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Diniz V, Bear JC, Rath S, Crick CR. Porous sulfur polymers for effective aqueous-phase organic contaminant removal. Sci Rep 2024; 14:8144. [PMID: 38584187 PMCID: PMC10999450 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-57856-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Sulfur polymers produced through 'inverse vulcanization' exhibit various attributes, such as photocatalytic activity and a high capacity to adsorb heavy metals. Nevertheless, there is a lack of research investigating the use of sulfur polymers as materials for the removal of organic contaminants. In this work, porous sulfur polymers (PSPs) were synthesized from elemental sulfur and 1,3-diisopropenylbenzene, with porosity introduced via salt templating. The result is a material that can strongly adsorb and chemically neutralize a model organic contaminant (caffeine). PSPs show adsorption up to 5 times higher than a leading adsorption material (activated carbon). Furthermore, either the adsorption or degradation processes can govern the removal efficiency depending on the synthesis parameters of PSPs. This is the first-ever report demonstrating sulfur polymers as effective materials for removing emerging contaminants from water. The versatile synthesis of sulfur polymers offers variation, which means that there is much more to explore in this exciting research area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Diniz
- School of Engineering and Materials Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Joseph C Bear
- School of Life Sciences, Pharmacy and Chemistry, Kingston University, Penrhyn Road, Kingston-Upon-Thames, KT1 2EE, UK
| | - Susanne Rath
- Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Campinas, 13083-970, Brazil
| | - Colin R Crick
- School of Engineering and Materials Sciences, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 4NS, UK.
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Glassmeyer ST, Burns EE, Focazio MJ, Furlong ET, Gribble MO, Jahne MA, Keely SP, Kennicutt AR, Kolpin DW, Medlock Kakaley EK, Pfaller SL. Water, Water Everywhere, but Every Drop Unique: Challenges in the Science to Understand the Role of Contaminants of Emerging Concern in the Management of Drinking Water Supplies. GEOHEALTH 2023; 7:e2022GH000716. [PMID: 38155731 PMCID: PMC10753268 DOI: 10.1029/2022gh000716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2022] [Revised: 09/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/21/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
The protection and management of water resources continues to be challenged by multiple and ongoing factors such as shifts in demographic, social, economic, and public health requirements. Physical limitations placed on access to potable supplies include natural and human-caused factors such as aquifer depletion, aging infrastructure, saltwater intrusion, floods, and drought. These factors, although varying in magnitude, spatial extent, and timing, can exacerbate the potential for contaminants of concern (CECs) to be present in sources of drinking water, infrastructure, premise plumbing and associated tap water. This monograph examines how current and emerging scientific efforts and technologies increase our understanding of the range of CECs and drinking water issues facing current and future populations. It is not intended to be read in one sitting, but is instead a starting point for scientists wanting to learn more about the issues surrounding CECs. This text discusses the topical evolution CECs over time (Section 1), improvements in measuring chemical and microbial CECs, through both analysis of concentration and toxicity (Section 2) and modeling CEC exposure and fate (Section 3), forms of treatment effective at removing chemical and microbial CECs (Section 4), and potential for human health impacts from exposure to CECs (Section 5). The paper concludes with how changes to water quantity, both scarcity and surpluses, could affect water quality (Section 6). Taken together, these sections document the past 25 years of CEC research and the regulatory response to these contaminants, the current work to identify and monitor CECs and mitigate exposure, and the challenges facing the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan T. Glassmeyer
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | | | - Michael J. Focazio
- Retired, Environmental Health ProgramEcosystems Mission AreaU.S. Geological SurveyRestonVAUSA
| | - Edward T. Furlong
- Emeritus, Strategic Laboratory Sciences BranchLaboratory & Analytical Services DivisionU.S. Geological SurveyDenverCOUSA
| | - Matthew O. Gribble
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental HealthRollins School of Public HealthEmory UniversityAtlantaGAUSA
| | - Michael A. Jahne
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Scott P. Keely
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
| | - Alison R. Kennicutt
- Department of Civil and Mechanical EngineeringYork College of PennsylvaniaYorkPAUSA
| | - Dana W. Kolpin
- U.S. Geological SurveyCentral Midwest Water Science CenterIowa CityIAUSA
| | | | - Stacy L. Pfaller
- U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyOffice of Research and DevelopmentCincinnatiOHUSA
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Diniz V, Rath S. Adsorption of aqueous phase contaminants of emerging concern by activated carbon: Comparative fixed-bed column study and in situ regeneration methods. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2023; 459:132197. [PMID: 37543021 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2023.132197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2023] [Revised: 07/25/2023] [Accepted: 07/29/2023] [Indexed: 08/07/2023]
Abstract
This work investigated the adsorption of five model contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) that are released daily in domestic effluents (caffeine, hydrochlorothiazide, saccharin, sulfamethoxazole and sucralose) onto two activated carbons (ACs), in fixed-bed column experiments with different aqueous matrices (ultrapure water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent and WWTP effluent pretreated by reverse osmosis and photoperoxidation (reuse water)). The ACs were chemically similar, but AC1 had smaller particles (0.7-1.7 mm) and lower surface area (551 m2 g-1) than AC2 (1.2-2.4 mm and 716 m2 g-1). AC1 had a higher adsorption capacity (qads) for the CECs in the downflow mode. Overall, the qads values of the CECs followed the order: caffeine > sulfamethoxazole > hydrochlorothiazide = saccharin > sucralose. In the downflow mode, preferential pathways reduced the hydraulic retention time (HRT) of the fixed-bed column loaded with AC, which reduced the useful lifetime of column and the adsorption capacity. Nevertheless, the adsorption capacity and useful lifetime of the fixed-bed columns remained similar in the upflow mode (no preferential pathways were observed) regardless of the AC used. Since the HRTs were also found to be similar, it was evident that the crucial factor influencing the adsorption of the CECs was the HRT, which played a pivotal role in the overall process becoming evident. Compared to ultrapure water, use of the WWTP effluent reduced qads for all the CECs by up to 4.1 times, while reuse water reduced qads by up to 1.2 times. The AC1 could be in-situ regenerated using ethanol, with a global efficiency of 97.2 %. The results showed the importance of pretreatment techniques and optimization of the operational parameters, such as HRT, for enhancing the useful lifetime and qads of fixed-bed columns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Diniz
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil.
| | - Susanne Rath
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Rua Josué de Castro, s/n, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP 13083-970, Brazil
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Lee SH, Annamalai S, Shin WS. Engineered ball-milled colloidal activated carbon material for advanced oxidation process of ibuprofen: Influencing factors and insights into the mechanism. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2023; 322:121023. [PMID: 36621710 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2023.121023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2022] [Revised: 12/27/2022] [Accepted: 01/04/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
This study explores a simple and efficient, physically modified ball-milled activated carbon (ACBM) preparation from granular activated carbon (GAC), which can be demonstrated for groundwater application. The colloidal stability of the ACBM plays a vital role in the activation of peroxymonosulfate (PMS) and the degradation of pollutants. Adsorption kinetics and isotherm studies explain that the ACBM has more active sites and maximum adsorption capacity (qmax = 509 mg g-1) on the surface of the materials than GAC. The 92% of ibuprofen degradation was achieved at 240 min along with 0.1 g L-1 of ACBM, 5 mM of PMS, and 6.3 of initial solution pH. A chemical scavenger and electron spin resonance spectra also confirmed the formation of reactive oxygen species such as radicals (O2•-, HO•, SO4•-) and non-radical (1O2) in the ACBM/PMS system. Three major degradation pathways, hydroxylation, demethylation, and decarboxylation involved in ibuprofen degradation. Nearly 13 degradation by-products were detected during the ACBM/PMS oxidation of ibuprofen. The toxicity analysis of oxidation by-products of ibuprofen was also discussed by computational simulation employing the ecological structure-activity relationships software. The ACBM/PMS system was successfully applied to the natural groundwater system for ibuprofen degradation. Hence, the ACBM/PMS system is an excellent catalyst for real groundwater applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Hoon Lee
- School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Sivasankar Annamalai
- School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Sik Shin
- School of Architecture, Civil, Environmental and Energy Engineering, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, 41566, Republic of Korea.
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Diniz V, Gasparini Fernandes Cunha D, Rath S. Adsorption of recalcitrant contaminants of emerging concern onto activated carbon: A laboratory and pilot-scale study. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT 2023; 325:116489. [PMID: 36257229 DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2022.116489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 10/08/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the definition of water quality indicators, including contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), associated with the development of multi-barrier approaches for wastewater treatment, are crucial steps towards direct potable reuse of water. The aims of this study were 1) quantifying twelve CECs (including pharmaceutical, stimulant, and artificial sweetener compounds) in both untreated and treated wastewater samples in a Brazilian wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) using bidimensional liquid chromatography coupled with tandem mass spectrometry, allowing the selection of five marker (i.e., priority) CECs; 2) evaluating the adsorption potential of such selected CECs [caffeine, hydrochlorothiazide, saccharin, sucralose (SUC), and sulfamethoxazole (SMX)] onto coconut-shell granular activated carbon (GAC); and 3) investigating the removal of the same CECs by a multi-barrier system (pilot-scale, 350 L h-1) treating the effluent of the WWTP and composed of reverse osmosis (RO), photoperoxidation (UV/H2O2), and filtration with GAC. Such technologies were tested separately and in binary or ternary combinations. Eleven and eight CECs were detected and quantified on the untreated and treated wastewater samples of the Brazilian WWTP, respectively. For the treated wastewater, the concentrations ranged from 499 ng L-1 (SMX) to 87,831 ng L-1 (SUC). The adsorption onto AC data fitted the Sips isotherm model, indicating monolayer chemisorption, which was also suggested by the mean adsorption energy values (>16 kJ mol-1). SMX and SUC were the most and the least adsorbed CECs (4.33 and 1.21 mg g-1, respectively). Concerning the pilot-scale treatment plant, the ternary combination (RO + UV/H2O2+GAC) removed >99% of the five marker CECs and promoted reductions on water color, turbidity, as well as on nitrogen and phosphorus concentrations. Further studies on water reuse could prioritize the selected marker CECs as quality indicators. While the removal of marker CECs is one of the WHO performance requirements, the RO + UV/H2O2+GAC system showed promising results as a first approach to direct potable reuse of water.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vinicius Diniz
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Rua Josué de Castro, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil.
| | - Davi Gasparini Fernandes Cunha
- São Carlos School of Engineering, Department of Hydraulics and Sanitation, University of São Paulo, Avenida Trabalhador São-Carlense, Centro, São Carlos, SP, 13566-590, Brazil
| | - Susanne Rath
- Department of Analytical Chemistry, Institute of Chemistry, University of Campinas, Rua Josué de Castro, Cidade Universitária, Campinas, SP, 13083-970, Brazil
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Importance of spectroscopic and static gravimetric studies for exploring adsorption behavior of propan-2-ol vapor in a fixed-bed column. Chem Eng Res Des 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cherd.2021.12.043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
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