ABSTRACTWater resource recovery facilities often receive landfill leachate (LL), which can disrupt biological processes due to its toxicity and low biodegradability. This study evaluates the anaerobic codigestion (AcoD) of municipal wastewater (MWW), LL, and crude glycerin (CG) as a strategy to enhance organic matter removal and methane yield. Batch reactors were operated under varying conditions defined by a Plackett–Burman screening design, and methane production kinetics were modeled using modified Gompertz and Cone equations. Soluble chemical oxygen demand (sCOD) removal ranged from 67.4% to 94.3%, whereas methane yield varied between 0.076 and 0.349 L NCH4/g tCODadd (liters of normalized methane per gram of total COD added). The highest yield was achieved with 2% LL and 1% CG, approaching the theoretical maximum. Statistical analysis revealed that increasing CG content reduced methane yield, and extending the digestion time to 40 days offered limited performance gains. Despite the presence of inhibitory compounds, most conditions showed stable digestion, with short latency phases and effective microbial adaptation. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of codigesting MWW, LL, and CG, especially under optimized proportions, and highlight the potential for energy recovery in wastewater treatment plants using biodiesel by‐products.

ABSTRACTStudies evaluating the sedimentation of solid particles in carwash wastewater (CWW) are scarce. This research is innovative because it is the first to study solid sedimentation specifically in CWW. The motivation lies in the fact that existing parameters (for sanitary sewage) are inadequate due to the peculiar physicochemical characteristics of CWW. This study evaluated the settleability of solids present in CWW, aiming to generate empirically validated parameters to support the optimized design of sedimentation units. Granulometric characterization of the settleable material and column settling tests for total suspended solids (TSS) were performed. The granulometric analysis of the settleable solids revealed a predominance of the sandy fraction (D90% = 1.1 mm), with an average of 87.44%. This characteristic confirms the coarse texture of the retained material and its high sedimentation velocity during the first hour. The column settling tests for TSS demonstrated highly variable removal efficiency, which did not directly correlate with the initial concentration of solids or with rainfall conditions. Results indicated the need for hybrid sedimentation models to adequately represent TSS sedimentation. A surface application rate of 1.5 m·h−1 is suggested, which corresponds to an average TSS removal efficiency of approximately 80%. The adoption of specific design parameters for CWW provides greater reliability in the sizing of treatment units, supporting both operational efficiency and the economic viability of the system.

With the increase in urbanization and industrialization, the environmental quality of river basins, which serve as a crucial source of irrigation for agricultural activities, has been deteriorating progressively. Thus, monitoring persistent toxic substances in urban water resources is crucial for maintaining ecological stability and protecting human health. In recent years, particular attention has been directed toward the prevention of polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), highlighting the importance of analyzing these compounds in water samples through more environmentally sustainable techniques. In this study, we report a green, rapid, cost-effective and simple dispersive liquid-liquid extraction (DLLME) method to monitor PAHs in river waters taken from 21 stations located within the geographical boundaries of the Gediz River Basin in Izmir Province, Türkiye. Methodological parameters were optimized by chemometric techniques including Plackett-Burman (PBD) and Box-Behnken design. The method's accuracy was tested upon spiked river samples, and the recoveries ranged from 80% to 102%. The calibration curves were linear, with correlation coefficients greater than 0.98. The limit of detection values were between 0.01 and 0.05 ng mL^-1. The reproducibility (RSD%) varied from 4.0% to 19%. Multivariate classification methods such as principal component analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA), along with the supervised classification method partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were applied to elucidate the general distribution patterns of individual PAHs in the basin water samples. The chemometric evaluation conducted across four seasons revealed that PAH contamination was higher in the fall and winter months, resulting in a clear separation from spring and summer samples by using the first two principal components.

No abstract is available for this article.

ABSTRACTSecondary biological wastewater treatment is a core component of potable reuse treatment trains, but it is often uncredited for virus attenuation. This study evaluated virus log reduction values (LRVs) at two full‐scale water resource recovery facilities in Southern Nevada: one with conventional activated sludge and another with lagoon treatment. Four human enteric viruses and four fecal indicator viruses were quantified using molecular assays; culture assays quantified F‐specific and somatic coliphages. Median LRVs were low (< 1.0) for plant viruses and generally higher (> 1.0) for adenovirus and crAssphage, consistent with predictions from a solids partitioning model. The fifth percentile LRVs that often drive regulatory determinations were < 0.5 for norovirus GI/GII. For conventional activated sludge, nucleic acid decay was a significant contributor to the molecular LRVs, whereas culturable coliphage data (median LRV = 2.5) highlighted solids attachment and subsequent physical removal as a dominant mechanism. In contrast, lagoon treatment sometimes achieved LRVs > 4.0 for culturable coliphages, primarily due to temperature‐dependent inactivation. Based on the collective insight from recent studies, adoption of a broad virus LRV crediting framework for conventional activated sludge systems in potable reuse applications will require better alignment between molecular and culture methods and a deeper understanding of virus attenuation mechanisms.

ABSTRACTHigh‐pressure membrane technologies can be effective in mitigating perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination in water matrices. This review explores recent developments in both commercial (e.g., NF and RO) and novel membrane technologies, focusing on their removal mechanisms, influential factors, and challenges. Key determinants, including solution pH, PFAS molecular structure, co‐contaminants, and natural organic matter, are summarized for their impacts on PFAS removal efficiency. Novel membranes incorporating materials like graphene oxide, quaternary ammonium compounds, and metal–organic frameworks are highlighted for their potential to enhance PFAS removal, particularly the removal of short‐chain PFAS. Despite promising developments, challenges such as fouling, energy demands, and scalability necessitate further research. This review highlights the significance of lab‐scale studies and innovative designs in bridging the gap between laboratory findings and practical applications, thereby paving the way for sustainable, large‐scale PFAS treatment.

ABSTRACTAnaerobic digestion (AD) is a promising technology for treating high‐strength industrial wastewater while recovering biogas as a renewable energy source. In this study, a pilot‐scale up‐flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor, with a working volume of 225 L, was operated for 130 days to treat raw distillery wastewater. Three different types of distillery wastewater, including centrate, spent caustic, and other low‐strength process wastewater generated during operations (e.g., condensation water), were mixed to balance extreme pH levels and create conditions more suitable for AD. The UASB reactor demonstrated stable performance at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 10.0 kg COD/m3/day, achieving a COD removal efficiency of 86%. Average methane yield was more than 71% throughout the operation. Microbial community analysis revealed a significant increase in key syntrophic bacteria and methanogens, with Methanobacterium accounting for 55.8% of the archaeal population. Network and Mantel analyses indicated that syntrophic partnerships play a crucial role in enhancing AD of distillery wastewater under high OLR conditions. Overall, the UASB reactor exhibited high process stability, highlighting its potential for large‐scale application in distillery wastewater treatment.

ABSTRACTLeclercia adecarboxylata isolated from the Düden Waterfall (Turkey) was utilized as a biosorbent for the removal of Reactive Black 5 (RB5), Setazol Blue BRF‐X (BRF‐X), Setazol Navy Blue SBG (SNB), and Setazol Turquoise Blue G (STBG). Of the dyes, RB5 was removed with the highest efficiency, 97.4% after 60 min. The effect of parameters such as pH (3–9), initial biosorbent dose (0.1–2.0 g/L), and initial dye concentration (25–1200 mg/L) on the biosorption of RB5 was investigated. Increasing the biosorbent dosage from 0.1 to 2.0 g/L enhanced the RB5 removal from 55.3% to 100% within 10 min. The complete removal (100%) of RB5 was achieved in media with 2.0 g/L biosorbent and 25 mg/L RB5 at pH 3 after 10 min. Additionally, the soluble extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) of L. adecarboxylata were found to consist of proteins, lipids, nucleic acids, and polysaccharides according to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The EPS was found to play a crucial role in dye removal, forming chemical interactions with dye molecules. Zeta potential analysis was used to evaluate the charge distribution on the biosorbent surface (−12.6 ± 1.1 mV) and its interactions in the biosorption process. Kinetic and isotherm models suggested a complex interaction mechanism between the biomass and the dye. Adsorption isotherm data were analyzed via nine isotherm models. Among them, the Hill model was found to be the best fit for describing the equilibrium adsorption process of the RB5 (R2 = 0.9993). Overall, the applied models elucidated the influence of both physical and chemical interactions on the mechanism. Kinetic studies revealed that the adsorption of RB5 fit a pseudo‐second‐order kinetic model. The unique biochemical composition of the indigenous L. adecarboxylata biosorbent provided a high affinity for RB5, offering a sustainable, rapid, and economical solution for the treatment of dye‐polluted water.