Robust CA-GO-TiO2/PTFE Photocatalytic Membranes for the Degradation of the Azithromycin Formulation from Wastewaters.

We have developed an innovative thin-film nanocomposite membrane that contains cellulose acetate (CA) with small amounts of TiO2-decorated graphene oxide (GO) (ranging from 0.5 wt.% to 2 wt.%) sandwiched between two polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE)-like thin films. The PTFE-like films succeeded in maintaining the bulk porosity of the support while increasing the thermal and chemical robustness of the membrane and boosting the catalytic activity of TiO2 nanoparticles. The membranes exhibited a specific chemical composition and bonding, with predominant carbon-oxygen bonds from CA and GO in the bulk, and carbon-fluorine bonds on their PTFE-like coated sides. We have also tested the membranes' photocatalytic activities on azithromycin-containing wastewaters, demonstrating excellent efficiency with more than 80% degradation for 2 wt.% TiO2-decorated GO in the CA-GO-TiO2/PTFE-like membranes. The degradation of the azithromycin formulation occurs in two steps, with reaction rates being correlated to the amount of GO-TiO2 in the membranes.

Valorization of Agri-Food Wastes as Sustainable Eco-Materials for Wastewater Treatment: Current State and New Perspectives.

The paper addresses environmental protection by valorizing an important agri-food waste category, namely fruit and vegetables with focusing on the main characteristics regarding consumption, waste quantities, and ways for valorizing these materials. Thus, vast research was undertaken in order to emphasize the main commodities and their potential application as adsorbents for organic and inorganic pollutants. The main methods or treatment techniques applied for the valorization of eco-materials as adsorbents were presented and the principal efficiency results were indicated. The advantages and disadvantages of using these eco-materials as adsorbents in wastewater treatment were revealed and future recommendations were established. According to the international statistics, the most purchased and consumed five commodities were studied regarding waste generations as potential conversion into eco-materials with an adsorbent role for water pollutants. Thus, the performances for adsorbents based on fruit wastes (such as citrus, banana, apples, grapes, mango) and vegetable wastes (such as potatoes, tomatoes, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, and/or broccoli) were studied and highlighted in this research.

Influence of red mud and waste glass on the microstructure, strength, and leaching behavior of bottom ash-based geopolymer composites.

The influence of waste glass and red mud addition as alternative source of aluminosilicate precursors on the microstructural, mechanical, and leaching properties of bottom ash-based geopolymer was studied in this work through mineralogical, morphological, and spectroscopic analysis, as well as by conducting compressive strength and leaching tests. The bottom ash-based geopolymer composites were synthesized by adding a constant amount of waste glass (10% by weight) and increasing amounts of red mud (up to 30% by weight). The results derived from FTIR, 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR, and SEM-EDX revealed that adding up to 10% (by weight) red mud to the synthesis mixes leads to an increase in the degree of geopolymerization of the activated mixes. The compressive strength followed the same trend. An increase of more than 10% (by weight) red mud added to the synthesis mixes results in a significant decrease of compressive strength of the geopolymer composites. A low leachability of geopolymer composites in regard with their contaminants was revealed especially for those with good compressive strength.