Techno-Economic Analysis of Atmospheric Water Harvesting Across Climates.

Drinking water scarcity is a global challenge as groundwater and surface water availability diminishes. The atmosphere is an alternative freshwater reservoir that has universal availability and could be harvested as drinking water. In order to effectively perform atmospheric water harvesting (AWH), we need to (1) understand how different climate regions (e.g., arid, temperate, and tropical) drive the amount of water that can be harvested and (2) determine the cost to purchase, operate, and power AWH. This research pairs thermodynamics with techno-economic analysis to calculate the water productivity and cost breakdown of a representative condensation-based AWH unit with water treatment. We calculate the monthly and annual levelized cost of water from AWH as a function of climate and power source (grid electricity vs renewable energy from solar photovoltaics (PV)). In our modeled unit, AWH can provide 1744-2710 L/month in a tropical climate, 394-1983 L/month in a temperate climate, and 37-1470 L/month in an arid climate. The levelized cost of water of AWH powered by the electrical grid is $0.06/L in a tropical climate, $0.09/L in a temperate climate, and $0.17/L in an arid climate. If off-grid solar PV was purchased at the time of purchasing the AWH unit to power the AWH, the costs increase to $0.40/L in an arid climate, $0.17/L in a temperate climate, and $0.10/L in a tropical climate. However, if using existing solar PV there are potential cost reductions of 4.25-5-fold between purchasing and using existing solar PV, and 2-3-fold between using the electrical grid and existing solar PV, with the highest cost reductions occurring in the tropical climate. Using existing solar PV, the levelized cost of AWH is $0.09/L in an arid climate, $0.04/L in a temperate climate, and $0.02/L in a tropical climate.

Removal of Aqueous Uranyl and Arsenate Mixtures after Reaction with Limestone, PO43-, and Ca2.

The co-occurrence of uranyl and arsenate in contaminated water caused by natural processes and mining is a concern for impacted communities, including in Native American lands in the U.S. Southwest. We investigated the simultaneous removal of aqueous uranyl and arsenate after the reaction with limestone and precipitated hydroxyapatite (HAp, Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2). In benchtop experiments with an initial pH of 3.0 and initial concentrations of 1 mM U and As, uranyl and arsenate coprecipitated in the presence of 1 g L-1 limestone. However, related experiments initiated under circumneutral pH conditions showed that uranyl and arsenate remained soluble. Upon addition of 1 mM PO43- and 3 mM Ca2+ in solution (initial concentration of 0.05 mM U and As) resulted in the rapid removal of over 97% of U via Ca-U-P precipitation. In experiments with 2 mM PO43- and 10 mM Ca2+ at pH rising from 7.0 to 11.0, aqueous concentrations of As decreased (between 30 and 98%) circa pH 9. HAp precipitation in solids was confirmed by powder X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive X-ray. Electron microprobe analysis indicated U was coprecipitated with Ca and P, while As was mainly immobilized through HAp adsorption. The results indicate that natural materials, such as HAp and limestone, can effectively remove uranyl and arsenate mixtures.

Seasonal atmospheric water harvesting yield and water quality using electric-powered desiccant and compressor dehumidifiers.

Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is an emerging technology for decentralized water supply and is proving to be viable for use in emergencies, military deployment, and sustainable industries. The atmosphere is a freshwater reservoir that contains 12,900 km3 of water, 6-fold more than the volume of global rivers. Dehumidification water harvesting technologies can be powered by solar, wind, or electric sources. Compressor/refrigerant-based dehumidifiers operate via dew point condensation and provide a cold surface upon which water vapor can condense. Conversely, desiccant-based technologies saturate water vapor using a sorbent that is then heated, and the supersaturated water vapor condenses on a surface when interacting with cooler ambient process air. This work compares productivity, energy consumption, efficiency, cost and quality of water produced of two water-harvesting mechanisms. Electric-powered compressor and desiccant dehumidifiers were operated outdoors for more than one year in the arid southwestern USA, where temperatures ranged from 3.1 to 43.7 °C and relative humidity (RH) ranged from 6 to 85%. The compressor system harvested >2-fold more water than the desiccant system when average RH during the run cycle was >30%, average temperature was >20 °C, and average dew point temperature was >5 °C. Desiccant systems performed more favorably when average RH during the run cycle was <30%, average temperature was <20 °C, and average dew point temperature was <5 °C. Water collected by compressor-based technologies had conductivity up to 180 µS/cm, turbidity up to 190 NTU, and aluminum, iron and manganese near or above the US EPA secondary drinking water standard. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) averaged <2 mg C/L but ranged up to 12 mg C/L. Water collected by desiccant-based technologies had significantly lower conductivity, metals, and turbidity, and DOC was always <6 mg/L. Aldehydes such as formaldehyde and acetaldehyde and carboxylic acids such as formic acid and acetic acid were primary contributors to DOC. The differences in harvested water quality were attributed to differences in the condensation method between compressor and desiccant AWH technologies. Multiple strategies could be employed to prevent these volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from contributing to DOC in harvested water, such as pretreating air to remove VOCs or post-treating DOC in harvested liquid water.

Geospatial Climatic Factors Influence Water Production of Solar Desiccant Driven Atmospheric Water Capture Devices.

Atmospheric water capture (AWC) can provide clean drinking water in locations not connected to the centralized water grid for disaster relief, rural, military, and other applications. The atmosphere contains 14% of the equivalent freshwater volume stored in lakes and rivers and is universally accessible without pipelines or dams. A growing number of solar-based materials and devices to capture water vapor off the electrical grid have been reported, all of which assume varying relative humidity, solar irradiance, and desiccant materials (e.g., silica gel, zeolite, metal organic frameworks). This work uses Monte Carlo simulations and geospatial mapping to integrate material and system parameters from literature with United States spatial and temporal climate data to pinpoint key driving parameters for solar desiccant driven AWC and forecast atmospheric water harvesting potential (L/m2/day). Solar irradiance provides energy to desorb water vapor adsorbed to desiccants and determines maximum AWC capacity with respect to location and season; 4-8 L/m2 system footprint/day can be captured across the United States in spring and summer, while capacity lowers to 0-5 L/m2/day in fall and winter. Desiccants can be designed with Langmuir specific surface area >1500 m2/g and Langmuir constant (kL) > 0.1 to adsorb water vapor and meet these maximum potentials.

Trade-offs in ecosystem impacts from nanomaterial versus organic chemical ultraviolet filters in sunscreens.

Both nanoparticulate (nZnO and nTiO2) and organic chemical ultraviolet (UV) filters are active ingredients in sunscreen and protect against skin cancer, but limited research exists on the environmental effects of sunscreen release into aquatic systems. To examine the trade-offs of incorporating nanoparticles (NPs) into sunscreens over the past two decades, we targeted endpoints sensitive to the potential risks of different UV filters: solar reactive oxygen production in water and disruption of zebrafish embryo development. First, we developed methodology to extract nanoparticles from sunscreens with organic solvents. Zebrafish embryos exposed to parts-per-million NPs used in sunscreens displayed limited toxicological effects; nZnO particles appeared to be slightly more toxic than nTiO2 at the highest concentrations. In contrast, seven organic UV filters did not affect zebrafish embryogenesis at or near aqueous solubility. Second, to simulate potent photo-initiated reactions upon release into water, we examined methylene blue (MB) degradation under UV light. nTiO2 from sunscreen caused 10 times faster MB loss than nZnO and approached the photocatalytic degradation rate of a commercial nTiO2 photocatalysts (P25). Organic UV filters did not cause measurable MB degradation. Finally, we estimated that between 1 and 10 ppm of sunscreen NPs in surface waters could produce similar steady state hydroxyl radical concentrations as naturally occurring fluvic acids under sunlight irradiation. Incorporation of NPs into sunscreen may increase environmental concentrations of reactive oxygen, albeit to a limited extent, which can influence transformation of dissolved substances and potentially affect ecosystem processes.

Recovery opportunities for metals and energy from sewage sludges.

Limitations on current wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) biological processes and solids disposal options present opportunities to implement novel technologies that convert WWTPs into resource recovery facilities. This review considered replacing or augmenting extensive dewatering, anaerobic digestion, and off-site disposal with new thermo-chemical and liquid extraction processes. These technologies may better recover energy and metals while inactivating pathogens and destroying organic pollutants. Because limited direct comparisons between different sludge types exist in the literature for hydrothermal liquefaction, this study augments the findings with experimental data. These experiments demonstrated 50% reduction in sludge mass, with 30% of liquefaction products converted to bio-oil and most metals sequestered within a small mass of solid bio-char residue. Finally, each technology's contribution to the three sustainability pillars is investigated. Although limiting hazardous materials reintroduction to the environment may increase economic cost of sludge treatment, it is balanced by cleaner environment and valuable resource benefits for society.

Transition metals and organic ligands influence biodegradation of 1,4-dioxane.

1,4-Dioxane, a contaminant increasingly detected in water supplies, is a public health concern because it is classified as a possible human carcinogen. 1,4-Dioxane can be biodegraded by aerobic bacteria via monooxygenase-catalyzed reactions. While these metalloenzymes require trace metals as cofactors in their catalytic sites, these metals may be toxic at elevated concentrations. In this study, the effects of transition metals on 1,4-dioxane biodegradation by Pseudonocardia dioxanivorans CB1190, a monooxygenase-expressing bacterium, were investigated. Dose-dependent inhibition of 1,4-dioxane biodegradation by Cd(II), Cu(II), and Ni(II) was observed, whereas Zn(II) had no measurable effect on biodegradation rates. 1,4-Dioxane biodegradation in cultures exposed to 2 mg/L Cu(II) was restored in the presence of 0.005, 0.05, and 0.5 mM alginin, 0.05, and 0.5 mM cysteine, and 0.005 mM tannin. These results indicated that specific ligands bind with transition metals and alleviate bacterial toxicity. In parallel experiments, tannin and cysteine inhibited 1,4-dioxane biodegradation, but alginin, BSA, and SRNOM did not affect the biodegradation rates. Thus, monooxygenase-catalyzed biodegradation rates are subject to interactions among transition metals and natural organic ligands in the environment. Mechanistic insights and quantitative data obtained in this study will be useful for designing bioremediation strategies at sites simultaneously contaminated with metals and organic pollutants.