Recent developments in solar-powered membrane distillation for sustainable desalination.

The freshwater shortage continues to be one of the greatest challenges affecting our planet. Although traditional membrane distillation (MD) can produce clean water regardless of climatic conditions, the process wastes a lot of energy. The technique of solar-powered membrane distillation (SPMD) has received a lot of interest in the past decade, thanks to the development of photothermal materials. SPMD is a promising replacement for the traditional MD based on fossil fuels, as it can prevent the harmful effects of emissions on the environment. Integrating green solar energy with MD can reduce the cost of the water purification process and secure freshwater production in remote areas. At this point, it is important to consider the most current progress of the SPMD system and highlight the challenges and prospects of this technology. Based on this, the background, recent advances, and principles of MD and SPMD, their configurations and mechanisms, fabrication methods, advantages, and current limitations are discussed. Detailed comparisons between SPMD and traditional MD, assessments of various standards for incorporating photothermal materials with desirable properties, discussions of desalination and other applications of SPMD and MD, and energy consumption rates are also covered. The final section addresses the potential of SPMD to outperform traditional desalination technology while improving water production without requiring a significant amount of electrical or high-grade thermal energy.

Micro(nano)plastics from synthetic oligomers persisting in Mediterranean seawater: Comprehensive NMR analysis, concerns and origins.

The presence in seawater of low-molecular-weight polyethylene (PE) and polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), synthetic polymers with high chemical resistance, has been demonstrated in this study for the first time by developing a novel methodology for their recovery and quantification from surface seawater. These synthetic polymer debris (SPD) with very low molecular weights and sizes in the nano- and micro-metre range have escaped conventional analytical methods. SPD have been easily recovered from water samples (2 L) through filtration with a nitrocellulose membrane filter with a pore size of 0.45 µm. Dissolving the filter in acetone allowed the isolation of the particulates by centrifugation followed by drying. The isolated SPD were analysed by 1H nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H NMR), identifying PE and PDMS. These polymers are thus persisting on seawater because of their low density and the ponderal concentrations were quantified in mg/m3. This method was used in an actual case study in which 120 surface seawater samples were collected during two sampling campaigns in the Mediterranean Sea (from the Gulf of Salerno to the Gulf of Policastro in South Italy). The developed analytical protocol allowed achieving unprecedented simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity. The 1H and 13C NMR structural analysis of the PE debris indicates the presence of oxidised polymer chains with very low molecular weights. Additionally, the origin of those low molecular weight polymers was investigated by analysing influents and effluents from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) in Salerno as a hot spot for the release of SPD: the analysis indicates the presence of low molecular weight polymers compatible with wax-PE, widely used for coating applications, food industry, cosmetics and detergents. Moreover, the origin of PDMS debris found in surface seawater can be ascribed to silicone-based antifoamers and emulsifiers.

Integrating artificial intelligence modeling and membrane technologies for advanced wastewater treatment: Research progress and future perspectives.

Membrane technologies have become proficient alternatives for advanced wastewater treatment, ensuring high contaminant removal and sustainable resource recovery. Despite significant progress, ongoing research efforts aim to further optimize treatment performance. Among the challenges faced, membrane fouling persists as a relevant obstacle in membrane technologies, necessitating the development of more effective mitigation strategies. Mathematical models, widely employed for predicting treatment performance, generally exhibit low accuracy and suffer from uncertainties due to the complex and variable nature of wastewater. To overcome these limitations, numerous studies have proposed artificial intelligence (AI) modeling to accurately predict membrane technologies' performance and fouling mechanisms. This approach aims to provide advanced simulations and predictions, thereby enhancing process control, optimization, and intensification. This literature review explores recent advancements in modeling membrane-based wastewater treatment processes through AI models. The analysis highlights the enormous potential of this research field in enhancing the efficiency of membrane technologies. The role of AI modeling in defining optimal operating conditions, developing effective strategies for membrane fouling mitigation, enhancing the performance of novel membrane-based technologies, and improving membrane fabrication techniques is discussed. These enhanced process optimization and control strategies driven by AI modeling ensure improved effluent quality, optimized resource consumption, and minimized operating costs. The potential contribution of this cutting-edge approach to a paradigm shift toward sustainable wastewater treatment is examined. Finally, this review outlines future perspectives, emphasizing the research challenges that require attention to overcome the current limitations hindering the integration of AI modeling in wastewater treatment plants.

Soluble natural sweetener from date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) extract using colloidal gas aphrons generated with a food-grade non-ionic surfactant.

Date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) is the most commonly cultivated fruit tree in the Middle East and North Africa. Date fruits are an excellent source of nutrition due to their high sugar content and high levels of phenols, minerals, and antioxidants. This work aimed to prepare a soluble natural sweetener from date fruit extract using colloidal gas aprons (CGAs) generated with a food-grade non-ionic surfactant (Tween 20). Various process parameters, such as the flow rate of the CGAs, the volume of the feed, the temperature of the CGAs, and the feed solution, were varied to obtain the optimal parameters. In the foam phase, the maximum soluble sugar enrichment of 92% was obtained at a flow rate of 50 mL/min of CGA and a solution temperature of 23 °C. The formation of intermolecular hydrogen bonding between the glucose molecules and the surfactant Tween 20 was confirmed by molecular modeling studies. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05907-9.

Electro living membrane bioreactor for highly efficient wastewater treatment and fouling mitigation: Influence of current density on process performances.

The next generation of the self-forming dynamic membrane, referred to in this study as the "Living Membrane (LM)", is a new patented technology based on an encapsulated biological layer that self-forms on a designed coarse-pore size support material during wastewater treatment and acts as a natural membrane filter. Integrating electrochemical processes with wastewater treatment using the LM approach has also been recently studied (the reactor is referred to as the Electro-Living Membrane Bioreactor or e-LMBR). This study investigated the effects of varying current densities, i.e., 0.3, 0.5, and 0.9 mA/cm2, on the performance of an e-LMBR. The results were also compared with those of the Living Membrane Bioreactor or LMBR (without applied current density). Higher pollutant removals were observed in the presence of the electric field. However, the effect of varying applied current densities on the COD (98-99 %), NH3-N (97-99 %), and PO43-P (100 %) removals was not statistically significant. The more prominent differences (p < 0.05) were observed in the decrease of NO3--N concentrations from mixed liquor to effluent, with increasing current density resulting in lower mean NO3--N effluent concentrations (0.3 mA/cm2: 6.13 mg/L; 0.5 mA/cm2: 4.38 mg/L; 0.9 mA/cm2: 3.70 mg/L). The reduction of NO3--N concentrations as wastewater permeated through the LM layer also confirmed its role in removing nitrogen-containing compounds. Higher current densities resulted in lower concentrations of fouling substances, particularly those of microbial extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) and transparent exopolymer particles (TEPs). The average values of the temporal variation of transmembrane pressure (d(TMP)/d(t)) in the e-LMBR were extremely low, in the range of 0.013-0.041 kPa/day, throughout the operation period. The highest (d(TMP)/d(t)) was observed for the highest current density. However, the TMP values remained below 2 kPa in all the e-LMBR runs even after the initial LM formation stage.

Microalgae to biodiesel: A novel green conversion method for high-quality lipids recovery and in-situ transesterification to fatty acid methyl esters.

Greenhouse gases (GHGs) emissions due to increasing energy demand have raised the need to identify effective solutions to produce clean and renewable energy. Biotechnologies are an effective platform to attain green transition objectives, especially when synergically integrated to promote health and environmental protection. In this context, microalgae-based biotechnologies are considered among the most effective tools for treating gaseous effluents and simultaneously capturing carbon sources for further biomass valorisation. The production of biodiesel is regarded as a promising avenue for harnessing value from residual algal biomass. Nonetheless, the existing techniques for extracting lipids still face certain limitations, primarily centred around the cost-effectiveness of the process.This study is dedicated to developing and optimising an innovative and cost-efficient technique for extracting lipids from algal biomass produced during gaseous emissions treatment based on algal-bacterial biotechnology. This integrated treatment technology combines a bio-scrubber for degrading gaseous contaminants and a photobioreactor for capturing the produced CO2 within valuable algal biomass. The cultivated biomass is then processed with the process newly designed to extract lipids simultaneously transesterificated in fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) via In Situ Transesterification (IST) with a Kumagawa-type extractor. The results of this study demonstrated the potential application of the optimised method to overcome the gap to green transition. Energy production was obtained from residuals produced during the necessary treatment of gaseous emissions. Using hexane-methanol (v/v = 19:1) mixture in the presence KOH in Kumagawa extractor lipids were extracted with extraction yield higher than 12% and converted in fatty acid methyl esters. The process showed the enhanced extraction of lipids converted in bio-sourced fuels with circular economy approach, broadening the applicability of biotechnologies as sustainable tools for energy source diversification.

Comparison of qPCR and metagenomic sequencing methods for quantifying antibiotic resistance genes in wastewater.

Surveillance methods of circulating antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) are of utmost importance in order to tackle what has been described as one of the greatest threats to humanity in the 21st century. In order to be effective, these methods have to be accurate, quickly deployable, and scalable. In this study, we compare metagenomic shotgun sequencing (TruSeq DNA sequencing) of wastewater samples with a state-of-the-art PCR-based method (Resistomap HT-qPCR) on four wastewater samples that were taken from hospital, industrial, urban and rural areas. ARGs that confer resistance to 11 antibiotic classes have been identified in these wastewater samples using both methods, with the most abundant observed classes of ARGs conferring resistance to aminoglycoside, multidrug-resistance (MDR), macrolide-lincosamide-streptogramin B (MLSB), tetracycline and beta-lactams. In comparing the methods, we observed a strong correlation of relative abundance of ARGs obtained by the two tested methods for the majority of antibiotic classes. Finally, we investigated the source of discrepancies in the results obtained by the two methods. This analysis revealed that false negatives were more likely to occur in qPCR due to mutated primer target sites, whereas ARGs with incomplete or low coverage were not detected by the sequencing method due to the parameters set in the bioinformatics pipeline. Indeed, despite the good correlation between the methods, each has its advantages and disadvantages which are also discussed here. By using both methods together, a more robust ARG surveillance program can be established. Overall, the work described here can aid wastewater treatment plants that plan on implementing an ARG surveillance program.

Design and Machine Learning Prediction of In Situ Grown PDA-Stabilized MOF (UiO-66-NH2) Membrane for Low-Pressure Separation of Emulsified Oily Wastewater.

Significant progress has been made in designing advanced membranes; however, persistent challenges remain due to their reduced permeation rates and a propensity for substantial fouling. These factors continue to pose significant barriers to the effective utilization of membranes in the separation of oil-in-water emulsions. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered promising materials for such applications; however, they encounter three key challenges when applied to the separation of oil from water: (a) lack of water stability; (b) difficulty in producing defect-free membranes; and (c) unresolved issue of stabilizing the MOF separating layer on the ceramic membrane (CM) support. In this study, a defect-free hydrolytically stable zirconium-based MOF separating layer was formed through a two-step method: first, by in situ growth of UiO-66-NH2 MOF into the voids of polydopamine (PDA)-functionalized CM during the solvothermal process, and then by facilitating the self-assembly of UiO-66-NH2 with PDA using a pressurized dead-end assembly. A stable MOF separating layer was attained by enriching the ceramic support with amines and hydroxyl groups using PDA, which assisted in the assembly and stabilization of UiO-66-NH2. The PDA-s-UiO-66-NH2-CM membrane displayed air superhydrophilicity and underwater superoleophobicity, demonstrating its oil resistance and high antifouling behavior. The PDA-s-UiO-66-NH2-CM membrane has shown exceptionally high permeability and separation capacity for challenging oil-in-water emulsions. This is attributed to numerous nanochannels from the membrane and its high resistance to oil adhesion. The membranes showed excellent stability over 15 continuous test cycles, which indicates that the developed MOFs separating layers have a low tendency to be clogged by oil droplets during separation. Machine learning-based Gaussian process regression (GPR) models as nonparametric kernel-based probabilistic models were employed to predict the performance efficiency of the PDA-s-UiO-66-NH2-CM membrane in oil-in-water separation. The outcomes were compared with the support vector machine (SVM) and decision tree (DT) algorithm. This efficiency includes various metrics related to its separation accuracy, and the models were developed through feature engineering to identify and utilize the most significant factors affecting the membrane's performance. The results proved the reliability of GPR optimization with the highest prediction accuracy in the validation phase. The average percentage increase of the GPR model compared to the SVM and DT model was 6.11 and 42.94%, respectively.

Analytical methods for determining environmental contaminants of concern in water and wastewater.

Control and prevention of environmental pollution have emerged as paramount global concerns. Anthropogenic activities, such as industrial discharges, agricultural runoff, and improper waste disposal, introduce a wide range of contaminants into various ecosystems. These pollutants encompass organic and inorganic compounds, particulates, microorganisms, and disinfection by-products, posing severe threats to human health, ecosystems, and the environment. Effective monitoring methods are indispensable for assessing environmental quality, identifying pollution sources, and implementing remedial measures. This paper suggests that the development and utilization of highly advanced analytical tools are both essential for the analysis of contaminants in water samples, presenting a foundational hypothesis for the review. This paper comprehensively reviews the development and utilization of highly advanced analytical tools which is mandatory for the analysis of contaminants in water samples. Depending on the specific pollutants being studied, the choice of analytical methods widely varies. It also reveals insights into the diverse applications and effectiveness of these methods in assessing water quality and contaminant levels. By emphasizing the critical role of the reviewed monitoring methods, this review seeks to deepen the understanding of pollution challenges and inspire innovative monitoring solutions that contribute to a cleaner and more sustainable global environment.•Urgent global concerns: control and prevention of pollution from diverse sources.•Varied contaminants, diverse methods: comprehensive review of analytical tools.•Inspiring a sustainable future: innovative monitoring for a cleaner environment.

Novel eco-friendly polylactic acid nanocomposite integrated membrane system for sustainable wastewater treatment: Performance evaluation and antifouling analysis.

Water contamination caused by heavy metals, nutrients, and organic pollutants of varying particle sizes originating from domestic and industrial processes poses a significant global challenge. There is a growing concern, particularly regarding the presence of heavy metals in freshwater sources, as they can be toxic even at low concentrations, posing risks to human health and the environment. Currently, membrane technologies are recognized as effective and practical for treating domestic and industrial wastewater. However, these technologies are hindered by fouling issues. Furthermore, the utilization of conventional membranes leads to the accumulation of non-recyclable synthetic polymers, commonly used in their production, resulting in adverse environmental consequences. In light of our previously published studies on environmentally friendly, biodegradable polylactic acid (PLA) nanocomposite mixed matrix membranes (MMMs), we selected two top-performing PLA-based ultrafiltration nanocomposite membranes: one negatively charged (PLA-M-) and one positively charged (PLA-M+). We integrated these membranes into systems with varying arrangements to control fouling and eliminate heavy metals, organic pollutants, and nutrients from raw municipal wastewater collected by the local wastewater treatment plant in Abu Dhabi (UAE). The performance of two integrated systems (i.e., PLA-M+/PLA-M- and PLA-M-/PLA-M+) was compared in terms of permeate flux, contaminant removal efficiencies, and fouling mitigation. The PLA-M+/PLA-M- system achieved removal efficiencies of 79.6 %, 92.6 %, 88.7 %, 85.2 %, 98.9 %, 94 %, 83.3 %, and 98.3 % for chemical oxygen demand (COD), nitrate (NO3--N), phosphate (PO43--P), ammonium (NH4+-N), iron (Fe), zinc (Zn), nickel (Ni), and copper (Cu), respectively. On the other hand, the PLA-M-/PLA-M+ system recorded removal efficiencies of 85.8 %, 95.9 %, 100 %, 81.9 %, 99.3 %, 91.9 %, 72.9 %, and 98.9 % for COD, NO3--N, PO43--P, NH4+-N, Fe, Zn, Ni, and Cu, respectively. Notably, the PLA-M-/PLA-M+ system demonstrated superior antifouling resistance, making it the preferred integrated system. These findings demonstrate the potential of eco-friendly PLA nanocomposite UF-MMMs as a promising alternative to petroleum-based polymeric membranes for efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment.

Comprehensive review on pH and temperature-responsive polymeric adsorbents: Mechanisms, equilibrium, kinetics, and thermodynamics of adsorption processes for heavy metals and organic dyes.

Wastewater treatment technologies have been developed to address the health and environmental risks associated with toxic and cancer-causing dyes and heavy metals found in industrial waste. The most commonly used method to mitigate and treat such effluents is adsorption, which is favored for its high efficiency, low costs, and ease of operation. However, traditional adsorbents have limitations in terms of regeneration and selectivity compared to smart adsorbents. Smart polymeric adsorbents, on the other hand, can undergo physical and chemical changes in response to external factors like temperature and pH, enabling a selective adsorption process. These adsorbents can be easily regenerated and reused with minimal generation of secondary pollutants during desorption. The unique properties acquired by stimuli-responsive adsorbents have encouraged researchers to investigate their potential for the selective and efficient removal of organic dyes and heavy metals. This comprehensive review focuses on two common stimuli, pH and temperature, discussing the fabrication methods and characteristics of smart adsorbents responsive to these factors. It also provides an overview of the mechanisms, isotherms, kinetics, and thermodynamics of the adsorption process for each type of stimuli-responsive adsorbent. Finally, the review concludes with discussions on future perspectives and considerations.

Facile Preparation of Magnetic CuFe2O4 on Sepiolite/GO Nanocomposites for Efficient Removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) from Aqueous Solution.

CuFe2O4 nanoparticles were synthesized and immobilized on sepiolite fibers and graphene oxide sheets, producing a CuFe2O4/sepiolite/GO (CFSG) nanocomposite via a facile single-pot method. The synthesized nanocomposite was characterized using TEM, FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and TGA techniques to determine its composition, structure, and thermal stability. The adsorptive removal of Pb(II) and Cd(II) heavy metal ions from aqueous solutions was studied using the synthesized CFSG nanocomposite. Adsorption parameters such as CFSG loading, pH, contact time, and temperature were investigated. The CFGS nanocomposite showed a higher Pb(II) removal (qm = 238.1 mg/g) compared to Cd(II) (qm = 14.97 mg/g) in a Pb(II) and Cd(II) binary system. The Pb(II) and Cd(II) adsorption fitted well with the Langmuir model, followed by the pseudo-second-order model, and was found spontaneous. Adsorption thermodynamic analysis showed that the Pb(II) adsorption process was exothermic while Cd(II) adsorption was endothermic. The CuFe2O4 nanoparticles on the CFSG surface could facilitate the adsorption of heavy metal ions through electrostatic interaction and complexation processes.

Whole-genome sequencing for One Health surveillance of antimicrobial resistance in conflict zones: a case study of Salmonella spp. and Campylobacter spp. in the West Bank, Palestine.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a critical global concern driven by the overuse, misuse, and/or usage of inadequate antibiotics on humans, animals' agriculture, and as a result of contaminated environments. This study is the first One Health survey in the Middle East that incorporated whole-genome sequencing (WGS) to examine the spread of AMR in Campylobacter spp. and Salmonella spp. This cross-sectional study was conducted to examine the role of AMR at the human-animal-environmental interface and was performed in Ramallah/Al-Bireh and Jerusalem governorates of the central West Bank, Palestine. In 2021 and 2022, a total of 592 samples were collected and analyzed. From a total of 65 Campylobacter jejuni and 19 Salmonella spp. isolates, DNA was extracted for WGS using Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION platform. We found that the dominant serotypes of C. jejuni and Salmonella enterica were present in chicken manure, chicken meat sold in markets, and feces of asymptomatic farm workers, with high genetic similarities between the isolates regardless of origin. Additionally, our results showed rapid strain turnover in C. jejuni from the same sites between 2021 and 2022. Most of the positive Salmonella spp. samples were multidrug-resistant (MDR) S. enterica serovar Muenchen carrying the plasmid of emerging S. infantis (pESI) megaplasmid, conferring resistance to multiple antibiotics. Our findings highlight the spread of MDR foodborne pathogens from animals to humans through the food chain, emphasizing the importance of a One Health approach that considers the interconnections between human, animal, and environmental health. IMPORTANCE Prior to this study, there existed hardly an integrated human-animal-environmental study of Salmonellosis and Campylobacteriosis and related AMR in Middle Eastern countries. The few existing studies lack robust epidemiological study designs, adequate for a One Health approach, and did not use WGS to determine the circulating serotypes and their AMR profiles. Civil unrest and war in Middle Eastern countries drive AMR because of the breakdown of public health and food security services. This study samples simultaneously humans, animals, and the environment to comprehensively investigate foodborne pathogens in the broiler chicken production chain in Palestine using WGS. We show that identical serotypes of C. jejuni and S. enterica can be found in samples from chicken farms, chicken meat sold in markets, and asymptomatic broiler chicken production workers. The most striking feature is the rapid dynamic of change in the genetic profile of the detected species in the same sampling locations. The majority of positive Salmonella spp. samples are MDR S. enterica serovar Muenchen isolates carrying the pESI megaplasmid. The results demonstrate a close relationship between the S. enterica serovar Muenchen isolates found in our sample collection and those responsible for 40% of all clinical Salmonella spp. isolates in Israel as previously reported, with a sequence identity of over 99.9%. These findings suggest the transboundary spread of MDR S. enterica serovar Muenchen strains from animals to humans through the food chain. The study underscores the importance of combining integrated One Health studies with WGS for detecting environmental-animal-human transmission of foodborne pathogens that could not be detected otherwise. This study showcases the benefits of integrated environmental-animal-human sampling and WGS for monitoring AMR. Environmental samples, which may be more accessible in conflict-torn places where monitoring systems are limited and regulations are weak, can provide an effective AMR surveillance solution. WGS of bacterial isolates provides causal inference of the distribution and spread of bacterial serotypes and AMR in complex social-ecological systems. Consequently, our results point toward the expected benefits of operationalizing a One Health approach through closer cooperation of public and animal health and food safety authorities.

Advancing water treatment sustainability: Investigating electrified Ti3C2Tx composite membranes for minimizing microplastic fouling.

The overuse of plastics has led to a large influx of microplastics (MPs) in water bodies and water/wastewater treatment plants. Coupled with the ongoing water crisis, this poses a threat to freshwater availability as MPs disrupt the operation of these plants. MPs cause severe fouling of low-pressure membrane technologies such as ultrafiltration (UF) due to the strong adhesion between MPs and the membrane surface. An electrified membrane-based technology is suggested as an alternative MP fouling mitigation strategy. In this study, composite membranes of sulfonated polyethersulfone (SPES)/MXene (Ti3C2Tx) were fabricated and evaluated as a promising candidate for mitigating fouling of MPs. The described SPES/Ti3C2Tx composite membrane was designed to improve important physiochemical properties such as conductivity without affecting water flux. The membranes were tested under different electrical potentials to find an optimal strategy to reduce MP fouling. The performance tests showed that the flux increased from 42 L m-2. h-1 at 0 V to 49 L m-2. h-1 at 2 V due to electrostatic repulsion when 5 wt% Ti3C2Tx was used as a result of the applied electric potential. In addition, it was shown that intermittent applied voltage using "30 min ON: 60 min OFF" mode resulted in more stable water flux due to in-situ coagulant formation and cleaning. This study illustrates the potential of MXene-based membranes for mitigating MP fouling and paves the way for future research on membrane materials that can enhance system performance.

Phase inverted hydrophobic polyethersulfone/iron oxide-oleylamine ultrafiltration membranes for efficient water-in-oil emulsion separation.

Exploration and transportation of oil offshore can result in oil spills that cause a wide range of adverse environmental consequences and destroy aquatic life. Membrane technology outperformed the conventional procedures for oil emulsion separation due to its improved performance, reduced cost, removal capacity, and greater eco-friendly. In this study, a hydrophobic iron oxide-oleylamine (Fe-Ol) nanohybrid was synthesized and incorporated into polyethersulfone (PES) to prepare novel PES/Fe-Ol hydrophobic ultrafiltration (UF) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs). Several characterization techniques were performed to characterize the synthesized nanohybrid and fabricated membranes, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA), contact angle, and zeta potential. The membranes' performance was assessed using a surfactant-stabilized (SS) water-in-hexane emulsion as a feed and a dead-end vacuum filtration setup. The incorporation of the nanohybrid enhanced the hydrophobicity, porosity, and thermal stability of the composite membranes. At 1.5 wt% Fe-Ol nanohybrid, the modified PES/Fe-Ol MMM membranes reported high water rejection efficiency of 97.4% and 1020.4 LMH filtrate flux. The re-usability and antifouling properties of the membrane were examined over five filtration cycles, demonstrating its great potential for use in water-in-oil separation.

Natural deep eutectic solvents for Ultrasonic-Assisted extraction of nutritious date Sugar: Molecular Screening, Experimental, and prediction.

The aim of this study is to develop an environmentally friendly and effective method for the extraction of nutritious date sugar using natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) and ultrasound-assisted extraction (USAE). The careful design of a suitable NADES-USAE system was systematically supported by COSMO-RS screening, response surface method (RSM) and artificial neural network (ANN). Initially, 26 natural hydrogen bond donors (HBDs) were carefully screened for sugar affinity using COSMO-RS. The best performing HBDs were then used for the synthesis of 5 NADES using choline chloride (ChCl) as HBA. Among the synthesized NADES, the mixture of ChCl, citric acid (CA) and water (1:1:1 with 20 wt% water) resulted in the highest sugar yield of 78.30 ± 3.91 g/100 g, which is superior to conventional solvents such as water (29.92 ± 1.50 g/100 g). Further enhancements using RSM and ANN led to an even higher sugar recovery of 87.81 ± 2.61 g/100 g, at conditions of 30 °C, 45 min, and a solvent to DFP ratio of 40 mL/g. The method NADES-USAE was then compared with conventional hot water extraction (CHWE) (61.36 ± 3.06) and showed 43.1% higher sugar yield. The developed process not only improves the recovery of the nutritious date sugar but also preserves the heat-sensitive bioactive compounds in dates, making it an attractive alternative to CHWE for industrial utilization. Overall, this study shows a promising approach for the extraction of nutritive sugars from dates using environmentally friendly solvents and advanced technology. It also highlights the potential of this approach for valorizing underutilized fruits and preserving their bioactive compounds.

SARS-CoV-2 detection and inactivation in water and wastewater: review on analytical methods, limitations and future research recommendations.

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been detected in wastewater. Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) is a practical and cost-effective tool for the assessment and controlling of pandemics and probably for examining SARS-CoV-2 presence. Implementation of WBE during the outbreaks is not without limitations. Temperature, suspended solids, pH, and disinfectants affect the stability of viruses in wastewater. Due to these limitations, instruments and techniques have been utilized to detect SARS-CoV-2. SARS-CoV-2 has been detected in sewage using various concentration methods and computer-aided analyzes. RT-qPCR, ddRT-PCR, multiplex PCR, RT-LAMP, and electrochemical immunosensors have been employed to detect low levels of viral contamination. Inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 is a crucial preventive measure against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To better assess the role of wastewater as a transmission route, detection, and quantification methods need to be refined. In this paper, the latest improvements in quantification, detection, and inactivation of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater are explained. Finally, limitations and future research recommendations are thoroughly described.

Assessment of immunoglobin G (spike and nucleocapsid protein) response to COVID-19 vaccination in Palestine.

Introduction: Many countries have begun immunization programs and established protocols to combat pandemics caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. Six months after vaccination, the antibody titers produced by the immunization begin to decline, and individuals whose first immunization (either one or two doses) did not provide adequate protection may require a booster dose. Methods: A quantitative cross-sectional survey of 18-year-olds and older was undertaken in the West Bank from June 15 to June 27, 2022. Each participant had 5 mL of blood drawn to be tested for IgG-S, IgG-N, and blood group. Results: All participants had positive IgG-S results; IgG-S values ranged between 77 and 40,000 AU/ml, with a mean value of 1254 AU/ml. The value of IgG-N ranged from 0 to 139.3 U/ml for all participants, with a mean value of 22.4 U/ml. 64 (37.2%) of the participants demonstrated positive IgG-N screening results, with mean values of 51.2 U/ml. Female participants' mean IgG concentration was higher than male participants. Furthermore, the results revealed that smokers had lower levels of vaccine-induced antibodies than nonsmokers. High significance was found in the time from the last vaccine till the blood sample test (T = 3.848, P < .001), and the group between 6 and 9 months was found to have higher mean values than the 9-months group (M = 15952). Conclusions: Participants vaccinated with a higher number of vaccines tend to have higher IgG-S. To elevate total antibodies, booster doses are essential. Additional researchers are needed to examine the positive correlation between IgG-S and IgG-N.

ZnO/PDA/Mesoporous Cellular Foam Functionalized Thin-Film Nanocomposite Membrane towards Enhanced Nanofiltration Performance.

Thin-film nanocomposite (TFN) membranes are the third-generation membranes being explored for nanofiltration applications. Incorporating nanofillers in the dense selective polyamide (PA) layer improves the permeability-selectivity trade-off. The mesoporous cellular foam composite Zn-PDA-MCF-5 was used as a hydrophilic filler in this study to prepare TFN membranes. Incorporating the nanomaterial onto the TFN-2 membrane resulted in a decrease in the water contact angle and suppression of the membrane surface roughness. The pure water permeability of 6.40 LMH bar-1 at the optimal loading ratio of 0.25 wt.% obtained was higher than the TFN-0 (4.20 LMH bar-1). The optimal TFN-2 demonstrated a high rejection of small-sized organics (>95% rejection for 2,4-dichlorophenol over five cycles) and salts-Na2SO4 (≈95%) > MgCl2 (≈88%) > NaCl (86%) through size sieving and Donnan exclusion mechanisms. Furthermore, the flux recovery ratio for TFN-2 increased from 78.9 to 94.2% when challenged with a model protein foulant (bovine serum albumin), indicating improved anti-fouling abilities. Overall, these findings provided a concrete step forward in fabricating TFN membranes that are highly suitable for wastewater treatment and desalination applications.

Surveillance, distribution, and treatment methods of antimicrobial resistance in water: A review.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recognizes antimicrobial resistance (AMR) as a serious threat to human health. Scientists warn that the world is approaching a post-antibiotic era, in which antibiotics will be ineffective, and AMR infections may become a leading cause of death worldwide. Wastewater treatment plants (WWTPs) have been identified as hotspots for the spread and reproduction of AMR. This review focuses on the fate of AMR in WWTPs and advanced water treatment processes, highlighting their removal efficiencies and limitations. Additionally, methods for monitoring AMR in WWTPs and aquatic environments are discussed. Monitoring of AMR in wastewater is crucial for tracking its presence and spread to the environment. Advanced AMR treatment processes such as membrane bioreactors (MBRs), vermifiltration (VF), advanced oxidation processes (AOPs), and membrane filtration processes (MFPs) are discussed and compared.