removal at initial concentrations of 100 µg/L using response surface methodology. The effects of studied parameters were determined by a 2³ factorial design, whereas treatment time had a positive effect and current intensity had a negative effect on arsenic removal efficiency. With a p-value of 0.1629 and a confidence of level 99%, the type of electrode material did not have a significant effect on arsenic removal. Efficiency over 90% was reached at optimal operating conditions of 0.2 A of current intensity, and 7 min of treatment time using iron as the electrode material. However, the time necessary to accomplish with OMS arsenic guideline of 10 µg/L increased from 7 to 30 min when real arsenic-contaminated groundwater with an initial concentration of 80.2 ± 3.24 µg/L was used. The design of a pilot-scale electrocoagulation reactor was determined with the capacity to meet the water requirement of a 6417 population community in Sonora, Mexico. To provide the 1.0 L/s required, an electrocoagulation reactor with a working volume of 1.79 m³, a total electrode effective surface of 701 m², operating at a current intensity of 180 A and an operating cost of 0.0208 US$/day was proposed. Based on these results, electrocoagulation can be considered an efficient technology to treat arsenic-contaminated water and meet the drinking water quality standards.