Removal of Organoarsenic with Ferrate and Ferrate Resultant Nanoparticles: Oxidation and Adsorption

Prediction of enhanced coagulation with varied pre-oxidations for seasonal variations of cyanobacteria-dominated algae-laden water quality

Enhanced coagulation with pre-oxidation is a cost-effective approach for managing seasonal water quality pollution caused by algal outbreaks and deaths. The synergistic application of pre-oxidants and coagulants, coupled with intelligent and precise dosage control, constitutes a prominent research focus in water treatment field. This study evaluates the removal of various pre-oxidants, including potassium permanganate (KMnO4), KMnO4 composites (PPC), and potassium ferrate (K2FeO4), in combination with coagulants like polyaluminum chloride (PACl) and aluminum sulfate (Al2(SO4)3). A machine learning algorithm, based on the least squares support vector machine (LSSVM), was developed to predict optimal dosages. After 15 months of source water quality monitoring, algal contaminations predominantly driven by cyanobacteria-dominated became worse particularly in the high temperature and algae period and autumn, which were positively correlated with UV254 and CODMn (p < 0.05). The doses of PACl and Al2(SO4)3 were between 100 μM and 120 μM (calculated as Al) across various periods to efficiently remove organic matter. Under optimal chemical dosages, pre-oxidation facilitated the protein-like substances removal. The removal efficiency of PPC surpassed that of KMnO4 and K2FeO4. The LSSVM model demonstrated superior predictive performance for dosages compared to other models like random forest (RF) and back propagation (BP) neural networks, with feature importance analysis identifying water temperature, UV254, and conductivity as the core parameters for real-time dosing systems. This study elucidated dosing strategies alongside algae contaminations removal associated with pre-oxidation enhanced coagulation while proposing a methodology for dynamically adjusting oxidant and coagulant dosages through real-time monitoring of both raw water quality and effluent from coagulation-precipitation processes, thereby providing novel insights into precise real-time dosing for chemicals in water treatment facilities.

Low ultraviolet dose with high efficiency: Synergistic coupling of far-UVC and ferrate(VI) for ultrafast and selective degradation of micropollutants

Enhancing the reactivity and yield of reactive species to reduce the ultraviolet (UV) fluence requirement for activating ferrate (Fe(VI)) is critical for advancing UV-based Fe(VI) processes toward practical wastewater treatment applications, yet it remains challenging. Herein, we developed a far-UVC-driven Fe(VI) activation system for the efficient degradation of micropollutants. The results demonstrated that switching from conventional low-pressure UV lamps (LPUV, UV254) and UVA365 to 222 nm far-UVC achieved ultrafast degradation of carbamazepine (CBZ) at an extremely low UV dose of 29.76 mJ/cm2 under pH 8.0 conditions. The fluence-based degradation rate constants were 15.8 and 142.0 times higher than those achieved by UV254 and UVA365 photolysis of Fe(VI), respectively. This improved degradation can be attributed to the increased generation of high-valent iron intermediates [(Fe(V)/Fe(IV)] in the system. Notably, the presence of complex matrixes barely influenced CBZ degradation, and the UV222/Fe(VI) system maintained significantly enhanced performance in various real waters compared to Fe(VI) alone. Additionally, 10 structurally diverse pollutants were selected for evaluation the selectivity of the UV222/Fe(VI) system, finding that their lnkobs values correlated well with their EHOMO and vertical IP (R2 = 0.86). Overall, this study proposes a promising oxidation technology that was efficient, energy-saving, cost-effective, and selective for the rapid elimination of micropollutants.

Structural remodeling of UiO-66(Ce) into oxygen vacancy defect-rich CeO2: Enhancing selective adsorption of As(III)

Long-term exposure to arsenic-contaminated water endangers human health. Removing arsenite (As(III)) efficiently and selectively from water is challenging due to its higher toxicity and mobility than arsenate (As(V)). This study successfully synthesizes ultrasmall, defect-rich CeO2 (CeO2-D) with abundant oxygen vacancy derived from metal organic framework (MOF) UiO-66(Ce) via simple acetate etching. The structurally remodeled CeO2-D can achieve As(III) adsorption capacities of 189 mg/g at natural pH, which surpasses that of UiO-66(Ce) by 32.6-fold. At pH 11, the As(III) adsorption capacities can reach higher to 247 mg/g far beyond the literature reports. Meanwhile, in binary As(III/V) solution, CeO2-D's adsorption selectivity for As(III)/As(V) increased from 3-fold to 8-fold from natural pH to about 11. Density functional theory (DFT) results prove CeO2-D's adsorption energy for As(III) is significantly lower than As(V). CeO2-D's superior adsorption for As(III) is dominated by the synergistic effect between oxygen vacancy defects and reversible Ce3+/Ce4+ redox. Conversely, As(V) adsorption predominantly proceeds via As(V)OCe coordination bonds. This study presents a novel, simple and straightforward strategy to modify MOF structure, enabling precise control of selectivity and adsorption capacity for As(III). The CeO2-D arsenic removal strategy shows advantages in alkaline arsenic wastewater, providing a scalable, cost-effective solution for groundwater and industrial treatment.

Roles of iron (V) and iron (IV) species in ferrate-triggered oxidation of phenolic pollutants and their transformation induced by phenoxyl radical

Ferrate is a promising oxidizing agent for water treatment. Understanding the reaction characteristics and transformation mechanism of high-valent intermediate irons [Fe(V) and Fe(IV)] remains challenging. Here, we systematically investigated the roles of Fe(VI), Fe(V), and Fe(IV) species for acetaminophen oxidation using reaction kinetics, products, and stoichiometries. Acetaminophen reacts with Fe(VI) via one-electron transfer mechanism, to initiate a sequential conversion process of "Fe(VI)-Fe(V)-Fe(IV)-Fe(III)", with a stoichiometry [Δacetaminophen/Δferrate] up to 2.20:1. The stoichiometry decreased to 1.23:1 after adding pyrophosphate to sequester Fe(V) oxidation, higher than the Fe(VI)-contributed stoichiometry of 0.58:1, indicating the involvement of Fe(IV) species, not inhibited by pyrophosphate. Dimer yields and theoretical calculations demonstrated that the generated phenoxyl radical could reduce Fe(V) into Fe(IV) even in the presence of pyrophosphate, to achieve the sequential one-electron transfer process. For other phenols containing electron-donating substituents, their phenoxyl radicals could also induce the transformation of Fe(V) into Fe(IV). This organic radical-induced conversion could occur in the reaction of ferrate with natural organic matter, and enhance the effective removal of pollutants. This study highlights the interaction of phenoxyl radical with high-valent iron species, and offers new insights to guide future identification of high-valent iron species in ferrate oxidation.

Insight into the enhanced removal of dimethoate by ferrate(Ⅵ)/biochar system: Contributions of adsorption and active oxidants

Dimethoate is a toxic organophosphorus insecticide and its contamination of water poses a threat to the surrounding ecosystem. In order to enhance the removal effect of ferrate (Fe(VI)) on dimethoate, modified graphene-like biochar (SIZBC) with reduction and adsorption properties was prepared in this study. Compared with Fe(VI) alone, the removal of dimethoate by Fe(VI)/SIZBC increased from 26 % to more than 97 %, and the reaction rate was accelerated by 34 times. The oxidizing property of Fe(VI) was enhanced by the reducing groups loaded on SIZBC, and more active species were produced with the contributions ranked as SO4•¯ > ∙OH > Fe(V). And the contributions of adsorption and active oxidants in the reaction process accounted for 25 % and 75 %, respectively. Enlarging the sulfite solution concentration of modified biochar, the transformation from ∙OH/Fe(V) to SO4•¯ was promoted in the system. As the concentration of Fe(Ⅵ) increased, the contributions of ∙OH and SO4•¯ gradually decreased and Fe(V) became the main active oxidant. Fe(VI)-induced core/shell nanoparticles exhibited in situ adsorption of phosphate which was a mineralization product of dimethoate, thus total phosphorus (TP) removal was increased by 27 %. Through the three degradation pathways, dimethoate and its toxic intermediates were further mineralized to inorganic substances. Finally, the Fe(VI)/SIZBC system was proven to be feasible for actual water treatment and was able to reduce water toxicity.

VUV Activated Fe(VI) by Promoting the Generation of Intermediate Valent Iron and Hydroxyl Radicals

In this study, vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) was first proposed to activate ferrate (Fe(VI)) for degrading micropollutants (e.g., carbamazepine (CBZ)). Results indicated that VUV/Fe(VI) could significantly facilitate the CBZ degradation, and the removal efficiencies of VUV/Fe(VI) were 30.9-83.4% higher than those of Fe(VI) at pH = 7.0-9.0. Correspondingly, the degradation rate constants of VUV/Fe(VI) were 2.3-36.0-fold faster than those of Fe(VI). Free radical quenching and probe experiments revealed that the dominant active species of VUV/Fe(VI) were •OH and Fe(V)/Fe(IV), whose contribution ratios were 43.3 to 48.6% and 48.2 to 46.6%, respectively, at pH = 7.0-9.0. VUV combined with Fe(VI) not only effectively mitigated the weak oxidizing ability of Fe(VI) under alkaline conditions (especially pH = 9.0) but also attenuated the deteriorating effect of background constituents on Fe(VI). In different real waters (tap water, river water, WWTPs effluent), VUV/Fe(VI) retained a remarkably enhanced effect on CBZ degradation compared to Fe(VI). Moreover, VUV/Fe(VI) exhibited outstanding performance in the debasement of CBZ and sulfamethoxazole (SMX), as well as six other micropollutants, displaying broad-spectrum capability in degrading micropollutants. Overall, this study developed a novel oxidation process that was efficient and energy-saving for the rapid removal of micropollutants.

Promoted production of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) intermediates in the calcium peroxide/ferrate(VI) process for low-damage removal of algal contaminants and membrane fouling control

Ultrafiltration (UF) is widely employed for harmful algae rejection, whereas severe membrane fouling hampers its long-term operation. Herein, calcium peroxide (CaO2) and ferrate (Fe(VI)) were innovatively coupled for low-damage removal of algal contaminants and fouling control in the UF process. As a result, the terminal J/J0 increased from 0.13 to 0.66, with Rr and Rir respectively decreased by 96.74 % and 48.47 %. The cake layer filtration was significantly postponed, and pore blocking was reduced. The ζ-potential of algal foulants was weakened from -34.4 mV to -18.7 mV, and algal cells of 86.15 % were removed with flocs of 300 µm generated. The cell integrity was better remained in comparison to the Fe(VI) treatment, and Fe(IV)/Fe(V) was verified to be the dominant reactive species. The membrane fouling alleviation mechanisms could be attributed to the reduction of the fouling loads and the changes in the interfacial free energies. A membrane fouling prediction model was built based on a long short-term memory deep learning network, which predicted that the filtration volume at J/J0= 0.2 increased from 288 to 1400 mL. The results provide a new routine for controlling algal membrane fouling from the perspective of promoting the generation of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) intermediates.

Transformation of p-arsanilic acid by dissolved Mn(III) and enhanced arsenic removal: Mechanism, toxicity and performance in complicated water matrices

Dissolved Mn(III), as a potent one-electron transfer oxidant, is ubiquitous in natural waters and sediments and actively involved in the transformation of organics in biogeochemical processes and water treatment. However, the important role of Mn(III) has long been overlooked because of its short life. This study was the first to investigate the performance of Mn(III) in organoarsenic transformation and to highlight the environmental implications. Both homogeneous and heterogeneous Mn(III)-based systems were effective to remove p-arsanilic acid (p-ASA, 15 μM) with degradation efficiency approaching 40.4 %-98.3 %. Two degradation pathways of p-ASA were proposed, in which As-C bond and amino group were vulnerable sites to Mn(III) attack, leading to the formation of more toxic arsenate (As(V)) and nitarsone. Through transforming organoarsenic to inorganic arsenic species, the removal efficiency of total arsenic and dissolved organics were enhanced to 65.1 %-95.5 % and 16.6 %-36.6 %, respectively, by post-treatment of coagulation or adsorption, accompanied with significant reduction of cytotoxicity and environmental risks. Particularly, polymeric ferric sulfate and granular activated alumina showed superior performance in the total As removal. Moreover, oxidation efficiency of Mn(III) was hardly affected by common cations and anions (e.g., Ca2+, Mg2+, NH4+, NO3-, SO4-), halide ions (e.g., Cl-, Br-) and natural organic matter, showing high robustness for organoarsenic removal under complicated water matrices. Overall, this study shed light on the significance of Mn(III) to the fate of organoarsenics in manganese-rich environments, and demonstrated the promising potential of Mn(III)-based strategies to achieve targeted decontamination in water/wastewater purification.

Role of bipyridyl in enhancing ferrate oxidation toward micropollutants

Enhancing Fe(VI) oxidation ability by generating high-valent iron-oxo species (Fe(IV)/Fe(V)) has attracted continuous interest. This work for the first time reports the efficient activation of Fe(VI) by a well-known aza-aromatic chelating agent 2,2'-bipyridyl (BPY) for micropollutant degradation. The presence of BPY increased the degradation constants of six model compounds (i.e., sulfamethoxazole (SMX), diclofenac (DCF), atenolol (ATL), flumequine (FLU), 4-chlorophenol (4-CP), carbamazepine (CBZ)) with Fe(VI) by 2 - 6 folds compared to those by Fe(VI) alone at pH 8.0. Lines of evidence indicated the dominant role of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) intermediates. Density functional theory calculations suggested that the binding of Fe(III) to one or two BPY molecules initiated the oxidation of Fe(III) to Fe(IV) by Fe(VI), while Fe(VI) was reduced to Fe(V). The increased exposures of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) were experimentally verified by the pre-generated Fe(III) complex with BPY and using methyl phenyl sulfoxide as the probe compound. The presence of chloride and bicarbonate slightly affected model compound degradation by Fe(VI) in the presence of BPY, while a negative effect of humic acid was obtained under the same conditions. This work demonstrates the potential of N-donor heterocyclic ligand to activate Fe(VI) for micropollutant degradation, which is instructive for the Fe(VI)-based oxidation processes.

Interactions of ferrate(VI) and aquatic humic substances in water treatment

Aquatic humic substances, encompassing humic acid (HA) and fulvic acid (FA), can influence the treatment of ferrate(VI), an emerging water treatment agent, by scavenging Fe(VI) to accelerate its decomposition and hinder the elimination of target micro-pollutants. Meanwhile, HA and FA degrade the water quality through the transformation to disinfection byproducts over disinfection, contribution to water color, and enhanced mobility of toxic metals. However, the interplay with ferrate(VI) and humic substances is not well understood. This study aims to elucidate the interactions of ferrate(VI) with HA and FA for harnessing ferrate(VI) in water treatment. Laboratory investigations revealed distinctive biphasic kinetic profiles of ferrate(VI) decomposition in the presence of HA or FA, involving a 2nd order kinetic reaction followed by a 1st-order kinetic reaction. Both self-decay and reactions with the humic substances governed the ferrate(VI) decomposition in the initial phase. With increasing dissolved organic carbon (DOC), the contribution of self-decomposition to ferrate(VI) decay declined, while humic substance-induced ferrate(VI) consumption increased. To assess relative contributions of the two factors, DOC50% was first introduced to represent the level at which the two factors equally contribute to the ferrate(VI) loss. Notably, DOC50% (11.90 mg/L for HA and 13.10 mg/L for FA) exceeded typical DOC in raw water, implying that self-decay predominantly governs ferrate(VI) consumption. Meanwhile, ferrate(VI) could degrade and remove HA and FA across different molecular weight (MW) ranges, exhibiting treatment capabilities that are either better or, at least, equivalent to ozone. The ferrate(VI) treatment attacked high MW, hydrophobic organic molecules, accompanied by the production of low MW, more hydrophilic compounds. Particularly, FA was more effectively removed due to its smaller molecular sizes, higher solubility, and lower carbon contents. This study provides valuable insights into the effective utilization of ferrate(VI) in water treatment in presence of humic substances.

Ferrate(VI) assists in reducing cytotoxicity and genotoxicity to mammalian cells and organic bromine formation in ozonated wastewater

Ozonation of wastewater containing bromide (Br-) forms highly toxic organic bromine. The effectiveness of ozonation in mitigating wastewater toxicity is minimal. Simultaneous application of ozone (O3) (5 mg/L) and ferrate(VI) (Fe(VI)) (10 mg-Fe/L) reduced cytotoxicity and genotoxicity towards mammalian cells by 39.8% and 71.1% (pH 7.0), respectively, when the wastewater has low levels of Br-. This enhanced reduction in toxicity can be attributed to increased production of reactive iron species Fe(IV)/Fe(V) and reactive oxygen species (•OH) that possess higher oxidizing ability. When wastewater contains 2 mg/L Br-, ozonation increased cytotoxicity and genotoxicity by 168%-180% and 150%-155%, respectively, primarily due to the formation of organic bromine. However, O3/Fe(VI) significantly (p < 0.05) suppressed both total organic bromine (TOBr), BrO3-, as well as their associated toxicity. Electron donating capacity (EDC) measurement and precursor inference using Orbitrap ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry found that Fe(IV)/Fe(V) and •OH enhanced EDC removal from precursors present in wastewater, inhibiting electrophilic substitution and electrophilic addition reactions that lead to organic bromine formation. Additionally, HOBr quenched by self-decomposition-produced H2O2 from Fe(VI) also inhibits TOBr formation along with its associated toxicity. The adsorption of Fe(III) flocs resulting from Fe(VI) decomposition contributes only minimally to reducing toxicity. Compared to ozonation alone, integration of Fe(VI) with O3 offers improved safety for treating wastewater with varying concentrations of Br-.

Oxidation of emerging contaminants by S(IV) activated ferrate: Identification of reactive species

Studies on the Fe(VI)/S(IV) process have focused on improving the efficiency of emerging contaminants (ECs) degradation under alkaline conditions. However, the performance and mechanisms under varying pH levels remain insufficiently investigated. This tudy delved into the efficiency and mechanism of Fe(VI)/S(IV) process using sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and ibuprofen (IBU) as model contaminants. We found that pH was crucial in governing the generation of reactive species, and both Fe(V/IV) and SO4•- were identified in the reaction system. Specifically, an increase in pH favored the formation of SO4•-, while the formation of Fe(VI) to Fe(V/IV) became more significant at lower pH. At pH 3.2, Fe(III) resulting from the Fe(VI) self-decay reactedwith HSO3-to produce SO4•-and •OH. Under near-neutral conditions, the coexistance of Fe(V/IV) and SO4•- in abundance contributed to the optimal oxidation of both pollutants in the Fe(VI)/S(IV) process, with the removal exceeding 74% in 5 min. Competitive quenching experiments showed that the contributions of Fe(V/IV) to SMX and IBU destruction dimished, while the contributions of radicals increased with an increase in pH. However, this evolution was slower during SMX degradation compared to IBU degradation. A comprehensive understnding of pH as the key factor is essential for the optimization of the sulfite-activated Fe(VI) oxidation process in water treatment.

Iron-doped carbon nanotubes with magnetic enhanced Fe(VI) degradation of arsanilic acid and inorganic arsenic: Role of intermediate iron species and electron transfer

Arsanilic acid (p-AsA), a prevalently used feed additive, is frequently detected in environment posing a great threat to humans. Potassium ferrate (Fe(VI)) was an efficient way to tackle arsenic contamination under acid and neutral conditions. However, Fe(VI) showed a noneffective removal of p-AsA under alkaline conditions due to its oxidation capacity attenuation. Herein, a magnetic iron-doped carbon nanotubes (F-CNT) was successfully prepared and further catalyzed Fe(VI) to remove p-AsA and total As species. The Fe(VI)/F-CNT system showed an excellent capability to oxidize p-AsA and adsorb total As species over an environment-related pH range of 6-9. The high-valent iron intermediates Fe(V)/Fe(IV) and the mediated electron-transfer played a significant part in the degradation of p-AsA according to the probes/scavengers experiments and galvanic oxidation process. Moreover, the situ formed iron hydroxide oxide and F-CNT significantly improved the adsorption capacity for total As species. The electron-donating groups (semiquinone and hydroquinone) and high graphitization of F-CNT were responsible for activating Fe(VI) based on the analysis of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Density functional theory calculations and the detected degradation products both indicated that the amino group and the C-As bond of p-AsA were main reactive sites. Notably, Fe(VI)/F-CNT system was resistant to the interference from Cl-, SO42-, and HCO3-, and could effectively remove p-AsA and total As species even in the presence of complex water matrix. In summary, this work proposed an efficient method to use Fe(VI) for degrading pollutants under alkaline conditions and explore a new technology for livestock wastewater advanced treatment.

Oxidation of selected fluoroquinolones by ferrate(VI) in water: Kinetics, mechanism, effects of constituents, and reaction pathways

In this work, the oxidation of gatifloxacin (GAT), fleroxacin (FLE) and enoxacin (ENO) in aqueous solution by ferrate (Fe(VI)) was systemically investigated. Weak alkaline and high oxidant doses were favorable for the reaction. The pseudosecond-order rate constants were 0.18055, 0.29162, and 0.05476 L/(mg·min), and the activation energies were 25.13, 15.25, and 11.30 kJ/mol at pH = 8.00 and n(Fe(VI)):n(GAT) = 30:1, n(Fe(VI)):n(FLE) = 20:1, n(Fe(VI)):n(ENO) = 40:1 and a temperature of 25 °C. The maximum degradation rates of the GAT, FLE and ENO were 96.72%, 98.48% and 94.12%, respectively, well simulated by Response Surface Methodology. During the oxidation, the contribution of hydroxyl radicals (HO•) varied with time, whereas the final contribution was approximately 20% at 30 min. The removal efficiency was inhibited by anions by less than 10%, and cations by less than 25%, and significantly inhibited by high concentrations of humic acid. Moreover, two or three dominant reaction pathways were predicted, and the ring cleavages of quinolone and piperazine were mainly achieved through decarboxylation, demethlation and hydroxylation, and some pathways ended up with monocyclic chemicals, which were harmless to aquatic animals and plants. Theoretical calculations further proved that the reactions between FeO4- and neutral fluoroquinolone antibiotics were the major reactions. This work illustrates that Fe(VI) can efficiently remove fluoroquinolone antibiotics (FQs) in aqueous environments, and the results may contribute to the treatment of wastewater containing trace antibiotics and Fe(VI) chemistry.

Facet-dependent adsorption of aromatic organoarsenicals on hematite: The mechanism and environmental impact

Aromatic organoarsenic feed additives have been extensively used in poultry and livestock farming; however, a risk of releasing toxic inorganic arsenic exists when they are exposed to the environment. An in-depth understanding of the adsorption -migration behavior of aromatic organoarsenicals on environmental media is limited. In this study, p-arsanilic acid (p-ASA) and roxarsone (ROX) were considered as examples to systematically study their adsorption behaviors on the surface of hematite, a representative iron oxide in soil. By comparing the adsorption abilities and adsorption kinetics of hematite exposed with different facets (hexagonal nanoplates, HNPs, mainly exposed with {001} facets and hexagonal nanocubes, HNCs, exposed with {012} facets), combined with in situ shell-isolated nanoparticle enhanced Raman spectroscopy characterization and density functional theory simulation, the facet-dependent adsorption performance was observed and the mechanism revealed. The results showed that p-ASA formed a bidentate binuclear complex on HNCs and HNPs, whereas ROX formed monodentate mononuclear and bidentate binuclear configurations on the {001} and {012} facets, respectively. These differences not only lead to facet-dependent adsorption capacities but also affect their stability, as verified by sequential extraction experiments, affecting the environmental behavior and fate of aromatic organoarsenicals. This study not only provides insights into the environmental behavior of aromatic organoarsenicals but also offers theoretical support for the development of functional adsorbents and remediation strategies.

Unlocking the potential of ferrate(VI) in water treatment: Toward one-step multifunctional solutions

Ferrate(VI), though well-acknowledged for its multiple treatment functions, has traditionally found application in an auxiliary treatment of conventional water treatment trains, primarily targeting specific contaminants. However, the reactor configurations and system operations developed from this traditional approach are not optimally suited for harnessing its full multifunctionality. In contrast, an alternative process integration approach, such as process intensification, can allow for the tailored development of modular, multifunctional ferrate(VI) reactors capable of achieving various treatment objectives within a single unit. This perspective article critically analyzes and compares the two distinct development approaches for ferrate(VI) technology in water treatment. We argue that the process integration pathway represents a promising approach, given that it facilitates the reactor design to accommodate different ferrate(VI)-driven treatment processes and their interactions, while potentially accomplishing enhanced treatment efficiency, reduced costs and energy consumption, and a smaller physical footprint. The resulting system intensification and adaptability have the potential to drive technological innovation and revolution in water treatment for achieving water security.

Novel calcium hypochlorite/ferrous iron as an ultrafiltration membrane pretreatment process for purifying algae-laden water

Algal fouling has become one of the most critical factors hindering the large-scale development of membrane processes in algae-laden water treatment. Herein, novel calcium hypochlorite (Ca(ClO)2)/ferrous iron (Fe(II)) process was proposed as an ultrafiltration (UF) membrane pretreatment technology, and its effects on membrane fouling and water properties were systematically studied. Results showed that the terminal specific fluxes were significantly elevated to 0.925 and 0.933, with the maximum removal ratios of reversible resistance reaching 99.65% and 96.99% for algae-laden water and extracellular organic matter (EOM), respectively. The formation of cake filtration was dramatically delayed, accompanied by a significant reduction of the adhesion free energy, and the contaminants attached to the membrane surface were effectively decomposed. With respect to water quality, the removal ratios of OD685 and turbidity achieved 81.25-95.31% and 90.16-97.72%, individually. The maximum removal rates of DOC, UV254 and fluorescent organics in influent water reached 46.14%, 55.17% and 75.77%, respectively. Furthermore, the generated reactive species (e.g., •OH, Cl•, Cl2•- and ClO•) could efficiently degrade EOM, which appreciably reduced the electrostatic repulsion between the algal foulants while ensuring the integrity of algal cells. At the Ca(ClO)2/Fe(II) dosage of 0.04/0.24 mM, the zeta potential changed from -32.9 mV to -10.8 mV, and a large range of aggregates was formed. The macromolecules in the algal solution were significantly removed, and the proportion of micromolecular organics was increased to some extent. Coagulation of in-situ formed Fe(III) dominated the membrane fouling mitigation, and the reactive species also contributed to the improvement of filtration performance. Overall, Ca(ClO)2/Fe(II) pretreatment has an exceptional prospect for efficient degradation of algal pollutants and enhancement of UF capability.

In-depth study of the removal of Mn(II) by Fe(VI) treatment and the profound influence of NOM on floc formation and properties

The presence of manganese(II) in drinking water sources poses a significant treatment difficulty for water utilities, thus necessitating the development of effective removal strategies. Treatment by Fe(VI), a combined oxidant and coagulant, has been identified as a potential green solution; however, its effectiveness is hampered by natural organic matter (NOM), and this underlying mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we investigated the inhibitory effect of three different types of NOM, representing terrestrial, aquatic, and microbial origins, on Mn(II) removal and floc growth during Fe(VI) coagulation. Results revealed that Fe(VI) coagulation effectively removes Mn(II), but NOM could inhibit its effectiveness by competing in oxidation reactions, forming NOM-Fe complexes, and altering floc aggregation. Humic acid was found to exhibit the strongest inhibition due to its unsaturated heterocyclic species that strongly bond to flocs and react with Fe(VI). For the first time, this study has presented a comprehensive elucidation of the atomic-level structure of Fe(VI) hydrolysis products by employing Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure Spectroscopy (EXAFS). Results demonstrated that NOM strengthened single-corner and double-corner coordination between FeO6 octahedrons that were consumed by Mn(II), resulting in an increased contribution of γ-FeOOH in the core-shell structure (γ-FeOOH shell and γ-F2O3 core), thereby inhibiting coagulation effects. Furthermore, NOM impeded the formation of stable manganite, resulting in more low-valence Mn(III) being incorporated in the form of an unstable intermediate. These findings provide a deeper understanding of the complex interplay between Fe coagulants, heavy metal pollution, and NOM in water treatment and offer insight into the limitations of Fe(VI) in practical applications.

Crystal structure of di-benzyl-ammonium hydrogen (4-amino-phen-yl)arsonate monohydrate

The title salt, C14H16N+·C6H7AsNO3 -·H2O or [(C6H5CH2)2NH2][H2NC6H4As(OH)O2]·H2O, (I), was synthesized by mixing an aqueous solution of (4-amino-phenyl)-arsonic acid with an ethano-lic solution of di-benzyl-amine at room temperature. Compound I crystallizes in the monoclinic P21/c space group. The three components forming I are linked via N-H⋯O and O-H⋯O inter-molecular hydrogen bonds, resulting in the propagation of an infinite zigzag chain. Additional weak inter-actions between neighbouring chains, such as π-π and N-H⋯O contacts, involving phenyl rings, -NH2 and -As(OH)O3 functions, and H2O, respectively, lead to a three-dimensional network.

High efficiency removal of organic and inorganic iodine with ferrate[Fe(VI)] through oxidation and adsorption

I- is a halogen species existing in natural waters, and the transformation of organic and inorganic iodine in natural and artificial processes would impact the quality of drinking water. Herein, it was found that Fe(VI) could oxidize organic and inorganic iodine to IO3-and simultaneously remove the resulted IO3- through Fe(III) particles. For the river water, wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) effluent, and shale gas wastewater treated by 5 mg/L of Fe(VI) (as Fe), around 63 %, 55 % and 71 % of total iodine (total-I) had been removed within 10 min, respectively. Fe(VI) was superior to coagulants in removing organic and inorganic iodine from the source water. Adsorption kinetic analysis suggested that the equilibrium adsorption amount of I- and IO3- were 11 and 10.1 μg/mg, respectively, and the maximum adsorption capacity of IO3- by Fe(VI) resulted Fe(III) particles was as high as 514.7 μg/mg. The heterogeneous transformation of Fe(VI) into Fe(III) effectively improved the interaction probability of IO3- with iron species. Density functional theory (DFT) calculation suggested that the IO3- was mainly adsorbed in the cavity (between the γ-FeOOH shell and γ-Fe2O3 core) of Fe(III) particles through electrostatic adsorption, van der Waals force and hydrogen bond. Fe(VI) treatment is effective for inhibiting the formation of iodinated disinfection by-products in chlor(am)inated source water.

Enhanced adsorption of roxarsone on iron-nitrogen co-doped biochar from peanut shell: Synthesis, performance and mechanism

Efficient removal of organic arsenic (roxarsone, ROX) from wastewater is highly demanded on the purpose of human health and environmental protection. This work aims to prepare Fe-N co-doped biochar (Fe-N-BC) via one-pot hydrothermal method using waste peanut shell, FeCl3·6H2O and urea, followed by pyrolysis. The effect of Fe-N co-doping on biochar's physicochemical properties, and adsorption performance for ROX were systematically investigated. At the pyrolysis temperature of 650 °C, Fe-N-BC-650 shows a significantly increased specific surface area of 358.53 m2/g with well-developed micro-mesoporous structure. Its adsorption capacity for ROX reaches as high as 197.32 mg/g at 25 °C, with > 90 % regeneration efficiency after multiple adsorption-desorption cycles. Correlation and spectral analysis revealed that the pore filling, π-π interactions, as well as hydrogen bonding play the dominant role in ROX adsorption. These results suggest that the Fe-N co-doped biochar shows great potential in the ROX removal from wastewater with high efficiency.

Using Fe(II)/Fe(VI) activated peracetic acid as pretreatment of ultrafiltration for secondary effluent treatment: Water quality improvement and membrane fouling mitigation

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a technology commonly used to treat secondary effluents in wastewater reuse; however, it faces two main challenges: 1) membrane fouling and 2) inadequate nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and organic micropollutants (OMPs) removal. To address these two issues, in this study, we applied peracetic acid (PAA), Fe(VI)/PAA, and Fe(II)/PAA as UF pretreatments. The results showed that the most effective pretreatment was Fe(II)/200 μM PAA, which reduced the total fouling resistance by 90.2%. In comparison, the reduction was only 29.7% with 200 μM PAA alone and 64.3% with Fe(VI)/200 μM PAA. Fe(II)/200 μM PAA could effectively remove fluorescent components and hydrophobic organics in effluent organic matter (EfOM), and enhance the repulsive force between foulants and membrane (according to XDLVO analysis), and consequently, mitigate pore blocking and delay cake layer formation. Regarding pollutant removal, Fe(II)/200 μM PAA effectively degraded OMPs (>85%) and improved P removal by 58.2% via in-situ Fe(Ⅲ) co-precipitation. The quencher and probe experiments indicated that FeIVO2+, •OH, and CH3C(O)OO•/CH3C(O)O• all played important roles in micropollutant degradation with Fe(II)/PAA. Interestingly, PAA oxidation produced highly biodegradable products such as acetic acid, which significantly elevated the BOD5 level and increased the BOD5/total nitrogen (BOD5/TN) ratio from 0.8 to 8.6, benefiting N removal with subsequent denitrification. Overall, the Fe(II)/PAA process exhibits great potential as a UF pretreatment to control membrane fouling and improve water quality during secondary effluent treatment.

Key role of Fe(VI)-activated Bi2WO6 in the photocatalytic oxidation of sulfonamides: Mediated electron transfer mechanism

The widespread use of sulfonamides (SAs) in animals and human infections has raised significant concerns regarding their presence in ambient waterways and potential for inducing antimicrobial resistance. Herein, we report on the capacity of ferrate (VI) (Fe^VIO₄^2-, Fe(VI)) to facilitate the photocatalytic degradation of sulfamethazine (SMT) via bismuth tungstate (Bi₂WO₆, BWO) under blue LED light (Vis/BWO/Fe(VI)) exposure, at rates that were 45-fold faster than BWO photocatalysis. Both the stepwise and time-series addition of Fe(VI) contributed to the degradation. Multiple lines of evidence confirmed that the common reactive species (RSs) in BWO-based photocatalytic systems and Fe(VI)-involved systems (e.g., •OH/h⁺, O₂^•-, ¹O₂ and Fe(V)/Fe(IV)) played subtle roles in our study system. Herein, for the first time, it was discovered that the precursor complex (BWO-Fe(V)/Fe(IV)* )) was the main contributor to induce electron transfer of SAs through the "conductive bridge" effect of BWO. The studied system was able to effectively degrade SMT in synthetic hydrolyzed urine (SHU) with low interference from background substances in water. This work not only offers a novel facilitation strategy for BWO, but also holds a great application prospect for contamination remediation in urine.

Insights into oxidation of pentachlorophenol (PCP) by low-dose ferrate(VI) catalyzed with α-Fe2O3 nanoparticles

In this study, the catalytic performance of α-Fe₂O₃ nanoparticles (nα-Fe₂O₃) in the low-dose ferrate (Fe(VI)) system was systematically studied through the degradation of pentachlorophenol (PCP). Based on the established quadratic functions between nα-Fe₂O₃ amount and observed pseudo first-order rate constant (k_obs), two linear correlation equations were offered to predict the optimum catalyst dosage and the maximum k_obs at an applied Fe(VI) amount. Moreover, characterization and cycling experiments showed that nα-Fe₂O₃ has good stability and recyclability. According to the results of reactive species identification and quenching experiment and galvanic oxidation process, the catalytic mechanism was proposed that Fe(III) on the surface of nα-Fe₂O₃ may react with Fe(VI) to enhance the generation of highly reactive Fe(IV)/Fe(V) species, which rapidly extracted a single electron from PCP molecule for its further reaction. Besides, two possible PCP degradation pathways, i.e., single oxygen transfer mediated hydroxylation and single electron transfer initiated polymerization were proposed. The formation of coupling products that are prone to precipition and separation was largely improved. This study proved that nα-Fe₂O₃ can effectively catalyze PCP removal at low-dose Fe(VI), which provides some support for the application of Fe(VI) oxidation technology in water treatment in the context of low-carbon emissions.

Reduction of byproduct formation and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells during post-chlorination by the combined pretreatment of ferrate(VI) and biochar

Ferrate [Fe(VI)] can efficiently degrade various pollutants in wastewater. Biochar application can reduce resource use and waste emission. This study investigated the performance of Fe(VI)/biochar pretreatment to reduce disinfection byproducts (DBPs) and cytotoxicity to mammalian cells of wastewater during post-chlorination. Fe(VI)/biochar was more effective at inhibiting the cytotoxicity formation than Fe(VI) alone, reducing the cytotoxicity from 12.7 to 7.6 mg-phenol/L. The concentrations of total organic chlorine and total organic bromine decreased from 277 to 130 μg/L and from 51 to 39 μg/L, compared to the samples without pretreatment. Orbitrap ultra-high resolution mass spectrometry revealed that the number of molecules of DBPs decreased substantially from 517 to 229 by Fe(VI)/biochar, with the greatest reduction for phenols and highly unsaturated aliphatic compounds. In combination with the substantial reduction of 1Cl-DBPs and 2Cl-DBPs, 1Br-DBPs and 2Br-DBPs were also reduced. Fluorescence excitation-emission matrix coupled with parallel factor analysis suggested that fulvic acid-like substances and aromatic amino acid was obviously reduce likely due to the enhanced oxidation of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) produced by Fe(VI)/biochar and adsorption of biochar. Furthermore, the DBPs generated by electrophilic addition and electrophilic substitution of precursors were reduced. This study shows that Fe(VI)/biochar pretreatment can effectively reduce cytotoxicity formation during post-chlorination by transforming DBPs and their precursors.

Highly efficient removal of phosphonates by ferrate-induced oxidation coupled with in situ coagulation

Phosphonates, as a kind of important organic phosphorus in wastewater, should be removed in terms of their environmental risks. Unfortunately, traditional biological treatments fail to remove phosphonates effectively due to their biological inertness. The reported advanced oxidation processes (AOPs) usually require pH adjustment or coupling with other technologies to achieve high removal efficiency. Thus, a simple and efficient method for phosphonate removal is urgently needed. Herein, ferrate was found to remove phosphonates effectively in one-step under near-neutral circumstances by coupling oxidation and in-situ coagulation. Nitrilotrimethyl-phosphonic acid (NTMP), a typical phosphonate, could be efficiently oxidized by ferrate to release phosphate. The fraction of phosphate release increased with increasing ferrate dosage and reached 43.1% when 0.15 mM ferrate was added. Fe(VI) was responsible for NTMP oxidation, while Fe(V), Fe(IV) and ⋅OH played a minor role. Ferrate-induced phosphate release facilitated total phosphorus (TP) removal, because the phosphate is more easily removed via ferrate-resultant Fe(III) coagulation than the phosphonates. The coagulation removal of TP could reach up to 90% within 10 min. Furthermore, ferrate exerted high removal efficiencies for other commonly used phosphonates with approximately or up to 90% TP removal. This work provides a one-step efficient method to treat phosphonate-containing wastewaters.

Efficient removal of p-arsanilic acid and arsenite by Fe(II)/peracetic acid (Fe(II)/PAA) and PAA processes

The widespread occurrence of p-arsanilic acid (p-ASA) in natural environments poses big threats to the biosphere due to the generation of toxic inorganic arsenic (i.e., As(III) and As(V), especially As(III) with higher toxicity and mobility). Oxidation of p-ASA or As(III) to As(V) followed by precipitation of total arsenic using Fe-based advanced oxidation processes demonstrated to be a promising approach for the treatment of arsenic contamination. This study for the first time investigated the efficiency and inherent mechanism of p-ASA and As(III) oxidation by Fe(II)/peracetic acid (Fe(II)/PAA) and PAA processes. p-ASA was rapidly degraded by the Fe(II)/PAA process within 20 s at neutral to acidic pHs under different conditions, while it was insignificantly degraded by PAA oxidation alone. Lines of evidence suggested that hydroxyl radicals and organic radicals generated from the homolytic OO bond cleavage of PAA contributed to the degradation of p-ASA in the Fe(II)/PAA process. p-ASA was mainly oxidized to As (V), NH₄⁺, and p-aminophenol by the Fe(II)/PAA process, wherein the aniline group and its para position were the most vulnerable sites. As(III) of concern was likely generated as an intermediate during p-ASA oxidation and it could be readily oxidized to As(V) by the Fe(II)/PAA process as well as PAA alone. The in-depth investigation demonstrated that PAA alone was effective in the oxidation of As(III) under varied conditions with a stoichiometric molar ratio of 1:1. Efficient removal (> 80%) of total arsenic during p-ASA oxidation by Fe(II)/PAA process or during As(III) oxidation by PAA process with additional Fe(III) in synthetic or real waters were observed, mainly due to the adsorptive interactions of amorphous ferric (oxy)hydroxide precipitates. This study systematically investigates the oxidation of p-ASA and As(III) by the Fe(II)/PAA and PAA processes, which is instructive for the future development of arsenic remediation technology.

Modifications to microplastics by potassium ferrate(VI): impacts on sorption and sinking capability in water treatment

Pre-treatment (oxidation) may induce potential modifications to microplastics (MPs), further affecting their behaviors and removal efficiency in drinking water treatment plants. Herein, potassium ferrate(VI) oxidation was tested as a pre-treatment for MPs with four polymer types and three sizes each. Surface oxidation occurred with morphology destruction and oxidized bond generation, which were prosperous under low acid conditions (pH 3). As pH increased, the generation and attachment of nascent state ferric oxides (Fe_xO_x) gradually became dominant, making MP-Fe_xO_x complexes. These Fe_xO_x were identified as Fe(III) compounds, including Fe₂O₃ and FeOOH, firmly attaching to the MP surface. Using ciprofloxacin as the targeted organic contaminant, the presence of Fe_xO_x enhanced MP sorption dramatically, e.g., the kinetic constant K_f of ciprofloxacin raised from 0.206 (6.5 μm polystyrene) to 1.062 L g^-1 (polystyrene-Fe_xO_x) after oxidation at pH 6. The sinking performance of MPs was enhanced, especially for small MPs (< 10 μm), which could be attributed to the increasing density and hydrophilicity. For instance, the sinking ratio of 6.5 μm polystyrene increased by 70% after pH 6 oxidation. In general, ferrate pre-oxidation possesses multiple enhanced removals of MPs and organic contaminants through adsorption and sinking, reducing the potential risk of MPs.

Removing emerging e-waste pollutant DTFPB by synchronized oxidation-adsorption Fenton technology

Liquid crystal monomers (LCMs), an emerging group of organic pollutants related to electronic waste, have been frequently detected from various environmental matrices, including landfill leachate. The persistence of LCMs requires robust technology for remediation. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the feasibility, performance and mechanism of the remediation of a typical LCM 4-[difluoro(3,4,5-trifluorophenoxy)methyl]- 3,5-difluoro-4'-propylbiphenyl (DTFPB) via synchronized oxidation-adsorption (SOA) Fenton technology and verify its application in DTFPB-contaminated leachate. The SOA Fenton system could effectively degrade 93.5% of DTFPB and 5.6% of its total organic carbon (TOC_DTFPB) by hydroxyl radical oxidation (molar ratio of Fe²⁺ to H₂O₂ of 1/4 and pH 2.5-3.0) following a pseudo-first-order model under 0.378 h^-1. Additionally, synchronized adsorption of DTFPB and its degradation intermediates by in situ resultant ferric particles via hydrophobic interaction, complexation, and coprecipitation contributed to almost 100% of DTFPB and 33.4% of TOC_DTFPB removal. Three possible degradation pathways involving eight products were proposed, and hydrophobic interactions might drive the adsorption process. It was first confirmed that the SOA Fenton system exhibited good performance in eliminating DTFPB and byproducts from landfill leachate. This study provides new insights into the potential of the Fenton process for the treatment of emerging LCMs contamination in wastewater.

Machine learning approaches to predict the apparent rate constants for aqueous organic compounds by ferrate

The apparent second-order rate constant with hexavalent ferrate (Fe(VI)) (k_Fe(VI)) is a key indicator to evaluate the removal efficiency of a molecule by Fe(VI) oxidation. k_Fe(VI) is often determined by experiment, but such measurements can hardly catch up with the rapid growth of organic compounds (OCs). To address this issue, in this study, a total of 437 experimental second-order k_Fe(VI) rate constants at a range of conditions (pH and temperature) were used to train four machine learning (ML) algorithms (lasso regression (LR), ridge regression (RR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and the light gradient boosting machine (LightGBM)). Using the Morgan fingerprint (MF)) of a range of organic compounds (OCs) as the input, the performance of the four algorithms was comprehensively compared with respect to the coefficient of determination (R²) and root-mean-square error (RMSE). It is shown that the RR, XGBoost, and LightGBM models displayed generally acceptable performance k_Fe(VI) (R²_test > 0.7). In addition, the shapely additive explanation (SHAP) and feature importance methods were employed to interpret the XGBoost/LightGBM and RR models, respectively. The results showed that the XGBoost/LightGBM and RR models suggestd pH as the most important predictor and the tree-based models elucidate how electron-donating and electron-withdrawing groups influence the reactivity of the Fe(VI) species. In addition, the RR model share eight common features, including pH, with the two tree-based models. This work provides a fast and acceptable method for predicting k_Fe(VI) values and can help researchers better understand the degradation behavior of OCs by Fe(VI) oxidation from the perspective of molecular structure.

Influence of Humic Acids on the Removal of Arsenic and Antimony by Potassium Ferrate

Although the removal ability of potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) on aqueous heavy metals has been confirmed by many researchers, little information focuses on the difference between the individual and simultaneous treatment of elements from the same family of the periodic table. In this project, two heavy metals, arsenic (As) and antimony (Sb) were chosen as the target pollutants to investigate the removal ability of K₂FeO₄ and the influence of humic acid (HA) in simulated water and spiked lake water samples. The results showed that the removal efficiencies of both pollutants gradually increased along the Fe/As or Sb mass ratios. The maximum removal rate of As(III) reached 99.5% at a pH of 5.6 and a Fe/As mass ratio of 4.6 when the initial As(III) concentration was 0.5 mg/L; while the maximum was 99.61% for Sb(III) at a pH of 4.5 and Fe/Sb of 22.6 when the initial Sb(III) concentration was 0.5 mg/L. It was found that HA inhibited the removal of individual As or Sb slightly and the removal efficiency of Sb was significantly higher than that of As with or without the addition of K₂FeO₄. For the co-existence system of As and Sb, the removal of As was improved sharply after the addition of K₂FeO₄, higher than Sb; while the latter was slightly better than that of As without K₂FeO₄, probably due to the stronger complexing ability of HA and Sb. X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), X-ray diffractometer (XRD), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were used to characterize the precipitated products to reveal the potential removal mechanisms based on the experimental results.

Highly Efficient Utilization of Ferrate(VI) Oxidation Capacity Initiated by Mn(II) for Contaminant Oxidation: Role of Manganese Species

Manganese ion [Mn(II)] is a background constituent existing in natural waters. Herein, it was found that only 59% of bisphenol A (BPA), 47% of bisphenol F (BPF), 65% of acetaminophen (AAP), and 49% of 4-tert-butylphenol (4-tBP) were oxidized by 20 μM of Fe(VI), while 97% of BPA, 95% of BPF, 96% of AAP, and 94% of 4-tBP could be oxidized by the Fe(VI)/Mn(II) system [20 μM Fe(VI)/20 μM Mn(II)] at pH 7.0. Further investigations showed that bisphenol S (BPS) was highly reactive with reactive iron species (RFeS) but was sluggish with reactive manganese species (RMnS). By using BPS and methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) as the probe compounds, it was found that reactive iron species contributed primarily for BPA oxidation at low Mn(II)/Fe(VI) molar ratios (below 0.1), while reactive manganese species [Mn(VII)/Mn(III)] contributed increasingly for BPA oxidation with the elevation of the Mn(II)/Fe(VI) molar ratio (from 0.1 to 3.0). In the interaction of Mn(II) and Fe(VI), the transfer of oxidation capacity from Fe(VI) to Mn(III), including the formation of Mn(VII) and the inhibition of Fe(VI) self-decay, improved the amount of electron equivalents per Fe(VI) for BPA oxidation. UV-vis spectra and dominant transformation product analysis further revealed the evolution of iron and manganese species at different Mn(II)/Fe(VI) molar ratios.

Characteristics and mechanisms of As(III) removal by potassium ferrate coupled with Al-based coagulants: Analysis of aluminum speciation distribution and transformation

This study was carried out to investigate the enhanced removal of arsenite (As(III)) by potassium ferrate (K₂FeO₄) coupled with three Al-based coagulants, which focused innovatively on the distribution and transformation of hydrolyzed aluminum species as well as the mechanism of K₂FeO₄ interacted with different aluminum hydrolyzed polymers during As(III) removal. Results demonstrated that As(III) removal efficiency could be substantially elevated by K₂FeO₄ coupled with three Al-based coagulants treatment and the optimum As(III) removal effect was occurred at pH 6 with more than 97%. K₂FeO₄ showed a great effect on the distribution and transformation of aluminum hydrolyzed polymers and then coupled with a variety of aluminum species produced by the hydrolysis of aluminum coagulants for arsenic removal. During enhanced coagulation, arsenic removal by AlCl₃ was main through the charge neutralization of in situ Al₁₃ and the sweep flocculation of Al(OH)₃, while PACl₁ mainly depended on the charge neutralization of preformed Al₁₃ and the bridging adsorption of Al₁₃ aggregates, whereas PACl₂ mainly relied on the sweep flocculation of Al(OH)₃. This study provided a new insight into the distribution and transformation of aluminum species for the mechanism of As(III) removal by K₂FeO₄ coupled with different Al-based coagulants.

Mutual activation between ferrate and calcium sulfite for surface water pre-treatment and ultrafiltration membrane fouling control

In this work, ferrate (Fe(VI)) and calcium sulfite (CaSO₃) were combined to treat surface water for improving ultrafiltration (UF) performance. During the pre-treatment process, the Fe(VI) and CaSO₃ activated each other and a variety of active species (Fe(V), Fe(IV), OH, SO₄^-, ¹O₂, etc.) were generated. All of the five fluorescent components were effectively eliminated to different extents. With Fe(VI)/CaSO₃ = 0.05/0.15 mM, the dissolved organic carbon and UV₂₅₄ reduced by 44.33 % and 50.56 %, respectively. After UF, these values were further decreased with the removal rate of 50.27 % and 70.79 %. In the UF stage, the terminal J/J₀ increased to 0.42 from 0.17, with the reversible and irreversible fouling decreased by 67.08 % and 79.45 % at most. The membrane pore blocking was significantly mitigated, as well as the foulants deposition on membrane surfaces was decreased to some extent. The complete blocking was altered to standard blocking and intermediate blocking, the volume when entering cake filtration was also delayed slightly. The extended Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek theory was employed to judge the interface fouling behavior, and the results indicated that the foulants became more hydrophilic, as well as the adhesion trend between foulants and membrane surface was weakened. Overall, these results provide a theoretical foundation for the practical application of the combined Fe(VI)/CaSO₃-UF process in surface water purification.

The efficient degradation of diclofenac by ferrate and peroxymonosulfate: performances, mechanisms, and toxicity assessment

In this study, the degradation efficiency and reaction mechanisms of diclofenac (DCF), a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, by the combination of ferrate (Fe(VI) and peroxymonosulfate (PMS) (Fe(VI)/PMS) were systematically investigated. The higher degradation efficiency of DCF in Fe(VI)/PMS system can be obtained than that in alone persulfate (PS), Fe(VI), PMS, or the Fe(VI)/PS process at pH 6.0. DCF was efficiently removed in Fe(VI)/PMS process within a wide range of pH values from 4.0 to 8.0, with higher degradation efficiency in acidic conditions. The increasing reaction temperature (10 to 30 ℃), Fe(VI) dose (6.25 to 100 µM), or PMS concentration (50 to 1000 µM) significantly enhanced the DCF degradation. The existences of HCO₃¯, Cl¯, and humic acid (HA) obviously inhibited the DCF removal. Electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR), free radical quenching, and probing experiments confirmed the existence of sulfate radicals (SO₄^•¯), hydroxyl radicals (^•OH), and Fe(V)/ Fe(IV), which are responsible for DCF degradation in Fe(VI)/PMS system. The variations of TOC removal ratio reveal that the adsorption of organics with ferric particles, formed in the reduction of Fe(VI), also were functioned in the removal process. Sixteen DCF transformation byproducts were identified by UPLC-QTOF/MS, and the toxicity variation was evaluated. Consequently, eight reaction pathways for DCF degradation were proposed. This study provides theoretical basis for the utilization of Fe(VI)/PMS process.

Highly efficient removal of arsenate and arsenite with potassium ferrate: role of in situ formed ferric nanoparticle

It is well known the capacity of potassium ferrate (Fe(VI)) for the oxidation of pollutants or co-precipitation and adsorption of hazardous species. However, little information has been paid on the adsorption and co-precipitation contribution of the Fe(VI) resultant nanoparticles, the in situ hydrolytic ferric iron oxides. Here, the removal of arsenate (As(V)) and arsenite (As(III)) by Fe(VI) was investigated, which focused on the interaction mechanisms of Fe(VI) with arsenic, especially in the contribution of the co-precipitation and adsorption of its hydrolytic ferric iron oxides. pH and Fe(VI) played significant roles on arsenic removal; over 97.8% and 98.1% of As(V) and As(III) removal were observed when Fe(VI):As(V) and Fe(VI):As(III) were 24:1 and 16:1 at pH 4, respectively. The removal of As(V) and As(III) by in situ and ex situ formed hydrolytic ferric iron oxides was examined respectively. The results revealed that As(III) was oxidized by Fe(VI) to As(V), and then was removed though co-precipitation and adsorption by the hydrolytic ferric iron oxides with the contribution content was about 1:3. For As(V), it could be removed directly by the in situ formed particles from Fe(VI) through co-precipitation and adsorption with the contribution content was about 1:1.5. By comparison, As(III) and As(V) were mainly removed through adsorption by the 30-min hydrolytic ferric iron oxides during the ex situ process. The hydrolytic ferric iron oxides size was obviously different in the process of in situ and ex situ, possessing abundant and multiple morphological structures ferric oxides, which was conducive for the efficient removal of arsenic. This study would provide a new perspective for understanding the potential of Fe(VI) treatment on arsenic control.

Activation of peroxymonosulfate by palygorskite-mediated cobalt-copper-ferrite nanoparticles for bisphenol S degradation: Influencing factors, pathways and toxicity evaluation

Peroxymonosulfate (PMS)-based advanced oxidation process is considered a potential technology for water treatment. Here, palygorskite (PAL)-mediated cobalt-copper-ferrite nanoparticles (16%-CoCu_0.4Fe_1·6O₄@PAL, donated as 16%-CCFO@PAL) were employed for PMS activation to remove bisphenol S (BPS). BPS degradation was greater than 99% under the optimal conditions within 25 min, on which the effects of various influencing factors were explored. The adsorption dissociation energy of PMS over 16%-CCFO@PAL was -6.27 eV, which was lower than that of the Cu-free catalyst (-6.15 eV), demonstrating the excellent catalytic ability of 16%-CCFO@PAL. The efficient catalytic ability of 16%-CCFO@PAL was also verified in real water samples. The oxidation intermediates were identified and their generations were systematically analyzed by DFT calculations. The possible degradation pathways of BPS were proposed and the toxicity of products was predicted. BPS affected the normal development of zebrafish embryos and the levels of sex hormone in adult male zebrafish, and was harmful to the tissues, such as testis, liver, and intestine of zebrafish. The 16%-CCFO@PAL/PMS process can effectively reduce the toxicity of BPS-polluted water. This study paves the way for the real application of 16%-CCFO@PAL/PMS oxidation process and provides a new perspective for the evaluation of water toxicity.

Enhancing ultrafiltration of algal-rich water using ferrate activated with sodium percarbonate: Foulants variation, membrane fouling alleviation, and collaborative mechanism

Ultrafiltration (UF) is a reliable method to treat algal-rich water, whereas severe membrane fouling has impeded its actual application. To improve UF performance and alleviate membrane fouling resulted by algal foulants, a novel strategy coupling ferrate (Fe(VI)) and sodium percarbonate (SPC) was proposed. During the coupling process, Fe(VI) was activated by SPC to generate high-valent Fe intermediates (Fe(V) and Fe(IV)), which played a crucial role in high-efficiency oxidation for algal foulants, and the in-situ formed Fe(III) particles decomposed by Fe(VI) also enhanced the coagulation and adsorption capacity to the coupling system. Under the triple effects of coagulation, adsorption and oxidation, the algal foulants were efficiently eliminated. The zeta potential increased from -32.70 mV to -6.56 mV at most, the particle size was significantly enlarged, and the generated flocs possessed a great settleability. The morphology, viability, and integrity of algae cells were effectively maintained. The dissolved organic matters and fluorescent organics were efficiently removed, as well as macromolecular organics were reduced into lower molecular weight components. With the collaborative effect of Fe(VI) and SPC, the terminal specific flux was increased from 0.29 to 0.92, and the reversible and irreversible fouling resistances were reduced by 98.5% and 69.4%, individually. The surface functional groups were changed, and the dominant mechanisms were also converted to pore blocking from cake layer filtration. Overall, the experimental results would provide some new thoughts in actual production for algal-rich water treatment and UF membrane fouling alleviation.

Oxidation and coagulation/adsorption dual effects of ferrate (VI) pretreatment on organics removal and membrane fouling alleviation in UF process during secondary effluent treatment

Ultrafiltration (UF) has been widely used in water and advanced sewage treatment. Unfortunately, membrane fouling is still the main obstacle to further improvement in the system. Fe (III) salt, a type of traditional coagulant, is often applied to mitigate UF membrane fouling. However, low molecule organic weight cannot be effectively removed, thus the water quality after single coagulation treatment does not effectively meet the standard of subsequent water reuse during secondary effluent treatment. Recently, it has been found that potassium ferrate (Fe (VI)) has multiple functions of oxidation, sterilization and coagulation, with other studies proving its good performance in organics removal and membrane fouling mitigation. However, the respective contributions of oxidation and coagulation/adsorption have not yet been fully understood. The oxidation and coagulation/adsorption effects of Fe (VI) during membrane fouling mitigation were investigated here. The oxidation effect of Fe (VI) was the main reason for organics with the MW of 8-20 kDa removal, and its coagulation/adsorption mainly accounted for the smaller amounts of molecular organics removed. The oxidation of Fe (VI) was the main method for overcoming membrane fouling in the initial filtration; it largely alleviated the standard blockage. The formation of a cake layer transformed the main membrane fouling alleviation mechanism from oxidation to coagulation/adsorption and further removed smaller amounts of molecule organics with the increase of filtration cycles and Fe (VI) dosages. The main fouling mechanism altered from standard blocking and cake filtration to only cake filtration after Fe (VI) treatment. Overall, the mechanism of the oxidation and coagulation/adsorption of Fe (VI) were differentiated, and would provide a reference for future Fe (VI) pretreatment in UF membrane fouling control during water and wastewater treatments.

Occurrence of Iodophenols in Aquatic Environments and the Deiodination of Organic Iodine with Ferrate(VI)

Toxic and odorous iodophenols are commonly identified as disinfection by-products (DBPs) in drinking water. Herein, ng/L levels of iodophenols were identified in river water, wastewater treatment plant effluent, and medical wastewater, with the simultaneous identification of μg/L to mg/L levels of iodide (I^-) and total organic iodine (TOI). Oxidation experiment suggested that the I^-, TOI, and iodophenols could be oxidized by ferrate [Fe(VI)], and more than 97% of TOI had been transformed into stable and nontoxic IO₃^-. Fe(VI) initially cleaved the C-I bond of iodophenols and led to the deiodination of iodophenols. The resulted I^- was swiftly oxidized into HOI and IO₃^-, with the intermediate phenolic products be further oxidized into lower molecular weight products. The Gibbs free energy change (ΔG) of the overall reaction was negative, indicating that the deiodination of iodophenols by Fe(VI) was spontaneous. In the disinfection of iodine-containing river water, ng/L levels of iodophenols and chloro-iodophenols formed in the reaction with NaClO/NH₂Cl, while Fe(VI) preoxidation was effective for inhibiting the formation of iodinated DBPs. Fe(VI) exhibited multiple functions for oxidizing organic iodine, abating their acute toxicity/cytotoxicity and controlling the formation of iodinated DBPs for the treatment of iodide/organic iodine-containing waters.

Insight into UV-LED/PS/Fe(Ⅲ) and UV-LED/PMS/Fe(Ⅲ) for p-arsanilic acid degradation and simultaneous arsenate immobilization

As a feed additive, p-arsanilic acid (p-ASA) is hardly metabolized in animal bodies and is excreted chemically unchanged via feces and urine, which can be transformed into more toxic inorganic arsenic species and other organic by-products upon degradation in the aquatic environment. In this study, UV-LED/persulfate (PS)/Fe(Ⅲ) and UV-LED/peroxymonosulfate (PMS)/Fe(Ⅲ) processes were developed to remove p-ASA and immobilize the formed inorganic arsenic via tuning solution pH. UV-LED/PMS/Fe(Ⅲ) (90.8%) presented the best performance for p-ASA degradation at pH 3.0, and the p-ASA degradation in these processes both followed the pseudo-first-order kinetics. The ∙OH played the major role in UV-LED/PS/Fe(Ⅲ) and UV-LED/PMS/Fe(Ⅲ) systems. Solution pH greatly affected the p-ASA degradation and the maximum removal can be achieved at pH 3.0 due to the presence of more Fe(OH)(H₂O)₅²⁺. The dosages of Fe(III) and PMS (PS), SO₄^2- and HCO₃^- significantly influenced the performance of p-ASA oxidation, while HA, Cl^- and NO₃^- slightly affected the p-ASA degradation. According to quantum chemical calculation, radical addition on the C atom in the C-As bond of p-ASA was corroborated to be the dominant reaction pathway by SO₄∙^- and ∙OH. Additionally, the reactive sites and reasonable degradation pathways of p-ASA were proposed based on DFT calculation and HPLC/MS analysis. The release of inorganic arsenic in both processes can be effectively immobilized and the toxicity of the reaction solution dramatically reduced by adjusting solution pH to 6.0. UV-LED/PMS/Fe(Ⅲ) process was found to be more cost-effective than UV-LED/PS/Fe(Ⅲ) process at the low oxidant dosages.

Enhanced removal of ammonia in Fe(VI)/Br- oxidation system: Kinetics, transformation mechanism and theoretical calculations

This work systematically examined the capability of ferrate (Fe(VI)) for ammonia oxidation, revealing for the first time that bromide ions (Br^-) played an important role in promoting the removal of ammonia in Fe(VI) system. In the presence of 10.0 mM Br^-, the removal efficiency of ammonia was nearly 3.4 times that of the control, and 1.0 mM ammonia was almost completely removed after two rounds addition of 1.0 mM Fe(VI) in 60 min. PMSO probe test, electron paramagnetic resonance spectra and radical quenching experiments were employed to interpret the underlying promotion mechanism of Br^-, and it was proposed that the formation of active bromine (HOBr/OBr^-) played a dominant role in the enhanced oxidative removal of ammonia by Fe(VI). Further kinetic model simulations revealed that HOBr/OBr^- and Fe(VI) were the two major reactive species in Fe(VI)/Br^- system, accounting for 66.7% and 33.0% of ammonia removal, respectively. As the target contaminant, ammonia could quickly consume the generated HOBr/OBr^-, thereby suppressing the formation of brominated disinfection byproducts. Finally, NO₃^- was identified as the dominant transformation product of ammonia, and density functional theory (DFT) calculations revealed that six reaction stages were involved in ammonia oxidation with the first step as the rate-limiting step. This work would enable the full use of coexisting bromides for effective removal of ammonia from natural waters or wastewaters by in situ Fe(VI) oxidation method.

Graphite (GP) induced activation of ferrate(VI) for degradation of micropollutants: The crucial reduction role of carbonyl groups on GP surface

The sluggish oxidation kinetics of ferrate (Fe(VI)) at neutral and slightly alkaline pH impedes its rapid abatement of micropollutants in practical application. This work discovers that graphite (GP), a metal-free carbonaceous material, can be a promising material to improve the reactivity of Fe(VI) in the pH range of 7.0 - 9.0. The performance of the GP/Fe(VI) process for sulfamethoxazole (SMX) removal was further evaluated via altering the dosages of Fe(VI), GP, and SMX. Probe analysis and quenching experiments identified Fe(IV) and Fe(V) as the primary active species responsible for the removal of organic compounds in the GP/Fe(VI) system. The detailed activation mechanism of GP is discussed via analyzing the surface chemical changes of GP exposed to Fe(VI). It is found that the carbonyl groups on GP surface execute a critical role in Fe(VI) activation. The GP/Fe(VI) system shows powerful anti-interference ability to environmental background substances. Therefore, the new oxidation process proposed in this work holds a great application prospect for contamination remediation. Finally, we discuss the underlying degradation pathways of SMX by the GP/Fe(VI) system. This study not only develops a promising system for the removal of micropollutants but also provides an in-depth insight into the activation mechanism of metal-free carbonaceous material in Fe(VI) oxidation process.

Enhanced ferrate oxidation of organic pollutants in the presence of Cu(II) Ion

In this study, we found that the introduction of Cu(II) (several μM, close to the concentration level of some real water/wastewater) in ferrate (Fe(VI)) oxidation can remarkably accelerate the abatement of various organic pollutants under slightly alkaline conditions. The results show that 5 μM sulfamethoxazole (SMX) can be completely degraded by Fe(VI) (50 μM) in the presence of 20 μM Cu(II) within 10 min at pH 8.0, which was 1.65 times higher than that by Fe(VI) alone. High-valent iron intermediates (i.e. Fe(V), Fe(IV)) and Cu(III) were generated as reactive species in the Cu(II)/Fe(VI) system, all of which contributed to the enhanced oxidation of SMX. Common water components, except for HCO₃^- and humic acid, exhibited no influence on SMX removal. Additionally, the enhanced removal of SMX by Cu(II)/Fe(VI) was also observed in real water with the benefit of total removal of Cu(II) by the ferrate resultant particles. Due to the presence of highly reactive and selective oxidant, the Cu(II)/Fe(VI) system could react readily with organic pollutants containing electron-rich moieties, such as phenol, olefin or amino groups. This study provided a simple, selective, and practical strategy for the abatement of organic pollutants and a simultaneous removal of Cu(II).

Insight into the oxidation of phenolic pollutants by enhanced permanganate with biochar: The role of high-valent manganese intermediate species

This work demonstrated that the oxidation of phenolic pollutants by permanganate (KMnO₄) was effectively enhanced by a commercial biochar. Detailed characterization data indicated that the biochar contains porous structures, amounts of defective sites and abundant redox-active groups. In the presence of biochar, the degradation efficiency of 4-nitrophenol by KMnO₄ surged from 5% to 92% in 180 min, up to 37.8% of total organic carbon (TOC) was removed. Meanwhile, acute toxicity of 4-nitrophenol was greatly reduced. Through analyzing oxidation products of triclosan (TCS) and using methyl phenyl sulfoxide (PMSO) as a chemical probe, high-valent Mn intermediates (i.e. Mn(VI)/Mn(V)) were proved to be the dominant oxidant in the KMnO₄/biochar system. Quantitative structure-activity relationships (QSARs) were established between oxidation rate constants of various substituted phenols and classical descriptor variables (i.e., Hammett constant σ⁺). KMnO₄/biochar was found to be less selective to the substituent variation of phenolic compounds compared with O₃, K₂FeO₄, ClO₂ and persulfate/carbon nanotube (PDS/CNT). This work provided a novel catalytic oxidation technology for eliminating phenolic compounds, and improved insights into the mechanistic study of the KMnO₄-based oxidation process.

Reinvestigation of the oxidation of organic contaminants by Fe(VI): Kinetics and effects of water matrix constituents

Since previous studies mostly ignored the contributions of Fe(IV) and Fe(V) during the determination of reaction rate constants of ferrate (Fe(VI)) with trace organic contaminants (TrOCs), the intrinsic oxidation ability of Fe(VI) was overestimated. For the first time, this study systemically evaluated the reactivity of Fe(VI) towards four kinds of TrOCs by blocking Fe(IV)/Fe(V) over the TrOCs degradation, and evaluated the effects of coexisting water matrix constituents. Results revealed that Fe(VI) exhibited superior reactivity towards phenolic compounds. Different from other tested TrOCs, phenolic compounds were mainly degraded by Fe(VI) rather than Fe(IV)/Fe(V). Taking bisphenol A (BPA) as the target TrOC, we found that the coexisting constituents can not only affect the reactivity of different ferrate species (i.e., Fe(IV), Fe(V), and Fe(VI)), but also alter the concentrations of ferrates. HPO₄^2- inhibited the reaction between Fe(VI) and H₂O₂, while Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺, and NH₄⁺ promoted the generation of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) from Fe(VI). Besides, humic acid could increase the contribution of Fe(IV)/Fe(V) to the oxidation of BPA. These findings were validated in real water samples. Taken together, this study provides a new perspective regarding the intrinsic oxidation reactivity of Fe(VI), thereby urging reconsideration of the proper strategies for utilization of high-valent Fe species in practices.

Overlooked environmental risks deriving from aqueous transformation of bisphenol alternatives: Integration of chemical and toxicological insights

Owing to the widespread prevalence and ecotoxicity of bisphenol alternatives such as bisphenol S, bisphenol F, and bisphenol AF, the past decade has witnessed the publication of a remarkable number of studies related to their transformation and remediation in natural waters. However, the reactivity, removal efficiency, transformation products (TPs), and mechanisms of such emerging pollutants by different treatment processes have not been well elucidated. Particularly, the transformation-driven environmental risks have been mostly overlooked. Therefore, we present a review to address these issues from chemical and toxicological viewpoints. Four degradation systems can be largely classified as catalytic persulfate (PS) oxidation, non-catalytic oxidation, photolysis and photocatalysis, and biodegradation. It was found that bisphenol alternatives possess distinct reactivities with different oxidizing species, with the highest performance for hydroxyl radicals. All systems exhibit superior elimination efficiency for these compounds. The inadequate mineralization suggests the formation of recalcitrant TPs, from which the overall reaction pathways are proposed. The combined experimental and in silico analysis indicates that many TPs have developmental toxicity, endocrine-disrupting effects, and genotoxicity. Notably, catalytic PS systems and non-catalytic oxidation result in the formation of coupling products as well as halogenated TPs with higher acute and chronic toxicity and lower biodegradability than the parent compounds. In contrast, photolysis and photocatalysis generate hydroxylated and bond-cleavage TPs with less toxicity. Overall, this review highlights the secondary environmental risks from the transformation of bisphenol alternatives by conventional and emerging treatment processes. Finally, future perspectives are recommended to address the knowledge gaps of these contaminants in aquatic ecosystems.

Modifications of ultraviolet irradiation and chlorination on microplastics: Effect of sterilization pattern

Chlorination and ultraviolet disinfection in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) may be highly destructive for microplastics (MPs). Investigating the effect of sterilization patterns on MPs behavior modifications can provide useful information to evaluate their potential risk to drinking water safety. In this study, aged polyethylene (PE), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polystyrene (PS) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) were applied, and five well-designed sterilization patterns with low and high doses disinfection were performed. Especially, a combining sterilization pattern including ultraviolet disinfection, low-dose chlorination and high-dose chlorination was designed to simulate the actual disinfection processes in environmental engineering systems. Different sterilization patterns contributed various chlorinated and oxidized modifications on the MPs surface, resulting in distinct effects on their sinking and adsorption performance. After combining sterilization (180 mJ cm^-2 UV-C irradiation +9675 mg min L^-1 chlorination), the adsorption capacities of ciprofloxacin by PET and PVC were slightly improved, and the one by PS was inhibited. Yet, PET, PVC and PS tend to sink (>95%) after this combining sterilization, implying that these MPs would be retained in DWTPs or water supply pipes. For PE, even though it maintained floating on water, its adsorption of ciprofloxacin was inhibited by combining sterilization (K_f reduced from 0.142 L g^-1 to 0.069 L g^-1). In general, multiple sterilization patterns can enhance the sinking and inhibit the adsorption performance of MPs, reducing their potential to become vectors of organic contaminants and risk to drinking water users.