Removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from textile dyeing sludge by ultrasound combined zero-valent iron/EDTA/Air system

Investigation of the speciation and environmental risk of heavy metals in biochar produced from textile sludge waste by pyrolysis at different temperatures

The aim of the present study was to find environmentally friendly solutions for the disposal of problematic and toxic textile sludge (TS) by producing textile sludge biochar (TSB) by pyrolysis and evaluating its chemical properties, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) content, heavy metals (HMs) speciation, environmental risks, and effects on seed germination. Pyrolysis of TS at temperatures ranging from 300 to 700 °C significantly reduced (85-95%) or eliminated certain PAHs in the biochar, enriched heavy metal content within land use limits, and increased bioavailability of HMs in biochar produced at 300 °C and decreased leaching capacity of HMs in biochar produced at 700 °C. The speciation of HMs and their bioavailability during pyrolysis processes was strongly temperature dependent, with lower temperatures increasing the toxic and bioavailable forms of Zn and Ni, while higher temperatures converted the bioavailable Ni to a more stable form, while Cu, Cr, and Pb were transformed from stable to toxic and bioavailable forms. The ecological risk index (RI) values of TSB-300 and TSB-700 are below the threshold value of 150, indicating a low-risk level, and the risk level decreases at temperatures above 500 °C. Further, the extracts of TSB-300 and TSB-700 had the highest percentage of germinating seeds, while the extracts of TS and TSB-500 inhibited seed germination by 20-30% compared to the control. These results indicate that pyrolysis effectively reduces PAHs and binds leachable HMs in biochar, however, the specific pyrolysis temperature influences metal speciation, bioavailability, seed germination, and environmental risk.

Co-pyrolysis of textile dyeing sludge/litchi shell and CaO: Immobilization of heavy metals and the analysis of the mechanism

To relieve the secondary contamination of heavy metals (HMs), the synergistic effect of co-pyrolysis of textile dyeing sludge (DS)/litchi shell (LS) and CaO on the migration of HMs was demonstrated in this study. The proportions of Cu, Zn, Cr, Mn, and Ni in the F4 fraction increased to 75%, 55%, 100%, 50%, and 62% at the suitable CaO dosages. When 10% CaO was added, the RI value of DLC-10% was reduced to 7.89, indicating low environmental risk. The characterizations of the physicochemical properties of biochar provided support for the HMs immobilization mechanism. HMs combined with inorganic minerals or functional groups to form new stable HMs crystalline minerals and complexes to achieve immobilization of HMs. The pH value and pore structure also play an important role in improving the immobilization performance of HMs. In conclusion, the results provided a new direction for the subsequent harmless treatment of HMs-enriched waste.

Nanobiohybrids: Synthesis strategies and environmental applications from micropollutants sensing and removal to global warming mitigation

Micropollutants contamination and global warming are critical environmental issues that require urgent attention due to natural and anthropogenic activities posing serious threats to human health and ecosystems. However, traditional technologies (such as adsorption, precipitation, biodegradation, and membrane separation et al.) are facing challenges of low utilization efficiency of oxidants, poor selectivity, and complex in-situ monitoring operations. To address these technical bottlenecks, nanobiohybrids, synthesized by interfacing the nanomaterials and biosystems, have recently emerged as eco-friendly technologies. In this review, we summarize the synthesis approaches of nanobiohybrids and their utilization as emerging environmental technologies for addressing environmental problems. Studies demonstrate that enzymes, cells, and living plants can be integrated with a wide range of nanomaterials including reticular frameworks, semiconductor nanoparticles and single-walled carbon nanotubes. Moreover, nanobiohybrids demonstrate excellent performance for micropollutant removal, carbon dioxide conversion, and sensing of toxic metal ions and organic micropollutants. Therefore, nanobiohybrids are expected to be environmental friendly, efficient, and cost-effective techniques for addressing environmental micropollutants issues and mitigating global warming, benefiting both humans and ecosystems alike.

Formation of organic chloride in the treatment of textile dyeing sludge by Fenton system

In the oxidation treatment of textile dyeing sludge, the quantitative and transformation laws of organic chlorine are not clear enough. Thus, this study mainly evaluated the treatment of textile dyeing sludge by Fenton and Fenton-like system from the aspects of the influence of Cl^-, the removal of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and organic carbon, and the removal and formation mechanism of organic chlorine. The results showed that the organic halogen in sludge was mainly hydrophobic organic chlorine, and the content of adsorbable organic chlorine (AOCl) was 0.30 mg/g (dry sludge). In the Fenton system with pH=3, 500 mg/L Cl^-, 30 mmol/L Fe²⁺ and 30 mmol/L H₂O₂, the removal of phenanthrene was promoted by chlorine radicals (•Cl), and the AOCl in sludge solid phase increased to 0.55 mg/g (dry sludge) at 30 min. According to spectral analysis, it was found that •Cl could chlorinate aromatic and aliphatic compounds (excluding PAHs) in solid phase at the same time, and eventually led to the accumulation of aromatic chlorides in solid phase. Strengthening the oxidation ability of Fenton system increased the formation of organic chlorines in liquid and solid phases. In weak acidity, the oxidation and desorption of superoxide anion promoted the removal and migration of PAHs and organic carbon in solid phase, and reduced the formation of total organic chlorine. The Fenton-like system dominated by non-hydroxyl radical could realize the mineralization of PAHs, organic carbon and organic chlorines instead of migration. This paper builds a basis for the selection of sludge conditioning methods.

Modification of cyclodextrin and use in environmental applications

Water pollution, which has become a global problem in parallel with environmental pollution, is a problem that needs to be solved urgently, considering the gradual depletion of water resources. The inadequacy of the water treatment methods and the materials used somehow directed the researchers to look for dual character structures such as biocompatible and biodegradable β-cyclodextrin (β-CD). β-CD, which is normally insoluble in water, is used in demanding wastewater applications by being modified with the help of different agents to be water soluble or transformed into polymeric adsorbents as a result of co-polymerization via cross-linkers. In this way, in addition to the host-guest interactions offered by β-CD, secondary forces arising from these interactions provide advantages in terms of regeneration and reusability. However, the adsorption efficiency and synthesis steps need to be improved. Based on the current studies presented in this review, in which cross-linkers and modification methods are also mentioned, suggestions for novel synthesis methods of new-generation β-CD-based materials, criticisms, and recent methods of removal of micropollutants such as heavy metals, industrial dyes, harmful biomolecules, and pharmaceutics wastes are mentioned.

Enhanced reductive reactivity of zero-valent iron (ZVI) for pollutant removal by natural organic matters (NOMs) under aerobic conditions: Correlation between NOM properties and ZVI activity

While ubiquitous natural organic matters (NOMs) are capable of enhancing zero-valent iron (ZVI) performance under aerobic conditions, there is limited understanding of how the properties of NOMs affect the reactivity of ZVI towards contaminants removal. Here, the corresponding activity of ZVI under aerobic conditions was investigated in the presence of humic acid (HA), fulvic acid (FA), bovine serum albumin (BSA). It was found that three models of NOMs were all effective in promoting diatrizoate (DTA) reduction via depassivating ZVI. Interestingly, fast adsorption of NOM onto ZVI surface initially caused inconspicuous impact or visible inhibition on hydrophilic DTA reduction depending on their hydrophobicity. However, subsequent exposure of more reactive sites with high hydrophilicity arising from the detachment of surfaced NOM-associated iron oxide finally contributed to the enhanced consumption of Fe⁰ with the ability: HA > FA ≈ BSA, and 1-2 times increase in DTA removal kinetic rate following the order: HA > FA > BSA. It further revealed that there were two key factors in determining DTA removal under aerobic conditions, including the ability of NOMs to boost Fe⁰ consumption as contributed by their aromaticity degree and amino groups, and the hydrophobicity of NOMs to initially affect the property of ZVI surfaces.

Anaerobic co-digestion of textile dyeing sludge: Digestion efficiency and heavy metal stability

Anaerobic co-digestion (AcoD) has become an important mean for the stabilization and recycling of textile dyeing sludge (TDS). Using the soybean okara byproduct (SOB) as a co-digestion substrate, the effects on AcoD performance and heavy metal stability were studied. The results indicated that the optimal mixing ratio was 1:1 (calculated by total sloid). Under this condition, the SCOD removal efficiency was 64% (that of TDS alone and SOB alone were 47% and 48%, respectively) and the cumulative methane production field was 503 L CH₄/kg VS (that of TDS alone and SOB alone were 435 L CH₄/kg VS and 408 L CH₄/kg VS, respectively). At the same time, the addition of SOB could also enhance the stability of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cr and Ni) in TDS. Remarkably, that could increase the steady state content nickel from 47.98% to 57.21%, while anaerobic digestion of TDS caused no increase but a decrease (only 42.13%). According to the risk assessment code analyses, the AcoD of TDS by SOB can significantly reduce the ecotoxicity risk caused by Ni, Zn and Cr.

Optimization of Micro-Pollutants' Removal from Wastewater Using Agricultural Waste-Derived Sustainable Adsorbent

Water pollution due to the discharge of untreated industrial effluents is a serious environmental and public health issue. The presence of organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) causes worldwide concern because of their mutagenic and carcinogenic effects on aquatic life, human beings, and the environment. PAHs are pervasive atmospheric compounds that cause nervous system damage, mental retardation, cancer, and renal kidney diseases. This research presents the first usage of palm kernel shell biochar (PKSB) (obtained from agricultural waste) for PAH removal from industrial wastewater (oil and gas wastewater/produced water). A batch scale study was conducted for the remediation of PAHs and chemical oxygen demand (COD) from produced water. The influence of operating parameters such as biochar dosage, pH, and contact time was optimized and validated using a response surface methodology (RSM). Under optimized conditions, i.e., biochar dosage 2.99 g L⁻¹, pH 4.0, and contact time 208.89 min, 93.16% of PAHs and 97.84% of COD were predicted. However, under optimized conditions of independent variables, 95.34% of PAH and 98.21% of COD removal was obtained in the laboratory. The experimental data were fitted to the empirical second-order model of a suitable degree for the maximum removal of PAHs and COD by the biochar. ANOVA analysis showed a high coefficient of determination value (R² = 0.97) and a reasonable second-order regression prediction. Additionally, the study also showed a comparative analysis of PKSB with previously used agricultural waste biochar for PAH and COD removal. The PKSB showed significantly higher removal efficiency than other types of biochar. The study also provides analysis on the reusability of PKSB for up to four cycles using two different methods. The methods reflected a significantly good performance for PAH and COD removal for up to two cycles. Hence, the study demonstrated a successful application of PKSB as a potential sustainable adsorbent for the removal of micro-pollutants from produced water.

Hydrodynamic cavitation activation of persulfate for the degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in marine sediments

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) coupled with persulfate (PS)-based that resulted in the synergistic degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in contaminated marine sediments. The effects of HC injection pressure and Σ[PAH]: [PS] on the rate and extent of PAH degradation were studied in the pressure range of 0.5-2.0 bar, PS concentration rage of 2 × 10^-4 to 2 × 10^-2 M or Σ[PAH]: [PS] of 1:10-1000, and reaction time of 20-60 min. A pseudo-first-order rate law fitted PAHs removal kinetics well. The degradation rate constant increased with injection pressure, reaching the maximum level at 0.5 bar, then decreased at injection pressure became greater than 0.5 bar. The results showed that PAH removal was 84% by the combined HC and PS process, whereas, HC alone only achieved a 43% removal of PAHs in marine sediments under the optimal inlet pressure of 0.5 bar at PS concentration of 2 × 10^-2 M in 60 min. The HC‒PS system effectively removed PH, PY, FLU, BaA, and CH at 91, 99, 91, 84, and 90%, respectively. The maximum removal of 6-, 5-, 4-, 3-, and 2-ring PAHs was 89, 87, 84, 76, and 34%, respectively. Major reactive oxygen species (ROSs), namely, SO₄^-• and HO•, were responsible for PAHs degradation. Results clearly highlighted the feasibility of HC-PS system for the clean-up of PAHs-laden sediments in particular and other recalcitrant organic contaminants in general.

Enhanced Benzofluoranthrene Removal in Surface Flow Constructed Wetlands with the Addition of Carbon

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), as hazardous pollutants, could be removed by constructed wetlands (CWs). While the traditional substrate of CWs has a weak adsorption capacity for PAHs, in this study, the carbonous fillers-activated carbon (AC) and biochar-were added into the substrate of surface flow CWs to improve the removal performance of benzofluoranthrene (BbFA), a typical PAH. The results showed that the BbFA removal efficiencies in CWs with the addition of AC and biochar were 11.8 and 1.2% higher than those in the Control group, respectively. Simultaneously, the removal efficiencies of NO₃ ^--N were 42.8 and 68.4% in these two CWs, while the BbFA content in the substrate and plants with the addition of carbon was lower than that in the Control group. The addition of carbonous filler reduced the absorption of PAHs by plants in CWs and enhanced microbial degradation. The microbial community results showed that the relative abundance of Proteobacteria, especially γ-proteobacteria, was higher with the addition of fillers, which related to PAH degradation.

Surface modification of zero-valent iron nanoparticles with β-cyclodextrin for 4-nitrophenol conversion

Environmental pollution causes irreversible damage to ecosystems and their structure. Therefore, the development of novel remedial techniques is a must for an effective response to emerging contaminants and those already persisting in the environment. The nanosized zero-valent iron (nZVI) is considered as an important nanostructure for the degradation of toxic compounds. Furthermore, the degradative potential of nZVI may be improved by surface modification. In this work nZVI was functionalized with β-cyclodextrin (β-CD), which is considered to be an environmentally-friendly and cheap adsorbent for toxic pollutants. Such a 'green' improvement not only enhances the activity of nZVI but also enables the conversion of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol, which under standard conditions is persistent and does not significantly react with bare nZVI. This research may help to find a solution to treat persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in aqueous environment.

Nano-Fe mediated treatment of real hydraulic fracturing flowback and its practical implication on membrane fouling in tandem anaerobic-oxic membrane bioreactor

The rising water-use intensity, and lack of cost-effective treatment strategy and reuse of hydraulic fracturing flowback (HFF) has become an increasing cause of concern. The present work evaluates the integration of parallel sets of tandem anaerobic-oxic membrane bioreactor (AMBR) with and without nano-Fe for treatment and reuse of real HFF obtained from Ordos Basin, China. Treatment efficiencies in terms of organic conversions, micro-pollutants degradation, resource recovery, and effects of nano-Fe release on membrane fouling were evaluated. Nano-Fe mediated AMBR (FAMBR) system effectively reduce target micro-pollutants (such as Acenaphthylene) at 94.4 % compared to the parallel AMBR system (17.1 % without nano-Fe). Moreover, recovery of potential economic chemicals like Al and P (1.0 and 0.6 mg/g spent nano-Fe) availed using FAMBR system. However, colonization of FAMBR membrane surface by Fe-protein/peptide hydroxocomplexes initiated by Fe-catalyzed microbial extrusions present a huge fouling challenge relative to the AMBR system. Additional evidences from microscopic/spectroscopic analysis of the FAMBR membrane system revealed that despite having a promising outlook, mediation of nano-Fe with AMBR system might result in a major fouling event during HFF treatment. Engineered design of nano-Fe to reduced leached nano-Fe ions in pre-treatment step prior to AMBR treatment system may be of potential research consideration.

Self-engineered iron oxide nanoparticle incorporated on mesoporous biochar derived from textile mill sludge for the removal of an emerging pharmaceutical pollutant

In the present work, low-cost and efficient iron oxide nanoparticle incorporated on mesoporous biochar was prepared from effluent treatment plant (ETP) sludge collected from the textile industry. This sludge contains a higher amount of Fe due to the use of ferric chloride as a coagulant in the treatment of wastewater generated during the process. The raw sludge and prepared biochar was extensively examined by various sophisticated techniques like XRF, XRD, BET, TGA, XPS, RAMAN, FTIR, FESEM, TEM, and VSM. TEM and XRD analysis confirms the presence of iron oxide nanoparticles on mesoporous biochar. The prepared biochar was found to possess BET surface area of 91 m² g^-1. Several parameters like pH, dose, initial concentration, temperature and time were optimized for the adsorptive removal of ofloxacin (OFL) from aqueous solution. Biochar (named as BTSFe) achieved ≈96% removal efficiency of OFL with a maximum adsorption capacity (q_m) of 19.74 mg g^-1 at optimum condition. π-π electron-donor-acceptor and H bonding were the major mechanisms responsible for the OFL adsorption. Kinetic and equilibrium thermodynamic study of showed that the adsorption of OFL was represented by the pseudo-second-order kinetics model, and the process was exothermic and spontaneous. Additionally, Redlich-Peterson and Freundlich isotherms best fitted the experimental data indicating multilayer adsorption phenomenon. Biochar was magnetically separated and thermally regenerated after each cycle for five times with a nominal overall decrease of ≈8% in removal efficiency. Leaching of iron during the adsorption process was also checked and found to be within the permissible limit. This study provides an alternative application of the textile industry sludge as an efficient, low-cost biochar for the removal of emerging pharmaceutical compounds.

Biochar-supported nZVI (nZVI/BC) for contaminant removal from soil and water: A critical review

The promising characteristics of nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) have not been fully exploited owing to intrinsic limitations. Carbon-enriched biochar (BC) has been widely used to overcome the limitations of nZVI and improve its reaction with environmental pollutants. This work reviews the preparation of nZVI/BC nanocomposites; the effects of BC as a supporting matrix on the nZVI crystallite size, dispersion, and oxidation and electron transfer capacity; and its interaction mechanisms with contaminants. The literature review suggests that the properties and preparation conditions of BC (e.g., pore structure, functional groups, feedstock composition, and pyrogenic temperature) play important roles in the manipulation of nZVI properties. This review discusses the interactions of nZVI/BC composites with heavy metals, nitrates, and organic compounds in soil and water. Overall, BC contributes to the removal of contaminants because it can attenuate contaminants on the surface of nZVI/BC; it also enhances electron transfer from nZVI to target contaminants owing to its good electrical conductivity and improves the crystallite size and dispersion of nZVI. This review is intended to provide insights into methods of optimizing nZVI/BC synthesis and maximizing the efficiency of nZVI in environmental cleanup.

The agricultural use potential of the detoxified textile dyeing sludge by integrated Ultrasound/Fenton-like process: A comparative study

Enhancing industrial sludge detoxification is of scientific and practical significance in confronting urban development and stringent environmental regulations. A strategy combining ultrasound (US) with the zero-valent iron/EDTA/Air (ZEA) process was proven to be eco-friendly, being efficient in the removal of toxic compounds from textile dyeing sludge in our previous studies. In this paper, therefore, the detoxification effects of three advanced oxidation processes (US, ZEA, US/ZEA) on textile dyeing sludge were comparatively evaluated for the first time through alteration of the sludge's physico-chemical parameters (e.g., macronutrients, heavy metals, and persistent organic pollutants) and toxicity (plants and aquatic biota), by which the appropriateness of industrial sludge's agricultural use was assessed. The results showed that US led to the least alteration of the physico-chemical properties, and the treated sludge became less biodegradable, as demonstrated by XPS. With ZEA treatment, persistent organic pollutants (POPs) were degraded by oxidation, and heavy metals were more leachable, leading to effective detoxification with a relatively low sludge dose, but an excessive amount of EDTA would negatively change the fertilizing properties of the sludge. However, the integration of US and ZEA could avoid this situation, as US promoted the degradation of EDTA and POPs, thus causing the least inhibition or even a noticeable stimulation of plant growth when the sludge dosage was 7.5 t_dw/ha (recommended dosage by the latest legislation in China). Aquatic organism toxicity tests further confirmed that US/ZEA treatment realized the most significant toxicity reduction, leading to the slightest environmental disruption. This study could be instructive in providing guidance for industrial sludge management considering agricultural use.

Treatment of a simulated sludge by ultrasonic zero-valent iron/EDTA/Air process: Interferences of inorganic salts in polyaromatic hydrocarbon removal

Understanding the occurrence states of persistent organic pollutants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in textile dyeing sludge is the key to their further treatment and disposal. Here, the effects of inorganic salts (silicate, sulfate, phosphate, hydroxide, and iron salts) that were typically rich in textile dyeing sludge on PAH adsorption by sludge and PAH degradation by an ultrasound (US) combined zero-valent iron/EDTA/Air (ZEA) system were studied in a simulated sludge system. The results showed that the simulated sludge containing inorganic salts had a larger specific surface area, which was beneficial for the adsorption of PAHs. More low-ring PAHs were adsorbed on the surface of the particles in the simulated sludge because of the inorganic salts, which was conducive to low-ring PAHs degradation by US/ZEA. The PAH removal rates were increased by 15.37% and 11.19%, respectively, in the presence of SiO₃^2- and HPO₄^2-. The yield of hydroxyl radicals (OH) was increased by 42.39% and 66.25% by SiO₃^2- and HPO₄^2-, respectively. The reason was that the oxidation of the ligand ([Fe^Ⅱ(EDTA)]) formed by ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) and divalent iron was promoted by SiO₃^2- and HPO₄^2-. The formation of OH in the US/ZEA system was inhibited by the corrosion inhibition of SO₄^2- on zero-valent iron (ZVI), the reaction of ferric salt with EDTA, and the reaction of Mg(OH)₂ with the ligand ([Fe^III(EDTA)]). This work provides an essential theoretical insight into the role of the inorganic components of sludge in the removal of PAHs by advanced oxidation processes.

Effect of pyrolysis temperature on characteristics, chemical speciation and risk evaluation of heavy metals in biochar derived from textile dyeing sludge

Textile dyeing sludge (TDS) was pyrolyzed at temperature ranging from 300 to 700 °C to investigate characteristics and to evaluate the risk of heavy metals (Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni, Cd, and Mn) in biochar derived from the TDS. The analyzation of characteristics and potential environmental risk evaluation of heavy metals were conducted by the BET-N₂, FTIR, and BCR sequential extraction procedure. The results showed that the pyrolysis treatment of the TDS contributed to the improvement of the pH value and specific surface areas with increasing pyrolysis temperature. Conversion of the TDS to biochar significantly decreased the H/C and O/C ratios, resulting in a far stronger carbonization and a higher aromatic condensation for the TDS derived biochar. The total contents of Zn, Cu, Cr, Ni and Mn in biochar increased with pyrolysis temperature owing to the thermal decomposition of organic matter in the TDS; but for Cd, the portion distributed in the biochars decreased significantly when the temperature increased up to 600 °C. However, using BCR sequential extraction procedure and analysis, it was found that pyrolysis process promoted changes in the chemical speciation and biochar matrix characteristics, leading to reduce bio-available fractions of heavy metals in the biochars. The potential environmental risk of heavy metals decreased from considerable risk in the TDS to low risk or no risk in biochar after pyrolysis above 400 °C. This work demonstrated that the pyrolysis process was a promising method for disposing of the TDS with acceptable environment risk.

Effect of pH on Zero Valent Iron Performance in Heterogeneous Fenton and Fenton-Like Processes: A Review

Heterogeneous Fenton processes with solid catalysts have gained much attention for water and wastewater treatment in recent years. In the field of solid catalysts, zero valent iron (ZVI) is among the most applicable due to its stability, activity, pollutant degradation properties and environmental friendliness. The main limitation in the use of ZVI in heterogeneous Fenton systems is due to its deactivation in neutral and alkaline conditions, and Fenton-like processes have been developed to overcome this difficulty. In this review, the effect of solution pH on the ZVI-Fenton performance is discussed. In addition, the pH trend of ZVI efficiency towards contaminants removal is also considered in oxic solutions (i.e., in the presence of dissolved O₂ but without H₂O₂), as well as in magnetic-field assisted Fenton, sono-Fenton, photo-Fenton and microwave-Fenton processes at different pH values. The comparison of the effect of pH on ZVI performance, taking into account both heterogeneous Fenton and different Fenton-like processes, can guide future studies for developing ZVI applications in water and wastewater treatment.