In this study, a novel approach is introduced involving grafting and dip coating on photocatalytic substrates to create a Z-Scheme structure of TiO<sub>2</sub>@g-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> (TC). The synthesized photocatalyst undergoes comprehensive characterization through techniques such as XRD, SEM, XPS, FTIR, Contact Angle Goniometer, and BET analysis. Two configurations, TC coated on PVDF membrane (TC-PVDF) and TC coated on Film (TC-Film), are evaluated for the photodegradation of NO<sub>x</sub> under visible light. Compared to the benchmark material TiO<sub>2</sub>, TC-PVDF nanoparticles demonstrate outstanding performance, boasting a specific surface area of 60.93 m<sup>2</sup>/g and minimal toxic NO<sub>2</sub> byproducts, with concentration as low as 3.54 ppb, constituting only 0.46% during NO<sub>x</sub> remediation. These nanoparticles exhibit remarkable stability, with less than a 10% decrease in efficiency after 5 cycles of visible light irradiation. Plasma treatment transforms TC-PVDF from superhydrophobic to hydrophilic, with a contact angle reduction from 124.7° to 0°. Notably, TC-PVDF shows substantial efficiency enhancements, reaching 84.04%. This study broadens insights into catalytic bag filters, providing practical implications for their use in NO<sub>x</sub> removal. It offers innovative solutions for air purification, addressing environmental challenges and advancing sustainable technologies.

In the present work, ZnO/<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/biochar was prepared, and it was used for visible-light driven photocatalytic degradation of some colorants (methylene blue, rhodamine B, methyl orange) and some antibiotics (doxycycline, ciprofloxacin, amoxicilline). Biochar was prepared by pyrolysing <i>Phragmites australis</i> biomass. The ZnO/<i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>/biochar composite was synthesized with the alkaline hydrolysis method. The obtained materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transition electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray/elemental mapping, ultraviolet-visible-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, photoluminescence spectroscopy, nitrogen adsorption/desorption isotherms and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results show that ZnO nanoparticles with a large surface area are highly dispersed on the <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub> particle surface and biochar. The composite exhibits superior photocatalytic degradation ability toward doxycycline, a broad-spectrum antibiotic of the tetracycline compared with individual components (ZnO or <i>g</i>-C<sub>3</sub>N<sub>4</sub>) and satisfies stability after six treatment cycles. The kinetics and degradation mechanisms of doxycyline were also addressed. In addition, the present catalyst also exhibits the photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue, rhodamine B, methyl orange, ciprofloxacin and amoxicillin in visible-light regions.

Airborne carbonaceous substances in the school classroom cause an adverse effect on young children. This study attempted to find a correlation between carbons and fine particulate matters in 24 urban schools, focusing on class hours during which students can be exposed. Sampling and measurement of particulate pollutants were carried out without intentional control of classroom conditions to assess general indoor air quality. Statistical evaluation of the entire dataset showed that the average PM<sub>2.5</sub> and PM<sub>10</sub> concentrations in classrooms (22.7 μg/m<sup>3</sup> and 43.3 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) were lower than outdoors (34.0 μg/m<sup>3</sup> and 54.3 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) on a gravimetric basis. Organic carbons in the classroom were 13.7 times higher than elemental carbons. Indoor black carbon (mainly introduced from outside), of which mean concentration monitored in real-time was1.04 μg/m<sup>3</sup>, showed a high correlation coefficient (0.755) with 0.6 μm. Schools adjacent to large roads with high traffic were more vulnerable to black carbon exposure (1.3 to 2.2 μg/m<sup>3</sup>) than residential areas (0.3 to 0.8 μg/m<sup>3</sup>). Thus, careful environmental considerations are needed when managing indoor pollution and building new schools, particularly in developing and populated countries.

In this paper, the chemical and physical effects generated during the dielectric barrier discharge plasma (DBDP) process, including O<sub>3</sub>, H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, light, e*, etc., were utilized to activate the peroxydisulfate (PDS) to form SO<sub>4</sub> −•. Then, the original reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as •OH, formed in the discharge system was combined to degrade the enrofloxacin (ENR) in water, and the corresponding influencing parameters and reactive substance in the DBDP/PDS system were analyzed. From the investigation, it was found that the neutral (pH =6.5) solution was more conducive to the ENR decomposition than the acidic and alkaline solution conditions. The presence of Fe<sup>2+</sup> and Cu<sup>2+</sup> in the reaction solution could hasten the ENR degradation, whereas the addition of Cl− and the HCO<sub>3</sub> − in the solution had a negative effect. Analysis of the reactive species and quenching tests were carried out to explore the generation of H<sub>2</sub>O<sub>2</sub>, O<sub>3</sub>, •OH, and SO<sub>4</sub> −• in the DBDP/PDS system and their effects on the ENR degradation. The UV-Vis and 3D fluorescence spectra analysis were applied to demonstrate the cooperative effects of the DBDP and the PDS. The TOC and COD removals of the ENR solutions in the DBDP and the DBDP/PDS systems were also compared. Based on the intermediates analysis of the ENR degradation, three possible pathways of ENR decomposition in the synergistic system have been inferred.

In this study, the researchers evaluated the use of nano-zero-valent iron (nZVI) activated persulfate (PS) for the degradation of Rhodamine B (RhB). The effects of various operating parameters such as initial pH, and dosages of PS, nZVI and citric acid (CA) on the removal rate of RhB were investigated. The results demonstrated that at a PS dosage of 5 mmol·L<sup>-1</sup>, nZVI dosage of 0.3 g·L<sup>-1</sup>, 0.1 mmol·L<sup>-1</sup> CA, and pH of 5, the degradation rate of RhB was 94.970%. The degradation and kinetic analysis of RhB using micron-scale zero-valent iron (mZVI) and nZVI revealed that nZVI exhibited higher activity with PS due to its smaller particle size. The activation of PS by nZVI is higher compared to mZVI, and the ineffective consumption is half that of the mZVI/PS system, the TOC removal rate increased by 18.65%. Kinetic analysis indicated that under the mentioned reaction conditions, the degradation process followed a pseudo-second-order reaction model, with the highest apparent reaction rate constant (kobs). The researchers also identified active radical species in the nZVI/PS system. Additionally, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis was used to detect reaction intermediates and propose a possible degradation pathway for RhB.

Environmental pollution is experiencing an alarming surge within the global ecosystem, warranting urgent attention. Among the significant challenges that demand immediate resolution, effective treatment of industrial pollutants stands out prominently, which for decades has been the focus of most researchers for sustainable industrial development aiming to remove those pollutants and recover some of them. The liquid membrane (LM) method, specifically electromembrane extraction (EME), offers promise. EME deploys an electric field, reducing extraction time and energy use while staying eco-friendly. However, there's a crucial knowledge gap. Despite strides in understanding and applying EME, optimizing it for diverse industrial pollutants and environmental conditions remains uncharted. Future research must expand EME's applicability, assess its environmental impact versus other methods, and boost scalability, cost-effectiveness, and energy efficiency in industry. Advances in novel liquid membrane materials can enhance extraction efficiency and selectivity, aiming to provide efficient, sustainable industrial pollutant treatment. This research provides a review of the existing practices in the field of liquid membranes when coupled with the application of an electric field.

The feasibility of preparing non-sintered lightweight aggregate using textile sludge and coal fly ash as the main raw materials was investigated. Extensive experiments were conducted to analyze the effects of different coal fly ash/sludge ratio, sodium silicate addition and curing time on the performance of non-sintered lightweight aggregates (NSLWAs). The optimal preparation parameters were determined as follows: coal fly ash/cement ratio of 2.2, textile sludge addition of 20%, sodium silicate addition of 10%, and curing time of 28 days. Under these optimal preparation conditions, the cylindrical compressive strength of NSLWAs was relatively high. The test results of Zn leaching toxicity test and S content all met the relevant standards and environmental safety requirements. NSLWA has a dense internal structure with uniformly distributed grains. By analyzing the hydration reaction mechanism during the NSLWAs preparation, it can be obtained that part of Zn<sup>2+</sup> was stabilized by conversion into insoluble Ca(Zn(OH)<sub>3</sub>)<sub>2</sub>･2H<sub>2</sub>O, while the remaining part was solidified and stabilized through encapsulation and adsorption of hydration products. Furthermore, it was discovered that pozzolanic admixtures played a crucial role in the hydration and hardening process of NSLWAs, and the presence of C-S-H gel and Mullite contributed to the increase in cylinder compressive strength of NSLWAs.

Ancient civilizations long practiced sustainable and integrated water resource management. To implement groundwater sustainability policies and strategies, this study introduces ecological wisdom as a transdisciplinary integrated approach. The present study aims to present strategies for the development and evolution of ecological wisdom governing Qanat hydraulic structure (QHS) with the groundwater sustainability approach in an Iranian desert region. Thus, the constraints of the development and evolution of ecological wisdom governing QHS were extracted using the structural-interpretive model, and the strategies for their development and evolution were presented with an operational-prescriptive approach. The results indicate that 14 variables can be identified as strategic constraints for the development and evolution of QHS. Also, based on eleven extracted scenarios with strong consistency, only two highly adaptable scenarios would design strategies for developing and evolving ecological wisdom governing QHS. Therefore, Rethinking the ancient heritage and developing ecological wisdom which governs it not only manifests the ecological considerations and cultural-social values of local communities but also considers a comprehensive and transdisciplinary approach to addressing materialism and reductionism challenges as well as providing a pattern for making visible the invisible treasure and groundwater sustainability in dry regions

Membrane Bioreactors (MBR) have several advantages, but membrane fouling is a major disadvantage that prevents them from being widely used. Therefore, in the present study, the sponge was utilized as a pre-filter with coarse and fine pores in successive compartments before the membrane compartment and termed a “Hybrid-Membrane Bioreactor (H-MBR)”. In the present study, Conventional Membrane Bioreactor (C-MBR) and H-MBR were operated under similar operating conditions to evaluate the performance of H-MBR. The C-MBR experienced more frequent fouling within 60 days of operation, whereas in the H-MBR, the fouling was very low and gradual (i.e., 4.6 kPa at the end of 150 days of operation). Because of the low fouling, the need for cleaning was also eliminated for the stipulated operational period. The overall fouling rate of C-MBR and H-MBR was 5.83 kPa/d and 0.03 kPa/d, respectively. Both MBRs were good at organic pollutant removal. Because of the modification made in the present study, the H-MBR showed 14.66 times less cake layer resistance and 30 times less irreversible fouling resistance than the C-MBR. As a result, the H-MBR is effective in reducing both cake layer resistance and irreversible fouling resistance by retaining both cake-forming materials and irreversible foulants.

This work reports the use of highly efficient nanocomposite material fabricated glassy carbon electrode (Ag(NPs)/ChS/GC) in the trace detection of Pb<sup>2+</sup> using differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). A facile method yielded the silane-grafted chitosan (ChS) using 3-trimethoxyoctylsilane, and the bioderived Ag(NPs) was <i>in situ</i> decorated on the ChS composite to obtain Ag(NPs)/ChS. X-ray Diffraction (XRD) results showed the presence of Ag(NPs) within the composite material. Spherical-shaped and uniform distribution of Ag(NPs) were observed in SEM and TEM images of the nanocomposite solid. The cyclic voltammetric studies revealed a significant increase in redox peak currents (i.e., 0.1283 mA), which was obtained using the Ag(NP)/ChS/GC compared to the bare glassy carbon electrode. Further, the electrochemical determination of Pb<sup>2+</sup> showed good linearity in anodic peak current and Pb<sup>2+</sup> concentrations (5.0-80.0 <i>μ</i>g/L), and the limit of detection was 1.97 <i>μ</i>g/L. With 10-fold increase in several cationic and anionic interfering ions, oxalic acid and glycine only show interference in determination of Pb<sup>2+</sup>. The reproducibility study showed a %RSD of 2.43%, and the electrode could be efficiently used for prolonged and repetitive detection having reasonably low %RSD of 2.55%. The real water analysis showed almost 100% recovery of Pb<sup>2+</sup> in two different real water samples.