Search Results (8,200)

Riverbank filtration (RBF) technology has been applied and investigated worldwide for water supplies due to its sustainable water quantity guarantee and reliable quality improvement. In this work, the development history, application status, research progress, and technical overview of RBF are reviewed and summarized. RBF usually uses rivers, lakes, and groundwater as raw water, with a few cases using seawater. Nitrogen removal in RBF systems primarily occurs through key geochemical processes such as adsorption, denitrification, organic nitrogen mineralization, and dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonium (DNRA). For the attenuation of emerging contaminants in groundwater environments, key processes such as filtration, adsorption, and biotransformation play a crucial role, and microorganisms are essential. Based on a discussion of the advantages and disadvantages, we proposed the research prospects of RBF. To further enhance the water-supply safety and security with RBF, the mechanisms of surface water and groundwater interaction, pollutant removal, and blockage; the impact of capturing surface water on the stability of river ecosystems; and the coupling and synergistic effect of RBF with other water treatment technologies should be deeply investigated. Full article

More efficient systems and renewable energies are determinants of reducing the negative impact on the environment. A novel cogeneration system is modeled for the simultaneous production of power and cooling driven by geothermal energy utilizing an ammonia–water mixture. The system can be used in rural communities by using renewable energies or in industries where waste heat is available. The system is a modification of a Goswami cycle in which a separator has been added to produce an extra amount of ammonia vapor to increase the cooling effect. Energy and exergy analyses are conducted as a function of the main operating temperatures. From the optimization, it is found that the maximum energy utilization factor is 0.54, and the exergy efficiency is 0.37, producing 81.45 kW of power and 1068 kW of cooling. A case study is also conducted for a rural community located in the estate of Jalisco, México. The proposed system is capable of preserving 3750 L of milk/day while simultaneously producing 12.53 kW of power when 230.6 kW of geothermal energy is supplied at 120 °C. Full article

This study investigates the operational efficiency of the lab-scale oxidation ditch (OD) functioning in simultaneous nitrification and denitrification modes, focusing on forecasting biochemical oxygen demand (BOD₅) concentrations over a five-day horizon. This forecasting capability aims to optimize the operational regime of aeration tanks by adjusting the specific load on organic pollutants through active sludge dosage modulation. A comprehensive statistical analysis was conducted to identify trends and seasonality alongside significant correlations between the forecasted values and various time lags. A total of 20 time lags and the “month” feature were selected as significant predictors. These models employed include Multi-head Attention Gated Recurrent Unit (MAGRU), long short-term memory (LSTM), Autoregressive Integrated Moving Average–Long Short-Term Memory (ARIMA–LSTM), and Prophet and gradient boosting models: CatBoost and XGBoost. Evaluation metrics (Mean Squared Error (MSE), Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Symmetric Mean Absolute Percentage Error (SMAPE), and Coefficient of Determination (R²)) indicated similar performance across models, with ARIMA–LSTM yielding the best results. This architecture effectively captures short-term trends associated with the variability of incoming wastewater. The SMAPE score of 1.052% on test data demonstrates the model’s accuracy and highlights the potential of integrating artificial neural networks (ANN) and machine learning (ML) with mechanistic models for optimizing wastewater treatment processes. However, residual analysis revealed systematic overestimation, necessitating further exploration of significant predictors across various datasets to enhance forecasting quality. Full article

The Sanjiang Plain (SJP) in Northeast China, a crucial black soil region, serves as a quintessential example of a high-intensity agricultural development zone and stands as China’s largest commercial grain production base. In the context of global climate change, pronounced global warming and increased vegetation greening are expected to significantly impact the agricultural water resource supply and its alignment with crop water requirements in the SJP. This study assesses how climate change and vegetation greening affect the crop water supply–demand relationship in the SJP, addressing the critical question of whether natural precipitation can sustain regional agricultural development. Using the extensively validated ESSI-3 distributed hydrological model, integrated with reanalysis and multi-source satellite data, we analyzed data from 1982 to 2018. The results indicate a statistically significant rise in the regional temperature and leaf area index (p < 0.05), with a notable shift around 2000. Key findings include (1) an increase in crop irrigation water requirements (IWR) post-2000, with significant spatial variation; the central and western regions experienced the highest increases, while the eastern region saw reduced risk to crop water security. Furthermore, (2) climate change accounted for approximately 37.9% of the increased IWR in central and western regions, with vegetation greening contributing about 21.2%. Conversely, in the eastern region, vegetation dynamics had a more pronounced effect (28.6%), while climate change contributed less (12.3%). These results suggest a shift in crop water deficit risk boundaries toward the east and north. To optimize water use, expanding high-water-demand crops in the eastern regions and reducing their cultivation in the west is recommended, enhancing alignment between natural precipitation and crop water needs. Full article

Groundwater serves as an indispensable global resource, essential for agriculture, industry, and the urban water supply. Predicting the groundwater level in karst regions presents notable challenges due to the intricate geological structures and fluctuating climatic conditions. This study examines Qingzhen City, China, introducing an innovative hybrid model, the Hodrick–Prescott (HP) filter–Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network (HP-LSTM), which integrates the HP filter with the LSTM network to enhance the precision of groundwater level forecasting. By attenuating short-term noise, the HP-LSTM model improves the long-term trend prediction accuracy. Findings reveal that the HP-LSTM model significantly outperformed the conventional LSTM, attaining R² values of 0.99, 0.96, and 0.98 on the training, validation, and test datasets, respectively, in contrast to LSTM values of 0.92, 0.76, and 0.95. The HP-LSTM model achieved an RMSE of 0.0276 and a MAPE of 2.92% on the test set, significantly outperforming the LSTM model (RMSE: 0.1149; MAPE: 9.14%) in capturing long-term patterns and reducing short-term fluctuations. While the LSTM model is effective at modeling short-term dynamics, it is more prone to noise, resulting in greater prediction errors. Overall, the HP-LSTM model demonstrates superior robustness for long-term groundwater level prediction, whereas the LSTM model may be better suited for scenarios requiring rapid adaptation to short-term variations. Selecting an appropriate model tailored to specific predictive needs can thus optimize groundwater management strategies. Full article

Water transport pipelines in the mining industry face significant corrosion challenges due to extreme environmental conditions, such as arid climates, temperature fluctuations, and abrasive soils. This study evaluates the effectiveness of three advanced inspection technologies—Guided Wave Ultrasonic Testing (GWUT), Metal Magnetic Memory (MMM), and In-Line Inspection (ILI)—in maintaining pipeline integrity under such conditions. A structured methodology combining diagnostic assessment, technology research, and comparative evaluation was applied, using key performance indicators like detection capability, operational impact, and feasibility. The results show that GWUT effectively identifies surface anomalies and wall thinning over long pipeline sections but faces depth and diameter limitations. MMM excels at detecting early-stage stress and corrosion in inaccessible locations, benefiting from minimal preparation and strong market availability. ILI provides comprehensive internal and external assessments but requires piggable pipelines and operational adjustments, limiting its use in certain systems. A case study of critical aqueducts of mining site water supply illustrates real-world technology selection challenges. The findings underscore the importance of an integrated inspection approach, leveraging the complementary strengths of these technologies to ensure reliable pipeline integrity management. Future research should focus on quantitative performance metrics and cost-effectiveness analyses to optimize inspection strategies for mining infrastructure. Full article

With the energy transition, energy supply trends indicate more autonomy for the final consumer, with a more decentralized, intelligent, and low-carbon scenario. Multigeneration technologies offer substantial socioeconomic and environmental advantages by enhancing the efficient utilization of energy resources. The main objective of this study is to develop a flexible, easy-to-use tool for the optimization of multigeneration systems (configuration and operation), focused on obtaining minimal annual costs. C++ was used for the implementation of the optimization problem, which was solved using IBM’s ILOG CPLEX Optimization Studio solver. The case study is a residential consumer center, with energy demands encompassing electricity (including electric vehicles), sanitary hot water, and coolth (air conditioning). The optimal economic solution indicates the installation of 102 photovoltaic modules and the use of biomass to produce hot water. When compared with a conventional solution, where all energy demands are met conventionally (no renewables nor cogeneration), the optimal economic solution reduced annual costs by 27% despite presenting capital costs 42% higher. Full article

The Earth abounds in water resources; however, only 0.4% of the freshwater resources are suitable for drinking. The scarcity of freshwater resources has a severe impact on the sustainable development of human society. Desalination is regarded as one of the most effective solutions. In this study, a research approach integrating materials and devices was utilized to synthesize manganese oxide-coated carbon nanospheres (CS@MnO₂). Experimental results demonstrated that the system, by combining the distinctive performance merits of the CS@MnO₂ material and the balanced desalination features, exhibited outstanding desalination performance. In the EDS elemental mapping analysis, the relatively feeble signal of carbon was ascribed to the encapsulation of MnO₂ on the outer surface of CS. Through computational TGA analysis, the mass fraction of carbon in CS@MnO₂-2 was determined to be approximately 51.2%. The excellent hydrophilicity of the material facilitated the permeation of the salt solution throughout the electrode, thereby enhancing the capacitance. CS@MnO₂-2 manifested a high salt adsorption capacity of 27.42 mg g⁻¹ and the fastest electrosorption rate of 7.81 mg g⁻¹ min⁻¹. During 50 adsorption desorption cycles, the adsorption capacity showed good results. The adsorption kinetics and adsorption isotherm fitting indicated that the desalination process involved electrostatic and multilayer adsorption. This study holds great significance for reducing the cost of desalinated water and guaranteeing a sustainable supply of freshwater resources. Full article

Vegetable production in intensive protected agriculture systems has evolved due to its intensity and economic importance. Sensors are increasingly common for decision-making in crop management and control of environmental variables, obtaining optimal yields, such as estimating vegetation indices. Innovation and technological advances in unmanned vehicle platforms have improved spatial, spectral, and temporal resolution. However, in protected agriculture systems, the use is limited due to the assumption of having controlled environmental conditions for indeterminate vegetable production. Therefore, sequential monitoring of NDVI is proposed during the 2022 and 2023 agricultural cycles using the Green Seeker^® sensor and agronomic variables. This has created a database to generate predictive models of development and yield as a function of nutrient status. The results obtained indicate high significance levels for the development and NDVI curves in all phenological stages; in contrast to the yield predictive models, this is due to the maximum values (close to one) recorded for NDVI inside the greenhouse in comparison to the yield prediction obtained from the 18th week of harvest. Evaluating the models between NDVI and agronomic variables is not an index that offers certainty in predicting yield in indeterminate crops in protected agriculture production systems. This is due to the constant optimal development in response to controlled environmental conditions, nutrient status, and water supply inside the greenhouse, without the sustainability of yield, which decreases in the final stages of production until production becomes economically unprofitable. Full article

This study introduces an integrated Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) methodology combining the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), Entropy Weight Method (EWM), and Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) to optimize the selection of municipal water supply pipeline materials. A comprehensive evaluation system encompassing thirteen criteria across technical, economic, and safety dimensions was developed to ensure balanced decision-making. The method employs a weight determination model based on Jaynes’ maximum entropy theory to harmonize subjective AHP-derived weights with objective EWM-derived weights, addressing inconsistencies in traditional evaluation approaches. This framework was validated in a case study involving a DN400 pipeline project in Jiaxing, Zhejiang Province, China, where five materials—steel, ductile iron, reinforced concrete, High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE), and Unplasticized Polyvinyl Chloride (UPVC)—were assessed using quantitative and qualitative criteria. Results identified HDPE as the most suitable material, followed by UPVC and reinforced concrete, with steel ranking lowest. Comparative analysis with alternative MCDM techniques demonstrated the robustness of the proposed method in balancing diverse factors, dynamically adjusting to project-specific priorities. The study highlights the flexibility of this approach, which can extend to other infrastructure applications, such as drainage systems or the adoption of innovative materials like glass fiber-reinforced plastic (GFRP) mortar pipes. By integrating subjective and objective perspectives, the methodology offers a robust tool for designing sustainable, efficient, and cost-effective municipal water supply networks. Full article

Piezo-photocatalysis is a promising solution to address both water pollution and the energy crisis. However, the recombination of electron–hole pairs often leads to poor performance, rendering current piezoelectric photocatalysts unsuitable for industrial water treatment. To overcome this issue, oxygen vacancies (V) and Ag nanoparticles (NPs) are introduced into Bi₄Ti₃O₁₂ (BTO) nanosheets, forming Schottky junctions (BTO-V/Ag). These 2D/3D structures offer more exposed active sites, shorter carrier separation distances, and improved piezo-photocatalytic performance. Additionally, the photothermal effect of Ag NPs supplies additional energy to counteract adsorption changes caused by active species, promoting the generation of more active species. The rate constant of the optimized BTO-V/Ag-2 in the piezo-photocatalytic degradation of nizatidine (NZTD) was 4.62 × 10⁻² min⁻¹ (with a removal rate of 98.34%), which was 4.32 times that of the initial BTO. Moreover, the composite catalyst also showed good temperature and pH response. This study offers new insights into the regulatory mechanisms of piezo-photocatalysis at the Schottky junction. Full article

Carbon nitrides are polymeric materials with a broad range of applications, including photocatalysis. Among them, graphitic carbon nitride (g-C₃N₄), a low-cost material, is an excellent photocatalyst under visible light irradiation owing to its features such as correct band positions, high stability and non-toxicity. g-C₃N₄ is a metal-free material that is easily synthesized by polymerizing nitrogen-rich compounds and is an efficient heterogeneous catalyst for many reaction procedures due to its distinctive electronic structure and the benefits of the mesoporous texture. In addition, in situ or post-modification of g-C₃N₄ can further improve catalytic performance or expand its application for remediating environmental pollution. Water pollution from organic compounds such as pesticides and pharmaceuticals is increasing dramatically and is becoming a serious problem around the world. These pollutants enter water supplies in a variety of ways, including industrial and hospital wastewater, agricultural runoff, and chemical use. To solve this problem, photocatalysis is a promising technology. Without the use of other oxidative chemicals, g-C₃N₄ uses renewable solar energy to transform harmful pollutants into harmless products. As a result, much recent research has focused on the photocatalytic activity of g-C₃N₄ for wastewater treatment. For this reason, the main objective of this paper is to contribute a chronological overview of the bibliometrics on g-C₃N₄ for the removal of pesticides and pharmaceuticals from water using the tools BibExcel, Bibliometrix and R-Studio IDE. A bibliometric analysis was performed using the Science Citation Index Expanded (WoS^©) database to analyze the scientific literature published in the field over the last 10 years. The results were used to identify limitations and guide future research. Full article

Copper is an essential trace element, yet chronic copper exposure can lead to toxicity in humans, and high levels of copper have been found in the blood or tumors of patients with various forms of cancer and may affect cancer severity and response to treatment. Copper is required for the activation of cytochrome c oxidase (CcO), the mitochondrial complex that facilitates oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS)-mediated ATP production. We recently reported that the increased activation of CcO underlies the acquisition of treatment resistance in glioblastoma (GBM) cells. However, the potential role of copper in GBM progression or treatment resistance has not been investigated. Here, we present evidence that exposure to 20 µM copper, the maximum allowable limit for public water supplies set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, promotes GBM tumor growth and reduces overall survival in vivo and increases GBM cell resistance to radiation and chemotherapy in vitro. In vitro exposure to 20 µM copper substantially increased the activity of CcO, elevated the rate and level of ATP production, and triggered a metabolic shift to an OXPHOS phenotype in GBM cells. Furthermore, copper exposure led to a substantial increase in the accumulation of glutathione and glutathione precursors in these cells. These findings establish copper as a tumor promoter in GBM and suggest that copper mediates these effects through the upregulation of CcO activity, which enhances OXPHOS metabolism and glutathione production. Full article

Mineralization of groundwater for drinking purposes is a complex parameter of groundwater chemical composition. In the Shaim oil- and gas-bearing area, as in the whole West Siberian megabasin, the main target horizon for solving the issues of domestic and technical water supply is the Oligocene aquifer. It has significant groundwater reserves to cover the needs of the population and production requirements. However, it also faces a huge anthropogenic load in the form of water withdrawal and possible contamination from the surface with oil products. In Western Siberia, various deviations in the chemical composition of groundwater of the Oligocene horizon are recorded in connection with significant water withdrawal; for example, a sharp increase in chromaticity or total iron concentration, with changes in mineralization acting as a factor necessarily accompanying these deviations. Based on the data obtained in the course of monitoring for the period from 2013 to 2023, the main factors and trends of changes in the components of mineralization of the Oligocene horizon were determined. The lithological and mineralogical peculiarities of the water-bearing rocks of the horizon, the paleogeographic conditions of its formation and their relation to trends in mineralization change were studied. Water withdrawal data were processed for two cluster water withdrawal sites (50 and 5 wells, respectively). Analysis of the results showed that the increase in water withdrawal leads to an increase in infiltration from the overlying Neogene-Quaternary aquifer, which leads to the dilution of groundwater of the Oligocene horizon and a decrease in its mineralization. Here, we show that, during further monitoring, it is necessary to pay attention to the appearance of sites where significant amounts of chloride ions are fixed in the anion composition, which can potentially lead to a sharp deterioration in the quality of drinking groundwater. Full article

Aiming at problems such as the low efficiency of renewable energy conversion and the single energy flow mode, this paper proposes a heat pump energy storage system combining cold, heat and power generation to achieve the purpose of diversified utilization of renewable energy. The system is suitable for buildings requiring cooling, heating/domestic hot water production and electricity. This paper mainly uses MATLAB for numerical calculations, selects several key cycle parameters to calculate and analyze the thermodynamic performance of the system, and uses the genetic algorithm and TOPSIS decision method to carry out fine design of the system working conditions. Through the multi-objective optimization calculation and the optimal solution, the system can achieve a total energy efficiency of 2.39 and a high thermal economic performance, indicating that the system can achieve the goals of cooling, heating water and power supply and providing ideas for the application of the multiple energy storage system. Full article